Yongsha Star, East of the Uda Desert.

Walking in front, Punk suddenly turned his head to look back.

Behind him, Han Zhan was still following him, ever since they left the bar, and he was doing so quite blatantly.

I know you’re a Tier Nine Ultimate... alright, you’re the boss.

Punk tried to hold it in, but ultimately couldn’t, and turned to speak. "Sir, our deal is already finished."

"I’m a smuggler with no place to stay. If you’re willing, we can make another deal," Han Zhan said, as he took out another stack of Sand Coins.

This universal currency of Yongsha Star, he managed to obtain quite a few from Tukalu, about a hundred or so pieces.

Unexpectedly, Punk’s reaction was much stronger; he jumped back suddenly, shaking his head and waving his hands, saying:

"No, no way. I refuse this deal!"

Punk’s reaction surprised Han Zhan.

Just a moment ago, he was still acting pragmatic in the bar, so why the drastic change of attitude when it came to returning home?

Han Zhan thought to himself. He didn’t speak but just looked at Punk.

Under Han Zhan’s gaze, Punk eventually conceded.

"Alright, alright."

"I agree."

Punk raised both hands high, signaling his surrender.

A Tier Nine Ultimate was having a conversation with him rather than blowing his head off with a punch; he should indeed be clearer about the situation.

After confirming their respective positions again in his mind, Punk chose to compromise.

"Is this route in the direction of your home?"

After Punk agreed, Han Zhan turned his head toward another small path.

So he was deliberately leading them the wrong way before?

Punk said nothing as he skillfully approached a shabby little shop and knocked on the door.

Hearing noise at the door, a seventy-something old woman came out from inside.

"A bag of Star Candy," Punk nodded at her and placed a gold Sand Coin on the table.

The old woman didn’t speak. She shakily walked inside and soon came back out.

In her hands was an added heavy yellow paper bag.

Punk took out a piece and tossed it in his mouth, biting down with a crunch.

"Want some?" Punk took out another piece and asked Han Zhan.

Han Zhan didn’t refuse.

But when he put the Star Candy in his mouth, biting down like Punk, there was a similar crunch and then...

A mouthful of sand burst out.

With just a slight hint of sweetness.

"So, how’s the taste? Not bad, right?" Punk’s expression showed no hint of deception.

Without waiting for Han Zhan to answer, he spoke while repackaging the yellow paper bag and then led the way to a house.

This dilapidated house seemed to be a simple restaurant, with a cook inside bustling away at the stove, and at the rear of the house was a large exhaust pipe.

Punk and Han Zhan stood directly behind the exhaust pipe.

Buzzz! Buzzz! 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The vent fan in the kitchen vibrated to life, and soon a great deal of smoke emerged from the exhaust pipe.

The pungent aroma and sharpness almost marinated Han Zhan.

He looked at Punk with increasingly sharp eyes.

Could this guy have been intentionally getting back at him?

First tricking him into eating Star Candy with ninety-nine percent sand, then letting him get blown by the exhaust pipe till he was thoroughly cooked.

Punk seemed to sense the chill coming from his back; he showed an apologetic smile and didn’t explain further.

After a few minutes of walking, they finally arrived at their destination.

Punk’s dwelling in the east of the Uda Desert.

This time, before Punk could even open the door, it creaked open from the inside.

A young woman dressed in a white, gauzy thin dress appeared before them.

The woman’s hair was the same golden wavy style as Punk’s, but much longer.

Her skin was fair, with a kind of fragile beauty due to long-term malnutrition.

A perfectly oval face, a graceful figure, long slender legs, everything just right.

If there’s any flaw, it would be her eyes.

Her eyes were amber-colored, very beautiful, but unlike normal people’s, they lacked liveliness.

Even with light shining in after opening the door, her eyes showed no response, blank and dull.

She was blind.

"Punk, is that you?" Unable to see who was at the door, she asked.

Her voice was soft and gentle, and also quite pleasant.

"Sister, it’s me." Punk quickly responded.

Upon hearing Punk’s voice, she slowly released her grip on the door handle, simultaneously dropping a short dagger that had been hidden behind her other hand.

The woman before him turned out to be Punk’s sister, which surprised Han Zhan a bit.

Just then, the woman’s vacant eyes suddenly looked towards Han Zhan beside Punk.

"Is this... your friend?"

She could actually detect him? Of course, for someone who’s blind, other senses are likely heightened; she probably heard the footsteps outside the door.

So perhaps hearing two different sets of footsteps prompted her to pick up the dagger cautiously?

It seemed that contrary to her delicate appearance, the girl before him had a particularly resilient inner strength.

While Han Zhan was reassessing her in his mind, Punk also spoke up.

"Yes, sister. He’s my... friend, Zhan!"

"Zhan, this is my sister, Aisha."

After listening to Punk’s introduction, Aisha’s face lit up with a smile, and she moved aside to greet Han Zhan:

"Well, come in and have a seat."

"Speaking of which, this is the first time Punk has ever brought a friend home as a guest."

After Aisha finished speaking, her tone was a little tense, making her seem unexpectedly endearing.

Han Zhan followed Punk into his home.

The furnishings inside were sparse and simple, but everything was neatly arranged and very clean.

A faint, pleasant fragrance lingered in the air.

The scene before him was vastly different from what Han Zhan imagined of a savage’s home, supposedly bloodthirsty, living in the Uda Desert, capturing slaves.

It could be said it did not match Punk’s persona at all.

Punk, unaware of Han Zhan’s thoughts, again took out the yellow paper bag with pride and handed it to his sister Aisha.

"It’s Star Candy, right?" Aisha said with an amused glint in her eyes.

"Sis, your nose is still as sharp as ever; I only just took it out and haven’t even opened it yet."

"Star Candy has a sweet smell, I could smell it as soon as you came in the door."

Sweet? Hearing this, Han Zhan gave the yellow paper bag a bewildered look; he had also tasted one, unable to imagine how this candy was linked to sweetness.

"Why do you have the smell of alcohol on you again?" At this moment, Aisha suddenly wrinkled her nose, her tone becoming much more severe.

Punk, having anticipated this, quickly explained, "We passed by the restaurant in front, and the smell from the vent fan in the kitchen was blowing out; who knows what ingredients those cooks are using."

"If you don’t believe me, you can ask Zhan!" After saying this, Punk blinked at Han Zhan, pleadingly.

So, Punk deliberately led him from behind the exhaust pipe for this reason?

Punk once again reshaped his first impression in Han Zhan’s mind.

Now, Punk’s image in Han Zhan’s mind was— a villain afraid of his sister’s wrath?