Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Before nightfall, Qu Yixian set up camp at the “Little Oasis,” twenty kilometers from the Guhe River Valley.

The “Little Oasis” wasn’t a real oasis—it was still part of the Gobi. But compared to the barren Yadan terrain, this patch of ground could grow grass, had firm sand, and was suitable for a temporary rest.

After setting up camp, she couldn’t sit still. She hitched a ride back toward the Guhe Yadan and headed out again in a flash.

Yuan Ye had just been relieved and was about to go into the tent to wash his face. Seeing Fu Xun standing alone in front of the G-Class with its hood open, he thought the car had a problem and hurried over, being overly attentive.

In the camp, aside from the logistics support team inside the tent, only the two of them were outside.

Yuan Ye didn’t bother lowering his voice and called out before reaching him: “President Fu.”

Fu Xun glanced sideways. Seeing Yuan Ye, his eyes instinctively scanned toward the Guhe River Valley—several off-road vehicles had just refueled and were now driving in a staggered formation, moving toward the Yadan cluster.

Yuan Ye followed his gaze and turned back: “That’s my Qu Lord. He swapped me out, then went back himself.”

He glanced at the G-Class with concern. “What’s wrong with the car? Any trouble?”

Fu Xun leaned against the car and said: “Cooling.”

Under normal driving, a car has its own cooling system, so this wouldn’t be necessary. But Fu Xun’s modified G-Class had immense power and performance—everything from tires to mechanics was top-tier.

Today alone, Qu Yixian had used the G-Class to tow vehicles five or six times, not to mention leading the sweep of the Guhe Yadan perimeter. The water temperature could easily hit the limit.

Even just standing in front of the car, it felt scorching.

But with Fu Xun there, Yuan Ye, unlike Qu Lord, had no knowledge of his background. Leaving this big shot standing here could cause trouble—forget Peng Shen, he himself couldn’t handle it.

Unless Fu Xun found him annoying.

Fu Xun watched the off-road vehicles disappear into the distance, then took a cigarette from the pack, tapped it, and handed it to Yuan Ye: “Where’s your team leader?”

He meant Peng Shen, the actual leader of the Xinghui Rescue Team and the true head of the Xinghui convoy.

Qu Yixian and Jiang Yuan’s graduation trip had been led by him.

“Gone to a meeting,” Yuan Ye smiled. “The government has supported private rescue teams in recent years and often organizes training and exchange events. These kinds of official interactions usually fall to Peng Ge.”

Peng Shen had been severely injured during the search for Jiang Yuan. His back and waist were still weak, he couldn’t drive for long, and gradually he left field leadership to focus on administrative work for the rescue team.

Fu Xun knew a little and nodded. “How’s his health?”

Yuan Ye didn’t answer directly. “The team leader’s flight back to Dunhuang is tonight. He asked me to have you stay one night and get together.”

Fu Xun kept a low profile. If he hadn’t registered for rescue with Xinghui this time, Yuan Ye wouldn’t even know he was in Dunhuang, nor would he have bothered sending supplies to Qu Yixian later.

If he had known Qu Lord’s cruiser would get stuck on a sand ridge, even given a hundred chances, he wouldn’t dare call Fu Xun.

Fu Xun, unaware of Yuan Ye’s inner regrets, thought for a moment and agreed: “Once things here are done, I’ll go back to Dunhuang with you.”

After speaking, he saw two vehicles in the distant desert, seemingly moving side by side. He glanced at his watch and raised an eyebrow: “Call everyone back. It’s time to eat.”

—

The supplies were brought from Dunhuang city to the camp.

All day, the search had made no progress. After Qu Yixian set up camp, Fu Xun assumed she planned to conduct a night search. He also arranged for Sheng Zi to order fast food from Dunhuang.

Qu Yixian had little appetite. After finishing her meal, she grabbed a large folding stool and sat under the camp spotlight to draw maps.

She connected Yumen Pass to the sand ridges, then drew several Yadans to the northwest of the ridges. Next, she circled in bold the last lost point on the sand ridge and the Guhe River Valley Yadan where Xun Haichao had abandoned his backpack.

Fu Xun passed by, stopped, and glanced at it.

The shadow fell over her paper, dimming the map. She frowned, ready to scold. Looking up and seeing Fu Xun, her expression shifted instantly.

She forced a smile, kicked the folding stool beside her, and gestured for him to sit down and talk.

Fu Xun didn’t hesitate. Tattooed arms reaching past hers, he took the hand-drawn map and glanced over it.

Then, he looked at her.

Every motion he made could be broken down—every frown and knit of his brows carried precision and deliberation.

Qu Yixian looked away, took the map back, and placed it on her lap: “I draw, you watch.”

On a simple route map, she began breaking down the details.

She was among the first rescue forces to enter the desert for the search. From Yumen Pass, heading west to the sand ridges, she had located Xun Haichao’s last known point of disappearance along the predicted route.

At this point, her rescue team split from one into two, heading north from the sand ridge disappearance point.

Passing through the Guhe River Valley Yadan, they found the backpack he had abandoned. This location was set as the center of the search, with a 100-kilometer radius outward.

She tore a blank sheet, listing dates and times.

Yesterday at 3 p.m., after discovering the missing point, the rescue team went directly from Yumen Pass to the sand ridge, searching for nearly two hours.

By 7 p.m., she found Xun Haichao’s abandoned backpack in the Yadan.

Around 8 p.m., due to the sandstorm, all rescue teams were forced to leave the desert and suspend the search.

The next morning at 9 a.m., the four-person rescue group she represented broke camp and headed to the Guhe Yadan.

By 2 p.m., a total of twelve rescue vehicles and twenty-five personnel assembled outside the Yadan cluster.

She wrote quickly, clearly organized, using diagonal lines to mark today’s search range, then pushed the two sheets to Fu Xun: “An ordinary person can walk 30 to 50 kilometers, someone with good stamina 70 kilometers, only a freak can surpass 100 kilometers.”

Today’s search was within a 100-kilometer radius—completely reasonable.

But the person?

It was already dark, and not even a shadow had been seen.

Fu Xun had almost participated in the entire latter half of the rescue. How she deployed her team, how she formed the grid—he saw it all, finding little to criticize.

Moreover, because of her experience, she had effectively bought Xun Haichao nearly twenty extra hours of survival.

At this point, the rescue was already in its late stage.

Any further delay meant retrieving a body.

Qu Yixian’s frustration and tension were understandable.

“The convoy splits into two groups, six vehicles each, working day and night shifts. The search range starts five kilometers from the center of the Guhe River Valley, conducting a net-style sweep.” Fu Xun took the black marker from her hand and added an arrow pointing outward from her hastily drawn Yadan mark, labeling it with numbers.

“Each vehicle in the convoy carries radios to communicate. In case of emergencies, each must also carry a walkie-talkie and signal flares to ensure teams don’t lose contact during night searches.”

“Additionally…” Fu Xun gave her a deep look.

Qu Yixian, having already organized her thoughts, responded quickly: “Additionally, coordinate a helicopter on standby to take off at first light tomorrow to join the rescue.”

An eagle patrolling above could see farther than any convoy.

Qu Yixian had mentioned helicopter participation to Yuan Ye from the beginning, but at the time Xun Haichao’s personal information was still unclear, not to mention contacting the family.

Helicopter rescue was expensive, starting at 40,000 per hour. Without family confirmation to cover the cost, who would take responsibility?

Add to that last night’s sandstorm, and aerial visibility today was worse than on the ground. Even with a helicopter, results would be minimal, which is why she hadn’t suggested it earlier.

But now, it had come to a critical life-or-death moment. Hesitation would risk missing the last chance to rescue.

When Yuan Ye approached, he overheard and casually asked, “Have Xun Haichao’s family agreed to use the helicopter?”

Qu Yixian smiled nonchalantly: “Let the rescue team handle it. If it really comes down to it, don’t we still have a wealthy investor? Throw money at it. Every time equipment is bought, he never questions it. Let him front it.”

Yuan Ye felt a tightness in his throat, secretly glancing at Qu Yixian’s “wealthy investor.”

Oh no.

His eyebrows knitted, his gaze fierce—her half-smile, half-threat looked like a reckoning!

He thought Qu Lord was doomed…

If Fu Xun misunderstood the use of investment funds, it could be explained. But if he angered this money goddess, there’d be no saving himself!

Yuan Ye swallowed hard and raced his thoughts—maybe he should just reveal Fu Xun’s identity.

Qu Lord, so resourceful… best to settle this in the no-man’s land, convenient for burying bodies afterward!

He had just cleared his throat when Fu Xun seemed to sense something, silently giving him a look.

Yuan Ye blinked once, then twice, and quietly shut his mouth.

He felt he needed a vacation—anywhere, the North Pole or South Pole… the farther, the better!

——

8 p.m., the rescue continued.

By this point, the rescue no longer required skill; it was all about racing against time.

Qu Yixian personally led the team, patrolling from the first half of the night to the second half. Two flashlights had already burned out from overuse. Seeing the faint light of dawn on the horizon, she closed her aching eyes and turned to Fu Xun: “Why don’t you rest for a bit? I’ll get out and walk.”

After speaking, she got out of the car on her own.

The desert before dawn was silent and gentle.

In the distance, vehicle headlights cast half the sky pale, like ink stains fading, revealing a hint of deep blue.

Qu Yixian stopped, bit the cigarette, and cupped the small flame of the lighter to the tip.

Once lit, she inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, flicking the ash lightly from the cigarette.

The ash from the burning cigarette had not yet fallen before the wind and sand carried it away, like fireflies in the dark, flying off with the wind. Soon, it vanished completely.

After finishing the cigarette, she felt more alert.

Returning to the car, she intended to take a half-hour break for herself and Fu Xun. Just as she lowered her seat, she heard Fu Xun call: “Qu Yixian.”

Qu Yixian turned, mid-yawn, still half-open, and heard him say: “We’ve been overlooking one thing.”

After a brief silence.

Fu Xun pointed to the sand hill where she had just smoked: “Last night, the wind and sand came through.”

Qu Yixian instinctively knew what he was about to say was crucial and pricked up her ears.

“Our conventional thinking assumes that in such harsh weather, he would find a place to shelter from the sandstorm. At dawn, he’d wait there for rescue.” His eyes lowered slightly, looking at her: “But the Yadan mounds themselves can be moved in a single night. Have we forgotten to consider the worst-case scenario?”

Earlier, he had been watching her smoke through the windshield. Seeing the wind sweep the ash into the sand, he was suddenly awakened to the possibility.

Qu Yixian’s rescue plan was flawless, and her arrangements were meticulous—but why couldn’t they find him? Perhaps that person… had already been buried under the sand during last night’s storm.