Chapter 10

Another half month passed. Since they didn't have to detour to find an oasis and didn't worry about water shortages during the day, their schedule was adjusted to travel during the day, thus increasing the speed of the group's progress.

Today was the last day of rest; tomorrow they could reach Qishuicheng.

The tents were set up, and the thirty people of Kailisai didn't sleep. Instead, they called Moshi over, gathered near the tents, and huddled around the campfire, whispering.

The next morning.

Moshi approached Gongsun Murong and Nalasha, paused, and said, "Young Master, Miss, as you know, last night, Kailisai and the others called me over. We talked by the campfire until very late, said a lot, and drank all the wine we brought, which wasn't much. We drank and talked."

Gongsun Murong and Nalasha listened without responding, while Moshi rambled on incoherently.

"Alright, I'll be honest, Young Master, Miss. Kailisai and the others mean... we're about to reach Qishuicheng, yes, Qishuicheng. From the name, you can tell it has little rainfall and is surrounded by a desert. We will arrive there tomorrow."

Moshi continued, and Gongsun Murong and Nalasha kept listening.

Scratching his head, Moshi sighed, "Actually, they're afraid you two might attack them before we get there. They don't want to die, so... kind Miss, think about what George and I were like back then."

Nalasha blinked and raised her eyebrows, asking Moshi, "We can't just recruit people every time we show our strength, can we?"

"Who made you so powerful? Relying on the strong is a survival instinct. Of course, if you hadn't met them in the desert and instead showed your strength in a big city, they might not have joined. But you must understand, what they're worried about now isn't losing their freedom, but whether they can survive."

Moshi tried to explain.

"Tell them that I, and Brother Murong, won't kill them. I swear by the God of War, no, the God of Magic," Nalasha raised her hand, as if taking an oath.

"With you here, we no longer believe in the God of Magic. During the battle, we didn't see your magic, but when you were guarding the Blazing Wind Golden Tiger, the stance you took, according to the mages, is called 'Aquatic Splendor,' and it had ice, too. Though the range was small, this is a desert, not the sea. Do you understand... what your loyal servant means?"

Moshi continued to persuade, not knowing how much Kailisai and the others had promised him.

Nalasha looked at her brother Murong, seeing that he had no intention of intervening, she hesitated and said, "Do you know how much food they will eat? Should Brother Murong and I buy them weapons? Should we give them crystal cores, like we've been doing?"

Nalasha never forgot the knowledge taught by the intelligent butler: 'When your martial power cannot contend with an entire civilization, don't think of solving all problems with force. Currency that can exchange for living resources, and political power that can make many people follow your orders, are both good choices.'

Nalasha thought her martial power wasn't enough yet, and what was political power? Only money was practical, so she wanted to save where she could.

Moshi realized he had made a mistake. Discussing human nature with a little girl would make the gods disdainful. What about the young master?

Moshi looked at his young master.

Gongsun Murong's gaze remained calm, and he asked, "What kind of place is the educational institution in Qishuicheng?"

"Qishuicheng? Education?" Moshi really couldn't guess why the young master would ask a question unrelated to the current situation. Was there a connection between what Kailisai and the others would face and what the young master said?

A good servant shouldn't correct the master's logic, at least not until the master makes a significant mistake.

Moshi, trying to get into character, respectfully answered, "Qishuicheng has an academy, the Qingteng Battle Qi Academy. In the vast desert, the Qingteng never withers, it is the loud battle song, the shining light in the starry sky, ah, Qingteng, in the rocks..."

"Only teaching battle qi?" Gongsun Murong didn't let Moshi continue his emotional speech.

"Yes, my handsome and wise young master," Moshi replied.

Gongsun Murong glanced at Nalasha and said, "Nalasha and I need to learn writing, astronomical calculations, biological analysis, the structure of power in this world, knowledge of people's livelihood, social ideology, battle qi, and the principles of magic, not just fighting. The Qingteng Battle Qi Academy..."

"Doesn't teach those, young master. You must know, this is a desert, and survival is the most important thing. Of course, for you and Miss, you shouldn't waste precious time learning how to kill. You and Miss should enjoy the life of nobility, yes, nobility. Speaking of which, you two really have the air of nobility, which confuses your servant."

Moshi felt his past life had been a failure. As an adventurer, he always wanted to learn how to kill, but ended up only avoiding other adventurers. The young master and Miss, with their powerful abilities, pursued other things.

The young master and Miss really seemed like nobles, so they gave a strong contrast in the desert, making people think they would be killed. Oh, how many people prayed for them after hearing they were selling water?

"Nalasha doesn't want to go to the Qingteng Battle Qi Academy. Nalasha hates selling water in the desert. Nalasha wants to build a big estate with Brother Murong." Nalasha, who had been looking forward to Qishuicheng, began to feel disappointed.

Gongsun Murong looked at Moshi, who lowered his head and thought for a moment before saying, "Qishuicheng is a small city in a remote area of the Gelsi Principality. If you and Miss want to receive education, you need to go to the capital, Xilaisite. It's said to be 6,666 kilometers away from Qishuicheng, which might be an easy number to remember, but it's really over 6,000 kilometers, I'm talking about the straight-line distance."

Gongsun Murong nodded slightly, "Where are Kailisai and the other adventurers' families?"

"In Qishuicheng. As you and Miss have seen, the adventurers exploring the ruins are not very strong. Even the Blazing Wind Golden Tiger wouldn't make all humans tremble, so only the surrounding cities have adventurers. It's said that in the first year the ruins appeared, someone from the imperial capital came, found no value, and thus the powerful gave up."

"How can there be no value? How can there be no value?" Nalasha was angry. Though she was cute even when angry, her anger was evident, and ice was already forming around her.

"Because the truth is hidden," Gongsun Murong said, rubbing Nalasha's head.

His life pod automatically activated various shielding systems when it landed to protect the offspring of the Gongsun family.

"It must be hidden," Nalasha agreed, the ice turning to water, nourishing the ground beneath her feet.

"Yes, loyal servant Moshi absolutely agrees with Miss and Young Master," Moshi didn't want to anger Nalasha, who used 'Aquatic Splendor,' even though he didn't understand why she was angry.

"So, Moshi, are Kailisai and the others willing to take their families and go with us to the capital, Xilaisite?" Gongsun Murong changed the topic.

Moshi nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Young Master. Except for Kailisai, the other adventurers' families don't live well. Imagine how dangerous the desert is. Their strength isn't enough to face the Blazing Wind Golden Tiger like you and Miss. Without the ruins, every copper coin they earned was stained with blood, of sand beasts, enemies, and themselves."

Nalasha pouted, "With the ruins, the copper coins are wrapped in the souls of the living, Moshi. Do you know how many people wanted to bully us when we sold water?"

"Oh, Miss Nalasha, I can guess. They truly deserved it. I believe they were punished by the God of War. A heart that always thinks of bullying the weak is evil."

"Indeed! Moshi, you've spoken to my heart. I decide to reward you with a crystal core."

"The gods praise your generosity, my master, Miss Nalasha."

"First, we'll go to Qishuicheng. Those who are willing to follow us to the capital, Xilaisite, can handle their family affairs. Those who are unwilling can leave on their own." Gongsun Murong instructed, handing Moshi a crystal core.

Moshi, delighted, went to find Kailisai and the others, shouting various blessings from the gods.

******

On September 15, 15940 of the Shangqiong Calendar, the adventurers, no longer fearing for their lives, successfully escorted the group to Qishuicheng.

There were no guards at the city gate collecting entry fees, perhaps because the city lord considered that in the desert, those without money would die, and adventurers might not carry currency.

Moshi explained, and indeed, the city lord had reduced taxes on ordinary goods, only increasing taxes on luxuries.

Instead of guards, merchants from the city approached the group as soon as they got close, like a sandstorm whipped up by a level 12 wind.

The adventurers naturally wouldn't negotiate prices at the city gate, unless they were new to the area.

Similarly, the merchants, upon seeing familiar adventurers, didn't expect immediate sales but greeted them warmly, inviting them to eat and such.

Of course, the merchants would roughly inspect the goods, especially large or uniquely scented items, and if they found something valuable, they would personally approach to discuss.

Two merchants' gazes lingered on Nalasha's chest, more precisely, on the magic pattern cloth covering something, with a thoughtful look.

"Brother Murong, I saw greed in those two men's eyes. I hate being stared at," Nalasha was very sensitive.

"I hate it too, but it's part of life. Without it, life would be less colorful. How can someone who has never been hungry know the happiness of being full? Those who have suffered know what happiness is," Gongsun Murong comforted Nalasha. These words weren't his but the intelligent butler's.

Nalasha pouted and glared at the two merchants.

"Beautiful miss, are you part of the group?" One merchant finally stepped forward, his eyes nearly disappearing in his smile.

"Back off," Kailisai pointed his knife tip less than a centimeter from the merchant's chest.

"No, no, don't misunderstand, I just..."

"Back off!" Kailisai's pupils contracted, and he forced out the words through gritted teeth.

"Alright, alright, calm down. Please believe, I meant no harm." The merchant raised his hands and carefully moved backward, his gaze sweeping over each member of the group.

The other merchants followed suit.

At that moment, all the adventurers were emitting battle qi, clearly indicating that the little girl in the group was no ordinary person.