Ch 16: The World’s Number One Resort

“The difficulty of climbing these two mountains is roughly equivalent to climbing from the base to the halfway point of Mount Tai. This is unavoidable, but it should take us about three hours. As for the luggage… Ali!” Tang Huai said briefly. The distance couldn’t be changed, but as for the luggage…

Tang Huai shouted “Ali!” and, suddenly, a white figure appeared at the top of a nearby mountain. The group could only make out a vague silhouette before the figure quickly sprinted down the slope. In no time, the figure arrived in front of them.

It was a tall, roughly 1.9-meter-tall Native American man, wearing a white eagle-feathered headdress, a gray grass skirt, and sporting animal totems painted across his face. The man stood imposingly next to Tang Huai after descending from the mountain.

“Ahem, this is Sora Island’s native, his Chinese name is Ali. Ali, could you help carry these suitcases and the items on the cart to Blue Lake?” Tang Huai briefly introduced him to the group and then gave instructions to the totem-wearing man.

【Sora AI—Ali】 Non-intelligent AI, Strength Rating: 96, Cost: 100,000 island credits.

Ali was a system-generated AI, priced at 100,000 island credits. Tang Huai only had 1,200 island credits, so he didn’t have enough to purchase him outright. However, the luggage needed to be transported over the mountains to Blue Lake. After some thought, Tang Huai discovered that non-intelligent AIs could be rented. The rental price was 500 island credits per hour, meaning the round trip would cost him exactly 1,000 island credits.

Tang Huai hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to rent Ali.

Upon hearing Tang Huai’s command, Ali looked seriously at the cart. Then, with a single motion, he lifted seven sets of bedding, along with the pots and pans, and carried them all on his back in an almost surreal manner. Despite Ali’s robust frame, it seemed as though he was carrying a small mountain.

“Can he really handle all that by himself? Maybe we should help?” Zhao Hongxia asked with some concern as she watched Ali, feeling sympathy for him. Even though Ali was a native, the idea of him carrying such a large load over the mountains seemed daunting.

“Hmph,” Qian Dasong snorted from the side. Though he didn’t say anything outright, he had mentally prepared himself for the idea of hauling pots and pans over the mountains. To him, this was far from a vacation—it felt more like self-inflicted hardship.

“No worries. Just leave the suitcases here. Ali can manage it all on his own,” Tang Huai reassured them with a smile. Ali’s strength rating was 96, and according to FD730, the strength scale for system AIs ranged from 0 to 100. A rating of 96 meant Ali could easily lift a three-ton truck. This far surpassed human limits, and since Ali was a non-intelligent AI, not even considered “basic,” he was essentially a specialized strength-based robot.

“Let’s head out.” After checking that everything was in order, Tang Huai gave the command. Ali nodded heavily and started running up the mountain.

Ali’s movements were steady and smooth, and before long, he disappeared from sight.

“The Native Americans really are a fascinating people…” The tourists, including Xiao Shengguo and Jiang Yaoyao, exchanged looks, bewildered by what they had just witnessed. In their understanding, Native Americans were a collective of indigenous peoples from the Americas, often depicted with vibrant totemic face paint and wielding traditional weapons for hunting in the forests. Ali fit that image.

But they hadn’t expected him to be even more primitive than their initial impressions suggested. Considering Sora Island’s remote location, they reasoned that it made sense for Ali, as an island native, to have not been exposed to modern civilization.

With Ali’s imposing stature and quiet demeanor, the group visibly relaxed once he was out of sight.

Since Sora Island had only recently been developed, they wondered if there might still be cannibals living here… and their imaginations began to run wild.

“Alright, let’s get going and try to reach Blue Lake before dark.” After a brief rest, Tang Huai clapped his hands and addressed the group.

“Are you sure it’s safe to leave our luggage here?” Qian Dasong took a few steps forward and looked back at the suitcases left by the shore, still unsure. There were eight suitcases in total, including Li Rui’s and Tang Huai’s. With Ali already carrying the bedding and other items, Qian Dasong doubted whether the native had enough strength left to carry the rest of the luggage.

“Don’t worry,” Tang Huai reassured the group. Seeing his confidence, Xiao Shengguo and the others decided not to say anything further. Earlier, they had complained about having to trek over mountains, but now that their luggage was being carried by the Native American, they only had to walk. If they complained further, it would be ungracious.

So, the group grabbed their water bottles, phones, and other small items, and, under Tang Huai’s guidance, began making their way up the mountain step by step. The scenery ahead felt a bit eerie, with a chill creeping up from their feet. Had they not been in a group, they might have been too scared to proceed.

“Dear viewers, we are now on Sora Island. Hmm… it’s quite different from what I imagined. The ground is dry and dusty, not what I expected. But don’t worry, once we climb over these two mountains, we’ll reach Blue Lake,” Jiang Yaoyao said excitedly as she continued her livestream while climbing. She had changed into casual clothes after disembarking and had come well-prepared with portable Wi-Fi and three high-capacity power banks, enough to last her five days on the island.

“Latitude 10°N, longitude 120°W… this should be a tropical maritime climate, but right now it looks more like the Loess Plateau in China,” Jiang Yaoyao commented.

“Haha, Yaoyao, are you sure this is Sora Island? It looks like you’ve gone to the Loess Plateau for filming,” one viewer joked.

“It doesn’t feel like we’re anywhere near the sea…” another chimed in.

After finishing her introduction, her viewers continued to make playful comments. Had they not seen her board a plane and a fishing boat themselves, they might have believed she was filming on the Loess Plateau instead.

“We’ll find out in about two hours,” Jiang Yaoyao shrugged, a little uncertain herself. She had been confident at first, but the scenery on Sora Island didn’t match her expectations. Her livestream was also a way of boosting her own morale.

After about half an hour of walking with frequent stops, the group finally reached the top of the first mountain. Looking ahead at the second mountain, they couldn’t help but feel daunted by the long journey still ahead.

“Hey, is that Ali? So fast!” Xiao Shengguo exclaimed while the group rested, looking down toward the foot of the mountain. The others followed his gaze and saw Ali running swiftly like an agile monkey. He passed the group and continued running toward the coast.

Qian Dasong, Xiao Shengguo, Darcy, and Evan were all speechless. While they knew Ali was a Native American, his physical stamina was beyond what they had anticipated.

After a short break, the group continued their descent. Before they even reached the bottom of the mountain, Ali had already rushed past them again, carrying three suitcases back up. Watching Ali’s back, Jiang Yaoyao was reminded of the essay The Mountain Porter, but there was no doubt Ali’s endurance and strength far surpassed those of ordinary porters.

By the time the group reached halfway up the second mountain, Ali had already come rushing back with another load of luggage. At this point, the group had grown accustomed to his remarkable physical prowess. Although impressive, they realized that some mountain folk in China, who spent their lives in the mountains, could achieve similar feats. The main reason they were so amazed by Ali’s abilities was that they themselves were city dwellers who rarely even walked 500 meters, let alone climbed mountains.

After their initial surprise, they stopped paying too much attention—there was no point in focusing on something they couldn’t change, especially since none of them could magically increase their own stamina.

“Tang, how much further do we have to go?” Qian Dasong, the least physically fit among the group, wiped the sweat from his forehead as he looked at the 30-meter-high summit ahead, panting heavily.

At 35 years old, Qian Dasong lived a lifestyle filled with driving everywhere, indulging in rich meals, and neglecting the gym membership that had been gathering dust for two years. The only reason he had made it this far was out of a competitive spirit with Xiao Shengguo. The guy was in his sixties, yet somehow both he and his wife managed to keep up without breaking a sweat. Out of the group of eight, Qian Dasong was the only one struggling for breath.

Feeling a mix of frustration and self-pity, Qian Dasong deeply regretted coming to this place.

“We’re almost there. Once we reach the summit, you’ll see Blue Lake,” Tang Huai said, unaware of Qian Dasong’s inner turmoil, as he estimated the remaining distance. They were so close—just a little more to go.

Tang Huai encouraged the group, and they continued climbing. Before long, Qian Dasong had fallen behind, trailing at the very end. Jiang Yaoyao was too absorbed in her livestream to stay by his side, which only made Qian Dasong feel even more upset.

Lost in his thoughts, the group finally reached the summit. As Qian Dasong approached, he noticed that Jiang Yaoyao, Xiao Shengguo, and the others were standing still, staring ahead in stunned silence.

“What’s going on? Did we not find Blue Lake?” Qian Dasong, still a few meters from the top, asked curiously. No one responded; they were all frozen, staring ahead in awe.

Growing more curious, Qian Dasong gritted his teeth and climbed the last few steps. Once he reached the top, his expression mirrored the others’.

Before them was a stunning, azure lake. The water was crystal clear, and in the glow of the setting sun, it resembled a finely crafted oil painting. Surrounding the lake were trees of an unknown species, trees that Qian Dasong didn’t recognize but had often seen in magical, otherworldly scenes on TV. These trees were typically associated with enchantment and mystery.

Qian Dasong glanced back at the “Loess Plateau” they had just crossed, still cold and desolate. But in front of him, the vibrant blue of the lake met the lush green of the trees, with the warm orange of the sunset tying everything together. The scene was so full of life that, despite himself, Qian Dasong felt a rare moment of peace. After years of chasing money, he realized how long it had been since he truly stopped to appreciate something. This view somehow cleansed his soul in a way he couldn’t quite explain.

“My gosh, is this really Blue Lake? This is unbelievable. Raise the camera higher, I need a screenshot!” a viewer commented on Jiang Yaoyao’s livestream.

“Yemen Dragon Blood Trees, Angel Oaks, Dark Hedges… These are world-renowned trees! Wait, how are they all growing together? That completely defies the rules of plant growth!”

“It’s hard to believe such beauty exists on Sora Island. Yaoyao, hurry down there and explore it!”

Jiang Yaoyao, too awestruck to respond, had forgotten to turn off her livestream. She had spent two and a half hours climbing and had her own doubts along the way. How could a place resembling the Loess Plateau have an oasis with a blue lake? But she trusted Tang Huai and hadn’t questioned him. Now, as she stood before this breathtaking view that far surpassed even her wildest expectations, her heart soared.

After a brief moment of astonishment, Jiang Yaoyao quickly switched her phone to the front-facing camera and began snapping selfies. Such a stunning view had to be saved on her phone and shared on Weibo and her social media right away.

“Oh my God, this is truly a masterpiece of nature!”

“Blue Lake really exists! This is the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen.”

Jiang Yaoyao’s enthusiasm sparked the others into action. Seeing her take selfies reminded everyone to start capturing the moment as well. Especially Darcy and Evan, the designer couple—they were traveling for inspiration, and this breathtaking scene felt like a bolt of creative lightning striking them directly.

Tang Huai took a few steps forward, gazing ahead. He recalled the first time he saw Blue Lake, feeling a similar sense of awe that Jiang Yaoyao and the others were experiencing now. Even though he had lived on Sora Island for ten days, the sight of Blue Lake still stirred his emotions.

Watching everyone’s reactions, Tang Huai felt, for the first time, the true significance of Sora Island.

As everyone busied themselves with taking photos, A-Li passed by again, this time carrying two more suitcases. With all the back-and-forth trips, he had successfully transported all the luggage from the coast to Blue Lake.

“Everyone, let’s keep up the momentum! We’re almost there, just down the hill,” Tang Huai clapped his hands after a ten-minute break, encouraging the group. Though descending was typically more challenging than climbing, after witnessing Blue Lake, everyone’s spirits had visibly lifted. Before Tang Huai could finish, they eagerly began their descent.

Tang Huai even noticed that Qian Dasong’s steps seemed noticeably lighter.

“These are the Dark Hedges! Cold, eerie, mysterious… Is there a princess’s castle up ahead?” Li Rui, taking pictures of the distinctive trees surrounding Blue Lake, used his phone’s identification app and excitedly realized that these were the famous Dark Hedges. He couldn’t help but marvel. Walking through the tree-lined path, Li Rui joked that if a white horse were to appear, he’d feel like the prince ready to awaken a sleeping princess.

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