Chapter 28
The group trudged through the dunes of the endless desert, their footsteps muffled by the fine, powdery sand. The sun had set hours ago, leaving the world in a peculiar state of darkness. Though they had braced for the desert’s harsh cold, they hadn’t anticipated what they saw, or, rather, what they didn’t see, then night fell.
"No moon or stars," murmured the red-haired girl, Mei Lin, breaking the silence. She craned her neck, her fiery locks swaying as she scanned the featureless sky. "It’s like the heavens forgot this place exists."
"You know, I think I find the fact that there is even ’night’ or ’day’ in this cave more absurbed than the fact that there is not any stars" Cheng Rong muttered.
Feng Jiao Xue remained silent, her cold gaze fixed on the horizon. The darkness here was different, a void that swallowed light and sound, leaving only the faint shimmer of magic that flickered occasionally from their enchanted torches.
"It’s eerie," whispered one of the younger cultivators, hugging his knees. "But also... kind of peaceful?"
Han Qing, ever the vigilant shadow of the crown prince, narrowed his eyes. "We should make camp. Staying in one spot will allow us to conserve energy." His voice was clipped, but even he seemed slightly subdued by the strange tranquility of the desert night.
The group found a relatively flat area near a cluster of jagged rocks and began to set up camp. Feng Jiao Xue moved with practiced efficiency, her movements fluid and silent. She barely acknowledged the others, preferring to focus on pitching her tent and lighting her personal lantern, which glowed faintly blue.
As the night deepened, the air grew colder, prompting the group to gather around a central fire pit. The flickering flames cast elongated shadows on the sand, their warmth a welcome reprieve from the desert chill
Mei Lin broke the tension first, pulling a small sack from her pack. "Guess what I brought?" she said, her voice filled with mock mystery.
Chang Rong raised an eyebrow, his regal features softening ever so slightly in the firelight. "If it’s not poison, I’ll be impressed," he quipped.
Mei Lin rolled her eyes. "Very funny" She reached into the sack and produced a bundle of marshmallows, a few skewers, and a small jar of chocolate spread. "I thought we could make... what do you call them? Sweet charred clouds?"