Chapter 433: Someone?

He looked at Xiao Er and Lu Qi: "What on earth is happening?"

Xiao Er stepped forward, clasped his fists and bowed: "Elder Xuan, the Xibei Daying suddenly suffered an epidemic, with many falling ill. It was only discovered today that Third Young Master has already contracted the disease."

"Don't you have any doctors?"

Xiao Er glanced at Tuan Tuan, realizing he could no longer hide it, gritted his teeth: "The army doctor said that for Third Young Master, in as few as three days or as many as five… he will die from a high fever."

Tuan Tuan turned to look at him, completely stunned: "Third Brother!"

This disease is really that terrible!

"No wonder. A few days ago we delivered food, but we only left it outside the camp gate and didn't let it be moved inside."

Xuan Fu Weng asked: "Is this disease characterized by dry cough, high fever, red rashes on the body, vomiting and diarrhea, with excrement tinged with blood?"

Lu Qi was startled: "How do you know, sir? It is indeed so!"

Xuan Fu Weng remained silent for a long while, then gently brushed away the tears on Tuan Tuan's face: "Don't worry, Grandpa will think of a way for you."

Tuan Tuan stared at him: "Grandpa! You're the best, you have a solution, right?"

Xuan Fu Weng looked at her bright, sparkling eyes, and felt a sharp tug in his heart.

He had lived over sixty years, roamed the jianghu, and had long become indifferent to life and death, yet Tuan Tuan's gaze burned him so much that he could hardly sit still.

He sighed: "More than a hundred li north of here lies a desert called Tengge Li."

"Deep within the desert there is an oasis that the elders call Gui Tong."

"The lake water in that oasis can cure all poisons and is especially effective against the epidemic."

Tuan Tuan turned and was about to run out: "I'll go right now!"

"Wait!" Xuan Fu Weng called her back, "The difficulty is that no one knows where Gui Tong is!"

Tuan Tuan was stunned.

"When I was young I heard the elders say that once, when the epidemic broke out, the symptoms were exactly those I just described."

"At that time a passing camel trader brought three large water skins, saying they were brought back from Gui Tong."

"Of the people who drank that water, eight or nine out of ten survived."

"But where that camel trader came from and where he went are unknown, and the matter of Gui Tong became a legend."

Tuan Tuan, with a serious face, said: "Grandpa, I'm going to find it; I will definitely find it."

Xuan Fu Weng pulled her into his arms: "Child, that's a desert!"

"During the day it's hot enough to fry an egg, at night cold enough to crack stone."

"When a sandstorm rises, the sky and earth change color; it's not a place you can go."

"I'm not afraid!" Tuan Tuan looked at him, "Third Brother is waiting for me, and so many uncles have the same disease, they're also waiting for me."

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged glances, stepped forward together: "We'll accompany the Miss."

Xuan Fu Weng looked at them, silent for a long while.

The men of the Horse Gang glanced at each other; no wonder the gang leader looked at this Little Princess with special regard—truly impressive!

He only thought of his own brother, but also remembered the soldiers in the Main Camp.

The scar‑faced man couldn't help but speak: "Elder, how about I take a few brothers…"

"You can't," Xuan Fu Weng shook his head, "In the desert it's not about numbers, but luck, it's destiny."

He patted Tuan Tuan's little head: "Since you've decided to go, Grandpa will prepare your gear. Whether you can find it depends on your fate."

Half an hour later, three camels were ready, bearing bulging bundles and water skins on their backs.

Xuan Fu Weng personally inspected each item: "These are dry rations and water enough for ten days; the dry food is fine, but you must ration the water."

"This is a thick felt blanket; wrap it around you at night to sleep."

"This is a compass, but once you enter the deep desert, it may not work reliably."

He took a small leather pouch and slipped it into Tuan Tuan's hand: "Inside are salt‑sugar blocks; when you feel unwell, remember to suck on one."

He also took out three palm‑sized copper bells: "One each for you, take them."

"The desert is endless; if you get separated, you can follow the sound to find each other."

Tuan Tuan changed into the narrow‑sleeved short tunic that children of the Horse Gang often wear, her small face half covered by a windproof hood: "Thank you, Grandpa!"

Xuan Fu Weng handed her a short staff, its shaft jet black with a cloudy glass bead set at the tip.

"What is this?"

"It's called a 'Water‑Probing Rod', something I happened upon years ago."

"It is said that in the desert, if you insert it into a place with heavy moisture, the glass bead will change color. Grandpa hasn't tried it either; take it with you, maybe it will be useful."

Tuan Tuan took it, and it looked quite nice.

"Thank you, Grandpa! Grandpa, you're so kind!"

Xuan Fu Weng said seriously: "When you enter the desert, remember three things."

"First, always stay with the camels; they know better than people where it's safe."

"Second, set out early or late; at midday you must find a shady spot to rest, and you must not rush, for once you are exhausted, survival becomes very hard."

"Third," he paused, "no more than five days; if you still can't find Gui Tong, turn back immediately. If water runs short, kill a camel and drink its blood."

"Returning alive is more important than anything."

Xiao Er and Lu Qi clasped fists and said: "We will remember!"

Xuan Fu Weng rubbed Tuan Tuan's hair, looking at the two: "Both of you, take good care of her; no matter what, bring her back alive."

Xiao Er's expression tightened: "Even if we die, we won't fail!"

Lu Qi tightened his knife at his waist: "Grandpa, rest assured."

Xiao Er lifted Tuan Tuan and placed her on the camel's back.

The camel shivered a few times as it rose; Tuan Tuan quickly clutched the hump, her small body swaying until she steadied herself.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi also mounted their own steeds, and the three bade farewell and departed.

Xuan Fu Weng watched as the three camels slowly disappeared into the distance, murmuring, "Tuan Tuan, you must come back safe."

Along the way, the three hardly ever left the backs of the camels.

They walked for several hours, and when night fell, they finally reached the edge of the Tengger Desert.

Xiao Er looked around by the moonlight: "Miss, let's find a place to rest here tonight and enter the desert at dawn."

Tuan Tuan clung to the camel's hump, her small face flushed red from the wind, and she shook her head vigorously: "Third Brother can't wait; we must keep going."

"If I sleep a little less, Third Brother can get that water sooner."

Xiao Er's throat moved, and he said nothing more.

Lu Qi replied, "All right! Let's keep going!"

After walking another hour, the wind whistled through the gaps between the dunes, making a low, wailing sound,

the chill pierced to the bone.

Lu Qi raised his hand and pointed ahead: "That spot is suitable! Let's take shelter from the wind there!"

Tuan Tuan followed his gaze and saw a huge rock half-buried in the sand.

The portion exposed above the sand stood several zhang high, casting a dark shadow in the moonlight.

The three approached the rock, and Xiao Er leapt down first, lowering Tuan Tuan to the ground.

Tuan Tuan reached out her small hand and touched the rock wall: "Second Uncle! Seventh Uncle! This stone is warm!"

"Really?" Xiao Er reached out and touched it, "Indeed it is!"

Lu Qi also tried it: "I've heard before that desert stones absorb heat during the day and can stay warm for several hours at night."

"Perfect! By leaning against this stone we can block the wind and stay warm!"

The two adults took down the felt blankets and dry rations.

The three sat down against the warm rock wall, and Xiao Er wrapped Tuan Tuan tightly in a thick felt blanket, placing himself and Lu Qi on her left and right to shield her.

After eating a few bites casually, fatigue surged in like a tide.

Almost instantly, they all fell into a deep sleep.

At dawn, Lu Qi was the first to open his eyes, a sensation like a prickling on his back making him shudder.

"Anyone there?"