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墨書 Inktalez
As they arrived at the Sun Grave, dusk was approaching.
The setting sun did not lessen its warmth, yet the air began to carry a hint of chill. Scattered across the ground were several graves, each sunken in the middle and surrounded by wooden stakes about a foot high, arranged in a radiating pattern.
Mo Nan explained that this site was discovered only in 1979 and dates back 3,800 years. There is a gap of over 2,000 years between the Robor Civilization and the Loulan Civilization. Unbelievable phenomena often occur here; mirages and desert winds are quite common. He reminded everyone to be extra cautious as they set up camp right there.
Taking advantage of the remaining daylight, they split into three groups to search for branches of the red willow, known as Hu Yang, to start a fire against the night’s chill.
Lin Luo and Mo Bei formed one group, tasked with gathering firewood.
The branches of Camel Thorn were densely covered with sharp thorns, requiring them to first cut through with a military knife before they could scrape off the bark. Lin Luo's palm was scratched, blood seeping out as she quickly put her finger in her mouth. Her lips were already cracked from dryness.
It wasn't until darkness enveloped the land that the six of them gathered around the campfire for dinner. The bread was hard and required significant effort to chew, making the meal feel unusually heavy. No one felt like talking; none had expected Chen Tuo to lose his life so early in their journey.
This was undoubtedly a significant blow to the team, and his death felt strangely unsettling. An uneasy atmosphere swept over them like the night wind from all directions.
At that moment, a broken moon hung over the Gobi Desert. Lin Luo felt an eerie closeness to the Yadan Landform nearby for the first time. The towering rock formations had been eroded by wind and sand into bizarre shapes; the howling wind sounded like a beast growling, faintly echoing with sounds of clashing metal.
After a long day of trekking, everyone was exhausted. Thus, after dinner, they gathered around the campfire and rested early. Elida took the first watch to ensure the fire burned brightly until 2 AM when Li Xiang would take over.
Lin Luo rested her head on Mo Bei's arm, sinking into the soft sand beneath her. Mo Nan leaned against his backpack, softly snoring. Nearby, Li Xiang lay unsatisfied on his back, frowning slightly; he had already been snoring when he lay down. Sand and dust clung to their faces as Lin Luo turned over and buried her head in Mo Bei's embrace.
In the distance, Wind City loomed darkly under the moonlight, its vast shadows creeping closer like a devil sensing the presence of living beings, silently approaching.
Lin Luo was awakened in the early morning by Elida's loud shouts. Everyone mumbled as they shook off the sand from their bodies.
Mo Nan nudged Li Xiang beside him, slightly dissatisfied, and said, "Hey! It's your turn to keep watch; you don't have to sleep so soundly!"
However, Li Xiang remained unresponsive, his hand still resting on his chest, appearing to be in a deep sleep, his brow relaxed and his expression peaceful. Mo Nan's push caused his arm to slip suddenly and fall to the ground. Cheng Ge, feeling uneasy, called out to him a few more times until he touched Li Xiang's face, which had already turned cold and purple.
A sharp scream pierced through the unfathomable night sky above. A meticulously planned journey had turned into a death trip.
In the face of Cheng Ge's cries, it felt like a faint breeze in this vast, desolate world where escape was impossible.
Elida cautiously examined Li Xiang's body. Aside from some densely distributed red rashes on his exposed arm, nothing seemed amiss.
Before his death, he appeared not to have struggled at all, as if he had quietly passed away in his sleep. The devil lurking in Wind City seemed to have stealthily taken his soul, granting him the most peaceful end.
Lin Luo leaned tightly against Mo Bei, who was terrified and said, "Could it be that the legends about Lop Nur are true?"
"What?" Lin Luo asked.
"My brother and I grew up in Shanshan County. The locals all know that this land was once a vast expanse of water that nurtured the Loulan Civilization. But after it dried up, there hasn't been any sign of life for miles around. Historically, many explorers who came here met mysterious deaths, which is why few dare to come anymore, even though there is a Crystal Mine here that holds unimaginable wealth."
"Is that so?" Cheng Ge stopped crying upon hearing this. "Let's go back the way we came, okay? Two people have already died. I can't go any further."
"We can't go back," Elida shook her head with a sorrowful expression. "We are now deep in Lop Nur; it’s the same in every direction. For now, we can only continue northward, passing through Loulan Ancient City to return to Shanshan."
He looked at the group, letting out a helpless sigh. "You are all so reckless. I should have told you from the beginning that this place has another name: the Sea of Death. Not even a bird can cross it."
Mo Nan interrupted Elida, "Don't say things like that. The most beautiful scenery is always found in the most perilous places. Lop Nur has more than one name."
He sat on the ground, with Li Xiang's body lying beside him. "At dawn, we will continue north. I never thought this place was frightening. Elida, Mo Bei, don't forget, this is also the Peacock Sea."
The few of them endured until dawn, amidst Cheng Ge's sobs.
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