Morning.
Sixty-seventh day of survival.
Near the Fourth Oasis.
Dennis excitedly spoke to everyone: "Folks, we’re about to reach the Fourth Oasis, only about five days away from the first gathering point!"
"Although we’re a few days behind the planned seventy-day arrival at the first gathering point, overall this journey has been fairly smooth!"
Listening to Dennis’s words, a shimr of excitent appeared on the faces of the others.
Even the calm Chen Wen displayed a satisfied smile.
This journey hasn’t been easy!
They have been riding cals for sixty-seven days across the Great Sand Desert, facing both natural disasters and manmade adversities.
But regardless, they’re about to reach the Fourth Oasis.
The Kimberley Plateau is also within sight!
"Let’s push through, and reach the Fourth Oasis before noon!"
Chen Wen issued the command.
As the journey progressed, everyone has beco accustod to their current way of operation.
That is, Chen Wen decides the general direction, and Dennis acts as the guide.
Dennis nodded, glanced at the map, and said: "Then let’s speed up, riding the cals will be easy!"
The group, upon hearing this, promptly moved towards the cals.
After several days together, the drodaries have also adapted to the interaction with Chen Wen’s group.
Actually, it’s the sa as before.
It’s always a migration between various oases, searching for food.
The Cal King walked behind Chen Wen, with the Hunting Owl and the Brown-winged Hawk perched on its back, while the Taipan Snake was in a pouch hanging to the side.
Following the Cal King was the first cal tad by Chen Wen.
It carried quite a bit of food, leisurely trailing behind.
"I say, Chen Wen, where on earth are you headed to?"
The Cal King walked leisurely, asking Chen Wen who was riding on one of its mates.
Chen Wen, hearing this, replied slowly: "Further ahead."
He was at the rear of the group, at a considerable distance from Hua Yun at the front.
He spoke without worrying that Hua Yun would overhear.
The Cal King shook its head, not knowing exactly where Chen Wen ant.
But after shaking its head, it imdiately said: "No matter where you’re going, rember what you promised !"
"Don’t worry! Don’t worry!"
Chen Wen responded sowhat impatiently: "From now on, I’ll make sure you have food, shelter, and I’ll bring along your kids from the harem! I say, Cal King, aren’t you tired of saying this every day?"
The Cal King, hearing this, chuckled and said: "What’s there to be tired of? Hearing you say it once gives peace of mind, this is my assured happiness!"
Rolling his eyes at the blue sky, Chen Wen couldn’t help but sigh.
Other animals were persuaded to follow him, leaving their original habitat for new territories.
But the Cal King was different.
As soon as it heard there was a place with guaranteed food and shelter, it practically clung to Chen Wen, afraid he’d leave it behind.
Not only did it want to tag along itself.
It also insisted on taking its harem along, regardless of their willingness.
However, Chen Wen thought they were willing to.
After all, the environnt of the Great Sand Desert is quite harsh; most animals wouldn’t refuse the chance to move to a better place.
...
Chatting idly with the animals.
Up ahead.
Dennis signaled: "Everyone! The Fourth Oasis is here! I can see it! It’s a very large grove!"
Upon hearing Dennis’s excited cheers, Chen Wen calmly signaled to the Hunting Owl and Brown-winged Hawk.
Knowing there are people from Hunting Owl planning to attack him and claim a bounty with photos of his corpse,
Chen Wen ford the habit of sending the Hunting Owl and Brown-winged Hawk to scout every ti they reached an oasis.
The two birds of prey took off, flying directly towards the oasis.
By circling high in the sky, they could pretty much see the open areas within the oasis clearly.
The Hunting Owl, with its powerful attribute of "Far Sight Vision," could see more clearly in the desert.
Soon, the Hunting Owl made a discovery.
Spotting a car on a clearing within the oasis made it instantly alert.
Through its ti with Chen Wen, the Hunting Owl had already understood what a car signified.
It emitted a sharp call, warning the Brown-winged Hawk not to approach.
After its last experience, the Brown-winged Hawk beca more vigilant and cautious.
Upon hearing the Hunting Owl’s call, it imdiately ascended.
Not daring to approach, the two birds quickly changed their direction and flew back towards Chen Wen.
...
Seeing the two birds return so swiftly, Chen Wen was taken aback.
He quickly gestured, indicating for the birds to land beside him.
Soon, the Hunting Owl, landing next to Chen Wen, spoke seriously: "We saw cars!"
Chen Wen’s expression turned serious, "Are you sure?"
"Sure, and there are two of them!"
The Hunting Owl said warily.
Two?
Upon hearing this number, Chen Wen squinted, seemingly pondering sothing.
Based on previous understanding of the Hunting Owl organization, Chen Wen knew they usually don’t deploy large numbers of operatives.
They specialize in small-scale operations, typically in four-person teams.
This small target is difficult to detect and highly efficient.
This ti, the presence of two cars created a larger target, not quite aligning with Hunting Owl’s usual modus operandi.
Chen Wen pondered for a mont and then sought out Dennis.
He inford Dennis about the presence of humans but didn’t ntion his suspicion of them being from Hunting Owl.
Dennis hesitated upon hearing this news.
He tentatively asked: "Do you an they resemble the previous group? Or is it just the previous group circumventing us?"
Chen Wen shook his head: "Not sure, but probably not the previous group."
After hearing this, Dennis breathed a sigh of relief.
He thought for a mont and said: "Adam and I will go over; you guys wait here, and once we..."
Chen Wen waved his hand: "I can’t let the two of you take risks; I’ve thought about it, we should go together, but I’ll stay behind, you go first, I’ll be right behind you."
"If they’re not the group we encountered before, everything’s fine, we’ll just pass through normally. But if they are, we’ll adapt and respond together."
Dennis nodded with a smile: "Respond together!"
After informing the group, no one objected to Chen Wen’s arrangents.
Placing their weapons within quick reach, they headed towards the Fourth Oasis.
...
Within the Fourth Oasis.
Two jeeps parked one behind the other in the open area of the oasis.
Upon closer examination, one jeep’s parking position appeared peculiar.
It was located on a freshly dried riverbed, with thick mud still present, the jeep’s rear wheels deeply stuck in the mud, the body caught on the riverbank.
Amidst the jeeps, four adult males were trying to extract the vehicle.
"Dammit, Toreff, how on earth did you drive?"
One of them frowned, looking at his partner.
Toreff shrugged helplessly: "I thought it was just a small riverbed, but unpredictably, this small riverbed managed to trap the jeep, not my fault, Jens."
"I understand the logic, but why did you drive into the riverbed, leaving to work on getting it out?"
Jens couldn’t help but counter.
Hearing this, Toreff laughed heartily, finally joining in to help.
And then, the third man pointed to the distance: "Hey, soone’s approaching!"
Upon hearing this, they all stopped their work, watching the incoming individuals cautiously.
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