Qin He frowned, looking at the desert. "It's very dangerous to go further. Everyone must be careful. Connect the three cars with tow ropes and drive slowly."
Yu Jing responded, and the others immediately got busy.
Originally, there were only four of them to investigate, but now with Bian An, five people and three cars, they drove at a very slow speed in the desert.
According to Bian An's recollection, when the cars had driven more than twenty kilometers, Qin He's brow furrowed deeply.
This desert was as quiet as ever.
She sighed, "Are we really not going to find it?"
Gu Qi Shen's eyes were deep. "Xiao Li Yan sent word yesterday. If we still can't find it, we'll have to go back."
It was too dangerous to stay any longer.
Qin He nodded, and everyone began to drive back.
The speed on the return journey was still very slow for safety, and Bian An seemed a little listless.
Now his car was being driven by Di Shishi, and he was in the back seat of Qin He's car.
Qin He glanced at the boy's appearance in the rearview mirror and chuckled, "You've led the way, in a way. I'll give you the money I promised."
Bian An's spirits immediately lifted. "Miss Qin, you're so kind!"
Although this trip was safe, Bian An had at least pointed the way and accompanied them in facing unknown dangers.
Qin He smiled and was about to speak when Gu Qi Shen's expression turned grim.
His gaze fixed on the front.
"A sandstorm?"
Bian An in the back seat immediately sat up. "A sandstorm?!"
As a young man who grew up in a desert border town, he understood the power of such a thing. A severe one could sweep them up or bury them alive!
"Drive that way!" Bian An pointed in a direction. "Faster!"
Although Qin He had read many desert survival guides, she didn't know much about sandstorms.
Gu Qi Shen drove in the direction Bian An pointed without hesitation. Qin He notified the other two through the walkie-talkie.
The cars raced against the sandstorm, with yellow sand filling the sky and hitting the car windows with a fine crackling sound.
Eventually, the three cars were engulfed.
Qin He pursed her lips, feeling the car lift off the ground from time to time.
This feeling of weightlessness made her feel like she could fly into the sky at any moment!
Bian An in the back seat was pale.
With a loud "bang."
The faces of the three were serious. Qin He turned her head. She couldn't see anything through the rear windshield, but the sound was clear – the tow rope had broken!
"Bian An's car isn't modified. It's much lighter than ours!" Qin He said anxiously.
Di Shishi was in that car!
But now, even the car door couldn't be opened.
The person could be swept away directly!
Qin He leaned on the car, her heart filled with anxiety.
Bian An trembled, "The car seems to be off the ground!"
Qin He's body tilted slightly, and Gu Qi Shen held her.
"I'm here, don't be afraid."
Qin He's nose felt sore. The next moment, the car seemed to land again.
In this swaying, after an unknown amount of time, the wind gradually subsided.
Qin He looked up from Gu Qi Shen's embrace. "Where did we get blown to?"
"I don't know. With the storm just now, the drone couldn't find us, but—"
Gu Qi Shen's gaze passed through the blurred car window, which had been scoured, and looked not far away.
Qin He turned her head and followed his gaze. Not far away, a large depression had been blown open, and in the depression, a row of strangely shaped rocks was exposed.
The depression was vast; from a distance, only its edges could be seen.
The deepest part was about a hundred meters below the average ground level.
Qin He pursed her lips. "Is it safe for us to go in?"
Gu Qi Shen frowned. "This should be it. I'll go down and take a look."
Qin He didn't hesitate to push the car door open and get out. Bian An opened his car door and said urgently, "Don't go! This is the palace I saw. It looks like the top of a palace, but with such a big pit, if a strong wind comes, you'll be buried!"
Qin He bit her lower lip. "Let's go back."
At least the location was confirmed, and they could send people later.
Gu Qi Shen narrowed his eyes. "We've been away from Qingcheng for so long. Shen Yicong should have received the news by now. If we go back and send people, it might be too late."
He turned to look at Qin He. "Don't worry, I'll just go down and look."
Qin He knew Gu Qi Shen was right. Shen Yicong's group was ruthless, so it was better to find the stone sooner.
They walked for half an hour to reach the bottom of the pit.
Qin He walked closer and looked at the stone. She reached down and dug a bit, uncovering a roof ridge.
"This is the five-ridge beast on the roof ridge," Qin He said, looking up at Gu Qi Shen.
This was the roof of a palace, likely the ruins of that small kingdom.
"We can say we are very lucky. At least we found the palace directly."
Qin He said.
Gu Qi Shen looked at the partially exposed roof ridge.
"If the inside of this palace isn't filled with sand, we might be able to get in from here."
Qin He immediately shook her head. "Even if there's no sand, once the roof is opened, the sand above will slowly pour in. It's too dangerous!"
Gu Qi Shen's eyes were deep. "We can use the tools in the car to block the edges. It's worth a try."
Qin He took a deep breath. "Then I—"
"I'll go down," Gu Qi Shen said.
"No!"
Gu Qi Shen looked at Qin He helplessly. "If we go down at the same time, won't it be more dangerous?"
Qin He heard Bian An's shouts from a distance. She turned her head and saw Bian An slowly staggering down not far away.
Qin He looked at Gu Qi Shen.
"Let's go down together."
Their faces were serious. Thinking of the situation in Qingcheng, they had so many people to protect, but Shen Yicong was someone who cared about nothing.
If he gathered his forces to attack one point, it would be difficult for them to protect everyone.
"Okay."
Bian An was experienced. After only a few steps, he slid down using a plastic mat.
He stopped in the center, only about ten steps from Qin He, and walked over quickly. "Have you seen enough? Hurry up and go up."
Qin He looked at Bian An.
Di Shishi and Yu Jing's cars were not nearby, but there had been voices on the walkie-talkie just now, so they should be nearby. At least these two people were safe.
"Bian An, there's a very important matter I need your help with," Qin He said solemnly.
As the three walked upwards, Bian An listened to their plan and his eyes widened.
"No, this is too dangerous. Just using some things to block it, you underestimate nature too much!"
Qin He frowned. "We have a reason to go down. Bian An, as long as you help us guard the opening in the roof, I can double your reward."
"Double the reward is still no! You two could lose your lives. I'd rather get nothing than let you go down!" Bian An said firmly.
Qin He lowered her eyes. The three had reached the edge.
She looked at Bian An. "If you don't go down, your family will be in danger. Would you go down then?"
"Of course—" Bian An paused, then frowned at Qin He. "I thought you were just playing treasure hunt. What does this have to do with your family?"
Seeing Qin He's serious expression, Bian An stood still for a moment, silent.