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墨書 Inktalez
The light of a new day shone upon the lifeless body of Li Xiang.
They could not take him away; they could only leave him in this most mysterious and dangerous world. He would not decay; the fierce winds here would soon turn him into a desiccated corpse, and the yellow sands would bury him.
He would remain forever in the Peacock Sea, aging along with this land.
Lin Luo walked silently, her footsteps heavy as she followed the group. The wooden box in her backpack pressed against her back, causing a sharp pain with every step.
As they passed the Sun Grave, the strange tombs stood like ancient mysterious altars, now accompanied by two unwelcome "burials."
The glaring sun hung high in the sky, making her dizzy. In a daze, she seemed to see a pure white swan soaring toward Tianshan.
Lin Luo spotted trees standing tall in the distance amidst the swirling sands. After days of torment from thirst, she felt an excitement akin to what Chen Tuo had once experienced. Unable to contain herself, she exclaimed, "Oh my God, there are actually trees here! That must mean there's a water source nearby. Mo Bei, should we go over there?"
"Yes, we should go," Mo Bei replied. "But you might be disappointed. That Populus Euphratica Forest has long since withered. My brother and I have been there before; aside from quicksand and dead wood, there’s nothing left."
The sudden joy vanished in an instant. About half an hour later, they trudged through the sand, their feet sinking at times. The stout yet solitary Poplar Trees stood tall like tombstones, silently mourning those who had fallen during their journey.
Some Hu Yang trees had already collapsed, their branches broken. No one could imagine that a thousand years ago, the Peacock River had flowed with crystal-clear waters, and both banks were once lush green waves teeming with life.
They were not supposed to take this route, but Mo Nan and Mo Bei insisted on it. The group stopped to rest beside a fallen tree.
Not far away lay the remnants of a city wall. Lin Luo examined it closely and recognized it as the base of a pagoda; fragments of stone were piled in a pyramid shape, bearing witness to the passage of time under the erosion of wind and sand.
Elida looked at Mo Nan, her expression turning solemn and respectful as she said, "I know, Sha Mu Jiang. You were bound to come here. Sha Shu Jiang is also here; you can finally greet your loved ones."
Cheng Ge was somewhat confused, her swollen eyes wide with bewilderment as she asked, "What loved ones?"
Mo Nan and Mo Bei walked together to the largest Poplar Tree. They reached out their hands, gently and carefully brushing away the dust from the smooth bark, as if they were touching a precious yet fragile memory.
Then, the two slowly knelt before the tree, bowing deeply as they said in unison, "Dad, Mom, we have come to see you."
Lin Luo stared at them in shock, her mouth agape and momentarily speechless.
She hurried over and knelt beside Mo Bei, whispering, "What’s going on? Mo Bei, you’ve never told me about this."
"By the Poplar Tree as witness, we rest here for eternity, cherishing each other through a thousand years. And with this eternal confinement, we curse the cruel and selfish souls. — Mo Peng, Su Hua's final words." Lin Luo read softly the inscription carved into the tree.
The passage of time had weathered the words significantly; many strokes had become blurred and indistinct. She had never heard Mo Bei mention his parents before; she thought it was merely teenage rebellion and self-absorption that made him reluctant to speak of them. She never imagined that his parents would be buried in this vast Peacock Sea.
Mo Nan stood up, his expression calm yet tinged with a hint of sadness as he said to Lin Luo, "My brother and I were born in Shanshan, but our roots lie thousands of miles away in Luoyang."
"Huh?" Cheng Ge, who had gathered around them, looked equally puzzled and fixed her gaze on Mo Nan, waiting for his explanation.
"Our parents were originally from Luoyang and worked in archaeological excavations. During a scientific expedition, they came here and subsequently entered this place six times over two years. Eventually, they became trapped in Lop Nur and lost contact with their team. My brother and I were raised by fellow villagers from Shanshan County. Today we bravely ventured into Lop Nur specifically to pay our respects to them. I apologize for not discussing this with our companions beforehand."
Mo Nan's voice was deep and steady, as if recounting a long-buried tale from the past.
Lin Luo bowed deeply to the Hu Yang tree, her eyes filled with reverence as she murmured a prayer for her uncle and aunt to bless them with success in their journey out of this place.
She turned to Mo Bei and said, “I never told you that my parents also did this kind of work. They were here twenty years ago. My insistence on joining the activity you initiated is because I hope to retrace the glorious path my parents once walked alongside you.”
In that moment, a profound and majestic atmosphere enveloped them, touching everyone present. It felt as if this was not merely a trip but a tribute to their forebears, a yearning to continue their unfinished legacy. Thus, they sat on a stretch of open sand, resting in this heavy ambiance, unaware that Mo Nan's words concealed a significant flaw.
“Cheng Ge, could you look for some branches in the other thickets that can be used as walking sticks? That way we can conserve some energy and reach Loulan sooner. The other three have gone to rest in a cool spot in the opposite direction.”
Mo Nan paused briefly before continuing, “I’ll wait for you over there.”
Cheng Ge nodded. Ever since Li Xiang's death, she had been cared for by her companions, and now she felt more than willing to do something for everyone. So she stood up and made her way across the small dunes toward the woods.
Just as she reached the center of the sand dune, Elida keenly sensed the danger surrounding the solitary girl.
He suddenly jumped up and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Don’t move! Get down!” His voice was urgent, laced with an unmistakable fear that jolted the sleeping Mo Bei and Lin Luo awake. Groggy and disoriented, they followed Elida as he rushed toward Cheng Ge’s direction.
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