Chereads / Obscuris Labyrinth / Chapter 58 - Chapter 57 Keeping an Appointment

Chapter 58 - Chapter 57 Keeping an Appointment

On an early autumn morning, the scene beneath Lingjiu Peak was like a tranquil yet expectant painting. The sunlight, like golden threads, gently fell on Li Ruize, Li Ruixuan, and Lin Yaxuan. The gentle breeze, like a tender hand, brushed across their faces, yet it couldn't dispel the intertwined feelings of expectation and a little anxiety in their hearts. They stood quietly in front of the huge rock where Miezu had left his words, their eyes stretching towards the direction of Tianwang Fort, as if they could penetrate the layers of mountains to see the person who was coming to keep the appointment.

After a while, Lin Yaxuan became impatient. She stamped her foot and said coquettishly, "Grandpa, is Zhao Yuxuan coming or not? We've been waiting for so long." Her eyes flickered with impatience, and her brows were slightly furrowed. She looked like a child who had been waiting for a long - awaited candy but still hadn't got it, unable to suppress her eagerness.

Li Ruize's eyes were very firm. He said with full confidence, "Today is the end of the three - year period. Zhao Yuxuan called a few days ago and asked us to come here directly this morning to watch him climb Lingjiu Peak. I believe he will definitely not break his promise." He had his hands behind his back, standing as straight as a pine tree, and his eyes were firmly fixed on the distance, as if he could already see Zhao Yuxuan's approaching figure at the end of his sight.

At this time, Li Ruixuan also spoke. Her voice was gentle and carried an elder's patient guidance. "Yaxuan, actually Zhao Yuxuan is not as bad as you think. You have such a deep misunderstanding of him. Why do you still call him 'Bad Zhao, Bad Zhao'?" Her eyes were full of concern for Lin Yaxuan, like a clear spring, trying to moisten the prejudice in Lin Yaxuan's heart against Zhao Yuxuan.

Lin Yaxuan, however, pouted her red cherry - like lips and said stubbornly, "Anyway, I just can't stand him, and I like to call him that." She crossed her arms over her chest and turned her face away. Her stubbornness was like a calf that refused to bow its head, and she wouldn't change her mind no matter what.

Li Ruixuan let out a long sigh, full of worry, and said, "You two are really like a pair of enemies. If Zhao Yuxuan can fulfill the two conditions proposed by your grandpa, then you will become the closest partners and will experience a great many dangers and countless life - and - death tests together. If you can't care for and understand each other, I'm really very worried." Her eyes showed deep worry, as if she had already seen all kinds of possible difficulties and obstacles in the future. Those dangers were like dark clouds, hovering over her heart.

Speaking of this, she and Li Ruize couldn't help but look at each other. Both of their eyes showed a gloomy and worried look. At that instant, they seemed to be having a silent conversation, communicating their concerns about the future of the two young people to each other, like two helmsmen worried about the fate of a ship that was about to set sail but hadn't been well - adjusted yet in the stormy waves.

Lin Yaxuan's curiosity was aroused, and she asked, "Grandpa and Grandma, what task do you actually want me to complete? I've learned so many strange things since I was a child, but I really don't know what they are for." Her eyes were full of curiosity and a little confusion. She tilted her head and stared closely at her grandpa, like a little kitten eager to get an answer.

Li Ruize slowly walked over, stretched out his hand, and gently and lovingly stroked Lin Yaxuan's head, as if stroking a rare treasure. His voice choked a little as he said, "You will soon know about this task, and you must complete it, Yaxuan. Grandpa is really useless. I can't complete this task myself, but I have to sacrifice you, your father, and your grandma. I know she has a very bitter heart." His eyes were slightly red, and the wrinkles carved on his face by the years seemed to have deepened a little. It was a deep sense of self - blame and helplessness, like an invisible rope tightly binding his heart.

As he was speaking, tears streamed down his face. Seeing this, Li Ruixuan walked over and held Li Ruize's wrinkled - like - bark hand with her still white, smooth hands. She gave a faint smile, a smile full of comfort and tolerance, as if silently telling Li Ruize that she didn't care and that it was okay.

Lin Yaxuan had long known that there was a very big secret with her grandparents. How could she not be curious? But she was a clever girl. Seeing her grandpa's so - sad expression, she didn't ask any more questions.

About half an hour later, a man walked towards them from the direction of Liren Peak in the distance. He was carrying a large backpack and wearing a blue denim suit, and his pace was extremely fast. His figure gradually became clear in the sunlight, and every step he took carried a firm strength, as if under his feet were not the rugged mountain roads but the broad road to victory.

Lin Yaxuan had sharp eyes and immediately exclaimed in surprise, "It's Zhao Yuxuan, it's Zhao Yuxuan. He really came." There was a note of surprise in her voice, and also a trace of joy that she herself hadn't noticed, like a budding flower that inadvertently bloomed with a faint, imperceptible fragrance.

While speaking, the man in the denim suit had already walked up to the three of them. It was Zhao Yuxuan who had left Tianwang Fort eight months ago. At this time, he didn't seem to have changed much, but there was more confidence between his brows than before, and he looked quite energetic. His eyes were bright and firm, like they were hiding endless strength, like the twinkling stars in the deep night sky, full of mysterious and attractive charm.

Li Ruixuan carefully observed Zhao Yuxuan's expression, a glint of a smile flashed in her eyes, and she directly asked, "Zhao Yuxuan, are you ready?"

Zhao Yuxuan nodded, then put down his backpack and took out a lot of things from it.

Lin Yaxuan immediately asked with a puzzled face, "Zhao Yuxuan, what are you taking these out for?" Her eyes were full of confusion, and her gaze swept back and forth over those things, like a little mouse lost in a maze, trying to find the exit.

Zhao Yuxuan pointed at those things and said calmly, "These are all rock - climbing equipment, safety belts, descenders, safety carabiners, slings, climbing shoes, and magnesium powder." His voice was methodical, like a rigorous scholar introducing his research results.

Lin Yaxuan said unhappily, "Aren't you supposed to climb Lingjiu Peak bare - handed? You can't use these things." Her tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction, as if she thought Zhao Yuxuan was deliberately breaking the rules, like a strict referee who wouldn't allow any rule - breaking behavior by the contestants.

Zhao Yuxuan nodded and said, "Of course I won't use these things. I just want you to know that sometimes, in order to achieve a goal, we need to use more technological things. With these things, Lingjiu Peak is not as dangerous as you think. I think at least 30% of the men in Tianwang Fort could climb it." His eyes showed a kind of profundity after thinking. He hoped that through these words, everyone could understand some truths, like a wise man trying to share his wisdom with those around him.

Li Ruize immediately laughed and said with satisfaction, "Good, very good, Zhao Yuxuan. You can think of using external forces and technology. This trip was not in vain. But I still require you to climb Lingjiu Peak bare - handed. Are you up to it?" His smile carried a sense of satisfaction and also a test for Zhao Yuxuan, like a tutor examining his student's learning achievements.

Zhao Yuxuan gave a faint smile and without hesitation put down all the things and walked towards the foot of Lingjiu Peak. Then, he found a place and started to climb up. His movements were extremely skillful and fast, like a monkey. His body seemed to have a natural rapport with the rock wall of Lingjiu Peak. Every movement was full of strength and skill. When he climbed, his body clung tightly to the rock wall, as if he were a part of it, which could save a lot of strength; his feet firmly squatted on the small hollows on the rock points, like nails driven into a wooden board, which could effectively prevent slipping; his fingers were close together, like eagle claws, so that he could firmly grasp the rock points, and his hands and feet took turns to exert force, like a carefully choreographed dance rhythm, which could save physical strength. Therefore, his climbing speed was very fast. He hadn't been particularly outstanding in the past, but his body was very flexible and supple, quite suitable for rock - climbing, like a key made for rock - climbing that had found its lock.

It turned out that since leaving Tianwang Fort, the first thing Zhao Yuxuan did was to look for boxing gyms or combat centers in various cities. But he didn't go to learn from a master. Instead, he chose a way to quickly improve his combat skills - "challenging the gyms".

The so - called "challenging the gyms" means provoking the other side. This was very popular in the past, but has been very rare in recent decades. However, everyone's reaction was the same, which was to beat him. By doing this, he was undoubtedly challenging the authority of those combat masters and also his own limits, like a fearless warrior bravely advancing towards the unknown and dangerous area.

So, Zhao Yuxuan kept beating others and getting beaten by others. During this process, he was constantly pondering the techniques of attack and defense. Those people were all proficient in Sanda (free - fighting) and combat. Compared with traditional martial arts moves, their moves were more concise, effective, and practical, and like A - Shan, they incorporated many fighting styles. Zhao Yuxuan was constantly eliminating the dross and selecting the essence of those combat boxing moves. Coupled with his hands as strong as steel, after five months, when fighting alone, there were very few opponents for him. Even when surrounded by a group of people, he could easily get out unscathed, like a flexible fish swimming freely through numerous fishing nets.

By the sixth month, he stopped "challenging the gyms" and went to some rock - climbing clubs to learn. Since he had already practiced at Lingjiu Peak for two years before, he already had a certain foundation, and those rock - climbing techniques were almost instantly grasped by him. Soon, he followed these people to some on - site climbs. In three months, he had climbed three high mountains, one of which was no less high than Lingjiu Peak.

Zhao Yuxuan was fully confident that he could climb Lingjiu Peak at this time. He had climbed the section from the foot to the mountainside of Lingjiu Peak at least hundreds of times, so he was very familiar with it. Coupled with the rock - climbing techniques he had learned, his climbing speed was very fast, and his figure kept climbing on the rock wall of Lingjiu Peak, like a brave man marching towards his dream.