90: The sacred mountain heard it.

She didn't say much, but Jiang Yuan understood the look in her eyes.

Jiang Yuan stopped and sighed.

"Alright, with me here, he won't die."

He patted Lhamo's hand, signaling her to rest assured, then turned and walked over.

"Move aside."

Jiang Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded remarkably clear and calm amidst the howling wind.

The few companions, who were panicking, subconsciously looked up and saw a tall figure blocking the wind.

"Big brother! Please, take a look, he seems to be dying!"

The crying girl seemed to grasp at a lifeline.

Jiang Yuan didn't waste words, directly squatting down, reaching out to pull open the boy's eyelid, and then feeling for his carotid artery.

If they were in a hospital right now, there might be a chance, but here, it was uncertain. However, with him present, it was more effective than being in a hospital.

He placed the backpack he was carrying on the ground, and, using it as cover, pulled out a bottle of energy drink from his bag, identical to the one he had given Lhamo earlier.

The moment he twisted open the cap, Jiang Yuan's thoughts stirred.

A drop of crystal-clear liquid, seemingly containing starlight—Pure Water—appeared out of thin air, instantly merging into the yellow drink and vanishing.

This was a miraculous substance that could heal everything, and he only had a thousand drops. Although using it on a stranger felt a bit wasteful, saving a life was more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda, so he considered it an act of virtue.

"Help him up, and keep his head raised."

Jiang Yuan instructed.

The companions nearby quickly scrambled to help the boy sit up.

Jiang Yuan pried open the boy's mouth and directly poured the doctored drink down.

"Cough cough... gulp..."

The liquid flowed down his throat.

In less than half a minute.

A miraculous scene unfolded.

The boy, who was on the verge of shock and whose breathing was like a bellows, suddenly trembled violently. Then, his pale, paper-like face visibly regained a hint of color.

The almost stagnant rise and fall of his chest gradually became more vigorous.

"Whoosh—"

The boy let out a deep breath of turbid air, and his hazy eyes gradually focused, as if he had been forcibly pulled back from the gates of hell.

"He's alive! He's alive!"

The girl next to him trembled with excitement, almost kneeling before Jiang Yuan.

The surrounding tourists watching the commotion were also stunned. What kind of miracle medicine was this? The speed of bringing him back from the dead was too exaggerated!

Jiang Yuan stood up and casually handed the remaining half bottle of drink to the boy.

"What... what kind of medicine is this?"

The girl wiped her tears, looking at Jiang Yuan in shock.

"Concentrated electrolyte water from abroad, specifically for high altitude sickness." Jiang Yuan casually made up an excuse, his expression calm. "Let him rest for a while, and as soon as he can move, head down. Don't climb any further."

Jiang Yuan casually made up an excuse, his expression calm, "Let him rest for a while, and as soon as he can move, head down. Don't climb any further."

With that, he didn't spare another glance, re-shouldered his large pack, and pulled up the still dazed Lhamo.

"Let's go, let's try to get back to town today."

Lhamo looked at the man beside her, her eyes practically overflowing with adoration.

Although she knew the drink was magical, she hadn't expected it to save someone who was almost dead.

She didn't ask further, just nodded vigorously, gripped Jiang Yuan's hand tightly, and continued to climb upwards.

This interlude didn't slow them down for too long.

Finally, as noon approached, the flapping sound of flags reached their ears.

Ahead, thousands of colorful prayer flags danced wildly in the wind, like a giant net covering the entire mountaintop.

Drolma La Pass, altitude 5630 meters, they had arrived.

At this moment, all their fatigue seemed to be blown away by the wind.

Lhamo released Jiang Yuan's hand and pulled out a stack of lungta she had prepared earlier from her embrace.

"Oh—ha—!"

She threw the lungta in her hands into the sky with all her might.

The colorful paper pieces were instantly swept up by the strong wind, soaring towards the clouds, like countless messengers flying to the heavens.

"May my family be safe! May all beings be joyful!"

Lhamo shouted loudly, her cheeks flushed from the wind, but her smile was brighter than the sun. She turned her head, looked at Jiang Yuan, and shouted the last sentence:

"May we be together forever!"

Jiang Yuan stood amidst the prayer flags, watching the wind horses dance across the sky, listening to this most simple yet touching vow.

He didn't shout, but just smiled and walked over, helping her tuck her wind-blown braid behind her ear.

"Mount Kailash has heard."

[Mount Kailash Check-in Successful]

[Reward: Rapid Healing]

Jiang Yuan was slightly surprised by this reward, but that was all. This reward was better than nothing, but he wouldn't refuse it.

Crossing the pass did not mean the end.

Immediately after was a steep descent, commonly known as the "Stairway to Heaven."

The path was terrifyingly steep, full of loose rocks; a slight carelessness would send one tumbling down.

And on one side of the path was a lake as green as emerald—Lake of Compassion.

Even in such icy, snowy conditions, the lake water remained captivatingly green, like a tear embedded in the valley.

Descending was actually more difficult than ascending, placing immense pressure on the knees.

But for Jiang Yuan, this terrain was his home ground. His balance was incredibly good; he could stabilize his center of gravity with just a light touch of his toes on the loose rocks.

He constantly walked on Lhamo's outer side, acting as the most solid human guardrail.

"Slow down, use your heels."

Jiang Yuan reminded her from time to time.

They continued their descent until after four in the afternoon when the two finally reached the river valley plain.

By this time, most people's energy was depleted; they were all covered in dust, staggering as they walked.

Although Lhamo had a good foundation and Jiang Yuan's care, after dozens of kilometers of high-altitude mountain roads, she was too tired to speak.

"Can you still keep going?"

Jiang Yuan handed her half a piece of chocolate.

"Yes."

Lhamo took a bite; though tired, her eyes were bright.

According to the usual itinerary, most pilgrims would choose to rest overnight at the Zuchu Monastery ahead, turning the three-day pilgrimage into a two-day one.

But as the two passed Zuchu Monastery, Jiang Yuan looked at Lhamo.

"Are you tired? Do you want to rest for a night?"

Jiang Yuan stopped and handed the drink to Lhamo.

"A little sleepy, but I still have strength."

Lhamo drank some energy drink, and a continuous stream of energy supported her stamina.

Although she was mentally exhausted, her physical strength was still ample.

"Then we won't stay here."

Jiang Yuan glanced at the winding river valley road in the distance. "The conditions here aren't much better than last night. Since we have the energy, let's push through in one go. We can sleep in the car and even take a hot shower."

Hearing the words "back to the car" and "hot shower," Lhamo's eyes instantly lit up.

In this uninhabited area full of wind, dust, and yak dung, nothing was more appealing than returning to that "home" with a constant temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, holographic projection, and a super large soft bed.

"Okay! Let's go home!"

Lhamo nodded heavily.

The last ten-plus kilometers were a monotonous river valley road.

The sky gradually darkened, and the temperature plummeted again.

There were very few pilgrims left on the road; most had stayed overnight at Zuchu Monastery. Only a handful of "special forces" like them were still traveling at night.

Although boosted by energy drinks, this was still a trek at an altitude of 4,700 meters.

By the end, Lhamo was basically taking mechanical steps, relying on inertia and Jiang Yuan's guidance.

Finally.

When the scattered lights of Darchen appeared on the distant horizon, both of them let out a long sigh of relief.

Those lights represented the civilized world.

By the time they reached the town's parking lot, it was already past ten at night.

Amidst a crowd of dusty Prados, Land Cruisers, and muddy buses, Jiang Yuan's black and white guardian stood quietly.