Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 528 Camping (Part 1)

The morning sun was bright but not scorching, shining warmly on the dark green SUV.

The car's body lines are square and rugged, exuding a powerful and imposing presence. Its exceptionally high chassis allows it to conquer any rough terrain.

This vehicle was specially borrowed by Chen Xi from a friend who loves the outdoors, especially conquering uncharted territories.

He did one last check of the trunk: tent, sleeping bag, cooking utensils, fresh ingredients in the refrigerator, and the few carefully maintained fishing rods.

On the roof, a long object, tightly wrapped in a waterproof tarpaulin, was securely fixed to a sturdy luggage rack.

He patted the heavy, sturdy car body, a barely perceptible hint of anticipation playing on his lips, and started the engine.

When the car stopped in front of Li Jingyi's rented apartment building, she was already waiting at the door.

The sunlight outlined her slender and well-proportioned figure. Her light khaki hiking pants and mint green quick-drying T-shirt made her look exceptionally fresh and neat. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, which swayed gently as she turned her head to look at her, revealing her smooth forehead and bright eyes.

At her feet was a bulging hiking backpack and several food containers.

Seeing the conspicuous package on the roof of the car, a hint of curiosity flashed in her eyes, then she smiled broadly, a smile as bright and infectious as the sunlight at that moment.

"Good morning! Did you bring everything?" Chen Xi got out of the car and naturally took the food container from her hand. It was heavy and exuded the coolness of fresh ingredients.

"Good morning! Everything's ready, all the ingredients are prepared, we can start cooking as soon as we get there." Li Jingyi smiled as she got into the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and couldn't help but glance at the roof again. "I was really excited last night, it's been so long since I've camped. This car..."

She looked again at the massive, dark green vehicle, its body exuding a pure sense of reliability, as if it were born for harsh environments: "It looks very reliable, like it can go to the ends of the earth."

She patted the thick, sturdy car door panel, her tone filled with eager excitement.

As the car drove out of the city, the tall buildings outside the window slowly receded, and the view suddenly opened up.

The rolling green hills and dense forests soon came into view, with layers upon layers of green filling the eyes.

The air felt filtered, cool and refreshing, carrying the fresh scents of pine needles, earth, and grass; every breath brought a sense of physical and mental well-being.

The two chatted casually, from interesting stories about the new clinic to the increasingly pristine mountain scenery outside the window, creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

As the car turned onto the winding mountain road, the dense shade of the trees immediately enveloped us, filtering the intense sunlight into dappled patterns that danced inside the car.

Li Jingyi gazed at the pristine forest rushing past the window, almost undisturbed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Around noon, we finally arrived at our destination—a lake gently surrounded by mountains.

Suddenly, the view opened up before me. The lake, like a large, clear piece of green glass, lay quietly in the embrace of the green mountains, so clear that I could see the bottom.

The blue sky, white clouds, and the tall pines and cypresses on the shore are all clearly reflected in the water.

The flat, open grassland on the shore is like a natural green carpet spread between the lake and the trees, making it a perfect campsite.

"This is it." Chen Xi parked the car smoothly.

After parking the car, Chen Xi took the tent bag out of the trunk.

In the afternoon, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled patterns on the clearing. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and earth.

He bent down, spread out the tent fabric, and began assembling the frame.

The metal rod clicked softly in his hands, and in a few quick movements, it formed the main outline.

Li Jingyi squatted down beside her, handing over the necessary accessories with perfect understanding. Then she unfolded the inner tent and laid it inside, carefully stuffing in the moisture-proof mat and fluffy sleeping bag.

The sunlight filtering through the trees danced on their shoulders and arms, like a group of lively little golden elves.

For a moment, Li Jingyi handed him the hammer, and as he took it, his calloused fingertips lightly brushed against the back of her hand. Both of them paused for a second, but quickly went back to their own tasks, with only a barely perceptible tremor spreading through the air.

"Alright!" Li Jingyi straightened up, patted the grass clippings off her hands, looked at the two-person tent standing steadily there, and smiled with satisfaction.

With the tents in place, their camping "home" was finally settled, and the tranquil time by the lake seemed to truly open its arms to them.

Chen Xi's gaze fell on the calm, mirror-like surface of the lake, then he looked back at the roof of the car.

He walked to the car and began to untie the ropes on the roof rack.

The thick waterproof tarpaulin was lifted, revealing not the large luggage bag as expected, but several hard plastic parts of various shapes, securely fixed, and oars.

"This is... a boat?" Li Jingyi curiously approached, the tacit understanding from setting up the tent had not completely dissipated, and her surprise was now mixed with strong interest.

She crouched down and carefully examined the seemingly disassembled parts.

“Yes, Kayak, it’s an assembly,” Chen Xi replied, quickly unpacking several major components and moving them to an open space by the lake.

He assembled the modular hull components like a precision instrument, skillfully snapping them together and locking them in place, and installing seats and footrests.

The soft clicking sounds were particularly clear in the woods.

In less than ten minutes, a sleek, brightly colored two-person kayak lay quietly on the shore of the clear lake, its reflection creating a picturesque scene against the backdrop of the blue sky and white clouds.

"You actually brought a boat?! And one that can be assembled?" Li Jingyi's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the small boat that had "been born" before her. She was then amused and laughed, her clear laughter startling a small bird in the nearby bushes. "Chen Xi, your preparations are too... too exaggerated!"

She circled the boat, her eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation. "This lake looks really nice. I really want to row out and explore it!"

Her fingertips gently brushed across the cool hull of the boat, eager to feel the refreshing coolness of the lake water.

The two men worked together to push the small boat into the water.

The lake water was cool and refreshing, and the small boat floated steadily.

Chen Xi sat in the back seat, responsible for steering and main power, while Li Jingyi sat in the front.

The oars sliced ​​through the mirror-like surface of the lake, creating ripples. The small boat, like a light leaf, glided quietly towards the open center of the lake, leaving only the faint sound of water and the soft splashing of the oars.

Far from the shore, the lake water was even deeper, and surrounded by trees, it seemed as if the world consisted only of them and this tranquil body of water.

After gliding leisurely on the water for a while, feeling the gentle breeze on his face and the warmth of the sun, Chen Xi chose a good spot and dropped the anchor to secure it.

The small boat rocked gently a few times before coming to a steady stop.

He took out a fishing rod that he had prepared beforehand from the storage compartment under his seat.

With the bait on, the arm outstretched, the fishing line traces a graceful arc as it falls into the distant water, the movement natural and practiced.

Li Jingyi also enthusiastically tried casting a line. Although her posture was a little clumsy, she stared intently at her float, her expression focused.

Sunlight spilled onto the lake, shimmering like scattered gold. The only sounds were the gentle lapping of the water against the boat, the rustling of the wind through the trees, and the occasional chirping of birds. Time seemed to slow down, stretching out this tranquil afternoon.

Chen Xi clearly understands this principle well.

Before long, the fishing rod in his hand suddenly bent into a breathtaking arc, the reel creaking and breaking the calm of the water.

"Got it!" His voice was deep and steady, with a hint of barely perceptible excitement, and he began to reel in the line with a steady and powerful wrist.

(End of this chapter)