Mekin exchanged a glance with the other two children and immediately followed Dudian.
At this time, the other children also gradually formed small groups. Most of them, like Dudian and his companions, formed a small team with the few people in their room. Some were medium-sized teams composed of two or three small teams. The remaining hesitant people joined the side of the person who had initially proposed unity, forming a large team of nearly a hundred people.
In the desert, more than three hundred people scattered like a swarm of ants.
"Why are we going this way? The sun is so strong!" Mekin raised his hand to shield his eyes. He couldn't even open his eyes due to the sun's glare. In less than half an hour since they arrived here, he was already sweating profusely and feeling extremely hot.
"It seems that there are the fewest people going in the same direction as us," said another thin boy with brown hair as he observed the surroundings. His name was Shamu, one of the four people in the dormitory. He had a dull personality but was very diligent. He was the only one besides Dudian in the dormitory who knew how to fold the bedding.
"Even if we want to avoid competition, we don't have to be in the sun like this!" Mekin said with a bitter smile.
Dudian said in a low voice, "The climate in the desert has a large temperature contrast between day and night. Although it is currently the 'Black Death Season', which is the longest and hottest of the three seasons, at night, the temperature here will still drop to the level when it just enters the 'Black Snow Season'. It's afternoon now, and the direction we're walking in is west. The sun will keep baking this area. At night, the sand in this direction will be warmer than that in other directions."
The three of them were taken aback when they heard Dudian's serious explanation. Mekin said with a bitter face, "Even if we consider the insulation problem at night, we don't have to be in the sun now, do we? This will easily lead to water shortage, and the gain is not worth the loss. Besides, how do you know that the temperature in the desert will drop at night? I feel like my feet are on fire. How could the temperature here drop?"
Shamu and the other boy named Zach were also very curious. In such a hot place, could it be cold at night?
"You'll know when it's night," Dudian didn't explain the heat absorption and dissipation effects of the sand. This involved knowledge that wasn't taught in the courses. If he said it, it would inevitably arouse suspicion. Moreover, the concepts of heat absorption and dissipation were beyond their understanding even if he told them.
"We will definitely be able to find a water source. The only thing we need to pay attention to is that we must not get sick!" Dudian solemnly warned Mekin and the other two.
Hearing his determined words, Mekin, Shamu, and Zach were a bit surprised. However, they had already trusted Dudian and didn't question him. They were just extremely curious. In this desert full of only sand, how could Dudian be so sure that they could find a water source?
Before long, the four of them had delved deep into the desert and were completely separated from the other teams around them. This made Mekin, Shamu, and Zach a little nervous and uneasy. But since they had come this far, they could only continue to trust Dudian. After all, Dudian had never let them down.
"Remember what was taught in the course about how to find a water source in the desert?" Dudian stopped and looked around ahead.
Mekin, Shamu, and Zach exchanged a glance. Mekin said, "I remember. First, look for a shady area of the sand and dig under the sand. Generally, you can find a water source."
Dudian pointed forward. There was a raised sand dune there. The side of it wasn't exposed to the sun, and due to the angle, even when the sun was in the east in the morning, it couldn't shine on it. It would only be illuminated for a short time at noon. "Let's go take a look there," he said, stepping on the sand and walking over first. He touched the sand there, and it was indeed very cool.
When Mekin, Shamu, and Zach saw this, they couldn't help but feel delighted and squatted down, ready to dig.
Dudian waved his hand and said, "Tie up your hands first. Don't get your hands scratched by the stones inside." After that, he tore a strip of cloth from the cuff of his clothes, wrapped it around his hands, and squatted down to start digging the sand.
Mekin smiled and said, "You're so thoughtful."
The three of them followed suit, tore off strips of cloth to wrap around their hands, and squatted down to dig the sand.
It had to be said that the three months of endurance training had greatly improved the physical strength of the four children. After walking four or five li in the scorching sun, they still had the strength to dig the sand. However, this was also a gamble. If they didn't find a water source, they would be in danger. The remaining physical strength might not be enough to support them to find the next place where there might be a water source.
So, even Dudian couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Especially after digging to a depth of more than half a meter and still not touching the wet and soft sand, the hearts of the four of them sank slightly.
"Stop. Let's go to the next place," Dudian decisively stopped. With this trend, they would at least need to dig another meter to possibly touch the wet sand, and to get a water source, they would need to dig at least three meters, and this was the most optimistic situation. It could only be said that this place was no good.
"We've dug so much already. Are we just going to give up?" Mekin said in disbelief.
Dudian said with a serious face, "We can't bet all our hopes on one try. Follow me and keep moving forward!" After that, he didn't linger and turned around to continue walking forward.
Mekin and Zach were a bit reluctant. It was really disappointing to give up halfway after digging for so long. Shamu stood up and said, "Let's go. Dian is right. We can't bet all our hopes on one try." After that, he followed in Dudian's footsteps.
Mekin and Zach sighed and could only shake the sand off their knees and follow.
However, when God closes a door for you, he will also release a dog at you. Not long after the four of them left the digging site, Zach, who was walking at the back, suddenly let out a scream, jumped half a meter high, his face turned pale, and he ran towards Dudian in a hurry.
Dudian, Mekin, and Shamu turned around and were shocked. They saw a snake nearly two meters long emerge from the sand. Its entire body was covered in yellow-brown snake skin, and the scales reflected a cold luster under the sunlight. In this intense heat, the three of them felt a chill all over.
"Run!" Dudian was the first to come to his senses and roared, turning around and running.
Mekin and Shamu reacted and quickly shouted and followed.
With a thud, suddenly, Mekin ran too hastily and tripped, falling onto the sand.
Dudian, who was running at the front, heard the commotion behind him and couldn't help but look back. He immediately saw Mekin fall to the ground. Ten meters behind him, the yellow-scaled snake was wriggling towards him. The situation became extremely critical. He gritted his teeth and turned around to rush towards Mekin.
Shamu and Zach were taken aback and also noticed the fallen Mekin. Their faces changed. They looked at the wriggling yellow-scaled snake and their expressions became extremely ugly. They hesitated for a moment.
Just then, Dudian had rushed in front of Mekin, grabbed his arm, and roared, "Stand up!"
Mekin used the strength to get up and looked back. The yellow-scaled snake was already two or three meters behind him. With just a leap, it could pounce on him. He was so scared that his soul almost left his body and he quickly stepped back. But how could he be faster than the yellow-scaled snake?
With a swish, the yellow-scaled snake suddenly leaped towards Mekin, its large mouth open, revealing sharp fangs.