Chapter 8

When I woke up, I was hanging in that noose

Ye Liuxi has parked the car

At a certain distance, only silhouettes can be seen. She sits in a meditative state on the collapsed rammed earth wall, with the poplar trees behind her resembling fierce, thorny claws.

Ye Liuxi chuckled: "What kind of person are you, not wishing for the well-being of others at all? If I were to hang myself, wouldn't the one talking to you now be a ghost? How frightening that would be... The noose was a slipknot; I struggled a couple of times and then fell to the ground."

Chang Dong recognized that it was a poplar tree, and moreover, a dead poplar, due to its tragic posture that was difficult to describe. There are also large areas of dead poplars near the ruins of Heishui City. According to local legends, these trees are the transformed souls of soldiers who died tragically, with each tree representing the form of a being from the hell of the human world

Then, I tried to recall the cause and effect

Chang Dong discreetly lowered the handle of the chisel he had concealed in his sleeve into the palm of his hand

Ye Liuxi said: "Once, I had a nightmare—listen carefully, I will start telling you from this dream"

After finishing his meal, he let out a loud burp, his face contorting and deforming, and his mouth shrinking smaller and smaller. It was only then that I realized that what he used to eat people was one of his eyes

She stepped aside to let him pass: "If you don't believe it, then go ahead. Am I stopping you?"

Ye Liuxi sighed: "The way you put it makes it seem as if I intentionally chose to forget the things you are interested in... However, it's more or less like that."

He said: "Do you think I would believe it?"

He is not one to dismiss those strange occurrences

What do I still want from you? If you think I want something from you, you should first consider whether you have that value yourself—money you have already lost almost all of, and you are lacking in vitality, acting in a mysterious manner. I have heard that to this day you are unwilling to look at your own face, only daring to stand tall while wearing someone else's skin.

Looking at the outline, it is dark and shadowy, about half a person tall, and is a short section of wall

The rammed earth structure has been inspected by a cultural heritage unit, which suggested that it might be the wall of an ancient post station. However, only this side remains, and it is incomplete. No artifacts have been unearthed nearby, and due to inconvenient transportation, it has been left as is.

Ye Liuxi pointed to a spot not far behind the wall: "Of course not, do you see that tree?"

Beside the campfire, there sat a person, eating a human, producing a crunching sound as they chewed

Those who frequently traverse the Lop Nur region possess a reverence for the unknown that surpasses that of ordinary individuals. There, various bizarre incidents of disappearances and deaths abound. The story of the "Double Fish Jade Pendant," which has gained popularity on the internet, originated from this very place. Some even believe that the heart of Lop Nur conceals a parallel world.

There is another item, which is even more peculiar, a beast-headed agate cup, carved from a single piece, adorned with a golden cap. Just in terms of material, it is already quite valuable. Not to mention that later I discovered that the Shaanxi Museum also has one, which is even a treasure of the museum. On this trip to Xi'an, I specifically sought out an antique shop for appraisal; the age of this item is at least from the Tang Dynasty or earlier

Indeed, engaging in business is the quickest way to get started

The sand is soft; stepping in causes half a foot to sink. A lot of fine sand seeps in through the gaps of the shoes. It is not hard, not abrasive, but it is uncomfortable

That is a noose hanging from a tree; judging by its height and the size of the loop, it is intended for hanging.

Chang Dong almost laughed, it was truly not easy, for the first time in two years, he wanted to smile: "You lost your memory, and it still has a shape?"

After saving a bit of money, I began to approach each of the merchants I had dealt with.

They remembered her and greeted her warmly, saying, "Miss Ye, you haven't been here for a while."

Have done

This is also the reason why Chang Dong did not feel much rejection or doubt when he saw the photo of Kong Yang

Ye Liuxi dined with them several times, toasting and drinking, and through their conversations, managed to extract some information

As my gaze wanders, a slight numbness spreads across the scalp at Changdong

Chang Dong remained silent for a moment before speaking: "You can be considered half a businessman. When a deal falls through, there should still be some sense of righteousness. It wouldn't be good to turn against each other just because we are no longer cooperating, would it? What if I change my mind right now?"

That is not correct; your position is not right, you need to move a little more.

In the bag, I saw a roll of film camera

Ye Liuxi was somewhat surprised: "You know this too?"

It was evening, and the wooden door was being slammed back and forth by the wind. The interior was quite simple, with a strong fire burning in the middle of the room, and sparks were being lifted by the heat, flying chaotically in the air

The bag is quite heavy, and there are some items inside. I took out my flashlight and shone it around, only to find no footprints on the sandy ground

Is it just to let me look at the wall

... ...

This is how your life will be, go back and carve shadow puppets, I wish you win a Golden Knife Award

She leaned against the half rammed earth wall and really recognized everything: "Make money, those young ladies, have no sense of security, wandering around in the dark alley in the middle of the night, I don't follow, but someone will follow sooner or later— isn't this good? They are safe, and I make money too. Isn't the public security in Qizhen good? Don't I deserve credit?"

Chang Dong, I am not one to force things. I mentioned earlier that if you want to pursue, then pursue; if you want to do it, then do it.

However, whether Ye Liuxi's words can be trusted still requires careful consideration

In the words of those bosses, she is sometimes a southerner, sometimes a northerner, sometimes married, sometimes single, sometimes working for others, and sometimes running her own business—apparently, she was accustomed to fabricating her identity at will during that time

Her silhouette in the sitting posture is arrogant, even the breath coming from the receiver carries a sense of provocation

Chang Dong fell silent for a moment, brushed past her, and walked down the sand slope

Ye Liuxi found a small notebook, reasoning line by line to take notes, as if stacking bricks to construct a maze.

But the most critical things are forgotten, such as where I was born, my family, my friends, who I really am, and who hung me on the rope... all of it is forgotten

Chang Dong coldly asked, "Not dead?"

In my dream, I was not very old, around eleven or twelve years old, hiding in a water tank in the corner of the wall. The tank was covered with a lid, and there were notches at the opening. Firewood was piled outside the tank, and I looked out through the notches and the gaps between the firewood.

Ye Liuxi let out a light laugh, and indeed did not stop him

Chang Dong subsequently got out of the car. The desert was very cold at night, and he instinctively pulled up his half-open coat. There was a layer of sand beneath his feet, not thick; as he stepped on it, he could feel the hard soil layer of the Gobi underneath.

I am a down-to-earth person; secrets do not fly away, but people can starve to death. Moreover, knowing the truth means going through a day of eating, drinking, and other necessities, while not knowing it also means going through a day of eating, drinking, and other necessities. So what is there to be anxious about

How should I put it, if memory is like a piece of paper, mine seems to have been torn apart. For some things, I either remember the first half or the second half, or I remember a bit more or a bit less, as if it has been chewed by a dog

Miss Ye conducts business with a refreshing demeanor and is generous in her dealings, unlike some individuals who always haggle over every penny, being miserly and stingy

What about the skin on the face?

Chang Dong answered the phone while turning around

She gestured above her nose: "To be precise, at this position, there is also a mouth, wide open. The person has almost been eaten, with only the feet exposed, swaying up and down with the chewing motion, and wearing a rubber shoe, the shoelaces a bit loose."

Look at the tree

The Seagull brand was a relatively common camera brand in China during the 1980s and 1990s, and there is a roll of film inside... The photos of the central hole were developed from the film.

However, I would like to remind you that everything happens for a reason. The appearance of Kong Yang's photo in my possession is certainly not a coincidence. If you think you can disregard me and still manage to retrieve your friend's body, isn't that a bit too optimistic

In summary, Chang Dong succinctly stated: "In other words, what I want to know is exactly what you have forgotten; is that the meaning?"

Ye Liuxi stopped on a sandy slope and pointed ahead: "Look."

This was within Ye Liu Xi's expectations: "It's not over yet, wait until you hear everything before drawing a conclusion— I looked around and saw a bag under the tree, a black shoulder bag, do you remember? I carried it when I went to see your shadow puppetry."

It was the first time hearing about the ability to pinpoint the timing and length of amnesia, and Chang Dong's expression was grim, showing no intention to conceal his emotions

Chang Dong's heart suddenly raced as he finally heard something related to the photograph

I found that my memory has large areas of jagged blankness

From this angle, the crescent moon has just climbed into the noose, forming a mouth that appears satisfied and slightly pursed.

That eye was bloodshot, as if flesh and blood were churning within. Then, he picked up a water jug beside him and strode over to the water tank, probably too dry from eating and wanting to drink water

Ye Liuxi beckoned him to follow, and they still had to walk a distance on foot. Neither of them turned on their flashlights: in the darkness, the eyes could see further after adapting to the natural light

I saw it, a solitary tree, its silhouette pressed against the cobalt blue sky

Upon saying this, she let out a long sigh and patted her chest with her hand: "It startled me awake all of a sudden"

In the dead of night, in a desolate wilderness, at an abandoned ancient post station, with withered trees and a noose hanging... Currently, all that is missing is a hanged ghost

The moon hangs in the sky, half-crescent, occasionally passing by a few withered yet alive camel thorns, their spiky shadows cast on the ground by the moonlight, swaying gently in the breeze

Ye Liuxi seemed to have guessed what he was thinking; she raised her hand and slowly pointed to the noose hanging from the tree.

She pointed to the way she came: "I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked in that direction. Just before dawn, I arrived at a town, which was that flag... From there, you probably know the rest; it was just a matter of finding a way to survive first."

Chang Dong felt uneasy: In general, under such circumstances, considering the context, she is likely about to lose her memory

Did not feel it, Chang Dong only felt her coldness, yet she was tight-lipped: playing amnesia, lightly carrying the cause and effect over, and throwing back a bunch of mysteries.

As the shoe was about to fall, the person swallowed in one gulp, swallowing both the shoe and the foot.

Ye Liuxi sneered: "Chang Dong, you are not well-fed or warmly dressed, and you think about exploring the mysteries of the universe?"

She actually had the audacity to ask Changdong: "So, do you think I am like a riddle, particularly interesting?"

"More than a year ago, and you have only just come to investigate now"

About a year ago

Melons do not grow all year round, so during the idle time, it is natural to sell other things

Do you also sell barbecue

... ...

As I hurried down to the sandy slope, my phone rang, and the caller ID displayed Ye Liuxi.

She tugged at the fabric of Chang Dong's shoulder, leading him to take a step or two to the side, and then adjusted his angle: "Now take a look again"

This is the periphery of the desert, where the sand is carried over by strong winds from the desert. Day after day, when encountering obstacles, it accumulates and can also form sand dunes

Ye Liuxi said: "What I experienced cannot be called amnesia; I remember many things—I recall that I have purchased goods from various suppliers multiple times, including Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, and Jiuquan, with my farthest trip reaching Zhangye. The items I bought were diverse, including shoes, clothing, discs, books, and celebrity posters... Each time, after driving the truck into the Gobi Desert, there was no further news.

Miss Ye comes alone every time, and I worry about you. You are so beautiful and drive such a big car; I hope no one has their eye on you, especially since there was a gang that was stopping cars and robbing them not long ago. Before the police took them down, many cars suffered misfortune. You are lucky; you have been safe every time you come and go

Selling melons

A journey of one and a half hours, with the first hour on the highway and the last half hour on the Gobi Desert. It was pitch dark, but Ye Liuxi was familiar with the route—although it was winding, he indeed did not retrace his steps.

I had been staring intently when I suddenly noticed that the person had a cigarette with a filter in their mouth, which was actually not their mouth but rather used for eating

Therefore, regardless of how the spirit of the Populus euphratica is celebrated, phrases like "born and not dead for a thousand years, dead and not fallen for a thousand years, fallen and not decayed for a thousand years" do not endear Chang Dong to the Populus euphratica. The image of the withered Populus euphratica, twisted and struggling, always reminds him of expressions akin to dying with one's eyes open.

Ye Liuxi asked him: "Have you ever had a nightmare?"

Did this just wake up? Does this dream relate to the matters he cares about?

Chang Dong interrupted her: "When did this happen?"