"The oasis is surrounded by desert. There is nothing else in the sand, so hiding is hard. Getting into the oasis is even harder. People say you need an introduction from someone inside. Strangers cannot get close. It is very difficult to enter." Luo Gang continued, "The worst part is that a river flows around the oasis. People can drink the water. Inside, there are natural fruits that can be made into flour for food. So, even if they are surrounded, they will not starve. But the people outside suffer from the bad desert weather. Because of this, many agents from international peace organizations have died."
Luo Gang sighed deeply. He seemed to remember something, and his eyes turned red.
Zhu Yanyi looked at her. "Brother Luo, did a comrade die here?"
Luo Gang smiled bitterly. "Not a comrade. It was my younger brother."
Luo Gang rarely talked about her family. Zhu Yanyi did not know she had a brother. "Brother Luo, you have a brother?"
Luo Gang nodded. "When I was young, our family was poor. My father died early. My mother remarried. My stepfather was a good man. He worked hard to raise me. My brother is my mother’s son with my stepfather. He is three years younger than me. But we were always close. When I joined the army, my brother admired me. Later, when he was old enough, he joined the army too."
Zhu Yanyi stayed silent, letting Luo Gang continue. Luo Gang looked at the sky. "My brother was as talented as me. I retired because of hidden injuries. Actually, Venerable Yanluo assigned me to secret work. My brother did not know this. She thought I had just retired. So she told me she would fulfill my dream for me. She worked very hard. She really became a new top agent. Three years ago, she came here on a mission. She died protecting her comrades."
Luo Gang spoke simply, but Zhu Yanyi could feel her deep pain. She clearly loved her brother very much.
"If I had come here earlier," Zhu Yanyi sighed.
Luo Gang understood what she meant. If she had been there, there might have been a chance. But such 'ifs' were impossible. "Miss, my brother died for her country. she has no regrets. But I want revenge for her. Because she is my brother."
"In that case," Zhu Yanyi tilted her head and gave a mischievous smile. "Brother Luo, let’s do something big."
Luo Gang was stunned. She looked at Zhu Yanyi, confused. "Miss, who taught you to speak like a gangster? If Venerable Yanluo hears this, she will punish us." Her young miss never associated with gangsters. She was surprised she would use such rough words.
Zhu Yanyi stuck out her tongue. "I don’t need to learn it. I just read some novels."
"Novels are harmful. Miss, you must not read them anymore." Martial arts novels were popular now. Luo Gang and others sometimes read them when free. They knew such gangster-like phrases were common in those books.
Zhu Yanyi giggled. "I didn’t read much. I just flipped through one by accident." She coughed lightly. "And that is not the point. The point is, do you want to join me?"