Ignoring Shirley’s question, Xu Lang lit himself a cigarette and headed towards the outside. Lao Hu and Fatty followed immediately.
Simply put, the purpose of this trip to the Great Rift Valley of the Kunlun Mountains was to find an explorer’s diary belonging to a man named Huat. It was said that the diary contained clues about the ancient city of Jingjue.
To reach Jingjue, the diary must be found.
Lao Hu eventually decided to take a look at the Kunlun Mountains, to see where his comrades died all those years ago. This was a knot he had kept hidden in his heart for years, and Fatty naturally agreed to go with him.
The train traveled for three days, and after several transfers, everyone finally arrived at the Kunlun Glacier.
The local garrison had already received orders and prepared everything, welcoming the arrival of the archaeological team. They also dispatched three soldiers to join the expedition, two combat personnel, Da Ge Zi and Ga Wa, and a technical soldier.
Upon reaching the Kunlun Glacier, Lao Hu naturally felt heavy-hearted.
This was a place that held a pain he could never erase. Several of his comrades had died from the fire bugs, and others had been buried deep in the snow, their bodies never recovered.
But Lao Hu was tough. He had experienced more than most could comprehend, and his ability to adjust was extraordinary.
Perhaps coming back to the Kunlun Glacier would help him let go of the psychological shadow he carried from those days. This was something he had to deal with himself, nobody could help him. Lao Hu understood the logic, but whether he could actually do it was another matter.
A gust of cold wind swept past, jolting everyone awake. They tightened their clothes.
With his cultivation improving, the environment, unless extremely hostile, no longer had much effect on Xu Lang. The temperature of the Kunlun Glacier was very low, but he was still wearing relatively thin clothes.
Since it didn’t affect him much anyway, wearing too many layers would hinder his movements, so Xu Lang, with a sharp sword strapped to his back, walked alongside the group.
Ye Yi Xin walked beside Xu Lang, asking, “Xu Da Ge, aren’t you cold? Don’t you need to wear more?”
Xu Lang smiled and shook his head, scanning the surroundings, wary of any sudden appearance of fire bugs. It was always better to be cautious.
After walking for about three hours, Xu Lang noticed everyone’s fatigue and said, “Let’s stop and rest for a while. Have some wine to warm yourselves, but don’t drink too much. It’s easy to have accidents here.”
Xu Lang was familiar with the Kunlun Glacier environment, but this was his first time here. The surroundings were a vast expanse of white, covered in snow, a beautiful winter wonderland. But he knew that beneath this beauty often lay deadly danger.
The wind and snow were relentless, the wind piercing, and the terrain was high, making altitude sickness a real possibility.
The physical condition of these intellectuals was already starting to show. They were panting, their breath forming wisps of white mist, almost like cigarette smoke.
Chu Jian, however, was a skilled climber, and he seemed to be holding up well.
While everyone rested, Xu Lang said, “Lao Hu, don’t think too much. We still need these old, weak, sick, and disabled people. Take good care of your comrades’ families, that’s how you repay them. You can’t always live in the past. Believe me, those who died wouldn’t want to see you like this.”
Lao Hu managed a weak smile, saying, “I understand, but I can’t get over it. I feel like I let them down. After all these years, coming back here, it’s like nothing’s changed, yet everything’s changed.”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine. Seeing you, kid, actually makes me pretty happy.”
“It’s hard to believe that the little brat back then has grown up so much. It makes me feel like an old father raising his son.”
Hearing Lao Hu’s words, Xu Lang’s face immediately darkened. “Go to hell! You and that fat slob are the same, always trying to take advantage and act like a dad.”
Lao Hu laughed and urged everyone to get back on the road.
After walking for another half an hour, Lao Hu suddenly stopped, bending down to pick up a badge from the snow. It was engraved with the words “Serve the People,” and his eyes welled up. He clutched the badge tightly in his hand, a relic from his fallen comrade.
After all these years of wind and snow, for this to be found, Lao Hu’s luck must have been incredible.
Xu Lang patted Lao Hu on the shoulder and said, “Don’t think too much, keep going.”
Lao Hu said, “I’m really okay now. For all these years, I couldn’t let go of this place, and I was afraid to come back. Now, being back here, I feel a sense of peace.”
Lao Hu smiled and carefully placed the red badge in his chest pocket.
After another hour of walking, everyone finally reached a giant crack, the Great Rift Valley they were searching for.
Lao Hu said, “Men, get to work setting up camp. Prepare your ice axes and gear. Professor Chen and Xiao Ye will stay here. Remember, make sure the ropes are securely anchored and tied. Choose the anchoring points carefully. Fatty, go and help.”
The reason for having Fatty go and help was mainly to double-check. If something went wrong, the consequences would be unimaginable.
As Lao Hu arranged the group's actions, Xu Lang went to the edge of the Great Rift Valley, briefly using his divine sense to scan the area. He then nodded slightly to Lao Hu, signaling that it was safe down there.
At this moment, Fatty reached the edge of the Great Rift Valley, peering down with extreme caution. Xu Lang almost burst out laughing. This was such a contrast to the fearless Fatty he knew. All these years later, he still had a fear of heights. It was so similar to ten years ago.
Xu Lang chuckled, “Fatty, if you’re scared, stay up here. Lao Hu and I can go down together, no problem. Lao Hu asked you to help, why did you come down yourself?”
Fatty forced a smile, stubbornly retorting, “Bull! Fatty is fearless. We have to go down together. I already checked everything. I just came down to see what’s happening here.”
After ten minutes, everything was ready, and everyone began to descend.
Ye Yi Xin stayed at the camp. Besides her and the technical soldier, everyone else insisted on going down to explore.
Xu Lang watched them begin to rappel, then came to the camp, warning, “Xiao Ye, be careful up here. If you encounter snow wolves, shoot if you have to. Your safety is the priority. If it’s really bad, come down and find us.”
Ye Yi Xin smiled sweetly, saying, “I know, Xu Da Ge, be careful.”
Standing on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, Xu Lang watched Fatty’s cautious movements, and couldn't help but grin. Then, gripping a rope, he leaped down, lightly touching the ice wall every few meters. With a few movements, he reached the bottom.
Everyone was stunned. His skills were too good. This was their first time seeing Xu Lang in action.
However, this was nothing to be shocked about. The former Mover of Mountains could easily do this, it was nothing special.
After reaching the bottom, Xu Lang looked at a corpse not far away, and at Shirley Yang’s pistol. He then waved for everyone to move forward.
Xu Lang had already found the corpse before, and knew that it wasn’t killed by the Dap Ghost Insects, so he hadn't mentioned it before.
Lao Hu said, “The gun was found on the body. It’s said to belong to one of her father’s expedition team members. We shouldn’t be too far off. Looking at this girl’s skills, she must have received professional training. Her way of handling a gun is that of an expert.”
Xu Lang nodded in agreement. As the granddaughter of the Mover of Mountains, Partridge Whistle, it would be strange if Shirley Yang’s skills weren’t good. It was only natural that she knew how to use a gun.