The Winds and Clouds of the Desert

The bandits had no oasis to call their own, constantly shifting their hideouts. They belonged to no tribe or nation; their lives were bound to blood and violence, driven only by primal instinct and desire. Killing for amusement, reveling in debauchery, drowning in drink, gambling away stolen riches—there was nothing they wouldn’t indulge in. Tonight would be yet another night of savage, sleepless chaos.

Huang Beishuang surveyed her surroundings. Though these bandits were crude and barbaric, they had a sharp eye for terrain. Their village was nestled in a windless zone, where neither sandstorms nor quicksand were common threats. With all their sustenance and provisions stolen, this desolate, waterless trench, devoid of even the smallest trace of animal life, had become an ideal stronghold.

Upon their victorious return, the bandits would hold a public contest—the spoils of the best prey always went to the strongest. Ruowen, their leader, ordered the remaining ten or so maidservants around Huang Beishuang, dressed in yellow and green, to strip bare. Forced to stand naked in line, they faced a crude earthen arena. The bandits, faces flushed with excitement, crowded around, their eyes burning with animalistic hunger as they leered at the helpless young women before them.

Huang Beishuang swallowed her anguish, guessing that she would be the grand finale. She hadn’t yet seen the hundred or so soldiers who had been captured with her, unsure whether they had already been slaughtered or were being held somewhere.

The preparations appeared complete as Ruowen emerged from the shadows, shirtless, his bronzed body rippling with strength. Adorned with the jewels from the battle tribute of the Ernaqi, his short, jet-black hair stood upright like sharp thorns, still glistening with water droplets. Huang Beishuang guessed he was about twenty-three or twenty-four, a man with the bearing of a general. His sharp, violet eyes gleamed with ruthless intent, and at his waist hung a dagger, a sword, and a spear—three deadly weapons.

Sitting beside her on a fur-lined chair, Ruowen glanced at Huang Beishuang, a smug smile playing on his lips. “Little sister, a good show is about to begin.”

Huang Beishuang turned her face away, refusing to acknowledge him.

Clap, clap! Ruowen struck his hands twice, signaling the start of the revelry.

Two small, sinister-looking men, twins by appearance, scrambled onto the stage, cackling maniacally before launching into a violent brawl. The crowd erupted into cheers and shouts of encouragement.

"These two," Ruowen remarked between bites of meat, "were sold to traffickers at the age of six. Back then, they were so beautiful—prettier than women, even. Their small stature made them prized playthings for noble generals. They finally escaped at ten.”

He spoke as if addressing Huang Beishuang, though she had no interest in engaging.

“Aren’t you hungry? Eat. If you don’t eat now, you won’t get another chance until tomorrow evening. We only eat once a day here.”

Huang Beishuang was starving, truly starving. Taking Ruowen’s words as a challenge, she tore into the food before her, devouring it with wild abandon, her actions appearing almost feral.

Ruowen laughed heartily. “You’re quite the amusing woman!”

“It looks like the younger brother is winning again,” he commented, glancing back at the arena. “They’ll publicly defile those two women. Do you enjoy watching that?”

At his words, the meat fell from Huang Beishuang’s mouth, and she heard the desperate screams of Guo’er and Yuanzai. Their cries for help were useless—no matter how heart-wrenching, they only served to fuel the flames of madness. The men had lost their minds long ago.

Turning her head away, Huang Beishuang refused to witness the public assault on Guo'er and Yuanzai. Yet the uproar continued unabated, and amidst the chaotic jeers, another madman ascended the arena, dragging yet another woman to her doom. Violence and shamelessness assaulted Huang Beishuang’s mind, until she shuddered violently and began to retch uncontrollably. She couldn’t bear it any longer.

"Already at your limit? Haha!" Ruowen sneered, tossing aside the meat in his hands, wiping them on his chest, before lifting Huang Beishuang effortlessly and carrying her into the inner chamber. Behind them, the revelry raged on—debauchery, bestial lust, and unbridled chaos.

"Now it’s our turn!" With a brutal shove, Ruowen threw Huang Beishuang onto the bed. Her crimson wedding robes spread like butterfly wings, and the string of jewels adorning her forehead gleamed faintly in the dim light.

"So beautiful... I never imagined a woman could be this beautiful." Ruowen discarded his weapons—a knife, a sword, and a spear—by the bedside. "What is it that makes you different? Is it your eyes, burning with fury and pride? Your voice, cold and mocking? Or..." He suddenly grabbed her chest with savage force. "Is it your heart, brimming with passion and fearlessness? Ernaqi? You’re from the north! What’s your name? Tell me..."

Huang Beishuang bit her lip and glared at him, seizing a moment to roll to the side, grabbing the curved blade and sword beside her, holding them defensively against him. Ruowen only chuckled darkly, as if enjoying a private performance.

"Heavy, isn't it? Growing heavier by the moment? The blade—it's called Patricide. The sword—Matricide. Such grievous sins... Can you bear their weight?" He approached slowly, like a lion toying with its prey, wielding his long spear.

"You should be holding this one—the spear of Spouse's Death!" Huang Beishuang’s grip weakened, and as Ruowen leaned closer, the weapons slipped from her hands, clattering to the floor.

"You drugged me!" she accused.

"Oh? So it’s finally taking effect. I mixed the juice of the twin fruit tree into your meal. Everyone in the desert knows it has potent aphrodisiac properties." He pressed his forehead heavily against hers, his gaze piercing and relentless.

"Tell me your name."

"What do you want?"

"I want to possess you!" he growled, pinning her down and kissing her with ferocious hunger.

"This isn’t possession—it’s rape! I will never tell you my name!" Huang Beishuang cried out.

"No matter. One day, you will." Ruowen tore off her bridal robe and kissed it deeply before whispering, "From now on, you are mine."

Suddenly, a tense, suffocating silence filled the air. Without releasing his grip on Huang Beishuang, Ruowen felt the cold edge of a sword at his throat, the gleam of silver catching her eye.

"Who are you?" Ruowen asked through clenched teeth.

"Let her go first," came the raspy, threatening voice behind him.

Reluctantly, Ruowen loosened his hold, and Huang Beishuang scrambled to her feet, rushing to stand beside the newcomer.

"Qingyun!" she exclaimed in surprise.

"Ah, you still remember my name!" Qingyun smirked, pressing the sword harder against Ruowen’s neck. But Ruowen remained calm, rising with his spear in hand.

"Kill me, and you won’t escape," Ruowen warned.

"I never said I’d kill you," Qingyun replied coolly, his expression unreadable.

"You plan to take her?" Ruowen narrowed his eyes.

"Yes."

"One life for another. You can take her, but that’s all."

"And my people?" Huang Beishuang asked.

"I told you—one life for one life. Anything more, and we all die."

A heavy silence fell as the three of them contemplated the terms. Finally, Qingyun broke it.

"This spear, you call it Spouse's Death?" he asked casually.

With a sharp sound, Qingyun’s sword sliced through the spear, cutting it cleanly in half.

"Deal. We’re leaving." Without waiting for a response, Qingyun sheathed his sword, hoisted Huang Beishuang onto his shoulder, and leapt through the window. Their figures vanished into the pale moonlight and white sands.

"Damned fools!" Ruowen roared, hurling the broken spear to the ground in fury.

Qingyun carried Huang Beishuang through the cold, storm-laden desert night, his movements swift and sure. After an hour of running, they arrived at a small oasis. He gently placed her beneath a tree before tending to his horse, Feitah.

"Rest here for the night," he said, his voice uncharacteristically tender as he spoke to the horse.

It was only then that Huang Beishuang fully regained her senses. She sat up and asked, "Where are we?"

"A moving oasis," Qingyun replied.

"Oh..." Her gray eyes flickered as she surveyed her surroundings, noticing the serene, tiny lake nearby, its waters calm, shielded by the trees that kept the wind and sand at bay.

"This is the first time I’ve seen a moving oasis. It’s so small, so beautiful... Is it because no one has ever settled here?" Her voice was soft, barely a whisper, as she fought against the overwhelming desires still raging within her.

Qingyun kindled a fire, tossing in a few more branches. After a brief moment of contemplation, he suddenly stood and approached her. Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her, his hands wandering wildly.

“What are you doing?” Huang Beishuang, though burning with desire, managed to hold on to her reason.

“I’m trying to save you! You’ve been poisoned, and I know you want this!” He began to remove his clothes, his powerful muscles gleaming under the moonlight, one hand gripping her waist, the other tugging at her belt.

“Stop... stop!” she screamed with all the strength she could muster.

“What’s wrong? There’s nothing wrong with this, is there? Your body doesn’t seem to reject me the way it did Ruowen,” Qingyun said, halting his movements and looking at her with an amused glint in his eyes.

“Stop, stop, I will not submit to this!” Huang Beishuang broke into tears.

Such a strange girl, such strange tears. Qingyun wasn’t sure what he felt in his heart as he watched her for a long time before finally putting his clothes back on.

“There is another way to counter the poison,” he said, sitting down and pulling out a small pouch from his pocket. “This is the root of the Everwinter herb. It will strip you of all desires for seventy-two hours. It’s the antidote to the twin fruit tree’s poison.”

“I won’t take it!” Huang Beishuang calmed herself, though a faint sob still lingered in her throat. “I won’t take it. Eating Everwinter root will take away not just desire, but also hunger and the need for sleep. I know I can’t go three days and nights without eating, drinking, or resting.”

Qingyun looked at her in surprise, not expecting someone so young—she couldn’t be more than eighteen or nineteen—to be so knowledgeable.With great effort, Huang Beishuang stood up and slowly made her way toward the lake, shedding her clothes one by one, save for the jeweled headband on her forehead.

“This water is so cold,” she murmured, her back to Qingyun.

Ah, moonlight! No amount of tenderness or soft light could match the trembling shoulders of the girl in the lake. No brilliance, no mystery could outshine the tears in her eyes, shimmering like jewels.

She was so beautiful, so achingly beautiful, and yet Qingyun suddenly felt a surge of discomfort and restlessness, unable to look at her any longer.

She was right there in front of him!

Crash!

Like a crazed bull, Ruowen stormed into the arena, already soaked in lechery and debauchery. He smashed tables and chairs, his fury shaking the hall. His men, startled by his sudden outburst, ceased their actions, casting uncertain and fearful glances at their leader.

Ruowen’s rage couldn’t be quenched. He kicked aside one of his men and yanked the girl he had been tormenting to her feet, venting his uncontrollable fire and desire on her in front of everyone.

The girl’s helpless cries filled the hall. The sound of her pained wails, the vulgarity of Ruowen’s actions, stirred the crowd back into a frenzy. They resumed their beastly acts, sinking deeper into madness.

Why? Why? Why do people descend into such madness?

It was a truly brutal and terrifying night, filled only with noise—violent, anguished, gleeful, and invasive. There was no heart here, no soul. Only chaos. Desperate, lonely chaos.

“Bring the old witch here,” Ruowen commanded.

By the next morning, the hall had been cleared of its wreckage, though it was unclear how many of the captured maidservants and guards had survived. They were gathered in the center of the room, awaiting their fate. The cold, oppressive air carried an unshakable sense of menace, as if the horrors of the previous night had never occurred.

Dozai, a woman now resembling a crone, was shoved forward. Her disheveled hair and tattered robes clung to her frail body, and her gaunt form seemed to exude a haunting aura, like an ancient, twisted tree.

“The woman has escaped!” Ruowen said coldly.

“Nashouer escaped?” Dozai’s eyes lit up. She turned and shouted to the remaining members of her clan, her voice ringing with triumph.

“Did you hear that? Did you hear? Our Nashouer has escaped! She’s not here! She’s succeeded! Our mission is not yet complete; our mistakes have not yet sealed our fate! Rejoice, my people! Today, we can die without regret. Today, we have no more shame!” Her words ignited a chorus of resolute cries from those around her.

“She’ll come back to save you,” Ruowen said, his eyes narrowing. He toyed with an earring he had taken from Huang Beishuang the night before, turning it over in his hands as if waiting for something.

“No! She won’t!” Dozai spat angrily. “She is our Nashouer, but her purpose is far greater than saving the hundred of us here. She exists for the seven thousand Ernaqi far beyond this place. She will never forget her mission, never!”

“Hmph. So what’s her real name? Nashouer is just a title, isn’t it? What’s her true name?” Ruowen asked.

"..." But no one answered him.

Ruowen remained silent for a moment before standing up. "Beat the old witch to death and hang her on display. Let’s see what happens next."

The cold from the ice lake still clung to Huang Beishuang's skin, the raw chill sapping what little strength remained in her frail body. When she awoke, her face was flushed, and her limbs felt heavy and weak.

"You’ve got a fever. Last night was too much. Your body couldn’t take it, could it?" Qingyun, already awake, was gathering their belongings.

Huang Beishuang slowly stood and walked over to him. Qingyun reached out, placing his hand on her forehead. "The fever’s gone down a little."

Suddenly, Huang Beishuang felt a strange sense of shyness. It was a feeling unfamiliar to her, and it made her eyes shimmer.

“Ah!” Before she could fully gather her thoughts, Qingyun swept her up and onto his horse with a single motion. “Let’s go!” he said.

"Where?"

“Wherever you need to go. Yunpei? Ernaqi? It’s your choice.”

“Why?”

“To repay my debt for Zema.”

Huang Beishuang fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly. “Feitah is very important to you, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s loyal to me until the very end,” Qingyun said gently, his affection for the horse evident in his voice.

Huang Beishuang chuckled, as if recalling something. “I have a Feitah too.”

Qingyun looked at her.

“It’s right there.” Huang Beishuang pointed in the direction they had fled the previous night. “Right there.”

“Are you certain?” Qingyun’s grip on the reins tightened.

Huang Beishuang nodded, and together they turned their horse back toward the bandits' camp, riding with resolve.

It had been decided, no matter the obstacles ahead, no matter how much heartache lay in wait.

It had been decided, no matter the sorrows of the past, no matter the shadows that lingered in their memories.

It had long been decided: as long as you stay by my side, I will stay by yours.

It had long been decided: as long as time continues, as long as fate endures!

I will allow myself to forget, if only for a moment.

I will allow myself to abandon, if only for a moment,

The songs once scattered by the desert winds in the distant past...

About fifty miles from Ruowen’s camp, a group of horsemen was approaching. By the looks of their attire, they were another band of raiders, though their equipment and demeanor were far inferior to those of Ruowen’s men.

In some ways, life for bandits in the desert was harsher than that of enslaved peoples. They had no oasis of their own, no means of sustaining themselves, and were mostly made up of outcasts and exiles. Their only way to survive was through reckless plunder.

“Who goes there?” a rough voice suddenly called out, and a group of bandits swiftly encircled the two riders—Qingyun and Huang Beishuang, who had been racing through the night.

“What should we do?” Huang Beishuang whispered.

“We can either fight our way through or negotiate,” Qingyun replied casually, tightening his grip on the reins.

“Why are there so many bandits in this area?” Huang Beishuang asked in surprise, her voice tinged with anxiety.

“They probably heard that Ruowen’s latest haul was substantial and came to claim a share of the spoils,” Qingyun chuckled.

“So, they’re after Ruowen?”

“That’s likely.” Qingyun tightened his hold around Huang Beishuang’s waist, neither of them dismounting, as they spoke with an air of nonchalance. “Bandits often prey on each other.”

“Enough talking! Get off your horse, now! Or I’ll cut you down where you stand,” one of the bandits’ leaders growled, his henchmen brandishing their blades and yelling threateningly.

“Don’t move,” Qingyun whispered to Huang Beishuang, holding her in place. Feitah, their steed, stomped its long legs, kicking out in a circle and scattering the surrounding bandits with ease. The horse seemed quite pleased with itself, snorting out a breath every now and then. Truly, it was a rebellious and wild creature—only someone like Qingyun could tame it.

At that moment, Qingyun and Huang Beishuang sat tall on Feitah’s back, looking down on the bandits with undeniable authority.

“What’s going on? Weren’t we heading for Ruowen? Why are you blocking these two?” The leader emerged, his gaze unfocused and hair disheveled, lacking the sharp, intimidating presence of Ruowen.

“What are you two up to? The girl’s quite pretty, huh?” He hobbled forward. “Sitting up there like you’re some kind of lord. Why don’t you get down?”

Qingyun looked at him, then suddenly let out a derisive laugh.

“What are you laughing at?” The leader stiffened, clearly provoked, coughing loudly to cover his discomfort.

“A bunch of cowardly drunks and useless fools, daring to block my path?” Qingyun’s gaze turned sharp, and the leader instinctively took a step back. But remembering his superior numbers, he quickly steeled himself and waved his hand, signaling his men to attack. "Brothers, get them!"

Before anyone could take a step forward, they realized that Qingyun had already dismounted at some point, his three fingers clamped tightly around the leader’s throat. A mere squeeze would end his life. The bandits froze, poised to act but too afraid to move.

"Back off! Everyone, back off!" The leader, experienced from years of surviving countless battles, knew that he had encountered a deadly opponent—one wrong move and there would be no coming back from it.

“Hmph, at least you know when to back down,” Qingyun remarked, releasing his grip. “What are you doing looking for Ruowen?”

"Ah... It’s shameful to admit," the leader responded cautiously, not daring to provoke further. He explained, “Ruowen’s gang is the most powerful in the northern desert. Though they don’t have the largest numbers, they control all the trade within a hundred-mile radius. We can’t survive without joining him, and no one dares challenge him. So, I had no choice but to lead my men to seek refuge under him—otherwise, we’ll all starve.”

Qingyun’s eyes flashed with understanding. “How many men do you have?”

“About three hundred or so,” the leader answered.

"That's not true, is it?" Huang Beishuang, her voice clear and soft, dismounted and walked calmly toward the leader. She lifted his eyelids, inspecting him for a moment before turning back to Qingyun with a knowing smile. “You have five hundred and nineteen men, yet you claim it’s only around three hundred. What are you scheming?”

The leader blinked, then let out a sly laugh. “Ah, young lady, I’m just an old fool. How could I keep track of exactly how many? But your sharp eyes see right through me, don’t they?”

“The sun’s about to reach its peak. Aren’t you going to get ready?” Huang Beishuang said airily, her gaze drifting toward the sky.

The bandits paused, confused, and glanced at one another.

“Young lady—no, I should say, esteemed miss—what do you mean by that?” The leader sidled up to her, trying to curry favor, but Huang Beishuang, clearly repulsed, swiftly moved to Qingyun’s side.

“People with hallucination sickness develop bulging eyes, yellowed sclera, and their blood vessels become knotted. Around midday, they start seeing terrifying visions, sending them into three hours of madness. Isn’t that right? Old fool, how does it feel?” Huang Beishuang’s tone was light, even playful, and she was surprised at herself—being around Qingyun seemed to put her at ease, releasing her from the heavy burden of her usual seriousness.

“Miss, since you’ve diagnosed the illness, does that mean you have a way to help us?” The leader asked excitedly, clearly desperate after suffering from the symptoms for so long.

“It’s a desert sickness. You’ve been wandering the sands for years, and those with weaker bodies or more fragile minds are prone to it. But it’s easy to cure,” Huang Beishuang’s words struck the leader like a lifeline.

“Miss, there must be a condition attached, yes? Fine, just tell me what it is, and I, Tongbahe, will do whatever it takes! Many of my men suffer from this, not just me.”

“Can I trust you?” Huang Beishuang asked, already calculating how best to use this band of men.

Qingyun had been watching silently, and now, understanding her plan, he smiled faintly, amused.

“Miss, trust me this once!” Tongbahe pleaded, clearly desperate.

“Don’t be hasty. Let me ask you first—what’s in that cart at the back? Is it explosives?” Huang Beishuang asked, her eyes having spotted it from a distance.

"Yes, it's dynamite, meant as a tribute to Ruowen. He asked for it before, and I’ve kept it hidden until now. Since we’re going to join him, I thought I should bring it along to show good faith," Tongbahe explained.

Huang Beishuang laughed lightly, “How pathetic. You’re bringing over five hundred men to Ruowen’s camp, hoping to freeload. That’s like walking straight into a lion’s den. He’ll take your explosives, and then what use will you be to him?”

Her sharp words struck fear into Tongbahe’s heart, leaving him momentarily speechless. He stared at Huang Beishuang, his mind racing. In all his years wandering the desert, he had never met someone so astute, so brilliant. And she was stunning beyond words—truly a goddess among mortals.

“What do you propose, then?” he asked cautiously.

“I’ll help you. Together, we’ll take on Ruowen,” Huang Beishuang’s tone was calm, but in her heart, she still felt uneasy. Just one day at Ruowen’s camp had left her deeply shaken.

“That’s impossible! We only have five hundred men, and Ruowen has over two thousand. They’re bloodthirsty, savage killers! They’re madmen!” Tongbahe exclaimed, stepping back in fear.

“Tongbahe!” Huang Beishuang’s voice was cold, her expression mocking. “Fine. Then go ahead, take your men and bow before Ruowen. See who dies first!”

With those words, Qingyun, ever in sync with her, mounted Feitah with Huang Beishuang, ready to leave.

"Wait!"

Tongbahe hesitated only briefly before calling out to her. “Miss, give the order. If not for desperation, I’d never have thought of joining Ruowen. Everyone knows that following him only leads to doom. It’s better to gamble with our lives!”

Ruowen's camp was shrouded in a heavy, oppressive silence. No one dared approach him when he was angry, and his men sat uneasily in the hall, occasionally stealing glances at the man slouched in the large fur-covered chair at the center. What was he thinking? No one knew. His expression alternated between cold, chilling smiles and fierce, furrowed brows.

"Chief! They’re here! They’re here!" A skinny youth with a yellow headband burst in, startling those seated nearby.

"Dammit, Luoying! Do you have a death wish, barging in like that? You want the chief to kill you for fun?" Manhu growled at him.

"It’s not that... It’s..." Luoying stammered, clearly shaken. Just delivering this message had taken most of his courage, and now, face to face with the unpredictable Ruowen, he seemed to lose what little was left.

"Is she here?" Ruowen asked, his voice devoid of emotion.

"She’s here... and she brought a few hundred people with her!" Luoying stuttered.

"A few hundred? Whose people?" Ruowen finally showed some interest.

"About two hundred. They said if you release her people, they’ll leave, otherwise they’ll blow us all up!" Luoying reported.

The response didn’t faze Ruowen’s top men. Manhu and Langtou exchanged mocking glances, their sneers growing.

"Two hundred people think they can bury us? What a joke! Let them try to blow us up—if I survive, I’ll make sure to give her a taste of my gratitude!" Manhu jeered.

"This woman must be crazy, thinking she can stir things up by gathering a few people. What fools would back her up? It’s ridiculous!" Langtou chimed in.

"Exactly! Once we catch her, we’ll make sure the chief has plenty of fun," one of them laughed, growing bolder.

"Hah! I almost feel sorry for her! She won’t survive an encounter with the chief," another added, their taunts escalating, completely dismissing Huang Beishuang’s threat.

"Whose men are they?" Ruowen asked after a moment of silence.

"I saw clearly—it’s Tongbahe, that old scoundrel. Last time we raided him for explosives and he escaped, but somehow he’s crawled back and joined forces with the woman. It’s bizarre!" Luoying explained.

"Tongbahe?" Ruowen raised an eyebrow, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "That old fox can’t be trusted. If he brought two hundred men, I’d bet there’s more hiding somewhere." He paused, thinking for a moment, then gave his orders. "Luoying, take a squad and check the hills around the camp, especially near the grain store. This place is too large for him not to try something sneaky. Tell everyone to stay on alert—be ready for an ambush. Manhu, Chengxiang, Langtou, you’re coming with me to greet our guests."

"Understood!" they replied, following Ruowen outside.

“He’s coming out!” Tongbahe, visibly tense, glanced nervously at Huang Beishuang as Ruowen’s dangerous figure approached.

"Once the bow is drawn, there’s no turning back. What’s the use of fear now?" Huang Beishuang’s voice was cool, though in truth, her heart was pounding. It took tremendous courage to confront Ruowen directly, especially without Qingyun by her side. As that thought crossed her mind, she frowned slightly—since when had she come to rely on Qingyun so much?

“Well, well! Look who it is—Old Tong! Long time no see! What brings you here?” Manhu sneered from Ruowen’s side, taunting Tongbahe.

"Manhu, are you stupid? It’s obvious Old Tong’s grown tired of living and came to give us a farewell gift!" Langtou added, his tone mocking.

Ruowen let them speak without objection, his inscrutable smile never leaving his face, though his sharp eyes were fixed on Huang Beishuang. He didn’t understand why, but whenever he looked at her, something inside him stirred uncontrollably, making him anxious and fevered.

“Ruowen, let them go. This is nothing more than an unnecessary raid for you. I don’t care about the jewels or the food. Just release my people.” Huang Beishuang met his gaze, and after her words, a heavy silence fell between them.

"You don’t seriously think a small band of people can force me to back down, do you? Don’t think just because you’ve got explosives, mine aren’t bigger." Ruowen stepped aside, revealing rows of cannons aimed directly at them. Tongbahe’s men immediately tensed.

"Ruowen, look at me—alone, standing here. Can you guess where Qingyun is?" Huang Beishuang remained calm, her voice steady, showing no trace of fear.

"What do you mean? I know you didn’t bring all your men here. Is this a distraction while the rest prepare an ambush?" Ruowen asked, unfazed.

Just then, one of Luoying’s scouts came running up to whisper something in Ruowen’s ear. His face darkened.

"As I suspected," Ruowen said, turning to Huang Beishuang. "They’ve found our grain store, and a hundred of your men are sitting in there with explosives."

"Yes, you have the numbers, and we could blow each other to pieces and still not win. But you still need to eat, don’t you? After all, what’s all this bloodshed and looting for, if not for survival? I’m not asking for much—there’s no need for you to lose everything over this."

Ruowen looked at her, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Chengxiang, go bring the remaining prisoners here," he ordered, giving a subtle nod to Manhu standing nearby.

Hearing this, Huang Beishuang let out a small breath of relief. Thankfully, things hadn’t gone awry.

“So, tell me, how did you figure out where our grain store was?” Ruowen asked casually.

“In your room, I saw the map hanging on the wall,” Huang Beishuang replied.

“Impressive! Even in that situation, you noticed something like that. Well done!” Ruowen smiled. Just then, the prisoners from the Ernaqi tribe were brought out—emaciated and broken, their spirits shattered as they stood listlessly between the two groups.

"Why are there only these few left?" Huang Beishuang roared, unable to contain her fury as she shouted at Ruowen.

“Of course, these are the only ones left!” Ruowen laughed maniacally. “Had you come any later, there wouldn’t even be these!”

Huang Beishuang’s heart ached as she looked at her remaining people. Ten guards, three maidservants—only thirteen survivors, all on the verge of collapse. One hundred and fifty of them had been captured. Now, only a handful remained.

“Release them!” she demanded, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles cracked.

Ruowen shrugged indifferently, nodding his assent. The thirteen captives stumbled toward Huang Beishuang.

"Miss, your people are back. But mine are still in there!" Tongbahe nudged Huang Beishuang anxiously, unsure how long this fragile peace would last.

Huang Beishuang ignored him, her eyes locked on Ruowen, blazing with rage. “You’re not human, Ruowen! You’re a madman—a crazed monster who deserves to be put down by anyone with a conscience! You’re utterly depraved! Where is Nanny Dozai? I want her—dead or alive!” She choked back the tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

“Don’t push your luck, girl! If you piss off our chief, none of us will get out of here in one piece,” Langtou sneered, stepping forward with a smug look.

At that moment, Manhu and Luoying returned, standing by Ruowen and nodding in confirmation. Ruowen smiled, then strode forward.

“Brothers! Today, we’ve been humiliated. A mere handful of people dared to come and demand our prisoners. Does that sit well with you? Are you satisfied with that?” His voice boomed with authority, and his men roared in response, their anger surging like a tidal wave, pressing in on Tongbahe and his group.

"Tongbahe, listen up. I don’t need the food in that grain store. We won’t starve! I don’t gamble with the lives of my true brothers. I’ve already pulled my men out. So go ahead—blow up whatever you want. When you’re done, I’ll be sure to give you a proper ‘thank you’!” Ruowen stood at the front, his presence imposing, like an enraged lion, his eyes burning with intensity.

Tongbahe’s men, hundreds strong, were already shaking with fear, barely able to stay on their feet, grateful they hadn’t bolted.

“Brothers, surround them! Don’t let a single grain of sand slip through!” Ruowen drew his curved blade, and his thousands of men echoed his command, closing in. It was clear now that Ruowen’s earlier calm had only been a delay tactic, buying time to gather his forces. He wouldn’t stop until his enemies were crushed.

Yet none of this fazed Huang Beishuang. A reckless gleam shone in her eyes as she stood her ground.

“Ruowen, Qingyun isn’t here. But he’s not at your grain store either. Can you guess where he is now?” she asked, fearless.

Ruowen’s expression darkened as suspicion crept in. With a wave of his hand, his men stepped back. “Your target wasn’t the grain store?” he asked, his voice low.

“Deadwind Zone. You chose a very clever spot for your camp,” Huang Beishuang said with a cold smile.

Ruowen’s face grew grimmer by the second.

“The quicksand spans twenty miles, forming crescent-shaped semi-fixed dunes. At a glance, they only seem to rise three or four meters—harmless to both man and beast,” Huang Beishuang took a step forward. “But that’s only as long as the sand ridge behind them remains intact. Now, what do you think will happen if we blow it up?”

Her voice was filled with steely resolve and a hint of mockery as she played with a small signal flare in her hand.

"This entire area will collapse into a quicksand pit hundreds of meters deep. We’ll die, but so will you!" Ruowen squinted at her. “You’re willing to go down with me?”

He was genuinely surprised by her knowledge of the desert terrain. He had gone to great lengths to hide the secret of the Deadwind Zone, and in the three months his camp had been there, no one had ever noticed any vulnerabilities. Yet she had uncovered it with just a few words.

"It doesn’t have to end like that. All you have to do is return Nanny Dozai to me—and the bandits in your grain store," Huang Beishuang said, meeting his gaze. This was her last stand—whether she lived or died, she no longer had a choice.

Ruowen was silent for a while, his eyes narrowing as he reached a decision.

"Your name is..." he asked.

“Huang Beishuang.”

“Manhu, fetch that old witch’s body and toss it over. Also, release the captives from the grain store. Chengxiang, gather all the brothers—we’re leaving this place. Whether they blow it up or not, this camp is no longer safe,” Ruowen’s voice was calm and controlled. His men, watching his every move, knew better than to make a mistake in his presence, lest they become the next sacrifice to his blade.

To be honest, after following their leader for so many years, this was the first time they had ever been so thoroughly outmaneuvered, so completely on the defensive. The idea that a mere few hundred could suppress their two-thousand-strong desert bandits was laughable—until today. Yet here they were, a woman effortlessly achieving what seemed impossible, leaving them all astonished. No one dared lift their heads to meet Ruowen's gaze, but they all heard the sharp clang of his sword and dagger at his waist, a sound that cut through the tension.

This was far from over.

Tongbahe’s men began carrying out bags of various sizes, a sight that, under other circumstances, would have been absurdly comical. They had fought tooth and nail for nothing more than survival, and now, clutching their chance to escape, they seized whatever they could, like starving wolves, hauling away as much as possible. Bringing up the rear, one of them carried the lifeless body of Nanny Dozai.

"Tongbahe! Are you ready? As soon as my people get here, we’ll retreat east without delay. Don’t stop for a second. Ruowen’s camp is positioned to the west, so when Qingyun blows the ridge, they’ll be forced to flee that way. Even if they try to circle back and chase us, it won’t be easy," Huang Beishuang urged Tongbahe to hurry, all the while clutching the flare tightly in her hand, waiting for the right moment to signal.

Her eyes locked with Ruowen’s—she was sure he was watching her too.

In that instant, as the smoke from the impending battle was swept away by a sudden gust of cold wind, she lit the flare.

Boom! Boom! Without a moment’s hesitation, she turned and ran. He did the same.

The collapse came swiftly, a force of destruction devouring everything in its path. A single second of hesitation meant certain death. On one side, four hundred people fled; on the other, two thousand. No one had the luxury of glancing back, for to do so would mean being swallowed by the avalanche of sand. Huang Beishuang ran for her life, and so did Ruowen.

They ran in opposite directions, as if that was their inevitable fate.

In this world, there are always things you desperately long for but can never truly possess. Those inexplicable feelings often drive you mad, and that madness brings nothing but a hellish cycle of love and hatred.

The grace of a beauty—too great a burden to bear; the bitterness of a hero—forever lingering in the heart!

Huang—Beishuang!