Chapter 1157
Anar, the Desert Guide
June 19th.
While the Daffodil Duchy was still in a state of upheaval, Eivass and his party had already passed through the Daffodil Territory.
There was no clear border between the Daffodil Territory and the Ancient Kingdom of Anxi. Or rather, the real border was so clear that it was evident at a glance.
To the east of the Daffodil Territory, which was formerly the Daffodil Duchy, lay a desolate dense forest.
There was a peculiar humidity here, smelling like mud, or rather, like blood. It was slightly poisonous to mortals, and while not fatal, it would make one feel weak and dispirited. Because of this, despite the abundant resources, it had been hardly logged or harvested.
According to the guide’s introduction, this place produced a certain type of mushroom – he was an Anxi person and did not recognize the mushroom.
However, Zhu Tang recognized it.
“That’s Black Ant Mushroom, we call it ‘Corpse Gentleman’,” the grey-robed wizard replied with his eyes closed. “It’s a rather rare ritual material. This mushroom secretes a mucus that simulates the smell of rotting corpses fermenting, and it preys on a special type of black ant that only feeds on decaying animal carcasses. Therefore, this mushroom only appears in places where there are frequent corpses, and it remains quiet without spreading.
“Incidentally, although it smells bad and is slightly poisonous, it’s very delicious in soup. When stewed with amomum, it will have a rich meaty flavor. As long as it’s cooked thoroughly, there are no problems. In my hometown, people catch these mushrooms to sell for money every spring.”
This Eastern wizard was currently sitting in Eivass’s luxurious carriage, playing chess with Sherlock.
Because there were too many people traveling together, Yulia was worried about the noise on the road. Thus, the Empress of the New Empire had personally modified their carriage for this trip. She had used lost knowledge from the Hrasal Empire’s inheritance to create several space-folding carriages.
Although the carriage looked only slightly larger from the outside, it was about sixty square meters from the inside. It had a modest living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom, roughly equivalent to a not-too-large hotel suite. There were four sofas alone, and many people were staying inside.
The other carriages had also been modified by Yulia. The space had been expanded by about half, allowing at least all the attendants to spend the night in a confined space.
This was a lifesaver for the group about to head into the desert.
Although Sherlock could provide water for everyone, and there was water and food stored in the carriage just in case, it was always difficult to spend the night in the carriage – even if the important figures could barely sleep inside, their attendants couldn’t live with the food, could they?
With the carriages expanded and modified by Yulia, the comfort of travel had suddenly increased by four or five levels. It had transformed from a difficult task of enduring the wind and chewing sand into a true journey.
It was said that this technology was obtained from the Hrasal Empire after being dispelled by the Alchemy Association. The space-folding technology of the Mage Tower was similar, except that alchemy allowed those who had not mastered the Path of Wisdom and rune techniques to use it as well.
At this moment, Lily was back in Eivass’s shadow after a long time and felt at ease. Isabel and Haina were chatting together, and even Lixia, who was bored out of her mind, was accompanying them. Sherlock was playing Go with the closed-eyed Zhu Tang, while Eivass and the guide sat nearby, watching.
The guide was a young girl with dark brown skin.
Her name was Anar, and she had a high forehead, black curly hair tied back in a ponytail, and bright eyes like black pearls. She wore a loose robe made of white linen, completely different from the exquisite clothing worn by others.
She was a professional guide, primarily responsible for bringing people from the borders of Daffodil to the borders of Anxi, or vice versa.
Of course, this was definitely illegal… just like the profession of illegally smuggling people across borders. Although, in reality, there were no legal ways to enter or leave Anxi.
The Ancient Kingdom of Anxi had completely fragmented. Although they nominally still respected the mysterious monarch whose name was unknown, the lords of the desert city-states had become new kings.
Because of this, other countries could not establish normal foreign affairs channels within the Ancient Kingdom of Anxi – even if they did, it would only be a channel established with the lord of that particular city. The lords of other cities did not recognize such diplomatic relations.
And because the lords generally did not want their citizens or slaves to escape, contact with foreigners itself became a crime. In this situation, the interior of the Ancient Kingdom of Anxi was chaos for most countries.
Only a few people who escaped from within could bring back the latest – perhaps already outdated – intelligence.
In this context, the ones who could stably bring people out from the inside must be local resistance organizations. Zhu Tang and Mu were able to escape from that disorienting desert with her help.
It was also through their recommendation that Eivass found her as a guide.
“After we pass through this dense forest, we’ll enter the desert,” Anar said in the Star Antimony Language with a thick Anxi accent. “By then, we can’t stop anymore. we’ll have to travel for a day and a half to reach the first city – Rock Cell City. It’s a very small city, with only about eight hundred residents if you don’t count the slaves. It might not even have as many people as a small neighborhood in Star Antimony.”
“Such a small city… does it have a lord there too?” Eivass asked.
Hearing this, Anar smiled. “Of course, sir. Are there any cities in Anxi without a lord?”
“If there’s a lord, how did you escape? Wouldn’t he catch you?” Eivass pressed.
“Because the Snake People helped us,” Anar replied. “Rock Cell City is adjacent to Star Antimony, so it imports many reinforced rock slabs from Star Antimony. They are used to build underground rock cellars… as long as these are used to isolate the sand that sucks away moisture, it won’t be so easy to lose water.
“Although it’s in Anxi, it’s relatively less water-scarce here. The great lord is also gentler than the lords in other places… or rather, lazier. We escaped through an underground tunnel to a shrine outside the city and then led camels out from the shrine.
“Great Lord” was the respectful address that Anxi people used for their lords, roughly equivalent to “Your Majesty.”
“I don’t think that’s the case,” Zhu Tang interjected slowly. “I actually think… that lord probably knows about your existence.”
Anar was stunned.
“That’s only natural,” Sherlock said leisurely while playing chess. “Since he built the tunnel, how could he not know that it leads to the shrine outside the city? Without his payment, where would all these alchemical slabs from Star Antimony come from?”
“But…” Anar subconsciously wanted to argue.
But Sherlock said ruthlessly, “He merely tacitly allowed your existence. The purpose is very simple… As a weak lord, he can only obtain resources not available within Anxi through trade with foreign countries, and then exchange them with stronger lords within Anxi.
“In this situation, he only has two options. Either he plunders from the periphery of Star Antimony, or he establishes a trade route with Star Antimony. But no matter which he chooses, as long as he does it openly, he will be provoked by other lords, and then be jointly attacked, his territory and resources divided.
“Therefore, he can only maintain outward isolation and establish connections in secret. You must know some merchants who frequently travel through your route. They are the resources of the lord of Rock Cell City.
“If you intend to rebel, or to not do it… for the sake of secrecy, he will execute you. The excuse would be that your illegal activities were discovered… With such a handle that allows for execution at any time, you are the safest and most useful slaves to use.”
Anar clearly wanted to retort.
But after thinking about it, she seemed to recall some people. Her lips turned slightly pale – realizing that she might have been under the lord’s surveillance all along.
When she realized that her actions, which could have resulted in over twenty death sentences, had always been exposed under the lord’s nose, she couldn’t help but feel fear.
“Don’t scare the child,” Eivass said, tapping Sherlock’s head.
He turned back and asked Anar, “You said… a shrine? Where is the shrine outside the city?”
“Ah… outsiders are not allowed to enter there,” Anar said timidly. “We can only enter when we leave.
“That is the shrine of the Snake People, and it enshrines the Ring Heavenly Envoy.”
