Free Web NovelUnder the scorching sun, layers of heat waves rose from the desolate Gobi Desert. On a sand dune, a marmot was holding a fresh, juicy root of saxaul grass, gnawing on it with relish.
Suddenly, a strong wind rose, whistling past like a bandit, carrying away its lunch...
However, the marmot, having lost its lunch, didn't bother to chase after it. It just let out a shriek and burrowed into the hole behind it.
If anyone were nearby, they might have been even more terrified than the marmot.
Something in that gust of wind was extremely fast, difficult to catch with the naked eye.
Looking in the direction of the wind, one could only see a series of footprints rapidly appearing on the sand dunes, extending into the distance, and a blurry white figure occasionally flashing, as if a ghost were haunting in broad daylight.
Soon, the strong wind stopped abruptly, and a man dressed in white, holding a sword, revealed himself from the wind.
He wore a sand-proof mask on his face, obscuring his features, but his deep brown eyes seemed to tell a story, leaving a lasting impression with just a glance.
The man looked around for a while, then resumed his steps, heading east, with sand rolling behind him like thick smoke.
To the east of the giant rock, some outlines of houses characteristic of the Gobi Desert could ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) be vaguely seen, all flat-roofed and particularly small.
It seemed to be a village.
In the Gobi Desert, there are actually many villages like this, mostly left over from a long time ago, in a semi-abandoned state, with at most two or three households of residents, all elderly people or herdsmen who are unwilling to leave. Young people cannot stay here; doing anything in the city is a hundred times better than life here.
The man walked on, and in a few breaths, he arrived in front of the village.
This village was not large, built against a huge earthen mound, entirely of earth houses with walls rammed from straw mixed with loess, a dozen or so of various sizes. Some no longer had doors or windows, and some were even half-collapsed. In the ruins, some stubborn desert plants vaguely protruded with a hint of green.
The man seemed very familiar with this place. After entering the village, he did not inspect the dilapidated and crumbling houses but walked directly to the broken well in the center of the village, then leaped in.
As he descended from the wellhead, the light gradually receded.
A few seconds later, a slippery and viscous sensation, like mud, came from under his feet.
After steadying himself, the man looked forward, and a dozen pairs of eyes shining with crimson light quietly emerged from the darkness.
Filthy and impure Spiritual Energy fluctuations spread, echoing a mournful hum like sobbing in the narrow and cramped space.
This was the Half-Guitan Zhanfu Tribe’s settlement.
Zhanfu, in Huihe language, refers to a common wild flower in the Gobi Desert.
During the silent standoff, the man unhurriedly lowered the long sword in his hand, then slowly raised both hands as if to signal that he had no ill intent.
“Everyone, don’t be impulsive. I’m here to see your leader. She knows me. Just tell her I have something important and need her help.”
“Oh, by the way, my name is... Bai Kai.”
————
The Zhanfu Tribe settlement was transformed from a dried-up underground river. Where the underground river had accumulated a large amount of water, it was converted into a hall, and the complex and numerous tributary channels of the underground river became the living quarters for the Half-Guitan.
After Bai Kai was invited in, he waited for a moment on a stone stool in the corner of the hall before meeting the leader of the Zhanfu Tribe—Fragrant Basil Zhanfu.
She had a face with exotic features, deep-set eyes like emeralds, and skin that was excessively fair compared to the residents of the Gobi Desert. She wore a dress made of animal hide, with a well-defined figure, a pair of reddish animal ears, and a reddish-brown furry tail behind her.
Yes, Fragrant Basil was a Hu girl, but not the fox Hu, but the jackal Hu.
When Bai Kai saw Fragrant Basil, he was slightly stunned for a moment. Recovering himself, he smiled and exclaimed, “You’ve grown so big already?”
As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily fell on the deep cleavage of Fragrant Basil’s chest, perhaps due to professional habit, or perhaps because such a sight was indeed rare.
“Beautiful, truly beautiful!”
Fragrant Basil looked left and right, and seeing that no tribal members were paying attention, she stepped forward in a few strides and punched Bai Kai in the chest.
She didn’t use much force, as if she were acting spoiled.
Immediately after, she pouted at Bai Kai in somewhat rusty Chinese, “Annoying, you still remember to come see me? I thought you had forgotten me long ago!”
“How dare I, I’ve just been busy!” Bai Kai hastily explained, “Spearmint, you don’t know, in these past twenty years outside, I’ve thought of you almost every day.”
Fragrant Basil, in Huihe language, means spearmint.
Of course, Bai Kai was lying. This Half-Guitan Miss, whom he hadn't seen in over twenty years, had long since become a blur in his memory. The only information he remembered related to her was the Zhanfu Tribe’s settlement.
He had only come with the mentality of trying his luck.
Fortunately, after all these years, the Zhanfu settlement hadn't changed, otherwise, he might have made a wasted trip.
However, as a partner in the underground world, a golden male escort who captivated countless female customers, and the Hua City’s women’s friend, wasn’t it easy for him to handle a female Half-Guitan who already had feelings for him?
After all, he was no longer the pure and naive young man who didn't understand romance.
“Nonsense, do you think I’ll believe you?” Fragrant Basil rolled her eyes.
“Everything I said is true. Look, when I came back this time, I didn't go to see my Master, nor did I go to see the two Guardians of the Night Watch stationed in the Gobi Desert. I rushed to see you first. Isn’t that enough to show how important you are to me?” Bai Kai explained with a smile.
Fragrant Basil narrowed her eyes, stared at Bai Kai for a few seconds, then shook her head and said, “Xiao Bai Gege, you’ve changed. You’ve become like your Senior Brother, glib-tongued. I don’t like you like this.”
What was Bai Kai like in her memory?
Pure, passionate, overflowing with a sense of justice, and a bit dull... foolish.
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More than twenty years ago, when Lu Ming and Bai Kai rescued her, the daughter of the Zhanfu Tribe leader, from the Qiele Tribe, Lu Ming originally intended to abandon her in the Gobi Desert to fend for herself. However, Bai Kai had a big argument with Lu Ming and then personally escorted her back to the tribal settlement.
The danger of combining with urban legend and producing offspring is quite high. Many tribes abduct members of other tribes, or suitable young men and women from surrounding areas, to bear offspring for their own tribe.
It is imaginable what fate awaited Fragrant Basil if she had been left in the Gobi Desert and captured by the Qiele Tribe or another tribe.
Given Bai Kai’s character back then, he would never have tolerated such a thing happening, even if the other party was a Half-Guitan, an enemy of the Yumen Sand Sea lineage.
Fragrant Basil had originally intended to offer herself to Bai Kai to repay his life-saving grace.
However, she had barely taken off half her clothes when Bai Kai struck her with a palm, sending her flying. She didn't die at the hands of an enemy tribe, but she almost died from Bai Kai's palm strike.
After that palm, Bai Kai left her with only one sentence: “Miss, please respect yourself, or don’t blame my sword for being impolite!”
With that, he closed his eyes and entered a state of meditation.
He looked like Fahai facing the temptation of the Green Snake, closing his eyes and chanting sutras, and only knowing how to chant sutras, not even including the part about “I need you to help me cultivate.” He was utterly unromantic and could infuriate anyone.
“People change, you know!” Bai Kai laughed. “Haven’t you changed from before too? The Little Girl who used to be bullied by everyone has grown into a tribal leader.”
“However, I just observed that your tribe members are much fewer than before. Have you encountered any difficulties? Do you need my help?”
If he could genuinely help, Bai Kai would be very willing to lend a hand, considering it compensation for deceiving Fragrant Basil.
Although he was a disciple of the Yumen Sand Sea lineage and knew the way to enter Yumen Pass.
However, just like the Miracle Order that was once active in this area, he couldn't predict the location where the Yumen Pass entrance would appear during windy weather.
This part of the Gobi Desert seems barren, as if dead, but in reality, it is “alive,” constantly changing. Bai Kai left here soon after mastering his skills and did not stay in the Gobi Desert for long, so he couldn't act based on past experience.
Therefore, to enter Yumen Pass, he could only seek help from these Half-Guitan.
For this, he did not hesitate to commit an act that many male escorts have done, but which he found most despicable—deceiving emotions.
Yes, Bai Kai had never deceived the emotions of any customer; when he loved, it was true love—that was professional ethics.
However, love fades, doesn't it... his love usually had a very short shelf life.
“...” Fragrant Basil hesitated several times, wanting to speak, before sighing and saying, “That’s a long story...”
She paused, then a charming smile appeared on her face, and the corners of her eyes subtly lifted, “However, if you really want to help, just stay and have a few more children with me. Wouldn’t that solve the problem of dwindling population?”
Upon hearing this, Bai Kai instantly understood why the Zhanfu Tribe had fallen from a prominent large tribe to such a state in twenty years.
When Fragrant Basil was young, she had such an experience, so when she became the tribal leader, she naturally wouldn't allow her tribe to commit similar cruel acts.
But just because she and her tribe didn't do it, didn't mean other tribes wouldn't.
These Half-Guitan tribes already found it difficult to reproduce. Without a constant supply of fresh blood, and with young tribal members periodically going to other tribes, either forced or voluntarily, decline became inevitable.
“Alright!” Bai Kai readily agreed, “Let’s have a whole soccer team.”
“What?” Fragrant Basil stared at Bai Kai with wide eyes, her face full of disbelief.
It was no wonder she didn't believe him; this was like a long-time crush suddenly becoming passionate about you and wanting to have children with you—anyone would find it suspicious.
“Ah, I’m sorry, I know you don’t believe me. But it’s also my fault for being ignorant back then. A sincere love was right in front of me, and I didn’t cherish it. Only after leaving here did I realize what it means for human hearts to be treacherous.”
Bai Kai said, gradually approaching Fragrant Basil, taking her hands, and looking intently into her eyes, he said softly, “I only now realize how precious emotions at that age are, which is why I came to find you.”
“This time, I don’t plan on leaving again. I’ll stay and be with you. Will you give me a chance?”
In this world, the most deceptive lies are half-truths.
Bai Kai had never intended to leave Yumen Pass alive, and having experienced the treacherousness of human hearts outside, he had a personal understanding. These half-truths were a genuine outpouring of emotion, and Fragrant Basil’s eyes reddened upon hearing them.
Then, with a wave of her hand, she summoned a Half-Guitan, “Someone, prepare a banquet, the highest standard!”
“Uh, leader, what is this...”
Fragrant Basil glanced at the Half-Guitan and said, “Tonight, I’m getting married!”
Half-Guitan, Bai Kai, “???”
Well, yes... but isn’t this a bit too fast? freёwebnoѵel.com
“Spearmint, Spearmint, don’t be so hasty!” To prevent Fragrant Basil from going further, Bai Kai quickly said, “You should know that we humans always choose an auspicious day for marriage. I don’t want our wedding to be so rushed and leave us with regrets in the future.”
“I don’t mean anything else! I mean, can we get married after I check the almanac and find a good day?”
Fragrant Basil stared at Bai Kai, silent for a few seconds, then nodded.
Seeing this, Bai Kai breathed a sigh of relief.
“...”
This was the so-called fear of a marriage fraudster encountering someone who forces the issue.
Thankfully, he managed to fool her. If he had gotten himself entangled before achieving his goal, it would have been a bit of a loss.
He needed to quickly extract the information during these few days and then make a run for it. Bai Kai thought.
