A comprehensive overview of tombs: starting with the Yellow Weasel's Tomb

However, when he heard what Director Wang said, he seemed indifferent.

No matter what Director Wang said, he just mumbled something unintelligible.

Upon seeing this, Hu Bayi couldn't help but recall what Director Wang had said earlier, and an idea immediately came to him. He said, "Director Wang, why do those camels outside look so listless? Are they about to die?"

Upon hearing this, Director Wang, whether he understood or not, quickly responded with an "Ah!"

Upon hearing this, he immediately became anxious: "Wang Bawan, what did you promise me before? Didn't you say you would treat my camels well? Are you trying to kill my camels?"

Upon hearing this, Director Wang quickly offered a few explanations.

Then Director Wang seemed to understand something and said, "As long as you can help the country complete its mission, the camels will be returned to you."

Then everyone said some kind words and said they would return the camel to him.

That's why he agreed to be everyone's guide.

He asked Director Wang, "Wang Bawan, if I can lead them into the desert, will you return the camels to me?"

Upon hearing this, Director Wang repeatedly agreed to return the camels, and then added, "Without camels, how can you lead them into the desert?"

He immediately smiled and said, "We're friends, we're friends."

However, Shirley Yang then asked hesitantly, "The windy season is almost here. Are you sure you can take us into the desert now?"

Hearing this, he replied with a nonchalant expression, "Windy season? I have no idea what a windy season is. I can go into the desert all year round."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions immediately brightened, and Shirley Yang solemnly said, "Then thank you."

Chapter 150 Preparing to Set Off in Search of the Ancient City of Jingjue

After completing the formalities at the police station, the group followed Anliman and the camels out of the police station and returned to the place where Anliman usually fed the camels.

But at this moment, Anliman no longer mentioned going into the desert, and instead focused on feeding his camels.

Seeing this, Shirley Yang had no choice but to ask the old Taoist Anliman, "Uncle Anliman, when exactly can we set off?"

However, Anliman seemed deaf, continuing to feed the camels while muttering, "These people don't know how to raise camels at all. My camels have all gotten thin."

At this moment, Bai Jing and Hu Bayi had finished the formalities and registration and returned. Seeing this, Bai Jing couldn't help but ask, "What's going on now?"

The fat man was waiting at the door, seemingly anxious about when they could finally set off. He immediately asked, "Hey old man, when are we finally leaving? Everyone's waiting for you."

To this, Anli replied without turning his head, "That depends on when my camels are well-fed and watered."

Upon hearing this, Hu Bayi became a little impatient and immediately asked, "When will your camels be able to eat and drink their fill?"

Anliman, without turning his head, said, "That depends on you."

Hearing this, Shirley Yang understood. This was purely a delaying tactic. For a moment, Shirley Yang didn't know what to say, so she said to Hu Bayi, "We wait for him, he waits for the camel, and the camel waits for us. What does this mean?"

Please forgive Shirley Yang. After all, she grew up in the United States. Even people from her own country who lack experience might not be able to understand such convoluted language. Let's not make things difficult for an American girl.

But Bai Jing understood at this moment and immediately said to Shirley Yang, "He just wants money."

Hearing Bai Jing's words, Anliman finally turned around and said with a smile, "It seems there are still smart people. How can you buy food and drink without money? And how can my camels be fed and watered without food and drink? Even if I don't want money, my camels still need to be fed and watered."

Shirley Yang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. In her opinion, any problem that could be solved with money was a minor one. She then asked directly, "It's okay, just tell us how much money you want. You just need to tell us when you can leave."

Anliman was overjoyed upon hearing this. He stopped feeding the camels, wiped his hands, and said, "With money, things are much easier. We can set off soon then."

At this point, everyone no longer trusted Anliman. Shirley Yang was afraid that Anliman would change his mind again, so she immediately asked, "When is 'soon'?"

Anliman immediately replied, "Then let's wait two months."

Upon hearing this, even Bai Jing was somewhat taken aback.

Don't they know that the typhoon season will end in two months?

However, the ancient city of Jingjue can only be found during the windy season. If we wait two months, what's the point of looking for it?

Then Shirley Yang excitedly said:

"If we wait another two months, the windy season will be over. What will we do in the desert then? Didn't you say you could go into the desert all year round?"

Upon hearing this, Anliman replied matter-of-factly, "That's right, I can go into the desert all year round, but I've never encountered a windy season."

Shirley Yang immediately pulled out her notebook and said, "We absolutely cannot wait two months, nor do we have two months. We must enter the desert during the windy season to find the ruins of the ancient city of Jingjue. At least that's what the notebook says."

Bai Jing understood that this was because the sand on the ruins of Jingjue Ancient City would only be carried away by the wind during the windy season, allowing everyone to see the ancient city. Otherwise, once the windy season ended, the ancient city would be buried under the sea of ​​sand again.

After some more coaxing and cajoling, and with Hu Bayi secretly threatening Anliman about the origin of the silver buckle around his neck, Anliman reluctantly agreed to be everyone's guide.

In return, Shirley Yang will buy all of Anliman's camels at double the price, and will return the camels to Anliman after the matter is settled.

These conditions are undeniably good.

According to what Bai Jing had learned, the town's tour guides could only buy a quarter of a camel at most when they took people into the desert.

Anliman usually earns about half a camel's worth of money by leading a group on a round trip to the desert, which takes about ten days.

The reward Anliman received this time was equivalent to several dozen times the original amount.

This was compounded by Hu Bayi's threats.

After careful consideration, Anliman finally agreed to the event, but said, "I need to prepare for a while."

Hu Bayi immediately asked, "How long?"

Anliman calmly replied, "Ten days."

Upon hearing this timeframe, Hu Bayi immediately shook his head and said, "Ten days won't work, the day after tomorrow."

After saying that, Hu Bayi patted the pendant around An Liman's neck and continued, "The day after tomorrow!"

After saying that, he left the courtyard. Bai Jing glanced at the pendant around An Liman's neck.

He knew that the current laws were not perfect, and that something that shouldn't have appeared on Anliman's neck was likely to go to jail if things were investigated.

Anliman was definitely unwilling to go to jail, and in the end he had no choice but to compromise.

After returning to their lodgings, everyone began preparing supplies.

The group decided to start from Bosteng Lake and proceed along the ancient Peacock River route for this mission.

In this way, for the first half of the journey, everyone can rely on the still-flowing river water in the Peacock River Ancient Road to replenish their water supply. Only when the river dries up in the second half will everyone use the water they have brought with them.

Time flew by, and the appointed time arrived. Early on, everyone began to pile the houses by the roadside, waiting for Anliman's camel to arrive so they could put the things on the camel's back and set off.

Soon, Anliman arrived leading his camel.

Then everyone started loading supplies onto the camels.

A moment later, Hu Bayi returned and gave Fatty a musket.

The caliber of this gun is too small; it can only hit small targets like rabbits. While it could injure a person, it would most likely not be fatal.

But it's better than nothing, right?

In no time at all, everything was ready.

Thus began the search for the ancient city of Jingjue.

Chapter 151 Sandstorm

Before setting off, Anliman gave his final instructions: "If we encounter wind, then saving your life is the most important thing. Don't blame me then."

No one took Anliman's words seriously, since if a strong wind really came, it would be up to each person to decide what to do.

And so, on the last day of March, this team of ten people finally set foot in the desert.

Although it was only March, the daytime temperatures in the desert were already quite high.

With Anliman, a living map of the desert, and ample supplies of water, food, and medical equipment, everyone was full of confidence for the operation.

Perhaps it was because it was his first time entering the desert, but the white guy was incredibly excited.

As with the route everyone had agreed upon beforehand, they initially set off from Bosteng Lake and headed south along the Peacock River Ancient Road.

Bosten Lake means "oasis" in Uyghur, and it is the largest inland freshwater lake in my country.

The "near sea" in the "Book of Han, Records of the Western Regions" and the "Dunhongpu" in the "Commentary on the Waterways Classic" both refer to this lake.

The lake's water comes from the Kaidu River, which in turn originates from the melting snowmelt from the Tianshan Mountains.

Snowmelt from the Tianshan Mountains flows into Bosten Lake via the Kaidu River, and the Peacock River originates from here and flows into the depths of the Taklamakan Desert.

The group walked peacefully through the desert for two whole days.

At this moment, everyone has not yet left the section of the Peacock River where the water flows.

Seeing that the journey had been peaceful, everyone couldn't help but start joking around.

"Didn't Uncle Anliman say that the desert is full of dangers? But where is there any danger here?"

Sadi Peng must have been too free these past few days, because he couldn't help but crack a joke.

Upon hearing this, the fat man immediately chimed in, "He has to say it's dangerous so he can get more money."

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

But the more Bai Jing walked, the more he felt a sense of unease.

At first, the feeling of palpitations wasn't strong, but as the group moved forward, Bai Jing noticed that the water flow in the ancient Peacock River channel beside them was getting weaker and weaker, and the feeling became stronger and stronger.