Chapter 51 Night Climb of Mount Emei
Chapter 51 Night Climb of Mount Emei
At 8:30 p.m., the high-speed train arrived at Emeishan Station on time.
Chen Mo and Lin Wei followed the flow of people out of the station.
The night breeze here is damp and cool, quite different from the heat of Jiangzhou city.
"It's a bit cold." Chen Mo tightened his coat.
"That's normal. The temperature in the mountains is already low, and it will be even colder when we go up the mountain later."
Lin Wei glanced at the weather forecast on her phone and said, "It's only 5°C at the top of the mountain right now."
"Luckily, I brought a down jacket," Chen Mo said thankfully.
Lin Wei said, "It's alright. Since you didn't bring one, I brought an extra one. I can approve it for you."
The two hailed a taxi outside the station and headed straight for the gate of Baoguo Temple.
The driver, a local uncle, smiled and reminded them when he heard they wanted to go for a night hike: "Climbing up at this time is perfect for watching the sunrise, but be careful on the road. It's dark on the mountain roads at night, and some sections are difficult to walk on."
"Thank you, Master. We have prepared headlamps," Lin Wei replied.
"That's good."
The driver glanced at the two of them again and said, "You two are a young couple, right? Climbing at night to watch the sunrise, that's quite romantic."
"..."
Lin Wei blushed and didn't reply.
Chen Mo smiled and explained, "We're just colleagues; we agreed to go hiking together."
"A colleague?"
The driver glanced at the two of them in the rearview mirror and said with a meaningful smile, "Hello colleagues, hello colleagues, let's go hiking together and strengthen our relationship."
Chen Mo: "..."
Lin Wei lowered her head, pretending to look at her phone.
Twenty minutes later, the taxi stopped at the gate of Baoguo Temple.
The two paid the fare, put on their backpacks, and got off the bus.
The mountain gate was brightly lit, and many tourists who had climbed at night were gathering there, mostly young people, in twos and threes, creating a lively atmosphere.
Chen Mo glanced at the time: 9:10 PM.
"Let's go." Lin Wei adjusted her backpack straps and turned on her headlamp.
"Um."
Chen Mo also turned on his headlamp, and the two of them walked into the mountain gate one after the other.
The night climb up Mount Emei has officially begun.
The first half of the road was relatively flat.
From Baoguo Temple to Fuhu Temple, and then to Leiyin Temple, the path was paved with stone slabs and lined with streetlights, so Chen Mo didn't find it too difficult to walk.
Lin Wei was even more relaxed.
The two maintained a steady pace, walking and talking as they went.
Lin Wei was very familiar with Mount Emei and had read many travel guides beforehand. Along the way, she introduced Chen Mo to the stories and legends of each scenic spot.
"Ahead is the Chunyang Hall, which is said to be the place where Lü Dongbin cultivated."
"There is a spring near Shenshui Pavilion. The spring water is sweet and clear, and it is said that drinking it can prolong life."
"Qingyin Pavilion is the best spot to view 'Twin Bridges and Clear Sounds,' one of the ten scenic spots of Emei Mountain, but unfortunately it's nighttime now and we can't see it clearly."
Chen Mo listened silently, occasionally asking a few questions.
The night breeze was cool, and the mountains were quiet, save for the sound of footsteps and the occasional chirping of insects.
This atmosphere is special; it makes people relax involuntarily.
The two walked for more than an hour and arrived at Qingyin Pavilion at 10:30 pm.
This is a dividing line.
As you ascend from Qingyin Pavilion, the mountain path begins to become steeper, and the streetlights gradually decrease; the real test is just beginning.
"Let's take a five-minute break and replenish our energy."
Lin Wei sat down on a stone bench by the roadside and took out water and energy bars from her backpack.
"it is good."
Chen Mo sat down next to him, took the energy bar she handed him, tore open the packaging, and ate it in small bites.
"Are you tired?" Lin asked with a smile.
"I'm fine, this is just the beginning."
Chen Mo smiled, but his breathing was already a little rapid.
Although I exercise regularly, hiking and gym equipment training are two different things; hiking tests your overall endurance and cardiovascular function.
After resting, the two continued their journey.
From Qingyin Pavilion to Yixiantian (a narrow gorge), the mountain path becomes noticeably steeper.
The stone steps stretched on and on, seemingly without end.
The beam of the headlamp flickered in the darkness, illuminating only a few meters ahead.
The two sides are lined with dense forests, which appear particularly deep and secluded in the night.
Occasionally, a night bird would be startled and take flight, its fluttering sound echoing through the silent valley, making one's heart skip a beat.
"Be careful, this path is narrow." Lin Wei, being an experienced mountain climber, walked ahead and occasionally turned back to remind Chen Mo.
"Hmm." Chen Mo followed behind him, his steps somewhat heavy.
Beyond the narrow gorge lies the famous Emei Mountain monkey area.
During the day, monkeys roam here in groups, begging for food from tourists and even stealing their belongings.
But at night, when the monkeys were resting, the road became quiet.
At Lin Wei's prompting, the two quickly passed through the monkey area, not daring to linger.
Starting from Hongchunping, the mountain road enters its real challenge phase – the Ninety-Nine Turns.
This is the steepest section of road on Mount Emei, with continuous zigzag bends. You think you've reached the end after climbing one bend, but then another bend appears.
Endless challenges test not only physical strength but also willpower.
Chen Mo noticed that Lin Wei's speed had slowed down significantly.
Every few dozen steps, I had to stop and catch my breath. My underwear was already soaked with sweat, and the mountain wind made it even colder.
The beam of the headlamp flickered in the darkness, illuminating only a small area beneath my feet.
All around was an impenetrable darkness, and the rustling of the wind through the trees.
"How much further... is it?"
Chen Mo asked, panting, his voice clearly showing exhaustion.
Lin Wei glanced at the hiking trail app on her phone and replied, "We've only covered a third of the way. We need to speed things up, or we'll miss the sunrise."
"good……"
Chen Mo gritted his teeth and continued climbing.
But the physical exertion is real.
Thirty kilometers of stairs is not as easy as I imagined!
After climbing for another hour, when he reached the vicinity of Jiulao Cave, Chen Mo felt his steps begin to falter.
Lin Wei was not much better either. His calf muscles were sore and his breathing was heavy.
"Let's take a break."
Seeing this, Chen Mo found a flat stone by the roadside and gestured for Lin Wei to sit down.
"Um."
Lin Wei practically plopped down, her arms trembling as she took off her backpack.
This night climb of Mount Emei was also a challenging experience for her.
Chen Mo took out a thermos from his backpack, poured a cup of hot water and handed it to her, saying, "Drink some hot water to warm yourself up."
"Thanks……"
Lin Wei took the cup, held it with both hands, and took small sips.
The warm water flowed into my stomach, slightly dispelling some of the chill in my body.
The two sat on the rock, neither wanting to speak for the time being, simply breathing quietly to regain their strength.
Chen Mo looked up at the sky.
He was stunned when he saw it.
The night sky over Mount Emei was completely different from what he usually saw in the city.
There was no light pollution, no smog, and the starry sky was so clear it seemed almost within reach.
The sky was covered with countless stars, and the Milky Way stretched across the heavens like a luminous ribbon, so dazzling that it was breathtaking.
"Look..." Chen Mo said softly.
Lin Wei looked up following his gaze and was also stunned.
"What a nice view……"
She murmured, her eyes fixed on the starry sky, as if captivated by the magnificent sight.
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MMB