Life on the mountain was very pleasant. There was no fighting, no conflicts, no family squabbles, and no business engagements. It felt as if one's soul had been cleansed and refreshed by the pure snowmelt from the mountain.
However, it doesn't matter if the above-mentioned things are missing. The lack of women is perhaps the most unbearable thing. Haven't you seen the golden eagles and white lions paired up?
Zhuang Rui has made up his mind that if he has the chance to return to the snow mountain again, he must bring his wife with him. The sky as a blanket and the snow as a bed, what a romantic thing that would be!
Well, passionate couples aren't afraid of the cold, you know...
"Xiao Peng, we can't go any further. It'll get dark very soon, and the slope ahead is very steep. We can only get up there during the day using the rope lift..."
Just as Zhuang Rui was leisurely enjoying his barbecue, the search team on the other side of the mountain also stopped. As the sun gradually disappeared behind the mountain and the temperature began to drop, the guide Gesang decisively ordered them to set up camp.
After more than ten hours of trekking, they were still some distance from the summit. However, the higher they went, the more dangerous it became. The three of them were also exhausted today and needed to replenish their strength so that they could climb to the top in one go tomorrow.
"Brother Jiacuo, Brother Gesang, how about I go up and take a look by myself?"
Along the way, Peng Fei could only find traces of Zhuang Rui's overnight stay. He couldn't find any other traces of Zhuang Rui and Bai Shi, and he became anxious. On this snowy mountain, a slip could be fatal.
"No, the three of us went up the mountain together, so we have to come down together. We absolutely cannot get separated..."
Gyatso refused Peng Fei's request with a serious expression. It was because of Zhuang Rui's request that Zhuang Rui got separated from them. If Peng Fei got lost again, who would look for him?
"Xiao Peng, although you're in good health, the road ahead is indeed very difficult. Plus, it's dark and the snow is slippery; one wrong step and you could die. You should rest for a bit and try to reach the summit tomorrow..."
Gesang also offered some words of advice to Peng Fei, but to be honest, Gesang was extremely impressed with Peng Fei's physical abilities.
Gesang originally thought he was in good health, but compared to Peng Fei, who carried all the weight on his back to make the journey, he realized that he was still far behind.
"Okay, we must find Brother Zhuang tomorrow..."
Peng Fei also felt that his physical strength was about to reach its limit, and reluctantly agreed. Under the power of nature, everything was insignificant. Looking at the snow covering the mountains, Peng Fei felt a sense of powerlessness for the first time.
Compared to Zhuang Rui, who was drinking bitter barley wine on the other side of the mountain, yet finding sweetness in his heart, Peng Fei and the others on the other side of the mountain were truly suffering. Each of them ate a few pieces of half-cooked mutton before crawling into their tents to sleep. ...
"Gah...gagga..."
On this vast and silent snow-capped mountain, Zhuang Rui slept soundly until the cries of eagles echoed above the tent, waking him up. He unzipped his sleeping bag and stepped out of the tent.
"Hey, what's all this commotion about again?"
As soon as Zhuang Rui stepped out of the tent, he saw the land kings, led by the white lion, confronting the two sky kings soaring freely in the sky. However, the sharp-eyed Zhuang Rui noticed that the larger male eagle seemed to be holding prey under its claws.
With a "smack," as soon as Zhuang Rui came out, the male eagle loosened its grip, and two plump wild rabbits, each weighing seven or eight pounds, fell high from the sky, landing right in front of Zhuang Rui and splashing his face with snow.
"Hehe, breakfast is here, thank you, come down, come down..."
Zhuang Rui wiped his face, as if he were washing his face in the morning, and returned to the tent. He put the fledgling eagle, which had just woken up, on his shoulder and waved to the eagle couple in the sky.
"Gah...gagga..."
Seemingly wary of the beasts below, the two golden eagles kept circling in the sky, refusing to come down. In the sky, they could advance or retreat at will, but if they landed on the ground, they would be at the mercy of others.
"White Lion, Big Snow, Little Snow, you two eat first..."
Zhuang Rui called out to the few unconvinced individuals, then led the fledgling eagle away. After running a hundred or two meters, he waved to the two golden eagles, explaining that they had flown too high, exceeding the range of Zhuang Rui's spiritual energy.
Sure enough, with the white lion no longer a threat, the two golden eagles cried out joyfully and swooped down like arrows released from a bow.
When the male eagle was about seven or eight meters away from Zhuang Rui, it suddenly flipped over, its belly facing the sky. Then, with a flap of its wings, it flipped its entire body over again and landed gracefully on the ground.
"Holy crap, that was a somersault..."
The skill displayed by the golden eagle left Zhuang Rui speechless. The action the male eagle had just performed was simply incredibly cool and stylish. If this were filmed and posted online, even the photographers at the wildlife documentary would be ashamed of their salaries.
"Come here, let me see how badly your injuries are done?"
The female eagle wasn't as flamboyant as her husband; she obediently flew to Zhuang Rui's side and, upon hearing his words, very intelligently spread her wings.
The area beneath the mother eagle's wings, where feathers should have been abundant, was now bare, with a scratch mark that hadn't yet scabbed over, and faint traces of blood were seeping out, likely due to the force exerted earlier.
After a night's rest, Zhuang Rui's spiritual energy had almost recovered. Without saying much, he directly infused a wisp of spiritual energy into the mother eagle's body, treating not only her wings but also her injured lower limbs from the previous day.
"Chirp chirp... Chirp chirp..."
Seemingly sensing the flow of spiritual energy in the air, the fledgling eagle on Zhuang Rui's shoulder couldn't resist and jumped down, blocking the view between Zhuang Rui and the mother eagle. It then happily began to steal the spiritual energy that was originally meant for its mother.
"Hehe, this little thing..."
Zhuang Rui discovered that the fledgling eagle and the white lion were similar when they were young, both being very intelligent.
Chapter 754 The Young Eagle (Part 1)
Having possessed spiritual energy for almost two years, and through his interactions with the white lion and his family, Zhuang Rui discovered that the amount of spiritual energy that either humans or animals can hold is always limited.
The smaller the animal, the less spiritual energy it can hold. A small creature as big as a fledgling eagle can't consume much spiritual energy at all. Excess spiritual energy won't harm its body, but it will overflow from the fledgling eagle's body and return to Zhuang Rui's eyes.
If a creature as large as the white lion were to suffer even a minor injury, it would be enough to completely deplete the spiritual energy in Zhuang Rui's eyes.
As for the golden eagle in front of him, Zhuang Rui only used about one-fifth of the spiritual energy in his eyes to completely heal its wounds, and the scars had faded to the point of being almost invisible.
With nothing else to do, Zhuang Rui simply used his spiritual energy to cleanse the bodies of the pair of golden eagles, clearing away their chronic ailments. Nourished by the spiritual energy, the two golden eagles appeared even more majestic, their heads held high with awe-inspiring power.
"Little one, come up here..."
Having treated the mother eagle's injuries, Zhuang Rui felt much less guilty. It seemed that he had completed all the tasks of this trip to the snow mountain. He glanced at the time; it was a little past 9 a.m. Zhuang Rui was already considering whether he should go down the mountain.
To be honest, Zhuang Rui was really reluctant to leave the Great Snow Mountain. The fresh air, the adorable animals, and even the wildflowers blooming on the low bushes were all exceptionally beautiful in Zhuang Rui's eyes.
Thinking about leaving the snow mountain, Zhuang Rui suddenly felt empty inside, as if he was about to lose something important.
However, Zhuang Rui understood that he ultimately did not belong to the snow mountain, and Qin Xuanbing's health was also a concern for him. Today was the time to leave.
Looking at the fledgling eagle clinging tightly to his shoulder with its claws, a hint of tenderness flashed in Zhuang Rui's eyes. In this world, there may be betrayal between people, but Zhuang Rui had never heard of an animal betraying its master.
"Gentlemen, we are about to leave, leave these snow-capped mountains, leave Tibet. Perhaps we will meet again in the future..."
Looking at the two golden eagles standing on the ground, Zhuang Rui didn't see them as inferior beings. Instead, he spoke to them like friends. On this earth, all living things are essentially the same; even plants have their seasons. "Caw caw... caw caw caw..."
Seemingly understanding Zhuang Rui's words, the two golden eagles simultaneously raised their heads and cried out, their voices filled with reluctance to part with their friends and sorrow at the departure of their offspring.
"They're gone."
Zhuang Rui paused, knowing that these two Sky Kings wouldn't leave with him. Staying any longer would only cause him heartache. The little guy on his shoulder, oblivious to the pain of parting, was carefree, pecking at Zhuang Rui's collar and playing around.
When Zhuang Rui turned to leave, the two golden eagles flapped their wings and soared into the sky. One of the golden eagles flew towards the snow-capped mountain, while the other female eagle returned to the cave to guard her remaining three offspring.
"White Lion, it's time for us to go home."
After packing up the tent, Zhuang Rui slung his waist-high backpack over his shoulder and stuffed the small bag full of clothes, making a warm nest for the eaglet.
The journey back would require crossing this snow-capped mountain, and Zhuang Rui didn't believe that the little guy, who was only a little over a month old, could withstand the severe cold at the summit.
Listening to the occasional chirping of the little creature on his chest, Zhuang Rui's mood gradually improved. As the saying goes, flowers don't stay fragrant for a hundred days, and people don't stay good for a thousand days. Everyone has to leave eventually, and there are still filial duties he hasn't fulfilled in this world.
The eastern slopes had less snow and were relatively flat. Zhuang Rui didn't rest along the way and rushed to the summit in one go, taking only a little over two hours, which was around noon.
Standing atop the mountain, Zhuang Rui could see all the other mountains below, but he also felt much closer to the sun. The intense ultraviolet radiation made him very uncomfortable, and the relatively low air pressure made the little eaglet on his chest look listless.
The white lion and the snow dogs, on the other hand, seemed quite relaxed. The snow dog would occasionally sidle up to Zhuang Rui to enjoy the spiritual energy entering his body, and then follow behind the white lion and the snow mastiff in a fawning manner. Zhuang Rui couldn't help but laugh. This king of the snow mountain was really like a naughty child.
Should we bring the snow leopard down the mountain?
This problem is urgent. I'm sure I can get back to the village this afternoon, but what about the snow leopard? Will it be willing to come with me? Will it be able to adapt to the hot inland city?
From Zhuang Rui's own heart, he naturally wanted to take the big cat back. Although snow leopards were seen as fierce beasts by others, in Zhuang Rui's eyes, they were no different from domestic cats, except that they were a bit bigger and more human-like.
But from the snow leopard's perspective, going with me would be more harmful than beneficial. Could this king of the snow mountains, accustomed to freedom, possibly endure a courtyard house the size of a cage? Would the food I feed it every day erode its alert and fierce nature?
"Sigh, let's go down the mountain first..."
Looking at the carefree Xiaoxue, Zhuang Rui's head was about to explode with thought. He decided to just let nature take its course and let the snow leopard decide for itself.
"Snow leopard, snow leopard, watch out, Gyatso is probably here. You step back, I'll shoot..."
Suddenly, a voice came from below the mountain peak, accompanied by the sound of gun bolts being pulled back. This startled Zhuang Rui. He wasn't afraid that the people coming would attack him, but rather that they would hurt the snow leopard.
"Stop! Don't shoot! Don't shoot! Peng Fei, get out here..."
Zhuang Rui recognized Peng Fei's voice and knew how skilled Peng Fei was with a gun. If he really fired, it would definitely be aimed at the snow leopard's vitals. Even if the spiritual energy in his eyes was 100 times stronger, he probably wouldn't be able to save a dead leopard.
Hearing the sound coming from down the mountain, the snow leopard jumped up in fright. However, the creature was quick-witted and immediately ran back behind Zhuang Rui, sticking its head out to look around, showing no awareness whatsoever of being the king of the snow mountains.
"Zhuang... Brother Zhuang?"
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's voice, Peng Fei would have jumped for joy if he hadn't been climbing the last section of the rock face. However, he quickened his pace and reached the summit in no time.
"Brother Zhuang, don't do that again! You scared me to death..."
Despite being a seasoned veteran, Peng Fei was still young, and his eyes involuntarily reddened upon seeing Zhuang Rui.
Peng Fei's parents are both dead. Since his younger sister Ya Ya came to live with Zhuang Rui, he has received a lot of care from Zhuang Rui's family. In Peng Fei's heart, Zhuang Rui is both a brother and a father. If possible, Peng Fei would definitely take a bullet for Zhuang Rui.
"Hey kid, when did you become so dramatic? By the way, how's your health? Your chest wound hasn't healed yet. Who let you come up here?"
Zhuang Rui was also happy to see Peng Fei, but he immediately put on a stern face. He treated Peng Fei's injuries, but only when Peng Fei was asleep, and he did not dare to increase the amount of spiritual energy he used, for fear that Peng Fei's injuries from a few days ago had not fully healed.
"Brother Zhuang, my injury has healed long ago, you see..."
Having found Zhuang Rui, Peng Fei finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart. He even acted like a child, waving his fists and kicks in front of Zhuang Rui to prove his strength.
"Come on, with your tiny frame, you dare to show off in front of me?"
Zhuang Rui gave Peng Fei, who was panting heavily, a disdainful look, took out a pack of cigarettes from his backpack, and said, "Want one?"
Zhuang Rui's move was extremely ruthless, immediately turning Peng Fei's face pale with fright. Smoking at an altitude of five or six thousand meters was like lighting a light in a toilet... courting death. "Hey, Xiao Zhuang, don't smoke here. If you can't catch your breath, it's no joke..."
The person who followed Peng Fei to the top of the mountain was the tour guide Gesang. As soon as he arrived, he saw Zhuang Rui lighting a cigarette with a windproof lighter, which startled him. He quickly stopped him.
"Never mind him, let him die if he wants..."
Jiacuo, who came up last, grumbled irritably. The two days that Zhuang Rui had been missing had undoubtedly been the most stressful for him. Now that he had seen Zhuang Rui, the tension in his heart could finally be relieved.
Zhuang Rui knew that his insistence on going up the mountain that day would cause Jiacuo a lot of trouble, so he went over and made conversation, saying, "Hehe, Brother Jiacuo, why are you going up the mountain?"
But as soon as the words left his mouth, Zhuang Rui realized that he had said the wrong thing.
"Why did we go up the mountain? Wasn't it to find you, kid..."
Sure enough, after hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Jiacuo jumped up with a red face and thick neck. He no longer cared about Zhuang Rui's background and was almost ready to fight him.
"Waaaaah... Ouch..."
Before Gyatso, who was clenching his fists and ready to fight, could reach Zhuang Rui, he suddenly heard the roar of a wild beast. Gyatso had traveled all over the country and had seen a lot, so he immediately recognized the sound as that of a leopard.
Seeing the snow leopard baring its teeth behind Zhuang Rui, Jiacuo remembered the creature he had seen before reaching the mountaintop. However, Jiacuo was puzzled as to why the snow leopard did not attack Zhuang Rui.