blogombal Chapter 135 Nostalgic Wheels at the Foot of Black Mountain
Chapter 135 Nostalgic Wheels at the Foot of Black Mountain
Chapter 135: The Nostalgic Wheels at the Foot of Black Mountain
Lin Yan flew across the vast grasslands of South Dakota on his sword, and more than an hour later, the outline of Rapid City appeared in the night. This small city, located at the gateway to Black Mountain, still retained a strong Western atmosphere in 1959, with wooden arcades and brick buildings interspersed. He chose to stay at the most magnificent hotel in town, the Alex Jensen Hotel—a landmark that opened in 1927 and was named after an Indian chief. Its Rococo-style lobby was adorned with Native American totems and brass chandeliers, and rumors circulated that the penthouse suites were often haunted by paranormal events, which suited Lin Yan's curious appetite.
After settling in, Lin Yan's first task was to find a means of transportation. He found the only Cadillac dealership in town, and his eyes were immediately drawn to a pearl-white 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible. He owned one of these cars in Hong Kong, but the color wasn't as appealing. The long body and exaggerated tail fin design gleamed in the moonlight, like a vehicle from the future. He readily wrote a check and also bought five extra cans of gasoline and two spare tires. To the salesperson's surprise, he asked them to carry the gasoline and spare tires to the alley outside, saying someone would come to collect them later. In reality, after the person left, he quickly put them into his storage ring.
"Brother, this car is so big!" Xiao Qi asked curiously. Lin Yan had placed it on the passenger seat, and its little paws carefully stepped on the soft red leather interior.
Lin Yan smiled and started the engine, the V8 engine emitting a deep, powerful roar. He rolled down the window, and the warm summer breeze rushed in.
After a night's rest, Lin Yan set off early the next morning, heading south along Highway 16A. The road wound its way through vast grasslands and rolling hills. The sky was a pristine, clear blue, with low-hanging clouds that seemed almost within reach. Along the roadside, one could frequently see fields of sunflowers and herds of Angus cattle grazing peacefully. After about an hour's drive, the outline of Mount Rushmore gradually came into focus among the distant mountains.
The viewing platform at this time was far simpler than in later generations, and there were far fewer tourists. The huge faces of the four presidents were embedded in the granite wall, and after nearly twenty years of wind and rain, they appeared even more historically weighty and solemn. Lin Yan held Xiao Qi in his arms and stood in front of the railing. His divine sense gently swept over the huge chisel marks, and he could feel the sweat and will left by the workers of that time.
"To carve this much from the mountain rocks with the tools and perseverance of mortals, one's willpower is truly remarkable," he whispered to Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi seemed to understand, her dark eyes fixed on the enormous stone face, and she let out a soft "woof," as if in agreement. Suddenly, as if struck by a sudden thought, Xiao Qi excitedly transmitted her voice, "Brother, I can have the demon beasts carve a stone statue for you a hundred times bigger than this on the cliff face of the Wanyan Mountains! It will be so majestic! I'll even carve one for myself..." Lin Yan, imagining the chilling scene, felt a wave of shame and quickly stopped Xiao Qi's childish idea.
In the afternoon, they turned to the construction site of the Crazy Horse Memorial. It was a stark contrast to the completed Mount Rushmore site; it resembled a giant quarry. Traces of blasting were everywhere, and rubble piled high. Only the giant horse head, just beginning to emerge on the distant mountainside, hinted at an even more massive project to come. Sculptor Kozak Tsiolkovsky was busy at the site, his skin tanned dark by the sun, but his eyes unusually determined. His wife was selling small, hand-carved granite souvenirs in a simple wooden shed. Lin Yan bought a smooth stone slab and casually handed it to Xiao Qi to play with. Xiao Qi immediately grabbed it and started chewing on it with its still-growing baby teeth, making a crisp "crunch" sound that made Lin Yan laugh.
That evening, they checked into a log cabin hotel near Keystone. The cabins were built from large logs and exuded the fresh scent of pine resin. A kerosene lamp lit the room, casting a warm, dim light. Little Qi, clutching the granite slab, rolled around on the thick carpeted floor, contentedly snoring, and soon fell asleep. Lin Yan sat cross-legged by the window, listening to the rustling of the pines outside and feeling the tranquil, ancient energy of the Black Mountain range.
Early the next morning, Lin Yan drove his Cadillac eastward toward the Badlands National Monument. After leaving the main road, the asphalt turned into a rough gravel road, the wheels kicking up clouds of red dust. The surrounding scenery began to change strangely; the gentle grasslands were suddenly replaced by vast expanses of colorful, rugged, and steep rock formations. These rock formations looked as if they had been haphazardly cleaved by a giant axe, forming countless pointed peaks, deep valleys, and jagged ridges. Under the scorching sun, they displayed stripes of ochre, pale yellow, and grayish-white, desolate yet magnificent.
At the park entrance, there was only a simple tin-roofed management station. An elderly caretaker wearing a wide-brimmed hat handed him a rudimentary hand-drawn map and warned, "Young man, the paths inside are difficult to navigate. Watch out for rattlesnakes. Remember to come out before sunset."
Lin Yan drove deeper into this fantastical land. The road wound through a valley of jagged rocks, flanked by bizarrely shaped formations sculpted by the wind—some resembling castles, others like reclining beasts. The sun scorched the earth, and the air was thick with heat. He stopped the car and led Xiao Qi along a poorly marked path. Underfoot lay soft sand and broken rocks, with cacti and drought-resistant shrubs stubbornly growing from the cracks in the rock walls. Lin Yan's spiritual sense could clearly perceive the ancient fossils contained within the rock strata—the remains of marine life from millions of years ago, where time seemed to have stood still.
On the return journey, the sky suddenly changed, and a sudden sandstorm swept in. The gale-force winds, carrying sand and gravel, lashed against the vehicle, making a crackling sound, and visibility plummeted. Lin Yan remained calm and composed. With a slight movement of his fingertips, an invisible shield of true energy enveloped the entire vehicle, easily blocking the sandstorm. The vehicle moved steadily forward in the darkness, like a small boat safely navigating a raging storm.
Returning to the Alex Jensen Hotel in the evening, Lin Yan specifically checked into the rumored "haunted" eighth-floor suite. He waited with great interest, even unleashing his divine sense to probe, but only detected some faint traces of historical remnants, with no real spiritual activity. "It seems the legends are just legends," he shook his head slightly disappointed, and the night passed without further incident.
The final day's itinerary included exploring the Black Mountain National Forest and Castel State Park. Lin Yan drove onto the Needle Peak Highway, a winding road that meandered through dense pine forests and rugged granite peaks. Many sections were still unpaved dirt roads, posing a considerable challenge to driving skills. Lin Yan, in a playful mood, let go of the steering wheel, relying solely on his intuition to navigate the road, maneuvering the vehicle through corners with fluid yet thrilling maneuvers, the tires kicking up clouds of dust on the dirt road. Xiao Qi initially clung nervously to the car window, but quickly adapted to the excitement, barking excitedly and wagging its tail like a little windmill.
Entering Custer State Park, the scenery became increasingly pristine and wild. Vast grasslands interspersed with forests, and majestic mountains rose in the distance. Lin Yan parked the car by the roadside and took Xiao Qi into a clearing in the woods. Sunlight filtered through layers of pine needles, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Xiao Qi was finally free, running wildly through the woods like a white lightning bolt, chasing squirrels, swatting at butterflies, and rolling around in the thick pine needles, having a wonderful time. Lin Yan leaned against a huge pine tree, smiling as he watched, savoring this pure joy.
However, this tranquility was broken by a deep rumble and a slight tremor in the ground. A herd of bison, about twenty or thirty in number, was slowly approaching along the trail, drawing ever closer. These enormous creatures, with their bulging muscles and thick horns, exuded a primal sense of oppression. One particularly large bull seemed to have developed curiosity and hostility towards the white "iron box" parked by the roadside. It lowered its head, panting heavily, and braced its massive horns against the Cadillac's door, producing a teeth-grinding scraping sound.
Little Seven was having a great time when it was disturbed by these uninvited guests, and it was very unhappy. It stopped chasing the squirrel, turned around, and faced the huge bull. A faint golden light flashed in its originally dark eyes. Instead of barking like an ordinary puppy, it raised its head slightly and let out a low but majestic growl that was completely out of place for its small size.
The roar seemed to contain some ancient and powerful force. The air seemed to freeze for a moment. The bull, which had been so aggressive, suddenly froze, its massive body beginning to tremble uncontrollably, its bell-like eyes filled with unprecedented fear. Not only it, but the entire herd of bison stopped, lowered their heads, and emitted uneasy moans. Their massive knees bent, as if trying to kneel down, but they were frozen in place by fear, unable to move.
Looking at the group of "submitting" behemoths in front of her, Xiaoqi proudly flicked her tail, took short strides, and walked up to the bull with her head held high. She sniffed the bull's thick legs with her little nose, then turned back and let out a "woof" at Lin Yan, her little eyes full of smugness that said, "Look how awesome I am!"
Lin Yan couldn't help but chuckle. He walked over, picked it up, and ruffled its hair. "I know you're something else, you little rascal. Let them go, we should go on our picnic."
Xiao Qi then calmed down, and the cattle, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly but obediently made way for Lin Yan to carry Xiao Qi into the car and leave.
They stopped in the shade of a tree by Lake Sylvain. The lake water was crystal clear, reflecting the surrounding green mountains and pine forests. Lin Yan took out the prepared food from his storage ring and used his spiritual power to instantly freeze the lake water into several pieces of ice, which he then added to the juice. Xiao Qi took a sip of the chilled juice, squinted her eyes in comfort, and rolled around happily on the ground a few times, making Lin Yan laugh heartily.
As the sun set, the Cadillac carried the satisfied man and beast back to Rapid City. The afterglow of the sunset painted the sky a magnificent magenta and orange, making the silhouette of the distant Black Mountain appear even more profound. Looking at this ancient land through the rearview mirror, Lin Yan murmured to himself, "Next stop, Yellowstone!"