From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Seeing me carefully put away my notes, Wang Ge patted my shoulder heavily:

"This is all I can do to help you. The rest of the way through the wasteland is up to the three of you to fight for yourselves."

His gaze swept over me, and then over Su Wan, who remained aloof and indifferent.

As if suddenly remembering a crucial detail, he quickly added, "Oh, right, I have another suggestion for you."

"You should drive all three of your vehicles in. The road conditions in the no-man's-land are unpredictable. Permafrost collapses, vehicles getting stuck in sand, and mechanical failures can happen at any time. If you take turns driving all three vehicles, you'll have a chance to save yourself if an emergency occurs."

A Qiu, standing nearby, immediately nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right, the three vehicles have another important use. At night, when sandstorms rage in the wilderness, tents simply can't withstand them. If you arrange the three vehicles in an equilateral triangle formation, with the front of the vehicles facing outwards and the rear facing each other, it can block most of the strong winds and sandstorms."

These are all words of experience, and I nodded solemnly, keeping them in mind.

Wang Ge hesitated for two seconds before speaking again: "Also, don't even think about setting off today. To legally traverse the Qiangtang region, not only do you need to obtain an official pass in advance, but everyone must also undergo a full set of high-altitude medical examinations and obtain a health certificate. This is a strict requirement."

I frowned, looking puzzled, and asked, "Why do we need a special medical check-up to enter the no-man's-land? Why is that?"

With a serious expression, A Qiu explained earnestly, "Qiangtang is a pristine nature reserve, rarely visited by humans year-round, and a habitat for countless rare wild animals. Humans, having lived in cities for so long, carry various pathogens that pose a great threat to wild animals. Once cross-infection occurs, it will disrupt the ecological balance of the entire wilderness."

"The physical examination is not only to check your altitude acclimatization, but also to confirm that you have no special infectious risks. After entering the area, you must observe wild animals from a distance and absolutely must not touch, feed, or have close contact with them. This is the bottom line and the rule."

After hearing this explanation, I completely understood.

I immediately said, "Okay, let's go to the hospital for a physical exam now. Once we get the report, we'll go and buy supplies in bulk and set off for Shuanghu County early tomorrow morning."

A-Qiu looked at us with regret in her eyes and said again, "I've prepared everything for you: first aid kits, hemostatic dressings, altitude sickness medication, and emergency oxygen. That's all the preparation I can do."

He paused, his tone growing increasingly heavy: "To be honest, I still don't agree with your choice; it was too risky. But it's your own path you chose, and I only hope that the three of you will return safely."

After he finished speaking, the courtyard fell into complete silence.

The morning wind on the plateau was chillingly cold, making the flags in the courtyard flutter slightly, and also making everyone's heart feel heavy.

This journey together has ended, marked by companionship and adjustments, but ultimately, we've reached the crossroads of parting ways.

Wang Ge composed himself, waved his hand, and said, "Stop standing there reminiscing. You guys go get your medical checkups. I'll stay here and re-inspect the vehicles for you."

"Thank you for your hard work, Brother Wang."

Wang Ge simply waved his hand and didn't say anything more.

I could tell that he always felt guilty.

He had roamed the wilderness for many years and witnessed too many dangers, but at the most crucial moment, he chose to back down and failed to accompany me on my final journey.

But I completely understand him and I don't look down on him in the slightest.

He has a family and a career, he has concerns and worries, and he has no obligation to risk his life to venture into a dangerous forbidden zone with me.

It is human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm; his willingness to share everything he knows is already quite generous.

Without further delay, they quickly went to call Luo Peng, and the three of them set off together, heading straight for Lhasa People's Hospital.

Upon arriving at the medical examination center, we immediately explained our purpose and informed the medical staff that we were about to embark on a trek through the uninhabited Qiangtang region.

The nurse immediately gave us a personalized medical examination form. The items were not complicated; the core ones were blood routine, urine routine, and cardiopulmonary function screening.

The process was quick, taking less than two hours, and we had three medical examination reports in hand.

During the time I waited for the results, I felt a huge weight on my mind.

I was afraid that something might happen to my health and I would miss this only opportunity.

They were also worried that Luo Peng and Su Wan might discover hidden dangers, which would delay the entire trip.

Fortunately, all three of our reports passed, and our physical condition was up to standard, making us all suitable for high-altitude trekking.

It was already noon when we got back to the guesthouse. Wang Ge and A Qiu were sitting in the courtyard downstairs chatting, and Chen Yunqing was also there.

Upon seeing us return, A-Qiu was the first to ask, "How were the medical results? Everything was fine, right?"

I smiled and nodded: "Everything is normal, all three of us are healthy."

"That's good."

Wang Ge immediately stood up, clapped his hands, and said, "Alright, let's not think about anything else for now. Let's eat. We need to be well-fed and have the energy to prepare for the trip."

I glanced around the hallway instinctively and casually asked, "Where's Su Qing? I haven't seen her."

Ah Qiu gestured towards the upstairs area with her chin and sighed helplessly, "I've been locked in my room ever since I stormed off this morning and haven't come down."

I frowned slightly.

This girl is really stubborn.

"You guys go to the restaurant and order your food while I wait for you. I'll go upstairs and call her."

After saying that, I turned around and quickly went upstairs to Su Qing's room.

I took a deep breath to compose myself and then gently knocked on the door.

dong dong dong...

The room was quiet, and there was no response.

I know Su Qing too well. She's the type who's all bark and no bite. It's obvious she's still being stubborn and throwing a tantrum.

But I still can't figure out her temper. She was fine yesterday, but today she inexplicably got angry.

Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are all determined by mood, making them completely unpredictable.

I patiently raised my hand and knocked on the door again, calling out, "Su Qing, open the door."

A few seconds later, a huffy voice came from inside the room: "He's not here!"

I was immediately at a loss for words, and said helplessly, "If the person isn't here, who's talking to me? A ghost?"

"Yes, I am the ghost, you'd better get out of here!"

Every word was barbed; it was clear she was still angry with me.

I continued to soften my tone, patiently coaxing, "Okay, stop making a fuss, open the door, I want to talk to you for a bit, okay?"

"No way! What do you think you're doing, blocking a girl's doorway like that?"

"Everyone has gone to eat. You haven't eaten all day. Can your body handle it?" I continued to persuade him patiently.

Whether I'm hungry or not is none of your business!

It seems that conventional methods are completely ineffective in dealing with her; this girl is now completely unresponsive.

I rolled my eyes and deliberately sighed, "Did you know you need a medical report to go into the no-man's-land? We just went to the hospital for a checkup, do you want to know the results?"

"I don't want to." She refused outright, giving him no chance whatsoever.

I didn't give up and continued, "Don't you want to know who has a health problem and can't go?"