Even though Mu Xi made it clear that she did not want to go to Stone City, Ye Lan’s mind was made up.
It was not only a temporary sanctuary but also the only hope for recovering Mu Xi’s past.
Over the next two days, the rugged RV jolted forward across the endless Desert.
The vehicle frame would occasionally shake violently from striking rocks half-buried in the sand.
Mu Xi would instinctively clutch Ye Lan’s arm or simply curl up against her side.
The massive tires crunched over the yellow sand, and the track system emitted a dull, grinding sound.
Ye Lan would calmly pull her closer, using her own body to cushion the majority of the vibrations.
It was a public road from the old era.
Finally, a winding black ribbon appeared on the horizon.
Once they were on the road, the specialized suspension system took effect, and the interior of the vehicle became as steady as if it were standing still.
Mu Xi leaned against the reinforced glass window, observing the scenery darting past outside with a mixture of curiosity and a hint of fear.
Everything within view was composed of broken walls and ruined structures.
Twisted steel rebar poked out from concrete blocks, pointing toward the gray, misty sky.
Collapsed building frames were half-buried in the yellow sand like the skeletons of massive beasts.
Occasionally, one could spot abandoned vehicles, covered in rust, long since eroded beyond recognition by the wind and sand.
The scars of war were laid bare across this land in such a blunt fashion.
“Our world before… it wasn’t like this, was it?” Mu Xi asked softly.
Ye Lan turned her head to look at her, her gaze lingering on the girl’s delicate profile for a moment.
“You might not remember,” Ye Lan’s voice was calm, devoid of much emotion, “There were nations before, cities, and… many high-rise buildings.”
Mu Xi blinked, seemingly digesting the words.
Ye Lan continued to explain, her tone like she was stating a fact disconnected from herself, “Later, the war broke out, and everything was destroyed. Now, there is no unified nation; there are only individual family factions, each occupying a piece of territory. The place we are going to now is called Stone City, and the city lord is Nan Qiao, head of the Nan Family.”
“Is she…” Mu Xi hesitated, “…good friends with you?”
“We are allies,” Ye Lan said concisely, “We have known each other for many years. When I had my accident this time, she was too far away to help and was occupied with her own problems. But Stone City is the safest place right now, and they have the best doctor and equipment.”
Mentioning the doctor and equipment caused Mu Xi’s body to stiffen almost imperceptibly.
She turned back around, no longer looking out the window, instead staring at the soft interior lighting and beige walls of the RV.
“Do we have to go?”
“Yes,” Ye Lan was not shaken in the slightest.
“We must go to Stone City.”
Mu Xi fell silent, her small chin resting on her knees as she curled into a ball.
She had no real sense of those families, the wars, or the apocalypse.
The only thing she could feel was that Ye Lan was taking her to a place she instinctively resisted to do something she feared.
Recovering her memory.
She did not want to remember the past.
Her current reliance and closeness made her feel safe, even if that safety might just be a false illusion.
Ye Lan looked at her in this state, and a spot in her heart twitched slightly.
She reached out and gently stroked Mu Xi’s long silver hair, her movements carrying a clumsy sort of tenderness.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Mu Xi looked up, her eyes veiled with a layer of mist.
“You said that if I remember, I might regret it…”
“Yes,” Ye Lan did not deny it.
Her fingers wove through Mu Xi’s soft locks.
“But you also have the right to know the whole truth. No matter what happened in the past, you deserve to know.”
“What if the truth is bad?” Mu Xi pressed, her voice thick with congestion.
Ye Lan was silent for 9 seconds, then said in a low voice, “Even if it is bad, you still have to go on. Life must continue.”
Her gaze was deep, as if piercing through the carriage to peer into the distant past.
Mu Xi did not fully understand, but the heaviness in Ye Lan’s words made her feel uneasy.
She said no more, simply resting her cheek silently against Ye Lan’s palm, feeling that warmth which carried such complex emotions.
The RV traveled steadily along the broken road, carrying two people, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.
Stone City appeared in the distance.
Rather than a city, it was more like a massive fortress of steel, protruding abruptly at the end of the desert.
The high walls were cast from massive stones and steel, their surfaces covered in the marks of time and the scars of battle, appearing like a dormant giant beast, silent and filled with oppressive power.
Above the walls, various artillery ports and lookout towers stood in rows, reflecting a cold metallic light and silently declaring the strict security of the place.
The RV moved closer to the city gate.
The massive black iron gate was bolted shut.
Several security checkpoints were set up in front of it, and soldiers with guns and live ammunition patrolled back and forth, their sharp eyes scanning every vehicle that approached.
A murderous aura permeated the air.
The RV came to a steady stop in front of the checkpoint.
Ye Lan gestured for Mu Xi to stay calm, pushed the door open, and stepped out.
Several people in standard-issue armor immediately surrounded her, guns pointed at the RV, and the atmosphere instantly turned tense.
A lead soldier stepped forward, his tone stiff, his eyes scrutinizing Ye Lan.
“Routine inspection.”
“I am Ye Lan, a friend of Nan Qiao.” Ye Lan remained composed as she casually handed over a metal dog tag.
The soldier took the tag, checked it carefully, and verified her identity via the communicator.
His expression eased significantly, though he remained as vigilant as required.
“Miss Ye, please wait a moment.”
The wait did not last long.
A few minutes later, the iron gate slowly opened, emitting a heavy grinding sound.
The soldier gestured that Ye Lan could pass, his attitude much more respectful.
“The Clan Leader has been waiting for a long time. Please, enter.”
The RV drove into Stone City.
Inside the gates was an entirely different scene, completely unlike the desolation and decay outside.
The streets were wide and clean.
Although the buildings were not tall, they were constructed from sturdy stone and steel, exuding a hardy, utilitarian style.
The crowds on the street were bustling; while their clothes were plain, their spirits seemed positive, appearing entirely at odds with the typical image of a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
“It’s different here compared to the outside.” Mu Xi peered through the window, curiously examining the interior of Stone City, a hint of surprise in her tone.
“Yes, Stone City is Nan Qiao’s territory. She manages this place quite well,” Ye Lan explained as she operated the steering wheel.
“The Nan Family is a major force near Wu City with deep foundations; even in the apocalypse, they managed to stand their ground quickly.”
“Is the city lord… Nan Qiao, very strong?” Mu Xi asked softly.
“Quite strong.” The corner of Ye Lan’s mouth curled up slightly, as if she had thought of something interesting.
“She is a very intriguing person. You will see when you meet her.”
The RV drove steadily along the streets of Stone City, ultimately stopping in front of a relatively tall building.
At the entrance of the building, 9 members of the Escort Team, who had reached Stone City early and were dressed in purple uniforms, had been waiting for a long time.
Upon seeing the RV stop, they immediately rushed over to open the door for Ye Lan with crisp, well-trained movements.
“Sister Ye!” The lead captain of the Escort Team stepped forward and saluted Ye Lan, her expression excited.
“We finally waited for you!”
Ye Lan nodded, gesturing that they didn’t need to be so formal, and turned her gaze to Mu Xi.
“Little Xi, we have arrived.”
This was a fortress built from massive stones and steel, rugged and sturdy.
The building’s surface was covered with the marks of time’s erosion, wind and sand carving rough textures into it.
Under the sunlight, it reflected the cold, unique luster of metal, appearing all the more solemn and majestic.
This was the City Lord’s mansion, the center of power in Stone City.
Ye Lan held Mu Xi’s hand as they stepped onto the slightly weathered stone stairs.