1212 The Burning Mountains (1/2)
Translated by XephiZ
Edited by Aelryinth
Zhang Xiaohou brought the man back to the team. The man seemed a little cautious when he saw so many people had gathered around him. His eyes were scanning the people like a wary beast.
”His name is Lin Feili, he seems to be a soldier who has failed to retreat in time around ten years ago. The return path was blocked off by the sand and the demon creatures, so he was stranded here for many years,” Zhang Xiaohou said, briefly explaining the situation to the team.
Everyone was astounded when they learned the man had been living in the desert for eleven years. How unyielding was this man? Loneliness was the hardest thing to overcome as a human being. Most people would suffer mental breakdowns if they were isolated for three months. Those that were isolated for a year would begin to have suicidal thoughts, yet the man had been living in the desert alone for eleven years. They were utterly impressed by his man's tenacity, not to mention that he survived in the territory of the demon creatures too!
”Feili, you're Lin Feili! Do you recognize me? I'm Tong Li, Qin Xiaoyu's brother. Lin Feili, I've lost contact with my sister. Do you remember where my sister Qin Xiaoyu was evacuated to? Please tell me!” Tong Li burst into tears when he heard the man's name. He grabbed Lin Feili's arm, as if he was the only hope he had found after so many years!
Lin Feili shook his arm free with a hostile look. The man seemed to have lost some rationality as a human after living in the desert for so long. He was easily spooked by the slightest movement around him.
”Tong Li, don't irritate him. He seems to be suffering from some mental instability. I can help him recover with the Psychic Element,” Jiang Shaoxu said.
”Sorry, I'm sorry, I'm just too excited! My sister's disappearance has been bothering me for so long, but I never had the chance to come to this place to search for her. I finally had the chance thanks to you all...” Tong Li said.
”So that's why you were so eager to come with us, but eleven years have passed since then. It's going to be difficult to find her,” Zhang Xiaohou said.
”The third year after I joined the army, my sister and her squadron received the order to patrol the area. The desert was not as dangerous back then as it is now. They were transporting goods between the relay station and the military base too. However, they lost contact with the relay station, and my sister has been missing since then, too...” Tong Li sighed.
The team listened to Tong Li as he shared his past.
The relay station at the oasis was once called the Taklamakan Relay Station. It used to be at the scale of a little town. The black rocks that were burned at a high temperature contained Black Rock Pistil, an important material for construction. Many cities in the west were built with rocks containing the Black Rock Pistil. It allowed Mages to construct buildings easily, as Black Rock Pistil contained an abundant supply of the Earth Element.
The Black Rock Pistil was the main reason why the Taklamakan Relay Station was extremely important in the past. The place would be garrisoned by soldiers, and Hunters would come to the relay station before entering the mysterious desert full of treasure waiting to be discovered.
However, on a certain day, a huge sandstorm took place in the Taklamakan Desert. The wind was strong enough to move sand dunes. The relay station was buried by the sand in a single night. The safe area ended up becoming a part of the demon creatures' territory!
The soldiers and the Hunters at the Taklamakan Relay Station all went missing, and Tong Li's sister, Qin Xiaoyu, was one of the victims. Tong Li could not get over it even after so many years. He finally gathered his courage and volunteered to join the team when he heard Ge Ming and his team were planning an expedition in the desert.
He knew it was unlikely that he would find his sister, but at least he had tried!
”I've calmed him down and helped to restore his memories. He should recover soon,” Jiang Shaoxu said.
”He's very familiar with the area. Perhaps he can bring us to the Burning Mountains?” Zhang Xiaohou asked.
The Burning Mountains were still a certain distance away from the relay station. It was impossible to tell how long it would take them to find the right place, since they only had the temperature as a guide. Spending an extra day in the desert meant placing themselves at a greater risk.
”How...how did you all come in here?” Lin Feili was more fluent after Jiang Shaoxu's help.
”How else could we possibly come in here? We just forced our way in, but it was a hell of a journey. We almost died on our way here. I really can't believe this area was once safe ten years ago!” Lu Fang answered.
”Lin Feili, you aren't weak, why didn't you try and leave this place?” Mo Fan asked curiously.
”I...I don't know either, maybe… maybe I've already gotten used to it, or maybe… I don't know, I can't remember,” Lin Feili said.
Mo Fan looked at Jiang Shaoxu. She quickly explained, ”He must have suffered a serious shock before. It's the best I can do to restore his memories, but I can't help him remember the things that he forgot in order to protect himself.”
”Lin Feili, do you remember my sister?” Tong Li asked.
”A little, but...but I think she's dead,” Lin Feili said.
”Did she escape from the relay station with the others?” Tong Li's voice was aggravated.
”I...I don't really remember.” Lin Feili shook his head.
”Tong Li, give him some time. I know you just want some answers, since you already know there's no chance your sister is still alive,” Ge Ming said.