I am a winner with Chinese poetry

Chapter 183 Reaching the Mountaintop

"Hmph, I won't give up that easily! That sinister and cunning villain Lin Muyang must be hiding in some corner, secretly hoping to see me make a fool of myself. How could I let him get his wish? Absolutely not! Come on, let's keep climbing! I don't believe that a mere mountain can stump me."

Zhu Chenxu instantly felt like he'd been given a shot of chicken blood, his entire body energized. He'd just been complaining about back pain and weak legs, but now it seemed as if he'd completely forgotten his physical discomfort. His back was straight, his steps firm and powerful, and he wished he could immediately fly to the top of the mountain, prove his strength to everyone, and give Lin Muyang a resounding slap in the face.

Gu Yunzhou, watching from the side, was speechless. This guy had just looked so weak and lifeless, but upon hearing the name of his mortal enemy, Lin Muyang, he suddenly became as energetic as if he had received a shot of adrenaline. It was truly hilarious!

However, in stark contrast to Zhu Chenxu was Jiang Liunian. He still clung to the ground, refusing to get up, muttering, "Rest a little longer! My legs are really weak!"

At this moment, Jiang Liunian felt as if every muscle in his body was sending out a strong signal of protest. He felt extremely sore and weak, and he had no strength at all. The only thing he wanted to do now was to lie down on these cold bluestone steps and have a good sleep. Climbing the mountain to the top was completely forgotten.

Click, click... The crisp and rapid sound broke the tranquility of the mountains. The cold raindrops fell like pearls with a broken string, falling squarely on several people.

Gu Yunzhou was startled and subconsciously looked up at the dark clouds in the sky. His expression instantly became serious. "Oh no, it's raining! We have to speed up and climb up. Otherwise, if the rain gets heavier and the mountain road is slippery, it will be even more difficult to climb up!"

Jiang Liunian, who had been hesitant at first, was so frightened when he heard this that he jumped up from the ground, not caring about his legs that were already sore and weak. He gritted his teeth, grasped the protruding part of the rock with both hands, and pushed hard against the mountain wall with his feet. With difficulty, he followed the other two people to continue climbing upwards.

"Wow, wow... This damn trial is too much! Not only are we not given any water to drink, we're not even allowed to eat. We've been exposed to this freezing wind all day, and now it's raining!"

Jiang Liunian struggled to climb, complaining constantly. He thought about himself, the young master of the Jiang family, used to a life of luxury. When had he ever suffered such hardship? Even in the harsh borderlands before, although the conditions were difficult, at least he could guarantee basic food and clothing.

"Alright, stop talking! Climb faster and don't waste your energy!" Gu Yunzhou was completely focused on the climb ahead, completely oblivious to Jiang Liunian's complaints. His hands and feet moved alternately like a machine, searching for every possible place to gain leverage.

Thus, the three of them climbed silently in the rain, as if cut off from the world around them. Time slipped by unnoticed, while the raindrops from the sky grew denser and denser, gradually converging into streams of water that poured down from the sky. The strong wind, carrying the bean-sized raindrops, lashed their faces fiercely, bringing a burning pain.

The moss-covered bluestone steps before them seemed to grow increasingly steep and unconquerable. Their damp surfaces were incredibly slippery, requiring every step to be taken with extreme caution. The cold air relentlessly assaulted everyone, causing them to shiver uncontrollably. The trembling blurred their vision, and fleeting images flashed before their eyes.

Yet, despite the difficulty, these individuals persevered in their climb toward the summit. Their limbs ached from the prolonged exertion, yet they mechanically repeated the upward motion. Finally, when their final step landed firmly on the summit, their faces remained expressionless, as if devoid of all expression, their bodies alone maintaining the upward climbing posture.

Suddenly, a cry of "Ouch!" broke the silence. Zhu Chenxu had slipped and fallen awkwardly. The fall seemed to jolt him out of his trance. With a hint of confusion, he slowly raised his head and looked around. Realizing he had successfully reached the summit, an indescribable emotion washed over him, instantly transforming into tears.

"We've reached the top!" Zhu Chenxu shouted excitedly, his voice echoing across the empty mountain. Tears streamed uncontrollably, and as he sobbed, he shouted his companions' names with all his might: "Liunian, Yunzhou, we really did it!"

Hearing Zhu Chenxu's call, Jiang Liunian was initially dazed, and it took him a while to come back to his senses. "Are we there yet... Great!" he muttered to himself, then, as if all his strength had been drained away, he collapsed to the ground. He didn't care whether the ground was covered in dust and mud; he just wanted to close his eyes and get a good night's sleep to relieve his physical and mental fatigue.

At the same time, Gu Yunzhou, who had been climbing with his head down, paused his mechanical movements. He slowly raised his head and gazed into the distance. What met his eyes was a dazzling fiery red. The vibrant color stung his eyes like a burning flame. But at this moment, he felt an immense sense of peace and contentment.

"It's the sun, the sun's rising..." he muttered to himself, his voice filled with emotion and an indescribable sigh. It was as if, after a long night of climbing, he suddenly saw the crimson sun slowly rising from the horizon, leaving him in a trance. He stared blankly at the rising sun, letting its warm and bright light fall on him. After a long moment, he finally couldn't help but sigh softly, "How beautiful!"

Zhu Chenxu, standing nearby, heard his words and struggled to straighten his body. He was equally struck by the beauty before him. His face, which had originally looked a little tired, was now flushed with excitement. He stared at the sun and couldn't help but agree, "Yes, it's really beautiful! This is the first time I've seen a sunrise this close. Such a magnificent sight is truly unforgettable!"

At this moment, Jiang Liunian, who was lying nearby, also turned over, but seemed reluctant to get up. He simply continued to lazily gaze at the sun with a silly smile on his face. "Hehehe... Have we passed this trial? Haha, it turns out that no difficulty can truly stop us from moving forward!"