"How are you feeling?"

Chen Wen asked Hua Yun.

She shook her head, "I don’t feel anything."

"Let’s observe for now."

Chen Wen wasn’t sure about Hua Yun’s condition either. He checked Hua Yun’s exposed skin, and after not finding any other ticks, he advised, "Keep an eye on the wound. If you experience fever or pain, let me know immediately. I’m not sure what kind of tick it is, it’s a bit tricky."

"By the way, there are still some desert rose petals left from before. That stuff can detoxify, though we’re not sure if it’ll work. Try crushing a bit and applying it to your neck."

Everyone was aware of the effects of the desert rose.

Dennis’s boil on his back healed much faster after being treated with a desert rose by Chen Wen.

In just three days, the boil had significantly subsided.

Dennis took the opportunity to squeeze out the pus plug and continued applying the desert rose. It fully healed in a few days.

This incident increased everyone’s trust in Chen Wen.

Hua Yun was a bit nervous at this moment.

She went beside the camel, searched for the desert rose, crushed it, and applied it, wrapping it with cloth.

Adam and the other two also checked each other.

Perhaps because they were further from the rabbit hole, no ticks were found on them.

As for Chen Wen, it was even less likely.

With an [Insect Repellent] effect, ticks would avoid him like the plague, let alone suck his blood.

With this trouble resolved, everyone exchanged glances, their eyes carrying a trace of lingering fear.

"This damn place truly deserves the name ’ten kilometers of death!’"

Adam remarked with some emotion.

They hadn’t even covered half the distance, and one team member almost had to retreat.

Fred was also quite scared.

He wasn’t particularly afraid of large bears like the grizzly or the black bear, but these weird little bugs terrified him.

Too horrifying!

As a local, Dennis’s expression was relatively normal.

He even started recounting tick bite incidents that happened around him.

With Dennis easing the atmosphere, everyone became less tense.

Resting was definitely out of the question.

They all pulled their camels along and continued forward, trying to leave this terrifying area as soon as possible.

...

After the tick incident,

they were more cautious than ever.

But being cautious was the right decision, as they traveled smoothly afterward.

Soon, they exited the stone desert area.

Looking at the vast stone desert behind them, Chen Wen felt relieved, "Finally, we’re out of this damn place. I find the stone desert even scarier than the sandy desert!"

"Though the desert is harsh, it doesn’t have particularly terrifying animals; it mainly offers desolation. But the stone desert is different. This damn place isn’t desolate; it’s just packed with terrifying animals and insects!"

Hearing Chen Wen’s complaint, everyone nodded in agreement.

Indeed, the stone desert seemed even more terrifying than the sandy desert.

However, Dennis smiled and said, "We don’t need to worry much now; only a small part of the ’ten kilometers of death’ remains. This part doesn’t pose major crises; we just need to watch the temperature."

Everyone nodded and continued on.

...

They walked for about a kilometer.

A screeching eagle suddenly swooped down from the sky.

Chen Wen looked at the unusual eagle and noticed its body was tense.

Avoiding the sight of the others,

Chen Wen softly asked the eagle, "What’s wrong?"

The eagle looked at Chen Wen with some nervousness and said, "I sense some danger!"

Danger?

Chen Wen was about to ask more questions when a hawk next to him also landed on the camel’s back in a panic.

Its expression showed severe fear as well.

It occasionally let out cries, seemingly signaling a warning.

This time, Chen Wen realized the gravity of the situation.

He signaled everyone to stop.

But just then, the normally obedient dromedaries also behaved unusually.

The dromedaries gently broke free from the group’s hold, walking together as if to perform a ritual.

Seeing this scene, everyone frowned.

Something was about to happen!

But what would happen and when, they weren’t sure.

As Chen Wen was pondering,

Dennis suddenly said, "Chen Wen, did you notice that since just now, the wind has gotten stronger?"

Wind?

Chen Wen frowned.

Wind in the desert was normal.

There was no shelter here either; the gale ran rampant through the desert.

But Dennis said, "Typically, desert winds blow intermittently. After one gust, there’s a short pause before another gust comes."

"Just now, however, the wind became continuous and is gradually getting stronger."

Hearing Dennis’s words, Chen Wen also realized this.

"Indeed, the wind, as you said, is gradually increasing."

Chen Wen took a deep breath and suddenly said, "And did you all notice, there’s a strong sand and soil smell in the air?"

On hearing this, Hua Yun nodded rapidly, "It’s like the smell of dust rising before rain in rural areas, but much more acrid. What does this signify?"

Hua Yun looked at Chen Wen.

Chen Wen thought for a moment and said, "Could it be.... a sandstorm?"

"No doubt about it, it’s a sandstorm!"

Dennis spoke, gesturing for everyone to look ahead, "The sky over there has already darkened!"

On hearing this, everyone frowned and became tense.

A sandstorm!

This phenomenon could be described as the desert’s most severe disastrous weather condition.

When the gale swept up sand and dust, it caused devastating damage to humans, animals, plants, and farmlands alike!

"We need to find a way to avoid the sandstorm!"

Adam quickly said.

But Chen Wen and Dennis both shook their heads, with urgency in their eyes, "We can’t escape it. The sandstorm is approaching very fast!"

In the short time they were speaking, the sandstorm ahead turned from barely visible to somewhat discernible.

Among the people present, only Dennis had experienced a sandstorm before,

he assessed the group, saying, "I just observed this sandstorm’s scale, and honestly, it’s not particularly large. The sand wall isn’t very high, and the color is light yellow, indicating there isn’t much sand. It won’t be difficult to withstand."

Hearing this, everyone’s spirits relaxed a bit.

Dennis directed the group, "Wrap those clothes Chen Wen ’borrowed’ over your mouths and noses to prevent inhaling sand."

Chen Wen added from the side, "We can hide inside the circle formed by the camels, letting them block the wind and sandstorm for us, anchoring ourselves."

Hearing Chen Wen’s suggestion, Dennis nodded, "Yes, Chen Wen’s solution is the best approach. We can hold onto each other to prevent the wind from blowing anyone away."

The group discussed and quickly decided on a strategy to deal with the sandstorm.

They tied clothes to cover their mouths and noses as makeshift dust masks.

Then, following Chen Wen’s plan,

they climbed into the small circle formed by the dromedaries.

The dromedaries’ strategy for sandstorms was simple. They knelt on the ground, keeping their heads close to the ground, using their necks to shield their mouths and noses, reducing sand intake.

Meanwhile,

the dromedaries formed a circle in the middle, habitually surrounding their young in the circle.

This time, however, there were no young, only humans.

The gentle dromedaries didn’t mind this at all, protecting Chen Wen and his group within the circle.

Chen Wen and the others huddled together, holding onto each other, closing their eyes, keeping their heads down.

They awaited the arrival of the sandstorm.