Ultimately, They Still Had to Go to Jingjue Ancient City

There was no other sound from the team now. Everyone hurried to leave. By the time they got back up to the top, Ye Yixin and the others had already packed everything away. The weather had changed, so Hu Bayi led the way back without waiting for anyone else. Professor Chen was carried on Hu Ming's back.

He didn't want the big guy and the others getting into trouble because of Professor Chen. Besides, his stamina was several times that of an ordinary person, so carrying someone up a mountain was no problem.

Nothing went wrong on the way back. Once they returned to the military district, Hu Ming went straight to the temporary quarters to rest. As for leaving the team, he left that to Hu Bayi to handle.

But what he hadn't expected was that the next day, Hu Bayi and Fatty decided to stay with the archaeological team.

At first, Hu Ming couldn't understand why. Later, Hu Bayi told him that after the Fire Ladybugs chased them into the river, Yang Xueli had rescued him from the water. She brought it up, and Hu Bayi had no choice but to agree.

Yang Xueli hadn't wanted to use her kindness to pressure him, but Hu Bayi wouldn't budge.

Getting Fatty to agree to continue was even easier. Yang Xueli simply doubled the payment and paid half of it upfront.

When Hu Ming found out, he couldn't help cursing her for being underhanded. With things turning out this way, he had no choice but to go along for the sake of his two brothers, Hu Bayi and Fatty.

At dusk the following day, Qin Yu and the other eight people left the Kunlun Glacier and boarded a train bound for the desert...

"Mr. Hu, Professor Chen and I worked out this route based on the information in that diary. Take a look." In the train carriage, Yang Xueli handed Hu Ming a map, with their route marked on it.

According to Yang Xueli's plan, they would set out from Bosten Lake and follow the existing river system until they found the dried-up riverbed of the Ancient Peacock River.

Then they would follow the ancient riverbed into the depths of the desert, heading south along the Zidu Underground River until they found the ruins of the Kingdom of Gumo.

Yang Xueli also advised that they enter the desert as soon as possible during the season of sandstorms, while they searched for the ruins.

That would make it easier to find traces of ancient sites.

"Mingzi, do we really have to wait for the windy season to find Jingjue Ancient City?" Hu Bayi and Hu Ming had both been to the desert before. Hu Bayi knew that the desert was at its most dangerous during the season of sandstorms.

So he wanted to ask Hu Ming whether they could find Jingjue Ancient City if they went outside the windy season.

"Yeah. We need to go during the windy season. That's when we'll have a chance of finding the ruins buried beneath the sand."

"Also, going into the desert is no small matter. Once we reach a desert town, wait until Fatty wakes up, then have him pick up some common medicines, as well as medicine for typhoid and colds."

"The temperature difference between day and night in the desert is huge, so it's easy to catch a cold," Hu Ming said calmly.

"Fine. I'll take Fatty to look for some once we get off the train." Hu Bayi nodded.

Yang Xueli was about to ask Hu Ming something when he simply pretended to doze off, too lazy to answer her.

Seeing this, Hu Bayi turned to Yang Xueli. "By the way, I have some advice for you. Once we enter the desert, you have to follow our methods. If something like what happened at the glacier happens again, don't blame us brothers for turning our backs on you."

Hu Bayi was completely blunt as he looked at Yang Xueli.

"Fine. I agree."

"Good. Then that's settled. It had better stay that way, or else..." Hu Bayi deliberately trailed off.

"Or else what?" Yang Xueli asked.

"Or else, if anything goes wrong, you'll be responsible for whatever consequences follow." Hu Bayi's meaning was clear: if something happened because they ignored the warnings Hu Bayi and the others gave them, he would take his two brothers and leave.

"Also, if we're going to look for Jingjue Ancient City, we need someone who knows the local area, especially someone familiar with the desert. Experience is more reliable than expertise." Hu Bayi paused, then continued.

Hu Ming opened his eyes and nodded. "Exactly. And have you prepared the gas masks I asked you to bring?"

Yang Xueli frowned. Professor Chen, who was beside her, said, "We're only doing archaeology. What use would those things be?"

Hu Ming said nothing more. He had five gas masks in his storage space, though. Before leaving, he'd asked the big guy's superior for them, saying the archaeological team would need them.