WOOY Chapter 25

Hui Ba’s men had long gone, disappearing out of sight. Besides iron shovels and pickaxes, each group carried burlap sacks, probably thinking they would find loads of gold and silver treasures waiting for them.

Over on Simon’s side, the equipment was all set up, with two large reflectors in use. The makeup on the two models was so heavy that their facial features were unrecognizable. Ye Liuxi couldn’t tell which one was Qiao Meina anymore—Meng Jingu was even flattering them with his blatant lies, saying, “So beautiful.”

One of the models playfully responded, “You’re such a bad person.”

It seems the non-ferrous metals shine even more.

Chang Dong finished inspecting the car, threw the tool bag into the trunk, and casually closed the trunk door, calling out to Ye Liuxi, “We can get in the car now, we…”

Ye Liuxi suddenly sighed.

Following her gaze, Chang Dong saw Fei Tang’s car returning. It stopped abruptly at a distance, tilted and almost crashed. Fei Tang practically fell out of the car door, stumbling as he ran towards them.

Chang Dong stood beside Ye Liuxi, puzzled as to why Fei Tang couldn’t even manage a simple return trip without encountering problems.

Ye Liuxi said, “It seems we can’t shake him off. How many times has this happened? I’m telling you, if you can’t shake him off after three tries, you’ll never be able to. You might as well see if you can fall in love with him.”

As they spoke, Fei Tang reached them, his face pale and lips blue. “Dong… Dong ge… I can’t find the way, the flags… the markers are gone.”

Chang Dong guessed, “The wind was so strong last night, it might have blown them away.”

Fei Tang’s lips trembled, “No, not just that, the tire tracks… the tire tracks are strange too.”

——

Fei Tang remembered clearly that although the route was winding when they came in last night, there were no turnarounds—today, driving out, there were many sharp turns. They should have moved forward, but the tire tracks twisted, turned around a dirt mound, and went back the way they came.

After a few times, Fei Tang shivered, realizing he seemed to be going in circles.

More frighteningly, at the end of the drive, the two tire tracks disappeared in front of a yardang.

Gathering his courage, Fei Tang got out to investigate and discovered something strange: normally, when a car approached a mound, the tire tracks would leave some distance from the edge. But these tracks were straight and seemed to go under the wind eroded hill, as if the car was swallowed by it.

There was no one around, and it was deathly silent. Dust swirled around him, and looking up at the yardang, his mind played tricks, making him feel like the eerie shape would suddenly lean down and devour him.

His head buzzed, and he turned and ran.

Being dragged last night, then Qiao Meina’s car door mysteriously opening, and now the strange tire tracks—this was the third incident.

Fei Tang was getting jittery, muttering, “Dong ge, are we trapped here? We can’t get out, we’re stuck…”

Though annoyed by him, Chang Dong felt pity for Fei Tang’s cowardice, “Take a rest, or watch them take photos… I’ll drive out and check.”

He then turned to Ye Liuxi, “Come over, let’s talk.”

Ye Liuxi followed him to the other side of the car.

Chang Dong hesitated for a moment, deciding not to worry her, “This morning, I checked the GPS and the satellite phone. Neither could find a signal.”

Ye Liuxi responded, “Is that normal or not?”

“Not normal. I’ll go check the tire tracks and look for any clues about Kong Yang. You stay at the camp; with so many people here, someone needs to maintain order.”

Ye Liuxi said, “Okay.”

Chang Dong had nothing more to say and turned to leave. She added, “Be careful. If you die out there, I won’t have anyone reliable to discuss things with.”

——

Chang Dong drove away, leaving Fei Tang crouched in a corner, trembling like a scared chicken, while the camp maintained a peaceful atmosphere: the models were getting into their groove, and the photographer’s constant “Good,” “That’s right,” “Just like that,” was followed by the sound of the shutter clicking.

Ye Liuxi lay on a canvas chair, a knife beside her, flipping through a fashion magazine she had borrowed from nearby.

Fei Tang suddenly got up and walked over to her, kneeling beside her with trembling hands gripping the edge of the canvas chair. “Sister Yexi.”

Ye Liuxi replied indifferently, “What’s the matter?”

“I broke into your car last time to steal something. I knew you had an animal headed agate, I saw it on the surveillance… After entering the Lop Nur Desert, I still wanted to steal it, but didn’t get the chance…”

He slapped himself hard. “I was stupid and shouldn’t have had such thoughts.”

Ye Liuxi tossed the magazine aside. “Speak plainly.”

“Sister Yexi, can you help me? I don’t want to die. This place… this place…” He hesitated, his voice dropping, “Something’s wrong with it, it’s eerie everywhere, something bad is definitely going to happen…”

Ye Liuxi interrupted him, “So you want me to protect you… What can you offer me in return?”

Fei Tang swallowed hard, “Anything you say, I’ll do whatever you need. You can treat me as your follower, and I’ll do whatever you ask.”

“Why come to me? There are so many people here. Based on relationships, you’re closer to Chang Dong, aren’t you?”

“I’ve observed everyone. Hui Ba has the most people but just puts on a show, all empty posturing; Meng Jingu is a brute without much brain. The only reliable ones are you and Dong ge. I know his capabilities, but not yours… If I have to bet on someone, I’ll bet on you.”

Ye Liuxi stared at Fei Tang: His neck veins bulged, cold sweat drenched him, and he was nearly wetting his pants from fear, yet he didn’t stop scheming.

She laughed, “Alright, Fei Tang, let me enlighten you.”

Gesturing to the camp, she said, “With so many people here, if something happens and I can only take one person out, I’ll choose Chang Dong—not because of our bond, but because he’s the most useful.”

“If I have a seventy percent chance of survival, with him, it might go up to ninety percent.”

“You say you’re willing to be my follower. To put it bluntly—not to insult you—if it were peaceful and safe, a well-behaved pet dog would be fine, pleasing you in every way. But if danger lurks, wouldn’t you prefer a fierce wolfdog with sharp teeth by your side?”

“Look at yourself, you are  like a clawless chicken. What use are you to me? If I were to rank, after Chang Dong, I’d choose Hui Ba—he’s ruthless. After Hui Ba, I’d choose Meng Jingu—at least he’s strong. And you?”

She reached out and patted Fei Tang’s slightly swollen face, “I also think something will happen here… Maybe you’ll be the first to die…”

Fei Tang’s adam’s apple bobbed, and his body stiffened.

“But it’s not hopeless. To break through a pack of wolves, you have to be fiercer than the wolves. If you don’t want to die, then fight to grow your fangs—by then, you won’t need to rely on me. Maybe I’ll be the one trying to win you over.”

——

By late afternoon, Simon’s team had wrapped up their shoot, and Hui Ba’s four groups had returned one after another.

Watching Hui Ba’s people return was like watching a show. They left with empty sacks and came back with the same empty sacks. One group returned crestfallen, another swearing and complaining.

Only the group led by Huoya, who went west, returned with empty sacks but had subtle expressions. They quietly went into their tent without a word.

Chang Dong was the last to return, driving in just as it was mealtime. Hui Ba’s camp had a large pot boiling, while Meng Jingu’s side had a small gas stove for the city folks…

As for Ye Liuxi, she had no intention of cooking. She sat bundled in a cotton jacket on a canvas chair, with a camp light beside her.

When he got out of the car and asked, he found out that Hui Ba had been there and, as usual, would send someone with food later.

Chang Dong summed up his day in a few words, “Nothing much to show for it. I checked the tire tracks Fei Tang mentioned, and he wasn’t lying. Additionally, there’s something strange he didn’t notice…”

Earlier, Chang Dong thought the tire tracks from when they came in marked the natural route, so following them out should be foolproof. However, after driving a little over a kilometer, the tire tracks had already disappeared.

“Fei Tang probably didn’t look closely, thinking all tire tracks were the same, but mine are custom-modified with unique treads. After driving a short distance, the tracks abruptly disappeared without a trace. The remaining winding tracks, I believe… don’t belong to any vehicle in this camp.”

In the shadows, someone suddenly shivered. Upon closer inspection, Chang Dong realized it was Fei Tang, huddled in the dark behind the camp light. Initially, Chang Dong mistook him for a rock.

Annoyed, he said, “Why are you hiding there? Can’t you sit somewhere brighter? If you get dragged away again, no one will see.”

Fei Tang remained silent, looking resigned to being scolded.

Ye Liuxi ignored Fei Tang and gestured towards Hui Ba’s camp, “They must have found something valuable today.”

“Did Hui Ba tell you that?”

Ye Liuxi shook her head.

She had asked Hui Ba, who replied that they had wasted the entire day without finding a single ancient coin.

But Ye Liuxi knew Hui Ba’s temperament well enough. If they had truly found nothing, he would have cursed so loudly that the whole camp could hear. Yet, not only was he not cursing, he seemed to be in a good mood—could that really mean no findings?

Moreover, when she asked Hui Ba what he planned to eat today, he said they were having a feast, with carrot and lamb soup.

“They’re having a feast.”

Chang Dong pondered for a moment, “If they found some coins, that’s fine, but I’m worried it might be something strange…”

“If he won’t admit it, I can’t do much. Unless we drag him out tonight and beat the truth out of him.”

Chang Dong chuckled wryly; with Ye Liuxi, it seemed like “beating” was the solution to everything. He said, “That’s not a good idea…”

But he had no better suggestion.

Meanwhile, Fei Tang, after sitting silently for a while, got up, picked up his luggage, and headed towards Hui Ba’s tent.

As soon as he reached the entrance, Hui Ba’s people blocked him, with Huoya’s voice the loudest, “Oh, you’re still here? I thought you’d run home to your mom for a hug. With your mosquito guts, get lost.”

Everyone laughed uproariously.

Chang Dong heard it and hesitated, thinking of calling Fei Tang back, but Ye Liuxi stopped him, “Leave him be; everyone has their own fate.”

Then Fei Tang shouted, “What’s the matter? Did I not lead you to the right place? So what if I’m timid? I’m in the antique business; as long as I can appraise, that’s enough. With these eyes, I can tell which dynasty something is from and how much it’s worth. Can you?”

Huoya was speechless for a moment. After a while, someone inside said something, the tent flap lifted, and Fei Tang was actually let inside.

——

Just like the night before, shortly after dinner, the wind picked up. As soon as it did, everyone in the camp disappeared, either retreating into their tents or getting into their vehicles.

The cramped space inside the car wasn’t suitable for leather carving, so Chang Dong placed a booklet on his lap to use as a base and carefully began sketching with a fine liner pen.

Ye Liuxi, bored out of her mind since it was still far from her usual bedtime and she had no entertainment, resorted to occasionally teasing Chang Dong.

“All you do is carve, carve, and carve. Can’t you spend some time exercising?”

“Chang Dong, you don’t have many friends, do you? Well, you’re solitary, and your hobbies are peculiar.”

“A single shadow puppet requires over 3,000 cuts. Your eyesight must be failing, right? When you get old, you won’t be able to see anything…”

Chang Dong let her talk, occasionally glancing at her through the rearview mirror. She was clearly extremely bored, sometimes sitting cross-legged, other times lying down. Eventually, she quieted down and took out an eyeliner pencil to draw on her eyes.

Once she was done, she leaned towards Chang Dong, brushing her hair aside and tilting her head, saying, “Look.”

She had drawn a scorpion at the corner of her eye with delicate strokes, its pincers raised high. The scorpion seemed to tremble slightly with her blinking, looking almost real.

Out of habit, Chang Dong instinctively said, “The scorpion’s tail should have a hooked stinger. Extend it a bit longer; it would look better.”

“Really?” Ye Liuxi handed him the eyeliner pencil. “Go ahead.”

Chang Dong took the pencil. It was liquid eyeliner, and the brush tip was saturated with ink. He needed to draw with a steady hand, or the lines would be crooked.

He lowered his head and saw her long lashes curl up, moist at the roots.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the car window.

He rolled down the window, and it was Fei Tang.

Shivering from the cold, with his collar turned up and his face almost buried in it, he said, “Dong ge, Hui Ba’s team dug up a coffin today…”

Actually, they didn’t exactly dig it up. Apparently, Huoya and his companion got into an argument and started hacking at each other with iron shovels. One missed, and the iron shovel took a chunk out of the grayish yardang, revealing a dark, coffin corner inside!

“They said they didn’t have enough manpower and progress was too slow, so they decided to go back and dig through the night… They also showed me a photo of the painting on the coffin, asking me what era it was from. I secretly transferred it via Bluetooth. Judging by the style, it looks like Han Dynasty…”

He took out his phone and handed it to Chang Dong.

When zoomed in, the pixels were poor, but the painting style showed people as simple ink silhouettes with no detailed expressions, their emotions conveyed only through their body language.

Chang Dong could barely make out that the painting depicted a journey, with people shackled in chains. Some struggled to move forward, while others… lay twisted on the ground.