Chapter 21: Since You Are Already Here

Qiao Ruyi stared at the sentence, and for some reason, her heart gave a sudden lurch.

Perhaps it was due to the slight incline on the road, causing the car to bob up and down. Or perhaps it was just the sight of those words.

She drifted in a daze for half a minute.

Another WeChat message from Tao Jiang arrived:
"You hesitated!"

Qiao Ruyi’s finger hovered over the screen. After a moment, she replied: "Your thoughts are just too boring."

Tao Jiang sent an emoji with eyes wide and gleaming: "See?"

Qiao Ruyi raised an eyebrow slightly.

Tao Jiang: "I’m very good at reading people."
Tao Jiang: "So, care to make a bet?"
Tao Jiang: "If you lose the bet, you have to promise me..."

The other party paused.
The screen showed "Typing..."
But no new message came through; it seemed they were weighing how to phrase the next part.

Qiao Ruyi kept her eyes fixed on the screen.
A moment later, Tao Jiang sent:
"You have to promise me that you will stop looking for the Nine-Time Ruins."

Qiao Ruyi’s breathing stalled for a heartbeat, and a wave of indescribable emotion—originating from Tao Jiang—suddenly flooded her chest.

She had never known that Tao Jiang harbored such thoughts, that she didn't want her to seek the Nine-Time Ruins. She had always assumed Tao Jiang tacitly accepted it, and that her willingness to join this journey was based on that approval.

Tao Jiang didn't want her to enter the Nine-Time Ruins, yet never used that reluctance to force or pressure her; instead, she chose to accompany her without looking back.

Perhaps this is what it means to be friends through life and death.

Qiao Ruyi stared at Tao Jiang’s profile picture. Truly, she was like a piece of ginger: pungent and spicy, yet capable of warding off the cold.

Qiao Ruyi: "Thank you."

Tao Jiang didn't respond further.

The four cars continued to romp recklessly along the desert highway.

Xing Lin held the steering wheel with one hand, his other arm resting casually on the window frame. His driving skills were superb—fast and steady. The three cars behind tried to overtake him several times, only to be effortlessly suppressed each time.

Qiao Ruyi instinctively glanced at the man beside her. The veins on the arm controlling the steering wheel were taut, and his eyes held a hint of amusement. Whenever he looked in the rearview mirror at the three "frustrated" cars behind them, the corners of his mouth would curl slightly.

It added a touch of playfulness.

Compared to when he was serious, this version of Xing Lin possessed a vibrant, wild energy, much like he did when on horseback—composed, confident, and free-spirited.

Tao Jiang had proposed a bet that was doomed to never conclude; Qiao Ruyi was determined to find the Nine-Time Ruins, and Xing Lin and she were destined to be nothing more than passing strangers.

She rolled down the window, and the wind rushed in, disheveling her hair.

Xing Lin silently slowed the car and rolled down his own window as well, balancing the air pressure in the front row.

Soon, the three cars zipped past. Zhou Bie, in particular, deliberately rolled down his window and extended his arm to show off in front of Xing Lin.

Xing Lin smiled but said nothing, nor did he retaliate by overtaking them as he had before. He reached up and pressed a button, slowly opening the sunroof.

"Want to take a look?" he gestured upward.

Interested, Qiao Ruyi leaned more than half her body out through the sunroof.

Her long hair was loose, whipped wildly by the wind. The desert road ahead looked like a golden ribbon, stretching endlessly into the distance until it vanished at the horizon.

Qiao Ruyi spread her arms, feeling the power of the wind in this desolate land—the most primitive, unadorned force.

A collision between humanity and the earth.

She didn't know what kind of road lay ahead. She only knew that once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. Since she was already on this path, she could only move forward without regret.

-

Only after traveling the desert highway did Qiao Ruyi understand the true meaning of what Xing Lin had told them about enjoying the easy roads while they lasted.

Because the road ahead was no longer smooth.

The cars drove northward, leaving the desert highway to traverse the vast Gobi Desert.

Upon entering the Gobi, Xing Lin, as the lead vehicle, assumed absolute command of the navigation. The cars followed one after another in a single file, no longer speeding recklessly as they had on the desert highway.

"This part of the Gobi is still relatively safe," Xing Lin said, keeping the speed steady as he spoke to Qiao Ruyi. "First, there is still a signal, so we can contact the outside world at any time. Second, the geological conditions are decent; it’s not salt-crust terrain, so it’s not too damaging to the tires."

Qiao Ruyi looked at the vast landscape through the window and sighed, "But it’s easy to get lost, right?"

There were few reference points in the Gobi, and the surroundings were open. Once a sandstorm hit, distinguishing direction would be no easy task.

Xing Lin nodded. "Indeed. Although there is a signal here, the GPS can malfunction due to the nearby Black Gobi. For those who aren't familiar with this area and rely solely on navigation, it’s very dangerous. Once the signal is lost, even if only temporarily, the possibility of getting lost is high. Once you lose your sense of direction, it’s hard to escape this Gobi, and it becomes life-threatening."

Qiao Ruyi felt a secret chill, but she tried to remain calm and composed. "Is there a Black Gobi nearby?"

"Yes," Xing Lin said. "After crossing this, we reach the Black Gobi. The Black Gobi connects to the Sea of Sand, and past the Sea of Sand lie the Yardang clusters."

-

Qiao Ruyi asked, "Once we enter the Black Gobi, will the GPS fail completely?"

She had heard of the Black Gobi; it was the gateway to the Sea of Death. Even without seeing it with her own eyes, the mere thought of that oppressive, pitch-black expanse made her back go cold.

"The Black Gobi is the entrance to the Sea of Death. That is to say, the moment we see the Black Gobi, it means we are completely cut off from the outside world. The GPS signal fails, and the salt crust is sharper than a knife."

Xing Lin’s tone was slow. Even though every word sounded terrifying, he was so calm—so calm that one might mistake him for talking nonsense.

Qiao Ruyi knew every word he said was true.

"Every step hereafter will be fraught with hidden danger," Xing Lin stated clearly.

Qiao Ruyi took a deep breath.

Xing Lin glanced at her. "Not afraid?"

"I am."

Her answer took Xing Lin by surprise. He steered the car, eyes fixed ahead, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "I thought you would be stubborn."

Qiao Ruyi leaned back softly against the seat, letting her body sway with the movement of the car, adopting a go-with-the-flow attitude. "I hold heaven and earth in awe. Life and death are serious matters; of course, I am afraid."

"Don't plan on turning back?" Xing Lin seemed to be testing her. "It’s not too late if you regret it now."

A smile played on the corners of Qiao Ruyi's mouth. "I’m already here."

Xing Lin: ...

A fine "I'm already here," indeed.

-

The moment Qiao Ruyi saw the Black Gobi with her own eyes, she finally understood what true silence was.

Compared to this place, the roads they had walked before were all spring breezes and smooth paths; at least, no matter how desolate, one could still see life born from the sand and soil.

There was no sign of life in the Black Gobi.

Qiao Ruyi even felt that as the Black Gobi slowly unfolded before her like a dark sea, every breath she took felt precious.

Xing Lin was no longer as casual as before; his expression turned grave.

He picked up the walkie-talkie. "I am the lead car. We are about to enter the Black Gobi. Everyone, check your tire pressure. Try to stay within the tire tracks and do not overtake me."

The other three cars responded.

The wind in the Black Gobi was like a dull knife, slowly carving through the desolate land. The salt crust on the surface was cracked like dried scales, twisting and curling in the heat. Whenever the tires rolled over it, it made a crisp, cracking sound, like the bones of some creature shattering.

Not far away lay the weathered bones of some beast, half-buried in the saline-alkali soil, its hollow eye sockets staring up at the sky. No oasis, no water source; this was a wasteland forgotten by time.

But Xing Lin said, "This place was once a vast expanse of green waves."

Once?

Qiao Ruyi had intended to ask how long ago, but she suddenly recalled the old book she had pulled from his shelf, which seemed to recount a piece of history about this very place.

"When the Four Hexi Commanderies were established?"

Xing Lin glanced at her. "Yes."

The lush oasis of a thousand years ago was now a barren wasteland. A drop in the ocean, that is all. All things in the world are nothing more than this.

Qiao Ruyi sighed, "It must have been beautiful back then."

Unexpectedly, Xing Lin looked at her again. This caught Qiao Ruyi off guard; she was merely sighing, not trying to engage him.

After a long silence, Xing Lin finally said, "It was beautiful."

His voice sounded very low. Whether it was because it was so quiet here or because his thoughts had been pulled far away, it sounded as if he were reminiscing about something.

Reminiscing about a certain event, a certain time.

"There used to be a vast area of water and grass that could support the finest warhorses and fertile fields. Later, the riverbeds sank entirely, and the underground rivers dried up. Without the oasis, the yellow sands took over, and this place lost the appearance it had a thousand years ago."

Qiao Ruyi nodded slightly.

But as she pondered his words, she could always detect something strange.

If anyone else had said it, it would have been in the tone of a guide, from the perspective of an outsider.

But Xing Lin’s tone was different. He sounded as if he had witnessed the changing seas and shifting lands, endured the rise and fall of empires, and seen the prosperity of the Silk Road merchants.

The transformation of the entire Hexi Corridor was the scenery in his eyes, spanning thousands of years.

Thinking of this, Qiao Ruyi was actually startled by her own thought.

Just then, a faint sound occurred, followed immediately by Zhou Bie’s plea for help over the walkie-talkie:
"Brother, I’ve punctured a tire!"

-

It was a solid puncture that required a full tire change.

Danger lurked beneath the salt crust; no one knew how many lives it had claimed here, let alone tires.

The four cars came to a stop in succession.

Xing Lin didn't let Zhou Bie mess around; he changed the tire himself. The wind had picked up, and entering the Black Gobi created pale, low-altitude vortices that felt incredibly uncomfortable against the skin.

Shen Que looked displeased, leaning out the car window to scold Zhou Bie, "You weren't careful while driving. Don't you know how dangerous it is to change a tire on saline-alkali ground?"

Zhou Bie felt guilty, so he didn't bother arguing back. He rolled up his sleeves to his elbows and said to Xing Lin, "Brother, let me do it."

Xing Lin said in a low voice, "Stay put. Don't wander off."

The salt crust was sharp; one misstep would cause it to collapse, and if it pierced the skin, it would end in a bloody mess. Xing Lin deliberately put on a durable jacket and tightened his boots. He was skilled and efficient as he changed the tire.

Qiao Ruyi had also stepped out of the car, glad she had worn work boots. The moment her boots stepped on the salt crust, she heard a crisp cracking sound, and looking down, she saw deep scratches on the sides of her shoes.

Xing Lin caught sight of her out of the corner of his eye and frowned. "Get back in the car!"

The wind had tangled Qiao Ruyi’s hair. She brushed it back and replied, "I know what I’m doing."

She didn't wander off, staying right by the car. But about five steps away, she narrowed her eyes and looked. She hadn't seen wrong.

She stepped forward lightly, walking with caution.

Xing Lin instinctively glanced in her direction.

Shen Que saw this and frowned, "Xing Lin, watch yourself!"

Qiao Ruyi crouched down, her gaze fixed on the black sand hidden within the salt crust.

This black sand moved between the sharp salt crystals, completely unaffected. She looked closer and realized the movement of the black sand wasn't due to the wind—they were moving on their own.

As if they were alive, weaving through the salt crust. But soon, the black sand raised its head. It was like a long, thin snake slowly lifting its body from the ground, higher and higher.

Two branches separated from the "snake body." At first glance, it looked like it had grown two arms. It seemed to be reaching out, toward Qiao Ruyi.

Qiao Ruyi slowly reached out.

The moment her slender fingertips touched the black sand, she heard an extremely sharp and painful sound in her ears—hysterical, like someone screaming.

Suddenly, Shengqing moved, crashing fiercely into the black shadow.

The shadow seemed startled by Shengqing and abruptly shrank back into the salt crust, fleeing. Qiao Ruyi noticed and instinctively reached out to grab it.

Whether she caught it or not, she didn't know, but she felt a sharp pain in her finger.

The next second, she was scooped up by the waist.

Qiao Ruyi felt her head spin, her back pressing against a sturdy, broad chest.

She felt a rapid heartbeat—it was hers, but it was also his. She instinctively clutched his arm and looked up to see it was Xing Lin.

Xing Lin held her tightly with one arm, his expression solemn. A low reprimand fell from above her head, "Are you trying to get yourself killed!"

Looking at Tao Jiang and the others, their faces were pale with shock and terror.

This expression wasn't right.

"What’s wrong?" She didn't feel like she was in any danger; she just...

Qiao Ruyi raised her hand and saw her finger had been pricked and was bleeding. It wasn't a serious injury. She knew her limits in a place like this; she wouldn't act recklessly.

Tao Jiang stepped forward, her face still deathly pale. "Ruyi, you were almost lying flat on the ground just now."

Qiao Ruyi froze. Lying flat on the ground?

How could that be?

She was just reaching out to grab the black sand.

But looking at the group, they didn't seem to be lying.

"Yu Renyou, you tell me." Qiao Ruyi lost her confidence.

Yu Renyou stammered, "Your posture just now was very strange—just... a very high-difficulty tilt." He tried to demonstrate, but gave up.

First, he didn't dare, fearing he’d end up splattered on the salt crust; second, he couldn't imitate it—it defied Newton's laws.

Qiao Ruyi imagined it based on Yu Renyou’s awkward posture: she had been crouching, but her upper body had tilted forward at an extreme angle, almost parallel to the ground.

Was that possible?

Qiao Ruyi hadn't learned dance, but even those who had might not be able to do that.

No wonder Xing Lin had scooped her up by the waist.

Seeing her finger bleeding, Xing Lin’s gaze darkened. "Get in the car. Let’s treat that wound."

Injuries were most feared in salt-crust terrain, and wounds caused by salt crusts did not heal easily.

Qiao Ruyi said, "Wait a moment."

Xing Lin frowned. "You’re bleeding. What are you waiting for?"

His large hand was still holding her waist; a slight force would be enough to carry her away. But she broke free resolutely and crouched back down, looking carefully at the salt crust.

Xing Lin was puzzled and crouched down as well.

There was still black sand in the salt crust, twisting gently as if injured. Qiao Ruyi extended her pricked finger and squeezed hard. A drop of blood fell from her fair fingertip, landing precisely on the black sand.

The black sand suddenly stopped moving, and within moments, it became nothing more than ordinary, scattered sand...