The Second World in Ancient Times

Si Qing stood at the junction of desert and oasis, gazing back at the sea of ​​sand that threatened to swallow them all. The howling wind whipped her hair, but it couldn't scatter the unwavering light in her eyes. Her companions sat or lay around, exhausted, yet each held a newfound awe for Si Qing.

"Miss, we are able to survive this time thanks to you." A guard who was seriously injured said with all his strength.

Si Qing smiled slightly, but a hint of solemnity flashed in his eyes: "We can't take it lightly. This is just the beginning, and there is still a long way to go. But after all these hardships, we are no longer the same people we used to be."

"Yeah, those bandits, the harsh environment of the desert, and the mysterious and dangerous ruins, it feels like a nightmare." Another companion echoed.

"But we emerged from the nightmare stronger than ever." Si Qing clenched his fists. "We learned to find hope in desperate situations and how to fight the enemy. These are all precious treasures."

At this time, Si Qing's skin was tanned by the sun, and her arms were covered with scars from battle, but her posture was even more upright, like a phoenix reborn from the ashes. She knew that she shouldered the family's mission, and these hardships were only the steps to her growth.

During their rest days at the oasis, Si Qing and his companions reviewed the survival skills they had acquired in the desert. Si Qing picked up a branch and drew a map on the sand to mark the water sources in the desert.

"You see, we were able to find water this time because we noticed the changes in the color of the sand and the plants. We should pay attention to these details when encountering similar situations in the future. Also, we need to practice more on how to catch gerbils and lizards in the desert; this could save our lives in critical moments."

A young crew member asked, "Miss, the temperature difference between day and night in those deserts is so great. If we encounter it again in the future, is there any better way?"

Si Qing nodded and said, "This requires us to use resources more rationally. Gathering hay and branches to make a fire for warmth is one thing, but we can also try to make warmer clothing. For example, we can stack our existing clothes in layers and fill the middle with hay or something like that."

At this point, Si Qing picked up another piece of animal skin and said, "This kind of animal skin can be waterproof after being treated. We can use it to build a temporary shelter to deal with heavy rain in the desert."

The team listened attentively, offering questions and suggestions. Si Qing felt more like a mentor than a leader, imparting valuable experience to everyone and helping the entire team improve their survival skills.

Si Qing also had a deep reflection on her leadership ability. She gathered her companions together and began to talk about her command strategy when fighting bandits.

"When we faced the bandits, we were initially at a disadvantage. But we couldn't panic; we had to observe the enemy's weaknesses. I found that although they had a large number of people, their attacks were disorganized and they relied too much on horses. So we concentrated our attack on one side, luring the enemy deep into our territory, and then suddenly attacked from behind to disrupt their formation."

A guard asked, "Miss, what if the enemy is more organized next time?"

Si Qing's eyes were sharp. "Then we must be more flexible. Information is crucial in combat. We must maintain communication and adjust our tactics in a timely manner. Furthermore, we must trust each other; each of us is an important part of the team. Just like in the ruins, only by working closely together can we escape the numerous traps and dangerous collapses."

"Miss, you're right. We are like a fist now. We can only be powerful if we punch out!" said a crew member, waving his arms.

Si Qing looked at everyone, his heart filled with warmth: "Yes, we are a whole. No matter what difficulties we encounter, as long as we unite as one, there will be no difficulties that we cannot overcome."

After resting, Si Qing and his companions continued their journey. They followed the ancient trade route, hoping to find new trade opportunities and clues to pave the way for their family's future. However, they did not know that a greater conspiracy was waiting for them.

That day, they arrived at a bustling border town. The town was bustling with people of all colors and attire. Si Qing had intended to restock his supplies and inquire about the surrounding area.

But when they walked into a tavern, they sensed an unusual atmosphere. The people inside appeared to be drinking and chatting, but Si Qing keenly sensed that several pairs of eyes were secretly watching them. She quietly signaled to her companions, and everyone immediately became alert.

Si Qing and his companions found a corner to sit down and ordered some food and wine. At this time, a man in gorgeous clothes and with a sinister look in his eyes came over with several of his men.

"You are the Si Qing group who have become famous recently, right?" the man said sarcastically.

Si Qing stood up, holding the hilt of his sword: "So what? Who are you?"

The man sneered: "Humph, we are the masters here. You are on our territory, so you must abide by our rules."

"What rules? We are just passing by and will go on to replenish some supplies." Si Qing was not afraid at all.

"Passing by? Not that simple. I heard that you got a lot of good things in the desert. If you know what's good for you, hand those things over to me, and maybe I can spare your lives." The man showed a greedy look.

Si Qing's heart trembled. It seemed their find in the desert ruins had attracted the attention of someone. But how could she easily hand over the treasures and knowledge that were so vital to her family?

"We don't have what you said, and even if we did, we wouldn't give it to you bullies." Si Qing glared at them.

"If you don't accept my toast, then you'll have to drink a penalty. Come on!" The man gave an order, and his men drew their weapons and rushed towards Si Qing and the others.

Si Qing and his companions quickly responded to the attack. This time, the enemy was unlike the desert bandits; they were well-trained, well-armed, and well-coordinated. Si Qing, brandishing his sword, engaged one of the enemies head-on, their blades clashing and sparks flying.

"You guys, don't even think about succeeding!" Si Qing shouted.

The companions fought bravely, but the enemy's attacks came like a tide, and they gradually became unable to resist. One of the companions was hit in the abdomen by the enemy and fell to the ground.

"Hold on! We can't lose!" Si Qing was anxious, she knew she had to turn the tide of battle as soon as possible.

At this moment, Si Qing discovered a window on the second floor of the tavern that seemed like it could be used as a breakthrough. She came up with a plan and shouted to her companions, "Retreat to the second floor!"

The companions fought and retreated, moving towards the second-floor staircase. The enemy pursued them relentlessly, but their advantage was somewhat weakened on the narrow staircase. Si Qing led his companions to a successful retreat to the second floor, where they quickly searched for exploitable terrain.

Si Qing found some tables, chairs and barrels on the second floor. She ordered her companions to pile these things at the stairwell to form a simple defense line. The enemy tried to rush up the stairs but was blocked by the obstacles.

"Attack with fire!" Si Qing shouted.

The companions took out their tinders and set fire to the barrels, tables and chairs. The fire spread rapidly, and the enemy was blocked by the fire and was thrown into chaos.

"Let's go out of the window now!" Si Qing led his companions to the window and slid down to the street downstairs one by one using a rope.

When the enemy rushed out from the flames, Si Qing and his men had already re-formed their battle formation on the street. Si Qing looked at the enemy and sneered, "You think you can trap us? How naive."

The enemy, enraged, attacked again. But this time, Si Qing and his men were prepared. Taking advantage of the narrow streets, they engaged in guerrilla warfare. Seizing the opportunity, Si Qing, along with a few agile companions, circled behind the enemy lines and launched a surprise attack.

The enemy was attacked from both sides, their formation in disarray. Si Qing shuttled between the enemies like a ghost, his sword skills were sharp, and wherever he went, the enemies fell one after another.

After a fierce battle, the enemy was finally repelled. But Si Qing knew that things were not that simple. These people were just pawns, and there must be a bigger conspiracy behind them.

They continued their investigation in the small town and discovered that the man in gorgeous clothes was the leader of a local gang, which was inextricably linked to a mysterious business force.

"This commercial force has been secretly manipulating trade in the surrounding areas. They don't want any new power to rise, so they want to rob us of our property and stop us from moving forward." Si Qing analyzed.

"Then what should we do? They are so powerful, we might be in greater danger." A companion said worriedly.

A glint of determination flashed in Si Qing's eyes. "We cannot retreat. The more they fear us, the greater the threat our existence poses to them. We must continue to move forward, expose their conspiracy, and seek justice for ourselves and for those they oppress."

Si Qing decided to investigate this mysterious business power. Through clues from local residents, they found a stronghold of the business power - a seemingly ordinary warehouse, but it was surrounded by strict security.

"We have to find a way to get in and find evidence of their conspiracy." Si Qing whispered.

They took advantage of the night and quietly approached the warehouse. Si Qing observed the guards around and found that their patrol routes had a certain pattern. She led her companions to avoid the guards' sight and went to the back of the warehouse.

There was a ventilation hole here, small but large enough for one person to pass through. Si Qing decided to go in first, as she was relatively thin and agile.

"I'll go in and take a look at the situation. If there's any danger, I'll send a signal and you guys can figure out a solution." Si Qing said to his companions.

After saying that, she carefully crawled into the ventilation duct and headed into the warehouse.

Si Qing walked slowly in the ventilation duct, observing the situation inside the warehouse through the gaps in the vents. The warehouse was full of goods, but some of the goods looked suspicious and emitted a pungent smell.

She continued to crawl forward and heard some people talking.

"We must stop Si Qing and the others this time and not let them ruin our plan. The things in that desert ruins are crucial to our plan." A low voice said.

"Don't worry, boss. We have arranged the manpower. Even if they can escape this time, they will not be able to escape the next time." Another voice replied.

Si Qing was shocked. It seemed that their actions had been completely mastered by the enemy. But she couldn't just give up. She had to find evidence to expose these people's conspiracy.

At that moment, there was a sudden shaking in the ventilation duct. It turned out that the enemy had discovered something unusual and was checking it out. Si Qing held his breath, trying not to make any noise. But the enemy was getting closer and closer, and the situation was extremely critical.

Si Qing saw a cover next to the ventilation duct that could be opened. She gently opened the cover and jumped into a small room below. The room was full of documents. She didn't have time to check and found a place to hide first.

The enemy found nothing in the ventilation duct and left. Si Qing breathed a sigh of relief and began to examine the documents. She found business contracts and letters that clearly documented how this business power manipulated the market, suppressed competitors, and colluded with illegal forces.

"These evidences are enough to make them receive the punishment they deserve." Si Qing was secretly happy.

But she knew she had to leave as soon as possible. She hid the documents in her clothes and looked for an exit. In a corner of the warehouse, she found a secret door. Through the secret door, she successfully escaped from the warehouse and reunited with her companions.

Si Qing returned to the town's central square with evidence. Standing on the platform, she revealed the conspiracy of this mysterious business force to the town's residents.

"Everyone, look at these evidences. These people have been deceiving you, manipulating trade, and making us all live in dire straits. We can't let them do whatever they want anymore!" Si Qing said loudly.

After seeing the evidence, the residents were outraged. They all expressed their determination to resist this commercial power. Si Qing led the residents and his companions to the headquarters of the commercial power.

At this time, the business community also got the news and sent a large number of men to stop them. But this time, Si Qing and his men had the support of the people and were very powerful.

A fierce battle ensued in the streets of the town. Si Qing rushed to the front, her sword swung like lightning, and her enemies fell before her one after another.

"For justice! For our home!" Si Qing shouted.

The comrades and the locals also fought bravely. The battle was extremely fierce, and the streets were stained with blood, but they did not retreat at all.

At the critical moment, Si Qing discovered the leader of the business power and rushed towards him, starting a one-on-one duel with him.

The leader was a skilled fighter, his weapon a heavy battle axe, each swing of which carried immense power. Si Qing skillfully dodged his attacks, searching for a flaw.

Si Qing and the business leader were locked in a fierce battle. The leader swung his axe, but Si Qing dodged and thrust his sword into his arm. The leader, in pain, attacked even more frantically.

"Little girl, you think you can beat me? That's ridiculous!" the leader roared.

"Justice will eventually triumph over evil. You have committed so many evil things that today is the day you die!" Si Qing's eyes were firm.

The two fought back and forth, and the battle entered a white-hot stage. Si Qing's physical strength was gradually exhausted, but the belief in her heart supported her.

Suddenly, Si Qing found a flaw in the leader's attack. She seized the opportunity and used all her strength to stab the leader in the chest. The leader's eyes widened and he fell down in disbelief.

With the fall of the business leader, the enemies began to flee, and the townspeople cheered, hailing Si Qing as a hero.

"Ms. Siqing, you saved us!" a resident said excitedly.

Si Qing smiled and said, "This is the result of everyone's joint efforts. We cannot allow these evil forces to continue to exist."

This victory made Si Qing's reputation even more resounding. But she did not let victory get to her head. She knew that her goal was still far from being achieved. She and her companions said goodbye to the residents of the town and continued on their journey.