Тhе sun sеt in thе wеst.
"Аh, I сan't go оn аnуmоrе! Let's rest for а whilе! Just a while!" Su Zhiming рlopреd dоwn, tооk оff his backрack and tossed it asidе, thеn grabbеd his watеr bоttlе аnd gulpеd dоwn mоuthfuls оf wаter.
Zhаng Tianen wаtсhed thе water levеl in the bottlе graduallу drор, his еуеs сlouded with wоrrу.
Abоut 100 mеtеrs behind, Хiaо Аi dragged hеr bаckрack, swaуing unsteadily аs shе triеd to сatch up. Аftеr wаlking less thаn 50 mеtеrs, shе соllaрsеd to thе ground just likе Zheming. Thоugh she didn't gulр wаtеr frantiсаllу, hеr exprеssion clearly shоwed she wantеd to turn baсk.
Sincе lаst night, Xiаo Ai had been feeling unwell, with little strength in her body.
Today marked their fifth day in the desert, yet they had only covered half of the planned distance. Moreover, Zheming and Xiao Ai's stamina was severely depleted—they had to sit and rest every two or three hundred meters.
To avoid the scorching daytime heat, they had adjusted their schedule: starting their journey in the evening, resting for a few hours at midnight, and walking again at the first light of dawn before setting up camp around 10 a.m. Even so, their progress remained painfully slow.
Zhang Tianen knew that the first five days were nothing compared to the challenges ahead. The latter half of his planned route was where the real test began. However, given the current situation, insufficient stamina was a problem, but an even bigger issue was their rapidly depleting water supply. Perhaps influenced by too many TV dramas, Zheming and Xiao Ai stubbornly believed there must be an oasis in the desert, thinking it wouldn't matter even if they ran out of water. Optimistically, it might take another five days to walk out of the desert, but they had already consumed two-thirds of their water.
When you first enter the desert and face the vast sea of sand, you might feel excitement. But after trekking for three or four days, with nothing but endless yellow sand in sight every time you open or close your eyes, aesthetic fatigue sets in. You no longer feel curiosity or affection for the undulating dunes. When supplies run low, all that remains is fear and despair.
Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild also ventured into the desert, where he found stacked rocks and dug less than a meter to find water. But looking around, there were no rocks, not even a blade of grass. The cactus Xiao Ai and Zheming had planned to plant had long been discarded somewhere, left to fend for itself.
The desert is like this: it strips away your illusions and worldly comforts, forcing you to confront life and death, yet it gives you no time to ponder them. The only thing you must do is survive.
When Xiao Ai finally caught up with them, Zhang Tianen made a difficult decision. "Xiao Ai, Zheming... maybe you two should go back."
They both froze for a moment. Xiao Ai nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes!"
Zheming half-opened his mouth, gazing at the countless sand dunes ahead. Over the past few days, despite constantly drinking water, his lips remained dry and peeling, with some parts even cracked and bleeding. Brown sunspots had appeared on both his cheeks.
Xiao Ai looked at him expectantly, hoping he would agree.
"How are we supposed to go back..." Zheming murmured.
"Find a sheltered spot and wait," Zhang Tianen said. "It's been five days since we entered. I'm sure our parents have noticed we're unreachable by now. They'll report it to the police, who will quickly trace the flights and trains we took. By asking the locals, they'll learn we came here for hiking. Then, the rescue operation will begin."
Xiao Ai stared blankly at Zhang Tianen, momentarily at a loss for words.Zhang Tianen continued, "As long as you stay where you are and don’t move, they’ll drive in to search... They might not find you right away, but if they extend their route, they’ll soon discover you and bring you out."
"Be rescued out?" Zheming suddenly stood up, "That won’t do! It’s too humiliating! We’d be talked to death if we went out! Laughed at! People would just think we’re idiots!"
Xiao Ai felt somewhat disappointed, biting her lower lip without speaking. Her chest felt tight, her head ached terribly, and waves of dizziness washed over her.
"Rescue might already be on the way. Maybe in an hour or two, they’ll drive here," Zhang Tianen felt he could still hold on, but he couldn’t continue traveling with these two. For one, they would only keep consuming his water, and for another, if anything happened, he couldn’t bear the responsibility.
"I promise you, from now on, I’ll only drink half a bottle of water a day, okay?" Zheming insisted on moving forward, making a vow, "If I drink even one extra drop, I’ll be a grandson!"
"But..."
"No buts! Since I decided to come here, even hiding it from my parents, I’m determined to walk out on foot! This is the only crazy thing I’ll do in my life, and there won’t be another!" Zheming almost shouted himself hoarse.
His family was of modest means. His parents only ran a small business, earning some money, but later, due to their limited vision, they didn’t expand the business and gradually declined. The three of them squeezed into a narrow shop—the front half was the storefront, and the back half was where they lived. His parents’ bedroom and his own were separated by a large wardrobe, making it particularly inconvenient.
Outwardly, he appeared sunny and cheerful, but inwardly, he was deeply insecure, especially after starting university. Some of his classmates lived in villas, others were academic prodigies. His grades were average, and his family had nothing to boast about—except for his good looks.
He had pursued Xiao Ai, who came from a well-off family. Some said he was just a pretty boy living off her wealth.
He had to have something he could be proud of, something to serve as the foundation and support for his confidence in life. I’m not a pretty boy—I once trekked across the Badanjilin Desert. This was the glory within his reach.
"Zhe... Zheming... I..." Xiao Ai’s face turned pale as she clutched her chest, looking extremely uncomfortable.
"What’s... wrong with you?" Zheming stepped forward to support her.
After asking a few questions, Zhang Tianen said, "Xiao Ai might be suffering from heatstroke."
Zheming asked in confusion, "It’s already October. How can she still get heatstroke?"
"The days are still too hot," Zhang Tianen replied, swallowing the second half of his sentence—insufficient hydration.
He rummaged through his bag and found Huoxiang Zhengqi Water and Rendan, instructing Zheming to give them to Xiao Ai.
After drinking the Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, Xiao Ai instead vomited it all up.
With no other choice, they had to find a place to rest. Zhang Tianen’s mind was in turmoil. He knew that if they gave up the trek and turned back now, even if they didn’t encounter rescue, everyone would be fine. But his own stamina and supplies were still enough to complete the journey. Without the burden of these two, he could move even faster.
A lizard appeared on the ridge of a sand dune, seemingly looking up at something.
Without much hope, Zhang Tianen followed the lizard’s gaze and was slightly taken aback. In the distance, there seemed to be a caravan of camels, and he could even hear the faint sound of camel bells.
"What’s that!" Zheming also saw it and pointed.
Xiao Ai, who had been drowsy, struggled to sit up and look. "Is that rescue coming?"The three of them stared for a long time, but the camel caravan flickered in and out of view, never quite coming into clear focus.
Su Zhiming glanced at Xiao Ai, seemingly caught in a dilemma as well. Zhang Tianen could understand his hesitation. He wanted to press on, but he was worried about Xiao Ai. He was considering whether to call for help. If it really was the Rescue Team, then calling out would only result in all three of them being taken back.
Zhang Tianen stood up, ran a few steps, waved his dark red face covering, and shouted loudly, "Over here!! We're over here!!"
At that moment, what he thought was—never mind, there will be other days.
Zheming let out a heavy sigh, stood up reluctantly, and waved the baseball cap in his hand. "Hey—we're over here! Hey—"
They shouted for a long time, but the camel caravan showed no reaction at all.
Zhang Tianen coughed a few times, frowned, and suddenly fell silent. Zheming was about to shout again, but Zhang Tianen pressed his hand down, signaling him to stop. "It's no use. That... might just be an illusion."
"You mean—a mirage?!" Zheming rubbed his eyes. A scene he had only ever seen in books and movies now appeared before him, so real yet so illusory, like a bucket of ice water poured over his feverish head.
Zhang Tianen began to waver again, wondering whether they should continue.
The three of them sat dejectedly, momentarily at a loss. After a long while, Xiao Ai said, "I've dragged you two down. If I had known, I wouldn't have come in with you. Why don't you two go ahead? I'll wait here for rescue."
"That's too dangerous. No way," Zhang Tianen said firmly.
"Then we can only wait here for rescue," Zheming said in utter despair. Though he said it, it was clear he was a bit emotional.
Xiao Ai pursed her lips, a sense of guilt welling up inside her. She felt more and more like a burden, preventing the two of them from fulfilling their wishes.
"Have some water," Zhang Tianen said with concern.
"No!" Xiao Ai, filled with tangled emotions and nowhere to vent them, stubbornly refused.
"It's fine, have a little," Zhang Tianen insisted.
Xiao Ai pouted, tilted her head back, and took a few sips. "Tianen, I'm sorry."
Zhang Tianen's heart softened instantly. "Let's rest for a bit, then head back. If we run into rescue on the way, great. If not, we'll just keep walking."
"No need. I feel much better. We can keep going," Xiao Ai said with a stern face.
The two boys exchanged glances.
Xiao Ai stood up and glared at Zheming. "Let's go!"
"Or..." Zhang Tianen stood up and pulled a coin from his pocket. "Let's decide by flipping a coin. Heads, we keep going. Tails, we turn back. How about that?"
Zheming snapped his fingers. "Right, leave it to fate!"
On the vast Gobi, a blue road sign stood out prominently. Straight ahead was Shuangcheng, while a left turn led to Gurinai.
When Diao Zhuo and the others met up with the local rescue team, they heard that the public security department, led by locals, had already entered from Gurinai in the west of the desert and Badan Lake on the southern edge, searching along the way for the three college students. So far, there was no news.
The temporary rescue command center was set up inside the road workers' canteen. Some volunteers had already arrived, most from Inner Mongolia, with others coming from other provinces—all hiking and adventure enthusiasts.Brother Long stood before the map, stroking his chin as he studied the desert terrain and their planned route. His round figure blocked most of the map, and some curious onlookers asked about his background. Upon hearing his full name, they were slightly surprised and began whispering among themselves—
"You mean—he's Renlong Duoji?!"
"He doesn't look like that... Could it be someone with the same name?"
"He's gained weight, can't you tell?"
"He's a boss now, of course he's broader and heavier."
"You're all talking so excitedly, but how capable is he really?"
"I'm not sure about his exact capabilities, but among the few elite hikers in China who have survived unsupported traverses of routes like Ao-Tai, Langta C+V, Nianbaoyuze, the Locke Trail, the outer circuit of Meili, and around Genie Mountain, he's one of the rare ones."
"Holy crap! I want a photo with him!"
As a group of youngsters pulled Brother Long into photos, he looked utterly baffled, but that didn't stop him from flashing a harmless smile and raising both hands in a "V" sign. The scene was filled with joyous and celebratory harmony, as if the whole nation were rejoicing.
Bayunye turned her attention to the map. When he returned, she teased, "If you keep up these legendary traverses, you might become the top elite hiker in the country."
Brother Long rubbed his eyes, still dazzled by the camera flashes. Back in his youth, he had been brash and passionate, convinced of his deep emotions and lofty ideals, recklessly courting death. He had brushed past the gates of hell several times, only to be turned away. It seemed the King of Hell believed he still had unfinished business and unfulfilled wishes, making him unfit for death.
"Thirty years of fame are but dust and soil, eight thousand li of road are but clouds and moon."
Bayunye and Hippo were both confused by his poetic line, exchanging glances filled with question marks.
"Let's not dwell on the past," he said, tracing the conventional route on the map with his index finger. "At their pace, if everything goes smoothly, it would take them over ten days."
Bayunye typed "20+20+16=" into her phone calculator and got the number 56.
She said doubtfully, "The supermarket receipt from Baotou shows the three of them brought a total of 56 liters of water. Is that enough? Could it be too little? Maybe because Xiao Ai isn't strong enough to carry more?"
"Far too little," Brother Long stated firmly, pointing to the first resupply point along the way—Haershalaleji. "Unless they make it here smoothly."
Diao Zhuo strolled over. "The first batch of police officers who entered from Gurinai prioritized the resupply points along the route. They stationed people at Haershalaleji and Zhunsulitu, but so far, there's been no sign of the three."
"They've been in for over five days. By now, they should have reached Haershalaleji," Brother Long said. "Maybe they're moving slower than we thought, especially since two of them have never crossed a desert before."
"Or maybe they're not even taking this route," Bayunye speculated boldly, citing Zou Kaigui's case as precedent.
Brother Long frowned. "They only brought 56 liters of water. If they don't resupply along the way and rely on finding Hai Zi or oases, they'll only waste energy and time."
Hippo said, "When we took Zhang Tianen and the others to Urumqi, we heard he'd been on several hiking trips to extremely dangerous places."
"Where has he been?" Brother Long finally showed interest in someone else's hiking experience.
Hippo thought for a long time. "...Qiandao Lake's Muxin Valley, Emei's Golden Summit, Hong Kong's Mac... something..."Bayunye added, "Hong Kong's MacLehose Trail. I heard they went to Tiger Leaping Gorge not long ago."
Brother Long's expression remained unruffled, showing that in the eyes of seasoned hikers, Zhang Tianen's trekking experience was like child's play. He waited a while longer, but when neither Hippo nor Bayunye added anything more, he was surprised. "That's it?"
"That's it."
He rubbed his forehead. "Young people today are much bolder than I was back in the day."
The local rescue organizer, Officer Liu from the Public Security Bureau, walked in with a grim expression. "Hello, everyone. The phone signal tracking has failed. We suspect the three students' phones have completely run out of battery. We can only get the last location sent by their phones before they died, and it's estimated they've already moved far from there. The team members who entered the desert from the west and south have just met near the agreed midpoint, but unfortunately, none of them have spotted the three university students. It's basically certain that the three didn't follow the established routes taken by other hikers, or they've already gotten lost and deviated from the direction of the water resupply points."
Bayunye nodded, thinking to himself, just as expected.
"Just now, we received a new notification that weapons testing will be conducted deep in the desert tomorrow. We'll further coordinate personnel to participate in the search. Time is tight now, and lives are at stake. Please, all Rescue Teams, enter the desert immediately, avoid the weapons testing area, and make every effort to find the three young people as soon as possible."
Vehicles from the Inner Mongolia branches of each Rescue Team had already arrived one after another. Diao Zhuo waved and called out to the people around him, "Get in the car!"
OpenNovel