"Although the bus fare from San Francisco to here is not expensive, if you are eliminated, you will only get a thousand US dollars in compensation, which is still a big disadvantage."
In the surging crowd, Ronald frowned, muttering in a low voice, his eyes wandering, with a little uneasiness and anxiety.
"Why so worried?"
At the same time, the familiar and steady voice of "Old Immortal" came from the earphones, penetrating the surrounding noise: "The volcano is the place where the vitality of heaven and earth gathers. Lihuo lives under Gen Mountain, ready to go. This phenomenon
It means the mountain fire hexagram, and the mountain shape is glowing, indicating that your luck will continue to rise."
"Remember, when you are in a dangerous situation, the disturbances in the outside world are just illusions. Only by maintaining inner peace and clarity, moving the body but keeping the mind still, and moving the mind but keeping the mind still, can you officially enter the practice of feeling and breathing.
stage, and then awaken the power hidden in your body.”
"That being said, my practice time is too short after all, and I still have no confidence." Ronald was slightly startled, but the anxiety on his face did not diminish: "How can the mystery of the Shanhuo Ben Gua be revealed in reality?
Can you give me a helping hand?"
"Old Immortal, do you know that the fear in my heart not only comes from the unknown challenges that are coming, but also from the past that cannot be forgotten."
He sighed softly and responded to the comfort from the "old immortal" in the earphones. His voice was mixed with a bit of helplessness and self-deprecation: "In my opinion, the troubles in this world are far more serious than the various hexagrams you mentioned.
It’s complex and changeable.”
"The tranquility and clarity you mentioned are the realms I have longed to achieve countless times in the dead of night. But do you know? For as long as I can remember, that tranquility has been as far away as the moon in the mirror, out of reach."
"I, Ronald Tang, a child who was tricked by fate, grew up in the shadow of discrimination and exclusion since I was a child. My adoptive parents gave me a home, but they left me in a hurry when I just entered middle school.
Go and leave me alone, facing everything alone in this foreign country."
"In school, I became an outlier, not only because I was Asian, but also because of the unwarranted rumors - they said I was born with an ominous nature and killed my adoptive parents. The indifference and rejection of my white classmates, and the provocation and violence of my black classmates.
, like an invisible net, binding me tightly."
In Ronald Tang's heart, those years of youth shrouded in gloom were like old scars. Although they were scabbed, they were always aching inadvertently. He stopped and looked through the bustling crowd, as if he was traveling through time.
Traveling through time and space, I returned to the high school era that was full of prejudice and loneliness.
"When I was walking on campus, they would bump into me on purpose and then scold me viciously, saying I was a yellow-skinned monkey and a born bastard. They also cursed me for killing my adoptive parents. They often threw my books everywhere.
They were all scribbling on my desk, filled with insulting words."
Ronald's fists clenched unconsciously, and veins popped out on his arms.
"Once in a physical education class, I was playing basketball in groups, but no group wanted me. I was practicing shooting alone in the corner, but they rushed over and snatched my basketball away, pushed me to the ground, and surrounded me haha
Laughing. I tried to resist, but what I got in return was them beating me even more fiercely. They punched and kicked me, and I was beaten black and blue."
"I tried to use silence and tolerance to buy a trace of peace, but found that it would only make the violence worse." At this point, Ronald's eyes flashed with a trace of imperceptible cruelty, which was left after countless struggles in despair.
traces below.
"I started to resist, using my fists and my body that seemed to never be defeated. At first, I was just to protect myself, but gradually, I found that every counterattack could make me stand up to those bullies.
He stood firm in front of others and even gained a modicum of respect, even if that respect was mixed with fear.”
"Fight after battle, I went from being bullied to a formidable being. I even attracted the beautiful and proud cheerleader in my class. Her eyes once made me think I had found the light in my life.
But that green emotion was eventually extinguished because of my clumsiness and incomprehension.”
"The Brooklyn Aquarium was the place where we had our last date. The vastness and depth of the ocean seemed to indicate the unbridgeable distance between us. She left with a smile, leaving me with more than just memories.
of loneliness and misunderstanding.”
"This failure, for me, is not only an emotional loss, but also the beginning of a new round of exclusion."
"The discrimination and attacks against me by my male classmates intensified. They laughed at my incompetence. To make matters worse, some people used the power of my family to put pressure on the school. I became the target of public criticism and finally had to choose to leave the school that brought me so much.
A dark middle school.”
Speaking of this, Ronald's eyes flashed with a trace of imperceptible sadness, but it was quickly replaced by determination. "Old immortal, you always say that the Shanhuo Ben Gua heralds good luck, but in this long and difficult journey,
During the journey, I saw only countless challenges and tests..."
"This competition is so difficult. Whether it is climbing mountains or gliding in aerial combat, I have never prepared for it. I have no experience in this area at all. Coupled with the possible exclusion of Chinese people by everyone, I am afraid it is not small! I don't know.
Will the organizer provide reliable security guarantee?"
"Child, the world is like a chess game. Your destiny cannot be defined by others. The tenacity and unyielding deep in your heart are the most powerful weapons." At this moment, the calm and peaceful voice of "Old Immortal" came from the headphones.
The sound, like a sweet spring in the desert, instantly soothed Ronald's restless heart.
"The mountain fire hexagram not only symbolizes the heat and magnificence of the outside, but also the light and purity of the heart. What you have to do is to find your own clarity in this chaos. Let your soul be like the top of a mountain.
Although the snow is in a hot place, it can remain white and flawless."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Everything in the world has gains and losses. Although this trip is full of risks, it is also an indispensable part of your spiritual path. If you can seize the opportunity,
Not only will your strength be awakened, but you will also be able to take this opportunity to understand the true meaning of life. Isn't that a great gain?"
"Dropping out of school many years ago was probably the bravest decision I could have made."
Ronald nodded, seeming to have made up his mind: "I know that giving up my studies means giving up the recognition of mainstream society, but I am even more unwilling to continue to sink in such an environment. What I need is a place that can let me breathe freely.
The sky is a stage where I can truly show myself."
"Old Immortal, you said that the road to spiritual practice is lonely and long, but I am willing to endure this loneliness just to awaken the power hidden in my body and prove my worth."
"Maybe this competition is my chance to prove myself. No matter how difficult and dangerous the road ahead is, I will persevere and use my hands to break those prejudices and constraints."
After breaking through the barriers in his mind, he took a deep breath, walked quickly to the hang glider storage area, and selected a pair of equipment that seemed light and sturdy. Although he was uneasy, Ronald knew that with the "Old Immortal"
With his selfless help, he is no longer the helpless child.
He is now a warrior, one ready to find his own worth and strength in this unknown adventure.
…
About ten minutes later, with the loud bang of the starting gun, the qualifying competition officially began. Ronald quickly put on his hang glider, took a deep breath, turned on the GPS track record of his watch, and resolutely embarked on this challenging journey.
.
The initial height of five thousand feet was nothing. Relying on the physical fitness strengthened after training, he has always stayed at the end of the first echelon. He is familiar with the basic skills of mountain climbing, observing the pace and rhythm of the leaders in front, and learning silently.
Standing, adjusting one's condition.
But in the second half, the mountains began to get steeper and the temperature dropped significantly.
On the unobstructed hillside, the cold wind roared wantonly, scraping against his face mercilessly like a sharp blade, and like countless tiny ice needles, piercing into his skin, trying to kill his will.
Speed ​​climbing, a sport that combines high-altitude climbing with cross-country running, is far more difficult than traditional climbing methods. To reach the summit as quickly as possible, not only requires strong physical fitness, but also extremely outstanding skills and perseverance.
Ronald took steady and powerful steps, and the road under his feet became more and more difficult. Soon, patches of hard snow that looked like solid ice came into view. The degree of slipperiness was beyond imagination. A little improper use of force would cause serious damage.
It is easy to sprain your ankle, and there is even a risk of slipping and rolling down the cliff.
He has officially entered the climbing stage of mixed ice and rock slopes, and every step he takes is extremely cautious. In such an environment, a small mistake may lead to serious consequences.
Climbing up from the snow line, the ice and snow areas were scattered among the gravel at first, and then gradually gathered together. Ronald took out the crampons from his backpack and carefully installed them on his shoes to increase the friction on the ice and snow.
After a while, another huge piece of ice and snow blocked the road ahead. It was about half the size of a football field and looked smooth and hard. Ronald frowned, thinking about how to overcome this obstacle. He adjusted his breathing and decided to start from the edge.
Find the breaking point.
He climbed hard on the ice and snow that was difficult to reach, and each step consumed a huge amount of energy. His clothes were soaked with sweat, but he did not dare to stop at all, and moved forward and back mechanically, even without hesitation.
Use electrical stimulation to relieve pain.
There were four or five helicopters hovering on the mountainside, obviously observing the competition nearby. Ronald knew that his every move might be recorded, but he had no time to care about it and had only one goal in mind - to reach the top of the mountain as soon as possible.
Finally, he successfully crossed the huge piece of ice and snow. Ronald took a short rest, replenished some water and energy, and continued to climb up. At this moment, his body was exhausted, but his spirit was still high.
As the height continued to increase, the surrounding scenery became more majestic and majestic but also dangerous. The strong wind roared, as if it was about to blow him down. Ronald held the trekking pole tightly and moved forward step by step with difficulty.
Due to his lack of skills and experience in climbing snow-capped mountains, although he is not lagging behind at this moment, he still feels a little out of his depth. Every step forward requires more effort than others.
More importantly, the countdown was gradually approaching, but the towering crater ice cap was still out of reach. Time was like a ruthless spurr, urging him to keep speeding up.
Just as he was thinking about how to regain his disadvantage and stand out in this competition, a breeze blew by, bringing the unique coolness of the top of the mountain and dispersing some of the confusion in his heart.
He looked up at the sky and saw several falcons hovering gracefully and freely on the updraft. This scene, like a flash of inspiration, lit up his thoughts.
"Disciple, do you still remember the keynote of 'Freedom and Control of the Wind' that I taught you this morning?"
At this moment, the voice of "Old Immortal" broke the silence, as if directly ringing in Ronald's heart, "It is a state of borrowing the power of heaven and earth to travel around the world at will. On the top of this volcano, the wind,
They are your wings."
"In this volcanic land, the airflow at dusk is extraordinary. The sun sets, and when other areas gradually cool down, the heat of the earth does not dissipate. Instead, it accumulates in the embrace of the volcano, forming a stable temperature difference.
To be continued...