From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

I instinctively tried to persuade them to stay, but then realized it sounded a bit abrupt, so I quickly added:

"What I mean is, it's not safe for you to stay here alone. The three of us have always been together, and we'll stay together this time too. No one should be left alone."

Luo Peng quickly chimed in, "Yeah, Sister Wan, let's relax a bit. We've been tense for so long, it's time to rest!"

We all know Su Wan's personality; she is independent, taciturn, and used to being alone. Once she makes up her mind, she rarely changes it, so we thought she would continue to refuse.

Unexpectedly, after a two-second silence, she nodded slightly in agreement.

The three of them then traveled together, following the riverbed carved out by the spring water, and slowly walked downstream for about a hundred meters.

As we traveled along the river, the water temperature visibly decreased.

Soon, a wide and flat shallow beach appeared before them.

The water here is just waist-deep, neither too deep nor too shallow, and a thin layer of warm mist hangs on the surface.

Luo Peng couldn't wait to step forward and reach out to test the water temperature.

He immediately turned to me, grinned, and nodded repeatedly, "Brother Lin, it's just right! The temperature is perfect!"

I immediately went over and touched the water.

There was indeed a slight burning sensation, but it was well within the range that the human body could tolerate, and it was just right.

Luo Peng couldn't hold back any longer and quickly took off his coat.

Just as he was about to take off his thermal underwear, he suddenly stopped and subconsciously turned his head to glance at Su Wan not far away.

Su Wan noticed his embarrassment and immediately turned around to face the outer glacial rock wall.

Luo Peng then put aside his concerns and decisively took off his warm clothes.

The high-altitude wind was biting cold. As soon as he took off his warm clothes, he couldn't help but shiver and gasp.

"Damn, it's freezing outside! It's giving me goosebumps!"

After saying that, he carefully stepped into the warm water.

He immediately let out a long sigh of relief, his face full of enjoyment.

"Wow! This feels so good! It's absolutely amazing!"

Seeing his blissful expression, I couldn't help but ask, "Is it really that good?"

Luo Peng closed his eyes and leaned against a rock by the water, saying, "I'm not lying to you, Brother Lin, you'll know once you come down and try it. This feeling is something money can't buy!"

I glanced at Su Wan subconsciously, but she still wasn't looking our way.

Without further hesitation, I quickly took off my heavy, cold clothes, leaving only my underwear, and stepped into the hot spring.

The moment the warm water enveloped my body, I instantly understood Luo Peng's sentiments.

After days of hard work on the plateau glaciers, braving the cold wind every day, my muscles are stiff and sore, and the biting cold seeps into my bones. I am already exhausted.

Enveloped in the warm spring water, my tense muscles and nerves instantly relaxed and eased.

Who would have thought that in the heart of this desolate glacial wilderness, there would be such a natural haven that can heal the soul?

I gently leaned against the flat underwater rock and slowly closed my eyes.

The clear, melodious sound of spring water flowing in my ears, and the low, howling wind of the glacier sweeping across the rock face in the distance.

The interplay of softness and strength creates an exceptionally comfortable feeling.

These past few days have truly been a brush with death.

From the moment we stepped into this no-man's-land, every step we took was like walking on thin ice, constantly brushing shoulders with death.

Soaking in the warm spring water at this moment, I have only one realization in my heart.

Being alive is already the greatest fortune in the no-man's-land.

I couldn't help but let out a long sigh, letting go of all my weariness.

"Ah...that feels so good!"

Luo Peng let out another long sigh, full of extreme relaxation.

I opened my eyes, glanced at him sideways, and teased him in a low voice:

"Can you please stop making those weird noises? There are ladies here, watch your image."

Luo Peng chuckled twice, looking quite relaxed, and said, "I'm just feeling really good, so I couldn't help but say it."

I turned my head to follow the gaze and looked at Su Wan on the shore.

She maintained the same posture as before, with her back to us, striking the perfect balance of propriety and distance.

Looking at her lonely figure standing alone on the shore, I felt a pang of pity for her.

She hadn't relaxed for a moment along the way, so she must have been exhausted. She finally found this natural hot spring, but could only stand on the shore and watch us relax.

I don't know what possessed me, but in a moment of impulsiveness, I shouted towards the shore:

"Su Wan, why don't you come down for a soak too?"

Su Wan then gently shook her head, her voice soft and polite: "No need, I'll just wait for you here."

I could clearly hear the restraint in her tone; it wasn't aloofness, just simple embarrassment.

She was always aloof and reserved, maintaining perfect propriety in everything she did. This kind of outdoor bathing scene was naturally too casual for her, and she felt a little uncomfortable.

Luo Peng, who was standing nearby, chimed in, urging, "Sister Wan, come on down! This water is amazing! You've been on edge all this time, soaking in it for a while will help you recover from most of your fatigue."

"Really, you don't need to. You can just soak in your water." Su Wan still refused softly.

Luo Peng and I exchanged a glance; we both knew exactly what was going on.

Even though we've faced life and death together and survived countless desperate situations, her inherent aloofness and detachment still carry a sense of distance.

But I didn't try to persuade her any further. I could understand her embarrassment. Not everyone is as carefree and thick-skinned as Luo Peng.

Actually, I felt a little embarrassed when I went into the water just now. I took advantage of the moment when Su Wan turned around and quickly took off my clothes and went into the water.

But Luo Peng didn't give up and kept shouting at Su Wan:

"No, Sister Wan! We've been through life and death together, there's no need to be so formal!"

"We've seen all sorts of dangers along the way, this is just a relaxing soak in a hot spring, everything's really fine!"

After saying that, he nudged my arm with his elbow and kept giving me meaningful glances, signaling me to join in the persuasion.

But I know Su Wan's personality. I was already surprised that she agreed to come along, so it's impossible for her to agree to it.

But unable to resist Luo Peng's urging, she forced herself to add, "Yes, you've suffered the most on this journey, and you've accumulated a lot of cold and fatigue. Soaking in hot water for a while will be good for your health."

Fearing she might feel awkward or uncomfortable, I quickly added with a smile, "Don't worry, we promise to behave properly and absolutely won't look around inappropriately."

The moment the words left her lips, Su Wan, standing on the shore, suddenly chuckled softly.

This time, she finally turned around slowly.

With a touch of shyness, she said, "I wasn't trying to be pretentious, I'm just a little embarrassed that you all had to see this."

"What's so funny!" Luo Peng immediately retorted. "Sister Wan, you're showing some restraint; it's hardly a joke!"

Su Wan remained silent for a few seconds, then looked down at her windbreaker, which was covered in dust and ice shards.

Worldly decorum and constraints, and the aloof persona one usually maintains, seem to have become less important in this desolate and uninhabited place.

Without further hesitation, she turned her back to us and actually took off her clothes.