Chapter 6 - The Mystery of the Notes

A wall of flames ignited in the long corridor, stretching over ten meters, blocking the hamsters' advance. Some of them still braved the fiery sea, but each was repelled by even fiercer flames, rolling and struggling until they became fuel for the fire, becoming part of it. Yet, the hamsters continued their relentless attempts to break through. Hu Yang cursed, "Damn it, can't kill you little bastards! Here, take this, and see what Grandpa can do!" He pulled a bottle resembling insecticide from Kirk's backpack and threw it into the swarm of rodents on the other side of the fire. Then, he took aim and shot the bottle with pinpoint accuracy. With a bang, a hiss followed, and a cloud of smoke spread out. The hamsters, smelling the gas, acted as if they had encountered a great enemy and fled in all directions. Watching the hamsters scatter, Hu Yang finally slumped to the ground, ignoring his sweat, taking deep breaths, and muttered, "So they really are afraid of this. Now we know, we know."

After sitting for a moment, Hu Yang jumped up again, grabbed Kirk by the collar, and shouted, "Where are Zhuo Muqiangba and Zhang Li? Where are they? Where are the others?"

Kirk stared blankly at Hu Yang, unable to answer for a while, clearly still not recovered from his panic. Hu Yang paced back and forth anxiously, suddenly realizing, "Damn it! They must have gone back the way we came. They don't have crampons or ice picks, and they don't know how to tie a safety rope. How could they cross the ice bridge?" He looked at the fire in front of him and the rodents fleeing into the distance, his eyes full of anxiety and worry. Finally, he made up his mind and said, "Let's go back and see if there's still a chance to save them."

Kirk's lips quivered, and he said with a sobbing tone, "Ah! We have to go back?"

Zhang Li's body spun halfway across the bridge, and Zhuo Muqiangba missed grabbing his arm, catching only the safety rope draped over Zhang Li's shoulder. He intended to steady himself and pull Zhang Li up but found himself leaning too far back, losing his balance, and slipping toward the other side of the ice bridge. Realizing the danger, Zhuo Muqiangba quickly looped the rope around his wrist while still tilting, not forgetting to remind Zhang Li, "Hold tight to the rope!"

The safety rope tightened between them, with both Zhuo Muqiangba and Zhang Li holding one end, suspended in mid-air, swaying back and forth. The rope stretched across the middle of the ice bridge, and when Zhuo Muqiangba fell, he wrapped the rope around his arm three or four times, and around his palm four times, firmly gripping it, making it difficult to fall. Zhang Li had wrapped the rope even tighter, looping it around both wrists, then twisting his wrists so that the rope formed a figure-eight shape around his wrists, with the end held in his hand, making it even harder to fall.

Zhuo Muqiangba was slightly heavier, but Zhang Li had some steel rods or similar items strapped to his back. The safety rope, like a pulley made of ice, balanced the two men perfectly. At that moment, if either of them failed to hold the rope, the other would fall with them. Below, a darker, colder undercurrent awaited them.

A cold wind blew, and Zhang Li looked up at the ice bridge, saying, "This is a 10.5 mm diameter waterproof ice climbing rope. I used it when I was an engineering soldier. It's very sturdy. It seems we won't fall for a while, but I don't know how long it will last. Unfortunately, the rope is too thin to climb up."

Zhuo Muqiangba, now more alert, asked, "What about them? Did you see them?"

"Them?" Zhang Li recalled, "I was in a panic at the time, just focused on running with you. But I didn't hear them scream, and when I turned the first corner, I felt that there were fewer hamsters behind me. I think..."

"Ah! That's great. They must have taken another route. Captain Hu seems experienced; they should be able to drive away the hamsters. Let's wait for them to come back and rescue us." Zhuo Muqiangba forced a smile, saying something he himself didn't quite believe. No one knew what had happened to the other two, but given their current situation, they could only console themselves.

Zhang Li smiled too. He looked up at the ice bridge and could clearly see the silhouettes of hamsters moving between the ice columns, gathering methodically. He joked, "There's no way out. If either of us lets go, we both fall. Even if we wanted to say something in our last moments, there would be no one to hear it."

Zhuo Muqiangba said, "Stop talking nonsense. Don't worry. I once asked the most famous fortune teller in the country to predict my fate. He said I'd be blessed until I'm fifty. If I'm not going to die, you'll be fine too. We just need to be patient and wait."

Zhang Li chuckled, "I'm sorry, but I once met a living Buddha in a temple. He told me not to get too close to ice and snow, or I might die without leaving a body. It seems his words have come true. I don't know if my bad luck is dragging you down, or if your good fortune is protecting me. I guess we'll see whose fate is stronger, Master Qiangba."

Zhuo Muqiangba became serious and said, "Relax, things aren't as bad as you think. If we keep holding on, we'll eventually be rescued."

Zhang Li apologized, "I'm really sorry. I think I'm dragging you down this time. I... I can't relax; this is already my limit." His last sentence came out through clenched teeth, which were audibly grinding, indicating he was at the end of his strength.

Zhuo Muqiangba thought, "How could Zhang Li, who has undergone special training, be so weak?" Then he noticed, under a beam of light, that Zhang Li's bandaged hand was soaked in blood, staining the white bandage completely red. The pain on Zhang Li's face made it clear he had been enduring the agony of his wound tearing open.

Using his left hand, Zhuo Muqiangba pulled himself up with great effort and looped the rope a couple more times around his right arm. He began to take deep breaths, calmly telling Zhang Li, "It's not time to give up yet, my special forces soldier. Hang in there for just another half minute; you must hold on!"

As Zhang Li swung close to him, Zhuo Muqiangba suddenly kicked him, sending them swinging in opposite directions. When they reached the end of their swing and started coming back together, Zhuo Muqiangba reached out, trying to grab Zhang Li. But the distance was still too far, and Zhang Li's hands were tied up with the rope. Zhuo Muqiangba could only barely touch Zhang Li with his extended foot; his arms couldn't reach. Even with this one kick, Zhang Li was in extreme pain, with sweat dripping from his forehead and freezing into ice on his face, forming ice beads on his nose and chin, which were then melted by his warm breath.

Zhuo Muqiangba was out of options, but he didn't give up. He decided to try again and told Zhang Li, "I'm going to try again. Are you ready? No matter how much it hurts, don't let go!"

Zhang Li lifted his legs to cooperate, and Zhuo Muqiangba pushed off against Zhang Li's foot. They swung apart again, then back together. The pain this time was excruciating. Zhang Li felt the rope dig deep into his flesh, pressing against his bones. His vision went black, knowing his hands were about to slip out of the rope loops. Just then, he felt a jolt, something catching him, and then a tightening around his arms as the loops on his wrists were grabbed by a large, strong hand.

Zhang Li opened his eyes and saw Zhuo Muqiangba spreading his legs, tightly clamping around his waist. Zhuo Muqiangba's muscular hands gripped the safety rope on each side, hanging like a swing under the ice bridge, except without a seat. Zhuo Muqiangba used all his strength to twist his left wrist several times, securing the rope more tightly, and told Zhang Li, "Quick, grab my legs! I can't hold on to you much longer."

Zhang Li immediately released his hands and used his shoulders and elbows to clamp onto Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's thighs. The two hung there in mid-air in a strange position, but they managed to stay suspended for the time being.

Each minute passed agonizingly slowly. With one person bearing the weight of two, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba felt the immense strain. He could feel every bone in his body on the verge of breaking, and his muscles were tightening like overstretched tendons; if one snapped, the rest would follow. The rope was digging into his flesh, and his blood seemed to be freezing. Both his arms had turned a dark, purplish color. He could feel the sensation in his hands slowly slipping away, and he knew he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer. Yet he refused to give up until every last ounce of his strength was exhausted.

Zhang Li looked up at Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba. From this angle, the burly man appeared even more imposing. His muscles seemed more perfect than those of David, resembling a mighty guardian. Seeing Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba lost in thought and his gaze unfocused, Zhang Li asked, "What are you thinking about, Qiang Ba?"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba gave a bitter smile, "I was wondering how Min Min is doing right now. Thank goodness she got sick and didn't come with us."

Zhang Li was silent for a moment before he finally said, "Rather than thinking about Min Min, shouldn't we focus on our current situation, Qiang Ba?"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba replied with difficulty, "I'll hold on until the very last second. Don't worry."

Zhang Li noticed Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's discolored arms and understood the situation. He also realized that if he let go first, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba might hold on for a few more minutes. After some thought, Zhang Li finally said, "Let go of me, Qiang Ba! You still have unfinished business, while I have just one small wish. Please tell my mother—"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba interrupted Zhang Li's plea angrily, raising his voice, "Shut up! Stop overthinking this. I will not let go unless we both fall together. I brought you to Kekexili; if we are to return, we return together. If not, then neither of us goes back. Whatever wishes you have, save them for later; telling me now is useless." His gaze was so resolute, his words so firm, that Zhang Li couldn't argue against them.

But Zhang Li had little hope left. The situation with Hu Yang and the others was unclear, and it was highly likely they were struggling to survive. Right now, both he and Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba were hanging by a thread, with the cannibalistic hamsters creeping ever closer. Danger was imminent. He knew all too well that if anyone were to come to their rescue, it would be a miracle. The idea of waiting for rescue was merely a way to comfort themselves. Both Zhang Li and Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba knew this in their hearts. Then, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba noticed the light dimming and muttered, "What is it? Is it getting cloudy?"

Zhang Li smiled helplessly and said, "They're coming, Qiang Ba. I think we should prepare ourselves."

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba looked up and saw the ice bridge above them covered in countless small feet. The hamsters had gathered, obscuring the entire bridge like a black monster with countless tentacles, ready to devour them, leaving nothing but bones. Zhang Li asked if they were ready, implying the moment when Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba would let go. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba replied jokingly, "Always ready!"

At this point, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba had two options: one, to hang there and be devoured by the hamsters, leaving nothing behind; or two, to let go and fall into the raging undercurrent, becoming a frozen corpse. There was no third option.

Zhang Li knew the final moment was approaching. He smiled and said to Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, "I'm glad to die with you, Qiang Ba. It's an honor to meet you in the last moments of my life. Back in Tibet, I heard many stories about you and wondered what kind of heroic figure could leave such epic tales on the plateau and earn such respect. Honestly, when I first met you, I thought you were just a tall, ordinary person. You didn't match the image I had in my mind, and I was disappointed for a while. But the more I got to know you, the more I discovered your qualities. Today, you've earned my respect, Qiang Ba. If the heavens give us another chance to live, I will follow you until the day I die."

Tears glistened in this iron-hearted man's eyes. Zhang Li felt incredibly brave this time, as a man expressing admiration and respect for another man required more courage than facing death with dignity before an enemy. Passion surged in his heart, his body felt hotter than ever. He had lived an ordinary life, but now he had suddenly found the meaning of his existence. Perhaps this was the reason why Qiang Ba pursued the mastiff so fervently. However, just as he discovered the meaning of life, it seemed to be ending. Zhang Li didn't know whether to feel content or reluctant.

It seemed like ages had passed. Zhang Li realized his body was still hanging in mid-air; he hadn't fallen. He glanced up at Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba and saw the mighty figure gritting his teeth, veins bulging from his forehead down to his neck. He was holding on and showed no intention of letting go. Above them, the hamsters were already there. Some were starting to gnaw at the safety rope, and the more daring ones were climbing down the sides.

"What are you waiting for, Qiang Ba?" Zhang Li asked.

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba gritted his teeth and said, "I don't know. Maybe it's because I refuse to accept this fate!" He was almost at his limit, his entire body trembling slightly from exertion. He turned his head laboriously to see a hamster about to crawl onto his arm. They stared at each other, one human, one beast. He muttered angrily, "To be eaten slowly by these seemingly weak creatures, it's just unacceptable!"

A hamster, finding this position secure, ran back and forth along Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's arms. Its tail brushed against his forehead, nose, and cheeks. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, furious, waited until the creature passed over his collar, then suddenly lowered his head and bit down on the hamster's head. The creature didn't even squeal before its neck snapped. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba spat the hamster far away, wiped his tongue, and spat out a mouthful of fur mixed with saliva, cursing, "If you want to eat me, it'll cost you your life!" But more hamsters were climbing down the rope. They had been starving all winter, and nothing could stop them from eating.

Seeing Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba struggle with his decision, Zhang Li suggested, "Why don't you let me go first, Qiang Ba? Otherwise, when people find our bodies frozen together like this thousands of years from now, who knows what they'll think?"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba hadn't expected Zhang Li to joke at a time like this. He laughed, "When people find our bodies a thousand years later, they'll probably think primitive humans in Kekexili practiced homosexuality."

Zhang Li also laughed but only managed a couple of chuckles before stopping. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's smile slowly faded as well. Finally, he said with resignation, "Alright, are you ready? Put on a smile, so people don't see us with pained expressions later."

Zhang Li forced a smile, and just then, a hissing sound filled the air as if gas was leaking. The hamsters, which had been so aggressive moments before, suddenly scattered in panic, turning around and fleeing in all directions. Many were pushed off the ice bridge by their companions, falling into the abyss below. As the hamsters cleared away, the sunlight shone through again. Zhang Li, unable to believe what was happening, murmured, "What's going on? What just happened?"

Then, a rough, familiar voice shouted, "Damn it, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, you better hold on tight! If you let go now, we're all done for!" This time, the voice sounded strangely comforting.

Hu Yang stood at the edge of the bridge and quickly understood their situation. He shouted, "Hold on for three more minutes! At least three minutes!" He swiftly took out a safety rope device from his bag, with Kirk assisting him. Together, they quickly secured the anchor bolts. Hu Yang pulled out a launcher and fired several ice screws with quick-attach rings into an ice beam. The screws were pre-fitted with pulleys, and soon, a pulley system with four fixed and four movable pulleys was set up. The safety rope was attached to a D-shaped carabiner and lowered down. Kirk anxiously said, "This is risky. If Zhang Li grabs the device, he might fall."

Hu Yang shouted, "There's no time! Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba can't hold on any longer." He aimed carefully and shouted, "Bite the rope, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba! You can do it, hold on tight!"

Kirk quickly lowered another rope with a harness attached. Zhang Li slipped his arms and upper body into the harness, separating himself from Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, who had been biting the rope and was almost pulled up, suddenly grabbed the rope again with his hands and shouted, "Wait! Lower me back down, lower… lower… slowly."

Hu Yang shouted, "What are you doing, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba! Can you still hang on?" Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba ignored him, hanging onto the rope with one hand while reaching for something on the rock wall beneath the bridge with the other. Only after securing it did he signal for them to pull him up.

It was only when both of them were safely back on the ground that Hu Yang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As soon as they landed, Kirk and Hu Yang administered first aid to both of them. Zhang Li had a simple laceration on his hand, which they bandaged with compression, but Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba was in much worse shape. His arms had been bound by the rope for too long, causing significant circulation issues. Hu Yang applied some medicine to improve blood flow, but despite everything, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's spirits remained the highest. He took out something he had retrieved from the rock wall and showed it to everyone. It was a cluster of crystals, a purplish-pink hue, but no one recognized it. Only Hu Yang mentioned he had seen something similar before, and that Lao Xiao might know. All three of them thought it was not worth it for Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba to risk going back down just for this. However, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba disagreed; he had his reasons. He tucked the crystal cluster close to his chest and let Hu Yang treat his arms, asking, "What did you use to scare them off?"

Hu Yang glanced at the insecticide-like can on the ground and explained, "It's a gas. It makes these hamsters afraid, but it doesn't kill them."

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba looked around. The black creatures hadn't retreated far; they were lurking at a distance, still eyeing the four men greedily. He glanced at the canister and sniffed the air forcefully but didn't detect any particular scent.

Hu Yang said, "Don't bother smelling it; our noses can't detect it."

Curious, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba asked, "What exactly is going on here? Captain, it seems like you know everything, like you were prepared for all of this."

Hu Yang replied, "You're right. This isn't my first time in a cave like this. Several years ago, we did a scientific expedition and discovered an ice cave in the mountains of Kekexili. Aside from not finding any murals, the rest of the experience was quite similar to this. There were eighteen of us in total, and only three made it out alive—me, Lao Xiao, and another guy, Lao Tan, who broke his back and could never do fieldwork again."

Kirk exclaimed, "Only three people made it back!"

Hu Yang said solemnly, "Yes. Lao Xiao and I have kept this part of our history hidden for a long time. As I mentioned earlier, three people fell into an icy river and froze to death, but ten were eaten alive by these devilish creatures."

"Ten people? What about the other two?" Kirk asked.

Hu Yang glared at him before continuing, "After we got back, I consulted several experts to see if these colony-dwelling hamsters had any natural enemies. The experts, after hearing my description, unanimously agreed that these pack-living hamsters were the nemesis of any large creature. There was likely nothing that could pose a direct threat to them. I then asked the experts how to deal with them. Most suggested using fire, but one expert gave me a tip. He said that lab mice, before they die, secrete a fluid that quickly evaporates into the air. He suggested I collect this air, as it was known that other mice, when they smelled it, would stay far away. He wasn't sure if it would work on hamsters, but today, it seems to have worked."

About ten minutes later, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba tried to gently move his curled fingers, and the color in his arms began to return to normal. He stood up, looking into the distance, and said, "But they haven't gone far; it looks like they're regrouping."

Hu Yang replied, "Yeah, the space here is too large, and the wind is dispersing the scent. Once this canister runs out, they might come after us again."

Kirk said, "That's too dangerous. We should leave now! Can you walk?" he asked Zhang Li, who nodded.

Hu Yang said, "It's too late. They move much faster in the cave than we do. If we go like this, we'll be caught before we're halfway out."

"Then what should we do?" Kirk asked anxiously, looking at his captain.

Hu Yang stroked his beard, clearly troubled, "There's only one way, and that is—"

"Blow this place up!" Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba interjected. "If we destroy the ice bridge and ice platform, the hamsters won't be able to climb across the ice wall."

Hu Yang nodded, though his expression showed reluctance. Kirk said, "But if we destroy it, we'll never see this beautiful ice chamber again."

Hu Yang shared the sentiment. He said, "Yes, these ice crystals have taken tens of millions of years to form. But at this moment, we can't worry about that. I'm no holy protector of nature; I might feel guilty, but life is more precious." He glanced at Zhang Li and added, "There are detonators and cluster bombs in the bag, sometimes used for geological surveys and mining. You should be familiar with how to use them, right?"

Zhang Li took one last look at the magnificent crystal chamber, a place he both loved and hated, and said coldly, "Let's do it."

After planting the explosives, Hu Yang pressed the remote from a distance. With a loud "boom," the ice platform, ice bridge, ice beams, and ice columns collapsed, plunging into the endless abyss below. The magnificent chamber was no more, and the hamsters were cut off from Hu Yang and the others by a vast chasm.

Standing at the edge of the cliff, Kirk lamented, "We'll never see it again; it's such a shame."

Zhang Li replied, "But we're safe now."

"No, we're not!" Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba insisted, "From the moment we stepped into the ice cave, I've felt we're in danger. Even now, that feeling hasn't disappeared; it's even stronger."

"Really? What kind of feeling? Why didn't I sense anything? Now the poachers are dead, and the hamsters are blocked off. What danger could there be?" Kirk was utterly confused.

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba maintained, "I can't explain it. It's just a feeling, or maybe an intuition. Every time, I can sense danger; there's no mistake about it."

Kirk mumbled, still skeptical, when Hu Yang spoke up, "I'm afraid he's right, Kirk. Don't forget, although we haven't had a direct confrontation with the poachers since entering the cave, you saw three or four poachers, yet we've only found two skeletons. Moreover, there were no bags, guns, or any other equipment around the skeletons. How do you explain that?"

Kirk suggested, "Maybe one of them fell into the deep ravine here."

Hu Yang countered, "Then why, in a cave where even the faintest breath echoes, didn't we hear any cries beforehand? If they fell, they would have screamed miserably!"

Kirk was left speechless. At this point, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba spoke, "They're still in the cave, but they're farther away from the hamsters than we are." He turned his gaze towards the narrow passage behind them. Suddenly, a flash of light and the sound of gunfire came from a distant cave, followed by a "crack" and then the echo of "boom, boom" above their heads.

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba quickly raised his head just in time to see a massive ice pillar plunging down from the dome. Without a second thought, he used a wrestling technique unique to the Tibetan region to accelerate in a short distance, pushing the three of them out of the way. The ice pillar crashed into the icy cliff, sending shards of ice flying. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba exclaimed, "Whoa!" as he got up, grabbed Kirk's gun, and chased after the fleeing figures.

Hu Yang and Kirk also got up from the ice. Hu Yang, panting heavily, said to Kirk, "You wanted to know how those two people died? They were crushed by these huge falling ice pillars, just like how Lao Tan's back got broken." Leaving Kirk with the command, "Take care of Zhang Li, I'm going to check it out," he followed Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba.

Kirk watched Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's retreating figure in amazement, exclaiming, "Wow, what is that big guy made of? Just a moment ago, he was on the brink of death, and now he's full of life again."

Zhang Li recalled a story the commander once told him, which ended with, "An enraged Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba charged at that beast, grabbing its horns and pounding its head with his giant fists—again and again, until that wild male yak roared in submission!"

Hu Yang, chasing from behind, saw Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba getting further and further away. He had to stop and catch his breath, muttering under his breath, "This guy is really going all out!"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba saw a tall, thin figure ahead, seemingly holding a gun and carrying another on his shoulder. The figure weaved left and right as if in his own home. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba charged after him, and just as he was about to catch up, another person suddenly emerged from a side cave, grabbing Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba around the waist! Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba felt as if his arms were bound by two steel hoops and couldn't move momentarily. From behind, he heard someone shout, "Quick, shoot!" The figure ahead, seemingly prepared, stopped and raised his gun as soon as Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba was restrained.

With a powerful burst of strength, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba broke free. The person holding him evidently hadn't expected someone to be stronger than himself, and his hands slipped off. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, without thinking, twisted his elbow back to press on the attacker's neck, turned his body sideways, and forcibly dragged the person from behind to in front of him. All of this happened in an instant, and in that same instant, a gunshot rang out. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba saw the person in front of him—a man with thick eyebrows and a scruffy beard—his eyes bulging like a dead fish, with blood gushing from his mouth. He was clearly done for. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba didn't have time to push the man away before he aimed and fired.

His own rifle, which was like an iron rod, had long disappeared somewhere. He was using Kirk's silenced submachine gun, but even after pulling the trigger several times, the gun didn't fire. The man ahead yelled something as he ran away. Hearing that Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's gun wasn't firing, he turned around and raised his gun again. But before he could shoot, there were two "bangs," and ice and rocks flew up beside him. The man ducked his head and ran further away. This time, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba heard clearly; the man was shouting obscenities.

Hu Yang came over with a smoking double-barreled shotgun, panting and saying to Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, "Huff—huff—first, release the safety, like this! Alright, now it's ready to fire!"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba was ready to give chase, but the dead man's grip was unnaturally tight, and Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba struggled twice without breaking free. Growing anxious, he grabbed the dead man's arms, twisted them slightly, and broke the arms without hesitation. Ignoring Hu Yang's wide-eyed shock, he charged ahead. The villagers of Dawanucuo knew an old saying: "Never enrage a herd of wild yaks—they become devils when enraged. And never enrage Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba—when he goes berserk, even devils tremble."

Hu Yang examined the dead man. The body slid down an icy slope into another cave, leaving a trail of blood on the ground. "Hey, huff—don't run so fast, huff—those gun wounds, they're... damn it, explosive rounds. Be careful; these guys are professional poachers!"

By the time he looked up again, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba was already far ahead.

"Unforgivable! Brutally slaughtering Tibetan antelope! Unforgivable! Even turning on their kind! And most unforgivable of all, using their own companions as bait!" Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba was furious! He moved like a fierce lion, his powerful muscles propelling him through the cave like a hunting leopard. No matter how the figure ahead zigzagged, he locked onto his target, darting through cave after cave, corridor after corridor, undeterred by the freezing frost or flying ice shards. Nothing could stand in his way. Blood debts needed to be paid in blood.

The figure ahead seemed to sense the terrifying power of the massive body chasing him. He tried to use his familiarity with the terrain and sharp turns to escape, occasionally firing wild shots, but with no aim whatsoever. Who knows how long the chase lasted, but Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and the blue sky grew larger before his eyes. He realized he had chased the poacher out of the ice cave. That poacher was indeed familiar with the terrain, finding an escape route so easily. This made Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba even angrier. They clearly knew the escape route, yet stayed inside the cave. Their intention was obvious—they wanted to use the cave's dangers to permanently bury the research team in the untouched glacier. But why? Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried.

Outside the ice cave, the snow was thick. The poacher wasn't moving smoothly either. As Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba closed in, he didn't hesitate to raise his gun and fire. The silenced submachine gun went "tut-tut-tut," but the bullets scattered, not hitting the poacher once. The ammo was quickly spent. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba looked at the submachine gun in surprise, wondering how the bullets ran out so fast when he had hardly fired any. He wasn't used to these lightweight weapons with no recoil. When he practiced shooting, he preferred using a Browning Hi-Power pistol, appreciating its weight, power, and the feel of its grip. He even had an Israeli Desert Eagle in his collection. But with this small submachine gun, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba felt nothing when pulling the trigger. The 20 rounds emptied in an instant, and the poacher turned to counterattack.

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba rolled into the snow, using a natural snowbank as cover. Snow flew everywhere. Seeing clearly that Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba was out of bullets, the poacher boldly moved closer. Suddenly, something flew out from behind an ice rock, knocking the gun out of his hand—it was the submachine gun Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba had thrown. Though he couldn't shoot accurately with the gun, his throw was both precise and steady. Taking advantage of the moment before the poacher could retrieve the rifle slung over his back, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba leapt like a tiger, tackling the man to the ground.

However, wrestling on snow was different from fighting on solid ground. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba had expected to pin the poacher down firmly, but instead, his push forced the man deeper into the snow. The poacher seized the opportunity to roll away, and in his panic, kicked some snow into Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's face. Half-kneeling in the snow, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba didn't stand up but lunged again. The poacher rolled away once more, and Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba missed again.

The two wrestled in the snow. The poacher was strong and familiar with the snowy terrain. Several times, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba managed to pin him down, but each time, the poacher cunningly escaped. The snow was very slippery, making it hard for Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba to maintain his balance and use his wrestling techniques effectively. The poacher, on the other hand, used the conditions to his advantage. As they continued their stalemate, the poacher suddenly jumped back two steps, trying to lure Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba forward. Unaware of the trap, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba took a step, only for the ground beneath him to give way. Realizing too late that he had stepped into an ice trap, his entire lower body plunged into the hole.

Remaining calm in the face of danger, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba immediately stretched out his arms, wedging his body across the ice pit to prevent himself from falling further. While he managed to stop his descent, he found himself unable to move.

The poacher crunched through the snow towards Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, crouching before him. He had thick eyebrows, narrow eyes, a dark complexion, a small mustache, and wore a felt hat. White puffs of breath escaped from his mouth as he sneered, "You killed my brother! I want to tear you to pieces to quench the hatred in my heart!" It turned out that the man who had been holding onto Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba earlier was his brother; the two looked somewhat alike.

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba sneered back, "You should go join your brother."

The poacher's reaction was unexpectedly quick. Sensing something off in Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba's eyes, he immediately rolled to the side. With a bang, a blast from the shotgun kicked up a spray of snow where he had just been. The poacher, not bothering to retaliate, scrambled and slid down the snow slope, fleeing far away.

Hu Yang approached with his double-barreled shotgun, cursing, "Damn it, this thing only fires one shot before you have to reload. Otherwise, that guy wouldn't have gotten away. Here, let me pull you up—you're really heavy!"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba asked, "Why did you take so long?"

Hu Yang replied, "Unlike your impulsive self, I had to leave markers along the way. Otherwise, how would Kirk and the others find us? But thankfully, everyone survived." He fumbled in his pocket for a while and finally pulled out a crumpled half-pack of cigarettes, squeezing out a stick and offering it to Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba shook his head to decline, so Hu Yang lit one for himself, and they waited at the cave entrance for Kirk and Zhang Li.

Hu Yang fiddled with the walkie-talkie, chuckling wryly, "I don't know if it's broken, but why is there still no signal?"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba suggested, "Maybe we're too far out. We don't even know how far we've traveled inside the glacier—the sky has already turned dark."

Looking despondent, Hu Yang asked, "What do you think about this group of people?"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba replied, "They were clearly not fleeing in panic. They deliberately lured us into the glacier cave. It seems they were determined to kill us, but I can't figure out why."

Taking a deep drag on his cigarette and gazing into the distance where a crescent moon hung low in the sky, Hu Yang muttered, "They're fox wolves!"

"Fox wolves? Your brother?" Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba asked, puzzled.

Choked by the smoke, Hu Yang coughed violently for a while before regaining his breath, waving his hands, "Not 'Hu' as in the surname, but 'Hu' as in 'fox.' They're called 'Fox Wolves,' a term used by the Kekexili mountain patrol over the past decade to describe a special group of poachers. They're elusive, cunning as foxes, ruthless, and greedy like wolves. Ten years ago, several major cases of poaching Tibetan antelope were discovered, drawing significant attention from national authorities, who sent many experienced patrol teams for large-scale searches. Yet, they found nothing. But they were certain that a group of such people had been operating in the no-man's land of Kekexili for a long time. These people are not like ordinary poachers; they are highly organized and disciplined. Worse still, they seem to have lived in the no-man's land for so long that they're more familiar with Kekexili's terrain than the patrol teams. According to some patrol team members' sightings, there were initially only two or three people, about five seven years ago, and five years ago, they had grown to between ten and twenty. Now, the exact number is hard to say. But judging by the food waste left at their poaching sites, there are about ten people involved in each operation. Initially, when they encountered patrols or scientific teams, they would flee in panic. But as their numbers grew, so did the sophistication of their weapons. Now, they're almost fearless of the patrol teams. Instead, the patrol members feel increasingly at risk during every mission. Particularly this year, patrol teams or even entire teams have occasionally disappeared in Kekexili, leaving no bodies or traces."

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba said, "Perhaps they've all been buried in these caves."

"Ah!" Hu Yang looked at Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba in shock. This idea had never crossed his mind before. He recalled that the first time he entered an ice cave, his research team was also drawn in by some strange clues. He muttered, "Could it really be like this? Are they using the complex cave terrain and hidden dangers to kill off patrol and research teams?"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba sat up straight, tapping his finger thoughtfully, "Is it possible? Think about it—they're targeting patrol and research teams, all people who combat poaching and protect Tibetan antelope. If they could create a region that gives off an eerie sense of doom, making it seem like anyone who enters can't come out alive, then for their poaching..."

"...that area's antelope could be hunted at will!" Hu Yang stared incredulously at Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba.

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba spread his hands, "I'm just speculating."

Hu Yang replied, "No, your theory has merit. They might indeed think this way. As their numbers grow, they're bound to encounter patrol teams. To poach safely, they need to designate an area where even patrols dare not venture—a critical path for migrating antelope. Then, they could poach at will."

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba asked, "But how did you know they were from the 'Fox Wolves' and not just ordinary poachers?"

Hu Yang explained, "Certain details reminded me of the Fox Wolves. Their familiarity with the terrain is clear. They weren't just running away; they were trying to kill us, proving they're not ordinary poachers but desperate criminals. That's ruthless. They stayed silent while leading us into the caves, showing patience. Sacrificing their comrades to lure us into the cave filled with mice—that's vicious. Ruthless, patient, and vicious—it must be the Fox Wolves. Also..." He picked up a poacher's assault rifle, removed the magazine, and took out a bullet. "These are explosive rounds. Unlike regular bullets, they consist of a shell and a bullet core. When hitting a target, there's a slight delay between the shell and core impact, compressing like a spring until it explodes. These are highly lethal rounds. Even if they don't hit a vital spot, they can cause massive internal damage. Poachers need intact antelope skins, so these bullets are ideal. But such bullets are hard to come by, so regular poachers wouldn't use them."

Finally, Zhang Li and Kirk emerged from the cave. Kirk let out a sigh of relief, exclaiming, "We finally made it out."

Zhang Li, his energy somewhat restored, asked, "Where are they?"

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba replied, "One ran away, and one is dead." He suddenly asked Hu Yang, "Do you also think those two who were killed by the mice were their comrades?"

Hu Yang nodded, "Yes, from what Kirk saw, that seems to be the case. Maybe they were new recruits or suspected traitors. Anyway, their methods are too ruthless. Even if it were to execute a traitor, they wouldn't need to use such cruel means."

Zhang Li pondered for a moment before understanding, but Kirk was still confused, asking, "What are you guys talking about?"

Hu Yang said, "What we're discussing now isn't important. Our top priority is to find a way to contact Old Xiao and the others. Do you have a signal on your walkie-talkie?"

Kirk replied, "No. Should we try to circle around and look for them?"

Hu Yang said, "No! It looks like another blizzard is coming. In this icy wilderness, searching for people will only lead to more deaths. We should take shelter in this cave for now." He kicked at the cave entrance, lamenting, "Why couldn't this cave slope downwards instead?"

The four of them lit a bonfire in the cave. Apart from the fire, there was nothing else to be seen. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba sat against the ice wall, finding it amusing. It seemed like fate had brought about a strange cycle. Zhang Li, holding a rifle, remarked, "The poachers' rifle looks quite similar to a Hungarian AMD rifle, with handles at both ends and a magazine in the middle. However, the caliber is slightly larger than the AMD's, probably due to the use of explosive rounds. These firearms are self-assembled, not from an armory, but without a doubt, the person who modified these guns is an expert. The bullets were purchased, likely sourced from Russia."

Kirk added, "If it had been Zhang Li holding the submachine gun instead of Brother Qiang, that guy would never have gotten away."

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba suddenly turned to look at Kirk, his deep gaze suggesting he had thought of something else. He asked, "The Fox Wolves aren't just four people. If one of them escapes, could it be..."

"Exactly. That's why we have to be prepared..." Hu Yang pointed to the two bonfires at the entrance of the cave. "I had little gasoline left in the flamethrower. Why light two fires? First, it's an agreed-upon signal between me and Old Xiao—three bonfires in a triangular formation in the wild means it's me. Second, it can mislead the enemy into thinking there are more of us than there actually are."

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba laughed, "When I first saw you, Captain Hu, I thought you were a rough man. But now, I see you're quite strategic."

Hu Yang responded modestly, "It's not about strategy; it's just a bit of experience. When you've brushed shoulders with death a few times, you become more cautious in everything you do. But Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, to be honest, you have a natural talent for adventure. Your physical strength is obvious, but it's not just that. Take Zhang Li, for example. He's a special forces officer trained extensively. His reflexes and skills are far above those of an ordinary person. Yet, in an unfamiliar environment, his adaptability and courage don't match yours. That instinctive reaction to danger is innate—it's not something that can be taught. Very few people have this ability. You're just over forty, in your prime. Your business is already thriving. What's the point of living a repetitive life day after day? Why not join our scientific expedition team? We conduct research in challenging terrains, and we could really use someone with your skills."

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba widened his eyes, then smiled after a moment, saying, "I'll think about it carefully after we return." He pondered, "Should I tell this captain about what I'm currently involved in?" After a moment's thought, he decided against it and shook his head.

Just before the fire was about to go out, Old Xiao and the others found them. They discovered that they were nearly eight kilometers away from the cave they had first entered. Old Xiao's team hadn't encountered any problems. After listening to Hu Yang and the others' experiences, they felt a sense of relief. When they heard Hu Yang mention that the DV camera had fallen into the cave and been burned, and that the frozen spectacle had been blown up, they slapped their thighs in regret. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba seized the opportunity to show the crystal cluster he had collected by the cliff to Old Xiao. After examining it, Old Xiao said, "This is jade from Kekexili. There are many volcanic rock formations here, and the dissolved copper, zinc, tin, cobalt, nickel, selenium, and manganese form these crystals. This is a common type, though the color is quite special. This is the Kunlun Mountains, and Kunlun jade is also world-renowned. If you could find a piece of high-quality Kunlun jade, now that would be a treasure." Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba smiled slightly, satisfied with this.

The team camped in the wild for the night, and nothing new happened. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba stayed at the base camp for a few more days, but the Fox Wolves never showed up again. A few days later, they finally reached their destination—Leiktag Rescue Station, accompanied by the supply team.

Hu Yang, anxious to report the unexpected events of the expedition, needed to go to the Golmud Nature Reserve Station to communicate with the outside world. He also joined them in the vehicle. Pointing out the window, Hu Yang explained, "Once we go around this small hill, we'll see the Leiktag Rescue Station. It serves as both a protection and supply transit station. Around the corner, you can also see some large frozen tents, which are a unique form of permafrost on the plateau. You won't see this anywhere else."

Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba, eager to find the notebook that could guide their way or to see Tang Min after being apart for several days, rolled down the car window, letting the cold air rush in. He took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Min Min is just on the other side of the hill. She's coming to meet us. I can feel it!"

Zhang Li thought, "Isn't that a bit over the top? There's no such thing as two hearts beating as one. It seems like Young Master Qiang is deeply infatuated."

As the car passed the hill, the mudbrick buildings of the Leiktag Rescue Station came into view. Standing there in the biting wind, eagerly looking out, was none other than Tang Min! She was wrapped in a snow-white silver fox fur, waving her arms gracefully like a swan dancing in the wind. Unable to wait for the car to reach her, Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba threw open the door and jumped out, running towards Tang Min, shouting her name. Watching the two lovers embrace, Hu Yang felt transported back to his youth, to a time of passionate fervor.

The two of them held each other tightly, exchanging words of love that they never grew tired of, feeling the heartbeat that proved they were alive. It seemed they had to stay this close, heart to heart, to truly feel alive. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba wiped the tears from Tang Min's face, gently caressing her snow-white cheeks, examining her as if he could never look enough. His expression was one of someone who feared losing what they cherished, holding something precious in their hands and being afraid it would melt if kept in their mouth. "Ahem!" Hu Yang, who usually ignored matters of romance, had a question that was burning inside him. He asked, "Young lady, let me ask you, why did you take them on the route across Kekexili? Who did you follow last time? Don't you know how dangerous that route is? You barely made it through."

Tang Min stared at Hu Yang in shock. This burly man with a fierce-looking beard seemed like a bandit from an old movie. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba quickly explained that Captain Hu Yang of the expedition team had saved their lives, and Tang Min replied innocently, "I didn't know that route would be so dangerous. The first time I came to Kekexili, I followed a convoy from Zhidoi County, and everything seemed fine."

Hu Yang asked, "Which convoy?"

Tang Min answered, "I don't know, but their leader was named Rong Zawangmu. He was very friendly."

"Oh!" Hu Yang slapped his thigh, exclaiming, "No wonder you took that route. Rong Zawangmu is known as the Wind of Kekexili. The Qinghai Geological Research Team knows Kekexili like the back of their hand. They conduct surveys here in the spring and spend the entire summer in Kekexili. That explains it. You were lucky this time, but I hope you won't take such risks again. Well, I'll be off now. You can stay here for a few more days until you've fully recovered. This place serves as a transit station for supply teams. There are enough provisions in the warehouse to last you a year or more." Without further ado, Hu Yang left. Zhuo Mu Qiang Ba watched Hu Yang's departing figure and said to Tang Min, "Don't be fooled by Captain Hu's gruff exterior. He's actually a good person with lots of experience in field expeditions. By the way, how have you been these past few days..."

From the doorway of the rescue station, Zhang Li shouted, "Can we talk inside? The wind is really strong out here!"

The rescue station was manned by just three people. Dr. Ding Ming and Dr. Lu Li, a married couple from Qinghai, had volunteered to work in this desolate place for six years out of their boundless love for Kekexili. There was also a doctor named Chen Chen, who had also volunteered to come here. Next to the rescue station was the protection station, where three groups of mountain patrol teams took turns staying. In fact, they could all be considered as one unit, as supply convoys also made stops here, delivering supplies every three months, except when the roads were blocked by snow in winter, which extended to a half-year interval.

A steaming cup of yak butter tea warmed their bodies as Zhuo Mu Qiangba and Zhang Li listened to Dr. Ding Ming and Tang Min's account inside the room. It turned out that Tang Min had just recently recovered and had been in a semi-conscious state for the first three days. The mountain patrol team had set out five days ago and could sometimes be gone for three to five days, or even up to half a month, without returning. After her condition improved, Tang Min had been waiting anxiously for the mountain patrol team and for Zhuo Mu Qiangba's group to return.

The three doctors at the rescue station had not seen the notebook Tang Min mentioned. They had been involved in the rescue of Tang Tao, and recalling the situation back then, Dr. Ding Ming still felt a chill. "His strength was almost completely drained, yet he was struggling desperately, truly fighting for his life. I never understood what could frighten a person to such an extent. And the mountain patrol members who brought him back, each one of them had a frozen, ghostly expression, as if they had seen something terrifying. Later, I kept asking about it, but they all refused to talk about it. Eventually, I managed to get a few words from one of the mountain patrol members I was treating. Apparently, back then, Tang Tao's car was something that gave people a spine-chilling feeling."

"Spine-chilling!" Zhang Li pondered over the phrase, thinking, "What kind of car could make people feel such a sense of horror?"

"I'm not exaggerating in the slightest; that's exactly what they told me. They also asked me not to press further, saying they didn't want to recall the incident, nor did they want to instill fear in others," Dr. Ding said, glancing at the three travelers. The unease and eeriness in his eyes were enough to send chills down their spines.

"Alright, alright, we just heard about it and don't actually know what happened. Come on, have some more to drink. I think the mountain patrol team should be back in a few days. You all should rest up, and I'll prepare some beds for you. To be honest, it's been a long time since we've had this much excitement here," Lu Li spoke with a gentle voice. Living in such a place, she always had a smile on her face. She and her husband were both full of enthusiasm for life.

"Beep beep!" The sound of a car horn made everyone in the room stand up. Lu Li exclaimed, "Oh my, speak of the devil, here they are! It must be the team led by Captain Ma that you're looking for."

Ma Zhanhao, with his thick eyebrows, fierce eyes, broad nose, and a face blackened like coal, had hands as tough as steel. You could tell at a glance that he was a tough, bold man. After taking a few sips of barley wine, his coal-black face slowly turned a little red. "What did you say you were looking for?" Captain Ma's voice was deep and gruff, sounding like someone speaking from inside a jar. "A notebook? We're all rough men here; no one keeps a diary."

Tang Min said anxiously, "But there must be one! Think carefully. It's a black leather notebook, thicker than usual, like a book…"

"What… what did you say? Say it again!" Ma Zhanhao's expression suddenly tensed up. Pointing at Tang Min, he stammered slightly, "You… you mean a notebook wrapped in black leather, embossed with gold letters, about… about this thick?"

Tang Min, excited, said, "Yes, yes, that's my brother's notebook! You've seen it, haven't you? You must have seen it, right?"

Unexpectedly, Ma Zhanhao grabbed Tang Min's hand and demanded sharply, "That… that's the notebook! That notebook belonged to your brother! You need to tell me right now—what's the story behind that notebook? What is it exactly? What's going on with it?"

Tang Min, taken aback by his sudden outburst, didn't know what to do. Zhuo Mu Qiangba gently pulled Tang Min closer, holding Ma Zhanhao's wrist tightly. Zhang Li noticed Ma Zhanhao's agitation and tried to calm him down, saying, "Let's talk this through, Captain Ma. There's no need to get so worked up. What exactly happened? Please, tell us."

Ma Zhanhao pulled his hand away from Tang Min and then grabbed Zhang Li's arm with great force, saying, "Do you understand? Do you know that thing has already caused five deaths?"

The three of them exchanged confused looks. Zhuo Mu Qiangba asked, "What exactly happened?" Dr. Ding and Lu Li also came over to comfort Ma Zhanhao, who finally calmed down a bit.

Ma Zhanhao sorrowfully recalled, "The first time I saw that thing, it was in Duiwang's possession. During that time, I noticed that this team member of mine seemed somewhat detached. Whether we were out on a mountain patrol or back at camp, he always liked to sit alone in one spot. You know, this kind of behavior in a mountain patrol team is extremely dangerous. Kekexili is full of wild beasts, and poachers roam like ghosts. Straying too far from the group could make one an easy target for beasts and poachers. I scolded him to rejoin the team and saw that he was always looking at that black object. I always thought it was a book. Then one time, I harshly reprimanded him in camp and demanded he hand over that black book, but he refused to admit having it. To avoid affecting team cohesion, the matter was brushed off, and I didn't punish him. But… but… but the next morning, we found his frozen corpse in the snow in front of the camp."

Zhang Li straightened up and asked, "How did he die?"

Captain Ma looked at Dr. Ding, who explained, "After examining Duiwang's body, no obvious injuries or internal ailments were found. He froze to death."

When Duiwang's body was discovered, it was already half-buried in snow, his half-open mouth silently screaming something. His clothes, for some reason, were left in the tent. In the frigid nights of Kekexili, where temperatures drop to dozens of degrees below zero, anything could freeze stiff. Ma Zhanhao deeply regretted his actions. Perhaps he shouldn't have scolded Duiwang; he was a good team member, gone without a sound. Even now, recalling the incident, Ma Zhanhao still felt guilty. He buried his face in his hands, and after a long pause, he continued, "The second was Chen Yongjun. This big man from the northeast forged an iron-clad friendship with Duiwang during a pursuit of poachers in his second year with the mountain patrol team. After Duiwang's death, I didn't see that black book—oh, notebook—and at that time, I didn't pay much attention to it. But Chen Yongjun's behavior became evasive. He seemed to want to say something every time he saw me but remained silent in the end. Initially, I thought he was just mourning Duiwang. But then, the next day, while patrolling, I clearly saw him hiding that notebook in his chest. I even suspected he might have killed Duiwang for it, but I couldn't believe he would kill his Tibetan friend, with whom he shared life and death, over a notebook. Who could have known that the next night, Chen Yongjun was also found frozen to death, and the notebook disappeared again."

Two team members dead within two days; this was a strange occurrence. Ma Zhanhao immediately ordered a return to the station to investigate thoroughly. Just as the order was issued, three more team members went missing. Ma Zhanhao was shocked. Unable to contact the missing team members by radio, they had to split up to search. In the end, another team reported that they saw the three missing members entering an ice cave! According to the report, they caught up with the three members, but when they called out, the three not only didn't stop but ran faster, heading into the ice cave, where the team dared not follow. The three were seen glancing at a black leather-covered book while running, leaving everyone puzzled.

"You know, no one who has ever entered the ice cave has come out alive. So I have to ask you, Miss Tang, what exactly is written in that notebook? Why did it cause my five team members to either die or disappear? Can you tell me?" Ma Zhanhao demanded loudly.

Tang Min timidly replied, "There's nothing special! It's just my brother's travel journal… it just records his travel experiences, really nothing more! I'm deeply sorry about what happened to your team members, but it definitely has nothing to do with my brother's notebook."

"How can it have nothing to do with it? They were all looking at it!" Ma Zhanhao was not satisfied with Tang Min's answer. Zhuo Mu Qiangba and Zhang Li exchanged glances, realizing that perhaps only they understood the situation, as they were also survivors of the ice cave.

Zhang Li murmured, "So it seems that the notebook disappeared along with the three missing mountain patrol members."

Zhuo Mu Qiangba gently tugged on Tang Min's sleeve, signaling her not to argue with Ma Zhanhao. Zhang Li then said some words to comfort Ma Zhanhao before asking, "How long after you found Tang Tao did this happen?"

Ma Zhanhao replied, "About a month later."

Zhang Li shifted the topic, "By the way, Captain Ma, I heard that after you found Tang Tao, you also located his vehicle. It's said that his car looked terrifying at the time. Could you tell us more about it?"

Ma Zhanhao suddenly trembled, his eyes wide with fear, and asked, "Why are you asking about this? What do you want to know?"

Zhang Li pointed at Tang Min and said, "This is Tang Tao's younger sister. She wants to know more about her brother's situation at the time. The doctor said it would be helpful for Tang Tao's recovery."

Ma Zhanhao looked at Tang Min with a mix of doubt and suspicion, then glanced at Zhuo Mu Qiangba, who was standing close to her, and said in a low voice, "Alright, but I'll only tell the two of you." Zhang Li and the doctor wisely stepped aside to give them some space.

In a deep voice, Ma Zhanhao said, "I can tell you what I saw that day, but it's up to you how to interpret it. All I know is, I'm telling the truth."

Tang Min nodded, and Ma Zhanhao continued, "When we found your brother, he kept repeating the same thing over and over: 'They're coming, they're coming!' The terror on his face is something I will never forget. At the time, we thought he had encountered the 'Fox Wolves' in Kekexili. Do you know about the Fox Wolves? They're a poaching gang." Zhuo Mu Qiangba nodded, indicating that he was familiar with them, and Ma Zhanhao continued, "Although he looked exhausted and seemed to have traveled a long distance, it's impossible for someone to just wander around Kekexili on foot. We knew he must have had a vehicle, but we had no idea where it was. Part of our team took him back to the rescue station, while the rest of us continued along our patrol route. Two days later, we finally found your brother's vehicle, far away from where he was, and that car—it was unforgettable!"

Ma Zhanhao licked his dry lips and said, "It was covered in damage, as if it had flipped over multiple times. But what was truly terrifying was that it looked like it had just been washed, as if washed in blood. The windows, doors, windshield, tires—everywhere you could touch was smeared with blood. The dried blood emitted a nauseating smell. When we inspected the car further, we discovered something even more horrifying: it seemed like something had clawed and bitten the vehicle. The steel bars on the front and rear bumpers were bent out of shape as if gnawed on, and the car's body was covered in scratch marks—claw marks. The back seats were completely shredded, and there were three layers of steel mesh between the driver's seat and the back, all twisted and deformed. It was then that we realized this wasn't just about the Fox Wolves—it was some kind of animal. It seemed that Tang Tao had brought some kind of animal with him, and they had escaped from the car. When we checked his vehicle, we found it had been modified with four fuel tanks, with a total capacity of about 500 liters—enough to drive over 2,000 kilometers. We had no idea where he had come from. Damn, once you see that scene, you'll never forget it—it was gruesome and bizarre."

Tang Min curled up in Zhuo Mu Qiangba's arms and whispered, "I don't want to hear anymore."

Zhuo Mu Qiangba nodded in agreement, ending Ma Zhanhao's long-winded and somewhat incoherent account. He realized that while this captain might be excellent at leading a team, it would take days for him to clearly explain what they saw that day. Moreover, knowing that there would be no new developments regarding the notebook, Zhuo Mu Qiangba's only thought now was to leave this place and return to Lhasa before the weather worsened further. The three of them couldn't even wait for lunch and requested to leave immediately. The mountain patrol team assigned a vehicle and two seasoned team members to escort them.

As Zhuo Mu Qiangba and his group were departing, deep in the uninhabited area of Kekexili, inside a cave at the base of a cliff, about a dozen people were gathered, discussing something. Seated at the center, high above the rest, was a man with a crew cut and a fierce-looking face marked by a scar running from the corner of his left eye to his ear, making him appear even more vicious than the others. His triangular eyes glared like sharp knives, scrutinizing every person seated below him. "How many times have I told you all not to act on your own? During the Tibetan antelope's winter migration, the mountain patrol teams are at their most vigilant. They deploy more than twice the usual number of patrols. Now, Bull Dashan and his three men have been gone for a long time without any word. Can anyone tell me what happened?" His voice was like the screech of an owl in the night, and those below, whether standing or sitting, shivered with fear, not daring to utter a sound.

"A bunch of idiots! Four of them dared to act on their own, and they even took two rookies with them. If they're all dead, fine, but if the mountain patrol caught them, hmm..." The man laughed, his scar twitching involuntarily, making those watching feel a chill run down their spines.

"Ah, the environment here is quite nice. It's windy and snowy outside, but inside this cave, it's as warm as spring," said a voice in broken Chinese. Immediately, two burly, bearded men guarding the cave entrance rushed out. Shortly after, sounds of a scuffle echoed inside the cave: "Who goes there?!" "What are you doing?!" "Stay still!"

Soon, a man was pushed inside, his arms twisted behind him by the two burly guards. The man on the left said, "Boss, should we get rid of him?"

The man with the triangular eyes looked at the blonde man wearing sunglasses. The stranger was clad in a uniform resembling that of the Moscow Red Square Honor Guard. His height and build far exceeded those of his captors. Bent over, with a mocking smile, the blonde man asked in clumsy Chinese, "Is this how you treat your guests?" Though his Chinese was grammatically correct, his pronunciation was awkward, as if he were speaking with stones in his mouth.

The blonde man suddenly stretched as if waking up from a nap, straightening up and effortlessly lifting the two burly men off their feet like they were nothing more than chicks. Despite their best efforts to restrain him, they were tossed several meters away as if they were clutching onto a steel pole. Witnessing the stranger's strength, the others in the cave began readying themselves for a fight, brandishing knives and guns. The blonde man sneered in disdain.

"Stop, you bunch of fools!" the man with the triangular eyes commanded, halting his men. He knew that if this outsider had reached them unscathed, the lookout, Lei Bo, must have already been subdued. Few in their group could best Lei Bo. The leader scrutinized the tall foreigner and asked, "You're not here on vacation, are you?"

The blonde man casually pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and leisurely blew out a smoke ring. "I recently came to Kekexili for some fun and happened to hear about a group of poachers called the Fox Wolves who were very active around here. I've been curious to meet you."

The man with the triangular eyes half-closed his left eye in suspicion. "Cut the crap. Since you found us, state your business."

The blonde man replied, "Alright, I'll tell you. I'm planning a big job but don't have enough hands. I need some tough and sharp people to join in. The Chinese government has been tightening its control over Kekexili in recent years, so your earnings will only dwindle. If you work with me, I promise you won't have to live this on-the-run lifestyle, always looking over your shoulder, for the rest of your days."

The man with the triangular eyes asked cautiously, "What kind of job?"

The blonde man smiled, "You might not believe it when I say it, but we operate on the edge of legality. You could say it's perfectly legitimate. We go looking for things that have been abandoned and sell them off."

The man with the triangular eyes chuckled mockingly, "You mean grave robbing?"

The blonde man thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "You could call it that, but it's not entirely accurate. We're just taking things, and they're not exactly from graves. Graves have owners; what we're taking doesn't belong to anyone."

The man with the triangular eyes said, "If it's that easy, why do you need us?"

The blonde man tapped his forehead, took a few steps forward, and said, "Ah, it's like this—the things inside are free for the taking, but getting there is tough. Only people like you, who have lived in the harsh environment of Kekexili for years, are up to the task."

The man with the triangular eyes growled, "Cut the bullshit. Tell me, where is it, how many people do you need, and how much do we get when the job's done?"

The blonde man waved his hands repeatedly and stepped closer, saying, "Don't be hasty. I'm afraid you might be shocked if I tell you. The place hasn't been fully explored yet, but it's roughly in the southeastern part of the Himalayas." He looked at the man with the triangular eyes with a half-smile.

A chill ran through the man with the triangular eyes, and the old wound on his face started to throb. He thought to himself, "Could it be? Is he actually planning to go there? How much does he know? What exactly does he know?"

The blond man took a large step forward, coming right up to Ximi. Standing nearly a head taller than Ximi, he had to lean down to whisper in Ximi's ear, "You seem very nervous. It appears you know about that place." Then, switching to English, he uttered a single word: "Spider-Men."

Ximi flinched violently, staring up in shock at the imposing blond man, momentarily rendered speechless. The blond man then addressed the surrounding thugs, saying, "As for the payment, well, that's hard to say right now, but I think each person should be able to earn... a few million."

The crowd erupted into noise. "Damn it, speak clearly! Is it thousands or millions?" "Speak properly, damn it! Think before you talk—what's all this foreign gibberish?" "Don't expect us to risk our lives without a clear answer!"

"Millions," the blond man replied smoothly with a smile.

Upon hearing that figure, the wolf-like group grew feverish with excitement, their ears ringing, eyes brightening, and each one drawing a sharp breath. They silently calculated—millions, millions! What a number that is, what could be done with it? Cars, houses, women—there would be nothing they couldn't have.

The blond man added, "Of course, the minimum currency unit will have to be euros, or maybe it could be pounds."

The gang members looked around in confusion again. Millions of euros—what does that even mean? How much is that in yuan?

Ximi could no longer contain himself. The exchange rate between euros and yuan was roughly one to nine, so millions of euros would equate to at least several tens of millions in yuan. However, he also knew very well the dangers of that place—nothing but death awaited there. What could this man possibly find there? Could his words be trusted? After all, this was someone who didn't even dare to reveal his name. Coldly, Ximi asked, "Who are you? Why should we trust what you say?"

The blond man had finished his cigarette. He tossed it to the ground and crushed it with his heavy, steel-plated boot, then straightened up like a soldier. Removing his sunglasses, he revealed his icy blue eyes, which sparkled with a sinister gleam like that of a venomous snake. With a smile, he said, "My name is Mo Jin."

"Mo Jin? Who is that?" Ximi repeated the name several times in his mind, finding it unfamiliar. His followers were equally puzzled. However, Ximi responded, "I'm the leader of these Fox Wolves. My name is Ximi."

"Oh." Many in the crowd exclaimed in surprise. Despite having followed their leader for a long time, they had never known the real name of the man known as Fox Wolf. Today, they learned it for the first time. The name didn't sound Han Chinese; it seemed to belong to some other ethnic group.

Mo Jin, although slightly disappointed that Ximi didn't know who he was, smiled when he heard the name Ximi. "Ah, my luck is really good. It seems you are destined to be my recruiter, Ximi."

Hearing Mo Jin's response, Ximi thought, "He really knows everything. But how could he possibly know? How does he know so much?" Although he hadn't heard of Mo Jin's name before, this towering foreigner's every action since entering the cave had deeply unsettled him. Back in the military, apart from his instructors, no one had ever made him feel such a sense of dread.

Mo Jin paused for a moment, then said, "It's fine if you haven't heard of me. But I've prepared extensively for this, and I don't mind showing you my sincerity and the preparations I've made. Come in, come in—it's very windy outside, and the host inside is warm and welcoming."

Following Mo Jin's invitation, five people filed into the cave. The first four were uniformly dressed in snow combat gear—white tactical suits with hoods pulled tight, goggles, and masks covering their faces. Even more striking than their attire were their weapons: each had a shoulder-mounted recoilless rocket launcher, one carried two light machine guns, another held a drum-fed heavy machine gun, a third slung an assault rifle with a grenade launcher, and the last wielded a corner-shot gun equipped with a camera and video feed, like those used in the Iraq War. These weapons alone left the poachers inside the cave utterly shocked. Not even Ximi, their leader, had ever seen such cutting-edge, unconventional military equipment. They were only relieved that they hadn't acted rashly earlier; otherwise, they would have been slaughtered.

Mo Jin offered a cold, insincere smile and explained, "No need to be tense. In such harsh conditions, with so many wild beasts around, these things are for hunting."

Ximi knew well enough that the idea of using a rocket launcher for hunting was something he had to interpret on his own. However, Mo Jin's seemingly endless capabilities far exceeded his expectations. How had this man leveraged such connections to acquire these weapons, and how had he managed to bring them into China? Just this alone made Ximi realize there was nothing Mo Jin couldn't accomplish. Since Mo Jin had already shown some of his cards, the consequences of refusing his proposal were clear. Meanwhile, Ximi noticed the last person to enter. Although he was also wrapped tightly, there were significant differences from the first four. This person was shorter than Mo Jin, with a sharply pointed bald head like a demon, only a few gray hairs above his ears. His face, pockmarked like an orange peel, was sallow, while the rest of his skin was a dull, ashen gray. He was skeletal, with bony fingers like chicken claws, and his veins twisted like worms beneath his skin. His large, round green eyes bulged outward like those of an owl. Ximi had thought his own appearance was intimidating enough, but this man looked like a corpse freshly unearthed after being buried for several days.

Mo Jin ignored the four armed men, but when the corpse-like man entered the cave, he warmly greeted him and spoke to him in a slightly ingratiating tone. The two conferred for a while before the ghastly man cracked a smile that resembled a rotting tomato. Ximi could tell they were speaking French, and the ghoulish figure was named Sauris.

Just as Mo Jin and Sauris were about to address Ximi, two men stumbled into the cave, one supporting the other. "Boss, Niu Erwa is back." The speaker only then noticed the unexpected situation in the cave, with several fully armed strangers. Ximi impatiently waved them aside, wondering, "What on earth is Lei Bo doing? So many people have come up the mountain, and he has no idea?"

The one named Niu Erwa was clearly the poacher Zhuo Mu Qiangba and his group had seen and who had escaped in the ice cave. His face was gaunt, showing he had suffered greatly in recent days. As soon as he entered, he ignored everyone else, sobbing and sniffing, "My brother is dead! He was killed by some guys who looked like they were from a scientific expedition!" Niu Erwa then roughly recounted their attempt to kill the team in the ice cave, ending with a fierce declaration, "Some of them must have been in ice caves before, or they would never have escaped! I have to avenge my brother!"

Ximi was furious. These brainless idiots had not only gotten themselves killed but had also messed up his entire plan in Kekexili. But right now, he had more pressing issues to address. Unexpectedly, after hearing Niu Erwa's story, Mo Jin seemed in a hurry to leave. He first patted Niu Erwa on the shoulder and consoled him, "You'll get your chance for revenge, I promise, hehe." Then he took out a business card and said, "I have to go meet an old friend. This card has my contact information. Think it over carefully and then get in touch with me." Finally, he tossed two bundles of cash, bound like bricks, hesitated for a moment, and said, "This twenty thousand yuan is... a consultation fee for my visit. Think it over. Farewell…"

With that, he took a few steps backward, discussing something with Sauris as they exited the cave side by side. The four armed men followed suit. Inside the cave, everyone stared greedily at the two brick-like bundles of cash on the ground, their eyes focusing on Ximi. Ximi, however, was staring warily at the business card bearing the embassy phone numbers of three different countries.

Mojin hurried out of the cave, speaking in French, "I thought he had died in Kekexili, but I didn't expect he'd be with the scientific expedition team." Sauris asked, "What is he doing here?"

Mojin replied, "How should I know? Maybe he's here looking for clues. I just don't know how much he already knows, but judging by how confident he seemed, he must have found out quite a bit. By the way, I didn't expect Kekexili to have such strange ice caves. Niu Erwa mentioned that the voles were driven away by some gas-like substance. What do you think?"

Sauris let out a sinister laugh, "Heh, when lab mice are about to die, their glands secrete a variety of substances that form a danger signal. Currently identifiable ones include uric acid, hormones, murine adrenaline, gamma factors, and other volatile substances. These can make mice as far as 500 meters away sense danger and flee. I think they used that kind of compressed gas. If it were up to me, I could make those voles overcome their fear of this gas, and none of those people would have escaped."

At the cliff's edge, a loud rumble echoed as a helicopter rose from below. Once on board, Mojin ordered, "Quick, get us out of here before the snowstorm hits. The weather in this godforsaken place is just too harsh."

Mojin put his sunglasses back on, looking every bit the commanding officer. He lit a cigarette, and one of the armed men behind him quickly lit it for him. Taking a deep drag, Mojin looked up and muttered to himself, "I hope he's still with the scientific expedition. It'll be much harder to find him again if he returns to Lhasa."

One of the armed men suddenly asked, "Boss, we already have enough people. Why do we need to recruit these amateurs?"

Mojin smirked, "You need to do things cleanly. It's always best to find some scapegoats first. Even if things go wrong, no one will trace it back to us, got it?" He had switched back to English for this.

"But will they agree to it?" the armed man asked, quickly holding out his hands to catch the ashes as Mojin flicked his cigarette.

Mojin flicked away the ash and explained, "They'll agree. There's a saying in China: if there's a 50% profit, people will become reckless and take risks; if there's a 100% profit, they'll break the law and put their lives on the line; if the profit doubles, some will go mad, commit heinous acts, and turn against everyone. If there's a fivefold profit, someone will risk their life for it. Birds die for food, and people... they're bound to die for money."

The armed man asked, "So, the price you're offering them is—"

Mojin responded with a satisfied grin, "Cost-free, with massive gains." He then asked Sauris in French, "Am I right, Mr. Sauris?"

Sauris let out a dry laugh, resembling the wail of a ghost in the dead of night. A furry, sharp-nosed rodent poked its head out from his clothing, glancing around.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Mu Qiangba and his companions, upon arriving at the Golmud Nature Reserve Station, were eager to make a phone call to Lhasa. They then took another vehicle to Golmud City. As soon as they arrived in Golmud, it began to snow. The blizzard reminded Zhuo Mu Qiangba of the J-20 car they had left in Kekexili. After discussing with Zhang Li, they decided to take the train back to Lhasa. Ordinarily, it was difficult to get a sleeper ticket from Golmud, but after making a few phone calls, they were comfortably situated in a soft sleeper cabin on the southbound train by the afternoon. If not for the unforeseen delay of twelve hours due to unavoidable circumstances, they would have had to wait until the next morning for a southbound train.

This was a typical sightseeing train. The onboard broadcast continuously offered information about the plateau and various scenic spots. Through the broadcast, they learned that the first eighteen trains operating on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway each had sixteen cars, consisting of eight hard sleepers, four hard seats, two soft sleepers, one dining car, and one power car. Zhuo Mu Qiangba had never traveled on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway before. This time, it gave them the opportunity to leisurely enjoy the scenery along the way. As the train left Golmud, it roared through the desolate Kunlun Mountains. On both sides, snow-covered, undulating mountains of various shapes stood like iron giants amidst the snowstorm. Before long, the train entered the continuous Kunlun mountain range, beginning a gradual climb. The soft-spoken announcer explained over the broadcast, "North of the Kunlun River, right next to the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, there is a spring that flows ceaselessly all year round, never freezing even in winter. It's called the Kunlun Sacred Spring, and legend has it that it was used by the Queen Mother of the West to brew the elixir of immortality..."

The three were captivated by the breathtaking scenery and the informative commentary along the way. Tang Min, meanwhile, was filled with regret. Had she known about this route, she wouldn't have chosen to cross Kekexili.

Zhuo Mu Qiangba and Tang Min shared a room, with Zhang Li next door. Although it was not yet time to rest, all three were in the same room. On the way to Golmud, Zhuo Mu Qiangba and Zhang Li had detailed their experiences in Kekexili to Tang Min, deliberately leaving out the part about the voles to prevent her from worrying and losing sleep. Tang Min was fascinated by their adventures and was quite disappointed that she hadn't been able to participate in the journey herself. Now, in the train compartment, they were discussing the possible whereabouts of the notebook. Tang Min's speculation seemed quite accurate: Tang Tao's notebook had accidentally ended up in the hands of the patrol team, and the deaths and disappearances of the five patrol team members were directly related to the notebook.

Zhang Li analyzed, "It's quite obvious that whatever is recorded in that notebook can easily entice people—at the very least, it's something worth killing for."

Tang Min said, "But it's just my brother's travel journal."

Zhuo Mu Qiangba asked, "Have you ever carefully read that notebook?"

Tang Min shook her head, "No, I only listened to my brother read the stories from it to me. It's never as captivating when I read it myself."

Zhang Li and Zhuo Mu Qiangba exchanged a glance. Zhang Li stood up and said, "That explains it. Your brother's notebook contains various expedition records, documenting places that others haven't been able to reach. Who knows, it might mention an ancient tomb or an underground palace, possibly filled with gold and treasures!"

Tang Min replied, "My brother never mentioned anything like that. Besides, treasures aren't so easily found."

Zhuo Mu Qiangba smiled and said, "Let's not argue about it. Without seeing the notebook, we're merely speculating, but it seems like a plausible explanation."

Tang Min asked, "But I don't understand. Why would the last three missing patrol members head into that ice cave?"

Zhuo Mu Qiangba said, "I think it's because your brother's notebook detailed the interior of a particular ice cave. They went in, first to use the treacherous ice cave to escape, and second, to discourage the other team members from following them. Then... they would wait for the right moment to leave and go after what they really wanted."

Zhang Li nodded in agreement but lamented, "After all that danger, it seems like it was all for nothing. We found nothing in the end."

Zhuo Mu Qiangba disagreed, "No, we gained a lot, we gained a lot." His expression turned serious. This experience had had an enormous impact on him. He had felt isolated and helpless on the vast icy plains, desperate enough to cry but with no tears left. He had shivered in fear in front of thousands of voles, his legs rooted to the spot. He had felt weak and unable to move while escaping, unable to take a step on the ice bridge. These experiences were unlike anything he had ever gone through. Before, Zhuo Mu Qiangba didn't understand what it meant to be afraid. He believed that in this technologically advanced era, there was nothing to fear. With economic power, one could comfortably enjoy life, unaware that in places far from civilization, a different kind of strength was needed.

Tang Min's words pulled Zhuo Mu Qiangba out of his thoughts. She pouted playfully, "Alright, alright, it's my fault for wasting your time. Can we stop discussing this for now? I'm starving. Let's go eat."

Zhuo Mu Qiangba playfully tapped her nose, "No one's blaming you."

The three of them went to the dining car for a meal. They hadn't been eating for long when a female tourist suddenly exclaimed, "Who stole my wallet? Who stole my wallet?"

The dining car instantly became noisy. Zhang Li whispered to Zhuo Mu Qiangba, "The guy in the blue down jacket at the third table on the right is the pickpocket."

Zhuo Mu Qiangba glanced over and said, "The one in jeans? Are you sure? He's sitting five tables away from where the theft happened."

Zhang Li replied, "I'm sure. Look, the stolen wallet isn't properly hidden; it's sticking out of his jacket pocket. Plus, that's a woman's wallet in his pocket. When the lady shouted, everyone else was startled, but he remained calm—that's unusual. He seems like an experienced thief, very bold. I'm going to expose him."

Tang Min watched Zhang Li walk over and whispered to Zhuo Mu Qiangba, "Is this okay?"

Zhuo Mu Qiangba reassured her, "It's fine. He's practically military police. His observation skills are sharp, and his analysis is thorough—just what you'd expect from a special forces officer."

They saw Zhang Li tap the man on the shoulder and exchange a few words. Zhang Li pulled out the wallet from the man's pocket, and the woman who had lost her wallet rushed over, furiously shouting at the man, who seemed to be vehemently defending himself. Zhuo Mu Qiangba said, "Something doesn't seem right. Let's go and see."

They heard Zhang Li say loudly, "Take the money out of this lady's wallet immediately, or I'll have to take action."

The man protested, "I didn't take it! I told you, I don't know how this wallet ended up in my pocket. I've been framed!"

The woman cursed, "How dare you deny it! People saw you take it. Give me back my money, and my photo! Are you going to return it or not?" She started clawing and pulling at him. More and more people gathered around, and several passengers offered suggestions: "Call the train police, call the train police." "Lock him up first, lock him up." "Just search him; let the police search him."

"Hey, don't run!" Amidst the commotion, there was another disturbance at the table near the entrance. A man in a military-green coat suddenly lunged at another man wearing glasses, who seemed to be trying to make a run for it. The man in the coat grabbed the wrist of the man with glasses with his right hand, hooked his foot around him, and pressed down on his shoulder with his left hand, twisting his arm behind his back and pinning him to the ground, rendering him immobile.

People hadn't seen this much action on a train before, and many rushed over to watch. The man in the coat, still restraining the man with glasses, walked over to the woman who had lost her wallet and said, "Ma'am, he's the one who stole your wallet, not this gentleman."

With someone stepping in to speak up, the first man who had been accused now spoke more confidently, "See, I told you it wasn't me."

The woman, still indignant, asked, "Then why was the wallet in your pocket?"

The man in the coat explained, "Ma'am, he really was framed. The pickpocket stole your wallet, took the money, and then slipped the empty wallet into his pocket. Because he's wearing a down jacket, the pockets are big, making it easier for someone to slip something in without being noticed. Plus, down jackets are thick, so it's harder to feel if someone is taking or putting something in."

Zhang Li questioned, "But when this lady screamed that her wallet was stolen, everyone in the car noticed. Why didn't he react?"

The man in the coat smiled and pulled a wire connected to an earbud out of the accused man's collar. "Because he was listening to his MP3 player," he explained.

Zhang Li turned to look at the man in the coat. He appeared to be about twenty-five or twenty-six, with a square, honest face adorned with a sunny smile. His eyebrows were thick and his eyes bright, and his slightly thick lips gave him an air of sincerity and reliability. Next to him, the man with glasses looked refined and well-dressed, more like a white-collar worker than a thief. Zhang Li asked, "So how did you notice him?"

The man in the coat explained, "As soon as I entered the dining car, I noticed something was off about him. While most people were looking for an empty seat or checking what food was available, he was watching people. When this lady shouted that she'd lost something, he, like everyone else, acted surprised, but he glanced at this gentleman's pocket. The wallet is a similar color to this gentleman's down jacket, and it's hard to spot without looking closely. The only one who would notice it right away would be the one who put it there. When everyone gathered around, he tried to make another move but was noticed by someone, so he couldn't pull it off. He tried to slip out the door, and that's when I caught him."

The man in the coat pulled a wad of cash out of the pocket of the man with glasses, still holding him firmly by both hands to prevent any resistance. He raised the money and asked, "Carrying such a large sum of money without a wallet? Aren't you afraid of losing it?" He handed the money to the woman and said, "Ma'am, count it and see if it's what you lost."

The man with glasses panicked, "That... that's my money! How can you say it's hers?"

The man in the coat calmly picked out a small ID photo from the stack of money and asked, "Is this photo yours too?" It was clear to everyone that it was a picture of the woman, and the man with glasses finally lowered his head in defeat.

Just then, the train police arrived. The passengers all spontaneously applauded the young man in the military-green coat. The police took the dejected pickpocket away and took statements from the victim, Zhang Li, and the young man. Zhang Li learned that the young man's name was Yue Yang, and he was twenty-six years old.