Thе wеаthеr сleared uр in thе afternоon, with sunshine bаthing thе lаndsсарe. Thе blue-and-white scenerу сomрosеd оf thе skу, white сlоuds, аnd snоw-сaрped mountаins wаs breаthtakingly beаutiful.
After lunсh, everуоnе расkеd their belоngings аnd prераred tо hike tо Сamp С1. Тhe first hаlf of the summit journеy was abоut tо bеgin. Thе distance frоm bаsе cаmр tо С1 wаs аpрrоximаtelу four kilomеters. First, thеу hаd to dеsсеnd tо the riverbed fоrmed by glacial mеltwater, then сross the Glаciеr, аnd finallу climb up along the ridge. A section of the ridge was notoriously called the "Deadly Slope," where altitude sickness and winds strong enough to knock people over posed the greatest challenges for climbers.
"Since we’re already here, why back out now and give up halfway? I know my own body best. Don’t keep bringing up my age—I’m not in my seventies or eighties yet. Why should I be told what I can or can’t do? Some people younger than me, even in their thirties, might not be in better shape. If I hadn’t intended to go all the way, I wouldn’t have come at all. Once I’m here, I must reach the highest point. There’s no sense in waiting at base camp. What a joke!"
Fu Yingtao seemed to harbor an obsession with reaching the summit. No matter how others tried to persuade or dissuade him, he insisted on climbing to the peak. Although he held a high-ranking leadership position in his company, his age was a factor—he was nearing retirement and should have stepped back to a secondary role. However, his pride and ambition had kept him from relinquishing his position to younger successors.
Over the past few days, through conversations with Jiang Aohang, everyone had gained a rough understanding of the ongoing struggle between the "old and new factions" within Fu Yingtao’s state-owned enterprise. The general manager was newly appointed, but the "old guards" remained. To solidify his authority, the general manager had to bring in his own people, promoting a large number of young cadres and transferring some of his trusted associates. In terms of seniority, the newcomers couldn’t compare to the old guards, but in terms of backing, the newcomers had the support of the top leader. This created a standoff between the two factions. Some old guards, "holding onto their power," made things difficult for the new management at every turn, asserting their dominance. Fu Yingtao was the leader of the old guards and a thorn in the general manager’s side. Unwilling to relinquish power or step down, he remained untouchable for the time being, given his extensive connections and deep-rooted influence in the company over the years.
For Fu Yingtao, as more and more outstanding younger colleagues emerged, he found himself surrounded by fellow old guards during factional alignments. More people preferred to stand behind those younger or with stronger backing. He felt like a former court official in a historical drama, with many eyes watching him, eagerly awaiting his early departure.
Climbing a peak in the Kunlun Mountains at over 6,000 meters above sea level was, in his own eyes as well as in the eyes of his subordinates and peers, an extraordinary feat and a testament to his lofty ambitions. The imbalance he felt in his work could be restored through this summit attempt. Such an opportunity might come only once in his remaining years, making the summit not just an achievement but a medal of honor.
It was unclear whether Fu Xingyue had anticipated this very trait of his when she meticulously planned everything.The last accessible point for vehicles was an unmanned monitoring station on the outer edge of the Glacier. As everyone boarded the vehicles at base camp, Diao Zhuo had already informed several mountaineering coaches in advance. Fu Xingyue was separated from Jiang Aohang and Fu Yingtao and assigned to Bayunye’s vehicle. Though awkward, Fu Xingyue had no choice but to comply with the arrangement, though she hesitated visibly. Her passive nature was clearly not an act—she had always been the type to endure whatever came her way. She seemed to struggle with this aspect of herself, wanting to change but lacking the courage.
A balloon overfilled with air, unsure where it might burst.
Bayunye stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her, extending an olive branch. “What’s the big deal? Hop in. It’s free.”
From a distance, Diao Zhuo watched her casual, almost flippant demeanor, reminiscent of the idle descendants of the Eight Banners after the fall of the Qing Dynasty—cynical and carefree. He sighed inwardly, yet his gaze remained gentle, as he still considered her reliable.
After the vehicle started moving, Fu Xingyue sat in the passenger seat and gazed at the scenery for a while. Perhaps feeling the prolonged silence was too awkward, she spoke softly to Bayunye as the latter skillfully navigated around a muddy pothole with a few deft turns. “You’re the best female driver I’ve ever seen.”
“…Diao Zhuo said the same thing.” Bayunye wasn’t sure how to interpret the remark but shamelessly accepted the praise without a hint of modesty.
“Uh…” Fu Xingyue was no naive, inexperienced girl. Hearing such a reply, she sensed some underlying implication but didn’t know how to respond.
Bayunye quickly steered the conversation back on track. “This is my line of work. If I weren’t skilled, how could I take clients around? Have you ever driven on the roads into Tibet? There are sheer cliffs below, some stretches without even guardrails. During the rainy season, you never know where rocks might fall or where a sudden landslide might happen. While other places use LED warning signs, over there, they just prop up the mangled wreck of a vehicle. How should I put it? Skill and luck are our lifelines.”
“That’s good,” Fu Xingyue replied flatly.
“I value my life. I haven’t lived enough yet,” Bayunye said pointedly. “Money, love, freedom—they’re all nothing compared to life. Of course, when I was in the military, I followed orders without question. Now that I’m discharged, I do whatever I want.”
Fu Xingyue turned to look at her, surprised. “You were in the military… No wonder…”
“Don’t.” Bayunye made a stopping gesture, cutting off whatever Fu Xingyue was about to say next, her eyes fixed on the bumpy road ahead. “I acted impulsively this morning too, but your father threw the first punch. What I learned in the military wasn’t meant to be used against civilians—it was for self-defense.”
“My dad, he…” Fu Xingyue trailed off, hesitating.
Bayunye waited, focused on driving, not pressing further.
“He’s a very strong-willed person, always decisive. No one at his workplace dares to say ‘no’ to him. He’s strict with himself—I’ve never seen him complain about his own problems in front of us or others. It’s the same at work; he always shows his strongest side and never allows himself to make mistakes or have any weaknesses or failures exposed. Of course, since I was little, he’s never allowed me to fail at anything either. He’s quite strict. But I’m used to it.”
Bayunye noticed how Fu Xingyue deliberately raised her voice on the last sentence, as if emphasizing it. Yet, such emphasis often served as a cover. “If he’s that strict, did he hit you when you were little?”"Did Master Ba get beaten as a child?" Fu Xingyue asked in return.
"I actually wish I had parents to beat me, but the problem is I don't have that luxury," Bayunye said with her usual nonchalance.
"That might not be such a bad thing."
Bayunye was taken aback by her words. It was the first time she had heard someone say something like that, especially from the seemingly gentle and mild-mannered Fu Xingyue. Even knowing she wasn't exactly kind-hearted, Bayunye still found it somewhat surprising.
"Having parents is wonderful, especially for an only child like you. Savings, property—everything will be yours in the future. Why would you need to struggle on your own?" Bayunye laughed. "Your dad might be a bit difficult to deal with, but just bear with it. Do you really think having no parents in this world is comfortable?"
"I don't know," she replied vaguely.
"Take me, for example. I never grew up in a normal family, and I never knew where my home was. In my memory, there's no concept of family. Marriage, children, settling down—it all feels like something from another planet to me. Even if someone gave me a home now, I wouldn't know how to live in it. I don’t really understand what it feels like to have a fixed place to return to, no matter how far you go." Bayunye said, "You're doing well, at least from the perspective of someone like me."
"Nothing is ever as simple as it seems on the surface. Everyone has their own hardships that outsiders never see," Fu Xingyue said softly. "After graduating from university, I thought about living away from home, but... it's like a fortress—those inside and outside look at each other, each thinking the other has it better."
"After I left the military, I started driving trucks. Since I was a rookie, the boss didn’t give me many clients at first. I thought the money was coming too slowly, so I got tricked into working security at a place. I thought it was something like an underground casino, but later I found out that while it looked like a casino on the surface, it was actually..." Bayunye rubbed the tip of her nose, as if recalling the past with lingering fear, "selling that stuff."
"Prostitution?"
"Drugs," Bayunye couldn’t help but laugh, amused by her naivety and her own past foolishness. She sighed, "A business that could get you shot."
"What happened next?"
Bayunye fell silent for a moment. The bloodshed and chaos of those days were never understood by outsiders, and she rarely spoke of it herself. But whenever she thought about it, the suffocating feeling remained vivid. "I couldn’t get out. I was watched closely. I had to ask my boss for help, and he was furious. He pulled a lot of strings to get me out." She omitted the immense effort Brother Long had made to save her. His kindness was something she would never forget—it was a bond forged in life and death.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, she continued, "I’m not sure if that place has been shut down now. All I know is that if I hadn’t escaped, I wouldn’t have made any money—I might have lost my life. One wrong step, and there might be no chance to make it right. There were a few close calls when I was driving trucks too, but thankfully nothing major happened. I learned my lesson and came to a realization: even if you think you’re just living an ordinary, peaceful life, you never know how many times fate has pulled you back from the brink of death. Like yesterday during the thunderstorm—if I hadn’t taken off my hat, Diao Zhuo wouldn’t have noticed the abnormal electric field around us so quickly. Even though your dad didn’t turn off his phone, the lightning didn’t actually strike him. That’s the way it is. Don’t you think so?"
"The will of heaven is hard to defy..." Fu Xingyue murmured, seemingly unmoved."I think it's better to..." Bayunye deliberately paused, then said seriously, "stop in time."
Fu Xingyue's expression froze pale for a moment, her shoulders tightening.
Bayunye wanted to inquire more about her relationship with Fu Yingtao, but she remained tight-lipped, even hiding the fact that she wasn't his biological daughter. She was naturally reticent and deep-minded, and after a few exchanges, nothing was revealed.
The vehicle climbed up the slope, the unmanned monitoring point now within sight. Several technical support staff stationed there, bundled in thick coats, busied themselves as if no one else were around. Behind them, a few simple tents flapped noisily in the wind.
At the end of the riverbank stood a prayer flag tower, old and new flags entwined and fluttering, surrounded by scattered mani stone piles. The vehicle ahead gradually slowed down. Bayunye took a moment to glance at Fu Xingyue, who looked deeply troubled, her right thumb constantly picking at the webbing of her left hand, the skin there rubbed red by her nails.
Bayunye wasn't one to hold back her words. Knowing that everyone would soon get out and begin the formal hike, she eased off the accelerator and slowed the vehicle. "These past few days, whether by coincidence or not, a few of us have seen and heard some unusual things from Jiang Aohang. I won’t specify what, but I’m sure you know what I’m talking about."
"I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is he hiding something from me? Our way of getting along is different from yours and Diao Zhuo’s. Are you misunderstanding something?" Fu Xingyue replied quickly, her words much faster than before.
"What do you hope I’m misunderstanding?" Bayunye pulled a bottle of glibenclamide from her pocket, shook it, and stuffed it back in. "Maybe you were afraid that whoever found it wouldn’t know what medicine was inside and might casually throw it away, so you deliberately left the label on?"
Fu Xingyue glanced at it. "I’ve never seen this before."
Bayunye grew impatient. "What you’re planning to do is quite dangerous... You’re only two or three years older than me, but you definitely haven’t experienced as much—especially the shitty stuff—as I have. So I want to advise you: since we’ve already noticed something, if you really go through with it and the consequences are severe, you won’t get past the police!"
"You’re driving too slowly. They’ve already arrived." Fu Xingyue ignored her completely.
Bayunye furrowed her brows. "I’m telling you..."
"If you really thought something was wrong, you would’ve reported it to the police already. Why bother talking to me so earnestly?" Fu Xingyue said calmly. "The police also require evidence."
Bayunye thought to herself, This isn’t good. She’s not listening to me, dead set on carrying out her plan. Why is she so confident?
"Have you ever heard this saying—'What seems like a bottomless abyss, when you go down, is also a journey of ten thousand miles ahead'?" Fu Xingyue smiled, her eyes icy, sending a slight chill down the spine.
What nonsense is this? Bayunye frowned.
They had reached their destination. Bayunye had no choice but to stop the car. Fu Xingyue quickly got out without looking back. Diao Zhuo hurried over, and Bayunye spread her hands toward him, signaling that her attempt to confront Fu Xingyue had failed—she was undeterred, relying on their lack of evidence.
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