sbdcsierra Chapter 21 The Guardians of the Royal City, Cishan
Chapter 21 The Guardians of the Royal City, Cishan
Cheng Feng spoke to Yang Xueli about this privately because she was the initiator of the team.
He also bore all the funding for this operation and had a very high say in the team.
Cheng Feng was doing his best, trying to give everyone a chance to choose their fate.
It's more effective and persuasive for Yang Xueli to say it than for him to say it.
But Yang Xueli could also choose not to say anything. With Cheng Feng as a variable, no one knows what will happen next.
The desert night sky is a paradise for stargazing enthusiasts, as there are no city lights to be seen here.
Only a dazzling starry sky.
The glittering stars, like the most beautiful jewels, are set in the deep night sky, captivating all who behold them.
Lying on the sand dunes next to the camp, Cheng Feng quietly admired the rare natural beauty.
A series of footsteps approached, and Cheng Feng turned his head to see that it was Yang Xueli.
She looked much more haggard than in the morning, suggesting she had gone through a period of inner turmoil.
"Cheng Feng, you've really given me a big problem!"
As she spoke, Yang Xueli sat down next to Cheng Feng, hugged her knees, and looked helplessly at the distant stars.
After a moment of silence, Yang Shirley spoke first:
“I have already told Professor Chen and the others what you told me.”
"They chose to keep going, didn't they?"
Cheng Feng remained calm. Apart from Hu Bayi and Fatty Wang, the rest of the archaeological team were all exceptionally dedicated scholars.
Those three students, just like their teacher, valued their ideals more than their own lives.
"That's right, none of them want to leave."
"Where are Hu Bayi and Fatty Wang?"
Cheng Feng asked curiously.
Shirley Yang casually remarked, "I added $5 to each of their salaries."
"And then they agreed?"
"No, I just added another 50,000 for them, making a total of 120,000 US dollars per person."
Cheng Feng raised his hand and gave Yang Xueli a thumbs up. "Rich woman, awesome!"
$24 in this day and age is a huge sum of money; it wouldn't cost that much to buy a truckload of lives.
"Actually, I wanted to give up exploring the ancient city of Jingjue, but things have already come to this point."
There's nothing else I can do but try my best to ensure everyone's safety.
Yang Xueli's words were filled with deep helplessness; the archaeological team didn't want to leave, and even she couldn't stop them.
While the two were having their heart-to-heart talk, on the other side of the same desert...
Beneath two black mountain ranges, a team of armed adventurers faces annihilation.
Countless black venomous snakes reaped lives like the Grim Reaper.
Even with its body torn apart by bullets, the snake's head still relentlessly bites into the person's body.
The potent toxins can kill someone instantly.
After the last person's miserable wail, no one was spared; only the rustling sound of venomous snakes slithering away remained.
The next morning.
The group was fully prepared to follow the trail of the Zidu Dark River and continue their search for the legendary Jingjue Ancient City.
Everyone was in good spirits after two days of rest, but the atmosphere was a little dull compared to before.
Aside from meals, everyone spent almost the entire day on the backs of camels, until the sun was about to set in the afternoon.
The group finally dismounted from the camels, intending to rest, as they were all too exhausted to continue.
As the team leader, Hu Bayi looked into the distance and took out a compass from his pocket.
But the compass seemed to be going crazy, spinning wildly.
Hu Bayi frowned, quickly ran to his backpack, and took out his compass.
When Professor Chen and the others noticed Hu Bayi's unusual behavior, they quickly got up and went to his side.
"Xiao Hu, what did you find?"
"Professor Chen, look."
As he spoke, Hu Bayi handed the compass to Professor Chen.
Everyone noticed the compass spinning erratically and took out their own, but they were all the same.
"My compass has also stopped working. There must be a very strong magnetic field around here that is disrupting these devices."
Hu Bayi put away the compass and said with a frown.
"We're almost at our destination. The road ahead will be difficult, so please be prepared."
From within the group, Cheng Feng spoke softly.
Everyone turned around, and Hu Bayi asked in confusion, "Brother Cheng, are you saying that the Jingjue Ancient City is nearby?"
"That's right, the ancient city of Jingjue was built behind two magnetic mountains."
They guarded the gates of the ancient city of Jingjue like sentinels.
The fact that we are now affected by Cishan proves that the ancient city of Jingjue is not far away.
Cheng Feng briefly explained the situation.
Yang Xueli clutched the notebook she had obtained from the glacier tightly. What Cheng Feng said matched what was recorded inside.
This also indirectly confirms that Cheng Feng has an extraordinary understanding of the Jingjue Ancient City, and the credibility of his warnings is increasing.
"Great! After going through so many hardships, we are finally about to see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Professor Chen seemed very excited, even though he knew that this trip might cost him his life, he still couldn't contain his joy.
"In that case, let's hurry on our way. We can rest after we find Cishan."
Hao Aiguo felt the same way as Professor Chen, but he was even more impatient and couldn't wait to fly to Cishan and find the ancient city.
Hu Bayi did not object, and called everyone to get on the camels and continue their journey.
Just after crossing two sand dunes, two dark mountain ranges came into view.
It has a sense of "after passing through mountains and rivers, seemingly without a way out, a new village appears amidst willows and flowers."
“Cishan is not far from here. Let’s hurry up and set up camp when we get there.”
The group was very excited, but as the saying goes, "looking at a mountain makes you feel like you're running out of time," and by the time they actually arrived near Cishan, it was already completely dark.
As you enter the Cishan area, you are surrounded by high mountain walls on both sides, and the sound of camel bells echoes in the valley.
Cheng Feng steered the camel to Yang Xueli's side.
"Mr. Yang, we're about to face death, and I still have one wish to fulfill."
Yang Xueli looked at Cheng Feng in surprise.
"What wish?"
"I've had a bad stomach since I was a child, and I've always wanted to be a kept man."
Yang Xueli was even more puzzled: "Where am I supposed to find you food in this desert?"
"Do I really have to be so blunt? I, Cheng Feng, want to marry a rich woman so I can live a life of luxury, so..."
Cheng Feng smiled and steered the camel to move closer together, so that the two camels were almost touching.
Yang Xueli rolled her eyes speechlessly.
Just as Cheng Feng was about to try harder to sell himself to the rich woman, the line suddenly stopped.
Cheng Feng straightened his expression, dismounted from the camel, and ran towards the front of the group.
Yang Xueli quickly followed.
"Old Hu, what's going on?"
Wang Pangzi stood next to Hu Bayi and asked in a low voice.
The darkness could not obscure Cheng Feng's eyes; relying on the only light source, he could see the corpses scattered in front of him.
Without saying a word, Yang Xueli took out a signal flare, lit it, and threw it over.
A red light shone, and the people lying on the ground and sprawling on the rubble came into view.