Chapter 357: Chapter 357: ’Seclusion’ in the Mountains

After entering the mountains, the mountain roads were covered in a thick layer of snow.

Fortunately, the snow had only just started falling today.

The snow hadn’t frozen over yet.

The driver got out to install snow chains, then continued driving, but at a much slower pace.

It wasn’t until evening that they reached the turnoff for Bailingyu Village.

Li Xu invited the driver to stay the night.

The driver shook his head. "Doctor Li, I can’t stay. The snow on the mountain roads will definitely be frozen by tomorrow, and then the truck won’t be able to get through."

Realization dawned on Li Xu. "Be careful on your way back, then."

The driver grinned. "With the snow, nighttime is as bright as day. I’ll be fine."

Li Xu looked at the mountains.

They were completely covered in a thick blanket of snow, a silent, silver-clad world.

Indeed, even without streetlights, the night was very bright.

The driver drove away.

Li Xu shouldered his travel bag, carried the earthenware pot in his hand, and trudged into the village, his feet sinking deep into the snow with every step.

Half a year had passed.

This place had become a completely deserted village.

Decades ago, if it had snowed this heavily, there would surely have been many children out having snowball fights and building snowmen.

The paths would have long been covered in a mess of footprints.

But now, the village paths were as pristine as white satin.

Only in the distance, near the trees, were there a few animal tracks.

Li Xu had been in the vehicle all day, napping a bit on the road.

He wasn’t tired now.

He arrived at Elder Zhou Shugen’s house, put down his luggage, lit the stove, and then took the earthenware pot to a nearby hillside.

The snow here was deep and showed no signs of pollution.

He placed the earthenware pot under an old pine tree and began his "snow harvesting" operation.

First, he used a clean branch to brush away any fallen leaves or debris that might be on the surface of the snow. Then, putting on his gloves, he scooped up the soft, white snowflakes and placed them in the earthenware pot, little by little.

Even through his ski mask, he could still feel the chill of the snowflakes.

As he scooped it up, he could smell its unique, fresh scent.

Before long, Li Xu had filled two earthenware pots.

He brought the earthenware pots back to the courtyard.

The stove was already lit, and the temperature in the room was gradually rising.

But Li Xu didn’t stay inside.

It had been a long time since he’d seen such heavy, beautiful snow.

He wanted to admire it a little longer.

In the courtyard,

Li Xu tilted his head back and gazed at the sky. Snowflakes were still drifting down, each one light and beautiful.

In the vast, white world, there was only him and the endless snow.

At that moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility, temporarily forgetting the clamor of the clinic, the hounding of the media, and the troubles of the mortal world.

"It’s so beautiful."

Li Xu sighed in admiration.

He was so captivated that he was reluctant to even blink.

However, it was simply too cold outside.

After half an hour, Li Xu was shivering from the cold.

He ducked back into the house.

The wood in the stove was burning with a CRACKLE and POP.

The radiating warmth felt incredibly comfortable.

’If I had simply walked into a room with a stove, it wouldn’t have felt nearly this comfortable.’

’Only through contrast can I appreciate this feeling.’

’It’s beautiful outside, and warm inside.’

At this moment,

’I don’t even want to go back anymore.’

’Living here forever, in this paradise-like place, wouldn’t be so bad.’

’But...’

’It’s just a fleeting thought.’

’Who can truly let go of the outside world?’

Li Xu lay on the wooden plank bed, covered with a thick cotton quilt, listening to the whistling wind outside and the crackling of the fire in the stove.

He felt completely relaxed, from the tips of his toes to the ends of his hair.

The fatigue from a full day of travel and the chill of collecting snow late at night all melted away into a deep drowsiness, and he soon drifted off into a sweet slumber.

With no alarm to jolt him awake and no city noise to disturb him, Li Xu slept until he woke up naturally.

Outside the window, the sky was already bright. Soft morning light filtered through the dusty glass, casting a halo of light into the room.

He stretched lazily, feeling his entire body loosen up. The fatigue from the previous night was completely gone.

This long-lost, completely relaxing sleep left him feeling incredibly refreshed.

However, when he climbed out from under the quilt, a wave of cold air hit him.

It turned out the wood in the stove had long since burned out, leaving only a few faint embers. The room’s temperature had dropped again.

Li Xu rubbed his hands together, skillfully added a few more pieces of firewood, and used the fire tongs to poke at the remaining embers.

Before long, new flames began to dance.

Warmth once again began to spread through the room.

He took out the food he had brought in his travel bag—a few packs of bread, several boxes of self-heating rice, and some sausages and instant noodles.

They were all non-perishable, ready-to-eat foods, enough to last him five days here.

He planned to wait until the snow on the mountain roads melted a bit, making it passable for vehicles, before going down to the town to restock his supplies and take care of the land lease paperwork.

’For the next few days, I’ll just live as a ’hermit’ here.’

Li Xu savored this rare moment of peace and quiet.

After a simple breakfast, Li Xu began to deal with the two earthenware pots filled with snow.

He went into the courtyard and looked for a corner that was sheltered from the wind but faced the sun.

Burying the pots was not an easy task.

The bottom layer of snow was frozen as hard as a rock. Every swing of the hoe was met with a dull THUD that sent a numbing shock up his arms.

Moreover, although the snow had stopped, the whistling mountain wind deep in Qinling showed no sign of abating, lashing his face with a piercing, ice-like chill.

In no time, Li Xu had worked up a sweat, and fine ice crystals clung to his forehead and temples.

He felt waves of cold rising from the soles of his feet and knew he couldn’t delay any longer. He quickly and carefully placed the two earthenware pots into the hole, covering them tightly with the excavated earth and snow.

After finishing, Li Xu hurried back into the house.

The fire in the stove was burning brightly, and the warmth inside felt incredibly comforting.

He took off his thick gloves and hat, poured a cup of hot water, and slowly warmed his hands.

This feeling of returning to warmth from the bitter cold gave him a deeper appreciation for the small joys in life.

’The bread I had for breakfast was convenient, but the taste is pretty bland.’

’I’ll be staying here for a few more days,’ Li Xu thought. ’I can’t just eat this stuff the whole time.’

’Qinling is the dividing line between the north and south of the Dragon Country. Although the northern slope is cold and snowy in winter, its natural resources are just as abundant.’

Bailingyu Village was on the northern slope. He mulled it over. ’I might as well take advantage of the peace and quiet these next few days to wander up the mountain. Maybe I can find something good to eat.’

He first went to the area behind the village, to the final resting place of Elder Zhou Shugen and his dog, Da Huang.

Li Xu stood silently before the grave for a moment and lit a stick of incense.

Covered in winter snow, the burial mound looked even more peaceful and solemn.

After paying his respects, Li Xu returned to Elder Zhou’s house, found a hoe, grabbed a large cloth sack, and headed out again toward the mountain forest behind the village.

The mountain path was covered in thick snow, and every step sank deep.

But Li Xu’s mood was exceptionally light.

He followed a faint, barely visible trail, slowly making his way up.

Winter in Qinling, though harsh, had a unique charm.

Beneath the white snow, all things were silent, but upon closer inspection, one could discover nature’s vibrant life force.