Chapter 8

On the journey, Gong Sun Murong used the flour he bought from the town to knead into a dough, placed it in a basin, and asked Narasha to pay attention to the temperature, then left it alone.

In the middle of the night, a few drops of rain fell from the sky. In less than half an hour, the clouds that seemed to want to cover the moon disappeared as if playing hide-and-seek, and even the bloodstains on the adventurers' leather armor were not washed away much.

When the sun rose again, replacing the moon, the steam rising from the armor carried a strong smell of blood.

Narasha's little face was wrinkled, showing a pained expression as she stroked Xiao Jin and negotiated with the others.

"Uncle Kailisai, don't you think that in a fresh morning, one should have a relaxed mood? For example, taking a bath to refresh oneself?"

"Oh? Miss Narasha, are you planning to take a bath and afraid of being peeked at? Alright, beautiful Narasha, don't be angry. The smell of blood is really unpleasant, but what can we do? Water is precious in the desert. The bloodstains on the leather armor will fade if exposed to the sun."

Kailisai shrugged and said humorously and self-deprecatingly.

"I... Brother Murong, I want to eat porridge." Narasha no longer intended to dwell on this issue and proposed her breakfast request, going to wash herself without caring about the waste of water.

Gong Sun Murong used the rice he bought from the town to cook porridge, mixed with two kinds of pickled vegetables, and fried two bird eggs to about eight-tenths doneness. Then he started making pan-fried buns with the risen dough, using only pure meat filling and a little spicy seasoning like scallions.

The adventurers did not receive the same treatment; they were used to drinking cold water and eating hard bread.

Including Moshi and the other six, none of them knew what Gong Sun Murong was doing. His cooking method was magical, not roasting, boiling, or mixing raw, but wrapping the meat paste in raw dough. Shouldn't the risen dough be baked into bread first, and then the cooked meat paste stuffed inside?

Pan-fried buns, as their name suggests, are fried with water, which is a good method for those who can't find a steamer or a basket.

A thin layer of oil was spread on the bottom of a flat pan to prevent the round-shaped buns from sticking. Then water was added to the pan, about one centimeter deep, and the fire was lit. After covering the pan, it was left alone.

The lid was made by Gong Sun Murong using thin iron sheets. As long as it could be bent, the craftsmanship wasn't difficult. A hole was drilled in the middle, and a handle was attached, making it a qualified product.

Narasha held Xiao Jin and waited by the side for the food.

The adventurers ate while watching Xiao Jin, speculating about how long it would take for Xiao Jin to grow up and help in battles, making it harder for the siblings to be bullied.

Narasha enjoyed her breakfast, and the adventurers learned a new way to cook food.

With Xiao Jin's addition, the journey became more relaxed. Usually, it was wrapped in a magical cloth. When sand beasts attacked, the adventurers would deal with them if they were easy to handle. If there were too many and hard to defend against, they would remove the magical cloth to scare them away. During the half-month journey, the adventurers' harvest increased.

From Sasa Town to Qishui City, it usually takes about a month and ten days, a total of forty days.

During the half-month, the team consumed a large amount of food and water. The camels that should have been left empty were occupied by new prey, and the adventurers seemed very pleased.

On a new morning, Kailisai requested the team to change direction, deviating slightly to the north.

Before Gong Sun Murong could ask, Moshi explained, "The team doesn't plan to rest before noon today. We'll head diagonally to the north, where there's an oasis to replenish fresh water."

"Okay!" Gong Sun Murong nodded.

As noon approached, the group didn't see the oasis but saw two caravans guarding a sand dune. At first glance, one caravan had about twenty camels and about eighty people, while the other caravan was twice as large.

Without asking, Kailisai and the adventurers knew that both caravans were heading to Sasa Town. Five days ago, they encountered a caravan with thirty camels, suggesting that many caravans were going there, perhaps because they believed Sasa Town had more goods to purchase.

However, the caravans were not the main concern. What made Kailisai anxious was the disappearance of the oasis. At the sand dune where the two caravans were gathered, there should have been a small forest and a pond. The water in the pond would replenish itself as much as it was taken.

Now...

"Prepare for battle." Kailisai shouted, drawing his sword with one hand and holding a square shield in the other.

The other adventurers also picked up their weapons, took their positions, and watched the two caravans warily.

The two caravans also seemed uneasy, and it was estimated that they were in a standoff before Gong Sun Murong's team arrived.

"Moshi, hold Xiao Jin. We're about to fight. Watch me." Narasha became excited, pushed Xiao Jin into Moshi's arms, jumped off the camel, and focused on the two caravans, muttering, "Money, to buy a big estate."

Moshi held Xiao Jin woodenly, unsure of his feelings. Why did the simple-minded young lady make his thoughts more complicated?

Narasha, oblivious to Moshi's thoughts, approached Gong Sun Murong and whispered, "Brother Murong, when I raise the wind, follow the dust and charge through, take them all out, and the stuff will be ours."

"You don't want to sell water anymore?" Gong Sun Murong whispered back.

"Huh?" Narasha was puzzled.

"The original oasis is gone. They are short of water now." Gong Sun Murong explained.

Narasha's eyes lit up, and her voice became even lower, "Really?"

"Judging by the situation, the caravan people are too greedy. They might not have prepared enough water to reach Sasa Town and are relying on the oasis. They would buy a pound of water for twenty copper coins."

"Expensive, but what if they don't want to spend money and just rob us?"

"You raise the wind, and I'll go in."

"Okay!"

******

The two caravans had no idea they were being targeted, and that they would have to pay a price no matter what.

Seeing a third party appear, they became more cautious but didn't dare to act first.

Actually, the caravan that arrived first at the original oasis had fewer camels. Finding no water, the leader planned to wait and deal with smaller caravans. Who would have thought a larger caravan would come?

The later caravan, with more people, wanted to attack the first one but found a fifth-rank ninth-level expert in the first caravan, while they only had two fifth-rank sixth-level experts.

One side had more people, and the other had an expert, leading to a standoff.

Just as they were unsure of what to do, Gong Sun Murong's team gave them hope.

They realized the new adventurers were from Sasa Town and would take about half a month to reach the oasis. The team was small, with a child, so they must have prepared more supplies.

If...

The leaders of the two caravans began to exchange glances.

Kailisai's forehead was covered in sweat. He understood the current situation. The golden tiger could deceive sand beasts, but it had no fighting power against humans.

Their side had fewer people and was weaker than the two caravans. The final outcome...

"Selling water, selling water, cool and refreshing water... cheap, only twenty copper coins per pound, you won't lose, anyone buying water?"

A clear and sweet voice appeared in the tense standoff, and Gong Sun Murong led Narasha to the front.

The thirty adventurers, led by Kailisai, were stunned. This girl was willing to risk her life for money, selling water at such a critical moment?

The people from the two caravans were also confused, but one person approached the caravan, pointing at Narasha and asking, "You, are you Sophia Narasha?"

"Uncle Joseph, you're really fast. You bought water from me two months ago, and now you're here after running from the ruins to Qishui City and then here?" Narasha clearly recognized him and said happily, then asked, "Buy water? Uncle Joseph, you're a regular customer, I'll give you a fifty percent discount, ten copper coins per pound."

"Last time it was five copper coins for ten pounds. The price has risen so much it's hard to bear." Joseph still had the mood to haggle.

"Last time it was closer. Now I've traveled a long distance and got tanned. Look, Uncle Joseph!" Narasha pointed to her snow-white skin, complaining pitifully.

Joseph looked at Gong Sun Murong beside Narasha, seeing his calm gaze, neither fierce nor afraid.

Joseph recalled the events two months ago. He had reached the fifth level of the ruins but encountered a group of bloodthirsty sand pirates, with many experts.

He was only fifth-rank sixth-level, and there were four others like him, one fifth-rank seventh-level, and one sixth-rank first-level.

All his teammates except him died, and he was cut twice, though not fatally, he couldn't continue.

He managed to escape and entered a maze-like place the next day. Thirsty and hungry, he heard the voice selling water.

Following the sound, he smelled a strong smell of blood at a corner. He saw the still warm blood on the ground and a half-finger with a pink ring, which he had seen the day before on the leader of the bloodthirsty sand pirates, a sixth-rank first-level expert.

He also saw a cute little girl with a large basin of water and two pieces of roasted meat.

Beside her, the older boy... his gaze... as calm as water.

Just like now, everything... seemed like yesterday.

For some reason, Joseph felt his heart suddenly tighten, his throat dry.

He swallowed two mouthfuls of saliva nervously, forced a smile, and said to Narasha, "Kind and lovely Miss Narasha, thank you for selling me water and food last time, but please forgive me, I can't make the decision. I need to consult with the leader. Are you willing to wait?"

"Sure, Uncle Joseph." Narasha smiled like a little lady.

Joseph hurried to the leader of the caravan, pulled him aside, and said solemnly, "Leader Joyce, please believe me. I swear to the war god that if you plan to use force to get fresh water, you and your team will lose your lives. Ten copper coins per pound, not expensive, right?"

Leader Joyce looked at Joseph with suspicion and asked, "Strong and brave Joseph, are you afraid of a fifth-rank fifth-level adventurer?"

"Heavens, how could I, Joseph, be afraid? Leader Joyce, you're insulting me. Even if someone is stronger, I, Joseph, won't be afraid. I successfully escaped from the bloodthirsty sand pirates." Joseph's anger was evident.

"Is that so? Then..."

"Leader Joyce, the bloodthirsty sand pirates are probably gone. If you insist on robbing the water, then... I quit." Joseph smiled bitterly and added, "Joyce, I can tell you for free. The little girl selling water is Sophia Narasha, and her brother is Gong Sun Murong."

"I heard you call the little girl's name."

"Alright, you heard it. They have been selling water in and around the ruins, leaving their mark on every level. No matter how strong the sandstorm, adventurers have seen their tent selling water. Even someone who accidentally fell into a red-armored beast's den bought roasted meat from them."

"A red-armored beast, equivalent to a sixth-rank third-level expert?" Joyce's eyes widened.

"Yes, you're right. The adventurer who fell in bought roasted red-armored beast meat and clear water, five copper coins for ten pounds. Oh, today's price is much higher, but we're short of water, right?"

"The red-armored beast's den, perhaps... alright, alright, thank you for telling me this. You don't need to quit; you still need to help us complete the transaction." Leader Joyce compromised, gambling on whether the red-armored beast was dead.

Joseph breathed a sigh of relief, happily took the money, and returned to Narasha, buying 15,000 pounds of water for fifteen gold coins.

Then his caravan left, maintaining a cautious distance from the other caravan.

Narasha sold almost all the water in the team, happily counting the fifteen gold coins.

Moshi pulled Kailisai aside and explained that they had a way to reach the next oasis, asking him to trust them.

The main point was that if they didn't sell the water, they would be attacked by both caravans. Now, with one caravan gone, the number of attackers was reduced.

The other caravan, which planned to rob the water, was stunned.

The new team sold all the water for money, and even if they tried to rob, they wouldn't get much.

The caravan that bought the water left quickly. Chasing them would consume a lot of water, and they could even unload all their goods, making the camels carry only water and people, waiting for the other side to die of thirst before returning.

If the other side also abandoned their goods to chase, the result would still be a fight. If... they ran so fast, covering several miles in a short time, did they have wings?

"Buy water? We still have over a thousand pounds, fifty copper coins per pound, cheap."

George, who recognized her as his master, also came to help, "Buy a thousand pounds of water, save time on the journey, and you have a good chance of reaching Sasa Town."

"Impossible, unless we abandon all our goods." The leader of the caravan roared.

"Alright, or you can choose to bury the goods in the sand. Do you want to rob? We won't give up resistance. We'll release the water first, and we'll all die in the desert." George said indifferently.

"Sell us the water, what will you do?" The caravan people asked the key point.

"Wait here, maybe the oasis will come back. Believe in miracles."

"Can I trade with goods?"

"No, no, we're going to Qishui City, and the goods we brought from there are not valuable." George refused.

The caravan people discussed and finally said to George, "We'll buy. Here's the money, please bring the water over."

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