By linking my account to the check-in system, I became a leisurely traveler.

Chapter 108: The First Passive Skill!
Li Younan is a landlubber.

This is actually a very reasonable thing.

People who can swim are always a tiny minority, regardless of the city or historical period.

Li Younan is just one of the vast majority of people.

However, unlike the characters in literature or film, Li Younan did not have any nightmarish encounters with water, such as drowning or experiencing frightening scenes related to water.

The reason he can't swim is simple: he hasn't learned.

Before high school, he had to study and maintain an exercise routine every day, which left him with little time and energy to learn this skill.

Moreover, the swimming pool in the county town only came into existence after he entered junior high school, which was precisely when the pressure of studying increased.

When he got to college, he did try swimming a few times at the school's swimming pool, but it was just for fun and he still didn't learn how.

This is why when he gazes at the river, he feels as if the river is gazing back at him.

To be honest, Li Younan really wanted to learn how to swim.

However, it is indeed not easy to learn by self-study; at least, it takes quite a long time to learn purely by self-study.

Perhaps I should find some time to properly learn how to swim; I can't rely on the system for everything.

After boarding the ship, Li Younan hadn't yet visited the cruise ship's swimming pool.

Not long after Liao Xinchun left, Li Younan came to the swimming pool alone.

There weren't many people in the pool on the boat, and the pool itself wasn't very big, about twenty or thirty meters long.

There was a place on the ship that sold swimsuits, so Li Younan bought a pair of swim trunks and went to the changing room to change.

As I emerged, a sleek figure was rising from the water. The person was wearing a shower cap and goggles, dressed rather conservatively in a one-piece swimsuit that didn't show any cleavage.

But she has a great figure with beautiful lines, and she looks completely different from the others.

Li Younan recognized Liao Xinchun at a glance.

Liao Xinchun climbed onto the edge of the pool, and Li Younan went over to greet her.

Liao Xinchun took off her swimming goggles, looked Li Younan up and down, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Li Younan said with amusement, "Why that expression?"

Liao Xinchun's expression was somewhat strange. She stood up, and water droplets dripped from her body.

Her gaze lingered on Li Younan's abs for a moment, then gradually shifted to his chest. She nodded and said, "Your physique is pretty good. I didn't expect you to be such a muscular guy when you were dressed during the day."

Li Younan's figure wasn't particularly large, but his features were very defined, like they were carved with a knife.

He now possesses three skills that enhance his physical abilities: parkour, archery, and rock climbing.

Of these three skills, parkour and rock climbing require a higher level of wrist and core strength.

While archery skills do require a certain level of muscle strength in the back and shoulders, it's unnecessary for modern compound bow skills to have the exaggerated muscles of ancient foot archers.

Moreover, the source of strength is also related to the neural recruitment ability; it is not that the more muscular one is, the greater one's strength will be.

Li Younan looks completely different when he takes off his clothes compared to when he puts them on.

Liao Hsin-Chun said, "I'll teach you how to swim."

Li Younan nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Liao Xinchun nodded and said, "Let's do some warm-up exercises first."

She demonstrated two stretching exercises, hesitated for a moment, and then asked out of the blue, "You're not pretending again, are you?"

Li Younan blinked: "What are you pretending for?"

Liao Xinchun was genuinely scared. Before, Li Younan always said... "Oh dear, I don't know how, I'm just a beginner."

But just when you think he's a complete novice, he quietly and thoroughly humiliates what she's so proud of.

Li Younan quickly understood what Liao Xinchun was talking about and smiled wryly: "I really don't know how to do that."

Liao Xinchun then continued to demonstrate for him.

Then, Liao Xinchun had him lie on the ground and learn the movements of the breaststroke on the shore.

Li Younan lay on the ground, and Liao Xinchun corrected him.

About ten minutes later, Liao Xinchun said, "Okay, let's go into the water."

Li Younan blinked: "You're already in the water?"

Liao Xinchun nodded.

Li Younan thought for a moment, then slowly climbed down the ladder next to him into the water.

Seeing this, Liao Xinchun mocked without any politeness, "Why are you such a coward? Just jump down."

After saying that, she leaped forward, her body transforming into a smooth line. Her hand pierced the water's surface, and her body followed closely behind, gracefully landing in the water like a dolphin.

To be honest, Li Younan was a little envious of Liao Xinchun's swimming skills.

In a sense, swimming is the closest thing to flying that can be achieved without any tools, and humanity's pursuit of flight has never ceased since ancient times.

Once in the water, Liao Xinchun had Li Younan try the breaststroke technique he had just learned on land.

Li Younan tried a few times, but as expected, he couldn't find the trick. He thrashed around a few times, almost choking on the water, and stood up in a disheveled state.

Liao Xinchun, who was standing next to her, burst into laughter.

Li Younan stood with his hands on his hips, looking at Liao Xinchun with a hint of exasperation, suspecting that this woman had come specifically to make a fool of herself.

Liao Xinchun probably realized that what she was doing was inappropriate, so she coughed and stopped smiling, and began to give serious instructions: "You can't open your eyes in the water, so you must be a little scared."

As she spoke, Liao Xinchun took off her swimming goggles. "If you wear my goggles and can open your eyes in the water, it will be much better. Come on, squat down a little."

Li Younan crouched down slightly, and Liao Xinchun helped him put on his swimming goggles.

Liao Xinchun was very close. Her skin wasn't very fair, but probably because she exercised often, it had a faint golden glow. It was very delicate and smooth, like silk under the indoor lights.

After putting on his swimming goggles, Li Younan tried it again. Sure enough, once he could open his eyes in the water, he felt less scared and could concentrate on trying the movements he had just learned on the shore while holding his breath.

However, since it was his first time learning to swim, he couldn't immediately grasp the knack.

Thus, the two struggled in the water for more than half an hour.

During this period, Liao Xinchun provided very serious and responsible guidance, and would occasionally step in to correct Li Younan's movements.

Feeling a bit tired, they lay down to rest on the lounge chairs by the pool.

Liao Xinchun suddenly asked, "Where are you from?"

But before Li Younan could answer, she quickly added, "Never mind, you'd better not tell me."

Li Younan glanced at Liao Xinchun but said nothing.

After resting for a while, Liao Xinchun went back into the water and swam around a few times, getting completely soaked again.

Li Younan didn't plan to go into the water. He knew very well that swimming wasn't a skill that could be learned in one or two tries, so he decided to stop there for today.

Liao Xinchun, wrapped in a bath towel, walked over to Li Younan and asked, "Are you going back?"

Li Younan nodded; it was getting late.

Liao Xinchun then asked, "What fruits do you usually like to eat?"

Li Younan chuckled: "Why are you suddenly asking this question?"

Liao Xinchun didn't respond, she just looked at Li Younan.

Li Younan thought for a moment and said, "Watermelon, then."

Liao Xinchun nodded.

Just as Li Younan was about to get up from the recliner, Liao Xinchun suddenly leaned down slowly and said softly, "I have some iced watermelon in my room, please have some. I won't lock the door before 10 o'clock."

Li Younan was stunned for a moment.

Liao Xinchun added, "Oh, right, I'm not drinking today."

After saying that, she waved her towel, turned around and left, her long, straight legs still dripping water.

……

The first stop on the second day was Fengjie, where we visited Baidi City.

Next up was a day of immersive tourism.

It's worth mentioning that Liao Xinchun did not disembark today.

Li Younan was accompanied by two old men.

The boat docked smoothly at Baotaping Wharf in Fengjie. The morning sun was already warm, but fortunately, the river breeze kept blowing, so it wasn't too hot.

After disembarking, there are shuttle buses at the dock that take all tourists to Baidi City.

The car drove up the winding mountain road and arrived in about ten minutes.

Baidi City is actually located on a hill that extends into the river, and it is now connected to the riverbank by a covered bridge.

After crossing the covered bridge, you will arrive at the Baidi Temple.

The temple itself is not particularly grand; it was built along the contours of the mountain.

Its value lies in its location—standing on the viewing platform in front of the temple, the magnificent view of the Qutang Gorge is displayed before Li Younan's eyes without any obstruction.

The Yangtze River flows out between two mountain walls that seem to have been cleaved by a giant axe; that is the western entrance to the Qutang Gorge.

The river is quite wide here, the current is relatively gentle, the mountains are a heavy bluish-gray, and the river water is a turbid yellowish-green, the colors are very real.

Standing here, Li Younan can truly feel the meaning of "Kuimen is the most magnificent in the world".

Thinking that ships from ancient times to the present have all passed through here, that Liu Bei entrusted his son to Liu Bei here, and that Li Bai wrote "Departing from Baidi in the morning amidst colorful clouds," the stone steps beneath our feet may have also borne the footprints of those people. This feeling is quite subtle.

Lunch was at a farmhouse restaurant outside the scenic area. Li Younan ate some local home-style dishes, which were quite flavorful and went well with rice.

After returning to the dock after dinner, the large cruise ship he was on set sail for Qutang Gorge.

As the boat gradually approached the Qutang Gorge, the towering cliffs on both sides drew ever closer, bringing with them a sense of oppression.

The texture and folds of the rocks are clearly visible in the sunlight, making them appear ancient and hard.

Their boat looked tiny in the face of the massive mountain.

The broadcast explained the origin of "Kuimen, the most magnificent place under heaven", but Li Younan felt that no further explanation was needed; the scene before him spoke for itself.

His neck started to ache after looking up for a while.

He took out his phone, recorded the scene, and then casually sent it to JK Long.

Brother Long quickly replied, saying, "This place is pretty good."

Li Younan sent a voice message: "If you think it's nice, let's go out for a stroll next time."

JK Dragon did not reply to the message.

The sunlight was cut off by the towering mountain peaks, with one section of the river surface shining brightly with gold, and another section sinking into huge shadows.

The wind blew in from the gorge, carrying moisture and the scent of rocks, and it was cool and refreshing.

Li Younan leaned against the railing of the top deck, looking at the few houses that occasionally appeared on the cliff, their white walls standing out against the backdrop of the massive mountain.

After passing through the Qutang Gorge, the large ship continued its voyage and arrived at the Yangtze River wharf near Wushan County.

Here, tourists disembark and transfer to small, specialized sightseeing boats to tour the Lesser Three Gorges.

Small boats are much lower and closer to the water than large boats, making for a completely different experience.

The engine was clearly audible, and you could sometimes feel the coolness of the water splashing as you drove. After entering the Longmen Gorge of the Daning River, the river channel narrowed significantly, and the water became clear and emerald green.

The mountains on both sides are even steeper, covered with lush vegetation that clings to every inch of the rock face. The shapes of the rocks are also more bizarre and varied.

After the boat tour, Li Younan was taken back to Wushan Wharf.

When he reboarded the large cruise ship, the sun was already setting.

Li Younan was indeed a bit tired after a day of sightseeing.

The journey was about to continue, so he planned to take a shower and then rest.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Li Younan opened the door, and Liao Xinchun stood there, smiling as she presented a plate of sliced ​​watermelon.

Li Younan blinked and thought back for a moment; it seemed there was no watermelon at tonight's buffet.

Liao Xinchun said, "Although we didn't go to the Lesser Three Gorges, we did get off the boat. I bought some chilled watermelon nearby as compensation for lying to you yesterday."

Li Younan coughed lightly and took the watermelon.

Liao Xinchun turned to leave.

Li Younan hesitated for a moment and asked, "Are you... alright?"

Liao Xinchun turned around, smiled, and her face had a rosy glow. She said, "Why do you think it's bad?"

……

On the last day, we finally arrived at our destination.

The ship docked at Maoping Port in Zigui.

A thin layer of water vapor still floated on the river surface in the early morning, and the air was very clean.

Our destination today is clear—the Three Gorges Dam.

After disembarking, we followed the signs and boarded the scenic area's dedicated sightseeing bus.

The car was moving slowly, along the dedicated highway, and the hills outside the window were a solid, lush green.

I received a task from the system as soon as I arrived. The task was as simple as before: take a picture of the Three Gorges Dam from your own angle.

Li Younan felt a surge of emotion. This system was really great... No task was difficult for anyone; it simply provided a little "convenience" on the journey for those who wanted to travel.

These tasks are so random that you might unintentionally complete them even without the system.

Our first stop was Tanziling.

The name is quite descriptive; it's said that the mountaintop resembles an overturned jar.

Actually, you don't need to go through the trouble of climbing to the very top; the views from the lower platforms are wide enough.

Standing here, the entire dam unfolds before your eyes.

It wasn't as oppressive as I imagined; it was more like a gray-white straight line, cleanly and neatly dividing the river in two.

The water in front of the dam is wide and calm, a so-called "high gorge and calm lake". The water level behind the dam is significantly lower, and the river flows downstream with some force.

The most eye-catching feature is the five-stage lock on the left, which looks like a huge staircase embedded in the mountain. The tour guide said that it takes three or four hours for a ship to pass through, as it "climbs" or "descends" one stage at a time.

To the right, you can see a smaller boat lift, like a giant elevator, specifically designed to lift small boats across the dam. A breeze blows up from the river, carrying moisture, which is quite pleasant.

Li Younan listened to the explanation for a while in the model exhibition hall. The triangular stones used for diverting the water were cleverly designed and could stand firmly on their own when thrown into the water.

Looking at the man-made stone wall in front of him, Li Younan asked with a grin, "Doesn't it look magnificent?"

Li Younan wasn't thinking about how grand it was, but rather that the method people came up with was ingenious. He smiled and said, "It is quite grand, the romance of science and engineering."

The last stop was the river closure memorial park on the opposite bank of the river.

This spot, located downstream from the dam, offers the best panoramic view of the dam.

Li Younan planned to complete the check-in task right here.

Scattered throughout the park are giant machines used in the construction back then—truck tires taller than a person, and excavator buckets large enough to fit a small house.

Touching these cold steel structures, and looking up at the dam that stood firmly across the river, Li Younan suddenly understood the importance of "human beings" in this project.

The wear and rust on those machines tell the story of those years better than any words.

I found a spot directly facing the dam and took a picture; the background was that straight gray-white line.

Watching the river water gushing out from under the dam, swirling and rushing downstream, I felt quite calm.

This project is certainly a miracle, but those who feel it more deeply at this moment are the unseen people and these silent steel structures.

I originally wanted to try out the ship lift, but unfortunately you have to book in advance and I couldn't find a time to go.

It's good to leave something to remember.

Liao Xinchun glanced at Li Younan every now and then.

She noticed that Li Younan had become much quieter during the journey to the Three Gorges Dam today, hardly speaking at all.

Liao Xinchun was a little curious, but she kept quiet and didn't say anything.

On the way back to the pier by sightseeing bus.

Liao Xinchun couldn't help but ask, "You seem a little down."

Li Younan paused for a moment, her expression slightly surprised. "Is it heavy?"

He was simply thinking about all the things related to this project, which could be described as one of the greatest projects since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

I kept thinking... it was actually made by humans.

When Liao Xinchun asked him this, he naturally wouldn't reveal his true thoughts. He just smiled and said, "Oh, that's just because I suddenly realized this trip is coming to an end."

Liao Xinchun paused for a moment, nodded slightly, then gently tossed her hair and looked away, saying, "Yes, this trip is coming to an end."

She paused for a moment, then suddenly looked up and smiled sweetly at Li Younan, her expression somewhat strange: "I didn't expect you to be such a sentimental person."

Li Younan paused for a moment, then blinked.

Suddenly, I realized that what the other person was thinking was completely on a different wavelength from mine.

However, he certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to ruin the atmosphere at a time like this, so he simply remained silent.

Liao Xinchun lowered her head, her tone laced with sarcasm: "Under such a magnificent view, what you're thinking about is... that's narrow-minded, isn't it?"

Li Younan sighed helplessly, hesitated, and after thinking for a while, decided not to say anything.

Li Younan took out his phone, preparing to shoot some more videos.

Seeing this, Liao Xinchun probably misunderstood. She shook her head and said, "Let's forget it. I don't want to add your contact information."

Li Younan paused for a moment, then said, "Oh."

Just as Li Younan picked up his phone to start filming other areas, Liao Xinchun sighed softly and said in a voice only she could hear, "I really shouldn't try again..."

But that's fine too. My behavior along the way doesn't seem to make me look like a well-behaved and innocent girl.

Then he casually tossed his hair, thinking, "Why bother with all that?"

I always make a profit...

We boarded the cruise ship again, and it slowly left Zigui.

Li Younan leaned against the stern railing, watching the shadow of the dam grow increasingly blurred in the twilight, eventually becoming a faint trace on the horizon.

The river was bathed in the warm gold of the afterglow, and cargo ships sailed slowly by, leaving long ripples in their wake.

The day's events flashed through my mind: the expansive view from Tanziling, the solid feel of looking down at the dam from the 185 platform, and the silent power of those steel behemoths in the memorial park.

There are other aspects as well...

Regarding this trip... He glanced at Liao Xinchun beside him and thought the trip was really quite nice.

This is a double enjoyment for both body and mind.

He was a little tired, but he felt at ease.

He then looked towards the dam.

This dam holds back the river, generates electricity, and allows boats to cross mountains and valleys. It's there, doing what it's supposed to do.

The wind has blown for thousands of years, the river has flowed for tens of thousands of years, people have come and gone, leaving behind traces that are slowly worn away by time.

Sitting at the stern, just watching, is quite nice.

……

The system then notified me that the check-in task was complete.

[Check-in complete!]

[Random rewards are being distributed...]

Climber Bloodline +1

[Climber Bloodline lv.1: You were born to conquer peaks, possessing a blood oxygenation capacity far exceeding that of ordinary people. As oxygen levels rise, you can regulate your body in an extraordinary way... For your body, only a short period of adaptation is needed; there is no difference between an altitude of 5000 meters and an altitude of 0 meters.]

This skill is clearly different from the skills I acquired before.

Strictly speaking, this skill didn't bring him any knowledge or muscle memory, but it did give his body a strange boost.

It's hard to describe the feeling. He felt an indescribable comfort in his body, and even a sense of drowsiness that seemed to spread from nowhere, somewhat like... oxygen intoxication.

It's like yawning and stretching from the inside out, leaving you feeling completely refreshed.

In short, he felt much more comfortable.

If the skills acquired before were all active skills, then this is a purely passive skill.

However, Li Younan was very satisfied with this skill, after all, he would be conquering more mountains and rivers in the future.

China is so vast, with so many plateaus. It would be truly heartbreaking to give up halfway through a trip due to altitude sickness.

Thinking of this, Li Younan suddenly remembered that his mother had always said she wanted to go to Jiuzhaigou.

Fortunately, most of the highway from Jiuzhaigou to Mianyang is now open. If we wait a few more days, until mid-to-late September or late October, the autumn leaves there will be very beautiful.

I'll have my mom take a day off and I'll take her there myself...

After landing, Li Younan found a hotel and sent all the footage he had taken on the cruise ship to JK Long.

Brother Long was quite satisfied and gave a thumbs-up emoji, saying, "Okay, after it's cut out, I'll send it to our partner, the cruise company. If they think it's okay, then I'll send it to you, and the money will be transferred together then."

Li Younan was extremely sleepy at the moment, but he still quickly replied with a message: "Thank you for your hard work... Brother Long."

This statement comes from the bottom of my heart.

While he was having a great time outside, Brother Long stayed in his room editing videos for him.

Sometimes I can't help but think, if all else fails, I'll invite Brother Long on one of my next trips and see if he'd be willing to bring him along!

JK Long didn't reply to the message for a long time.

After a while, Li Younan was almost asleep when his phone rang.

He picked it up and saw that it was sent back by JK Long, containing only one word.

"Humph."

snort?
Is this right?
Li Younan didn't have time to think any further and fell into a deep sleep.

(End of this chapter)