4: Sunrise at the summit

"Brother Jiang, wake up, the sun is about to rise!"

Ya Ya called out softly.

When Jiang Yuan woke up, the sky was already a fish-belly white, with the deep inky darkness tinged by a faint orange-red, like a gradually changing oil painting.

He abruptly sat up, his head still a bit groggy, but the magnificent scene before him instantly sobered him.

Ya Ya also stood up, her eyes bright and fixed on the east. She turned her head, her voice filled with excitement: "Brother Jiang, look, the sun is about to rise!"

Jiang Yuan rubbed his eyes and looked towards the light that was about to burst forth.

On Jade Emperor Peak, the strong wind still blew, but the approaching light seemed to dispel some of its chill.

Countless climbers crowded the summit, each holding their breath, gazing intently in the same direction, awaiting the arrival of that sacred moment.

It was a solemn yet hopeful atmosphere, one that irresistibly drew people in.

Jiang Yuan's heart couldn't help but quicken. He took a deep breath of the cold, fresh air, feeling the pulse of this ancient mountain peak.

He recalled everything from last night, from that ordinary small shop to the summit of Mount Tai today, like an unreal dream.

However, the huge balance in the bank card in his pocket, and the clearly visible system interface in his mind, reminded him that all of this was real and true.

Just then, the orange-red hue of the sky reached its peak, and a dazzling golden light suddenly tore through the darkness before dawn.

Immediately after, a majestic red sun, like a newborn infant, slowly and tremblingly rose from below the horizon.

First, a corner appeared, then a semicircle, and finally, the entire enormous fireball hung high in the eastern sky, and ten thousand rays of light instantly filled the heavens and earth.

"Ah—"

Exclamations and praises erupted from the mountaintop, as everyone was awestruck by this magnificent and grand spectacle.

The golden sunlight instantly pierced through the clouds, dyeing the sea of clouds a brilliant Lapis Lazuli, and the entire world seemed to be lit up at this moment.

Jiang Yuan stared blankly at everything before him, his heart filled with an indescribable shock and excitement.

This was not just a sunrise; it was the prologue to his new life.

The ordinariness and constraints of the past were completely dispelled with the light of this sunrise.

"Brother Jiang, let me take a picture for you."

Seeing Jiang Yuan's radiant expression, his eyes shining even brighter than the sunrise, Ya Ya seized the opportunity to suggest. She smiled and gestured for Jiang Yuan to stand in front of the "the foremost of the five great mountains" inscription, then took out her phone, ready to capture this special moment for him.

"Sure."

Jiang Yuan readily agreed. He casually took off his bulky military overcoat, revealing the fitted black shirt underneath.

He confidently stood with his back to the rising sun, letting the myriad golden rays serve as the most natural backdrop. Facing Ya Ya's camera, he curved his lips into a confident and triumphant smile, then handsomely made a "V" sign.

"Click!"

The crisp sound of the shutter rang out, and this exciting moment, along with the magnificence of Mount Tai's sunrise, was perfectly captured by the lens.

"Ding, reward successfully issued."

Just then, that familiar and pleasant system notification sound accurately rang out in Jiang Yuan's mind again, as if responding to his confidence and high spirits at that moment.

"Sunrise check-in successful, rewarding Constant Temperature Body Sensation."

Along with this brief prompt, a wonderful warm current instantly flowed through Jiang Yuan's entire body, enveloping him completely from the inside out.

The biting cold that had been present moments before vanished, replaced by a comfort akin to basking in the warm spring sun.

Not only did his body temperature become just right, but he also felt completely refreshed, as if all his fatigue had been swept away by this miraculous power.

"Brother Jiang, quickly put it on, it's too cold, don't catch a cold."

Seeing Jiang Yuan take off his thick overcoat, Ya Ya thought he only did it for the photo. She quickly picked up the overcoat, ready to drape it over him, her voice full of concern.

However, Jiang Yuan simply waved his hand, refusing her kindness.

"It's fine, I'm not cold. This coat is too ugly to wear."

His voice was relaxed and carefree, without a hint of cold. At this moment, he only wanted to fully enjoy the comfort brought by the Constant Temperature Body Sensation.

"Alright..."

Ya Ya looked at Jiang Yuan, who genuinely seemed not cold. Though a bit puzzled, she obediently put down the overcoat, a trace of curiosity in her eyes.

After taking a few more photos of the sunrise and the summit scenery, Jiang Yuan and Ya Ya decided to descend, concluding their unforgettable journey to the top of Mount Tai.

Back at South Heaven Gate, the two found a small shop that was still open and each ate a steaming bowl of noodles, warming both their stomachs and hearts.

"Brother Jiang, let's take the cable car down. I've already bought the tickets."

By now, the sky was completely bright, and the cable car was open. Ya Ya considerately opened her phone and showed the QR code for the cable car tickets.

"Alright."

Jiang Yuan nodded. Although the Constant Temperature Body Sensation kept him from feeling cold, he still needed a place to rest properly.

So, the two of them rode the cable car together, slowly descending.

Jiang Yuan had no fear of heights. Sitting in the cable car, he observed Mount Tai during the daytime with great interest.

At this moment, ancient trees soared into the sky, mountains rose one after another, and the scenery fully displayed its majestic grandeur.

Only in the daytime could one clearly see the winding mountain path of Mount Tai, like a sleeping black dragon, coiled on the ridge, stretching endlessly out of sight.

"I actually climbed this high in one night."

Jiang Yuan looked at the continuous mountain path, and couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion, genuinely proud of his overnight feat.

In about ten minutes, the cable car steadily descended to Middle Heaven Gate. Then, following Ya Ya, they took a bus along the winding mountain road towards the foot of the mountain.

During this twenty-minute bus ride, Jiang Yuan took the opportunity to close his eyes and rest for a while.

It wasn't until the bus arrived at the foot of the mountain that Ya Ya gently woke him up.

As the two got off the bus, Jiang Yuan's phone rang.

"Hello, may I speak with Mr. Jiang?"

A very formal and polite male sales voice came from the other end of the line.

"Yes, this is he."

Jiang Yuan subconsciously thought it was a spam call and was about to hang up, but then suddenly remembered the new car rewarded by the system. He forcibly resisted the urge to hang up.

"Hello, Mr. Jiang, I have driven the brabus g900 you ordered to the Mount Tai Hongmen Tourist Center parking lot. When would you like to come pick up the car?"

The sales voice became even more polite, with a hint of flattery.

"In a bit, I just arrived at the foot of the mountain."

Jiang Yuan replied casually. He then looked around and realized that this was not the Hongmen Tourist Center. So, he moved his phone away slightly and turned to Ya Ya, asking, "Ya Ya, how long does it take to get to the Hongmen Tourist Center from here?"

"It's over two kilometers to Hongmen, we'll have to take a taxi."

Ya Ya answered without hesitation.

Immediately, the two quickly opened their phones and called a Didi ride-hailing car.

"Driver, to Hongmen Tourist Center."

"Alright."

...As soon as they arrived at the parking lot, Jiang Yuan spotted a domineering SUV from afar.

It was more imposing than any other car around, and its height was more than half taller, like a dormant steel beast.

Its classic black and white color scheme was simple yet luxurious, and the entire body had clearly undergone extensive modification, exuding the stern style of a top-tier off-road vehicle.

Beside the car, a salesperson in a black suit stood there, making the colossal vehicle appear even more majestic, while he himself seemed particularly small.

"What a cool car..."

Ya Ya also noticed the eye-catching SUV and couldn't help but exclaim sincerely. She immediately took out her phone, ready to take a picture.

Before Jiang Yuan could get close, the sharp-eyed salesperson had already spotted them and quickly jogged over to greet them.

Ya Ya was startled and quickly put away her phone, thinking she had been caught secretly taking pictures. Seeing the man running straight towards them made her feel flustered.

"What should we do, Brother Jiang? Did he catch me secretly taking pictures?"

Ya Ya asked anxiously in a low voice, a hint of panic in her tone.

"It's fine, watch me."

Jiang Yuan didn't explain, but simply patted Ya Ya's shoulder gently, giving her a reassuring smile.