Someone holding a sword to your throat and remaining so calm could only mean they were either insane, fearless, or immensely powerful.
The person in the conical hat pondered this, their voice cool, "Speak, what are you doing in the desert in this ghastly weather?"
Their voice remained gender-neutral, and their attire offered no clue to their sex.
Ren Yuanhao looked up at the sky, the sword's edge pressing closer to his neck.
"Don't try any tricks; my sword has no eyes."
Ren Yuanhao seemed not to hear him, instead gazing at the black clouds stretched across the northwest, muttering, "That direction, isn't that towards Guyao City?"
"Guyao? You're going there?"
Ren Yuanhao offered no reply, then suddenly smiled slightly, "Relax, I'm not interested in your wealth. I just want a bag of water."
"I apologize, but I'm not holding my sword to your throat because I fear you'll steal my money. I just wanted to remind you that I'm a woman, not the 'young fellow' you're calling me."
Ren Yuanhao thought, *Your voice hardly suggests you're a woman. Besides, what normal woman dares to roast lamb in the desert? And your build makes you deserve the misunderstanding!*
The woman seemed to hear Ren Yuanhao's thoughts, huffing indignantly, "Hey, do I really look that much like a man?"
Ren Yuanhao nodded, pecking like a chick.
"Hmph!"
The woman's sword moved closer again!
"Hey, hey, hey, even if I misjudged your gender, it's not a capital offense, is it? Can we put the sword down and talk properly?"
"No!"
Listening to the slightly indignant tone in the woman's neutral voice, Ren Yuanhao felt his scalp tingle and his stomach churn with nausea, making him shiver.
"Alright, alright, I admit I was wrong. Miss, could you be so kind as to lift your hand and move your sword just a little bit?"
"No. What if you covet my beauty? Wouldn't I suffer a great loss? Who knows what wicked thoughts you're having."
Ren Yuanhao felt a headache coming on. *Miss, I don't know what you look like, but at least based on your voice and build, you seem safe enough. Coveting beauty requires 'beauty' as a prerequisite, doesn't it?*
"Hey, what are you thinking? Do you think I'm ugly?"
As soon as the woman said this, Ren Yuanhao could feel a sharp gaze piercing his back, like thorns.
*Damn! First time encountering a mind-reading woman. This is going to be trouble!*
The woman added, "It's simple to let you go. Give me your horse and saber, and you can scram."
"Miss, in the desert, losing my horse and saber is tantamount to waiting for death, isn't it?"
"Anyway, without water, you're just waiting for death. You'll die sooner or later anyway, so I won't have to go around looking for your corpse. Therefore, leave your belongings and you can go."
Ren Yuanhao felt a chill creep up his spine upon hearing this.
*Amazing, what kind of logic is this? I'm speechless!*
"Alright, for a fool who ventures into the desert without water, even the Jackal God won't let you live. And I've finally found something of value. Will you comply?"
*Comply? Miss, that phrase has a double meaning!*
The woman suddenly realized she had misspoke, and immediately shook her head, "No, no, no, what I mean is, I can let go of a fool like you if you leave your belongings. There's no other meaning, you hear me~"
Ren Yuanhao tentatively asked, "Does this count as a robbery?"
The woman pondered for a long time, as if this question were an eternal conundrum. Although the sky was overcast, the desert temperature was still not low. Ren Yuanhao felt like an unfinished lamb, his skin about to turn golden and crispy.
After a long while, the woman finally stammered, "You, you'll die a normal death within 24 hours. As for me, I'm merely tidying up your belongings in advance, so as not to pollute the environment. The Jackal God won't blame me. This should be considered a good deed, not a robbery."
*Damn! Divine logic!*
"Don't find it perplexing. According to the reasoning, this is your outcome, without exception."
The woman added another sentence, reminding Ren Yuanhao of the proofs he had to write in junior high, always needing a concluding statement.
As they were talking, a vast cloud of dust accompanied by the thunder of hooves came charging furiously!
"Hey, woman, I'm guessing they're coming for your roasted lamb, or perhaps the smoke. Starting a fire to roast meat in the desert, Miss, I must admire your courage."
"Hmph, none of your business."
As soon as the woman finished speaking, a large expanse of dust rolled in like dark clouds. The wind whipped up the sand as hooves splashed, and the dark horde of predators truly did follow the scent and smoke.
"Hey, Miss, there are at least twenty people on the other side, looking fierce. If they see your looks, it'll be trouble. Let me discuss something with you."
"If you have something to say, spit it out."
"I'll drive these scoundrels away for you. In exchange, you give me a bag of water, alright?"
To his surprise, the woman let out a cold snort and sealed Ren Yuanhao's meridians with a skillful acupoint-striking technique. He stood frozen like a statue in the desert, which felt like a furnace, unable to move.
"Less talk, more action. These scoundrels, what do I have to fear?"
The woman drew her sword back and stood guard beside her roasted lamb and tall horse. In no time, the predators surrounded her.
"Hey, kid, roasting lamb in broad daylight? Are you out of your mind?"
Although his meridians were sealed, Ren Yuanhao could still sense the frequency of the predator speaking, which was unique to gifted individuals, just like his own!
*This is bad. This Mandara gene seems to have spread among the predators too.*
The speaker dismounted, drew a curved saber, and along with the masked individuals, closed in on the woman.
"Your sword and horse are nice, but judging by your attire, you don't look like a merchant. How unlucky, I thought I'd found a fat lamb."
Before the predator finished speaking, the woman suddenly lunged forward with her sword. Her swordsmanship was indeed sharp, and her true qi was quite decent. However, the predator suddenly clenched his right fist, his bulging muscles swelling, and without drawing his saber, he swung his fist directly at the woman's long sword!
The attack came too suddenly. While the woman's swordplay was graceful, it lacked practicality. The sharp long sword, with a whistling gale, crashed against the man's fist. She had expected to cleave his fist open, but instead, the sword hit as if striking iron. Instantly, it was struck back by a tremendous force. Blood flow stagnated, true qi halted, and the long sword was sent flying far away by the immense power, lodging diagonally in the yellow sand, glinting with a cold, eerie light.