Chapter 3 — Directions to Cloud Valley

Just as Thao Vy promised, the next morning, when the sun just peeked behind the eastern mountains, the whole group witnessed a breathtaking scene - a sea of white clouds stretching across the valley below, with only the highest peaks rising like lonely islands in the ocean of clouds.

"Oh my god," Minh Trang exclaimed, quickly taking out her phone to take a photo, her eyes shining with surprise. "I have never seen such a beautiful sight in my life."

The whole group gathered at a protruding cliff, where they could observe the beautiful panorama of the sea of clouds. The sounds of admiration and bustling laughter echoed throughout the space, dispelling some of the fatigue of the first day of the journey.

Thao Vy stood slightly apart from the crowd, looking at a familiar scene that never stopped shaking her, even though she had witnessed it countless times in the past five years. This is the reason she decided to stay in this land — not only because it helped her escape her past, but because it truly brought her a peace she had never found anywhere else.

"So beautiful," a familiar voice said next to her.

Thao Vy didn't need to turn around to know that it was Dang Khoi. "Yes," she replied, her voice neutral. "This is one of the reasons I decided to stay here."

"I can understand," Dang Khoi said, his eyes also glued to the scene before him. "This place has a strangely peaceful beauty, making people forget all their troubles."

They stood next to each other in silence for a while, no one said anything, simply admiring the beautiful scene before them. It was the closest moment between them since their reunion, though neither of them would admit it.

"We should prepare to depart," Thao Vy finally spoke, breaking the silence, her voice returning to its usual professionalism. "Today's road will be more difficult than yesterday. We need to cross a high pass before reaching the next campsite."

***

The morning's journey was indeed much more difficult than the first day. The trail becomes steep, weaving through steep cliffs, requiring high concentration from everyone. Thao Vy constantly reminded the group about safe hiking techniques, how to use trekking poles to reduce pressure on the knees, and the importance of keeping a steady breathing rhythm.

"Everyone remember to drink water regularly, don't wait until you're thirsty to drink," she reminded when the group stopped to rest midway. "At this altitude, the body loses water faster than normal without us realizing it."

Dang Khoi, as a doctor, also took the opportunity to check the health of each member of the group, paying special attention to the early signs of altitude sickness — headaches, dizziness, nausea.

"Minh Trang, how do you feel?" he asked when he noticed that the young student seemed a little paler than usual.

"I'm fine, doctor," Minh Trang replied, although her voice was a bit forced. "Just a little tired, probably because I'm not used to the altitude."

"Do you have a headache or dizziness?" Dang Khoi asked further, his eyes observing carefully according to professional instinct.

"There's a slight headache," Minh Trang admitted. "But I think just resting for a while will be fine."

Dang Khoi nodded, although in his heart he still maintained a certain vigilance. Altitude sickness is a real risk on alpine treks, and although symptoms may seem mild at first, they can rapidly worsen if not carefully monitored.

"Remember to drink more water, and if you feel any symptoms get worse, let me know right away," he advised, his voice serious but still maintaining a reassuring warmth.

***

In the middle of the afternoon, as the group was crossing the narrow road on the side of the mountain, it suddenly started to rain, a typical forest rain of the highlands - fast, strong, and without warning.

"Everyone, hurry up and put on your raincoats!" Thao Vy shouted loudly, her voice echoing through the sound of the increasingly heavy rain. "Be careful, the road is slippery, slow down and stick to the cliff!"

The rain made the already difficult trail much more slippery and dangerous. Thao Vy took the lead, carefully checking each step, constantly turning back to remind the members behind about dangerous roads that needed special attention.

Dang Khoi, at the back of the group, also kept an eye on everyone, especially Minh Trang, who still seemed more tired than usual after the morning.

"Be careful here," he reminded when he saw the young girl stumbling a bit on a slippery rock. "Hold firmly onto the branch next to you before moving on."

The rain lasted for nearly an hour before gradually stopping, leaving the trail soaked and the atmosphere much colder than before. The whole group continued their journey in a wet and tired state, but still tried to maintain optimism.

When the group finally reached the second campsite, everyone was exhausted but safe. Thao Vy quickly organized everyone to change into dry clothes, set up tents, and light a fire to warm up while Sinh and the logistics team prepared a hot dinner.

"Great job, everyone," Thao Vy said, her voice filled with pride as she looked around at the group of guests who had overcome a challenging day. "Tomorrow will be the last stage, and also the most difficult, but I believe we will complete it successfully."

While everyone gathered around the campfire, sharing stories and laughter after a long tiring day, Thao Vy noticed that Dang Khoi was still attentively watching Minh Trang from afar, his eyes could not hide his professional anxiety. She did not know that his worry would soon become extremely important, when the next day, the whole group would have to face a life-threatening situation in the middle of this wild mountain and forest.

***

After dinner, when most of the group had retreated to their tents to rest, Thao Vy still sat by the dying campfire, recording a travel diary according to her professional habit - a way for her to preserve important details about the terrain, weather, and health status of the group for future trips.

"Are you not sleeping yet?" Sinh asked, sitting down next to her with two cups of hot ginger tea.

"I'm just jotting down a few things," Thao Vy replied, taking the cup of tea from her hand with thanks. "Thank you for taking care of the meal for the whole group today."

"Nothing," Sinh smiled, then hesitantly asked more. "Miss Vy, I saw Dr. Khoi keep looking at you today. Are you going to talk to him?"

Thao Vy sighed, looking at the roaring fire. "I don't know, Sinh. So much has happened, so much hurt. I'm not sure I'm ready to hear what he wants to say."

"But aren't you curious? About why he left?" She asked, her voice filled with sincere concern.

"Yes," Thao Vy admitted, her voice soft. "I've asked myself that question countless times in the past five years. But I'm also afraid, Sinh. Afraid that whatever the reason is, it won't be enough to make up for what I've been through."

Sinh remained silent, holding Thao Vy's hand comfortingly. "Whatever you decide, I will support you. You have taught me that facing the truth, no matter how painful, is better than living in doubt forever."

Thao Vy smiled, touched by the maturity of her spiritual younger sister whom she had accompanied all these years. "Thank you, Sinh. Maybe you're right. But I need more time to mentally prepare."

***

Not far from the camping area, in a small medical tent built specifically to monitor the group's health, Dang Khoi was still awake, reviewing the list of members and taking notes on the health status of each person. His eyes lingered for a long time on Do Minh Trang, recalling the mild signs of altitude sickness he had observed during the day.

"Still not sleeping?" Doctor Phong asked, putting his head into the tent to check the situation.

"I'm reviewing everyone's health status," Dang Khoi replied. "I'm a little worried about Minh Trang. Her symptoms seem mild, but at this altitude, things could progress faster than expected."

"Have you checked her blood oxygen saturation?" Doctor Phong asked, his voice becoming serious.

"Okay, still within the normal range, although a little lower than the ideal level," Dang Khoi replied. "I'll continue to watch closely tomorrow, especially as we reach the highest point of our journey."

"Very good," Dr. Phong nodded in agreement. "Your caution is essential in this environment. Don't hesitate to ask to stop the group if you find it necessary, even though it may delay the schedule."

Dang Khoi nodded and took note of his teacher's instructions in his medical handbook. Before falling asleep, his eyes unconsciously looked towards the tent where Thao Vy was resting. His heart was still filled with thoughts about their unfinished conversation, and a vague premonition that tomorrow would bring much greater challenges than he could prepare for.