Chapter 1, Sea of Death

"Hey! You, just you! Come here!"

The sky is hot, the ground is dry, and there is no wind in the fields. People are like steamed buns in a steamer. They feel like they are being steamed little by little, but there is nowhere to escape. I huddled in the corner of the shady wall, buried my head between my legs, curled into a ball, and the noise around me seemed to come from another world, which had nothing to do with me. I only thought of the most desired clear water and steamed buns.

"Hey! Call you! Not dead yet, is it?

Someone poked me with his feet, which made me wake me awake from mediocrity. I looked up confusedly and saw a burly man looking down at me, as if he was looking at whether a wild dog was still alive.

This is a small town with only one street, just like an ancient ruins forgotten by God in the Gobi Desert. In a chaotic yellow, it is sparsely dotted with a little sporadic green. All the green is watered by a bitter and salty well, so this place is also called saltwater town. Three days ago, I traveled all over the town. Except for a few shops and the bitter well, I didn't find anything more valuable. As for why I came here, I don't remember at all.

"Stand up!" The big man was ordering me, and his condescending look made me a little unhappy, but I did not disobey and stood up obediently, only to find that I was not shorter than him.

"Turn around and let me have a look!" The big man drew a circle with his fingers. He had a pair of blue eyes, huddled on both sides of the high bridge of his nose, looking a little deep, hanging straight from the corners of his temples to the dark curly beard under his jaw, which made his face particularly white, almost the same color as the turban wrapped around his head.

I followed his gesture twice, and the big man's eyes seemed to be looking at an animal, with a trace of approval in his eyes.

"Well, the body is good, and the muscles are also strong. Are you interested in going to the Sea of Death with us to the Silk Country in the East? The big man narrowed his eyes and looked at me with great interest. Before I could answer, the big man said, "I don't have the money, but I'm full."

Fully! How attractive should this promise be to people who have been hungry for three days? I'm already nodding hard without thinking about it. The big man was not surprised and waved to me: "Then go with me to see Master Samba first."

Master Samba and the big man wore the same robe and wrapped the same headscarf, but they were much thinner than the big man, and their faces were even more ravines, writing the vicissitudes of the years, and a pair of triangles hidden under the shadow of eyebrows were full of the cunning of businessmen. When he saw him in an inn here, he was also looking at me with a critical look, and then asked the big man who led me in: "General Fleet, is this the guy you found for me? Why is it like a sick camel that hasn't had enough to eat for months?

The big man leaned over and muttered in Master Samba's ear, and I immediately guessed that he didn't have to pay. Master Samba's eyes gradually softened, and he gently asked me with a sparse goat beard under his jaw, "Will you take care of camels?"

Camel? I have only seen them from afar and have never met them, but I nodded without hesitation. I know it is a question of whether I can eat enough, and I can't say no.

"Originally, we are not short of manpower," Master Samba picked up the tea bowl on the table and said slowly, blowing the floating tea leaves. "But I don't mind giving the poor a living job. Usually we don't use it for people who don't know the road. By the way, what's your name and where are you from?

name? I know this is the most important sign of a person, but I can't remember it. All my memories are the three days of hunger in Saltwater Town, and then I walked alone aimlessly on the endless Gobi Desert. I don't know where I came from? Where are you going? Everything in my past was completely closed like a gate, shutting me on the other side of the gate, so that I could not see my past at all.

"I don't know, I don't know what my name is." As soon as I opened my mouth, I found that my voice was a little hoarse.

"I don't know?" Before Master Samba spoke, an unbridled mockery suddenly broke out behind me, "Even if there is no surname, there should be a name!" A cheap slave should also have a code name!"

I turned around and saw a thin and tall young man in white and a woman masked with white veil walking in. The man's eyebrows are high and deep, and his white face is healthy and rosy. His face is as angular as a sculpture. His thin lips have neatly trimmed pale green beards, but his jaw is as smooth as a mirror. The white robe was faintly embroidered with some unknown dark flowers, and a machete hung on the belt, and the handle of the knife was set with a few bright rubies, like a few drops of blood splashed on it. The woman beside him was also not short. The half-covered white veil only covered her mouth and nose, and the exposed skin was more white as jade against the long chestnut hair. The slender willow eyebrows that flew obliquely into her temples made her big eyes more dazzling. At this moment, she was looking at me with her dark brown eyes, showing a trace of curiosity.

"What the hell is it called? Is there anything shady?" The young man in white said and came to me, and then I found that his tall figure always gave people an invisible pressure. Quietly retreating for half a step, I said, "I, I don't have a name, I just can't remember."

"Can't remember? You can't even remember your name. Are you an idiot?"

As soon as the young man in white finished speaking, Flett applauded him flatteringly: "Tony, you are really inspired! I think this name is very good, idiot. This name is perfect for him!"

There was a loud laugh in the inn, and everyone looked at me with great interest, as if they wanted to see how I reacted. I knew that "idiot" was an insult, but there was no grievance and resentment in my heart. It was as calm as if they were making fun of another person. I just stood there quietly without saying a word.

"Cough, if you really can't remember your name, we'll call you an idiot for the time being." Master Samba obeyed everyone's despicable wishes, and a relaxed and happy smile appeared on everyone's faces again. I understand them. If they don't know how to have some fun on the boring journey, they will be bored to death.

"Well, from now on, you are the man of our caravan. Fleet, change him into a clean robe. Samba said and waved to the girl behind me, "Daisley, where have you been? It made me worry for a long time.

"Grandpa!" The girl came to Samba with a light step, "With Tony with me, what do you have to worry about?"

"Tony, my warrior!" Samba patted the young man in white on the shoulder, and his eyes were full of appreciation. "With you and the twelve flying eagle warriors, I am very confident in the future!"

Tony smiled modestly and looked confident. This was the last thing I saw, and then I was taken to the back by Fleet to change my clothes and got the steamed bun and clear water. At this time, I found that there were still more than a dozen people like me who were temporarily found, and I was the last one. I was lucky!

When I had enough to eat and drink, I began to weigh whether my decision was wise or not. I have heard of the sea of death from other people's words. Just dozens of miles east of Saltwater Town, the Sea of Death is not a sea, but an endless desert. At the end of the desert, there is a legendary paradise - the Silk Kingdom, which is the paradise that all adventurers yearn for. It is said that the people there use gold and silver as tools, white jade to build houses, especially all kinds of glitter silk. , as thin as cicada wings, smooth and delicate to beat the baby's skin. Anyone who can take that kind of silk to the West can immediately exchange it for equal-weight gold!

However, the sea of death is a hell on the road to heaven. Not to mention the dangerous journey without food, the replenishment of water for months, unpredictable tornadoes and sandstorms, even the newly emerging thieves who come and go like hurricanes in the desert are enough to deter any adventurer. However, I have no other choice. If I don't explore the unpredictable road with these strangers, I have to starve to death or be a thief. I have no choice from the first bite of steamed bun, which is the price of promise.

"Idiot, wipe my boots clean!" It was not until Fleet threw his boots on my head that I realized that it was calling me. I am not embarrassed by the title of "idiot", and even scold myself as an idiot in my heart. Until now, I can't remember who I am? What's your name? Why are you here?

At noon on the third day, when I stepped into the sea of death with the caravan, I began to understand the meaning of these four words. Behind him, the sporadic camel thorns of the Gobi Desert are scattered at the end of the horizon, which is the last green spot between the whole world, and in front of them is a dead sea of sand, steaming out the last drop of water on the ground under the exposure of the scorching sun. At the end of the sight, the sand sea is silently rippling, as if swallowing The sea of death that eats all life.

Everyone looked at the way together, and even the camel was staring back, with despair in their eyes. No one spoke. Everyone silently stepped into the soft sand sea. In addition to the roaring wind, there was only the dull and monotonous "ding-dong" sound of camel bells.

I led the camel behind the guide. A coolust like me is not qualified to ride a camel. My responsibility is to hold a few camels tied together in my hand and prevent them from leaving the team, which is not difficult for me who has not served the camel.

The caravan has nearly 100 camels and dozens of horses, and the number of them is also more than 100. I was surprised by its huge size, but when I was in the endless sand sea, I knew that no matter how large the caravan was in this dead world, it was very small, which understood why Master Samba wanted to find more than a dozen temporary hard work. We are actually a little superfluous in the caravan, and Samba needs more people to embolden him.

When it was dark, the team stopped. Our tent was set up and raised a bonfire. The waiter camel was about to rest after eating grass. Tony suddenly came to the middle of the coolies and told me, "Idiot, go to Farrett to get four jars, then take a few people around the camp to bury them, and then assign people to take turns to watch the night. I'll come later. Check!"

Probably my name is relatively special. In these dozen coolies, Tony may only remember my name. Before I answer, he went aside to arrange a samurai patrol and sentry. I didn't think there would be enemies coming to attack in this desolate desert, but as a coolie, I don't have the right to resist.

"The dirty dog followed me to get the jar, and the fat West and the old bitter gourd to prepare tools and work!" I began to distribute manpower. Dirty dogs, fat West, and old bitter gourds are all nicknames given to each other by the coolies, and the coolies seem to have no names.

The jar was buried, and I fairly assigned people on duty at night. It was already late at night after all this. The camp fire had already been completely extinguished, and the patrolling warriors also shrank to a breech corner to take a nap. I sleepily pillowed on the mouth of the jar, and the echo of the wind in the jar always makes people have all kinds of illusions, just like an empty world in the jar, and the footsteps of monsters come from time to time.

No! This is not an illusion! I suddenly opened my eyes, put my head completely into the jar, and immediately heard a regular muffled sound echoing clearly in the jar. Looking around, I saw more than a dozen dark shadows suddenly appeared in the night. In a blink of an eye, I gradually saw that more than a dozen war horses were coming silently. More than a dozen riders in black horses were clinging to the back of the horse's back, and the inverted machetes were shining in the silver moonlight. The sparkling cold light.

"Sneak attack! Someone attacked!" I shouted and ran back desperately, and the dull horseshoe behind me was getting closer and closer. Suddenly, I clearly felt a murderous atmosphere hitting my back, almost out of instinct. I suddenly jumped aside and fell to the ground and dodged a knife from behind. Immediately, the rider gave a "h" sound, as if he was surprised that I avoided his knife, but he did not stop and rushed straight to the nearest Tent.

There were countless horseshoes around me, and knives came to me from time. I was surprised that I did not panic and dodged left and right cleverly. Every time I dodged the horseshoe that stepped on me and the blade that hit me, I was surprised by my agile skills and the calmness of crisis.

When the last war horse galloped by, I suddenly grabbed its tail, and immediately the rider turned around and cut my wrist. I threw away the ponytail and immediately grabbed it with the other hand and pulled it hard. At the moment when he fell into the knife, I had jumped on the back of the horse's back, and my hands pierced his armpits and twisted his arms back. The back of his head suddenly raised and hit my face. It seemed that as early as I expected, I had dodged his last blow at the beginning, followed by a sudden crook, twisted him and fell down from the horse, and pressed his head to the ground. When I landed, I heard a slight "click", which was his neck. The sound of fracture.

After rolling on the ground a few times, I slowly got up. There was some pain all over my body, but it was nothing serious. I moved my hands and feet and looked at the motionless rider in black with some doubts. I was very surprised by the efficiency and accuracy of my killing methods. Am I originally a specially trained warrior?

There was a shouting fight in front of them, and more than a dozen flying eagle warriors led by Tony have been greeted. They are well-trained, unlike those warriors under Samba, who can only shout around. They advanced and retreated together, orderly blocking the way of the attackers and not allowing them to go into the camp. In particular, Tony, a machete galloped among the knights in black. From time to time, some riders were split by him. Seeing that more than a dozen riders in black were damaged by more than half in a blink of an eye, the leading fierce rider suddenly whistled, and the remaining black knights immediately roared back, as fast as they came. Tony chased dozens of feet, but The mount, which had been trekking all day, could not catch up with the extremely fast sneak attackers, so he had to drag his horse back.

Seeing the sneaker disappear into the depths of the sand sea in a blink of an eye, I raised my foot to hook up the machete next to the rider in black, danced twice, and took advantage of it. I untied his scabbard and hung it on my waist with satisfaction. I don't know what's dangerous this way. I have to prepare a blade for myself.

I slowly returned to the camp. Everyone was cleaning up the washed-up tents and shocked camels, and Tony shouted, "Who warned first? I have a lot of rewards!"

"It's me!" I unconsciously straightened my chest.

Tony turned to me, and suddenly his face became very ugly. His cold eyes stared straight at my newly captured waist knife, and then his eyes turned to my face and said coldly in a commanding tone, "Take off your knife!"

"Why?" I'm a little confused.

"The coolus is the coolus!" Tony's voice was very cold, "The hard force is not qualified to carry weapons!"

I quickly explained, "I need weapons to defend myself when I'm on duty, and I can help you if necessary. Besides, I also captured this knife myself."

"So what?" Tony looked colder and colder, "Kurai wearing a knife is an insult to the warrior, and I don't need the help of a cooli."

Looking at Tony's cold eyes, I hesitated and seemed that there was no need to offend the samurai leader for this. I'm hesitating. Tony has approached the handle of the knife two steps: "You can wear a knife, just like a real warrior!"

People stopped their work, and more than a dozen coolies also looked at me with sympathy. Now if I obediently throw down the knife, it will be difficult to have any dignity. I have to compete for my dignity. Who says that coolies have no dignity?

Slowly pulled out the knife in my waist. I didn't say anything. Everyone understood what I meant. A silent ** flashed in the crowd, and all eyes turned to Tony opposite me. I pray in my heart that I am a real warrior and have the ability to block Tony's knife.

"choke--" The moment Tony drew the knife was the moment he pulled out the knife. I realized that the light of the knife had shaken my eyes. I instinctively raised the knife to protect the front door, and my hand seemed to shake slightly. Tony had put the knife into the sheath. At this time, there was still echoing the lingering sound of his machete coming out of the sheath.

"This is a punishment for not knowing your identity," Tony said, turning around and throwing a small water bag at my feet. "This is a reward for taking the lead!"

I held the knife handle in my hand and maintained my original posture, but it was only the knife handle in my hand, and the knife body had silently fell to the ground. I felt the hot pain on my face, and the thick ** slowly flowed down my cheeks, silently dripping yellow sand, red and dazzling.

At this moment, I was very depressed. I was not a samurai, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to stop Tony's knife, and I didn't even know that the other party had cut a cut on my face. I slowly let go of my hand and let the empty handle slowly fall into the yellow sand.

Just when I lost my soul, I suddenly heard someone applaud. I turned my head and looked at more than a dozen coolies. There was no sympathy in their eyes, only respect. The applause of more than a dozen people looked a little sparse in the vast desert, but it made my eyes wet. I know that this applause is for me.

Chief Flett's shout interrupted the applause of the coolies: "Pack up the goods, take the injured, kill the injured animals, and go!"

The boring journey began again. No one in the team spoke, and everyone's mood was a little heavy. They knew that the sneak attackers who came back last night would not give up. From the words of the warriors, I know that those riders in black are the subordinates of the "breeze of wind". As expected, they are all tough and fast as the wind. Fortunately, the barren Gobi desert can't feed too many robbers. Their number can't be compared with the warriors of the caravan, but the desert is their world. What are the means ahead? Waiting for us, we have no way to speculate.

The sun is gradually rising to the middle of the sky, and the sky is so blue that there is no trace of clouds. The sand under your feet has already become hot, and the occasional breeze is also hot. I kept licking my completely dry lips, and the sweat all over my body had already steamed to be full of salt stains, and the little water distribution made us who walked completely on our feet consume a lot of physical strength. At a short time, we became drowsy and shaky under the exposure of the scorching sun.

At noon, Flet's shout finally came: " Set up a tent and rest for an hour before leaving!"

The order to rest makes people relax, but our hard work can't relax. We have to set up all the tents before we can drink water and eat. I'm afraid it's time to clean up the tents and go on the road.

The tent was unloaded from the hunchback. When the tent was unfolded, Feixi fell to the ground weakly, and the others also opened their mouths and gasped. Seeing this, I suddenly felt an anger in my heart and suddenly threw away the tools in my hand to greet my companions: "Stop! Don't do it!"

The coolies looked at me blankly with doubts in their eyes. I looked around and said, "If it goes on like this, we won't last long. Sooner or later we will die in this desert. If you want to reach your destination alive, we will form a group and fight for the right to live. Would you like to advance and retreat with me?

The coolies communicated with each other with their eyes and gradually began to understand what I meant. Finally, everyone said to me in unison, "Let's listen to you!"

I looked around at all the hard work, and their gradually firm eyes gave me infinite confidence. I nodded to them: "Okay, everyone, take a rest first. I'll negotiate with Master Samba."

Samba was sitting under a huge umbrella not far away and drinking tea with Daisy. He noticed the abnormality here. He whispered to Farrett behind him, and Flet quickly came over and asked, "What's going on? Why don't you work?"

"I want to see Lord Samba!" I said calmly.

"If there is anything, let's talk about it!" Fleet scolded for pushing me back, but looked at the scar on my face to withdraw his hand. I knew that this new scar made my face look a little ferocious.

"I want to see Master Samba first!" I pushed Fleet away and didn't want to pester him too much.

"Hight!" As soon as I arrived at the huge umbrella, a warrior behind Samba quickly stopped in front of me. The knife in his waist had been half pulled out, and the shining blade reflected the dazzling white light, which made me unable to open my eyes. I stopped, but there was no trace of timidity.

"Let him come here!" Samba's calm voice sounded behind the warrior. The warrior pushed the knife back into the sheath, stepped sideways and let me walk to Samba.

"Lord Samba!" I learned their etiquette and bowed slightly with my right hand on my left chest. "I express their wishes on behalf of all the hard work."

"What wish?" Samba's eyes are full of curiosity.

"Wish to live!" I said calmly, "We walk completely on our own feet, shouldering the heaviest labor of the whole caravan. We hardly get rest, but we distribute as much food and water as your friends and warriors. If we go on like this, we can't get out of the desert. We want to live!"

"What do you want?" Samba picked up the tea bowl and took a soft sip, but his voice remained motionless.

"We want more water and food to ensure at least a break," I paused, "or like your buddy, let's ride a camel."

"Ha! Kuli also wants to ride a camel?" I don't know when Tony came behind me and laughed, "The cooli is the animal, and the animal also wants to ride a camel?"

I looked back at Tony and retorted, "We are human beings, not animals!"

Is that right? But in my eyes, you are an animal. To an animal, I usually talk with a whip!" With that, Tony whipped me to the door. I didn't stop or hide, and I didn't even blink my eyes. The whip firmly reached my face and added a new scar to my face.

"We are human beings, not animals," I stared calmly into Tony's eyes. "We have the right to live."

Bang! Tony's second whip was on my shoulder, and a blood stain appeared on my robe immediately. He stared into my eyes and asked, "Do you still think I'm human now?"

Our eyes were handed over in the air and did not give in to each other. His eyes were as sharp as knives, which made people involuntarily have the idea of avoiding. I suppressed the fear in my heart and said calmly to his eyes, "We are human beings!"

Tony was furious and slapped me. Although I can easily grab his whip, I know that I can't fight Tony at all by myself. If I dare to resist, the coveting warriors around him may really kill me as an animal. I can only let him beat him completely. Don't fight back, but never take a step back.

Finally, I heard a heavy breath and footsteps behind me. Tony stopped and looked behind me unexpectedly. I don't need to look back and know that the coolies have come and gathered silently behind me.

"Go back, go back to work!" Tony was so angry that the horse whip randomly pulled into the crowd, and the crowd did not avoid or retreat. Seeing that the whip could not make us give in, Tony suddenly threw away the whip and pulled out his sword with a choked sound.

"Enough! Tony!" Samba suddenly said, " Put away all the knives!"

Several warriors who had been out of the sheath returned to the scabbard. Tony held the machete in his hand and blushed. He seemed unwilling to give up, but it was not easy to offend Samba and froze on the spot for a moment.

"Tony, forget it, why do you have to look like a few coolies!" Daisy stood up at the right time, took Tony's hand and persuaded her softly. Tony snorted coldly and angrily withdrew the machete.

"I give you two choices," Samba stared into my eyes and said slowly. "One is that you continue to work hard as usual, and I will provide you with the original food and water; the other is that we leave the employment relationship, and you leave the caravan to be your person. Whoever wants to leave is fine. I will never stop you!"

I secretly scolded samba in my heart that the snake was more vicious than the fox, which was to use our fear of the desert to force us to give in. Looking at the leisurely samba, a sudden flashed in my mind and guessed that he would not give up us because of our trivial request. He still needed to bear the heaviest labor for the caravan, otherwise he would let Tony kill him! Thinking of this, my confidence suddenly doubled and I decided to gamble with my life for my dignity and fate. I slowly glanced at all the cooli behind me and said calmly and firmly, "Let's go!"

I strode to the road. It is only two and a half days away from Xianshui Town. Theoretically, we have a chance to survive, but I know very well that without a guide, our hope of survive is very slim.

There were footsteps behind him. There were only about eight or nine people. Half of them hesitated in the face of the choice of life and death and chose to continue to be an animal without complaint. I don't blame them. Everyone has the right to choose their own fate.

The warriors and samba's mates around silently made way and saw us stride away. There was admiration in their eyes, but more sympathy. It's getting farther and farther away from Samba, no one says anything to keep us, and my heart is getting colder and colder. Am I wrong? Samba doesn't care how many coolies he loses? At this moment, I just want to laugh, just like a gambler who lost gambling. Although I lost, there is still the last arrogance in my heart, so that I will never turn back even if I know that I lost!

There were fewer and fewer footsteps behind me. In the end, there were only five or six people left. I was relieved that there were still people like me. At this time, suddenly a faint voice came from afar: " Stop!"

I relaxed and couldn't help but stop. Only then did I find that in these dozens of steps, in the dry and hot air of the desert, there was a thin layer of oil sweat on my forehead, but I already knew that I won this confrontation.

There came a dry voice from behind: "From today on, I will give you half a glass of water and half a bun every day."

Samba's concession is negligible, but I don't have the courage to bargain. I looked at the several companions who followed me with asking eyes. There was a trace of relief in their eyes. I understood their thoughts and saluted Samba's chest from afar and said, "I agree!"

"Good! Pack up and go on the road!" After my trouble, Samba has lost the interest of rest.

"Do!" I waved to all the cool forces, and everyone acted immediately, like well-trained and forbidden soldiers. The rights we have won are pitifully small, but from now on, no one can treat us as thoughtless animals.

The boring journey continued, and after nightfall, we camped and vigild like yesterday. Shortly after I fell asleep, I heard that familiar sound from the crock. I immediately knocked on the copper basin in my hand. In my last experience, I asked Fleet to get a copper basin for alarm, which was more effective than my shouting.

Due to their last experience, the warriors reacted quickly and waited in front of the camp early to stop the attackers from coming. Looking at the galloping sneak attackers, there was a trace of strangeness and uneasiness in my heart. This time, they only came three horses! The three rode like a ghost in the dark, and approached dozens of feet in a blink of an eye, but they strangled the horse outside the tent, turned the horse's head and left with a long smile, as quickly as when they came.

The warriors cheered, but my heart was extremely heavy, knowing that the bandits had found a way to defeat us.

The cheers of the warriors lasted for half an hour, and finally went back to rest under Tony's order. Not long after everyone returned to their tents, I heard the sound of horses' hoofs from the crock. This time, they only had two knights, galloping leisurely like their own ranch. The warriors were shocked by their shouts and were ready to meet the enemy. The two had strangled the horse dozens of feet away and slowly controlled the horse to leave in an unknown tune.

The night was spent in their harassment, only three or five rides at a time, but the whole caravan could not sleep. After dawn, they finally didn't come back, and it was time for the caravan to set out. I noticed that everyone, like me, was in a trance and slow, and the efforts of the bandits all night began to work.

The noon break came relatively early. Obviously, Samba has realized the intention of the bandits and wants to supplement everyone's physical strength through the daytime rest. But the bandits did not let go during the day, and more than a dozen riders wandered between the sand dunes hundreds of feet away from us, so that we could not rest at ease during the day.

When it was dark, everyone began to get used to the harassment of bandits. It was not surprising that the warriors who had been tired all day were unwilling to get up and take a look. I know that the caravan is getting more and more dangerous, but there is nothing I can do about it.

When dawn came, the bandits finally launched a real attack. More than a dozen riders galloped through our camp, and the torches they threw burned two tents. Two night warriors became ghosts under their knives, and three samba mates were seriously burned. When Tony and his Flying Eagle warrior came out to meet the enemy, the bandits had already run away.

After two days of harassment, everyone in the caravan was exhausted and had to rest for a day in place, and then quietly set off at night. For the harassment of bandits, they also thought of the simplest way.

The sky at night is particularly pure, and the stars and the moon are more dazzling than elsewhere. In addition to the whistling wind, there are only countless "rustling" sounds of feet and hooves stepping on the sand, especially on quiet nights. At dawn, I felt that the originally soft sand under my feet began to become hard, and the fine sand turned into rough gravel. The face of the guide Harry's long-tightened face also showed a trace of relaxation. I couldn't help asking him, "Are we not going the wrong way?"

"I'm sure we didn't go wrong when I stepped on this hard land," Harry's father shouted, "I haven't walked the night for a long time. Fortunately, I saw Xiaoqing Mountain!"

Where does the green mountains come from in this desert? Looking along Harry's eyes, I could faintly see a hazy mountain shadow in front of me, like a desert island in the waves, and like the back of an ancient monster. The mountain shadow is obviously much higher than the usual sand dunes, and its shape is irregular, obviously composed of hard rocks.

"According to old legend, this was originally an oasis," probably in a good mood, and Harry's father also talked, "Little green mountains are also green, worthy of the name of green mountains. Later, the water source withered and the green has completely disappeared, but the past few miles from here have not been completely deserted, which is an obvious signpost on this road. "

So it is! I was relieved, looked at the approaching Qingshan, and sighed for the changes of the vicissitudes of life. At this time, the sky was getting brighter, and at the end of the horizon, the rising red sun reflected the star struggle in the sky, which fascinated me. This is probably the magnificent scenery that can only be seen in the desert.

"Camp under the hill ahead!" Behind came the shouts of General Fleet. After a night's trek, everyone was exhausted. As soon as they heard that they could camp, even the animals took the last spirit. Looking at the ups and downy green mountains, there was a trace of uneasiness in my heart. As it got closer and closer, this uneasiness became stronger and stronger, and I suddenly realized why! How can the " gust of wind" of the desert bandits who know this desert well let go of this ambush place?

"Stop! Stop it!" Suddenly, Tony's anxious cry came from the rear, "Take up arms and prepare to fight!"

The caravan stopped chaotically, and the warriors who had been naking on the camel's back opened their eyes inexplicably and looked at Tony with a red face.

"Cre down! Get on your horses!" Tony angrily ordered the warriors. But it was too late. Dozens of dark shadows gradually rose on the ridge ahead. They were knights in black robes, looking down at us close to us like death. More than ever before. I stared at them, cold all over. After a night of arduous trek, we could no longer resist the condescending rush of these bandits. Hit.

The knight in black separated from both sides and gave up a tall and beautiful pure white handsome horse. The bright white set off the rider's black robe on the horse's back particularly dark. The rider came to the front of the team, slowly pulled out the machete from his waist and raised it high. The knife body just scratched a wisp of sunrise across my eyes, making me two eyes. It's gorgeous.

"Kill--" The shouts of the bandits came from afar, and then rushed down from the hill like a tide. That's the real wind and lightning. On this hard gravel land, the war horse exerted the greatest power!

Tony met in vain, trying to block the white horse rushing to the front. The two horses passed by in a flash, and there was a loud sound of two knives hitting each other from afar, which made my ears ache. With this blow, the black tide-like knights drowned the flying eagle warriors and rushed to the caravan head-on. I pulled up the stunned Harry's father and fled. The caravan could have fewer warriors, but not one guide.

Dozens of knights in black were like a black wedge deeply plunged into the caravan. At this time, the warriors of Samba rolled down from the camel's back in a panic and were immediately chased by the knights in black, like a group of headless flies. The bandits were well-trained and kept a wedge-like formation behind their leaders and galloped through the caravan. Tony and the Flying Eagle warriors couldn't catch up with the speed of their horses at all, while other warriors either fled for their lives or resisted in a hurry, but this sporadic resistance did not pose a threat to the knights in black. They rushed straight from the front of the caravan to the end of the team. After rushing out of the tail of the team, they turned the horse's head, slowly made a small circle, and slowly pushed towards the caravan that had fallen. Obviously, they would make a second charge after letting the horse make a slight adjustment.

Looking at the fleeing horses and a fallen camel, I know that if the most important animals in the desert are to be killed by them, the whole caravan, whether as noble as Samba or as me, will face extinction. Now Tony and those The samurai has been unable to protect the caravan, and I have to save myself!

"Bass, help me!" I waved to Bass, who was lying nearby, then untied a thick rope that tied the tent, threw one end to Bass, and tied the other end to my arm. Bass immediately understood what I meant and quickly wrapped the other end of the rope tightly around his arm.

The charge of the bandits began again, and the leading white horse bandit leader avoided Tony's edge and continued to trample on the paralyzed caravan for the second time.

"Up!" I waved my hand and jumped out, and the tough Bass immediately jumped up like a cheetah and pulled the rope with me. We tightened the rope, three feet high from the ground, and stopped the horses flying towards the bandits. Suddenly, the leading rider was too late to stop the horse and hurriedly picked up the reins. The horse barely jumped over our rope, but the knight behind him was not so lucky and was immediately tripped over the horse's leg by our tight rope.

A force came from the rope, pulling me almost in the air. While I fell to the ground, several horses also fell down one after another, throwing the knights in black on the horse far away, which was more embarrassing than me. Bass over there was also uncomfortable. He fell several feet away and grabbed a camel before standing firm.

I was lying on the ground gasping. The white war horse suddenly turned around and looked at the horse that rushed straight towards me. I suddenly understood the meaning of the bandit leader. As soon as I turned over and got up, the fierce knife light shone terribly. Almost by instinct, I suddenly jumped aside and dodged the knife that cut into my neck.

"Hmm!" A cold hum flashed in my ear, and his horse had sped past me. At this moment, I suddenly noticed that his only exposed eyes flashed like a meteor in front of my eyes, as bright as the new moon on a summer night, as blue as the boundless sea, which was very beautiful!

The white horse slowly turned around and slowly pushed towards me. My palms were sweating, and I was not sure if I could avoid it this time.

"Idiot! Come here!" Hearing Neo's voice, I immediately fled to him. He and the thin monkey, like me and Bass, are tightening a long rope to meet the white horse knight, forcing him to stop the horse and not dare to act rashly.

In just a while, more than a dozen coolies pulled up the long ropes, so that the knights in black no longer dared to gallop freely in the caravan. As soon as they slowed down, they were surrounded by the warriors who gradually came back to their senses. Although their two charges caused a lot of losses to the caravan, the number of warriors was still far above the bandits, and the warriors finally began to fight back under Tony's leadership.

Seeing that his men were entangled with the warriors, the head of the white horse bandit quickly lifted the corner of the scarf, bent his finger at the entrance, and blew a loud whistle. The rider in black gathered to him, followed behind him to bypass the obstacle formed by the rope, and rushed out of the encirclement. Although the number of warriors was large, they were still tired and did not dare to brush their edge. They watched the bandits roar away under the leadership of the white horse bandit leader.

Just as the white horse bandit whistled, I noticed that his lips were as bright as strawberries, and his skin under his jaw was as white and delicate as curd.

When the bandits went far away, we began to clean up the mess. Dozens of warriors died on the battlefield, and many camels and horses also died in chaos. The goods from the dead camel were unloaded. Except for food and water, those goods, including spices, ivory, wine, etc., were discarded. There are not enough animals, and those goods can only be left to the bandits. I hope they will let us go after they gain something.

Only Kuli was unexpectedly not lost. Except for Bass and I fell and suffered a little injury, no one was even injured, probably because Kuli was so cheap that the gangsters disdained to kill.

The exhausted caravan had no choice but to camp and rest. The blow of failure made Samba not think of rewarding us for their amazing efforts, but I don't care about it. Now that the fate of all the people in the caravan is tightly tied together, everyone should try to get everyone out of trouble. I no longer care about my identity and focus on doing my part.

"I want to see Lord Samba!" When I said this to Fleet, Samba and Tony behind him were arguing about something.

"B bastard! This idiot is messing up again!" Tony immediately vented his anger on me and shouted at Fleet, "Let him get out of here!" Go and do what he should do!"

"Come here!" Samba waved to me. Although he had just experienced such a blow, he was still more calm than Tony.

Flet stepped over and let me go. I calmly walked to Samba, turned a blind eye to Tony's hostile eyes, and only bowed politely to Samba.

"The coolies have made great achievements this time," Samba finally remembered the matter. "Say, what reward do you want?"

I shook my head: "Let's talk about the reward later. I want to know how the master will lead everyone out of trouble?"

"Oh? What good can you do?" Samba was not in a hurry to answer my question, but asked with great interest.

I took a deep breath, straightened out my thoughts, and said calmly: "I think the master already knows how the bandits found us in the vast desert. I think it's because we are moving on a fixed route, which is the route to the Silk Country that everyone is familiar with, so the bandits can wait along the way. We constantly harassed us and used the terrain to ambush us. And the garbage we threw along the way also left a track sign for the bandits.

Speaking of this, I stopped. I wanted to see if my estimate was correct. Seeing Tony's surprised eyes and Samba suddenly stopped his interest in his goat beard, I knew that my estimate was completely correct!

"Go on!" Samba looked at me with real interest in his eyes.

I felt confident that I had never had before and continued: "If we follow a fixed route, the bandits along the way can refresh themselves in their own camps, harass us with a few people, and then raid us when we are tired. Even if the raid of Xiaoqing Mountain is a 'a gust of wind' all the strength, Just one more successful sneak attack on us can completely defeat us!"

Everyone looked at me silently. This is the dead knot that everyone wants, and it is also a dead knot that everyone can't untie. They intentionally or unintentionally pinned the hope of untieing this dead knot on me.

"So, we have to be beyond their expectations!" I pointed to the north in agrily, "I have asked Father Harry. It is ten days away from Changcheng. We first turn to Changcheng and give a ' gust of wind' an illusion that we are going to Changcheng to make up for a rest. On the way, the caravan suddenly turned to the east, and then concentrated on burying garbage all the way, covering up the feces of the animals all the way. If you don't leave a trace for two or three days, don't think about finding us in the vast sand sea again!"

Everyone looked at me in a daze with a thoughtful expression on their faces, but Tony laughed loudly: "Idiot, what an idiot! Sir, you really don't want to act in an idiot's way, do you?

Samba pondered for a moment, and finally shook his head regretfully: "I've also thought about the way to bury the garbage. It's just that there is no map or guide. It's too risky. It's a road that no one has ever walked!"

"That's the way to hell!" Tony took Samba's words, "Don't say that once you get lost and put everyone in a desperate situation, even if you don't get lost, no one knows how long it will take to get out of the desert from this new road. Even if you don't consider the reserves of food and water, if the caravan stays in the desert for a long time, it is very likely to encounter a storm. We can still find a way to deal with the bandits. No one can do nothing about the storm. It's the best way to solve the problem by attacking the bandit camp overnight and eliminating this threat in one fell swoop!"

Samba was still pondering. Tony said urgently, "Don't hesitate any more. I will interrogate all the bandits separately. They all provide the same direction and journey. This journey will take less than half a day. We can use a few bandits to lead the way and attack 'a gust of wind'!"

It turned out that Samba and Tony were arguing about this! I didn't expect Tony to take such a risk, which is related to the safety of the whole caravan. I immediately objected regardless of my identity: "Like all the bandit confessions, this is very likely to be premeditated. Even if their confessions are true, a ' gust of wind' will not wait in place. Based on his performance along the way, the chance of a sneak attack is very small. ."

So what? It's just a day," Tony snapped, "even if it doesn't work, it won't take long for me to go back quickly, and it won't affect our itinerary."

"Grandpa," seeing that Samba was difficult to make a decision, Daisy shook his arm and said, "The idiot's way is the coward to escape. Don't need to consider it at all. Tony's method is the warrior's way, at least it's worth trying."

This is the real idiot! I scolded in my heart, is it time to be more heroic? Seeing that Samba began to show an expression inclined towards his granddaughter, I quickly said, "In addition to folding and sneak attacks, I have no choice but to do it. We camped in this small green mountain, wait for a gust of wind to come to us, and then negotiate with him to give him half of the goods. He is just looking for money. With the drag of these goods, even if he doesn't speak credit and still pursue him, he can't come back to the wind. It's easy to be dumped by us.

"No!" Samba said decisively, "A gust of wind is not for these goods. It's useless to give it all to him!"

"Then why did he come?" I feel a little strange.

Samba suddenly stopped talking and seemed to realize that he had missed something. He quickly changed the topic and said, "You can go back to your post. Tony, you take half of the warriors to sneak attack. I'll wait for you all day. Whether you come back or not, at this time tomorrow, I will leave the camp!"

"Good! Although there are fewer people, I am still confident that I will succeed with one blow!"

Seeing Tony, he took the order excitedly. I can't help sighing in my heart: "A gust of wind" is really reserved and well arranged. It is completely accurate that ordinary people will take any possible opportunity to take risks in desperate situations and step into very obvious traps. I can't help but admire him.