From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

After a long while, Luo Peng's voice, still tinged with fear, finally came through the walkie-talkie:

"Brother Lin, that was really close! Thank goodness we didn't give in and get out to help. Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine. If we'd made that mistake and gotten out, I don't even want to think about the consequences!"

I gripped the steering wheel and slowly said, "Remember, in the heart of the no-man's-land, never easily trust a stranger asking for help."

"You can do good deeds when you're out and about, but you must distinguish between true and false good and evil. That person just now had too many flaws; he wasn't truly in trouble."

Su Wan calmly added:

"His pickup truck got stuck very deliberately. The mud looked soft, but the way the wheels were stuck made it look like he drove in on purpose, deliberately making it look like he did it."

I wholeheartedly agree, and a sigh escaped my lips.

This brief standoff served as a stark wake-up call for us.

In this vast and desolate Qiangtang region, dangers never stop from sandstorms, harsh weather, or wild animals.

The human heart is often the most unpredictable and dangerous force.

This place may seem deserted, but it harbors treacherous and desperate criminals.

You never know whether you'll encounter a desperate ordinary person or a wicked demon lurking in the shadows.

The convoy sped along at full speed for a full half hour. I kept a close eye on the terrain on both sides, carefully checking every ditch or slope where I could hide.

After confirming that no vehicles were following me and that there was no unusual activity in the surrounding area, I gradually reduced my speed and resumed steady cruising.

My nerves, which had been tense for so long, finally relaxed a little.

Outside the window, the endless gray-yellow Gobi Desert stretched as far as the eye could see. A biting wind howled past, whipping up fine yellow sand that lashed against the vehicle, making a screeching sound.

I looked through the map and checked the locations against the handwritten guide notes left by Brother Wang.

At our current speed, it will take about half a day to reach the first temporary rest stop.

There is a seasonally flooded area where vehicles can be refilled with coolant.

We can also stop, take a short break, and have something to eat.

I sighed softly, my heart filled with mixed emotions.

I originally thought that the biggest challenge in crossing the no-man's-land would be the raging snowstorms, the complicated road conditions, and the harsh natural environment.

Unexpectedly, not long after entering the no-man's-land, the first thing they encountered was a deadly trap set by the wickedness of human nature.

I subconsciously looked up at the clear, vast blue sky above.

Jiangzhou, a thousand miles away, should be a bustling city with lights and lively atmosphere at this moment.

I wonder if Su Qing is also gazing at the same sky right now?

Our thoughts are directed towards each other.

In this desolate and lonely place, this longing has become the source of my confidence to grit my teeth and move forward.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly and looked again at the endless road ahead.

We have completely entered the uninhabited area. Apart from the sounds of nature, we can no longer hear any noise or feel any vitality.

Along the way, we did not see the herds of wild animals we had expected.

Only a few dried wild yak skeletons were seen scattered along the roadside, lying quietly in the yellow sand, adding to the desolation.

The innkeeper had mentioned that most wild animals migrate to deeper, uninhabited areas during this season.

In a few more days, we will have the opportunity to see living creatures.

But for me, stepping into the no-man's-land for the first time, such extreme desolation and deathly silence was still hard to get used to.

I can't help but miss the bustling and lively Jiangzhou, the dazzling array of delicious food on the streets, and the soft and comfortable bed.

I miss the dazzling city lights at night, and I miss the warmth of everyday life...

The fact that I can't help but miss it means I haven't truly adapted to this desperate situation yet.

But I know perfectly well that once I embark on this path, there is no turning back.

No matter how many dangers I may encounter next, I must make it to the end safely.

I must get out of this no-man's-land alive.

This is not just my own obsession, but also the promise between me and Su Qing that has not yet been fulfilled.

As evening approached, the previously clear sky suddenly changed without warning.

A sudden downpour of snowflakes blanketed the entire wasteland.

This is the most terrifying part of the no-man's-land; the weather changes faster than turning the pages of a book.

One second the sun is shining brightly, the next second a blizzard is raging.

It changes rapidly and has no discernible pattern.

Looking out, the world is a pure white expanse, the vast snowscape is extremely magnificent and breathtakingly beautiful.

But for us, who are in dire straits, this stunning scenery hides deadly risks.

Once snow accumulates, the already complicated road conditions will be completely covered up, and those hidden mud pits will become completely invisible, leaving us with no way to avoid them.

We had originally planned to park and set up camp at 5:30, but in order to avoid the blizzard blocking the roads, we had no choice but to grit our teeth and persevere.

Try to push your way forward a little further before the snow sets in.

What seems like a simple 20 kilometers to the average person is an enormous distance in the no-man's-land.

The road was bumpy and rugged, and every inch of the road surface had to be carefully tested.

It took us a full hour and a half to drive those short 20 kilometers, and we were on tenterhooks the whole time, not daring to relax for even a moment.

It wasn't until 8 p.m. that we finally found a sheltered, low-lying earthen slope, a suitable campsite, and prepared to spend the night there.

The outdoor temperature had already dropped to minus twenty degrees Celsius, and the biting cold seeped in through the gaps in the car windows, making people's limbs stiff with cold.

Because they were carrying too much supplies and equipment for this expedition, the back seats and trunks of all three vehicles were completely full, and there was no room for anyone else.

We had to give up resting in the car and camp in a tent in the wilderness for the first time.

Fortunately, we had practiced the tent-pitching process repeatedly before setting off, so we weren't caught off guard.

We had a clear division of labor: Luo Peng and Su Wan were responsible for setting up the tents.

I gathered stones that could be found anywhere in the Gobi Desert and built a simple outdoor stove in a sheltered spot in the camp.

After the two of them set up the tent securely and tightened the guy lines, the campfire on my side was successfully lit.

A bright, flickering flame suddenly ignited, and in this desolate and cold no-man's-land, the campfire seemed to be the warmth of a remnant of civilization, instantly dispelling the surrounding chill.

The flickering firelight spread, raising the surrounding temperature by several degrees and adding a touch of warmth to the cold, desolate wilderness.

I quickly took out a full set of outdoor cooking utensils, set up the iron pot, and prepared to cook dinner tonight.

Due to limited resources, dinner was extremely simple, consisting of only instant noodles and ham sausage.

Firstly, we haven't fully adapted to the extreme environment of the no-man's-land, and we are exhausted both physically and mentally.

Secondly, after a long day of intense travel, everyone was too tired to do anything else, so a simple meal was the best option.

But this most ordinary instant noodles have become a top-notch delicacy at this moment.

Luo Peng and I ate everything clean, even drinking the last drop of noodle soup.

Luo Peng patted his stomach and let out a satisfied burp, letting out a contented sigh:

"This is so comforting! I've never eaten such delicious instant noodles in my life, it's even better than the instant noodles I've had on the train!"