Chapter 274: The Storm

When the two young women stepped out of the car, they immediately drew the attention of everyone around them. Whether it was Yuan Yu or Huang Caixing, their appearances and temperaments were one in a million. Standing there, even without doing anything, they seemed to bask in the spotlight.

Because they were preparing to climb a mountain, both dressed carefully before heading out.

Yuan Yu wore a white blouse, a pink dress, and white stockings. Her waist-length hair was tied at the ends, her slender figure and long, graceful legs radiating an unspoken purity and charm, as though she had stepped straight out of a painting.

In contrast, Huang Caixing chose a black T-shirt and tight-fitting jeans. Her lively and adorable face created a striking contrast with her outfit.

If Yuan Yu resembled a pure and lovable elf, then Huang Caixing was a playful and alluring sprite.

Anyone who laid eyes on them, regardless of age or gender, couldn’t help but light up and find themselves unable to look away.

Feeling self-conscious under so many gazes, Yuan Yu instinctively grabbed Lin Xiao’s arm with her small hand, as if only this connection could give her a sense of security.

Huang Caixing, on the other hand, had a far more outgoing personality. Having been the center of attention since childhood, she was long used to ignoring such stares. After stepping out of the car, she casually looked around, showing no signs of unease.

Lin Xiao opened the trunk of the Cayenne and pulled out a massive backpack filled with supplies Huang Caixing had prepared for the trip—food, water, and everything needed for the climb.

Despite the heavy load, Lin Xiao carried it effortlessly, as though it weighed nothing at all.

Hoisting the backpack over his shoulders, Lin Xiao hesitated for a moment before retrieving a foot-long sheathed dagger from the trunk. After strapping it to his calf, he shut the trunk.

“Let’s go. Time to climb,” he said.

With that, Lin Xiao led the way toward the mountain trail of Boulder Mountain, with Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing following close behind.

“Big Brother Lin, will we encounter danger?” Huang Caixing asked, noticing the dagger strapped to his leg.

“Better safe than sorry,” Lin Xiao replied succinctly.

The three began their ascent from the base of Boulder Mountain. At first, they frequently encountered other climbers with the same destination in mind, but as they climbed higher, the number of fellow hikers dwindled until none were in sight.

Boulder Mountain, with an altitude of over 3,000 meters and sprawling across dozens of kilometers, was surrounded by undulating mountain ranges. Many areas remained untouched by human footsteps, preserving the landscape’s pristine, jungle-like appearance.

Relaxing in the tranquil environment, Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing flitted around Lin Xiao, picking up oddities from the ground and asking him endless questions.

“Big Brother Lin, what is this?”

“Big Brother Lin, look at this rock, doesn’t it look like a human face?”

“Big Brother Lin, what kind of bird is that? Its colors are so beautiful.”

Their chatter filled the air with energy and curiosity.

However, their stamina didn’t match their enthusiasm. After half an hour of climbing, they were out of breath, each clinging to one of Lin Xiao’s arms and relying on him to keep moving forward.

In stark contrast, Lin Xiao, carrying a heavy backpack and practically dragging the two of them along, hadn’t even broken a sweat. His endurance was nothing short of astonishing.

“Big Brother Lin, I can’t go any further. Can you carry me?” Huang Caixing pleaded, clutching his arm while panting, her face flushed and glistening with sweat. Her fair skin, tinged with a rosy hue, exuded a captivating allure.

Yuan Yu shot Huang Caixing a sharp look.

Though Huang Caixing’s stamina was flagging, Yuan Yu, with even less physical endurance, was utterly spent. She didn’t even have the strength to speak and could only lean against Lin Xiao, shuffling forward step by step.

Seeing the two girls in such a state, Lin Xiao sighed.

“Let’s take a break.”

From the start of their climb until now, they had barely covered a kilometer. If Lin Xiao had been alone, he would have reached the peak long ago. But these two delicate young women were significantly slowing him down.

Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing collapsed onto a large rock nearby, pulling out handkerchiefs to wipe their sweat.

Lin Xiao stood nearby, gazing at the sky.

At some point, dark clouds had gathered overhead, obscuring the sun. Gusts of wind howled through the trees, rustling the leaves loudly.

The air was heavy with the foreboding of an approaching storm.

Huang Xinyu’s instincts had been spot on. It wasn’t just going to rain, it was going to pour.

“Once you’re rested, we’re heading back down,” Lin Xiao said decisively.

No sooner had he spoken than a deafening clap of thunder erupted overhead, followed by a torrential downpour.

Summer storms often arrived without warning, and this one was no exception.

“Rain already? That was fast,” Huang Caixing exclaimed, startled as she wiped her sweat.

“Can you still walk?” Lin Xiao asked, tightening the straps on his backpack. His sharp intuition told him they needed to get off the mountain immediately.

“Yes!” Yuan Yu forced herself to stand, but after two steps, her legs gave out, and she nearly fell.

Lin Xiao reacted quickly, catching her just in time.

Clinging to his hand, Yuan Yu trembled slightly. Thunder was her greatest fear. Even indoors, it robbed her of sleep, let alone out in the wilderness.

Huang Caixing, though physically stronger, was also visibly shaken by the storm. “Big Brother Lin, maybe we should find shelter and wait it out. The rain might stop soon, and then we can continue climbing.”

Reluctant to give up on their outing, she looked at him hopefully.

The rain intensified, accompanied by a barrage of thunder. It was as if the sky itself had torn open, unleashing a deluge.

Frightened by the thunder, Yuan Yu threw herself into Lin Xiao’s arms, clinging tightly to his waist with her eyes squeezed shut. Though Huang Caixing handled it better, she too clung to Lin Xiao’s arm, unwilling to let go.

If Lin Xiao were alone, descending the mountain would be easy. But with the two of them, it was impossible under these conditions.

In mere moments, their clothes were soaked through, clinging to their bodies and accentuating their delicate curves.

Wrapping his arms around their shoulders, Lin Xiao scanned the area and said, “We’ll find shelter first and wait for the rain to lighten before heading down.”