The journey from Great Zhou to the Tatar capital actually wasn’t supposed to have such harsh conditions for most of the route.
It was just that they encountered all sorts of troubles along the way – who knew where so many bandits and brigands came from, forcing this group to enter the desert.
Qin Yining wore a coarse cotton jacket and skirt so dirty their original color couldn’t be discerned. A coarse cloth scarf wrapped around her head and face, and she gripped a thick, curved tree branch in her hand, struggling to follow the group forward.
Her wounds had healed, but her body was somewhat weaker than before.
They had been in the desert for ten days. Actually, if they hadn’t been unlucky enough to encounter a sandstorm, they wouldn’t be in such a miserable state. At least the water they brought would have been sufficient.
Unfortunately, heaven seemed to enjoy playing jokes on them.
Qin Yining never would have imagined that the Tatars would travel thousands of miles to Great Zhou searching for treasure and had been seeking this treasure for quite some time.
When the earth shook and mountains trembled that day, she and the others had just reached near the cave entrance when they were intercepted by people brought by Tatar Prince Consort Si Qin.
Si Qin appeared to be a handsome scholar, looking refined and cultured, hardly resembling a Tatar man, but he was actually ruthless and merciless, killing without hesitation.
At that time, all the Dragon Guard soldiers were slaughtered without leaving any survivors. Lu Heng’s people, along with her and Madam Liao’s three companions, were all brought out.
However, after entering the desert and encountering the sandstorm, all of Lu Heng’s people were abandoned by Si Qin in the desert.
Rather than killing them directly, he drove them into the swirling yellow sand and left them to fend for themselves.
Now this group consisted of Tatar Prince Consort Si Qin and twenty death warriors Si Qin had brought, Madam Liao and two Azure Sky Alliance followers, plus Lu Heng and Qin Yining.
Qin Yining’s feet felt as if they were filled with lead, her lips were dry and cracked, and she was so thirsty she couldn’t speak.
The last time she drank water was early morning, and each person only got a sip to moisten their throat. Qin Yining had been reluctant to swallow that mouthful of water, instead holding it in her mouth for a long time so she wouldn’t feel too parched during the journey.
But even being so frugal, their water still wasn’t enough.
“Stop.” Si Qin halted the group.
Qin Yining stood gasping for breath, supporting herself with the branch, wanting to see what Si Qin intended to do.
Si Qin walked directly to Madam Liao and the two Azure Sky Alliance members, speaking in fluent, standard Great Zhou language: “Now our water isn’t enough. You must tell me where the treasure is hidden, or I’ll abandon you here.”
Madam Liao remained silent.
Those two Azure Sky Alliance members were already on the verge of collapse and tears.
They had been allocated the least water to begin with. Now he wanted to abandon them here?
“Tell him quickly! Tell them!”
“Yes, at a time like this, what are you still hiding for! If you don’t speak, we’ll all die!”
“Is treasure more important than life! You’ve already caused so many brothers to die, do you want to kill us too now!”
Though their mouths were parched and their voices hoarse and unpleasant, the two men still spared no effort in trying to persuade Madam Liao.
Madam Liao looked haggard with sunken cheeks, yet still smiled confidently: “I’ll tell you the truth – only I know the treasure’s location now. If you let me die, you’ll never get the treasure for the rest of your life.”
Si Qin adjusted his scarf, not raising his eyes as he said: “And then? You mean you don’t want to tell?”
Madam Liao replied: “Unless you agree to my conditions, I won’t tell you the treasure’s whereabouts.”
Upon hearing this, Si Qin smiled with curved eyes, a dimple appearing on his handsome face, making him seem very amiable and likeable.
“The treasure – we actually don’t care about it at all. If you want to tell, I can let you live. If you don’t want to tell, it doesn’t matter to us not to have the treasure.” Si Qin waved his hand, and two robust men dragged away those two spineless Azure Sky Alliance members, walking a full hundred paces before dumping them on the sand.
The two men got mouthfuls of yellow sand but didn’t dare linger. They struggled to their feet, spitting out sand while stumbling back unsteadily.
Seeing the two return, Madam Liao’s smile became even more confident.
“The treasure – the Great Zhou Emperor wants it, the former Great Yan Emperor wanted it, each one needs it and wants to possess it exclusively. You say you don’t care about it – I don’t believe you. How will you prove it to me?”
Si Qin was amused by Madam Liao. “You’re an interesting woman, but without the treasure, my army is still my army – it makes absolutely no difference to me. If you don’t want to tell, then suit yourself. You can all go farther away. We will no longer provide water and food to you. You can seek your own fortune.”
Having said this, Si Qin even smiled and nodded to Madam Liao before turning back to lead his people onward.
He really didn’t intend to want the treasure?
Qin Yining watched with suspicion in her heart.
This treasure was hidden by Madam Liao. Aside from the porters who would certainly be silenced, Madam Liao might truly be the only one who knew the treasure’s whereabouts. To say he would abandon Madam Liao – was this deliberate intimidation?
Madam Liao had thought she could use the treasure to negotiate conditions, but who knew that now these people would be so decisive, saying they didn’t want it and just not wanting it!
Qin Yining had observed coldly for so many days – Si Qin was actually a very strange person.
He looked like a scholar on the outside but was actually highly skilled in martial arts and not at all weak.
Tianji Zi’s original divination said one of the three inauspicious stars, Greedy Wolf, had fallen in Tatar territory. Combined with Si Qin’s military achievements and reputation in Tatar, he was probably the Grand Marshal who had fought Ji Zeyu for many years.
After the little regent prince supported by Tatar Princess A’na Ri died of illness, A’na Ri became the female Khan of Tatar by popular demand, while Si Qin was A’na Ri’s prince consort.
Even so, Si Qin still managed all military affairs large and small for the Tatar army, keeping A’na Ri happy every day while privately doing his own business.
Like this treasure hunt, along with kidnapping so many people.
Therefore, Si Qin’s behavior of abandoning the treasure made Qin Yining feel strange. Shouldn’t someone who supported an army be planning for more provisions and wages?
Qin Yining didn’t want to speak because she needed to conserve her strength.
And Si Qin truly kept his word.
Madam Liao and those two Azure Sky Alliance members followed behind the group. They walked unsteadily all the way, liable to collapse at any moment.
But Si Qin truly didn’t give them another drop of water or share a bite of food with them, until the three fell behind and could no longer catch up.
Qin Yining very much wanted to save them. But she had no water and no food.
Si Qin’s distribution of the remaining water also impressed Qin Yining.
He would first let the twenty death warriors following him drink water. After they finished, Si Qin would restrainedly take one sip, and only the remainder would be given to these kidnapped people. Lu Heng held the highest status in Si Qin’s mind, so he received more, with Qin Yining second.
Now that Madam Liao’s group of three had been abandoned, if they still couldn’t get out of the desert, she would be the next to be abandoned.
Qin Yining understood this clearly in her heart, so she walked even more calmly while thinking of solutions.
Qin Yining, who was quiet and taciturn, never threw tantrums, and was very enduring, made Si Qin unable to resist walking beside her.
“You suffered such severe injuries, then followed us into the desert. How have you endured until now?” Si Qin asked with a smile.