Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 411: Passerby or Danger

Cao Ling watched Cao Mo sit down, a satisfied smile on her face. She turned around, picked up a bowl of water, and gently handed it to Cao Mo, saying, "Uncle Mo, have a drink of water to moisten your throat. The wind and sand along the way have been very tough on everyone." The bowl of water sparkled in the setting sun, like a precious gem.

Cao Mo took the bowl of water with trembling hands. His eyes welled up slightly, and his heart was filled with emotion. He looked up at Cao Ling and said, "Second Miss, you are so thoughtful. Thanks to your care along the way, I, an old man, have been able to hold on until now." His voice was choked with a sob, a true expression of his gratitude to Cao Ling.

So, the three of them sat together and began to enjoy a simple dinner. As Cao Xun ate, he chatted with Cao Ling and Cao Mo about trivial matters. He recounted some recent interesting events in Lingyuan City, drawing occasional bursts of crisp, melodious laughter from Cao Ling. Cao Ling's laughter echoed through the silent ruins like a beautiful piece of music, adding a touch of life and energy to the somewhat dull desert night. Cao Mo listened quietly, occasionally adding his own insights, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Night gradually fell, like a vast black curtain, slowly descending from the sky, shrouding the entire desert in darkness. Stars twinkled like gems inlaid in the sky, emitting a faint yet captivating light. The bright moon hung high in the sky, casting a cold, radiant glow that bathed the earth in a silvery white. On this frigid night, the temperature in the desert plummeted, and a biting wind howled like a sharp blade, ruthlessly slicing at my flesh.

Cao Ling wrapped herself tightly in her clothes and looked up at the starry sky, her eyes revealing a hint of longing for home. She sighed softly and asked, "Dad, how long will it take us to get home?" Her voice was filled with a hint of fatigue and anticipation, and her delicate face, illuminated by the moonlight, looked even more beautiful.

Cao Xun raised his head slightly and looked in the direction of Lingyuan City. After thinking for a moment, he said, "It should be another six days' journey. As long as we don't encounter any unexpected situations along the way, if everything goes well, we will be able to return home in six days." His eyes revealed a hint of relief and confidence, as if he had already seen the familiar outline of Lingyuan City and the expectant faces of his relatives at home.

Cao Ling frowned slightly and said coquettishly, "Dad, I'm almost exhausted. The bumpy ride along the way is really exhausting. I just want to take a nice hot bath and then lie comfortably in bed and have a good sleep." There was an aggrieved expression on her face, and she looked like a child who had suffered a lot of grievances, which made people feel pity for her.

Cao Mo quickly comforted her, "Second Miss, please hold on a little longer. It's been really hard on you, but we've come so far, and there's not much distance left. As long as you endure for another six days, we'll be home. Then you can have a good rest." His eyes were full of encouragement and concern, and he tried to bring some strength and comfort to Cao Ling with his words.

Cao Ling shook her head gently and said, "The capital is really too far away. It takes a month to go there and back. I never thought that the journey would be so long and difficult." There was a hint of helplessness and emotion in her words. What she saw and heard along the way made her deeply feel the difficulty of the journey and the vastness of the world.

Cao Xun smiled and said, "Fortunately, nothing happened along the way. We are lucky and didn't encounter any major troubles. This is all thanks to everyone's caution and mutual care." There was a hint of relief in his smile. In this chaotic world, it was indeed a blessing to be able to go through this long journey safely.

Just as Cao Xun, Cao Ling and Cao Mo were enjoying this moment of warmth and tranquility in the camp, in the depths of the desert, Lin Feng was struggling forward alone in the darkness.

Lin Feng was draped in a ragged, coarse cloth, eroded by the wind and sand, riddled with holes and devoid of its original color. His hair lay in a mess, matted to the sides of his face, stained with dust and sweat, its strands tangled together. His face was haggard, his eyes revealing deep fatigue, yet within that weariness, a glimmer of determination still shone. His lips were chapped and cracked, the deep cracks like a dried-up riverbed, stained with traces of blood, the result of prolonged dehydration and hunger.

He slept in the open air, never stopping for a moment. Sometimes he ran as hard as he could, trying to escape the danger behind him as quickly as possible. His feet darted across the sand, stirring up a cloud of dust, his figure appearing particularly lonely and tragic in the desert. Sometimes, exhausted, he was forced to slow down, taking each difficult step, each step requiring all his strength, his body swaying slightly, as if he might collapse at any moment.

Lin Feng's stomach growled, a craving for food, but he had nothing to satisfy it. His throat felt like smoking with thirst, and every swallow felt like swallowing sandpaper, excruciatingly painful, yet he couldn't find a drop of water to soothe it. His eyes were bloodshot, the result of not resting for so long, but he dared not close them, knowing that if he let his guard down, the five masters would likely catch up and kill him.

"I must get to Lingyuan City..." Lin Feng muttered silently in his heart. Although his steps were heavy, he always walked firmly towards the direction of Lingyuan City.

Suddenly, a few scattered flames in the distance caught Lin Feng's eye. He instantly became alert, his body tense like a startled cheetah. He quickly crouched and hid behind a sand dune, his eyes fixed on the flames, a look of vigilance and unease evident.

"Who could it be? If it's one of the five masters, I'm in grave danger in my current state. If it's just a passerby, maybe I can get a meal and replenish my energy..." Lin Feng's mind was full of thoughts, his brows knitted tightly together, his eyes filled with worry and confusion. He knew his current situation was extremely dangerous, and any small mistake could lead to his downfall.