Heaven Official's Blessing

Chapter 21

Ch.21:? ?Shortened? ?Distance;? ?Adrift? ?in? ?Sandstorms? ?2???Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?whether? ?to? ?laugh? ?or? ?cry,? ?and? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?command? ?Ruoye? ?to? ?grab??onto? ?something? ?else? ?when? ?the? ?weight? ?on? ?his? ?arm? ?suddenly? ?became? ?lighter.? ?Xie? ?Lian’s??heart? ?sank.? ?This? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?feeling? ?of? ?Ruoye? ?being? ?released,? ?but? ?something? ?much??worse.???Sure? ?enough,? ?the? ?red? ?silhouette? ?suddenly? ?grew? ?closer? ?and? ?was? ?soon? ?within? ?reach.???San? ?Lang? ?got? ?dragged? ?into? ?the? ?windstorm? ?too!???Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted? ?“Don’t? ?panic!”? ?towards? ?him,? ?but? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?opened? ?his? ?mouth? ?he??got? ?another? ?mouthful? ?of? ?sand.? ?At? ?this? ?point? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?gotten? ?used? ?to? ?eating? ?sand.? ?He??was? ?trying? ?to? ?tell? ?San? ?Lang? ?not? ?to? ?panic,? ?but? ?in? ?all? ?honesty,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?think? ?the? ?boy? ?would??panic? ?in? ?the? ?slightest.? ?Ruoye? ?continued? ?to? ?withdraw? ?back? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?closing? ?the??distance? ?between? ?him? ?and? ?the? ?boy? ?who? ?just? ?got? ?blown? ?into? ?the? ?sky.? ?As? ?he? ?suspected,??San? ?Lang? ?didn’t? ?look? ?the? ?least? ?bit? ?anxious,? ?appearing? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?could? ?calmly? ?open? ?up? ?a??book? ?and? ?read? ?right? ?then? ?and? ?there.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered? ?if? ?San? ?Lang? ?had? ?gotten? ?dragged??in? ?on? ?purpose.????Ruoye? ?wrapped? ?itself? ?around? ?the? ?waists? ?of? ?the? ?two? ?to? ?rope? ?them? ?together,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian??then? ?commanded,? ?“Go? ?try? ?again,? ?but? ?don’t? ?bring? ?up? ?any? ?more? ?people!”???The? ?silk? ?band? ?shot? ?out? ?once? ?again? ?but? ?this? ?time? ?it? ?grabbed? ?onto...? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao!???Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?drained.? ?“Ruoye,”? ?he? ?said? ?tiredly,? ?“I? ?said? ?no? ?people,? ?but? ?I? ?didn’t? ?mean? ?it? ?so??literally...? ?alright.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?then? ?turned? ?towards? ?the? ?ground? ?and? ?shouted,? ?“NAN? ?FENG??FU? ?YAO!? ?HANG? ?ON!? ?HANG? ?ON? ?TIGHT!”???Down? ?below,? ?of? ?course? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?did? ?their? ?utmost? ?to? ?try? ?and? ?anchor??themselves,? ?but? ?the? ?winds? ?were? ?simply? ?too? ?strong,? ?and? ?soon,? ?without? ?any? ?surprise,??another? ?two? ?silhouettes? ?joined? ?them? ?in? ?the? ?twister.? ?Now? ?all? ?four? ?of? ?them,? ?tied? ?together? ?by??Ruoye,? ?were? ?swirling? ?about? ?in? ?the? ?twister,? ?getting? ?pulled? ?higher? ?and? ?higher? ?off? ?the??ground,? ?winds? ?and? ?sand? ?meshing? ?and? ?blowing? ?about.????“How? ?did? ?you? ?both? ?get? ?blown? ?up? ?here? ?too?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted? ?while? ?enduring? ?all? ?the? ?sand??going? ?into? ?his? ?mouth.???“Ask? ?your? ?dumb? ?Ruoye!”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?yelled? ?back,? ?also? ?getting? ?mouthfuls? ?of? ?sand? ?as? ?he? ?spat.????Xie? ?Lian? ?seized? ?his? ?‘dumb? ?Ruoye’? ?with? ?both? ?hands? ?and? ?said? ?woefully,? ?“My? ?dear? ?Ruoye,??all? ?four? ?of? ?us? ?are? ?counting? ?on? ?you? ?now.? ?Please? ?don’t? ?grab? ?the? ?wrong? ?thing? ?again.? ?Now??go!”????Xie? ?Lian? ?miserably? ?released? ?Ruoye? ?once? ?again.????“STOP? ?RELYING? ?ON? ?THAT? ?TOY!? ?THINK? ?OF? ?SOMETHING? ?ELSE!”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?roared.??But? ?just? ?then,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?a? ?tug? ?from? ?the? ?other? ?end? ?of? ?the? ?silk? ?band,? ?and? ?lit? ?up.? ?“Wait!??Give? ?it? ?one? ?more? ?chance!? ?It’s? ?caught? ?something!”???“IT? ?BETTER? ?NOT? ?BE? ?A? ?RANDOM? ?PASSERBY!? ?LET? ?THE? ?POOR? ?PERSON? ?GO!”? ?Fu? ?Yao??roared? ?too.???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?also? ?afraid? ?of? ?the? ?same? ?thing.? ?He? ?tugged? ?back? ?at? ?Ruoye? ?but? ?it? ?remained??taut? ?and? ?firm,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief.? ?“It’s? ?not!? ?It’s? ?something? ?solid,? ?quite??stable!”? ?Then? ?he? ?commanded? ?Ruoye,? ?“Pull!”???Against? ?the? ?crazed? ?twister,? ?Ruoye? ?rapidly? ?shortened,? ?and? ?lugged? ?the? ?four? ?out? ?of? ?the??windstorm,? ?away? ?from? ?it.? ?Gradually,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?make? ?out? ?the? ?contours? ?of? ?something??large,? ?black,? ?and? ?half? ?round? ?down? ?below? ?the? ?size? ?of? ?a? ?small? ?temple.? ?When? ?they? ?finally??touched? ?ground,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?that? ?this? ?round? ?structure? ?was? ?actually? ?a? ?giant? ?boulder.???In? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?a? ?windstorm,? ?this? ?boulder? ?was? ?like? ?a? ?fortress,? ?the? ?perfect? ?shelter.? ?While? ?on??the? ?road? ?earlier? ?however,? ?none? ?of? ?them? ?had? ?seen? ?a? ?rock? ?like? ?this.? ?Who? ?knows? ?how? ?far??the? ?twister? ?had? ?taken? ?them.? ?When? ?they? ?landed? ?they? ?immediately? ?circled? ?around? ?to? ?the??back? ?to? ?hide? ?from? ?the? ?wind.? ?The? ?moment? ?they? ?went? ?around,? ?understanding? ?dawned? ?on??Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?he? ?cheered,? ?“Thank? ?the? ?heaven? ?official’s? ?blessings!”????Turns? ?out,? ?behind? ?the? ?back? ?of? ?this? ?boulder,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?hole.? ?The? ?hole? ?was? ?as? ?wide? ?as??two? ?doors? ?combined,? ?but? ?the? ?length? ?of? ?half? ?a? ?person.? ?Although? ?a? ?bit? ?short,? ?it? ?was? ?still??possible? ?to? ?enter? ?if? ?one? ?bends? ?down.? ?The? ?hole? ?opening? ?was? ?jagged? ?and? ?slant,? ?but??appeared? ?more? ?to? ?be? ?haphazardly? ?man? ?made? ?rather? ?than? ?naturally? ?formed.? ?When? ?Xie??Lian? ?entered,? ?he? ?discovered? ?that? ?the? ?insides? ?were? ?actually? ?hollowed,? ?and? ?quite? ?deep.? ?It??was? ?dark? ?further? ?inside,? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?bother? ?looking? ?around? ?before? ?settling? ?down? ?where??there’s? ?light,? ?pat? ?the? ?sand? ?off? ?of? ?Ruoye,? ?and? ?wrapped? ?it? ?back? ?on? ?his? ?arm.???Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?were? ?both? ?spitting? ?out? ?sand;? ?they’re? ?covered? ?from? ?head? ?to? ?toe,? ?in??their? ?orifices? ?and? ?all? ?over? ?their? ?clothes.? ?They? ?peeled? ?off? ?their? ?outer? ?robes? ?and? ?shook??them,? ?dumping? ?small? ?mounds? ?of? ?sand? ?onto? ?the? ?ground.? ?Out? ?of? ?the? ?four,? ?only? ?San? ?Lang??looked? ?unruffled;? ?he? ?lazily? ?dusted? ?himself? ?off? ?and? ?was? ?proper? ?again.? ?Other? ?than? ?his??lopsided? ?ponytail,? ?his? ?carefree? ?form? ?remain? ?unaffected.? ?That? ?hair? ?was? ?tied? ?by? ?Xie? ?Lian??and? ?was? ?already? ?askew,? ?so? ?a? ?little? ?wind? ?made? ?no? ?noticeable? ?difference? ?anyway.???Nan? ?Feng? ?wiped? ?his? ?face? ?and? ?started? ?cursing? ?while? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?dumped? ?sand? ?from? ?his??bamboo? ?hat.? ?“Sigh,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?think? ?you? ?two? ?would? ?get? ?pulled? ?in? ?too.? ?Why? ?didn’t? ?you? ?use? ?the??Thousand? ?Pound? ?Weight? ?spell?”???“We? ?did!? ?It? ?was? ?useless!”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?said? ?spat? ?angrily.???From? ?the? ?side,? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?was? ?still? ?shaking? ?sand? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?outer? ?robe? ?and? ?said? ?nastily,??“Where? ?do? ?you? ?think? ?we? ?are?? ?This? ?is? ?a? ?desert? ?in? ?the? ?Northwest,? ?not? ?the? ?main? ?domain? ?of??my? ?general.”???Nan? ?Feng? ?continued,? ?“The? ?North? ?is? ?the? ?territory? ?of? ?the? ?two? ?General? ?Pei’s,? ?and? ?the? ?West??belongs? ?to? ?Quan? ?YiZhen.? ?You? ?won’t? ?find? ?a? ?Nan? ?Yang? ?temple? ?within? ?a? ?hundred? ?mile? ?radius??here.”???There’s? ?a? ?saying? ?that? ?a? ?powerful? ?dragon? ?can’t? ?win? ?against? ?local? ?overlord? ?snakes;? ?Nan??Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?represent? ?generals? ?of? ?the? ?Southeast? ?and? ?Southwest,? ?so? ?their? ?powers??were? ?restricted? ?outside? ?their? ?own? ?territories.????“That’s? ?really? ?quite? ?hard? ?on? ?you? ?guys.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?their? ?annoyed? ?faces? ?and??sympathized? ?thinking? ?this? ?might? ?have? ?been? ?their? ?first? ?time? ?getting? ?pulled? ?into? ?a? ?twister??and? ?tumble? ?about.????San? ?Lang? ?sat? ?down? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?and? ?with? ?a? ?hand? ?propping? ?up? ?his? ?cheek,? ?he? ?asked,? ?“So??are? ?we? ?just? ?gonna? ?sit? ?here? ?until? ?the? ?storm? ?blows? ?over?”???“Looks? ?like? ?that’ll? ?have? ?to? ?be? ?the? ?case,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?him? ?and? ?replied.? ?“As? ?strong? ?as??that? ?twister? ?is,? ?it? ?can’t? ?possibly? ?blow? ?a? ?giant? ?rock? ?into? ?the? ?sky.”???“You? ?never? ?know.? ?Like? ?you? ?said,? ?there’s? ?something? ?off? ?about? ?that? ?wind.”???A? ?thought? ?came? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?may? ?I? ?ask? ?a? ?question?”???“Go? ?ahead,”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied.???“That? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?is? ?it? ?a? ?man? ?or? ?a? ?woman?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???“Have? ?I? ?not? ?said? ?so? ?earlier?? ?It’s? ?a? ?woman.”???Just? ?as? ?he? ?suspected,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought,? ?and? ?said,? ?“Earlier? ?when? ?we? ?were? ?resting? ?at? ?the??abandoned? ?inn,? ?didn’t? ?we? ?see? ?two? ?figures? ?pass? ?by?? ?The? ?one? ?in? ?white? ?was? ?a? ?woman??cultivator.”???Fu? ?Yao? ?looked? ?doubtful,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?easy? ?to? ?identify? ?whether? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?man? ?or? ?woman? ?by??those? ?robes,? ?and? ?that? ?individual? ?looked? ?taller? ?than? ?your? ?average? ?woman.? ?Are? ?you? ?sure??you? ?saw? ?right?”???“I’m? ?absolutely? ?sure,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?“So? ?I? ?thought? ?she? ?might? ?be? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue.”???“It’s? ?possible.”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?said,? ?“But? ?there? ?was? ?another? ?black? ?clad? ?figure? ?traveling? ?next? ?to??her,? ?who? ?could? ?that? ?be?”????“Hard? ?to? ?say,? ?but,? ?that? ?person? ?was? ?walking? ?even? ?faster? ?than? ?she? ?was,? ?their? ?strength? ?is??definitely? ?not? ?below? ?hers.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???“Could? ?it? ?have? ?been? ?the? ?other? ?evil? ?guoshi,? ?Fang? ?Xin?”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?wondered.???“I? ?think? ?in? ?regards? ?to? ?that,? ?the? ?whole? ?‘Dual? ?Wicked? ?Masters’? ?title? ?is? ?given? ?only? ?because??historically? ?what? ?they’ve? ?done? ?is? ?similar,? ?both? ?equally? ?evil,? ?so? ?people? ?connected? ?them??together? ?as? ?a? ?double? ?to? ?help? ?remember? ?them? ?easier.? ?Like? ?the? ?whole? ?‘Four? ?Infamous??Sights’? ?or? ?‘Four? ?Great? ?Calamities’,? ?even? ?if? ?there? ?aren’t? ?four,? ?there? ?are? ?four? ?because? ?it’s??simpler.”? ?Hearing? ?this,? ?San? ?Lang? ?burst? ?out? ?laughing? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stared? ?at? ?him.???“It’s? ?nothing,”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said,? ?“I? ?just? ?thought? ?what? ?you? ?said? ?made? ?sense.? ?One? ?of? ?the? ?four??in? ?the? ?Four? ?Great? ?Calamities? ?certainly? ?is? ?only? ?there? ?for? ?the? ?count.? ?Please? ?continue.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?continued,? ?“In? ?reality? ?the? ?Dual? ?Wicked? ?Masters? ?shouldn’t? ?have? ?any? ?relations? ?to??each? ?other.? ?I’ve? ?heard? ?of? ?Master? ?Fang? ?Xin;? ?he? ?was? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?YongAn,? ?born? ?at? ?least? ?a??hundred? ?years? ?earlier? ?than? ?Master? ?BanYue.”???“You? ?don’t? ?know? ?the? ?Four? ?Great? ?Calamities? ?in? ?the? ?ghost? ?realm,? ?but? ?you? ?know? ?about??Master? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?of? ?YongAn? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm?”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?asked? ?in? ?disbelief.???“There? ?are? ?some? ?things? ?I’d? ?learn? ?while? ?collecting? ?junk? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm.? ?It’s? ?not? ?like? ?I??collect? ?junk? ?in? ?the? ?ghost? ?realm,? ?so? ?of? ?course? ?I? ?don’t? ?learn? ?things? ?about? ?them.”? ?Xie? ?Lian??explained.???The? ?wind? ?outside? ?the? ?hole? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?blowing? ?softer,? ?and? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?walked? ?closer? ?to??the? ?opening,? ?patting? ?the? ?rocky? ?surface? ?here? ?and? ?there,? ?feeling? ?its? ?make.? ?“Why? ?would??there? ?be? ?a? ?hollow? ?rock? ?like? ?this? ?in? ?the? ?middle? ?of? ?a? ?desert?”? ?He? ?thought? ?the? ?boulder? ?was??rather? ?suspicious,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?think? ?so.???“They’re? ?not? ?rare.? ?Back? ?then? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?BanYue? ?would? ?build? ?shelters? ?like? ?this? ?to? ?hide??from? ?sandstorms? ?or? ?even? ?for? ?passing? ?nights? ?while? ?out? ?grazing? ?livestock.? ?Some? ?holes??weren’t? ?dug? ?but? ?blown? ?out.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???“How? ?can? ?there? ?be? ?grazing? ?in? ?a? ?desert?”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?asked,? ?confused.???Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?“It? ?wasn’t? ?all? ?desert? ?here? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago.? ?There? ?used? ?to? ?be? ?an??oasis.”???“Gege,”? ?San? ?Lang? ?called.???“What? ?is? ?it?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?responded.???San? ?Lang? ?raised? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?pointed,? ?“The? ?rock? ?you’re? ?sitting? ?on? ?seems? ?to? ?have? ?writing??on? ?it.”???“What?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?down,? ?then? ?stood? ?up? ?and? ?found? ?that? ?where? ?he? ?sat? ?was? ?actually??a? ?stone? ?slate.? ?After? ?having? ?wiped? ?off? ?some? ?dust,? ?there? ?were? ?indeed? ?letters? ?on? ?its? ?surface.??The? ?characters? ?were? ?carved? ?lightly? ?in? ?a? ?vertical? ?manner,? ?and? ?with? ?the? ?slate? ?half? ?buried? ?in??the? ?sand,? ?the? ?words? ?were? ?inconspicuous? ?and? ?shrouded? ?in? ?the? ?darkness.???If? ?there? ?are? ?writings? ?then? ?they? ?must? ?be? ?inspected!? ?“I? ?don’t? ?have? ?much? ?power? ?left.? ?Can??anyone? ?lend? ?me? ?a? ?palm? ?light?? ?Thanks!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???Nan? ?Feng? ?snapped? ?his? ?finger? ?and? ?a? ?small? ?burst? ?of? ?flames? ?ignited? ?in? ?his? ?palm.? ?Xie? ?Lian??stole? ?a? ?glance? ?at? ?San? ?Lang? ?but? ?he? ?didn’t? ?appear? ?surprised.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?supposed? ?that? ?after??seeing? ?the? ?Distance? ?Shortening? ?array,? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?much? ?more? ?to? ?be? ?surprised? ?about.??Nan? ?Feng? ?moved? ?his? ?palm? ?to? ?where? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?directed? ?him? ?and? ?brightened? ?the? ?writings??on? ?the? ?stone? ?slate.? ?The? ?characters? ?were? ?odd,? ?as? ?if? ?drawn? ?by? ?a? ?toddler,? ?slanting? ?and? ?wild.??“What? ?the? ?hell? ?is? ?this?”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?wondered.???“BanYue? ?writing,? ?duh.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied.???“I’m? ?sure? ?he? ?meant? ?the? ?meaning? ?of? ?those? ?words,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Let? ?me? ?see.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?cleaned? ?more? ?dust? ?and? ?sand? ?off? ?of? ?the? ?stone? ?slate,? ?and? ?revealed? ?the? ?first??column? ?of? ?writing? ?with? ?the? ?largest? ?characters.? ?They? ?must? ?make? ?the? ?headline.? ?The? ?same??characters? ?also? ?appeared? ?repeatedly? ?in? ?various? ?parts? ?of? ?the? ?body? ?of? ?the? ?writing.? ?Fu? ?Yao??approached? ?and? ?also? ?produced? ?a? ?palm? ?torch.? ?“You? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?read? ?BanYuenese?”???“Truth? ?to? ?be? ?told,? ?I’ve? ?collected? ?junk? ?in? ?BanYue? ?before? ?that? ?whatever? ?Wicked? ?Master? ?of??BanYue? ?came? ?about.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.???“...”???“Is? ?there? ?something? ?wrong?”???“Nothing,”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?humphed,? ?“Just? ?wondering? ?where? ?haven’t? ?you? ?collected? ?junk?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?flashed? ?a? ?smile? ?then? ?looked? ?down? ?again? ?at? ?the? ?characters,? ?and? ?suddenly? ?said,??“General,”????“What?”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?answered? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time.???Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?up,? ?“The? ?first? ?word? ?on? ?this? ?stone? ?slate? ?is? ?‘General’.”? ?He? ?paused? ?for? ?a??moment,? ?“But? ?there’s? ?another? ?character? ?after? ?that? ?I’m? ?unsure? ?the? ?meaning? ?of.”???Nan? ?Feng? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?sighed? ?in? ?relief,? ?“You? ?just? ?keep? ?looking? ?and? ?think.”????Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded? ?and? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?shifted? ?his? ?palm? ?over? ?further? ?to? ?light? ?up? ?the? ?other? ?words.??Something? ?didn’t? ?feel? ?right,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought.? ?There? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?something? ?more? ?at??the? ?peripheral? ?of? ?his? ?vision.? ?With? ?both? ?hands? ?pressed? ?on? ?the? ?rock,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his??head.???Above? ?the? ?stone? ?slate,? ?the? ?flickering? ?flames? ?illuminated? ?a? ?stiff? ?human? ?face.? ?This? ?face,??with? ?its? ?bulged? ?eyes,? ?was? ?looking? ?down? ?straight? ?at? ?him.???“AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!”???—???The? ?one? ?who? ?screamed? ?wasn’t? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?or? ?Nan? ?Feng,? ?but? ?that? ?stiff? ?face.???Nan? ?Feng? ?immediately? ?took? ?out? ?his? ?other? ?hand? ?and? ?ignited? ?it? ?too.? ?He? ?put? ?both? ?hands??together? ?and? ?grew? ?the? ?flames? ?until? ?it? ?was? ?finally? ?bright? ?enough? ?to? ?light? ?up? ?the? ?entire? ?cave.???The? ?one? ?whose? ?face? ?was? ?revealed? ?by? ?the? ?light? ?was? ?a? ?person? ?that? ?was? ?hiding? ?in? ?the??shadows? ?all? ?this? ?time,? ?and? ?when? ?the? ?flames? ?grew? ?bigger? ?he? ?scurried? ?alongside? ?the? ?walls??toward? ?the? ?inner? ?cave,? ?and? ?there? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?seven? ?to? ?eight? ?people? ?huddling? ?in? ?fear,??trembling.???“WHO? ?ARE? ?YOU?”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?shouted.???Nan? ?Feng’s? ?angry? ?cry? ?echoed? ?in? ?the? ?cave,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?whose? ?ears? ?were? ?still? ?ringing??from? ?the? ?scream? ?earlier,? ?covered? ?his? ?ears.? ?Noise? ?from? ?the? ?windstorms? ?had? ?deafened??their? ?hearing,? ?and? ?ever? ?since? ?they? ?entered? ?the? ?cave? ?they? ?had? ?been? ?discussing? ?the??Wicked? ?Master? ?of? ?BanYue? ?and? ?then? ?the? ?writing? ?on? ?the? ?stone? ?slate,? ?no? ?one? ?had? ?noticed??there? ?were? ?others? ?also? ?hiding? ?within? ?the? ?same? ?shelter.????The? ?seven? ?to? ?eight? ?people? ?shivered? ?for? ?a? ?while? ?before? ?an? ?elder? ?of? ?fifty? ?or? ?so? ?years??stammered,? ?“We’re? ?a? ?merchant? ?caravan? ?passing? ?through? ?the? ?area.? ?Just? ?normal??merchants.? ?The? ?sandstorm? ?is? ?too? ?big,? ?so? ?we’re? ?hiding? ?in? ?here? ?for? ?the? ?time? ?being.”???He? ?was? ?the? ?most? ?composed? ?in? ?the? ?group,? ?and? ?by? ?the? ?looks? ?of? ?it,? ?he? ?should? ?be? ?the? ?leader.??Nan? ?Feng? ?asked,? ?“If? ?you’re? ?normal? ?merchants? ?then? ?why? ?are? ?you? ?sneaking? ?around??hiding?”???That? ?elder? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?respond? ?when? ?a? ?youth? ?of? ?about? ?seventeen? ?years? ?shouted,? ?“We??weren’t? ?planning? ?on? ?sneaking? ?around!? ?But? ?you? ?guys? ?suddenly? ?rushed? ?in,? ?who? ?knows??whether? ?if? ?you’re? ?good? ?or? ?evil?? ?Then? ?we? ?keep? ?hearing? ?you? ?talk? ?about? ?the? ?Wicked? ?Master??of? ?BanYue,? ?some? ?ghost? ?realm,? ?and? ?igniting? ?fire? ?in? ?your? ?palms;? ?we? ?thought? ?you? ?guys? ?were??the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?out? ?patrolling? ?and? ?hunting? ?for? ?flesh!? ?No? ?way? ?we’d? ?make? ?a? ?sound!”???“Stop? ?talking,? ?Tian? ?Sheng.”? ?The? ?old? ?man? ?hushed? ?the? ?boy,? ?afraid? ?that? ?he? ?might? ?offend? ?the??other? ?party.????The? ?youth? ?had? ?thick? ?brows? ?and? ?large? ?eyes,? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?a? ?tiger.? ?But? ?he? ?shut? ?up??immediately? ?the? ?moment? ?an? ?elder? ?spoke.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?put? ?down? ?his? ?hands,? ?his? ?ears? ?no??longer? ?ringing,? ?and? ?smiled? ?brightly? ?to? ?relax? ?the? ?atmosphere.? ?“It’s? ?all? ?a? ?misunderstanding.??Let’s? ?all? ?relax? ?and? ?not? ?panic.”???He? ?paused? ?before? ?continuing? ?to? ?explain,? ?“We’re? ?not? ?BanYue? ?soldiers.? ?This? ?servant? ?is??only? ?a? ?cultivator? ?from? ?a? ?small? ?shrine.? ?These? ?are? ?...? ?people...? ?from? ?my? ?shrine.? ?We? ?only??know? ?small? ?tricks,? ?nothing? ?fancy.? ?You’re? ?normal? ?merchants,? ?and? ?we’re? ?normal? ?cultivators??without? ?malicious? ?intent.? ?It? ?just? ?so? ?happens? ?that? ?we? ?all? ?entered? ?the? ?same? ?shelter? ?to? ?hide??away? ?from? ?the? ?same? ?sandstorm.”???Xie? ?Lian’s? ?voice? ?was? ?soft? ?and? ?gentle,? ?each? ?word? ?spoken? ?slowly? ?to? ?calm? ?everyone’s??nerves.? ?After? ?much? ?explanation? ?and? ?reassurance,? ?the? ?masses? ?finally? ?relaxed.???Suddenly,? ?San? ?Lang? ?laughed,? ?“I? ?think? ?they’re? ?being? ?way? ?too? ?humble.? ?Those? ?merchants??aren’t? ?as? ?simple? ?as? ?they? ?say? ?they? ?are.”???No? ?one? ?understood? ?what? ?he? ?meant? ?and? ?looked? ?at? ?him? ?in? ?confusion,? ?“Don’t? ?at? ?least? ?half??the? ?travelers? ?go? ?missing? ?when? ?passing? ?through? ?the? ?BanYue? ?Pass?? ?To? ?cross? ?this? ?land??when? ?knowing? ?this? ?rumour,? ?surely? ?you’re? ?all? ?extraordinarily? ?brave.? ?Nothing? ?normal? ?about??you.”????“That’s? ?not? ?all? ?true,? ?young? ?man.”? ?The? ?elder? ?responded.? ?“Some? ?caravans? ?have? ?passed??through? ?without? ?harm? ?before!”???“Oh?”? ?San? ?Lang? ?hummed.???“As? ?long? ?as? ?you? ?find? ?the? ?right? ?guide? ?and? ?go? ?around? ?the? ?BanYue? ?territory? ?then? ?all? ?is? ?well.??So,? ?this? ?time? ?we? ?especially? ?found? ?a? ?local? ?to? ?lead? ?us.”? ?The? ?elder? ?said.???“Yea!”? ?That? ?youth? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“It? ?all? ?depends? ?on? ?the? ?guide!? ?We? ?owe? ?everything??to? ?A-Zhao-ge!? ?If? ?not? ?for? ?him? ?we? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?been? ?able? ?to? ?avoid? ?all? ?those? ?quicksands.??When? ?the? ?sandstorm? ?started,? ?he? ?knew? ?exactly? ?where? ?to? ?bring? ?us? ?to? ?hide,? ?otherwise? ?we??would? ?be? ?buried? ?alive? ?in? ?sand? ?by? ?now!”???Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?glance;? ?this? ?A-Zhao? ?who? ?guided? ?them? ?looked? ?rather? ?young,? ?seemingly? ?in??his? ?twenties? ?with? ?a? ?clean,? ?respectable? ?face.? ?When? ?he? ?was? ?praised? ?by? ?the? ?other? ?two,? ?he??didn’t? ?make? ?a? ?show? ?of? ?it,? ?only? ?turning? ?away? ?glumly,? ?“It’s? ?nothing.? ?Just? ?doing? ?my? ?duty.??Hopefully? ?when? ?the? ?wind? ?dies? ?down? ?none? ?of? ?the? ?camels? ?or? ?shipments? ?would? ?be??damaged.”???“They’ll? ?be? ?fine? ?for? ?sure!”???The? ?merchants? ?were? ?all? ?very? ?optimistic,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?a? ?feeling? ?things? ?weren’t? ?as??simple? ?as? ?they? ?all? ?thought.????If? ?all? ?troubles? ?could? ?be? ?avoided? ?by? ?simply? ?not? ?crossing? ?into? ?BanYue? ?territory,? ?then? ?did? ?all??the? ?former? ?travelers? ?who? ?lost? ?their? ?lives? ?die? ?because? ?they? ?didn’t? ?believe? ?in? ?the? ?rumours?????Xie? ?Lian? ?gave? ?it? ?some? ?thought? ?and? ?said? ?to? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?in? ?a? ?quiet? ?voice,? ?“This??is? ?too? ?sudden.? ?Once? ?this? ?storm? ?passes? ?we’ll? ?need? ?to? ?make? ?sure? ?these? ?people? ?pass??safely? ?before? ?going? ?to? ?the? ?BanYue? ?ruins.”???Then,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?back? ?down? ?to? ?continue? ?deciphering? ?the? ?BanYue? ?writing? ?on? ?the??stone? ?slate.? ?He? ?recognized? ?the? ?word? ?‘General’? ?earlier,? ?but? ?that? ?was? ?because? ?it? ?was? ?a??word? ?often? ?used.? ?It? ?had? ?been? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?since? ?he? ?last? ?visited? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of??BanYue.? ?Even? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?fluent? ?then,? ?it? ?had? ?all? ?been? ?forgotten? ?since.? ?To? ?suddenly? ?pick? ?up??the? ?burden? ?of? ?translation? ?really? ?required? ?time? ?and? ?patience.? ?Just? ?then,? ?San? ?Lang? ?said,??“Tomb? ?of? ?the? ?General.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?remembered? ?now.? ?The? ?last? ?character? ?was? ?the? ?word? ?for? ?‘Tomb’;? ?‘Grave’,? ?“Burial’,??and? ?other? ?synonyms.? ?He? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?him,? ?amazed,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?do? ?you? ?know??BanYuenese? ?too?”???San? ?Lang? ?smiled,? ?“Not? ?much.? ?I? ?only? ?know? ?a? ?few? ?words? ?because? ?they’re? ?interesting.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?already? ?used? ?to? ?him? ?saying? ?that.? ?The? ?word? ?‘tomb’? ?was? ?not? ?one? ?often? ?used;??if? ?San? ?Lang? ?really? ?only? ?knew? ?‘not? ?much’,? ?how? ?would? ?he? ?happen? ?to? ?know? ?exactly? ?just? ?what??that? ?one? ?character? ?meant?? ?His? ?‘not? ?much’? ?has? ?come? ?to? ?mean? ?‘ask? ?away’,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian??seized? ?the? ?chance.? ?“Excellent!? ?Maybe? ?the? ?characters? ?you? ?recognize? ?happen? ?to? ?be? ?the??ones? ?I? ?don’t? ?know.? ?Come? ?closer? ?and? ?let’s? ?examine? ?this? ?together.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?waved? ?his? ?hand? ?lightly? ?to? ?beckon,? ?so? ?San? ?Lang? ?went? ?over.? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu??Yao? ?stood? ?next? ?to? ?them,? ?lighting? ?the? ?tomb? ?for? ?them? ?to? ?read? ?with? ?their? ?palm? ?torches.? ?Xie??Lian? ?lightly? ?touched? ?the? ?words? ?with? ?his? ?fingers,? ?reviewing? ?the? ?writing? ?in? ?low? ?voices? ?with??San? ?Lang,? ?softly? ?reading? ?the? ?words.? ?The? ?more? ?they? ?read,? ?the? ?more? ?amazed? ?they? ?look,??before? ?gradually? ?becoming? ?more? ?glum.????The? ?merchant? ?boy? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?was? ?young? ?after? ?all,? ?and? ?youths? ?were? ?prone? ?to? ?curiosity.??After? ?the? ?slight? ?altercation? ?earlier,? ?it? ?was? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?had? ?become? ?familiar,? ?so? ?he? ?called? ?out,??“Gege,? ?what? ?does? ?it? ?say? ?on? ?the? ?rock?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?and? ?replied,? ?“This? ?stone? ?slate? ?is? ?a? ?memorial;? ?it? ?told? ?the? ?story? ?of??the? ?life? ?of? ?a? ?general.”???“A? ?BanYue? ?general?”? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?asked.???“No,? ?a? ?Midlands? ?general.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?answered.???“A? ?Midlands? ?general?”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?was? ?puzzled,? ?“Why? ?would? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?BanYue? ?build??a? ?memorial? ?for? ?a? ?Midlander?? ?I? ?thought? ?the? ?two? ?kingdoms? ?were? ?constantly? ?at? ?war? ?with??each? ?other?”????“This? ?general? ?is? ?special”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied.? ?“Although? ?the? ?memorial? ?called? ?him? ?a? ?general,??he? ?was? ?actually? ?no? ?more? ?than? ?a? ?captain.”???“But? ?was? ?he? ?promoted? ?to? ?general? ?later?”???“No.? ?And,? ?at? ?the? ?beginning,? ?he? ?lead? ?troops? ?of? ?hundreds,? ?before? ?dwindling? ?to? ?a? ?troop? ?of??seventy,? ?then? ?to? ?fifty.”???“...”???“In? ?other? ?words,? ?continued? ?demotion.”???The? ?feeling? ?of? ?being? ?demoted? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?of? ?nothing? ?is? ?quite? ?familiar? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?he??could? ?feel? ?eyes? ?on? ?him.? ?He? ?pretended? ?not? ?to? ?notice? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?decipher? ?the??BanYue? ?writing.? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?couldn’t? ?understand? ?and? ?asked,? ?“What? ?kind? ?of? ?official? ?gets??demoted? ?lower? ?and? ?lower? ?in? ?rank?? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?he? ?didn’t? ?make? ?any? ?major? ?mistakes,? ?there??should? ?only? ?be? ?delays? ?in? ?promotion,? ?not? ?demotion?? ?How? ?much? ?of? ?a? ?failure? ?do? ?you? ?have??to? ?be?”???“...”???Xie? ?Lian? ?rolled? ?his? ?right? ?hand? ?into? ?a? ?fist? ?and? ?raised? ?it? ?to? ?his? ?lips.? ?He? ?faintly? ?cleared? ?his??throat? ?and? ?replied? ?in? ?a? ?sternly,? ?“Little? ?kid,? ?receiving? ?continuous? ?demotion? ?is? ?not? ?as? ?rare? ?as??you? ?think.”???“Huh?”????San? ?Lang? ?chuckled,? ?“It’s? ?true.? ?It? ?happens? ?a? ?lot.”? ?He? ?paused? ?before? ?continuing,? ?“This??captain? ?got? ?demoted? ?time? ?and? ?time? ?again? ?not? ?because? ?he? ?was? ?incapable? ?and??incompetent? ?for? ?duty,? ?but? ?because? ?despite? ?poor? ?relations? ?on? ?both? ?sides,? ?instead? ?of??winning? ?battles? ?on? ?the? ?battlefield,? ?he? ?kept? ?getting? ?in? ?the? ?way.”???“What? ?do? ?you? ?mean,? ?‘getting? ?in? ?the? ?way’?”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?asked.???“He? ?prevented? ?his? ?enemies? ?from? ?killing? ?Midland? ?civilians,? ?and? ?he? ?also? ?blocked? ?his? ?own??army? ?from? ?killing? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?BanYue.? ?Every? ?time? ?he? ?did? ?this? ?he? ?got? ?demoted? ?a? ?rank.”???San? ?Lang? ?spoke? ?lightheartedly,? ?and? ?the? ?seven? ?to? ?eight? ?merchants? ?sat? ?closer? ?to? ?him? ?like??it’s? ?story? ?time.? ?Soon? ?they? ?got? ?into? ?it? ?and? ?started? ?commentating.????“I? ?don’t? ?think? ?the? ?captain? ?did? ?anything? ?wrong!”? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?remarked,? ?“It? ?shouldn’t? ?be? ?a??problem? ?if? ?you? ?let? ?soldiers? ?kill? ?each? ?other? ?but? ?not? ?civilians,? ?right?”???“He’s? ?too? ?blindly? ?kind? ?for? ?a? ?soldier,? ?but? ?overall,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?commit? ?any? ?crimes?”???“Yeah,? ?he’s? ?saving? ?lives,? ?not? ?killing? ?people!”???Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled? ?at? ?all? ?the? ?comments.???The? ?merchants? ?before? ?them? ?never? ?lived? ?a? ?day? ?at? ?a? ?battle-torn? ?border,? ?and? ?were? ?not? ?the??same? ?people? ?of? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago.? ?The? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue? ?had? ?long? ?perished.? ?It??was? ?easy? ?for? ?them? ?to? ?say? ?this,? ?criticize? ?that,? ?even? ?compliment,? ?but? ?the? ?actions? ?of? ?that??captain? ?weren’t? ?so? ?easily? ?forgiven? ?then,? ?not? ?with? ?a? ?simple? ?“He’s? ?just? ?blindly? ?kind”.????Within? ?the? ?group,? ?only? ?A-Zhao? ?who? ?understood? ?better,? ?probably? ?because? ?he? ?was? ?a? ?local,??“Now? ?is? ?now,? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago? ?is? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago.? ?To? ?only? ?receive??demotion? ?was? ?already? ?a? ?blessing? ?for? ?this? ?captain.”???Fu? ?Yao? ?however,? ?clicked? ?his? ?tongue.? ?“Laughable.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?pretty? ?much? ?guess? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?say,? ?and? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead.????As? ?he? ?expected,? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?looked? ?rather? ?troubled? ?under? ?the? ?light? ?of? ?the? ?flickering? ?flames.??“One? ?must? ?do? ?the? ?duty? ?as? ?demanded? ?by? ?their? ?position.? ?If? ?he? ?became? ?a? ?soldier,? ?then? ?he??must? ?always? ?remember? ?to? ?defend? ?his? ?country,? ?and? ?kill? ?enemies? ?in? ?the? ?front? ?lines.??Casualties? ?are? ?inevitable? ?in? ?war.? ?Such? ?soft-heartedness? ?has? ?no? ?place? ?in? ?war,? ?and? ?will??only? ?drag? ?down? ?his? ?fellow? ?soldiers.? ?His? ?enemies? ?will? ?also? ?think? ?him? ?foolish.? ?No? ?one? ?will??thank? ?him? ?in? ?the? ?end.”???Fu? ?Yao’s? ?words? ?had? ?irrefutable? ?logic,? ?and? ?silence? ?soon? ?filled? ?the? ?cave.? ?He? ?continued??drily,? ?“People? ?like? ?that? ?only? ?have? ?one? ?end? ?–? ?death.? ?They? ?will? ?either? ?die? ?in? ?battle? ?or? ?in? ?the??hands? ?of? ?their? ?own? ?people.”???After? ?becoming? ?speechless? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?broke? ?the? ?silence,? ?“Yea.? ?You’re? ?quite??right.? ?He? ?did? ?die.”???Tian? ?Sheng? ?was? ?shocked,? ?“Ah!? ?How? ?did? ?he? ?die?? ?Was? ?he? ?really? ?killed? ?by? ?his? ?own??people?”????Xie? ?Lian? ?chewed? ?on? ?his? ?words? ?but? ?still? ?replied? ?in? ?the? ?end,? ?“Not? ?really...? ?Here? ?it? ?says? ?that??there? ?was? ?once? ?when? ?both? ?sides? ?clashed,? ?as? ?they? ?fought,? ?this? ?man’s? ?boot? ?laces? ?came??loose? ?and? ?he? ?stepped? ?on? ?it,? ?tripped,? ?then...”???Everyone? ?in? ?the? ?cave? ?had? ?thought? ?the? ?death? ?would? ?have? ?been? ?tragic? ?but? ?heroic,? ?so? ?they??wre? ?all? ?taken? ?aback? ?at? ?first,? ?thinking? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?death? ?was? ?that?? ?And? ?laughter??exploded,? ?“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH”???“Is? ?that? ?so? ?funny?”? ?San? ?Lang? ?arched? ?his? ?brows.???Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?piped? ?up,? ?“Ahem.Yea,? ?it’s? ?rather? ?tragic.? ?Let’s? ?be? ?more? ?sympathetic? ?and? ?not??laugh,? ?yea?? ?We’re? ?in? ?his? ?tomb? ?after? ?all,? ?let’s? ?give? ?him? ?some? ?face.”???“I? ?don’t? ?mean? ?anything? ?malicious? ?by? ?laughing!”? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?immediately? ?claimed,? ?“But? ?his??death? ?is? ?just...? ?so...? ?hahah...”???There? ?was? ?nothing? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?do.? ?Reading? ?the? ?epitaph? ?to? ?this? ?point,? ?even? ?he? ?wanted??to? ?laugh,? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?comment? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?translate.? ?“In? ?any? ?case,? ?even? ?though??this? ?captain? ?didn’t? ?have? ?a? ?good? ?reputation? ?in? ?the? ?army,? ?the? ?border? ?citizens? ?were? ?all? ?very??grateful? ?of? ?his? ?efforts? ?and? ?called? ?him? ?‘General’.? ?They? ?built? ?this? ?simple? ?stone? ?tomb? ?for? ?him,??and? ?erected? ?a? ?stone? ?slate? ?to? ?remember? ?him? ?by.”???“Later,? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?BanYue? ?discovered? ?another? ?miraculous? ?thing? ?about? ?this? ?memorial:??as? ?long? ?as? ?one? ?kowtows? ?before? ?this? ?stone? ?slate? ?three? ?times,? ?one? ?can? ?transform? ?all??disasters? ?met? ?in? ?the? ?Gobi? ?to? ?good? ?fortune.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?completed? ?the? ?translation.???His? ?tone? ?of? ?voice? ?was? ?mysterious? ?and? ?meaningful,? ?very? ?convincing.? ?His? ?expression? ?was??also? ?serious,? ?so? ?when? ?the? ?group? ?heard,? ?several? ?of? ?them? ?immediately? ?started? ?prostrating,??muttering? ?that? ?they’d? ?rather? ?believe? ?it? ?true? ?than? ?not.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?however,? ?was? ?confused,??“Wha-?? ?Is? ?that? ?written? ?here?? ?Is? ?it? ?really? ?that? ?magical?”???San? ?Lang? ?smiled? ?softly? ?and? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?lowered? ?voice,? ?“No.? ?I? ?made? ?that? ?up.? ?But? ?since? ?they??laughed? ?earlier,? ?their? ?prostrating? ?now? ?should? ?make? ?up? ?for? ?it.”????Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?back? ?at? ?the? ?stone? ?slate? ?and? ?saw? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?indeed? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?the??epitaph? ?and? ?there? ?were? ?no? ?more? ?words.? ?At? ?first? ?he? ?was? ?feeling? ?a? ?bit? ?woeful,? ?but? ?now? ?he??thought? ?it? ?funny,? ?and? ?whispered? ?back,? ?“Why? ?are? ?you? ?so? ?mischievous?”????San? ?Lang? ?stuck? ?out? ?his? ?tongue,? ?and? ?the? ?two? ?chuckled.????Just? ?then,? ?someone? ?shrieked,? ?“WHAT’S? ?THIS???”???The? ?shriek? ?echoed? ?in? ?the? ?cave,? ?sharply? ?reverberating? ?against? ?the? ?walls,? ?causing? ?all? ?the??hairs? ?to? ?stand.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?instantly? ?turned? ?toward? ?where? ?the? ?shriek? ?came? ?from? ?and??demanded,? ?“What? ?happened?”???Where? ?the? ?merchants? ?were? ?once? ?sitting,? ?everyone? ?had? ?scrambled? ?in? ?a? ?flash,? ?scurrying??away? ?in? ?fear? ?and? ?alarm.???“SNAKE!”???Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?moved? ?their? ?palms? ?toward? ?the? ?commotion? ?and? ?lit? ?up? ?the? ?ground? ?in??that? ?direction.? ?Curled? ?on? ?the? ?sandy? ?floor? ?was? ?a? ?slender,? ?brilliantly? ?coloured? ?snake!???“Why? ?is? ?there? ?a? ?snake?!”? ?The? ?crowd? ?was? ?growing? ?increasingly? ?anxious.???“Why...? ?why? ?did? ?this? ?snake? ?not? ?make? ?any? ?noise? ?when? ?it? ?slithered? ?out?”???When? ?the? ?flames? ?lit? ?up? ?over? ?the? ?snake? ?it? ?instantly? ?became? ?alert? ?and? ?raised? ?itself? ?to? ?a??position? ?of? ?attack.? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?torch? ?it? ?when? ?someone? ?leisurely? ?strolled? ?over,??and? ?easily? ?snatched? ?the? ?snake? ?with? ?his? ?left? ?hand,? ?clutching? ?it? ?at? ?its? ?heart.? ?He? ?brought? ?it??closer? ?to? ?observe? ?it? ?and? ?said,? ?“Isn’t? ?it? ?normal? ?to? ?have? ?snakes? ?in? ?the? ?desert?”???Someone? ?this? ?unscrupulous? ?and? ?gutsy? ?was? ?of? ?course? ?San? ?Lang.? ?They? ?say? ?to? ?fight? ?a??snake,? ?seize? ?where? ?the? ?heart? ?is,? ?and? ?if? ?pressed? ?down? ?hard? ?enough,? ?no? ?matter? ?how??venomous? ?its? ?fangs? ?it’d? ?be? ?helpless.? ?The? ?snake? ?wrapped? ?its? ?long? ?tail? ?around? ?San? ?Lang’s??left? ?arm? ?meekly,? ?and? ?in? ?closer? ?range? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?see? ?clearly? ?the? ?snake? ?had??translucent? ?skin,? ?its? ?vivid? ?red? ?insides? ?mixed? ?with? ?threads? ?of? ?black? ?visible,? ?resembling??inner? ?organs? ?and? ?rather? ?disgusting.? ?The? ?tail? ?was? ?the? ?colour? ?of? ?flesh,? ?segmented? ?like??layers? ?of? ?a? ?hard? ?shell,? ?unlike? ?that? ?of? ?a? ?snake? ?but? ?a? ?scorpion.???Seeing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?face? ?changed,? ?and? ?called? ?out,? ?“Watch? ?out? ?for? ?its? ?tail!”???Before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finished? ?his? ?sentence? ?the? ?long? ?snake? ?body? ?that? ?was? ?wrapped? ?around??San? ?Lang’s? ?left? ?arm? ?suddenly? ?let? ?go,? ?the? ?tail? ?end? ?paralleling? ?the? ?head? ?snapped??backwards,? ?and? ?tried? ?to? ?stab? ?viciously? ?towards? ?San? ?Lang.???Venomous? ?as? ?the? ?tail? ?was,? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?right? ?hand? ?was? ?faster,? ?and? ?easily? ?caught? ?the? ?tail.??Now? ?holding? ?both? ?head? ?and? ?tail,? ?San? ?Lang? ?showed? ?off? ?the? ?snake? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?like? ?it? ?was??an? ?interesting? ?toy,? ?laughing,? ?“This? ?tail? ?is? ?pretty? ?cool.”????On? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?the? ?tail? ?grew? ?a? ?long? ?flesh? ?red? ?needle,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?in? ?relief.? ?“I’m??glad? ?you? ?weren’t? ?pricked.? ?Looks? ?like? ?this? ?is? ?a? ?Scorpion? ?Snake.”???Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?came? ?around? ?to? ?observe? ?the? ?snake? ?too,? ?“Scorpion? ?Snake?”???“That’s? ?right.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?“It’s? ?a? ?rare? ?poisonous? ?vermin? ?found? ?only? ?in? ?BanYue,? ?scarce??in? ?numbers.? ?I’ve? ?never? ?seen? ?them? ?before? ?but? ?I’ve? ?heard? ?of? ?them.? ?Body? ?of? ?a? ?snake,? ?tail? ?of??a? ?scorpion,? ?its? ?venom? ?is? ?the? ?strength? ?of? ?both? ?combined,? ?and? ?if? ?bitten? ?or? ?pricked...”???Xie? ?Lian? ?trailed? ?off? ?watching? ?San? ?Lang? ?twisting? ?the? ?snake,? ?pulling? ?and? ?squeezing? ?it? ?like??it’s? ?a? ?towel,? ?stopping? ?short? ?of? ?tying? ?it? ?into? ?a? ?bow.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?speechless? ?for? ?a? ?moment.??“San? ?Lang,? ?stop? ?playing? ?with? ?the? ?poor? ?thing,? ?it’s? ?dangerous.”???San? ?Lang? ?laughed,? ?“Don’t? ?worry,? ?gege,? ?it’s? ?nothing.? ?The? ?Scorpion? ?Snake? ?is? ?the? ?symbol? ?of??the? ?BanYue? ?Guoshi,? ?gotta? ?take? ?this? ?rare? ?chance? ?to? ?examine? ?it!”???“The? ?symbol? ?of? ?the? ?BanYue? ?Guoshi?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked? ?in? ?awe.???“That’s? ?right.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said.? ?“Apparently? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?could? ?control? ?these??scorpion? ?snakes? ?that? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?BanYue? ?believed? ?in? ?her? ?powers? ?and? ?worshipped? ?her.”???Hearing? ?the? ?word? ?‘control’? ?brought? ?alarm? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?When? ?it? ?comes? ?to? ?controlling??anything,? ?whatever? ?it? ?may? ?be? ?they? ?usually? ?come? ?in? ?mass? ?numbers.? ?“Everyone,? ?leave? ?this??cave!? ?There? ?may? ?be? ?more? ?than? ?one? ?scorpion? ?snake...”???“AAahh!!!”? ?A? ?voice? ?cried? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?finish? ?his? ?words.???“SNAKE!”? ?Other? ?voices? ?started? ?yelling,? ?“So? ?many? ?snakes!!!”????“Over? ?here? ?too!”???From? ?within? ?the? ?shadows,? ?seven? ?or? ?eight? ?scorpion? ?snakes? ?soundlessly? ?slithered? ?into? ?the??cave.? ?They? ?came? ?so? ?swiftly? ?and? ?quietly? ?from? ?unknown? ?crevices? ?but? ?they? ?didn’t? ?attack??anyone,? ?only? ?watching,? ?judging.? ?Soundless? ?in? ?both? ?movement? ?and? ?attack,? ?not? ?even??hissing? ?from? ?their? ?tongues.? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?released? ?two? ?fireballs? ?and? ?shot? ?them??towards? ?the? ?snakes,? ?exploding? ?into? ?flames? ?inside? ?the? ?cave.???“Get? ?out!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?yelled.???No? ?one? ?needed? ?to? ?be? ?told? ?twice,? ?and? ?all? ?ran? ?outside.? ?Luckily? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?light? ?out? ?and? ?the??twister? ?had? ?long? ?passed,? ?the? ?windstorm? ?died? ?down.? ?The? ?group? ?of? ?them? ?escaped? ?out? ?into??open? ?ground? ?and? ?kept? ?running.? ?As? ?they? ?ran,? ?someone? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“That? ?stone? ?memorial? ?is??too? ?scary!? ?How? ?come? ?after? ?we? ?kowtowed? ?three? ?times? ?we? ?still? ?ran? ?into? ?stuff? ?like? ?that??”???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?thankful? ?that? ?they? ?didn’t? ?know? ?those? ?last? ?words? ?were? ?fabricated? ?by? ?San??Lang,? ?but? ?then? ?he? ?heard? ?someone? ?else? ?say,? ?“Yea!? ?It’s’s? ?pretty? ?much? ?the? ?same? ?effect? ?as??worshipping? ?that? ?Scrap? ?Immortal!? ?The? ?more? ?you? ?pray? ?the? ?more? ?unlucky? ?you? ?become!”???“...”???In? ?a? ?place? ?where? ?barely? ?any? ?sticks? ?can? ?hit? ?him,? ?he’d? ?still? ?get? ?shot? ?by? ?an? ?arrow.? ?Xie? ?Lian??was? ?speechless.? ?Suddenly,? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?yelped? ?in? ?alarm,? ?“UNCLE? ?ZHENG!”? ?That? ?elder??he? ?was? ?assisting? ?had? ?collapsed.???Xie? ?Lian? ?darted? ?over,? ?“What? ?happened?”???Pain? ?filled? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?old? ?man? ?Zheng,? ?and? ?he? ?raised? ?a? ?shaky? ?hand.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?grabbed??hold? ?of? ?the? ?hand? ?and? ?frowned,? ?his? ?heart? ?sinking.? ?There? ?was? ?an? ?growing? ?angry? ?swelling??that? ?was? ?spreading? ?rapidly? ?down? ?his? ?palm,? ?and? ?within? ?the? ?red? ?and? ?purple? ?there? ?were? ?two??small? ?punctures,? ?barely? ?visible.? ?A? ?wound? ?this? ?tiny? ?would? ?not? ?have? ?been? ?noticed? ?before? ?it??was? ?too? ?late.????“Everyone,? ?check? ?and? ?see? ?if? ?you? ?have? ?any? ?wounds? ?on? ?your? ?bodies!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?called? ?out??immediately,? ?“If? ?there? ?are,? ?use? ?a? ?rope? ?to? ?tie? ?it? ?down!”????Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?the? ?hand? ?over? ?to? ?examine? ?it? ?further,? ?and? ?saw? ?that? ?the? ?red? ?and? ?purple??swelling? ?was? ?climbing? ?up? ?the? ?veins? ?of? ?the? ?arm.? ?He? ?was? ?just? ?about? ?to? ?unravel? ?Ruoye??when? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?A-Zhao? ?ripped? ?a? ?strip? ?of? ?fabric? ?from? ?his? ?own? ?clothing? ?and? ?promptly??knotted? ?it? ?dead? ?tight? ?on? ?the? ?old? ?man’s? ?bicep? ?to? ?prevent? ?the? ?venom? ?from? ?progressing.? ?Xie??Lian? ?was? ?amazed? ?by? ?his? ?speed.? ?He? ?looked? ?up? ?and? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?wordless? ?took? ?out? ?a??medicine? ?bottle? ?and? ?popped? ?out? ?a? ?pill? ?for? ?the? ?old? ?man? ?to? ?swallow.????“Uncle!? ?Are? ?you? ?ok?”? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?cried,? ?“A-Zhao-ge,? ?uncle? ?won’t? ?die,? ?will? ?he?”???A-Zhao? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“To? ?get? ?bitten? ?by? ?the? ?scorpion? ?snake? ?means? ?certain? ?death? ?within??four? ?hours.”???Tian? ?Sheng? ?was? ?shaken,? ?“Then...? ?what? ?do? ?we? ?do??”????Old? ?man? ?Zheng? ?was? ?the? ?leader? ?of? ?the? ?caravan,? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?merchants? ?also? ?started??panicking,? ?“This? ?buddy? ?here? ?just? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?pill,? ?right?”???“That? ?wasn’t? ?an? ?antidote,”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?for? ?temporary? ?longevity.? ?The? ?most? ?it? ?can??give? ?him? ?is? ?twenty-four? ?hours.”????The? ?crowd? ?became? ?even? ?more? ?distressed,? ?“Only? ?twenty-four? ?hours?”???“Does? ?that? ?mean? ?we? ?can? ?only? ?sit? ?here? ?and? ?wait? ?for? ?death? ?to? ?come?”???“Is? ?there? ?no? ?saving? ?him? ?from? ?this? ?venom?”???Right? ?then,? ?San? ?Lang? ?walked? ?over? ?slowly,? ?“There? ?is? ?a? ?way.”???Everyone? ?turned? ?to? ?stare? ?at? ?him.? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?joyously,? ?“A-Zhao-ge,? ?if??there’s? ?a? ?way? ?why? ?didn’t? ?you? ?say? ?so?? ?Gave? ?me? ?a? ?fright!”????However,? ?A-Zhou? ?was? ?still? ?silent,? ?and? ?soundlessly? ?shook? ?his? ?head.????“Of? ?course? ?it’s? ?not? ?easy? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?say,”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said,? ?“How? ?could? ?he? ?possibly? ?tell? ?you??that? ?the? ?bitten? ?one? ?could? ?only? ?be? ?saved? ?at? ?the? ?cost? ?of? ?everyone? ?else’s? ?lives?”???“San? ?Lang,? ?what? ?do? ?you? ?mean?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???“Gege,? ?do? ?you? ?know? ?the? ?story? ?behind? ?the? ?scorpion? ?snake?”? ?San? ?Lang? ?asked.???In? ?the? ?legends,? ?many? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?ago,? ?there? ?was? ?once? ?a? ?King? ?of? ?BanYue? ?who??while? ?hunting,? ?inadvertently? ?caught? ?two? ?spirits? ?borne? ?from? ?two? ?venomous? ?creatures? ?–??one? ?snake? ?and? ?one? ?scorpion.???The? ?two? ?venoms? ?cultivated? ?deep? ?within? ?the? ?mountains,? ?ignorant? ?of? ?the? ?world? ?and? ?caused??no? ?afflictions.? ?The? ?king? ?nevertheless? ?considered? ?their? ?nature? ?and? ?believed? ?they? ?would??cause? ?evil? ?sooner? ?or? ?later? ?and? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?execute? ?them.? ?They? ?begged? ?and? ?begged? ?for??their? ?lives? ?to? ?be? ?spared,? ?but? ?the? ?king? ?was? ?cruel.? ?He? ?forced? ?the? ?two? ?creatures? ?to? ?mate? ?at??one? ?of? ?his? ?many? ?festivities? ?before? ?a? ?drunken? ?audience,? ?and? ?after? ?the? ?festivities? ?they? ?were??still? ?executed.???Only? ?the? ?queen? ?was? ?sympathetic? ?and? ?pitied? ?the? ?two? ?creatures.? ?In? ?order? ?not? ?to? ?go? ?against??the? ?will? ?of? ?the? ?king,? ?she? ?could? ?only? ?cover? ?their? ?corpses? ?with? ?a? ?mint? ?leaf.???The? ?snake? ?and? ?scorpion? ?became? ?vengeful? ?spirits? ?and? ?cursed? ?the? ?descendants? ?borne??from? ?their? ?mating? ?to? ?forever? ?remain? ?in? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue? ?to? ?destroy? ?its? ?people.??Since? ?then,? ?the? ?scorpion? ?snakes? ?only? ?appear? ?within? ?BanYue? ?territory,? ?and? ?should? ?anyone??be? ?bitten? ?or? ?pricked,? ?the? ?venom? ?would? ?spread? ?like? ?wildfire? ?and? ?they’d? ?die? ?a? ?miserable??death.????However,? ?thanks? ?to? ?that? ?one? ?act? ?of? ?kindness? ?from? ?the? ?queen,? ?the? ?mint? ?leaves? ?used? ?to??cover? ?its? ?corpse? ?became? ?the? ?antidote? ?for? ?their? ?venom.???“That? ?plant? ?is? ?called? ?ShanYue,? ?and? ?only? ?grows? ?within? ?the? ?borders? ?of? ?BanYue.”? ?San? ?Lang??finished.???“Is...? ?is? ?the? ?legend? ?true?? ?Can? ?it? ?be? ?believed?”? ?The? ?merchants? ?asked? ?anxiously,? ?“Little??buddy,? ?this? ?concerns? ?life? ?and? ?death,? ?don’t? ?joke? ?around? ?with? ?us!”???San? ?Lang? ?smiled? ?but? ?said? ?nothing,? ?refusing? ?to? ?speak? ?more? ?after? ?telling? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?the? ?tale.??Tian? ?Sheng? ?turned? ?toward? ?A-Zhao,? ?“A-Zhao-ge,? ?is? ?what? ?that? ?red? ?clad? ?gege? ?said? ?true?”???After? ?humming? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?A-Zhao? ?replied,? ?“Whether? ?if? ?the? ?legend? ?is? ?true? ?I? ?do? ?not??know.? ?But? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?plant? ?does? ?grow? ?within? ?the? ?walls? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?and? ?it’s? ?indeed? ?the??antidote? ?for? ?the? ?scorpion? ?snake? ?venom.”???“Meaning? ?the? ?only? ?way? ?to? ?live? ?after? ?getting? ?bitten? ?is? ?to? ?venture? ?into? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of??BanYue?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sai.???No? ?wonder? ?so? ?many? ?caravans? ?would? ?pass? ?through? ?BanYue? ?territory? ?despite? ?knowing? ?the??deadly? ?rumours.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?they? ?were? ?defiant? ?and? ?stubbornly? ?went? ?to? ?seek? ?their? ?own??deaths,? ?but? ?rather? ?that? ?if? ?they? ?didn’t? ?go? ?they? ?would? ?certainly? ?die!???The? ?scorpion? ?snake? ?was? ?the? ?symbol? ?of? ?the? ?Wicked? ?Master? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?and? ?they? ?were??also? ?controlled? ?by? ?her.? ?The? ?appearance? ?of? ?these? ?snakes? ?was? ?no? ?mere? ?coincidence.? ?With??only? ?a? ?few? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?like? ?them? ?here,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?they? ?could? ?ensure? ?the??absolute? ?safety? ?of? ?the? ?entire? ?merchant? ?group,? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?knowing? ?how? ?many??more? ?snakes? ?may? ?show.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?two? ?fingers? ?and? ?pressed? ?them? ?against? ?his??temple,? ?trying? ?to? ?connect? ?with? ?the? ?heavenly? ?communication? ?array? ?to? ?see? ?if? ?he? ?could??borrow? ?more? ?junior? ?officials? ?with? ?his? ?thick? ?skin,? ?and? ?have? ?more? ?help? ?in? ?protecting? ?the??people.? ?No? ?dice.? ?The? ?connection? ?wouldn’t? ?respond.???Xie? ?Lian? ?lowered? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?wondered,? ?“I? ?didn’t? ?use? ?up? ?all? ?of? ?my? ?powers,? ?did? ?I?? ?I??calculated? ?this? ?morning? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?still? ?a? ?small? ?amount? ?left.”? ?He? ?turned? ?to? ?Nan? ?Feng??and? ?Fu? ?Yao,? ?“Can? ?either? ?of? ?you? ?try? ?and? ?enter? ?the? ?communication? ?array?? ?I’m? ?blocked.”???After? ?a? ?moment,? ?the? ?other? ?two? ?also? ?looked? ?grim.????“I? ?can’t? ?get? ?in? ?either.”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?said.???It? ?couldn’t? ?have? ?been? ?the? ?sandstorm? ?that? ?disrupted? ?their? ?connection?? ?Although? ?there? ?had??been? ?cases? ?where? ?the? ?connection? ?would? ?become? ?frazzled? ?in? ?areas? ?of? ?high? ?evil? ?auras,??diminishing? ?the? ?powers? ?of? ?various? ?heavenly? ?officials,? ?and? ?it? ?seemed? ?that? ?was? ?what’s??happening? ?now.???Xie? ?Lian? ?paced? ?in? ?a? ?circle? ?and? ?wondered? ?out? ?loud,? ?“It? ?might? ?be? ?because? ?we’re? ?too? ?close??to? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?so? ?the? ?communication? ?array? ?was? ?blocked...”? ?Just? ?then? ?in? ?the??corner? ?of? ?his? ?eyes? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?flash? ?of? ?red.???Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?were? ?busy? ?trying? ?to? ?reconnect? ?with? ?the? ?communication? ?array? ?and??everyone? ?else? ?was? ?occupied? ?checking? ?for? ?wounds? ?on? ?their? ?body.? ?The? ?boy? ?Tian? ?Sheng??was? ?anxiously? ?holding? ?tightly? ?onto? ?old? ?man? ?Zheng? ?and? ?didn’t? ?notice? ?a? ?wine? ?red? ?scorpion??snake? ?soundlessly? ?climbing? ?up? ?his? ?spine,? ?curling? ?near? ?the? ?neck? ?and? ?opened? ?its? ?mouth.??However,? ?the? ?fangs? ?were? ?not? ?aiming? ?at? ?Tian? ?Sheng’s? ?neck,? ?but? ?at? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?arm? ?right??next? ?to? ?it!???The? ?snake? ?leaned? ?back,? ?then? ?pounced!???In? ?the? ?speed? ?of? ?a? ?second,? ?before? ?the? ?snake? ?had? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?sink? ?its? ?fangs? ?into? ?San??Lang,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?shot? ?out? ?and? ?snatched? ?the? ?snake? ?right? ?at? ?the? ?heart? ?with? ?blinding??precision.???Given? ?his? ?strength,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?crush? ?the? ?snake’s? ?heart? ?if? ?he? ?wanted? ?to;? ?rupture? ?its??innards? ?and? ?spill? ?its? ?insides.? ?But? ?not? ?knowing? ?whether? ?if? ?the? ?snake’s? ?flesh? ?was? ?also??poisonous,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?press? ?harder.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?other? ?hand? ?to? ?grab? ?for? ?the??tail,? ?but? ?the? ?snake? ?was? ?slippery? ?and? ?artful,? ?making? ?it? ?difficult? ?to? ?catch.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?squeezed??but? ?only? ?felt? ?something? ?soft? ?and? ?cold? ?slither? ?away? ?between? ?his? ?fingers,? ?and? ?the? ?next??moment,? ?a? ?sharp? ?needle? ?pain? ?flared? ?from? ?the? ?back? ?of? ?his? ?hand.?