With the sound of the ship’s horn, which was like the music of nature, a cruise ship, with churning waves in its wake, slowly entered the harbor.
After docking, bustling passengers disembarked one after another.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have finally arrived at our destination for this seven-day dream vacation, Yong’an Island!"
In the cruise terminal hall, the female tour guide, holding a megaphone, stood in front of the travel group and announced loudly.
"It’s a hidden gem in the southeastern sea area of our country, with a total area roughly the size of a medium-sized district of East City, but with a population of less than twenty thousand."
"Although the island is not very famous, its scenery is absolutely comparable to some of the well-known vacation destinations, and it also boasts more primitive natural scenery, unique cultural and historical resources..."
While the travel group was waiting for the shuttle bus, the tour guide diligently worked to create a lively atmosphere.
A large group of people, carrying backpacks and pulling suitcases, some stood quietly while others conversed with each other, their faces vaguely revealing the fatigue after the long boat journey.
"That’s good for me, I prefer less crowded places."
Among the group members, a middle-aged woman actively nodded in agreement: "Those overcrowded places, you don’t know if you’re there to see people or scenery."
"Miss Guide, I am not at all interested in the scenery here."
Another man, who was well-built and about thirty years old, raised his hand and interjected: "I just want to know when we can officially start the meditation practice."
Others immediately chimed in one after another.
After all, this trip is themed "Spirit and Meditation Journey," not just a simple sightseeing tour.
These people’s words also expressed Fang Cheng’s thoughts, as he similarly turned his gaze to the guide.
"Don’t worry, we have taken everyone’s needs into consideration and have made proper and reasonable travel arrangements."
The cheerful tour guide then explained the specific itinerary for the upcoming days:
"Tonight, everyone will stay at the Meditation Training Camp Base specially arranged for us, to have a good night’s rest and relieve the fatigue of the journey."
"Tomorrow at 8 AM, we will meet again, and I will take you to tour the island’s attractions first, to familiarize yourselves with the environment, after which a professional Spiritual mentor will take charge of leading the group."
"The training camp will arrange morning and evening sessions, as well as outdoor meditation practices every day, aiming to create an unforgettable spiritual experience for you, allowing everyone to both get close to nature and feel the true self within..."
During this conversation, the sound of the horn rang out; the shuttle had arrived.
Fang Cheng looked up and saw that the side of the coach was emblazoned with striking red characters:
"Truth and Meditation Joint Practice."
It seems there was no mistake, so he followed the crowd and got on the bus.
The bus drove along a not-so-wide concrete road, winding its way forward.
On both sides were low-rise buildings with quaint folk characteristics.
From time to time, one could glimpse through the gaps between buildings the golden sands of the beach and the drying fishing nets.
Lit by the afterglow of the setting sun, the scene of a small island town unfolded before everyone.
The bus quickly passed through the town and continued towards an even more remote area with lush vegetation.
After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at a vacation village-like place, composed of a group of buildings that looked old-fashioned.
This was the so-called "Meditation Training Camp Base."
When everyone got off, the sky had already turned completely dark.
Fang Cheng raised his head and looked at the brightly lit buildings under the night sky, but a hint of doubt flashed through his mind.
During the drive here, he had observed the surrounding environment carefully.
Except for the seven-story building in front of him, which looked like a retro-style hotel tower.
All the other buildings were pitch black, showing no signs of habitation, as if they had been abandoned and left empty.
Under the cover of the trees and overgrown grass, only one building stood out in the darkness, inevitably giving an oddly conspicuous feeling.
At this moment, the guide was standing at the entrance, calling out names and checking if all the group members were present.
Fang Cheng temporarily set aside his doubts and followed the travel group into the lobby on the first floor.
After negotiations and guidance from the tour guide, everyone received their room cards smoothly and found their respective rooms.
After settling in, they went downstairs together, ready for tonight’s group dinner.
Despite his curiosity, Fang Cheng did not wander around but chose to follow the group obediently.
The dining room was located on the west side of the first floor.
When everyone entered, they found that there were already quite a few people lining up or dining.
They seemed very familiar with the environment here, as if they were regular guests.
Moreover, they were all dressed in white, clean clothes and their conduct was courteous and exceptionally gentle.
The tour guide explained beside that all these people, like the group, were here for the meditation retreat.
Only that they had arrived earlier and because they had gained a lot from the camp, had the fortune to unlock their wisdom, so they voluntarily chose to stay and continue their deep learning.
Fang Cheng glanced at these "seniors" before picking up a food tray to join the queue.
The sanitary condition of the dining hall was quite decent, with dishes showcased in clean, transparent display cases.
But at a glance, the dishes were mostly vegetarian, looking quite bland and lacking in oil.
Moreover, being on an island, there was a surprising absence of seafood specialties like fish, shrimp, or crab.
The only thing that could pass as "seafood" might be a bowl of seaweed soup.
Several fellow group members couldn’t help but murmur, feeling like they were being fleeced by the travel agency.
After Fang Cheng served himself some food, he chose an empty seat to sit down.
Though the meal wasn’t to his taste, he still ate it all up cleanly.
Then looking at his device, he nodded slightly.
[You have enjoyed a dinner with a unique flavor, food experience +1]
Believe it or not, there truly was a special flavor to it, the ingredients of which were unknown.
Fang Cheng collected his food tray contentedly, placing it responsibly on the recycling counter.
After all, if he could happily stomach the "Full Whips Feast" personally cooked by Ma Donghe, then trivial matters like eating vegetarian for a few days should be no trouble.
He returned to his room on the third floor, number 305.
After a quick wash-up, Fang Cheng went to the balcony to quietly observe the night view outside.
The training camp was situated in a hillside forested area.
Looking down from a high vantage point, one could see a sky full of stars, like a black satin night sky.
One could also make out the distant harbor’s flashing navigational lights, and the dimly lit small town of Yong’an Island.
Compared to the noisy and colorful East Capital.
The nights here were exceptionally dark, and also exceptionally tranquil and peaceful.
If one observed carefully, they could see misty white fogs slowly rising from the woods.
The fog seemed to get thicker as the night advanced, even being blown by the wind into the window.
Coils and threads of mist gently brushed against the skin, bringing with them an unusually crisp chill.
Taking a deep breath, Fang Cheng felt it reach deep into his lungs.
He felt invigorated, his thoughts clear, even the various environmental noises lingering about his ears softened considerably.
He couldn’t help but exclaim:
"Indeed, this is a great place; no wonder they chose to establish a training camp base here!"
According to popular health knowledge, such an effect indicates a very high concentration of negative ions in the air.
These ions help to purify the air, promote respiratory cleanliness and blood circulation, and even regulate the nervous system to improve mental states.
Fang Cheng thought to himself.
It seems that this meditation trip might be more rewarding than expected.
The only unsatisfactory part was having to share a room with another person.
With a "creak," someone pushed the door and came in.
It was the same well-built, square-faced man who had earlier raised objections with the tour guide on the dock.
Seeing Fang Cheng leisurely standing by the window enjoying the view, he struck up a conversation in a familiar manner:
"The environment here is really nice, halfway up the mountain and halfway near the sea. Going out for sightseeing during the day, the scenery must be worth seeing."
Seeing that Fang Cheng didn’t respond, he continued:
"Little Ma, haven’t you discovered the big secret hidden here?"
His voice carried an air of mystery, as if harboring some unspeakable secret.
Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng immediately turned around with a look of surprise to glance at him.