Chapter 8: A Little Further Ahead, and You’ll See It in the Desert…

Puff—

In the center of the desert surface, small clusters of waves bubbled up like a surging spring.

The Mechanical Puppet climbed out of the Flowing Sand River, ignoring the yellow sand caked on its head. It first untied Xie Jianxun from its back and checked on him.

Fortunately, the human on its back had stubbornly held on to his last breath. The moment light arrived, he spat out the oxygen device and breathed in fresh air.

He didn’t look good.

The Mechanical Puppet jostled him lightly. The human shrank in its arms without speaking or moving, his limbs limp and pliable.

One carried him to the back of a rock, using its own slender shadow to block the sun.

After a moment’s hesitation, the Mechanical Puppet lifted his head, letting Xie Jianxun rest in the crook of its arm with his head tilted upward to open his mouth and nose as much as possible.

It asked, “Are you alright?”

With the blinding light blocked, Xie Jianxun gasped sharply. His eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.

However, after a flash of bright white light, he found he couldn’t see anything!

Xie Jianxun panicked. “My eyes!”

One placed its palm over his thin eyelids, but Xie Jianxun bolted upright, banging his forehead against its chin with a cry of pain.

He widened his eyes, round and kitten-like, the corners tinged with faint red.

Yet those brilliant, golden pupils were empty and vacant, fine tears welling up around his eye sockets—physiological tears from the irritation.

The young human twisted his head in agitation. If not for the heat of the sunlight, he might have thought it was pitch-black midnight.

Darkness enveloped him thickly.

“Is it me? Am I blind?!”

Someone drew near and gently stroked his back, soothing the puffed-up little kitten until he calmed down.

“No, it’s just that you left the underground. Your eyes might not be adapted yet. Or maybe something happened while crossing the flowing sand and injured them. Once we get to the city, the Treatment Instrument can heal it quickly.”

“Really?”

Xie Jianxun flailed helplessly and subconsciously grabbed the nearest thing—One’s clothing hem.

The Mechanical Puppet thought for a moment, then tore a palm-wide strip from its uniform and tied it over Xie Jianxun’s eyes. The black cloth covered the young face, making his pale cheeks glow strikingly under the sunlight, as if luminous.

Having survived the ordeal, Xie Jianxun deflated.

Feeling utterly drained, he almost thought he’d die buried in the earth.

“…I’m going to create the ‘Star Net Extreme Breath-Holding Rankings.'”

He muttered, wiping the fine sweat from his forehead. “Set up a foundation to reward people who can hold their breath. Oh, and there should be a ‘Best Underground Rescue Award’ too.”

Even though their situation wasn’t great, One was amused by him.

The omnipresent desert winds seemed to still, the yellow sand settling, and visibility cleared.

One scanned their surroundings. Originally, it planned to send Xie Jianxun to the surface and return underground on its own, but now it had a blind patient in tow and had to change plans.

It explained the plan to Xie Jianxun, who froze. “…By myself?”

One’s brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed. “No. Since you can’t see, I can’t just leave you.”

As a Mechanical Puppet that didn’t need food or water, traversing the desert was no different from walking a plain for it.

But for a human his age, prolonged time in the desert meant risks like dehydration or heatstroke.

Not to mention he couldn’t even see now.

Xie Jianxun nervously clutched at it.

His pale pink lips parted slightly without a word.

One looked down at him, drew back its hem, and saw those snow-white hands clenched into fists—pitifully so. He was afraid.

“Please relax,” One said calmly.

Xie Jianxun suddenly felt lighter as the Mechanical Puppet hoisted him onto its back and walked in one direction.

The sun blazed fiercely. One removed its jacket and draped it over Xie Jianxun’s head like a cape, blocking most of the light.

Realizing he was a burden now, Xie Jianxun obediently lay on its back, resting his head against the Mechanical Puppet’s nape without moving.

As they walked, One said, “I’ll take you a ways ahead to find a place to rest overnight. We might run into a Desert Adventure Group and hitch a ride back to the city.”

It looked like a long trek. Xie Jianxun asked nervously, “Am I heavy?”

The Mechanical Puppet replied politely, “You’re as light as a feather.”

Xie Jianxun thought, What kind of bird has feathers that big?

He buried his head and fell silent.

He even tucked up his feet, hooking them around One’s waist, tiptoeing tensely to be as unobtrusive as possible.

The Mechanical Puppet chuckled and jostled its back lightly, showing that Xie Jianxun truly weighed no more than a feather to it—not just polite flattery.

In the vast yellow sands, a tiny black dot trudged alone.

Up close, it was two figures stacked together, advancing step by step.

The Mechanical Puppet narrowed its eyes and subtly glanced back at the human on its back.

The one on its back was still, as if exhausted or not recovered, panting raggedly against it. His arm occasionally brushed its calf during the walk, causing slight tremors and faint gasps.

One noted it and silently adjusted to avoid.

When they found a shady spot to sit, it asked directly, “Is your calf injured?”

Xie Jianxun quickly pressed down his pant leg, embarrassed as if caught in something shameful.

He thought he’d hidden it well!

Xie Jianxun looked away. “Are we… in a cave? It doesn’t feel as hot. If we sit here, can the Adventure Group people see us?”

He tried to pull his ankle back, but the Mechanical Puppet’s hand held it.

Perhaps due to its mechanical nature, One’s body temperature was low. Even after being baked by the desert sun, it felt cool like smooth glass jade against Xie Jianxun’s ankle skin. Its fingers deftly pushed up and pulled—

Revealing fine scars on the pale skin and a slightly swollen knee, likely scraped before falling underground.

It nearly sighed. “…Doesn’t it hurt?”

Xie Jianxun silently pulled his pant leg down, smacked his lips, and tried to change the subject.

“I’m so hungry.”

He rubbed his stomach. With the black cloth over his face, his head drooped worriedly.

“It feels like forever since I ate. No rations in my Light Brain either.” What a blunder.

Then he remembered the drinks in his Light Brain!

Oh! Lime watermelon flavor!

It was like finding a crumpled hundred-yuan bill in your pocket before tossing clothes in the wash!

Delighted, Xie Jianxun pulled out two bottles and fumbled to hand them to One.

His fingers brushed the Mechanical Puppet’s upper arm, where the muscles tensed, but Xie Jianxun didn’t think much of it. “Mr. One, try some! It’s super tasty!”

The puppet’s voice deepened. “It needs bandaging right away. Best to use a Treatment Instrument.”

Xie Jianxun: “I bought it from a second-class civilian airship. First time using a vending machine!”

One: “Without medicine or a doctor, infection could be serious.”

They talked past each other.

His attention diversion failed.

Pinned down by One and unable to fidget, Xie Jianxun had nothing to do and dozed off against its shoulder.

In his dream, he was back at the manor home, before setting off on his solo trip, living carefree like a happy little bird.

Even if he couldn’t go far, the places he could reach were vast enough for free flight.

His guardian had prepared fine bedding, lit aromatics, and sat by the bed. His low, velvety voice was like a playing cello, telling bedtime stories.

He was especially excited because it was the first time his guardian agreed to tell one. He buried his little face in the covers and closed his eyes.

His guardian opened his mouth but made no sound.

The bedside lamp suddenly went out, plunging his vision into darkness. The soft bed beneath turned into a jolting seat.

Jolt after jolt, something churned in his stomach.

Sand and wind scraped his face, stinging his nostrils.

Xie Jianxun jolted awake. His unseen eyes widened under the cloth as he propped up his upper body, grasping at the air in confusion.

Someone immediately approached. Hands reached out to steady his waist and help him sit properly.

Xie Jianxun groped around and found a narrow strap buckled around him—like a seatbelt.

He steadied himself and guessed from the feel, “Mr. One?”

The air carried the desert’s unique scent, surrounded by faint voices and the roar of vehicle engines.

Blind, Xie Jianxun gripped the strap anxiously.

One’s voice came from beside him. “You’re awake. Anywhere uncomfortable?”

“A caravan passed by. I asked them to take us to the city.”

Xie Jianxun moved his leg and felt the tight binding on his calf—likely bandaged simply.

His whole body felt languid, like soaked in warm water, with mild soreness. “No, thank you!”

A hearty voice called from nearby, soon approaching. “He’s awake?”

One politely thanked him. “Thank you and your Landship.”

Xie Jianxun realized this man had given up his seat in the Landship for an injured person like him.

He shifted uncomfortably to give it back, but was stopped. “No need, stay put. I’m not so petty I’d sit in the comfy seat while the injured guy’s crammed in the trunk.”

Xie Jianxun said gratefully, “Thank you so much, sir.”

“First time in the desert?”

The man tugged the Landship’s railing and agilely stepped onto the side pedal.

He didn’t ask why Xie Jianxun was blind, just laughed and described vividly.

“Ahead is endless desert. We’re crossing these towering dunes, following cactus and sandthorn traces, skirting bug-made holes, heading to Golden City.”

“The sun’s setting, dusk on the sand. Temperature drops fast. At night, the desert quiets, only moonlight, visibility low.”

“Haha, see these fruits? Oh, right, you can’t… They’re sour as hell but super thirst-quenching, perfect for replacing lost water and salt in the desert.”

Others chimed in. “Yeah, these saved my life last trip out.”

“Thirst-quenching for sure, but so gross… Why evolve that taste?”

“It doesn’t want you eating its descendants, haha!”

“Captain, city ahead!”

“Hey!”

The man laughed in response, checked, and returned grinning. “Great route today—no Flowing Sand River or sandstorms. Golden City’s right there. Back in the city, drinks on me!”

“And you, little guy,”

He leaned playfully on the window by Xie Jianxun, one foot on the Landship railing, moving with it.

“Join our victory feast?”