https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-606-An-Unexpected-Discovery-of-Chu-Liuxiang-s-Relic/12811299/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-626-The-Brothel-in-the-Capital-City/12811301/
Chapter 661: Sailing the Desert
Chapter 661: Sailing the Desert
Jin Banhua picked up the stone nearby, feeling the dried paint and gel on its surface. "This stuff looks familiar. I've seen it backstage at the theaters in the capital."
Hu Tiehua’s eyes lit up. "This is the disguise material used by Chu Liuxiang. They must have found some clues and hidden these items here before going undercover to investigate!"
Princess Pipa furrowed her brow. "But if they’ve already gone undercover, why would they hide their personal items here?"
Hu Tiehua scratched his head, unable to provide an answer.
"Probably because they’re planning to infiltrate a dangerous place where they might be searched or captured," Jin Banhua explained.
Hu Tiehua’s eyes sparkled as he praised, "Good thinking! How did you come up with that?"
Jin Banhua chuckled and patted Hu Tiehua on the shoulder. "When you have some free time, I’ll take you to the Fragrant Pavilion or the Jade Hall in the capital. We can play a game called role-playing. You can pretend to be a constable, a doctor, a scholar, or even a prisoner, a patient, or a student."
Hu Tiehua looked bewildered, only half understanding.
Princess Pipa, however, caught on quickly. "You people in the capital sure have a lot of fun activities."
Jin Banhua beamed with pride. "That’s why the capital is known as the land of first-rate virtues!"
Hu Tiehua finally reacted, shivering with goosebumps and giving Jin Banhua a strange look. "You go to those places often?"
Jin Banhua gave him a sidelong glance. "Imagine a delicate beauty carefully examining your entire body, smoothing out your rough edges with her soft touch. Are you telling me you wouldn’t want to experience that?"
Hu Tiehua couldn’t help but swallow hard and remained silent.
Princess Pipa rolled her eyes. "Men are all the same!"
Jin Banhua laughed heartily and then pointed at the items in the bundle. "The real question is, where did Chu Liuxiang and his companions go after they went undercover? If they’re dealing with a dangerous enemy, will they run into trouble?"
Hu Tiehua’s expression turned serious. "The only one in the entire desert who could make Old Stinkbug so cautious is the Stone Goddess."
"Then let’s see how the Stone Goddess behaves during the trade. That will tell us if they’ve run into any trouble," Jin Banhua said matter-of-factly.
"You’re right!" Hu Tiehua jumped up, eager to get going. "Let’s hurry over!"
At that moment, three warriors approached with bulging leather pouches. "We’re a few miles from the agreed location. Here’s some wine and honey water. Everyone should drink to replenish their energy!"
Full of determination, Hu Tiehua didn’t reach for the wine but instead grabbed the pouch of honey water and drank from it.
Princess Pipa took a pouch and handed it to Jin Banhua.
Jin Banhua unscrewed the stopper, took a small sip, and then spat it out into the sand.
"What’s wrong?" Princess Pipa asked.
Jin Banhua pointed at the three warriors. "These guys have laced the water with a sedative."
He wasn’t sure if these warriors were the ones who had betrayed Hu Tiehua in the original story, but finding Chu Liuxiang’s hidden items and the drugged honey water confirmed it.
"What?" Princess Pipa was shocked, staring at the three warriors in disbelief.
The warriors were even more surprised that Jin Banhua had detected the sedative with just one sip.
They all drew their swords.
But before they could strike, Jin Banhua waved his hand, and Liao Gang and Ye Jin instantly rushed forward, taking them down with a few quick punches and kicks.
Seeing the warriors draw their swords, Princess Pipa had no more doubts. She asked, both shocked and angry, "My father has been kind to you. Why would you drug us?"
"Princess, spare us! Princess, spare us!"
"We were just momentarily blinded. Please, Princess, remember our loyalty and spare us this once!"
"We’ll never do it again!"
The three warriors knelt in the sand, banging their heads in admission of their plan to lead them astray and escape with the gold.
Of course, they would never admit that they wanted to kill everyone to cover their tracks. They claimed that the potion wasn't lethal and that they only wanted to incapacitate everyone so they could leave without causing any harm.
Hu Tietua held the wineskin, staring at it in disbelief. "There was a potion in the water? How did I not taste it? I didn't even feel anything different."
As soon as he finished speaking, he collapsed onto the desert sand with a thud.
Hu Tietua struggled to get up but failed, muttering, "It's over. I really do feel weak."
Princess Pipa glared at the three men and demanded, "Where's the antidote?"
"There... there is no antidote..."
"When the time is right, Sir Hu will regain his strength..."
"You!" Princess Pipa was furious.
Jin Banhua patted her arm, "They're just three traitors trying to run off with the gold and silver. There's no need to get upset. If they dared to attack us, they must be prepared to face the consequences."
"I'll take care of it myself!"
Princess Pipa shouted, drawing her iron lute from her back. With a single, swift swing, she slit the throats of the three men, her movements ruthless and precise.
But after the killings, Princess Pipa seemed to deflate.
"What's wrong?"
"They led us the wrong way. If we miss this transaction and those traitors get the Star of Bliss, what will happen to my father?"
"Look over there, they're here."
Everyone turned to follow Jin Banhua's gaze and saw a desert boat speeding towards them. Around the boat, many mountain vultures were flying, creating a formidable and awe-inspiring scene.
"What is that?" Princess Pipa exclaimed, "Where did such a large ship come from in the desert?"
Jin Banhua clapped her hands and laughed, "Truly ingenious. I've seen dogs pulling sleds, but this is the first time I've seen eagles pulling a desert boat."
One sentence revealed the secret of the desert boat, but instead of easing their tension, the group was even more shocked by the other party's capabilities.
The desert factions had existed for over a thousand years, but only one had managed to create an eagle-pulled desert boat. The Great Desert's Stone Guanyin was indeed as renowned as her name suggested.
The desert boat, enveloped in a cloud of sand, came to a slow stop in front of the group.
As the sand settled, a figure in white appeared at the bow of the boat.
She glanced at the three dead warriors and the incapacitated Hu Tietua, and a sinister smile spread across her face. "I've been waiting for you all day, and now I see you've had an internal conflict."
"That's not it!" Jin Banhua stepped forward, "This wasn't an internal conflict. It was just a minor mishap. Now that the mishap is resolved and you've arrived, can we start the transaction?"
The woman in white tilted her head, surprised, "Aren't you afraid?"
"Why should I be afraid?" Jin Banhua asked.
"Famous Hu Tietua has been incapacitated. Aren't you afraid I might kill you all?" The woman in white sneered.
Jin Banhua countered, "You're here to trade for the Star of Bliss. Why would you want to kill us?"
The woman in white was speechless for a moment, then sighed, "It's a wonder you've survived this long."
"I've survived this long because anyone who tried to kill me ended up dead!" Jin Banhua walked over to the camels, patting the gold, pearls, and jade, "Hurry up, it's almost dark. Are we going to complete this transaction or not?"
The woman in white glared coldly at Jin Banhua, wanting to teach him a lesson, but she remembered her master, Stone Guanyin's, instructions. The secret of the Star of Bliss was still in his hands.
So, she took a deep breath, "Let's proceed!"
(End of Chapter)
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