Chapter 57: Depart: Route 318
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The previous evening, they had indulged in a fair amount of alcohol. Xiao Feng, in particular, got tipsy – his tolerance wasn’t quite on par with Zhou Chao and Lin Wu. Eventually, Lin Wu took charge of accompanying Xiao Feng back, while Zhou Chao strolled leisurely homeward with Jiang Li, treading the path together.
The two of them walked hand in hand along the quiet streets, conversing endlessly. Unbeknownst to them, they had arrived at the entrance of the community where Jiang Li lived. Zhou Chao looked at Jiang Li, who was about to enter the community.
With determination, he pulled Jiang Li back, lowered his head, and passionately kissed her sensual lips. Jiang Li was taken by surprise at Zhou Chao’s sudden attack, but she quickly regained her composure and began to respond to Zhou Chao’s advances. Unconsciously, her hands found their way around Zhou Chao’s neck.
“Ah!” Zhou Chao let out a startled cry and released Jiang Li. His lips were now slightly bleeding, and traces of fresh blood were also on Jiang Li’s lips.
“Hmph, if I find out you’re fooling around with other young ladies, I’ll have you…,” Jiang Li warned, making a scissor-like gesture with her fingers, then turned and ran into the community.
Zhou Chao wiped the blood from his lips. “Jiang Li, you’re mine in this lifetime. You can’t escape from me.”
Back at the hotel, Zhou Chao saw Lin Wu lying on the sofa. As soon as Lin Wu saw Zhou Chao open the door, he quickly stood up.
“Boss, I’ve safely sent Brother Feng back. I only left after he was in bed.”
“Yeah, thanks for that. Get some rest, and we’ll set off early tomorrow morning.”
“Alright, you should get some rest too.” Being a former special forces soldier, Lin Wu still had good observation skills. As soon as he entered the room, he noticed the faint traces of blood on Zhou Chao’s lips and figured out what had happened.
A night passed without words.
Of course, the one who spent the night without words was Lin Wu. Zhou Chao and Jiang Li, on the other hand, seemed to have endless topics to talk about. Later, when Zhou Chao saw Jiang Li’s sleepy appearance, he finally ended their emotional exchange.
The next day, Lin Wu got everything prepared. It was almost 10 o’clock when Zhou Chao finished washing up and came out of his room. After packing their belongings, Lin Wu started the car and set off.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhou Chao took out his phone and hesitated for a moment before sending messages to Xiao Feng and Jiang Li, informing them of his departure. Soon, he received replies. Xiao Feng’s message was a reminder to stay safe, while Jiang Li’s was concise, with just four words: “I’ll wait for you.”
As Zhou Chao read Jiang Li’s message, a happy smile appeared on his face.
This time, Zhou Chao was heading to Route 318, taking the southern route. The starting point was his current location, Rain City. Route 318 South runs along the 30th parallel north. Though human-made, the landscape along this route was truly awe-inspiring, both naturally beautiful and rich in human culture. Therefore, Route 318 was also known as the “Scenic Avenue for the Chinese”. The scenery along the way was incredibly picturesque, a place Zhou Chao had always yearned to visit.
Plains, high mountains, gorges, rivers, grasslands, glaciers, forests, wildflowers, lakes, snowy mountains, and hot springs — a diverse array of landscapes unfolded, each scene more stunning than the last.
They would cross over more than 10 mountains exceeding 4000 meters in altitude, and traverse the Jinsha River, Nu River, and Lancang River, dancing between earth and clouds. As they say, beauty and danger coexist. The varying styles of dwellings, attire, ethnic customs, languages, and even symbols of belief immersed people in a rich and vibrant corridor of cultures.
In less than half an hour, they traveled from Lushan County to the starting point of Route 318 in Rain City. Rain City in late October was exceptionally beautiful, as the trees were adorned with golden leaves, creating an incredibly pleasant atmosphere. The gentle breeze brushing against their faces felt like delicate hands caressing their cheeks.
Zhou Chao’s plan for the day was to reach Kangding. Starting from Rain City, they would pass through Tianquan, Luding, and finally Kangding. When passing through Luding, they could visit Luding Bridge. Glancing at the time, it was nearly 11 o’clock, the perfect time to stop at Tianquan for lunch.
They headed straight onto the highway from Rain City. Their first stop was the Panda-themed cultural service area located at the Tianquan service area. This area resembled a small mall offering dining, entertainment, shopping, and more. It was a suitable place for lunch and some shopping.
Originally, they planned to spend the night in Kangding and tackle the Zhe Duo Mountain the next day. However, when Zhou Chao and Lin Wu were at Luding Bridge, they overheard nearby tourists talking about visiting the Mosika Ancient Town and the Hot Springs of Hailuogou. At the mention of hot springs, Zhou Chao’s interest was piqued. Consequently, the two of them changed their plan and headed to Hailuogou from Luding.
Hailuogou Hot Springs was located at the Gonga Holy Spring site, between Camp 2 and Camp 1 of Hailuogou Glacier Park, right at the foot of the Gongga Snow Mountain. Numerous hot spring hotels were scattered around this area. Zhou Chao chose the largest hot spring hotel to stay in, where they could enjoy indoor hot spring baths. Submerging himself in the pool, Zhou Chao felt all the fatigue of the day melt away.
Observing the time, it was already 7 in the evening. Zhou Chao sent a photo of himself in the hot spring to Jiang Li. Before long, he received a fiery emoji from Jiang Li in response. Amused, Zhou Chao couldn’t help but laugh, remembering the last time Jiang Li accidentally sent him a picture of herself in a white swimsuit. Although she retracted the message afterward, Zhou Chao’s memory was vivid.
With a mischievous smile, Zhou Chao sent a voice message, “Little fairy, next time i’ll take you to the hot springs. You should wear the same white swimsuit as last time.”
With her right hand brushing through her hair and her left hand holding the phone, Jiang Li emerged from the bathroom. As she read Zhou Chao’s message, she suddenly realized that this rascal saw the swimsuit picture she sent last time, even though he lied about not seeing it. Her face turned red in an instant.
Jiang Li sent back an emoji that gesture him to “dream on” while gritting her teeth, but against her better judgment, she clicked on her own photo, selected one that showcased her figure more prominently, and sent it to Zhou Chao. After a couple of seconds, she retracted the message, then laid on her bed with a mischievous smile and playfully punched the stuffed bear nearby. “Hmph, I’ll make you regret this.”
Switching back to Zhou Chao’s side, the joy that was there a moment ago had now deflated. He was sprawled by the edge of the hot spring pool, looking at the retracted message from Jiang Li. He expected Jiang Li to scold him, but instead, she sent a more revealing picture. Unfortunately, he wasn’t given enough time to fully appreciate it before it was retracted. Zhou Chao regretted not saving it.
Zhou Chao soaked in the hot spring pool for over an hour, feeling his whole body turn limp. Eventually, he emerged from the pool and lay on a nearby lounge chair, covered with a small blanket. Even though it wasn’t winter yet, the temperature here was slightly colder than other places, as it was situated at the foot of Gongga Snow Mountain.
Early the next morning, Zhou Chao took Lin Wu to explore the Mosika Ancient Town, savoring distinctive local cuisine. Then, they set off once again. Upon reaching Kangding, they made a brief stop. They were about to ascend the first peak of Route 318, Zhe Duo Mountain. To prepare for possible altitude sickness, they bought oxygen cylinders and medications for altitude sickness.
Zhe Duo Mountain was known as the first barrier of Kangba, with its highest peak reaching over 4,900 meters in elevation, while the mountain pass was about 4,200 meters high. There’s an elevation difference of about 1,800 meters between Kangding and Zhe Duo Mountain. The road there was a winding mountain pass, causing many people to experience altitude sickness due to the high elevation..