From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

I turned around and walked to the gate of the courtyard, took out cigarettes and a lighter from my pocket, lit one, and took a deep drag.

After suppressing my anxiety, I turned my back to everyone behind me and spoke firmly:

"I've made up my mind. No matter how bad the weather is, no matter how great the risks are, I must force my way through this no-man's-land."

A sudden silence fell behind me, and I could clearly feel everyone's eyes fixed on my back.

Without pausing, suppressing all the panic in my heart, I continued in a deep voice:

"Two reasons. First, this is the most important opportunity of my life so far, and I am unwilling and unable to convince myself to give it up."

"Secondly, I am the person in charge of the entire project. The contract is in black and white, and I dare not and cannot breach it. The client has invested so much money, and all the efforts of everyone will be wasted. I cannot bear the responsibility."

As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Peng immediately stood up and tried to dissuade him: "Brother Lin! There's really no need for this! It's an unavoidable situation caused by the weather, not that we intentionally breached the contract. The client can easily explain it to us!"

I slowly turned around to face the crowd.

The expressions on everyone's faces were varied and complex.

Luo Peng frowned, his face full of anxiety, fearing that I might make a big mistake due to a moment of impulsiveness.

Chen Yunqing's expression was solemn as he lowered his head, pondering the pros and cons, seemingly calculating something.

Su Qing's eyes were red and filled with uncontrollable worry and panic as she stared intently at me.

I glanced at everyone and said seriously, "I know it's due to the weather, but essentially it's because we didn't plan well enough in the early stages and didn't anticipate extreme weather."

"This is our problem, not an excuse. The weather will get better sooner or later, but we can't afford to waste our funds, time, and contracts. This has nothing to do with the client."

As soon as I finished speaking, Chen Yunqing, who had been silent all along, slowly opened her mouth: "Lin Ye, I understand your pressure. Nobody wants to go through so much hard work and end up empty-handed."

"Given the current road conditions and weather, it's truly impossible to pass through. I'll personally explain to the club and do my best to cover for you; you don't need to be so extreme."

"Yeah, Brother Lin, don't be so stubborn! It's too risky!" Luo Peng quickly chimed in, trying to dissuade him.

But I know perfectly well in my heart that this is not stubbornness, but my only way out; I have no other choice.

I walked straight up to Brother Wang, my gaze intense, and spoke with utmost seriousness:

"Brother Wang, you're the most knowledgeable senior about the no-man's-land among us. Tell me, given the current situation, is there any chance we can successfully cross it? Even if there's only a one percent chance, I'm willing to try."

Before I could finish speaking, Su Qing beside me immediately panicked: "Lin Ye! Are you crazy? You're going to gamble your life on that one percent chance? Absolutely not!"

I didn't answer her, and kept staring intently at Brother Wang.

Of everyone present, only his judgment was the most authoritative, and only he could give me the answer.

Wang Ge looked down at the half-burnt cigarette in his hand, remaining silent for a long time, a silence that made people uneasy.

I steeled myself and said earnestly, "Brother Wang, I'm begging you this once. Right now, I really need your support. If you're willing to help me, to try this one time with me, I, Lin Ye, will remember this favor for the rest of my life!"

After a long silence, Wang Ge finally slowly raised his head.

Without the slightest hesitation, his words plunged me into despair.

"Lin Ye, you have no idea how dangerous the no-man's-land is."

"Even with clear weather and perfect road conditions, the heart of the Qiangtang Plateau remains fraught with danger. Given this extreme natural disaster environment, you ask me if I can succeed?"

He looked at me, his words piercingly incisive: "I'm telling you clearly, the success rate is almost zero."

These words struck me like a bolt from the blue.

I froze, instantly stunned, unable to utter a single word.

The last glimmer of hope in my heart was utterly shattered, leaving nothing behind.

As soon as Wang Ge finished speaking, Luo Peng hurriedly chimed in to agree.

"Yeah, Brother Lin, don't take this huge risk on a whim! It's just that God didn't give us a chance, it's an uncontrollable force, it's not that we're giving up halfway."

I've pondered these principles Luo Peng spoke of countless times.

What has trapped me is not just a contract, but also the obsession in my heart that is burning to the bone.

After a long and bumpy journey, crossing countless mountains and rivers, we finally arrived in Lhasa, and were only one step away from the uninhabited Qiangtang region.

They gave up so easily with just a casual remark about bad weather, but I just can't get over that hurdle in my heart.

But what Brother Wang said was true; even on a clear, cloudless day.

As a complete novice with no experience in wilderness crossing, my chances of surviving a solo bike trip into the Qiangtang region were almost nonexistent.

Perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, what I am doing now is nothing short of stubbornness.

But just thinking about the days after I go back makes me feel suffocated.

If I go back, am I going to plunge back into that kind of predictable, uneventful life?

What's more, my arch-enemy Fang Heng has long regarded me as a thorn in his side, and he has been trying to trip me up and cause me trouble at every turn.

If I return empty-handed and slink away this time, he will definitely kick me while I'm down and give me a good thrashing.

If I want to retaliate against him, I need to achieve something.

Once I return home, I will still have nothing at this stage, and I will have no confidence to fight back at all.

But I have to face reality seriously.

I took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed my surging emotions.

She looked up at Wang Ge, her eyes clinging to the last glimmer of hope.

"Brother Wang, are you really planning to give up on this trip?"

I know he didn't bring it up because of the money.

Wang Ge slowly raised his head, his eyes fixed on me, his expression so serious that there was no room for easing.

"I have no choice but to give up. After all this time together, you should have seen through my character long ago..."

"Let alone leading a bunch of inexperienced newbies into this place, even if I were all alone in this kind of extreme weather, I would never dare to risk my life."

"I know you're so persistent about this, and it's not just about saving face or fulfilling the cooperation contract with the client. I've seen all the effort and sacrifices you've made for this trip to the no-man's-land."

"But now that things have come to this, I have to tell you my true thoughts, otherwise you'll continue to harbor unrealistic fantasies about me!"

Wang Ge is usually very sparing with words, and can barely utter a few sentences in a long time.

Today, however, he spoke such a long and heartfelt speech in one breath, which is enough to prove that he has made up his mind not to accompany me into the Qiangtang region.

A strong sense of powerlessness surged up my throat, and I swallowed hard, my saliva dry.

After a long while, I slowly opened my mouth.

"Since you've made up your mind, I won't force you anymore."