Because they were going to Qujiang, which would take several months round trip, Xiao Ba figured they couldn’t bring too few things.

So after packing several sets of clothes, he stuffed all sorts of miscellaneous items into his bundle.

It was bulging full!

He nearly dismantled every brick and tile from the house.

When Luo Yang saw this, his face turned green with rage. He struck Xiao Ba’s head hard and dumped out all those pieces of junk from the bundle one by one.

The contents inside were all over the place—everything was there.

All just scrap metal and broken things.

Luo Yang said angrily: “You haven’t even died from the poison yet, and you’re bringing this much stuff on the road?”

Xiao Ba said very seriously: “These are all useful.”

“Useful? How are they useful?” Luo Yang picked up a worn-out bowl. “What use is this thing?”

“For eating!”

“For eating? Have you ever seen anyone using a bowl to eat in the desert?”

Well…

Xiao Ba finally realized, scratching his head awkwardly as he put the bowl back in its place: “Then I won’t bring it.”

Luo Yang picked up a rusty hoe blade and asked: “You want to bring this too?”

“Yes.”

Luo Yang was driven mad with frustration. Suppressing the tremendous power within his heart, he gritted his teeth in exasperation: “I think you must have eaten that poison and it made your brain stupid! What are you bringing it for? To farm? Or to dig sand?”

“…”

“Hurry up and put it back.”

Xiao Ba was reluctant, feeling this item was useful. He said: “Let’s still bring it. Even if we can’t use it for farming, we can carry it as a weapon. In case that Lord Hu doesn’t like us, we can still use this thing to fight them. Besides, this is iron. If we run out of money for food, we can pawn it—it’s worth at least three coins. Brother, don’t you think so?”

Black lines appeared on Luo Yang’s forehead.

He really didn’t want to bring this fellow along, or he’d definitely be driven to death with anger on the journey.

But thinking about the poison in his body and the need to obtain the antidote, he was helpless!

Ji Yunshu sat in the courtyard, listening to the commotion from those two brothers inside. She had no intention of intervening.

She held the crown pearl in her hand, her heart both excited and anxious.

Excited that she might see Jingrong very soon.

Yet anxious that she would come up empty-handed.

These two emotions merged in her chest, making her heart increasingly uncomfortable.

Looking at the crown pearl, memories flooded through her mind one by one.

All the events of the past, scene after scene, were clearly imprinted in her mind—she hadn’t forgotten for a single moment.

She still remembered that night three years ago when he said: “Wherever you are, I am. Wait for me to return!”

Those words, she had always kept in her heart.

Perhaps she was too absorbed in her memories, because she didn’t even notice when Luo Yang suddenly appeared before her!

The crown pearl in her palm was snatched away by his hand.

She immediately withdrew from her thoughts and rebuked that frivolous man angrily: “Give it back to me.”

“Isn’t it just an ordinary pearl? You really treat it as a treasure?” Luo Yang looked at the pearl he’d worn for three years, his face full of mischievous smiles. “I say, you’re really strange. Even if this pearl is yours, I’ve worn it close to my body for three years. This pearl is covered with my scent, and my scent isn’t pleasant! Don’t you feel awkward? If you ask me, just consider this pearl a gift to me. In any case, you want to find that person called Sha Tuo—I’ll help you find him.”

Ji Yunshu’s eyes, which had been warm and calm, suddenly flared with anger: “I’ll say it one more time. Give it back to me.”

Luo Yang could see she was truly angry. This woman was not to be trifled with!

He couldn’t afford to provoke her at the moment.

So he twirled the string threaded through the pearl around his finger.

And tossed it to Ji Yunshu.

She caught it steadily and warned him: “If you set your sights on this crown pearl again, I’ll feed you a poison pill too—one that takes effect within three days.”

“You woman are too vicious, aren’t you?”

“Then you can try it!”

“I admit defeat! I haven’t lived enough yet.” Though Luo Yang had backbone, he was ultimately a dissolute street rascal. Life was more precious than the sky—that was his survival principle.

He slunk back into the house dejectedly.

But his heart was extremely curious.

Exactly what was that woman’s background?

What was the origin of that crown pearl?

Who was she looking for?

Even more curious was—just how ugly was that face hidden beneath the cloth?

He thought to himself: In any case, the journey to Qujiang would take a month. He’d investigate slowly and eventually figure it all out.

The next day, they joined up with Lord Hu’s camel caravan, preparing to leave Zhuxin City and venture deep into the Nansai Desert.

Before leaving, Lord Hu still had a breath of anger stuck in his chest. With his dagger stolen, his fury remained.

“When this old man finishes delivering the goods and returns, even if I have to burn down all of Zhuxin City, I’ll find that person.”

Hearing these words, Luo Yang secretly laughed, muttering quietly: “Even if this young master stripped naked and stood in front of you, you still wouldn’t recognize me!”

Just as he finished speaking, Xiao Ba tugged at his sleeve and asked: “Brother, are we really safe?”

“What are you afraid of? You only have two months to live anyway.”

“That’s true! Nothing’s more terrifying than being poisoned now.” Xiao Ba looked completely dejected.

Everyone left Zhuxin City. After walking a stretch of road, they were about to enter the Nansai Desert. Lord Hu had Ji Yunshu mount a camel’s back: “This camel is a divine beast in the desert. Miss, hold on tight.”

“Thank you.” This was Ji Yunshu’s first time riding a camel.

Even when traveling from the Beisai Desert to Zhuxin City, she had walked on foot.

Seeing her mount the camel, Luo Yang pointed at himself with his finger: “What about me?”

Lord Hu glanced at him sideways: “Are you a woman?”

“I…”

“If you’re not a woman, then stop with the nonsense! Men should walk.”

“…” Luo Yang had no response.

Who told him to be a man?

So he had no choice but to pull Xiao Ba along and follow the main group on foot.

After walking for half a day, they finally entered the Nansai Desert. While the sky was still light, everyone quickened their pace.

Because once it got dark, the windstorms at the desert’s edge were much stronger than those inside the desert. One careless moment and you could be blown away.

Along this journey, Ji Yunshu became familiar with them.

Lord Hu had brought fourteen people in total on this trip to Qujiang. He had two right-hand men, commonly called his trusted aides.

Both of these confidants were in their forties. One was called Liu Jing—everyone called him Uncle Jing.

The other was Zhang Da—everyone called him Uncle Da.

They were both veterans of the desert, having followed Lord Hu for over twenty years.

Throughout this journey, they all took very good care of Ji Yunshu.

Everyone quickened their pace, rushing frantically, and finally managed to cross the Nansai border before nightfall.

“Let’s rest here tonight. Going further ahead is the wind gap. That place becomes like the gates of hell with sand demons at night—we can’t go there. We have to wait until early tomorrow morning to pass through.” Lord Hu shouted loudly in his booming voice.

His voice was rough and powerful.

Next to the resting place was a patch of shrubs, perfect for making a fire.