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Chapter 643: Witnessing the Restoration of the Kingdom of Kucha
Chapter 643: Witnessing the Restoration of the Kingdom of Kucha
The scorching sun hung high in the sky as the gentle tinkling of camel bells filled the air.
A caravan of several dozen camels and travelers made its way through the vast desert, their passage marked by a trail of footprints soon to be obscured by the relentless wind and shifting sands.
Jin Ban Hua surveyed the men in their company—each one a seasoned warrior, their eyes sharp as hawks and their bodies honed by countless battles.
The moment Black Pearl entered the great desert, her entire demeanor softened, as if she had returned home.
"How are things back home?" Black Pearl inquired.
"All is well," replied a man with a scar across his face. "There are often disputes among the various tribes and nations of the Western Regions, but they all trust us, so business is good."
Black Pearl nodded. "Have there been any recent developments in the desert?"
"There are frequent skirmishes between the smaller tribes, but that's not unusual," the scarred man said. "However, there is one piece of significant news."
"What news?" Black Pearl asked.
"There has been a rebellion in the Kingdom of Kucha," the scarred man revealed. "The King of Kucha, along with his queen and princess, fled the capital and are now wandering through the desert."
"Kucha?" Li Hong Xiu interjected. "Is that the ancient kingdom mentioned in Ban Gu's Book of Han?"
"Indeed," Black Pearl confirmed. "Although the kingdom may not possess the same might it once had, it is still one of the great nations of the Western Regions. This rebellion is certainly an unusual occurrence in the desert."
The scarred man continued, "It is said that the new king, An Deshan, is unable to pursue them directly due to the need to maintain control within the country. Instead, he has dispatched General Min and Hong Xiansheng to seek martial arts experts from Central Plains to hunt down the king of Kucha."
Black Pearl frowned. "I hope they haven't caused any trouble for us."
The scarred man laughed. "With the renowned reputations of the Four Generals—Purple, White, Gold, and Blue—in the desert, they'd be wise to keep their distance from us. They wouldn't dare cause any trouble."
Song Tian'er leaned forward curiously. "I've always heard that the Desert King is invincible in these parts. You all are truly impressive!"
The scarred man beamed with pride. "Of course! Under the leadership of the late King Zamuhe, we three thousand brothers have forged strong connections with various tribes. Countless others in the desert would gladly offer their services to the Young King."
"We may not roam the desert with impunity," he continued, "but when we declare our name, even nations like Kucha, Rouran, Quli, and Cheshi treat us with respect."
Li Hong Xiu's eyes widened in shock. "The Desert King commands three thousand cavalry?"
"Otherwise, how could we have earned the respect of the desert?" Black Pearl smiled. "Here, strength is paramount. Only when you possess power will others heed your words."
"The Desert King's reputation is well-deserved," Su Rongrong marveled.
...
The Desert King, Zamuhe, had four generals under his command, each leading eight hundred cavalry troops and stationed in the four corners of the desert to protect their business interests and uphold their authority.
The oasis where Black Pearl had brought them was the base of the Green General.
In the midst of the surrounding sand dunes, a lush oasis flourished, nourished by underground water that formed a crescent-shaped lake.
Poplars, pines, and wax trees grew alongside sandthorn and white thorn bushes, creating a vibrant ecosystem.
The oasis was expansive, and within its heart, deer and foxes roamed freely, even venturing to the lake to drink alongside the local herders and warriors.
Several grand and luxurious tents stood in the oasis, serving as the Desert King's palace.
With the late King Zamuhe's passing, his heir, the Young King Black Pearl, now held dominion over this domain.
Thus, the group settled in the oasis, and Black Pearl sent messages to her subordinates in the four directions, instructing them to treat a Central Plains warrior named Chu Liuxiang with courtesy should they encounter him.
"How adorable! I never imagined there would be deer in the vast desert."
Li Hongxiu stroked the fawn as it nibbled on grass.
"There's a legend in ancient times about a nine-colored deer in the Western Regions," Black Pearl said with a smile. "So, it's not surprising to find deer here, although they are becoming rarer."
"Pearl Sister, your men actually want to roast a camel!" Song Tian'er exclaimed as she bounced over. "It's such a huge camel; do they plan to barbecue the entire thing?"
"That's one of the grandest dishes in the great desert," Black Pearl explained with a smile.
"I know this dish," Li Hongxiu chimed in. "You stuff a sheep into the camel, then a chicken into the sheep, and finally an egg into the chicken. Only the most honored guest gets to eat that egg!"
"Exactly," Black Pearl confirmed.
...
That evening, during a grand feast, Black Pearl personally retrieved four pigeon eggs from inside the chickens and gave one each to Su Rongrong, Li Hongxiu, and Jin Ban Hua, making sure none of them were left out.
...
They spent their days riding horses and camels and their afternoons soaking in the spring water. They watched the sunset together and held bonfire parties in the evenings.
After more than ten days of this idyllic life, new news arrived from the desert.
"I heard that the King of Kucha is also recruiting warriors from Central Plains," the scarred man reported. "He has hired the Five Tigers Escort Agency from the Peng family in Shanxi to escort a jewel called the 'Star of Bliss' here to the desert."
"Star of Bliss?" Black Pearl asked, puzzled. "What's that for?"
The scarred man shook his head. "No one knows. They say this jewel is connected to the ancient treasure of the Kingdom of Kucha and is crucial to the king's attempt to restore his country. That's why he hasn't told anyone about it."
"The Kingdom of Kucha has a history of over a thousand years, and it was once glorious," Black Pearl mused. "So, it's plausible that they might have passed down treasures from ancient times."
At that moment, a man with a face full of blue beard and eyes like beryl approached Black Pearl and said, "If the King of Kucha wants to restore his country, then it's time for our business to begin."
Black Pearl nodded. "You have the final say in this matter. Just remember to ensure our brothers aren't taking unnecessary risks."
"Rest assured," the Blue General said with a smile. "There are still a few tribes around Kucha that are friendly with the king. He can't rely on just us, so he's seeking help from multiple sources."
Jin Ban Hua stepped forward and asked, "Will the King of Kucha pay you to help him restore his country?"
The Blue General replied matter-of-factly, "The new king doesn't really have the support of the people. He only controls a portion of the elite troops and drove out the old king. As long as we bring our army and kill the new king, the old king will be able to return."
"I see," Jin Ban Hua said with an arched eyebrow. "Since I'm also a warrior from Central Plains, I might as well go and check it out!"
"What do you want to do?" Black Pearl asked, confused.
"Rebellion, restoration, ancient treasures—don't you think all of this sounds like something out of a storybook?" Jin Ban Hua smiled. "Being a part of this feels so exciting!"
Jin Ban Hua patted her chest and continued, "I'll go ahead and scout the situation for your business. After all, we're friends!"
Su Rongrong, well aware of Jin Ban Hua's playful nature, said, "I think you just want to watch the spectacle. Aren't you afraid of being killed by the martial arts experts they've hired?"
"Do you think I'm not a martial arts expert myself?" Jin Ban Hua countered. "Moreover, I have two expert bodyguards." She gestured to Liao Gang and Ye Jin. "Ask them if they think I'll be killed by those so-called experts."
Liao Gang and Ye Jin shook their heads.
Aside from Jin Ban Hua's actual high level of martial arts skill, Liao Gang and Ye Jin were also quite accomplished. As long as they didn't encounter extremely powerful experts like Chu Liuxiang or Yidianhong, they could hold their own in most situations.
What kind of martial arts experts could a small kingdom in the Western Regions attract?
"Moreover," Jin Ban Hua continued, "if things get dangerous, I can always reveal that I'm a guest of the Desert King. They wouldn't dare to touch me then, would they?" She pointed at the scarred man standing next to the Blue General. "He said so himself."
The scarred man remained silent.
(End of Chapter)
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