89: pilgrimage

Jiang Yuan spread out the Graphene Thermostatic Heating Blanket, then took out a bottle of energy drink and handed it to Lhamo.

"Drink this before you sleep."

"I'm not tired," Lhamo blinked. She felt like she could still walk another five kilometers.

"Drink it so you won't be afraid of the cold tonight. Tomorrow, we cross the Drolma La Pass, which is high altitude, so you need to be in peak condition."

Jiang Yuan shoved it into her hand without room for argument.

Lhamo obediently drank it. The drink was quite magical; it not only replenished physical energy but also seemed to soothe mental excitement, inducing a comfortable sleepiness.

The sky outside had completely darkened, and the temperature plummeted below freezing. The fierce wind howled, flapping against the outer tent fabric, making a rustling sound.

But inside the tent, the heating blanket had started working, radiating a gentle warmth.

"Sleep."

Because the space was extremely limited and they hadn't brought sleeping bags, neither of them took off their clothes. In fact, whether Jiang Yuan took his off or not, the sensation would be the same.

Jiang Yuan lay on his side, his arm naturally stretched out.

"Mhm."

Lhamo's cheeks were slightly flushed, but her movements were natural.

In such a confined space, keeping distance was impossible, and unnecessary.

Like a bird returning to its nest, she naturally snuggled into Jiang Yuan's embrace, resting her head on his arm, her entire body pressed close to his chest.

Even through their clothes, she could clearly feel the continuous heat emanating from Jiang Yuan.

For Jiang Yuan, who was already thermoregulated, he was a walking, never-ending humanoid heater.

That warm, solid feeling instantly dispelled all the coldness and unease of the high-altitude night.

Lhamo's hand rested lightly on Jiang Yuan's waist. Listening to the howling wind outside and the steady, powerful heartbeat next to her ear, the slight mental fatigue washed over her, giving her immense peace of mind.

Six o'clock in the morning.

The gorge of Driraphuk Monastery was still steeped in a deep cyan-blue hue, with only the pyramid-like summit of Mount Kailash faintly outlined by a layer of soft radiance.

Outside the tent, the wind was still blowing, but it was no longer as violent as during the night.

Jiang Yuan opened his eyes precisely on time.

Lhamo, nestled in his arms, was still asleep, her breathing long and steady. The energy drink and the aid of the heating blanket had ensured she had a high-quality sleep.

"Wake up, it's almost dawn."

Jiang Yuan gently nudged her.

Lhamo rubbed her eyes and groggily sat up. Her first reaction wasn't to complain about the cold, but to stand up quickly, without lingering in bed at all.

As expected of a girl raised on the plateau, her quick and efficient demeanor was pleasant to witness.

The two quickly packed up.

Jiang Yuan packed the high-tech tent into his backpack and led Lhamo into a large tent nearby that had a thick curtain hanging over the entrance—this was a temporary Sweet Tea House run by Tibetans near the monastery.

As soon as they lifted the curtain, a rich, warm aroma of yak butter, mixed with the smoky scent of a yak dung stove, rushed out.

This was right; this was a Tibetan Area morning.

Inside, quite a few Kora pilgrims were already seated, holding their bowls, their faces flushed red by the stove fire.

"A-Jia, a pot of Butter Tea and two bowls of noodles."

Jiang Yuan and Lhamo found an empty table and sat down.

Before long, the proprietress came over carrying a large thermos and served two steaming bowls of Tibetan Noodles in bone broth.

The Butter Tea was poured into the bowls, with a thick layer of oil floating on the surface.

Jiang Yuan picked up his bowl, blew on it a couple of times, and took a big gulp.

Salty, fragrant, rich, and hot—the warmth traveled down his throat and scalded his stomach.

"Eat more. This section today will be quite difficult."

Jiang Yuan pushed the noodles closer to Lhamo.

"Mhm mhm!"

Lhamo didn't stand on ceremony; she was indeed a bit hungry.

As a local, Butter Tea soaked Tsampa or eating Tibetan Noodles was her favorite. She ate until the tip of her nose was sweating, a look of solid satisfaction on her face.

Having eaten and drunk their fill, their bodies were thoroughly warmed up.

The two walked out of the tent and officially set off.

By this time, the sky was faintly bright, and the path ahead presented a rough, grayish-white texture.

Starting from Driraphuk Monastery, the route directly faced the northern slope of Mount Kailash.

The massive black mountain resembled a sky-high wall, with glaciers hanging suspended above, looking as though they could crash down at any moment. That sense of visual oppression was both terrifying and captivating.

"Let's go."

Lhamo tightened her gloves, and the Prayer Wheel in her hand began to spin clockwise.

Her condition was excellent.

Unlike the surrounding tourists from outside the region, who had to stop every few steps, panting like bellows, Lhamo's strides weren't large, but her frequency was extremely steady.

Jiang Yuan carried the heavy backpack, weighing dozens of pounds, trailing half a step behind her, strolling as if nothing were amiss.

After about an hour, piles of clothing, shoes, hats, and even hair began to appear by the roadside.

They had arrived at the Sky Burial Platform.

The ground here was covered with scattered old belongings.

According to custom, leaving personal old items here meant discarding past sins, suffering, and even death. As long as one crossed the Drolma La Pass ahead, it represented a new life.

The atmosphere became somewhat solemn.

The people passing by stopped talking, simply pressing on in silence.

Further ahead, the slope suddenly steepened.

This was the legendary "Slope of Despair."

The path was covered in loose scree and ice, causing them to slide back half a step for every step taken. The altitude soared from five thousand meters to nearly five thousand six hundred meters. The oxygen content in the air became extremely thin.

The wind also picked up, carrying snow pellets that rattled against their windbreakers.

Lhamo's pace slowed, and her breathing became heavy.

Even though she was a local and had the boost from the energy drink, the physiological pain of climbing at this extreme altitude was a physical, objective reality.

But she didn't utter a sound, merely keeping her head down, staring at the path beneath her feet, inching forward step by step.

Jiang Yuan didn't rush her. Whenever they encountered a particularly steep section, he would reach out and give her a steady pull.

Just behind a large rock near the pass, a chaotic commotion caught Jiang Yuan's attention.

Several young people wearing brightly colored windbreakers were gathered there, looking panicked.

"Hey! A-Hao! Don't fall asleep! Hold on!"

A girl's voice, laced with sobs, sounded particularly sharp in the wind.

Jiang Yuan glanced over as he walked past.

A man was lying on the ground. He looked sturdy, but his face was now ashen white, his lips dark purple, and his eyes were half-open. He seemed disoriented.

The girl next to him was holding a portable oxygen canister, the kind that costs a few dollars, desperately spraying it into his mouth. But the man clearly couldn't inhale much of it; the rise and fall of his chest was extremely faint and erratic.

This was a classic precursor to High Altitude Pulmonary Edema. If they delayed any longer, not even a god could save him.

Many Kora pilgrims passed by, but everyone was too exhausted to help themselves. Most just stopped for a look, shook their heads, and continued walking, unable to offer assistance.

In a place like this, saving one person could easily put oneself at risk too.

Lhamo stopped walking.

She looked at the man with a flicker of compassion in her eyes, and subconsciously grabbed Jiang Yuan's sleeve.

"Jiang Yuan..."