Chapter 16: Just How Big Is This World?
Chen Xing fell asleep comfortably.
He didn't seem to have the bad habit of being unable to sleep in unfamiliar places. Whether it was at home, studying in Tiancheng, interning in Guangzhou, or traveling in southern Yunnan, he never had trouble falling asleep due to a new environment. That was definitely a good thing for him.
But there were always more night owls than early risers.
Late at night, the video Chen Xing had uploaded appeared before viewers who frequently browsed travel, scenery, and photography categories.
The screen was completely dark, but Chen Xing's voice came through first, commanding attention.
"Just how big is this world?"
"I had that question when I was ten."
"My parents told me, 'The world is home, and you are our world.'"
"My teachers told me, 'The Earth is 500 million square kilometers, filled with mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, snowfields, deserts…'"
"As I grew older, at nineteen, I finally answered the question I asked ten years ago."
The video began to show images.
It wasn't ideal for the visuals to appear so late, but Chen Xing didn't know any better, he had never made a video before and didn't know what made them more engaging.
Still, the 13 seconds of narration were striking enough.
The system's beginner skills were more powerful than expected. As an adaptive language skill, it wasn't just about speaking Mandarin, when Chen Xing spoke seriously, his voice could probably rival that of professional voice actors in magnetism and clarity.
"The world is just the small patch of land in front of you. It's neither the abstract concept of 'home is the world,' nor the concrete idea of a 500-million-square-kilometer planet. It's simply the place you see, the little patch in front of your eyes. What you see is what your world is."
The video showed a street scene, with a color tone that felt soft and soothing.
It was just a clip of Chen Xing walking down the street, captured with the system's new feature.
"Every step I take expands my world. The farther I go, the bigger my world becomes."
The visuals began flashing rapidly, each frame a different photograph.
"So I picked up a camera and became a photographer. I wanted to see with my own eyes, the sights I had never witnessed, and record them all. Some people say a fearless life is like a movie, every frame worth remembering. So I'll share my story here and keep it forever."
"I hope you too, through my videos, can catch a glimpse of the world outside."
Because the video had only just been uploaded, there were only a handful of comments:
[Beautiful words, but why are there so many food shots?]
[Dreams... what a lovely word]
[Your voice is so nice—are you studying broadcasting?]
[Be honest, were you hungry while editing this? [doge]]
[Luckily I can't afford food now, otherwise I'd be struggling over what to eat]
[Can't find it during the day, can't avoid it at night]
[Great filming, looks very professional. Followed. Keep it up]
...
The next morning, since he was heading to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Chen Xing got up early.
He asked the innkeeper how to get there. The owner said there were shuttle buses that went directly to the entrance of the scenic area, and Chen Xing followed navigation instructions on a shared blue bike to ride over.
The place the innkeeper told him about wasn't an official station, but it had a platform with several tour buses.
Just as Chen Xing was about to approach, a woman in a sun hat stopped him.
"Hey handsome, going to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain? Want to join our group tour?"
"No thanks, I already bought a ticket."
"Oh come on, handsome, without a tour guide, you'll miss out on a lot. The mountain's altitude is so high, it's risky for first-timers. Our group only has twelve people, and the guides are all professionals. It's for your safety."
Chen Xing thought she had a point.
He'd heard the altitude of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was over 4000 meters. If something happened while he was alone, that could be dangerous. And he didn't even know what kind of preparations were needed.
Just as his enthusiasm started to waver and he was considering joining, he suddenly thought of Zhou Peng.
Hadn't those two already been there yesterday?
Why not just ask them?
It was still early, so instead of responding to the guide, Chen Xing stepped aside to the street and called Zhou Peng.
The phone rang for half a minute before Zhou Peng answered groggily.
"Hello?"
"Zhou Peng, didn't you go to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain yesterday? Did you join a tour group?"
"A tour group?!"
Zhou Peng's voice instantly shot up, as if suddenly wide awake. "Chen Xing, are you going to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain? Damn, listen to me, do not join a tour group. They're all scams. Just follow the signs. There are only a few major attractions."
Chen Xing laughed and pressed further, "So what happened to you guys yesterday?"
"What happened? They promised us a bottle of oxygen, and gave us a tiny trial-size one. When we got to Blue Moon Valley, they said the road was bad and we'd miss the cable car, so we had to take a sightseeing bus. I later found out walking that stretch only takes 40 minutes! They charged 60 yuan per oxygen bottle, 70 for altitude sickness meds, and we never used them at all. Tell me, isn't that infuriating?"
Chen Xing burst into laughter.
Zhou Peng always prided himself on being a seasoned traveler, and Chen Xing had to admit, his social skills were impressive. Yet even he had fallen into a tourist trap at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Hearing Chen Xing laugh, Zhou Peng got a little annoyed.
"Aren't you going to photograph minority girls? Why the sudden change of plan to the snow mountain? And why did you check out yesterday? We could've chatted more last night."
"Plans changed last minute. Anyway, I'm heading for the bus now, gotta go."
"Wait, wait!" Zhou Peng shouted, and added, "Buy a down jacket before you go. They charge 50 for one up there, and it's not even clean. Also, buy an oxygen bottle here—it's cheaper. Just one is enough. Damn it, I bought three and didn't use a single one."
"Got it, thanks."
"Come on, don't be polite with me, you m—"
"…"
After hanging up, Chen Xing turned back and found a clothing shop already open. He bought a set of down clothing.
Jackets in Lijiang weren't too expensive, people didn't need them much this time of year anyway. Convenience stores nearby also sold oxygen bottles, 15 yuan each.
Then he returned to the platform. The woman saw him come back and hurried over.
"Handsome, have you made up your mind?"
"My friend just came back from the snow mountain yesterday. He had a really bad experience with the tour group. Sorry, sis—I'll just go on my own."
Zhou Peng had said it best:
There were only a few scenic spots. You could just look at them, there was no need to hire a guide.
It wasn't like visiting a museum, where guides shared the rich history and stories behind relics. What could a guide do at a natural site? Sell you altitude sickness pills and oxygen bottles?
"Your friend definitely didn't go with our group."
"Sorry."
Chen Xing smiled politely, stepped forward, and boarded the bus.
(End of Chapter)