Chapter 424: Entering the Kunlun Mountains

Lin Meng searched online for a few remote deep mountains and old forests, finally selecting the breakthrough site in the Kunlun Mountains.

It is said that next month will be the day the mountain is closed off; at that time even the mountain guardians will retreat from the deep mountains to the villages at the mountain's base to avoid disaster.

Heavy snow sealing the mountain is normal procedure; deep in the Kunlun Mountains, it is said even the most advanced technology cannot penetrate, and no one knows what truly lies inside.

With the mountain sealed, that place is practically tailor-made for Lin Meng.

If there were some spiritual energy, it would be even better.

Thinking this, Lin Meng simply packed her supplies and booked a ticket to Kunlun Mountain.

Her aunt and uncle were uneasy about her traveling far, originally wanting to accompany her, but Lin Meng refused.

"Aunt, don't worry, I'm all grown up now and can take care of myself; my cousin has been studying hard lately, so stay with him and also help me look after the house, and someone needs to feed Xiao Jinzi."

"By the way, if you run into any trouble, feel free to go next door and ask Ye Chenjing for help; I'll give him a heads-up."

Lin Cuihua shook her head upon hearing this; she wasn't worried about herself, now living in a mansion, her son also having a way forward, they had nothing to worry about, but instead they worried more about Lin Meng.

But Lin Cuihua also knew that this niece of hers had her own career and secrets; meddling too much as an elder would not be good, so she could only worry while seeing her off.

On the departure flight, Lin Meng lounged lazily in a first-class seat awaiting takeoff.

Now she also has some wealth, no need to wrong herself; when it's time to enjoy, she shouldn't be stingy.

After landing, Lin Meng found a local guide and rushed nonstop toward Kunlun Mountain.

The guide was a young man, his skin tanned wheat-colored, his features well-defined and handsome, a healthy pretty boy.

Handsome Lin Yang fell for Lin Meng at first sight; he had been a guide for three years and had received many celebrity groups, yet this was the first time he'd seen such a captivating girl.

"You're Lin Meng? I'm also surnamed Lin; we really have fate."

Lin Yang's smile beamed; he was completely a sunny, outgoing young man.

Lin Meng rarely sees such a model; meeting a guide who is both handsome and close in age is not easy, so she was also very enthusiastic toward him.

"Hey handsome, I notice most local guides are over fifty; you're so young yet already a gold-medal guide—how did you manage that?"

Many people come to Kunlun Mountain each year to explore; the local tourism industry is developed, also giving rise to various specialized professions, of which guides are the most crucial.

Kunlun Mountain is year-round covered in heavy snow, its geomagnetic field complex; even precise equipment fails in the mountains, and only guides familiar with the area can bring visitors to the designated spots.

Ordinary guides have little experience and limited ability, only able to take tourists around the villages.

To enter the true Kunlun Mountains, one must rely on a gold-medal guide.

But such guides are scarce in the whole tourism area—only a few exist, and they are expensive and hard to book.

Lin Meng was also lucky this time; she happened to meet the boy named Lin Yang returning to work and taking orders, and she snapped him up with a high price.

Hearing this, Lin Yang felt a bit shy, scratching his head modestly and said:

"Three generations of my family have guarded Kunlun Mountain; my grandfather was the previous generation's mountain guardian, and I've been going into the mountains with him since I was young—don't let my age fool you, my mountain experience already matches many of the older generation."

"Lin Meng, hiring me will not disappoint you; I'm younger than those experienced veterans, full of strength, and carrying you into the mountain is no problem."

After speaking, Lin Yang scratched his head bashfully; he truly wanted to carry Lin Meng into the mountain.

Such a beautiful girl coming here to play will inevitably suffer; he actually felt reluctant to see Lin Meng endure hardship.

Lin Meng nodded upon hearing this; the young man didn't seem to be lying, and if he had the ability to bring her into the mountains, there would be no problem.

Actually, entering the mountain is not difficult for Lin Meng; with her cultivation and methods, even going alone into the deepest parts of the Kunlun Mountains would not be a problem.

However, this time she had other purposes for entering the mountain; bringing a local guide would let her understand the whole Kunlun Mountain better.

After confirming the departure time, Lin Meng rested in a luxurious suite at the mountain base scenic area.

Kunlun Mountain is a popular scenic spot; although the environment is harsh, the number of people coming each year for tourism and exploration is not small, and it is especially favored by the wealthy.

The locality has put great effort into tourism development, knowing that the wealthy cannot endure hardship, thus spending huge sums to build many luxury hotels.

Upon just arriving at the scenic area village, Lin Meng almost thought she had taken a wrong turn.

Rather than say this is a mountain-foot village, it's more direct to call it a gold-digging den.

Before returning to the hotel, Lin Yang gave Lin Meng a deluxe hardcover travel manual, specially tailored for explorers.

Ordinary tourists can't afford the high guide fees, so the tourist routes are simple, with few choices—basically just to admire Kunlun Mountain's grandeur and feel some speed and excitement on a small slope.

For high-spending players, the options are much greater: entering the mountains, experiencing extreme environments, and appreciating the ultimate landscapes only visible inside the mountains, so there are many tour routes.

The one Lin Yang gave is of the highest standard; as a gold-medal guide, those challenging tour routes are a piece of cake for him.

Lin Meng briefly flipped through it; the farthest route described merely crosses a mountain ridge, from which one can see the ice lake and forest beyond—actually not much.

Yet this seemingly simple route still has an annual death rate that deters people; occasionally someone with bad luck encounters extreme weather on the way, ultimately getting lost and dying of hypothermia.

Lin Yang sent a message, advising Lin Meng not to choose that most dangerous tourist route.

He said: "Don't look at the short straight-line distance of this route, but once you enter the mountain range, any equipment will fail; if you happen to encounter a violent blizzard, it will be extremely dangerous."

The danger isn't anything else, but once you lose your direction, trying to return to the tourist route becomes very difficult.

In the deep mountains blanketed with ice and snow, once a person loses their way, the only thing awaiting them is death.

Lin Meng flipped through the booklet, then finally replied to Lin Yang's message.

"Get ready; I plan to choose Route No. 9—don't let me down, Mr. Gold-Medal Guide."

After sending this message, Lin Yang received it immediately.

He stared at the text on his phone for a long time, unable to calm down.

The seemingly delicate, pretty young lady actually ended up choosing the very route he least recommended.

Route No. 9 is also called the Death Route; throughout Kunlun Mountain's tourism history, few wealthy people have chosen this route.

The wealthy like to spend money for thrills, but they fear death even more.

The next day, Lin Meng and Lin Yang met; the young man appeared quite nervous and still wanted to advise Lin Meng to think it over.

Lin Meng only asked one question: "How are the equipment and supplies prepared? Can you guarantee I'll get to see the beautiful ice lake and ice‑bound forest?"