Actor: Thank you.

For nearly a week afterward, they were traveling around the vast national park.

You can explore by car or on foot to observe various landscapes and creatures.

During the trip, we also saw many remains left by poachers.

This is still a national park with patrols.

But for money, getting shot is nothing more than a trivial matter.

An African elephant with half its head cut off.

A flamingo caught in a trap.

An East African cheetah whose leg was crushed.

Zhang Yuan really wanted to give it cough syrup, but he figured it wasn't very effective at treating foot ailments.

Many of the carcasses belong to critically endangered animals.

But in the hands of poachers, this list becomes nothing more than a purchase order!
The more endangered a species is, the more valuable it becomes!

This applies to everything in the world.

Zhang Yuan thought of the public service advertisement that Yao Ming made.

"Without buying, there would be no killing."

This led to him being criticized by many people.

Yes, these things that are killed and then bought and sold, how could ordinary people possibly enjoy them?

It's not the privileged class, those who are rich and powerful and have already enjoyed the best social resources, who are committing these atrocities.

Yao Ming's intentions were good.

I'm always the one who's not involved in good things, but I'm always involved in bad things, which is hard for ordinary people to accept.

"Should we donate some money to the national park?"

Hike to the famous extinct volcano crater and gaze upon the vast golden grasslands.

Wearing a bright orange sun-protective outfit, Liu Qianqian raised her hand to shield herself from the sun as she spoke.

It was summer in Africa at that time, and it was very hot.

“No need, this is not our business.” Zhang Yuan stood beside him.

Today I've already walked six or seven kilometers of mountain trails. Although I had trekking poles to help me, I still expended a lot of energy.

Fortunately, they were all skilled fighters, so they managed to pull it off.

Sisi also underwent physical training in advance.

Although his cheeks were as red as the sunset glow and his head was covered in sweat, he was still full of energy.

Zhang Yuan felt much relieved after seeing this.

After all, this is just foreplay... no, appetizer.

The real highlight was the mountain climbing afterwards.

She seems to be in good condition.

“What we can do,” Zhang Yuan said, gesturing to his assistant to hand her a wet wipe, “is to avoid buying rhinoceros horn or ivory products.”

"The greatest contribution people like us can make to society is to do fewer immoral things."

The destructive power of an ordinary person is limited to killing a few people and taking a few lives.

Wealthy and powerful public figures are far more capable of committing evil deeds than ordinary people.

As the saying goes, with great power comes great destructive power.

Why isn't it true that with greater responsibility comes greater responsibility?
Because the rich all shift the blame onto the poor...

The gains were quite substantial.

This was the first time anyone had ever experienced such scenery.

Besides, there are absolutely no paparazzi or fans within a ten-mile radius.

That's how they ended up taking many intimate photos together.

It's rare for her to be willing to hug and cuddle with him under the blazing sun.

This suggests that his actions of pulling Zhao Dandan to his room after dinner these past few days, acting out of spite, were merely a form of "stubbornness."

Zhang Yuan even guessed that, given her personality, she might be playing a trick on him.

Or perhaps it's a small punishment for being too "prepared" for oneself.

Just put up with it, what else can you do but endure it?

Animals on the African savanna travel 3000 kilometers every year to reproduce and achieve harmony in life.

70% of the animals will die en route due to accidents, disease, hunting, and human intervention.

Only a mere 30% manage to reach their destination.

Seeing that the animals were putting in such effort, Zhang Yuan also calmed down.

Besides, he made a special trip not just for fun.

Or rather, playing around is just a cover for serious business.

After a day of rest, all the mountaineering company personnel were in place.

The team consisted of 18 people, and they even hired 6 local black men to carry heavy bags to help them.

If you're going up the mountain, you need to be well prepared.

After getting up at the hotel in the national park, Zhang Yuan prepared his gear early.

The mountaineering team advised against eating too much, as it could easily cause discomfort.

"Oh, this is all you eat?"

Sisi arrived at the restaurant with a neat ponytail and sunglasses on her head.

I saw him holding a bowl of white, mushy stuff, and eating it with a spoon.

"You don't understand, this is a local specialty, and it's not easy to find."

Zhang Yuan pointed to his bowl.

This is a porridge-like substance made from cornstarch, but it's very thick.

Adjust the thickness yourself; add water if there's too much flour, and add flour if there's too much water.

Zhang Yuan specifically asked the hotel, described the item, and requested it separately.

The other party said that this is corn porridge, a staple food in Zambia, but not commonly eaten in Tanzania.

Furthermore, the other party stated that this food wasn't very tasty.

But Zhang Yuan still insisted on having a bowl.

Because this thing has a local name.

"I've finally gotten to eat Enshima!" Zhang Yuan grabbed a handful of white sugar and mixed it in.

I took more photos, and I'm going to show them off to Teacher Guo and Brother Qian when I get back.

Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.

The altitude is close to 6000 meters.

Although it is the highest peak in Africa, it ranks only around 30th in height globally.

It can be considered a peak with "lower" difficulty.

Its distinctive feature is the permanent glacier mountain range at the top.

It was called the Permanent Glacier, but when Wang Shi visited a few years ago, most of it had melted away, leaving it with no trace of its former glory.

This is what fate and destiny are all about.

The power of nature will not be moved by your wealth.

If I say I don't want you to see it, then you won't see it, no matter how much money I spend.

This beautiful scenery is fair.

But the route to the beautiful scenery is not fair.

Generally speaking, there are two routes to climb this mountain.

The whiskey route and the Coca-Cola route.

These are two industry codes: whiskey is a spirit, while Coca-Cola is a carbonated beverage.

The soda is fizzy and a bit stimulating, but it's still a sweet drink at heart.

Even the finest whiskey can still be a bit harsh on the throat.

Unfortunately, the mountaineering company investigated and found that the Coca-Cola Route was not only crowded this year, but the scenery was also not good, and the glacier it reached was almost melted away.

After all, it's summer now.

But the whiskey route is still good, and there aren't many people there.

However, the terrain is steep and the climb is difficult.

Moreover, the Coca-Cola route has campsites along the way where you can stay in cabins.

Although it's not as luxurious as a hotel, it's still a house.

But the whiskey route requires camping and living in tents every day.

At this moment, Zhang Yuan once again took out a "Principle" that was printed with the words "Truth" by President Franklin.

We'll take the whiskey route and set up camp.

But you can mix Coca-Cola into whiskey.

That's why we hired those six local Black men.

The six of them were carrying a luxury tent.

Once built, it can be transformed into a small house.

The scenery is fair, but the journey to it can be very different if you spend enough money.

After hiking 3.5 kilometers, we arrived at Camp Hilla 1, which is 200 meters above sea level.

Easily.

Zhang Yuan told the mountaineering company, "You've been carrying all those oxygen cylinders for nothing."

Before sunset, the black men had already set up their large tents.

Coffee has been brewed and food heated, folding chairs have been set up, and telescopes have been mounted, ready to observe the pristine African night sky.

"Oh dear, I heard it gets quite cold up in the mountains at night."

During the meal, Zhang Yuan looked at Xiaolongnu and said...

"It's okay, Dandan and I share a sleeping bag, she's very warm." After saying that, Qianqian turned her head away to suppress a laugh.

"Dandan," Zhang Yuan said, turning to his assistant, "Are you interested in living in Africa?"

"Huh?" The assistant was puzzled by his words.

“If you want, I can marry you off to Uncle Hei. You can go to their house now and become their daughter-in-law. I will provide the dowry.”

The assistant felt as if his boss's gaze was murderous.

We slept in a tent at night.

The tent is two meters high and has a space of 3 meters by 6 meters.

The two of them, along with their assistant and bodyguard, slept together as a group of four.

Brother Long took the initiative to guard the entrance of the tent.

The two women slept at the very back.

After several attempts, Zhang Yuan was allowed to lie down within a one-meter radius.

They also have to make sure they don't grind their teeth or snore.

This money I spent...

I washed up after getting up the next day.

They wiped their faces and hands with wet wipes.

The 10-kilometer journey was much longer than the first day.

We walked for 6 hours, climbing more than 300 meters above sea level.

Zhang Yuan and Brother Long smoked cigarettes effortlessly.

After finishing his meal, he told his assistant to go to bed early.

"Brother Zhang Yuan, it's too early, I can't sleep."

"If you don't sleep, I'll put a handful of sleeping pills in your water."

After she chased him away, Yang Guo embraced his master and lay down on the grass covered with a blanket, gazing at the stars.

"Tsk, what are you doing!" Sisi slapped his hand away.

“Climbing a mountain peak…” Zhang Yuan withdrew his hand.

"There were people all around."

"Shall we go to the grove?"

Liu Qianqian: ...

I coaxed and pleaded with her to get a medical check-up.

After training, my muscle definition is more pronounced than before.

The other side fled before he could explore the East African Rift Valley.

On the third day, just like yesterday, I hiked 10 kilometers.

But this time the altitude increased by a full 4500 meters!

After climbing for 8 hours, the terrain had turned into a desert.

"Brother Long, where did you buy this liquor?"

"It can't be fake, can it? It makes me really dizzy after drinking it," Zhang Yuan said, looking at the wine bottle in his hand after dinner.

"No, I'm very careful. The wine wasn't bought locally; it was brought from China. There's absolutely no problem."

"That's strange." Zhang Yuan stood up.

He bothered Zhao Ling'er for a while longer, but still felt dizzy, so he went to bed early.

"Why am I still hungover?" The next morning, he woke up feeling dizzy and had tinnitus from time to time.

"He always says he can hold his liquor well." Sisi laughed from the side and handed him some menthol essential oil to apply to his temples.

On the fourth day, we only walked about 6 kilometers, and the altitude remained unchanged.

The surrounding area was almost entirely desert. That sense of desolation gave Zhang Yuan the feeling of wanting to become a poet from the northern frontier.

Today's itinerary was short, so I rested around 3 PM.

Zhang Yuan thought that he needed to have a drink before writing poetry.

I opened another bottle of rum, which I also brought from China.

I think the red wine from yesterday might have gone bad.

Because red wine uses corks, these things can easily mold or rot if not stored properly.

But I still felt dizzy after drinking the alcohol.

"Could it be that this domestic wine merchant is playing a trick on me?!"

"Everything sold to me is fake."

Zhang Yuan had no choice but to abandon his plan to write a poem.

She hugged and kissed her "aunt" for a while, then went to bed early.

On the fifth day, I had only walked about 4 kilometers.

But the altitude rose another 700 meters.

Zhang Yuan went to bed earlier today. After sitting down, he not only experienced tinnitus, but also numbness in his hands and feet.

"This liquor is too strong," he said, swinging his arm.

At this moment, the assistant squatted down beside him, looking at him with a wise gaze.

"Brother Zhang Yuan, you seem to be drunk."

"Could it be... altitude sickness?"

Zhang Yuan tapped his assistant's forehead with his index finger.

How dare you slander someone's innocence out of thin air!

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Zhang Yuan immediately sprang up from the recliner with a somersault.

"What kind of physique do I have!"

He waved his hand, striking a pose like a martial arts performer.

"Punch the Hua-Yi brothers."

"Kicking North American Family Hero".

"Will I experience altitude sickness?"

Getting carried away with his story, he even did a few somersaults, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Then... I went to lie down.

Day .

The original plan was to hike 14 kilometers.

Ascend 1200 meters in altitude, then descend 1900 meters.

Climbing a mountain is like life; you are always moving forward, but you are not always going upward.

Instead, it rises and falls, up and down.

A strong person is not only able to forge ahead, but also able to muster the courage to climb back up after going downhill.

But Zhang Qiangren collapsed today, he collapsed on the downhill road.

And he wrote the poem he hadn't written in the previous few days.

"The Jade Emperor's original surname was Zhang."

"Why are you making things difficult for me, young General Zhang?"

"I'll experience altitude sickness again tomorrow."

"First, tear down the Dragon King Temple, then blast your mother with a firecracker!"

Upon seeing this, Liu Qianqian, supporting her assistant, laughed so hard she couldn't straighten up.

"You made me train, but you slacked off."

"Quickly, get some oxygen, and some medicine too."

"I'll pour you some warm water."

"Scholar Zhang," she added playfully at the end, "you seem rather frail."

Zhang Yuan finally understood why Sun Honglei, despite being physically strong, suffered from altitude sickness and couldn't get up when filming "Dust Settles" in XZ.

The mountaineering team leader said that it's not just those with weak constitutions who suffer from altitude sickness.

People who are exceptionally strong but have high oxygen consumption are actually more susceptible to being possessed by evil spirits than the average person.

This time he committed the "sin of arrogance," underestimating the power of nature.

The original itinerary for the sixth day was split into two days.

On the seventh day, we finally completed the remaining 7 kilometers and the downhill section at an altitude of 1900 meters.

He felt a little better after the altitude decreased.

"Hahahaha..." Zhang Yuan laughed loudly, hands on his hips.

"Mount Kilimanjaro is nothing but child's play!"

"I'll be fine after two days."

"As expected, I am still very strong."

On the eighth day, after 13 kilometers, we went up another 1000 meters above sea level.

"Grandpa Jade Emperor, I'm convinced!"

Zhang Yuan hugged his weak self tightly.

"Okay, okay, let me stroke your hair, it won't scare you." Liu Qianqian raised her hand and scratched his chin.

"You're treating me like a cat!"

"Hehehehe..."

After increasing the dosage, I inhaled another can of oxygen and went to sleep early.

The ninth day was also the day of reaching the summit.

After ascending a few hundred meters above sea level, we saw the glacier.

There is no word to describe it other than "shocking".

Zhang Yuan also understood the meaning of the saying "Looking at the mountain makes the horse run itself to death".

I was at the foot of the mountain a few days ago, it looked so close.

But once you actually embark on the journey, it feels so far away.

After a long and arduous journey, we finally arrived at a place that was originally within easy reach.

Mountain climbing is really like life.

However, as the altitude reached its peak, Zhang Yuan's altitude sickness also reached its worst.

For the last stretch of the journey, he never let his oxygen tank leave his side.

His face was pale, and his lips were purple.

Even the Little Dragon Girl, who had been laughing and joking a few days ago, was constantly concerned about him.

"Why don't you go back."

"No, we're just a little bit short. We have to get up there no matter what."

"Otherwise, it would be a waste of all the planning I've put into this over the years," Zhang Yuan said firmly.

After setting up the tent, he sat down to rest.

They can't eat much.

After dark, his aunt took over holding him as they looked at the moon.

"Tsk, what are you doing?" Little Dragon Girl slapped his hand away again.

"Climbing the mountain peak," Zhang Yuan said, panting heavily.

"Even after all this, you still won't behave?" Liu Qianqian was both amused and exasperated.

“A man only becomes honest when he’s truly dead,” Zhang Yuan said, his lips trembling as he spoke the truth.

"Go back and rest."

"It's a bit chilly near the glacier."

Back in the tent, Zhang Yuan gave his assistant and bodyguards a meaningful look.

"Where are Dandan and Brother Long?"

After wiping her face and untying her ponytail, Sisi, with her long hair loose, came in from outside.

"They felt the tent was stuffy, so they went outside for some fresh air."

"Oh, how long will it take you to be back?"

"I'll be back after one night."

Liu Qianqian: ...

Is this breathable?
Everyone is cold.

“Perfect, it’s a rare opportunity for us to be alone.” Zhang Yuan pretended to relax and helped her sit down next to the sleeping bag.

"On such a beautiful day, it's the perfect time to..." He picked up the small oxygen cylinder, took a breath, and said, "It's the perfect time to fall in love."

"Why don't we... hiss (inhale oxygen) have a good talk and get to know each other better... hiss (inhale oxygen) each other?"

"Throughout his life, Zhang has relied on... hiss (inhaling oxygen) his literary and martial skills."

"Let me recite a poem first, ah... hiss (inhales oxygen)..."

"Stop reciting, stop reciting," Liu Qianqian quickly stopped him.

"Zaiyin, we don't even have enough oxygen for you to breathe."

Zhang Yuan: …

"Rest now, you'll be fine once we get down the mountain tomorrow." Little Dragon Girl patted her head.

“No, that would be a wasted trip.” Zhang Yuanyi refused firmly.

"This is Africa, the cradle of humankind."

"It is the most suitable place to talk about the origin of life."

"Look, I'm all better now, I don't even need oxygen anymore."

Zhang Yuan straightened his chest.

Then he looked at the other person.

Their eyes met, and the light shone.

"Don't try to be brave." Sisi shook her head helplessly.

"I'd even be willing to travel with you."

"You don't have to be like this..."

"He's usually quite mature, but now he's acting like a child."

Zhang Yuan was indeed experiencing cerebral hypoxia, which caused him to struggle to keep up.

"I was afraid something would happen to you." Little Dragon Girl put her arm around his shoulder and rested her head against his neck.

"It's alright. If I were to die beside you, it would be worth it," Zhang Yuan said, a little dizzy.

"Don't talk nonsense!" She patted the other person on the back.

Then he laughed silently.

They hugged each other even tighter.

"In your current state, even if you want to, you don't have the strength. I'll lie down with you and you can rest quietly, okay?"

Zhang Yuan: !!!
If you talk like that, you're questioning my abilities!

Despite suffering from cerebral hypoxia, his competitive spirit was even stronger than usual.

"Who says I'm willing but unable?"

"Stop messing around... Ah!"

Just as Sisi was about to scold him a few more times, she noticed something pressing against her lower back.

Zhang Yuan picked up the small oxygen cylinder, took a few deep breaths, and emptied the cylinder.

He then pressed the other person down onto the sleeping bag.

A sliver of moonlight shone through the transparent viewing window at the top of the tent onto the light green fiber sleeping bag.

The other person's cascading black hair was scattered around her, creating a unique kind of beauty.

There's not that much sexiness.

But paired with her delicate features, it added a touch of sacredness.

Both of them were breathing erratically.

Zhang Yuan suffered from altitude sickness.

Sisi was flustered.

They slapped each other's cheeks, feeling a tingling, itchy sensation.

Zhang Yuan saw the other person's thick, bristle-like eyelashes fluttering.

After a long while, it slowly closed.

Zhang Yuan did not make any major moves.

He simply pressed his lips lightly against the other person's.

Through their lips, they felt each other's body temperature.

A few minutes later, the other person opened their eyes and rubbed their nose against his forehead.

After that, the two of them tacitly took off their coats together...

Late 2009, United Republic of Tanzania, Africa.

The summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, 160 kilometers south of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa.

The permafrost glacier, situated at an altitude of 5800 meters, was tinged with a vibrant red... (End of Chapter)