"Kid, you finally woke up. I thought you were dead for sure."
It was the fourth day's evening when Xu Nian finally opened his eyes.
Even for him, having gone four days without a drop of water and suffering from the harsh sun,
though it wouldn't kill him, it was still an excruciating experience.
If it were his peak period, it wouldn't matter, but he was seriously injured now and was somewhat unable to bear it.
And he couldn't keep feigning death forever.
The man named Adam handed Xu Nian a water flask, his face breaking into a smile.
As the sun set in the west, the caravan had begun to set up camp.
"Where are we?" Xu Nian took a sip of water and then returned the flask.
"This is Beimo, kid. By the looks of you, you're not from Beimo. How did you end up here?" Adam asked tentatively.
"Beimo? I was in East Field County. How did I get to Beimo? I only remember falling into a cave, then getting injured. How did I suddenly end up in Beimo?" Xu Nian scratched his head, feigning ignorance.
"You say you fell into a cave and then went from East Field County to Beimo?" Adam's face also showed surprise at Xu Nian's words.
"Yes, I was mining in the mountains. The mountain path was slippery, and I accidentally fell into a cave," Xu Nian nodded.
Adam's expression grew more puzzled.
He walked over to Xu Nian, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Xu Nian immediately felt a surge of spiritual energy enter his body.
Without changing his expression, Xu Nian let Adam probe.
He knew Adam was checking whether he was a cultivator.
Adam had checked once before when Xu Nian was unconscious and had found nothing.
Upon checking again, the result was still the same as before.
"Could he truly not be a cultivator? Is what he's saying the truth?" Adam wondered inwardly.
He had examined Xu Nian's body and had found no trace of spiritual energy.
Typically, it was impossible for a cultivator not to have even a trace of spiritual energy.
Xu Nian, seeing the disappointed look on Adam's face, knew that Adam had discovered nothing.
Indeed, there was not a trace of spiritual energy within him now.
The spiritual energy he had absorbed had all been used to nurture his body.
There wasn't any residual spiritual energy left, and Xu Nian's cultivation level was far higher than his,
which meant that Adam's spiritual energy couldn't enter Xu Nian's dantian, thus creating the illusion of a sealed dantian.
This misled Adam into thinking that Xu Nian was an ordinary person with a closed dantian.
"Humph, I said he was a nobody," Hua Gesang said disdainfully from the side. "Dad, you're not good enough to say this kid is extraordinary. I think you're overthinking it."
Adam indeed sighed in disappointment.
Initially, he had thought Xu Nian had an extraordinary background, but now he truly seemed to be nothing more than a woodsman.
"All right, you needn't think about it anymore. You might have accidentally entered a powerful formation set up by a mighty person, which is why you were transported here. If you were a cultivator, you might have a chance to return, but as an ordinary person even if you spent your whole life, you might never be able to walk back from here," Adam said, patting Xu Nian on the shoulder. "After all, the journey is too long and filled with dangers. You might die on the way, so you might as well stay here."
Disappointed though he pretended to be, Xu Nian still nodded.
Seeing Xu Nian agree, Adam felt a renewed sense of admiration.
If this guy had been overconfident and stubbornly insisted on returning,
he would have unhesitatingly abandoned him in this vast desert.
After all, for an ordinary person to cross Beimo and return to the distant East Field County was nothing short of a fool's dream.
However, Hua Gesang, standing by, found Xu Nian more and more displeasing to the eye, her gaze filled with disdain.
"In the future, you'll stay by Ge Sang's side as an attendant," Adam said.
"I don't want him, he's just an ordinary person and even ugly at that, I don't want him as my attendant," Hua Gesang said with a face full of disgust.
Hearing this, Xu Nian could only wryly smile.
That was true, he looked quite ugly at the moment.
His hair was unkempt, his skin darkened, and his clothes were dirty and tattered, indistinguishable from the beggars in the pile.
But Hua Gesang's scorn only served to annoy him even more.
"Ge Sang, we should be kind-hearted. If you don't like him, we can discuss it again when we reach Rom City; for now, he's your responsibility. Ensure his safety," Adam dropped the statement and left.
Seeing her father so resolute, Hua Gesang stomped her foot in frustration.
Then she glared fiercely at Xu Nian and ran off.
Xu Nian could only smile helplessly.
He never thought the day would come when a girl would give him such trouble.
Even back in the Qin Family, although his status was low, the girls' attitude towards him was never too bad.
Because he had inherited his mother's genes.
As he grew older, his appearance also became more and more outstanding.
Although not enough to dazzle countless young girls, most would still take a second glance at him.
"Forget it, better fix my injuries first."
Xu Nian muttered to himself, then began to quietly channel the Dan Sea Species Green Lotus, cautiously absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.
He had barely deceived Adam and didn't want to ruin his plan so soon.
After all, Xu Nian still didn't know whether Adam was trustworthy, especially with nearly a hundred people around.
The caravan began setting up tents and raising a bonfire.
Traveling at night was a big taboo in the desert.
Because at night, Demon Beasts lurking in the desert would emerge.
And the desert nights were exceptionally cold.
So, basically, no one dared to travel in the desert at night.
After a brief period of cultivation, Xu Nian also went over to help.
Only to be scorned by Hua Gesang and shoved to the side.
Helplessly, Xu Nian decided not to bother anymore and just watched the people busying themselves.
Many in the caravan started pulling out liquor and meat they had prepared beforehand, starting to grill and drink.
"Come, try our desert's milk wine and Ice Rock Beef, personally grilled by Hua Gesang. Her grilling skills are second to none," Adam handed Xu Nian a wine jug and a big piece of beef.
Gratefully, Xu Nian accepted the milk wine and grilled meat and tried a bite.
The meat quality of the grilled beef was undeniably delicious.
However, the grilling technique was a bit lacking.
If Xu Nian were to grill it, he could surely make it ten times tastier.
"Kid, what's with the frown? Don't you like my grilling? You're my attendant, it's already a great honor for you to eat the meat I grill, and you dare to complain?" Hua Gesang burst out after seeing Xu Nian frown upon tasting the meat.
Beside her, Adam also looked displeased.
Clearly, he was unhappy with Xu Nian's reaction.