From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Luo Peng was speechless for a moment, and wanted to say a few words on my behalf.

I gently pulled him aside, signaling him to stop talking; there was no need to waste words arguing with someone so emotional.

I looked at Su Qing, whose face was full of indignation, suppressed all the anger in my heart, and said to her:

"I don't want to argue with you about these baseless speculations; it's unnecessary and pointless."

"I'll just remind you of one thing: your body hasn't recovered yet, and the oxygen is thin at high altitudes, so don't shout and get excited like that. It'll hurt your health and deplete your energy."

My well-intentioned reminder, however, was perceived by Su Qing as a disguised way of driving her away.

She immediately let out a cold laugh and said, "What? Are you implying that I'm in your way and you don't want me waiting for you at the entrance to the no-man's-land?"

"Fine, I'll grant your wish! I won't get in your way, I'll go back with Brother Wang and the others!"

I knew in my heart that she was just saying things in anger, that she was speaking without thinking in the heat of the moment.

But at the same time, this is also the result I most hope to see.

She was already physically weak and couldn't withstand the harsh environment of the plateau and the low temperature and lack of oxygen, let alone wait here for a long time.

Going home to rest as soon as possible is the safest option.

I didn't respond, too lazy to escalate the conflict further.

Su Wan remained calm and composed throughout, watching Su Qing's outburst of temper as if the farce before her had nothing to do with her.

Everyone remained silent; no one responded.

This cold treatment left Su Qing with nowhere to vent her anger.

She swept her gaze across everyone present, and in the end, she could only grit her teeth and let out a cold snort.

"Okay, very good! I'll go upstairs and pack my bags now. From now on, we'll go our separate ways!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around abruptly and rushed up the stairs with a heart full of anger.

Each step was extremely loud, as if venting the anger in one's heart.

Watching her angry figure disappear into the stairwell, the courtyard fell silent once again.

Luo Peng glanced at me sideways, then lowered his voice and asked softly, "Brother Lin, should I go up and say a few words to Sister Qing, so she doesn't keep holding it in?"

I gazed in the direction of the stairs, remained silent for a long time, and slowly shook my head: "No need."

"She's very angry right now, and no amount of persuasion will help; it will only make her more agitated. Let her calm down on her own, and she'll figure things out eventually."

Luo Peng nodded slightly and said no more.

I turned to Wang Ge beside me and solemnly instructed him, "Wang Ge, when you go back, please make sure to take Su Qing with you. Her current physical condition cannot withstand the hardships of high altitude; we absolutely cannot let her stay here and cause trouble."

Wang Ge nodded solemnly, his expression grave: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Just then, Chen Yunqing walked slowly over from the side.

She looked calmly at Luo Peng, her tone crisp and decisive, without uttering a single superfluous word:

"Are you sure you want to follow Lin Ye into the no-man's-land?"

Luo Peng nodded without hesitation: "Yes, I've thought it through. Once I'm in there, I can help Brother Lin relieve a lot of pressure. If the vehicle breaks down, I can also repair it immediately, providing an extra layer of protection."

Chen Yunqing is also a very calm person, and never drags things out.

She nodded slightly and got straight to the point: "Could you do me a favor? Record the entire off-road data of the two off-road vehicles, including road condition feedback and vehicle wear and tear."

"No problem, leave this little thing to me." Luo Peng agreed without hesitation.

"Thank you." Chen Yunqing said with a light tone, "Come to my room later, and I will teach you the specific recording method and give you all the supporting materials and recording templates."

"Okay," Luo Peng replied.

Then Chen Yunqing turned to me, a hint of apology in his eyes, and said, "Lin Ye, I'm really sorry, I can't go into the no-man's-land with you this time. I contacted President Wang this morning and reported all the personnel changes and the situation on site. He will call you personally after he finishes his meeting to discuss the follow-up matters."

I nodded gently: "It's alright, I understand. Business comes first."

Chen Yunqing stopped exchanging pleasantries and led Luo Peng to the guest room to prepare for the handover of documents.

In the empty courtyard, only Wang Ge, A Qiu, and I remained, and the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

I let out a long breath and raised my hand to look at Brother Wang.

"Brother Wang, I never imagined that we would part ways here in the end."

"Thank you so much for your guidance and generous sharing of knowledge during this time. You've taught me so much valuable experience. If there's another opportunity in the future, I will definitely prepare in advance and work with you again. Missing this opportunity is my biggest regret."

Wang Ge raised his hand and gripped mine tightly, his voice filled with helplessness and apology:

"Saying that everyone has their own ambitions is a bit too official, but this time I really chickened out. The road ahead is too dangerous, and I don't dare to gamble."

"But I have faith in you. If you can successfully cross the Qiangtang Plateau and come out alive, from now on you will be a senior in the field, fully capable of leading a team across the no-man's land on your own."

I smiled and didn't say anything polite.

I knew perfectly well that this time, I had finally lost the two most experienced assistants in the team.

Without their safety net, the difficulty and risks of this journey are unpredictable.

How many deadly dangers are hidden there? Can the three of us get through them safely?

Only by stepping into the wilderness can one truly know.

After a moment of silence, Wang Ge reached into his waterproof backpack and pulled out a yellowed leather notebook, which he then solemnly handed to me.

"These are all the notes I personally took during my previous crossings of the no-man's-land. They contain detailed descriptions of road conditions, traps, resource ratios, and emergency tips—all life-saving experiences. Review them frequently on the road; they could save your life in a critical moment."

I took the notebook with both hands and nodded solemnly: "Thank you so much, Brother Wang."

Wang Ge raised his hand and gently patted my shoulder, without any unnecessary sentimentality, simply saying:

"No need for formalities, take care on your journey and wish you a safe return."

I nodded emphatically.

In such a desolate place as the no-man's-land, all ambitions, fame, fortune, and obsessions are insignificant.

Peace is the most precious blessing.

I looked down at the yellowed leather notebook in my hand, and my heart was filled with warmth.

Without much thought, I understand that this is no ordinary travel guide or journal.

They even risked their lives for this hard work.

I glanced through it briefly; the notebook contained very detailed records.

Every turning point on the route, every hidden trap, every set of risk avoidance methods, and every high-risk location is valuable information that money can't buy and that you can't find in textbooks.

Even if he ultimately chooses to go back, he wouldn't dare gamble his life with me again.

But this selfless act of kindness is enough for me to remember.

My heart feels heavy; I can't tell if it's mostly gratitude or a sense of unease about the unknown future.