<h4>Outskirts of Beijing, Under a Clear Blue Sky</h4>
Sunlight danced upon the lush green leaves, casting flecks of golden light. White clouds leisurely drifted across the azure sky, a gentle breeze bringing a hint of early summer’s coolness. Wildflowers swayed along the roadside, seemingly dancing joyfully for this journey.
A black SUV navigated the winding mountain road, its windows half-open. Amid the rhythm of the music, laughter echoed from within.
“Bro, can you stop singing? You’re so off-key you might as well be in outer space!”
In the front passenger seat, Chong YunRuo covered her ears, feigning agony as laughter sparkled in her crescent-shaped eyes.
“You just don’t appreciate fine art! Your big brother here has a golden voice!”
Chong Yue wore a smug grin as his fingers tapped along with the beat on the steering wheel. Sunlight filtered through the car window, illuminating his handsome face with a bright glow.
From the back seat, Lu WenYuan was already laughing uncontrollably, clutching the headrest. “Yue, stop roasting yourself. You’re way more convincing as a double master in finance and management. But that voice... maybe keep it to the shower concerts.”
“You cheeky brat! Lucky for you I’m in a good mood after graduation, or I’d kick you out of the car!”
Chong Yue mock-scolded him, but his speed didn’t decrease one bit. The scenic outskirts of Beijing unfurled around them, rolling green hills and clear waters stretching endlessly. The air was fragrant with fresh grass and blooming wildflowers.
“Hahaha, no, don’t! I was just looking forward to tasting Yunruo’s cooking on this camping trip!”
Lu Wenyuan turned to Yunruo with exaggerated sincerity. “Yunruo, your brother’s always bragged about your cooking skills back in college. Don’t let me down!”
“Don’t worry, you’ll be begging for more!”
Yunruo’s confident reply was accompanied by a radiant smile.
The SUV drove into a vast meadow, the distant lake shimmering under the sunlight.
“Wow, this is beautiful!”
Yunruo jumped out, spreading her arms wide and taking a deep breath of the fresh air.
“Yue, you really know how to pick a spot. This place is perfect for camping!”
Lu Wenyuan followed, his eyes filled with admiration for the magnificent landscape.
“Of course! I did my homework.”
Chong Yue slung his backpack over his shoulder, flashing a confident smile. “Alright, enough sightseeing. Let’s pitch the tents. We’re spending the night here.”
Under the scorching sun, three tents stood firmly on the verdant grass, gently swaying in the breeze. Yunruo squatted nearby, sorting out cooking utensils, while Lu Wenyuan was busy lighting the fire. Chong Yue, meanwhile, lay leisurely on the grass, hands behind his head, gazing contentedly at the drifting clouds.
“Hey, big bro!”
Yunruo poked him with a twig. “Stop lazing around! We still need more firewood!”
“What? I’m the driver! After a long drive, you still want me to gather wood?”
Chong Yue grumbled, “You two aren’t exactly busy either.”
Lu Wenyuan’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Alright, to be fair, let’s play rock-paper-scissors. Loser collects the firewood.”
“Deal!” Yunruo agreed without hesitation.
The three formed a circle, their fists poised mid-air.
“One, two, three!”
“Haha! Chong Yue, you lost!”
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Yunruo burst into laughter, clapping her hands gleefully. “Off you go! And no slacking!”
“Alright, alright, I’m going!”
Chong Yue stood up, brushing the grass off his clothes. “You two didn’t rig this, did you?”
As he walked deeper into the woods, the light dimmed gradually. With a bag in hand, Chong Yue hummed a tune while picking up dry branches. Dappled sunlight danced through the leaves, the air heavy with the scent of damp earth.
“That’s strange…”
He halted, noticing the surroundings growing darker. Shadows intertwined on the ground, and an eerie atmosphere enveloped him.
“It was just midday… Why does it feel like dusk?”
Looking around, he realized that the deeper parts of the woods were shrouded in darkness. Even the chirping of insects had vanished, leaving behind an unsettling silence.
Ahead, a faint golden light flickered, as if beckoning him.
Frowning, Chong Yue’s curiosity got the better of him, and he moved towards the light.
Pushing through dense bushes, he stumbled upon ancient ruins.
Half-buried in the earth, the remnants of an old structure were overgrown with vines and moss. The stone walls were etched with ancient symbols and patterns.
In the center of the ruins stood a stone pillar radiating a gentle, golden glow. It exuded an inexplicable allure.
“What… is this place?”
Chong Yue’s eyes widened. Unable to resist, he reached out to touch the pillar.
The moment his fingers made contact, golden light burst forth, engulfing everything around him.
An echoing voice, low and distant, reverberated through his mind, as if carried across time and space.
“...Go to Titan''s Peak... The Wheel of Destiny has begun to turn…”
As the light faded, Chong Yue opened his eyes and found himself standing in an unfamiliar land.
“What the hell… Where did I end up???”
He scanned his surroundings, taking in the rolling hills and lush forests. The ground was blanketed in thick moss, soft and springy underfoot. In the distance, a sparkling stream wound its way through the landscape, reflecting the sunlight with a silvery sheen.
“Wenyuan! Yunruo!”
He shouted, but only his echo answered back from the depths of the forest.
Frantically, he pulled out his phone. The screen lit up—
No signal.
“Damn it! Not even a signal.”
He pocketed his phone, frustration etched across his face.
“Where the heck am I? This doesn’t look like the outskirts of Beijing… Could it be…?”
Just when he looking around, Chong Yue recalled the words he’d heard before losing consciousness:
“...Go to Titan''s Peak... The Wheel of Destiny has begun to turn…”
“Titan’s Peak?”
He murmured, his eyes flickering with realization.
“If it’s a ‘peak’… then it must be a mountain.”
Scanning his surroundings, he fixed his gaze on the tallest tree.
“To figure out where I am… I need to get a better view.”
Gripping the thick trunk, he climbed with agility. His movements were swift and practiced, navigating the moss-covered surface with ease.
“Phew... Good thing I practiced martial arts with the neighborhood grandpas,”
Chong Yue sighed in relief, silently grateful for the training as he continued his ascent with renewed determination.
Finally reaching the top, he broke through the canopy, his eyes widening at the breathtaking view.
In the distance, a majestic mountain towered into the sky, its peaks shrouded in mist. Bathed in sunlight, the summit glowed with a mystical blue hue, surrounded by a halo of rainbow light.
“Titan’s Peak…”
Chong Yue held his breath, his gaze fixed on the towering mountain in the distance. His heartbeat quickened, as if an invisible force was calling out to him.
His eyes were locked onto the distant Titan''s Peak, and the echo of the voice he had heard earlier resounded in his mind:
“...Go to Titan''s Peak... The Wheel of Destiny has begun to turn…”
“So, this is the clue…”
“No phone signal here… That means either I’m in some remote corner of the world… or I’ve been transported somewhere far beyond.”
“No matter what… my only clue right now is that mountain.”
He narrowed his eyes, deep in thought for a moment.
“Looks like… the only way forward is to follow this lead.”
Climbing down from the tree, his feet landed on the soft moss below, but his heart felt as heavy as a mountain.
His gaze drifted towards the Titan’s Peak piercing the sky, his expression a mixture of anxiety and resolve.
“Yunruo…”
He murmured under his breath.
In his mind’s eye, he saw Yunruo anxiously searching for him, perhaps even trapped in this place alongside him.
His fists tightened unconsciously.
“No. Now’s not the time to lose my head.”
Taking a deep breath, Chong Yue forced himself to stay calm. He adjusted the bag he had filled with firewood and steeled himself for the journey ahead.
His eyes locked onto the distant mountain that seemed to touch the heavens, a spark of determination igniting within.
With one last look at the forest behind him, Chong Yue took his first step towards Titan’s Peak