Xie Jianxun drank the medicine and went back to sleep, asking the Mechanical Puppet to wake him for dinner.
He had just fallen asleep when he jolted awake to a fierce, piercing crackling sound by his ear.
It sounded like gunfire, coming from the other end of the oasis.
He immediately rolled out of bed, slipped on his shoes, and headed downstairs to the lobby.
Sure enough, many people had heard the noise and emerged from their rooms, buzzing with discussion.
Suddenly, he felt a tug at his ankle.
Someone crouched down and fastened the back of his shoe for him.
He turned around and casually pressed a hand on the Mechanical Puppet’s shoulder as he asked, “Did I hear some kind of noise?”
The Mechanical Puppet stood up and looked downstairs too. “Someone’s attacking.”
The sharp crack of gunfire pierced through the small building’s outer walls, making everyone on site restless and anxious, as if something big was about to happen here.
The Adventure Group’s Captain rushed out from the stairwell, one hand pressing his shoulder where a finely tailored jacket hung haphazardly—he hadn’t had time to put it on properly and had just thrown it over as he hurried off.
He tossed out a command: “Captains, follow me. Everyone else, stay put.” Then he left the building and dashed toward the source of the gunfire.
With Magm gone, Jie Ge took over his duties and gathered all the team members together.
Everyone stood in a group, warily scanning their surroundings.
“Don’t act rashly. It might be a terrorist attack,” he said seriously to the group, paying special attention to the newcomers. “You all relax too. The Captain’s experienced; there won’t be any danger.”
The veteran members were worldly and handled sudden incidents well.
But the newbies were entering the desert for the first time and were scared witless by the unexpected event, their hearts pounding as they kept twisting their heads toward the windows.
“Alright, alright, everyone sit down. Have some sweets to calm your nerves.”
Laike said this as he passed out chocolate bars to everyone.
These were special supplies from their merchant caravan—ordinary caravans rarely carried such sticky, sweet treats, but they came in handy at times like these.
Xie Jianxun tore open the wrapper and took a small bite.
The rich chocolate aroma filled his mouth, and his racing heartbeat gradually slowed. The people around him quieted down too.
Urgent footsteps sounded outside, and everyone instinctively turned to look. They saw the mercenary squad’s Captain stride back into the building, his expression grave.
“It’s a gang of roving sand bandits who happened to show up at the oasis entrance. The oasis folks requested our support. Vanguard, grab your personal weapons and come with me!”
With that, he pushed through the crowd, loudly calling out names.
Xie Jianxun’s sharp eyes spotted a long-barreled gun wrapped in brown leather at his waist.
He couldn’t make out the model, but that wrapping would make reloading a hassle—unless it didn’t need much… Laser? Rear-loading? Compressed air bullets? Xie Jianxun’s thoughts wandered.
The caravan didn’t slack off either.
Everyone except the pure logistics support grabbed their weapons, preparing for battle.
Perhaps this gang of sand bandits wasn’t large, because before long, the group returned victorious. Some even grumbled that they hadn’t even undone their safety catches before the bandits fled.
The oasis residents were extremely grateful, thanking them profusely. They said they’d only recently moved here without proper scouting or defenses in place, and hadn’t expected sand bandits to show up so soon.
If the Joint Group hadn’t been there, they would’ve been caught off guard and looted clean!
Now that the bandits had been driven off, and only a few had minor injuries, it was a blessing amid misfortune.
The Adventure Group’s Captain stowed his weapon back in its case. Smoke still rose from the barrel, so he had to remove the case entirely—the muzzle was too hot to keep on his body.
He’d been among the first to engage and had fired plenty of rounds.
In response to their thanks, he shook his head worriedly. “But they only took minor injuries. I suspect they’ll come back.”
Uncle Isaiah clearly shared the concern.
He slowly pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it with his head bowed, a deep furrow etching his brow.
“We got complacent. We didn’t set up the defense system right away… After all, we’ve been here so long without ever encountering sand bandits. This is the first time.”
He took a drag, the smoke wafting up to obscure his eyes. “I’ve already called those lazybones out. At least today, we need to get the ground stakes in place.”
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
The Patrol Army Captain and his two deputies entered from the doorway. Uncle Isaiah hurried over to greet them.
They’d reacted the fastest, leaving the building and clashing with the sand bandits before anyone else even realized, and they’d driven off most of them too.
Uncle Isaiah quickly expressed his thanks, but the Patrol Army Captain just waved it off, unconcerned.
Uncle Isaiah said, “Um, I have a presumptuous request… The oasis’s defense net isn’t up yet, and I’m really worried about these sand bandits. What if they wait till you’re gone and come back to bite us?”
The Patrol Army Captain said flatly, “You want us to stay and protect you?”
Uncle Isaiah smiled ingratiatingly. “Just for one night. One night is enough. I’ll make sure they get the net up tonight. It won’t take long, and it shouldn’t delay you much…”
“No.”
The Patrol Army Captain glanced down at his wrist, where a Light Brain Wristwatch sat neatly.
Uncle Isaiah said disappointedly, “This… Sigh.”
He turned to the Adventure Group’s Captain instead, hoping this mild-mannered gentleman might give a more satisfying answer.
The Adventure Group’s Captain thought it over. The oasis had just been attacked, and pulling manpower to set up the defense net could leave them vulnerable to a sand bandit sneak attack.
After hesitating, he said, “I can’t speak for the entire Joint Group. I need to check with the other squads.”
He soon returned.
He’d just gathered the squad leaders and confirmed they’d stay for now, giving the mechanics time to repair the landships and exchange goods, plus time for the wounded to recover.
“Only tonight. No more delays,” he emphasized.
Uncle Isaiah was overjoyed. “That’s wonderful! Then you won’t need to cook tonight. I’ll have some people do the cooking and let everyone try Mase City’s specialty dishes!”
He hurried off—probably to organize the manpower.
The Patrol Army Captain watched him go with a disapproving expression but, unusually, didn’t interfere with the Joint Group’s decision.
“There are some things we need to discuss.”
The Patrol Army Captain said, “Our routes diverge from here, so we need to split supplies and such, including the landships.”
It was indeed something to settle in advance. The Adventure Group’s Captain nodded.
Then he paused. “Have we pinned down the sand bandits’ location?”
“We have a rough area. Can’t miss it.” The Patrol Army Captain pulled up his Light Brain screen, displaying an electronic map glowing blue.
He zoomed in, then again, finally circling an area on the map.
The Adventure Group’s Captain examined the zone and said in surprise, “That close?”
…
The bonfire lit up the night sky that evening, illuminating everyone’s faces.
Uncle Isaiah had said their barbecue was good, so they swapped the Quick Heat Stoves for barbecue grills provided by the oasis and grilled meat in the open space.
Basins of fresh meat arrived, already marinated, along with plenty of unskewered vegetables, fresh peppers, or small flatbreads.
The ingredients were a bit repetitive, but there was plenty, and it tasted decent.
Xie Jianxun squatted on the small stool allotted to him, slowly grinding a tough, grilled flatbread with his teeth.
His stomach was already stuffed full of juicy meat, but he felt bad refusing the staple food that Laike from logistics kept offering him so eagerly.
So he burped quietly while nibbling small bites.
Crisp, uniform footsteps approached. They looked over and saw the patrol troops from the neighboring building marching out in neat formation, heading away from the oasis.
“Leaving in the dead of night like this?”
Xie Jianxun craned his neck but could only see the orderly backs of their heads receding into the distance.
“Night temperatures are lower—better for traveling.”
Magm nodded, picked up a skewer of barbecue, and neatly sliced the grilled meat off with a small knife into Xie Jianxun’s plate.
The young mechanic choked a bit and awkwardly pointed at his throat, signaling he was stuffed to the gills.
Young male and female voices drifted from over there.
“It’s not far anyway—why not stay at my place!”
It was the girl Aisia. Her dark skin glowed a pale yellow in the firelight as she propped her cheek on one hand, her toes wiggling.
“I’ve already cleaned a room for you. Won’t you come?” She exclaimed in regret. “You’ve been away from Mase so long; I want to hear about what you’ve been up to these years.”
Krimus said impatiently, “I’m with the Adventure Group. Of course I have to stay with everyone. How could I waste time chatting idly with you…”
As he spoke, he subtly glanced at the people around.
Aisia blinked, probing, “You’re in a bad mood?”
Krimus: “…No. Anyway, Aisia, are you full? Your uncle must have things for you to do.”
Aisia looked at him in disbelief, like he was a stranger.
She said unhappily, “I haven’t eaten a bite yet, and you’re chasing me off?”
Krimus snapped back to reality, realizing he’d said the wrong thing.
But he really had no interest in playing games with the girl next door, so he grabbed two big meat skewers from the grill as a cover. “Alright, alright, don’t be mad. I was just thinking. Here, I’ll grill two specially for you, okay?”
“Hey, hey, no fighting,”
Uncle Isaiah approached with a handful of skewers, cutting off their exchange. “Krimus, you’ve been out adventuring so long—don’t stoop to Aisia’s level…”
Aisia shot to her feet, her long black braid swinging behind her.
“You guys eat. I already ate at home. I just came to chat with you.” She muttered lowly, stomped the ground hard, and left.
Krimus shot a look at her uncle, who shook his head.
Seeing the glances from around, Uncle Isaiah laughed. “Just kids bickering—nothing serious. Everyone, keep eating! There’s plenty more!”
The barbecue went on until late into the night before people trickled back to the small building to rest.
All the landships were fully repaired, so the Joint Group could hit the road again early tomorrow morning.
Even knowing there was a mole in the group, the atmosphere inevitably loosened up.
Xie Jianxun lay down on the bed and had just taken off his shoes when he heard faint footsteps outside the door.
He instantly knew who it was. He jumped off the bed, slipped his feet into his shoes, and went to open the door.
The Mechanical Puppet stood at the threshold, hand still raised to knock. Seeing him open the door early, it showed a puzzled expression.
Xie Jianxun said smugly, “I heard you coming. Knew it was you right away. What’s up? Can’t sleep? Basero should’ve given you a decent room.”
But the Mechanical Puppet lowered its brows, its voice dropping too.
“I can’t sleep.”
Xie Jianxun: “…Mechanical Puppets get insomnia?”
Puzzled, he stepped aside to let it in.
The Mechanical Puppet entered the room, smoothly closed the door behind it, sat familiarly on the edge of the bed, and brazenly claimed Xie Jianxun’s spot.
The young human grumbled as he walked over. “If I’d known you’d come to steal my bed, I wouldn’t have opened the door.”
The Mechanical Puppet said, “No problem. I can pick locks.”
Xie Jianxun: “…” What kind of person is this?
“You should sleep,” the Mechanical Puppet said docilely. “Sweet dreams.”
Xie Jianxun kicked off his shoes, clambered over it, and found a patch of empty space on the inner side of the bed.
Like a puzzle piece slotting back into place, it naturally filled the gap, curling up comfortably.
He yawned. “Don’t need you to tell me.”
Xie Jianxun slept deeply that night.
Half in a dream, he heard voices talking in his room, but he couldn’t wake up at all, as if trapped in a nightmare, drifting aimlessly at sea.
But soon, someone grabbed him by the collar, yanked him up hard, and slammed him to the ground.
“…Who…”
His knee thudded heavily against the floor, but luckily someone had cushioned it, preventing his head from smashing directly down.
Xie Jianxun jolted fully awake to find a dark gun barrel pointed right at him.
“Little thing, come quietly. I won’t torture you.” The person pressing the gun to him rasped.
His heart clenched abruptly, the thumping loud and piercing in the silent night.
Xie Jianxun struggled, forcing his head up.
He caught sight of the face of the middle-aged, short man called “Nir.” His cheeks sagged on both sides, the corners of his eyes drooped, but a sharp glint shone in them. The shadows of his wrinkled skin looked especially deep in the darkness of night.
He stared at Xie Jianxun’s beautiful eyes and clicked his tongue twice. “Such fine skin and flesh—why not stay holed up in Golden City pampering yourself? What are you doing out here messing around with the Golden Fruits?”
…Golden Fruits?
Click-click. Xie Jianxun felt a weight on his wrists as pitch-black Electroshock Cuffs snapped onto them.
The man ignored him after that. Xie Jianxun silently struggled to sit up and saw Unit One pinned beneath him, a gun barrel pressed to its head as well.
Unlike him, the Mechanical Puppet, which appeared as an adult male on the outside, received full “attention.”
Its wrists and neck were all fitted with Shock Rings. Any slight movement, and the short middle-aged man would press the electroshock pen, sending it sprawling to the ground.
“Move.”
Someone shoved him from behind. Xie Jianxun stumbled forward a step and was pushed out of the room.
Down in the first-floor hall, several “hostages” from the Joint Group were already restrained, silently watching as they descended step by step.
“Where’s your Captain?”
Uncle Isaiah emerged from the shadows, his expression oddly grim.
Nir sidled up to him and shook his head. “Boss, couldn’t find that guy. Did he get wind of things and bolt early?”
“Impossible. All his people are right here with me,” Uncle Isaiah said confidently. “Besides, I watched him eat a ton of meat. No way he woke up early.”
“…What are you planning to do?”
Mercenary squad Captain Bari frowned, forcibly lowering his voice.
He looked quite wretched. Perhaps wary of the mercenaries’ combat prowess, no one knew what he had endured, but all four of his limbs were fitted with Shock Rings, blood crusted on his head, and half his face smeared with gore that sealed his right eye shut.
Uncle Isaiah laughed. “Nothing much. I heard you’re not some Golden City vanguard team at all—you’re an Adventure Group out searching for Golden Fruit Forest, right?”
The words made everyone understand his intent.
He planned to use the Joint Group as cannon fodder to scout ahead and clear out the Insect Clan, finding Golden Fruit Forest for him.
What kind of kind, harmless oasis folk quietly living in the desert oasis were these? They were a textbook nest of… Sand Bandit wannabes!
“No time to explain all this to you.”
Uncle Isaiah turned and gave some orders. “Go check the surroundings. He might not have gone far yet.”
“…No need to look for me.”
As he spoke, a figure stepped through the hall doorway, treading in the faint glow of the embers from the campfire.
It was Adventure Group Captain Antonio Boni.
A cigarette dangled from his fingers, though Xie Jianxun had never seen the man smoke in front of the group before—probably to spare the Joint Group his secondhand smoke.
Now, the cigarette was smoked down to the filter, the ashen butt casually peeking between his fingers.
Even with his team held hostage, he remained impeccably polite, though his eyes darkened slightly. “What do you need me to do?”
“How’d you wake up early? You knew our plan—make yourself puke?”
Uncle Isaiah tossed over a Shock Ring. “Put it around your neck.”
He threatened, nudging the gun barrel against the head of someone nearby.
“Just a bit of tolerance. No need for that. I won’t resist pointlessly. You’re scaring them.”
Captain Antonio said as he picked up the Shock Ring, unbuttoned his collar, and fastened it snugly against his skin.
