Zhuang Rui pursed his lips upon hearing this and said, "You guys are too slow. If you really want to go, first help Gama Village make some plans, then let Peng Fei take you up the mountain. But... be sure to be careful." Seeing Timur's expectant look, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but laugh. "Brother Timur, don't worry, it's the season for baby birds to hatch right now. If there are any, I'll definitely give you one..."
At Zhuang Rui's speed, he could cross this snow-capped mountain in half a day. If he brought these people with him, it would probably take at least two days. But given his current eagerness, he couldn't wait any longer.
Liu Chuan knew Zhuang Rui was telling the truth, but he still muttered in dissatisfaction, "I remember when you were a kid, your body wasn't as strong as mine. Tell me honestly, did you eat some kind of thousand-year-old snow lotus or some other treasure on the snow mountain? How come your body is so abnormal now?"
After hearing Liu Chuan's words, Zhuang Rui suddenly said very seriously, "You rascal, do you want to know the reason?"
"Of course I want to know..."
"Alright, come closer then," Zhuang Rui said mysteriously, whispering in Liu Chuan's ear, "I don't have the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus, but I do have a copy of the 'Sunflower Manual.' Talk to Lei Lei first. If she agrees, go back, cut it off, and come practice with me. I guarantee you'll be even more monstrous than me..."
"Zhuang Rui, are you asking for it? How dare you flirt with me..."
Zhuang Rui's voice was loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, which angered Lei Lei so much that she jumped up and chased after Zhuang Rui. Instantly, joyful laughter filled the room.
Chapter 1313 Tomorrow Will Be Better (Part 2)
After climbing a relatively steep slope, Zhuang Rui exhaled a long breath of white air. He had arrived at the middle and upper section of the snow mountain, where the snow never melts and the temperature is below zero all year round.
Today wasn't actually a good day for hiking because the wind was quite strong, blowing up the snow on the mountain and covering the path, making it impossible to see the trail beneath our feet.
Zhuang Rui supported the enormous backpack, which was over a meter tall, on his back with his hand. Looking up at the towering peak, Zhuang Rui's face turned somewhat pale. Originally, Zhuang Rui had only intended to bring a tent and some supplies, but Qin Xuanbing was worried about him climbing alone and had stuffed all sorts of things, useful and useless, into his bag. However, Qin Xuanbing didn't seem to realize that the mountain was steep, the snow was heavy, and the path was slippery. Bringing so many tools would only endanger him. Several times, Zhuang Rui lost his balance and almost fell.
Compared to Zhuang Rui's disheveled state, the white lion was much more carefree. With thick pads on its paws and sharp claws, the white lion moved across the snow-capped mountain as if it were flat ground. If it hadn't been waiting for Zhuang Rui, it probably would have already climbed to the summit.
However, since the puppies were just born this year, the snow mastiff stayed in Beijing and did not accompany the white lion, which made the white lion less enthusiastic about returning to its old haunts.
"White Lion, take a rest..."
Zhuang Rui had been climbing for almost three or four hours straight. Although he was physically strong, he still needed to replenish the calories he had burned. He found a slightly flatter spot and took out some food from his backpack.
After stuffing a piece of chocolate into his own mouth, Zhuang Rui peeled five or six sausages as thick as a baby's arm and tossed them to White Lion. He wasn't worried about them being frozen; with White Lion's teeth, he could probably bite through steel bars, so this was no problem for him.
After putting the leftover plastic packaging back into his backpack, Zhuang Rui stood up and continued climbing. Although he was carrying a lot of supplies this time, he was still much faster than the average person.
"Hmm? Bloodstains?"
When they reached a spot more than 400 meters from the summit, Zhuang Rui discovered traces of blood splattered on the extremely hard, frozen snow in front of a gentle hillside.
"It seems this is where the bearded gang encountered the golden eagle..."
Zhuang Rui surveyed the surrounding terrain and couldn't help but feel a little scared. If it weren't for the protruding rock wall above the flat slope that blocked the view below, the golden eagle probably wouldn't have been able to escape so easily!
After climbing another two hundred meters or so, the snow-capped mountain began to show its glacial form, with huge ice pillars rising from the ground, reflecting a dazzling brilliance under the sunlight. Even a small cough could cause a huge echo.
"Hey, I didn't expect there to be other people up ahead. Could they be accomplices of the poachers?"
After scaling a cliff face with his bare hands, Zhuang Rui was surprised to hear human voices. He hadn't expected that there would be people active in this place that was practically a forbidden zone for humans, so he became more cautious and released the spiritual energy in his eyes.
"Oh, it's a hiking team..."
After releasing his spiritual energy, Zhuang Rui "saw" a four-person climbing team struggling to climb up a distance of more than forty meters above him. Apart from the necessary climbing equipment, they were not carrying any weapons.
At this point, the slope of the snow-covered mountain was already over sixty degrees. It was impossible for a person to walk upright on it. The four mountaineering team members wearing spiked shoes were really "climbing" the mountain, with their entire bodies almost lying prostrate on the ice.
Although Zhuang Rui was carrying a huge backpack, he had the "strength" in his legs. With almost every step, he could drive the long cleats deep into the extremely solid ice. Although it looked like he was climbing hard with uneven steps, he was actually very fast.
"Hey buddy, how many of you are there? Should we lower the rope?"
At this altitude, the air is extremely thin, and it takes a tremendous amount of physical effort to climb almost every meter. If a reinforced rope were to be thrown down, it would make the climb much easier for those climbing afterward.
When Zhuang Rui caught up to the climbing team by 2 meters, the people in front finally noticed his presence and slowed down their ascent.
Extreme mountaineering in China is still in its infancy. These four people all come from the same mountaineering club, and it is undoubtedly a very pleasant thing to meet fellow climbers at an altitude of over 3,000 meters.
"I'm all alone..."
Zhuang Rui responded loudly, but the wind on the mountain was blowing downhill, and as soon as he opened his mouth, his stomach was filled with wind and snow, so the other party probably couldn't hear what he shouted.
"Are you... all alone here?"
When Zhuang Rui climbed to a point level with them, the mountaineering team members, most of whom were around thirty years old, stared at him with wide eyes, as if he were a monster.
One of them even craned his neck to look down at Zhuang Rui's location, hoping to see if anyone else was still missing. However, aside from the massive white lion, he couldn't see a single other lion, leaving the group bewildered. It's important to know that engaging in extreme mountain climbing in such a place is extremely dangerous. Generally, it takes four or five people forming a climbing team, working together, to possibly reach the summit.
However, there is another way to play, which is to pay someone to pull and lift you up to the top of the mountain so that you can experience the feeling of being at the top of the mountain.
That real estate tycoon who claims to have climbed Mount Everest several times does it this way; reportedly, he spends millions of dollars on each climb.
But I've never seen a mountain climbing team like this, where Zhuang Rui ventures into the snowy mountains all by himself. It's like an old man who's tired of living.
Admittedly, some extreme sports experts abroad always go it alone, but... this is China, and these guys haven't heard of any amazing people like this in China.
"Okay, I've climbed this mountain before, it's not very difficult, so I'll do it by myself this time..."
No, it came up with the white lion. This is my partner; it won't bite..."
Zhuang Rui knew his appearance was rather abrupt, so after seeing the look of disbelief on their faces, he smiled and introduced the white lion to them.
"Hey buddy, you're awesome! You dared to venture into the snowy mountains all by yourself..."
"Dude, is that a Tibetan Mastiff? It looks like a lion..."
After hearing the voice Zhuang Rui spoke, the group of guys finally realized that Zhuang Rui was not the legendary Yeti. They immediately surrounded Zhuang Rui and bombarded him with questions. In their eyes, Zhuang Rui was shrouded in mystery.
Zhuang Rui chuckled. Speaking at the top of his lungs in the wind wasn't a pleasant experience. He pointed upwards and said, "Let's go, there's a sheltered spot up there. We'll talk up there..."
"Damn it, is this even human?"
Seeing Zhuang Rui catch up with them quickly, without even taking a hiking stick, the hiking team members were immediately dumbfounded. All the hiking knowledge they had learned at the club was completely overturned.
When they arrived at the sheltered spot Zhuang Rui had mentioned, it was already twenty minutes later. When they saw the silver American-made gas stove in front of them, the water that was almost boiling, and the large pieces of dried meat on the ground, the guys almost collapsed and fell down the mountain.
What kind of person is this? He's climbing a mountain all by himself and he even brought pots, pans, and ladles with him. Doesn't he know that you should try to minimize the load when climbing a mountain?
Just like the climbing rope from forty years ago, which weighed several kilograms, the climbing rope with the same function now weighs only a few kilograms. This is all an improvement to reduce the load. However, judging from Zhuang Rui's half-closed backpack, this guy was carrying at least forty or fifty kilograms of tools.
Zhuang Rui threw the frozen mutton into the pot and called out, "Come on, come on, what are you standing for? Sit down, everyone. Have some hot soup to warm yourselves up." A few guys who seemed to be dreaming woke up after hearing Zhuang Rui's words. They quickly unpacked their backpacks and took off the hats that were covering their heads tightly.
A hiker in his thirties sitting directly opposite Zhuang Rui exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Zhuang Rui's face: "You...you're Teacher Zhuang, right?"
"You know me?"
Zhuang Rui was stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect that someone would recognize him in this remote snowy mountain.
"Hey, Teacher Zhuang, you're famous now! I heard the World Adventurers' Association even sent you an invitation. You're my idol..."
The guy with the thick Northeastern accent waved his arms, looking even more enthusiastic than a fanboy. After seeing that the mysterious person in front of him was Zhuang Rui, all their doubts vanished.
Zhuang Rui was unaware that he had already become a legend in the domestic and even global exploration and scientific research communities.
The discovery of Pirate Island, the recovery of a thousand-year-old underwater treasure, and the unveiling of Genghis Khan's mausoleum made Zhuang Rui famous. It should be noted that any one of these achievements would be something that an ordinary person could not accomplish in a lifetime.
In the eyes of those fledgling explorers in China, Zhuang Rui was practically a mythical figure with superhuman eyes and three heads and six arms. The few people in front of him were no exception. The fact that Zhuang Rui was carrying so many supplies was ignored by the excited guys. They surrounded Zhuang Rui, asking him all sorts of questions and asking for photos. They practically wanted him to sign their underwear.
Zhuang Rui was both amused and exasperated. He never expected to encounter fans while hiding in this snow-covered mountain thousands of meters above sea level. It seemed he would really have to go to "Xuanrui Island" to live in seclusion in the future.
Unable to bear the eager gazes around him, Zhuang Rui ate much faster than before. After finishing two bowls of hot soup, a sudden cry of an eagle came from the sky.
"Xiao Jin?"
Zhuang Rui looked up and saw the golden eagle's silhouette fly out from behind the mountain, skimming the peak.
Chapter 1314 The Miracle of Life
The golden eagle's outstretched wings shimmered with golden light under the sunlight, making it appear like a roc soaring through the sky, dazzling and eye-catching amidst the snow-covered landscape.
"Guys, enjoy your meal. Just leave your food here when you're done, and I'll clean up when I go down the mountain. White Lion, let's go!"
Upon seeing Xiao Jin, Zhuang Rui was overjoyed. Perhaps it had already found the snow leopard. After calling out to the white lion, he didn't care about the pots and pans on the ground. He grabbed his backpack and headed up the mountain.
As Zhuang Rui climbed upwards, the golden eagle with divine wings hovered dozens of meters above his head, constantly emitting cries of eagle.
This incredible scene left the mountaineering team members speechless and completely baffled. Why didn't the golden eagle, at the top of the food chain in this snowy mountain, attack Zhuang Rui?
Twenty years later, one of these four individuals, together with world-renowned mountaineers, conquered countless treacherous peaks that were considered forbidden zones for humankind, bringing great honor to the Chinese mountaineering community and becoming the president of the Chinese Mountaineering Association.
In his published book, "Mountaineering Diary," he meticulously recorded the details of this encounter with Zhuang Rui.
The book concludes with these words: "Mountaineering embodies humanity's enterprising spirit of striving for faster, higher, and stronger achievements, and it is also a manifestation of a nation's and a country's positive and progressive attitude. Watching Mr. Zhuang's departing figure, I am even more determined in my choice to carry on this fearless mountaineering spirit and contribute to China's mountaineering cause. I believe that the future of our motherland will be even brighter!"
...
Zhuang Rui had no idea that the mountaineering team members he had met by chance would later become the pride of Chinese mountaineering. He dared not be distracted at all, because the higher he went, the steeper the terrain became, and a slight mistake could result in his death.
However, Zhuang Rui had climbed this snow mountain twice before, and having thrown away the pots and pans in his backpack, he was able to traverse the route that would normally take five or six hours in just over an hour.
"Ah...ah ah..."
Standing atop the snow-capped mountain, looking up at the blue sky and white clouds that seemed almost within reach, Zhuang Rui was filled with boundless joy and let out a long roar.
The area near the summit is mostly glacial landform, so Zhuang Rui wasn't worried about an avalanche burying the people below. The huge echo caused the valley to tremble, and the snow on the mountainside slid down with a whooshing sound.
"When you reach the summit, you can see all the mountains below." The feeling of finally reaching the top after overcoming countless hardships made Zhuang Rui feel incredibly comfortable. All the troubles of the world seemed to leave him at that moment, and his soul was once again cleansed and purified on the snow-capped mountain.
"Woo-woo... Awoo!"
The white lion standing beside Zhuang Rui also let out a deep roar, which, together with the cry of the golden eagle circling overhead, made the snow-capped mountain, which had been silent for hundreds of millions of years, become noisy.
"Wow... Wow!"
Suddenly, a sharp and penetrating sound broke into the grand chorus atop the snow-capped mountain. The unexpected sound abruptly stopped Zhuang Rui's long howl, and a look of wild joy appeared on his face.
"Xiaoxue, is that you?"
Zhuang Rui threw off his backpack and turned to run towards the other side of the mountain peak.
Unlike the half of the snow-capped mountain they had come from, the other side of the mountain was now bathed in spring warmth and blooming flowers. The sloping hillside was covered with various plants and low shrubs. Zhuang Rui looked around but did not find any trace of the snow leopard.
"Did I hear that right? Xiaoxue, where are you?"
Zhuang Rui's face showed a hint of frustration. The snow mountain he was in was only the highest one in this foothills. Further back, for hundreds of miles, there were countless peaks of all sizes.
If the snow leopards have fled from here to avoid humans, who knows where they might be hiding? Zhuang Rui doesn't think he can search all those hundreds of miles of foothills.
"Xiao Jin, come down. Didn't you say you found Xiao Xue?"
Zhuang Rui roared at the golden eagle overhead, clearly annoyed. Having raised the eagle from a cub, Zhuang Rui could tell from its cry that it was full of pride, presumably having completed its task of finding the snow leopard.
"Gah...gagga..."