From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

I immediately picked up the walkie-talkie, my tone wary: "Unidentified vehicle spotted ahead, everyone be on alert."

Luo Peng immediately replied in surprise, "This...this is already in no man's land! Are you sure you saw it clearly?"

I looked through the binoculars again to confirm it was a pickup truck, and then responded in a deep voice:

"I can't be mistaken, it's normal to see vehicles, after all, it's the edge of the no-man's-land, there will be some vehicles transporting supplies."

At that moment, Su Wanqing's cold and cautious voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Could it be a poacher's car?"

Upon hearing this, my heart sank, and I instantly became highly vigilant.

Before setting off, I also specifically consulted countless materials and documentaries about no-man's-land.

This area was once rife with poaching, with many desperate criminals venturing into its heartland, using ruthless methods, making it extremely dangerous.

This is also the risk I am most wary of during this journey.

After quickly and calmly analyzing the situation, I said, "It's highly unlikely. There's only one vehicle ahead, and poachers are afraid of getting their vehicles stuck in the desert, so they wouldn't be traveling alone."

Luo Peng then asked, "Brother Lin, should we go over and check out the situation?"

I stared at the vehicles ahead and said in a low voice, "We can't avoid it. Our only route is over there. Let's go check it out."

"Everyone must remain vigilant and not let their guard down."

……

Twenty minutes later, our convoy slowly approached the target vehicle.

It was indeed an old-fashioned pickup truck, with most of its body stuck in the mud, unable to move at all.

A middle-aged man stood anxiously beside the car, his face full of worry, pacing back and forth helplessly.

When he saw our three cars approaching, his eyes seemed to grasp at a straw. He quickly stepped forward and waved frantically for help.

I stopped the car, but didn't get out immediately. I just rolled down the window slightly, stared sharply at him, and asked:

"Hey buddy, your car's stuck here? How did you end up alone in this deserted area?"

The middle-aged man spoke in broken, labored Mandarin, his tone urgent:

"I'm a shepherd around here. I was so tired while traveling that I accidentally drove my cart into the rut! Young man, please help me out!"

"Herding sheep?"

My brows furrowed instantly, and I subconsciously looked around.

What comes into view is the vast Gobi Desert, with pebbles everywhere and not a blade of grass growing.

Not to mention flocks of sheep, you can't see a single blade of grass or a single strand of wool in the entire area.

In such a desolate place, where nothing grows, what can you use to graze sheep?

Should we feed sheep stones?

In an instant, alarm bells went off in my head; there was definitely something wrong here.

I glanced at the license plate on the front of the car without making a sound. It was indeed a local plate, but that did nothing to dispel my doubts.

The dangers of no man's land are always hidden beneath a seemingly harmless disguise.

Seeing my suspicious expression, the middle-aged man quickly put his hands together in prayer, his tone becoming even more earnest:

"I really am a local herder, I'm not lying to you! My sheep are grazing just ahead, not far away! Please, please help me!"

I chuckled and said, "Fellow villager, that's a ridiculous lie. This vast Gobi Desert is all gravel and yellow sand, not even a blade of grass. Where would a flock of sheep come from?"

The man's eyes darted around as he argued, "Yes! There's an oasis just ahead; you'll see it if you drive a little further!"

I still don't believe it, because anyone you meet in a place like this could have problems.

I can't risk the safety of the entire team to gamble on whether a stranger is real or not.

Without the slightest hesitation, I refused outright: "Sorry, we can't tow your car."

After I finished speaking, I took two loaves of bread and a bottle of water from the car and handed them over.

In the desolate, resource-scarce wilderness, water and food are the means of survival, and this is the greatest kindness I can offer.

"Since you are a local herder, you must have your own channels for receiving aid. Try contacting them again and hang in there."

After saying that, I stopped arguing with him and rolled up the car window.

I picked up the walkie-talkie and said directly to the two of them, "Keep going, don't stop, and don't meddle in other people's business."

As soon as I finished speaking, I turned the key, ready to shift gears and start the car.

But the moment I shifted gears, the middle-aged man's expression changed drastically, and he took a big step forward.

He was practically pressed against the car body, gripping the window frame tightly with one hand, refusing to let go.

His previously humble and ingratiating tone vanished completely, replaced by an arrogant one as he said, "Young man, it was just a small favor—towing a car. Why be so heartless?"

I frowned deeply, and alarm bells rang in my mind.

He never let go of the accelerator, keeping himself ready to surge forward at any moment.

I quietly reached one hand to the side of the toolbox, where a knife for self-defense was placed.

My eyes instantly turned cold. I stared straight at him and said in a cold voice, "I said, it's not convenient for us to provide assistance."

On the other end of the walkie-talkie, Luo Peng immediately sensed something was wrong, and his voice came through tensely.

"Brother Lin, is that guy suspicious? Should I get out and help him out?"

"Don't get out of the car, stay inside and lock the doors."

I spoke very quickly and decisively stopped him.

Su Wan's calm voice immediately came through the walkie-talkie: "Keep your distance, don't give him a chance to get close to the vehicle, this is not a safe place to stay."

After being rejected, the man's face darkened completely.

He quickly turned his head and scanned the surroundings, his gaze sweeping over Su Wan's G-Class and Luo Peng's SUV behind him, his eyes revealing undisguised greed.

With three vehicles fully equipped and well-supplied, they were like a piece of easy prey delivered right to our doorstep in this desolate and isolated wilderness.

At that moment, I was absolutely certain that this guy was not a shepherd at all.

The so-called "getting stuck in the road for help" is actually a fishing trap set specifically at the entrance to the no-man's-land.

If we give in and get out of the car to tow it, their accomplices lying in ambush nearby might just rush out from behind some embankment.

The Gobi Desert offers a wide view, and there are no other people in sight for the time being, but no one can be sure that someone might be secretly watching from behind the distant mounds.

We can't afford to linger any longer; every second we stay increases the danger.

I stopped arguing with him, forcefully pushed away his hand that was clinging to the car window, and quickly rolled up the window.

The man, still unwilling to give up, tried to stick his fingers into the gap in the car window, attempting to forcibly stop them.

I floored the gas pedal, and the car slowly lurched forward a short distance. He lost his balance and staggered back two steps.

He stood there, staring intently at our convoy, muttering obscure and incomprehensible words under his breath.

I picked up the walkie-talkie and spoke rapidly:

"Speed ​​up immediately, maintain formation, do not linger, leave this area as soon as possible, everyone keep an eye on the slopes on both sides, and pay attention to any movements around you."

"receive!"

"clear."

The roar of engines shattered the deathly silence of the wasteland.

The wheels spun at high speed, kicking up clouds of yellow sand that filled the sky. The convoy no longer held back and sped towards the depths of the wilderness.

Looking back through the rearview mirror, the sinister-looking middle-aged man and the pickup truck stuck in the mud shrank in my field of vision.

Even as it shrank to a tiny black dot, the person remained motionless, staring in the direction we had left.

Like a hunter lying in wait, relentlessly watching its prey disappear into the distance.