Left with no other choice, Zhu Dagui and his companions packed their bags, took plenty of water and dry rations, and began their trek. Yun Liu, supporting the old Taoist priest, slowly followed behind Zhu Dagui. The sand beneath their feet was soft and difficult to traverse; each step required considerable effort, and soon everyone was panting heavily. The blazing sun relentlessly baked the earth, turning the desert into a giant sauna. Sweat seeped from their foreheads, quickly evaporating in the intense heat, leaving only streaks of white salt on their skin. Some began to show symptoms of heatstroke, their steps unsteady, their eyes glazed. Zhu Dagui, while supporting another weakened man, shouted encouragement to everyone.
Water quickly became the most precious resource, and everyone strictly controlled their water intake. Even so, everyone's water bags visibly deflated. Yun Liu could only carry two water bags, and he had already finished one. Looking at the old Taoist's increasingly pale face, he was extremely anxious. He hoped to find any signs of water in the surrounding area, even the slightest glimmer of hope.
As the day drew to a close and night fell, the temperature plummeted, the cold biting at their skin like knives. They hadn't brought enough warm clothing and could only huddle together, shivering as they endured the long, cold night. The desert night was far from peaceful; the distant howls of wild animals kept their hearts in their throats.
As time went by, the team's progress slowed down more and more on the second day. Exhaustion, lack of water, and fear of the unknown weighed heavily on everyone's hearts like three mountains. But they all knew that stopping meant death, so they could only grit their teeth and move step by step towards Ruoqiang City.
Yun Liu helped the old Taoist priest, their steps slow, and they were quickly left far behind by Zhu Dagui and the others. The old Taoist priest spoke weakly, "Sixth Brother, I can't walk anymore. Let's find a sheltered place to rest for a while. I have something to say."
The two arrived at a dead poplar tree not far away. The old Taoist priest leaned against the tree and slowly sat down, his breath weak: "My time is coming to an end. I'm afraid I will leave this world today. Sixth brother, after I die, bury me under this poplar tree, so that I can face the direction of my hometown in Sichuan Province." After saying this, he was like a candle flickering in the wind, his breath as faint as a wisp of smoke.
Yun Liu, tears streaming down his face, cried, "Master, we disciples will risk our lives to bring you back. Please drink some water and hold on for one more day; perhaps we'll meet Maimaiti's camel caravan." After a long while, the old Taoist priest struggled to open his eyes, his voice barely audible, "Sixth Brother, obey my command and bury me here. You return to Sichuan Province with Zhu Dagui and the others. Do not forget what I entrusted to you: unite well with your fellow disciples and carry forward the Taoist culture..." With that, the old Taoist priest passed away peacefully.
Overwhelmed with grief, Yun Liu trembled as he picked up a wooden stick and a dagger, laboriously digging in the desolate desert of Loulan in the Western Regions. Every movement was filled with endless sorrow. After painstakingly digging a pit, he carefully placed the old Taoist's body facing Sichuan Province into it, gently covering it with clothes, as if afraid of disturbing the peace of the deceased.
Then, Yun Liu scooped up handfuls of soil with both hands and buried him, weeping uncontrollably. In the desert winds and sand, his cries sounded so sorrowful and desolate. And so, the old Daoist Yi passed away peacefully, his body forever remaining beneath this vast desert, accompanied by the half-finished celestial book and the silver hairpin.
Time flies, and decades have passed in the blink of an eye. By a twist of fate, a person by chance obtained the relics of Master Yi, thus beginning a new legendary story and continuing the mysterious chapter belonging to this desert.
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