From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Aside from Ah Qiu, I really can't think of any other person that Brother Wang knows who would make a special trip to see me.

I didn't press him further, but stayed with Brother Wang, chatting about the various thrilling and trivial experiences we had along the way.

About twenty minutes later, Wang Ge looked up at the shop entrance and said, "Here we are."

I followed his gaze and looked outside. A heavily modified Tank 700 was parked in front of the shop.

With its raised chassis and heavy-duty off-road AT tires, this vehicle is clearly designed for serious off-road adventures.

Those who can drive this kind of modified hardcore off-road vehicle are most likely outdoor enthusiasts in the community.

The car door opened, and the people inside stepped out.

The moment I saw that face, I froze completely, my eyes wide with shock.

To everyone's surprise, the person who came was actually Wang Yi, the owner of the club!

I stood there stunned for a long while before turning to look at Brother Wang and asking incredulously, "Brother Wang, you two actually know each other?"

Wang Ge smiled and nodded, but didn't rush to explain in detail.

Wang Yi had already entered the shop and, from several meters away, stretched out his hand towards me, his voice loud and clear:

"Lin Ye, welcome back safely. You must have had a long journey."

I was still in shock, and after a long pause, I said incredulously, "Mr. Wang, so you know Brother Wang!"

Wang Yi stepped forward, reached out and shook my hand tightly. He looked me up and down, and slowly began to explain.

"Wang and I have known each other for many years. In fact, we were teammates who went on trekking together."

My pupils contracted, even more surprised: "Teammate?!"

Wang Ge picked up the conversation and slowly said, "That's right. Years ago, there was me, A Qiu, Wang Yi, and another teammate, Xiao Hao. The four of us teamed up and ventured into the no-man's-land."

I was so shocked that I couldn't come to my senses for a long time. I never imagined that there was such a past between the two of us.

I was immediately dumbfounded: "You guys hid it so well, I didn't even notice for so long."

"Don't stand and talk, sit down and chat slowly," Wang Yi said with a smile, gesturing for us to sit down.

After everyone was seated, Wang Yi slowly recounted the whole story.

"Actually, I already knew about it when you consulted Brother Wang about the routes. Brother Wang was willing to take on your consultation partly because of my project. And I dared to entrust this case to you because I knew that Brother Wang was backing you up."

He paused, his expression darkening slightly, and continued in a heavy tone.

"However, before that, Wang Ge and I had been out of contact for several years and had no contact with each other."

I asked, utterly bewildered, "How did things turn out like this?"

Wang Yi's lips moved, then he fell silent, his expression somewhat gloomy.

Wang Ge did the same. He silently picked up a cigarette, handed one to Wang Yi, then lit one for himself.

A deep voice slowly rose: "The root of the problem is our teammate from back then, Xiao Hao. He's gone forever in the no-man's land."

These words sent a jolt through me, leaving me speechless for a moment.

Wang Yi took over the conversation, speaking in a very low voice:

"During the journey, we had a serious disagreement about the route and couldn't reach an agreement. In the end, Xiao Hao lost control of the vehicle, crashed into the ice wall, and died on the spot."

He spoke calmly, but I could clearly feel the pain that had been buried deep in his heart for many years.

I can empathize with this feeling so much, just like when Luo Peng went missing, I felt that torment and helplessness.

The past was a wound they didn't want to touch, and Wang Yi didn't go into the details of their argument back then.

I was sensible enough not to press the matter further.

It takes immense courage to even be willing to recount this past event.

After finishing a few puffs of his cigarette, Wang Yi composed himself and steered the conversation back to me.

"So when I heard you were planning to challenge the no-man's-land during the meeting, I was very surprised, but at the same time, I was convinced that you were the one I was looking for."

"Back then, you didn't know I was going to go see Brother Wang, did you?" I asked, puzzled.

Wang Yi gently shook his head: "That's why I wanted to see your complete plan back then. When I learned that you had found Brother Wang and that Brother Wang was willing to help you, I understood that Brother Wang had slowly let go of that hurdle in his heart."

Hearing this, I half-jokingly smiled wryly and said, "So, after all this, I've become the tool for you two to make peace?"

Wang Yi quickly waved his hand: "You can't say that. To be honest, at first, I wasn't sure you could successfully travel through time alive. I've been to that land myself, and I know how dangerous it is."

"With Wang Ge's remote assistance, I felt much more at ease. But no one expected the weather to deteriorate so drastically on the road. Wang Ge notified me immediately from Lhasa, and our initial thought was to advise you to turn back as soon as possible."

He paused, then sighed softly, "But you insisted on continuing. Wang and I originally estimated that you would only go as far as Shuanghu County before turning back."

At this point, Wang Yi gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"I underestimated you. Instead of retreating, you pioneered a new route on the Purogangri Glacier that no one had ever set foot on before, and you broke through it all."

As he spoke, Wang Yi gave me a thumbs up.

"Incredible. Outsiders who haven't personally set foot in the no-man's-land will only see this as a sensational story. Only those who have truly been to the most desperate places understand how many life-or-death trials they have to endure on this journey."

As expected of a boss, his words stirred up a storm of emotions within me, leaving me deeply troubled.

Wang Ge chimed in with emotion, "I talked to him before, and I was really prepared for him to lose his life on that glacial wasteland. I never expected him to fight his way out."

I lowered my head, gave a wry smile, and said:

"To be honest, a large part of the reason I was able to grit my teeth and persevere was because I desperately wanted to prove myself. I needed to win this job and carve out a way out for myself."

I am not trying to glorify myself. I ventured into the no-man's-land not for any lofty ideals or for any kind of faith.

The most realistic initial motivation was simply to make money and to survive.

Wang Yi let out a long breath, his expression solemn.

"I dared to entrust this project to you because half of it was due to your ability, and the other half was a gamble on your luck. The interior of Purogangri is one of the most dangerous and dangerous places in China, and no one has ever completed the entire route."

"I've been in the outdoor community for nearly ten years, and I've led countless teams with Brother Wang. Objectively speaking, your on-the-spot judgment and crisis management along the way have been more successful than most veteran team leaders with many years of experience in the industry."

He spoke with utmost seriousness, without any polite flattery.

"Lin Ye, from the moment you stepped out of the no-man's land, you have completely transformed. Now you are a truly mature, top-notch leader who can stand alone and lead the entire team."

This statement carries significant weight.

Those who frequent the outdoor community know that becoming a top-notch tour leader is not something that can be achieved simply by running a few tourist routes.

It takes real struggle to survive and emerge from life-or-death situations to forge one's character.

Like soldiers who have returned alive from a battlefield amidst gunfire.