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

Chapter 144 Lost? [First update of the day, one more to come during the day!]

When Li Younan arrived at the hotel, Zhu Qingyue was already waiting for him in the hotel lobby.

When I saw Zhu Qingyue, I couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

She sat quietly on the dark brown leather sofa in the lobby.

His bright orange windbreaker was very eye-catching, and in front of him was a hiking backpack stuffed full of stuff.

The backpack was bulging and sturdy, with the outlines of the tent poles and sleeping bag clearly visible.

Her feet were firmly planted on the carpet, wearing a pair of brand-new high-top hiking boots with the uppers close to her ankles.

On his wrist was a functional black outdoor watch, and several small bags were neatly hung on the outside of his backpack. There was a square white medicine box, and through the mesh you could see the edge of the gauze wrapped inside. There was a bulging sealed snack bag with energy bars squeezed behind a transparent plastic bag, and another small bag contained tightly rolled spare socks.

If you had to describe Zhu Qingyue at this moment in two words, it would be "professional".

At least, it looks very professional.

Upon seeing Li Younan, she immediately stood up, without smiling, and said with a serious expression, "I'm ready, let's go!"

Li Younan stared at her backpack silently for a while, then thought for a moment before saying, "I need to check your gear first."

For Li Younan, there was no time to think about things like "would this make Zhu Qingyue feel embarrassed?" They were about to set off for Gongga Mountain, which was a very serious matter. Nothing was more important than safety.

Zhu Qingyue was not coy about this. She nodded and readily opened her hiking backpack. The two of them then began to check their gear one by one in the lobby.

Zhu Qingyue silently watched Li Younan examine his equipment with a serious expression. For a moment, she stared at him intently, and a fleeting, secret smile crept across her lips, tinged with pride.

At that moment, Li Younan was examining Zhu Qingyue's ice pick. He looked up, intending to compliment the brand's quality, but then he caught sight of the smile on Zhu Qingyue's face and was immediately speechless...

How to put it? It's like when the teacher checks homework, the child who diligently completed their studies at home proudly puffs out their chest...

Zhu Qingyue blushed slightly, as if her secret had been discovered, and coughed, "How did the examination go?"

Li Younan nodded: "Very good, it seems you have been preparing seriously according to the checklist I gave you."

"I selected the best of each category!"

For the past three days, Zhu Qingyue has been busy preparing according to the list given by Li Younan. She did not choose the equipment based on its appearance or portability, but only compared it with similar items to find the most hardcore and professional ones.

Li Younan has put in so much effort for this matter, and since it is ultimately her own affair, she should take it seriously as a very important matter.

She thought that she was definitely not the kind of person who would be a burden in this matter. Although Li Younan had subconsciously revealed that he viewed her in this way during their previous conversation, she did not immediately object. But it didn't matter. In the future, she would prove little by little that she was different from the kind of girl he thought she was.

Li Younan finished inspecting the equipment and nodded. "There's no problem. Everything meets the requirements and standards... The only problem now is..."

Zhu Qingyue listened attentively.

Li Younan hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "This set of equipment is hardcore and professional enough... but it weighs dozens of kilograms... how many kilometers can you carry it for a day?"

Zhu Qingyue was stunned for a moment, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

……

In the end, we set off anyway.

At this moment, Zhu Qingyue, sitting in the passenger seat, said with some defiance, "Believe me, I'm much stronger than you think!"

"Ah."

"Even without removing those few unnecessary pieces of equipment, I can still keep up with you."

"Ah."

"Before this, I did a lot of training, weight training... I can deadlift 80 kilograms!"

"Ah!"

“But…” Zhu Qingyue still raised her head, her eyes softening considerably, “Thank you…”

Li Younan looked over and said with a smile, "Take a nap first, there's still a long road ahead."

"Ah."

……

Li Younan drove very steadily, and a few hours later, they arrived in Kangding.

Their route this time overlaps with some areas of the Gongga Mountain Grand Loop. After getting off the bus in Kangding, they can rest for a while. If they were driving from a far place, they could choose to rest in Kangding for a night before continuing their journey. However, Li Younan and his companion set off early and arrived at a reasonable time, just past noon. After a short rest, they could set off directly.

Li Younan and Zhu Qingyue rested briefly in Kangding and had a simple lunch. While eating, Li Younan looked at her with amusement and asked, "Are you alright? Didn't get carsick?"

Zhu Qingyue did not seem to be in very good condition at this time. In addition to being a little carsick, part of the reason was that she had just arrived at the high altitude and her body had not yet fully adapted.

But she simply shook her head gently: "It's alright, there's no problem at all." The car didn't stop directly in Kangding and then immediately begin the trek.

After a brief rest and a final check to ensure all equipment and supplies were complete, the two drove directly towards Laoyulin, making it the starting point for their heavy-duty trek.

Laoyulin is a very popular village for entering the Gongga area; almost all travelers enter Laoyulin from here.

The village was no different from most of the mountainous and snowy villages that Li Younan and Zhu Qingyue had encountered along the way. A highway ran through the village, and a few houses were built along both sides of the road.

Here, you can see many people or groups who are also going to hike into Gongga Mountain. Some are obviously very professional teams, while others are either experts or complete novices. They look like they are just dressed casually for warmth. In addition to hikers, there are also off-road motorcyclists and off-road bikers who gather here as the starting point.

Zhu Qingyue looked around curiously; everything here was new and exciting to her.

Right now, it's not the peak season for hikers to enter Gongga Snow Mountain. In April, the climate on the plateau is still very cold, it's early spring, and the snow in many places on the mountain has not yet melted. If you want to go to higher peaks, this season is tantamount to making things more difficult for yourself.

Zhu Qingyue observed everything here with curiosity.

A dark-skinned man leaned against a wooden post, eating compressed biscuits. Several young people shared a map, whispering altitude numbers as they traced contour lines. A woman was tucking a rhododendron petal into her diary; the edges of the petals were already wilting.

A stream murmured nearby, melting snow carrying ice fragments rushing down the mountain. Someone bent down to fetch water, the aluminum cup making a crisp sound as it hit the rocks.

She suddenly felt that they were much like these water droplets—coming from all directions and heading towards the same distant place, guided by the mountain's contours.

They began to set off one after another.

The sound of trekking poles tapping on the gravel path rose and fell, like some kind of metronome. Everyone had their own rhythm: some strode forward, some strolled slowly, and the woman picking flowers brought up the rear, glancing back at the village every few steps.

Zhu Qingyue suddenly remembered the blank diary in the side pocket of her backpack.

Perhaps when we camp out tonight, I should write down the silhouettes of these strangers—after all, before reaching our destination, everyone along the way is a temporary footnote to the same story.

Thinking of this, Zhu Qingyue suddenly felt a little happy. She looked at Li Younan and gave him a silly smile. Li Younan was a little confused by her sudden smile and touched his nose...

Did she see me secretly picking my nose?

Li Younan changed the subject... or rather, started a conversation: "Our mission today is still very difficult, and we can't afford to waste any time here. We must reach our campsite today... Shangriwuqie Camp."

Li Younan had already explained today's plan to Zhu Qingyue, so she was naturally aware of it.

From Laoyulin to the camp, you need to cross the Gexi Grassland and Liangchahe, which is about 18 kilometers long. It may not sound like 18 kilometers is very far, but that is in plains or urban areas. There are no roads here. According to the average speed of other people hiking, it will take about 8 hours to complete the 18-kilometer journey!
This is still a relatively optimistic calculation. Li Younan must prepare for the worst... If Zhu Qingyue is too weak to walk that fast, then she definitely won't be able to reach the camp that day, unless she travels at night.

Li Younan did not intend to travel at night, so his plan was that if he could not reach the campsite, he would simply find a suitable place along the way to set up camp before dark.

Zhu Qingyue naturally had no objection to Li Younan's decision; at this moment, she completely obeyed Li Younan's orders.

Then, on a sunny April afternoon with a chilly breeze, a young woman carrying a heavy backpack taller than herself set off with firm steps toward the majestic snow-capped mountain at the edge of her vision… Behind her, a young man, also carrying a huge backpack, strolled along with an relaxed expression, looking around with interest…

Li Younan's mountaineering skills give him an amazing carrying capacity, making him practically a human beast of burden. The weight he feels is not much different from carrying a schoolbag.

In April, the old Yulin valley connects to the forest. The morning mist has not yet dissipated, and the stream flows in the mist. The sound of water follows your footsteps. Thin ice still remains in the cracks of the rocks, shining brightly in the light shining through the mist.

There were newly sprouted ground lilies by the roadside, their small purple-blue flowers clustered together, glistening with dew. The shadows of the coniferous forest peeked through the mist, and icicles hung from the tree trunks. When the wind blew, the icicles hit the tree trunks, making a series of sounds. The air was filled with the scent of grass, trees, and earth.

Zhu Qingyue is still in good spirits.

They walked for almost half an hour without showing any intention of stopping to rest... Li Younan was a little surprised; he had underestimated this girl.

As you walk a little further, the fog gradually thickens.

Just a moment ago, I could clearly see the tree trunks a dozen steps away, but now it's as if something is washing over me, and the tree shadows are slowly fading away, leaving only a blurry outline.

The sound of the stream was still in my ears, but unlike before, I couldn't tell which way it turned. It seemed to be surging in from all directions, swirling around my feet.

Zhu Qingyue tapped the ground with his cane, touching the damp soil and scattered pebbles.

When we set off, I remembered that the valley should turn left, but now when I look up, the mountain shadows on both sides are shrouded in mist, and I can't tell which side is steeper.

The clump of creeping lilies I just passed by was half-hidden by the fog when I looked back, as if it had shrunk down out of thin air.

Her heart sank slightly—the legendary "getting lost" from the textbook?
For children who grew up in the city and have never been to the wilderness, the scenario of getting lost in the wild described in textbooks is something they can't even imagine, no matter how hard they try.

No, we've only just started... and we've already encountered such a predicament?

Fortunately, she was still being followed by footsteps. Feeling a little calmer, she turned around and saw that Li Younan was always a few steps behind her.

She leaned her backpack against a nearby tree branch, looking somewhat nervous but trying to appear calm, and asked, "Are we... lost?"

Li Younan blinked, slowly turning her gaze away from a flower beside her, and asked with a strange expression, "Huh?"

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P.S.: There will be another update during the day! I need to sleep now, my health is completely depleted...

(End of this chapter)