Xiao Ba called out, “Brother, hurry and come over! The sun is so strong—it’ll roast you to death.”

Luo Yang quickly pulled back his thoughts and realized his skin was nearly sunburned. He quickly ducked under the camel.

Fortunately, though the desert sun was fierce, the wind wasn’t small either!

After Wen Yu rested for a while, his complexion improved somewhat.

It was just that his stomach kept rumbling.

Looking quite pitiful!

Luo Yang pondered for a moment and nudged him with his elbow, “Are you feeling better?”

“I won’t die.”

“Ha!” Luo Yang chuckled quietly and decided to give him that half steamed bun from earlier. “Eat, eat.”

His conscience had emerged!

But Wen Yu didn’t take it.

“What? Afraid it’s poisoned? This is the half you just left over.”

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t let me eat my fill?”

“Not eating? Then I’ll throw it away!”

Hearing this, Wen Yu took the bun and ate it.

Luo Yang watched him, suddenly becoming curious, and asked, “By the way, why do those people want to kill you?”

“…”

“I’m asking you a question!”

“…”

“What puzzles me is why those people chasing to kill you would even run into the desert. If something went wrong and they got trapped in this godforsaken Southern Frontier Desert, wouldn’t that be like digging their own grave!”

Wen Yu didn’t want to speak and continued eating the bun.

“Could it be you owe someone money, so they’re chasing to kill you?”

Hearing this, Xiao Ba quickly said, “Definitely not! Don’t we often owe people money too? But we don’t see anyone coming to kill us!”

Luo Yang nodded, “Makes sense! But if it’s not a killing over money, then it must be a killing over love!”

With a somewhat certain tone.

Wen Yu still didn’t respond.

Luo Yang began analyzing quite seriously, pointing at the black-faced Wen Yu and saying, “I reckon! You must have defiled some powerful family’s young lady, so they want your life. Am I right?”

“…”

“You look quite proper, but who’d have thought you’d do such a thing—truly worse than a beast.”

Wen Yu couldn’t bear it anymore, “Who’s worse than a beast? If I, Wen Yu, truly wanted women, there would be women lining up to offer themselves to me.”

“Oh my, such big talk! Don’t think that just because you have a pretty face you can show off in front of me. This young master was just born a bit dark-skinned, otherwise I’d also be the type to rival Pan An in looks!”

“Hehe.”

“But seriously! If it’s neither a killing over money nor over love, then what’s the reason? Could it be… a blood feud? A family-extermination vendetta?”

This casual guess by Luo Yang caused Wen Yu’s expression to suddenly darken. But Luo Yang thought nothing of it and continued his self-analysis, “If it really is a family-extermination vendetta, then either they want to exterminate your whole family, or you once killed their whole family, so they’ve come for revenge! These jianghu grudges truly can’t be fully told. What’s the use of all this fighting and killing? Will killing a few people make you happy? I really don’t understand you people…”

He rattled on and on with a whole bunch of talk.

“Shut up!” Wen Yu rebuked sharply, a flash of killing intent in his eyes as he stared at Luo Yang and said coldly, “Do you know there’s one more type!”

“One more type? Besides killings over money, love, and family extermination, what else is there?”

“Some people can’t control their mouths and die from talking too much!”

In other words—courting death!

Luo Yang caught on and grabbed his collar, “You actually dare to insult me in a roundabout way! Looks like you really are tired of living.”

Wen Yu’s hands were bound by rope, his fists clenched tight.

Seeing this, Xiao Ba quickly tried to persuade, “Brother, forget it. All he can do is talk.” “Hmph!” Luo Yang released him, restraining his anger as he warned, “Don’t think that just because this young master hasn’t read books, I don’t know you’re speaking with hidden meaning. People like you are gloomy and scheming all day! The fact that I haven’t dug out your heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys to sell already shows I’m being good to you!”

Only money in his eyes!

Wen Yu endured it.

Both calmed down for a while, and their anger gradually subsided!

Xiao Ba suddenly asked, “Brother, if there was no poison in my body, would you still go to rescue Miss Ji?”

This truly was a philosophically rich question!

Actually, throughout this journey, Xiao Ba had wanted to ask many times but always swallowed the words.

After hearing this question, Luo Yang inexplicably fell silent. A wave of turmoil rose in his heart—contradiction and entanglement surged up, blocking his throat so he couldn’t make a single sound.

But he covered it up extremely well.

After a long pause, he finally said, “Of course not. If you’re already fine, why would I wade into muddy waters? We’d just go straight back to Zhuxin City. Who’d be so stupid as to go into this desert seeking death?”

Xiao Ba was overjoyed, “Brother, you’re so good to me! Once the poison in my body is cured, I’ll definitely repay you well and take care of you in your old age.”

Luo Yang patted his head, “You really have a conscience. Your brother didn’t love you for nothing.”

Truly two strange flowers blooming in the desert!

After hearing their conversation, Wen Yu cautiously probed, asking Xiao Ba, “You’re poisoned?”

Xiao Ba nodded, “Yes, but the antidote is with Miss Ji, so we must find her. Otherwise, the poison will activate and I’ll die.”

The calculating wheels in Wen Yu’s mind suddenly turned as he said seriously, “How about we make a deal?”

“A deal?”

“My uncle is the famous Medicine King of Qujiang. There’s no poison in this world he can’t cure. If you can safely deliver me to Yanjing, my uncle will definitely cure the poison in your body. That’s better than you searching for someone in the desert, right?”

“Really?” Xiao Ba’s eyes lit up!

Luo Yang quickly pressed down the excited boy, “Don’t fall for his trick!”

Wen Yu said, “Every word I speak is true.”

“Why should I believe you? Don’t think you can tempt us to take you to Yanjing.”

“What if you can’t find that young lady? Are you planning to wait for death? I, Wen Yu, always keep my word. My uncle is the Medicine King—a sage healer. Not only can I guarantee he’ll treat you, he’ll also gift you a thousand gold pieces, ensuring you prosperity and wealth for life!”

A thousand gold pieces!

Luo Yang’s heart skipped a beat. The temptation was great.

But—

“Empty words carry no weight!”

“Then what would it take for you to believe my words?” “No matter what you say, I won’t believe you!” Luo Yang analyzed rationally. “The risk is too great! Besides, we’re from Huyi and you’re from Qujiang. Not only is there this huge desert between us, but there’s also a thick wall of distrust. They say Qujiang people are treacherous and faithless—notorious swindlers in the southern lands. Every one of them has the word ‘despicable’ carved on their foreheads. If I believed you, I’d be a ghost! Moreover, who can guarantee that once we reach Yanjing, you won’t want revenge and kill both me and Xiao Ba? Wouldn’t that be a huge loss? So no, we’re not doing this deal!”

Decisively rejected!

Wen Yu was about to say more, but Luo Yang blocked him again, “Don’t bother. More words are useless!”

“…” Wen Yu truly had nothing more to say!

At this moment, dusk was already falling. The scorching sun was gradually fading…