Ji Yuan's attempts to sleep only amplified his torment. The endless isolation gnawed at even his optimistic spirit.

BOOM

Colossal thunderclaps jolted him.

In this suspended state, the thunder's resonance transformed - he soared amidst celestial storms, feeling lightning's primal dance.

This revelation pierced his soul like divine current, scouring away fear and chaos, leaving crystalline calm.

POURRRRR

Torrential rain followed.

His eyelids fluttered as each droplet's impact registered - pattering earth, splashing rocks, drumming foliage.

Time dilated.

Plink-plonk-plash

Raindrops shattered across creation, their echoes rippling through his consciousness.

Each liquid explosion painted sonar contours - leaves, branches, stones, fleeing creatures - an ebony-and-silver panorama unfolding behind sealed eyes.

Rainfall Reveals Creation, Mind's Canvas Unfolds!

Transcending breath and flesh, Ji Yuan bathed in this synesthetic miracle. Nearby details shone sharp; distant shapes melted into mist.

So he lay in some mountain ruin - a decaying temple? How the downpour flushed forest creatures from hiding!

Though paralyzed, a ghost-smile touched his lips. Had the chess game granted more than suffering?

Then - salvation's sound.

...

Through the deluge trudged bamboo-hatted figures bearing oversized baskets. These contraptions resembled scholars' book-chests but swollen to monstrous size, draped with oilcloth.

Ji Yuan's rain-mapped vision outlined limbs and baskets, faces blurred. Stranger still - some wore straw rain capes, others nothing. No modern gear in sight.

"Quickly! The mountain god temple's ahead!"

"Watch your step! These rocks turn treacherous!"

"Close ranks! Shelter and fire await!"

Their leader rounded mossy boulders, spotting the crumbling shrine. "Press on! Check for stragglers!"

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"All accounted for!"

"Inside! This chill bites to bone!"

Twelve figures stampeded into the sanctuary.

"Phew! Demon-spawned storm!" The bearded leader shrugged off his dripping cape, inspecting his troop.

"Liu Quan! Li Gui! Fetch the charcoal. Let's get flames dancing!"

"Aye!"

"Dry patch here! Move the goods!"

"Need to roast these soaked clothes..."

They were itinerant merchants, hardened to mountain trials. Their baskets always carried tinder - wisdom born of necessity.

Their captain Zhang Shilin bore a scholar's name, though book-learning eluded him. When family fortunes crumbled, he'd shouldered bamboo baskets instead of scrolls.

Now he massaged sore shoulders while others worked - a leader's privilege earned through proven care.

The shrine measured barely ten paces across. Cracked walls held against the storm, but the missing doors invited whistling winds. Spiderwebs veiled toppled incense burners; the deity's statue sat headless in pigeon-stained gloom.

"Lucky this ruin stands. When it falls, Ox-Horn Mountain will claim more travelers."

Ji Yuan absorbed every word and footfall.

Ox-Horn Mountain? Dialect for Ox-Head? These aren't hikers.

"Shilin-ge! Someone here!!"

Ji Yuan's spirit leapt. Found! Call the police! Get me to ER!

The merchants clustered around the headless statue's base. A ragged figure lay there - matted hair, fevered brow.

"He breathes, but burns like forge-coals. What to do?"

What to do?! Call 911! Ji Yuan's mental scream went unheard.

Zhang Shilin grimaced. "Wilderness mercy - give him warm water if he swallows. Cruel world!"

Sighs rippled through the group as they dispersed.

Wait! Wait! Don't leave!

Reality crashed upon Ji Yuan - these weren't modern rescuers. Their apathy wasn't malice... but lethal medieval pragmatism.