Covenant in the Sands

The next morning, just as the sun rose beyond the low mountain range to the east, the Sand Thunder Basin was still covered in a thin layer of pale golden mist.

The early morning air was much cooler than during the day. Wind blew in from the lake and passed through the settlement, carrying the scent of dry grass, cold water, and traces of cooking smoke left behind from the previous night's celebration. The great fires before the Clan Head's residence had nearly burned out, leaving only a few patches of red embers glowing beneath the gray ash.

The people of the Sand Thunder Tribe rose early. Women carried leather water containers to the lake, young men led desert beasts and Black Horses toward the sandy flats outside the basin, while children ran around the open ground still covered in footprints from the night before. Every so often, one of them would find a forgotten wooden cup or a small silver bracelet and call out laughing for an adult to come claim it.

Inside the Clan Head's large residence, the atmosphere was completely different from the celebration the night before.

The drums and singing were gone. In the center of the main hall stood only a long stone table, with a beast-hide map of the area surrounding the Sand Thunder Tribe spread across its surface.

Cat Thanh sat in the main seat, with Cat Dang standing beside him. Hao Nhien sat opposite, while Lanh Hoa and Luu Thanh stood slightly behind and to either side. Tieu Nhan was also present, but she remained quietly beside a large wooden pillar, her hands resting before her as she listened to every word.

Morning light streamed through the high windows and fell across the map, making the markings for mountains, lakes, dead sand fields, and the routes between tribes much clearer.

Cat Thanh placed a rough finger on an area northeast of the basin.

"This is the Sand Thunder Tribe."

His finger then moved toward three smaller markings nearby.

"These three tribes once had friendly relations with us. One has begun wavering because of its water supply. Another is being pressured by the Heavenly Eye to hand over young people for its battle units. The last one has not yet chosen a side, but people from the Heavenly Eye have already visited them several times."

He paused. The hearty openness from the night before was still there, but the effects of the wine were long gone, leaving behind the clear gaze of a man who had carried responsibility for an entire tribe for many years.

"Clan Head Hao, the Sand Thunder Tribe is not a great tribe, nor are we strong enough to challenge the Heavenly Eye recklessly. But we do not want to become anyone's lackeys. What the Sand Thunder people want is actually very simple. We want to decide for ourselves where we live, where our children go, whom they marry, and what cause they draw their blades for."

His gaze moved briefly toward the lake beyond the window before returning to the map.

"Our people have lived among these yellow sands for generations. The wind may be fierce, the dry seasons may be long, and beasts may kill us, but at least this is a life we chose for ourselves. If one day we have to live behind high walls, wait for someone else to distribute our water and food, and let them decide the path our children must walk, then that would no longer be the life the Sand Thunder Tribe wants to preserve."

Cat Dang's hand tightened slightly around the hilt of his saber.

Cat Thanh looked directly at Hao Nhien.

"I believe the Fire Qilin people who still refuse to bow before the Heavenly Eye feel the same way."

Hao Nhien remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

"At least the people I'm looking for do."

He placed one hand on the edge of the map.

"The Fire Qilin Tribe is divided right now. There are some things I can't explain clearly yet because even I haven't uncovered the whole truth. But there is one thing I decided before I ever returned to the Western Wastes. I will not allow the Fire Qilin Tribe to become a tool of the Heavenly Eye."

Cat Thanh's gaze shifted slightly.

Hao Nhien continued in the same calm voice.

"If I can bring the Fire Qilin Tribe back onto a path of its own choosing, I will. If the situation has deteriorated so badly that the old lands can no longer be held, and there are still tribesmen who refuse to continue living under the Heavenly Eye's control, then I will find another path for them."

He looked beyond the basin.

"The continent is vast. The Western Wastes are important, but they are not the whole world. Ancestral lands are worth protecting, but if those lands one day become a cage that forces our descendants to bow their heads, then leaving may not necessarily be betrayal."

Lanh Hoa raised his head slightly.

Surprise flashed through the middle-aged man's eyes. To people who had spent most of their lives in the Western Wastes, the Fire Qilin Tribe and its ancestral lands had almost always been regarded as inseparable. This was the first time Hao Nhien had openly spoken of the possibility of leading some of the tribesmen away if circumstances forced them to choose.

Yet Lanh Hoa did not object. After a brief silence, he merely lowered his head slightly.

Luu Thanh also remained quiet longer than usual. He stared at the map before him as if realizing for the first time that the Fire Qilin Tribe's road might extend beyond the familiar stretches of desert he had always known.

Cat Thanh observed their reactions before slowly rising.

"Clan Head Hao, hearing that puts my mind at ease."

He placed both hands on the edge of the table.

"The Sand Thunder Tribe cannot stand against the Heavenly Eye alone, and the Fire Qilin Tribe has not yet stabilized. In that case, there is no need to speak grandly. For now, I would like us to establish a pact of mutual assistance."

Cat Thanh looked at Hao Nhien.

"The Sand Thunder Tribe will share information about the Heavenly Eye and the surrounding tribes. If the Fire Qilin people walking the same path as you encounter danger within our ability to help, we will not stand aside. In return, if the Sand Thunder Tribe is ever driven to the point where we can no longer protect ourselves, I hope Clan Head Hao will remember that there is still a tribe here that refuses to bow."

Hao Nhien stood.

"That is exactly what I need right now."

He did not hesitate for long.

"I can accept this pact on behalf of myself and the Fire Qilin people who are walking this path with me. Once the situation within the Fire Qilin Tribe stabilizes, I will personally reaffirm the pact between our two tribes."

Cat Thanh looked at him for a moment, then gave a firm nod.

"That is enough."

Two large wooden cups had already been placed on the table. Cat Thanh poured Fire Sand Wine into both, then used a small knife to cut the tip of his finger and let a drop of blood fall into his cup.

Cat Dang stepped forward as well, following the tribe's ritual and adding a drop of his own blood to Cat Thanh's cup.

Hao Nhien watched for a moment. Once he understood that this was how the Sand Thunder Tribe sealed an important pact, he lightly cut the tip of his own finger and let a drop of blood fall into the cup before him.

Lanh Hoa and Luu Thanh both became serious.

Even Tieu Nhan, standing by the wooden pillar, unconsciously held her breath.

Cat Thanh raised his cup.

"I, Cat Thanh of the Sand Thunder Tribe, make this vow today before our ancestors and everyone present. The Sand Thunder Tribe is willing to stand in mutual support with Clan Head Hao and those of the Fire Qilin Tribe who still wish to choose their own path. We will share information, aid one another in times of danger, and refuse to let the Heavenly Eye decide our fate at will."

Hao Nhien raised his own cup.

"I, Hao Nhien of the Fire Qilin Tribe, accept this pact. Once the Fire Qilin Tribe is stable again, I will personally reaffirm it before the people of both tribes."

The two wooden cups struck together with a deep sound that carried through the hall.

Then both men drained them.

The hot, sharp wine ran down Hao Nhien's throat, carrying a faint trace of blood. There were no dazzling techniques or battle banners covering the sky, but Hao Nhien understood that the weight of this ritual did not lie in appearances. At the very least, from this day forward, he had gained his first foothold in the Western Wastes that did not come from the Fire Qilin Tribe.

Cat Dang placed one hand over his chest and bowed deeply.

"I only hope our descendants will still have the right to choose the road they walk."

Lanh Hoa also clasped his hands and bowed.

"I will remember today's pact."

Luu Thanh did not make a joke this time. He simply raised his cup, his expression unusually serious.

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Outside the main hall, several Sand Thunder tribesmen had been waiting since early morning. Once word of the pact spread, quiet discussion quickly passed through the courtyard in front of the Clan Head's residence. There were no prolonged cheers like the night before, but many of the faces around them visibly relaxed.

For them, this was not yet an alliance capable of immediately changing the Western Wastes.

But at least the Sand Thunder Tribe was no longer standing entirely alone.

By midmorning, Hao Nhien's group prepared to leave.

The broad open ground before the Clan Head's residence was already crowded with tribesmen who had come to see them off. Some brought clean water, others offered dried meat, while several young men carried small pouches of wine for Luu Thanh, making him grin so widely that he had to keep clasping his hands in thanks.

A child of six or seven squeezed through the crowd and ran up to Hao Nhien. The child looked up at him for a long moment before opening a small hand.

In the palm lay a red stone only slightly larger than a fingertip.

"For Clan Head Hao."

The child's voice was very soft.

"This stone brings good luck."

Hao Nhien looked at the stone, then bent down and accepted it.

"Thank you."

He gently rubbed the child's head.

The child immediately turned and ran back toward his mother, looking over his shoulder as he went, his face flushed with happiness.

Hao Nhien studied the little red stone for another moment before placing it into his storage ring. It contained no spiritual qi and was certainly no treasure, but he still gave it a small place of its own inside.

Cat Thanh descended the steps.

"Clan Head Hao, the Sand Thunder Tribe sees you off. Once you leave, I will begin contacting the tribes around us. There are still those who do not want to side with the Heavenly Eye. Until now, no one has dared to step forward and speak first."

Hao Nhien clasped his hands.

"For now, only test their attitudes. There's no need to make the pact public yet. The less the Heavenly Eye knows about what we're planning, the better."

Cat Thanh immediately understood.

"I know."

"Once the Fire Qilin Tribe is stable, I'll send word back. If there are any major changes involving the Heavenly Eye, I hope Clan Head Cat Thanh will inform me as soon as possible."

"Without fail."

Cat Dang stepped forward and clasped his hands.

"Clan Head Hao, the road back to the Fire Qilin Tribe is long. Please take care."

Hao Nhien nodded.

"Elder Cat Dang, you take care as well. The next time we meet, I hope we can drink together for another whole night."

Cat Dang laughed loudly.

"This old man will definitely bring out better wine next time."

Luu Thanh immediately cut in.

"I heard that very clearly. You can't change your mind next time."

Cat Dang pointed at him and laughed.

"You brat, you remember wine faster than you remember the road."

Several young men nearby burst into laughter. A few even slapped Luu Thanh on the shoulder, telling him they would settle the score at the drinking table the next time he returned.

Luu Thanh was just about to answer when he caught Lanh Hoa's gaze and immediately added:

"After the important matters are finished."

Another round of laughter followed.

Tieu Nhan stood beside Cat Thanh. Today she wore an earth-brown robe edged in red, her hair tied neatly behind her head. The small silver bracelet on her wrist still chimed softly whenever the wind passed.

She stepped forward and bowed.

"Clan Head Hao, please take care. The Sand Thunder Tribe's doors will always be open to you."

Hao Nhien looked at her and smiled.

"Thank you, Tieu Nhan. Take care of yourself as well, and cultivate diligently. Our two tribes will still have many things to face together in the future."

Tieu Nhan raised her head. Hao Nhien could see that her eyes were slightly red, but her smile remained bright.

"Yes. I'll work hard."

Hao Nhien said nothing more.

He mounted his Black Horse, and Lanh Hoa and Luu Thanh followed.

Before leaving the basin, the three of them looked back one last time. Cat Thanh and the Sand Thunder tribesmen gathered around the square all placed one hand over their chests in the traditional desert salute.

"Clan Head Hao, take care!"

Their farewell carried across the lake.

The three Black Horses turned and galloped southwest.

Hao Nhien could no longer see what happened behind them once they had ridden away. He only knew that when he looked back for the final time, Tieu Nhan was still standing beside her father, watching the three of them until the distance stretched too far.

Two days after leaving the Sand Thunder Tribe, Hao Nhien's group continued southwest.

That direction led toward the territory of the Fire Qilin Tribe.

The Western Wastes seemed unchanged. Yellow sand still stretched to the horizon, the daytime sun still burned against the skin, and the dry wind continuously carried fine dust that clung to their hair, robes, and the coats of the Black Horses.

But close to midday, Hao Nhien began to sense something unusual.

The harsh sunlight gradually became duller. At the far edge of the horizon, a broad gray-yellow band appeared. At first it resembled low clouds, but as time passed, the boundary grew thicker and continued advancing.

Lanh Hoa urged his horse up alongside Hao Nhien.

"Clan Head, a major sandstorm is coming."

Hao Nhien lightly pulled on the reins.

He was not relying on sight alone. His Spirit Wings made him more sensitive to changes in the surrounding air, while his spiritual awareness could sense the currents close to the ground losing their steady rhythm. Smaller streams of wind collided continuously, twisting low over the sand before gradually being dragged in the same direction by a much greater force.

Lanh Hoa looked at the sand beginning to move beneath the Black Horses.

"The wind has changed direction, the lower layers of sand are starting to spiral, and the scent of dry earth is getting stronger. We shouldn't continue straight ahead."

Hao Nhien asked:

"Is there shelter nearby?"

Lanh Hoa pointed toward a low rocky ridge in the distance.

"If we move quickly, we can reach it in half a day. There are many cracks and natural caves in that area. If we can't find one large enough, I can open up a temporary shelter."

He paused before continuing in a more serious tone.

"Judging from the signs, this storm will last at least three days. If it's worse, perhaps five. If we're caught in the open desert, even the Black Horses won't endure it."

Hao Nhien studied the gray-yellow band growing larger along the horizon and nodded.

"We'll head for the rocky ridge. There's no need to risk ourselves just to save time. Safety first."

Riding behind them, Luu Thanh looked up at the sky. Sand had begun striking his face, forcing him to narrow his eyes.

"Three to five days of sandstorm. It seems the Western Wastes is afraid we're getting too tired from traveling and wants to force us to rest."

Hao Nhien turned to look at him.

"The timing isn't bad. I have a few things I need to deal with anyway."

Luu Thanh immediately frowned.

"Whenever Clan Head says he has a few things to deal with, it never sounds like anything simple."

"Then you should rest while you still can."

Luu Thanh sighed.

"I'm starting to feel these next few days won't be peaceful."

Lanh Hoa did not join their conversation. He simply urged his Black Horse forward and took the lead.

The wind grew stronger with every passing moment. Sand began flying sideways in layers, striking their robes without pause. The sky darkened far faster than normal, while the sun behind them became a dim disk veiled by yellow dust.

By the time they approached the rocky ridge, the wind had become a deep, continuous roar.

Jagged masses of dark gray stone rose from the desert, their surfaces carved into long grooves by years of wind and sand. Lanh Hoa led the group along the slope for a while before finding a reasonably large natural cave. Its entrance faced away from the main wind direction, and the interior had enough room for all three men and their Black Horses.

Not long after they entered, the sandstorm truly struck.

Through the gaps between the rocks, Hao Nhien could see nothing but a gray-yellow curtain churning endlessly outside. Wind screamed through the cracks, rising and falling like countless distant howls stretched across the desert.

Lanh Hoa drew his saber and cut several large pieces of stone free near the cave entrance. He and Luu Thanh pushed them into place to block most of the opening, leaving only a narrow gap for air to circulate.

The noise outside immediately diminished considerably.

Luu Thanh quickly lit a fire, then took several pieces of prepared meat from his storage ring, skewered them on dry branches, and set them near the flames.

"If we're going to be trapped here, we should at least make sure we don't go hungry."

Hao Nhien sat down across from him.

Lanh Hoa chose a position near the cave entrance, leaning his back against the stone wall with his saber resting across his knees. Even with most of the entrance blocked, his gaze still moved toward the narrow opening from time to time as he monitored the storm outside.

Hao Nhien sat quietly for a while before calling out:

"Lanh Hoa."

The middle-aged man immediately turned.

"Clan Head."

Hao Nhien looked at him.

"You still have the Sand Fox King core from before, don't you?"

Lanh Hoa paused slightly, then reached into his storage ring.

A dark-red beast core appeared in his palm.

It was the core taken from the third-rank Sand Fox King they had killed before encountering the older King-class beast at the Sinking Sands. A considerable amount of condensed Fire-attributed energy still remained within it, along with the distinctive aura of a King-class beast.

Hao Nhien looked at the core and said:

"Use these three to five days to try comprehending it."

Lanh Hoa lowered his gaze to the object in his hand but did not answer immediately.

Hao Nhien continued.

"You've been at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment for long enough. Start by sensing how its Fire power condenses and circulates, then see whether you can find something that helps you break through the barrier before the sixth layer."

Luu Thanh stopped turning the meat over the fire.

Lanh Hoa remained silent for several breaths before speaking.

"Clan Head, this opportunity is too precious."

He looked at the beast core for a moment.

"This subordinate has been stuck at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment for many years. My talent has never been exceptional, and it already took me a very long time to reach this point. Even if this core is compatible with my Fire affinity, there's no guarantee I can use it to advance any further."

Lanh Hoa's voice was calm. There was no self-pity in it, nor was he deliberately refusing. It was simply the way someone who had lived long enough had learned to look at his own limits.

Hao Nhien looked at the scars covering his arm.

"I'm not asking you to gamble your life on it."

Lanh Hoa raised his head.

"I'm only asking you to see what you can learn from it."

Hao Nhien pushed another branch into the fire. A few sparks jumped upward before quickly fading.

"You say your talent isn't high. But could an ordinary man with mediocre talent survive this many years in the Western Wastes, pass through battlefields, internal strife, and countless brushes with death, and still reach the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment?"

Lanh Hoa did not answer.

Hao Nhien continued.

"Maybe you don't move as quickly as others. Maybe a step that takes someone else one year takes you five. But you've still made it this far."

He looked directly at the middle-aged man.

"If the beast core is already in your hands and you still don't dare to try simply because you think your talent isn't enough, then from that moment onward, the thing stopping you is no longer your talent."

Hao Nhien paused briefly.

"It's you."

Only the crackle of the fire and the muffled roar of the sandstorm beyond the stone barrier remained inside the cave.

Lanh Hoa stared at the beast core for a long time.

Hao Nhien did not rush him.

After a while, he continued.

"Talent decides whether someone starts easily or with difficulty, but no one knows how far it can ultimately carry them. You've accumulated at the fifth layer for many years, and you've just gone through several battles where your life was on the line. If you don't try now, I don't know what better opportunity you're waiting for."

He pushed the beast core slightly toward Lanh Hoa.

"If you succeed, you'll take another step forward. If you fail, that's fine too. At least you'll know what you're still lacking. As long as we're alive, there will always be another chance."

Lanh Hoa looked at Hao Nhien, then slowly closed his hand around the beast core.

The moment the Fire power inside came into contact with his spiritual awareness, a thin layer of heat spread across his fingertips. The middle-aged man closed his eyes for several breaths before opening them again.

The hesitation in his gaze was gone.

"All right."

His fingers tightened around the core.

"This subordinate will try."

Hao Nhien nodded.

"Don't think about the sixth layer yet. First comprehend the Fire power inside. If you truly find an opportunity, then you can think about breaking through."

Luu Thanh finally spoke.

"If Uncle Lanh really reaches the sixth layer after these few days, I'll be even less willing to steal his share of the wine from now on."

Lanh Hoa turned to look at him.

Luu Thanh immediately added:

"I said if."

Hao Nhien could not help laughing.

He looked at the beast core in Lanh Hoa's hand and leaned back against the stone wall.

Outside, the sandstorm continued to howl as though it wanted to tear the entire mountain range apart. Inside the cave, the small fire burned steadily, casting light over the three men and the surrounding gray stone.

Hao Nhien spoke softly.

"Then let's see which is stronger, that beast core, or the man who has survived all these years in the Western Wastes."

Lanh Hoa did not answer immediately.

He simply placed the beast core before him, adjusted his breathing, and slowly closed his eyes.

The dark-red Fire power began to reflect across the scars on his face.