Chapter 517 - 164: [Is This Your Home?] (6800)_3
Two days later, with only 50 hours remaining on the countdown, Chen Yan finally arrived at the mouth of the canyon by the Evil Land Mountain!
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The ridges of Evil Land Mountain stretch on endlessly, as if split in two by some mighty force of the heavens and earth.
The entrance at the mouth of the ridge is exceptionally wide, hundreds of meters across, with steep cliffs on either side.
It seems as if some power abruptly carved out a piece from the once-complete ridge here.
Entering the canyon, it further distances from the Forest Monster, everywhere covered thickly with ice and snow, each step within stumbling and treacherous.
Soft and thick snow piles up, each step overshooting the snow boots Chen Yan wore.
Chen Yan only walked twenty or so steps into the valley before turning back.
Walking like this is impossible!
Thinking it over, he turned back to the trees, wielded his axe to fell a Forest Monster tree, then cut out a narrow plank, and took out ropes from his bag to tie them to his soles.
Thus, a makeshift ski was assembled.
Although Chen Yan couldn’t ski, he didn’t seek speed but simply for the wood plank to keep him from sinking deep into the snow with each step.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to go far before his boots would be permeated by ice and snow.
Yet even with the skis attached to his soles, Chen Yan found walking still awkward after testing a few steps. Lifting legs took more effort, and his gait was crooked.
"Looks like I’ll have to go back and learn to ski."
Chen Yan sighed.
With two days remaining before returning, Chen Yan planned to pass through the canyon to the other side of Evil Land Mountain to take a look.
He couldn’t just have a passage to traverse between the Domain Realm and always linger on this side of the Forest Monster.
Stepping into the canyon, Chen Yan plodded through the snow arduously, with the broad planks dispersing pressure underfoot, his feet didn’t sink deeply into the snow, but it didn’t make travel much quicker.
The wind within the canyon was strong, like draughts blowing through, the biting cold wind stung Chen Yan’s face, even with a cold-resistant mask, the skin on his face gradually grew numb from the pain.
After walking for four hours within the canyon, Chen Yan halted to rest, finding shelter behind a rock from the wind to eat some food.
Even though he sold the alcohol stove to Golden Armor, Chen Yan still had some branches in his bag to light a fire.
After drinking a few gulps of boiled snow water, and eating several pieces of Beast Meat, feeling a small furnace warm his belly, Chen Yan resumed his journey.
After only two steps, Chen Yan suddenly stopped abruptly.
He turned sideways, listening back toward the path he’d come, vaguely hearing the sounds of clattering mixed with what seemed to be faint wailing howls from behind.
With joy in his heart, Chen Yan widened his eyes to look.
Sure enough, after waiting a moment, on the snowy path he had come from, a group of white figures darted swiftly through the snow, agile and fast, heading toward him.
"Big White!!"
Chen Yan was overjoyed, calling out loudly, and Big White responded with a low howl, picking up its pace.
Chen Yan simply crouched down, opening his arms, welcoming Big White in a full run toward him, finally pouncing onto Chen Yan, knocking him over into the snow.
Man and beast rolled together several times in the snow before Chen Yan got up, hugging around Big White’s neck, savoring the beastly scent from this large creature.
Chen Yan laughed heartily: "I thought I wouldn’t find you this time!"
Big White whimpered, rubbing its head wildly against Chen Yan.
Chen Yan took a Beast Meat hind leg from his mountaineering bag and tossed it to Big White, who promptly pinned it with both paws in the snow, gnawing voraciously.
Sitting aside, Chen Yan watched Big White eat enjoyably and laughed, "I was looking for you these past few days. You left the location where we parted last time, even dug up the meat we buried. I thought something might have happened to you."
Big White lowered its head to devour, making a sudden snort as if disdainful.
Laughing heartily, Chen Yan said: "I knew it, with your skills, those Fierce Beast Race creatures couldn’t catch you."
Examining Big White closely, Chen Yan found that previously injured parts were completely healed.
Moreover, Big White’s fur was clean, without any new scars.
"Since you’ve found me, let’s go together through the canyon, to explore the other side of Evil Land Mountain," Chen Yan smiled, inspecting Big White: "Your timing is perfect, I’m troubled by the difficulty of traversing the snow, now that you’re here, might as well let me ride you once more."
Saying so, he went over, hugging Big White’s head and mounting atop.
Big White didn’t resist, only after Chen Yan was settled did it rise from the ground, but turned towards the canyon entrance towards the direction they came from.
"Hey! No, no! It’s not this direction!"
Chen Yan shouted, clutching Big White’s head, using force, trying to redirect Big White, yet Big White suddenly stood still, shaking its head in doubt.
Chen Yan dismounted, pointing to the other side of Evil Land Mountain: "We’re going there! That way!"
Big White glanced at the direction Chen Yan pointed, yet firmly shook its head, gently came over and lightly tugged Chen Yan’s pants with its mouth, pulling with gentle shakes towards the direction they came from.
"Hmm?"
Chen Yan felt a stirring inside!
"Big White, are you asking me... to follow you?"