In the middle of winter, the team still stayed in the ancient city of Khotan and never set off.

Halfway through, Song fell ill.

Fortunately, it is not a serious illness, but it is not suitable for a while, and it is difficult to sleep and eat, which is worrying. Xie Shuning accompanied her almost every step of the way, and began to annoy that she shouldn't have instigated her to come together. If she hadn't been pestered and said again and again, the Song family would not have abandoned his worries and followed.

Here to the wind and sand more than 10,000 miles, as far as the eye can see, only the reckless yellow sand in the sun, like the sparkling sea.

Everyone knows that this is not an easy road.

The desert is like the sky, and there is no end in sight. The fire in the day burns the sea of sand to the blister, and if someone steps on it barefoot, it will be scalded and blistered the next moment; The temperature at night was as cold as an ice cellar, and people were still shivering when they were wrapped in a big coat.

The rolling sand dunes move slowly with the long winds.

There are countless areas of quicksand hidden under the yellow sand, and camels and people alike will be swallowed up in an instant if they accidentally step on them.

Xie Shuning knew these things as early as the beginning.

She was also prepared early in the day.

But when she really stood on this land, her heart was empty, and it was difficult to find any confidence.

- Especially when the spirit of the Song clan is in full swing.

The place where they settled was on the edge of the ancient city, in fact, it was already close to the desert, and after crossing this sea of sand, they could enter the final destination of Dunhuang.

But in the end, Xie Shuning decided to stay and recuperate first, and then set off when the Song family was better.

Song Yanzhao thought about it and responded.

But the identity of the pedestrians here is complicated, and he is not at ease and only let the Song mother and daughter stay by themselves, so he simply stays temporarily. It just so happened that a group of caravans under his command were also returning from Jiangnan, and they would inevitably pass through Khotan. Then we can start together.

Since leaving Kyoto and leaving Yuguan, they have walked slowly, but they have not stayed for too long.

It's the first time in Khotan.

Xie Shuning stood in the guest room on the second floor of the inn, leaning against the window and looking out.

There was a wind in the distance, rolling up the yellow sand, like a puff of smoke, thin and dense.

The sky above the inn was blue, without a hint of variegation. Only in the far corners could large white clouds float leisurely, casting huge shadows on the ground, obscuring the red sun that looked like a summer day.

The sound of the wind is mixed with the sound of camel bells, long and crisp.

Xie Shuning couldn't help but be slightly stunned when she heard it.

"Aman, is it winding outside?" Song, dressed in winter clothes, approached slowly.

Xie Shuning turned his head. smiled and hugged her, and said, "It's not windy today." ”

The weather has been good these days.

Song Yanzhao's caravan. I will probably be able to enter the city today. The guide said. Entering the desert at this time, it is not a big problem.

But the climate in the desert is changing rapidly, and no one can guarantee it.

Xie Shuning was quite uneasy.

Song Shiyan couldn't see it, so he said: "My mother was just a little uncomfortable in the past, but now it's much better, don't worry." ”

"How can you not worry. The road to be walked is the most difficult. Xie Shuning shook her head.

Song patted her on the shoulder, reached out and touched her cheek, and said distressedly: "Don't be afraid if the road is difficult." It's just that your face is blackened by the wind. ”

What can it be said if your face is darker!

Xie Shuning laughed out loud when she was said, "Mother, don't worry about this, raising will always come back in vain." But your body, but be careful. ”

Song answered, and let her help herself go back to rest.

Gui's mother was guarding on the side.

Yuzi went upstairs to invite Xie Shuning, "Miss, uncle, please go downstairs, saying that the caravan has arrived." ”

"So fast?" Xie Shuning was slightly surprised, the news she originally received was in the evening, but it was not even noon. Puzzled, she had already gone downstairs and went straight to Song Yanzhao.

Song Yanzhao saw her and said, "Why don't you change your clothes?" ”

This means that you have to go immediately.

Xie Shuning hurriedly asked Yuzi to fetch it, and took a cyan cloak embroidered with dark cloud patterns to wear.

This is a very rare item of clothing in the region.

Therefore, as soon as they went out, someone looked over in twos and threes, and their eyes were full of inquiry.

Xie Shuning couldn't help but hesitate whether she should buy a few local clothes.

It's really like this to be looked at like a monkey, which makes people uncomfortable.

What's more, this side is not very fond of men and women, and the men who drink on the street. It is not a big deal for people to stare directly at the women and girls who pass by.

Even, the girl who laughed, Yingsheng Yanyu, laughed so loudly and coquettishly in front of everyone that people couldn't help blushing when they heard it.

Rao is Xie Shuning is thick-skinned, and he can't stand it, and his steps can't help but be faster.

The distant camel bell is getting closer.

After listening to it a lot, it seems to be a little procrastinating, and there is a kind of lazy exhaustion.

Song Yanzhao took her around the corner and headed to the largest market in the west.

Suddenly, two tall horses from the Western Regions came up to them.

The road was narrow, Xie Shuning hurriedly dodged, narrowly passing by, but he still stumbled under his feet and almost fell to the ground.

"Aman!"

Song Yanzhao was furious, and scolded the figure on horseback that Xie Shuning couldn't understand.

However, taking care of Xie Shuning was important, so he didn't catch up, and only immediately turned around to check Xie Shuning's injuries.

Fortunately, just when she almost fell, she leaned heavily on the rough wall around her, and her palm was just a little skinny.

Song Yanzhao breathed a long sigh of relief, but he still didn't feel at ease and wanted to send her back to the inn to bandage first.

"Uncle, it's only a little broken, it's not tight." She shook her head, and did not want to go back, so she took out the handkerchief herself and wrapped her palm around it, temporarily blocking the erosion of the dust.

Song Yanzhao knew that she was far tougher than she seemed on the surface, so after a little thought, he agreed.

The group immediately continued to the West Market.

And the two horses from the Western Regions that had just passed through finally slowed down after running away.

The two men on horseback took off their hats, but under their heads were two white faces that were completely different from those of the local Hu Sheng.

The eyebrows are as delicate as distant mountains, and the two faces are still somewhat similar at first glance.

One is thirteen or fourteen, and the other seems to be smaller, with immature eyebrows and eyes on his face. But the eyes are like the desert outside the city, so vast that it seems to have no bounds.

Either one, it doesn't look like a child.

The older one was holding the reins, his brows furrowed, and he said, "That person just shouted a Xiyue dialect at first?" ”

"The wind is too loud to hear clearly." The young man shook his head and continued to ride his horse slowly, "Khotan is a city that must pass through this way, and it is not surprising that the merchants of Xiyue haunt here. ”

"Yes!" The older boy listened, and his frown widened slightly.

The younger one grinned. Put on his hat again, bent down, raised his whip and galloped, and said loudly: "Seventh Senior Brother, if you don't leave, it's going to be too late!" ”

"Let's go!"

In the wind. Two horses ran out of sight.

However, the corners of the smiling mouth of the younger boy on horseback slowly tightened the arc.

He crouched low on his horse. Hesitating. Between his lips and teeth, he chewed on the familiar name - "Aman." ”

……

Xie Shuning had already followed Song Yanzhao to the west market at this time.

Herds of camels stood or lay down, and the merchants on their hunkbacks leaned crookedly against each other, as if exhausted.

Song Yanzhao stepped forward and walked directly towards a tall man named Scar.

One of the camels stood up slowly, the heavy coat and cage on its back following its movements. It made a bell clatter and slapped its big back.

It's not the first time Xie Shuning has seen a creature like a camel, but every time he respects them from the bottom of his heart.

The ancient road is long, and without them it is a burden. It is difficult to pass with just a few people.

And at this moment, the man who caught Xie Shuning's eyes was as resolute as a camel.

The merchants who traveled with him had been exhausted by the long journey, but he was still as sharp as an eagle in his eyes and straight in body.

Xie Shuning looked at the goods hanging on the hunchback.

Through the cage, she could also guess that it was silk and tea leaves.

These things, coming from the Jiangnan towns in Xiyue, can get ten times the price when they cross the desert to the other end, how can they not be exciting!

In the same way, she was also impressed.

She couldn't help but look at her uncle, who was talking to Scar in a whisper.

Since entering Khotan, she has gradually discovered some unusual clues.

Her uncle didn't seem to be as simple as she thought.

This camel carath, densely packed with more than 100 people, can not be considered small.

But when she learned from Song Yanzhao's mouth, he used a rather casual tone.

From this, it can be seen that he has a much larger caravan than this.

She scrutinized.

There was a group of people in the caravan who sat alone on the other side.

Although the bodies of this group of people also showed fatigue, the knives still did not leave their hands.

It is a professional swordsman.

The existence of this group of people is like a dart game in Xiyue, but the price is far better than an ordinary dart game.

Xie Shuning quickly calculated the information in his heart.

The price of hiring a team of swordsmen, the amount of money and goods that can be exchanged for the goods you bring......

At this moment, Song Yanzhao finished talking to Scar and called her, "Aman." ”

She gathered her thoughts and hurried over.

Song Yanzhao patted her on the shoulder, smiled and said to Scar, "This is my niece, called Aman." After finishing speaking, he said to Xie Shuning, "Call Uncle Dao." ”

Xie Shuning called "Uncle Dao" in a kind way.

The black-faced man on the opposite side looked a little hideous because of the scar on his face from the eyebrow bone to the left side of his face, but when he laughed, his voice was loud and his expression was hearty, which made people feel comfortable.

After seeing the ceremony, Song Yanzhao took Xie Shuning back to the inn first.

The caravan also needed to rest and recuperate, and it was impossible to leave immediately, and dry food and water needed to be prepared before leaving.

So the time was set for two days later.

That night, Xie Shuning tossed and turned, and fell asleep in a daze for a long time.

The moonlit night in the border city is particularly bleak, making people sleepless at night, and it is always easy to remind people of their hearts. (To be continued......)