Though the distance between heaven and earth is vast, taking the Great Golden Crow and his companions a mere two hours or so to traverse, for Weining and Yang Jian it meant scaling mountains and wading across rivers, journeying westward on foot for over two months.
Along the way, though somewhat monotonous at times, Weining never felt restless or impatient. Moreover, such a prolonged journey spent walking step by step on her own two feet was an entirely unprecedented experience for her, and one that possessed a unique charm of its own. Traversing mountain ranges and barren deserts, taking in diverse local customs and landscapes, Weining gained a tremendous amount.
As for Yang Jian, needless to say, he was like a trapped dragon returning to the sea or a fierce tiger descending the mountain. Full of vigor all the way, he seemed to possess an endless supply of energy. He recovered his old chatty and cheerful self, never feeling the slightest bit dull throughout the trip. Although he constantly remembered to be considerate of Weining—never hurrying through the night and avoiding sleeping out in the wilderness whenever possible—there was simply no helping it. With towns few and far between along this route, consisting mostly of wild mountains and dense forests, camping outdoors was inevitably a frequent occurrence.
Chapter 106