Passing on the torch

The headquarters of the Red Lotus Cult is not located in an oasis; on the contrary, to suppress the underground flames of the Western Regions, it is hidden within an active volcano. The scorching lava flows slowly, serving as both a natural barrier and the best sparring partner for the cult members to cultivate their karmic fire. Perhaps because of the presence of people, this place is much more lively than the outer desert.

The arrival of Yun Shu and her group caused quite a stir in the area.

Canglang practically rushed into the place, carrying his seriously injured brother straight to the medical hall. Despite his hoarse voice, he still remembered to inform the other followers that the Immortal Master of Yunhua Mountain had arrived.

Upon hearing that it was Yunhua's White Fox Immortal Lord, the Red Lotus Sect members, who had already received the message from Canglang, quickly stepped forward, hurriedly took the wounded man in, and sent him inside for proper treatment.

The cult leader was a composed, sharp-eyed middle-aged man. Although he had recently suffered a near-fatal accident, the red lotus on the hem of his robe still burned with a clear flame, indicating that the effects of the Earth Fire Lotus Seed were indeed extraordinary. He personally stepped forward to greet him, his gaze first sweeping over Cang Lang's blood-stained body before settling on Yun Shu and Jin Zhu, paying particular attention to the ragged faceless man following closely behind Jin Zhu.

"Canglang has sent a message explaining the general situation. In just over a month, our sect has received assistance from Immortal Yunhua twice. On behalf of all our sect members, I express our deepest gratitude." The sect leader stepped forward and bowed, his voice like rolling earth fire, steady and full of power. "From now on, the Red Lotus Sect owes Yunhua Mountain another favor. If Immortal Master needs anything when he travels in the Western Regions in the future, the Red Lotus Sect will certainly do its utmost to assist him."

"You flatter me, Master. As fellow righteous people, it is our duty to help each other. Moreover, this case involves a wide range of people and affects all living beings. We should share information and resources to bring peace as soon as possible." Yun Shu returned the greeting gracefully. "Unfortunately, I was unable to save more people."

"The evil spirits are rampant! The Red Lotus Sect will repay this grudge a hundredfold!" A flash of anger appeared in the sect leader's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions and stepped aside to say, "I have lost my composure, please forgive me, Immortal Master. You have all come from afar and have had a long journey. Please come with me to rest."

The members of the Red Lotus Sect lived up to their name, each one burning with passion. Along the way, they received many admiring glances. The sect leader led them to a stone chamber, its thick walls effectively isolating them from the outside noise. Disciples spontaneously offered them tea and fruits from the Western Regions, instantly easing the atmosphere. Only the faceless one remained huddled in a corner, vigilantly "watching" everything around him. But when he looked at the golden pearl, he relaxed slightly.

The name of this leader is unknown. According to him, his name was merely a label. Those within the Red Lotus Sect addressed him as "Leader," thus "Leader" was his real name.

"Of course, if you find it unpleasant to call me, you may also call me 'Shanu' or 'Fenfeng'. The former is the name my foreman used to call me when I was a child, and the latter... was a gift from a friend of mine. You may choose whichever you prefer."

Yun Shu had heard of the name "Burning Wind." Legend has it that thousands of years ago, bandits roamed the Western Regions, committing all sorts of atrocities, including burning, killing, and looting. Back then, the leader of the Red Lotus Sect was just an unknown wandering swordsman in the desert. He saved countless merchants from bandits and was hunted down by them. With only a broken sword in his hand, he single-handedly wiped out all the bandits. On his way back, he helped the new leader of the Red Lotus Sect repel countless raging fire spirits, which is how he joined the Red Lotus Sect and became the cheerful and talkative "leader" he is today.

Legend has it that when the cult leader draws his sword, a hot, dry wind will blow across the sand dunes within a ten-mile radius—which does indeed resemble a natural foehn wind.

As the two exchanged toasts, Jinzhu ate small bites of the melon given to her by a disciple of the Red Lotus Sect, but she found the food somewhat unappetizing.

Why does that storage artifact at the fox spirit's waist always make her feel sad?

She knew there must be something inside, but fear prevented her from looking, asking, or even thinking about it.

The Faceless One, huddled in the corner, seemed to sense the princess's emotions and picked up the juice in front of him, offering it to Jinzhu.

How could this escape Yun Shu's notice? He sighed softly, took out the spear that belonged to Yun Hua, and handed it to the leader of the Red Lotus Sect: "This is the magic weapon of my master Yun Hua from ten thousand years ago. I just found it at the place of that injured person. Although it has been through ten thousand years of wind and sand, the immortal energy on it can still suppress evil spirits. It may be of some help to your sect's investigation."

The other party took the spear, and as his fingertips brushed against the shaft, he was moved by the righteous energy within it. His expression turned solemn, and he immediately summoned an elder from the sect who specialized in weapon crafting, instructing him to take good care of it and to try to unleash more of its power.

Then, the sect leader turned around and thanked him, saying, "It was originally lost by Immortal Master Yunhua... Immortal Lord trusts the Red Lotus Sect and is willing to lend this divine artifact. I am extremely grateful. The Red Lotus Sect will make good use of this item and personally return it to Immortal Mountain Yunhua when everything has settled down!"

Yun Shu nodded slightly in return, then turned her gaze to the faceless figure and explained to the leader, "This man is a survivor of the ancient kingdom of Flowing Sands. He survived the attack on the post station by hiding inside a... relic. He recognizes my junior sister from Yunhua Mountain and has tried to guide us to the lost temple 'Haslan' in the Lost Sands. He seems to have no ill intentions, so please don't take offense, leader."

Upon hearing the word "Hasalaam," the faceless one finally turned his head toward them, excitedly uttering a string of ancient words and stretching out his hands to protect the golden pearl.

"Um... what is he saying?" the cult leader asked.

Before Yun Shu could even offer encouragement, Jin Zhu quietly translated it herself, sadly dusting off the Faceless One's hat, which was covered in sand and dust: "He said that Hasaran is a temple... the beginning and end of all the rivers in the desert, the purest pearl. But... it is now occupied by 'imposters' and 'false gods,' and even 'Shasha,' who has lived alongside the royal family for generations, has been polluted and deceived... When 'Shasha' has four wings and carries the Empress into the blue sky, it is the most beautiful sand painting... And, um... he said that the truly blessed princess will return and lead them to purify the temple... so that the desert can breathe again."

“False god…” Yun Shu caught the word and pondered for a moment before saying, “In that case, it further confirms that the so-called ‘faceless person’ is not a remnant of the Flowing Sand Kingdom, but a foreign plunderer. As for ‘Shasha,’ it should be the serpent depicted on the totem.”

Though faceless, the faceless being possessed remarkable linguistic talent—for he clearly understood what Yun Shu was saying. At this moment, he once again paid his highest respects to his princess and imitated a strange crawling motion, his face showing fear.

The princess herself turned pale with fright and instinctively looked at Yun Shu: "He...he said that those 'imposters' stole the Empress's life, ordered the 'Shasha' to wreak havoc everywhere, and even transformed some of the 'Shasha' into strange shapes...The 'imposters' have no fixed shape; their bodies are just black sand...They devour anything they see that has life...They've already eaten many of his kind, and they'll even turn into their likeness..."

The true faceless people, on the contrary, have had their identities stripped away and have been persecuted to this day.

“That’s why we have to go to Hasaran.” Yun Shu let the little girl hug a few tails and looked into the distance. “Only by following the clues and destroying its core can we end all of this.”

The leader replied without hesitation, "The Red Lotus Sect is willing to offer its full assistance! Venturing deep into the desert from the southwest is a treacherous environment, teeming with ferocious beasts… However, our sect can provide the most detailed route map, as well as magical artifacts to withstand the scorching heat and sandstorms. As for the guide…"

"Master," Canglang, now dressed in clean clothes, said, his eyes burning with fury, "I have served as a patrol officer for over ten years. Moreover, I once ventured deep into the southwestern desert in pursuit of a certain ferocious beast. Therefore, I humbly request that you grant me the position of guide!"

Canglang was interested, and the sect leader didn't waste any words. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded emphatically: "Approved! You are familiar with the route and have returned with the immortal, so you are the only choice. In addition, I will also send another team of elite sect members to provide support outside. If anything changes, they can come to our aid in time."

"Thank you, Master!"

After agreeing on a general plan, everyone went their separate ways to prepare. However, Yun Shu, with Jin Zhu in tow, went up to a terrace overlooking the desert.

Under the cover of night, the desert loses its daytime heat and appears somewhat tranquil due to the cascading Milky Way.

After taking a deep breath of the biting night wind, Yun Shu sighed softly, carefully took out the jade box containing the eyeball, and said softly, "Jinzhu, there are some things I've thought about a lot, and I still feel that you need to know them."

The little hand that was gripping his sleeve suddenly clenched, but she nodded firmly, looked bravely at the jade box, and did not back down.

Why should such a young child bear such a heavy burden? Yun Shu asked himself again, but he did not hide it. He gently opened the jade box, letting the vibrant gem shine in the moonlight, and in the most serious yet gentle tone, told her the origin of this eye, and... what it meant.

The moonlight, like water, draped over the girl's still frail body, like a silent comfort, or perhaps... someone embracing their young daughter by the moonlight.

The girl didn't cry or make a scene; she just stared blankly at the green eyes, as if that would allow her to return to the past, to the days when she laughed, cried, and slept peacefully in her mother's arms, or as if only in this way could she remember who had "abandoned" her.

"So..." After a long pause, Jinzhu asked, her voice choked with sobs, "Mother...she can never come back for me again, can she?"

"Perhaps her soul has found freedom and liberation." Yun Shu bent down and gently wiped away her tears. "But I think her love for you has reached you. She never abandoned you, and even today, her gaze towards you is still full of love, isn't it?"

Then, he lifted Jinzhu onto his shoulder, urging her to look at the starry sky over the desert, and then to the twinkling lights in the sand: "Although I am not from the Western Regions, my master once told me that in the Western Regions, people believe that after they die, they will turn into stars to light the way home for their loved ones. Her love for you, and the hopes of all the people of the Shifting Sands for the 'Princess,' are now falling on your shoulders with the starlight... This is not a burden, Jinzhu. It is also a kind of power. Just like the Red Lotus Sect beneath our feet, born from the fire of the earth, growing in the desert, and protecting the peace of this region. Your bloodline, perhaps, is also the flame that connects you to the past and creates the future."

The little girl threw herself into the fox spirit's arms and cried her heart out.

Finally, with teary eyes, she raised her head, looking into Yun Shu's gentle, clear eyes, then into the boundless sea of ​​sand and the starry sky, and finally into the unknown darkness of the southwest.

“Fox Fairy,” she clutched the jade box tightly to her chest, “we…we’re going to Hasaran. I want to bring my mother…and all those faceless people home.”

What a strong child. Yun Shu affectionately ruffled her blonde hair: "Of course. We can definitely get everyone home."

On his chest, the little black lump of coal quietly peeked out. It didn't cause any trouble; it just stuck to each of them, indicating that it wanted to go too, and that the two men couldn't ignore its little ball of fur.