Chapter 34

If he had not spoken those words just now, but instead let Syst let go of the four people, and he hid behind, remaining silent, he could deceive everyone, but he could not deceive his own soul. If he did not speak up, it would mean a complete retreat in terms of courage.

He could clearly perceive that if he did not dare to face it, the growth of his soul would be greatly restricted.

During the climb to the summit just now, he had already felt his soul elevate. This elevation, he now realized, was one of the reasons why he could grasp the life-saving skill "Sigh of Time and Space" in a life-or-death situation.

The two applications of "Sigh of Time and Space" afterward made him begin to have a vague perception of the soul, which was previously just a theoretical concept.

This was a very good omen. The large amount of information about soul power he had retrieved in the new world all mentioned that this feeling was a milestone on the path to mastering soul power.

He also understood from this information that if he retreated in such a critical moment of personal growth, his soul, which had begun to have a vague perception, would fall back into chaos like that of an ordinary person, and it might take a long time to regain clarity, or even stagnate for life.

The choice seemed simple, just harden his heart and pick one out of the four people.

His gaze swept over the four people. The first was the black mountaineer. It was during the rescue of this person that Zhuochuan had grasped "Sigh of Time and Space." One could say that this person was a key factor in his understanding of the soul skill.

The second was the compatriot, Yuan Xiaobing, a millionaire with many connections in the country. In the mountaineering community, there were many wealthy people, whether out of interest or for public image. Although there was not much conversation during the climb, it was clear that he was a man of great character, under 40 years old, with a bright future.

The remaining two were white people, Russians. Zhuochuan did not ask for their names and might only know them from reports later.

Who should he choose to take down the mountain? Zhuochuan knew he could not rely on the other two to make the choice; everything had to be decided by himself, and he would have to bear the responsibility.

From a psychological standpoint, apart from the black mountaineer, Zhuochuan did not owe the other three anything. On the contrary, he had just saved them once. If he had not dug them out of the snow, they would have died long ago. He had rescued them not only because he could but also because they had created a scenario for him to understand the soul skill.

However, the burden he had just carried had already revealed his physical limits. He could not sacrifice himself to save all four people and could only choose one.

Katie watched this astonishing young man. He was so powerful that conquering this treacherous mountain was so easy, but now he faced the task of saving four people. In previous mountaineering experiences, if such a situation occurred, unless luck was on their side, these unconscious companions would be abandoned, and none could be taken down the mountain. Yet, the young man said he could save one.

But who should be saved, and who should not? This dilemma was unbearable for her.

Of course, if he did not have this ability to save people, he would be like any ordinary mountaineer, forced to make the choice to abandon them. Although it would be psychologically painful, he would not bear too much pressure.

"Great power comes with great responsibility," Katie said, quoting a famous line from a movie.

Zhuochuan heard her words and felt a stir in his heart but shook his head. The original meaning of that phrase was just an ideal in a movie, which did not match reality.

He was an adult, and his worldview and values were already formed. In his understanding, the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility one could bear, and the more power and enjoyment one would receive. To maintain this power and enjoyment, one must fulfill one's responsibilities. Otherwise, the power would be unstable, no matter how strong the ability. The phrase just now lacked a crucial link in reality, so it was destined to be just a beautiful empty talk.

His own experiences flashed before his eyes. He started as a graduate with little experience, then after five years of hard work, his abilities gradually increased, and he worked diligently, eventually becoming the head of the development department. Now, with this ability, he could take on the responsibilities of any company and gain the corresponding power. With power, he could bear the corresponding responsibilities, and only by fulfilling his duties could he maintain this power. Otherwise, no matter how capable he was, if he did not take responsibility, he would only be dismissed. Similarly, if he did not receive this power and treatment, he would not apply to the company.

Although Zhuochuan did not agree with Katie's words, he received a hint, uncovering a principle deep in his soul: equivalent exchange. This kind of deep understanding of the soul was hard for a person to see clearly except in such critical moments.

So, making this choice was simple.

Zhuochuan did not speak again. He silently walked over and carried the black mountaineer. Among the four, only this black mountaineer had directly helped him understand the soul skill, though the other person was completely unaware and did not do it intentionally.

He had jumped out to save the other person because he sensed that under such critical conditions, it was most likely to understand the soul skill. This was due to the other person providing the opportunity unintentionally.

Zhuochuan's choice surprised Syst and Katie.

"I thought you would carry your compatriot," Katie said, though she knew she should not interfere with Zhuochuan's choice, she could not help but be puzzled.

"I will come back for him, but it depends on how long he can hold on," Zhuochuan replied, remembering something. He still had the ability to take on more responsibility, and in the future, he might receive more rewards.

He put down the black mountaineer, then gathered the other three against the cliff, and started to dig the snow from the side.

His movements were quick, and he did not seem to be acting at 6,000 meters above sea level.

"Do you want to build a snow shelter?" Syst understood Zhuochuan's actions but could not help, knowing his limited physical strength and the recent avalanche. The descent would be even more difficult. He could not do this.

But the other person did, and he could only watch, admiring the other's physical strength. No mountaineer on Earth could do this.

Half an hour later, a windproof and breathable snow shelter was built, and the three were enclosed inside. Fortunately, this was 6,000-meter-high Edgar, not 8,000-meter-high Mount Everest. Although the climb was more challenging, the oxygen deficiency was less severe. With the shelter, they could hold on longer. Syst shook his head, admiring the young man even more. The other person had done everything possible; no one could do better in such a situation except God.