Chapter 1519 - 1514: Don’t Want to Fight!

"Good!"

The Wei Army soldiers hurriedly untied their carry bags.

From the bags, they took out a large naan, their staple food during marches and battles.

It looked bigger than a steamed bun, but in the cold winter, it wasn’t much softer, hard to bite into.

Without water, it was impossible to swallow.

"Pity there’s no firewood; otherwise, we could heat up the naan, mix it with some water, and have some soup to drink—this weather is too cold!"

Grumbled one of the Wei Army soldiers.

These words were just overheard by Lu Yuanfeng.

"Who said there’s no firewood? There’s a cabin ahead with firewood and water!" Lu Yuanfeng pointed to the near distance.

"Water? Firewood? Is there really such a thing?"

When the Wei Army saw Lu Yuanfeng and his group, it wasn’t for fighting over water and firewood.

It was genuinely to take their lives.

Yet fate is ironic; sworn enemies now sat together, temporarily setting aside their hatred.

"We have a pot, so we could cook the naan and mix it with whatever you’ve got; wouldn’t we then have some soup to drink?" proposed Liu Ziyang, the Wei Army officer.

After speaking, he prepared to rush towards the cabin.

At this moment, Mu Shuangshuang spoke, "Wait, let me try!"

She swung the hemp rope heavily in the direction Liu Ziyang was heading, raising a cloud of sand, but the Flowing Sand River did not appear.

Liu Ziyang breathed a sigh of relief.

He had almost made a foolish move, but fortunately, nothing happened.

"I’ll go first, everyone follow me slowly!

Alternatively, you can roll over this way!" After Mu Shuangshuang finished speaking, she lay on the ground and rolled several times.

The surrounding people were bewildered.

Mu Shuangshuang explained, "I’m not messing with everyone; I just happen to know how terrifying the desert quicksand is, and how to avoid it!"

Lying down increases the force distribution area, reducing the rate of sinking if encountered with quicksand.

This theory was something Mu Shuangshuang came across in a book during modern times.

The book was entirely about deserts, and it mentioned desert quicksand.

Lu Yuanfeng was the first to lead by example, rolling on the ground in the direction of the cabin.

Shuangshuang’s advice was something he always supported and believed in!

Liu Ziyang saw Lu Yuanfeng do the same and took the lead as well.

After successfully crossing, he called over the Wei Army one by one using the same method.

Eventually, everyone successfully reached the cabin.

The Wei Army consisted of a small force of a thousand, so some soldiers carried pots with them.

They set the firewood, erected the pot, and brought the water to a boil. Those with naan threw it into the pot, those with steamed buns tossed in their buns.

Then there was the sauce Mu Shuangshuang provided, fermented soy sauce and beef sauce.

Each pot of mishmash looked indeed rather unappealing.

But at this point, no one minded.

About everyone drank a bowl of hot soup.

Their stomachs finally felt full.

The soldiers circled around the cabin, resting by the fire.

Lu Yuanfeng, Liu Ziyang, and Mu Shuangshuang sat together, discussing an escape route.

Mu Shuangshuang spoke candidly, "This Feeding Horse Slope is northwest of Xing City; to return to Xing City, we have to head southeast!"

"That’s easier said than done, but...this desert looks the same all around; how do we determine direction?" questioned Liu Ziyang.

"Polaris! Try using Polaris," Mu Shuangshuang suggested.

"What star?" Liu Ziyang looked perplexed.

Liu Ziyang was a rough person, utterly unfamiliar with the constellations Mu Shuangshuang mentioned.

Lu Yuanfeng didn’t understand either, but listened by the side.

"It’s a star that points north!" Mu Shuangshuang explained.

Mu Shuangshuang briefly discussed Polaris but hadn’t decided if she should tell it to the Wei Army.

After all, she couldn’t guarantee that once out of Feeding Horse Slope, the Wei Army wouldn’t turn against them!

"Shall we wait for nighttime?" Lu Yuanfeng suggested.

Since it was already afternoon, waiting until night wasn’t a difficult task.

"Alright! I’ll give the orders!" Liu Ziyang said.

...

The two groups of soldiers, along with Mu Shuangshuang, waited until nighttime.

Just as Mu Shuangshuang said, Polaris appeared in the sky.

Mu Shuangshuang stood on a sand dune, observed for a while, and finally pointed in a direction.

"Everyone, head that way; we should be able to get out of the desert!"

After a good rest during the day, everyone set out at night.

To prevent lagging behind, Mu Shuangshuang taught them how to count off.

From 1 to 100, if those in front didn’t hear from those behind within three blinks, they should check if anything had happened to those behind.

This approach was somewhat clumsy but very practical.

Mu Shuangshuang led the horse, walking at the front with Lu Yuanfeng, while Liu Ziyang brought up the rear.

Through an entire night, by dawn, they finally emerged from Feeding Horse Slope.

At the moment of exiting the desert, soldiers from both sides shouted excitedly.

Some knelt on the ground, crying bitterly, others embraced, reluctant to part.

But after crying and shouting, soldiers from both sides picked up their large swords.

Those opposite may have once been companions, but after all, they were enemies.

With danger averted, they had to stand in opposing positions, ready to take lives!

Yet, there were still those reluctant.

The friendship forged between Wei and Ning armies, though brief, was a life-and-death bond.

In life, how many such bonds can one encounter?

"If only Wei and Ning countries wouldn’t fight!"

"Yeah, if we hadn’t lived alongside them, fighting wouldn’t matter, but now, having such deep bonds, it’s like being with our own brothers; I cannot fight my own brother!"

Soldiers from both Wei and Ning expressed similar sentiments.

Lu Yuanfeng and Liu Ziyang were people of character.

But with so many eyes watching, not fighting and letting it reach the ears of their respective generals meant death for everyone.

Liu Ziyang drew his broadsword and swung it at Lu Yuanfeng.

Lu Yuanfeng raised his spear, the two entangled in a fierce duel, neither yielding.

The clash of weapons echoed piercingly with each "clang."

Soldiers from both sides paused, watching their leaders fight.

Indeed, these two were formidable!

Lu Yuanfeng’s spear techniques were airtight; Liu Ziyang’s broadsword attacks were powerful and unyielding.

One attacking, the other defending; neither gaining the upper hand in the short term.

Yet gradually, Liu Ziyang’s offense was countered by Lu Yuanfeng, forcing a shift to defense!

Both being young and competitive by nature.

Everyone held their breath, focused on the battle between the two.

Finally, they had an opportunity, Liu Ziyang

whispered to Lu Yuanfeng, "Kid, I’d rather not fight you today.

Later, find a chance to escape with your men.

I won’t chase after you! Next time we meet, we’ll fight to the death!"