Chapter 31: The Ruse

Lu Yuan's hair stood on end instantly. Instinctively, he clenched his fists, gripping the chain binding him to use as a shield. Taking advantage of the shadows, he shifted his position subtly, raising his knees to allow himself to spring up at a moment's notice. Yielding to death without a fight was not his style; anyone aiming to take him down better be prepared to be dragged along as well.

The figure carrying a knife was indeed heading straight toward him, casually running a hand over the back of the blade, producing a subtle scraping sound with his nails. The quiet footsteps drew nearer. Lu Yuan's heart pounded, and he did his best to appear as though he were deeply asleep, his head slumping forward. Through his peripheral vision, he carefully observed the figure. No matter what this person intended, Lu Yuan knew he'd seize the opportunity. If he could overpower this intruder and get his hands on that knife, he might have a shot at escape.

Lu Yuan held his breath, feigning soft snores while his body tensed, ready for action. The chain binding him, at least four or five meters long, could become a deadly weapon. With his strength, he could tackle the man and silently choke him out. Then he'd slip into the shadows, silently incapacitate the guards, ignite smoke with some explosives, and use the confusion to grab a motorbike and speed away.

The footsteps grew closer, casting shadows over Lu Yuan's face as the firelight flickered. He could feel the vibration of his own fatigued muscles, which had been nearly pushed to their limit. The sounds of the camp drifted over—soft metallic clinks, the rumble of an ATV bouncing over sand. And then, just as Lu Yuan braced himself to strike, the figure halted, mere steps away.

"Wake up, Heavenlander," a voice with a slight nasal tone whispered. Lu Yuan's earpiece provided a translation, almost too quiet to hear. Realizing the speaker must be listening closely, Lu Yuan opened his eyes, letting a slight glint flash in the darkness. 

He recognized the man immediately—it was the indigenous leader.

Seeing that Lu Yuan wasn't pretending anymore, the leader took a step back, signaling a sliver of trust, though his grip on the knife remained firm.

"Heavenlander, I need to know the location of your crash," the leader said softly, his knife tracing a small arc in the air, glinting briefly as he deftly spun it between his fingers. Then, pointing the blade at Lu Yuan, he continued, "Speak the truth, and you won't have to suffer."

Under the dim moonlight, the leader's face was a blend of firelight and shadow, his tone calm and devoid of the rough, commanding shouts he used on his subordinates during the day.

"If you lie," he continued, his voice cold as steel, "I'll cut off a piece of your skin. Lie again, and I'll start with your fingers. Lie a third time, and you'll wish you'd never been born."

The chilling tone left no room for doubt. Lu Yuan paused for a moment before nodding, speaking first in interstellar common language and then switching to the indigenous language, courtesy of his translation earpiece. "If I tell you," he said, "I want to know I'll live afterward."

"If you don't talk, you won't live much longer," the leader replied evenly. He listened patiently to both versions before speaking again. "But I'll make sure you survive, just enough to wish you hadn't."

The leader flicked the knife around his fingers, then hid it away, placing his hand over his abdomen, locking eyes with Lu Yuan. "Your life is up to Heaven to decide, but I can give you a swift end."

Those dark, bead-like eyes barely had a hint of white around them as he went on, "I am Gao Jiu, leader of the Scorpion Slavers' hunting party. Heavenlander, your name?"

Lu Yuan remained silent, meeting Gao Jiu's gaze with an unwavering look. Gao Jiu didn't press, but his tone turned cold. "Looks like you've chosen the hard way, soldier."

Of course, Lu Yuan had no interest in a slow, painful death. After all, the Xi Yun was nothing but debris by now, the only trace left being whatever scattered components were left near the crater. If stalling could buy him even a single day, that was a day with a chance for escape.

"Map," Lu Yuan said finally.

Gao Jiu produced a map from his coat, though he didn't hand it over, merely unfolding it in the firelight and holding it where Lu Yuan might glimpse it.

Lu Yuan squinted to make out the faint markings. Though his eyesight was sharp, the dim light made it hard to decipher any small details, especially the scale. But he could recognize the landscape enough to know it matched the planetary scans from the Xi Yun, with a ring of mountains wrapping around the western half of the basin, marked with symbols and annotations.

The map was divided into grids, and a few red dots marked the southernmost grids near the mountains. Lu Yuan tilted his head, catching faint lines that ran east and south. Gao Jiu shifted the map closer to the firelight, making it easier for Lu Yuan to distinguish colors and tones.

"Where am I right now?" Lu Yuan asked. Completely unfamiliar with the terrain and without an orbital satellite for guidance, he had only an estimate of his position based on rough calculations on his vehicle. He knew the Xi Yun's crash site was somewhere in the northern hemisphere, but without proper coordinates, he could only guess the approximate distance.

Gao Jiu's finger tapped a grid in the southeast corner. He informed Lu Yuan that each grid represented one hundred kilometers in length and width. He indicated the seventh grid horizontally, fourth vertically from the right, already marked, which Lu Yuan guessed was their current oasis.

Lu Yuan counted the grids, realizing the crash site lay far beyond the map's limits. He shook his head and replied, "Head south for about seven or eight days, then into the desert for another three."

Gao Jiu's face twisted in skepticism. "No one's ever crossed the Blood Ash Desert alive. You take me for a fool?" With that, he lunged forward, slicing Lu Yuan's arm in a warning gesture. Though Lu Yuan winced, he stared Gao Jiu down.

"I've got no reason to risk my life," Lu Yuan replied. "But if I guide you there, I'll need to go on wheels, not on foot."

Gao Jiu spun the knife again, then sheathed it with a shrug. "True, nobody's that foolish," he muttered. "Tell me, Heavenlander—what crime brought you here, exiled from your… 'Heaven'?"

Lu Yuan wasn't quite sure what "Heavenlander" implied, though it was clear Gao Jiu believed him to be some kind of off-worlder. But with a shrewd slaver leader like Gao Jiu, any hint of fear or hesitation would be fatal.

Taking a breath, Lu Yuan replied, "I was too brave for my own good."

Gao Jiu seemed to take this in, a flicker of some shared sentiment passing across his otherwise hardened face. "Yes… that would be enough," he murmured.

With a glimmer of curiosity, Gao Jiu unexpectedly reached into his pocket and tossed Lu Yuan a small canister of water. Lu Yuan, after a slight struggle, pried it open and took a sip. It tasted earthy, with a faint tang of snake's blood, likely from the oasis.

Gao Jiu seemed lost in thought, then quietly asked, "What is it like… in Heaven?"

Lu Yuan took small sips, savoring the memory as he relaxed slightly. He thought back to the Sun Guard, to memories of comrades and the days of comradery—each moment of joy was that much more precious amidst the struggle.

"In Heaven?" Lu Yuan replied, voice drifting. "There's no sand, no hidden monsters under the plants. Just pools to swim in without a care, lying in the sun. After a day's rest, the crew would gather on the field, setting up projectors, lighting up the grill for barbecue. No talk of war, just stories of pretty girls we met that day, whoever got the biggest laugh got the best cut of meat. We'd sing, play ball, brag a little, then crash in the barracks… Not a care in the world about what lay outside the windows, just enjoying the view."

Those idle days during shore leave, moments before the Battle of Vigilance. Back then, he'd always find a way to sneak off to the Mech Division, where his love interest was stationed. She hadn't been an ace pilot yet, but that didn't matter—Lu Yuan would take on any rival for a chance with her. Losing hadn't been an option.

Gao Jiu seemed transfixed, lost in thought himself. After a moment, he straightened, his lips pressing into a tight line. "Heaven…" he echoed softly, as if the word itself held the faintest whisper of hope.