Zhang Shaozhong felt that his four years of university life were like the same old potato and chicken stew in the school cafeteria – it had flavor, but it was so bland it was almost unpleasant.
With graduation certificates just around the corner, my roommates and I decided to go all out one last time.
For our graduation trip, we chose Yunwu Mountain, a place that's been talked about online with great fanfare, famous for its rugged terrain and a bunch of "gods and monsters" legends.
The name Yunwu Mountain sounds ethereal, but it also carries a hint of recklessness.
The forum posts contained all sorts of claims. Some said that you could see a sea of clouds and Buddha's light from the mountaintop, others said that there was an ancient immortal abode hidden deep in the mountains, and still others said that you could hear immortals fighting in the middle of the night.
Zhang Shaozhong is an ordinary kid from an ordinary family. To put it nicely, he's easygoing; to put it bluntly, he's a bit timid and lacks a sense of adventure.
He was skeptical of those rumors, but mainly he wanted something cheap, not too far from the school, and... well, since he was already there, shouldn't he take a trip and post it on social media during graduation season?
"Brother Chong, hurry up! What are you dawdling for? At this rate, we won't even reach the first supply point before dark!"
My roommate, Da Liu, called out in a gruff voice from the front, mixed with a few bursts of laughter from others.
Zhang Shaozhong supported his back, panting heavily, and struggled to climb up:
"Here they come! You're really pressuring us! This lousy road is way too steep..."
He looked up and saw that his roommates, who were like animals, had already left him dozens of meters behind, their figures appearing and disappearing among the dense trees.
Looking at myself, I was wearing a discounted windbreaker and a small backpack that looked professional but had only been used for climbing the hill behind the school. I looked a bit disheveled.
He sighed and resigned himself to continuing his struggle against the steep mountain path.
To be honest, the scenery of Yunwu Mountain is really nice.
The higher you climb, the older and more vigorous the trees become, the more rugged and strange the rocks become, and the water flowing in the mountain stream is so clear that you can see the pebbles at the bottom.
The air also carried a sweet, grassy scent, more than a hundred times better than the air in the city, which was mixed with car exhaust.
This road is so primitive; there are no steps in many places, and you have to use your hands and feet to get around. No wonder the internet says it's dangerous here.
Along the way, we also encountered some tourists coming down the mountain. They were all exhausted and grimacing, but their faces showed a sense of pride in conquering nature.
Some people even kindly reminded them:
"Hey guys, keep an eye on the weather. The weather changes fast in the mountains. Look over there, the clouds are getting thick. It might rain."
Zhang Shaozhong looked at the horizon in the direction the man pointed. Sure enough, a dark cloud had gathered there at some point, dark and heavy, making one feel uneasy just looking at it.
He quickly shouted upwards:
"Hey! It looks like it's going to rain! Should we find somewhere to take shelter?"
"Why hide? A little rain is nothing to be afraid of! It's perfect for cooling off!"
Big Liu's raspy voice drifted down from above again.
"Hurry up, there's a spot up ahead with a fantastic view. Let's take the photos and then head out!"
Well, it was all for nothing.
Zhang Shaozhong had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow, but his unease grew stronger and stronger.
The dark cloud spread at an abnormally fast pace, like a drop of ink falling into clear water, quickly spreading and darkening the sky.
The mountain wind began to pick up speed, rustling the leaves and carrying a distinct earthy smell and coolness.
"Holy crap! They're really here! Run!"
From above came the exclamations of alarm from my roommates, who had finally realized the seriousness of the problem, and the sound of hurried footsteps.
Immediately afterwards, large raindrops began to pelt down, dense and heavy, instantly drenching Zhang Shaozhong to the bone.
My glasses were covered in water droplets, blurring my vision. The mountain path, soaked by the rain, immediately became muddy and slippery, as if it had been greased.
"Wait for me!"
Zhang Shaozhong panicked a little. He wiped his glasses and stumbled upwards, not knowing whether to go up or down. He only knew that he couldn't be left alone.
Thunder rumbled across the sky, and lightning flashed like silver snakes through the dark clouds.
The rain grew heavier and heavier, as if a hole had been torn in the sky, and the rain was pouring down like a waterfall.
Visibility became extremely low; you couldn't see anything beyond a few steps.
"Da Liu! Wang Hao! Where are you?"
Zhang Shao shouted loudly, but his voice was mostly swallowed up by the sound of wind and rain.
No one responded.
Only the howling of the wind and rain.
His heart skipped a beat, and he completely panicked.
I took out my phone to make a call, but there was no signal at all.
It's like when it rains, it pours!
He could only rely on his senses to grope his way down the mountain.
His feet were slipping badly, so he was almost half-squatting, using his hands to grab onto the rocks or tree roots next to him, inching his way down.
Suddenly, an extremely blinding bolt of lightning tore through the sky, and almost simultaneously, a thunderclap exploded right above his head, making his eardrums ring and the entire mountain seemed to shake!
Zhang Shaozhong was startled and slipped, losing his balance instantly!
"Holy shit!"
He only had time to let out a short scream before he tumbled down the steep, muddy slope.
The world spun wildly in his eyes, a mixture of rain, mud, and the pain of impact.
He tried to grab onto something, but the slippery mud and grass offered no support and only hastened his fall.
It’s over!
This time they really messed up!
Did the graduation trip turn into a final farewell?
What should I do about my parents...? Various thoughts flashed through his chaotic mind.
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