Sands of the Hourglass

The corpse rapidly decayed and weathered, its flesh, beneath the tattered red robes, dissipating like flowing sand, until only bone remained...

That Julie was human should have been beyond doubt!

Steve leaned in, pointing and calculating, “One, two, three… If Deboning saw Julie, he’d be ecstatic. He’s never in his life seen a human with so few bones!”

Du Chen crouched down beside him. “I’ve heard of humans missing a few bones, but someone with so few bones… this truly is an eye-opener!”

Could Julie’s skeleton still be considered human? While it undeniably possessed the silhouette of a human skeleton, the intricate details were worlds apart. Take her ribs, for instance: normal humans have individual ribs, but hers were plate-ribs, only two large bony plates shielding her chest.

Staring at Julie’s skeleton, Du Chen first thought of Julie’s parents, then inexplicably, his mind drifted to the black-hearted manufacturers of his past life!

Both shared a common trait: they cut corners wherever possible, not striving for the best quality, but for the cheapest materials! Who cared what the internal structure was like, as long as it was wrapped in human skin and nobody could tell the difference!

Counting them, Julie possessed a mere thirty-six bones in total. This was thanks to the “generous” contribution of the spine, which accounted for a good portion of that number. Otherwise, Du Chen would have suspected Julie’s parents—or rather, her creators—of being utterly black-hearted. How could one be so parsimonious?

Julie’s skeleton also began to dissipate, swiftly leaving behind only the red robe.

Du Chen slanted a glance at Steve. “Eldest Brother, have you come to any conclusions?”

Steve pursed his lips. “Julie’s body was indeed lost without a trace back then, but it fell into the hands of the Scarlet Army. Someone within the Scarlet Army modified her, and that modifier was incredibly stingy. Damn, using only thirty-six bones… he really took frugality to the extreme!”

Du Chen rubbed his nose. “But we must admit, that modifier was an unparalleled genius! Julie had only thirty-six bones, yet she appeared indistinguishable from a normal person. To achieve that, their wisdom would make Philip pale with shame!”

Steve picked up the robe Julie left behind, gathered a handful of bone fragments, and handed them to Du Chen. “Julie’s skin was no different from a human’s; I couldn’t detect any anomaly! You keep these bone fragments. Take them back and let Deboning examine them; that old rascal Brook might discern some clues!”

Du Chen, however, collected all the bone ash. Regardless, Lieutenant General Julie was a hero who sacrificed herself for humanity. Though her state had changed, out of respect for her past merits, returning her ashes and erecting a monument was the least they could do.

As for why Julie ended up with only thirty-six bones, that was not for Du Chen to ponder, at least not at present; he couldn’t comprehend it anyway!

He categorized this mystery under the Scarlet Army, and to investigate the Scarlet Army…

The first step was to go to Julie’s Ancient Castle and find what Thirteen had spoken of in her final moments!

…

Finally, the moment arrived to depart this accursed Labyrinth of Life. With Little Duding, this Life Tree Sapling, their journey back was incredibly smooth.

Just ten days later, Little Duding, from within the Precious Lotus Scripture, informed Du Chen, “Old One, we are now fifty li beneath the surface. Above us is likely the central wasteland of the Aethelgard Continent, and ahead lies a fork. Where do you intend to return to the surface?”

At these words, Chek immediately stared at Du Chen with apprehension.

The Brockman family had gained their freedom, but what then? They were traitors to the Fiendkind and anathema to the Red-Bloods. Across the vast Three Continents, if Du Chen didn’t secure a place for them to settle, the Brockman family would still face a bleak future!

Du Chen patted Chek’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ve already planned how to settle the members of our family! I possess a secret base, large enough to accommodate all of you. You’ll settle there first, then gradually integrate into human society! As for your provisions… hehe, they will absolutely be the finest in human society!”

That secret base was precisely the underground palace discovered by the Daobet people two years prior! Back then, Du Chen, out of his cautious nature, had merely left himself a contingency, never imagining it would serve such a grand purpose today!

Chek chuckled sheepishly. “That’s wonderful, but I still have some reservations. After all… many things can’t be solved with money.”

Du Chen leaned in and whispered with a low laugh, “We’re about to emerge, so I won’t hide it from you any longer. Alex is actually my alias!”

“And your identity among humans is…”

“My true name is Francis, Divine Scion of Sigurd, Grand Duke of Durkes of the Lanning Empire. I am also a Deacon Godfather of the Shadow Temple of the Holy Church, and a Divine Envoy of Du Chen’s Divine Cult! Currently, the eight hundred li along the Newin River in Southern Lanning, and even the entirety of Southern Einz, are under my influence and control. With these credentials, surely that’s enough to ensure your safety?”

Chek’s eyes grew brighter with every word, nodding repeatedly.

“Are you reassured now?”

“Reassured! Absolutely reassured!” Chek suddenly seized Du Chen’s hands. “So, you’re Francis! Oh, why didn’t you say so earlier? It turns out we truly are family!”

Hmm? Family? Du Chen suddenly recalled some inconvenient details!

Chek happily added, “How is your other wife, my niece Helen? And do you have any news of my second brother, Ted?”

Indeed, it was this colossal headache! Du Chen turned and shot a fierce glare at Steve; the consequences of that lecherous rogue’s tall tales were only just beginning to manifest!

Heaven help him, how was he supposed to explain this!? Should he tell Chek now, *Hey, my Eldest Brother was just spouting nonsense, pulling a fast one on you guys. Helen and I are, at most, ‘friends’ who mutually exploit each other*…

Du Chen felt his scalp prickle! Xue Ji hadn’t even been appeased yet, and now Helen was laid out on the table! Heavens, how did he end up with such an Eldest Brother!?!?

Just then, Steve interjected, “Chek, Xue Ji hasn’t met Helen yet. Right now, Helen and my brother are having a bit of a spat; she’s run away from home, haha. We’re all men, you should understand…”

Chek paused, then smiled suggestively. “I encountered such things in my youth too. We’re all men, after all… hehe, I understand your plight!” He patted Du Chen’s shoulder with profound understanding, heaven knows what he was imagining!

Yet, this problem, under the ambiguous “understanding” of the two men, was temporarily sidestepped!

Chek’s gaze upon Du Chen immediately changed. Previously, it had been one of respect and awe; now, it held an added warmth of familiarity, making Du Chen both pained and happy!

As the three conversed, Chek suddenly closed his mouth and chuckled. “Mr. Steve, perhaps we should step aside for a moment!”

Du Chen followed Chek’s gaze. Xue Ji was gracefully approaching from afar, head bowed, lost in thought. Ever since Du Chen had forcefully kissed her that day, they had deliberately avoided each other, neither speaking first. Now, with Xue Ji actively seeking him out, Du Chen felt a faint tremor of anxiety, vaguely knowing why she had come…

They were about to return to the surface; some matters needed resolution before then! Du Chen looked at Xue Ji, his heart suddenly feeling hollow, as if he had lost something important.

Reaching Du Chen, Xue Ji’s voice was as soft as a whisper, hesitant. Their eyes met fleetingly, then looked away. After a moment, Xue Ji finally spoke with difficulty, “Alex, we’re about to return to the surface; could I trouble you with something?”

The polite tone made Du Chen suddenly feel a vast distance open between them.

“Xue Ji’s injuries have somewhat healed these past few days, and her movements are unimpeded. Xue Ji wishes, wishes to ask you to send me to Water’s Embrace Lake’s Lifeline!”

What was bound to come had finally arrived! Du Chen said with reluctance, “You want to return to Water’s Embrace Lake? But it’s currently surrounded by black-robed assassins, fraught with peril!”

Xue Ji’s voice grew even softer. “Xue Ji understands, but Water’s Embrace Lake has suffered a great calamity. Xue Ji must return to confront the powerful enemy alongside Master. And those killers only operate outside the lifeline; if you, if you could have Duding send me deep into the lifeline’s passage…”

“What’s the point of you going back? You’re still gravely injured; returning to face those black-robed assassins is merely sending yourself to your death!”

“Xue Ji is a disciple of Water’s Embrace Lake. Even if I die, I want to die as close to Master’s side as possible…” Her voice trailed off, until Xue Ji could speak no more. She raised her head, gazing at Du Chen, her hesitant, shy eyes making his heart flutter!

She had come to say goodbye…

“Do you truly wish to return?” Du Chen’s voice softened. At this point, all excuses were futile; both understood the deeper meaning hidden beneath the simple request and farewell! He gently took Xue Ji’s hand, gritting his teeth and steeling his courage.

“Stay, please?”

A flicker of pleasant surprise crossed Xue Ji’s eyes, but quickly gave way to a bitter smile. “Xue Ji dare not defy Master’s command… Alex, let me return!”

“Command? Is Margaret’s command so important to you!?” Du Chen, for some reason, felt a surge of anger, abruptly raising his voice, drawing glances from the distant crowd.

Xue Ji remained silent, only shaking her head with a bitter smile, her hand still clasped in Du Chen’s.

“My Eldest Brother is skilled in the Art of Disguise, and my Precious Lotus Scripture excels at concealing presence. If I wish to hide someone, not even a resurrected Divine Emperor could find them!” Du Chen declared forcefully. “Stay, please?”

Xue Ji’s eyes were filled with sorrow. “Master raised me to adulthood, bestowed upon me battle qi, and for nineteen years, gathered the rare treasures of Water’s Embrace Lake for my benefit… Xue Ji truly cannot stay!”

What to do? Force Xue Ji to stay? Even if he could keep her body, could he keep her heart? Du Chen suddenly burst into laughter, forcing a harsh, mocking smile. “You’re right. Someone you’ve known for only a few months can never compare to the Master who raised you for nineteen years! Eldest Brother, come here!” He waved Steve over, tossing Little Duding into his hands. “I’ll take the Brockman family directly out through Turam’s Lifeline. You take Duding and escort Xue Ji through the underground passage to Water’s Embrace Lake!”

With that, Du Chen shook off Xue Ji’s hand and strode away, leaving Xue Ji speechless, head bowed, tears welling.

One side was her Master, the other, Alex. What choice did she have? For a thousand years, ever since Eldest Sister Shirley and Saint Bovin, which son-in-law of Water’s Embrace Lake had met a good end? At best, they were broken and destitute, their families shattered; at worst, they were hunted down for a thousand li by Margaret, leaving no trace behind!

To love someone was to kill them… such was the rule of Water’s Embrace Lake! As long as Margaret remained, did Xue Ji have any room for choice?

“Alex, goodbye!” A thousand words condensed into this single phrase!

Du Chen had already walked far away, but turning back, he saw Xue Ji’s bowed head and bitter words, and his heart softened. The sands of the Fourth Trigram condensed in his hand; he drew out a portion, transforming it into a golden crystal necklace. The pendant was shaped like a little girl running—if Jamis were here, he might recognize it as the silhouette of the child from the Painting God’s tenth secret image, the Twilight Girl Portrait!

Du Chen personally hung the necklace around Xue Ji’s slender, pale neck.

Steve’s brows furrowed slightly; he shot Du Chen a cold, meaningful look. Their brotherly telepathy made his thoughts clear: “Third Sister, are you mad? If Xue Ji leaves today, who knows, you might meet her on the Battlefield someday. And you’re giving her a part of your most secret Arcane Artifact right now… are you looking for death!?”

Du Chen stared coldly at Steve. “This is my own decision!” He turned to Xue Ji, waving his hand. “All right, you can go home now! If you encounter red-helmeted assassins on the way, show them this pendant; it might be useful. At the very least, you can smash the pendant!”

Xue Ji gently caressed the necklace on her chest, then raised her hand and cut off a lock of her long hair, placing it in Du Chen’s hand, and silently walked away, not uttering another word.

Steve instructed Little Duding to leave a map, then escorted Xue Ji and departed. Du Chen stood with his back to them, not looking back. The sands of the Fourth Trigram slowly swirled in his fingertips, dancing around that lock of hair, then falling mournfully through his fingers to the ground…

“Water Veil Shield, Fire Lotus Lantern… my Fourth Trigram brethren, you shall be called… Sands of the Hourglass!”

Xue Ji had already gone far. Du Chen suddenly removed the mask from his face and laughed heartily at the Brockman people. “From this day forth, there is no more Alex in this world, only Grand Duke Francis of Durkes!”

He gently tucked the lock of dark hair into his robe.

…

Following the map eastward, and passing through the final section of the Labyrinth of Life, Du Chen emerged with the Brockman family in the night at the estuary of the Newin River. They waded through the water for seven or eight li, arriving at the foot of Hidden Boa Mountain. From here, the four thousand members of the Brockman family entered a secret passage, settling into a top-secret base beneath Durkes City!

After settling the four thousand people, Du Chen arrived at the Lord’s Manor. During his absence, everything had unfolded as expected: the Pontiff had declared war against the Fiendkind, marking the beginning of the Second Human-Fiendkind War. However, detailed information would take some time to gather. Among the numerous chaotic reports, Du Chen was interested in only two individuals—Deboning and Andy!

Both had been lured and entrapped by Bone Golems that day, nearly perishing in the Labyrinth of Life. However, their methods of safe escape were both amusing and astonishing.

Deboning, isolated and trapped alone in the labyrinth, grew furious. Relying on his extraordinary strength and understanding of bone structures, he rampaged through the Bone Golem territory. In a single day, he dismantled over seven hundred Bone Golems into their component parts, then used these “parts” to assemble a lengthy bone rope as a marker, leaving a trail for the Papal Curia experts who would later clear the Battlefield, thus ensuring his safe escape.

Andy and Tyr were together; they were trapped for a longer period. The result… Andy was nearly starved to death. How terrifying is a starving Snow Wolf? Tyr could attest: Andy struck a deal with a Golden Behemoth, transformed into the Six-Faced Chimera Pamir, Perfected Form, and directly blasted through the life-wall, returning to the surface. He then burst into McAllen’s memorial site and devoured all the offerings for Orbach…

The only regret was that by the time Andy transformed, Brockman, carrying Philip, had already fled far away. By now, they were likely deep within the Subterranean Abyss, confronting Huhuhu Beasts.

Currently, Deboning and Andy were still searching for Du Chen in the Auerbach Grand Canyon. Dud and Porter were in the Imperial Capital dealing with beastmen prisoners of war, while only the steward Harry and Du Chen’s two children remained in the Lord’s Manor. No need for lengthy reminiscences, Du Chen instructed Harry to secretly look after the Brockman family and inform his family in the Grand Chasm of his safe return. He then took his children and a retinue of trusted guards to Julie’s Ancient Castle.

At the intersection of Lanning’s Rick Province and the Newin River territory, on the southern beach, the sun set obliquely. Julie’s Ancient Castle, unchanged for a millennium, stood solitarily on the high-tide beach. From afar, though it lacked the ominous terror of yesteryear, it still appeared cold and desolate.

“Daddy, we’re almost there!” Little Beibei joyfully ran at the head of the party, her small red dress swaying, her two pigtails bouncing adorably. Du Chen, riding a white horse, watched his daughter with a smiling face, his lips curved in a tender, fatherly smile… Meanwhile, Alex, like a little old man, sat in the carriage, a large basin before him, a pile of dirty clothes, scrubbing away. He even lifted his head from the suds, wagged a finger, and coldly told the laughing coachman, “Wipe that smile off your face! The Master doesn’t need a reason to wash clothes!”

“Oopsie!” Little Beibei slipped and fell on the beach, covering herself in sea mud. Du Chen stepped forward, changed his daughter into a new outfit, then turned and carried the dirty clothes to Alex.

Alex, calm and composed, faced the task as if confronting a formidable enemy. “Dad, are you sure?”

Du Chen patted his son’s head. “Silly boy, is washing clothes such a solemn affair?”

“The Master, naturally, has the Master’s bearing!” Alex took the clothes, then leaned out the carriage window, his face covered in foam, crying mournfully, “Daddy, tell big sister to stop playing! Alex has been washing all of big sister’s dirty clothes this whole trip!”

His son’s naive antics made Du Chen burst into laughter, but just then, Little Beibei cried out “Oopsie!” again, startling him. “Daddy, look at the sea!”

Du Chen gazed out, realizing his little one’s Spiritual Power had evolved to be even more terrifying. It was half a minute after her warning that the sea within Du Chen’s line of sight slowly began to change. Beneath the setting sun, the blue waves of the ocean began to subtly exude a crimson hue, and the salty sea breeze became even more blood-scented and pungent.

Could a tragedy have occurred nearby? After the Merfolk of the Einz South Sea were completely eradicated, the waters near Julie’s Ancient Castle had been designated a forbidden zone, sparsely populated, awaiting the growth of fish fry for future fishery development. How could there be such a strong smell of blood here now!?!?

Little Beibei suddenly ran towards the sea. “Daddy, follow me!” The little one bravely jumped into the water. In a moment, she surfaced from the deep, her small hand laboriously dragging a… person!

“Daddy, he’s still alive!”

It was a burly man, about forty, with very strong muscles, but he wore the coarse cloth clothes of a slave or a pauper. His chest, shoulders, and back were covered in gruesome wounds, waterlogged and frothing with blood. Du Chen pushed aside the grayish-black, matted hair from his face, and his brow furrowed.

The sturdy man’s face was unremarkable, plain and honest, appearing no different from an ordinary strong country farmer. Yet, on his forehead was a brand, two fingers wide and an index finger long! The brand had trident shapes at both ends, and a line of text in the middle that Du Chen didn’t recognize.

Could he be an escaped slave from some household?

“All guards, come here. Does anyone recognize this mark?”

The retainers gathered, shaking their heads. One older guard said, “Your Grace, I don’t recognize this text, but the trident patterns on either side resemble the Sea Clan’s mark. However, I’m not sure which sea region it belongs to.”

“Sea Clan? It certainly isn’t from the Grand Delta Sea; Gode’s family mark isn’t a trident, it’s…”

Little Beibei suddenly tugged Du Chen’s clothes, pointing at the sea. Du Chen pursed his lips, embracing his children—he had sensed it too! He called out coldly, “Who is that Eminence from the Sea Clan opposite? I am Francis, Grand Duke of Lanning. This is the border of my territory; I ask you to show some self-respect!”

“Self-respect? Heh! It’s been a long time since anyone dared to tell me that…” A hoarse voice came from the sea. His Aethelgard Continent Common Tongue was not standard, sounding particularly grating. “How long has it been?”

Another voice, fawning, chimed in, “Your Esteemed Emperor, ever since Roland of Mount Wanliu last spoke with you, indeed no one has dared tell you to show self-respect for over twenty years! Listen, you on the other side! Sea Emperor Thanes has graced us with his presence! Kneel and welcome him at once!”

He had intended to retrieve Julie’s relics from the ancient castle, yet unexpectedly encountered Sea Emperor Thanes of the Five Peaks of Myriad Streams. How interesting!

Du Chen glanced at the unconscious, burly man he had rescued. Who possessed such influence as to draw the Sea Emperor to pursue him for a thousand li…