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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 18 Hidden Masters
Fatty was afraid that Lin Ye wouldn't believe him and wanted to continue speaking, but he was interrupted by Lin Ye, "A person with skills can walk to a place, look at the terrain and the surrounding environment, and know whether there is an ancient tomb here, where it is buried, what structure it has. All of this can be seen at a glance. This is called 'divining the location with precision.'"
Lin Ye was so enthusiastic that he couldn't stop, and he didn't even notice when Huba Yi and the others walked over. "Some people can even determine the structure and age of the tomb below based on the surrounding porcelain, wood, cloth, gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, mercury, lead, and even adobe bricks and tiles. Those who are more skilled can even guess the identity of the tomb's owner blindly."
"Of course, those who can achieve the above points are basically no longer in this world or have secluded themselves and are not concerned with worldly affairs. It's basically impossible to ask them to come out of seclusion."
Lin Ye shook his head regretfully at the end, secretly looking at Fatty's expression, only to find that the latter was already stunned in place, apparently shocked by his own words.
Hehe, gotcha!
Lin Ye couldn't help but smirk. Just now, he had casually made up a story and managed to startle the chubby guy so much that his face changed color several times, which was quite entertaining.
"That's a shame," Shirley Yang chimed in from the side, almost scaring Lin Ye out of his wits. "You... I mean, don't you guys walk without making any sound?"
Lin Ye Yi Look, not only is Shirle Yang around, but Huba Yi and Professor Chen also don't know when they stood behind themselves. Just now, when he turned around and saw them, he was so scared that he didn't know how to answer.
"I think you were so engrossed in what you were saying that our arrival made quite a commotion."
During this time, Huba Yi also tried to greet Lin Ye, but unfortunately, he was so engrossed in what he was saying that he completely ignored him.
Thinking of this, Huba Yi is also speechless, but once again, he is somewhat wary of Lin Ye's mysterious identity. "You said you know these experts?"
If possible, Huba Yi would like Lin Ye to introduce them, but he also knows that these experts rarely show themselves and probably won't meet other strangers again.
"Oh, what are you saying? I've only met them once or twice."
"Lin Ye doesn't need to prepare when lying, and he's not worried about being exposed because the few people present all look very serious and clearly believe his words very much.
"Comrade Lin Ye is really modest," Professor Chen, the oldest among them, quickly responded, "But we Archaeologists only study ancient artifacts. We are completely clueless about deciphering mechanisms and determining the location of hidden treasures."
For illegally obtaining wealth, using unusual means to steal antiques, gold, and jewelry from the ancient tomb, Professor Chen is not very pleased, but ultimately it's just someone else's skill, so he doesn't show much on his face. And Professor Chen also knows that Lin Ye is just telling the truth. Such masters do exist in the world. When Professor Chen was young, he had the opportunity to cooperate with that person once. At that time, the ancient tomb was extremely dangerous and they couldn't find the entrance for a long time. When they were on the periphery, their archaeological team had already suffered heavy casualties. Later, the leader above brought in a person, saying that he could help them decipher the mechanisms inside the tomb.
The specific situation Professor Chen doesn't remember very well, after all, many years have passed, and many things from a long time ago have become blurry. However, what he remembers most clearly is that the master had a large Dragon shape tattoo on his body, and with extraordinary skills, he helped their archaeological team decipher the ancient tomb without damaging a single item inside.
Thinking about it now, it's really impressive, and Professor Chen truly admires such a master from the bottom of his heart.
The only regrettable thing is that they are not on the same path and cannot collaborate.
Since that collaboration, Professor Chen has not seen that master again. Perhaps, as Lin Ye said, he has truly retired from the world.
"No, no, Professor, you overestimate me."
Shirle Yang, a descendant of Thousand Machine Gate, did not deliberately hide her identity from Professor Chen. And the old man was not one to gossip. Among the archaeological team, there were only five people who knew Lin Ye's identity, and there were even more fingers left over.
The mutual flattery was really cringe-worthy for Lin Ye, who was not used to it at all. But since he had started it, he had to grit his teeth and go along with it.
Fortunately, after a few more words, Professor Chen didn't speak again. Or rather, he didn't have time to speak because someone from the archaeological team called him away.
Lin Ye breathed a sigh of relief. "Professor Chen is really enthusiastic... I never knew this old man could chat so much. It's really hard to resist!"
"Professor Chen has always been very passionate about Archaeology."
Shirle Yang said a few words before stating the purpose of coming over, "Let's go inside and discuss the next route."
Originally, it was supposed to be discussed in the car, but who knew Shirle Yang would just follow Huba Yi directly, which delayed things, but the research is not far off at this point.
Yi Lin Ye and Shirle Yang arrived at a large hall before mealtime. The archaeological team was busy preparing their luggage, and everyone else was busy in their respective rooms. Shirle Yang explained the upcoming route, planning to start from Lake Ges and head south to find the Peacock River's channel, then enter deep into the desert and search for The Lost Ancient City along the Zidu'an River. "That's the general plan, barring any special circumstances," Shirle Yang said, pausing before continuing, "If you have any opinions, now is the time to speak up."
"I think everything is basically fine, but we need to be very careful as we enter the desert. I don't think that guide is very reliable, so everyone should be cautious on the road."
According to the plot, this guide uncle has caused quite a bit of trouble. Lin Ye feels it's necessary to remind everyone.
"What do you think, Old Hu?" Huba Yi has been silent the whole time, and Lin Ye thought he might have his own thoughts.
"No problem, I think it's fine," said Huba Yi, who also agreed with Shirle Yang's idea, just like the person who had just argued in the car.
"Fat Grandpa, I have no problem either!" The chubby person said, looking at Lin Ye eagerly, as if trying to see through him like a flower.
Lin Ye: "......"
No, why do you always look at me like that, fatty? Fatty now worships Lin Ye extremely, looking at him as if he's emitting light. His wolf-like gaze almost gave him chills. If I didn't know the whole story, I would think that fatty has some other thoughts about me! Damn, I can't think about it!
Thinking about it again gives me goosebumps, damn source of evil!
Chapter 19 Encountering a Sandstorm
The sky is filled with yellow sand, and even the air feels thick and sticky.
Lin Ye and Huba Yi and their group, led by guide Anliman, entered the desert. At first, everyone's mood was light and curious. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but yellow sand, shining beautifully under the sun. Even Shirle Yang was vigorously pressing the shutter on her camera, capturing the beautiful scenery of this moment.
As we continued walking, everyone began to feel tired. Some were thirsty, but with limited water, we had to ration it and refrain from drinking until it became unbearable. The journey continued with the jingling of camel bells, and everyone trudged on with weary faces, struggling against the intense sun.
"Hey Anliman, how long does it usually take for you to cross the desert?"
Fatty was extremely curious. He couldn't understand why anyone would be so desperate as to run into the desert. Of course, this group of people had urgent business that required them to enter this cursed desert. Were the other people who entered the desert all heading for The Lost Ancient City?
"After this trip, I need to think about it."
Anliman led the camel as they walked. Originally, they had planned to ride the camel, but after walking for an afternoon, Anliman felt sorry for the camels they had raised and insisted that the archaeological team walk for a while to let the camels rest.
"Sometimes it's as short as half a month, and sometimes it's as long as three or four months." The premise is that he doesn't lead the way astray. In the desert, there are times when even Anliman can't remember the direction, especially when encountering special weather. Being able to return safely is already a blessing from above.
"So long!" The fat man looked at him in astonishment. "Staying in this Ghost place for half a month, I reckon all this fat on me would have evaporated." He probably would look like a whole piece of coal when he goes back, which is hard to accept just thinking about it.
"I'm scared, you can go back now, Fatso. Since we haven't gone too far, you should be able to find your way back."
When the time comes, let the comrades at the camp pick him up. They probably won't even notice if he gets lost. Huba Yi thought seriously, if Fatso is really scared, he can go back. deep in the desert Who knows how many dangers are waiting for them!
"I was just kidding, Old Hu, don't take it seriously and send me back!"
Fatty was just joking earlier. He didn't expect Huba Yi to take it so seriously and even think about going back. He's not a coward like Big Tooth. He initially said he would go on the adventure together, but now they're in the desert and he's nowhere to be found.
Thinking of this, Fatty sighed and thought to himself, "Merchants are indeed cunning and crafty!"
"Aren't you afraid of danger?"
Since Fatty said so, Huba Yi naturally didn't want to show weakness in front of him. But looking at the endless yellow sand, it was unclear when it would end. Inside, the hearts of the archaeological team also began to feel restless.
"Fat Grandpa, I haven't encountered enough danger yet. Old Hu, when have you seen me back down?!" Fatty wasn't just boasting. Even with so many fireflies on the Kunlun Glacier, he wasn't afraid. He didn't back down even when attacked by a Hellbender. Fatty didn't think there was anything to be afraid of in a mere desert.
Lin Ye heard what the fat man said and found it somewhat amusing. The things inside the desert are a hundred times scarier than those on the Kunlun Glacier, but he wouldn't say it now. After all, seeing is believing, and firsthand experience is always more real than hearsay. The group walked for another half day, but it was still an endless expanse of yellow sand. There was not even a small oasis, let alone the Peacock River Path.
"Look over here!"
Lin Ye looked at the distant desert and noticed something was wrong. "There's a huge sandstorm. Should we find a place to take cover?"
In the desert, encountering a sandstorm means there's no way to continue. The swirling yellow sand blocks visibility, and one can easily get separated from the group and lose direction.
Moreover, during a sandstorm, the sand flying in the air not only blocks the way but also poses the risk of being buried. So if you really encounter a storm in the desert, it's best to find a place to take shelter as soon as possible, and continue on the road after the storm has passed.
Following Lin Ye's finger, it was indeed very different and calm in the distance ahead, but even if they could see with their eyes, the actual distance was very far. Lin Ye expressed concern, but Huba Yi was the first to deny it, "By the time the storm reaches us from such a far place, it should have dissipated. Don't be too nervous and scare everyone."
"Old Hu, that's not how it works. What if the storm comes and it's even more severe? Look around, there's nothing here. Are we just going to wait to die?"
Lin Ye asked rhetorically, and didn't really think Huba Yi was deliberately picking a fight with him. After all, they were both working for everyone's safety, and having differing opinions was common and didn't affect their friendship. "I don't think so, you're just being overly worried," he said. After all, Huba Yi had traveled extensively and had been through a lot in his early years, so he really didn't take a mere sandstorm seriously.
"Stop talking, everyone, quick, look over there!" Shirle Yang's voice drew the attention of the two, who turned to look into the distance. All they could see was a dark mass ahead, and as far as the eye could see, a sandstorm was rapidly approaching from the distance. Soon, Lin Ye could see nothing but yellow sand blowing all around, making it impossible to keep his eyes open.
"Quick, everyone get on the camel and head that way," shouted Lin Ye, as he quickly mounted the camel and headed in a different direction.
Taking advantage of the fact that the sandstorm had not yet fully arrived, they quickly searched for shelter, otherwise they would be facing a burial in the sandy desert.
It was a matter of life and death, and the others quickly followed in Lin Ye's direction. The camel didn't run fast, but it was better than using their own two legs, and they soon made it out of the area covered by the sandstorm.
Lin Ye looked at the situation and it wasn't too bad. Right now, they were like antelopes being chased by a sandstorm, with the threat closing in on them. Once they relaxed, they would be surrounded by the sandstorm.
"What do we do now?" Huba Yi shouted, and everyone knew he was talking to Lin Ye.
"What else can we do? Let's leave here first and see if we can find a place to hide."
Just now, what did he say? He insisted on waiting until the situation happened to see the reality clearly. When Lin Ye and Huba Yi disagreed, this group of people stood aside and didn't talk. Now they realize if it's too late to be afraid?
Not afraid of god-like opponents, just afraid of having a teammate who is a liability. Lin Ye really feels like he can't lead this group of people!
But fortunately, it's not too late. Lin Ye is walking at the forefront and sees a dilapidated house ahead, with most of the house already buried in sand. However, for Lin Ye and his group, this is undoubtedly the best and only place to take cover.
Chapter 20 foot injury
"Hurry up, let's take cover up ahead," Lin Ye said without further ado, and quickly arrived at the dilapidated house on a camel.
After confirming that there was no danger, Lin Ye invited everyone into the dilapidated house to take shelter. However, just as they entered, a sandstorm swept in, covering the sky with a layer of dark clouds and plunging everything into darkness.
"Why isn't it just a sandstorm? Why is the sky turning dark?" Ye Xin asked in confusion, but she was quickly pulled back into the house. "Don't go outside. The sandstorm is too strong. With your slender arms and legs, you might get blown away," Lin Ye said as he pulled her inside and then walked over to Shirle Yang.
"How's your foot?"
If I didn't see it wrong, Shirle Yang seems to have sprained her foot, although she tried to hide it, she couldn't escape Lin Ye's sharp eyes.
There's no way around it, beautiful women always attract attention!
"It's okay, I'll be fine in a moment."
Not wanting to trouble everyone, Shirle Yang just shook her head and shifted her foot inside in an attempt to conceal her pain.
Little did she know if she had touched the wound, causing her to gasp in pain!
"I say, are all you girls so strong-willed? Sometimes, it's good to learn from Ye Xin, little sister, to be cute and gentle, which can really touch people's hearts." Of course, this is just Lin Ye's made-up words. Seeing Shirle Yang's indifferent look, Lin Ye shook his head, squatted down helplessly, and reached out to stroke Shirle Yang's ankle.
"Is it here? Does it hurt?"
After pressing a few times with his fingers, he could tell from Shirle Yang's expression that he had pressed the right spot.
"Let go... let go!"
Taking a deep breath couldn't relieve the pain at this moment. Shirle Yang's expression management had failed, and she frowned and exclaimed in a low voice while looking at Lin Ye with dissatisfaction, "Can you be gentler? I thought you were supposed to be gentle and considerate!"
Lin Ye, who was scolded, smiled, "Your Chinese is quite good, and you used the idiom appropriately." Just now, he did use a bit of force, no wonder Shirle Yang was in so much pain that tears were about to fall.
"You're really overthinking it. Your foot is swollen, so don't apply too much pressure to disperse the blood clots. It probably won't get better in a few days. It won't just hurt a little bit."
Lin Ye put down what he was doing and looked Shirle Yang up and down. "Alright, let's move around and see how it goes."
As if afraid that Shirle Yang wouldn't believe him, Lin Ye pulled her up. "So you don't think I'm just making it up, take a few steps and see how the recovery is, then you'll understand."
Mainly because Lin Ye is afraid that Shirle Yang will suspect that he is deliberately teasing her, and then she won't play with him anymore, so it will be very boring along the way.
Shirle Yang, half believing and half doubting, was originally sitting on the ground, but at this moment she slowly stood up, moved her ankles a few times, and took a few steps.
Huh?!
Just a moment ago, my ankle was throbbing with excruciating pain, but now, apart from some slight discomfort, everything else is basically fine. It's kind of miraculous!
"Lin Ye, how did you do it? So amazing," in just a short while, he managed to heal the injury on his foot. Shirle Yang could only marvel at the miracle without any other words to describe it.
"It's nothing miraculous. Your foot was just sprained, nothing serious."
Lin Ye is indeed right. The injury on Shirle Yang's foot looks serious on the surface, but it's just a minor sprain. He just used a little trick to promote blood circulation, and it naturally got better after the blood flowed. "Rest for a while and you'll be back to normal," said Lin Ye. Upon hearing Lin Ye's instructions, Shirle Yang smiled knowingly and said, "Thank you, you are really kind to me."
Her foot was just twisted while riding a camel due to being too hasty. Although she tried to hide it, the commotion was not small. Shirley Yang did not expect that Lin Ye would be the first to come and care for her. This move was like dropping a stone in the seemingly indifferent heart of this woman, causing ripples.
The incident between Lin Ye and Shirley Yang did not cause any other reaction, because they were all attracted by the weather outside. Anliman was even more flustered. If it weren't for the fat man holding him back, he would have left with his camel.
"I say, Anliman, why are you running? Can't you see it's pitch black outside? Going out there is just asking for trouble!"
Fatty grabbed Anliman and pinned him to the ground, releasing him only when he confirmed that he wasn't struggling. "Lin Ye, what are you doing over there chatting and making lovey-dovey gestures? This kid is about to run away!"
Without a guide, their group was finding it even more difficult to make progress in the desert. At this moment, the only thought in Fatty's mind was that they couldn't let this cunning guy escape.
"...Fatty, what nonsense are you talking about!"
Lin Ye coughed awkwardly, gave the chubby guy a dissatisfied look, then turned to look at Shirle Yang and said, "I'll go take a look."
"Okay, then I'll rest for a while."
The chubby guy made quite a commotion, so when Shirle Yang heard Lin Ye say that, she decided not to go over. After walking all day and hurting her foot, she was indeed tired and didn't want to deal with anything else. She felt relieved to leave it to Lin Ye.
Nodding, Lin Ye took a few big steps and walked up to Huba Yi, "What's going on with those two?"
Seeing Anliman with his head pressed into the ground, his face covered in sand and looking very disheveled, "Alright, speak up, what are you two up to?"
As soon as Lin Ye finished speaking, the fat man raised his head and without thinking, started complaining, "When we were at the camp, I went out to inquire, and the locals all said that Anliman is untrustworthy and sly. If I hadn't paid close attention just now, he would have taken off with his camel."
It's like I can't get it all out in one breath. Fatty took a deep breath and continued, "The desert is different from other places. Without our only guide, we don't even know how to get back. For the safety of Fat Grandpa and all of you, I think we should tie him up with a rope."
The more he spoke, the angrier he got. Fatty even had the rope ready, waiting for Lin Ye and Huba Yi to give the order. Once they nodded, they would tie up Anliman.
"...There's no need to tie him up."
Lin Ye and Huba Yi exchanged a knowing look, and the latter led the fat man who had been eyeing them from the side to one side, clearly indicating that the next matter was to be handled by Lin Ye.
Lin Ye, who was going to clean up after the fat man, expressed his frustration. After glancing at Anliman lying on the ground groaning without any illness, he suddenly got a headache.
Chapter 21: A Good Beating Will Do
"Hey, can you still get up?"
Lin Ye walked up to Anliman and said, "Fatty may not be sensible, but you can't just leave us and go on your own. We paid you in dollars, you can't act so unethically."
After much persuasion and reasoning, Lin Ye felt like he had talked his mouth dry, but finally managed to get Anliman to speak.
"Look at the sky outside, it's the Black Desert, where nothing survives."
Anliman got up and brushed off the sand on his body, then coldly snorted at the fat guy, who almost jumped up to hit him. If it weren't for this fat guy holding him back, Anliman would have left this Ghost place long before the arrival of Black Desert. Now, they couldn't run away at all. Black Desert is not a place in the desert, but due to the super sandstorm, the sky is covered with dark clouds, blocking the sunlight and making it as dark as night wherever it goes.
Black Desert is not only dim and lifeless, but also extremely cold. In the raging sandstorm, those inside are either buried alive or frozen to death by the extreme cold weather.
"Is it really that mysterious? I think this sandstorm might pass in no time. Anliman, you're just talking nonsense to cover up your escape," the fat man thought that whatever Anliman was saying now was just an excuse for his recent escape.
"You don't understand. Nothing from inside the Black Desert can be taken out. The heavens sent messengers to exterminate you greedy people because they knew you were eyeing this land!"
Anliman made a hand gesture, crossing his hands on both sides of his shoulders, and muttered some words in his mouth, expressing a hope for forgiveness and blessing from heaven.
"What Black Desert? I think he's just trying to scare us because he thinks we don't understand." All that talk about heaven, God, it's all nonsense.
Chu Jian, a college student, naturally didn't believe in Anliman's talk of ghosts and gods. He believed that historical figures revered as immortals were actually deceived by advanced technology displayed by extraterrestrials. All those supernatural powers and abilities were just advanced technology beyond human understanding, and the ancients turned what they saw into myths because they didn't understand it.
The longer you study history, the more you will find many things that cannot be explained by ordinary thinking. However, these things often point to the existence of many unknown advanced civilizations. Although many things have not been confirmed and are not allowed to be disclosed, as a member of the archaeological team, Chu Jian firmly believes that there must be extraterrestrial beings in this world.
"Anliman, since you know it's the Black Desert, do you know when this storm will stop?"
Lin Ye also doesn't understand the desert, but he also knows that this Black Storm is not that simple. Perhaps Anliman intentionally led them to think in a serious direction, but even if five points were exaggerated to ten points, there is still a certain level of danger.
Thinking of this, Lin Ye instructed everyone that they couldn't go out casually unless there was a special situation, and they should all stay in the dilapidated house.
Fortunately, the house was big enough, although it was dilapidated, it could accommodate their group, and even the camel were well placed.
At this moment, Anliman didn't answer Lin Ye because he felt that his camel was hungry and went to feed the camel.
"It's too much, Anliman still dares to ignore you!"
The hot-tempered fat guy couldn't sit still anymore, rolled up his sleeves and went forward to start a fight. Lin Ye didn't stop him in the end, "The fat guy should have some sense of propriety, and it's also necessary to let Anliman suffer a bit so that things can be easier in the future."
Stopping Professor Chen and others who wanted to persuade them, Lin Ye discussed with Huba Yi, "The storm won't pass for a while, let's go find some firewood and make a fire to warm everyone up."
After speaking, he quietly waited for the fat man to finish his work. It's true that Anliman became much more honest after being beaten up, at least he answered everything honestly. So Lin Ye also knew that it would take at least three to five days for Black Storm to pass, and if things didn't go smoothly, it might even take ten days or half a month. This delay meant that they were all stuck in this place with no way in or out.
"Can we go out when the sandstorm is a little smaller?"
"No, we can't. In Black Desert, you can only enter, not leave. It's deadly!"
Anliman retorted Lin Ye, who was originally sitting on the ground, but because of his excitement, he aggravated his injuries and was now in pain, groaning.
"...... Fatty, did you go a bit heavy-handed?"
Lin Ye twitched his mouth, looking at Anliman in this state, it really was quite a serious injury. He didn't know if he would be okay by tomorrow, but looking at the pitch-black clouds outside, even if Anliman could run, it would be no different from being crippled.
"Hey hey hey, how could I have gone heavy-handed? I just gave him a little lesson, don't worry, it's just a minor injury, no big deal." Whether it was a minor injury or a big deal, perhaps only Fatty and Anliman themselves knew.
The words have been spoken, so Lin Ye doesn't have much else to say. Huba Yi has already started the fire.
"Where did you find the firewood? Why didn't you wait for me?"
I was just talking to Fatty, and who knew that Huba Yi had found a pile of wood somewhere. After starting the fire, it did indeed get much warmer.
"Just outside the door, we need to be careful as we saw quite a few animals gathering here besides us. When I went to look for wood earlier, Huba Yi saw a few pairs of shining eyes. We can't be sure if it's a wolf pack that has also entered the range of the dilapidated house, so it's better to be cautious.
"The sandstorm outside is so big, it's not impossible for animals to run in, and although the house is dilapidated, it's also quite large. They can only be considered to be in a small corner of the dilapidated house, and who knows how big the inside area is. If there are animals, as long as they don't pose a threat to us, it's irrelevant to us."
Professor Chen As an elder, with overflowing kindness, he persuaded Lin Ye and Huba Yi. After looking at each other, they fell silent, and for a moment, there was only the crackling sound of the fire burning the wood.
The fire burned more vigorously, but the storm outside showed no sign of stopping. It even seemed to grow stronger, to the point where it felt like the house might be blown away.
Of course, the feeling that the house might collapse was just an illusion. The dilapidated house that Lin Ye and his group entered was still quite sturdy.
Um... Apart from quite a few holes, The missing piece in the East is actually a pretty good hiding place. Chapter 22: Pretending to be ignorant
The quiet dilapidated house was silent inside, with no one speaking. Everyone was quietly eating their food, when a sudden scream drew everyone's attention. It turned out to be another girl in the group, Ye Xin. She was sitting on the ground, her arms trembling slightly, looking quite frightened.
"What's wrong?" Lin Ye walked over, and the chubby guy, sensing something was amiss, also pulled Huba Yi along to see what was happening.
"......Fatty, let go of me. I can walk by myself." Being dragged by the arm like a primary school student, it's no wonder that Huba Yi felt unhappy.
"Old Hu, when did you become so shameless?"
The smiling Fatty finally let go of Huba Yi's hand. In just a few words, the two of them arrived in front of Ye Xin. The dim firelight made it difficult to see clearly, but as they approached, both of them exclaimed in surprise.
At this point, they really can't blame Ye Xin for being so jumpy just now. If the two of them suddenly saw a pile of dark white bones in front of them, they would probably be scared out of their wits, especially Ye Xin who is a girl.
"How did you find this?"
Obviously, Lin Ye also saw it, but he was a little calmer than the person in front of him. A pile of bones was not a big deal, but this scene reminded Lin Ye of a certain plot from the original inside, making him break out in a cold sweat.
I don't know if it's fortunate or unfortunate that they accidentally found this hiding place. The sandstorm outside is still raging, and they can't go out now. They can only take it step by step. Lin Ye is still hopeful that they won't be so unlucky!
"Just...just, this bone was buried in the sand. I accidentally stepped on it out of curiosity..."
Without needing Ye Xin to say it, Lin Ye knew what was going on. "Curiosity killed the cat. You're really talented to dig up even bones."
"I...I didn't mean to."
The soft and tender voice carried a hint of fear and shock. Lin Ye carefully examined Ye Xin for the first time and found that this little girl was not bad-looking. Perhaps it was because Shirle Yang was responsible for the team's beauty, so everyone's attention naturally focused on Shirle Yang, and no one noticed Ye Xin's delicate appearance.
To be fair, Ye Xin looked pretty good on her own!
"Okay, okay, I know you didn't mean it. Are you scared?"
I still have a bit of patience for the beauty, Lin Ye, especially Ye Xin, whose frightened and pale face gives off a sense of vulnerability and pity.
Tsk!
Secretly despising himself, Lin Ye took Ye Xin aside and said, "Take a sip of water and relax. I'll go with Old Hu and the others to study that pile of bones." After a pause, Lin Ye continued, "Don't be afraid, everything will be fine."
Comforted Ye Xin, Lin Ye then refocused and joined Huba Yi to study the pile of white bones buried in the sand. When he arrived, members of the archaeological team were gathered in small groups. Chu Jian, concerned about Ye Xin, couldn't leave but had to ask Lin Ye about her condition.
"Oh, you mean Ye Xin? She's fine, just a little startled. She'll be okay after a short break." Lin Ye couldn't help but think that Ye Xin might not be cut out for Archaeology with such a timid demeanor.
Thinking about it, Lin Ye didn't bother to investigate Professor Chen's criteria for selecting people, after all, it had nothing to do with him. "That's good, that's good. I'll go see her when I have time later," Chu Jian glanced at Ye Xin in the distance, feeling relieved that she seemed to be fine. "Chu Jian, what are you staring at? Pass me the brush."
While Chu Jian was lost in thought, someone couldn't stand seeing him slacking off. "Every day, it's either researching whether there are aliens or daydreaming. We are doing archaeology work, you can't always be thinking about unrealistic and delusional things."
"I understand, teacher."
Facing Heguo Ai's earnest words, Chu Jian stood there with his head down like a primary school student, obediently accepting whatever the teacher said as true.
"......No one has ever seen an alien, but Professor He, how do you know it's unrealistic? Just because we haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
Someone like Chu Jian, who is a fan of aliens, Lin Ye really wants to suggest that when there's a chance, he should change his major. It's really a waste of talent to stay in the archaeological team!
"This... Lin Ye, we are doing archaeology. What you're saying doesn't align with our beliefs."
I can't believe there's nothing to refute about Heguo Ai except to approach it from the perspective of Archaeology. Moreover, Chu Jian is my own student. How can a teacher who is doing research in Archaeology have a student who yearns for the vast universe of astronomy? Isn't this losing face for myself?
Just thinking about this makes me even more determined to change Chu Jian's hobby of studying extraterrestrial beings.
"Has Professor He ever considered that in the long river of history, there might really be a high-tech civilization unknown to us that originated from extraterrestrial beings? What do you think?"
When he saw the two about to argue, Chu Jian quickly stepped forward to stop Lin Ye, "This is just his temperament, don't argue with him. He's not a bad person, just a bit talkative." It's been almost three years following Heguo Ai, and Chu Jian knows that his teacher doesn't like the talk about extraterrestrial beings. Mentioning advanced civilizations seems to touch a nerve with Heguo Ai, who pushed Chu Jian aside and assumed the posture of an elder in front of Lin Ye.
"Lin Ye Comrade, what do you mean? What's wrong with me educating my own students? You're not an Archaeology researcher, how do you know there was an advanced technological civilization? It's simply nonsense!"
"I speak my mind, whether you believe it or not is none of my concern. That's all I have to say."
Fine, the old stubborn man can't be reasoned with. Lin Ye didn't want to say anything more.
Chu Jian is his student, and it's a bit inappropriate for him to say this himself. In addition, Chu Jian has already hinted for the third time that he should not argue with his teacher, so Lin Ye also intends to kindly stop provoking this stubborn old scholar.
Looking at Professor Chen, it's different. Any unsolved mystery could have various outcomes, and there is a willingness to accept that. Similarly, Professor Chen's position is more than a star and a half higher than Heguo Ai's.
With a polite smile, Lin Ye no longer paid attention to the teacher and student, and stood there without speaking, as if in a trance, ignoring Heguo Ai's preaching.
In the end, Professor Chen couldn't stand it and scolded Heguo Ai, who then quieted down a lot. "Comrade Lin Ye, Heguo Ai's thinking about patriotism is not very flexible. You don't need to argue with him so much."
Chapter 23: Yellow Sand, White Bones
After the scolding, Professor Chen kindly advised Lin Ye not to argue with Heguo Ai, as they still needed Lin Ye to lead the team to The Lost Ancient City. It wouldn't be good to offend him and then have no one to ask for help if any problems arise.
Professor Chen is quite a shrewd person. A few words from him made Lin Ye feel relieved, and since he was in a good mood, he decided not to bother with Heguo Ai. Of course, his earlier pretense of being unhappy was also a test to see how the members of the archaeological team felt about him. Unexpectedly, Professor Chen turned out to be quite understanding. "Since Professor Chen has said so, let's just let today's incident pass," Lin Ye established himself as a detached and aloof person, trying to deceive Professor Chen. However, the latter seemed to genuinely be easygoing, which made Lin Ye feel quite guilty.
"Okay, okay, okay, Comrade Lin Ye, come over and take a look at this pile of bones, it's quite strange."
Strictly speaking, when bones naturally decompose, there should at least be some tissue attached to them, even though this is a very dry desert, it's not possible for there to be none at all.
The smoothness on top of this pile of bones is very eerie, even the knowledgeable Professor Chen feels uneasy and has to ask Lin Ye to come and take a look.
"Oh, pure and smooth?" Lin Ye stroked his chin, "That is indeed very strange. There must be something behind this. Everyone should be careful."
The pile of bones remained the same, and Lin Ye picked up a thin one to examine closely. It seemed that Professor Chen was right. These things did not look like the bones of a decaying body, but rather like a piece of art, with the intricate patterns and details visible down to the bones.
Lin Ye had never heard of bones having patterns before, but now he had certainly learned something new.
"My opinion is that the owner of the white bones did not die a natural death."
There should be some danger waiting for them around the dilapidated house, and the owner of these white bones might have been like them, seeking shelter from a sandstorm, and due to relaxing their vigilance, ended up buried in the yellow sand.
"Damn it, there's something spooky going on. We all have guns on us, so why should we be afraid of them? Fat Grandpa, take your weapon and deal with them!"
The fat man pulled out his weapon and walked towards the dilapidated house, where it was even darker inside, with pairs of eyes flashing, looking more and more eerie and terrifying.
"Fat man, what are you doing? Don't alert the enemy," Huba Yi stopped the fat man, looking disapproving, "Your impulsiveness will get everyone killed. Don't be impulsive, listen to Lin Ye."
On the way, Huba Yi had also figured out some of Lin Ye's temperament. He knew that Lin Ye probably hadn't finished speaking yet, but he was interrupted by the fat guy before he could finish.
"Yeah, fat guy, Huba Yi is right. You were too impulsive."
Seeing the fat guy's behavior, some people started to advise, but they were all glared at by the fat guy and fell silent.
"After Fatty stopped making a fuss, Shirle Yang walked up to Lin Ye and asked the question everyone wanted to know the answer to. 'Do we really need to give up on this place?' 'We don't necessarily have to leave,' Lin Ye replied. 'Besides, we can't leave anyway. We can only take it step by step.' The current situation wasn't considered too bad, so Lin Ye didn't feel the need to cause panic among everyone. After getting the answer, everyone visibly breathed a sigh of relief and decided to stop discussing the white bones and return to their respective positions to rest."
After walking for a day, they encountered a sandstorm and were trapped here. Everyone felt uneasy, not only from physical exhaustion but also from mental fatigue. Without rest, they would likely exhaust themselves before the sandstorm passed. And so, they spent three days inside the dilapidated house. Three days may not seem long, but for the archaeological team inside the dilapidated house, it was a form of torment.
Repeating the same thing in the same place is unbearable for anyone, but the one fortunate thing is that they haven't encountered any danger in these three days. They have passed through safely, and no one has mentioned that pile of bones again.
It's like a taboo; speaking of it will bring no good, so everyone has silently agreed not to mention it. But even so, it's inevitable that people's hearts are restless.
"I can't stand it anymore. I've been gnawing on meat every day, and my teeth are almost worn out!" The chubby guy said, feeling frustrated with a piece of dried meat in his mouth.
He was not the first person to be unable to bear it, but he was the first to speak out. His words could be considered as expressing the feelings of everyone, and for a moment, everyone's gaze was focused on the fat guy.
"Hey, why are you all looking at me? Aren't you all thinking the same thing? I'm just saying it for you guys." The fat guy thought that the looks were blaming him, so he got angry and started cursing.
"Fat guy, you're overthinking it. I don't know about others, but you definitely spoke out my thoughts!"
The situation was getting out of hand, and if no one stepped in to defuse the situation, the fat man might really quit. Lin Ye, seeing that no one else was taking action, had to step in to resolve the situation.
"Lin Ye, you understand me!" the fat man said, grabbing Anliman, who was trying to minimize his presence on the side. "Tell me, when will the storm pass? If I don't leave this ghost place today, you as the guide won't have a job!"
Anliman, being held like a little chicken, looked to the others for help, but when no one paid attention to him, he turned his gaze to Lin Ye, hoping he could restrain the fat man and stop him from treating him this way.
Lin Ye, who was being watched, touched his nose and turned around as if he hadn't seen anything.
Lin Ye also felt that it was a waste of time to be here. Although he knew that the unpredictable weather had nothing to do with Anliman, letting the fat man vent his emotions would be beneficial for his physical and mental health.
As for Anliman?
Still, Lin Ye felt that he was quite tough, thick-skinned... But he was only holding Anliman and not using violence against him. "Don't hit me, I don't know when Black Desert will leave. I can't help it if you do this!"
Until the end, Anliman was about to cry. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have agreed to bring these people into the desert just because of greed. I shouldn't have let this lunatic threaten him. It's really miserable.
"Don't say you have no way to leave here, otherwise you wouldn't have thought of running away three days ago!" Since the fat man has a previous record, he doesn't care what Anliman says. He insists that Anliman can take them out of here.
Everyone understands the reasoning. For a moment, the gazes of the crowd towards Anliman were somewhat intense, and a few impatient ones even took a few steps forward, their eyes were so naked!
"Not you guys...really disappointing."
Knowing that his thoughts were the same as everyone else's, Fatty no longer had any reservations and after pressing Anliman for answers, he basically got the same response. The chance of leaving here was slim, and the little glimmer of hope in everyone's hearts was extinguished.
Chapter 24: Giant Pupil Statue
Seeing everyone hanging their heads like wilted eggplants, Lin Ye rolled his eyes in his mind, "Hey, why are you all so down?" If there's no road, then find a road. There's no point in looking so dejected.
"Lin Ye What do you think we should do? We can't leave here. I'd rather go make big rice dumplings than have to choose!"
Just now, Fatty tried to walk a short distance outside the dilapidated house, but the sandstorm was so strong that he could barely open his eyes. If it weren't for Huba Yi noticing something was wrong and quickly pulling him back, Fatty would probably be lost in the vast loess and unable to find his way back.
After coming back, Fatty still felt lingering fear. If he had gotten lost after going out, death would have been close at hand. Regardless of what Anliman said, they couldn't leave. They were hunkering down here, waiting for the storm to pass.
He sat down heavily, his face full of despair, as if life had lost all its joy for him.
"...I say, buddy, your despair is a bit exaggerated, isn't it?" If you said that the fat guy wasn't deliberately putting on a show for others, Lin Ye wouldn't believe it for the life of him.
Sure enough, as soon as the words fell, Lin Ye received a speechless wink from the fat guy. "We all see through your act, so stop pretending."
"The outside is really impassable."
Having personally experienced it, Huba Yi didn't see that the fat guy was faking it. He couldn't fake the fear he had outside just now.
They entered the desert to search for the ruins of The Lost Ancient City, but now they are trapped by a sandstorm, wasting several days. Lin Ye and Huba Yi don't mind, but Shirle Yang is getting more and more anxious with each passing day.
She felt that wasting time on this was not a long-term thing, and in the long run, resources might be the first to fall behind. "Is there really no other way?" Although it was a meaningless question, Shirle Yang still tried to speak up. "There's no other way, we can only wait," Huba Yi said beside her, also answering Shirle Yang's question.
Hope is dashed, and everyone can only return to their own positions and lie down like corpses. When they get tired of lying down, they change positions and continue sleeping, with the idea of sleeping until the end of time.
Anliman saw that the fat man was no longer staring at himself, so he carefully walked to the innermost part, wanting to leave the center of the crowd.
(The end)
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