Chapter 7

It is a kind of ostentation that captivates one's gaze, like a sword unsheathed from the flames, its sharpness fully revealed

It is a military green backpack

It is akin to a reminder, as well as a warning

It is estimated to have been buried in the soil for some time. Initially, under the flashlight, it was difficult to distinguish the color. Only after shaking off the fine sand covering the surface was it clearly visible

She instinctively raised her eyes to look at Fu Xun

Qu Yixian thought for a moment, that is fine

The camp is located fifty kilometers west of the Yadan formations at Shaliang, in an open, dry, and sheltered terrain

Especially when she stands in the sandstorm, with her eyebrows slightly raised and a lazy smile at the corners of her eyes, there is a wildness and defiance that seems to look down upon the world.

How did he know that her height, when rounded, is exactly 1.69 meters

She avoids the easily ensnaring soft sand pits, typically maneuvering around the beams at tricky angles and passing through the narrow lanes

Shengzi returned from washing up and saw Fu Xun reading a book. Among the three of them, only Qu Yiqian appeared to be idle, so she took the initiative to speak: "Miss, do you dare to enter the desert all by yourself?"

Her beauty carries a hint of aggression, and her smile and lack thereof convey entirely different qualities

Her knees were completely buried in the ground, and she had not dared to act recklessly because she was unsure of what lay beneath.

Qu Yi Xian hesitated for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head: "No."

Nanjing's ? '' Shengzi glanced at Fu Xun, his face showing a look of sudden realization: `` Boss Fu is also from Nanjing. ''

In my memory, the scales of the snake were wet and icy, and its body was not smooth; it even had a dry, rough texture with grains of sand embedded in it. Suddenly, it swept past my ankle, sharp and slippery, with a slight sting.

Fu Xun no longer hesitated, lowered his gaze, exchanged a glance with Qu Yiqian, and said: "Be clever."

The string of the instrument felt the effort: "Dead."

Inside the backpack, apart from personal belongings, there are no documents that can prove identity. Clearly, it underwent careful consideration before being discarded

When the string of the lute is plucked, there is an intention to avenge the humiliation.

Moreover, Yuan Ye's car was just purchased in June of this year, and it seems that a winch has not yet been installed on it

It is highly likely that he has not gone far

After solving the issue of basic needs, Qu Yiqian wasted no time and began preparing for the next entry into the Yadan landform group in the ancient Hehe Valley

She sat cross-legged on the mat, her frustration causing a knot to form in her brow

In the morning, Qu Yixian had a flower bun with lamb noodle soup, feeling so hungry that her stomach was pressed against her back. She initially thought that making do meant eating dry rations. However, the way others made do was far better than what she had during her days of hardship.

The guess regarding the tuning of a string is that the tourists, having exhausted their physical strength, had no choice but to lighten their load

The light that seeped through the car illuminated her brows and eyes, outlining them like the distant mountains in the twilight.

She turned her head to glance at Fu Xun, who was remotely controlling the winch, scratched her head, and called Yuan Ye

Qu Yi Xian had not heard anyone call her "Miss" for a long time, and it took her a moment to realize that Sheng Zi was speaking to her. She nodded slightly and said, "I am familiar with this place."

Without reason, as her restless heart calmed down, she picked up the backpack and said: "First, let's tow the car"

No warmth, no breath, no pulse; apart from the ankles that were bound, there was no movement whatsoever

Fu Xun does not collect rent; whether she lives there or not does not cause him any harm. She only indicated for Sheng Zi to place the sleeping bag in the corner and to prepare dinner first

He lifted the fabric curtain of the tent and entered

On the other hand, there is the bizarre and harsh weather, along with the complex terrain that seems capable of devouring all vitality

Fu Xun raised her eyebrows slightly: "Isn't it a snake?"

The one who was bitten was a recently graduated female member of the team. At the time of the incident, Qu Yiqian was counting supplies in the trunk. From the moment she heard the scream to the instant the snake's scales brushed past her ankle, only a few seconds had passed, yet the impression it left on her was particularly profound

The wind swirls up from the deep ravine, passing through the low path, its force quickening, gradually producing a sound reminiscent of a dragon's roar. The already tumultuous sandstorm intensifies, obscuring the sky and sun, as if one were trapped in a ghostly palace

Before finishing the sentence, he was interrupted by Fu Xun: "At what location?"

Yuan Ye

Little did she know that what she thought was a dangerous encounter was merely a backpack

Qu Yixian felt bored

In fact, she is very beautiful

Hearing a hint of impatience in his tone, Qu Yixian felt that his good intentions were being taken for granted, and he replied irritably: "My legs are 1.8 meters long, you can grab them as you see fit"

When Fu Xun returned, he heard Qu Yixian saying to Shengzi in the tent: "I will not sleep here tonight"

Then think about what to do next

Fu Xun specifically paid attention to her acceleration and braking.

Under the flickering light of the flashlight, he twisted his wrist, then with a quick turn and a snap, effortlessly pulled the object that was hooked on the foot of the curved string out of the ground

The string of the instrument cannot hold its face, feeling awkward.

On one side is the brittle, salty crusted ground that poses a constant risk of getting stuck, while on the other side are the deep ditches eroded by flowing water. Searching for someone in such terrain is nearly impossible.

He was about to remind Qu Yixian that there would definitely be sandstorms in Dunhuang during the latter half of the night due to the strong winds in Gansu, and to let her decide whether to retreat or hold her ground. From the sound of the wind on her end, it seemed that the wind was likely to be even stronger than expected

She looked at Fu Xun, who was taking off his gloves, leaned against the car door, and smiled: "Let me drive for the rest of the way"

She primarily uses gentle braking to control the speed of the vehicle. When the tires accidentally get stuck in the sand dunes, she does not blindly accelerate. Instead, she balances between easing off and applying pressure, and soon drives out of the ancient river valley, covered in wind and sand.

This matter is somewhat significant, and Qu Yiqian is hesitant and unable to make a decision for a long time

Fu Xun paused for a moment before asking, "Then where will you sleep?"

The sandstorm is too strong tonight; not only can we not start the boiler, but even if the food is cooked, when the wind blows, it’s like pouring a bowl of yellow sand into the pot. Would you eat it or not

In an instant, it transitioned from dusk to deep night

Upon realizing it, it became somewhat awkward

Is it alive? Fu Xun asked

When the vehicle returned to the campsite, Shengzi had already set up the tent and was reinforcing the screws

Hanging up the phone, Qu Yiqian stepped back to the side of the car

Yuan Ye could only hear half of it, the intermittent sounds were all the rush of wind pouring into the receiver. A sense of foreboding struck him: "Master Qu, have you encountered a sandstorm?"

Shengzi has considerable experience in outdoor camping, so he would naturally not make any mistakes in selecting the campsite. However, out of caution, he still conducted a thorough inspection.

"No," Qu Yiqian said, "I am from Nanjing."

Yuan Ye was just about to contact Qu Yixian when he caught a glimpse of the caller ID and happily answered, "Master Qu, don't you think we have a telepathic connection? I was just about to call you."

He was full of enthusiasm and immediately asked: "I wonder if you have heard about it. A few years ago, around this time, two female university students from Nanjing went on a graduation trip to Kekexili, and one of them went missing. To this day, she has not been found."

Upon hearing the tone of the string being plucked, Yuan Ye instinctively straightened his back and sat up properly: "You speak, I am listening."

Fu Xun turned around

Before turning off the engine and getting out of the car, she couldn't help but touch the steering wheel a few more times, generously praising, "It is truly wonderful to be wealthy"

Qu Yi Xian could not help but ask Fu Xun: "Boss, are you still in need of any pendants?" She is capable of handling laundry, cleaning, and guarding the house; there is nothing she cannot do, and her cost-performance ratio is particularly high

Two years ago, when she led a geological survey team into the desert, she encountered it once

Shengzi misunderstood her meaning: "Are you a local?"

She held her breath and quieted her voice

Qu Yi Xian suddenly realized that the lost tourist was carrying a military green backpack!

What is currently gripping her ankle is not the same kind of thing

She felt embarrassed to drag Fu Xun into life-and-death situations, but Yuan Ye owed her his life, so it was relatively easier to command him without a psychological burden

In the past, when two people camped, they would set up a boiler to cook some staple food or noodle soup

Yuan Ye will come over later. Qu Yixian slightly raised her chin and pointed to the backpack she had placed in the corner, saying, "This, there are still some matters that need to be confirmed."

Stay, it is too dangerous

While Qu Yixian had nothing to do, he helped Shengzi by repeatedly moving supplies from the support vehicle into the tent

Once trapped in traffic, it becomes troublesome

She does not engage in battles for which she is unprepared, nor does she make unnecessary sacrifices

The vehicle left a tire mark on the open ground as it backed into the camp, perfectly positioned on either side of the Patrol, thereby protecting the tent in the center of the two vehicles

Just instant noodles, accompanied by a marinated egg and a sausage, not to mention the allocation of three cans of tuna and fresh fruit

She felt that Fu Xun was not only the King of Hell come to deal with her, but also a little ghost from the underworld, specifically targeting her... Otherwise, how could she have lost all her face and dignity in front of him in just one day

This person's gaze must be made of knives, so piercing.

He stands with his back to the light, silent and reserved

The soil layer is not buried deeply

I have something to confirm with Xu San" Qu Yiqian said, "I may have found the backpack he abandoned

At this moment, unable to contain myself, I said: "Are you planning to confront it with bare hands? Perhaps you should go get some tools, like a wrench or a Swiss Army knife; at least they have some..." lethality.

The Yadan formations in the Gubei River Valley are quite perilous, and she naturally knows this having just come from there

Wait a moment

Fu Xun quietly crouched down, and through a layer of gloves, his hand rested on Qu Yixian's lower back, pulling her closer as he leaned in to explore

Yuan Ye was somewhat trembling

Qu Yi Xian is very familiar with the terrain of this area, and the variations in light intensity seem to have no effect on her

Fu Xun got off the vehicle and first inspected the camp

"I ran into him." Qu Yiqian pressed her lips together and instructed, "Forty minutes later, have Xu San give me a call, just say I have something to discuss with him."

As the first string of the tune had yet to reveal its flavor, she saw him lean down, his hands moving with lightning speed, directly probing into the soil, accurately gripping her ankle.

Shengzi had brought a sleeping bag and a mat, and upon seeing Fu Xun enter, she hurriedly cast a pleading glance towards him

The hidden danger is like a precarious platform hanging above the two, poised to collapse at any moment, with no certainty as to when the next landslide will occur

Fu Xun was momentarily taken aback by her words and shot her a glance: "Your height, rounded to the nearest whole number, is about 1.69 meters; did those extra three inches grow on my legs?"

He pondered for a few seconds and said, "How about this, I will personally bring him over, it won't take much effort anyway"

Under the headlights, sand grains are lifted by the wind, swirling rapidly in mid-air. Even from a distance, one can clearly see the fine sand that rises with the wind and falls when it stops, spiraling and tumbling as it rushes towards the vehicle's body

His tone of voice was too calm, as if he had made some decision

backpack

I can only make do with a bowl of instant noodles

The darkness falls more rapidly, and the last glimmer of light has vanished beyond the deep ravine of the Yadan formations, leaving it pitch black.

There is no time left. Fu Xun turned on the flashlight and shone it into the sand.