18 Demon Lands 4 (1/2)

Ed cursed the old pervert inwardly as he looked around to find his way. He felt to see if his cultivation still remained and it was still there. With a sigh of relief, he sent his inner sense to find his way, but could not penetrate the whirling band of sand. If he did not move, he would be buried in this sand. He started a forward movement but the sand pushed back hard. It was as if it was alive.

”Don't move!” someone shouted. Ed looked around to find who spoke but could see nothing.

”Hold out your left arm!” the person said, but Ed hesitated. Who was this person, and why was he helping him.

”I will not harm you. Besides, do you have choice?” the person asked. Ed held out his left arm and immediately someone grabbed it and pulled him out of the swirling sands. His vision cleared, allowing him to see who had saved him. The person was garbed head to toe in black, but the fitting male pants and shirt did nothing to hide her curves.

”Thank you” Ed said looking back at the sand storm still raging behind him. It was like an invisible wall stood right in the middle. On the other side, a storm raged, on this side calm sands sat under his feet.

”Why are you here?” the girl asked.

”I was told I was being sent to the Demon Lands.”

”The demon lands, huh? Well, this is a way to get there. The portal you used should have dropped you on this side of the sand. Who ever controlled it must not be that strong to miss by a few steps.” she said and ed frowned internally. Or the person just wanted him right there. That old pervert!

”I'm Meryl, what about you?”

”Ed.” he answered.

”What are you going to do in the Demon Lands?” she asked and he frowned. When he looked into her eyes, it was like looking into the eyes of a snake. Why he felt that way, he was not sure. He looked away after a second glance, causing her to frown. This man actually broke my enchanted eye?

”Meryl, girl! What are you doing there? Let's be going?” a man shouted from the top of a sand dune.

”Coming, captain! I found a stray!” Meryl shouted back but the captain had already left. She turned to Ed and assessed him.

”We are going to the Demon Lands. Do you want to tag along?” she asked and he nodded.

”Come on, let's join the crew.” she said and sped away. Ed saw the speed at which she was running and paused, before trying to keep up. It was hard. He had no speed what so ever. He only had stamina. As he took on large stride runs, he place his qi under his legs to stop his legs from sinking into the soft sand. He maintained his pace till he was on the other side of the dune. He saw that they were travelling in a caravan.

”Mer, who is this?” a tall man asked. He, like every other person there, had their heads and face covered with cloths. Was this to keep away from the sand? Ed wondered.

”I found a stray, captain. He was stuck in the storm.” she said and the captain frowned. With a look, he could already see that Ed's cultivation was only at the spirit picking stage.

”I told him he could join us.” she said and the captain's frown deepened.

”And why did you do that? We need people that can carry their own weight, and not be a burden as we move around.” the captain said looking Ed in the face.

”I'm sure he could be of some use.” she said and he still stared Ed down. His aura expanded and pressed down on Ed, but it was as though Ed did not notice. Ed snorted inside. He may have no fighting strength or strength at all, but he was sure not even the old pervert's aura cold press him. Nothing could be compared to the pressure of the Baju Valley. Yet, even that was survived by him.