The Journey Through Hoh Xil
"What!" "What!"… The four people surrounding Tang Min all stared at her in astonishment. The news was too incredible for them to believe.
Tang Min tilted her chin up and pretended to be in deep thought. "Well, how should I put it? Let's just say I know how to find the way there."
"Impossible!" Professor Fang Xin immediately denied it. "We only know of three people who might have been there, and all of them are either insane or have lost their memory. How could you possibly know how to get there?"
Tang Min confidently replied, "If I really tell you a feasible method, Professor, will you let me join your expedition group?"
Professor Fang Xin responded, "I've told you many times; this is not an expedition group! This is an extremely dangerous operation." He sighed, his tone softening a little. "However, at the moment, we are not ready to depart. We don't have a guide, we are unsure about the equipment setup, and we don't know if our physical conditions can withstand it. The reality is far from what we initially planned."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "Alright, Min Min, stop joking around. If you really know the way, then just tell us. Once you do, we can consider other things."
Tang Min said, "Alright, since you're all so eager, I'll tell you. Actually, my brother has always had a habit of keeping a journal!"
The courtyard fell silent. If there was a travel journal, it would indeed be of decisive help in finding that place. Professor Fang Xin and the others could feel their hearts beating faster. Professor Fang Xin immediately asked, "Where is this notebook?"
Tang Min gestured for the professor to be patient and smiled, "I do remember my brother had such a notebook. He recorded in detail every place he went to and every event he encountered."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba rushed forward, holding Tang Min's hands and shaking them gently, "So, where is it? Where is it?"
Tang Min pouted and said, "But this time, after my brother was brought out from the Hoh Xil rescue station, I couldn't find that notebook. Initially, I didn't notice, but later I searched through all my brother's belongings and couldn't find it. I was thinking..."
"The notebook must have been lost on the way!" Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba sighed in disappointment.
Tang Min shook her head, "No, I think the notebook must be at the Hoh Xil mountain rescue team or the rescue station because it was kept close to him. All of my brother's outerwear has an inner pocket specifically designed to hold that notebook."
Zhang Li interjected, "Could it have fallen off while he was fleeing in a hurry at the place we are going to?"
"No." Tang Min said, "When I went to pick up my brother, the camera, mountaineering equipment, and even the tripod were intact. This means he didn't leave in a hurry before he left that place; he had enough time to prepare and wouldn't have left something so important behind. Also, when my brother was found, although he was exhausted from running, his outerwear was not badly damaged. Later, when I checked, the pocket for the notebook was still intact, but the notebook was gone. So, the notebook must have been taken out during the emergency rescue and forgotten to be returned. That's what I think."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba clapped his hands and said, "Alright, in that case, let's make a trip to Hoh Xil! Maybe we'll find something unexpected." He smiled.
Laba said, "Then, in the meantime, I'll try to persuade Basang to help you."
Professor Fang Xin said, "Then I will ask my lawyer friend to help Basang as soon as possible."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "No, I have something else for you to do. I'll tell you tomorrow." Saying this, he laughed and put his arm around Tang Min's shoulder as they went inside. Zhang Li also turned and returned to his room.
Professor Fang Xin watched the two of them walk away intimately and softly said, "So young, sharp-tongued, and quick-witted, I worry about Qiang Ba's future life."
Laba smiled and said, "I think Master Zhuo and Miss Tang get along quite well."
Professor Fang Xin shook his head, "The relationship between Qiang Ba and Tang Min now involves not only romantic feelings but also a father-daughter sentiment. He tends to be very accommodating towards Tang Min. But one day, if he realizes that their relationship isn't what he thought it was... the clash between two strong personalities will be quite intense. Sigh..."
Laba smiled gently, "As the Buddhist scriptures [1] say, everyone has their own fate."...
Early the next day, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba told Zhang Li, "I want you to accompany us to Qinghai."
"Why?" Zhang Li was surprised. His task was to receive Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and Professor Fang Xin in Tibet, and going to the Hoh Xil rescue station was beyond his duty.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba smiled, "I've already spoken with your team leader, and he agreed. You know that Hoh Xil isn't an easy place. I'm worried about Min Min's health, and having another person would be more reassuring. Also, over the past few days, I've noticed you're a very good driver, so I've got a good car for you." He patted Zhang Li on the shoulder, trying to hide his unease.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba was somewhat scared, which was a first for him. But those eyes—cold as a snake's gaze—gave him a sense of unease. A certain instinct he had learned from mastiffs made him feel threatened, especially when taking Tang Min to such a place. Who knows what could happen? So, having Zhang Li, an elite from the army, by his side would provide some help.
Laba came over, handing a gold-embossed card to Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, saying, "Young Master Zhuo, the old master asked me to give this to you. You are heading to Lhasa to catch a plane, right? The old master said to please give this card to the steward Losang Deni at the Potala Palace and ask him to come."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba asked in confusion, "Steward Deni only comes to our house on the first Fire Day after the Spring Equinox each year, doesn't he?" Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba had known Losang Deni since he was a child. The steward of the Potala Palace's [2] script hall, he was once the teacher of the Dalai Lama, responsible for teaching Tibetan history and culture, and was very close with Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's father. He visited their house once a year, where the two elders would always recite scriptures and interpret Buddhist teachings together.
Laba smiled and said, "The old master said just to follow his instructions, young master. This matter concerns whether or not you can travel smoothly."
In Lhasa, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba handed the card to Steward Deni, and they took a helicopter from Lhasa, landing in Zhidoi County. The three had lunch in this county, which is known as the source of the Yangtze River and is called the "First County of the Yangtze River," and then prepared to enter the no-man's land.
Zhang Li asked, "Didn't you say there would be a good car for me? Where is it?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba pointed ahead and said, "Don't be in such a hurry."
When the large canvas was lifted, a rugged camouflage off-road vehicle appeared. Zhang Li's eyes lit up, and he immediately rushed over to touch the car body, carefully inspecting every part. "6.5-liter V8 engine, coilover suspension, a ground clearance of at least a foot and a half, four exhaust outlets! Twin hidden fuel tanks!" With each feature he saw, Zhang Li exclaimed in amazement, finally asking, "Is this really an off-road vehicle or a rocket-powered race car?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba laughed, "Get in and see for yourself." He opened the door for Zhang Li. Tang Min, standing nearby, said, "This car just looks bigger and flatter than an ordinary off-road vehicle; it doesn't seem that special."
Zhang Li glanced at the driver's controls and couldn't help but count aloud, "ABS anti-lock braking system, EBD electronic brake-force distribution system, DSC dynamic stability control system, EBA emergency brake assist system..."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and Tang Min sat in the back and said to Zhang Li, "This car is a domestically produced model called the Xiaolong, which has just been launched and modified. The engine cylinders have been doubled, the exhaust outlets have been increased from one to four, and an additional reserve fuel tank has been added. There are also some other systems that the engineer told me about, but I don't really understand them. You should try driving it."
Zhang Li gently pressed the accelerator, and the car shot forward like an arrow, yet the
interior remained incredibly quiet and stable. Zhang Li watched the digital dashboard in surprise, exclaiming, "It took only a little over three seconds to go from a standstill to 100 km/h! This car must have at least 400 horsepower. My god, what kind of car is this!"
Zhidoi County is named for its location at the source of the Yangtze River, often referred to as "the First County of the Yangtze River." It is known as "the source of the Yangtze River, the ancestor of a hundred rivers, the land of yaks, the hometown of song and dance, the source of ecology, the kingdom of animals, the Tang-Fan ancient road, and the ten major beaches along the Yangtze River." Heading west from Zhidoi County leads into the Hoh Xil [3] no-man's land. In fact, Zhidoi County is part of Hoh Xil itself.
The Xiaolong sped across the vast grasslands at 80 km/h, yet there wasn't the slightest bump inside the car. Zhang Li was driving faster than he ever had in an off-road vehicle, and it remained remarkably stable. Tang Min gazed at the expanse of green on the horizon and softly said, "Hoh Xil, are you heaven or hell? Are you beautiful or cruel?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba looked tenderly at the young princess in his arms and asked, "Isn't Hoh Xil a desert? What's beautiful about it?" His understanding of geography wasn't great.
Tang Min smiled, "Hoh Xil is a Mongolian word that means 'beautiful girl,' or it can be interpreted as 'green mountains,' both descriptions of its beauty. But the Hoh Xil no-man's land we're entering now spans nearly 80,000 square kilometers and is known as the world's third largest and China's largest no-man's land. Currently, we're close to the county's vast grassland, but as we venture further into the interior, you'll see its true nature—it's also known as the 'forbidden zone of life'!"
Zhang Li looked around, seeing nothing but grasslands with no signs of human or animal activity. They were only ten minutes away from the county by car, and he asked worriedly, "Miss Tang, are you sure you can remember the location of the rescue station? It's very easy to get lost when driving in such a vast area."
Tang Min said, "Just keep driving. As long as we head in the right direction, we should reach the first nature reserve station before dark. After receiving supplies there, we'll continue northwest. If everything goes smoothly, we can reach the rescue station in four or five days. Reserve stations usually have signal flags or balloons visible from several kilometers away."
Zhang Li nodded, "That's good to know."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said to Tang Min, "You know a lot."
Tang Min replied, "It's all in the notebook my brother left behind. He's been to Hoh Xil and even further north to the Yalong River area more than once. He's very familiar with it."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba asked, "By the way, what does this notebook look like?"
Tang Min replied, "It's a black-covered notebook with a waterproof leather case, about this thick." She indicated a thickness of about two finger widths with her thumb and forefinger.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba suddenly thought of something and quickly asked, "By the way, did you go to Menghe to find that madman just to look for me?"
Tang Min nodded vigorously, "Yes. Right after you left America, I remembered the notebook and went to look for it, only to find out it was no longer among my brother's belongings. I wanted to tell you, but your phone was unreachable, so I had to go to the address you gave me to find that madman. I thought if you had already gone to find him, maybe he could tell me something. But he knew nothing."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba chuckled, "Since he's a madman, how could you treat him like a normal person? By the way, did you try to find the madman again afterward, or did you tell anyone else about your plan this time?"
Tang Min blinked her big eyes and said, "No. I couldn't get any information from the madman, and Menghe is so remote, so I just returned to Lhasa. I never mentioned it to anyone. Why?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba mumbled, "Hmm, that's good. Nothing." An ominous feeling crept up again. If Tang Min didn't return to find the madman, then the person who took him away—he recalled the tall figure and snake-like eyes again!
The Xiaolong sped across the desolate plains of Hoh Xil at 90 km/h. It was nearly dusk, and a crescent moon had already risen from the horizon, hanging in the eastern sky while the sun had not yet set, glowing red-orange in the western sky. The setting sun wasn't blinding; it appeared like a coral-red crystal ball, shifting hues, enchanting and mesmerizing. Tang Min gazed longingly at the sky. Here, the sky near dusk wasn't golden but blue—a deep blue sky with clouds that seemed like God's careless brushstrokes on blue rice paper, something painters strive to replicate eternally.
As the sky darkened, the blue took on a greenish hue, and the clouds, tinged with the afterglow of the sunset, became even more enchanting. The blue sky, white clouds, crimson sunset, and silver crescent moon with the rising Venus beside it created a twilight scene so moving it could bring tears to one's eyes. Beneath this celestial canvas were the boundless plains and snow-capped distant mountains. Hoh Xil's mountains belong to the southern branch of the Kunlun Mountains, distinct from the mountains of Tibet. Tibetan mountains rise sharply due to tectonic compression, like towering spears, but Hoh Xil's mountains are low and mostly consist of gently sloping hills, resembling large quilts piled on the ground when viewed from afar. Beyond that lay the expansive horizon where the green earth met the blue sky.
As they traveled, they saw wild Tibetan donkeys grazing leisurely. A mother donkey lovingly licked her foal, their shadows stretching long in the sunset's glow. Suddenly, two playful brown bear cubs ran off playfully. On the horizon, a massive wild yak stood alone against the backlight; the sun setting behind it left only a huge black silhouette, seemingly wary of the strange intruder.
Everywhere was a perfect scene, and each step forward revealed a new landscape. Nature's beauty is a canvas that painters long to depict but can never fully capture—a sacred poem that poets strive to praise but can never completely convey. Tang Min exclaimed in genuine admiration, "So beautiful, truly magnificent. Let's drive a bit further. If only we had a camera; I'd love to capture every moment here."
Zhang Li, however, drove away from that direction, and Tang Min was displeased. "Hey, why are you driving away?"
Zhang Li focused intently on driving and didn't answer. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba explained, "We can't go near. Yaks are herd animals, and solitary wild yaks are very dangerous. They are either old bulls expelled from the herd or failed challengers. After being isolated, their temperament becomes solitary and they attack any creature that approaches. Those big guys weigh over a ton, and if they attack, the consequences could be dire! Their sharp horns could even flip a truck."
Tang Min stuck out her tongue and didn't dare make any more unreasonable requests. To avoid getting lost, the vehicle followed the shallow riverbed, and various wild animals occasionally darted past the car. Red clouds stained the sky as the sun slowly dipped behind the mountains. Tang Min continually delighted in her new discoveries and landscapes, while Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's hand on her shoulder grew colder. Everything was too quiet and too harmonious, but the scenery before him clashed with his instincts. Ever since they left Zhidoi, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba had felt a sense of oppression coming from behind them, but he hadn't been able to identify anything. He hoped his worries were unfounded, but now the feeling that made his body feel cold was becoming more pronounced.
Suddenly, the car jerked forward, and Zhang Li noticeably started to accelerate. He said coldly, "Hold on tight!"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba felt a sense of relief in his heart and thought, "So, it has finally come, hasn't it?"
Tang Min asked in surprise, "What's going on?"
Zhang Li replied, "There's a tail behind us. It seems like someone's following us."
Tang Min looked back, "Where? I don't see anything."
Zhang Li said, "Look carefully. Use the yak on the left as a reference point. About two hand widths to the right of the yak, between the two mountain ridges, what do you see?"
Tang Min said, "Nothing, just a big rock."
Zhang Li continued, "Look behind that big rock. Do you see anything?"
Tang Min looked carefully and then said, "Oh? There's smoke. How can there be smoke?"
Zhang Li said, "That's likely a disguised vehicle maintaining a distance just beyond visible range, and now it's speeding up. The smoke is dust kicked up by a fast-moving car
. About ten minutes ago, I noticed that rock behind us and thought it was the outline of a distant mountain. In places like this, those small-looking distant mountains can look the same even after traveling hundreds of kilometers, so I didn't pay much attention. But now, after so long, it's getting closer instead of farther away."
As he spoke, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and Tang Min saw that the gray stone split open, revealing a ferocious steel frame. Despite the great distance, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba recognized the distinctive, rugged shape of a Hummer.
Zhang Li also saw it in the rearview mirror and muttered, "Could it really be a Hummer? How could this be, seeing two Hummers in just two days?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba thought to himself, "It's not a coincidence; it's the same vehicle, just without the license plates." He couldn't understand how that person managed it. If they didn't know in advance where he was going, then they must have been following him from the time they chartered the helicopter in Lhasa, transporting the car and cleverly disguising it. Who were they, why did they have such capabilities, and why were they following him? Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba had too many questions.
Tang Min said in fear, "Could they be poachers?"
Zhang Li replied, "No, they're not poachers. Poachers wouldn't drive cars like this; their vehicles are always ready to be discarded. Moreover, the careful disguise and not acting in populated areas, but waiting until we were deep in the no-man's land before making a move, indicates that they're not just after us, but that this was planned well in advance. What exactly went wrong, Master Qiang Ba?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba couldn't answer and murmured, "I don't know either. What's going on?"
Tang Min said, "They're getting closer!"
Zhang Li kept his eyes on the rearview mirror and said, "How is this possible? As far as I know, the maximum speed of a Hummer is about 130 km/h. We've already reached 135 km/h. Driving at this speed on Hoh Xil is already a death wish, but they're even faster!"
Tang Min said dismissively, "What's the big deal? My brother used to drive at over 150 km/h on off-road trails."
Zhang Li thought, "My lady, your brother was a daredevil by nature." He responded, "Miss, the advantage of an off-road vehicle lies not in its speed but in its ability to withstand time and road conditions. Being four-wheel drive, it has much greater traction than two-wheel drive and can traverse areas that ordinary vehicles cannot. Due to the complex terrain they have to navigate, off-road vehicles require careful, slow driving. Their maximum speed is typically only 80 km/h, and something like a Hummer with a top speed over 100 km/h is already at its power limit. A slight mistake could lead to the car being destroyed."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba asked, "Can we go any faster?"
Zhang Li replied, "No, we can't. This is the maximum speed. Fortunately, we're still driving on flat terrain; otherwise, the car would have flipped by now."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "The car behind us is catching up."
Zhang Li could also see that the square windshield of the Hummer was like a pair of giant eyes, fixed on their Xiaolong. The flat body of the Hummer was a size bigger than their car, looking like a lion chasing a cheetah. At this moment, Zhang Li noticed something strange in the rearview mirror—the side window of the Hummer was rolled down, and a masked man with sunglasses leaned out the window, holding a carbine in his hands!
Zhang Li made a sharp left turn, but the Hummer followed closely, impossible to shake off. Zhang Li yelled anxiously, "Get down! Danger!"
Sparks flew behind the Xiaolong as the carbine spit fire, hitting the steel plate and making a "ding ding ding" sound. Zhang Li made another sharp turn, and Tang Min was thrown around inside the car. Fortunately, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba held her tightly, or she would have been thrown out of the car. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba calmly said, "Don't panic, just drive carefully. This car is bulletproof."
Zhang Li finally let out a long breath of relief as more sparks flew off the rear window, indicating that the bullets had been deflected by the bulletproof glass. Zhang Li asked in confusion, "Master Qiang Ba, it seems you were well-prepared?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba explained, "It was a bad feeling. When we were still in Lhasa, I felt that this trip might not go smoothly, and I didn't expect it to really come true."
Zhang Li muttered, "What's going on? How did they get weapons inside China?"
Tang Min, curled up in Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's arms, asked, "Are they trying to kill us? Why?"
Zhang Li replied, "It looks like they don't want to do that. They just want to capture us alive. Damn, they're always aiming at the tires. If they hit them…"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba calmly said, "Don't worry. Haven't you noticed? The tires are made of solid rubber, and the two fuel tanks are well hidden within the chassis. I can say that unless we step on a landmine, this car won't be easily damaged."
Zhang Li remained uneasy, "But they're faster than us. How can we shake them off?"
The person on the Hummer seemed to realize that shooting wasn't effective and retreated inside. The Hummer accelerated fully, catching up. Zhang Li also floored the gas pedal. The two off-road vehicles sped across the vast grassland, leaving two trails of dust behind. Tang Min was too frightened to make a sound, and Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba remained silent, fearing to distract Zhang Li. At such speeds, a slight distraction could determine their fate.
Zhang Li occasionally glanced at the sky above. The sky was getting darker, and the terrain was transitioning from grasslands to a desert. The soft soil became hard, covered with countless small stones. Dust blew everywhere, and it would be extremely dangerous to drive in such conditions after dark. The Hummer behind seemed to know this too. Soon, another person emerged from the car window, receiving something from his companion and placing a tube on his shoulder. Zhang Li swallowed hard, thinking, "If I'm not mistaken, that's a bazooka. My god, Master Qiang Ba, who on earth is chasing us? Do you truly not know, or are you pretending not to?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and Tang Min clearly saw it too. Tang Min screamed in terror, "Rocket! A rocket launcher! They have a rocket launcher!"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba held Tang Min even tighter. He said calmly, "Don't panic, Min Min, a rocket launcher is nothing." But he could hear the tension in his voice. He patted Zhang Li's seat and said dryly, "It's up to you!"
With a whoosh, the rocket drew a beautiful arc in the sky, and Zhang Li immediately turned the steering wheel to the left while simultaneously applying both the handbrake and the footbrake. The ABS anti-lock braking system and EBA emergency brake assist system had already been turned off. The result was that the car almost spun 180 degrees in place and then shot off in another direction like an arrow. Just as they turned, the sharp whistle of the rocket flew over the roof, followed by a loud explosion. The powerful shockwave lifted the ground, and countless stones hit the car, causing it to shake violently. Zhang Li used all his strength to keep the car from flipping over.
They had narrowly escaped, and all three inside the car had pale faces. Only the sound of the engine was audible. Zhang Li knew their opponents deliberately avoided hitting the car. They were trying to dislodge stones or flip their vehicle to immobilize them. He thought, "They're using this method to limit our movement. They're certainly not our friends. The key point is that even Master Qiang Ba doesn't know what's going on. We need to think of a way to shake them off, or we'll always be at a disadvantage."
Suddenly, Zhang Li's gaze locked onto a stony riverbed. He shouted, "Hold on!" and drove toward the riverbed!
The stones on the riverbed grew larger and larger, some as big as millstones, with sharp edges sticking up. The Xiaolong entered the riverbed and immediately began to bump and jolt. Zhang Li had already reduced the speed to 100 km/h. If he had maintained 130 km/h, the car would have flown into the air and flipped over. Another whoosh, and the second rocket landed to the right of the car, creating a deafening sound as stones flew toward the Xiaolong. Zhang Li was horrified to see the bulletproof glass already showing cracks, and he feared another rocket might shatter the window.
Seeing the Hummer close behind, Zhang Li finally showed a determined smile. He turned the steering wheel, and the Xiaolong started to zigzag along the riverbed. "If they're dead set on chasing us, they won't know which direction I'm fleeing and will keep close behind me. Unless their tires are made of the same solid rubber as Xiaolong's, they won't be able to take too many turns. The stones on the riverbed will cut through their tires." Thinking this, he started frequently making sharp turns among the stones, sometimes drifting around large stones with smoke and dust flying from beneath the tires.
This was tough on Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and Tang Min in the back seat; several times, the car nearly flipped, but thanks to Zhang Li's excellent driving skills, he kept it upright. In contrast, the Hummer's driver seemed even more seasoned. The Hummer's speed was at least 20 km/h faster than the Xiaolong as it followed the same zigzag path. Zhang Li couldn't help but admire, "The driver behind must be a wild man!"
The person with the bazooka in the Hummer seemed to be aiming directly at the Xiaolong this time. Zhang Li was left and right, unable to escape the aim of the rocket launcher that was clearly visible in the rearview mirror.
Tang Min cried out in panic, "This time they're not aiming at the ground; they're targeting our car!"
Zhang Li shifted gears, pulled the brake, turned the steering wheel, shifted gears again, counter-steered, and pressed the clutch. He knew it all depended on this sharp turn whether they could dodge the rocket or not. He drove around a man-high boulder, using the huge dust cloud created by the rear of the car, hoping it would obscure the view of the Hummer driver behind them. It would be best if they crashed into the boulder; if not, at least the rocket man wouldn't be able to aim properly.
The Hummer emerged from the dust cloud unscathed, as steady as if it were driving on a highway. Zhang Li's pupils began to contract. Facing such an opponent was beyond his imagination. He saw it—the flash of fire!
Bang! Along with the flash of fire, what rang out was not the sound of the rocket hitting the car but the sound of a tire blowing out. At this critical moment, the Hummer's wheel finally couldn't withstand the friction of the gravel and burst! As the rocket left the launcher, its direction shifted, flying over the top of the Xiaolong and disappearing into the distance, leaving only rings of smoke in the sky.
Zhang Li clearly saw in the rearview mirror that the Hummer flipped over once, rolled twice on the riverbed, and finally steadied itself, but they were already in trouble. Zhang Li drove out of the riverbed and accelerated, roaring away...
The Hummer's door was kicked open, and a tall, blond man got out, his steel-plated boots crunching on the gravel beneath him. He lazily leaned against the front of the car, took off his sunglasses, revealing hawk-like eyes, and gazed at the distant plume of dust, smiling, "The kid drives pretty well. We'll have another round next time."
With a bang, another masked man awkwardly crawled out of the back seat, stammering in broken English, "Boss, our satellite positioning system was damaged in the crash. We can't continue to track that car anymore."
The blond man suddenly became furious, his face veins bulging. He reached under the front bumper of the Hummer with both hands, roared, and lifted the front of the Hummer, then slammed it back down with a heavy thud, sending up another cloud of dust. The remaining masked man in the car was terrified, knowing that the boss was angry again. But the blond man quickly calmed down, a sinister smile curling at his lips as he leisurely lit a cigarette, muttering in broken Chinese, "Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, Boss Zhuo, even if I can't catch up with you, I still have ways to find the Pabala Monastery before you. Just wait and see—"
Inside the Xiaolong, there was a long silence. After all, they had just brushed past death. Everyone could feel their hearts still racing, especially Zhang Li, whose hands were still shaking. Of the three, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba was the most composed, but he couldn't explain what had just happened.
Zhang Li asked, "They won't catch up to us for now. What should we do next?"
Tang Min said, "I remember that after crossing the mountain in front, we should be able to see the reserve station's signal balloon, right?"
Zhang Li smiled bitterly, "Miss Tang seems to have forgotten our recent situation, right?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "Forget it, Xiao Zhang; she doesn't understand. It's not her fault. Min Min, our situation is not as good as you think. The car behind us is not seriously damaged. Off-road vehicles are very resistant to shock and impact. Maybe they just need to change a tire, and they'll catch up again soon."
Zhang Li added, "A skilled driver can change a tire in under five minutes."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "So if we go to the reserve station or stop to rest, it's like giving them a chance to catch up with us. Now we need to choose a route they wouldn't expect or quickly find a safe place where they wouldn't dare to use force. Now that we've entered the Hoh Xil interior, finding a safe place is almost impossible. We only have one choice: go straight to the rescue station where your brother was found, find the notebook, and return as quickly as possible."
Tang Min was puzzled, "But in such a vast area, how could they find us?"
Zhang Li said, "They might have used GPS global satellite positioning systems. With the thin air and high transparency of the atmosphere on the plateau, if they can use spy satellites from countries like the US or France, they can see even grasshoppers on the ground, let alone such a large car. However, it seems to be getting completely dark now. Using that at night wouldn't be as easy. That's probably why they wanted to stop us before nightfall."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba asked, "So there are other reasons?"
Zhang Li replied, "After dark, on this gravel-strewn desert where visibility and braking distance are limited, no one dares to drive over 50 km/h. The Hummer's speed advantage is completely gone. Even if they can track us, they'd always be a distance behind."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba asked, "Min Min, how far is the rescue station from the reserve station?"
Tang Min replied, "It's still hundreds of kilometers away, but the road ahead is very difficult, not something you can cover in a few hours. If the car breaks down or runs out of fuel halfway, we'll be...," she shook her head despondently, indicating it was impossible.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "Don't worry. This modified Xiaolong has two fuel tanks, and there's also spare fuel in the back. Fuel isn't an issue, and I think the mechanical power system shouldn't be either, except for the driver." He looked at Zhang Li.
Zhang Li nodded, "Normally, driving at night in such dangerous areas isn't advisable, but we have no choice now. I hope we don't hit a big rock or fall into a crevasse."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "Okay, thanks for your hard work. We'll keep heading northwest, and the two of us can take turns."
Zhang Li reduced the speed to 50 km/h, and the powerful headlights illuminated the road ahead. He couldn't help but ask, "Master Qiang Ba, who helped you modify this car?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba replied, "I don't know. I paid someone to do it. Why?"
Zhang Li said, "That person's skills are remarkable. If I get the chance, I'd love to ask them for advice. They even modified the headlights so well. This car uses Japanese-style H4 xenon lights. The modifier adjusted the headlight focus and modified the onboard wiring. Now, I'd estimate the lumens are at 3,700, and the color temperature is between 5,700 to 6,300. The right light is parallel to the ground, and the left side is elevated by 4.6 degrees, maximizing long-distance illumination without affecting the left-right spread. Every modification on this car amazes me." Saying this, he had a sudden realization, thinking, "In this case, the Hummer driver's driving skills truly impressed me. Even driving such a high-performance modified car, I was completely at a disadvantage. That guy!"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and Tang Min first ate some instant food in the car and then took turns driving for the next 100 kilometers. The deeper they went into the heart of Hoh Xil, the colder it got. After a day's ordeal, Tang Min lay on the coat Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba had spread out for her, exhausted, and fell asleep. Zhang Li and Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba were long silent, as if the air had frozen. The night was silently quiet, only the faint hum of the engine and occasional small sounds from the tires crunching over the gravel could be heard.
Under the moonlit sky, Zhang Li looked at the road ahead illuminated by the headlights and suddenly wanted a cigarette, although he had never smoked. The events of the day felt like a dream, combined with the awkward silence now made Zhang Li feel suffocated. He felt so suppressed, he suddenly wanted to explode, to shout out one or two sentences like, "Why am I here?" "What the hell is this place?" "How much longer do we have to go before we see people?"
Finally, Zhang Li couldn't bear it anymore and softly said to Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, "Master Qiang Ba."
"Hmm?" Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba seemed to come out of his deep thoughts. Zhang Li said, "Say something, Master Qiang Ba, or I might suffocate."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba smiled slightly, "What should I say? I usually don't talk much."
Zhang Li replied, "That's not good, Master Qiang Ba. You're already so tall and imposing. If you don't like to talk, it puts a lot of pressure on people." This was the pressure he felt since Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba sat next to him.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "Is that so? You know, my father is a wise man, and there are many rules in my family. From a young age, I was required not to speak carelessly, so I developed a habit of not talking much later. I don't really like talking to others." He glanced at Tang Min, who was sleeping soundly, and thought, "This little girl is an exception."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba rolled down the window, took two deep breaths of the cold air, and then quickly closed the window, checking to see if Tang Min had been woken up. Seeing that she seemed to be sleeping soundly, he relaxed and continued softly, "But, as you know, kids always have a lot of questions to ask and things they want to say. So back then, I loved talking to animals. In our hometown, there weren't many other animals, only—"
Zhang Li interjected, "Lots of dogs."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba smiled, "Yes, that's right. Did you know, a dog's intelligence is equivalent to that of a four-year-old child? They can understand and remember 2,000 to 3,000 words. Without a doubt, they can comprehend some simple phrases and can sense human emotions such as sadness, happiness, and anger through the secretion of human scent. I was very fortunate to have chosen them as friends. I have never seen a creature with so many virtues. They are loyal, smart, friendly, gentle, and once they recognize a master, they won't change for life. Many puppies are separated from their mothers shortly after birth, so in their eyes, their human master is their mother. It doesn't matter if this master is wealthy or poor, kind or cruel; they will follow them to the end, never leaving, unless the master leaves them first."
Zhang Li said, "It seems Master Qiang Ba has deep feelings about this."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "Let me tell you two little stories, both of which I witnessed myself. I once saw a beggar's dog in the small English town of Bath. It was a King Charles Spaniel named Doro, and it didn't know its own worth, following a drunken beggar. Every day, when the beggar slept on the street, Doro would use its front paws to hold the beggar's tattered top hat, begging passersby for money while standing on its hind legs. Its big eyes looked at you, making it impossible to refuse. However, the beggar would only give it some scraps, with most of the money going to buy alcohol, and he would often beat the dog. I intended to pay a high price to buy that poor little creature, but others told me the dog had been sold countless times before. Every time, the beggar sold it at a high price, but once taken to a new home, the dog wouldn't eat or drink, constantly whining. The new owner had no choice but to return it. I observed it for several hours on the street. When it got tired of jumping, it would quietly sit by the beggar's side, as if just watching him was a form of happiness. Every time it rested for less than ten minutes, it would jump up again and walk upright, tirelessly, without complaint. Loyal for a lifetime, never abandoning—that is their nature."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's gaze became determined as he glanced at Zhang Li, who said nothing. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba continued, "Another time, there was a French businessman whose black German Shepherd had an injured leg and could no longer participate in the World Shepherd Dog Competition. He planned to humanely destroy the dog, named Trele. However, Trele was tall, fierce, and sharp, and no ordinary person could get close to him. The businessman had to personally poison Trele's food. After giving Trele the poisoned food, he couldn't bear to see Trele suffer, so he went out. Ten minutes later, when he returned and opened the door, he saw that his dog, despite its struggle, was still trying to bring him his slippers for the last time!"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's voice abruptly stopped. Zhang Li suddenly felt a lump in his throat, something blocking his chest, making it hard to swallow. He thought, "What's wrong with me? It's just an ordinary story, right?" But Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's last sentence, "The dog struggled to bring its master his slippers one last time," kept repeating in his mind. Zhang Li seemed to understand that this was a kind of emotion he had never experienced before, an emotion that had easily moved him.
With a steady, calm, but deeply mournful tone, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "In human society, have you ever had such a friend? Loyalty, to humans, is just a word, but to canines, it's a lifelong vow. Never betray, never leave, it is God who gave this creature to humans as a friend."
The story was finished, and the two remained silent for a long time. The cold wind outside the window howled past, and Zhang Li seemed to understand the bond between Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and the dog—why he could risk his life for a dog, go to an unknown, dangerous place without hesitation. After a while, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba asked, "What time is it?"
Zhang Li looked at the car's instrument panel and said, "It's 3:40."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "It's time for me to take over driving, right?"
Zhang Li said, "No need, I'll keep driving. Now we're entering an icy area. The further north into the interior we go, the lower the temperature. Look at the terrain we've been driving on: it started as grassland, then became desert, and now the permafrost has turned to ice. This is a true icy area. A slight oversight, and the car could slip. I've received ice driving training before, as there are many snowy roads in Tibet."
"No, this is when concentration is at its weakest. You can't drive while fatigued." Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's stance was firm.
"Alright." Zhang Li was about to slow down when he suddenly made a strange expression. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba clearly saw Zhang Li turning the steering wheel to the left, but the car didn't veer left. Instead, it headed straight toward a half-meter-high stone.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba quickly grabbed the steering wheel to help turn, but it seemed ineffective. Zhang Li said, "It might flip." Before he finished speaking, the Xiaolong tipped to one side and, like a stunt car, skidded on two wheels for about ten meters. Then Zhang Li's side of the car window hit the ground, and the car continued to slide on its side for another four to five meters. The whole car then flipped over, the wheels facing the sky. It slid another ten meters before crashing into a huge rock, spinning several times before finally stopping.
Tang Min was suddenly awakened, muttering drowsily, "What's going on? Are they chasing us again?"
Zhang Li, struggling to open the door in the overturned car, said, "I was careless. The ice splashed up by the tires melted on the axle and then refroze after a long period without turning, causing the axle to slip. Huh? What's this?"
Zhang Li's hand seemed to feel something dripping. He pinched it with his fingers, brought it to his nose, and exclaimed in horror, "It's gasoline! We're leaking gas!"
At this moment, the electrical sparks on the instrument panel made Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba break out in a cold sweat. He shouted, "Get out, quickly!" He grabbed the coat-wrapped Tang Min and kicked open the right-side car door, tossing Tang Min out first before he clambered out. Zhang Li rolled out from the left-side door.
Flames rolled in the dark night, lighting up their faces. The gale, carrying ice and snow, whipped around them, seeping into every pore. At four in the morning, on an ice plain where the temperature was only minus ten degrees, with a fierce wind blowing at level seven, three heroes found themselves trapped in the heart of Hoh Xil, an 80,000-square-kilometer no-man's land.
Zhang Li chuckled bitterly. The fuel tank must have cracked from the impact of the rocket, but it hadn't leaked or only a little had leaked. If Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba hadn't helped turn the wheel, the front wheel might not have tipped over that half-meter stone. If they hadn't crashed into the stone behind them, the wiring wouldn't have sparked. A series of uncanny coincidences had totaled an excellent off-road vehicle in this way. Standing silently in the wasteland, Zhang Li couldn't think of anything more meaningful than a bitter laugh.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba stood in front of the car in a daze. Food, water, tents, and fire—everything was slowly disappearing in the flames, and he was powerless to stop it. A modified car that couldn't be destroyed by rockets was ruined because it couldn't avoid a half-meter-high stone. If they relied on their feet, how far could they walk on this freezing wasteland? When would they find the rescue station? That would take a miracle.
Tang Min wrapped her face and began to cry softly. She couldn't believe this was happening. She threw herself into Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's arms, crying sadly, "It's all... it's all my fault. I... I shouldn't have brought you here... Waaah..."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba tried to comfort her, "Don't worry, it's not a big deal. We've been driving for six or seven hours now; the rescue station can't be far. Maybe when we wake up tomorrow, we'll see the signal flag of the rescue station." He asked himself in his heart, "Rescue station? How far is it exactly? Oh, only heaven knows."
Zhang Li came around from the other side of the car, joking, "Have you ever heard this saying in Hoh Xil: Cars can't go faster than human legs? Now we can walk on foot, and that's much faster than a car. For now, let's take a rest and gather strength to get moving."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba smiled and said, "That's fine, at least we can warm up by the fire."
Heaven did not grant them any special favor; even the flames soon died out. In this cold-dominated wilderness, it seemed that fire could not conquer the cold. As the fire was about to go out, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba tightened the coat around Tang Min, patted her, and then rushed to the car, causing Zhang Li to shout anxiously, "Be careful of a secondary explosion!"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba couldn't care less. He knew that after such a short time burning, there must be something left—food, a tent, or gasoline. Whatever it was, as long as there was a little left, he had to find it!
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba returned with a face covered in soot. He had managed to salvage a few packets of instant noodles, charred like charcoal. Unfortunately, the tent had melted into a plastic lump, but fortunately, he brought back a well-sealed spare gasoline canister.
Flames are always comforting, especially in this sparsely populated night. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and Zhang Li discussed, and they decided to wait until dawn before moving. The night was simply not suitable for traveling. They found a wind-sheltered gully and huddled close together around the campfire.
"Don't sleep! Min Min! Don't fall asleep." Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba repeatedly emphasized.
Tang Min seemed very tired, murmuring, "I'm so tired."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba put a large hand on her forehead and, in panic, told Zhang Li, "Her head is burning!"
Zhang Li looked at Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, worry on his face, but he didn't know what to do. In this desolate wilderness, without water or food, let alone medicine, what could the two grown men do with a little girl? The two men were at a loss.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba couldn't stand it anymore and said, "No, I have to take her and leave. The rescue station might really be nearby."
Zhang Li slowly shook his head and whispered, "At least a hundred kilometers away. Walking like this would only make her feel worse."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba shouted, "But we can't just stand here and watch her suffer!"
Zhang Li fell silent. At this point, it seemed there was nothing to do but wait. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba gradually calmed down, staring at the dwindling campfire. He wrapped Tang Min in the sheepskin coat, and they huddled together as one. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba held Tang Min tightly in his arms. He was out of ideas. Tang Min mumbled his name in his arms, "Qiang Ba, Qiang Ba, don't leave me. You promised you wouldn't leave me again."
Even Zhang Li couldn't bear to look. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, however, remained calm and peaceful, continuously whispering, "I won't. I'm right here. Sleep well, and when you wake up tomorrow, we'll set off together. Min Min, tomorrow we'll find your brother's notebook, and I'll take you to find it. Alright?"
The whole night, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and Tang Min whispered to each other, Zhang Li occasionally got up to add more fuel to the fire, then quickly huddled back on the other side of Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba. This place was too cold.
At the break of dawn, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba checked Tang Min's forehead again and whispered, "No, we must get food; she's too weak."
Zhang Li took a bite of the carbonized instant noodles, scooped up a handful of snow, and put it in his mouth because that's how he saw Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba eating. With his frozen, numb tongue, he mumbled, "But you can't leave her alone, right?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "I know. That's easy to solve." With Zhang Li's help, he carried Tang Min on his back, tied them together at the waist, and then covered them with the coat like a baby. Then he picked up the 20 kg steel drum of gasoline in one hand, and the three of them began their uncertain journey.
In the cold, windy north wind, the two of them trudged through the unmarked ice plain, one foot sinking into the snow with each step. Zhang Li, with empty hands, struggled to keep up with Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's pace. He finally understood what natural strength meant. After eating a piece of charcoal-like instant noodles and nothing else until midday, his body's heat had long been exhausted. Zhang Li now felt that even lifting his legs was exhausting, as if they weren't his legs but two lead bars. Tang Min drifted in and out of consciousness, speaking incoherently. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba kept his eyes on the direction of the sun, striding forward without stopping. He knew that every minute they delayed increased Tang Min's danger. They had to reach the rescue station as soon as possible!
At noon, Zhang Li's vision blurred, and he stumbled to the ground. He tried to push himself up with his hands, but his legs wouldn't support him. He could only kneel in the snow, gasping, "I can't go on; I need a rest."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba stopped and turned his head with difficulty. He knew their strength was almost depleted, yet the endless expanse of white stretched out before them. However, Tang Min was right on his back; he could still feel her rapid heartbeat. They couldn't stop. What should they do?
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba racked his brain for solutions, but his memory was blank. He had never experienced anything like this, and only now did he realize how little he knew about wilderness survival.
He was ten when he first dared to venture into the mountains alone, unafraid of wild beasts or the dark. At fourteen, he began to leave Tibet, using all his spare time to travel across much of China, living rough and working odd jobs to earn travel expenses, always driven by a devout heart. At nineteen, he struck gold in business, the first to sell Tibetan handicrafts to Shenzhen, the window of reform and opening up. At twenty-four, he returned to Tibet for the first time and acquired Kubai. Then for three consecutive Kubais, he didn't miss a single one until he was twenty-seven, when his group company was established, and he began overseeing more than 3,000 employees spread across over ten cities. He had never feared failure. Each failure made him stronger. The ups and downs of the business world, the treachery of people, had never frightened him because he knew that effort could conquer all. But this time, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba felt an unprecedented pressure. The person he loved most was right on his back, and he was powerless. The vast wilderness and the fierce north wind were opponents that no amount of effort could overcome.
He directed his gaze toward the seemingly dense clumps of dry grass nearby. The grass stalks were thin, some reaching his waist. He grabbed a handful, and the roots were thin and tough. He brought it in front of Zhang Li, hoping, "Can we eat this?"
Zhang Li smiled and shook his head. He turned over and sat in the snow, saying, "It's purple needle grass. On the ice plain, it's about the only thing that grows so well. But apart from providing fiber, it's of no use. We need food that can provide heat. It'd be great if we could catch some kind of animal."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba suddenly said, "Shhh, something's coming."
Sure enough, there was a commotion behind the stones, and it seemed like something was heading their way, making noise. Zhang Li whispered, "From the sound of it, it seems to be something big enough to feed the three of us. Be careful, we can't let it escape." Suddenly, he found the strength to stand up again.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba carefully wrapped Tang Min in the coat, placing her in a relatively safe spot, and then stood behind a large boulder. He touched the Tibetan knife on his waist, feeling his blood boil again.
Closer, and closer… Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and Zhang Li crouched behind the same boulder, waiting for the creature to show itself.
With a whoosh, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba swiftly drew his Tibetan knife, ready to stab whatever it was. Zhang Li had a stone in his hand, but neither of them struck because the creature was too large for them to attack!
A fully-grown brown bear lumbered out from behind the boulder, swaying its massive head. Seeing something blocking its path, it suddenly stood up on its hind legs. This giant beast, known by seasoned hunters as a "blind bear," had immense destructive power. In deep forests, even tigers would avoid it.
Facing a beast nearly two and a half meters tall standing on its hind legs, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba suddenly felt very small. Holding his Tibetan knife, he froze for a moment. Zhang Li reacted quickly, immediately dropping his stone. The strength he had just gained vanished instantly, and he collapsed to the ground.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba couldn't fall. Although he knew that lying down and holding his breath to play dead often scared off bears, at this moment, without food, Tang Min might... He had to face this alone. This massive beast was over a hundred kilograms heavier than him. His Tibetan knife couldn't pierce its rough hide. His strength was probably no match for this animal. This giant could kill him with a single swipe, and it was a fight with no chance of winning.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's palm sweated, and his heart raced like never before. But his eyes, filled with fearless determination, stared directly into the bear's eyes. Man and beast stood facing each other. This willpower was something he had learned from his Tibetan mastiff. People called Tibetan mastiffs "dumb giants" because they possessed a fearless power, unafraid of any creature bigger than themselves. If you locked a dog and a bear in the same cage, only a mastiff would rush up to bite the bear. Tibetan mastiffs didn't seem to have fear in their emotions.
Life and death spun rapidly in that moment. Surprisingly, the bear lowered its aggressive stance. It didn't swipe Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba away with a single paw; instead, it dropped back down onto all fours and ran in the opposite direction.
Zhang Li, hearing the noise, scrambled to his feet and looked at Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba in amazement, his eyes filled with admiration. He asked, "Did it leave? How did you do it?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba returned the knife to its sheath, realizing that he had gripped it too tightly and couldn't straighten his fingers. He also didn't know why the bear had run away. Unsure how to respond, he suddenly felt a chill behind him and a strong gust nearly knocked him over. A huge shadow cast over the ground, stretching across both of them. From the silhouette on the ground, Zhang Li could tell this was a massive creature. The two slowly raised their heads. Zhang Li muttered, "A golden eagle!" [4] Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba nodded.
The golden eagle, also known as the "yellow sheep eagle" in Tibet, is a large bird of prey. An adult golden eagle has a wingspan of up to three meters and is strong enough to easily carry away a hundred-pound yellow sheep, hence the name. There were very few of these birds; they were almost extinct. They were sometimes found in the high mountains of the Kangba Tibetan region. In Tibetan Buddhism, the golden eagle is also known as Garuda, not only the Buddha's sacred beast but also at the top of the food chain.
Zhang Li smiled, "The big guy had bad luck. He could have been the king here but unfortunately ran into the apex predator."
The golden eagle circled once in the sky, then suddenly folded its wings and dove straight for the bear.
A hundred meters, fifty meters, twenty meters, ten meters—the golden eagle closed in on the bear. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba knew the eagle's hunting strategy for large animals. It would use its momentum, its claws accurately striking the lumbar vertebra of its prey, the weakest part of a reptile. One strike would break the spine, rendering the prey unable to move or resist. Only after securing its prey would the eagle retract its claws, which had a spring-like structure that, once locked, would securely grip its prey.
Naturally, the bear wasn't about to surrender. When the eagle got close, it suddenly turned its head and bit at the air. The golden eagle calmly spread its wings, pausing mid-air, creating a gust of wind that sent sand and stones flying. The bear roared, and the eagle flew up into the sky again, looking for another chance to strike. The bear ran west for dozens of meters, felt something was wrong, and turned back. The golden eagle saw the opportunity and dived again. The bear lifted its head, ready to resist again. This time, the golden eagle wasn't so slow. It tilted its left wing slightly, changing direction in mid-air, and landed its claws on the bear's neck, following with a peck, blinding the bear's right eye!
The bear roared in pain, falling to the ground and staying there, no longer moving. The golden eagle spread its wings and landed, cautiously approaching the bear, pecking at various spots on its back, paws, and head, making sure the bear didn't react before confidently walking up to the bear, ready to attack its soft underbelly.
The golden eagle stood before the bear and suddenly turned its head, staring at Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and Zhang Li. Zhang Li shivered and said, "It... it's looking at us."
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba forced a smile and said, "We mean no harm. We won't steal your food. Haha, we'll be leaving right away." But his expression was more like crying than laughing.
The golden eagle didn't seem to understand Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, but it did leave them alone. It started looking around, appearing very wary.
Zhang Li asked, "What's going on? What's it looking at?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba shook his head. He suddenly remembered when they first saw the bear. The creature had fled in panic from behind the stones, covered in wounds and bleeding, with many bites on its body that were clearly not inflicted by the eagle but seemed to have been bitten by something. Now that the bear had fallen, the creature chasing it seemed to be approaching this area, which made the golden eagle so wary. He whispered to Zhang Li, "Have you ever heard of anything stronger than the yellow sheep eagle in Tibet?"
Zhang Li, puzzled, didn't understand why Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba was asking this, "No, why would there be such a thing?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "Watch closely. I can sense it. Something that makes the golden eagle uneasy is already around us."
Zhang Li shivered in place, glancing at Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, "You... you're joking, right?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba firmly said, "No mistake, it's coming!"
Zhang Li looked around. The wind was blowing, and the withered grass was swaying. Everything seemed calm, and there shouldn't be anything unusual. But just then, the grass moved.
From the grass emerged a black snout with sharp fangs and dripping saliva, a bright red tongue, followed by triangular eyes glinting with hostility, and pointed ears erect on either side of the forehead. To Zhang Li's shock, the creature was a wolf. He thought, "What's going on? These two aren't even on the same level. To the golden eagle, this thin wolf is no different from a lamb. Is this stupid wolf so hungry it's trying to steal food from the eagle? It seems starving."
Even more surprising was that the wolf bared its teeth, snarling in a low growl, as if warning the golden eagle, "That's my prey, you stay back," while the golden eagle turned completely to face it, ready for a fierce battle.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba thought, "Could this wolf have been the one that injured the bear? How did it do it? The bear is ten times its size!"
The wolf continued to approach, its steps steady but deadly. With every step, its hind paws dug deep into the frozen ground, ready to leap at any moment. The golden eagle made a "gurgling" sound in its throat, scraping the ground with its talons, tense and on guard—very different from how it had dealt with the bear.
The wolf remained composed, moving step by step towards the golden eagle, its eyes fixed on the bird with a murderous glare and a chilling growl, advancing menacingly. It got closer, the difference in size between the wolf and the golden eagle became more apparent, but in terms of aura, it was a different story. The golden eagle was the first to act, spreading its wings to create a gale, trying to disrupt the wolf's vision, but the wolf showed no fear, each step firm and resolute.
Zhang Li said, "Can't it blow that wolf away with just the wind?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "Wrong. The golden eagle flapped its wings first because it lost in terms of aura, so it had to make the first move." He thought, "Why is it so highly alert? Why attack first? Could it be that the golden eagle has suffered from this wolf before?"
Zhang Li said noncommittally, "I don't think so."
The golden eagle's wing-flapping frequency increased, even hopping in place, wanting to defend its victory but appearing powerless. It was like a young girl trying to protect her chastity from a lecherous man. The wolf was already within its attack range, forcing the golden eagle to fly straight up into the sky. Zhang Li said, "Watch this, a straight dive from above will be a fatal blow."
The golden eagle hovered in the air, searching for the best moment. The wolf didn't seem to care but faced the bear directly. Zhang Li said again, "See, I told you, this is a starving wolf willing to risk its life for a bit of meat."
The golden eagle folded its wings and, like an arrow leaving the bowstring, dove gracefully towards the ground, aiming for the wolf. The wolf didn't even glance back, seemingly unaware of the danger from above. But when the golden eagle was just a few meters away, it suddenly rolled on the ground, effortlessly dodging the golden eagle's deadly strike, then stood up and continued moving towards its prey. The golden eagle had to take to the air again.
Zhang Li was stunned and exclaimed, "No way! What kind of wolf is this? It dodged the golden eagle's attack without even looking!"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "It's the wind! The strong gust from the golden eagle's dive hit the wolf's back first. It judged the eagle's distance by the strength of the wind, so the eagle's aerial attack poses no threat to it."
Seeing the wolf standing before the bear, the golden eagle was reluctant to let its prize be taken and made another dive with a gust, descending from the sky. The wolf stood for a long time before the bear, not rushing to bite, as if waiting for a strike from the golden eagle. Sure enough, when the golden eagle was halfway through its dive, the wolf suddenly flipped over, presenting its soft belly to the eagle's hard talons, curling its body like a tightly drawn bow!
The golden eagle had evidently suffered from this stance before. As soon as it saw the wolf adopt this stance, it suddenly spread its wings, desperately trying to ascend again, but there wasn't enough distance for it to take off again. The great inertia still made the golden eagle's claws fall straight toward the wolf. Just then, the wolf's taut body suddenly bounced, its hind legs precisely kicking the golden eagle's claws, while it opened its mouth wide, almost as if the eagle had put its neck into the wolf's mouth. The eagle retreated quickly, but a ring of neck feathers was bitten off by the wolf. The golden eagle let out a sharp cry and flapped its wings to fly up. In a flash, a gray figure flashed across the sky. The golden eagle screamed again, and when it flew up again, more than half of its tail feathers were gone. The golden eagle was utterly defeated, fleeing in panic into the distance, flying shakily like a kite with a broken string, with none of the majestic flight from before.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba praised, "So there's another companion, hiding in the grass all along, waiting until the golden eagle exhausted its moves before delivering the decisive blow! Such a clever cooperation!" He then understood why the bear was running for its life. Against such opponents, the advantage of size was gone.
The two victorious wolves rubbed each other's faces in celebration, and then one of them suddenly howled at the sky, seemingly declaring to the ice plain that it was the real master here.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba turned to Zhang Li, "I wasn't wrong, was I, Xiao Zhang? What's wrong, Xiao Zhang?"
Zhang Li muttered with his head slightly lowered, "One person appears, attracting and distracting the enemy, fighting them until both sides are exhausted. Another lies in wait, delivering a fatal blow. If there's a third person, they should be responsible for observing the situation, closely monitoring the movements of any remaining enemies around, ready to inform their companions to respond at any time!"
The two turned their heads mechanically. In the grass behind them, at some unknown time, a pair of triangular eyes filled with cruel ferocity was staring right at them!
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said in surprise, "How... how did you know?"
Zhang Li was almost crying, bitterly laughing, "I don't know. I was just reciting our special forces combat manual. How could this happen?" "Gulp—Um." In all his life, Zhang Li had never heard his own swallow make such a loud noise.
The wolf behind them seemed to be the smallest of the three, but Zhang Li dared not underestimate it. With that speed and attack, soaring through the air and striking like lightning, who knew if this wolf possessed the same skills and speed as the other two? The two men turned back with difficulty, only to see that the two wolves in front were not behaving like the golden eagle, leisurely ready to enjoy the bear. Instead, they growled threateningly at the bear lying on the ground. One wolf was tugging at the bear's short tail, the other biting the bear's front paw, and even patting the bear's belly with its claws, occasionally perching on the bear's head and letting out terrifying sounds.
Zhang Li asked in confusion, "What... what are they doing?"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba whispered, "If I'm not mistaken, that bear is their living food."
"Living food?" Zhang Li still didn't understand.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba explained, "If they came from farther north and crossed this barren ice plain, they couldn't survive without enough food. But catching small prey in this ice and snow is easier said than done. If they wanted to bring a lot of food across, there would be two problems: other animals would try to steal it, and it would be very inconvenient. However, this bear is fat and ready for hibernation, its body full of fat and muscle that can provide enough heat to withstand the cold. Plus, given its size, other animals would have a hard time approaching it; only the golden eagle was an exception."
Zhang Li was horrified, "You... you mean they're driving the bear across the ice plain!"
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said calmly, "Yes, when it gets too cold and they can't find food anymore, the bear will become their food."
Sure enough, not long after, the bear lying on the ground suddenly woke up as if by magic, flipped over, jumped up, and fled westward again. One wolf followed unhurriedly, while the other turned around, forming a front-and-back pincer attack with the wolf behind them, trapping Zhuo and Zhang between them. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba watched the bear flee west in panic. That pitiful look over its shoulder reminded him of pigs and cows being led into a slaughterhouse.
Zhang Li trembled, "What... what kind of wolves are these? It... it... it's coming! Are we surrounded?" He didn't have the courage to look back again, as if the other wolf was already behind him, feeling as though the wolf's front legs were resting on his shoulders.
"Let's run," Zhang Li said to Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, but his legs felt rooted to the ground, unable to take a step. At this moment, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba made another shocking move.
Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba raised his foot and slowly walked toward the wolf watching them from behind. The gray wolf made a low growling sound, the mane on its neck standing up, its body leaning back, its front paws digging deep into the frozen ground, ready to pounce and bite Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's throat at any moment. With each step Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba took, Zhang Li felt his heart race faster by dozens of beats. He wanted to say something to stop him but didn't know what. All he could do was watch Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba get closer and closer to the wolf...
NOTES
1. The term "Buddhist scriptures" refers to the sacred texts of Buddhism, which include teachings, doctrines, and discourses attributed to the Buddha and his disciples.
2. The "Potala Palace" is a historic and architectural landmark in Lhasa, Tibet, and serves as a former residence of the Dalai Lama. It holds great cultural and religious significance in Tibetan Buddhism.
3. "Hoh Xil," also known as Kekexili, is a remote region in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known for its harsh climate and as one of the last undisturbed wilderness areas. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to many endangered species, including the Tibetan antelope.
4. The "golden eagle" (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the most powerful birds of prey in the world, known for its incredible strength, speed, and hunting prowess. In some cultures, it is considered a symbol of power and freedom.