The raging sandstorm finally subsided.
Noen and his companions were tornted beyond words, the yellow sand enveloping them like heavy stone coats, forcing them to awkwardly and vigorously slap it off.
Even the cals were in extre discomfort, shaking their bodies and rubbing against each other.
Noen wiped all the yellow sand off his face and looked straight at the person approaching from the distance.
It was a Three-eyed Ape-man, his strength akin to a small mammoth.
Casas also followed Noen’s gaze and looked over, the Pri Minister’s son involuntarily let out a gasp of amazent.
Though that person was also covered in sand, his pace hadn’t slowed; to him, the yellow sand seed as light as flax.
"Who is that?"
Casas murmured.
"I don’t know... little master."
Noen said softly,
"He’s coming this way."
As the young man’s words fell, Casas instantly beca alert, drawing a bronze sword from the cal, ready for any threat.
As the figure got closer, and when they barely could make out each other, the person casually slapped the yellow sand off his body.
"He seems... to have no hostility."
Noen said.
Casas felt it too and temporarily sheathed his bronze sword.
When the person approached the group, everyone involuntarily drew a sharp breath.
He was too tall.
Like a small hill standing in front of them.
"Have you co to the Path of Death seeking treasures?"
The person looked around at those present,
"I am Baird, the Sith’s Baird."
Casas swallowed hard, montarily intimidated, as he had never seen soone so strong.
He was like the heroes from the legends who achieved great feats.
Instead, it was Noen who stepped forward.
"We’re not here for treasure."
The young man looked up at the towering Baird,
"I am Noen, and I am on my way ho."
Baird was surprised at the composure of this young Stone Slave.
"So, are you here for training?"
"No, not that, we are looking for the Ancient Elf Kingdom, searching for the Golden Bull Horn."
This ti, it was Casas who regained his senses first and spoke up.
Baird uttered, "Oh?" and then asked,
"The Ancient Elf Kingdom? Golden Bull Horn? What are those?"
"The forr is our destination, the latter may be a treasure, and perhaps it is there."
Noen said in a low voice.
"Treasure?"
At this, Baird’s eyes lit up.
"What about it?"
Noen sensed sothing.
"I need a treasure that can move people’s hearts."
Baird spoke excitedly, his whole body trembling as if in an earthquake.
"For, for what reason?"
Noen was quite astonished.
"I have a beloved. I need an incomparable treasure to touch her sleeping heart."
"Sleeping heart?"
Noen asked in bewildernt.
"Yes, my beloved wandered into a Secret Forest when she was young, sothing happened there, and she was cursed by a Druid. From the age of fourteen, she fell into a slumber, and only a treasure rare enough to touch people’s hearts could awaken her."
Baird spoke without any reservation.
When he ntioned his beloved, joy radiated from his heart.
Noen and Casas exchanged glances, their lips parting slightly in amazent. This was truly strange.
"Travelers, may I join your company?"
Baird asked loudly, interrupting their thoughts.
Noen and Casas looked at each other, master and servant exchanging glances.
Finally, the two nodded at each other, and then in unison said,
"So...why not do it together?"
Casas then craftily said,
"The Ancient Elf Kingdom is full of countless wonders, besides the golden bullhorn, there must be treasures that can touch a woman’s heart."
Baird nodded slightly, as he didn’t specifically want the golden bullhorn, he just wanted a treasure that could move his beloved.
"However, why are you here?"
Casas tentatively asked,
"To seek treasure?"
"Not just to seek treasure, travelers."
Baird lifted his head, gazing into the distance of the sky,
"I made three bets with a divine being."
Upon hearing this, everyone was startled.
"What, what?"
They truly couldn’t believe it,
"Which, which divine being?"
"Dragon God Endora."
Baird’s tone did not seem deceitful as he solemnly said,
"The first bet was to hunt an Earth Dragon alone, which I completed as promised.
The second bet was to conquer a kingdom, and I am still struggling to find a good thod.
And the third bet was for to enjoy all the pleasures of the world, whether it’s the anest gambling or the most noble love."
Baird’s three bets reached everyone’s ears, and they looked at each other in disbelief, suspecting that this man was lying.
How could a high and mighty divine being make bets with humans?
"Baird, why would the Dragon God bet with you?"
Noen asked directly.
"He said it was to achieve the Golden Age."
Baird whispered in confidence, without any reservation,
"He also said that if I fulfill these three bets, I will obtain sothing I have never had before."
Sothing never had before?
Listening, Noen beca even more puzzled and couldn’t help but say,
"What exactly is it that you’ve never had before?"
"I really don’t know; I can only look forward."
Baird shook his head,
"Since I was born, I’ve nearly had all the beauties of the world.
And if these three bets are fulfilled, then I will even have the love that I’ve been desperately pursuing. By then, I don’t know what I could possibly lack."
People couldn’t discern any lie in Baird’s voice, and they half-believed and half-doubted his words.
How could a person of such heroic nature deceive them?
Casas coughed lightly.
"Well then, let’s set off... Baird, I am Casas from Ibia."
Baird nodded slightly and introduced himself again.
After this, the rest of the group took turns introducing themselves to Baird.
Although three people had left during the journey, Baird’s joining greatly boosted everyone’s confidence.
After the small interlude, the party started on their journey through the desert once again.
The old cal, with its wealth of experience, walked ahead, and at night, it surprisingly led the group to a small oasis.
Everyone exclaid in awe, cheering around the old cal, its face seed to smile smugly as it chewed on a cactus, looking effortless.
Noen sat on the ground, taking a deep breath, relieved to finally have a chance to rest.
Just then, rustling noises ca from a corner of the oasis.
Noen beca alert and was about to climb up higher to have a look when he discovered Baird had already taken a vantage point, looking into the distance.
"Baird, what are you looking at?"
Noen called out.
"Be careful! Sothing is coming!"
Baird exclaid.
Noen was imdiately puzzled; he too climbed onto a mound and stared into the distance.
There were about a dozen sparse black dots, mounted on so kind of steeds, galloping wildly through the desert, kicking up dust in their wake.
"Are those... Beastn?!"
Noen exclaid,
"This is the Path of Death; what are they doing here?"
"I don’t know, Noen, but we should be cautious."
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