I Topped the Aloof Omega in a Scummy Alpha Novel - Chapter 32

Exhausting Yet Exhilarating

The tip of the Shadowless Tower peaked against the midday sun, as a steady figure slowly approached.

The tower guards stood like two statues, one on the left and one on the right, at the border between the lawn outside the tower and the base of the tower.

“Can I go in here?” Huo Xiaoli’s red lips curled into a smile.

Five seconds passed, time seemingly frozen. Only Huo Xiaoli’s eyes behind her sunglasses darted about.

Her foot hovered momentarily above the border line.

“This area is not open to the public,” the tower guard’s voice was stern.

“What if I insist on going in?”

As she spoke, her foot had already crossed the border line. The guards on both sides struck with lightning speed, two powerful currents of wind rushing straight at Huo Xiaoli.

She retreated, and the guards instantly returned to their solemn, statue-like posture.

Huo Xiaoli realized that the two men’s skills were far superior to hers.

“Apologies for the offense.”

It seemed she was about to use her real strength for an all-out strike.

“Tap.”

“Tap.”

The silenced gunshots sounded like marbles.

The two tower guards, possessing profound internal energy, fell instantly. Without a direct hit to a vital point, this wouldn’t have happened.

Huo Xiaoli shrugged, her smile growing more reckless.

It was raining in Songshan County. The roads were slick, and the mountain roads had no guardrails. The tires scraped the edge several times.

Xuan Yuchi was sweating profusely from driving. Ahead was a curve. A slight misjudgment led to a wider arc in the turn, and the off-road vehicle crashed into the mountain wall. Fortunately, she managed to hit the brakes in time.

“Are you okay?” Bian Yunchen looked at her.

A bead of sweat trickled down Xuan Yuchi’s cheek onto her collar. She shook her head.

Morandi placed a hand on Xuan Yuchi’s shoulder: “Let’s take a break first.”

“Okay.”

Xuan Yuchi: “We can’t drive this car anymore.”

The car was stuck against the mountain wall, and the road was narrow. The few of them couldn’t easily move it.

On the live comments: [It’s only the first day, and it’s already this thrilling?]

[It’s hard to imagine what’s going to happen next.]

[God bless our Yunchen, keep her safe and sound.]

“Then… walking?” Morandi sounded uncertain.

It would take at least eight hours to walk from here to their destination for the day.

Morandi, having travelled extensively with production crews, could barely manage an eight-hour hike.

But could Xuan Yuchi and Bian Yunchen manage it?

“I’m fine,” Bian Yunchen said easily.

Bian Yunchen opened the car door. Just half an arm’s width from her feet was a sheer cliff.

The camerawoman specifically gave a shot of the view down below.

Fans were terrified and anxious.

[Suddenly, I want my Chen to quit this show.]

[Please don’t scare me like this, I’m going to cry.]

Xuan Yuchi also got out of the car and moved all the luggage out: three suitcases and a bag of tents the production crew had prepared for them.

Xuan Yuchi called the traffic department to arrange for the off-road vehicle to be towed away to prevent congestion.

Bian Yunchen silently pulled the suitcases from the edge to the front of the car.

Morandi told her colleagues behind them to wait.

“You guys take the other road.”

Colleague: “Can the four of you manage?”

Morandi: “By the time we arrive, you’ll have already reached the destination. This road is too dangerous; nothing should go wrong.”

A drone was scouting ahead. If any suspicious individuals were spotted, the backend supervisor would notify Morandi immediately.

The four of them walked non-stop for four hours, pulling the luggage. To conserve energy, they remained silent the entire way.

Xuan Yuchi appeared outwardly like a solid rock, but inside, she was complaining bitterly.

Xuan Yuchi: [666, how much longer?]

System: [Almost there.]

Finally, the mountain terrain became less steep, and a small path meandered from the flat ground down the mountain.

System: [This is it!]

Xuan Yuchi stopped: “I need to use the restroom.”

Morandi and the camerawoman were so tired they sat on the ground.

Bian Yunchen remained standing, disliking the dirtiness of the ground, and watched Xuan Yuchi walk away.

Xuan Yuchi followed the small path. The trees were dense, and the grass was as tall as half her height.

An abandoned three-wheeled motorized vehicle was parked in the middle of the road.

That’s it!

Xuan Yuchi was ecstatic, tears streaming down like a flood, dramatically as if she had lost her mother. She quickly got into the driver’s seat.

She had used one lottery draw earlier on the road, and the prize was this three-wheeled vehicle.

The system was struggling to find a suitable place for the vehicle to appear, which was why they had walked for so long.

“Toot, toot, toottoottoo, toottoo, toottoo, toot, toot, toot.”

Xuan Yuchi pressed the small horn, driving happily forward.

The three-wheeled vehicle was about to drive onto flat ground but stalled on the slope due to insufficient power.

Morandi’s mouth opened into an “O”: “My goodness, where did you get this?”

Xuan Yuchi: “I found it on the slope.”

Morandi was utterly shocked. This area was deserted for miles around. How could there be a three-wheeled vehicle that looked quite new and could still run?

But never mind, as long as it worked.

The three immediately went around to the back of the vehicle to push. It took a lot of effort to push the vehicle onto the road.

It was starting to get dark. The three-wheeled vehicle was their savior.

The vehicle could squeeze four people. Xuan Yuchi suggested transporting the three of them first and then driving back and forth a few times for the luggage.

After driving for an hour and a half, they reached a large patch of woods nearby, where Xuan Yuchi dropped them off.

At their current speed, they wouldn’t reach their destination tonight. It would be better to rest in the woods for the night.

Morandi agreed.

Xuan Yuchi had to go back to fetch the luggage, and Yunchen wanted to go too.

“I’ll drive, you take a break.”

The drone in the sky followed the two, broadcasting the footage live to the streaming room.

It took three round trips to move all the luggage over.

Xuan Yuchi even managed a quick nap in the vehicle.

“Are you tired?” Bian Yunchen asked her.

Xuan Yuchi rested her head on her arms: “I’m alright.”

Bian Yunchen: “Do you want to quit?”

Xuan Yuchi: “Huh?”

Bian Yunchen: “If you’re tired, we can quit this show anytime.”

Xuan Yuchi shook her head: “No way. That would make you look bad.”

“Not everything needs to be persisted in,” Bian Yunchen suddenly said.

The thought occurred in her mind first, she heard it, and then she repeated it.

They arrived at the woods. The two got out of the vehicle and carried the last two suitcases down.

Morandi and the others had already pitched the tents.

“Come in and rest for a bit.”

The show rules stipulated that staff should not provide assistance to the guests unless necessary. However, since Xuan Yuchi and the others had been working all day, the audience would understand if they borrowed the crew’s tent to sit for a while.

“You go. I’ll take a walk outside.” Bian Yunchen sent Xuan Yuchi into the tent. “Rest well, and then go pitch your tent after you’ve rested.”

Bian Yunchen walked alone to an ancient tree, with the drone following above her head.

She adjusted her breathing, clearing her mind of all distractions.

Though the tree wished to be still, the wind would not cease. Gradually, the sound of the wind was shut out behind her.

She saw—her.

Morandi took four cans of beer out of the suitcase. The camerawoman didn’t drink. Morandi clinked cans with Xuan Yuchi, sincerely praising her: “Xuan Yuchi, you, this.”

She gave a thumbs-up.

Xuan Yuchi smiled. The tiredness was in the past; now she was drinking beer, feeling great.

Morandi thought Xuan Yuchi didn’t believe her, so she took out her phone to show her the live comments.

They were unanimously praising her for being honest and capable.

They even gave her a nickname, “Xuan Niu” (Xuan Cow/Ox).

Xuan Yuchi looked at the camera with some confusion.

“Xuan Niu?”

Fans explained in the comments.

[Xuan Niu means the honest, hardworking old yellow ox, Ms. Xuan.]

[Saying you have the strength of an ox.]

[Saying you have good stamina.]

Xuan Yuchi gave the camera a forced smile.

“Can you give me a better-sounding nickname?”

The comments surprisingly didn’t argue with her.

Xuan Yuchi acquired a new nickname.

It came from an elite, literary fan of the artistic Film Queen—”Protector of Chen.”

Xuan Yuchi took zero seconds to accept this title.

“Come on, let’s have another one.” Morandi clinked cans with her. “Yuchi, what’s your dream?”

People in their line of work love to talk about dreams.

It was dark, the air grew cooler, and the mood became relaxed.

The air in the woods was fresh. Xuan Yuchi closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, feeling physically and mentally relaxed. Hearing Morandi’s question, she slowly opened her eyes.

The light was dim, the tent was simple, across from her was her travel companion, and on the ground were items that induced intoxication.

Most importantly, there was a dangerous yet charming future ahead.

Sometimes she loved winning challenges and embracing adventure. This gene came from her mother.

When Huo Tian was young, she loved traveling, especially to dangerous places; extreme environments were her stimulant.

Huo Tian’s past was preserved in a thick photo album. When Little Chi opened the album, Huo Tian would explain the story behind each photo.

If she hadn’t met Xuan Ling, Huo Tian would have become a truly footless bird.

As Xuan Yuchi grew up, she felt sorry for her mother.

Huo Tian, however, said it was destiny; it was fate for Xuan Yuchi to be her daughter.

As for Xuan Yuchi’s dream, perhaps touched by the memory, her eyes sparkled with starlight.

“I want to do something very amazing.”

Outside the tent, Bian Yunchen paused, her face slightly changed.

Morandi was curious: “How amazing is ‘very amazing’?”

Xuan Yuchi casually said: “The most amazing in the world.”

Bian Yunchen clenched her hands. Her phoenix eyes contained an ambiguous melancholy. Her hair loosely fell to her cheek, obscuring most of her eyes, giving her a touch of gloominess.

Morandi raised her glass: “I wish you success.”

“How about you?” Xuan Yuchi asked.

She had followed film and production crews in college. Morandi was the most dedicated and imaginative industry person she had ever met.

Morandi was startled, not expecting Xuan Yuchi to ask her. She was too used to being overlooked.

“Come on, don’t be shy,” Xuan Yuchi encouraged.

She then addressed the camera: “You guys aren’t allowed to make fun of her.”

Morandi’s face was a little red: “Me, well, I want to be a producer for a variety show.”

“A line producer will do too.”

She spoke a little fast, feeling relieved after saying it.

Xuan Yuchi touched her beer can to Morandi’s: “I wish you success too.”

It was the first time someone had asked about her dream.

Her former friends would have found the word ridiculous.

Xuan Yuchi suddenly felt a sense of finding a kindred spirit.

Yet, she felt something was missing.

Where was Yunchen?

Xuan Yuchi went outside the tent and bumped right into Yunchen.

Her gaze passed over Yunchen. Behind her was a pitched tent. Yunchen had set up her own tent while they were resting.

“Wuwuwu, Sister Bian, you’re so good.”

She instinctively hugged Yunchen, rubbing her head against Yunchen’s neck like a fuzzy little animal.

There was bread in the box. Morandi told them not to worry about her. Xuan Yuchi took the bread and went into her tent with Bian Yunchen.

After eating and drinking, it was nearly ten o’clock.

The two lay down fully clothed, face to face.

There was no camera in the tent, and the microphones on their bodies were temporarily taken off.

Xuan Yuchi was asleep, but Bian Yunchen was still staring at her, seemingly finding an hour as short as a few seconds.

It seemed another person was observing Xuan Yuchi through Bian Yunchen’s eyes.

And that person’s gaze was intertwined with too many emotions.

In the shadows, someone was already impatient.

Bai Fu lay hidden in the grass, gently opening the iron cage. Two venomous snakes swept across the branches, making a rustling sound.

But this sound was still too faint for those in deep sleep.

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