“Um…”
Thinking about Professor Chen's students, Shirley Yang couldn’t speak a word.
Honestly, it wasn't that she looked down on them, but they were too young.
They clearly looked like college students, without any experience. Only Uncle Chen and Professor Hao could be considered scholars.
But one was in his forties and the other in his fifties. Neither was in their prime. Entering the desert would make them burdens!
Not to mention, none of them had experience surviving in the desert. Only Shirley Yang had traveled far and wide, but she had never been to a desert like that.
And it was the deep desert, the kind where inexperienced people would be lost forever.
“You see, Miss Yang, you yourself know the archaeological team isn't reliable. Why should we go to our deaths?”
“Unless you just want us to protect you, otherwise, we can’t take this job.”
Bai Tian Yu shrugged and said casually.
In fact, Bai Tian Yu had another good idea, which was to follow the archaeological team.
It was just a little bit bad, to sneak around wasn’t very nice.
“Are you really not able to take the archaeological team with you?”
Shirley Yang still hoped to bring the archaeological team. It wasn't just because of Professor Chen, but also because having the archaeological team represented the nation in a way.
It was easier to do things with the backing of the nation. Shirley Yang wasn’t familiar with things inside China and naturally hoped to have less trouble.
“Miss Yang, is it okay if I call you that?”
Seeing Shirley Yang didn’t say anything, Lao Hu spoke.
“Can you tell me how many people are in your team, and how many are elderly?”
As the only one present who had been to the deep desert, Lao Hu had the right to speak on this matter. Seeing Bai Tian Yu couldn’t convince Shirley Yang,
Lao Hu naturally had to persuade her from a professional standpoint.
“There are two, and three college students, two men and one woman.”
Professor Hao was no different from an elderly person in Shirley Yang’s eyes.
A typical intellectual, he probably couldn't even walk two or three kilometers without being out of breath.
Shirley Yang answered truthfully. She also realized that Bai Tian Yu was the one making the decisions, and this Hu Ba Yi seemed to be the one making the professional decisions.
“Then I refuse to take the archaeological team with us!”
In the original plot, it was because they didn't know the situation, so Lao Hu didn’t want to offend anyone. And as long as the archaeological team listened, Lao Hu was confident he could bring everyone back. That’s why he agreed.
Who knew that not only did the archaeological team lack experience, they also wouldn’t listen. A soldier protecting them had died, and then they acted like nothing had happened.
They were simply a group of fools, acting on their passion without considering their capabilities.
If they hadn't encountered the group of foreign grave robbers, who knew how many of them would have survived?
Before they left, Lao Hu had repeatedly told them to listen to commands, but what happened?
Who listened?
“Miss Yang, you may not know how dangerous the desert is. Even though I have entered the desert many times, I can’t guarantee we can return safely!”
“Especially since you need to go to the deep desert. It’s so far, I’ve heard of the ancient city of Jingjue. It’s not an ordinary deep place!”
“Those professors and students who don’t know anything, it would be a great achievement if they could even enter the deep desert!”
The Taklamakan Desert, the third largest shifting desert in the world, wasn’t an ordinary place.
Not to mention the snakes, insects, rodents, and other creatures, just the day and night changes in the desert were not something ordinary people could withstand. It was questionable if those two old scholars could even endure it.
“Mr. Hu, it seems you have been to the deep desert?”
Seeing Lao Hu so professional, Shirley Yang asked doubtfully.
“Lao Hu is a soldier. He has entered the deep desert with the army many times. There is probably no one here who knows the desert better than him!”
Bai Tian Yu explained for Lao Hu and continued.
“He is also very familiar with celestial star geomancy. Didn’t you want to use celestial star geomancy to determine the location of the tomb, then locate the river, and find the ancient city of Jingjue?”
As if seeing through Shirley Yang’s thoughts, Bai Tian Yu said confidently.
“Furthermore, the ancient city of Jingjue can only be found during the windy season. If you miss it, you’ll have to wait until next year!”
“By the way, this year’s windy season is this month!”
Reminding her, Bai Tian Yu stood up, bent down, and leaned close to Shirley Yang, saying.
“Miss Yang, we've said all we need to say. You can either set off with the archaeological team, and end up buried in the desert!”
“Or you can join us to form an elite team, quickly go to the ancient city of Jingjue. You don’t have to worry about the archaeological team stopping every few steps. We'll find the ancient city of Jingjue quickly and efficiently!”
“Then we'll return to the Capital safely. You choose!”
“If it wasn’t for the old Taoist priest asking me to help you, I wouldn’t even bother!”
After finishing, Bai Tian Yu turned away, not looking at Shirley Yang, and waited for her response.
“Miss Yang, I agree with Lao Bai. The archaeological team is really unreliable. As for your concern about the army not being able to provide assistance, don’t worry.”
“I’ve been to the Taklamakan Desert. I have familiar people there. There's no need to bring the archaeological team.”
Shrugging, Lao Hu also gave Shirley Yang a guarantee.
It was up to Shirley Yang to decide.
“Hey, didn’t you both speak? Shouldn’t I say something too?”
Seeing Bai Tian Yu and Lao Hu both speaking, Wang Pang Zi felt he should say something, but Lao Hu covered his mouth.
“Woooo!”
“Then I’ll go back and discuss it with Professor Chen, and then make a decision.”
Shirley Yang glanced at Bai Tian Yu and then at Lao Hu. She nodded and left. From beginning to end, she hadn’t looked at Wang Pang Zi once.
Wang Pang Zi was so angry that he gave Lao Hu a jab with his elbow.
“Ouch!!!”
“You fat idiot, what are you doing!”
Lao Hu released Wang Pang Zi, clutching his chest uncomfortably.
“Damn, does that foreign girl look down on me? Why didn’t she even look at me?”
“Nonsense, what do you know? Celestial star geomancy? Been to the desert?”
Bai Tian Yu said something, and Wang Pang Zi shook his head each time.
“Then why do you think she would look at you?”
“It can’t be because you’re fat, can it?”
“Um…”
“Hey, Lao Bai, aren’t you just insulting me!”
Hesitating for a moment, Wang Pang Zi realized that Bai Tian Yu was indeed insulting him!
“Aaaaah, it hurts, it hurts!”
“Let go!”