From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Then A-Qiu stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the three of us, and said, "Nothing is insignificant in the wilderness; safety is paramount. I'll be waiting for you guys to come back and brag and drink."

Luo Peng laughed and joked, "Brother Qiu, don't forget the drinks you owe us!"

"I'll remember. Come back alive, and I'll make sure you get plenty!" Ah Qiu replied with a smile.

Then, Chen Yunqing, who was usually aloof and taciturn, slowly stepped forward.

"You all know I'm rather introverted and shy around strangers, and I'm not good at small talk. But I've really learned a lot from going through thick and thin together."

"It's a pity I can't accompany you on your final journey, but our friendship is truly solid. Let's have a proper get-together when you emerge from this desolate area."

Luo Peng immediately chimed in, "Absolutely! I've heard you say you have a good alcohol tolerance, so when I get back, I'll definitely have a good match with you!"

Chen Yunqing's lips curled up into a rare, radiant smile: "Alright, take care on your journey, I'll be waiting for your return."

Su Qing was the last to step forward.

She walked slowly, lacking her usual liveliness and energy.

She walked straight up to me, said nothing, and gently hugged me in front of everyone.

I thought she would keep our promise and wait for my return before making our relationship public.

But at this moment, this straightforward yet tender embrace, open and generous, reveals a different kind of emotion to anyone.

I was momentarily stunned, and my heart skipped a beat.

In just a few seconds, she gently released me, remaining silent.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, she turned around and hugged Luo Peng, who was standing next to her.

Luo Peng was instantly at a loss for words, and hurriedly laughed, "Sister Qing, you've made this way too grand, like it's a life-or-death separation, it's really awkward."

"Get lost! You jinx!" Su Qing let go of him and glared at him fiercely.

Finally, she walked up to Su Wan.

The two sisters looked at each other silently for two seconds, and then Su Qing took the initiative to reach out and gently hug Su Wan.

She finally uttered the blessing she had held back for so long, the blessing she had hesitated to say: "Sister, I wish you safety and a safe journey out of the no-man's-land."

Su Wan's usually cold and aloof expression softened, and she gently raised her hand to hug her back.

I instantly understood Su Qing's thoughts.

She hugged me first, then Luo Peng, and finally Su Wan.

The purpose was to downplay personal feelings, to send all blessings with a farewell hug, in a dignified and gentle way.

There were no unnecessary instructions, no sentimental words.

These three hugs were her most sincere wish.

After saying goodbye, the three of us boarded the car one by one without lingering.

The seven-person team that once traveled side by side has now completely parted ways.

On one side is a safe journey home, with peace and safety year after year.

On one side lies a desolate wasteland, where life and death are uncertain.

The three cars started up at the same time, and the deep roar of the engines broke the tranquility of the courtyard in the early morning.

As the four people watched, the vehicle slowly drove out of the guesthouse gate and headed forward.

The excitement has faded, leaving only endless desolation and the unknown ahead.

It was only at this moment that I finally felt nervous.

Although I gave myself a lot of confidence before setting off, I still felt very uncertain when it came to actually facing it.

That is the Qiangtang no-man's-land, a well-known forbidden zone for life.

Barren and fraught with danger.

Sandstorms, blizzards, sinkholes, altitude sickness, loss of contact—each of these could be fatal.

Wang Ge crossed the no-man's-land five times, enduring countless dangers, but only successfully completed the entire journey twice.

He mentioned these things to me repeatedly, not to discourage me, but to give me a wake-up call.

He wanted me to respect nature and proceed with caution, and also wanted me to understand that there is no foolproof plan in no man's land, and even with the best preparation, unexpected events can still occur.

But I'm not willing to accept my fate.

This perilous journey is my path to transformation, and I must win.

With the car windows wide open, the biting winds of the plateau rushed into the cabin, carrying a chilling desolation that made one's scalp tingle.

Luo Peng's relaxed voice came through the walkie-talkie, attempting to ease the tense atmosphere:

"Brother Lin, the weather's nice today, and the road conditions look good too. Shall we speed up a bit and cover a little more distance?"

I snapped out of my daze, picked up the walkie-talkie, and replied, "Okay, safety first, don't be too aggressive."

There were three cars in our group. This time, I led the way, Su Wan's G-Class was in the middle, and Luo Peng brought up the rear.

I glanced at Su Wan, who was driving in the middle of the road, in the rearview mirror, and picked up the walkie-talkie to ask, "Su Wan, are you feeling alright?"

She's a smart woman; she knows what I mean by asking that question.

Her cool voice came through the walkie-talkie quickly: "Don't worry about me. Since I dared to come, I've made all the preparations."

"I must personally go in and settle the regret from five years ago."

This short sentence, devoid of grand pronouncements, conceals an unwavering conviction that no one can sway.

For me, this journey is an opportunity to defy fate and change my destiny.

For Luo Peng, it is a journey of breaking through his own limitations and proving himself.

For Su Wan, it was a self-redemption that spanned five years and was deeply ingrained in her obsession.

The road ahead is treacherous, and life or death is uncertain.

I have brothers who walk alongside me, companions with unwavering determination, and seniors who have given me their all in experience.

Behind me, there is a woman waiting for my return.

I gazed at the endless snow-capped mountains in the distance, at that forbidden zone of life that struck fear into the hearts of all.

My chaotic thoughts have completely calmed down, leaving only a firm resolve.

This life-or-death journey officially began with the roar of three vehicles' engines.

The three cars drove forward, the outline of Lhasa city behind them gradually shrinking until it was completely swallowed up by the vast wilderness.

The smooth asphalt road underfoot gradually disappeared, and the road surface became bumpy and uneven.

Two old ruts stretched straight up to the horizon, plunging into the depths of the boundless wilderness.

Even though we had only been out of the city for a short time, the surrounding scenery had completely changed.

Along the way, there were no houses or people in sight; all that could be seen were endless, withered meadows and distant, undulating snow-capped mountains.

All that could be heard was the roar of three cars stacked together.

Besides, even the wind seemed unusually quiet, and the emptiness made one feel uneasy.

If it's like this here, I can't imagine how dangerous and desolate it will be when we truly venture deep into the heart of the restricted area.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands, my eyes fixed on the road ahead, glancing at the rearview mirror every now and then.

Su Wan's gray G-Wagon maintained a standard following distance throughout the convoy, neither too fast nor too slow.

Luo Peng's car followed closely behind, and the convoy proceeded in an orderly fashion.

The walkie-talkie remained silent for a long time until Luo Peng's voice suddenly broke the silence.

"Brother Lin, look to the left!"

I turned my head and looked in the direction he indicated.

On a gentle hillside in the distance, a small group of Tibetan antelopes were grazing with their heads down.

Noticing the movement of the car, they all raised their heads and glanced in our direction before running deeper into the wilderness, quickly disappearing at the horizon.

Watching this scene, I sighed softly, picked up the walkie-talkie, and said in a deep voice:

"Pay attention, the road conditions ahead are getting worse. There are many frozen potholes on the road. Slow down and avoid the potholes."

"receive."

Su Wan's cool voice came through the walkie-talkie, brief and crisp.

"Understood!" Luo Peng replied.