The original plan had been to deliver the crossbows to Harimu and the others in the mountains the next day, but it rained in the county. Rain was manageable in town, but rural roads became difficult to travel, with mud covering most areas. The mountains were no different.
So Li Long waited two days, until the rain stopped and the roads dried in the sun, before setting off for the mountains.
His plan was much the same as on his last two trips: buy nang, bring canned food, and leave early in the morning, hoping to get back earlier that afternoon.
It was early May, and the county town was already hot. He rolled down the window and drove west. Although it was still early, the air was already warming up.
When he turned south and approached Mountain Pass, it felt dry and hot outside. Even the wind was hot.
Fortunately, once he entered the mountains, it instantly became cool, as though it were a different world from outside.
After passing the bare earthen and rocky mountains and entering a world covered in grass, shrubs, and pine forests, he even felt a slight chill in the wind blowing into the vehicle.
This time, Li Long stayed resolute and drove straight toward Summer Pasture. He passed the turnoff to Hot Spring Villa and the wooden cabin without any thought of turning. Seeing the fresh tire tracks on that road, he figured Bolati had already driven his newly purchased GAZ vehicle to the cabin.
As he passed Harimu and the others' winter camp, he could just make out water still bubbling from the pipe. There were no cattle or sheep around the camp, though. They had probably all moved to Summer Pasture.
He continued along the mountain road. The mountains on either