Before arriving at Guyao City, there was a distribution center called 'Inn Station,' named Bailong Town.
Bailong Town was the only oasis in the Sea of Sand. People said that finding Bailong Town meant one could successfully reach Guyao City.
It was dusk at the time. The ancient road was swept by a west wind. The poplar trees, as if snapped by the wind, leaned towards the direction of the underground water flow. Beside sparse cacti, scorpions hid in the shade, awaiting the fall of night.
A lean horse slowed its pace. The man on horseback wore a headscarf. The setting sun cast its rays, and waves of heat rolled in. Amidst the lone smoke in the desert and the swirling yellow sand, one could completely forget it was autumn.
"This kind of weather truly makes me miss the cool girls of Aixin City."
The man untied his water bag, only wetting his throat. According to the map, it would take another night's journey to reach Bailong Town, so the water had to be conserved.
Just then, a small caravan appeared in the distance where the sand waves met the sky. The setting sun stretched their shadows long.
The caravan consisted of six people and ten camels, laden with burlap sacks, moving forward in a winding line.
Four of the men were extremely robust, with wheat-colored skin revealing coiled muscles, like small, raised hills, resembling the Sea of Sand itself. In front was a person who seemed to be the leader. Surprisingly, she was a slender woman. The setting sun fell on her face, her high-bridged nose accentuating her exotic Western features, making her appear even more delicate and charming.
"It's quite rare to see a woman in a place like this, let alone a beauty," the man shook his water bag, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Tsk tsk, I should go say hello."
This person was undoubtedly Ren Yuanhao. He rode his horse forward at a steady pace, his hooves kicking up fine sand that resembled mist. His intention was naturally to ask the caravan for some water. Even if they didn't have any, traveling together in the Sea of Sand was a way to increase survival rates.
Especially with a beauty for company.
Although the Sea of Sand undulated like waves, the terrain was relatively open, with only a few poplars around. The caravan had seen Ren Yuanhao approaching from afar. The leader woman suddenly raised her hand, a look of wariness on her face. The caravan stopped, and the four strong men placed their hands on the unusually curved blades of their swords, ready to unsheathe them at any moment.
"Who goes there, and what business do you have?"
The woman's voice was clear, melodious, and gentle.
"Everyone, calm yourselves. I am merely a traveler, only wishing to ask for some water. I hope you won't mind my intrusion if it's inconvenient."
Ren Yuanhao dismounted and replied with clasped hands.
Upon hearing this, the woman's vigilance eased slightly. She then looked towards the west again and gestured for the caravan to continue forward, seemingly intending to ignore Ren Yuanhao.
Ren Yuanhao stood in place, feeling somewhat awkward. It wasn't until the woman walked up beside him that she tossed him a water bag and then indifferently led the caravan onward.
A sickly man followed behind the woman. As his camel reached Ren Yuanhao's side, he immediately dismounted.
He pointed his finger at Ren Yuanhao's nose and said in a sharp, rasping tone, "Kid, don't you have any ulterior motives. Otherwise, I guarantee the Desert Wolves will leave your life in the desert."
After the man uttered his threat, the remaining four burly men gave him the middle finger, their faces fierce as they strode away.
The so-called Desert Wolves referred to a ferocious creature that roamed the desert, but more importantly, they were the legendary celestial gods who ruled this desert. Generally, when caravans entered the Sea of Sand, they would burn incense and kowtow to the Desert Wolf god beforehand, praying for peace, smooth sailing, and good fortune.
Ren Yuanhao merely smiled at the man's words and watched the exotic beauty ride away.
"It seems these people are quite tense, but at least the beauty has a kind heart."
He shook the water bag, which was still more than half full. The sound of clear water hitting the bag was like heavenly music.
At that very moment, Ren Yuanhao, guided by his intuition, detected an unusual frequency!
"Espers?"
He fully activated his eyesight and looked into the poplar forest to the northwest. It seemed a group of people were hidden there, their heads peeking out from behind the trees, staring intently at the advancing caravan. Among them were Espers whose identities were not well-concealed!
Ren Yuanhao's brows furrowed slightly, then he smiled faintly. He gave the remaining water in the bag to his horse. After drinking, the horse's spirit finally recovered somewhat. He mounted the horse and slowly, without haste, followed the caravan from a distance.
The temperature in the desert varied greatly between day and night. About half an hour later, the sun gradually sank below the horizon, and the temperature dropped accordingly. Besides the sharp whistling of the wind, there was the unsettling cry of desert wolves.
As darkness fell, thick clouds rolled in with the wind. However, in the desert, clouds did not signify rain but sandstorms.
The mournful cries of desert wolves, the howling of fierce winds, and the gathering dark clouds. This was an ominous sign.
Ren Yuanhao, however, appeared unfazed. He followed the caravan from a distance, simultaneously keeping an eye on the movements of those in the poplar forest.
At that moment, the caravan ahead seemed to have found a patch of poplar forest and prepared to rest. After the camels were tethered, everyone except the woman gathered around the camels, chewing on dry mutton buns and drinking clear water for their dinner.
The woman slowly walked to the windward side, looking up as if also worried about the rapidly converging dark clouds.
However, before that, she should have been more concerned about the 'Desert Hunters.'
Unfortunately, she did not possess Ren Yuanhao's perception and was unaware that disaster was about to strike.
The 'Desert Hunters' had already begun their move. They mounted their horses, driving their well-fed and healthy steeds. The moment they moved, they swept towards the caravan like a fierce wind!
By the time the caravan reacted, more than a dozen horses had completely surrounded them.
The woman, watching the fine dust kicked up by the galloping horses, her face turned slightly ashen. She was filled with regret, thinking she had overlooked the most crucial detail. Their actions were decisive and swift, and from their demeanor, they were clearly not novices.
The four burly men placed their hands on the hilts of their curved swords, their faces contorted with ferocity. As the more than a dozen figures approached, their knuckles cracked loudly.
"Who are you?"
As the leader, the woman naturally had to step forward.
She looked up, her expression growing more somber.
These men had colorful totems painted on their faces, their upper bodies bare. They wielded massive battle axes, wore beast fangs on their chests, and had bells tied to their waists. Their hair was tied into shiny, thick braids. In the dim light, they exuded a rugged, murderous aura.
She knew these totems represented raiders. Her father had only mentioned them to her, and she had only encountered them two or three times in her life. But she never imagined that on her first journey through the desert, she would encounter such troublesome individuals.