Chapter 64

The Su family members all received orders to freshen up and change into their new clothes, presenting a completely renewed appearance, not at all like people who had been in the desert for nearly a month. According to the elders of the Su family, this was the greatest respect they could show to an Inner Qi Realm expert.

Even after doing all this, everyone, including Su Shiyuan and Zhang Heng, felt a heavy weight in their hearts because they did not know how the Inner Qi Realm expert would treat them. The feeling of their lives being in someone else's hands was truly terrible. Among everyone, it seemed only Hao Qi and Lan Ling'er were completely unworried, walking the most relaxed of all.

"Hao Qi, I'm not surprised that Lan Ling'er isn't worried, but why are you acting as if you're going home?" Zhang Heng, seeing Hao Qi's fearless expression and his interest in constantly observing the oasis ahead, couldn't help but ask, feeling a bit annoyed.

"No, I am worried," Hao Qi replied, somewhat surprised. "But being worried doesn't mean being afraid. Besides, who says that being worried and afraid means you have to be overly cautious? This is a unique landscape. If we really have to fight to the death with an Inner Qi Realm expert later, wouldn't it be a waste not to enjoy it now?"

Zhang Heng was speechless, unsure whether to praise Hao Qi for his thick skin or his fearlessness. But no matter what, such a carefree attitude was truly enviable. In fact, recalling their meeting during the avalanche, Hao Qi had never shown any fear, and Zhang Heng truly admired people who could live so freely and simply.

Actually, Zhang Heng didn't know that Hao Qi wasn't always so carefree. His carefree attitude came after Lin Xiong's death, when he broke through to the Inner Qi Realm without rest, avenged Lin Xiong, and then faced an ambush. That psychological journey had thoroughly tempered him, both from his past life and his current one. In the end, standing to face death, he achieved ultimate transcendence. Since then, Hao Qi had truly dared to face his true self. At that moment, he found himself.

"Throughout my life, I have never cultivated good karma, only loved killing and arson. Suddenly, the golden chains are broken, and the jade locks are shattered. Ah! The tide of the Qiantang River comes, and only now do I know who I am."

Hearing Zhang Heng's question about whether he was worried or afraid, Hao Qi suddenly thought back to his time in the Blue Shadow Republic's orphanage, and then through elementary school, middle school, and university. He had been afraid and worried every day, with too many thoughts and concerns, ultimately leading to regret. When he was ambushed by Wang Diao and faced death standing up, he didn't even think about the resurrection in the system or that it could actually bring him back to life. At that moment, he truly believed he was going to die, and that mindset had truly unified his spirit. From that moment on, he was truly himself. Thinking of all this, a passage from "Water Margin" about Lu Zhishen suddenly came to his mind, and he recited it without hesitation.

Hearing this, Zhang Heng repeated it a few times and then exclaimed, "Great words! The passion in these words is truly admirable. But where is the Qiantang River? In the Blue Shadow Republic? It must be a grand scene. And the line 'today I know who I am' is truly impressive."

"Don't get hung up on the details! I've told you so many times!" Hao Qi grumbled, his eyes once again fixed on the oasis ahead. He had made up his mind as soon as Su Shiyuan agreed to go to the oasis. A meal's worth of gratitude, a promise of life and death, it was that simple.

If the Inner Qi Realm expert really attacked them, Hao Qi would burst forth with all his strength to save Su Shiyuan and Zhang Heng, no matter what. This was his promise and his resolve. Since he had made up his mind, why be afraid? It was better to enjoy the scenery along the way, to see what others had not seen, to seek what others had not sought, and to gain what others had not gained. Even if he were to die, seeing one more unseen landscape would be a worthy death.

Speaking of which, the oasis ahead was truly a beautiful sight.

Hao Qi, a former shut-in, had never been to the desert. The oases he had seen on TV and in movies were always blurry and seen from others' perspectives. Only this oasis in front of him gave him a sense of the green shock in the desert.

Since entering the Endless Death Desert, Hao Qi had hardly seen any green plants. Even in the previous desert tribe, there was only a small depression with a water pond, surrounded by some nearly withered desert plants. Apart from that, it was just sand, sand, and more sand.

Although the desert itself was also awe-inspiring, like the sea, someone who had never seen it before would be amazed and broadened in heart and mind. But after a while, the unchanged scenery would inevitably become tiresome. At this moment, seeing the oasis was like eating a large piece of ice-cold watermelon on a hot summer day, refreshing and soothing.

The oasis in the distance was truly vast. Even from a distance, it looked like a large, lush green area, dense and verdant, more like a forest in the mountains or a grove on the plains. It covered at least 15 to 16 square kilometers, all green trees. Although most were desert plants, such as palm-like and cactus-like plants, their abundance gave a forest-like feeling.

In the center of the oasis was a bright white area, like a lake, reflecting the sunlight and looking quite dazzling. The lake was quite large, and there were many buildings around it, even small fishing boats on the lake. It seemed to be the life-giving lake of the entire oasis and the tribe.

In the vast desert, the appearance of a lush green oasis, along with a very comfortable-looking lake, made everyone feel very comfortable. They all wanted to go to the lake and the shade of the trees, away from the scorching desert sun.

With this in mind, everyone slowly approached the oasis. Lan Ling'er, who was at the front of the group, was initially excited as they neared the oasis, but as they got closer, her expression became increasingly serious. By the time they were close to the oasis, her expression was almost tearful, and she kept urging her riding beast to run faster.

Actually, by this point, the Su family members and Hao Qi and Zhang Heng all felt something was wrong. They were very close to the edge of the oasis, and even if there were Inner Qi Realm experts in the Sutuka desert tribe, the defenses should not be so lax. This was the western part of the Blue Sea, a lawless area in the Death Desert. Who knew if some desperate people, unaware of the Inner Qi Realm expert, might sneak into the oasis and cause chaos? There should definitely be guards here, but they saw no one, which was very suspicious.

Everyone quickly followed Lan Ling'er to the edge of the oasis. Su Shiyuan immediately rushed forward and hugged Lan Ling'er, preventing her from entering the oasis directly. The others also stopped at the edge of the oasis, and a commotion broke out among the Su family members.

Clearly, something had happened in the Sutuka tribe in the oasis. They could already see the situation inside the oasis. There were no guards on the periphery, and no one was in sight inside the oasis. The entire oasis was eerily quiet, empty like a ghost town. In fact, just standing outside the oasis, one could see that it was a very prosperous desert city, with the unique wind and sand-resistant architecture of the desert. Due to the vastness of the oasis and the abundance of water, the desert city was very large and prosperous. But at this moment, there was not a single person in the entire desert city...

Lan Ling'er was held by Su Shiyuan, but she was obedient and did not struggle to rush into the oasis. She just silently cried in Su Shiyuan's arms, indicating that her relationship with the Sutuka tribe was indeed deep, and she might even be from the tribe.

After hugging Lan Ling'er, Su Shiyuan immediately instructed the Su family members, "First, check for any toxins in the area. Everyone, prepare antidotes and take them at any time... immediately!"

Following Su Shiyuan's instructions, a few Su family members immediately ran out, holding silver needles and other poison-detection tools, and began testing the sand and air in the area. After a moment, they all reported that there were no toxins, neither in the sand nor in the air.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, Hao Qi and Zhang Heng also walked to Su Shiyuan's side. Su Shiyuan, looking at the crying Lan Ling'er in her arms with pity, said to Hao Qi, "Would you accompany me to investigate the oasis? Just you and me."

Su Shiyuan's meaning was clear to Hao Qi. The strongest here was Hao Qi, followed by Su Shiyuan. The other four Su family members were weaker in the Inner Qi Realm. In this situation, it was impossible for the entire group to enter the oasis directly. The best choice for investigation was the two strongest people, who could support each other and had the best chance of survival if anything happened.

"Sure, I'll go with you."

Hao Qi did not hesitate, nodding in agreement. He and Su Shiyuan then gathered their Inner Qi and, in the blink of an eye, rushed into the oasis, heading towards the deserted desert city.