novelraw Chapter 347: I Do Not Intend to Hand Her Over to You
Chapter 347: I Do Not Intend to Hand Her Over to You
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation.
The scorching heat radiated from the sand, distorting the air and creating a mirage-like illusion of a golden ocean stretching endlessly.
“No wonder it’s called the Desert of Lost Souls. This heat is utterly abnormal!”
Even with a Cooling Pearl around his neck, Si Tu Yan could barely endure the oppressive temperature.
Si Tu Yu wiped her sweat-drenched hair back from her face and asked, “Daoist Yu, how far are we from our destination?”
Everyone looked expectantly at Yu Zhao.
Yu Zhao unrolled a scroll and made a rough estimate. “We still need to head east for another three days.”
“Ugh!”
Groans rippled through the Si Tu family members.
Si Tu Jian Nan snapped irritably, “Look at all of you! You call yourselves Si Tu family cultivators? If this is how you behave, don’t admit where you’re from when you’re out in the world!”In stark contrast, Ji Han Zhou and Monk Silence, both Golden Core cultivators, seemed much more composed. Monk Silence, in particular, maintained a calm demeanor, exuding a masterly presence.
Yu Zhao scanned the boundless desert, her thoughts racing. Something didn’t add up. Elder Gu had mentioned the desert’s disorienting nature, but he had never spoken of such extreme heat. Was it a consequence of the Ancient Dao Field’s ruins or something else entirely?
“Let’s rest for a while,” Si Tu Yu suggested, noticing her clan members’ worsening condition.
Yu Zhao and Si Tu Jian Nan both rejected the idea simultaneously. “No.”
Si Tu Yu was taken aback.
“A sandstorm is coming,” Si Tu Jian Nan stated grimly, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
Si Tu Yu’s expression immediately changed. Sandstorms were the deadliest threat in the desert. The group was already weakened by the extreme heat, and encountering a sandstorm, even under the protection of two Nascent Soul cultivators, would spell disaster. In the worst-case scenario, lives could be lost.
Reluctantly, Si Tu Yu urged her family to keep moving. The others, spurred by the impending danger, quickly picked up the pace. Their determination surged, driving them faster than when they first entered the desert.
An hour later, the skies began to darken.
Fine grains of sand swirled with the wind, creating a faint rustling sound. The wind grew fiercer, accompanied by an eerie, high-pitched wailing. Before long, darkness enveloped the sky as though night had fallen, and a natural oppressive force loomed over the group.
“Faster!” Si Tu Jian Nan called out, channeling spiritual energy to aid his kin’s speed. Yu Zhao did the same. Their flying speed increased dramatically as they raced ahead without daring to glance back.
The relentless roar of the storm grew louder. Fierce winds hurled sand like a battering ram, but none of them paused. Even as their figures wavered in the turbulent air, they pressed on.
“Senior Si Tu, I’ll lead. You cover the rear!”
Yu Zhao darted to the front, her movements as steady as a lone boat cutting through turbulent waves. The rest formed a line behind her, following her lead.
After another hour of non-stop flight, the deafening storm faded into the distance. Yu Zhao finally slowed her pace.
“We’re safe… for now,” she announced.
Thud! Thud!
Several members of the Si Tu family collapsed onto the sand dunes, gasping for air, their faces pale with the relief of having narrowly escaped death.
“Uncle, Daoist Yu, can we rest now?” Si Tu Yu asked, her voice trembling from exhaustion.
“Yes,” came the reply.
Hearing this, the rest of the group ceased their efforts to hold themselves upright and dropped to the ground.
As Si Tu Jian Nan was about to follow suit, he noticed Yu Zhao heading back toward the direction they had fled from.
“Daoist Yu, what are you doing?”
“Stay here and watch over everyone. I’ll be back shortly.”
Yu Zhao flew on, and before long, a faint fragrance reached her nose. Smiling faintly, she followed the scent to a sand dune and stopped.
She formed a seal with her hands, pointing at the dune. The defensive formation around it wavered and shattered with three visible tremors.
Suddenly, a shadow shot out, aiming straight for Yu Zhao’s face.
Yu Zhao didn’t flinch. Instead, she struck with her palm.
“Ugh!”
The shadow hit the ground, revealing part of a delicate face beneath a tattered black robe.
Yu Zhao’s spiritual energy formed two restraints that bound the figure’s hands and feet securely. Confirming that the captive couldn’t escape, she grabbed the ropes and dragged them back toward the resting group.
The black-robed figure’s clothes dragged through the sand, gradually revealing her hidden features.
“Daoist Yu is back!”
Her sudden departure had left the group curious, and her return didn’t go unnoticed.
At first, they only glanced her way. Then, noticing that she was dragging something, they became intrigued. Some sat up, while others rushed toward her.
“It’s not something—it’s someone!”
Si Tu Jian Nan scanned the figure with his divine sense and froze momentarily before erupting in anger. “It’s her! She actually dares to show her face!”
“Uncle, do you know her?”
“She’s the thief who stole our sacred object!”
Si Tu Jian Nan had chased this person for miles and couldn’t possibly fail to recognize her aura. For her to survive a sandstorm and fall into Yu Zhao’s hands—justice was finally served!
“What? That thief?”
“She dares return?”
“She’s courting death!”
The Si Tu family members were seething with rage. Not only had this thief stolen their sacred object, but her actions had also forced them to endure this punishing journey into the desert.
Before Yu Zhao could approach, the Si Tu family surrounded her, their eyes blazing with fury.
“Daoist Yu, thank you for apprehending this thief on behalf of our family!” Si Tu Jian Nan expressed his gratitude with a mix of respect and apology.
However, Yu Zhao’s response was calm but firm. “Senior Si Tu, there’s been a misunderstanding. I have no intention of handing her over to you.”
Her words stunned the group.
“B-but…” Si Tu Jian Nan stammered, flustered. Not bringing the thief back to face justice would tarnish the Si Tu family’s reputation in the cultivation world.
“Uncle!” Si Tu Yu intervened, shaking her head at him.
From her understanding, Yu Zhao wasn’t one to respond well to forceful demands. Winning her favor required tact and patience. Moreover, since Yu Zhao had captured the thief without their assistance, they had no grounds to make demands.
“Daoist Yu, as you’ve caught her, it’s only right for you to decide her fate. We shall not interfere.”
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