On a rainy night, the school beauty knocked on my door and asked for shelter

After thanking the uncle and aunt again and asking about the specific route up the mountain and the water source, the group shouldered their bags and set off on the road to [Yunxijian] with high spirits.

The tranquil time spent in the farmhouse courtyard was like a perfect recharge before climbing the mountain, filling everyone with anticipation for the adventure to come.

The uncle escorted him to the courtyard entrance, pointed to a clear mountain path behind the house, and instructed: "Follow this path uphill, don't go astray. Walk for about half an hour, until you see a place where the ground is marked by different paths. Then turn left and walk for another half hour. After that, Xiao Shen knows how to get there. In total, it should take less than an hour and a half to reach that gentle meadow! It's spacious there, and there's a stream right next to it, very convenient!"

"Thank you, Uncle!" Everyone waved goodbye and set off on the mountain path.

The real challenge has begun.

With all their supplies on their backs, the team began their ascent along the winding mountain path.

Fortunately, Zhou Yue had prepared hiking poles and hiking shoes for everyone in advance.

This makes walking easier and reduces the risk of slipping.

At first, everyone was chatting and laughing, admiring the wildflowers and strange rocks by the roadside. But as the slope became steeper and they carried heavy loads, soon only heavy breathing and footsteps could be heard.

After all, most people don't usually get this kind of high-intensity training. Only Chen Mo and Shen Xinghe are capable of mountain climbing, as both of them have special mountain climbing skills.

Even Wang Lan, who has the best physical strength, inevitably gets out of breath because she doesn't know how to manage her energy.

But he still volunteered to scout ahead, leading the way and occasionally turning back to shout encouragement: "Come on, comrades! Perseverance is victory! The view from up there is absolutely worth it!"

Zhou Yue and Lin Xiaoxiao supported each other, their initial excitement long gone, as they gritted their teeth and slowly moved upwards.

"My God... this is much more tiring than the gym..." Zhou Yue said, panting.

Zhao Yawen is quiet, but has good stamina and a steady pace.

She noticed that Li Zhe was struggling with his backpack, which was stuffed with notebooks and other shared items, and that he was sweating. So she quietly slowed down and walked on his outside. On particularly steep or slippery sections of the road, she would reach out and support the bottom of his backpack to help him share some of the weight.

Li Zhe, panting heavily, felt the support behind him and turned his head to look at Zhao Ya gratefully: "Th...thank you...I didn't expect this road...to be steeper than it looked on the map."

Zhao Ya simply shook her head and smiled, "It's alright, take your time."

Chen Mo always stayed half a step behind Su Yuqing and provided her with correct guidance at any time.

This includes breathing, exertion, and rhythm of movement.

With Chen Mo's guidance, Su Yuqing suffered far less damage than if she had climbed the mountain on her own.

Even so, it is quite difficult for people who do not usually engage in mountain climbing to carry supplies up a mountain.

Since everyone was carrying just the right amount of supplies, it would be difficult for anyone to move around if they took on more. Even if Chen Mo wanted to help Su Yuqing, he didn't have the spare capacity.

After all, he had anticipated the situation in advance, and he was responsible for carrying the heaviest supplies.

Seeing that Su Yuqing's forehead was covered in a fine sweat, her breathing was rapid, and her steps were unsteady due to exhaustion, he naturally reached out and steadily supported her elbow: "Be careful, there are loose stones on this path, it's slippery."

With trekking poles and hiking boots, there's really no need to worry too much about slippery ground.

However, when climbers are already somewhat exhausted, hiking poles are not as reliable, and mutual assistance is still necessary.

Su Yuqing used his strength to steady herself, turned around and smiled at him, her cheeks flushed from the exercise and slight lack of oxygen, but her eyes were bright: "Okay, I know." With him by her side, even if she was tired, she felt incredibly safe.

Compared to others who climbed this unexpectedly steep mountain step by step.

Shen Xinghe, on the other hand, was like a nimble feline accustomed to the mountains and forests, moving with light steps and steady breathing.

He would occasionally stop to wait for the rest of the group, sometimes pointing to a plant by the roadside and giving a brief introduction, or reminding everyone to watch out for the moss on the ground, as it was easy to slip.

His presence added a touch of wilderness guidance to this hike.

If you didn't know better, you'd think he was a tour guide.

After more than an hour of arduous trekking, as the team struggled through the last dense and towering forest, a breathtaking view suddenly opened up before them—

The enchanting Yunxijian meadow was on full display before everyone's eyes.

The velvety green meadow stretches into the distance, dotted with wildflowers, and a crystal-clear stream meanders through it like a jade ribbon, its waters gurgling softly.

Surrounded by lush, verdant mountains, the autumn sun shines down without obstruction, gilding everything with a warm golden hue.

The air is pure and crisp; every deep breath is incredibly refreshing.

"My God...this...this is so beautiful!" Wang Lan threw her heavy backpack to the ground, excitedly opened her arms, and ran out shouting, her voice echoing through the valley. "It was worth it! All the hard work along the way was totally worth it!"

After shouting, he immediately lay down on the grass and began to take deep, frantic breaths.

The air quality here is absolutely fantastic!

Not only Wang Lan was excited, but everyone was deeply shocked by the unexpected beauty. The fatigue of the journey vanished at this moment, leaving only heartfelt amazement, joy and praise for nature.

After a brief period of shock and cheers, the practical problem was laid out before them—setting up camp.

It was already 3:30 pm, and the sunlight was starting to soften. Today was only the first day, so there was no rush to do anything fun; we needed to get ready for the night to come.

The boys took the initiative to do the main physical work.

Chen Mo picked up a tent first, and with extremely nimble movements, he unfolded it, connected the frame, positioned it, and drove in the ground stakes. The whole process was smooth and skillful, unlike that of an ordinary college student.

Wang Lan watched in amazement, exclaiming, "Old Mo, your technique is amazing! Did you used to go outdoors a lot? Did you practice?"

Chen Mo kept working, and gave a vague smile: "Well, I guess I have some experience."

He couldn't very well say that in his previous life, quickly setting up temporary camps in various harsh environments was a basic skill.

Shen Xinghe was in charge of another tent, and his approach differed from Chen Mo's, focusing more on precision and detail.

He carefully inspected the joints of each tent pole, measured the angle and depth of the tent pegs, and ensured that the tent was taut and straight, with optimal wind protection.

That focused and meticulous attitude is also quite charming.

It's said that people who are serious about their work are the most attractive, and Chen Mo and Shen Xinghe are a perfect example of that. (End of Chapter)