Chapter 569
Chapter 569 Poison You to Death
As the large caravan pressed deeper into the boundless desert, the air became increasingly scorching, and the climate progressively drier. The sweeping wind and sand made it impossible for people to keep their eyes open.
But there was more to worry about. As they ventured closer to the heart of the Sea of Death, the wind, bringing the sands along with it, grew more and more violent. Day or night, the furious sand filled the sky, tainting it a vivid orange-yellow. Tall walls of sand, like spinning tops, roared and howled as they charged at the caravan, burying everyone in a sea of yellow sand. Even breathing became extraordinarily difficult. The further they ventured, the more terrifying the Sea of Death revealed itself to be.
In such conditions, not only did their pace slow considerably, but supplies became increasingly scarce. Each day, dozens of warhorses collapsed and died in the sand, and the soldiers were showing signs of dehydration.
"If this continues, I'll be dried up," Gao Qiu gasped, sticking out his tongue. The saliva he spat was yellow and full of sand. "This damned Sea of Death is no place for humans. When the hell are we getting out of here?"
Lin Wanrong's throat was dry as a desert. He swallowed hard, feeling his throat sore from dehydration. "Judging from our current direction, we should be about halfway through," he said, wiping his burning forehead with his sleeve, only to find it devoid of sweat. "Don't worry, Brother Gao. Considering the bleached bones we've discovered along the way, we're on the right path. Pioneers must have crossed the Lop Nur and reached the regions around Gaochang and the Tianshan Mountains."
At the mention of bleached bones, a chill ran down Gao Qiu's spine. Ever since they found the first bone, they had encountered countless remains over the past couple of days. The Silk Road was quite literally built on a pile of bones. Compared to those who had come before them, their only advantage was having slightly more men and horses.
"Gaochang? Tianshan?" Hu Bugui furrowed his brows. "I've heard of these places but it seems we've rarely had anyone reach them."
Lin Wanrong nodded. "Then let's be the first to get there. Tianshan is a magnificent place, filled with birdsong and breathtaking scenery. There's a snowy pond at the peak, where, as legends have it, the daughters of the Jade Emperor bathe. Crossing over the Tianshan Mountains leads us to the Altai Mountains. From there, we can re-enter the Alxa grassland from the northwest, cross Khovd and Uvs Lake, and reach the Turkic royal court in Kyzil."