Zhuo Mu Qiangba, standing at an imposing height of 187 cm (6'2"), had a broad and muscular physique that epitomized the phrase "tiger back and bear waist"—a body built for power. His long, flowing hair and sun-bronzed complexion added to his rugged appearance, giving him an aura of unrestrained strength. Despite his formidable looks, he was known for his approachable demeanor. Dressed sharply in a tailored suit, with rimless rectangular glasses perched on his nose and a constant, gentle smile, he exuded a unique blend of authority and warmth. Some called him "Mr. Zhuo," others "Professor," but his closest friends affectionately referred to him as "Qiangbala."
Zhuo Mu Qiangba was a 42-year-old Tibetan, the CEO of the Tianli Elite Dog Training Base, and a guest professor in the Biology Department at Fudan University, where he lectured on renowned dog breeds worldwide. He grew up in a small village called Dawanucu, located deep within the Tibetan Plateau, close to some of the most remote and uninhabited areas. His name, which means "the man who can conquer the ocean," did not disappoint his parents' expectations. Today, he is a wealthy entrepreneur with assets in the millions and a respected professor at a prestigious university—his fortune and fame built on one thing: dogs.
In Pennsylvania, USA.
"For thousands of years, the breed recognized globally as the largest and most ferocious has been the mastiff, specifically the Tibetan Mastiff [1]. This unique breed, native to our Tibetan region, has existed for millions of years. It was introduced to Greece around two thousand years ago, later reaching the Roman Empire, and eventually brought to Europe by the Slavic peoples of Eastern Europe. To this day, the genes of the Tibetan Mastiff remain present in many of the world's famous dog breeds."
"In Lhasa, and indeed across the entire Tibetan region, the most noble dog breed is undoubtedly the Tibetan Mastiff." Standing on a grand podium, Zhuo Mu Qiangba spoke eloquently, recounting the history of the Tibetan Mastiff to his audience.
This event was the opening ceremony of a world-class Tibetan Mastiff competition, sponsored by his company. The goal was twofold: to promote the Tibetan Mastiff to a broader audience, enhancing public awareness and appreciation of this unique breed, and to showcase their training base to breeders worldwide, demonstrating what a true mastiff is.
The hall was filled with hundreds of journalists from various countries, with over eight thousand attendees, many of whom were ardent mastiff enthusiasts who had traveled from within China. Zhuo Mu Qiangba smiled and said, "Nowadays, a purebred Tibetan Mastiff puppy can fetch a price of over one hundred thousand US dollars. While many people breed Tibetan Mastiffs, I can assure you that the purest Tibetan Mastiffs in the world are found at our base—whether it's Snow Mastiffs, Golden-Headed Mastiffs, or Red Mastiffs [2], ours are simply the best..."
The hall buzzed with excitement; everyone knew that Mr. Zhuo hailed from Tibet, and the mastiffs at their base were among the finest in China. Zhuo Mu Qiangba was renowned for his in-depth research on Tibetan Mastiffs, and he had never been wrong in his assessments. Competitors in the event hoped not only to win prestigious titles but also that their mastiffs might catch Mr. Zhuo's discerning eye and be selected for breeding at the Tianli Elite Dog Training Base, potentially leading to even purer Tibetan Mastiffs.
"Can a Tibetan Mastiff still be called a mastiff if it leaves Tibet?"
Normally, when Mr. Zhuo spoke, everyone would listen quietly, eager to learn from his vast knowledge about breeding and training mastiffs. However, someone unexpectedly broke the silence during this major event, provoking widespread anger among the crowd. A few buyers quickly retorted:
"Why wouldn't it still be a mastiff?"
"If you took off your clothes, would you stop being a person?"
"That's nonsense!"
The person who spoke up was clearly overwhelmed by the crowd's anger and soon fell silent. Zhuo Mu Qiangba smiled and calmed everyone down, saying, "Indeed, the mastiff must be in Tibet to possess that ferocious physique and unique majesty. Many people have asked me why the mastiffs from our base appear more formidable and spirited than those from elsewhere. The answer is simple: our base maintains Tibetan selection, Tibetan free-range breeding, and Tibetan training. These are the true Tibetan Mastiffs." The crowd quieted down, returning their attention to Zhuo Mu Qiangba's lecture.
Although no one knew who had spoken earlier, Zhuo Mu Qiangba had noticed the person at the door long before. The man wore a hat pulled low, sunglasses, and a face-covering coat, and it was he who had just posed the question.
Zhuo Mu Qiangba continued his speech with confidence and pride, projecting slides of their base's finest mastiffs onto the back wall. Gasps of admiration filled the room, and Zhuo Mu Qiangba felt a deep sense of satisfaction, his face slightly flushed with excitement, veins bulging on his forehead, showing his exhilaration under the flashing lights.
Just then, a small boy, holding something in his hand, squeezed through the crowd towards the stage. As he approached, a few burly men blocked his path. Zhuo Mu Qiangba glanced over and saw that the boy seemed to be unarmed, holding only a postcard-like item. He signaled the security guards with his eyes. The guards took the boy's item and handed it directly to Zhuo Mu Qiangba. The boy handed over the postcard and quickly retreated, seemingly delivering it on someone else's behalf.
While continuing to highlight the exceptional qualities and purity of their base's mastiffs, Zhuo Mu Qiangba opened the postcard envelope.
At the moment he opened it, the familiar smile disappeared from his face, and he stood on the brightly lit podium, stunned and motionless.
Everyone had been attentively listening to Professor Zhuo's lecture, but when he stopped speaking, the nearly ten thousand people in the hall suddenly fell silent. Only the occasional sound of camera flashes echoed in the hall's corners. The unexpected change drew everyone's gaze towards Professor Zhuo Mu Qiangba, who stared fixedly at the photograph, seemingly having lost his composure. His previously flushed face turned pale, and soon people noticed that his hands, initially holding the letter with one hand, had changed to both hands, which began to tremble slightly, his lips quivering as well. Those seated in the front row saw that the corner of Professor Zhuo's eye was twitching, clearly showing he was greatly shocked. The keen reporters didn't miss a beat, capturing this sudden development with their cameras.
After about half a minute, Professor Zhuo suddenly regained his composure, grabbed the microphone, and called out, "Friend, please wait a moment!" His voice had completely changed tone, becoming dry and sharp. He seemed to see no one else, his eyes locked only on the small boy. "Who gave you this?" he asked.
The small boy was clearly frightened by Professor Zhuo's expression, looking terrified towards the exit without answering directly, trying to squeeze through the crowd to leave. Following the boy's gaze, Professor Zhuo saw that the man in the coat and sunglasses had disappeared. He couldn't continue his speech; he jumped off the stage and headed towards the exit. This sudden change caused immediate chaos in the hall. Reporters rushed forward, and security guards tried to clear a path for Professor Zhuo. Some people wanted to move forward, while others wanted to retreat, leading to a complete loss of order.
In the chaos, Zhuo Mu Qiangba vanished! People whispered among themselves, speculating what the small boy had given Zhuo Mu Qiangba that could make him lose his color in front of the cameras and abandon such a significant opening ceremony to chase after him personally. What's more surprising, in the following days of the world's top-tier Tibetan Mastiff competition, there was no sign of Professor Zhuo Mu Qiangba, the event's initiator and host. Some speculated that it was a blackmail letter containing photos of Zhuo Mu Qiangba in an affair, as those sitting in the front had seen photos in the envelope, making many believe this explanation. The media, always ready to stir up news, amplified the story with extensive coverage. As a result, Professor Zhuo Mu Qiangba's fame skyrocketed, becoming twenty times more renowned than in the past twenty years.
While the reporters were hyping up the incident, Zhuo Mu Qiangba had already arrived in Shanghai, at Professor Fang Xin's home. Zhuo Mu Qiangba was only a guest professor, while Fang Xin was a true zoologist specializing in canine studies, now 65 years old. He had once been Zhuo Mu Qiangba's mentor in canine biology research. Later, they became collaborators in studying Tibetan Mastiffs. Due to Professor Fang Xin's research being purely academic, he firmly opposed the commercial use of mastiffs, which eventually led to their split. As Zhuo Mu Qiangba's mastiff-breeding business thrived, Professor Fang Xin remained a little-known academic researcher. However, out of gratitude for Professor Fang Xin's mentorship and professional guidance on biological attributes, Zhuo Mu Qiangba continued to fully support Professor Fang Xin's academic work. Now, Professor Fang Xin had become an authority in canine academia. To become internationally recognized as a world-famous dog, it was best to have Professor Fang Xin's endorsement. Currently, he was writing a paper on Tibetan Mastiff bloodlines, akin to creating a pedigree for Tibetan Mastiffs worldwide. In the future, anyone looking for a world-class Tibetan Mastiff would need to consult this publication. This paper was being written for the Matthew Lea Biological Forum, where it was rumored that the Pulitzer Prize would be awarded to Professor Fang Xin, a distinction equivalent to the Nobel Prize in zoology and the highest honor for zoologists.
Fang Xin, now with a head of white hair, remained spirited, with bright eyes. He habitually lit a Zhonghua cigarette, took a deep drag, and then said, "I'll be going to Germany next week for the Matthew Lea Biological Forum. I heard you brought something special? What could make you give up showcasing yourself at the Mastiff competition in the US and fly back to Shanghai?"
Zhuo Mu Qiangba replied, "Mentor (he always maintained this form of address), please take a look at this—" With that, he placed the box he was holding onto the table. It was a secure, steel-reinforced cash transport box. Only then did Fang Xin notice that Zhuo Mu Qiangba had carefully handcuffed the box to his wrist. Fang Xin was taken aback. He knew that Zhuo Mu Qiangba had won the Tibetan Kubai wrestling championship twice, was physically strong, and could easily overpower ordinary police officers. He once carried a diamond worth twenty million dollars in a simple cloth bag inside his pocket. He had never seen him handle an item with such caution before.
However, when Zhuo Mu Qiangba opened the box, Fang Xin was even more surprised. Inside was a square golden casket, intricately carved with lifelike Buddhist statues, with rare cat's-eye stones set at the four corners, the smallest of which had thirteen eyes. Fang Xin knew this was Zhuo Mu Qiangba's family heirloom, and the value of this casket alone was immeasurable. This casket was once used to hold Buddhist scriptures. When it was passed down to Zhuo Mu Qiangba's father, the scriptures were donated to the state and now reside in the Potala Palace as the most complete Nyingma scriptures in Tibet. The casket had remained empty since. Zhuo Mu Qiangba often joked that he might never find anything worthy of placing inside it in his lifetime. But today, what could be inside?
Fang Xin considered himself worldly-wise, thinking nothing could impress him anymore. But what Zhuo Mu Qiangba had brought made his heart race again. He couldn't wait to see what could be so important for Zhuo Mu Qiangba to handle with such care.
Yet, Zhuo Mu Qiangba deliberately kept him in suspense, delaying the opening of the golden casket. Seeing Fang Xin staring at the casket as if his eyes would pop out, he finally pushed the box towards him and respectfully said, "Mentor, please open it."
Fang Xin put on white silk gloves and carefully opened the casket. Inside, there was nothing else but a single item—a photograph! But Fang Xin's expression mirrored Zhuo Mu Qiangba's when he first saw it, turning utterly dumbfounded!
To be precise, the box contained two photographs. The first depicted a vast grassland with a few low shrubs scattered in the tall grass, beneath a blue sky with white clouds. In the middle of the grassland was a black whirlwind. On closer inspection, it was not wind but the blurry figure of some animal. The entire photo was quite fuzzy, suggesting the photographer's hands were shaking badly, but the animal's fur was still somewhat discernible. The second photo also featured a grassland background, and careful observation revealed that the location hadn't changed; the same mountains, shrubs, and even a tuft of grass were still in the same position in the photograph. However, the blue sky and white clouds had been replaced by night, indicating the photographer stayed in the same place from day until dark without moving. The dark figure had naturally vanished into the darkness, but the second photo was clearer than the first because the figure was closer to the photographer, facing directly toward the camera.
From the second photo, the blurred face looked like an African lion, its neck folds and mane wrapping around the face like a sunflower. But in terms of body, it was entirely different from a lion. Due to geographic and climatic reasons, African lions only have a few patches of mane around their heads and behind their knees. This creature, however, was covered with thick, long fur all over, making its body look more like a yak, strong and muscular.
Professor Fang Xin stared at these two photos for a long time without saying a word. Zhuo Mu Qiangba watched the professor with a smile, knowing exactly what he was thinking. His mind must be blank, just like Zhuo Mu Qiangba's when he first saw the photos. Because what was in the photos—that was a true Tibetan Mastiff. Only on the plateau could you find such a clear blue sky and clouds so close to the earth that it seemed you could pluck one with your hand. The shrubs, the square-branched pine, the dwarf ephedra, the hard-leaf willow—these were all characteristic plants of the plateau. There were even some plants unique to the Tibetan region. As for the mastiff, both Zhuo Mu Qiangba and Fang Xin were veterans in this field, needing no second glance to know that this was undoubtedly the best mastiff they had ever seen—the most perfect form, the most perfect temperament. What made it even more remarkable was that this mastiff possessed a quality that other Tibetan Mastiffs lacked, something indescribable in words. Zhuo Mu Qiangba controlled his breathing, tapping his thigh with his fingers. Every time he looked at these two photos, he felt so moved that he wanted to cry, unable to control his hands, even though he had seen them many times. Now his fingers could barely keep from trembling.
Professor Fang Xin took off his reading glasses, paused for a moment, then put them back on, repeating this several times, finally tapping the photo heavily, saying, "Impossible, this is fake, a digitally manipulated photo!"
Zhuo Mu Qiangba stood up abruptly, pointing at Professor Fang Xin, his face turning pale with shock. He never expected that after all this time, Professor Fang Xin would reach such a conclusion. If it were not someone he respected deeply, he might have hit him on the spot.
Professor Fang Xin gestured for him to calm down, pointing at the photo. "Let's take a look at this one first, the one taken in the daytime. Although the background is quite blurred, the plants inside are still distinguishable. Look, this is a West Sichuan Fir. Judging by its diameter, it's already mature, with heights ranging from 30 to 40 meters. Let's estimate it at 30 meters high. And this square-branched pine next to the mastiff is also mature, likely between 10 to 15 meters. If the photographer's position remained fixed, we could deduce the distance between this creature and the two trees on the same plane using perspective. Through scale reduction, we could estimate this creature's height. I roughly calculated that if this creature were real, its shoulder height would be between 1.2 to 1.4 meters, meaning its standing height would reach or exceed 2.5 meters. That would no longer be a dog but practically a small calf. The tallest dog I've encountered had a shoulder height of no more than 1.05 meters, and the tallest dog ever reported stood no taller than 2.1 meters. You know the height of a mastiff—its shoulder height doesn't exceed 80 cm, and its body length doesn't exceed 1.5 meters. When have you ever seen such a huge dog?"
Zhuo Mu Qiangba passionately argued, "But the mastiff, being a Canidae species, is indeed the largest type of dog. The very definition of 'mastiff' in Chinese means a large, fierce dog. German Shepherds, Great Danes, Swiss Saint Bernards—these are recognized as some of the largest dog breeds, and they all carry mastiff genes. Therefore, it's not surprising to find an especially large individual within the mastiff breed."
"Especially large?" Professor Fang Xin sneered, "Indeed, but you must consider its environment—the plateau, the world's highest plateau, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau."
Zhuo Mu Qiangba flushed, muttering, "So... so what?" He knew that his knowledge in this field still couldn't compare to his mentor's.
Fang Xin continued, "In the unique environment of the plateau, where the air is thin and oxygen levels are low, the local species have adapted to low-oxygen conditions. Their body sizes decrease as the altitude increases. Most animals there are small, with thick fur and short limbs, which minimizes the body's need to transport blood to deliver oxygen, ensuring mental clarity. You've studied this. Species on the plateau are smaller in size than their counterparts in lower-altitude regions. And this photo features low-growing herbs like dwarf rhubarb, which only grows at higher altitudes. This suggests that the mastiff in the photo lived at an altitude higher than that of its fellow mastiffs, making it impossible for it to have a body much larger than its kind." Fang Xin explained as he opened the computer on the table, continuing, "Let's analyze this with a computer. Look at the photo's clarity: the blur index of the grass is only 2.4, likely due to the photographer's unsteady hand. But look at this creature's blur index; it's as high as 6.7. A standard camera, from shutter press to flash exposure, takes 0.005 to 0.01 seconds—1/200th of a second. This creature moved 20 cm or more in that time. Calculating further, its speed could reach 40 meters per second or 140 km/h. But the fastest land animal—the cheetah—only reaches a top speed of 120 km/h. Do you think this mastiff could run faster than a cheetah?"
Zhuo Mu Qiangba was disheartened, mumbling, "But, Mentor, the blur index is unstable. Considering its minimum threshold at 1/100th of a second, its speed is around 80 km/h. A mastiff's burst speed could certainly meet this requirement."
Fang Xin replied, "Alright, let's assume its speed meets the requirement. Let's analyze its lineage next. Currently, the origin of mastiffs is almost exclusively in Tibet, with three types, seven subtypes, and sixteen categories. Their fur colors include pure black, pure white, reddish-brown, gray, golden-hoof black-back, and golden mastiffs. There are also rare red mastiffs, white-eyed lion heads, and double-pupilled leopard mastiffs. But look at this mastiff. Its entire coat—look closely—it's not black, nor is it brown. If it truly exists, it represents a breed of mastiff that has never appeared before. Its fur is purple, a deep, dark purplish-red." At this point, Fang Xin instinctively adjusted his glasses, his expression turning severe. The existence of such a species would challenge his professional authority, almost mocking him.
Zhuo Mu Qiangba muttered to himself, trying to explain something but feeling quite helpless. After all, in this academic field, he was merely a student of Fang Xin's. Even though he had developed the mastiff training base successfully, academically, he was far inferior to Professor Fang Xin. How could he convince him to believe? Especially when the person who gave him the photos didn't even know how they came to be.
Professor Fang Xin offered further evidence, "The color of this fur, this physique and speed, seems like someone's digitally created ideal image of a mastiff. Since the computer uses a 32-bit color depth, which is still not as precise as some chemical spectrometers, it's easy for black to become dark purplish-red in composite images. The person who created these images clearly studied mastiffs, knowing some of their traits, but exaggerated and idealized certain aspects, revealing flaws."
Seeing Zhuo Mu Qiangba's sweaty face, Professor Fang Xin tried to comfort him, "Alright, I know you've always wanted to find the world's best mastiff, which makes you overly sensitive to outstanding mastiffs, causing you to momentarily lose discernment. It's not your fault. Think about it: even lifelong antique experts can misjudge pieces. You're not specializing in mastiff genetics, after all."
"No!" Zhuo Mu Qiangba firmly lifted his head, declaring, "Mentor, I believe this is a real mastiff. It truly exists in Tibet, and it's still there now. I've made up my mind—I'm going to find it. I came to seek your guidance, but if you don't believe in its existence, then I'll have to search alone."
Looking at his former favorite student and closest collaborator, Professor Fang Xin couldn't help but affectionately pat Zhuo Mu Qiangba's head, gently asking, "Qiangba, my child, what makes you so determined and steadfast? Have you made such a big decision just to find this non-existent, digitally created mastiff?"
Zhuo Mu Qiangba took back the photos from Fang Xin's hands, pointing to the second photo, saying, "Mentor, look, these are its eyes. The moment I saw them, I knew—it really exists."
Professor Fang Xin took another closer look at the second photograph. The mastiff's face was clear, staring directly into the camera, while the rest of the image was slightly blurred. What caught Professor Fang Xin's attention were those eyes—so remarkably vivid. He was surprised by the deep, mesmerizing gaze that seemed to shine in the twilight like stars in the night sky. The intensity and power in those eyes conveyed an air of unrivaled dominance and fierce determination. Zhuo Mu Qiangba said with conviction, "How could a digitally manipulated photo capture such an evocative expression? These are the brightest, most compelling eyes I have ever seen. Mentor, do you know how I felt when I first saw them? I was completely stunned..."
As Zhuo Mu Qiangba gazed at the photograph, it was as if he had been struck on the head with a heavy blow, leaving him in a state of shock. The vivid image in the photograph instantly gripped his soul. It was like a paleontologist who had spent his entire life studying dinosaur fossils suddenly coming face-to-face with a living dinosaur, one of the rarest kind, standing right before him—its immense presence almost within reach. His excitement was palpable. A voice echoed from deep within his heart, as if calling from ancient times, yet it felt so real and familiar: "Go, seek it out, for your belief and soul, for the purpose of your existence. Isn't your whole life meant to lead to this moment?" Suddenly, he began mocking himself: "And here you are, babbling away in lectures, while the person who took these photos is laughing at you. You've never seen a real mastiff; you don't even know what a mastiff truly is!"
He stood there in a daze for quite some time before snapping back to reality. Desperately, he questioned the messenger about the origin of the photograph, but the messenger knew nothing. Zhuo Mu Qiangba could no longer contain himself; he leapt off the podium. He knew that the owner of this secret had been standing at the door just moments ago. If he missed this chance, he might never find out where the mastiff was or where the photograph had been taken.
However, the chaotic scene made it difficult for Zhuo Mu Qiangba to push his way out of the venue. By the time he finally made it outside, neither the owner of the photograph nor the messenger was anywhere to be seen. Like a madman, Zhuo Mu Qiangba frantically asked passersby, questioned drivers, and inquired with everyone he could find if they had seen a man wearing a trench coat, sunglasses, about 1.67 meters tall, and a baseball cap. But no one had seen such a distinctive figure.
Zhuo Mu Qiangba seemed to lose all his spirit, his large body suddenly drained of energy. He no longer had any desire to attend the mastiff competition, even though he was the one who had organized and was hosting it. He did not attend any of the events that followed. Zhuo Mu Qiangba seemed like a man who had lost his mind. He couldn't eat or sleep and kept staring blankly at the two photographs in his hand, over and over again. Even though the photos were blurry, Zhuo Mu Qiangba could count every hair on the mastiff's body. He knew that on the mastiff's right hind leg, about two centimeters above the third toe, the thirty-sixth hair from front to back was split. He also knew that on the first toe of the left front leg, there was a scratch on the nail. He knew every detail of the photographs, except for one thing: who had taken them and where.
If it hadn't been for a phone call later, Zhuo Mu Qiangba might have remained in this state for the rest of his life, as the photos had already deprived him of his ability to think. The phone rang for quite a while, but Zhuo Mu Qiangba didn't move because there were people around to answer it. Zhuo Mu Qiangba had a secretary, a business manager, and security personnel; he never answered business calls himself, and only a few of his closest friends knew his private cell phone number.
Miss Huo gently pushed open the door and said softly, "Mr. Zhuo, there's a call for you."
Looking listless, Zhuo Mu Qiangba replied indifferently, "Just say I'm not here. For the next few days, no matter who calls, say I'm not here."
Miss Huo hesitated and said quietly, "But the caller mentioned a photograph. They said you would definitely take the call if you knew about it." When she looked up again, she was shocked to find that Mr. Zhuo was no longer in the lounge.
Zhuo Mu Qiangba grabbed the phone tightly, speaking in a firm tone in English, "Are you the one who gave me the photos? Please, don't hang up. We can discuss any conditions you have."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, and Zhuo Mu Qiangba felt his heart pounding to the point of suffocation, as if he were waiting for a death sentence. Finally, a young voice, speaking in fluent Mandarin, said, "That photo... it's of a dog, right?"
"Yes, yes, the best dog. Where are you? Can we meet to discuss this?" Zhuo Mu Qiangba replied eagerly.
The person on the other end hesitated, "Actually, I just wanted to confirm something by giving you that photo. I don't think we need to meet in person."
Desperate as a drowning man grasping at a straw, Zhuo Mu Qiangba was unwilling to let go. He immediately said, "Yes, we need to meet! What do you need to confirm? I will meet any request you have. If you're free, I can drive over right now."
The voice on the other end muttered, "No need to make such a big deal about it, hehe..." The person seemed surprised, letting out a chuckle.
Five minutes later, Zhuo Mu Qiangba arrived at Andrew Hospital. At the entrance, he met the person who had given him the photo—a young Chinese man, about seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and proud. He introduced himself as Tang Ming.
The first thing Zhuo Mu Qiangba asked as he got out of the car was, "What do you want to confirm? Do you also not know where the photo came from?"
Tang Ming smirked and said, "Of course, I know where the photo came from. I just wanted to confirm if this is a mastiff—a real mastiff."
"Of course, it's real. There's no nobler breed of dog in the world than this. It is the mastiff of mastiffs," Zhuo Mu Qiangba replied.
Tang Ming scratched his head, embarrassed, and asked, "That's not what I meant. I meant, does it actually exist? Or is it some kind of illusion?"
"Illusion?" Zhuo Mu Qiangba asked. "How could it be an illusion? Didn't you ask the person who took the photo? Where exactly did this photo come from?"
Tang Ming muttered, "But I've asked many people, including mastiff experts. They all say it's fake; some even say it's a digitally manipulated photo."
Zhuo Mu Qiangba grabbed Tang Ming by the shoulders and asked anxiously, "What about the person who took the photo? Can't we just find them and ask directly?"
Tang Ming, feeling pain from Zhuo Mu Qiangba's grip, quickly stepped back, surprised by the professor's strength. He rubbed his shoulder and said, "The photo belongs to my brother. You won't be able to ask him anything now."
Zhuo Mu Qiangba, in his excitement, tried to grab Tang Ming again, but Tang Ming evaded him. "Where is your brother? Take me to him!" he demanded.
Tang Ming looked at Zhuo Mu Qiangba strangely. He had never seen someone so frantic. After thinking for a moment, he tilted his head and said, "Follow me," and then turned to walk into Andrew Hospital.
Andrew Hospital, one of the most renowned psychiatric hospitals in the United States [5]. Inside a ward, Zhuo Mu Qiangba met Tang Ming's brother and saw even more photographs.
Tang Ming's brother lay on the bed, his expression seemingly frozen, just as Zhuo Mu Qiangba had been when he first saw the photos. He stared blankly at the wall covered with photos. As soon as he saw strangers enter, he began to shake violently, like a leaf in the wind. Tang Ming had to gently pat his brother's body and speak soothing words to calm him down. He introduced him as Tang Tao, five years his senior.
Tang Tao was about the same height as Tang Ming but much more muscular, with skin as dark as iron, making him appear very robust. His hair was cut short, each strand standing like steel wire. He had a handsome face that seemed familiar to Zhuo Mu Qiangba, but he did not pay much attention to Tang Tao; his eyes were drawn to the photos on the wall. The walls were covered with landscapes from around the world, some so breathtaking that even Zhuo Mu Qiangba found them mesmerizing. He knew these photos had to be taken by a professional photographer; any magazine would feature them on their cover at a high price. He asked, "Were all these taken by your brother?"
Tang Ming nodded proudly, "Of course."
Zhuo Mu Qiangba looked around at the walls again. The clarity of these photos, their composition, and the atmosphere were all top-notch. However, Tang Tao seemed not to have looked at them even once; his gaze was fixed on the wall directly opposite him.
Zhuo Mu Qiangba's eyes also focused on that wall. The section Tang Tao was staring at was different from the other photos—it was filled with about a dozen very blurry photos, all of them of the mysterious mastiff. Zhuo Mu Qiangba then realized that the two photos he had were the clearest among all of them. The most blurry ones on the wall looked like a black cloud sitting atop a green cloud. He finally asked, "What happened to your brother?"
Tang Ming sighed, "We don't know. He was like this after he returned. The doctors say it was caused by extreme shock. We came here from China to see if American doctors might be better. My brother has been undergoing psychological therapy here. A few days ago, I saw the news about Professor Zhuo hosting a mastiff competition here, so I thought I'd show you the photos."
Zhuo Mu Qiangba said, "He seems very calm now."
Tang Ming said, "It's a fear of darkness." He pointed to the overhead lights, and Zhuo Mu Qiangba noticed that even during the day, all the lights in the room were on. He couldn't help but wonder what exactly Tang Tao had seen that day.
Tang Ming continued, "I also believe those photos are real. My brother never takes fake photos. But this time, I don't know where he took these pictures. None of them are clear."
Zhuo Mu Qiangba suddenly asked, "If your brother is mentally disturbed, how did he come back?"
Tang Ming replied, "He was found by a patrol team in the Kekexili Mountains [6]. They said when they found him, he was running as if his life depended on it. He was already mentally unstable by then, and if the team hadn't pinned him down, he might have kept running until he collapsed and died. The patrol team said that as soon as they tackled him, he passed out from exhaustion. When he woke up, he was delirious, repeating only two sentences: 'The madman of Menghe was right; it's the Gate of Hell.' and 'They are coming! Run!' Just those two sentences. No one knew what they meant. Later, the team found my brother's abandoned off-road vehicle 300 kilometers from where they found him. The car was out of gas."
Zhuo Mu Qiangba was stunned again. If Tang Tao had abandoned his car after it ran out of fuel and fled on foot for 300 kilometers without stopping, what could he have seen that drove him to such madness? Yet, he felt a thrill of excitement because he understood the meaning of those two sentences. Suddenly, he remembered a name and hurriedly asked, "Lone Ranger? Your brother is the Lone Ranger, Tang Tao?"
Tang Ming gave a knowing look, nodding in acknowledgment. Zhuo Mu Qiangba finally remembered why Tang Tao looked so familiar—it was Lone Ranger Tang Tao, a rare avant-garde celebrity in China. Tang Tao was the son of Tang Minghui, one of the three giants of China's dairy industry. But Tang Minghui died before the age of forty, leaving billions to his two sons. His elder son, Tang Tao, developed a passion for adventure. Starting with a solo trek across the Tanggula Mountains, he went on to cross the Taklamakan Desert alone, climb Mount Everest solo, drift down the Yellow River, Yangtze River, and Yarlung Tsangpo River, and even swim across the Bohai Strait by himself. Later, he set his sights on the world's most dangerous peaks, fiercest rapids, and deadliest valleys—wherever no one dared to venture, he went, always alone. Every time people thought he would surely die, with no chance of survival, he would miraculously return to civilization. When asked why he did it, he said it was to prove his own existence. His passion for photography developed during his solo adventures, but he never published his photos. Many magazines had offered high prices for just one of his landscape photos, but to no avail.
Zhuo Mu Qiangba, his face flushed with emotion, made one final argument: "Mentor, think about it. If these photos were taken by someone like him, how could they possibly be fake?"
Fang Xin replied, "It seems you are determined, my child. Go ahead, I wish you success." But his expression clearly conveyed that he found the idea nearly impossible.
Zhuo Mu Qiangba felt dejected. Failing to convince his mentor was like losing his most important ally. He grudgingly put away the photos and walked heavily towards the door. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned around and asked, "Mentor, do you remember the first class you taught us?"
Professor Fang Xin smoothed his white hair, reminiscing for a moment before realizing, "Ah, yes, I remember that day."
In a lecture hall that could accommodate three thousand students, fewer than fifty showed up on the first day of class, scattered sparsely around the room. The large classroom felt empty and overly quiet. Professor Fang Xin didn't mind. Few students chose to take this elective, as they didn't understand the value or significance of the subject. He straightened his papers and began the class with his characteristic humor: "Today, all the students who should be here are here," he pointed to a student sleeping in the back, "and even those who shouldn't be here have come. This is already beyond my expectations. I know I'm not particularly handsome. I heard that yesterday, when Miss Lang, who teaches biology and has some rather exaggerated curves, was giving a lecture, the classroom was packed."
The atmosphere lightened a bit. Then Professor Fang Xin shifted the topic, saying, "I understand that many people think my research topic is too narrow and too simple. Studying what, dogs? What's there to study about dogs? They're everywhere—big ones, small ones, ones that bark, and ones that bite. Is there anyone here who feels they don't understand dogs and still needs to learn?"
There was a murmur in the audience, but no one admitted they knew nothing about dogs. Professor Fang Xin smiled slightly and said, "Alright, let's test everyone. Here are some slides. Please tell me the common names of these dogs."
Slide after slide appeared, but no one could name any of the dogs. To everyone, a dog was just a dog—who knew what specific breed it was? Professor Fang Xin thought for a moment and said, "Maybe that was too specialized. Let's ask a simpler question. In your opinion, what is the most ferocious dog in the world?"
The class atmosphere instantly became lively. Some said wolfdogs, others hunting dogs, bull terriers, Siberian Huskies, Eskimo dogs—there were all sorts of answers. Professor Fang Xin noticed a tall student sitting in the middle, remaining silent with a slight, disdainful smile. This was the first time Professor Fang Xin noticed Zhuo Mu Qiangba.
After letting everyone voice their opinions, Professor Fang Xin finally displayed a photo of a Tibetan Mastiff, a purebred lion-headed golden-belted mastiff. Someone in the audience immediately shouted, "That's a lion!" At that time, Tibetan Mastiffs had not yet become popular, and few people knew about them. Professor Fang Xin said, "This is what is universally recognized as the most ferocious dog in the world. Its name is the mastiff." He turned to the blackboard and wrote the word "mastiff" in large characters. "This breed is native to the Qinghai-Tibet region of China. The mastiff with the best physique comes from the first bend of the Yellow River, a place called Hequ. This mastiff is a standard Hequ mastiff. The most ferocious and loyal mastiffs, however, come from near Dama County in Tibet, a high point on the plateau with a very harsh environment. There are many stories about mastiffs. According to the Kangxi Dictionary, a mastiff is a dog that stands four feet tall, is fierce, protective, and can fight fierce beasts [7]. In simple terms, a large, fierce, combative, and loyal dog is called a mastiff. The Tibetan region is sparsely populated, with many wild animals. Tibetans raise mastiffs to protect their flocks from the fierce and cunning Tibetan wolves. Locally, it is said that one mastiff is worth three wolves. A good mastiff can single-handedly fend off three vicious wolves."
Professor Fang Xin had opened a floodgate and began to recount stories about mastiffs with great enthusiasm, and the students listened with rapt attention, amazed that there could be such a strange breed of dog with so many legendary tales. Just as Professor Fang Xin was getting into the swing of things, the tall student in the middle asked, "Since the professor is an expert in canine research, I'd like to ask, what is the most formidable type of mastiff?"
The students fell silent again, surprised that there were different levels of mastiffs, with varying degrees of ferocity. Professor Fang Xin also took a closer look at this student, surprised that he dared to challenge the teacher. Of course, he wouldn't be outdone, and immediately responded, "That's a good question. Indeed, there are different types of mastiffs, with variations in lineage. Based on current research, mastiffs have spread from the Tibetan region to Eastern Europe and Northern Europe, and there are roughly three types, five subtypes, and eleven major lineages. Among them, the most physically perfect mastiff, as I mentioned earlier, is the Hequ mastiff, while the most combative and sharp is the Tangut mastiff. However, due to their close genetic relationship, their speed, stamina, and combat instincts are not significantly different. Therefore, only in the Tibetan region, you will find mastiffs more formidable than others—not naturally so, but bred that way. Tibetans call it the 'nine dogs, one mastiff' approach."
The students became even more intrigued, eager to hear what "nine dogs, one mastiff" meant. Professor Fang Xin explained, "It is a brutal selection process. To obtain the best mastiff, ten mastiff pups of the same age are placed in a pit. There is no food, or perhaps only a small amount, barely enough for one. These ten mastiffs must undergo fierce competition, and in the end, only one mastiff can survive. It must either seize the small amount of food each time or consume its peers. As you know, dogs are descended from wolves, and they retain many wolf traits [8]. In wolf packs, there is a rule: living wolves are kin, but the dead are food, especially in extreme cold regions. This trait is more pronounced in wolf packs in Siberia, which are known for their ferocity, strength, and ruthlessness, surviving and evolving in the harshest natural environments. The sole surviving mastiff is the legendary 'mastiff of mastiffs' because it has developed the strongest survival instincts and the most tenacious vitality."
Professor Fang Xin believed he had made a compelling argument. The students below were listening intently, proving his point. However, when he looked up, the tall student sitting in the middle still wore a faintly contemptuous smile. That smile made Professor Fang Xin feel uncomfortable. He thought for a moment—oh, yes, there was another version, a secret lore passed down in some parts of Tibet. This version was so mysterious, brutal, remote, and ancient that even many locals hadn't heard of it. He continued, "There's another legend about the 'nine dogs, one mastiff'—the divinely gifted sacred mastiff. This legend is even more mysterious, brutal, remote, and ancient. Tibetan Mastiffs, like most mammals, typically have litters of four to six pups. Only a few can reach seven. If a mastiff gives birth to eight, it's extremely rare. However, if a female mastiff gives birth to nine pups in one litter, one of them is destined to become a sacred mastiff. A female mastiff has at most eight teats, meaning one pup will always go without milk. Ultimately, just like the man-made environment of 'nine dogs, one mastiff,' this is heaven's decree. One of these pups will eat its eight siblings and eventually devour its mother, becoming the ultimate mastiff. According to legend, this mastiff is extremely ferocious and, upon reaching adulthood, can hunt grizzly bears. Across the entire plateau, it will replace the Tibetan wolf and the polar tiger as the top of the food chain [9]. However, this legend is not widely spread, and no one has been able to verify such things. So, people have always considered it just a story. Compared to this cruel legend, I personally prefer to believe in the man-made version of 'nine dogs, one mastiff.'"
After finishing this legend, Professor Fang Xin finally saw the student showing an expression of approval for his knowledge. But then the student asked him another question, "So, Professor, what is more formidable than the 'nine dogs, one mastiff'?"
"Wow..." The classroom erupted. Some said the student was being too pedantic, pushing every question to its limit. Others said he was narrow-minded, unable to see the bigger picture. However, most were amazed that there could be so many legends and secrets about just one type of mastiff. They all hoped Professor Fang Xin would reveal the answer.
Professor Fang Xin began wiping the sweat from his brow. He hadn't expected this student to have such a deep understanding of Tibetan Mastiffs. He could tell that the tall, robust student in the middle had the distinctive features of a highlander: the unique redness of the plateau on his face, the rugged skin, and the sharply defined brows and eyes. These traits clearly indicated he was Tibetan, or at least a man who had spent a long time on the plateau. Telling mastiff stories in front of a Tibetan felt a bit like showing off, but as a professor, Fang Xin couldn't lose face in front of his students, especially a freshman attending his class for the first time.
Professor Fang Xin adjusted his glasses, a gesture he often made when he was preparing to handle something seriously or engage in deep thought. The entire class fell silent, as if they were watching two masters in a duel, and any interruption would disrupt the tension of the moment. Professor Fang Xin kept his composure, first staring at the ceiling before fixing his gaze on the tall student. He seemed reluctant to mention a particular term, but finally, he spoke slowly: "Indeed, there is something more formidable than the 'nine dogs, one mastiff.' In Tibet, it holds the highest status, and it's called—the War Mastiff [10]."
As soon as Fang Xin finished speaking, some students couldn't help but let out a gasp. Fang Xin continued, "A War Mastiff, as the name suggests, is a mastiff used for combat. Its status in Tibet is akin to the divine mounts in ancient Chinese mythology or the sacred elephants in Thailand. Only those with the highest social standing could own one; ordinary people neither had the means nor the right to possess them. A War Mastiff is essentially the product of the 'nine dogs, one mastiff' selection—a top-tier mastiff chosen through rigorous selection, whether by divine fate or human effort. Over generations, these mastiffs have been trained by the best handlers, becoming the most intelligent, loyal, aggressive, and powerful in combat. For example, many of you are familiar with wolfdogs. Police dogs, most of which are wolfdogs, are well-known. If a typical pet wolfdog were to fight a police dog, even if they were of similar size and stature, the police dog would likely win. This is because police dogs undergo rigorous training, learning how to attack most effectively. It's similar to humans: we have athletes and ordinary people. If you were to compete in weightlifting against a champion, no matter how many of you there are, you couldn't lift what a single champion could. It's said that a mastiff selected through the 'nine dogs, one mastiff' process is incredibly wild, making it one of the three hardest animals in the world to tame. It is naturally arrogant, and making it submit is extremely difficult. However, once a War Mastiff is tamed, its loyalty to its master is even stronger than that of ordinary mastiffs, surpassing even the most touching love stories. When I was conducting research in Tibet, I heard about such an incident. A hunter named Awang Pucai, who used to train War Mastiffs for a local chief, later became the captain of the Tibetan hunting team after the liberation. He owned a War Mastiff named Duoji. When I went to Tibet for research that year, old Awang went hunting with his team but tragically met with an accident along the way. When his comrades brought his body back home, Duoji, who had been chained to a stone pillar with a thick iron chain, suddenly went berserk and broke free. At that time, six or seven experienced hunters were present, and they were all so overwhelmed by Duoji's ferocity that three of them were immediately thrown to the ground, and the others dared not approach. Duoji licked Awang's nose and forehead, as if sensing the meaning of death from his cold body. It stood guard, refusing to let anyone come near Awang. It stood there like a statue, and if anyone tried to approach, it would raise its mane and growl in warning. Awang's body was dragged to the doorway by Duoji, who refused to eat and kept whimpering mournfully. It didn't understand death but kept trying to wake Awang. For five days and nights, when the bravest hunter approached Duoji again, he found it already dead, sitting beside Awang, its head raised to the sky. That posture has haunted me for many years." At this point, Professor Fang Xin's voice choked up, and many students in the audience had tears in their eyes.
By now, the bell had already rung. Professor Fang Xin spread his hands and exhaled heavily, saying, "I had many more legends about Tibetan Mastiffs to share, but we're out of time today, so you'll have to leave with this sad ending. If you're interested, come back tomorrow." The students grumbled about how quickly time had passed but had no choice but to leave, as the classroom was needed for the next class.
As the students stood up to leave, Professor Fang Xin called out to the tall student who had asked the question, "You there, wait a moment. What is your name?"
"He's called Zhuo Mu Qiangba," someone nearby answered. But Zhuo Mu Qiangba raised his head proudly and declared, "My name is Qiangba, Zhuo Mu Qiangba."
Professor Fang Xin nodded, "Oh, so you're Tibetan. Where in Tibet are you from?"
Zhuo Mu Qiangba smiled, "I'm from Guwei, a small village called Dawanucuo."
Professor Fang Xin's expression changed slightly, "No wonder you're so familiar with mastiffs; you're from the home of the mastiffs." He knew Guwei was one of the most remote areas in Tibet, where only a few purebred mastiffs still existed. It was also known as the "Land of Mastiffs," but he had never heard of Dawanucuo village. It should be noted that Tibet spans two million square kilometers but has a population of less than two million, and each village can be as large as a prefecture-level city. Zhuo Mu Qiangba took a deep breath and said, "I greatly admire your research on mastiffs, Professor. However, I originally wanted to ask if you had ever heard of the legend of the Purple Qilin [11]. But it seems you are not familiar with it."
Fang Xin furrowed his brows, searching his memory. He prided himself on his memory; if he had heard of something, he would remember it. But he had no recollection whatsoever.
For the first time in front of a student, Fang Xin lowered his head. However, as a scholar, he was always willing to bow to academic knowledge, especially in areas he had not yet explored but were within his field of study. He said softly, "Oh, it seems I truly know nothing about this. Do you have time for a meal? Could you tell us about the Purple Qilin? What kind of dog is it? Is it a type of Tibetan Mastiff? To my knowledge, there are no purple-colored Tibetan Mastiffs."
Zhuo Mu Qiangba grinned, "Thank you for the invitation, Professor. Let's go."
During the meal, Zhuo Mu Qiangba began to tell Professor Fang Xin the story of the Purple Qilin, starting with a gentle introduction to the religious texts: "In the early days, the Tibetan people were not yet enlightened; they were primitive and warlike, with frequent conflicts and constant fighting among the various tribes. It wasn't until Avalokiteshvara appeared and incarnated that he enlightened the people with Buddhist teachings. In the year 629 AD, the thirty-third Tibetan king came to power, quickly centralized authority, quelled the Eight Alliances, and followed Buddhist teachings, promoting kindness among the people..."
Professor Fang Xin interrupted, "Wait a minute, I understand what you're saying. The thirty-third king is King Songtsen Gampo [12], who founded the Tibetan Empire, unified the warring tribes of Tibet, and used Buddhism to guide the Tibetan people toward goodness. But what does this have to do with the Purple Qilin?"
Zhuo Mu Qiangba replied, "No, no, I'm not trying to talk about Tibetan history. I'm referring to a scripture, and I'm translating it into modern language. The story of the Purple Qilin is also recorded in this scripture."
Fang Xin nodded, allowing him to continue.
Zhuo Mu Qiangba went on, "In the historical year 641 AD, a momentous event occurred in Tibet. In January, Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal came to Tibet, bringing with her the most revered eight-year-old life-sized statue of Shakyamuni. In March, Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty arrived, bringing the twelve-year-old life-sized statue of Shakyamuni. King Songtsen Gampo began to follow Buddhist teachings, marking a new chapter in the development of Tibetan Buddhism..." Zhuo Mu Qiangba seemed unfamiliar with the translation, often pausing to think after each passage.
Professor Fang Xin, a bit impatient, interrupted again, "You don't have to translate; just recite the original scripture. I understand both Old Tibetan and Fudizang languages. I've studied the major Tibetan Buddhist sects like Red, Flower, White, Yellow, and Fudizang."
Zhuo Mu Qiangba's face lit up, "Oh, so the Professor has studied Tibetan Buddhism. I'll speak plainly then." He began to recite fluently in Tibetan: "At one time, the gates of Indra's palace opened wide, revealing within the wondrous fruits of the four noble truths, law, wealth, desire, and liberation..."
Professor Fang Xin understood that the scripture talked about how Songtsen Gampo unified Tibet and ended the wars, then began to call on the entire population to embrace Buddhism. It was for this reason that he married princesses from the birthplace of Buddhism and from the powerful Tang Dynasty, which greatly honored Buddhism at that time. Later, Songtsen Gampo accepted the four noble truths and became the first Dharma King in Tibet. He appointed four guardians, each defending the southernmost, northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost borders of Tibet, spreading Buddhist teachings in all directions. The four guardians, known as Phalden, were revered in both the harsh frontier and the heart of Tibet. They kept direct contact with the highest Tibetan king, recording the history of Tibet to be passed on to the guardians. This was done so that in the event of wars or dynastic changes, the Great Vehicle teachings and Tibetan history could be preserved. Zhuo Mu Qiangba's ancestors were among these four guardians, stationed in the southern region of Guwei, and the scripture he spoke of was one of the complete Tibetan scriptures preserved by his family.
Zhuo Mu Qiangba spoke at length about the origins of the scripture, but he remained humble, speaking slowly and calmly. Professor Fang Xin understood that he did this to convince him of the scripture's authenticity. Finally, Zhuo Mu Qiangba continued, "The Great Tibetan King Langdarma [13], who loved hunting and chasing wolves across the barren plains, ascended the throne and decreed the abolition of Buddhism, forcing monks to abandon their robes and become hunters. He destroyed Buddhist statues, an act that Heaven could not tolerate. In the fifth year of Gungthang, during a hunting expedition on the southern plains, he brought ten War Mastiffs, five hundred cavalry, and three hundred archers. After traveling a hundred miles east, a heavy rainstorm arose. His attendant, Pazong, warned of ominous clouds to the east, advising against proceeding, but the king ignored him and continued. Chasing a sheep for three days, they reached a plateau covered in dense forest and tall grass. The warhorses suddenly stopped, lowering their heads and neighing, as the grass and trees rustled, hiding some unknown creature. The king, startled, ordered the release of the mastiffs, but to his surprise, the ten War Mastiffs crouched low on their front legs, their eyes filled with reverence, refusing to move forward despite being whipped. Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the mountains, causing the War Mastiffs to rise and respond in unison. The warhorses neighed and reared, throwing the king to the ground. He commanded the archers to shoot, but none dared draw their bows."
Professor Fang Xin, already full of doubts, knew Langdarma, the last Tibetan king, also known as Lhangdarma or Dhamra, was infamous for his persecution of Buddhism following the assassination of the pro-Buddhist minister Beigong Yundan and his conspiratorial rise to power. After deposing the pro-Buddhist King Langdarma, he attempted to abolish Buddhism. The tales surrounding Langdarma are varied, but most agree that he was assassinated by a tantric Buddhist master named Larung Beijidorje, plunging Tibet into a century of chaos and conflict. It made little sense that such a king, who despised Buddhism, would record his deeds in a Buddhist scripture. Furthermore, the legends surrounding the death of the Great Tibetan King have always been mythologized. From this perspective, the authenticity of these scriptures might not be as reliable as Zhuo Mu Qiangba claimed.
As Professor Fang Xin pondered, Zhuo Mu Qiangba continued, "The king, enraged, took up his own bow, aiming it at the dense forest. Suddenly, a sound like thunder filled the air, and the sky changed color. A creature emerged, the size of a foal, its body shimmering with a purple-golden hue. Its head was as large as a bucket, its eyes like bronze bells, and its four hooves thick as pillars. In an instant, chaos ensued; men and horses fell to the ground, and the War Mastiffs lowered themselves, whimpering and bowing in a posture of submission. The king's advisor, Pazong, shouted, 'The Purple-Gold Beast with Eyes of a Leopard!' This creature, its body entirely purple with golden eyes, stood atop a cloud, with a tail resembling that of a dog. It gazed directly at the king, who dared not meet its eyes. The king exclaimed, 'The Dog Deity!' and cast away his bow. All the warriors prostrated themselves, calling it a divine manifestation. After three bows and nine prostrations, the creature vanished. Abandoning the hunt, the king fell ill and could not recover. He spoke constantly of the Purple Qilin he had seen that day, filled with dread. He told his attendants, 'The Purple Qilin, a divine creature under the Bodhisattva's command, has come to rebuke my actions. Only by returning to the path of righteousness can I find peace.' A few days later, he went to the Jokhang Temple to perform a ritual and was assassinated in front of the monument."
Professor Fang Xin remembered raising several questions back then and often debated with Zhuo Mu Qiangba about the authenticity of this legend. However, Zhuo Mu Qiangba always remained indifferent. To him, arguing over the reality of the Purple Qilin was like debating whether dinosaurs once existed—it was pointless. Naturally, Professor Fang Xin wanted to know the reasoning behind his stance. Zhuo Mu Qiangba's rationale was simple: people in their village had seen the Purple Qilin, and every few hundred years, one or two sages would witness its apparition. They grew up hearing stories of the Purple Qilin, which was said to be the mount of Avalokiteshvara, who descended to the mortal realm and remained in the desolate regions of Tibet. Whenever people faced hardships and sought help with sincerity and a pure heart, they could receive assistance from the Purple Qilin.
Later, Zhuo Mu Qiangba asked Professor Fang Xin if the Purple Qilin could be a rare variant of the Tibetan Mastiff. Professor Fang Xin dismissed the idea, explaining that such a large creature with distinct physical characteristics, if it existed, would have been discovered with today's technological capabilities and well-documented. However, the fact remains that there is no record of the Purple Qilin beyond the oral traditions passed down by the villagers of Zhuo Mu Qiangba's hometown. As their research progressed, Zhuo Mu Qiangba brought up a connection with Professor Fang Xin's latest theory on "Generational Genetic Inheritance [14]."
Generational Genetic Inheritance is a theory suggesting that certain traits of a species may not manifest in the next generation but may appear several generations or even dozens of generations later. This is based on genetics, where recessive genes, when combined with non-recessive genes, remain recessive, showing no outward expression until they encounter another recessive gene. The two combine, becoming a dominant gene, expressing the gene's traits, which can have both positive and negative aspects. Professor Fang Xin's theory of Generational Genetic Inheritance hypothesizes that if a species' genes achieve the most optimal combination, it could evolve into something extraordinary. Though this combination's probability is near zero, it is still theoretically possible. Since their research focused on canines, the theory naturally applied to dogs as well.
Zhuo Mu Qiangba speculated, "Because mastiffs thrive in the plateau region, they must breed under high-altitude conditions to produce the purest mastiffs. To survive on the plateau, they need to have a stronger ability to absorb and utilize oxygen than ordinary dogs. This results in increased blood flow speed and faster oxygen transport. However, since the plateau's low-oxygen environment doesn't change, the blood vessels in their bodies appear to lack oxygen from the outside. As we know, hypoxia manifests as cyanosis under the skin, giving it a unique purple-red color. To adapt to the plateau's unique geography, their legs must be strong and powerful. The loose skin on their neck is designed so that if an enemy bites their throat, they can turn their head and bite back. Their enlarged eyes increase their field of vision and light intake, allowing them to see further in the misty and damp heart of the plateau. Their noses are shorter than those of other dogs, with larger nostrils, allowing for a more even distribution of olfactory cells on the nasal tip, resulting in a finer sense of smell. The curve of their body is maintained to achieve maximum acceleration with minimal physical exertion."
While Zhuo Mu Qiangba made a bold theoretical conjecture, Professor Fang Xin had never agreed with the existence of such a creature, unless he saw it with his own eyes. This was why, at first glance of the photograph, he immediately deemed it fake, while Zhuo Mu Qiangba was overwhelmed with excitement.
Professor Fang Xin lowered his head in deep thought. He hadn't expected Zhuo Mu Qiangba to link this photograph with the long-standing legend of the Purple Qilin from their region. But if...if the photograph were real, then what could this creature be if not the Purple Qilin? For the second time, Fang Xin felt his heart race, similar to when he received the invitation from the Matthieu Forum, but even more intensely this time. For the first time, Professor Fang Xin doubted his own knowledge in his field of expertise.
Seeing Professor Fang Xin's resolve wavering, Zhuo Mu Qiangba would not miss this opportunity. He immediately called out, "Mentor, come with me. You've dedicated your life to studying canines, but for what? Why have we been tirelessly promoting mastiffs to the public? All along, I have believed that my fate is intertwined with that of the mastiffs—they are resolute, tenacious, and loyal; they are my faith. To find the most perfect and robust mastiff is the mission of my life. Mentor, I need your help—"
NOTES
1. Tibetan Mastiff: A large and ancient dog breed known for its guarding ability and originally from Tibet.
2. Snow Mastiffs, Golden-Headed Mastiffs, Red Mastiffs: Varieties of Tibetan Mastiffs, each with distinctive physical characteristics.
3. Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: The world's highest plateau, often called the "Roof of the World," where the thin air and harsh conditions have led to unique adaptations among local species.
4. 32-bit color depth: A measure of the range of colors that a digital image can represent, sometimes leading to color distortions in images.
5. Andrew Hospital: A fictional psychiatric hospital in the United States, known for its treatment of mental illnesses.
6. Kekexili Mountains: A remote and rugged area in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known for its harsh conditions and wildlife, often referred to as "the Hoh Xil."
7. Kangxi Dictionary: An ancient Chinese dictionary, often referenced for classical definitions of words.
8. Wolf traits: Refers to the natural instincts and behaviors inherited from wolves, such as pack hierarchy and survival tactics.
9. Polar tiger: A mythical creature, sometimes referred to in legends, symbolizing a powerful predator at the top of the food chain.
10. War Mastiff: A highly trained Tibetan Mastiff, known for its intelligence, loyalty, and combat readiness, often used in battles and held in high regard.
11. Purple Qilin: A mythical creature in Tibetan legends, believed to be a divine being associated with Avalokiteshvara, known for its assistance to those in need.
12. King Songtsen Gampo: A historical figure, the thirty-third king of Tibet, who unified Tibet and promoted Buddhism as a state religion.
13. Langdarma (Lhangdarma or Dhamra): The last king of the Tibetan Empire, known for his opposition to Buddhism and his role in a tumultuous period of Tibetan history.
14. Generational Genetic Inheritance: A genetic theory suggesting traits can skip generations and manifest later under certain genetic combinations.