Rebirth 03: Starting a Business After Giving Up a Secure Job

Chapter 144 Hot spring bath under the snow-capped mountains

Lin Feng, holding Lin Xiaowen's hand, stood at the end of the boardwalk, where their view suddenly opened up.

A huge icefall hangs between two snow-capped peaks, as wide as a frozen river, cascading down from a height of several hundred meters.

The ice covered the entire mountain wall; the ice was grayish-white with a hint of blue, and it stretched as far as the eye could see.

At the bottom of the icefall, meltwater converges into several streams that meander across the black sand and gravel, making a gurgling sound.

The wind blowing from the direction of the glacier carried a biting chill.

Lin Xiaowen shivered, and Lin Feng helped her tighten her scarf.

The scene before them was incredibly magnificent, and the two stopped to take pictures in front of the icefall.

Lin Feng raised the camera and adjusted the focus.

In the shot, a vast white icefall occupies most of the frame, while in the lower left corner, Lin Xiaowen, wearing a blue windbreaker and a red scarf, is looking up at the waterfall.

Her figure appeared exceptionally slender against the backdrop of the massive icefall, like a small tree standing tall in the snow.

The shutter clicked.

Lin Xiaowen turned her head, saw the camera, and immediately smiled. She raised her hand to tidy the stray hairs that had been blown against her cheek by the wind, turned slightly to the side, and made a peace sign gesture.

Lin Feng quickly snapped a few more photos.

"Brother Feng, come over here, I'll film with you."

Lin Feng handed her the camera and gave her some simple instructions on focusing and shutter speed.

Lin Feng stood before the icefall, mimicking a flying motion; the lines of his profile were clearly defined in the light reflected from the ice and snow. Lin Xiaowen gently pressed the shutter.

"Alright!" She looked down at the result and nodded in satisfaction. "It looks great."

The boardwalk stretched forward along the edge of the glacier. The two walked hand in hand, the wooden planks under their feet making a slight crunching sound on the snow.

The icefall presents different appearances from different angles.

In some areas, the ice is as clear as glass, and you can clearly see the layers of blue patterns inside, which are traces of millions of years of snow accumulation.

In some places, massive ice formations collapsed and fractured, piling up into jagged ice towers with bottomless crevasses that glow with a dark blue light.

"Look over there!" Lin Xiaowen pointed to a spot below the icefall.

There, meltwater eroded a hole in the ice beneath the ice, and a row of icicles of varying lengths hung from the entrance.

Sunlight streamed obliquely into the cave, casting a dreamlike, icy blue hue.

"Can we go in and take a look?"

Lin Feng observed for a moment. The entrance to the ice cave was not sealed off, there were traces of tourists walking on the ground, and the structure of the cave entrance seemed to be relatively stable.

"Stay close to me and watch your step."

He was the first to walk down the boardwalk, step onto the somewhat slippery ice, and after regaining his footing, he turned around and reached out his hand to Lin Xiaowen.

Lin Xiaowen offered her hand, and Lin Feng firmly grasped it. The two carefully entered the ice cave.

The ice cave is small, and can only accommodate five people inside.

But as soon as you step inside, the sounds from the outside world suddenly diminish, leaving only the clear sound of dripping water, drip, drip, drip—

Sunlight refracted through the cave entrance, illuminating the entire space in a deep, icy blue, as if one were inside a giant sapphire.

The icicles hanging overhead were of varying lengths, with tiny water droplets condensing at their tips.

"So beautiful—" Lin Xiaowen released Lin Feng's hand and tentatively reached out her finger to gently touch the ice wall beside her.

Cold, hard, and smooth. She exhaled, and the white mist clung to the ice wall, quickly condensing into a layer of frost.

Lin Feng stood half a step behind her, watching her profile. Bathed in the soft blue light of the ice wall, her features appeared gentle, and her focused expression as she observed the ice wall's texture carried an untainted purity.

Lin Feng raised his camera and snapped a few more photos of her.

"Doesn't it feel like walking into crystal?" She turned around, her eyes shining brightly against the icy blue background.

"Yes, it does." Lin Feng nodded.

They stayed in the ice cave for a while until another young couple came in, making the space crowded, before they left.

Back on the boardwalk, the sunlight enveloped my body again, bringing a touch of warmth.

Lin Xiaowen rubbed her slightly frozen hands, her face still flushed with excitement.

As you venture deeper, the massive icefalls gradually recede into the distance, revealing the relatively gentle tongue of the glacier ahead.

The glacier surface is covered with black rock debris, and meltwater has etched crisscrossing grooves into the ice, which then converge into streams.

Further away, the terminus of the glacier meets the dark green primeval forest, the front line where life confronts the harsh cold.

Lin Xiaowen squatted down beside an icy stream, gazing at the clear water. "This water—is it really drinkable?"

"Don't drink it! Glacial meltwater is very cold! And it may contain a lot of ancient bacteria," Lin Feng immediately warned.

Lin Xiaowen had already squatted down, ready to scoop up a handful of water to drink. But after hearing Lin Feng's words, she gave up the idea of ​​drinking ice water.

It was nearly noon when the two found a flat, large rock to rest on. Lin Feng took out a cloth bag that his mother had prepared from his backpack.

Boiled eggs, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables, eaten with hot water from a thermos, made for an exceptionally delicious and satisfying meal in this icy and snowy landscape.

Lin Xiaowen took small bites of the egg, her gaze sometimes drifting towards the distant glacier, and sometimes landing on Lin Feng beside her.

Although Lin Xiaowen's home is very close to Hailuogou, she has never been to the scenic area since she was a child.

In the vastness of nature, the troubles of the mundane world seem insignificant. Perhaps this is the power of nature.

After lunch, we cleaned up and continued climbing. As the altitude increased, the air became thinner and the wind grew increasingly fierce.

Lin Xiaowen's breathing became a little rapid, and her cheeks and the tip of her nose turned even redder from the cold.

Lin Feng handed her the thermos. She held it with both hands and sipped slowly. After a few sips, she handed the thermos back: "You should drink some too, it'll warm you up."

They walked all the way up to a viewing platform built on the edge of a cliff above the glacier.

The wind here is so strong that it's almost impossible to stand, but the visibility is excellent.

Looking back at the path we came from, the winding boardwalk, the panoramic view of the huge icefall, and the continuous snow-capped peaks in the distance are all visible under the sunlight, a scene of silver-clad beauty, solemn and sacred.

"It's magnificent," Lin Xiaowen exclaimed sincerely, leaning on the railing.

The two lingered for a long time, taking another set of photos, until the chill seeped into their clothes, before finally returning along the same route.

Going downhill puts more strain on the knees, and after walking for a while, Lin Xiaowen's pace noticeably slowed down.

"Are your legs sore?"

"Yeah, a little." She smiled sheepishly.

"Take a break." Lin Feng looked around and pointed to a flat stone by the roadside.

Sit down to rest. Lin Feng took out two chocolates from the side pocket of his backpack, tore open the wrapper, and handed one over.

Lin Xiaowen took it, took small bites, and replenished her energy.

"Here you go." She handed the remaining half to Lin Feng.

"You can have some; there's more in the bag."

"Half for each of us." She stubbornly stretched out her hand.

Lin Feng lowered his head and took a bite of the half-chocolate from her hand. His lips touched her fingertips. Lin Xiaowen didn't flinch, but her face flushed slightly.

Lin Feng chewed with an unperturbed expression, casting the light towards the gleaming snow-capped peaks in the distance.

After resting for about 15 minutes, the soreness in my legs and feet was relieved considerably.

As the temperature continued to fall, the surrounding temperature seemed to rise by a degree or two.

"There are hot springs there!" Lin Xiaowen's eyes lit up.

Lin Feng glanced at the scenic area map: "There's an open-air hot spring pool up ahead, let's go soak and relax."

After walking for about twenty minutes, we passed a patch of rhododendron bushes, and the scenery suddenly changed.

On the hillside, natural hot spring pools of all sizes are built according to the terrain and constructed of stone blocks. Hot spring water gushes out, and the hot air condenses into large white mists that swirl above the surface of the pools.

Unmelted snow still clung to the edge of the pool, while in the distance, a massive glacier stood silently. The fiery geothermal spring and the ancient, frigid ice created a wondrous and breathtaking contrast here.

The two bought new swimsuits at the hot spring ticket office, and Lin Feng picked out a dark blue one-piece swimsuit for Lin Xiaowen.

Lin Feng quickly changed into his swimming trunks and came out. A moment later, Lin Xiaowen also came out. She was wrapped tightly in a bath towel, only her slender calves were exposed.

The two walked to an open-air hot spring pool. Lin Xiaowen untied her towel, and her one-piece swimsuit perfectly accentuated her tall, slender, and curvaceous figure.

Lin Feng stared in a daze, the combination of snow-capped mountains, hot springs, and beautiful women was breathtaking.

Lin Xiaowen blushed quickly, as it was the first time she had been stared at like that by a man.

"Brother Feng, what are you looking at?"

"I'm enjoying the beautiful scenery!" Lin Feng reached out to test the water temperature, then quickly sat down in the water.

Lin Xiaowen sat down beside him, and the warm spring water instantly reached her shoulders. Lin Xiaowen gently exhaled and relaxed completely.

The pool water was crystal clear, and you could see the smooth pebbles at the bottom.

The water temperature was just right, neither too cold nor too hot. The heat penetrated through every pore, dispelling the chill that had accumulated in the bones.

The sound of bubbling hot spring water fills the air, your body is enveloped in warmth, and you are surrounded by snow-capped peaks and forests. This unique experience makes you feel as if your mind is clear.

"So comfortable—" Lin Xiaowen leaned back and closed her eyes.

The rising steam blurred her features, revealing only a few strands of wet black hair clinging to her forehead and neck, and her cheeks flushed.

After soaking for about twenty minutes, the two of them sweated slightly, and the fatigue of the day seemed to be expelled with the sweat.

Lin Xiaowen opened her eyes, brushed aside the wet hair clinging to her cheeks, and looked at Lin Feng.

"Brother Feng, I've only ever seen hot springs on TV before, and I've never actually soaked in one myself. Today, I finally got to experience soaking in a hot spring at the foot of a glacier."

"How are you feeling?"

"It's so comfortable!"

Lin Feng looked at Lin Xiaowen beside him. Her face was rosy, her skin was fair, and her figure was alluring.

Lin Feng reacted unconsciously.

The two soaked for a while longer, then felt a little tired and got up.

Take a shower and change into dry, warm clothes.

The sun was setting in the west, and dusk was approaching.

The number of tourists in the scenic area had decreased significantly. As they walked along the road toward the parking lot, they came across a relatively open slope where a group of people had gathered and a bonfire was burning.

"Looks like there's an event?" Lin Xiaowen looked around curiously.

As we approached, we saw a bonfire party organized by the scenic area. Several young Tibetan men and women dressed in brightly colored ethnic costumes were dancing around the bonfire with lively rhythms.

Their movements were bold and unrestrained, their singing loud and melodious, and their faces beamed with smiles as bright as the highland sunshine. Many tourists were infected by the atmosphere and joined in the dancing. Although their movements were clumsy, everyone was all smiles.

The flickering firelight illuminated excited faces and dispelled the chill of the mountains.

The drums beat loudly, the strings played melodiously, and the joyful singing echoed through the valley.

"Want to give it a try?" Lin Feng asked.

Lin Xiaowen's eyes lit up for a moment, then she hesitated, "I—I can't dance."

"Follow along, the steps are simple." Lin Feng took her hand and led her to the outer edge of the crowd.

The Tibetan girl leading the dance waved enthusiastically to them, signaling them to join the circle.

Lin Xiaowen was a little reserved at first, her hands and feet were a bit stiff, but she was quickly infected by the warm and cheerful atmosphere around her. She watched the steps of the people in front of her and imitated their steps, sleeve flicks, and spins.

She learned quickly, and although her pronunciation wasn't perfect, it had a graceful and charming quality, and a bright and radiant smile bloomed on her face.

Lin Feng stayed by her side, protecting her from being bumped by others, and occasionally gently guiding her when she turned in the wrong direction.

The flickering light of the campfire reflected on her smile, making it incredibly vivid. Her ponytail flew with her movements, and tiny beads of sweat glistened on her forehead in the firelight.

After the song ended and a short rest was taken, the drums and strings started again, and the crowd began to dance once more.

Lin Xiaowen's cheeks were flushed from jumping, and she was slightly out of breath, but her eyes shone brighter than the campfire. She tugged at Lin Feng's sleeve, her smile radiant: "Brother Feng, I'm so happy!"

"Yes, I'm happy." Lin Feng smiled too. This kind of vibrant joy is indeed contagious.

They danced two more songs until Lin Xiaowen's forehead was covered in sweat, and she smiled and waved her hand, saying she couldn't dance anymore. Only then did the two of them leave the dance circle and stand on the outside to watch.

The campfire crackled, and sparks occasionally leaped into the darkening night sky, echoing the newly revealed stars. The singing and dancing continued, the enthusiasm seemingly never waning.

"Are you hungry?" Lin Feng asked. They had eaten a simple lunch and had been active for so long, so their stomachs were indeed empty.

"I'm a little hungry." Lin Xiaowen nodded honestly and rubbed her stomach.

There are food stalls set up by local villagers near the exit of the scenic area.

They bought two servings of roasted potatoes, sprinkled with chili powder and cumin, and two cups of piping hot yak butter tea, which they ate while they were still hot.

The aroma of roasted potatoes is irresistible, and the savory butter tea is warming and comforting—a truly delicious treat on this chilly evening.

Lin Xiaowen choked on a bit of chili powder and coughed lightly. Lin Feng handed her his butter tea, which she took and drank a big gulp to catch her breath. A few tears welled up in her eyes, but she was still smiling.

After eating and drinking my fill, I felt warm all over.

The last rays of sunset disappeared behind the snow-capped mountains, and night fell completely.

Most of the tourists had left, and the campfire was gradually dying down. The two walked slowly along the boardwalk toward the parking lot.

The red lanterns along the roadside lit up, the daytime hustle and bustle faded away, and the mountains and forests returned to silence, with only the sound of their footsteps and the faint sound of flowing water.

As they approached the parking lot, Lin Xiaowen gently tugged at Lin Feng's sleeve and pointed to a small side road extending from the main road.

At the end of the path was a viewing platform, which was now deserted.

"Shall we go there and take a look?" Her eyes reflected the warm light of the lanterns, filled with anticipation.

There is an unobstructed view from there, allowing you to look down at the scattered lights in the valley below and gaze up at the boundless night sky.

"it is good."

The two stepped onto the platform. Here, far from the main road, the lighting was even dimmer, while the starry sky above seemed even more dazzling.

The Milky Way stretches across the sky like a hazy ribbon of light, with countless stars scattered densely, their light and shadow intermingling and twinkling erratically.

The massive Gongga Snow Mountain presents another beautiful scene under the starry sky.

A mountain wind blew in from the direction of the glacier, carrying a biting chill. Lin Xiaowen subconsciously shrank her shoulders and moved closer to Lin Feng.

Lin Feng reached out and pulled her into his arms, gazing up at the starry sky.