bookrebus Chapter 128 Don’t fall into the city
Chapter 128 Don’t fall into the city
Although the sandstorm was gradually subsiding, the sky remained gloomy, and the strong winds carried yellow sand that swirled and rustled against people.
Xu Xiaoxiao looked at the harsh weather outside, her eyes revealing a hint of weariness and worry. She raised her hand to gently wipe the sand from her cheeks, then turned to Yang Qingfeng and said, "Senior Brother Yang, although the sandstorm has subsided, the situation outside is still dangerous. What should we do next?"
Her voice was slightly hoarse, and it sounded broken by the strong wind.
Yang Qingfeng stood at the front of the formation, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his clothes fluttering in the wind.
He gazed intently into the distance, his hands behind his back. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Let's rest here for now. Once everyone's injuries have healed a bit, we can go out and explore. The Black Flame Sect is not to be underestimated. We must be extra vigilant in the future. This place should not be far from the Ruins Wasteland Secret Realm. Let's see if there's anywhere nearby where we can stay."
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and his tone was firm and steady.
Yuan Mengyao held a long whip, the spiritual light on which had dimmed. Her face was pale, her lips were chapped, and her hair was covered in sand.
She frowned slightly, walked to Yang Qingfeng's side and said, "Senior Brother Yang, I'm worried they might turn back. Should we strengthen the defenses of this isolation array?"
As she spoke, she tightened her grip on the long whip, her eyes revealing a sense of vigilance.
Yang Qingfeng nodded slightly and said, "Junior Sister Yuan is absolutely right. You lead a few junior brothers and sisters to check the isolation array and see if it can be reinforced. The rest of you take good care of the wounded and check the supply reserves. I'll go and scout out the terrain here first."
Xu Xiaoxiao responded and then turned to help the injured senior brothers and sisters.
She carefully cleaned the wounds and changed the gauze, her movements gentle and skillful, while softly comforting the injured: "Senior brothers and sisters, just bear with it, you'll get better soon."
Her eyes were full of concern, her brows were slightly furrowed, and she wore a tired smile.
The other disciples also sprang into action, some checking the magic array, others organizing their belongings. Each face bore the relief of surviving a calamity and the worry for the future, but their eyes remained resolute as they silently went about their tasks, continuing to persevere in the midst of the swirling yellow sand for survival and the honor of their sect.
Yang Qingfeng nimbly walked to a relatively open sandy area outside the formation. The wind howled and blew, his clothes fluttered, and his hair danced wildly in the wind.
With a resolute look in his eyes, he summoned his spirit sword. The spirit sword hummed and shone with spiritual power, as if responding to its master's call.
Yang Qingfeng stepped onto the spirit sword, his posture as upright as a pine tree, and whispered, "Rise!" The spirit sword instantly transformed into a streak of light, shooting straight into the dusky sky.
The fierce wind cut his face like a knife, but his eyes were fixed on the ever-changing sand below. His hands moved in different hand seals, controlling his spirit sword to speed away in one direction.
The sand dunes below were constantly moving and deforming under the influence of the strong winds, resembling a turbulent sea of sand.
Yang Qingfeng flew across the sea of sand on his sword, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, not missing any place that might contain danger or resources.
Before long, he keenly sensed something unusual about the spiritual energy fluctuations ahead, so he sped up and flew forward.
Amidst the swirling sandstorm, the outline of a city could be faintly seen.
The city walls, though slightly weathered by wind and sand, still stand strong, exuding an ancient and profound atmosphere.
Yang Qingfeng flew around the city once, roughly observing its layout and surrounding environment, before quickly returning on his spirit sword.
Back at his hideout, he walked straight up to the group, a hint of relief in his expression, and said loudly, "Fellow junior brothers and sisters, I have found a city ten miles away. Perhaps we can find temporary shelter there, escape this harsh sandstorm, and better defend against another attack from the Black Flame Sect."
His voice was clearly audible in the strong wind, steady and powerful, which eased the worries on everyone's faces.
Upon hearing Yang Qingfeng's words, hope was rekindled in everyone's hearts.
Xu Xiaoxiao and several disciples who were still in good health quickly came to the side of their injured fellow disciples, carefully helped them up, and prepared to go to the city together.
The wind was still howling, and yellow sand was flying everywhere, rustling against everyone's bodies.
Yang Qingfeng was the first to draw his spirit sword, standing nimbly on it and shouting, "Everyone, follow me and stay alert!" His voice was firm and powerful, piercing through the wind and sand and reaching everyone's ears.
Holding a long whip wrapped around her waist, Yuan Mengyao stepped onto the spirit sword and looked around warily. She called out to her junior brothers and sisters behind her, "Everyone be careful, don't fall behind!" Although her face was pale, her eyes showed a firm determination.
Xu Xiaoxiao supported her injured senior sister with one hand, while using the other to control the spirit sword, keeping it steadily suspended in mid-air.
She gently comforted her injured senior sister, "Senior sister, hang in there a little longer, we'll be in a safe place soon."
Her eyes were concerned and gentle, and the strands of hair on her forehead were damp with sweat and clung to her cheeks.
The other disciples also drew their spirit swords, some in pairs carrying their injured fellow disciples, while others stood guard around the group.
The group struggled forward through the raging winds and sandstorms, the winds nearly blowing them off their swords, but they gripped their sword hilts tightly, supporting each other as they moved step by step toward the city.
Finally, they arrived at the city. The original villagers were all wrapped in thick clothes, with only their eyes showing, busily moving through the sandstorm.
The houses are all built underground, and the entrances have simple windproof facilities that effectively block the invasion of wind and sand.
The group landed carefully, and Yang Qingfeng stepped forward and politely asked a passing villager, "Excuse me, sir, we are cultivators passing through. May we stay here for a while? We will abide by the rules here and will not cause any trouble for you."
His voice was sincere and gentle, and his posture was upright, demonstrating good manners.
The villagers stopped and looked at them through their thick scarves. After hesitating for a moment, they said, "You outsiders, don't cause trouble. It's not easy for anyone in this sandy weather."
Yang Qingfeng quickly nodded his thanks: "Uncle, don't worry, we just want to find a place to shelter from the sandstorm and recuperate from our injuries."
Guided by the villagers, the group entered the underground house one after another. Although the house was simple, it was a rare place to stay compared to the fierce winds and yellow sand outside.
Xu Xiaoxiao and the other disciples were busy settling their injured fellow disciples. Some helped fetch water, as the water here was extremely precious, and each person could only drink a few sips, with no more. Others tidied up the beds. Everyone's face showed exhaustion, but their eyes also held the relief of having found a temporary haven.
Xu Xiaoxiao looked at the busy crowd, and after settling them in for a while, she walked towards the uncle.
At this moment, the dim light in the room shone through the cracks in the walls, illuminating her tired yet expectant face.
She gently patted the dust off her clothes, tidied her slightly messy hair, gave a gentle smile, bowed slightly to the uncle, and said, "Uncle, hello! I'm so sorry to bother you. We're new here and don't know much about the area. Could you tell us about it?"
Her voice was soft and polite, and her eyes were full of sincerity and humility.
The middle-aged man stopped what he was doing, looked up, and stared at Xu Xiaoxiao through his scarf, his eyes filled with doubt and wariness.
Seeing this, Xu Xiaoxiao quickly took out a clean handkerchief from her storage bag and handed it to the uncle, saying, "Uncle, it's very windy and dusty here, please wipe your sweat." The uncle hesitated for a moment, but still reached out and took the handkerchief.
Xu Xiaoxiao continued, "Uncle, we are cultivators from afar. We encountered a sandstorm on the way and ended up here by accident. We just want to rest here for a while and leave after the storm passes. We definitely won't cause any trouble for anyone."
Her eyes were sincere, and her hands were clasped in front of her, her slightly trembling fingers revealing her inner tension and unease.
The uncle nodded slightly and said in a hoarse voice, "This place is not a city, and it is constantly hit by sandstorms. Our ancestors have lived here for generations, barely surviving on these underground houses and limited water resources. Did you see anything unusual on your way here?"
Xu Xiaoxiao quickly replied, "Uncle, when we came here, all we saw was yellow sand everywhere, making it really difficult to move forward. However, we also encountered some disciples from other sects with ill intentions. They attacked us, so you should also be careful."
Her brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of worry appeared in her eyes. She kept glancing out the window at the howling sandstorm, as if the dangers were still right before her eyes.
Upon hearing this, the uncle's expression turned serious. He said, "We ordinary people don't understand the affairs of those cultivators, and we don't want to get involved. If you're here, don't cause any trouble. It's better for everyone to be safe and sound."
Xu Xiaoxiao nodded repeatedly and said, "Uncle, don't worry, we will control our behavior. Could you tell us if there are any dangerous places around here that we need to avoid? Or is there any place where we can find some supplies?" Her eyes were full of expectation, and she leaned forward slightly, waiting attentively for the uncle's answer.
The uncle pondered for a moment and slowly said, "Go west, there is a quicksand swamp. Once you go in, it is very difficult to come out. You must not go there. In the valley to the east, sometimes some spiritual plants grow, but there are also many monsters. It is very dangerous. Resources are scarce in this city. Everyone lives on limited resources. It will be difficult for you to find supplies."
Xu Xiaoxiao listened attentively, nodding occasionally to express her gratitude, and said, "Uncle, thank you so much! What you said is very important to us. We will be careful. If you remember anything later, please let us know."
After speaking, she bowed slightly to the uncle to express her gratitude, then turned back to the group and told them everything she had learned.