In stark contrast to the fierce sandstorm raging outside Xing Tang Dao, this place at the heart of the desert was an oasis of sorts. The sandstorm kept its distance, and one low, earthen mound after another stretched as far as the eye could see, seemingly endless.
Shangguan Jin and his entourage lay sprawled in the shade of the earthen mounds, a picture of utter disarray. Their guide had failed them, and they were lost in the desert, lost on paths they had traversed countless times, and their cargo was gone.
"Patriarch, have a drink of water," a guard offered, holding out a waterskin. Only a few drops remained inside. If they couldn't find a way out soon, they would die of dehydration.
"Still no sign of a way out?"
"None. No matter which way we go, we always end up back here, as if we're walking in circles around this place." The guard licked his parched lips. They had been trapped here for half a month. Their food was long gone, and now even water was scarce. If this continued, they would not have the strength to leave.
Shangguan Jin opened the waterskin. A tiny sip remained, barely enough to wet his lips. He licked his cracked, bleeding lips. Shangguan Jin's gaze was distant. "Search again. We must find a way out as soon as possible."
"Yes."
Shangguan Jin rose, intending to join the search. However, after days without food, his body was frail; he could barely stand. Weakened by hunger and cold, parched and exhausted, he felt as though his body was no longer his own.
Shangguan Jin looked up at the blinding sun, which stung his eyes. The dry air seemed poised to bake them all into mummies. The sudden anomaly had caused the caravan to vanish. They had only their personal water and rations, which had sustained them for half a month – the limit.
Shangguan Jin felt the sun in the sky waver. Two suns seemed to appear before his eyes, then the world spun, and he collapsed to the ground. Those resting nearby scrambled over to check on him.
"Patriarch, Patriarch, are you alright?"
Shangguan Jin lay on the ground, his lips moving. The gnawing hunger and thirst tormented him. How long had it been since he had felt hunger? It seemed ever since he had met the young lady, he had never gone hungry.
"We need to signal outside," Shangguan Jin said with difficulty, sitting up. He took out a sachet from his chest. "Light it."
"Patriarch, this place is so vast; they won't see it from outside."
"Light it," Shangguan Jin rasped. "By calculation, the young lady should have arrived by now. If she's here, she'll surely see it."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of hope ignited in their hearts. They searched everywhere for dry firewood and lit a bonfire outside. Shangguan Jin sprinkled all the powder from the sachet into the fire. A plume of red smoke drifted into the sky, a faint fragrance wafting with it.
Outside, the sandstorm raged, and everyone huddled indoors. Even if the red smoke rose to the sky, no one would see it. However, amidst the sandstorm, a figure shot upwards, only to be instantly swallowed by the storm. Moments later, the figure reappeared, having pierced through the sandstorm and heading towards the direction of the red smoke.
But as the figure emerged from the sandstorm, it was intercepted. A person sat quietly on a rock, a sword cradled in their arms, their face bandaged, revealing only a pair of eyes and a mouth. A cold gaze swept over the approaching person. *Another one coming to die*, they thought.
Xiao Man stopped short before she even reached them, quickly retreating. The spot where she had stood moments before suddenly collapsed – it was quicksand. The person's position was the only solid ground. To cross the quicksand, she would have to use the large rock by that person as leverage. But the other party clearly had no intention of letting her pass!
The person guarding the rock watched the newcomer retreat swiftly, not falling into the quicksand. Surprise flashed in their eyes. *Such sharp observation. Many have come to scout and rescue in the past few days, and none have been spared. They all fell into the quicksand pit.*
Xiao Man glanced at the flowing sand, then looked at the person guarding the only viable foothold. "Brother, could you possibly grant passage?"
With a flick of a thumb, the man's sword slid an inch from its sheath, making his intentions clear: if you wish to pass, you'll have to get through me first. Su Dan Novel Network
Xiao Man frowned slightly. The expanse of quicksand in this area was unknown. Acting rashly could easily lead to her being knocked into the quicksand. The quicksand was vast. This path was the fastest. To detour would mean losing direction and delaying the rescue. A Jin might not last much longer.
Xiao Man skirted the edge of the quicksand, as if searching for a breakthrough. The man's eyes, like a hawk's, were fixed on Xiao Man, like a predator watching its prey. If his prey dared to act rashly, he would ensure they met a gruesome end.
Xiao Man circled around and around. The man opposite grew bored. This person wanted to break through but feared death. They wanted to leave but seemed too timid. He had lost patience and closed his eyes, feigning sleep.
Seeing the other party feign sleep, Xiao Man immediately tossed a pebble towards them. The man's hand flicked out, sweeping the pebble aside. He opened his eyes, glanced at Xiao Man, and resumed his pretense of sleep.
Xiao Man refused to yield. She picked up several stones from the ground and hurled them at him. He paid them no mind, letting the stones bounce off him harmlessly. As long as Xiao Man didn't attempt to break through, he wouldn't interfere.
Xiao Man threw several more stones. The other party didn't even bother to dodge, making Xiao Man stomp her foot in frustration. Suddenly, she raised her wrist and fired a hidden projectile at him. The man sensed the whistling sound and leaped to evade. Xiao Man had already rushed forward, heading for the foothold. As long as she could secure her footing, she would find a way to send the other person into the quicksand!
However, the other party's speed was astonishing. They were willing to take an arrow to prevent her from reaching the foothold. Xiao Man, too, was ruthless. She didn't dodge or evade, charging straight at them, willing to engage in a mutual destruction to claim their first kill!
The other party seemed caught off guard by Xiao Man's ferocity. A palm strike hit Xiao Man's shoulder, knocking her off the rock foothold. Xiao Man grabbed the other person's arm, dragging them down with her.
One of the man's hands gripped the rock, while the other was held by Xiao Man. The man struggled, trying to shake Xiao Man off, but she held on tightly, refusing to let go.
Like a drowning person grasping a life raft, Xiao Man clung firmly to the man's arm. "Let me up, or you go down with me. Neither of us will survive."
The man froze for a moment. This person was truly cunning. First, they hesitated at the periphery, lowering his guard. Then they attacked him with stones, setting up a sneak attack. Finally, while he was evading, they came forward and knocked him into the quicksand. Every step was meticulously calculated. If only she hadn't miscalculated him!