"An accident, what kind of accident could it be?" Cheng Luo murmured at this moment.
Everyone froze at her words. Then one by one, a chill ran down their spines.
"Could it be those wolf packs?" an assistant whispered.
"Maybe. Quickly, get some rest. In an environment like this, conserving energy is the most important thing," Que Qiu said.
"Wolves? What wolves?" Cheng Luo asked nervously, "Did you encounter wolves just now? I heard gunshots; was it not an illusion?"
"It’s nothing. Wolves do wander in the desert. Perhaps these bones met a pack of wolves searching for food, leading to their misfortune." Que Qiu clearly didn’t intend to share the earlier encounter between Tianmiao and the wolves. He used a different explanation to brush it off.
The other assistants, seeing Que Qiu speak like this, didn’t say anything further. Although unsure why Que Qiu spoke this way, they felt he had his reasons and believed that speaking out might not lead to anything good.
Everyone fell silent for a while. Professor Wu then advised everyone to return to rest, noting that preserving one’s life should take priority now that the deceased have passed on.
They used sand from the doorway and some tarps to cover the front, hiding the bones from view. They silently turned their sleeping bags in a different direction. Inside the stone hut, only the sound of the wind could be heard outside, yet everyone tossed and turned, finding it hard to sleep.
This night seemed especially long and terrifying. The insulated sleeping bags retained their body heat, protecting them from the desert’s low temperatures.
The silent hours stretched on and gradually, everyone fell asleep in the warmth.
The fire formed by the solid shrink fuel slowly dwindled, and the assistant keeping watch besides it nodded off as well, resting his head in his hand.
Cheng Luo tossed and turned and didn’t know how long had passed before she finally drifted into a drowsy sleep. The sound of the wind disappeared from her ears, and gradually, a lively chatter began to fill her ears.
Cheng Luo slowly opened her eyes, finding herself walking along a bustling street.
Is it a dream?
The ancient city walls and architectural decorations seemed to be those of a prosperous town somewhere? Because most of their totemic decorations followed the marks of the Irel Ancient Country, it appeared to be the style of a border town. She had researched much in this field and wouldn’t be mistaken.
The sun shone brightly, the temperature was comfortable, like spring, making one feel relaxed. People came and went on the streets, dressed in exotic styles, with a pale yellow base and rose-red paired long robes. The men almost all had thick beards, and the women’s faces were more profound, their builds tall and strikingly sensual, completely different from modern styles.
This small town seemed to be quietly and peacefully experiencing an ordinary day. The vendors were enthusiastically selling goods, a fruit vendor was cutting a honeydew melon into small pieces for passersby to taste, and the laughter of children chasing and playing was still in her ears.
Is this a dream?
As Cheng Luo walked, she carefully observed everything, thinking she must remember it well. Such a magical dream, truly remarkable.
The town wasn’t big; most of the buildings were made of mud walls, similar to the village they came from. The rooms weren’t very tall. After passing through the city gate guarded by soldiers and walking forward for about five minutes, Cheng Luo saw an oasis pond. Its edges, carefully crafted with black stones, teemed with lush green plants and a few scattered flowers. There were several poplar trees on one side as well.
She was stunned; wasn’t this the oasis pond they mentioned when they arrived, of the Oasis Ancient City?