Guan Xia knew Lawyer Shi had organized quite a large camping group this time, but she was still surprised by how many people had actually shown up when everyone gathered.
Though most were young, there were quite a few middle-aged faces in their forties or fifties in the crowd.
As the organizer, Lawyer Shi seemed to know everyone. After brief greetings, he arranged the group in order, double-checked that no one was missing, and then led the team forward.
Guan Xia and Pang Le were placed in the middle-to-back section of the group. Lawyer Shi and Dong Yuncheng didn’t go to the front either, instead staying with them as they climbed at a leisurely pace.
At first, Guan Xia was worried this might be an untamed mountain, making the hike extremely difficult. But once they started, she realized countless hikers had come before them, trampling a narrow, vegetation-free path into the hillside. Steep sections even had small footholds worn into the ground. Aside from the physical exertion, it wasn’t dangerous at all.
Pang Le stayed close to Guan Xia and easily noticed the shift in her expression. After pulling her up a steep slope, Pang Le raised an eyebrow smugly and said, “So? Worth the trip, right?”
Guan Xia took a few deep breaths to steady her racing heart before nodding helplessly. “I overthought it. It’s tiring, but definitely a great experience.”
After catching her breath for a couple more seconds, Guan Xia glanced back and saw others catching up. She patted Pang Le. “Let’s keep going.”
Pang Le quickly unwrapped a candy and popped it into Guan Xia’s mouth before turning to continue the climb with light steps.
As the hike went on, Guan Xia initially focused entirely on her footing and Pang Le. But over time, her attention kept drifting toward a figure in pale green.
It was a very young woman, probably in her early twenties. She wasn’t tall but was full of energy, her high ponytail swinging with every step. Not only did she keep up effortlessly with the group, but she also had the stamina to film with her phone while hiking.
After another steep climb with Pang Le’s help, Guan Xia steadied herself and immediately searched for that figure. Sure enough, the girl was filming again, her face bright with excitement. Just seeing her cheerful expression inexplicably lifted Guan Xia’s mood.
“What are you looking at?” Pang Le asked after taking a few sips of water.
Guan Xia tilted her chin toward the girl. “Her—the one filming. She’s amazing. I’m exhausted, but she’s still got energy to record everything. I’ve noticed her filming the whole way.”
“She’s a travel blogger,” Dong Yuncheng chimed in as he caught up. “I think her name is Song Yi. She’s apparently part of thirty or forty small camping groups like ours. As long as schedules don’t clash, she joins almost every trip, especially to these lesser-known mountains. She’s got a lot of fans in the community, but also plenty of critics.”
Guan Xia couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”
Dong Yuncheng chuckled. “Because whenever she comes, the next camping spot has to change. Most people can’t stand the feeling of ‘traffic jams’ on a mountain.”
Guan Xia looked up and down before realizing what he meant by “traffic jams.”
“Let’s keep moving,” Dong Yuncheng said, glancing upward. “We should reach the rest spot in about an hour and a half. The weather might not bring rain, but it’ll get dark early. We should hurry.”
Only then did Guan Xia notice that the sun, which had briefly peeked through the clouds earlier, was now hidden again. A light breeze rustled through the trees.
True to Dong Yuncheng’s estimate, after another hour or so of climbing, they finally reached a relatively open platform—not entirely flat, but spacious enough to fit many people.
The platform was halfway up the mountain. When Guan Xia, stumbling slightly, sat down on a large rock, she could see the distant silhouette of a much taller peak across the way.
Pang Le plopped down beside her, gulped half a bottle of water, and then stuffed a chocolate bar into her mouth before helping Guan Xia massage her sore muscles.
“Don’t just sit there,” Pang Le said. “You don’t exercise much normally. If you don’t recover properly after a sudden intense workout, you’ll end up like last time—unable to walk the next day. And we’ve got to descend tomorrow.”
Guan Xia was completely drained. Though she wanted to collapse, she forced herself to follow Pang Le’s instructions, tapping and kneading her legs.
Seeing how exhausted Guan Xia was made her even more envious when she spotted the girl—still full of energy—walking past with her phone raised.
Unlike earlier, when she had just been filming silently, the girl was now recording while speaking.
“Hey, everyone! This is my latest hidden gem of a mountain. Isn’t it gorgeous? Though this little peak doesn’t even have a name, it’s part of the famous Cuiping Mountain Range. See that towering peak across the way? That’s the super-popular Niujiao Peak, packed with visitors every year. From this rest stop, we’ve got a perfect view of it. Hang on—let me adjust the angle. See those little glimmers of light? That’s the glass walkway built near Niujiao Peak’s summit a couple of years ago—it wraps around about a third of the peak. I’ve been up there once. It wasn’t scary, just crowded. I kept worrying I’d get pushed off! That’s why I prefer these lesser-known mountains. No crowds, just a relaxing climb with a breeze and nature’s soundtrack. If you’ve got time, you can even zone out—no one’s rushing you.”
Her voice was bright and lively. The scattered groups chatting quietly soon fell silent, drawn in by her narration.
The girl truly had boundless energy and a keen eye for beauty. Though the platform wasn’t large and the scenery could grow repetitive, she managed to film and talk enthusiastically for over half an hour.
Guan Xia watched the entire recording session with interest. When the girl finally finished, she tapped Pang Le’s shoulder. “Aside from you, she’s the first girl I’ve met with stamina this good. Can you tell? Do you think she’s trained or something?”
Before, Guan Xia wouldn’t have thought much of it. But ever since realizing the world she’d transmigrated into was a fusion of detective novels, she couldn’t help suspecting any remarkable woman might be an important character.
She waited a couple of seconds, but Pang Le didn’t respond. Guan Xia nudged her again, and Pang Le snapped out of her daze. “Huh? What did you say?”
Guan Xia followed Pang Le’s earlier line of sight but saw nothing unusual. “What’s up? Did you spot something?”
Then she paused, her expression turning serious as a thought struck her. “Wait—did you notice something? Don’t tell me we’re running into trouble on a hike?”
Though she’d braced herself for such encounters, Guan Xia couldn’t help sighing inwardly at the frequency.
Pang Le paused for a moment before realizing what Guan Xia was referring to. After a brief thought, she shook her head. "Probably... not. Earlier, I saw something red fall from the glass walkway on the opposite Ox Horn Peak. Maybe it was just a plastic bag." She offered the guess uncertainly.
Guan Xia hesitated before speaking, "It’s the middle of the day—hardly the time for someone to commit murder in a tourist spot. I think it’s more likely someone accidentally dropped a bag while taking photos."
The two exchanged a glance, both acknowledging that their recent experiences had made them overly cautious. They chuckled at their own paranoia and began eating to replenish their energy.
After the short break, the group set off again. This time, they didn’t stop until nearly three hours later, finally reaching the campsite just before dark.
It was another platform close to the summit—spacious enough, with a tall rock wall shielding them from the wind. The area could comfortably accommodate their small team, allowing the tents to be pitched without crowding.
Though not as high as the surrounding peaks, as Song Yi had pointed out, the spot felt secluded, completely detached from the city’s noise, as if their hearts had finally found peace.
Lawyer Shi and Dong Yuncheng took charge of setting up the tents. Guan Xia tried to help but ended up merely passing them nails and tools.
It was clear both men were seasoned campers—they didn’t even glance at the instructions, assembling the tents effortlessly as if by instinct.
Pang Le watched for a moment before turning to rummage through her backpack. Once the tents were up, she hurried over with an armful of supplies. "I went to the supermarket last night and bought self-heating hot pots. Anyone interested? I also got some cold dishes and duck necks. Should we get dinner ready?"
Guan Xia, who had been starving after the long hike—barely sustained by chocolate—nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, yes."
Lawyer Shi and Dong Yuncheng took the hot pots to boil water, while Guan Xia pulled out disposable plates and arranged the cold dishes. Pang Le sighed wistfully. "The best part of camping is barbecue, but this mountain’s too wild—no way to drive up. Next time, let’s pick a place we don’t have to climb. I’ve heard Lawyer Shi’s a great cook."
The mention of food made Guan Xia even hungrier. She unwrapped another candy and popped it into her mouth.
Pang Le’s lament was short-lived, and she soon crouched down to help.
As the two worked busily, a sudden commotion erupted outside.
Guan Xia and Pang Le exchanged a glance, set aside what they were doing, and stepped out of the tent.
Just then, Lawyer Shi and Dong Yuncheng approached. Pang Le asked, "What’s going on? We heard shouting. Did something happen?"
Guan Xia glanced toward the edge of the platform, her worst fear being that someone had accidentally fallen from the summit.
Lawyer Shi and Dong Yuncheng looked grim.
Dong Yuncheng explained, "Song Yi’s phone caught something. Earlier, when we were resting halfway up the mountain, she took a photo of the Ox Horn Peak glass walkway and accidentally captured someone pushing a child off the cliff. Lawyer Shi’s phone has satellite calling—he came back to get it and call the police."
Guan Xia and Pang Le were stunned.
They looked at each other, immediately recalling Pang Le’s words from earlier. They’d assumed they were overthinking, but it seemed luck was against them—every trip they took, something happened.
Guan Xia couldn’t help but glance at Ox Horn Peak in the distance. Though it seemed impossible, she clung to a sliver of hope that the child had survived and would hold on until help arrived.
