Prologue, nuclear explosion

Before the abolition of the military rank system, Xu Weiguo was already a colonel. However, later he served as the leader of this research team, spending many years traversing mountains and rivers, enduring wind and rain, which made him appear somewhat aged, thus making it difficult for him to find a partner

In every part of the world, there exist phenomena that cannot be clearly explained by the science of the time. Each country has established specialized agencies to handle these matters, whether overtly or covertly, yet they all exist. The W Bureau is precisely such an agency

The leader of this team is named Xu Weiguo, originally named Xu Gouwa. He appears to be in his forties, but in fact, he is only thirty-six years old. Having participated in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in his youth and earned merit, he returned home during the great period of national literacy campaigns. With his intelligent mind and exceptional memory, he managed to learn a considerable amount of culture from the political commissar in his unit. The original name Gouwa was too crude, so he changed it to a more commonly used name at the time, and from then on, he was known as Xu Weiguo. Xu Weiguo was later selected to join the 042 organization, becoming a leader responsible for executing various dangerous missions

At 7 PM that evening, Xu Weiguo sent the first encrypted message back to headquarters using a communicator. After receiving instructions from headquarters, he continued to proceed according to plan. The content was encrypted.

Make a resolute decision, overcome all difficulties, fear neither death nor hardship, and strive for victory! Comrades, yesterday's globally significant successful detonation of the hydrogen bomb is a great victory of our esteemed leader Chairman Mao and the great proletarian cultural revolution! Today, we are to enter the nuclear explosion site to fulfill the glorious mission entrusted to us by the Party and the people!" Xu Weiguo worked hard to motivate the researchers. After shouting the slogan, he felt a bit suffocated. Under the blazing sun, the endless desert beneath his feet made him feel slightly dizzy. The radiation level in this nuclear explosion area is astonishing and the damage to human functions is unimaginably severe. They had already made the worst mental preparations before entering, sacrificing for the country is an unparalleled honor

However, no one knew that on the day after the nuclear test, a well-prepared expedition team entered the hazardous area of the nuclear explosion. The purpose and motives of their mission were classified. The nuclear test had just concluded, and aside from personnel directly involved in the nuclear experiment who risked their lives to enter the experimental area to investigate the results and verify data, all other individuals were prohibited from entering this dangerous zone. Nevertheless, this team had compelling reasons to go. Their affiliated organization was 042, a mysterious entity at the time.

Then, for two days following the interruption of contact, there was no news, regardless of how the headquarters sought information. On the third day, a top-secret order was issued to search for and rescue the missing scientific expedition team. The operation was led by a very high-ranking general from the local military district

The W Bureau was officially established in 1968, replacing the position of the 042 organization. The story of the 042 organization can only be discussed at a later time. The first task of the W Bureau was to investigate the incidents encountered by this expedition team. Subsequently, the W Bureau organized several more expeditions, all of which returned empty-handed. However, this did not deter the determination of those seeking to unravel this mystery; they were waiting for one opportunity after another.

The search by the Chinese Communist Party uncovered sixteen bodies, including that of the team leader, Xu Weiguo. However, there were a total of seventeen members in this expedition team, leaving one team member still missing

When the hydrogen bomb was launched from the aircraft, it descended slowly while being towed by a parachute. Upon reaching an altitude of approximately 3000, the hydrogen bomb detonated successfully, exploding in the air like a magnificent firework.

As he trudged through the desert in utter boredom, Xu Weiguo recalled the scene of yesterday's nuclear explosion, and he couldn't help but shudder. He would never forget the moment of the nuclear blast. Although he was unaware that his time in this life was already limited.

The missing expedition member is named Qin Chuan, who serves as the deputy leader of the team. Qin Chuan has a commanding presence, exuding authority even without anger, and holds a higher level of respect within the team than Xu Weiguo. He is usually taciturn, with his greatest hobby being gazing at the sky, lost in thought. Among the entire expedition team, Qin Chuan possesses the most extensive knowledge; although Xu Weiguo is the nominal leader of the expedition, the true core is Qin Chuan. Qin Chuan's role within the 042 organization is of great significance.

In the autumn of that year, an inconspicuous organization quietly emerged. In contrast to the significant political turmoil occurring nationwide at the time, this place could be considered one of the very few that remained unaffected. The name of this organization was rather awkward, and people at the time did not refer to it directly, but rather discreetly called it Bureau W.

A scorching white light suddenly erupted in the sky, and soon after, the air was filled with the thunderous sounds of mountains collapsing and the earth splitting, accompanied by flashes of lightning and booming thunder. The ground trembled heavily, and the white light gradually formed into a massive fireball. At that moment, the sun had also risen to a certain height, and from a distance, it appeared as if two suns were hanging in the sky. However, this artificial "sun" shone even more brilliantly than the actual sun. Xu Weiguo realized that if he were not wearing protective goggles, he would have gone blind instantly. The fireball continued to expand, merging with the dust raised by the earth to gradually form a gigantic and eerie mushroom cloud. Xu Weiguo was drenched in cold sweat; he reflected on his three years of bloody combat on the Korean battlefield, having faced all kinds of scenes amidst the flames and gunfire. Yet, this nuclear explosion made him sweat profusely. Just one bomb dropped on the battlefield would annihilate all life within a radius of several dozen miles. No wonder the central command was gritting its teeth, issuing strict orders to tighten their belts and ensure the successful development of this weapon.

The faces of these small animals were contorted in agony, their skin charred and flesh rotten, evoking a deep sense of horror. However, as they ventured further inside, the scene became increasingly unbearable. Xu Weiguo had seen numerous small animals that had been carbonized; a gentle touch would cause them to crumble into ashes with a soft crackle. Yet, as they continued deeper, such sights were no longer visible, likely having evaporated entirely. The sand on the ground had transformed into a layer of glass-like shards, while various steel frameworks had melted into pools of molten iron, congealing into grotesque masses, resembling a gigantic monster whose skin and flesh had been shredded, and whose bones had been pulverized, with the mangled flesh and bones mixed together in a chaotic heap. It was indescribable.

At 11:30 PM that night, the second message was also sent back. Receiving positive responses and encouragement, Xu Weiguo continued to direct the team to act according to plan

At 8:20 AM on that day, China's first hydrogen bomb was successfully detonated over the Lop Nur region. For the world at that time, the impoverished and backward Chinese people had once again achieved what was deemed "impossible." Lop Nur re-emerged in a high-profile manner before the eyes of the world. This time, it did not attract humanity's attention with its history and mystery, but rather with its immense destructive power. Within a short span of just over two years, people witnessed two magnificent yet extremely dangerous mushroom clouds in this area. This time, it did not attract humanity's attention with its history and mystery, but rather with its immense destructive power. Within a short span of just over two years, people witnessed two magnificent yet extremely dangerous mushroom clouds in this area. The international focus during this special period suddenly shifted back to China, a nation that had been hostile and isolated.

Sixteen team members donned masks and protective suits, wearing simple and crude chemical defense gear, with not a single inch of skin exposed to the air. In the sweltering heat of the desert, they found it hard to muster any enthusiasm to join Xu Weiguo in shouting fervent slogans. Initially, they drove a Hongqi car into the heart of the nuclear test area, but due to severe terrain damage, they had to abandon the vehicle and proceed on foot. The sights along the way were shocking and alarming. They began their journey in the Hongqi car towards the depths of the nuclear test area, but the terrain was severely damaged, forcing them to abandon the vehicle and walk. The sights along the way were shocking and alarming.

The disappearance of Qin Chuan, according to the general logic of the time, could be attributed to several possibilities: first, he might be an enemy agent who killed the investigation team members and then fled; second, he could have defected after committing the murders; or third, he might have been kidnapped by hostile foreign forces. Given the tense relations with the Soviet Union at that time, it was conceivable that the incident involving the investigation team was orchestrated by the KGB. Since the mission undertaken by the investigation team was classified as top secret, the details of their ordeal remained unknown, and the search for Qin Chuan's fate continued discreetly. Moreover, some clues gradually emerged from the bodies of the deceased researchers, but the bright red stamp reading "Top Secret" on the file bag ensured that this secret would be kept.

However, once one departs, no one can return...

During the nuclear explosion tests, researchers placed numerous small animals near the nuclear explosion area to assess the power of the blast. These animals ranged from chickens and ducks to goats and monkeys, as well as small pets like kittens and puppies, and rabbits. As they moved inward from the periphery, witnessing the tragic deaths of the small animals, their hearts were filled with anxiety and unease.

June 17, 1967. For people at that time, it was a day of global significance

The search area gradually expanded from the nuclear explosion site, yet no trace of the missing personnel was found. Finally, half a month later, near a small bend in the Peacock River, over three hundred miles from the nuclear explosion site, the bodies of the researchers were discovered one after another. The faces of the deceased were distorted, their eyes wide open in anger, as if they had experienced immense terror in life. What is perplexing is that this small bend in the river is a place where herdsmen fetch water daily; if the missing personnel had appeared there, they should not have gone unnoticed for so long. The only reasonable explanation is that those bodies suddenly appeared there. However, no one knows who could have silently moved so many bodies without being detected.

We are to traverse the central region to reach the Yadan landform area in the west, where mutations occurred after Miss Qiu's last experiment. Therefore, we must hurry to get there, hoping that we can accomplish our mission this time. Comrades, the mission we bear is higher than the mountains and deeper than the seas. May our great leader live forever!" Xu Weiguo shouted a phrase characteristic of the era. This time, his elevated emotions clearly influenced everyone; all raised their right hands and shouted, "May our great leader live forever!" The pace of the crowd noticeably quickened. According to the plan, in another six hours, they would reach their destination and then commence their two-day mission. Miss Qiu was once the secret code name for the atomic bomb.

The expedition team went missing specifically in the outer perimeter of the nuclear explosion zone. What perplexes the rescue personnel is why this group of explorers chose the most dangerous route. They could have opted for several more reasonable paths with less risk, at the very least avoiding the nuclear explosion area. The rescuers all believe that the members of the expedition team must have died from nuclear radiation, resulting in total casualties. However, they cannot find the remains of the expedition team members within the nuclear explosion zone. The rescuers all believe that the members of the expedition team must have died from nuclear radiation, resulting in total casualties. However, they cannot find the remains of the expedition team members within the nuclear explosion zone.

Three years ago, following the explosion of the atomic bomb, some inexplicable phenomena emerged near the nuclear explosion zone. They aimed to take advantage of this nuclear explosion opportunity to enter the nuclear explosion area, attempting to uncover the mystery behind those unexplainable phenomena. This operation is even more clandestine than the hydrogen bomb explosion, with fewer people aware of it.