SES Chapter 33 V1

Chapter 33 – Extra: [First Date]

Visiting Ping Ting in the hospital was just a visit for Mu Dai.

Ping Ting was asleep, her long black hair splayed across the stark white hospital pillow. The contrast was striking. The faint flush in her cheeks seemed like a good sign—now that the cursed slip had left her, maybe she’d start to get better.

Luo Ren and Uncle Zheng had been called away by the doctors to discuss treatment options, leaving Mu Dai alone by the bedside. She looked every bit the attentive older sister, tucking in the blanket here, smoothing Ping Ting’s hair there.

Then Luo Ren’s voice came from behind her: “Let’s go, Mu Dai.”

Mu Dai lit up with excitement and stood up at once. Luo Ren added, “Need to hit the restroom first?”

Good point. Out in the pitch-black desert later, it wouldn’t be so easy to find a spot. Mu Dai broke into a little jog, then turned back at the door to remind him, “Wait for me, okay?”

As if she were afraid he’d drive off without her. She really had no sense of security sometimes.

Under the soft glow of night, the car once again drove into the vast Gobi Desert. But this time, Luo Ren kept the ride smooth—no speeding, no cliff-edge scares. Mu Dai cracked the window, closed her eyes, and let the wind brush her face. Maybe it was the lingering warmth from the day, or maybe it was just that she was in a good mood—either way, the breeze didn’t feel cold like she expected. It felt… strangely nice.

Until Luo Ren said, “Keep that up and you’ll wake up tomorrow with windburn all over your face.”

Grudgingly, Mu Dai rolled the window up. Then something occurred to her.

“Do camels not sleep at night?”

“They do. That’s why you’ll have to go in and wake it up. If it’s too groggy to get up, you’ll have to help it stand. Oh, and by the way, camels get cranky when you wake them—they might kick, might even bite. But don’t worry, you’re good at climbing walls.”

Mu Dai thought it over. “Then maybe I won’t ride it. I’ll come back in the daytime. I saw on TV how tall and heavy camels are—I can’t even lift a horse.”

She believed him? Luo Ren barely held back a laugh. After a long pause, he said, “Don’t worry, I found one that likes staying up late.”

Mu Dai nodded, completely convinced. “Just like people—there must be night-owl camels too.”

The car rolled to a stop.

They had arrived at a privately run desert park. The entertainment options included roast lamb, campfire dancing, camel rides, and a few simple yurts for overnight stays.

Luo Ren had called ahead. By the time they arrived, two camels were already waiting for them. This was Mu Dai’s first time seeing a real camel up close, and she was both amazed and delighted. They were so tall—easily over two meters including the hump—with yellowish-brown fur, and what looked like double eyelids and long lashes. Adorable.

She wanted to pet one but hesitated, afraid of getting kicked. Luo Ren gently nudged her forward. “Go on. This one’s a night owl—won’t kick.”

Mu Dai held her breath and slowly reached out. The camel’s coarse fur, the heavy breath against her hand, the clarity in its eyes—it was like stepping into another world. All the stuff about the Phoenix Lock and the seven cursed slips vanished from her mind in an instant.

It reminded her of a poem she loved: It’s pouring rain, and you have no umbrella, but you still bend down to breathe in the scent of the rain-soaked leaves.

No matter how hard life gets, there are always beautiful moments.

Luo Ren was a regular here. After he paid a deposit, the staff left without worry. Mu Dai, on the other hand, was full of worries. As she strapped sand gaiters to her feet, she asked, “Aren’t they supposed to supervise? What if the camel goes nuts? What if it bolts with me on it?”

Luo Ren looked into her eyes and said gently, “Trust me. I won’t let that happen.”

“If it does happen, I’m not getting my deposit back.”

This might just be the most beautiful night of her life so far.

The camel’s gait was steady, but its wide hooves sank into the sand, creating a gentle, rocking motion—like a boat sailing across a desert sea. No wonder people call camels the ships of the desert.

The wind was mild, brushing past their faces. Sparse stars scattered the sky. Even if they were bones, they’d be beautiful bones. The camel bells didn’t jingle constantly—just the occasional soft chime, giving the whole scene an ancient, dreamy feel.

Luo Ren rode alongside her. There was a special ring in front of the saddle to hold a lantern, and he had the reins to both camels in hand, tugging them gently now and then to steer.

Could he lead camels?

Almost like he’d read her mind, Luo Ren said, “I come often—sometimes with my uncle, sometimes with Ping Ting.”

Ah. That explained it.

Mu Dai lowered her head and muttered, “Never brought me to do anything fun.”

“In the desert? What’s something fun we haven’t done? Tell me.”

She jumped at how sharp his hearing was. “I was just saying, no big deal.”

Luo Ren didn’t respond right away. After a while, he leaned down and snuffed out the lantern.

In the sudden darkness, Mu Dai’s world went black.

“You said you wanted something new,” he said. “Let’s just ride. No destination.”

Okay… not exactly fun.

With the light gone, the shadows around them seemed to twist and shift. Every tiny sound made her uneasy. After a while, even the quiet became unsettling. The camel bells began to sound eerie, almost ghostly. Mu Dai found herself glancing around nervously.

The cursed slips were back in her head. She couldn’t shake the image of one rising from the yellow sand, clinging to the camel’s leg, slowly crawling up…

She voiced a sudden worry. “What about Yiwansan and Cao Yanhua? Do you think they’re okay back at the house?”

“The Mystic’s methods—maybe not strong enough to hold for ten days, but three to five should be fine. Besides, don’t underestimate those two. If things go south, they can run.”

“And the other six cursed slips? No idea where they are.”

Luo Ren smiled faintly. “If they’re well hidden, they might stay that way for ten or twenty years. We’re not Li Tan—we can’t spend our whole lives chasing this. Everyone’s got their path. Who knows when we’ll all meet again?”

Mu Dai’s heart skipped a beat.

Who knows when we’ll all meet again?

Why did that sound… so distant? Like a goodbye?

Luo Ren didn’t seem to notice her reaction. “That’s why I wanted to take you on a camel ride. Leave you with a better impression of Xiaoshang River. The doctor pulled me aside earlier—he said the local hospital’s not equipped to handle Ping Ting’s surgery. He recommended transferring her to a major hospital, where recovery would also be easier.”

Mu Dai’s voice was so soft that even she could barely hear it. “Okay.”