Chapter 162: I Still Prefer Being Alone

Mang means vastness.
Cliff means precipice.
Whenever these two characters are placed together, Lin Shenlu's mind invariably recalls the lyrics of a certain song:
The vast, boundless horizon is my love!
……
As a tremendously famous salt lake along National Highway 315, its exquisite beauty is deeply yearning.
Many people say that the Mangya Emerald Lake is the most breathtaking among the tens of thousands of salt lakes along the entire Northwest travel route.
Among the salt lakes of various colors encountered along the road—whether blue, green, white, or yellow—not a single one possesses a hue as intensely verdant as the Mangya Emerald Lake.
It is a shade of imperial green.
Perhaps even jade of the imperial green variety lacks such a crystalline, translucent clarity.
This is the reason for Lin Shenlu's mystical longing.
After driving for a long time, a simple directional sign appeared at an intersection.
Mangya Emerald Lake.
Along National Highway 315, many sights have gradually devolved into internet-famous tourist traps.
Take Chaka Salt Lake, for instance... Compared to other landscapes, it has long been established and widely recognized by many.
It has already transformed into a maturely operated scenic area with standardized management, bearing an uncanny resemblance to those fair-skinned, long-legged online influencers.
As for the Mangya Emerald Lake, it is sprinting headlong down the path of internet fame—
It belongs to the category of being retouched yet unreleased.
Following the directions on the road sign, they turned onto a bumpy dirt road and arrived at a place that resembled a grand entrance.
A staff member came over to collect the admission fee: ten yuan per vehicle.
This is the advantage of attractions that have yet to become household names.
No entrance tickets, no sightseeing fees, only a ten-yuan parking fee per car, which is truly a bargain compared to the various exorbitant charges at Ebolang.
Much like the origins of numerous plateau salt lakes, this place was originally an industrial mining area. Purely by chance, its stunning aesthetics gradually brought it fame, turning it into a destination where tourists flock to check in.
Thus, the rough, rugged masculine vigor and the delicate, exquisite feminine charm are seamlessly and naturally blended together.
I am naturally a heroic son, not a delicate maiden...
Not far away, a huge stone tablet stood horizontally on the ground near the lakeshore.
On the grey stone slab, five prominent characters were inscribed in red.
Mangya Emerald Lake.
The color is truly of the highest caliber.
It is fair to say that among all the salt lakes encountered along the way, this one is crowned as the champion of color.
And there is indeed a good reason for this.
The white saline sediment within the lake forms intricate patterns, paired with pools of refreshing emerald-green water.
The contrast between these two hues is genuinely comforting to the eye.
Moreover, the salt lakes here are not confined to a single location; because it is an industrial salt-mining zone,
it resembles neat, square paddy fields.
Vast expanses of emerald-colored lakes are arranged in orderly rows.
From a drone's perspective, the view is remarkably striking.
The color of this water is so magnificent that it requires no filters whatsoever to uplift one's spirits and soothe the mind.
It is utterly gorgeous.
After parking his car, Lin Shenlu's very first task:
Filling up his water bottle.
Glug, glug.
Gurgle, gurgle.
……
Under the sunlight, the Emerald Lake shimmered with an extraordinary palette.
It closely resembled the warm colors of paradise.
"Let's take a group photo together!" He Ku'er suddenly proposed.
The group gathered around, looking at one another...
"This can be considered the very first group photo of our Rose Squad... Though we don't know how many more people we might encounter along the way... we are also nearing the destination..." said He Ku'er.
"Before the curtain falls, let's leave behind a memory together!" He Ku'er said with a smile.
One must admit that this proposal was exceptionally interesting.
After all, who knows when the next reunion might be.
And whether there will even be a next meeting in life remains a question.
It was rare for everyone to gather like this.
At He Ku'er's suggestion, everyone nodded in agreement, saying there was no problem.
"Come on, Lord Captain, the center position is yours!" He Ku'er said with a smile.
"Sister An is tall, so stand right here!" He Ku'er assumed the role of an on-site director, placing An Muxi right beside Lin Shenlu.
Standing on one side of An Muxi, in order, were Naihe, Si Kaka, and Li Bailing.
Meanwhile, He Ku'er stood on the other side of Lin Shenlu, with Ruedi Yan and the newly arrived Li Lu stationed next to her.
"Mister! Please help us take a photo!" He Ku'er shouted with a smile to a man not far away who had just stepped out of a red Jeep.
The man took one look and saw a group of beautiful women... and trotted over with delight.
"No problem... How would you like it taken? I'm very professional! Would you like me to use my phone... and we can add each other on WeChat later so I can send it to you?" The bald man said to He Ku'er.
Clearly, He Ku'er's black stockings today were deeply captivating to the man.
……
"Wait... Li Lu, bring your Tuanzi and Wanzi over too, let's all be in it!" He Ku'er called out.
Wanzi was cradled in Lin Shenlu's arms, while Tuanzi nestled against An Muxi's chest.
With the sound of a shutter click, the nine people, one dog, and one cat preserved this memory.
"Hurry and post it in the group chat... I'm posting it on my Moments!" Naihe shouted eagerly.
The photographs taken beside the Emerald Lake were truly stunning, requiring no filters at all.
Soon, Lin Shenlu noticed that everyone in the group chat had posted to their Moments.
This group photo flooded his feed within a short span of time.
Swiping his finger across the screen to view the identical photo updated by the few people who had added him as a friend, Lin Shenlu silently... found himself at a loss for what to think.
He did not post it to his own Moments, nor did he like any of the posts...
……
Gazing out at the beautiful Emerald Lake, Lin Shenlu walked slowly.
The scenery here was magnificent, and everyone who came was a self-driving traveler.
Aside from Lin Shenlu's team camper vans parked on the road between two salt lakes, many other visitors were strolling around nearby.
Just like the bald man who had helped take their photo moments ago.
Indeed, there were quite a few vehicles and people here.
Along both sides of the narrow dirt road, numerous self-driving cars were parked, among which a vibrant red Jeep radiated an undeniable dash of swagger, making it the most eye-catching of all.
Figures in straw hats and long red dresses drifted back and forth before his eyes; with similar attire, similar poses, and similar expressions under the dazzling sunlight, it became momentarily impossible to distinguish whether they were young online-influencer maidens or middle-aged aunties on a tour.
Lin Shenlu nodded inwardly, realizing that the bald man was no ordinary fellow either.
Traveling with a minor internet celebrity... or perhaps a middle-aged auntie with a silk scarf.
……
Lin Shenlu continued walking forward...
In the distance, under the scorching sun, he saw a crowd of people standing in a queue!
What on earth was there to queue up for in a place like this?
Lin Shenlu looked closer... Ah, it turned out to be the famous transparent boat check-in spot.
A staff member was responsible for pulling the small boat. After paying a fee, tourists would take off their shoes and board the boat. The staff member would push the boat out into the lake, take photos, pull it back to the shore, and let the next person on.
Another staff member was in charge of operating a drone to take photos and videos, skillfully instructing tourists to strike various standard poses—
Just like the scene at Dongtai Jiyin'er.
An Muxi even went over to give it a try.
Although the resulting photographic effect was indeed quite good,
it felt rather like an assembly line in a factory...
Mass-produced and standardized.
Therefore, this time, unexpectedly, all seven young women in the vehicles refrained from stepping forward.
Perhaps they had also grown immune to such manufactured settings.
Lin Shenlu and his companions did not linger long this time; after simple photography, framing, and filling up their water bottles, they chose to depart.
The place where they intended to spend the night had not yet been reached.
And they had indeed seen plenty of salt lakes along the way.
Most of them shared that familiar filter-heavy aesthetic.
Moreover, similar photographs had already been taken in abundance throughout the journey.
Consequently, the young women had lost much of their enthusiasm.
Having traveled together for seven or eight days... everyone was thoroughly exhausted.
Everyone was looking forward to getting a good night's rest.
Anyone familiar with the route knew that
upon reaching this point, the journey along National Highway 315 was practically nearing its end.
Lin Shenlu studied the map.
He discovered... that Huatugou, a place he originally had no intention of visiting, was now an absolute must-visit.
Because both the Aiken Spring and the Mangya Emerald Lake were relatively close sights surrounding Huatugou.
And departing from Mangya today... if they were to press onward, their next stop would be the Kunlun Mountains Grand Canyon...
And then they would enter the Kekexili uninhabited wilderness.
From Kekexili to Golmud basically marked the final station of Kashgar...
Concluding the entire National Highway 315 expedition.
Therefore, continuing forward at this moment was clearly inappropriate.
The distance was too great, and there were no suitable transit stops for rest.
Only the town of Huatugou was suitable for resting for the night, before resuming the journey the next day.
Having calculated the itinerary, Lin Shenlu had no choice but to drive everyone toward Huatugou.
Although Huatugou boasted an airport, Lin Shenlu discovered that this place... was genuinely close to the airport.
In other cities, airports were typically located tens or even over a hundred kilometers away from the urban center.
Whereas from the Huatugou Airport to the urban area... a mere seven or eight kilometers sufficed.
Perhaps this was precisely why it was such a breathtaking destination for travel.
Driving around for quite a while, Lin Shenlu and his group finally selected a reasonably decent hotel.
Huatugou Luxury Boutique Hotel.
Lin Shenlu and Li Lu chose a sun-projection twin room.
Naihe and her three sisters took a travel-projection triple room.
An Muxi stayed alone in a quiet projection king-size room.
He Ku'er and Yan Wen shared a king-size room together.
It was unclear when it had started, but the relationship between He Ku'er and Yan Wen had grown remarkably harmonious.
Throughout the journey, the two of them had unexpectedly become inseparable best friends.
It was probably because Yan Wen had been invited to join the trip by He Ku'er.
Ruedi stayed in a single king-size room; this beautiful Uyghur girl was remarkably quiet, spending every day admiring the scenery and silently driving her vehicle right behind Lin Shenlu.
Li Lu's cat, Wanzi, and dog, Tuanzi, stayed in the room with her.
These two adorable little creatures had not been well-behaved from the very beginning.
Especially upon entering the room, the two little fellows began to frolic wildly.
The dog chased the cat around in circles.
What sheer joy.
Lin Shenlu did not mind the noise; instead, he sat down with his laptop to write his travel diary for the past two days.
Li Lu fed food to the cat and dog by herself.
Gradually, the night grew quiet.
For the past two days, Lin Shenlu had been deep in thought.
Pondering about himself.
Ever since setting out from Xining... the group of people had steadily grown larger along the way.
Now, upon careful calculation, they unexpectedly formed a squad of nine members...
This was enough of a crew to set sail in search of the ultimate treasure and become the King of the Pirates.
The question Lin Shenlu was mulling over was what kind of travel truly suited him.
From the initial departure to the current approach to the destination.
As the number of traveling companions increased,
the matters Lin Shenlu had to consider also multiplied.
The responsibilities he had to look after grew heavier as well.
Under normal circumstances, one might feel lonely while traveling, or perhaps seek companions.
Yet a single person was more than enough.
Therefore, during his previous travels in places like Dali or Lishui, he had at most paired up with one or two individuals.
For the most part, he still preferred traveling alone.
As the group swelled over the past few days, aside from a fleeting sense of shared camaraderie among fellow wanderers... he felt overwhelmingly tired and exhausted.
Perhaps it was his first time acting as a captain...
Perhaps it was his first time discovering that enjoying carefree freedom during a journey was ultimately the best way.
After all, someone once said that if two people take a trip together once, they will know whether they are suited for each other.
Because by interacting closely for many consecutive days, one discovers whether two personalities mesh well.
If that holds true for two people, it applies doubly so for a group of eight or nine.
There will invariably be numerous frustrations alongside the happiness and joy.
For instance, He Ku'er playing inside the camper van with her little Teddy dog... who accidentally relieved itself inside the vehicle...
Uh... it was the little Teddy dog that pooped...
For instance, Yan Wen loved sending voice messages in the WeChat group in the middle of the night.
For instance, Si Kaka disliked washing her hair, and her greasy locks became her trademark.
For instance, whenever Lin Shenlu wanted to linger a bit longer to take photos and sketch in solitude... someone would always urge, "Let's go, hurry up, let's go..."
Lin Shenlu never admitted to being an eccentric artist.
Yet the things he loved and was accustomed to were precisely of this nature.
According to Lin Shenlu's original itinerary... this route was meant to take over ten days.
Yet now, for reasons unknown, they had sped through the journey.
And they were rapidly approaching the finish line.
Lin Shenlu hadn't even visited Lenghu or the Dachaidan Emerald Lake as he had originally planned...
He hadn't even made a detour to see Dunhuang's Crescent Lake...
In Lin Shenlu's own words, his National Highway 315 Northwest expedition could have lasted a whole month, and it wouldn't have mattered, as long as they explored every worthwhile place along the route.
Yet all along the way, spot after spot was crossed off because one person didn't want to go, while another was anxious to reach the destination...
After all, the meaning and purpose of travel varied for each individual.
Therefore, over the past few days... Lin Shenlu had been reflecting...
Should he shoulder his responsibilities as captain and mediate everyone's issues...
Or choose to remain a free spirit.
Despite the old saying:
Though one may be a free spirit in the mortal world, one's body is not truly free.
Those who genuinely yearn for freedom are often unfree.
While those who never obsess over freedom are the freest of all.
Because the definition of freedom is granted by oneself, not by others.
Even if I find myself locked inside a cage, I still feel free.
Yet you see me dwelling on an island, surrounded by sunshine, sandy beaches, coconut trees, and seafood... feeling utterly liberated, while I am merely a banished prisoner.
Freedom is never something perceived or defined by others.
Freedom is always something one feels for oneself.
And at this moment, Lin Shenlu felt unfree.
Should he just ditch them tomorrow when they reached the Kunlun Mountains Grand Canyon, or the Kekexili uninhabited area...
Lin Shenlu thought with a wicked grin.
Consider it a lesson learned.
Bringing He Ku'er along on this trip had laid a shaky foundation from the very start.
Next time... Lin Shenlu would definitely learn his lesson.
He gazed at the photos taken during the day on his phone.
It was a group photo of nine people standing beside the Mangya Emerald Lake.
Everyone had posted it to their Moments.
It bore the unmistakable appearance of a tight-knit travel squad.
Lin Shenlu smiled.
He seemed to recall He Ku'er chasing after him every day, calling him "Uncle" and begging to ride a motorcycle, alternating between being sweet-natured and throwing adorable tantrums.
He remembered how joyful it was to listen to Yan Wen speak with her rich Northeastern accent every day.
He recalled how Li Lu brought warmth to everyone through her cat and dog.
He remembered Naihe and her sisters bickering and bantering... creating a lively atmosphere.
He recalled how cool and taciturn Ruedi was, yet she would quietly charge his phone and pour him water whenever he needed help...
Weren't these people genuinely adorable...
Lin Shenlu smiled.
Forget it... People in the dead of night are most prone to chaotic trains of thought.
This was midnight anxiety syndrome.
That was why people said the night was never a suitable time to make any major decisions.
And why there was that piece of advice... before going to sleep every night, forgive everyone and everything.
Lin Shenlu tapped on the photo and broke all precedent by posting it to his Moments.
Accompanied by the caption: Road trip along 315, Rose Squad checks in at Mangya Emerald Lake!
Alright, alright, I feel much better now. Who doesn't have their annoying moments after all?
For instance, didn't he frequently make others wait for a long time?
For instance, didn't he accidentally back his Jeep Cherokee into a stone monument...
Without Ruedi getting angry...
For instance, didn't he speed in his Cybertank and give a tire a massive bulge...
Without He Ku'er complaining...
For instance, didn't he scoop the puppy out of Yan Wen's arms and accidentally brush against her 36D... soft assets...
Without Yan Wen uttering a word...
Bustling and lively, courteous and polite, adorable and eccentric...
This was probably the true essence of it all.
Never mind, never mind... He forgave them.
He wouldn't abandon them in the uninhabited area tomorrow.
He would escort them all the way to the finish line...
Soon, a few likes and comments appeared beneath his Moments post.
The likes came from Naihe, Yan Wen, and the perpetually silent Ruedi.
The comments were written by An Muxi and He Ku'er.
Lost in the Evening Breeze: Our goal was supposed to be eleven people, you know.
Lin Shenlu replied with a smile...
Maiden Abductor: Are you seriously planning to go become the Pirate King! Well, actually, I'm the man who's going to become the Pirate King.
Death is a Bittersweet Struggle: Cheer on, cheer on, charge, charge, charge... Rose Squad!!!
Maiden Abductor: I'm throwing you into the river tomorrow.
……
Goodnight.
……
Late at night.
A pitch-black room.
Blue Whale lay on the bed.
She had been busy all day, utterly exhausted.
The mobile signal here was rather poor, and the living conditions were somewhat subpar.
Yet there was no helping it; this was Blue Whale's obsession.
Having busied herself all day, Blue Whale took a quick shower and returned to the bed to rest.
Indeed, Su Bao'er was already fast asleep on the bed.
Blue Whale gently pulled the blanket over herself.
Then, she absentmindedly turned on her phone.
She had been too busy all day to even check her WeChat Moments.
Only at this moment of leisure did she finally fiddle with her device.
The faint glow of the phone screen illuminated Blue Whale's face.
Behind Blue Whale, Su Bao'er slept soundly and innocently.
Blue Whale scrolled through her Moments.
She spotted Lin Shenlu's latest update.
Blue Whale thought to herself that this guy had finally made it to the Mangya Emerald Lake...
In the photo, Lin Shenlu stood at the center, flanked by the familiar figure of An Muxi.
An Muxi wore a radiant smile, prompting Blue Whale to let out a soft sigh.
If only it were her...
On Lin Shenlu's other side was a young and beautiful girl in black stockings...
Was she standing that close to Lin Shenlu?
Aside from a sunny-looking six-foot-tall young man standing at the very edge, the entire group consisted exclusively of beauties...
Especially Lin Shenlu and An Muxi in the front row, cradling a cat and a dog together...
She wanted to leave a silent like, but couldn't bring herself to do it.
She wanted to type out a comment, but deleted it instead.
"Bao'er... are you asleep?" Blue Whale asked softly.
"Ha... snort... ha... snort..."
"Forget it... consider it a surprise..."