Challening oneself

His lungs roared like a bellows, making a loud, incessant noise that he had grown to detest. His feet had gradually lost sensation, and even though he continued to move forward, he couldn't feel the pain or numbness. He walked mechanically and numbly, unable to stop for rest because once he halted, it would be difficult to stand up again.

Large beads of sweat poured out, and under the scorching sun, it felt like they were nearing their boiling point. Soon, a mist enveloped him, as if he were in a steam room. His skin was covered in a thin layer of granules, and as he swung his arms, the area near his elbows and forearms released particles, a result of the loss of salt from his body.

The hot air, biting winds, and unpredictable climate were torturous. Besides focusing on his steps, there was no time for thought. His mind was slowly emptied, leaving nothing but a blank space. He regulated his breath, observed his footing, and admired the scenery. In each step, he pushed himself closer to his physical limits, until it was just him and the world.

He struggled against himself, collaborated with himself, and lived with himself on this lonely and endless road. Acting and the trivialities of life had been left far behind. Renly was no longer an actor, nor was he a reincarnated being. He was merely an ordinary person—just a human being. In the presence of nature, he felt his own insignificance and learned to be devout, humble, and sincere.

"50/50" had given Renly a chance to reevaluate himself. Over the course of ten years, he had experienced Chu Jiashu's bedridden life, Adam's death sentence, the exploration of acting, the fear of death, the meaning of survival, and the pursuit of freedom and dreams. The sedimentation and experiences of two lifetimes had brought colors to his life, making it vibrant and diverse.

For now, he put everything related to acting aside and enjoyed his second chance at life.

The Grand Canyon National Park was indeed a mystical place. He marveled at its majestic cliffs, ever-changing landscapes, and the beauty of flowing waterfalls. Then, Renly began his hike towards the Pacific Ocean, traversing deserts and plateaus, searching for the oasis hidden behind rugged mountains.

Surfing or rock climbing challenged the limits of nature, but hiking was about challenging oneself. In both cases, every minute and every second of the challenge was magical.

His footsteps continued, but Renly had already sensed his body's protest, and this was certainly not the first time today. He reached behind him and retrieved a water bottle. He shook it gently, finding it was less than a third full. It was only three o'clock in the afternoon, and there were at least three to four hours left until his scheduled camping time.

His water consumption had exceeded his expectations.

Opening the water bottle, he took a small sip, followed by another. Then, he put the water bottle back in his backpack and opened the small side pouch on the right. He took out a banana wrapped in plastic wrap, broke off half of it, resealed the remaining portion, and placed it back in the pouch. He continued walking while eating the banana.

As he turned a corner, his field of vision suddenly widened. Lush green grass stretched out like a carpet, with several unidentified trees standing tall, their dense canopies providing shelter from the scorching sun. It formed a dense shade, akin to an oasis in the desert, offering a hint of coolness.

As he pondered whether to take a rest here or continue his journey, he caught sight of a pair of legs sprawled in the middle of the road. It didn't appear like someone taking a break but rather someone in distress.

Such situations were not uncommon during hikes. Fellow hikers often encountered difficulties, and even strangers who hadn't met before would lend a helping hand. It wasn't an official pact, more like an unspoken agreement. In the early stages of his hike, Renly had made a wrong direction judgment due to his lack of experience, leading him into deep forests. If it weren't for the help of an experienced hiker, he might have been lost in the wilderness.

Without any hesitation, Renly quickened his pace and called out, "Do you need help?" There was no response, so he continued to approach. Tired as he was, his body regained some strength. Soon, he saw the figure of the person.

The individual lay motionless on the ground, paying no heed to the scorching and rough terrain. Their sunhat had fallen to the side, and their backpack rested heavily on their back like a boulder. The spot where their body lay was a few steps away from the shade of the trees. Their right hand was still reaching out, as if trying to touch that patch of shade, but it had lost all sensation. The merciless sun had been beating down on it for hours, leaving their exposed arm bright red.

It seemed that the person had been walking under the scorching sun, dehydrating and exhausting themselves. They had likely intended to reach the shade to rest but couldn't make it and had collapsed.

Renly wasted no time. He removed his backpack, placed it aside, and gently patted the person's cheek. There was no response except for some unintelligible sounds.

Renly carefully turned the person over, grabbed their shoulder, and started to pull them towards the shade. After escaping the relentless sun, he efficiently opened his own backpack, pulled out a towel, and then poured a little water onto it from his water bottle. With his fingertips, he dabbed some water and gently applied it to the person's cheeks.

In reality, a spray bottle would have been best in this situation, but Renly didn't have one with him. He had to make do with what he had in this emergency.

Next, Renly used the dampened towel to gently wipe the person's earlobes, forehead, chin, and neck. He then took out some cooling oil and applied a bit behind their ears and under their chin. Finally, he repeated the process with the towel.

"Ugh." A soft moan escaped the person's lips, indicating that Renly's emergency first aid measures were having an effect. However, Renly didn't let his guard down. He opened his water bottle but didn't rush to give the person water. Instead, he dipped his fingertips in clean water and applied it to the person's parched lips.

After waiting for a while, the other person began to regain consciousness. They opened their eyes and, using all their strength, managed to sit up. Renly handed them the water bottle and gestured, "Have some water. You seem to be dehydrated. Besides that, are you feeling any other discomfort?"

Without speaking, the person took the water bottle. Due to weakness, their hands trembled slightly, almost causing them to drop the bottle. Fortunately, Renly caught it in time, preventing a mishap.

The person took several sips of water in quick succession, and then they started to recover their senses. They uttered a raspy "Thank you." Their voice was hoarse, tearing at their throat. They raised a hand, rubbing their aching throat and checked their body. Once again, they said, "Thank you. I... I'm okay." Their speech was fragmented, but their spirits were gradually returning.

Renly made sure the person had a firm grip on the water bottle before turning away. He opened his backpack again, taking out the remaining half of the banana and a piece of chocolate. Although the chocolate had softened due to the heat, it was a precious resource in the midst of a hike.

"Replenish some energy." Renly handed over the items and then retrieved a map from the inner compartment of his backpack. "The next supply point is about... three miles from here. Can you make it there, or should I go ahead and notify the rescue team to come here?"

The person didn't respond immediately, but Renly didn't mind. He kept his gaze on the map, confirming the route for the rest of the day. His original plan was to pass the supply point without stopping, continue hiking, and then camp outdoors based on the weather conditions. However, given the unexpected situation, he decided to share at least half of his water resources with the person, which meant adjusting his plans.

After a brief silence, a weak chuckle reached Renly's ears. "Didn't you recognize me? Renly Hall."

Renly was taken aback for a moment, and he looked up. The person's face had turned a strange shade of reddish-brown due to excessive sun exposure, making their proportions look peculiar. Even their eyes bore two pale patches, likely remnants from wearing sunglasses, which altered the symmetry of their facial features.

"...Roy Lockley?"

After scrutinizing for a while, Renly uncertainly called out the name. He could see a glimmer of brightness in the person's eyes and a smile forming on their lips. "I never thought you'd remember me."

Renly slightly opened his mouth, still finding it hard to believe that they had crossed paths again in such a remote wilderness.

Roy Lockley, the official talent agent of SAG, had handled Renly's contract when he signed up for "The Pacific". Later, Roy also helped review and sign the performance contract for "Buried".

Following that, Renly signed with Andy Rogers and acquired his own agent, and the two hadn't crossed paths again. However, their unexpected reunion occurred in this unexpected setting.

Despite only a few brief interactions, Roy had left a deep impression on Renly. He had offered guidance to Renly voluntarily, even though it wasn't his official role, displaying a sense of responsibility and admirable qualities. Moreover, Roy was straightforward and efficient in his dealings, making him an excellent partner during their collaboration.

Surprised, Renly's eyes sparkled, and a hint of jest crept into his smile. "I won't forget the agent who secured my first acting contract."

"Just handled it, didn't secure it," Roy corrected in a serious tone.