The Return Of The God Level Assassin

Chapter 1362: BIRTHDAY TOUR

THEIR first stop that morning was Jiuzhaigou National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its crystal-clear lakes, cascading waterfalls, and sweeping mountain scenery. A private guide was already waiting for them at the entrance of the resort, along with three other guests who would be joining the tour. After introducing herself, she gave them a brief overview of the park and its different scenic areas while they waited for the shuttle bus to arrive.

“Jiuzhaigou is shaped like a Y,” she said. “Rize Valley is on the right side. It’s where most of the famous lakes are. Zechawa Valley is on the left, and Shuzheng Valley is the main one that connects them both.”

Minutes later, the bus arrived, and they all boarded. The guide told them they would start at the top of Rize Valley and work their way down. Once the bus reached the valley, they got off and walked to their first destination.

They went first to Arrow Bamboo Lake. The water was unfrozen, a clear blue-green color that reflected the mountains and bamboo groves around it. Even in the middle of winter, this lake didn’t freeze, so its surface was still visible and bright.

Luo Yan wrapped his arm around Shen Ji Yun’s and pulled out his phone with his free hand. He held it up for a selfie, angling it to catch the lake behind them. Shen Ji Yun stood stiffly beside him, not quite sure where to look. Luo Yan glanced at the screen and laughed. “You look like you’re being held hostage.”

Shen Ji Yun could only let out a helpless smile. What could he do if he’s really bad at posing for photos?

Their next stop was Panda Lake. Much of its surface had frozen over, but patches of open water still revealed the lake’s vivid blue-green depths. The contrast between the smooth sheet of ice and the shimmering water beneath made the scenery all the more captivating.

Five Flower Lake came next. A thin layer of clear ice covered part of the surface of the lake, but the blue-green shades and the submerged tree trunks were still visible underneath. Luo Yan crouched down to get a closer look, and Shen Ji Yun knelt beside him, their shoulders brushing.

They walked along the boardwalk to Pearl Shoal. Even in winter, when part of the wide, calcified slope was covered in ice, water still flowed steadily over the edge, feeding the waterfall below. The spray of the falls hung in the cold air, and the noise of rushing water filled the space around them.

Luo Yan leaned close to Shen Ji Yun’s ear. “This is where I’d kiss you if we were alone,” he whispered.

Shen Ji Yun let out a soft laugh, the sound nearly swallowed by the roar of the falls. He put his arm around Luo Yan’s shoulders and pulled him close.

They took a short break at the visitor center before wrapping up the tour. By then, it was already early afternoon, and they had completed the route their guide had mapped out.

***

After the morning tour, they grabbed a quick lunch at Bo Ri Village before joining a guided nature walk through the forests surrounding the resort. A local guide led them along a well-trodden trail, pointing out native plants and sharing bits of local history along the way.

Luo Yan stayed beside Shen Ji Yun throughout the walk. Every now and then, he would stop to snap a photo of the scenery or ask the guide about a particular plant that caught his eye. Shen Ji Yun slowed whenever he did, never straying far as they wandered beneath the canopy of trees for the next hour.

By the time they returned to the resort, it was time for their spa appointment. They headed to Rissai Spa, located in a separate building on the resort grounds. After Luo Yan gave their reservation details at the front desk, a receptionist escorted them to a private treatment room. The space was warmly lit, carrying the faint, soothing scent of herbs. Two massage beds sat side by side, and their therapists were already waiting.

Luo Yan closed his eyes as the therapist began working on his shoulders. She worked out the tightness that had settled there from the morning’s walking. He let his breath slow and his mind drift. The warmth from the therapist’s hands spread through his back, and he could feel the tension leaving his body in pieces.

At one point, he opened his eyes and glanced over at Shen Ji Yun, who was lying still with his eyes closed, his face relaxed. Luo Yan smiled to himself and closed his eyes again. By the time the session ended, his muscles felt soft and loose. The tight knots in his shoulders were gone, and his back felt lighter. Even his legs, which had been sore from the walking, felt brand new.

With both of them feeling completely relaxed, they called for a golf buggy to take them to Cai Lin Xuan for dinner. Mr. Du arrived a few minutes later, driving the buggy himself. They settled into their seats as the cool afternoon breeze brushed against their skin. The sun was already beginning to dip, stretching long shadows across the path ahead.

They didn’t talk much on the ride, just sat side by side. Luo Yan leaned comfortably against Shen Ji Yun, and Shen Ji Yun wrapped an arm around him, holding him close as the buggy carried them along the winding path.

Mr. Du pulled the buggy to a stop near the entrance of Cai Lin Xuan. Luo Yan and Shen Ji Yun stepped off.

“Enjoy your dinner,” Mr. Du said with a slight bow. “When you’re ready to return to your villa, just call the lobby. I’ll come pick you up.”

“Thank you, Mr. Du,” Luo Yan replied with a warm smile.

Mr. Du smiled back, then climbed onto the golf buggy and drove off.

Shen Ji Yun reached for Luo Yan’s hand, their fingers intertwining. He looked down at him with a small smile. “Ready to eat?”

Luo Yan nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yes.”