To be precise, there were two photographs in the box.
The first photograph depicted an endless grassland, scattered with low shrubs hiding amidst the grass. Under a blue sky with white clouds, a black whirlwind appeared in the center of the grassland. Upon closer inspection, it became clear this was no wind but the blurred silhouette of an animal. The photo was blurry, likely due to the photographer's trembling hands, but the creature's fur was faintly discernible.
The second photograph had the same grassland as its backdrop. Upon closer observation, one could see that the location hadn't changed—those same mountains, shrubs, and even a specific tuft of grass remained in the exact position as in the first photo. The difference was that the blue sky and white clouds had been replaced by nightfall. This indicated that the photographer had stayed in the same spot from day to night without moving. The black figure had now been swallowed by the darkness, but the second photograph was clearer than the first because the figure had moved closer to the camera, and it was facing directly toward the photographer.
In this second photograph, the creature's indistinct face resembled that of an African lion. Its mane, together with the folds of skin on its neck, framed its head like the petals of a sunflower. However, its body was entirely different from a lion's. Unlike the typical African lion, whose mane is concentrated around its head and hind legs due to environmental adaptations, this creature's entire body was covered in thick, long fur, giving it the appearance of a robust yak. It was powerful and muscular.
Professor Fang Xin held the two photographs for a long time, speechless. The creature's yak-like physique, lion-like head, and leopard-like curves were perfectly proportioned. Its body, covered in black fur, exhibited nearly flawless musculature, exuding immense strength. It looked like an arrow perpetually poised to be unleashed, its every movement carrying the latent energy of a feline predator. Yet Fang Xin knew deep down that this was a canine—a member of the dog family.
The creature's square head, small ears, long fur, broad mouth, straight back, tucked abdomen, and column-like limbs identified it unmistakably as a Tibetan Mastiff. But it wasn't an ordinary Tibetan Mastiff. No common mastiff was this large, this robust, this fierce, or this imposing. Standing like a steel giant, it embodied regal dominance and primal wildness. It seemed to challenge the heavens and earth as it majestically roamed the grasslands.
Fang Xin stared at the photos for half an hour without uttering a word. Tashi Damba watched the professor with a smile, knowing exactly what was going through his mind—a complete mental blankness, just as Tashi had experienced when he first saw the photographs. The clear blue sky, so close it seemed one could pluck a cloud from it, and the unique flora of the Tibetan Plateau were unmistakable. Among the shrubs were regional plants like square-branch juniper, dwarf ephedra, and hard-leaf willow, alongside some species exclusive to the region.
As for the mastiff, both Tashi Damba and Fang Xin were veterans in the field and didn't need a second look to confirm it was the finest mastiff they had ever seen. It had the most perfect physique, the most commanding demeanor, and something indescribable yet exceptional, which no other Tibetan Mastiff possessed.
Despite having seen the photos numerous times, Tashi Damba still felt an uncontrollable urge to cry whenever he looked at them. His hands trembled as he struggled to contain his emotions.
Fang Xin finally removed his reading glasses, paused, put them back on, then repeated the process dozens of times before firmly tapping the photo with his finger. "Impossible. This is fake—a digitally manipulated image!"
Tashi Damba shot to his feet, his face pale with shock. He had never expected Fang Xin, his revered mentor, to draw such a conclusion after such a prolonged examination. If it weren't for his deep respect for Fang Xin, he might have reacted violently on the spot.
Fang Xin motioned for Tashi to calm down and pointed at the photo. "Let's analyze this first image. It was taken during the day. Although the background is blurry, the vegetation is still identifiable. Look, this is a Sichuan fir tree. Judging by its diameter, it's mature, with a height of 30 to 40 meters. Let's assume it's 30 meters. Beside it is a mature square-branch juniper, approximately 10 to 15 meters tall. If the photographer's position remained fixed, we can estimate the distance between the mastiff and the trees using visual scaling. From this, we can deduce the mastiff's height.
"My rough estimate? If it's real, its shoulder height would be between 1.2 to 1.4 meters. Standing upright, it would reach or exceed 2.5 meters, making it more like a small cow than a dog. The tallest dog I've encountered had a shoulder height of just 1.05 meters, and the highest reported standing height of a dog is only 2.1 meters. You know the typical measurements for a mastiff: shoulder height under 80 cm and body length under 1.5 meters. When have you ever seen such a massive dog?"
Tashi Damba retorted passionately, "But mastiffs belong to the largest breed in the canine family! The very definition of the word 'mastiff' refers to a large and ferocious dog. German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Saint Bernards—all the largest recognized breeds—carry mastiff lineage. So, it's not unusual for an exceptionally large individual to appear among mastiffs."
"Exceptionally large?" Fang Xin sneered. "Fine, but consider its environment—the Tibetan Plateau, the highest plateau in the world."
Tashi stammered, "So… so what?" He knew his expertise couldn't match his mentor's.
Fang Xin explained, "In high-altitude environments with thin air and low oxygen levels, organisms adapt by becoming smaller to conserve oxygen. Most animals in such conditions are compact, with short limbs and thick fur, to minimize the strain on oxygen transport and ensure cognitive clarity. This mastiff, photographed in a high-altitude region based on the vegetation visible, couldn't possibly have a size so much larger than its counterparts."
He continued, "Look at this fur. It's not black, not brown—it's a deep, reddish-purple. If this creature truly exists, it represents an entirely new mastiff breed."
Tashi Damba pointed to the mastiff's eyes in the second photo, his voice firm. "Mentor, look at its eyes. The moment I saw them, I knew this mastiff was real. Those eyes speak of its existence."
Fang Xin gazed again at the eyes in the photograph, their brilliance and intensity making him pause. For a moment, even he couldn't dismiss Tashi's unwavering belief.