Tomb raider: You're going to extract my alien bloodline?

Chapter 58 slipped away first.

Aning finally agreed to let Xie Yuchen join.

Of course, there were conditions: they had to abide by all team arrangements, bring their own supplies, be responsible for their own safety, and obey commands in critical moments. Xie Yuchen accepted everything with a smile, her attitude impeccable.

Wu Xie secretly asked Qin Yuan, "Who is this guy? He doesn't look like a tomb raider."

Qin Yuan adjusted his sunglasses, looking at the striking pink figure standing out against the yellowish-brown background in the distance, and smiled slightly: "The head of the Xie family is known as Master Hua in the underworld. I thought that since we are both third-generation members of the Nine Gates, Young Master San would know him."

Wu Xie raised his head: "What Flower Master, Grass Master? How could I possibly recognize that... Wait! Flower? Little Flower? Isn't Little Flower Sister a girl?! When did he change his gender?!"

"I was just pretty when I was little." The voice from behind made Wu Xie, the cricket-man who had undergone gender reassignment surgery, freeze. "Long time no see, Wu Xie." Xie Yuchen greeted him with a smile.

The convoy assembled early the next morning, a formidable force of seven or eight modified off-road vehicles kicking up dust as they headed towards Tamutuo. Qin Yuan, Zhang Qiling, Hei Xiazi, Wu Xie, and the newly joined Xie Yuchen were all assigned to different vehicles, a measure taken by Aning to mitigate risk and facilitate management.

But before setting off, Qin Yuan found A Ning and made a suggestion for adjustment.

"Have Wu Xie and Xie Yuchen ride in the same car." Qin Yuan's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "The Blind Man, Xiao Ge, and I will provide support from the front and back."

A Ning looked at him with some surprise. Qin Yuan rarely made requests, especially regarding personnel arrangements.

"Reason?" Ah Ning asked.

Qin Yuan pointed to the hazy sky and then felt the unusual restlessness in the dry air: "The weather is not right. Sandstorms in the Gobi Desert can come at any time. Once the convoy is scattered, it is easy for them to get lost. Wu Xie's constitution..." He paused, not finishing his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

"Xie Yuchen is a smart man and a new face. If I leave them together, I can keep an eye on them. If anything happens, the blind man, the young man, and I can react quickly."

His words were half true and half false. The weather did indeed show signs of worsening, but his real purpose was to ensure that Wu Xie and Xie Yuchen, the two key figures, could be bound to them, rather than having them brave the flying sand and stones to rescue people.

Ah Ning nodded: "Okay, get in my car."

So, after the convoy was adjusted, it became: Aning, Qin Yuan, and the driver in one car; Wu Xie, Xie Yuchen, and one of Aning's men in another car following closely behind; Zhang Qiling and Hei Xiazi with some equipment in the last car; and the remaining vehicles scattered in front and behind.

As the car drove into the vast Gobi Desert, the initial scenery included some sparse drought-resistant plants and undulating hills, but gradually all that remained was an endless expanse of yellowish-brown. The sky grew increasingly gloomy, with leaden clouds hanging low, and the wind picked up, whipping up sand that began to pelt the car windows with a crackling sound.

"Ah Ning, tell everyone to stop the car. The sandstorm is too strong," Qin Yuan said, frowning as he watched the sandstorm intensify. He considered his options; they still needed Ah Ning's convoy to reach their destination, so he decided to help them out. Once they reached the Devil City, Ah Ning would likely go in with Wu Xie, but he didn't plan to follow them. It would be faster to stick with Hei Xiazi's team.

As for A-Ning, as her partner, he would remind her to stay away from the water once. Whether she listened or not, and whether she survived, was up to her.

The storm raged for nearly two hours before, just as it had arrived, it began to weaken without warning. The gale gradually turned into a howl, the sand and dust slowly settled, and the dim yellow sky revealed a hint of gray again.

When visibility improved to the point where it was barely possible to see, the convoy came into view. Although each vehicle was covered with a thick layer of sand, resembling a giant clod of earth, and the windows were blurred, thanks to Qin Yuan's advance warning and the thorough securing measures, not a single vehicle was overturned, and no one went missing.

Everyone got out of the cars to clear the sand from the windshields and bodies, and to check the condition of the vehicles. Although some vehicles were stuck in the sand and needed to be towed, none of them were seriously damaged.

After a short rest and clearing the road, the convoy continued its journey. The Gobi Desert appeared exceptionally clean after the storm. Ahead, an area composed of countless massive, earthen-yellow rocky mountains came into view at the horizon.

The rocky mountains, eroded by the wind into bizarre shapes, cast distorted shadows under the sunlight, exuding an indescribable desolation and deathly stillness.

Devil City.

Aning ordered them to set up camp in a relatively flat area on the outskirts of the Devil City. This was already a dangerous area in the traditional sense; further in, there was a maze that even local guides were reluctant to venture into.

The camp had just been set up, and there were no missing persons to rescue this time, but Aning still received a message from the reconnaissance personnel. After listening to the report, she frowned, pondered for a moment, and then made a decision.

"I'm taking a team in to check it out." Aning gathered everyone together. "The reconnaissance team found some signs of activity on the edge of Devil City. We need to confirm the situation, and," she looked at Wuxie, "Mr. Wu, I need you to come in with me."

Soon, a six-person team, led by Aning and including Wuxie and local guide Zaxi, set off towards the entrance of the Devil City, carrying the necessary equipment and communication tools.

Qin Yuan, Zhang Qiling, Hei Xiazi, and the other team members who stayed behind watched as their figures were gradually swallowed up by the jagged rocks.

That night, the darkness was as thick as ink, and the campfire at the temporary camp outside the Devil City crackled, illuminating Zhang Qiling's silent profile as he wiped his knife.

Qin Yuan leaned against an SUV, feigning sleep, but his ear twitched slightly behind his sunglasses. The faint sound of fabric rubbing came from the direction of Hei Xiazi's small tent. He glanced at Zhang Qiling, who had obviously heard it too, but remained motionless.

He thought for a moment, then got up and followed the shadowy figure who had slipped out of the camp and was now familiar with the way to the edge of the Devil City.

After finding a wind-eroded rock pillar, Hei Xiazi looked around, took out a powerful flashlight, and rhythmically flashed it a few times in a certain direction deep within the Devil City.

He had just finished sending the signal when someone patted him on the shoulder from behind.

"Whoa!" Black Bear nearly threw his flashlight away. Turning around, he saw Qin Yuan with his arms crossed, his sunglasses gleaming coldly in the dim light. "Little brother, you scared me half to death! I came out... um, to take care of some personal matters."

Qin Yuan raised his chin and pointed to the flashlight in his hand: "Using Morse code to solve it? Have you made contact with Third Master?"

Hei Xiazi chuckled dryly, trying to brush it off with a laugh, when another warm, smiling voice rang out from behind the nearby rocks: "Hei Ye, what a refined hobby! Sending signals in the middle of the night. Did you arrange to meet Third Master somewhere?"

Xie Yuchen emerged from the shadows, his pink shirt still conspicuous in the night, and his face still wore that harmless smile.

Hei Xiazi glanced at Qin Yuan, who was standing to his left with his arms crossed, then at Xie Yuchen, who was smiling and blocking his way to his right. He sighed and raised his hands in surrender: "Alright, gentlemen, you have sharp eyes. We've made contact with Third Master. He's at the other end of this Devil City. There's a small path that goes around him and leads directly to our destination. It's just that we saw the mute was stuck guarding the camp and couldn't leave, and Boss Aning had brought Third Master in, so we thought..."

"Thinking of acting first and informing later, and sneaking away?" Qin Yuan interjected.

"How can this be called a slip?" Black Bear said seriously, "This is called a strategic detour, making contact with friendly forces in advance!"

Xie Yuchen chuckled: "Then what are we waiting for? Lead the way, Blackie. Perfect timing, I also have some questions I'd like to ask Third Master Wu."

Black Bear choked, realizing that this guy had come prepared.

The three exchanged a glance and said nothing more. Hei Xiazi took the lead, followed closely by Qin Yuan and Xie Yuchen. The three figures disappeared silently, leaving behind the campfire and Zhang Qiling's lonely figure.