The Fifty-First Chapter

After running a short distance, the white figure turned around, glanced at Hu Ming and the others, then turned and ran off to the side. After descending a sand dune, it disappeared without a trace.

Although their vision was blurry, they could still see it: it was a pure white wild camel.

The lead camel bolted, leading the way down the sand dune and into a flatter sandy area. Ahead, a dilapidated adobe brick wall stood tall, blocking the sandstorm.

The sand had piled up very high; another ten meters of accumulation would bury the brick wall.

A brick wall?

Everyone's spirits lifted instantly, feeling a surge of energy. Smiles appeared on their faces beneath their face coverings. No matter what, as long as there was a place to block the wind and sand, they wouldn't be buried.

"Lie down!" An Liman commanded as they entered the wall's protection, leaning against the brick wall, and had the camel train lie down.

Outside, the city wall resisted the sandstorm sweeping in from the east. Inside, by the brick wall, although there was still sand, it was almost negligible.

The twenty-meter-plus brick city wall, though old, seemed indestructible.

It could provide a safe barrier for the camels. Hu Ming remembered that besides this dilapidated wall, there was also a ruined temple half-buried by the yellow sand. He moved forward, searching in the wind and sand.

Yang Xueli and the others huddled under the city wall, squeezed in with the camels.

While it blocked the sandstorm, the wind and sand still managed to blow over the wall and lash at their faces. Humans weren't as tough-skinned as camels, able to withstand this slight wind and sand.

If they took off their face coverings and goggles, sand would blow into their mouths and nostrils with the wind. But if they didn't, eating and drinking became a problem. The camels were fine; they simply rested their heads on the ground, indifferent to the wind and sand.

Yang Xueli frowned slightly, looking at Hu Ming, who was searching around erratically in the sand. She wondered what he was doing.

Soon, Hu Ming found the ruined temple. The entrance was at a corner on the top of the temple. He waved to the others hiding under the city wall and then squeezed inside.

Swish swish~

He practically slithered in.

This ruined temple was buried by the wind and sand. Sand poured in from a breach at the top, filling it unevenly. The entrance area required bending over to enter, otherwise, their heads would hit the temple roof.

The interior of this ruined temple was very spacious, like a grand hall. The back half wasn't filled much with sand, still standing three to four meters high and seven to eight meters wide. The entire space was at least a hundred square meters.

The group followed him in, feeling as if they had entered a luxurious villa. Everyone was so excited they were close to tears.

Outside, the wind and sand still howled, but inside, the sound of the sandstorm was faint.

"Old Hu, Mingzi, Heaven hasn't abandoned us! It's given us such a great place to hide from the sandstorm. I thank the heavens," Fatty exclaimed, his gratitude to heaven and earth as explosive as his temper when he cursed them. Hu Bayi knew him best.

"Comrade Hu Ming, Elder Hu likes you, which is why he sent an envoy to welcome you. As for us, we all owe you for being able to reach this house that shelters us from the sandstorm. And my camels, we owe you for finding the city wall to avoid danger," An Liman said, placing one hand over his chest and bowing slightly to Hu Ming. Hu Ming just smiled. Elder Hu likes me? Don't kid yourself! What Elder Hu, it's nonsense. This place to escape the sandstorm is a structure left by the ancient people who lived here. If anyone deserves thanks, it's them.

"Sister Yang, what's wrong?" Ye Yixin crouched beside Yang Xueli, placing a hand on her shoulder, asking with concern.

"Sand got in my eyes, it's a bit uncomfortable, but it'll be fine in a moment."

At this moment, Hu Bayi commanded, "Fatty, take some people to move all the supplies in. Mingzi, go find some dry firewood nearby. We'll spend the night here..."

After giving his orders, Hu Bayi went to Yang Xueli's side and blew the sand out of her eyes.

Hu Ming happened to see this and couldn't help but curl his lips.

She tactfully stood up and walked over to Professor Chen.

"Professor, how are you?" Hu Bayi gave Professor Chen a few sips of water. He had been lying on a mat resting since waking up. Seeing Ye Yixin ask him, he smiled weakly, "I'm fine, Little Ye, don't worry."

"Professor, the desert is really dangerous. We..." Ye Yixin sighed, then swallowed the words she was about to say.

Swish swish~ Hu Ming slithered in, holding dried sand wormwood in his arms.

A moment later, Fatty, Sa Dipeng, and Chu Jian arrived, carrying supplies on their backs and in their arms.

With the solid fuel and the sand wormwood, a bonfire was lit.

Outside, the sky was now experiencing a true sandstorm. The sky was completely overcast, and the wind and sand raged, as if the end of the world had arrived.

Swish swish!

The roof was covered in a thick layer of sand and soil, but some parts had broken open, and dust leaked through. If it continued to leak like this, the temple would be filled in no time.

The group chose a spot away from the leaks.

Sitting around the bonfire, two big words were written on everyone's faces.

Despair.

Except for Hu Ming, of course.