In the next moment, the ground exploded.
A brownish-gray giant shadow burst from underground, kicking up a storm of sand and dust.
Lu Yuan instinctively took a step back.
It was a giant worm.
It was as thick as a man's embrace and at least thirty to forty meters long. Its brownish-gray carapace was covered in ring-like patterns, shimmering with an eerie luster under the torchlight.
Its head was a circular mouthpart.
Layers of curved, sharp teeth were packed tightly together.
The sandworm surged dozens of meters into the air, blotting out a portion of the starry sky.
It opened its mouthpart, let out a low hiss, and swallowed the bait stake in one gulp.
The wooden stake, metal wires, and the device were all swept into that pitch-black maw and vanished.
Then, the sandworm's massive body slowly descended.
"Boom!"
The ground was smashed into a deep pit, and the vibration rippled through the entire town.
Lu Yuan steadied himself, his gaze falling upon the deep crater.
Water was seeping from the bottom.
Clear water bled from the sand, quickly gathering into a small puddle.
"It's a success!"
Someone began to cheer.
The townspeople swarmed toward the pit, holding various containers as they began to collect the water.
Lu Yuan stood where he was, unmoving.
He was watching the sandworm.
The massive body coiled on the sand, its mouthparts opening and closing as if waiting for something.
Its intelligence was not high.
But its destructive power was staggering.
If used to besiege cities, few walls could likely withstand it.
But the people here... were only using it to get water?
Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze, not dwelling on it further.
It was not his concern.
Just then, the crowd automatically parted to create a path.
A white-bearded old man walked over.
His steps were slow, but the surrounding people instinctively retreated with a respectful demeanor.
Lu Yuan subconsciously looked toward him.
At the edge of his vision, greyish-white text quietly flickered:
【Target of Observation: Mayor of Sandworm Town】
【Status: Knowledge Transcendent (Abnormal)】
【Analysis: A Knowledge Pathway transcendent, yet possessed by eerie power within. Perhaps he is exploring something?】
Lu Yuan's brow furrowed slightly.
What was the situation? A Knowledge Transcendent with eerie power inside? This was an analysis he had never seen before.
Could the mayor here also be conducting some strange experiments?
But then, Lu Yuan felt relieved. If it was only a rank 2 unknown Knowledge Transcendent, he had nothing to fear.
After all, before the third rank, Knowledge Transcendents had no combat capabilities.
Lu Yuan suppressed his thoughts and studied the mayor closely.
His face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes, looking as though he had suffered through chronic insomnia or illness.
His gait was also somewhat stiff, as if he were enduring some kind of pain.
The mayor walked up to the sandworm and took a bone flute from his robe.
He played a low melody.
It was ancient and raspy, carrying an indescribable rhythm.
The sandworm's movements noticeably became pleasant. Its massive mouthparts slowly closed, and its entire body grew quiet, as if soothed by some power.
Clearly, it had been waiting in place for this melody.
And right then, grey text surfaced.
【You have listened to Ancient Music Theory, Forbidden Lore - Seeker: +0.2... 48.5/50】
Lu Yuan noticed something.
At some point, Herman had brought him to a position that happened to be right within the mayor's field of vision when the old man turned around.
The mayor tucked the bone flute away and turned around.
His gaze swept across the crowd.
It lingered for a brief moment on the badge on Lu Yuan's chest.
His expression did not change at all.
But Lu Yuan noticed that the fingers gripping the bone flute tightened slightly.
It was only for an instant before returning to normal.
If one weren't observing closely, it would have been impossible to notice.
"Speed up the water collection."
The mayor spoke, his voice remaining steady.
"Tomorrow, we hunt a new sandworm as usual."
After speaking, he gave Herman a glance.
Then he turned and left.
He didn't say another word through the entire process.
Behind him, the sandworm slowly burrowed back into the sand and vanished.
The ground returned to its calm state, leaving only the seeping pit.
The townspeople continued their busy work, and no one noticed that brief exchange of looks.
Lu Yuan, however, saw it very clearly.
Herman had intentionally made him stand in that spot.
Was the Nightwatcher badge a signal, or perhaps a deterrent?
The mayor's reaction indicated that the badge had served its purpose. Since he had been utilized, his debt of gratitude for being saved, while not fully repaid, could be considered partially settled.
After the water collection ended, Lu Yuan and Herman walked back.
The night wind carried sand that blew everywhere. Sandworm oil lamps, emitting a bright white light, hung in front of the nearby houses.
A few townspeople passed them on the road, conversing in hushed tones.
"...Failed again..."
"...Old Hans's son hasn't returned yet..."
"...The mayor looks even worse today..."
Lu Yuan kept these words in mind as he walked on.
"You did it on purpose."
Lu Yuan suddenly spoke up.
Herman's footsteps paused slightly, but he did not look back.
"Does the identity of a Nightwatcher have some special effect on that old man?"
Silence.
The cigarette holder wobbled at the corner of Herman's mouth.
After a long while.
Herman let out a sigh. "I have no malice toward you. Once your injuries are healed, I will take you away."
After saying this, he quickened his pace and walked away with his cigarette.
Lu Yuan looked at his back, his brow arching slightly.
Interesting.
But for now, this old fellow hadn't shown any ill intent either.
They returned to the mud-brick house that was half-buried in the sand.
Lu Yuan was placed in a side room.
The room was small, containing only a simple bed, a wooden table, and a sandworm oil lamp.
The ceiling was low, and although the wooden beams were clean, dust still drifted slowly in the lamplight.
The air was dry, smelling of hay and some kind of ointment.
"I'll have Martha come to change your dressing tomorrow," Herman said, standing at the door. "Call out if you need anything."
He turned to leave.
As he reached the doorway, he paused.
"While I'm not around, try your best not to go outside."
Lu Yuan looked at him. "Why?"
"Because it is dangerous."
Herman offered no further explanation, simply shaking his head and walking away with his cigarette holder in his mouth.
The wooden door closed.
The room fell silent once again.
Lu Yuan lay on the bed, staring at the low ceiling.
The flame of the sandworm oil lamp was a pale white, flickering slightly in the darkness.
The wind howled outside the window.
He closed his eyes, trying to get some rest.
Herman hadn't brought him here purely out of kindness.
But none of that mattered.
What mattered was that he needed to recover his Sanity, figure out the situation, and find a way out.
Finally, he needed to go to the Bronze City and take the opportunity to deliver the letter, even though he didn't know how its contents had been twisted.
He thought of these things for an indeterminate amount of time.
Lu Yuan woke from a light sleep.
Dawn had not yet arrived.
Outside the window was pitch black. Beneath the sound of wind and sand hitting the window, he could faintly hear a long, ancient rhythm.
It was the Ancient Music Theory he had heard that evening.
Lu Yuan gripped the revolver in his coat.
At the edge of his vision, the greyish-white text suddenly flickered:
【Environmental Perception: Weak pollution source detected.】
Lu Yuan sat up and looked at the dark night outside. The moonlight was already obscured, and in the distance were only the rising and falling dunes.
Just like that, the sound of the Ancient Music Theory and the prompt lasted for several minutes before gradually fading away.
Clearly, those things had left.
Lu Yuan gripped his revolver and lay back down.
He recalled Herman's words.
"It is dangerous."
It was indeed dangerous.
But at least, it was safer than Gelimu Port.
Rate on N.U.
