章節 72: On the Train
The train traversed the railway, day after day, hour after hour...
As time passed, the scenery visible through the window underwent numerous transformations.
The most significant change was undoubtedly in the weather.
The once-perpetual greenery flanking the tracks gradually yielded to desolate yellow sands, while the ever-present verdant woods of the plains and hills slowly faded from view, replaced by ochre earth and arid dunes.
However, the warmth was undeniably increasing.
It was warm enough to make one feel as if they might melt, so warm that even if an ordinary person shed all their clothing, the heat would still be overwhelming. Even an attempt to open the window for some fresh air would only invite suffocating, hot gusts.
The desert's temperature was notoriously sweltering during the day, yet as night descended, it turned chillingly cold, evoking an illusion of being amidst snow.
Nonetheless, the fluctuations in temperature had no effect on Xiao Mu Yu, Riven, or even the seemingly diminutive Annie and Teemo.
As time flowed, the train passed through numerous cities, each foreign to Xiao Mu Yu, filled with myriad thoughts to ponder.
Yet soon, he began to contemplate the true challenges that lay ahead, as intermittent stretches of desert began to emerge along the train's path.
Cities began to dwindle in number, and the surrounding landscape grew increasingly desolate. The oppressive heat caused the number of passengers within the train to slowly diminish, signifying that they were nearing their destination.
Over the past few days, the group had grown more familiar and warm with one another, yet one thing remained unchanged: Annie stubbornly referred to Teemo as "Little Kitty," provoking the self-proclaimed mature and composed Captain Teemo to leap in indignation, leaving one to wonder if the little girl was doing it on purpose.
"Hmm? Mr. Xiao Mu Yu? Why have you been staring out the window these past few days?" Teemo asked curiously, holding up a dried mushroom as he approached Xiao Mu Yu, perplexed. "Is there something interesting outside? Oh, by the way, Mr. Xiao Mu Yu, would you like to try a mushroom? These are a specialty from Bandle City! I personally cultivated them all while in Bandle City!"
"..." Withdrawing his gaze impassively, Xiao Mu Yu coldly regarded the smiling, fluffy face before him, glancing at the mushroom offered, when an odd thought suddenly crossed his mind...
Mushroom...?
As he murmured those two words in his mind, a sudden flash of murderous intent surged within him.
In that instant, an inexplicable impulse washed over Xiao Mu Yu—he envisioned striking down the adorable little creature and its mushroom with a single blow.
However, the moment that strange murderous intent appeared, it inexplicably dissipated.
Was it... an illusion?
Tilting his head in confusion, Xiao Mu Yu pondered, yet no matter how he tried, he could not comprehend why a mere mushroom would provoke such feelings.
"Thank you, but I do not like mushrooms," he said coldly, rejecting Teemo's hopeful offer as the little creature gazed at him with eager anticipation.
"Oh, I see..." Teemo replied, somewhat disheartened. He then turned to the little girl beside Xiao Mu Yu, "Little Annie, would you like to try a mushroom?"
The little girl glanced at Teemo, shifted Xiao Mu Yu's left hand, which she had been holding, and huffed, "Since big brother refuses to eat your mushroom, it must mean your mushroom is not tasty. If it's not tasty, then Annie won't eat it either."
"Hey! Little girl, that's not fair! If you don't want to eat it, just say so; what does that have to do with my mushroom? Just because you say my mushroom is bad doesn't make it so! Honestly, you're just a little girl who can't even speak properly, showing no manners at all."
Captain Teemo was quite displeased with Annie's remarks. He had been well-meaning, though it seemed his mushrooms were not particularly popular even in Bandle City. Still, how could she say such a thing? Her words clearly aimed to embarrass the great Captain Teemo.
"Little girl? Are you referring to me?" The little girl, who prided herself on being mature, was momentarily puzzled by Teemo's words.
Releasing her hold on Xiao Mu Yu, she stood up, gesturing with her small hands to indicate that Teemo only reached her chin, and asked, "But I'm clearly so much taller than you! If I'm a little girl, then you must be an even smaller child!"
Glancing at the short and chubby Teemo, Annie, in an attempt to bolster her argument, proudly puffed out her developing chest and emphasized, "Besides, I'm not little at all; I'm quite grown up!"
In every sense... compared to girls her age, she was indeed not little at all.
Riven, who had been quietly enjoying the spectacle, paused for a second before realizing the absurdity of the situation, her expression turning into a mix of amusement and disbelief.
"..."
"Alright, everyone, let's calm down; I have something to say." Observing the impending clash of glares between the little girl and Teemo, which had become a routine in their travels on the magical train, Riven rubbed her forehead in exasperation.
While it was amusing to watch the two perpetual children earnestly assert their maturity, the moment their banter escalated into a quarrel, it became rather noisy—despite the fact that this little Teemo was already in his thirties and a married individual, it seemed Yordles grew late in terms of psychological maturity.
Well, this phenomenon of theirs could be described as a retained childlike innocence.
Pulling out a map from her backpack, Riven spread it across the table. "This is a detailed map of the Shurima Desert, far more comprehensive than the ordinary maps available in the market. It records nearly all the orc tribes within the desert," she explained. Noticing the two little ones were now captivated, Riven pointed to a specific location on the map with her slender finger. "According to the map passed down by the explorer Ezreal, the location of the ancient ruins is right here."
"..." Casting a detached glance at the clearly military-grade map, Xiao Mu Yu coldly inquired, "And then? What are you trying to convey?"
"Ha ha… look here." Riven smiled as she pointed to a green-marked spot on the map.
"Hmm? Is this... an oasis?" Xiao Mu Yu asked.
"Indeed, this is a medium-sized oasis. However, that is not the main point; the key is that most people are unaware of this oasis's existence. For the average person, if they were to embark from the city of Ir, the furthest edge of the desert towards the ancient ruins, they would find themselves on a path devoid of any supplies, as no one would travel that way."
"For them, departing from the city of Kukri would be the closest route to the ancient ruins, with sufficient water and food supplies along the way. But we are different," Riven smiled, "We know there's an oasis here where we can obtain ample supplies. If we take this route, I estimate we can save at least five days compared to those departing from Kukri."
"Are you suggesting we take this route?"
Xiao Mu Yu's indifferent gaze met Riven's as he coldly questioned, "But in the Shurima Desert, nearly all oases are occupied by various orc tribes, and some of these tribes do not harbor friendly sentiments towards humans. The fact that many have chosen to embark from Kukri indicates that the orc tribes along that route are amicable… at the very least, they are not a threat to travelers."
"And if we heed your advice and take this route, can you assure me that the orc tribe inhabiting this oasis will not pose a threat to us?"
"I can assure you," Riven replied decisively, nodding at Xiao Mu Yu's query. "Three years ago, I undertook a mission in the Shurima Desert, and it was during that time that we discovered this oasis."
"The inhabitants of this oasis are a group of friendly and peaceful bull-men. They possess gentle temperaments and are quite hospitable, so long as we harbor no ill intentions, this oasis can serve as an optimal supply point for our journey."
"..." With a detached gaze, Xiao Mu Yu pondered deeply, contemplating whether he should trust this seemingly sincere woman. After a lengthy pause, he finally raised his head, meeting the silver-haired woman's eyes with his own indifferent expression, and stated coldly, "Very well, then. Let us proceed this way, and I hope... that the bull-men's tribe is indeed as peaceful and hospitable as you claim."
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