Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

bunker?

Travelers don't even need to look up; their memory of the surroundings along the way is enough to tell them that, as far as the eye can see, there is absolutely no rock of any size, except for the rolling, gently shaped sand dunes.

It was so empty it was despairing.

No ready-made cover? Then we'll just build one ourselves!

The rock element is now coming in handy.

"Huh?" Just as the traveler was concentrating and preparing to mobilize his elemental power to build a defense, he suddenly felt his body lose balance. In a dizzying moment, he fell backward onto the scorching sand with a "thud," stirring up a small cloud of dust, which was instantly swept away by an even stronger gust of air.

She stared in astonishment, her eyes widening as she was confronted by Jin Moli's face, so close to hers. Jin Moli was pressing her body against hers in a protective gesture, shielding the traveler from most of the oncoming sandstorm. They were so close they could feel each other's breath and see their own astonished reflection in each other's eyes.

Almost simultaneously, a familiar rock elemental shield, gleaming with a warm amber luster, rapidly formed and solidified around the two of them, like an inverted giant bowl, firmly keeping out the raging sandstorm.

The gale, carrying billions of grains of sand, was like a maddened beast, violently crashing and tearing at the seemingly thin but indestructible shield, producing a continuous series of muffled crackling sounds, attempting to completely crush and devour this obstructive obstacle.

Beyond the shield lies a chaotic world where the heavens and earth have changed color and the sun and moon have lost their light.

The howling wind seemed to tear our eardrums apart, and the sandstorm swept across with a destructive force, turning everything into a hazy yellow, as if the whole world was about to be crushed and thrown into the sky by this violent power.

Inside the shield, however, was an eerie tranquility, the complete opposite of the raging outside.

The air seemed to freeze, without a breath of wind, and even the sounds were filtered out, becoming faint and distant, leaving only the two people's slightly rapid breathing clearly audible.

Time seemed to slow down here, even to the point of standing still. Only the distorted, flickering, dim yellow light shining through the translucent shield reminded them that the disaster outside was still ongoing.

Within this absolutely safe zone constructed of elemental forces, the traveler and Jin Moli gazed at each other silently.

At such close range, she could clearly see a few strands of hair falling down, trembling slightly in the stable air inside the shield. What made her heart flutter even more was the fleeting calm and depth in the depths of those eyes, so close to hers, carrying the weight of a thousand years.

All the previous doubts and probing vanished like a thin mist blown away by a strong wind, revealing the solid foundation beneath.

The traveler heard his own voice echoing in the excessively quiet space, with a certainty: "You... really resemble someone I know."

"Who is it?" Jin Moli's face was inches away, her gentle eyes staring at her without blinking, without the slightest ripple of curiosity or inquiry, as calm as a deep pool that already knew the answer.

"Elhesen." The traveler uttered the name almost without thinking, his gaze fixed on the other's face, not missing a single subtle change.

"..." Jin Moli's expression paused for an extremely subtle moment, so brief it was almost an illusion, before she returned to her usual gentle and peaceful demeanor. However, something seemed to flicker slightly deep within her eyes, too quick to catch.

"Once I get back to this desert alive," the traveler said softly, seemingly oblivious to the subtle change, but his eyes were unusually bright: "I must go and get back together with him."

Damn it! Jin Moli is definitely Zhong Li!

That look, that feeling, there's no mistake!

The traveler gritted his teeth inwardly, all his previous self-comfort and "care for the newcomer" vanishing instantly. And yet, he'd been making excuses for himself, saying he couldn't find any evidence and should treat his new subordinate well!

Compared to her/him, I'm the clueless, naive newcomer who's been kept in the dark!

For a mere sandstorm, she/he didn't even use their true Geo elemental power to defend against it. Was it because they were afraid that using it would completely expose their weakness?

What on earth is he doing?! He even deliberately changed the reassuring, subtle scent of aged sandalwood and light tea that usually clung to him!

Switching to this more feminine floral and warm scent... they really pay attention to detail! They really went to great lengths to disguise it!

A feeling of unease welled up inside me, a mixture of anger, absurdity, and other complex emotions.

The traveler suddenly raised his hand and pushed Jin Moli's shoulder, using the leverage to sit up and break free from that overly intimate protective posture.

She turned around, her back to Jin Moli, not wanting the other to see the perhaps overly dramatic expression on her face.

"So, the deputy hall master and that Mr. Elhesen had such a regrettable relationship..." Jin Moli's voice sounded behind her, still gentle, without any particular emotion: "But what made you decide to sever this relationship back then?"

“Because… there were some minor obstacles.” Facing the amber-colored shield, the traveler dared to show her anger and resentment only when the person behind her couldn’t see her expression, but she tried to keep her voice calm: “But now, those minor obstacles are gone!” She deliberately emphasized the words “gone” a little more.

Keep pretending! Let's see how long you can keep it up!

They even said 'the leader sent another person to assist'! From beginning to end, it was just him! Is playing this kind of role-playing game really that fun?!

"Then...can Jasmine become that new 'obstacle'?" Jasmine's voice carried a perfectly measured hint of probing and curiosity. She adjusted her posture, sitting slightly behind the traveler, her tone gentle, yet she posed a question that was almost provocative.

"No!" The traveler refused without turning her head, even adding in a deliberately emphatic tone, "Because my sexual orientation is very clear, I am male!" She tried to use this reason to completely block any possible "new strategies" from the other party.

“Deputy Hall Master.” There seemed to be a faint hint of amusement in Jin Moli’s voice, or perhaps it was just her imagination. She then posed an even more provocative question: “Why are you so certain… that Moli is definitely a woman?”

Wait a minute… The traveler’s thoughts suddenly stopped. Upon careful recollection, Jin Moli did indeed seem to have never explicitly said anything like “I am a woman.”

All my understanding of her stems from her gentle appearance, graceful figure, appropriate feminine attire, and the classical feminine charm that shines through her words and actions.

But if we set aside these preconceived notions, judging solely from words... she/he certainly didn't confirm it directly.

A new trap! This is definitely a new language trap! The traveler immediately became alert.

“I don’t like women either.” She immediately turned around, looked directly into Jin Moli’s eyes, and used an almost domineering tone to completely block all possible escape routes for the other party, whether it was her actual gender or any vague hints.

"Dong dong - dong dong -"

Just then, a clear and rhythmic tapping sound came from outside the airtight rock elemental shield, interrupting the undercurrent of bickering and probing between the two.

Judging from the sound, the person tapping seemed quite patient, even a little leisurely.

While they were focused on their internal "confrontation," the external turmoil had subsided without them even realizing it.

Looking through the shield, the earthen-yellow "cloud wall" that had blocked out the sky had been removed, and the sky had regained its original azure blue. Although it was still covered by a thin veil of dust that had not yet dissipated, the sunlight was already able to penetrate with difficulty.

The wind had weakened to a gentle whistling breeze typical of a desert afternoon, and the terrifying roar was no longer heard.

The sandstorm came swiftly and left just as quickly.

"Hey! Ladies inside! The wind has stopped, the sandstorm is over! You can come out now!" A familiar young male voice, with the cheerful and energetic tone typical of desert dwellers, came through the shield, his tone relaxed, as if what they had just experienced was just a slightly larger sandstorm.

"Huh?" The traveler was taken aback. That voice...

She instinctively turned her head and looked through the translucent amber shield in the direction from which the sound came.

Outside the shield stood a young man dressed in typical desert attire. Most striking were his clear, vibrant willow-green eyes, like an oasis after a desert rain, gazing in with a curious and friendly smile. His distinctive long, thin braids swayed gently in the breeze. His healthy caramel-colored skin glowed in the newly emerged sunlight.

Outgoing and friendly... but needs more practice in card playing...

Code name: "Amin"...

Could the informant that Sino mentioned be him?

The traveler instantly matched the abstract description of Seno with the highly recognizable face before him.

Sesos?