Chapter 22: Xing Lin, This Is My Affair

When this scene unfolded, everyone except the Fishman witnessed it clearly. Especially Xing Lin, who was right beside Qiao Ruyi. He observed every detail—the drop of blood from her finger onto the black sand, and the strange transformation that followed in the sand stained by the blood.

Xing Lin was visibly stunned.

Qiao Ruyi hadn’t expected it either. She remained motionless, still holding the position from which her blood had dripped. Tao Jiang was shocked and exclaimed in astonishment, "Ruyi, what was that just now? Sand? But it’s alive?"

Her words triggered a realization in Zhou Bie, who then understood what he had seen.

Indeed, it was living sand—black in color, moving like a creature, but evidently “killed” by Qiao Ruyi’s blood.

The Fishman was slower to react. By the time he stepped forward, everything had vanished. Tao Jiang’s remark startled him, and he blurted out, "What? The sand is alive?"

No one answered his question.

Until Qiao Ruyi’s finger dripped another drop of blood...

This time, no black sand appeared. The blood fell onto the salt-crusted ground and was instantly absorbed, vanishing within a second or two.

Zhou Bie was surprised. He pointed at the now-dry salt crust where the blood had fallen, astonished that it left no trace whatsoever.

"Is that normal?"

"Yes, don’t make a fuss," Xing Lin said, gripping Qiao Ruyi’s wrist and pulling her to her feet. Then he ordered, "Get in the vehicle."

Qiao Ruyi’s mind was still caught up in the black sand’s transformation, but she allowed Xing Lin to lead her back into the car.

Zhou Bie followed behind, still uncertain. "Just now the salt crust absorbed the blood—instantly."

"If someone collapses on the black Gobi Plain, they’ll become a shriveled salt mummy within three days," Xing Lin explained. After settling Qiao Ruyi, he retrieved a medical kit and returned to the vehicle.

Passing by Shen Que, Xing Lin noticed his hesitation but chose to ignore it.

Qiao Ruyi’s finger wound was small, but the salt crust’s peculiar nature made it take on a rare diamond shape. While disinfecting the wound, Xing Lin said, "You’re lucky. The wound is small."

A large gash of that shape would be difficult to staunch.

"I once saw a sheep fall on the black Gobi Plain, bleeding uncontrollably from its hind leg. It soon died of blood loss," Xing Lin said, lowering his gaze as he expertly tended the wound. Then he turned his words to her. "You’re brave to have grabbed it barehanded."

Qiao Ruyi grasped Xing Lin’s hand.

His hand paused. He looked up at her.

"Just like that black sand that night," Qiao Ruyi said, staring at his face. "They all come from Guyang City. So it’s not that there are shadows in the black sand of Guyang City, but that they themselves can form shadows, right?"

"They first become shadows, then take human shape," she frowned. "Just like the person you killed—he was actually formed from black sand!"

Xing Lin was silent for a long moment, his eyes darkening like dusk. "Since you think GuyangI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.