Chapter 18 Departure, Jealousy

The echoes of Xie Yuchen's phone call seemed to still linger in the room, but Zhang Qiling's arm had already moved from Hei Xiazi's waist and instead rested on the edge of the table beside him, forming a semi-encircling position. Her chin was still resting on Hei Xiazi's shoulder, and her breath brushed against the side of his neck, carrying a stubborn itch.

"That's enough," Black Bear said, turning his head slightly to avoid the attack, a smile playing on his lips. "That Xie Yuchen kid isn't even fully grown yet, aren't you getting a little jealous too soon?"

Zhang Qiling didn't say anything, but gently rubbed her forehead against the skin of his neck, like a large feline confirming its scent. After a few seconds, she straightened up and looked at him calmly: "It's not jealousy. It's confirmation."

Hei Xiazi knew perfectly well that this silent fellow, reborn, had transformed his initial insecurity into an almost obsessive possessiveness. He raised his hand and rubbed the tense muscles on the back of Zhang Qiling's neck: "All confirmed? There's no one else here besides you."

The undercurrent in Zhang Qiling's eyes finally subsided completely. He nodded almost imperceptibly and turned to tidy up the map spread out on the table.

Over the next two days, the Zhang family overseas continued to send over equipment. Besides their usual family heirlooms, several sets of high-quality desert camouflage combat uniforms and matching tactical gear were also delivered. Hei Xiazi picked one up, examined it, and whistled, "Not bad, they've upgraded from rags to riches. Aning's been quite generous this time?"

Zhang Qiling was sheathing a jet-black dagger with a blade gleaming with an eerie blue light when he heard this, without even looking up: "The usual price. She needs a real expert to handle things."

That's true. Over the years, they've collaborated with Aning's complex exploration company more than once, and they know each other inside and out. Aning provides the money and equipment, and they contribute their expertise; it's a mutually beneficial partnership.

"The Palace of the Queen Mother of the West," Zhang Qiling spread out a new desert map, pointing to an area marked with complex Yardang landforms, "the entrance might be deep within this shifting sands. Aning's team will meet at the supply point outside Devil City tomorrow."

Black Bear leaned closer to examine the map, raising an eyebrow slightly: "This place is incredibly eerie. Ah Ning's getting bolder and bolder."

"She has her own purpose." Zhang Qiling's tone was flat, clearly uninterested in A Ning's motives and only focused on the mission itself. "There are two of us in the team, responsible for equipment and route security." He was referring to the helpers that the Zhang family had planted overseas.

On the eve of their departure, the two did a final check of their equipment. Zhang Qiling handed the short knife to Hei Xiazi: "It's new, for self-defense."

Hei Xiazi took the knife; it felt heavy in his hand, the handle wrapped with a non-slip cord, the craftsmanship excellent. He twirled the blade, finding it smooth to handle. "Has it been quenched?" He recalled the blood quenching method Zhang Qiling had mentioned before.

"Hmm," Zhang Qiling responded, his eyes saying it all. He then took out two more geological prospector certificates that were almost flawlessly forged.

Late at night, lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), still with a fist's distance between us, but the air was filled with a sense of impending doom.

"Dumb," Black Bear turned to the side, "the water's muddy this time, and what about Aning's side..."

"Stay close to me." Zhang Qiling interrupted him, turning around as well, her gaze burning in the darkness. "Don't trust anyone except me."

Black Bear chuckled, stretched out his hand, and precisely grasped Zhang Qiling's hand across the short distance: "Nonsense, who else would I follow if not you?"

Zhang Qiling gripped it tightly with his backhand, his knuckles turning white with force.

Early the next morning, a modified off-road vehicle picked them up and drove deeper into the desert. A few days later, they arrived at a makeshift supply point on the outskirts of the Devil City. Several off-road vehicles bearing the logo of Aning Company and supplies were already in place, and a group of people in uniform desert clothing were making final preparations.

Ah Ning was standing next to a car looking at a map. When she saw them get out of the car, she deftly rolled up the map and greeted them with a smile: "Master Zhang, Master Hei, we've finally arrived! Was the journey smooth?" Her tone was familiar, with the casualness of old partners.

"Thanks to Miss Tuoning, she wasn't buried by the sandstorm." Black Bear took off his sunglasses, breathed on them, wiped them with the corner of his clothes, and replied with a roguish grin.

Ah Ning turned her gaze to Zhang Qiling, her smile becoming more solemn: "Mr. Zhang, we'll have to rely on you again this time." She knew that this taciturn Mr. Zhang was the true pillar of strength.

Zhang Qiling nodded slightly as a greeting, then his gaze swept across the camp and quickly locked onto two seemingly ordinary team members in the crowd—members of the Zhang family from overseas. The other party also nodded very slightly in response.

"The equipment has been checked and supplies are plentiful." Ah Ning pointed to a modified off-road vehicle. "As usual, you two will drive this 'lead vehicle' to scout the way and deal with any emergencies."

After settling in, the desert night fell quickly, and the temperature plummeted. Inside the tent, even wrapped in his sleeping bag, Hei Xiazi felt the chill seep into his bones. "This godforsaken place..." he couldn't help but mutter.

As soon as he finished speaking, the sleeping bag next to him rustled. Zhang Qiling moved over, bringing with her a chill, but without hesitation, she reached out and pulled him, sleeping bag and all, into her arms. Her body heat transmitted through the thin fabric.

"Come closer." Zhang Qiling's voice rang out above him, deep and brooking no refusal.

Black Bear's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, leaning closer to the heat source. The chest pressed against his back was broad and firm, the heartbeat steady and strong. "Mute," he mumbled, "your bed-warming service is getting better and better."

The person behind him was silent for a moment, then tightened their grip, whispering in his ear, "Just for you."

The exploration team set off early the next morning, venturing deep into the Devil City. Yellow sand filled the air, and jagged rocks made the route exceptionally difficult. Aning, the experienced leader, maintained a tight schedule. Zhang Qiling and Hei Xiazi drove the lead vehicle, guiding the convoy through the complex Yardang landforms with their superb skills and intuition.

A few days later, one afternoon, the sky suddenly darkened, and the distant horizon turned into an ominous, dim yellow.

"A sandstorm is coming." Zhang Qiling looked at the sky, his tone grave.

Aning ordered the convoy to find shelter via radio. But the storm arrived faster and more violently than expected; gale-force winds whipped up sand and gravel like giant waves, instantly reducing visibility to extremely low levels. The convoy was scattered, each fighting its own battle.

Zhang Qiling jerked the steering wheel, forcing the car into the ground beneath a massive, wind-eroded cave. Just as they came to a stop, he heard A Ning's urgent voice through the radio: "All vehicles report! Vehicles three and five have lost contact! Repeat, vehicles three and five have lost contact!"

As the storm subsided and visibility improved slightly, Zhang Qiling and Hei Xiazi immediately drove out to search. A few kilometers away, behind a sand dune, they found three overturned vehicles—the very ones driven by the overseas Zhang family team members. The vehicles were severely damaged, but the two team members, relying on their experience, managed to abandon the vehicle in time and sustained only minor injuries.

However, at the bottom of a sandy valley further away, they discovered another five-cart, half-buried in sand. Beside the car, a young figure lay slumped in the sand, almost completely covered by the yellow sand—it was Wu Xie. (This is a personal interpretation; Zhang Qiling and Hei Xiazi set off earlier with Aning, missing Wu Xie, and later encountered him in the desert. Since this isn't the original story, there are slight changes, so please understand.) Judging from the situation, he seemed to have entered this area either with another team or alone, and unfortunately encountered danger in the sandstorm.

Zhang Qiling quickly stepped forward and examined Wu Xie. Wu Xie had simply fainted from exhaustion. Zhang Qiling signaled to Hei Xiazi for help, and the two of them together lifted Wu Xie into the carriage.

Just as they were about to return, Hei Xiazi spotted a nearly buried figure in the sand pile not far away. He rushed over, dug through the sand, and found it was Xie Yuchen! His face was pale, his breathing weak, and his condition was worse than Wu Xie's.

"Dumb man! There's another one here! It's Xie Yuchen!" Black Bear shouted.

Zhang Qiling immediately came over, and after examining Xie Yuchen, he frowned slightly: "Dehydration, mild heatstroke." Without hesitation, he squatted down and carried Xie Yuchen on his back. His movements were swift and efficient.

Hei Xiazi was stunned for a moment, then realized—it was because he had previously said that he treated Xie Yuchen as a junior, and had even considered raising her as a "daughter." This silent fellow was taking care of the person he cared about in his own way.

The two settled Wu Xie and Xie Yuchen in the car and returned to the camp. Aning and the other team members also returned to the team one after another. After taking a headcount, they found that all the team members were safe except for the two of them.

Back at the relatively safe camp, after settling the wounded, Hei Xiazi walked over to Zhang Qiling, who was drinking water, and nudged him with his elbow: "Hey, mute."

Zhang Qiling turned her head to look at him.

"Thanks." Black Glasses gestured with his chin towards the tent where Xie Yuchen was resting. "That kid, I watched him grow up, after all."

Zhang Qiling looked at him without speaking, but simply reached out and gently wiped away a speck of sand that had somehow gotten stuck on the tip of Hei Xiazi's nose with the pad of her thumb. The movement was natural, but her eyes were deep.

"Next time," Black Bear lowered his voice, a hint of mockery in it, "could you give me a signal before carrying someone on your back?"

A barely perceptible smile flashed across Zhang Qiling's eyes, and he gave a very soft "hmm".