Chapter 119 Kunlun Land
The meeting lasted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
After it ended, no one left for quite a while.
The comrades, each holding a pen and paper, looked at each other with heavy and complicated expressions.
Excluding the one-hour meal and rest period, there were so many important points in the seven-hour meeting that it was impossible to take them all down.
Loin listened attentively and found that many of the questions she considered outdated had been answered very well.
Many capable individuals appeared on the podium.
It was announced that the person in charge, Elder Xia, was forced to interrupt the next mission due to special reasons, and Professor Xu Cheng would be in charge of the next part of the trip.
He was also the third person in charge of the mission.
Professor Xu Cheng accepted the task and outlined the upcoming schedule. He then divided the subsequent objectives into several smaller plans and took the opportunity to call over the colleagues in charge of these areas to explain them to the subordinates in turn.
After a brief rest, the buzzing sound in my brain finally subsided.
Luo Yin shook her head, and several pieces of knowledge fell out.
Yuan Fang said with a distressed look, "Oh dear, it feels like I've gone back to school, and knowledge has mercilessly crawled into my head."
The three chatted and laughed as they quickly walked outside.
After leaving the office building, we arrived at the lobby of the guesthouse.
Then I ran into many familiar colleagues.
Most of the colleagues I met the previous two times have already arrived.
They greeted each other, chatted briefly about their current situation, some were curious about their trip to Yunnan Province, and others naturally asked about the aftermath of the shipwreck.
Luo Yin hid in the crowd and overheard a lot of inside information.
"Right, I was saying that too."
"But it's actually good that Captain Xu can lead us this time. Otherwise, I'm worried that Elder Xia won't be able to handle such a long journey."
"That makes sense. Even with a train taking us all the way from the far east to the far west, it would still take several months to make the round trip. The effort behind it is immeasurable."
"But I heard that Professor Xu has very strict requirements, and that ordinary people cannot pass the assessment to join the team."
The speakers were the researchers they had previously interacted with.
They knew more than the average person and began investigating the information about the East-West intergenerational identities much earlier.
As the investigation deepened, they discovered that the journey involved at least seven provinces.
From forests to grasslands and deserts, then to the Gobi and snow-capped mountains, and finally from deserts to glaciers!
"Everyone, stay alert from now on."
"Yes, prepare well."
It's a simple but tough battle to fight!
With the meetings over the past two days concluded, the departure date was soon announced: this Wednesday.
There were only two days to prepare.
Luo Yin wrote a letter home in advance and even made a special phone call home.
The call reached the county government, and a close relative left a message. Then, the call was made to the elder brother.
After the call ended, she quickly followed her two older sisters to collect their luggage, which they were preparing to take with them.
I need to bring a lot of things this time, especially warm clothes to keep warm in the cold weather.
Although the organization will provide them, Sister Xiaofang said that we should prepare two extra sets of thermal underwear.
"Listen to me, if it gets wet and spoils, just drag it out and change it, it'll be convenient and save you a lot of trouble."
"Yes, if all else fails, you can wear it on your body; at least that will keep you warm."
Luo Yin received their enthusiastic recommendations and followed them around, stopping frequently, and bought two sets of clothes in the perfect size without even needing to use the tickets.
It's a pity she can't bring it to her family. She secretly accepted the place and plans to come back when she has time.
Gloves, scarves, hats, thick socks, and heating packs were all provided.
There is only one day left.
"Come on, we'll take you out for a nice meal today."
"Now that we're in the capital, how can we not have an authentic hot pot meal?"
Luo Yin followed the two to a bustling old shop, where the hall was full of seats as soon as they entered.
Seeing that there were no empty seats, I thought, "Oh, bad timing."
"There are no seats available so early. Why don't we come back later?" You Lizhu was most impatient with queuing, as she felt it was a waste of time.
The two men next to him nodded and prepared to leave when the wealthy man spoke.
A familiar voice called out to them from behind.
"Hey wait a minute, wanna join a table?"
"Hmm, what a coincidence, you're eating already?" Xia and Captain Huo asked, looking at the pot that had already been boiled.
The three of them looked at them in surprise.
"Hehe, I'm not craving it anymore, let's have some together!"
As he spoke, he got up to help get the bowls and chopsticks, and Huo Sen stepped forward and made room for him.
"Sit down, it's fate." You Lizhu sat down calmly.
"Yes, yes, I'm going to order and get my things."
Luo Yin looked around and saw that Sister Xiao Fang had already run off to get the seasonings.
"The place we're going to this time isn't close, so we should prepare more things to bring along."
Hearing Sister You's whispered instructions, Luo Yin nodded unconsciously, "Okay, I understand."
"But will we be on the train the whole time this time?"
Yu Lizhu pulled her to sit on a bench, leaving some space for the bowls and chopsticks next to her. "How could that be? Such a long route will definitely require splitting into several groups. We might have to separate then. Remember to keep an eye out. If there aren't any of us around, just stick with the leader."
"Ah, where did you get this news?" How come she didn't know?
Luo Yin looked surprised and subconsciously grabbed her sleeve.
No way, teaming up with other strangers doesn't seem like a good idea.
Hossen stared at her silently, noticing that she hadn't looked at him once in all this time.
Disappointment flashed in his eyes, but seeing that she seemed somewhat frightened, he immediately replied, "The list has been released."
Yu Lizhu was startled, not expecting him to be so well-informed.
His gaze then swept to Xiao Luo beside him, a smile flashing in his eyes.
"Um?"
Luo Yin looked up and gazed at him with delight.
The sight of him all alone made Hossen's fingertips, resting on his knees, tremble slightly.
"Hey, what are you talking about? It's already open, why aren't you eating?"
When the two returned after ordering and picking up their food, they saw that none of the three had started eating.
"Eat quickly, the meat is overcooked."
Xia picked up the serving chopsticks and took out all the cooked meat.
Hosen, with his sharp eyes, grabbed two pieces of meat, and seeing that they had also started eating, quietly put the meat into a clean bowl.
Luo Yin was eating with her head down when a bowl was pushed towards her.
She followed her gaze and spotted him.
"I think I just heard a list. Tell me what happened!"
The topic returned to the present, and they learned from Hosen about the group assignments. Because there were three group leaders and deputy group leaders, the personnel arrangements were somewhat disrupted.
Xia Mingjiang and Yuan Fang were assigned to the second group, which was the section of the journey from Inner Mongolia to Gansu.
Yu Lizhu, one of the team members, was responsible for keeping an eye on Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces with the team leaders.
The most important group was to send Professor Xu Cheng directly to the destination, the sacred glacier at the junction of the new and western provinces. The candidates were him, Luo Yin, and several other comrades.
"Oh, what a bad timing!"
"Yes, I was hoping to be with Sister You and Xiao Luo, but we've already parted ways." Yuan Fang ate several pieces of meat, her voice full of sorrow.
Xia Mingjiang didn't feel anything was wrong, but the thought of riding horses and camels on the grassland made him feel a pang of pain.
Then he looked intently at the only pair in the group, Luo Yin and Huo Sen. "Speaking of which, this is your third time teaming up, isn't it? What a wonderful coincidence, don't you think, Comrade Luo?"
When Luo Yin heard about the location of the mission, she began to worry about how cold it would be.
Upon hearing his words, I instinctively agreed. "Yes, what a coincidence!"
But then she heard a few mocking laughs, and she couldn't help but look up to find several pairs of eyes watching the spectacle sweeping over them.
Xia Mingjiang is one thing, but why are Sister Xiaofang and Sister You like this too?
She glanced awkwardly at the person next to her.
His hands paused involuntarily. "What am I doing?"
Is it an allergic reaction? Your face is so red!
Luo Yin looked at Captain Huo, whose face was as red as her little nephew's, in addition to his naturally dark and reddish complexion.
It looked strange and funny, and there were occasional teasing remarks from Brother Xia and Sister Xiao Fang.
She can't pretend she doesn't understand; isn't this a pure matchmaking scheme?
"Ahem, let's eat!"
"Eat, eat."
"Stop talking, our Xiao Luo is still young, unlike you."
More than an hour later, everyone paid the bill and headed out.
"But now that the division has been done this way, Comrade Huo, you must take good care of her," Sister Yuan Fang said, changing the subject to emphasize.
"Yes, take care of yourself, and contact him if you need anything," Sister You added.
September 8th, the familiar train station.
Familiar team uniforms, familiar team members, but an unfamiliar team leader.
As Luo Yin watched Chen the Blind Man appear, she couldn't help but take two steps forward.
Suddenly someone pulled me aside, saying, "Wait a minute, then we'll go over there."
Hosen's words of reminder rang out.
Luo Yin nodded, deciding to hold back for the time being.
As the express train arrived, the first group, who also had the longest journey, needed to immediately set off with Team Leader Xu.
The first stop on the journey to the Northwest region is Xining.
As the largest city in Qinghai Province, its location is extremely important.
As the express train pulled in, we quickly arrived in the heart of Northwest China.
The scenery outside has long since changed from grasslands to barren land, with Gobi and desert alternating between the two.
Luo Yin automatically adjusted her state, and her attitude was much calmer when she saw Old Chen again.
Each group usually had about twenty people, and she had greeted several of them by name. Surprisingly, the Tibetan doctor, Master Ganda, was also there.
Thinking about her destination, she couldn't help but make preparations.
"It's almost time."
Listening to my colleague's murmur, the train conductor announced that we had arrived in Xining.
It's only just past September, and October hasn't even arrived yet, but the weather outside has suddenly turned cold.
Everyone consciously put on cotton-padded coats and padded jackets, and many people changed into thermal underwear and other warm clothing.
Heading north along G109, passing through the shimmering Qinghai Lake, you will reach Chaka Salt Lake.
The train made a brief stop, and as Luo Yin listened to the person next to her describe the scene, she wished she had the equipment to capture the seamless blend of water and sky.
Unfortunately, I don't have the equipment with me, but I heard from Huo Sen that Captain Xu has some.
"I'll definitely prepare one next time."
"No need, I'll buy it myself."
Luo Yin rejected his offer. She sensed his intentions, but being inexperienced, she didn't know what to do.
The train continued its ascent, and the altitude increased significantly, causing some people with average physical fitness to experience altitude sickness.
People began to feel drowsy without realizing it, and experienced chills, dizziness, nausea, and weakness.
People who used to go out and about are no longer making any effort.
The original team of over twenty people was immediately reduced to more than half, leaving only Xiaomao Qiba who could move around.
Captain Xu saw this and was very anxious.
He called Hosen over, inquired about the condition of his comrades, and learned that although they were not seriously injured, it would greatly affect the upcoming hiking plans. Several blisters appeared on the corners of his mouth.
"Wait two more days. If it still doesn't work by the time we reach the final destination, then we'll have to activate the second-line plan."
“I understand, but the chances are slim here.”
Hosen secretly reminded him to make proper personnel allocations, as many things really do require professionals to handle.
When the train arrived at its final stop, Golmud.
Despite the rare occurrence of altitude sickness, everyone rallied and disembarked with their luggage.
"Let's meet at the nearest meeting point first, check everyone's condition, and then we'll begin our hike."
"Yes, Captain Xu!"
Many young comrades, who were originally eager to make a name for themselves, ended up failing halfway through.
"I didn't expect to think of everything else, but I overestimated my physical condition."
"Don't be discouraged. You won't recover after just one night's rest."
With some comforting words, they quickly followed the people who were there to meet them, and arrived at a small town called Chitai.
They have leased the entire floor of the largest guesthouse in town.
After greeting the local guide and settling the others in, Team Leader Xu called several leaders to a room for a meeting.
Among them were Huo Sen and Old Chen. Luo Yin originally wanted to rest for a while, but she was also called upon.
She only realized when she arrived that one of the biggest reasons she joined the group was because of Chen Dong.
Yes, it's that old man again!
The room has a simple yet distinctive layout, with brightly colored walls all around, and red and white accents creating a unique combination.
Luo Yin followed Old Chen and found a good spot to sit on the heated kang.
The others, like Captain Xu, crowded on both sides, and they all looked quite attractive.
Luo Yin shrank her head down, hiding her nose.
Then I heard the important content of the meeting: hiking into the Kunlun Pass.
Luo Yin had inquired about the legendary Kunlun Mountains to some extent, and since joining the project, she had gained many mind-blowing insights from Elder Chen.
Therefore, whether it's mythology, legends, or strange tales, the name Kunlun is always present.
The first to raise objections to Team Leader Xu's decision to lead the team at this time was Comrade Xiangdao Jianshe.
Yes, he is a local compatriot, and his name is indeed Jianshe (建建).
"The Kunlun Mountains stretch for 2,500 kilometers, which is not shown in your description at all. Moreover, there are many forks in the road just from the Kunlun Pass. Without sufficient experience, it is simply impossible to pass through."
And with autumn and winter just around the corner, this is practically suicide.
He held back from saying those words.
After all, he knew where these people came from, and sometimes he had to be cautious.
"Ahem, we've already discussed this. We don't need you to take us deep into the heart of the territory. We just need to stop at a place called Aiken Spring, which you commonly call the Eye of the Demon."
"No, that's a cursed place, we can't go there."
Even Ganda Gyatso, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up to stop them from going, and echoed his construction colleagues, saying that they couldn't go.
"No, Comrade Jianshe, those are all natural geographical phenomena, there is no curse involved."
Seeing that he was trying to steer the conversation away from other topics, some knowledgeable people couldn't help but explain to him the reasons and circumstances behind the formation of this reddish-brown geological formation. After several rounds of pressure, the construction comrade finally agreed.
And so their journey officially began!
The initial team was reduced to 17 people; the rest were simply not available.
This is partly due to the fact that some people have taken Tibetan medicine from Master Ganda, but there are still only so many people.
I was truly powerless; my body swayed even after walking just a few steps.
Captain Xu had considered them all, but had no choice but to give up!
There is no direct route from Kunlun Pass to the Eye of the Devil; there is only a small path used by locals.
According to the construction comrade, it is the migration route of nearby animals.
Along the way, we found many traces of trampling and gnawing.
The secret passage was indeed a vast and abundant place, a natural habitat and protection zone for animals.
The hike was much more interesting than the train journey. As we walked, we observed our surroundings, and every now and then someone would explain and introduce what kind of wild animal left behind this big mass.
The remains of the animals found there are of unknown origin, and some people can even deduce who ate them.
Much knowledge not found in books entered her mind in a completely new way.
Luo Yin felt that the journey had become much easier, and she even ignored the backpack on her back.
She made a lot of progress on this trip; her reaction time, mindset, and adaptability have also improved significantly.
These changes have been noticed by many people.
Chen Dong, many colleagues, and even Captain Xu privately gave her high praise. Captain Xu also inquired about her situation with Huo Sen many times, saying that she was a very good comrade and could be trained more in the future.
Along the way, they saw herds of Tibetan antelopes galloping, a monument to the nature reserve, and two lakes before reaching Aiken Spring.
The lakes there were the same as the ones I had seen before.
Until they reached Aiken Spring!
A large red area came into view, with an abruptly protruding eyeball shape.
On this vast Gobi Desert, it really looks like an alien demon's eye!
No wonder the locals are so wary; it's really not their fault.
Ever since Comrade Jianshe led the way here, he has been carefully hiding and has not dared to get close.
He watched from afar as these irreplaceable comrades walked around the hot spring lake, stopping and starting, measuring and recording something.
Soon, he saw actions he couldn't understand, but he just stood there.
From day to night, they never stopped.
The tents nearby are all set up, but they're still working on that over there with lights on.
It wasn't until after 9 p.m. that everyone finally stopped.
Luo Yin was so tired she wanted to plop down, but as Old Chen's assistant, she had no rights.
Others were even more ambitious and did even more.
I gritted my teeth and had no choice but to keep up.
After slurping down a bite of food, Huru finally relaxed and lay down in her sleeping bag.
But when she woke up the next day, she regretted it!
I was so busy yesterday that I was completely tense, and I've recovered now.
Many people found that their hands and feet wouldn't obey their commands when they got up.
The next leg of the journey requires traversing deep into the heart of the Kunlun Mountain Death Valley near the Qaidam Basin.
Getting inside is the second key point of this mission.
The team followed the map upwards throughout the journey, and as the altitude increased, many people experienced discomfort.
An unusual weather change occurred, and snowflakes began to fall.
The pieces fell to the ground, affecting everyone's movement.
Even so, everyone's journey never stopped.
Comrade Jianshe had been leading the way in silence for a long time, looking both helpless and resigned.
When he heard that name, his gaze toward everyone was filled with an unconscious respect and reverence.
The legendary land of death, a place where countless spirits of the dead reside.
But these outsiders kept searching!
What belief is hidden behind this?
The journey was much longer than planned, and even with a professional guide, it took seven or eight days to figure out the direction.
The journey to Tibet at this time was already stressful, and Comrade Jianshe's mood was also quite volatile.
Compared to the other comrades who suffered from altitude sickness, he was the first to be affected.
He was quite embarrassed about this and specifically admitted his mistake to everyone, saying that it was because of him that time was wasted.
But everyone knows that there are no absolutes in these things, and it's better to let him recover from his injury.
Hidden between the Qaidam Basin and the Hoh Xil no-man's-land lies the Nalenggele Canyon.
This is what they call the Kunlun Mountain Death Valley. When the group arrived at the valley, none of them took the initiative to act.
Team Leader Xu stood at the front of the group, gazing at the wide and narrow landscape, his tone filled with undisguised emotion and sighs.
After working for more than 20 years, I had heard about the Kunlun Mountains from every corner of the world, and finally, in my lifetime, I set foot there.
"Mr. Chen, is this the place you're looking for?"
Chen Dong's name was called out by Captain Xu.
Xu Cheng ignored the stares of others and walked straight up to them.
After all, he remembered that their main task this time was not field research, that was the job of the second and third groups; and his most important task was to cooperate with Mr. Chen to carry out supervision and suppression.
"The Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains!" It truly lives up to its name.
Chen Dong murmured for a moment before uttering these four words.
Those who listened intently instinctively hid their fear and apprehension, replaced by admiration and awe.
Yes, once upon a time, these sacred places in history and culture were shrouded in many slanders and legends;
"Xu Cheng, take your men and start collecting data in the surrounding area immediately. I'll leave the security to you, Captain Huo."
Seeing that Old Chen nodded, Team Leader Xu did not forget to remind his two other companions of the next steps.
For the next month or so, Luo Yin settled down peacefully outside the valley entrance.
They will conduct comprehensive archaeological and field investigations in the valley during the day, recording animal carcasses and data; detecting fluctuations at different frequencies at different times; and probing the temporal patterns of abnormal weather changes.
She even witnessed the legendary mirage several times.
It was a truly magnificent sight, like a projection, and every time that happened, Comrade Jianshe would pray devoutly for his faith.
During this time, Mr. Chen went out with the team twice.
It was their twentieth day in the heart of the country. They climbed along the valley for an unknown amount of time before finally stopping when they saw the legendary glacier.
It was at this moment that Old Master Chen spoke for the first time, and then led everyone forward across the ice field.
Luo Yin's memory of that stretch of road was all white and the surroundings were utterly cold.
She slept very little each day, walking as soon as she woke up and eating when she was tired. With the yaks brought in from outside, she was in the second group the whole time, almost being sandwiched between the front and back.
When a forest of ice appeared in front of the glacier, the team realized that Elder Chen was extraordinary.
Is this the endless pursuit of science, or the true effect of metaphysics?
Even Captain Xu couldn't explain this clearly.
"Keep going forward, and you'll pass through a misty forest. That should be about it."
The misty forest is another unscientific place!
But then they actually saw the so-called misty forest. It turned out that as they walked, the temperature around them began to rise. The place that was minus forty or fifty degrees Celsius suddenly became a dozen degrees Celsius above zero.
The temperature difference is huge, and the air in the melting zone changes so significantly due to thermal expansion and contraction.
"It's so warm! This is amazing! It's incredible that the surrounding glaciers haven't melted!"
"It can't be that bad. These glaciers have existed for an immeasurable amount of time. But we just need to complete Mr. Chen's task this time!"
"Yes, yes!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
