Chapter 29 Mountain Hut 1: Legend
"Did you guys have any dreams last night?" you asked, cutting up your breakfast.
In the early morning, just before dawn, the fake butler named Luca changed his face and, without any scent, tried to confuse and seduce you once again. You took out your perfume, mixed up his scent while carefully avoiding getting any fragrance on yourself, and with the background noise of a football match, you picked up a meat cleaver and completely disposed of him.
The monsters in the dungeon have no human rights. Since they keep bothering us, they should just die.
Afterwards, the butler brought breakfast. It was just a simple ham platter, vegetable soup, and toast, but it was arranged in a surprisingly elaborate way. A shot of espresso would have been a great way to start the day, but you opted for juice instead.
"We did it," both Xiaoming and Xiaola said, only Xiaofang shook his head.
"Do you remember what kind of dream it was?" you ask, carefully observing everyone's reaction.
Apart from Xiao Fang, who looked completely at ease, Xiao Ming and Xiao La both had the same look of surprise and doubt on their faces as you.
"I don't remember." Xiaoming put down the knife, her tone helpless. She looked at you: "You don't remember either, right?"
You nodded.
"Don't worry about it. It's awful to have a long face first thing in the morning. I didn't dream at all last night, which just means that dreams don't necessarily have any meaning." Xiao Fang patted you, then patted Xiao Ming.
Perhaps she slept well last night, and the special hospital meal prepared for her by the hotel kitchen was indeed effective; Xiao Fang's condition was much better today. Her complexion was also much rosier.
Xiao Fang makes a good point.
No one did anything wrong yesterday. Everything reflective was covered up, and all the curtains were clipped shut. There was simply no way to break any taboos. Although these instances are eerie and terrifying, they won't punish you without reason.
Since Xiao Fang didn't dream, maybe the dream really wasn't anything at all. Maybe it was just the nervous tension caused by how disgusted you, Xiao Ming, and Xiao La were by that Luca yesterday.
But you always feel that you've missed some crucial information. Just like Xiaoming and Xiaola, they both have the same intuition: this forgotten dream is related to their survival today.
“That’s normal. Survival depends on thinking a lot, but thinking too much can lead to excessive suspicion and nightmares—like what you’re experiencing now. So, is it possible that this is the meaning of the existence of this so-called dream?” Xiao Fang finished off the chicken noodle soup and white yogurt that had been specially made for her, and drank every last drop of the mint tea that had helped soothe her stomach discomfort.
"You guys hurry up and eat too! I, Fang, am alive again! I'm sure I'll win today!" Xiao Fang ran to the side to do some newly learned shoulder and hip warm-up exercises, ready to head out for the hiking challenge at any time.
Seeing her radiant appearance, you all laughed. You stopped worrying about whether she was dreaming or not; indeed, as Xiao Fang said, you'd all been listless and paranoid since you woke up. At this rate, you might be the ones "out of commission" in the mountains today.
It's 9 a.m. now, just as the chill from the night in the mountains is being dispelled.
If you set off now, drive to the starting point of the 3-hour hiking route. By the time you finish, it will be the hottest time of day at noon. Go back to the hotel for fish and chips, and then you can continue to the next location. If you get tired, you can rest at a mountain cabin.
Everything is just right.
With water, snacks, and the essential camera in your backpack, you think back to your hiking trip in the Deguo dungeon. Even setting aside the unpleasant experiences of that dungeon, you realize the journey itself was still wonderful. You can't help but look forward to the magnificent scenery that awaits you.
After driving for several tens of minutes, you soon arrived at Sanjianfeng.
These three mountain peaks stand majestically between heaven and earth, magnificent and awe-inspiring.
As you approach, the outline of the mountains gradually becomes clearer. The snow-white mountains reflect a dazzling light under the sun, like rows of pure white marble statues rising from the ground and piercing the sky.
When I first saw these on the highway, from a distance, I thought it was snow. But when I got closer and stepped on them, I realized that it was just the color of the mountain rocks.
It was a white that seemed unreal, so clean as if all traces of the world had been wiped away.
"These mountains look...so perfect, like they've been meticulously sculpted." Little La walked ahead, marveling at them the whole way.
"Yes, it's so pure white, it doesn't look natural," Xiao Fang quickly replied, her eyes never leaving the three mountain peaks.
You followed behind, nodding silently. You too were moved by the beautiful scenery.
This place is almost bathed in a silvery-white glow, pure and solemn, as if it were separated from the earth and silently suspended between the sky and the earth.
You are surrounding a small lake. The number of tourists is gradually increasing, but it doesn't feel lively. Everyone is talking, but their voices seem to be muffled by clouds, through the misty water.
As we slowly walked towards the foot of the mountain, just by looking up, the sharp peaks of the three mountains were gleaming.
Even if you cover your eyebrows with your hand to block out the light, your eyes will still hurt a little if you look at it for too long.
"These mountains... seem to be glowing," Little La exclaimed, expressing the shared sentiment of the four of you.
"Really, it feels like these mountains are glowing from within, rather than being illuminated by sunlight," Xiao Fang added.
You were silent for a moment; clearly, the scenery here made you unwilling to waste time talking to each other, but rather to immerse yourselves in experiencing its beauty.
Finally, you arrived at a wide-open viewing platform from which you can get a panoramic view of the entire Three Peaks.
The three mountain peaks stand like three silent guardians of nature, quietly overlooking this land.
This viewpoint is also an officially recommended spot for taking photos; the iconic postcards of the Dolo Mountains are taken here.
You all came here to take photos, so after taking out your cameras and snapping selfies and group photos, Xiao Fang volunteered to take individual photos for everyone.
However, whether it was her hand shaking or something else, the focus and proportions seemed a bit strange. The three peaks in each photo appeared exceptionally clear, and the white mountains seemed to leap out of the photos, while the figures looked so small and somewhat blurry, as if they might be swallowed up by the mountains at any moment.
"You took this photo..." you couldn't help but tease, though you were actually half genuinely criticizing it.
“What’s wrong? When you’re traveling, the scenery is definitely more important. You can take pictures of people anywhere.” Xiao Fang always had her reasons.
“I support Sister Fang, I think it was filmed very well,” Xiao La joined the conversation with a laugh.
"Alright, alright, you guys stick together, I'm going to find Xiaoming." You snorted and pretended to run towards Xiaoming.
"Hey, don't go, I'll take another picture for you later." Xiao Fang grabbed you, grinning as she handed you the camera, acting all cheeky. "Take one for me too, just like I do. I really think it looks good."
"It's a pity this is a copy; I can't share these beautiful photos with my family and friends." Xiao Fang looked through the photos, a fleeting look of sadness on her face.
"It feels like doing tasks while sightseeing and enjoying delicious food here is a real experience. I won't forget it after I get out," Xiao La comforted Xiao Fang.
After sitting down and having some snacks, you picked up your bags again and continued walking along the path.
Not far away, an old woman wearing a hand-woven square scarf on her head and a traditional floor-length thick linen dress walked slowly toward your defense line with a hunched back.
The old woman's figure was somewhat out of place; she carried a wooden basket filled with white flowers. The flowers were as white as snow, and there were many such flowers in the previous lakeside flower field, but none were as perfect as those in her basket.
The petals even have faintly diffused light gold patterns, like shimmering fragments of light.
"Is she selling flowers?" Xiao Fang asked softly, her eyes drawn to the white blossoms.
"It looks like it." Little La nodded, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
Before you and Xiaoming could respond, Xiaola had already followed Xiaofang and quickly approached the old woman.
The white flowers emitted a faint fragrance, which, mixed with the fresh mountain air, brought a sense of tranquility and joy.
"What kind of flowers are these?" Xiao Fang asked, speaking in standard baby talk.
The old woman slowly raised her head, her eyes deep and mysterious. She wasn't just looking at Xiao Fang; her gaze also occasionally swept over you and Xiao Ming, who were slowly walking towards her. "These are edelweiss flowers, growing on these mountains, bathed in the moonlight."
It is also a standard whimper.
"The moon's radiance?" Xiao Ming frowned and repeated in a low voice.
"They will bring you good luck." The old woman's voice was hoarse and low. Without saying a word, she grabbed Xiao Fang's hand and put the flowers, which had been woven into a bracelet, on Xiao Fang's wrist.
Xiao Fang didn't hesitate much and readily bought the bracelet, and also bought several extra individual flowers.
Seeing Xiao La and Xiao Fang make their purchase, the girl felt that since they were all experienced, following their lead would be the right thing to do, so she excitedly made her own purchase as well.
The old lady then walked towards you and Xiaoming.
"Should we buy it or not?" Xiaoming asks you.
"Can we really not buy it?" you sighed.
The old woman left contentedly, her figure quickly disappearing into the mountains.
You raised your hand, squinted at your wrist against the sun. The flower was cool and soft, with a texture like silk; it was indeed beautiful.
Seeing that you liked them too, Xiao Fang came over and teased you, "Wearing these flowers, don't you feel like a princess?"
You didn't say anything, but subtly distanced yourself from Xiao Fang.
Xiao Fang didn't care much, because Xiao La quickly picked up on her words, and the two of them chattered away, leaving you and Xiao Ming behind.
There weren't many tourists here, and the natural scenery wouldn't kill you. With a pure heart to appreciate the beauty, the three hours passed quickly.
On the way back to the hotel, Xiao Fang naturally sat in the passenger seat and chatted enthusiastically with Xiao La.
After lunch and a half-hour nap, pack some gear to make your overnight stay more comfortable, and then continue your afternoon's itinerary.
The afternoon trip didn't involve much walking; we took a cable car up the mountain, which is the highest plain in Ouzhou.
One side of the mountain wall is as if it were cut by a knife, with the rugged Dolo Mountains not far away, and lush green grasslands at your feet.
The mountain wind was anything but gentle, blowing the four of you around like scruffy little dogs.
"It's so beautiful here!" Little La exclaimed. She couldn't help but sit down on the grass and look up at the azure sky above.
The sea of clouds flows slowly through the valley, like the breath of nature, sometimes thick and sometimes thin, as if you were in a dream.
Standing on the edge of the plateau, you feel as if you are standing on land above the clouds.
The sunlight warmed your faces. Xiao Fang didn't seem to mind your earlier estrangement from Xiao Ming; she even picked some wildflowers and wove them with the white edelweiss she'd just bought into a new wreath, which she wore on her head, smiling as she said to you, "Don't I look like a mountain fairy?"
"The scenery today is absolutely beautiful," you avoid mentioning.
Xiao La, seemingly without any guile, joined in and started weaving flower wreaths with Xiao Fang.
It's a bit awkward for you and Xiaoming to just stand there like that, but thankfully there are some park rides set up at the cable car observation deck.
The slide can launch you 5 or 6 meters away, and there's also a swing that lets you stand and spin around, which is a lot of fun.
After you got tired of playing, the other two weren't done yet, so you and Xiaoming sat on the slide and waited.
“I searched it up, and it’s a story,” Xiaoming said. “A princess from the moon descended upon the Dolo Mountains and married a prince. Afterward, the princess missed her homeland and abandoned the prince and the flowers she had brought. So the prince ordered the gnomes to paint the mountain peaks white, hoping to attract the princess back with the silvery moonlight.”
"What do you think awaits us?" Xiaoming asked, looking at the silvery sheen on his wrist caused by the special edelweiss pattern.
"From the story's perspective, it's like a dungeon within a dungeon. Perhaps we'll become characters in the story, but it will be a heavily modified version, with all the danger stemming from distorted characters and background settings," you replied calmly.
"You look like you've read a lot of horror stories," Xiao Ming said with a smile.
You shrug and give a self-deprecating laugh: "I was just guessing, because I have absolutely no clue."
"Xiao Fang is definitely in the most danger, but that's not necessarily true." You look at where Xiao Fang and Xiao La are. You feel like you should be more upset, but it seems like your heart just can't feel anything. "We can still sit here and discuss, but that doesn't mean we haven't been affected."
After some time, the four of you reunited, had a simple dinner at the inn, and then set off for the mountain cabin.
The cottage, constructed of stone and wood, has a rustic and simple appearance. As advertised, it blends almost seamlessly into the surrounding rocks and forest, giving it a distinctly antique feel.
"It's too quiet here," Little La said softly, looking around. After a happy day, she finally felt a little uneasy.
The room was simply furnished, yet had everything you needed. A wooden table, two chairs, and four worn-out beds were just enough for you—otherwise, you would have to share this cramped space with strangers—and a fireplace with cooled ashes scattered inside.
Above the fireplace hangs an oil painting created by a local artist for the scenic area. The scene in the painting seems to be a distant view of this mountain cabin, except that the mountain peaks in the background are towering into the clouds and covered with a pale glow, so white that they are almost unreal.
"This painting is a bit strange. It resembles the scenery outside, but it looks different." You stare at the painting, feeling an inexplicable sense of dislocation.
"Stop staring, it's getting dark, and it gets very cold in the mountains at night. Let's make a fire." Xiao Fang interrupted your thoughts with a chuckle.
As darkness fell, the scenery outside was swallowed by the twilight. The outlines of the mountains became blurred, and the distant clouds hung low over the mountaintops, as if they were about to fall to the earth.
The flames in the fireplace flickered, dispelling some of the chill.
"Have you heard the legends of this mountain area?" Xiao Fang broke the silence, his voice so soft it almost blended into the crackling of the fireplace.
"What legend?" you asked, though you had a vague idea that Xiao La was going to tell the story of the "Pale Mountain" that Xiao Ming had mentioned before.
Sure enough, "Not all the peaks of Dolo are this white. Legend has it that the mountains were painted white after the princess from the moon left. Locals say that the mountains under the moon are actually cursed, and those white flowers and the mountains themselves carry the ghost of the moon princess." Xiao Fang said softly, a hint of confusion in her eyes, as if these words were not spoken by her own voice, but an echo drifting from another time and space.
"Legends are just legends, but... these mountains do feel a bit strange." Xiao Ming frowned, walked to the window, remembered the hotel rules, drew the heavy curtains, and stopped looking at the scenery outside.
"The mountains are eerily quiet," you said, looking at the flames, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Hey, why are you all telling ghost stories? Stop, it's scary." Xiao La stood up, took out a wet wipe to wipe her face and body, and then lay down on the bed fully clothed. "We might as well go to sleep early so you don't scare yourselves."
Xiao Fang seemed quite annoyed that the topic she had started had been ended like this, but she just stared resentfully at Xiao La's bed without saying anything.
Xiaoming drew the curtains tightly, but he didn't expect that the thin curtains would block out so much light. Even though it was only a little past 7 o'clock, the room felt as dark as if it were already night.
Everyone crawled back into bed, and even if you weren't sleepy, you forced yourself to close your eyes and not look at your phone.
There's no particular reason, it's just that there's a subtle feeling, like when you wake up in the morning and instinctively realize you've forgotten something that should have been the key point.
If you don't sleep, something very bad might happen.
Will someone stand by your bed watching you? Strange, I had a similar thought yesterday when I was dealing with the monster in the hotel bathroom.
Could that person be Xiao Fang? How could you think that? Even if it is Xiao Fang, she is a victim too. No, why are you already assuming this is true?
Huff... huff...
Someone is breathing next to your bed.
Huff... huff...
Want to hear a story? Storytelling is so boring! Want to join me in my story?
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A note from the author: Good afternoon!
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