Chapter 597: The Khandaqi
A Resilient People
The Khandaqi are a remarkable people. They have survived over thirty dynasties on Egyptian soil, been conquered countless times, yet have never once been fully subjugated. No matter how dire their situation, they always raise the banner when a dynasty falls, attempting to establish their own nation.
This has been the case for thousands of years, and it continues even in the modern era.
Sixty years ago, the Republic of Khandaq they established was destroyed by Egypt, leading to a life in exile. While some Khandaqi fled to the West, most stayed behind, using the Sinai Peninsula as their base for clandestine operations along the shores of the Red Sea.
Their ideal of statehood has never died.
Honestly, Luke admired them; few races possess such tenacity.
Of course, anything that defies common sense has a root cause. According to intelligence provided by Number Four, the Khandaq tribe possesses a mysterious power that has protected them from extinction.
Luke was intensely curious to discover the nature of this mysterious force.
Interrogation by Lasso
The big-bearded shop owner didn't stay in the cave long before emerging, followed by six native men. His expression was smug, like a large bear seeing prey walk into its trap.
Luke turned to Diana. "Your move, or mine?"
"I'll handle it. If you go, someone will end up dead."
Diana dismounted her camel and, with a swift move, shot forward like an arrow, charging into the group. In a matter of seconds, she disarmed the six men and kicked them to the ground. The owner paled and bolted, only to be lassoed by Diana's Lasso of Truth and dumped unceremoniously in front of Luke.
"Are you their boss?"
The bearded man shook his head frantically, but his mouth, guided by the lasso, strangely confessed,
"I am. They all listen to me."
Having said that, he was utterly bewildered. Why did I tell the truth?
Luke asked again, "Are you Khandaqi?"
The bearded man urgently nodded, yet his words contradicted his expression entirely:
"I am an Arab. I am not Khandaqi."
He realized what was happening, his eyes widening in terror. The young man was controlling his tongue.
"Are they Arabs, too?"
"..."
The bearded man didn't want to speak and lay on the ground like a beached fish.
Luke pulled out his pistol.
Bang!
The bullet grazed the man's scalp and struck the ground. The searing pain made the bearded man shiver violently, instantly dispelling any thoughts of getting away with a lie.
"Where is the Khandaqi gathering place?"
"In the southern valley, but I don't know the exact location."
"What's your relationship with them?"
"Very bad. Conflicts break out often."
"So you're mortal enemies."
"Yes."
"Excellent!"
Luke put the pistol away, hoisted the man onto a camel,
"Lead the way. If you find the Khandaqi, I'll release you. If you don't, I'll send you to meet Allah."
The bearded man was tearful and miserable. He couldn't run, nor could he lie. With no path to escape, he had no choice but to honestly lead the way.
Finding the True Power
The three left the cave and traveled south. After about twenty kilometers, they reached a continuous stretch of canyons.
The bearded man pointed ahead and said,
"They are in there."
Luke surveyed the terrain and couldn't help but shake his head. The canyon ran east to west, was over three kilometers wide, and was filled with numerous forks and large and small caves—a natural hiding spot.
Trying to find someone here was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
"How did you find them before?"
"The Khandaqi come out to purchase supplies every once in a while. We just secretly follow them."
"When is the next time they'll buy supplies?"
"I don't know. Sometimes two months, sometimes three. We usually guard the caves; if you wait there, you'll find someone." The bearded man secretly eyed Luke.
"Boss, if you really want to find the Khandaqi tribe, I can call my brothers to conduct a carpet search. We'll definitely find the location."
"Great. Go now. Call your men over."
The bearded man's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Luke nodded, saying calmly,
"Go on. I'll wait here."
Overjoyed, the bearded man turned to leave, but after a few steps, he suddenly froze. A terrifying thought occurred to him: Why would this person let me leave?
If the roles were reversed, would he let someone else leave?
The answer was no.
The bearded man swallowed hard, pulled back his foot, and returned to his original spot.
Luke chuckled devilishly. "Why stop?"
"You're tourists and unfamiliar with the local situation. It's better if I stay."
Luke burst into laughter. "That's what you said. I didn't force you."
The bearded man forced a strained smile, cursing Luke internally but daring not to show it. He realized that this clean-cut young man was not a fat sheep to be fleeced at all, but a disguised devil.
"Boss, why are you looking for the Khandaqi? They're poor and dirty; there's no money to be made."
"They say the Khandaqi tribe has wizards who possess mysterious magic. Is that true?"
The bearded man scratched his head. "That's the talk, but it's just a legend. No one has seen it."
"If it exists, that's enough. Lead the way. Be serious this time. The canyon is Khandaqi territory. If you fall into their hands, don't blame me."
The bearded man was speechless. If he had known this would be the outcome, he would never have dared to target Luke.
The three entered the canyon through the entrance: the bearded man in front, followed by Luke and Diana.
"You're so familiar with Qayim. Why didn't you have him send troops?"
"That would only cause bloodshed. My main purpose for coming here is to make friends."
"Friends? With the Khandaqi?"
"Yes."
Luke explained meaningfully, "Since the development of Earth civilization, four great legendary civilizations have emerged. Each civilization has its own divine system: the Heavenly Court in the East, the Feathered Serpent/Sun God in the Americas, the Mount Olympus in Greece, and the Ennead of ancient Egypt. These gods are real, and they all gave rise to mystical traditions corresponding to their cultures."
"The source of the European magic system is Mount Olympus. The Daoist arts I practice come from the Eastern Heavenly Court. As for the ancient Egyptian and American civilizations..." He shook his head regretfully.
"Due to historical reasons, the mystical traditions of the Americas are almost extinct. The situation in Egypt isn't much better. The only people who might possess the complete Ennead system are the Khandaqi. This race has endured for thousands of years and very likely holds the complete mystical lineage. To find the underground ruins, we have to rely on them."
Diana understood and said with some resignation,
"It sounds like you came prepared."
"I can't let the trip be a complete waste, can I?"
As they spoke, the three had reached the depths of the canyon. Signs of human activity began to appear. The bearded man was visibly anxious, constantly scanning the rock walls on both sides, terrified that someone would pop out and shoot him. This wasn't a legend; it had happened countless times before.
As if his fears had summoned it, an old-fashioned rifle emerged from the rock wall.
Bang!
A shot rang out, aimed directly at the bearded man's head.
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