Ch 41: The World’s Number One Resort

“Tang, is there any other way to reach the top of the mountain?” Tolke asked after circling around the sixth snow mountain. Now it wasn’t just the students of Ace High School who were worried; even Tolke was concerned about the nearly transparent path ahead. The ice path looked incredibly dangerous.

“Not for now,” Tang Huai responded with a regretful expression. If he had known how intimidating the ice path would be, he would have purchased an extra gondola or something… but now his funds were depleted. There was no choice but to consider it later.

Tolke hesitated for a moment before turning toward the group of high schoolers. The students huddled together, quietly discussing their options. Tang Huai noticed a few girls looking anxious, eventually shaking their heads. They were scared. Crossing the crystal bridge earlier had already been nerve-wracking for them, and the ice path seemed even scarier. There was no way they were going to attempt it.

Out of the 50 students on this trip, after five minutes of deliberation, 36 decided to venture to the Ice Castle, while the remaining 14 chose to stay near the snow huts. The mountain was too intimidating, and they didn’t want to take the risk.

Of the 36 who chose to go, 15 were boys and 21 were girls. After a brief rest, they began their ascent.

“Creak—”

“Ah!”

The lead boy had barely set foot on the path when a sharp creaking sound echoed from beneath him, causing him to jump in fear.

“That’s a feature of the ice path,” Tang Huai explained. “It may seem dangerous, but it’s incredibly safe.” Since the system created it, Tang Huai trusted the safety of the ice path completely.

“I… I’m out,” the boy said, nearly in tears. He had hoped to impress some of the girls, but the sound had frightened him too much, and he didn’t want to take any risks.

“I’m out too.”

“I’d rather go back and build a snowman…”

Following the lead of the first boy, several other students also opted out, leaving only 10 boys and 15 girls—the ones who were a bit braver and more inclined to adventure.

Tang Huai took the lead. Tolke hesitated but followed closely behind. As the teacher in charge of Ace High School’s group, it wouldn’t look good if he backed out now. And so, a group of 27 began the climb.

“Creak—”

“This is so spectacular; it’s like something out of a magical world.”

“I wonder if there’s an Ice Princess waiting at the top.”

…

As they climbed, the path continued to make intermittent creaking sounds beneath their feet. However, with Tang Huai leading the way, they all held hands and kept moving forward, no one turning back. Despite the creaks and the transparent crystal bricks, just as Tang Huai had said, the ice path was quite safe.

Dressed in colorful down jackets, the group ascended the ice path. The remaining students below gazed up, seeing their classmates seemingly walking on air, a striking mix of yellows, greens, and other bright colors against the white snow.

“I wish I could see the Ice Castle,” a girl at the foot of the mountain remarked with disappointment. She had been looking forward to it the whole trip, but now…

“Ugh,” she sighed. She was simply too scared.

“Susan, maybe we can wait and see how it goes,” a short-haired girl said, patting her on the shoulder.

Many of the students remaining at the base of the mountain had similar thoughts. If those who went up came back with positive feedback, maybe they could summon the courage to try climbing after all…

…

“Wow, this is truly a miracle.”

“Is this really made of ice? It looks like something out of The Enchantress.”

“It’s so beautiful, a masterpiece by a sculptor.”

…

Half an hour later, while the remaining students continued to hesitate, Tang Huai’s group finally reached the top of the mountain. Upon seeing the Ice Castle, they burst into a chorus of astonished exclamations.

It was daytime now, and the Ice Castle was even more visible than at night. The castle before them wasn’t purely white but had a hint of icy blue, shimmering and glowing with a dreamlike quality.

“Click, click, click—”

The group stood mesmerized for a moment before quickly pulling out their phones, capturing the stunning scene in front of them. The beauty was overwhelming, and they wanted to preserve every bit of it.

They had traveled 50 kilometers, crossed the Crystal Bridge, and climbed the Ice Path. Though they hadn’t shown it outwardly, some had been questioning whether all this effort was worth it. The image painted by Alan had been their driving motivation.

But now, as they stood before the magnificent Snowy Landscape, and especially after seeing the Ice Castle, their doubts vanished. The journey had been worth it, and their hearts swelled with a deep sense of satisfaction. The scenery was breathtaking and well worth the effort.

Smiles crept across everyone’s faces. At that moment, they all felt truly happy.

“This carved crystal door is made of ice! The craftsmanship is excellent.”

“These ice flowers are stunning. Could you take a picture of me with them?”

“Is this a fairytale? It’s a perfect ice world!”

…

Without needing any further introduction from Tang Huai, after a few seconds of awe, everyone rushed toward the interior of the castle. The whole structure, surrounded by delicate ice-blue flowers, felt both mysterious and elegant.

As they entered the castle, they found that everything—whether it was the chandeliers or the dining tables—was carved from ice. The intricate patterns amazed them. Everyone was snapping photos, eager to capture every inch of this breathtaking space.

“This is a library? My goodness, it’s so magnificent! And there are rare books here!” As the students roamed freely, Tang Huai and Tolke took a tour of the Ice Castle, eventually making their way to the third floor.

Upon entering the library, Tolke gasped in surprise. Although he was in his fifties, he had graduated from Yale and was once a top student. A passionate lover of books, Tolke’s heart raced at the sight of such an impressive collection.

He eagerly approached a bookshelf, pulling out several books. The library was stocked with a diverse array of books, including some rare editions—one of which he had been searching for quite some time. Overwhelmed by happiness, Tolke fumbled, unsure of what to do next.

“Tang, could I take these three books with me? I promise I won’t damage or crease them,” Tolke asked carefully, holding three books he had selected, all related to human evolution—his current area of interest.

“Sorry, I can’t allow that,” Tang Huai replied with an apologetic smile. These books had appeared magically with the Ice Castle, and they were a unique feature of the castle. Tang Huai had no intention of letting them be borrowed.

“That’s a shame,” Tolke said regretfully, misunderstanding Tang Huai’s response and assuming the books belonged to the FillTech Company, meaning Tang Huai had no authority over them.

Tang Huai didn’t bother to explain further. Though the books couldn’t be taken away, they could still be read in the castle. Tolke found a seat at a table and began reading with great enthusiasm. With nothing pressing to do, Tang Huai browsed the collection as well.

“Ah, it’s a swing!”

Half an hour later, as Tang Huai and Torlk peacefully enjoyed their reading, a loud voice echoed from outside the castle. Tang Huai and Torlk set their books down and went out to investigate. A group of students had gathered around the Swing in the wind, and AI Zhang Long was standing dutifully by its side.

Since there weren’t many attractions in Snowy Landscape yet, Da De was in charge of managing the snowmobiles and snow huts, while AI Zhang Long was responsible for overseeing the Ice Castle.

“Tang, can we try the swing?” a tall boy asked eagerly as Tang Huai approached.

The tall boy, named Tommy, had always been the active one at school, often enjoying showing off in front of the girls. The swing before him was over fifty meters high, reaching seemingly into the sky. Tommy had a feeling that if he could swing on it, the experience would be exhilarating, and more importantly, it would definitely cause the girls to scream in amazement.

Tommy was eager to start.

“Tommy, this swing is too high; it might be dangerous,” a chubby boy, named Jay, tugged on Tommy’s down jacket and whispered a warning.

Tommy was known for being impulsive and often put himself at risk just to be the center of attention.

“Jay, I’ve done a 20-meter cliff swing before, no problem at all. Tang, is the Swing in the wind safe?” Tommy quickly dismissed Jay’s concerns and turned to Tang Huai with an eager look.

“The Swing in the wind is one of the latest products from FillTech Company, and the safety is guaranteed,” Tang Huai said after a brief pause.

“I’m doing it!” Tommy interrupted before Tang Huai could finish. Nothing could stop him from showing off now.

“Zhang Long,” Tang Huai signaled to AI Zhang Long.

Zhang Long turned and picked up an ice-carved sign that read, “30 dollars per ride.”

Tang Huai didn’t care much for the swing himself, but he knew that the Swing in the wind was one of the island’s signature attractions. It was a key revenue source for Sora Island, so of course, it wouldn’t be free.

Thirty dollars for a swing wasn’t a small amount, but given the unique location and thrill, it was definitely worth the price. Tommy, focused entirely on showing off, didn’t consider the cost or the risks.

After collecting the payment, Tang Huai instructed Zhang Long to ensure Tommy’s safety. The swing’s safety system was designed to protect against conditions like high blood pressure and heart problems, so aside from the thrill, there was no real danger to the body.

Tommy was the first person to try the swing, and Tang Huai was curious to see how it would turn out.

“Tommy, don’t push yourself too hard…”

“Oh my God, that looks terrifying.”

As soon as the other students realized Tommy was going to try the swing, they began murmuring with concern. The swing was suspended about twenty meters from the edge of the cliff, and with a length of fifty meters, it was easy to imagine how terrifying it would be once it started swinging.

“It’ll be fine,” Tommy waved off their concerns. Last year, he had indeed ridden an extreme swing near the Grand Canyon in the U.S. It was crowded with tourists and staffed by professional safety personnel. He had been scared but ultimately found it thrilling.

He assumed the Swing in the wind would be similar, just a bit higher. But as soon as he sat on the swing, he realized he was wrong.

The view before him was an endless stretch of snow-covered mountains, and it felt like he was hanging in midair. The environment, with so few people around, made everything feel much more intense.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Tang Huai noticed Tommy’s nervousness and asked softly.

“Yes,” Tommy forced a grin. He had heard his classmates’ gasps, and he lived for those reactions. He felt like he was on the verge of backing out, but he couldn’t. It was just a swing—he would close his eyes and get through it.

Tommy mentally steeled himself.

“Let’s go, then,” Tang Huai said, seeing that Tommy was determined. He gave the signal to Zhang Long, who pressed the activation button on the swing. It made a creaking sound and slowly began to sway back and forth.

At first, the swing moved gently, but gradually, the motion became stronger and faster.

Eventually, the swing reached an 80-degree angle, and then it suddenly dropped, hurtling downwards before swinging back up with the same force.

“AHHHHH!”

“AHHHHH!”

“God, let me down!”

…

As the swing reached its peak and plummeted, Tommy’s screams echoed through the air, filling the entire swing area with his terrified voice.

The Sixth Snow Mountain wasn’t particularly tall, but it was surrounded by a series of massive snow-capped mountains. As Tommy looked ahead, even though there was quite some distance, he felt as if he was about to crash into one of them.

The wind howled past his ears, giving Tommy an unparalleled thrill.

“Oh my God,” one of the more timid girls below gasped and covered her eyes, unable to watch. She was terrified that Tommy might accidentally get thrown off the swing. From the outside, the swing didn’t look all that safe.

The swing swayed back and forth in the air.

“Tang, are you sure this is safe?” Tolke asked nervously, watching the swing go higher and higher. The intense swaying of the swing was enough to frighten anyone.

“It’s perfectly safe.” Tang Huai reassured him with a calm expression. These types of cliff swings were quite popular in China, and Tang Huai had seen them often on social media. However, compared to the Swing in the wind, those domestic versions were smaller and far less intense.

Tang Huai took out his phone and recorded a short ten-second video, thinking it might come in handy for future promotion of the Great Tang Resort.

Five minutes later, the swing came to a stop.

“Tommy, how was the Swing in the wind?”

“Was it terrifying? Were you scared?”

“Tommy, you’re so brave!”

…

Tommy, still slightly shaken, undid his safety belt as his classmates rushed up to him, asking curiously. From their perspective, Tommy had been a tiny dot swinging back and forth in the air, looking so small and fragile against the backdrop of the towering snow-capped mountains.

“Thrilling, fun,” Tommy said, patting his chest and taking a few gulps of water before admitting, clearly excited.

He wasn’t exaggerating to save face. In the first few moments on the swing, Tommy had indeed been terrified. But by the end, he had reached a point where he just embraced the fear.

As he opened his eyes and looked around… everything was covered in pristine white snow, and to his right was the Ice Castle. As he swung backward, he had felt like he brushed past the very tip of the castle’s spires. Tommy had excellent vision, and he could clearly see the snow flower garden below. From that high vantage point, with the snow-covered mountains and the castle beneath him, it was a view of indescribable beauty.

“I’d recommend everyone try it,” Tommy said seriously, encouraging the others. Seeing his genuine expression, some of the students exchanged looks.

Perhaps it was Tommy’s sincerity that convinced them because a few more students handed over their $30 to try the swing themselves. Their reactions were much like Tommy’s. While the swing was undeniably intense, the view it provided was breathtaking.

The group played from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., and after being thoroughly satisfied, Tang Huai and Tolke led them back down the mountain.

With the terrifying swing behind them, the ice walkway didn’t seem so daunting anymore. Ignoring the creaking sounds, some of them even thought it was kind of… beautiful?

…

“So, how was it? Was the Ice Castle as beautiful as it looks?”

“Danielle, I saw your tweet—was the castle really made entirely out of ice and snow?”

“There’s a swing at the top of the snow mountain? Was it as terrifying as it sounds?”

The students who had stayed behind gathered around eagerly as Tang Huai and the others returned down the mountain. After waiting for what felt like forever, some had even gone back to the snow huts. Now, as soon as the group came down, they bombarded them with questions.

During the two hours they were gone, curiosity had been eating away at the rest of the group. Some of the students had already posted on Twitter. From those posts, it seemed like the Ice Castle was as beautiful as a finely crafted painting.

“It was absolutely stunning, trust me. Definitely worth the trip.” The students who had gone to the Ice Castle reassured the others enthusiastically. If they’d had more time, they would’ve stayed another two hours easily.

“I regret…” The students at the base of the mountain showed a hint of remorse on their faces. They realized they should have overcome their fear earlier.

“Mr. Tolke, can we go up now?” After their regret, the students looked at Tolke, a glimmer of hope in their eyes.

“Tang…” Tolke shrugged and then looked over at Tang Huai. Their original plan was to head back by 6 p.m., but with so many students now wanting to climb the mountain, they decided to delay by two hours.

Except for a few particularly timid students, most of them decided to climb the mountain again. Even those who had already climbed once didn’t mind going up again. The Ice Castle was just too fun; they hadn’t had enough time to explore it properly.

As the previous group had mentioned, the entire ice and snow castle was mysterious and grand, while the Swing in the wind was thrilling and exciting. The second wave of students had just as much fun, making it a perfect travel experience.

By 8 p.m., the group began their journey back.

Once again, some students rode bikes while others ran. However, after having already done the journey once and spending the entire day playing, the students were exhausted and panting heavily. Had the road from Blue Sea to Snow Village not been through such a remote wilderness, they might have just given up.

By 2 a.m., they finally returned to Blue Sea Lake. The students scattered back to their treehouses, with only one thought on their minds: sleep. This day had been truly exhausting!

“Tang, Snow Village was great fun, but the transportation could use some improvement,” Tolke said, panting heavily as he gave Tang Huai his suggestion. He could hardly believe he had managed to make it back, as his legs had turned to jelly and he couldn’t feel them anymore.

“Thanks for the advice,” Tang Huai said, somewhat helpless. The inconvenient transportation was indeed one of Sora Island’s downsides. However, with Sora Town under construction, Tang Huai had seen the blueprints and knew that once it was built, a path would be created between the two mountain peaks. At the very least, they wouldn’t have to climb over the mountains just to get from the port to Blue Sea Lake in the future.

After chatting with Tolke for a bit, they each returned to their rooms. Tang Huai quickly washed up and collapsed into bed. Having only slept for two hours the night before, his body was starting to feel the fatigue.

Everyone slept deeply and contentedly.

Over the next five days, Tolke and the others leisurely explored around Blue Sea Lake and Snow Village. The air was so fresh, and it had been a long time since they had been so close to nature.

On the morning of the sixth day, everyone packed up their luggage and headed to the Sora port.

As beautiful as Sora Island was, they had already been there for seven days, and it was time to return home. As they made their way back, each student’s suitcase contained one or two Blue Sea fish. They had discovered the deliciousness of Blue Sea fish on the third day. After tasting it, they all regretted not eating it on the very first day!

There were so many students from Ace High School that Tang Huai had to implement a fish limit policy: no one was allowed to eat more than two fish per meal. For the return trip, the rule was that each person could take no more than two fish with them.

The students were a bit disappointed, but they understood. Blue Sea Lake wasn’t that large, so being allowed two fish each was already a generous privilege.

“Boss Tang,” Tang Huai and the others arrived at the Sora port, where they saw Alang sunbathing on the deck of the Great Tang No. 1. When he spotted Tang Huai, Alang greeted him enthusiastically—quite unusual for his typical behavior.

Tang Huai felt a bit suspicious and decided to check Alang’s personal panel.

[Boatman Alang]: Loves the sea, prone to drinking, intelligent AI.

Loyalty: 55 [Rebelled]

Experience Points: 2675/100000

The last time Alang had shown up, his loyalty had been around 40. Now, a week later, although he was still in the “rebelled” state, it had increased by over ten points?

Tang Huai was puzzled. He knew that gaining Alang’s loyalty wasn’t easy, and more importantly, he hadn’t done anything to increase it these past few days…

Author’s Note: ↖(^ω^)↗ Boss Tang will be heading back to Mexico for a few days in the next chapter!

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

Sandy: Why is only very few people reading this novel? 🥲 I absolutely love it.