Chapter 327: Starting from the Newbie (1/3)

“Did everyone sleep well?”

In the multimedia classroom, Qin Yun looked at the five of them and smiled faintly.

After a full day of rest yesterday, Fang Yuan, Ryan, Tanaka Aoi, Elizabeth, and Qin Yuwen had clearly gotten to know each other and no longer seemed awkward; each wore lightweight, durable training uniforms, and after morning exercises, they all looked energetic and alert.

“Pretty good!” “Very nice!” “The dorms here are comfortable.”

Amid the chorus of replies, Qin Yun turned on the projector.

“Good. This morning, we’ll focus on three core theories—the foundation of desert survival: terrain recognition, climate assessment, and danger prediction.”

On the screen appeared an aerial photograph of the Taklamakan Desert, endless dunes crisscrossing in every direction.

“First, terrain recognition. We all know deserts aren’t flat—fixed dunes, semi-mobile dunes, purely mobile dunes, salt-alkali hardpan, hidden quicksand pits—each terrain type differs drastically, and so do the risks. Who can tell me the defining characteristics of a purely mobile dune, and what its most lethal hazard is?”

After drawing lots, Qin Yun had already provided them all with relevant materials and insisted they memorize every detail.

His gaze swept over the five, finally settling on Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan felt as if he’d been transported back to middle and high school, that familiar scalp-tightening sensation of being singled out by a teacher returning once more.

He scratched his head, stood up, and recalled what he’d read: “Uh… purely mobile dunes have no vegetation to anchor them, the sand is loose, and the entire structure shifts continuously with the wind… the most… most lethal hazards are: first, no fixed landmarks, which can disorient you; second, the slope hides a layer of soft, flowing sand beneath—it’s easy to get trapped when you step on it.”

“Basically correct.” Qin Yun’s approval made Fang Yuan exhale slightly.

…

“Dunes have gentle slopes and steep slopes—the gentle slope is the windward side, so the steep slope is naturally the leeward side, because wind and sand constantly erode the windward side, piling sand gently, while sand slips down the leeward side, making the slope steeper. By observing the uniform orientation of the entire dune field, we can quickly determine wind direction—this is the key to avoiding sandstorms and setting up temporary shelters.”

Shuowan ， Qinyun 『 Pa 』 Deyixiajiangbijibenzhijieheshang 。

“Alright, that’s enough theory for the morning. Let’s go eat. After lunch, rest for an hour, then begin simulated desert field training.”

The group, having sat all morning, immediately relaxed.

Of the five, only Fang Yuan, Qin Yuwen, and Tanaka Aoi spoke Chinese, but only Fang Yuan didn’t speak English—he wasn’t completely clueless, just high school level: fine, thank you, and you.

So communicating with Ryan and Elizabeth was difficult; he could only rely on others to translate for him.

But for him, this was also an opportunity—it forced him to communicate in English, a method long proven to be the fastest way to improve language skills.

Following Qin Yun, the group arrived at the dining hall!

Because there were so few of them, Qin Yun wouldn’t settle for cafeteria-style fast food—he’d specifically hired a chef team to reside on-site and provide all three meals daily, each meal far exceeding the quality of any restaurant outside.

To accommodate different national dining habits, the menu was incredibly diverse.

Ryan and Elizabeth, for instance, had completely different tastes from the rest.

After lunch, following a one-hour nap, the group appeared at the artificial desert training ground of Liye Camp—though the thousand-square-meter fine yellow sand couldn’t fully replicate Taklamakan’s terrain, the artificially piled mobile dunes rose and fell in patterns nearly identical to those of a real desert.

Around the perimeter stood large temperature-control units, wind-simulation systems, and fine-sand spray devices, capable of precisely recreating extreme desert conditions: high heat, dry hot winds, and small-scale sandstorms.

When everyone stepped inside and the ground temperature was raised above 55°C, a wave of searing heat instantly washed over them—they immediately felt as if they’d been thrown into the scorching embrace of real desert sand.

The afternoon’s field training consisted of three core components: stable movement on sand, identifying and escaping quicksand, and avoiding danger in sandy winds.

In truth, every single lesson Qin Yun arranged wasn’t meant for anything else—it was to prevent them from encountering extreme, sudden situations; he wanted everyone, even if caught in danger, to survive until his rescue arrived.

It was impossible to master all desert survival skills in just a few days.

So when designing the curriculum, Qin Yun emphasized foresight—he wanted them to instantly recognize certain conditions, or when danger struck, to act immediately and avoid being swallowed whole in an instant.

Endless yellow sand, the air burning hot.

Six figures walked through it; apart from Qin Yun, all were deeply uncomfortable.

Even with cloth masks covering their faces, the wind stung their skin; under the extreme heat, sweat poured out rapidly, and their stamina drained at an alarming rate.

But the simulated area was only a thousand square meters; soon, they emerged again.

Qin Yun tilted his chin: “Tanaka Aoi, go back in. Observe carefully—see if you can get out successfully.”

Hearing this, Tanaka Aoi stepped back in without hesitation.

Qin Yun glanced at the others: “You’ll each go in next—observe closely.”

Then he signaled to the staff—the conditions inside the artificial desert instantly changed: the wind vanished, but the shape of the dunes shifted.

“Tanaka Aoi, there’s a quicksand pit somewhere in this desert now. See if you can identify it and navigate around it safely.”

Tanaka Aoi’s heart tightened; her focus sharpened instantly.

She was slender, youthful, brimming with energy.

“Slow your pace, plant your feet firmly, don’t lift them too high—this reduces stamina drain. In the desert, every bit of stamina is precious,” Qin Yun said calmly, watching from outside the artificial desert. “Lean your body slightly forward, walk along the dune’s natural contours.”

As Tanaka Aoi advanced, Qin Yun offered occasional guidance.

Fang Yuan and the others listened carefully—they knew he wasn’t just speaking to Tanaka Aoi, but to all of them.

“Crack!”

One foot stepped down—Tanaka Aoi’s face changed instantly; she felt a sucking, swallowing force seize her ankle, then her entire body was yanked forward—her left foot sank half a meter, throwing her off balance.

Seeing this, Fang Yuan and the others realized immediately: Tanaka Aoi had stepped into a quicksand pit—she hadn’t avoided the trap.

When the staff shut off the equipment, Tanaka Aoi pulled her foot free, her expression visibly disappointed.

“Normal. I didn’t expect you to identify it right away—even veterans get fooled sometimes, let alone a beginner like you,” Qin Yun reassured her. “Ryan, your turn.”

“Yes!”

Ryan, though Black, wasn’t a bulky brute—he looked even somewhat handsome, fitting Asian aesthetics.

Thus, each person took a turn—and each one, without exception, was pulled into a quicksand pit.

Qin Yun had anticipated this; he showed no disappointment.

Before ending the simulation, Qin Yun had them experience a sandstorm scenario.

When the wind machines activated, gales whipped up a blinding curtain of yellow sand—visibility vanished instantly, replaced by a hazy, dusty haze. The wind was fierce, the sand stinging their faces, perfectly simulating an emergency desert sandstorm.

In an instant, everyone panicked—their initial confidence and calmness were obliterated by the sudden storm.

In their panic, all theory vanished from their minds; within moments, the five lost their bearings and became separated from each other.

When the five-minute sandstorm ended, the five were scattered in five different directions, looking utterly lost.

“This sandstorm only simulates one percent of the real thing—actual ones are a hundred times more terrifying.”

Qin Yun’s voice echoed across the training ground.

“Remember how I handled a sandstorm in the Qaidam Desert? Qin Yuwen?”

Qin Yuwen brushed sand from her hair, thought for a moment, then said: “Find shelter immediately.”

Qin Yun nodded. “Correct. At the time, I immediately sought shelter, crouched down, curled my body, covered my mouth, nose, and eyes with clothing, and waited quietly for the storm to pass. Remember: sandstorms are beyond human resistance. All we can do is endure—but how you endure matters.”

“When you encounter a sandstorm, turn your back to the wind and sand immediately—never face it. Then, look for shelter, wait it out, and never get separated. Don’t move randomly—any unnecessary action can lead to unpredictable consequences. Understood?”

“Understood!” the group replied in unison.

Qin Yun nodded, waved his hand: “Get ready. Meet in the multimedia classroom at seven after dinner—we’ll learn how to identify and judge edible plants and animals in the desert.”