The blazing sun still scorched the seemingly endless yellow dirt road.
Heat waves rising from the ground warped the distant scenery, blurring their vision.
The family of four moved slowly yet resolutely through this parched, earth-yellow landscape, leaving behind four sets of footprints of varying depths, soon quietly covered by the occasional gust of dust.
Unlike before, scattered figures of travelers had begun appearing on the road.
The first was an old farmer driving a dilapidated ox cart.
The old farmer's skin was dark, his face carved with weathered furrows. He wore a tattered straw hat and sat hunched over on the shaft, letting a gaunt old yellow ox pull the cart along at an unhurried pace.
The cart was piled with dry grass and several empty bamboo baskets, creaking and groaning as its wheels rolled.
When the old farmer saw Ning Chuan's family approaching, especially Ning Dazhuang's brand-new hunting bow, a flicker of surprise passed through his cloudy eyes, though numbness outweighed it.
He merely lifted his chin slightly in greeting before sinking back into his own world, joining the old ox in enduring the long road and scorching heat.
Ning Dazhuang opened his mouth, intending to step forward and ask for directions, but Ning Chuan gently stopped him with a look. Ning Chuan shook his head slightly and said in a low voice, "Dad, no hurry. Let's watch first."
Ning Chuan sensed the old farmer's deep exhaustion and reluctance to get involved. If they approached rashly now, they probably would not get any answers and might instead arouse unnecessary suspicion.
They had only just arrived. Keeping a low profile and remaining cautious were their highest priorities.
Understanding, Ning Dazhuang nodded, tightened his grip on the bow strap over his shoulder, and silently passed the ox cart by.
Holding