Chapter 130: A New Identity

Although Ning Xiu had already put a great distance between himself and Lingnan, and Shen Sanqian must have been severely wounded—if not killed—by that strike, it was highly unlikely that he would be able to send anyone plunging into this vast Gobi Desert to hunt him down. Still, out of an abundance of caution, Ning Xiu donned a new skin mask and adopted an alias.

"I wonder what brings a young man like you into this Death Desert, and how you came to be separated from your companions?" Peng Wanli asked, looking down at Ning Xiu without dismounting from his camel.

"My fellow disciples and I came here in search of the legendary Twin-Flower. I never imagined that the sandstorms in this strange desert would be so fierce. Two days ago, I woke up to find everyone else gone, and I myself was nearly buried alive by the sand," Ning Xiu replied, his eyes clear and sincere.

This was the cover story he had prepared, perfectly aligned with the persona he had cultivated: a naive, headstrong youth who had plunged into the Death Desert in pursuit of a nebulous dream of striking it rich.

"He’s got some nerve, venturing in here without the slightest knowledge of the desert’s weather or terrain. If we hadn't happened upon him tonight, he’d likely have been nothing but a pile of bones in this vast Gobi within a few days," a crisp voice remarked suddenly.

The comment was light, but everyone present was sharp-eared and observant; to those who heard it, the remark only made the atmosphere more awkward. The speaker was the only woman in the caravan, Peng Jiali, the daughter of the team leader, Peng Wanli.

Peng Wanli shot his daughter a stern look before turning back to Ning Xiu. "How about this, Brother Ding? Our caravan is heading to a nearby oasis to trade some goods. You might as well join us."

"Thank you, Uncle," Ning Xiu said with a bashful, grateful smile.

Under Peng Wanli’s arrangements, Ning Xiu was mounted on a camel—a first for him in both this life and his previous one. It was a bit crowded with three people on one camel, but Ning Xiu didn't mind. He felt incredibly fortunate to have encountered this group; otherwise, he might have spent who knew how long wandering this desert like a headless fly.

Through conversation and introductions, Ning Xiu learned that Peng Wanli’s caravan hailed from Quanyang Prefecture. For generations, their family had worked as "sand-merchants," engaging in the business of buying and selling. They transported daily necessities from Quanyang into the desert, exchanged them for local specialties, and then returned to Quanyang to sell them. After generations of exploration, they had finally established a fixed, safe route.

The oasis they were currently heading toward was where Peng Wanli’s group planned to conduct their next trade. As time passed, the two sides grew more familiar. Peng Wanli asked a few more questions, but Ning Xiu, having prepared well, answered them flawlessly. His story was a blend of truth and fabrication, making it impossible for the average person to detect any flaws. Though Peng Wanli’s guard was not entirely down, it had certainly relaxed from his initial wariness. He even found, to his surprise, that he could talk quite easily with the young man.

As for the girl, Peng Jiali, she held no malice; she was simply blunt, as was typical for someone of her innocent age. In her world, people spoke their minds. Naturally, Ning Xiu was not one to bicker with a young girl. Once they were better acquainted, he began to ask Peng Wanli for information about the Death Desert and the oasis ahead. Peng Wanli spoke freely about general knowledge that any seasoned sand-merchant would know, though he remained tight-lipped regarding his family’s business affairs, including the specifics of their secret route. A safe path was something the Peng family had paid for with untold amounts of blood. Given the complex and ever-changing landscape of the desert, Peng Wanli was not worried that Ning Xiu would be able to memorize the map after just one trip.

"Once we reach Springwater City, you might even be able to find news of your companions," Peng Wanli said, looking at Ning Xiu.

"If that were true, it would be wonderful," Ning Xiu exclaimed, "from the heart."

Seasoned sand-merchants who frequented the Death Desert usually chose to travel at night, after the sandstorms had passed. During the midday hours, when the sun was at its peak, they would rest to conserve their strength. Along the way, Ning Xiu learned many such practical tips. For instance, the venomous tail-scorpions found everywhere in the desert: their poison was concentrated solely in their tails, and if one were starving, they could be eaten for sustenance.

According to Peng Wanli, one simply had to remove the tail to make them edible, and the method was simple: eat them raw. Moments ago, urged on by the others, Ning Xiu had taken a bite. It was a testament to his acting skill that he—a man effectively immune to most low-to-mid-tier toxins—could feign the trepidation of a novice, drawing gales of laughter from young Peng Jiali. *I should have just gone with the 'aloof swordsman' persona from the start,* Ning Xiu thought, shaking his head inwardly.

"Not far ahead is Springwater City," Peng Wanli said with a smile. He was growing quite fond of the young man, but when he turned, the smile on his face instantly stiffened.

Noticing the change in Peng Wanli’s expression, Ning Xiu looked ahead and saw another caravan approaching from the right. It was much larger than theirs, consisting of twenty or thirty people and even more camels, most of which were heavily laden with goods. The other party had evidently spotted them as well. The leaders of the group spurred their camels forward, galloping rapidly toward them.

"Who are they?" Ning Xiu asked, curious about the menacing group of sand-merchants.

"The Heaven Wind Trade Guild," a young man beside Ning Xiu whispered with a frown. "They’re from Quanyang Prefecture, just like us. It’s no wonder you don't recognize them since you're not from there. These guys don't get along with us at all. Every time we cross paths, nothing good comes of it. Who knows what kind of trouble they're looking to stir up this time."

Ning Xiu nodded slightly. It seemed to be a matter of commercial rivalry; with so many families in Quanyang Prefecture relying on the desert for their livelihood, such friction was only natural.

Within moments, the Heaven Wind Trade Guild reached them. It had to be said that in the desert, a camel’s speed was nothing to scoff at.