After leaving Lizhou, Wang Xiuxiu and her group had only traveled for half a day when they began climbing the snow-capped mountains.
In the dead of winter, the Northern Mountains lie here like a majestic white dragon.
Looking into the distance, there was no one around, only the boundless forest in sight.
These layers upon layers of mountains, like an indestructible natural barrier, stretch between the Great Gan Kingdom and the northern border.
Standing in this northern land covered by vast white snow, Wang Xiuxiu couldn't help but sigh in her heart. No wonder that even the valiant Ming family army had failed to completely wipe out the people of the northern land over the years.
She glanced down at the thick snow beneath her feet and continued walking carefully forward.
The snow was incredibly deep; in the deepest parts, it could bury a person completely.
Fortunately, General Ming came to their aid this time and helped them find a guide who was quite familiar with the terrain of the northern border.
His presence saved them from many detours.
At this moment, all around was silent, with only the sound of the wind whistling past one's ears.
Apart from that, all that seemed to be left was the crunching sound of feet stepping on the snow.
Although Wang Xiuxiu is a complete homebody in modern times, she has a special fondness for mountain climbing.
For her, mountain climbing is a unique way to escape.
During the climb, she can temporarily escape the trivialities and pressures of life and immerse herself in the tranquility and beauty of nature.
Conquering a mountain peak and looking down at the magnificent scenery below will make you proud of your perseverance.
This sense of accomplishment also made her more confident.
It was precisely because of these mountain climbing experiences that Wang Xiuxiu knew how to adjust her breathing during the process and how to conserve her physical strength.
Therefore, climbing the snow-capped mountain, though difficult, was still acceptable to Wang Xiuxiu.
---
Actually, the North is not a country, but the name of a region.
Many tribes, large and small, live here, and the people of these tribes are collectively known as the Northerners.
Because different ethnic groups are located in different geographical locations, their lifestyles are also very different.
The North has a harsh climate and is mostly covered in sparsely populated mountains and forests, making the living conditions for the people of the North extremely difficult.
The people of the North, who have lived in this harsh environment for a long time, are mostly tall and robust.
For this reason, the common people often regarded them as uncivilized barbarians.
The first people Wang Xiuxiu wanted to visit on her trip were the Lengshan tribe.
Like other northern tribes, the Cold Mountain people live deep in the mountains and rely mainly on hunting for food to make a living.
However, their areas of activity are mostly located on the northern border, making them easier to access compared to other tribes.
Speaking of which, we should also thank those big-time smugglers.
For a long time, attracted by the abundant resources of the North, many ambitious merchants have been willing to risk smuggling to do business here.
With increased contact, these tribes' hostility towards the large-scale merchants has diminished considerably.
The Lengshan tribe was one of the tribes that had the most contact with Daqian.
The guide that Minglang found for Wang Xiuxiu was, strictly speaking, also a descendant of the Northerners.
His name was Ulin, and his mother was a true orphan from the North.
His mother was adopted by kind-hearted civilians during the war.
After growing up, she married a local man, and they later had a child named Wulin.
Therefore, by carefully examining Wulin's appearance, one can discover some subtle differences in his features.
From a young age, Ulin's mother taught him to speak the Northern language. She did this not because she was reluctant to leave her homeland.
Instead, he hopes that one day in the future, his son will be able to contribute to the cause.
Unfortunately, the terrible war ten years ago ruthlessly took the lives of Ulin's parents and other relatives.
From that time on, he joined the army.
With his innate physical strength, he quickly distinguished himself among the soldiers and eventually became the most outstanding scout in the Ming family army.
---
The deep mountains of the North are covered with snow all year round, and the snow in the deepest parts can sometimes be several meters thick.
In such deep snow, if you accidentally fall in, it can be very difficult to climb out.
For safety reasons, everyone carefully followed the footprints left by Wulin and moved slowly forward.
But what you fear most is what comes to pass.
Before half a day had passed, someone accidentally took the wrong path and fell into a snow cave.
Fortunately, they discovered it in time, and the crowd quickly took out ropes and rescued the person.
Once the person was rescued, Wang Xiuxiu looked at them and sighed inwardly, "Oh no."
Although the snow cave doesn't look deep, it's filled with sharp rocks.
This person was unlucky; he broke his leg on a rock when he fell.
Wu Lin stepped forward and examined her carefully, then gently shook his head at Wang Xiuxiu.
"This injury is quite severe; if it is not treated promptly, it may leave a lasting problem."
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuxiu gestured for everyone to rest on the spot, while she herself stood aside, pondering a solution.
After a while, she beckoned Wulin over and asked in a low voice, "We've been traveling for most of the day to get here. You must have some idea of who in the group isn't used to such a difficult journey, right?"
Ulin nodded.
"Alright, this journey is arduous, and it would be extremely dangerous to force ourselves to continue. We haven't gone very far yet, so let these people take the wounded back the way they came."
During a break, Wulin boasted excitedly about his experiences: "Sir, don't underestimate me just because I'm young. I've traveled the road to the North alone countless times!"
Wang Xiuxiu handed him the dried meat from the bundle, "That's really amazing. You're all alone, aren't you afraid?"
Wu Lin patted his chest, looking very confident.
“What’s so scary about that? I can run faster than wild beasts. Even if I encounter people from the North, I can speak the North’s language. As long as I disguise myself a little and chat with them from a distance, they will naturally take me for a member of another tribe and won’t suspect anything!” Ulin said smugly.
"Aren't the Cold Mountain tribe supposed to live on the edge of the northern border? How come we've been walking for so long and still haven't seen a trace of them?"
"What are you thinking, sir? Even in the most remote places, we should settle far away from Lizhou. After all, they are terrified of our Ming family army!"
"Let's cross that mountain next, and we should be able to see their settlement."
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuxiu quickly looked into the distance in the direction he was pointing.
However, surrounded by white snow, all she could see was a vast expanse of white, and after looking at it for a while, she even felt that her eyes were about to blur.
Just then, Wulin urged everyone to get up quickly and continue on their way.
Despite their hurried pace, the group was unable to reach the settlement of the Lengshan tribe before nightfall.
Ulin was quite displeased with this, muttering, "I told you long ago that we should hurry up, but you just wouldn't listen!"
Upon seeing this, Wang Xiuxiu quickly tried to comfort her.
“Wulin, it’s not that we don’t want to listen to you, it’s just that none of us have ever been to the Snow Mountain area before. We’re unfamiliar with the terrain and environment here, so we can’t keep up with the pace. It’s getting late, so please help us find a relatively safe place so we can set up camp for the night and continue our journey to the Cold Mountain tribe early tomorrow morning.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Lin awkwardly touched his nose.
He was used to being alone and had long forgotten that these people were all from out of town.
"Alright, Mr. Wang, I'll go find a suitable place nearby right away!"
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