The curtain lifted, revealing Yala Lama with a black kite perched on his shoulder. The bird's sharp claws gripped tightly, its eyes gleaming like lightning, warily surveying the unfamiliar surroundings. Yala Lama glanced at the scroll in his hand and calmly said, "It's time. We need to see the results of this team's training."
Lu Jingnan asked with concern, "Do we have new clues?"
Yala Lama, displaying a rare smile, patted his shoulder, and the black kite took off, becoming a small black dot in the clear sky, as if it had never been there. Yala Lama commanded, "The map."
A large world atlas with folded pages was quickly spread on the table. Yala Lama swiftly turned to the map of the Americas and muttered to himself, "According to the newly deciphered Gid Ni Ma Gun poem and the ancient Guge scriptures, the greatest envoy brought a castle illuminated by light. All that is holy is perfectly preserved in the Pabala Temple. Then the castle under the light was supposed to be handed over to the Western Holy Envoy, Piyang Burang. However, Isi Wobo was unwilling to give up the castle under the light and secretly reconstructed it with mud and stones. Fearing to destroy the sacred objects, he ordered his followers to quietly take the sacred light to the edge of the world, where no one could ever find it. They crossed mountains and seas, arriving in a strange and mysterious land where the trees reached the sky and merged into a dense forest filled with unseen predatory animals and plants. Even the people there were bloodthirsty and ate raw human flesh. The buildings were grander than any palace he had seen. The temple was like a pyramid, with four large triangular sections joined together, towering into the clouds with steps leading up to the heavens. The writing there was a combination of head shapes and various animal and plant images..."
Lu Jingnan murmured, "A pyramid? But that should be in the desert; why is it in a forest?"
Yala Lama smiled faintly, "Don't you understand? It's a tropical rainforest. The messengers who returned to report said they preserved the castle under the light in a temple of another civilization. The king there promised them that the sacred castle would be forever imprisoned in darkness."
Lu Jingnan immediately grasped the idea but was skeptical, saying, "A Mayan pyramid? Impossible... How could they have crossed the Pacific to reach the Americas at that time? And even return?"
Yala Lama replied, "In this world, who can say for sure that ancient people couldn't achieve what we can today? Don't forget the tales of the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* and the legend of the Yin people crossing the sea, which are thousands of years older than the Guge Kingdom's envoys."
"What is the 'castle under the light'?" Lu Jingnan pondered.
Yala Lama said, "I don't know either, but if it can be hidden by one person, it shouldn't be a very large object. So, for our mid-term test, let's traverse this rainforest..." Yala drew a circle on the map.
Lu Jingnan looked at the circle Yala Lama had drawn and exclaimed, "As far as I know, the Mayan civilization is limited to the Yucatán Peninsula. Isn't this too far away?"
Yala Lama responded, "Indeed, although I'm not very familiar with it, the clues are quite clear. You see, it says here that the discovered Mayan ruins are mainly distributed in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Belize, as well as the western regions of Honduras and El Salvador, stopping at the Andes. East of the Andes, which average six thousand meters in height, should be the realm of the ancient Inca civilization. This is the common viewpoint that the ancients couldn't cross such a treacherous mountain barrier. However, just a few years ago, Brazilian archaeologists discovered a different type of civilization deep in the Amazon rainforest, with exquisitely crafted pottery, features of clan life, roads, bridges, farming areas, grazing zones, temples, and altars—a highly developed civilization site. Three years later, a similar Mayan astronomical observatory was found deeper in the forest. It was astonishing because they had enormous stones and intricate construction methods, which contradicted the previous understanding that the area was an uninhabited forest before the explorers arrived in 1492 and that the Amazon rainforest couldn't support large stone structures. The researchers concluded that the ancient Mayans were fully capable of crossing the Andes into the Amazon jungle to start a new life. Their route should have been down from the Andes, following the Amazon River. Based on this idea, and in agreement with archaeologists from various countries in the Amazon basin, at least two archaeological teams from each country are exploring the dangerous, uninhabited forests. Just a few days ago, there was another shocking discovery."
Lu Jingnan couldn't refute this. She knew very little about the history, culture, and relics of North and South America, so she could only say in a deep voice, "From Putumayo to Santa Maria, isn't that place too dangerous for you all? Also, the Amazon basin is so vast. How can you be sure that what you're looking for is still on this land?"
Yala Lama softly explained, "Yes, no one can be sure. But according to reliable information, the recently discovered lost city here is quite large, and there should be a temple inside that hasn't been found yet."
Lu Jingnan asked, "Are we still splitting into two groups?"
Yala Lama replied, "Yes, that's the only way it can be a proper test."
Lu Jingnan looked worried and said, "Should we tell them the truth or...?"
Yala Lama lowered his head in thought. His deep eyes were filled with seriousness. After contemplating for a while, he finally said, "Let's not tell them for now."
Lu Jingnan was surprised, "Why not?"
Yala Lama replied, "During Zhuoma Qiangba's last trip to Kekexili, some things seemed strange. I want to understand it first."
Lu Jingnan nodded thoughtfully but still seemed unsure. Hesitating, she asked, "Master Yala, are you certain it's there? Even if the ruins are in this range, we can't be sure the two groups will definitely pass by them, can we?"
Yala Lama responded, "The omnipotent Buddha will guide us on a bright path. We must not miss any opportunity. We must go and try. I will lead my team in that direction, and as for Zhuoma Qiangba's team, they will follow their destiny. I must visit the ruins." His tone was unquestionable, and even Lu Jingnan dared not oppose.
Yala Lama raised his head, looking towards where the black kite had disappeared. The sky was darkening, and he gently asked in his heart, "Maya, Maya, where did you come from? And how many secrets have you hidden?" He remembered Lama Deni, standing at the mountain peak, the wild wind tousling his robes and hair. Lama Deni spread his arms, howling into the wind, "A thousand years! We have waited a thousand years!" The valley echoed the near-divine cry, "A thousand years! A thousand years!" The countless voices hammered Yala's heart like drumbeats.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the camp's wall, a shadow silently stood outside Lu Jingnan's window, listening quietly, silently...
Zhuoma Qiangba came out of the camp and went alone to the former training ground. He hung upside down on the ladder for a while, climbed up the rope net, crossed the steel cable, and descended the rock face on the other side, feeling light and effortless, without even changing his breathing rhythm. At this moment, he was at his peak in both physical fitness and experience. He felt it was the best time to set off. If delayed, the weather would turn cold, snow would block the mountains, and they might have to wait until next year. "Mid-term exam, huh? What kind of assessment will it be? Climbing the snowy peaks of the Pamirs, or heading to the polar regions?" Zhuoma Qiangba effortlessly swung across a pit filled with sharp stakes on a rope, landing lightly, pondering.
He practiced for about half an hour until he was slightly sweaty and was about to return to the camp to rest when he heard a "thud!" next to him. The ground sparked. Instinctively, Zhuoma Qiangba jumped, vaguely seeing a flash of light in the distance. Without hesitation, he rolled on the ground and shouted towards the camp, "Someone is attacking the camp!" The second bullet almost grazed his scalp.
Hearing the noise, a shadow holding a gun ran into the forest. If it were before, Zhuoma Qiangba would have charged in without a second thought. But now, he knew clearly that in the twilight, the flash was at least five hundred meters away from him. If someone could shoot so accurately with a gun without a specialized long-range sight, then that person must have undergone military-like special training. Rushing in unarmed would be akin to committing suicide.
People from the barracks were alerted. Zhang Li and Yue Yang were the first to rush out, shouting, "Who's attacking the camp?" Tang Min followed behind, asking, "Are you hurt, Qiangba?"
Professor Fang Xin also came out, asking, "What's going on?" He was holding two M4 assault rifles, tossing one to Zhang Li. Zhang Li quickly charged forward, with Zhuoma Qiangba following suit, grabbing the other rifle on the run. The two moved in perfect harmony, with Zhuoma Qiangba saying as they ran, "There was only one person, seemed to be using an AR-15, but it was blurry. He ran towards the western hill, seemed to be coming for me."
Zhang Li turned his head to see Yue Yang and others returning to the barracks to get weapons and followed them out. He made a hand signal to Zhuoma Qiangba, and the two of them flanked from the left and right.
The person ahead suddenly disappeared as he ran. Zhuoma Qiangba and Zhang Li quickly reacted, each hiding behind a tree thick enough to shield their bodies. Zhuoma Qiangba signaled Zhang Li with his eyes, looking up at the tree above. Zhang Li understood, slung his rifle behind him, and quickly climbed up the tree like a monkey. Shortly, he signaled that the person was hiding behind the fourth tree to Zhuoma Qiangba's left, about three hundred steps away from them.
By this time, the others had also caught up—first Basang, then Eric, Professor Fang Xin, Yala Lama, and Lu Jingnan. Zhuoma Qiangba signaled with his hands, pressing his thumbs behind him on both sides. Fang Xin and the others dispersed and took cover, forming a silent encirclement around the person, maintaining a distance of about a hundred steps between each other. Zhuoma Qiangba's hand signals informed everyone of the current situation, and Yue Yang carefully attached a grenade launcher to the M4 rifle and loaded a tear gas canister. Lu Jingnan nodded in agreement, and they prepared to capture the sudden intruder alive.
"Hiss—" Zhuoma Qiangba gave Yue Yang a thumbs-up, but Yue Yang widened his eyes, indicating that he hadn't fired yet. Everyone peeked out to see that a white smoke was already rising in the center of the encirclement. It was a smoke grenade; apparently, the enemy had realized something was wrong and acted first. Several more smoke grenades were thrown from the center, releasing thick white smoke, and soon they lost sight of the person they had surrounded. Two gunshots rang out; the first was fired by Zhang Li, signaling that the person had jumped from the tree. The second shot came from Eric's direction, and the group quickly gathered towards Eric's position in an orderly fashion.
The enemy fled at a fast pace, occasionally turning back to shoot randomly and throwing high-powered Russian F-1 grenades, making it very difficult for the group to pursue. Tang Min, Eric, and several others had narrow escapes from injury multiple times. Zhuoma Qiangba grew increasingly angry. If they wanted to kill the enemy, all they had to do was pull the trigger, and they could turn him into a sieve. But everyone shared the same thought—they had to find out what was going on and couldn't kill indiscriminately. Suddenly, Zhuoma Qiangba squatted down, pulling out the crocodile hunting knife from his boot sheath, and threw it with a swoosh. He distinctly heard a "puff" as it hit flesh, but the person didn't even grunt and continued fleeing with the knife still embedded in him.
As they chased, everyone slowed down. They had been training in this area for a long time and were familiar with the surrounding terrain. They knew that ahead was a cliff, about a few dozen meters high. Falling off would surely result in broken bones, and the person was already injured and couldn't possibly escape. The person, seeing no way forward, turned back and fired a barrage of shots, then pulled out the pins of two grenades and shouted, "Stay back! All of you stay back! I just want Zhuoma Qiangba to pay; this has nothing to do with you!"
Zhuoma Qiangba was about a hundred meters away when he saw the man's face clearly and exclaimed, "It's you!" The man was none other than Niu Erwa, whom Zhuoma Qiangba had driven away in Kekexili. Zhuoma Qiangba had almost been killed by his knife back then and remembered him vividly.
Niu Erwa sneered, pointing the grenade at Zhuoma Qiangba, "You remember me, that's good. It's time for you to pay with your life." The large crocodile hunting knife was stuck in his buttock, staining his dark gray jeans with blood. Zhuoma Qiangba had shown mercy, so it didn't go in too deep. Niu Erwa didn't give them any time to think. He threw the grenade directly at Zhuoma Qiangba, who had already dodged behind a tree and into the grass. The grenade exploded, and everyone took cover. Niu Erwa threw a smoke grenade, and in the smoke, the crocodile hunting knife flew toward Yue Yang, who had just aimed at him, narrowly missing his cheek and making Yue Yang break out in a cold sweat. When the smoke cleared, Niu Erwa was already at the bottom of the cliff. The group was about to pursue when they heard another shot. They couldn't determine which direction the shot came from, so they hid behind trees, watching Niu Erwa limping away.
Ten minutes later, confident that the enemy had left, the group slowly emerged from the forest. Yue Yang, pale-faced, asked, "What's going on? You know him, Young Master Qiangba?"
Zhuoma Qiangba, with a stern face, recounted the grudge between him and Niu Erwa. Back then, it was Niu Erwa himself who shot and killed his brother. Finally, Zhuoma Qiangba said with a frown, "How did he find this place? How did he know my name? And last time I met him, he wasn't this skilled?"
The group looked at each other. In a situation where they believed their special team to be very strong, they were surprised that a wounded person had managed to escape from under their noses. Many began to reflect: "After such a long period of special training, are we really that strong?"
Lu Jingnan, who had been watching from the sidelines without taking action, finally spoke to Zhuoma Qiangba, "Didn't you think your training was sufficient? If the person just now had any connection with your enemies—the other group looking for the temple—do you still think you are capable enough to handle it?"
Zhuoma Qiangba remained silent. Tang Min defended, "That's different. We were only trying to capture him alive, and he was fighting for his life. If we had fired earlier, he wouldn't have escaped." Lu Jingnan gave a slightly contemptuous smile and said, "Back to the barracks. I need to announce the location for the mid-term assessment."
"Return to the barracks," Lu Jingnan commanded. "I need to announce the location for the mid-term assessment."
...
In a small camp just two mountains away from the special training camp, the air was thick with smoke. The fumes were so intense that Masuo couldn't help but cough as he entered. Mo Jin, smoking a cigar, asked, "What the hell happened?"
Masuo replied, "It was... Niu Erwa. Lei Bo just reported that Niu Erwa, upon learning that the special training team had returned, couldn't resist going to avenge his brother. He got injured and just returned. If it weren't for Lei Bo providing cover from a distance, he would have been captured by that group."
"Damn it!" Masuo was startled, and Mo Jin slammed the table in anger. "These idiots almost ruined my entire plan! Do they have any idea who they're dealing with? Do they think they can just mess around with special forces instructors after just a few months of training?"
Here's the continuation of the translation:
---
There was a confidential red-letter file on his desk, and the photo on the file was clearly of Lü Jingnan. Mo Jin impatiently asked, "When will their training finally end?"
Masuo seized the opportunity and said, "But Niu Erwa brought back some news."
"Oh?" Mo Jin immediately responded, "Where is he?"
Niu Erwa was lying on a bed, his face pale, while another person was trying to stop the bleeding. The pain made him grimace in agony. Zhuangmu Qiangba's knife had severed an artery; it wasn't much of a problem before the knife was removed, but once pulled out, blood gushed like a fountain. Mo Jin had to bend down to listen to Niu Erwa whispering in his ear. As he listened, a smile slowly appeared on his stern face. "Is that true?" Mo Jin asked. Niu Erwa weakly nodded.
Mo Jin immediately returned to the main tent, simultaneously ordering, "Get me a detailed map of North America right away!"
Masuo stood nervously by the side. Mo Jin was so excited that he forgot to light his cigarette and kept drawing circles on the map with a pen. After an hour, he finally looked up and joyfully said, "This is it!" Then, as if realizing something, he angrily shouted, "Hmph! Trying to fool me!"
Masuo couldn't tell if the boss was happy or angry, so he cautiously asked, "What exactly is going on, boss?"
Mo Jin's sharp gaze swept over, making Masuo's heart pound with anxiety. After a long pause, Mo Jin finally smiled and said, "They have a new lead. It looks like we'll be setting off soon. Get ready to book me a ticket to Colombia. Let me think, which city would be best to fly into?"
Masuo thought he had misheard. What does treasure hunting in Tibet have to do with Colombia? He hesitantly repeated, "Colombia? Boss, did you say Colombia?"
Mo Jin looked up and replied, "Of course. As early as the 1950s, it was hypothesized that the item might have been brought to the Americas by ancient Tibetans and then vanished along with the Mayan civilization. I've excavated so many Mayan sites—not to study history, but to find one of the three crucial clues that Mr. Fuma spent his whole life searching for. Unfortunately, I never managed to uncover it. As more and more Mayan ruins have been discovered and excavated, the chances of finding that item have become slimmer and slimmer. This recent discovery might be the last batch of Mayan ruins. I received the news a few days ago, but I didn't pay much attention at the time. Now that I think about it, it indeed might be in the ruins found this time."
Looking at the markings on the map, Masuo said, "Boss, I remember you telling me that the Mayan Empire, even at its peak, never crossed the Andes. The place you've marked..."
Mo Jin's lips curled into a cold smile. "Yes, that was a long time ago when I was just a novice, only knowing what I had read in books. But this time is different. I am very certain that there are remnants of the Mayan civilization in the Amazon rainforest, stretching from Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador all the way to Brazil!"
Masuo was shocked. "Why are you so certain?"
Mo Jin replied, "Because a few years ago, I personally participated in the excavation of a large Mayan city in this area under someone else's guidance. Those theorists only talk in theory, saying things like 'There are no large stones in the rainforest, so building massive stone cities would be impossible.' They underestimate the power and wisdom of the ancients. The person who led me told me that the ancient Mayans could not only cross the Andes, which are five to six thousand meters high, but could also quarry stones weighing hundreds of tons from the Andes and transport them thousands of kilometers into the dense forest via waterways to build their cities and develop their civilization there."
"So, what exactly is the thing we're looking for?" Masuo asked again.
Mo Jin gave a mysterious smile. "If I'm not mistaken, it should be a mirror." His smile turned sinister as he continued, "They're so cunning. Outwardly, it seems like they're only undergoing some regular training, as if it has nothing to do with this search. But in reality, they must have another team secretly gathering and organizing various clues. Even I was almost fooled. Finding the dog, huh? How did I put it to you from the start? There's no way anyone would go to such lengths for a dog; they must be after the temple. Finding the dog is just a cover. The Chinese, huh, too cunning! This time, we must get there ahead of them. Tell all the soldiers to break camp and return to Lhasa. Tomorrow, I want to see the sun in Ascension City." Talking about the crafty Chinese, Mo Jin's smile vanished, and he remembered that guide with those melancholic eyes. For some reason, whenever he saw those melancholic eyes, he felt a shiver run through him.
Lü Jingnan announced the details of this test: the same two groups as before. The group that draws the red sign will set off a day earlier, departing from Putumayo, Ecuador. They are not allowed to use modern transportation tools and must find their own way to avoid border guards from Ecuador and Peru. They can also pass through Colombia. The destination is Santa Maria, Peru. Each person only has one day to gather and organize materials. Since it is impossible to transport equipment and weapons to Ecuador, the necessary materials must be obtained locally. The total journey is about 200 kilometers, and each team has ten days to complete it. If they have not reached the destination within ten days, a rescue operation will be launched.
Lü Jingnan concluded, "We must prepare for the worst. If the person who escaped earlier is indeed one of our competitors and unfortunately heard this information, you may encounter significant resistance along the way. Moreover, you must get there ahead of them."
Zhang Li asked, "Really? We're just going for a test. If it's that dangerous there, why would they bother accompanying us to suffer? Are they planning to be our sparring partners?" The people around laughed, and Yara glanced subtly at Lü Jingnan. Jingnan said, "In any case—be careful."
Zhuangmu Qiangba pondered: "What does that mean? Get there ahead of them?"
Through systematic study and training, these people now understand that before setting off for any destination, gathering and organizing relevant information is essential. Such information not only helps them reach their destination quickly and conveniently but can also be lifesaving at critical moments. They quickly connected to the British Library, where they collected all the information available on South American countries, especially Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.
Zhang Li scrolled the mouse and said, "I think this mid-term test is too easy—200 kilometers in ten days. Even if we strolled, we could cover the distance."
Yue Yang, sitting at the computer on Zhang Li's left, said, "No, it seems you're not quite familiar with these three countries. So, let me put it differently—it might be more appealing to you—Amazon Rainforest!"
Zhang Li suddenly realized, "Amazon! But we've been to Xishuangbanna. The terrain shouldn't be much different, right?"
Zhuangmu Qiangba, entering some keywords on the computer to Zhang Li's right, also asked, "What do you know about the Amazon Rainforest?"
Zhang Li thought for a moment and said, "Piranhas—I know that. And it's also the largest tropical rainforest in the world, right?"
Basang, sitting to Zhuangmu Qiangba's right, took notes on the information from the internet in a notebook and sneered at Zhang Li's response.
Yue Yang also began recording information from the internet while saying, "Not just that. The Amazon Basin is the largest primary tropical rainforest in the world, known as the 'lungs of the Earth.' Out of the more than 20,000 known plant species in the world, South America has over 19,000 species, and 70% of them are found in tropical rainforests. The Amazon forest covers two-thirds of the world's total forest area. Just think about that." He suddenly said, "Found it. Look at this: the Amazon River traverses South America, originating from the Andes Mountains in Peru. It is 6,440 kilometers long, ranking second among the world's rivers, only behind the 6,695-kilometer Nile. It has abundant water, discharging 116,000 cubic meters of freshwater per second into the Atlantic, accounting for one-fifth of the world's total river discharge. Among its tributaries, seven are over 1,600 kilometers long, with the longest, the Madeira River, being about 3,200 kilometers."
Zhuangmu Qiangba added, "Not only that, the flora and fauna resources of the Amazon Basin can be said to be the richest on Earth. Over 2,600 species of fish and more than 1,600 species of birds have been documented, and countless plants and animals have yet to be recorded."
Basang coldly stated, "Besides being the 'lungs of the Earth,' it also has another nickname—the Green Hell. This means that people in the jungle face dangers as if they were entering hell. A moment of carelessness, and you won't even know how you died."
Zhang Li chuckled, then suddenly stared at a picture with a leering expression, exclaiming, "Look, look! The indigenous women living in the jungle don't wear clothes!"
Yue Yang, hearing Zhang Li's exclamation drew Yue Yang's attention. He leaned over to glance at the screen and teasingly praised, "Nice! You might want to marry into the tribe then. But don't get too excited—make sure you understand the English below the picture."
Zhang Li looked at the English words on the computer but didn't recognize them. He asked Yue Yang for help, "What does it say?"
Yue Yang quietly explained, "Cannibal tribe!"
Zhuangmu Qiangba added, "Stop joking around. The more I read, the more dangerous this place seems. It's probably more dangerous than all the places we've been combined. The main problem is that this area has so many unknown risks. It would be embarrassing if we couldn't reach our destination in ten days."
Zhang Li said, "Actually, traversing this jungle wouldn't be too difficult, but the issue is that we can't bring many things we're used to. Without our usual tools, progress will be hard."
Zhuangmu Qiangba shook his wrist and said, "Wrong. The only thing we can't bring is weapons. Most of the tools we use can be brought." He was wearing an atomic watch on his wrist. It looked like an ordinary digital watch, but this solar-powered watch never needed a battery replacement and would not have a time deviation of more than a second in 300 years. It was also waterproof and shockproof to meet special needs, able to withstand the high pressure of 50 meters underwater and the shockwave from 10 kilograms of TNT explosives within one square meter. Besides its luminous dial, it also had a small spotlight head with a visible range of five meters, could be used as a communicator within a hundred meters, and had some other minor functions. When worn on the wrist, no airport customs would find it. Of course, its price meant only people like Zhuangmu Qiangba could afford it, and few explorers used it.
Zhang Li thought for a moment and said, "By the way, Zhuangmu Qiangba, do you think your big military knife will make it through?"
Zhuangmu Qiangba replied, "It should be. We'll have to find a way when the time comes." As he spoke, he unconsciously touched the crocodile hunting knife strapped to his boot. He liked this knife very much, with its rustic design, a thick blade nearly a foot long, and a back edge full of crocodile teeth-like serrations, giving it the name "Crocodile Hunting Knife" or "Crocodile Military Knife." The blade was so sharp that even thick rhino skin could be easily sliced open, which is why it was also called the "Rhino-Slicing Knife." This knife was larger than a paratrooper knife and could be used as a jungle machete in the forest. The serrations on the back could cut through 5mm-thick steel wire, though it was challenging for someone without much strength to use.
Yue Yang glanced at the door and said, "Hey, Zhuangmu Qiangba, your princess is here." Tang Min was at the door, her big eyes searching for Zhuangmu Qiangba. He walked out with Tang Min and softly asked, "Have you finished organizing the data?"
Tang Min nodded timidly and said, "Yes."
Tang Min gently hugged Zhuangmu Qiangba's waist and pressed her face into his broad chest, remaining silent for a long while. When she finally looked up, her eyes were filled with a multitude of emotions, shimmering and moving. She bit her lip and said, "Zhuangmu, this trip will be very dangerous."
Zhuangmu Qiangba stroked her soft hair and calmly asked, "What? Are you scared?"
Tang Min, half defiant and half pouting, replied, "No." She pressed her face closer and whispered, "As long as I'm with you, I'm not afraid of anything." But as soon as she finished speaking, her eyes welled up with tears.
Zhuangmu Qiangba knew Tang Min had endured a lot to join this mission with him. Her hands, once as delicate as green onions, were now calloused, and her once flawless skin had taken on a coffee hue, all for that promise—never to be separated again, even in life and death. For this journey, Tang Min was quite scared. It wasn't the traps or armed foes she feared most, but the unknown creepy crawlies, and there were plenty of those in the tropical rainforest. Zhuangmu Qiangba gently lifted her familiar face, giving her a light kiss on the forehead like a dragonfly skimming water. He reassured her, "Don't worry, nothing will happen. Professor Fang and Uncle Maola will look after you. You need to be strong and brave, okay?"
Tang Min nodded and playfully said, "Okay. But be careful, your team members are all troublemakers, and I'm really worried. This time is different from before; the jungle is filled with deadly dangers."
Zhuangmu Qiangba replied, "Don't worry, they know how to be cautious. You, however, need to take care and not be too headstrong. I heard from your mentors that you've been quite mischievous in their group as well." "Not at all!" she retorted playfully.
Zhuangmu Qiangba returned to his computer, but not even two minutes had passed when Zhang Li whispered, "Hey, hey, Zhuangmu Qiangba, here comes the tomboy!"
Zhuangmu Qiangba sighed deeply. Looking up, he indeed saw Lü Jingnan standing at the door, motioning for him to step outside. Zhuangmu Qiangba walked out again. Lü Jingnan's expression was stern, making it hard to discern what she was thinking. Zhuangmu Qiangba asked first, "Instructor, did you call me out for something?"
Lü Jingnan's lips moved twice, then she paused for a moment. Finally, she said only one sentence: "Be careful this time."
Zhuangmu Qiangba smiled politely and replied, "Thank you."
Watching Zhuangmu Qiangba step out, Zhang Li sighed in regret, "Ah, why doesn't anyone ever come looking for me?"
Yue Yang laughed, "You should take a good look at yourself. Zhuangmu Qiangba is tall, handsome, with a strong build, wealthy, experienced, knows how to treat women, and gives a sense of security and reliability. He has intelligence and muscle. What do you have?"
Zhang Li scratched his head and said, "You're right."
Yue Yang continued, "A guy like him is the perfect man, a rare find outside of novels or movies. If I were a woman, I'd be following him around all day too, calling out—" Yue Yang made a gesture of clasping his hands to his chest and, in a flirtatious voice, said, "Zhuangmu brother, Zhuangmu brother, Zhuangmu..." The sound made Zhang Li's hair stand on end, but in his heart, he felt defiant, thinking, "The perfect man, huh? Then why did he get divorced?"
"What are you doing?" Zhuangmu Qiangba asked from behind, startling Yue Yang. "Back so soon!" he exclaimed.
Zhang Li immediately leaned in and asked, "So, what did the tomboy say to you, Zhuangmu Qiangba?"
"It's none of your business," said Zhuangmu Qiangba.
"Come on, tell us, Qiangba!" Zhang Li insisted.
Yue Yang chimed in, "What's going on, Zhuangmu Qiangba? Did she say something?"
"Yeah, yeah, did she?"
"Are you guys bored or what? Why don't you learn from Basang and focus on organizing your materials..."
"Still asking!"
...
The port town of Asis is located over 800 kilometers south of the capital, Bogotá. Due to its remote location, transportation is not very convenient, and the town, situated by a river, resembles a mid-20th-century American small town. The streets are quiet with occasional vehicles, and vendors call out their wares in an orderly manner, giving no indication that this is often a battleground for clashes between local armed forces and government troops. Asis connects with the Ica River, which leads downstream to Putumayo, where many indigenous tribes are scattered along the way.
Mojin was staying with only Maso at a European-style villa in the suburbs of Asis. The owner of the villa was a short, fat, and dark-skinned man whose build and smile exuded a sinister aura. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, gold teeth, a thick gold necklace, and fourteen gold rings on his ten fingers, two of which were set with large droplet-shaped jadeite. His wrists and ankles were adorned with gold Rolex watches and gold anklets. He wore a golden yellow silk short-sleeved shirt resembling a Tang suit, making his entire appearance blindingly flashy. Mojin and the man chatted amicably, occasionally bursting into laughter, and the identical Cuban cigars they smoked seemed to bring them even closer. After a while, Mojin instructed Maso to place a suitcase filled with cash on the table. The short, fat man then had a burly henchman bring out a box of white powder. Everyone exchanged knowing smiles.
The short, fat man was about to have his men take the money when Mojin held down the suitcase and said, "Wait a minute, Vito. I need you to do me a small favor."
The man named Vito flashed a gold-toothed smile and said, "With our relationship, there's nothing to worry about. Just tell me what you need."
Mojin said, "These people will be going to the port of Putumayo in the next day or two. I hope you can keep an eye on them. I don't want them to get hurt, and I don't want them to leave the port too quickly. Ideally, delay them for a few days."
Vito picked up the dossier containing information on Zhuangmu Qiangba and his group, glanced at it, and smiled, "No problem. We'll wait for them at Ospina. As soon as they show up, we'll hold them for you. Oh, by the way, Ben, do you still have that African crystal? I really like it, and the price is no issue."
Mojin smiled and said, "I'd have to check when I get back. You know, I have so many collections, I don't keep track of every single one." Vito laughed more freely and said, "Hahaha, good, good, my friend, just remember."
Half an hour later, Mojin and Maso boarded a wooden boat, navigating through the quiet Amazon forest. Mojin opened the suitcase and began tossing the packages of cocaine into the river. Maso looked pained at the sight of this, as it was over a dozen kilograms. He asked, "What are you doing, boss?"
Mojin replied, "You can't eat it, and carrying it will only bring danger and trouble. Even if we managed to get it to the U.S., the profit margin is too low. I've never been interested in this stuff."
Maso, still puzzled, asked, "Then why did you make a deal with that drug lord?"
Mojin laughed, "You don't get it. Vito is like a big dumb ox. As long as you buy his stuff, he sees you as a friend. If you don't, he gets suspicious and thinks about how to scheme against you. He has close ties with the revolutionary armed forces and considerable influence in this area. My goal is to have him send people to stall those Chinese."
Maso asked, "I still don't get it. We have soldiers. Why not just station a few at Putumayo? Why go through all this trouble to have Vito handle it?"
"Pfft," Mojin scoffed, using a knife to cut open another bag and flicking the cocaine into the river bit by bit. "Idiot, our soldiers are valuable and need to be reserved for important tasks. These minor matters are best left to local armed forces familiar with the terrain and drug traffickers who frequently cross borders. Isn't that better? And it only costs a little money." Mojin emptied the last bag of cocaine, clapped his hands in satisfaction, and stood up, saying, "Buying raw materials at the source is pretty cheap, don't you think?"
Maso flattered him, "I never would have thought, boss, that you have such a wide network, even getting Colombian drug lords to help us."
Mojin sneered, "What's the big deal? Those drug lords just want to launder their money. And what better way than collecting a piece of art?" He glanced at Maso, and the two exchanged knowing grins.
Zhuangmu Qiangba and his team first flew to Quito. Since none of them spoke Spanish, it took them some effort to find a local who knew English and was willing to accompany them on their journey as a translator. His name was Kesa. Kesa was of mixed Indian and European descent, taught English at a middle school, and didn't have a high income, so he was tempted by the terms Zhuangmu Qiangba's team offered. They chose Kesa because, in addition to Spanish, he was fluent in five local dialects, and he had experience working as a translator for foreign explorers three times, although this was his first time working for Chinese clients. The problem was his grasp of English was mediocre, not even as fluent as Zhang Li's, making his translations sometimes seem clumsy. He had a round, apple-like face that glowed when he smiled, looking nothing like a middle-aged man who had already seen 46 years. When he spoke, he liked to bob his oval-shaped head. His mouth was wide, and his chin was short and narrow, combined with his chubby cheeks, making him look like an adorable doll. Standing next to Zhuangmu Qiangba, he appeared even shorter and rounder. Although he was only wearing short-sleeved clothes and shorts, Zhuangmu Qiangba couldn't help but think of Comrade Lao Xiao in Kekexili, who was wrapped up like a dumpling. Due to Ecuador's unusually strict customs and aviation security, most of their equipment had to be left behind. Once in Quito, they planned to purchase some tools they could use. Zhuangmu Qiangba handed Kesa a list, asking him to take them shopping. When Kesa saw the list, he was stunned. It was densely packed with over a hundred items, categorized in such detail it was astonishing.
Kesa led them to buy some basic living supplies and told them that more tools could actually be found in Putumayo. Being a border port and deep in the jungle, many local residents possessed essential tools for the forest, such as jungle machetes, bows and arrows, safety ropes, and folding shovels. If they had connections, they could even get double-barreled shotguns and other weapons.
It took more than eight hours by bus from Quito to reach Putumayo. Contrary to their expectations, it wasn't surrounded by dense jungle but was similar to other places, with gray brick houses and roads, just a bit simpler—comparable to an average county town in China in the early 1980s. Seeing the disappointment on their faces, Kesa explained, "The city is developing. Large parts of the rainforest have been cut down, dragged far away for processing and export. There used to be no roads here; everything depended on dugout canoes and finding your way through the jungle. But since large oil fields were discovered in Colombia's Putumayo Province, the government has been looking for exploitable oil resources nearby. Roads have been built, and a lot of vehicles have come in, changing the cultural concepts and lifestyles of the local residents. Now, only these small port towns are developed. Less than ten kilometers from here, you can return to the jungle era, but in a few decades, those jungles might disappear too."
Zhuangmu Qiangba and the others sighed and nodded. After all, everyone hopes to live a better life, and discussing ecological conservation only happens after people have full bellies. They planned to settle in Putumayo for a day, find a place to stay, and then have Kesa take them to purchase the tools they still needed. If they could get everything ready today, they could set out early the next morning. They had studied the map and decided that taking the river route to Santa Maria was most suitable. The river flowed directly to Santa Maria, with only occasional need to land and set up camp. Kesa did not comment on this plan; he said he was only there to translate and help them buy supplies. He wouldn't leave Putumayo with them; he had never worked as a jungle guide and didn't plan to. After all, he had a job that could support him, so there was no need to risk his life. When Zhuangmu Qiangba asked how dangerous the jungle was, Kesa only said that venturing into this jungle is a life-risking endeavor. He had heard many local tales of countless adventurers who set out from Putumayo, drifted into the jungle, and were never seen again.
Zhuangmu Qiangba and his team didn't mind. As long as they could obtain the necessary tools, they were confident they could traverse the jungle on foot. They hadn't planned on bringing a guide into the dense forest anyway; having a guide would have made the journey too easy and without challenge. Kesa arranged for the four of them to stay with a friend of his in Putumayo, a single indigenous man named Holmen, who was around thirty years old. It wasn't clear how Kesa knew him, but as soon as they met, they embraced warmly and started speaking in Quechua. Then Kesa told Zhuangmu Qiangba and the others that each of them would only need to pay thirty dollars for a comfortable night, as if they were at home. Zhuangmu Qiangba knew Kesa must have pegged them as easy marks from their shopping behavior, wanting to keep the money close.
After arranging their accommodations, Zhuangmu Qiangba immediately had Kesa take them out to buy the remaining tools. Kesa cleverly recommended Holmen, saying he could also speak some English. Although Zhuangmu Qiangba knew Holmen's English skills were probably not much better than Kesa's, time was pressing, so he and Basang formed a group with Kesa, while Zhang Li and Yue Yang teamed up with Holmen to separately buy the remaining tools. After agreeing on a time and route, they set off to shop.
Zhuangmu Qiangba and Basang were responsible for purchasing climbing and jungle gear, such as safety ropes, harnesses, figure-eight descenders, pitons, waist pouches, entrenching tools, and zip lines. Zhang Li and Yue Yang were in charge of weapons, camping gear, first aid supplies, and medicines. Putumayo wasn't very large, but Zhang Li and his team had to go to the suburbs to buy weapons, while Zhuangmu Qiangba and Basang stayed in town. Although Basang didn't speak much, he had a good quality: he never caused trouble. He had a lone eagle's demeanor, looking down on everything from above, disdaining to talk or get into conflicts with those around him. The shopping trip went smoothly because many adventurers often passed through Putumayo, and there were shops specifically selling jungle equipment. The two of them packed the tools they bought into their backpacks and started heading back. Kesa explained along the way about the customs and scenery of the indigenous people. Although his speech was stuttered and his grammar poor, they could understand the gist of what he was saying.