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

Chapter 249 [Two in One]

"You can fly in the water."

The description of his swimming skills was only one sentence, but it gave Li Younan a very intuitive understanding of the skill he had mastered.

In a sense, swimming in water is indeed similar to flying.

Birds fly in the sky using buoyancy; swimming in the water also uses buoyancy. In a sense, flying and swimming are indeed comparable actions, only one provides less buoyancy and the other provides more.

This skill is said to allow one to fly in water, so from some perspectives, both the speed and the ability to control the body are almost comparable to the posture of birds in the air.

Or rather… Li Younan thought for a moment, birds aren’t the only ones that can fly, there are also Superman and Super Saiyans.

But Li Younan found his later thoughts somewhat amusing.

Unfortunately, it's now difficult to find places to swim along the way to Tibet.

However, there are several lakes after leaving Sichuan.

But given the altitude of the plateau and the weather around April, swimming in that kind of water is practically self-torture.

For a long time, not being able to swim was a source of great distress for him.

Later, through tireless efforts, I finally learned this skill that many people can master, but overall I am still not very proficient. I am at the level of being able to tread water in the pool without drowning, and I can hold my own, but it has nothing to do with adjectives like graceful posture or fast speed.

Every time Li Younan swam in the pool, he would naturally envy those experts who could do butterfly or freestyle, splashing around in their lanes.

Looking at myself, I swam slowly and laboriously in the water, sometimes going deep and sometimes shallow, and occasionally I would swallow water awkwardly because I didn't catch my breath properly.

Logically speaking, someone with top-notch coordination shouldn't be in such a sorry state; frankly, it's a matter of proficiency.

Even the most talented swimmers need to spend a long time in the water to familiarize themselves with the movements.

Li Younan has been quite busy recently, and after learning to swim, he hasn't had much time for in-depth practice, so his current level isn't surprising.

But things will be different next time. Give him a swimming pool, and he can experience what it feels like to fly.

Of course, there is another skill that does not directly enhance swimming skills, but can be perfectly linked with them. That is the level 2 Deep Sea Bloodline skill - the chest cavity has higher elastic fibers, higher blood oxygen exchange capacity, and connective tissue has stronger buffering capacity. In short, it can maintain normal activity in low oxygen or high pressure environments.

This level 2 deep-sea bloodline is a perfect match for swimming skills.

The current record for human breath-holding diving is 107 meters, meaning that without scuba breathing, one can dive to a depth of 107 meters simply by holding their breath; while the record for scuba diving is an astonishing 332 meters.

With the boost from these two skills, Li Younan, though he hasn't tested them yet, feels that he should be close to achieving those two records.

Having acquired the new skill, Li Younan was in a much better mood, and even hummed a song involuntarily while driving.

Liu Li couldn't help but glance at Li Younan a few more times, her eyes flickering, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

……

The journey then became somewhat long again; the next stop was from Xinduqiao to Litang.

We didn't linger in Yajiang when we passed by; we just rested for a bit before continuing our journey.

Then comes the legendary mountain road with its eighteen bends, where the altitude suddenly soars to over 4000 meters.

Li Younan naturally didn't feel anything, and there were also air vents from the oxygen generator in the cockpit.

Here we must mention a wise decision Li Younan made when modifying the RV: he did not mix the RV's electrical system with the vehicle's own electrical system. This allowed the RV's electricity to power the oxygen generator even while driving, thus maintaining a healthy oxygen level in the driver's cabin.

Liu Li was naturally aware of all of this.

Because she saw many tourists along the way stopping by the roadside to inhale oxygen or vomit due to altitude sickness.

After seeing such scenes many times, she couldn't help but think that if Li Younan hadn't made preparations in this regard long ago, how could she have had such a relaxed and pleasant travel environment and experience?

He's such a thoughtful person...

To be precise, she is not only meticulous but also very considerate.

Although she already had a clear understanding of Li Younan's thoughtfulness, the experience of seeing that thoughtfulness applied to her still warmed her heart.

After navigating the winding mountain roads, the next section is a vast grassland similar to the Ruoergai Red Plain.

By the time the car arrived here, most of the day had passed, and it was already afternoon.

Liu Li had never seen such a vast grassland before, so she stopped the car here to rest for a while.

As Li Younan had told Liu Li before, the grasslands were breathtaking at first glance, but after a while, they became quite boring and tedious—why is it always just grasslands?
This is Liu Li's first time seeing this, so she finds it novel and spends more time outside than before, almost forgetting that she is a patient.

Li Younan watched Liu Li squatting on the ground looking at the groundhog burrow and found it somewhat amusing. He asked, "How are you feeling today?"

Liu Li glanced back at Li Younan.

You can see fine beads of sweat on her forehead, which is a manifestation of somatization.

But she kept the doctor's advice in mind and tried to overcome the resistance little by little. Eventually, her body would gradually adapt to the feeling of being outside and subconsciously create a belief that "it is not dangerous outside".

So she has been trying very hard to adapt.

Liu Li stood up and wiped the sweat from her forehead: "It feels pretty good. I think I can stay outside for longer now."

Liu Li's answer was pretty much what Li Younan had expected.

So if one day Liu Li were suddenly able to stay outside like a normal person, Li Younan wouldn't be surprised. At least that's the current trend, giving people a glimmer of hope.

However, Liu Li then asked about other things.

She slowly walked up to Li Younan, sat down on the meadow by the roadside, and gazed into the distance as she slowly said, "Li Younan, let's chat for a while."

In fact, Li Younan and Liu Li chat for a long time every day, but this is the first time the other party has brought it up so seriously.

Li Younan then sat down next to him and asked, "What would you like to talk about?"

What are the most interesting things boys and girls talk about?

"Uh, that's a question you asked..."

"Hehe, is it hard to answer?"

"It's not that it's hard to answer. Between boys and girls, of course, talking about... romance is the most interesting." There was a hint of mischief in Li Younan's eyes.

Liu Li's face flushed slightly: "Li Younan, how many relationships have you had?"

"Why do you ask this?"

"curious."

"Um……"

Li Younan paused for a moment, as if he was thinking.

Liu Li glanced at Li Younan, then silently looked away: "Do we still need to think about this? It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."

"There's nothing wrong with talking about it," Li Younan shook his head. "There have been a few times, to be honest."

When was your first love?

"Middle school, I guess."

Liu Li stared wide-eyed at Li Younan: "You, you were dating in junior high?"

Li Younan looked at Liu Li with amusement: "What's so surprising about that?"

Liu Li awkwardly looked away, tilted her head and thought for a moment before shaking her head: "When I was in junior high, I felt like I didn't understand anything, and you're already in a relationship? Is it... my own problem?"

"Hehe, it's not that complicated. When I was in junior high, a girl wrote me a love letter. I accepted it because she was pretty cute, and then we got together."

"detail?"

"Details will incur a charge."

"Hate."

"Haha."

"So...did you two kiss?"

"Ah."

"You answered?"

"So you really want to know?"

"Then let me ask you a different question: Did she take the initiative or did you?"

"she."

"So they still kissed..."

"hehe."

"So, if a girl kisses you, you accept it?"

"Ah."

"Is it because that girl is very cute?"

Li Younan said in a serious tone, "Isn't that the most important reason?"

Li Younan looked into the distance, a gentle breeze blowing through his hair: "Boys don't need a lot of complicated reasons to like a girl, cuteness is enough."

Liu Li shook her head and said, "That's for you boys. For girls, there are many more reasons: they need to be sunny, attentive, considerate, gentle, and brave..."

Her eyes became somewhat hazy. As she described the image in her mind, it became increasingly blurry. But then, when she looked at Li Younan, the image suddenly became clear.

Li Younan bluntly poured cold water on the idea, saying, "They're all unrealistic fantasies."

“Who said it’s unrealistic? There must be such people.” Liu Li retorted with a frown.

Li Younan smiled and said, "You've never been in a relationship, how would you know?"

However, after saying this, Liu Li fell silent.

Li Younan's heart skipped a beat, realizing that she had said the wrong thing.

That's true. This girl has been isolating herself since junior high school, so it's a bit much to say something like that.

Ugh, this is really a headache. I was so careful the whole way, but I made a mistake on such a small thing.

Fortunately, Li Younan always had a way of coaxing these young girls. Just as he was about to say something, Liu Li suddenly raised her head again: "What does it feel like to be in love?" "Uh, well..." Li Younan was stunned for a moment, then said after a pause, "It's hard to describe in words. You'd better experience it for yourself."

Liu Li stood up silently. Only then did she realize that she had been outside for so long, and the fear of the open space seemed to be fading away.

But Li Younan's words kept echoing in her ears, making her face flush.

She quickly turned around, opened the door to the living area, and said, "Experiencing it firsthand isn't that easy, I don't even have a boyfriend."

After saying that, he jumped into the car with a "snap".

……

After setting off again, the itinerary became more packed.

A few days later, Li Younan drove to Litang and Daocheng Yading Village in succession, then returned to Litang, and continued from Litang towards Batang and Mangkang.

There were naturally many scenic spots along the way, such as Maoya Grassland, Haizi Mountain Ancient Ice Cap, Daocheng Yading, etc., which I saw in a whirlwind tour.

The journey wasn't always smooth, especially the section from Litang to Daocheng, which was unpaved. They encountered several cars that had broken down along the way, and Li Younan got out of the car to help them repair them.

During the trip, there was also a young lady traveling in a campervan who had some difficulty even changing a tire.

Li Younan, a kind-hearted person, earnestly advised the woman to go back after changing her tire.

However, Liu Li objected to the young lady's suggestion.

She earnestly advised, "Everyone has their own choices and must be responsible for them. You are a warm person, but you shouldn't spread that warmth without restraint. That would be exhausting. You're not a saint, and sunshine and warmth are limited."

Li Younan was speechless after hearing this.

Liu Li was completely thinking from his perspective, and this kindness warmed his heart.

However, he didn't regret helping the girl earlier.

She was a pretty girl, only 23 years old, and she dared to drive a campervan to XZ. She was indeed very brave, but also very risky.

When you're young, you're easily blinded by "poetry and distant places," rushing forward without realizing the dangers you might encounter along the way.

It's best to be lucky and not encounter anything bad, but if you do, the consequences are often unbearable.

However, Li Younan didn't voice these thoughts; he just smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, alright."

As for the weather, it has been April since March, but due to the high altitude, we still encounter rain and snow, especially when passing through the Karazi Mountain, which is over 4700 meters above sea level and snows all year round. To be honest, that section of the road is a bit difficult to drive.

However, after all these experiences have passed, they have become a satisfying footnote in my memory.

After officially departing from Litang, we entered the second stage of this 318 journey – the spectacular Tibetan Eastern Canyon.

At this stage, the place Li Younan was most looking forward to was Ranwu Lake, located in Changdu.

Ranwu Lake is very clear in April.

Li Younan had done some research and found that some people online had photographed Ranwu Lake with its water appearing yellowish-brown. That was because the timing was wrong; after June, the water in Ranwu Lake would not be as clear and blue.

When they arrived at Ranwu Lake, it was around mid-April... the most beautiful time of year for Ranwu Lake.

Before arriving at Ranwu Lake, you will pass by attractions such as Bangda Grassland, Nujiang Seventy-Two Bends, and Nujiang Grand Canyon.

Li Younan was so looking forward to Ranwu Lake because he remembered his previous experience in Canada. In comparison, Ranwu Lake is a lake at a higher altitude.

Li Younan's idea was to find a suitable campsite by Ranwu Lake and stay there for about ten days.

He shared this idea with Liu Li, who simply lowered her head and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

However, there is still a long way to go before we reach Ranwu Lake.

……

What resources are most abundant in the eastern part of Sichuan?

Some people would say it's due to water resources, because the terrain here has a great difference in elevation, which naturally generates huge water flow potential energy, so there are many hydroelectric power stations along the way.

But when it comes to tourism, besides the scenery brought by this topography, one particularly attractive resource is geothermal resources.

Batang was the last stop before entering Tibet. Along the way, Li Younan would occasionally drive into some lesser-known off-road routes for a stroll. In some unknown mountain gullies, hot pits and hot spring steam even made the road surface slippery.

Such abundant hot spring resources naturally piqued his interest; if he could find a real hot spring to soak in, it would probably be a very nice experience.

After the vehicle arrived in Batang County, Li Younan drove it to the county seat to replenish supplies.

It is worth mentioning that Batang was the county town that Li Younan liked the most after entering western Sichuan. The county town was very large and the terrain was much more spacious than the previous counties he had stayed in.

The land is truly fertile. Batang County is also known as the hometown of fruits and the hometown of stringed instruments, and it is an important node on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.

Liu Li read some information she had found online to Li Younan, saying, "I heard this place was an important post station on the Ancient Tea Horse Road!"

Historically, places that became post stations were mostly located in areas with convenient transportation and terrain that was easy to build houses, so it is not surprising that Batang County has developed so well.

What surprised Li Younan even more was that, as the last stop in western Sichuan and the first stop on the way to Tibet, this place was already far from the economic circle of eastern Sichuan. However, when passing through the city's business district, he saw a row of young women from foot massage parlors dancing and promoting their services along the street. They all had pretty good figures and looks.

Li Younan's gaze was drawn to it, and then he heard Liu Li say with a grin, "Do you want a massage?"

Li Younan withdrew his gaze and said quite frankly, "After driving for so long, I really wanted to press it."

These words were naturally spoken casually, following Liu Li's lead, to steer the conversation towards his desire for a massage, so as not to be misunderstood by Liu Li as someone looking at young women... thus affecting his upright and noble image.

Liu Li said thoughtfully, "There are many tourists on the 318 highway. These technicians must all be from out of town, right?"

Li Younan nodded: "Indeed, he looks rather fair-skinned, unlike a local."

Liu Li stared at the young ladies in cheongsams, remaining silent for a long time.

After replenishing his supplies, Li Younan recharged his car at a charging station in the county town and filled up his tank before slowly driving out of the city.

The car stopped at an open space on the outskirts of the city. It was already quite late, so Li Younan decided not to continue. He planned to explore the area again tomorrow to see if he could find a real hot spring.

During this time, Liu Li has been able to stay outside with him for a long time, and even when they go to the county town, she can go shopping with him in the supermarket. However, throughout the process, Liu Li's hands will involuntarily hold tightly to the hem of his clothes, never letting go for a moment.

But this is already a huge step forward. I believe that after officially joining XZ, Liu Li may be able to completely overcome her psychological barriers.

During this process, Liu Li naturally bragged about it to her brother.

In the supermarket, Liu Li held Li Younan's wrist with one hand and made a video call to her brother with the other. They didn't talk for long; she just showed her brother her achievements.

Later, Liu Li's brother sent Li Younan a string of ellipses, then a string of question marks, and finally a string of exclamation marks, which puzzled Li Younan for quite a while.

Has this guy forgotten how to type?
After the RV was parked and everyone settled in, Li Younan cut the fresh yak meat he had just bought in the county town into small pieces, put them into small plastic bags, sealed them, and then froze them in the refrigerator.

One advantage of this is that you don't need to thaw whole pieces before eating; you only need to thaw the amount you want to eat.

After finishing all that, Li Younan was also a little sleepy.

During this period, Liu Li played Zelda every day. When she encountered a boss that she couldn't beat, such as a Centaur, she would pester Li Younan for help.

When Li Younan finished all his work today, Liu Li didn't play games. The sofa bed was already assembled, and she sat in a corner, holding a tablet and scrolling through something.

Li Younan sat down next to him and asked curiously, "Aren't you going to play games today?"

Liu Li glanced at Li Younan, and Li Younan couldn't understand what she meant for a moment.

Then Liu Li said, "No games today, Li Younan, you... lie down."

Li Younan frowned: "What?"

"Don't worry about that, just lie down first."

Li Younan was a little confused, assuming that Liu Li was up to some prank again.

During this period, she often did similar things, such as, "Li Younan, can you put your hands together behind your back?"

"Li Younan, can your legs touch your back?"

And so on.

Today might be similar again, so Li Younan didn't think much of it and lay down.

However, as soon as he lay down, two hands grabbed his shoulders and gently squeezed them.

Li Younan's eyes widened, and for a moment he felt as if he had been electrocuted.

To be honest, in all my years, no girl has ever done anything like that to him.

Li Younan turned around and looked at Liu Li in surprise.

With a serious expression radiating positive energy, she said, "Didn't you say you wanted a massage? I think you really need one. You're the driver, and you've been driving for so long, you must be really tired... So, don't thank me!"

As she said this, Liu Li still wore a shy smile, and a hint of... thoughtfulness that Li Younan could sense.

Li Younan blinked but remained silent.

The days of driving had indeed made his back and shoulders slightly sore. Although this level of fatigue could be completely relieved by a good night's sleep, he was still mentally exhausted.

Liu Li was very careful. Her hands moved down Li Younan's shoulders one by one, then turned into small fists and gently rubbed his back, trying to loosen the muscle fibers in his back.

This is something she just learned from a video.

For Li Younan, the pressure was a bit weak; the massage on his back was more of a tingling, itchy sensation.

However, psychological comfort far outweighs physical comfort.

Li Younan remained silent, letting Liu Li knead and flatten his back.

Later on, he even hummed softly in pleasure.

After massaging for a while, Liu Li gently wiped the sweat from her forehead and asked, "Are you feeling any better?"

Li Younan was deeply moved. Liu Li started massaging him from his shoulders all the way down to his waist, and he was already quite tired.

Li Younan stood up and took off his t-shirt: "Since we've gone all the way, give me a back massage too!"

Liu Li stared in disbelief, her face flushing red. Looking at Li Younan's eight-pack abs, she stammered, unable to utter a complete sentence.

The girl then jumped off the sofa bed in a disheveled state and fled in panic, hiding in the bathroom.

Li Younan pinched his abs, looking puzzled.

Uh... something's not right?
(End of this chapter)