Everyone suddenly sat up, tents opened one after another, and people rushed out with alarmed faces, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong!”

Looking around, it was still the vast desert with no movement whatsoever.

Everyone stared at Da Wu in bewilderment.

Da Wu said blankly, “There’s something… there’s a sound…”

Xiao Wu poked his head out sleepily and yanked Da Wu back inside. “Acting foolish in your sleep again!”

Everyone looked around once more and indeed found nothing abnormal. They all thought Xiao Wu was right about Da Wu being unreliable, so they all lay back down.

Tie Ci stood up and looked around. Her penetrating vision was useless in this empty expanse of desert, and she dared not teleport—moving too far with identical scenery in all directions would almost certainly lead to getting lost.

She found nothing wrong either. Seeing Feiyu enthusiastically studying sand painting, she prepared to return to sleep.

Even if there were desert sand bandits, there was nothing to fear. Her group consisted of skilled elites who wouldn’t be easily moved against.

She returned to the tent to sleep, but after sleeping for only a short while, alarm suddenly arose in her heart and she opened her eyes.

She heard it too!

From beneath the ground, rustling sounds!

She immediately blew her warning whistle.

The sharp whistle sound spread across the wasteland. Everyone jumped up again urgently. In the darkness, something seemed to sweep in, making a fine crackling sound that sent chills down everyone’s spine. Cold light flashed in Tie Ci’s hand as she struck down with a thud into the sand. When her jade brush shot out of the sand again, its tip was pierced through a scorpion with bared fangs and claws!

With a rustling sound, following this strike, the ground seemed to churn like boiling liquid, and a dark mass surged out. As Dan Shuang drew her blade, she suddenly cried out, “The water skins!”

Many scorpions had crawled onto the water skins left nearby.

Tie Ci immediately understood and shouted as she overturned the tent, “Protect the water skins!”

But it was too late. There were too many scorpions, and many went directly for the water sources. The water skins were more or less crawling with scorpions, and no one knew if the water had been contaminated with venom—the water was clearly no longer drinkable.

The scorpions caused limited harm to people. Apart from one soldier being bitten once and another jumping too high, landing poorly in the sand and twisting his ankle, the rest suffered no injuries.

It was obvious the scorpions weren’t targeting people either—their purpose was to destroy the water source.

After being quickly swept away by everyone, the scorpions burrowed underground again and disappeared.

The remaining group looked at each other.

In the desert, losing water sources meant certain death.

Seeing everyone becoming somewhat dispirited, Tie Ci clapped her hands and said, “Don’t lose heart, everyone. The Hanli Khan Desert isn’t very large, and I hear there are oases. We won’t truly be cut off from all paths. If these scorpions are being controlled by someone, we’ll encounter that group sooner or later. Where there are people, there’s water—living beings won’t die of thirst.”

Captain Yu also said, “Walking southwest for another day should bring us to that legendary oasis. It’s not a problem.”

Everyone gradually calmed down.

Suddenly Xiao Wu cried out again, “Where’s that child!”

Everyone was startled, only then realizing the guide child was missing.

Captain Yu said, “Zhang Er’de, didn’t I tell you to watch that boy? Where is he?”

The soldier called Zhang Er’de looked terrified. “This… I still saw him before the scorpions came! I even told him to hide properly…”

Everyone looked at each other. Tie Ci also frowned—just now everyone had been fully occupied dealing with the scorpions, with rustling sounds all around. They really hadn’t noticed where the child went.

“Could he have been dragged away by scorpions?” someone fantasized.

“Maybe in his panic to avoid the scorpions, he ran far away?”

So they sent several people to walk farther out and call around, but found nothing.

A perfectly good living person just disappeared like that?

Tie Ci frowned, but finally just said, “If we can’t find him, forget it. We’ll keep an eye out while traveling. In this vast desert, we mustn’t lose more people searching for one person.”

Everyone nodded. By then dawn was breaking, and just as everyone began to feel hungry, they smelled a fragrance. Looking over, they saw Feiyu roasting scorpions.

While everyone had been panicking, dodging, and killing scorpions, he had calmly caught many live scorpions, removed their venomous tails with his bare hands, and roasted them over the fire, not even disturbing his sand painting.

Everyone had always followed Tie Ci’s lead and was somewhat distant from the mysterious and inherently cold-proud Feiyu, but now they had to admire him.

Yang Yixiu held his chin and whispered to Tian Wu, “Now I know why Her Highness has taken to this person.”

“How so? Isn’t it because of his beauty?”

Yang Yixiu gave the fool a big eye roll. “You’re slandering Her Highness—is she someone who covets beauty!”

“Isn’t she?” Tian Wu scratched his head.

Yang Yixiu rolled his eyes again.

Even if it was true, you couldn’t say it like that! This kid was so foolish, yet Her Highness still wanted to train him for court service!

“I think it’s because Rong Wei is somewhat similar to Her Highness in his bones. Both are ruthless and bold enough, fearless to the point of being slightly mad.”

“Supervisor Rong is also bold. Though he doesn’t know martial arts, he didn’t panic when the scorpions came either—that’s quite impressive.” Tian Wu still favored Rong Pu more.

He had personally seen Rong Pu use medicine to drive away scorpions, and had noticed he was careful not to drive the scorpions toward the Crown Princess, sending them all toward Rong Wei instead.

“It’s not the same. Supervisor Rong doesn’t have that reckless madness that scorns everything. He’s bound by propriety. Someone like Her Highness, bearing the greatest constraints in the world, therefore most detests any lack of freedom. Only someone with Rong Wei’s spirit could attract her.”

Yang Yixiu lifted his chin.

The scorpions were roasted, fragrant but fearsome in appearance. For a moment everyone hesitated, and Qi Yuansi showed clear disgust.

Tie Ci was the first to walk over, took one and began eating it, her expression calm as if eating the most ordinary mutton skewer.

Feiyu also crunched on a scorpion noisily. The two smiled at each other across the fire.

“See? Do you understand now?”

Tian Wu seemed to comprehend.

Yang Yixiu also walked over and picked up a scorpion. “…There’s little food in the desert, so eat what’s available quickly. I’m happy the Crown Princess has met someone she likes, but I don’t envy them, nor do I think this is a good thing…”

“Why?”

Yang Yixiu glanced at the two sitting shoulder to shoulder—quite pleasing to the eye.

But he didn’t dare be optimistic about them.

What would happen when two people, both with obsessions in their hearts and extremely firm wills—firm enough to use any means necessary—encountered real-world conflicts?

Yang Yixiu crunched down on a piece of scorpion.

But I hope… the four seasons remain harmonious, and the world stays peaceful.

…

Afterward, everyone walked for a full day without finding anyone or the legendary oasis.

In the distance, they could already see the snow mountains on the northwest side of Hanli Khan Desert—vast and continuous, like ethereal shadows tinted at the horizon.

Tie Ci knew that at the foot of those snow mountains, though still within the Hanli Khan Desert’s territory, it was no longer desert. There, washed by waters flowing down from the snow mountains year after year, the soil was soft and fertile, the terrain flat. If not for the lack of nearby water sources and being separated by half a desert, it would actually be excellent farmland.

Sunlight pierced down from overhead, reflected blindingly by the sand. The limited moisture in their bodies seemed ready to be baked dry. Everyone stopped talking—after all, saliva was becoming scarce too.

Everyone searched along the way for desert plants to absorb moisture from them. When they encountered dried riverbeds, they dug in the sand at the riverbed edges. Even if they couldn’t dig up water, the damp sand could somewhat relieve their thirst.

In the evening, the sunset was like fire, and everyone felt their throats burning with dryness. They had gone nearly a day and night without a sip of water.

Feiyu suddenly reached into his large pack and pulled out a fruit, tossing it to Tie Ci.

Everyone watched with blue-tinged gazes, but no one dared make a move. Not just move—even looking too much seemed to carry killing intent.

Tie Ci caught the fruit, broke it in half, kept one half, and tossed the other back to Feiyu.

Feiyu smiled smugly, bit into half the fruit, and tossed another one to Tie Ci.

This time Tie Ci again broke it in half and gave half to Dan Shuang.

Feiyu frowned but accepted it—he understood Dan Shuang’s importance to Tie Ci.

Tie Ci slowly bit into her half fruit, bit by bit, eyes glancing at Feiyu.

When he turned his head, she lightning-quick broke off another piece from her fruit and flicked it with her fingertip to Rong Pu.

It wasn’t favoritism, nor was she trying to anger Feiyu, but in a group the doctor was too important. Hadn’t the person bitten by a scorpion yesterday also relied on Rong Pu for detoxification? If he collapsed, it would be troublesome for Tie Ci both publicly and privately.

Rong Pu caught the fruit, his gaze immediately softening. Afraid he might fall ill from thirst, yet unwilling to let him take half a fruit to show off in front of Feiyu, seeing he didn’t eat it immediately, she reached out to snatch it back.

Rong Pu had no choice but to quickly stuff the fruit in his mouth.

Feiyu never turned around, seemingly unaware.

Tie Ci breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t that she feared anything—she just found it exhausting when her dogs competed for favor.

The Crown Princess only wanted to worry about state affairs, not about men.

After a long while, Feiyu finally turned around, chewing the fruit as he walked to Tie Ci’s side. The two unknowingly fell to the back of the group.

After a while, Feiyu leaned over and presented his face to Tie Ci.

Tie Ci: “???”

“I was very understanding just now—aren’t you going to reward me?” Feiyu said in surprise. “If you’re not going to reward me, I’ll make that guy spit out that piece of fruit.”

“You really don’t suffer losses.” Tie Ci glanced at the group ahead and quickly pecked his cheek. “There’s your reward. Satisfied?”

“Satisfied, extremely satisfied.” Feiyu also leaned over and kissed her earlobe. “You gave too much—returning some.”

This guy had flirting down to a system.

Tie Ci touched her earlobe, a slight smile rippling in her eyes.

Ahead, Rong Pu looked straight forward, slowly chewing that piece of fruit.

Yang Yixiu nudged his shoulder, saying with both envy and jealousy, “That fruit must taste especially good, right? Is it sweet?”

“Mm.” Rong Pu swallowed the fruit and said softly, “Sour.”

When they camped that evening, everyone’s tents were close together. They lit a ring of fires around the tents’ perimeter to try to prevent scorpions and similar creatures from invading.

Sleeping until midnight, Da Wu suddenly sat up again, but was pressed down by Tie Ci on his left and Feiyu on his right, one hand each.

“Shh, don’t make noise. Sleep.”

Da Wu said in a trembling voice, “Someone is watching us. I can hear their breathing…”

“As long as you stay quiet, this breathing will soon disappear.” Tie Ci pressed him down. “Sleep.”

Da Wu lay stiffly on the ground and whispered, “Is it sand bandits?”

“Maybe sand bandits, maybe those Western Rong soldiers who dug the mountain passage, maybe both sand bandits and Western Rong soldiers.” Tie Ci said calmly. “Since they’re watching us, we’ll meet them soon. Who knows—maybe we can finish our mission early this time and won’t need to go to the royal city at all.”

Da Wu seemed to half-understand but obediently lay still. Soon he actually fell asleep.

Tie Ci withdrew her hand, got up for the night watch. The sand had been scorching during the day and still retained heat at night. She lay on the sand dune with her hands behind her head, looking at the stars on the horizon.

Stars above the desert were always particularly bright. Being in vastness facing vastness made one feel increasingly small.

Feiyu walked over and lay beside her in exactly the same position. The two lay on the sand dune watching stars.

Neither spoke.

Under the high sky, above the sea of sand, listening to the wind’s song.

Feiyu reached out gently, patting her like patting a baby. Tie Ci’s lips curved in a faint smile.

The sand dunes undulated like ocean waves, while starlight was exceptionally gentle.

…

This moment’s gentle wind blew across a stretch of yellow sand, passed over a withered forest full of white bones, circling back and forth, carrying cries like wailing shrieks.

Beyond the withered forest, green could be faintly seen—lush trees and abundant grass, with water encircling the forest. It was the oasis Tie Ci and the others had searched for in vain.

The oasis was dotted with countless shabby tents and crude wooden houses. By the river, some sharpened knives, some watered horses, some jumped into the water to wash off fine sand.

Beyond the oasis rose huge, continuous sand mountains with gentle lines that concealed nature’s fierce威authority.

Atop the sand mountains, someone sat high on a camel, using a telescope to gaze far into the distant emptiness.

Beside him someone said, “Young Master, it seems those scorpions failed to bite those people to death.”

The person on the camel made an acknowledging sound, his voice deep but identifiable as belonging to a young man.

He said, “Their luck is better than ours.”

The person who had spoken earlier was a tattooed man, bare-chested with a powerful build, his shoulder tattooed with wolf heads and flying eagles.

The tattooed man continued, “Young Master, are you really certain those returning aren’t our people? Perhaps…”

“There’s no ‘perhaps.'” The person on the camel said. “If all went well, they were to light wolf smoke at the mountain pass when returning—that was the signal I agreed on with them. No wolf smoke was lit, yet people came. That definitely means they’re not my people.”

The tattooed man said angrily, “Then they must be southerners. How detestable—doesn’t this mean our tunnel was discovered by them? Then these past months we’ve wasted our efforts. When the people back there…”

He glanced southward, his expression gloomy, and stopped speaking.

“That’s why I had all our men withdraw, because that path is ruined. Our plan to quietly cross the mountains, catch Di Yiwei off guard, seize Yongping territory, and connect to Hanli Khan Desert to form our own domain has been completely destroyed by this group of suddenly appearing southerners.”

The tattooed man showed grief, saying heavily, “We were driven here after losing many people along the way. Digging through the mountain cost many more men. Outside, various princes and kings guard against us—they kill us one by one as we emerge. Inside we lack clothing and food, strange incidents keep occurring, and now this plan has failed too… In the hundreds of li of Hanli Khan Desert, where can we go? Where can we go!”

“We can’t go anywhere now.” The person on the camel slowly stroked his bow, saying heavily, “We’ve been pushed to a dead end, and the last escape route we could fight for has been blocked. Now it’s time for those brats who ruined my affairs to pay the price.”

“Do you intend to kill them?”

“If they’re sensible and willing to work with me from inside and outside to take Di Yiwei’s main camp, I’ll give them a chance. If they’re not sensible…”

“Then when they walk thirstily into the oasis…” the tattooed man said quietly.

The youth on the camel raised his bow, nocked an arrow, drew the string. With a twang, a scorpion that had just emerged from the sand ten zhang away was firmly pinned in the flowing sand by his arrow.

“…that will be when they die.”

…

Another half-morning of heart-burning trek under the blazing sun.

Water remained difficult to find, and plants were scarce. Fortunately, Feiyu had some fruit and water in his pack. Since he’d been on watch duty when the scorpions attacked, with his pack on his back, no scorpions could get near him, so everything was preserved.

The other soldier on watch duty wasn’t so lucky—his water skin was placed beside him and scorpions had burrowed into it.

Or perhaps this couldn’t be called luck, since not many people carried equipment at all times.

Tie Ci thought that unless this person had long stayed in an environment lacking resources and frequently subject to robbery.

Thinking this, when Feiyu again offered her fruit and water, she refused to take them.

She didn’t ask Feiyu to share the water with everyone.

These things belonged to Feiyu—he had the right to dispose of them. She couldn’t be generous with others’ possessions.

Feiyu also didn’t share them, only giving a little when several people showed obvious dehydration.

He could share water appropriately, but he was reluctant to part with the fruit. These fruits were ones he had risked tasting and selecting one by one while hunting in the mountains—the most delicious, non-toxic wild fruits he’d chosen.

They all had to be saved for the dog he was feeding.

Xiao Wu suddenly raised his head, sniffed the scent in the wind, and said happily, “Grass fragrance… the oasis should be near!”

Da Wu said, “Xiao Wu has a very keen nose!”

Tie Ci said, “Then why didn’t he smell the scorpions that night?”

“That’s not my fault.” Xiao Wu said aggrievedly. “I can only smell scents carried by the wind, and there can’t be too many mixed odors—the more scents there are, the more I’m affected. Scorpions emerged from the sand—I couldn’t smell them.”

“Which direction should we go then?”

Xiao Wu pointed ahead to a vaguely visible ridge.

With a target and direction, everyone gained energy. Enduring the afternoon sun, they finally climbed the mountain.

Standing on the mountaintop, they indeed saw lush greenery below, surrounded by clear water—clearly an oasis rich in water and grass.

Everyone cheered.

Someone slipped and pushed the person in front. A soldier suddenly waved his arms and legs as he slid down. Then the entire mountainside resonated with whooshing sounds, like wind accompanied, like thunder quietly born, rumbling all the way to the bottom!

Local Captain Yu exclaimed in alarm, “Divine anger!”

Everyone froze and asked him what this meant. Captain Yu said seriously, “I heard about it as a child—they say there’s a mountain in Hanli Khan Desert with a mountain god inside. If anyone can’t climb the mountain properly, the mountain god will become angry and swallow everyone into the mountain’s belly.”

The soldiers all changed color. These brave men feared neither battle nor injury, but naturally held reverent fear toward immortals, spirits, ghosts, and monsters.

Someone called down to the soldier who had slid down first, but for some reason that person never responded. The sand surface below undulated, so they couldn’t see the person for the moment.

Everyone became cautious, walking down step by step, fearing being swallowed into the mountain’s belly.

Tie Ci looked down at the oasis below. It was getting dark—how long would this take? They were clearly dying of thirst!

She suddenly reached out and pushed Feiyu down, saying, “Go, Pikachu!”

Feiyu would guard against anyone but her. He immediately went rumbling all the way down.

Everyone was shocked.

What was this about?

Had the two fallen out?

Rong Pu turned to look at Tie Ci, his eyes brightening. Just as he was about to say something, Tie Ci pushed again, sending him down too.

“Go, Cha Cha!”

Rong Pu: …In the end, it was false joy.

Qi Yuansi had originally looked over too, but now hurriedly retreated.

No good—was the Crown Princess planning to throw all her suitors into one pot?

He wouldn’t join this commotion.

Otherwise, meeting those two in the mountain’s belly, would he still have his life?

Qi Yuansi retreated several zhang so quickly that even Tie Ci, who hadn’t planned to push him, took an extra look at him.

This guy was getting weirder and weirder.

Suddenly shouts came from below. Everyone looked down and saw Feiyu.

He had climbed back up and stood on a slightly higher area, extending both hands toward Tie Ci.

Tie Ci laughed heartily and went rumbling down.

Vague thunder sounds in the air accompanied her lightning-swift sliding. This scene looked rather mystical from a distance.

Far away on the oasis highland, the man on the camel couldn’t help narrowing his eyes.