Countdown 64:00:00.
Eight o'clock in the morning.
“Knock knock knock,” Qing Chen knocked on Yang Yang’s door: “Are you awake? We can already see the Mumbai port from the ship. Let’s pack up and get off.”
A creak, the door opened. Yang Yang had just finished showering and put on a tracksuit, and was drying her hair.
Yang Yang asked with a smile: “What hairstyle do you want to see me wear today? I can do an elegant updo, a neat braid, or cute twin ponytails! If it’s an updo, I can wear black glasses to match your preference!”
“You’re never quiet, even this early in the morning. Just a braid. You never know when we might have to fight,” said Qing Chen.
“Fight? Are you worried that being too high-profile last night will expose our whereabouts?” Yang Yang asked: “Next time, don’t indulge me like that.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ve already made arrangements for this Outer World trip. The choices I make are always the right ones,” said Qing Chen.
“Okay,” Yang Yang reassured herself, drying her hair. She felt that the biggest difference between her and Qin Yiyi was that no matter what Qing Chen became, Qin Yiyi could accept it.
But she herself understood Qing Chen too well. She understood Qing Chen’s actions, way of thinking, and lifestyle preferences, and was integrated into Qing Chen’s life.She knew that Qing Chen’s willingness to go crazy with her last night must have been well-prepared.
Yang Yang smiled while drying her hair: “Do you know that Black Spade members almost return to Fire Pit once a year?”
Qing Chen’s heart skipped a beat.
Yang Yang continued: “After I went back in time, I met Qin Yiyi in Fire Pit! She’s now a high-ranking Fire Pit God Woman. The Grand Elder treasures her. By the way, I chatted with her for several days.”
Qing Chen hesitated for a few seconds: “What did you talk about?”
“Hee hee hee,” Yang Yang laughed: “Even if we’re not together, don’t mention other girls in front of me.”
Qing Chen was immediately unhappy: “You mentioned it first, why are you blaming me now?”
The quirky Yang Yang was indeed a bit overwhelming.
At this time, Yang Yang finished braiding her hair, then picked up the Fate-Defying Revolver, and without hesitation, pointed it at her temple and pulled the trigger.
A click of the mechanism sounded, and a not-so-loud gunshot rang out.
Yang Yang shivered: “This thing is too evil! Am I unlucky or what? It’s a freezing slow-down bullet as soon as I fire? Qing Chen, I’m cold.”
Qing Chen saw that Yang Yang’s movement speed slowed down, and even her normal walk felt stiff, and her expression was no longer as lively as before.
He wondered: “Is the power of this revolver so powerful? Wouldn’t that mean that if you shoot an enemy at a critical moment, they would immediately lose their ability to act?”
“Walking is so strenuous, and others will find me strange. Qing Chen, carry me,” Yang Yang jumped onto Qing Chen’s back: “You carried me like this yesterday. Do I smell good?”
Qing Chen’s body stiffened, the scent of shampoo lingering under his nose.
At this time, other tourists’ voices came from outside: “Look, someone is setting off fireworks! How are these fireworks made? They’re so dazzling even in the daytime.”
Yang Yang: “”
Qing Chen: “Get down.”
“Okay,” Yang Yang quickly jumped off and continued packing her luggage.
Qing Chen said with heartache: “It’s clearly a firework bullet, why did you lie and say it was a freezing bullet? Can’t we be more sincere between us?”
“Hee hee hee,” Yang Yang didn’t care: “Let’s go, I’m done!”
The Brilliant Pearl cruise ship docked in Mumbai, India. Qing Chen and Yang Yang, carrying large backpacks, disembarked with thousands of other tourists.
Qing Chen’s backpack was exceptionally large, and it even contained his skis.
They would depart from Mumbai and arrive in New Delhi, India, where tens of thousands of tourists would fly to Nepal.
Qing Chen asked with a smile: “There are two options now. One is to take the Maharaja Express prepared by Luo Wanya to New Delhi, a total of 7 days and 6 nights. The other is to take the green train, hang on the train with the Indian men, and arrive in New Delhi in one day. Which one do you choose?”
“One is 7 days, the other is 1 day. According to your original plan, how long will it take to reach New Delhi?” Yang Yang said: “Don’t consider my feelings in terms of important matters. Getting things done is important. I’m your Guardian, everything is prioritized for your sake!”
Qing Chen smiled: “No matter which one I choose, I have a backup plan.”
In his impression, Indian trains are dilapidated and overcrowded.
But the Maharaja Express is different. It’s a tourist line running directly from Mumbai to New Delhi. It has 23 carriages, with top-of-the-line decorations and services. There are 84 passengers in total, and the room fee is US$2,500 per day.
Eventually, they traveled to their destination at a speed of seven days and six nights.
During this time, the train would stop at various tourist attractions for more than ten hours, allowing passengers to visit the tourist attractions.
It’s like a walking five-star hotel.
There are similar trains in China, such as the K3 train from Beijing to Moscow, with tickets costing 6,000 yuan and are difficult to obtain.
For example, the new Orient Express in Xinjiang, some tickets cost as high as 50,000 yuan.
This is the journey Luo Wanya prepared for Qing Chen, intending to let the Boss relax before climbing Mount Everest.
However, Yang Yang smiled: “Since we’re here, let’s follow the local customs. Let’s hang on the train!”
“Okay,” Qing Chen responded with a smile.
On this journey, he seemed to have forgotten what he came to do, and insisted on playing with Yang Yang until she was happy.
When the two of them were hanging on the train, the breeze brushed their faces, and the two of them shouted excitedly, like two madmen.
The Indian men on the roof pointed at the two of them, as if looking at two country bumpkins who had never seen the world.
Later, while the Indian men on the roof were going up and down, the two of them even snatched the position at the head of the train.
They sat side-by-side at the front of the train, and the green train slowly headed north at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
“If only time could stop at this moment,” Yang Yang said softly.
Qing Chen did not respond.
Yang Yang suddenly asked on the train: “Boss Zheng and Boss He are still on Whale Island. Besides me, do you have any other backup plans?”
Qing Chen smiled in the wind: “Yes.”
In the Maharaja Express, everything was luxurious.
The floor was covered with reddish-brown carpets, and elegant oil paintings hung on the walls.
Compartment 17, originally Qing Chen and Yang Yang’s seats, seemed empty.
When the train started moving, four people suddenly came out of compartments 13 and 19, approaching compartment 17 from both sides.
Four Asian men with cold expressions, had already silently taken out their silenced weapons.
They pretended to pass by normally, but when they reached the door of compartment 17, they suddenly fired a barrage of shots, riddling the compartment door with holes!
Only after the gunfire stopped did someone open the door to confirm whether the target was dead.
However, it was empty, and there was no sign of Qing Chen and Yang Yang.
The four looked at each other, they searched for the booking information based on their passport information. Logically speaking, Qing Chen and Yang Yang should be in the compartment!
One of them picked up the phone and made a call, speaking in Korean: “Boss, no one is in the compartment. We need new intelligence to track the target.”
The person on the other end of the phone said: “Understood, evacuate at the next stop, and choose the fastest way to New Delhi to stand by.”
“Received,” the killer replied.
He hung up the phone, gave his three companions a look, and quickly walked in another direction.
However, the moment they passed compartment 16, the compartment door opened, and an irresistible force seemed to pull them in, causing them to fall into the compartment without any resistance!
It was like a black hole, sucking in all the killers and erasing their existence.
The door of compartment 16 closed again, quietly, as if nothing had happened.
New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport.
A Chinese man kept looking at his watch. Beside him, six other Chinese people were carrying backpacks.
The clothes these people were wearing were expensive outdoor brands such as Arc'teryx, Salomon, and Callaway. Each of them looked imposing and wealthy.
Of course, climbing Mount Everest is not cheap, and poor people can’t climb it either.
First, the equipment, just the clothes, you need to prepare a down jacket for 5000 meters above sea level, and professional down jackets and high-altitude boots for climbing to 8000 meters, resistant to temperatures below -40 degrees Celsius.
Each item is expensive, and the total cost is at least 80,000 yuan.
Secondly, Nepal now has requirements for climbers of Mount Everest, at least meeting the 5678 principle: having climbed 5000-meter, 6000-meter, and 7000-meter snow mountains and obtained certificates before being allowed to climb to 8000 meters.
Of course, you can also bypass this standard, but it requires paying a higher price, letting the guide buy you connections, Qing Chen and Yang Yang paid an extra 350,000 yuan each to qualify to join the group.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to climb Mount Everest.
Just to reach this passing score, purchasing equipment, travel expenses, and guide fees would cost about 220,000 yuan.
Thirdly, to obtain the Nepalese government’s climbing permit, the spring price is US$11,000, the autumn price is US$5,500, and other seasons are US$2,750.
Finally, joining a reliable expedition company usually costs 350,000 yuan per person, including the fee for a Sherpa guide.
All these costs add up, definitely not something ordinary people can afford.
Therefore, the people who can appear here are all prominent figures from all over China, at least willing to spend one million yuan to climb a mountain.
Of course, there are also tours that only go to the 5400-meter Mount Everest base camp for a few days. This is relatively cheaper, costing around 150,000 yuan.
Qing Chen originally wanted to find a separate guide, so that even if something dangerous happened, it wouldn’t involve ordinary people like the film crew’s northward filming trip.
But he later discovered some things and changed his strategy.
Outside Indira Gandhi International Airport.
“Xiao Zhang, I heard that the two young people who haven’t arrived yet have never climbed to an altitude of 5000 meters before?” A middle-aged man asked the guide: “You really dare to take any money, aren’t you afraid that they will have problems on Mount Everest?”
The young man called Xiao Zhang looked embarrassed: “Mr. Liu, they paid too much, an extra 350,000 yuan each. In fact, with a slightly more amateur team, you don’t need to pay so much. But as you know, I am currently the most professional in domestic South Slope climbing, and they probably want to find the most reliable person.”
“Hmm?” The middle-aged man called Mr. Liu was stunned: “How old are they?”
“I heard they are both 17 years old,” explained Xiao Zhang, the guide: “Their physical fitness must be fine, and they also guaranteed that if they fail the training at the 5400-meter altitude, they will not go any further.”
“Where did 17-year-olds get so much money? They haven’t even started working yet, where did they get over one million,” Mr. Liu’s wife was curious: “Are they the children of some wealthy family?”
Xiao Zhang shook his head: “I don’t know, their identities are confidential.”
Mr. Liu’s wife said: “They are so young and spend money so lavishly.”
However, Mr. Liu suddenly said angrily: “I think they are much better than your son. They spent over one million to climb Mount Everest, while your son spent over ten million on a sports car, showing off at school every day. Isn’t this better than your son?”
Mr. Liu’s wife’s face immediately changed: “My son isn’t your son? You have so much money and you don’t let him spend it? He should have been a playboy when he was in school. After he meets many girls, he won’t be tricked by routines after graduation.”
Mr. Liu turned his head without speaking, seemingly too lazy to argue.
This couple, Mr. Liu is going to climb to the summit, while his wife only accompanies him to the 5400-meter base camp, waiting there for Mr. Liu to come down.
There were four other people in the team, three men and one woman, who didn’t know each other and came from all over China.
While everyone was introducing themselves, someone next to them smiled and said: “Sorry, we just arrived on time. I didn’t expect you to be here early. You should have waited for us, sorry, sorry.”
Everyone turned to look and saw Yang Yang and Qing Chen carrying large backpacks. Both of them covered their faces with windproof face masks, making it impossible to see their specific appearances.
Mr. Liu is a mountaineering enthusiast. Qing Chen and Yang Yang’s down jackets cost more than 10,000 yuan each, which is nothing compared to the extra money they paid.
It’s just that Mr. Liu is a little curious why these two young people wrapped themselves up so tightly?
Xiao Zhang, the guide, looked at Qing Chen: “What’s in your backpack? This is the largest capacity backpack, but it’s for use below 3000 meters above sea level, where there is no lack of oxygen, and it doesn’t matter if your Weight training is higher. But we’re going to Mount Everest, it takes 8 days to trek to the base camp, and the altitude keeps climbing, you won’t be able to handle it.”
Ordinary people will start to suffer from hypoxia at 4000 meters above sea level, and can experience altitude sickness just from jumping around.
Qing Chen, who has never been to 5000 meters above sea level, is now carrying such a large backpack, which is immediately defined as unprofessional in the eyes of everyone.
It’s not that everyone is misjudging, even Qing Chen himself would think it’s a bit absurd.
The problem is, he can’t take out the skis. If the guide asks him then, how would he explain?
Say that he’s going to ski at 8848 meters above sea level?
That's even worse than being considered an amateur.
Mr. Liu looked at Qing Chen and Yang Yang and said: “It’s good for young people to have ambition. It’s better than squandering money at home, at least better than my son. But climbing Mount Everest, you really have to consider your abilities. I prepared for two years for the day I climbed the summit, and I climbed mountains at 6000 meters more than ten times. You mountaineering enthusiasts with no experience, really don’t be reckless.”
Mr. Liu’s wife rolled her eyes.
A young companion next to him also advised: “In a hypoxic environment, your brain will slow down. It’s too dangerous for you to do this. What are you carrying inside?”
Qing Chen said: “Canned food, small stoves, freeze-dried vegetables, and so on. I heard that the food is not very good up there for a month, and things can’t be transported, so I brought some myself.”
“You’re not going there to enjoy life,” Mr. Liu helplessly shook his head: “Young people need to be able to endure hardship. How can you bring so many things when climbing Mount Everest?”
Qing Chen explained with a smile: “I think I can handle it. Don’t worry, I’m very fit. If I really can’t handle it, I’ll throw away some things. Also, if we can’t climb up, we’ll wait for you at the Mount Everest base camp, and we won’t be reckless.”
Yang Yang also helped along on the side: “Yes, he’s very fit.”
Qing Chen: “”
He always felt that Yang Yang was being sarcastic again, but he had no evidence.
Xiao Zhang, the guide, sighed. He only hoped that these two rich kids would retreat when they reached the Mount Everest base camp, and not try to climb to the summit.
He looked at everyone: “Okay, we are now checking in and going through security. You must pay attention to rest and conserve your energy. After arriving in Kathmandu, there will be long trials waiting for you. According to the plan, we will rest for 7 days at 5400 meters above sea level for glacier training, then conduct adaptive training at the 7200-meter altitude of the C3 point, return to the base camp for rest after 5 days, and prepare for the final sprint. We are expected to reach the summit on May 2nd and descend before the black storm comes! Let’s go!”
The plane took off and landed.
After a short rest in Kathmandu, the group set off immediately, and it was expected to take 8 days to trek to the Mount Everest base camp.
Day 1 of the trek.
Xiao Zhang, the guide, was paying attention to Qing Chen’s physical condition on the way, and Qing Chen kept saying that he was very fit, but he showed signs of fatigue on the first day.
During the journey, he was always at the back of the team, walking slowly.
This doesn’t look like someone with good physical fitness!
Further ahead, the altitude will get higher, and the physical burden will become heavier!
He advised: “Really don’t insist any more. If you get high-altitude pulmonary edema at this high altitude, no matter how much money you have, you may not be able to save your life.”
In the face of persuasion, Qing Chen only responded slowly: “It’s fine, I can still hold on.”
Xiao Zhang, the guide: “”
On the second day, Qing Chen’s walking became even more strenuous, and he even started to wobble.
Yang Yang took some things out of his backpack and put them in her own backpack.
Qing Chen asked in a low voice: “Do I look like I can handle it?”
“You look the part. I won’t watch the next Oscars without you.”