Tang Min clung tightly to Tashi Damba's chest, sobbing softly, "Mmm. Mmm-mmm. Mmm-mmm-mmm…" like a kitten nursing a grievance. After a long while, she finally managed to speak in complete sentences, saying, "My brother's condition hasn't improved. I've hired professional caregivers."
Tashi Damba asked, "Then why aren't you staying to take care of your brother?"
Hearing this, Tang Min started crying again and replied, "It's all because of you. You… you big meanie. I couldn't reach you, and I was so worried I nearly went crazy!"
Tashi Damba comforted her, saying, "I already told you—there's no signal coverage where I've been. Alright, look at you—you've lost weight. And you've cried so much, you're like the landlord's wife in Afanti."
Tang Min managed a smile through her tears and said, "Then you must be the fat landlord, Bayi Laoye."
The two of them exchanged playful, sweet words, entirely forgetting where they were. By the time Tashi Damba remembered they needed to pick up Professor Fang Xin, Zhang Li felt like the car tires had gone flat from waiting so long. Tashi Damba smiled apologetically, saying, "Sorry for keeping you waiting. Oh, Laba Uncle, you can go ahead and stock up on supplies for the house. I'm sure you need lots of Kangzhu Tibetan incense, ceremonial candles, and such."
Laba stroked his beard and said, "Hmm, it seems the young master didn't hear me earlier. I already mentioned I'd gone shopping, but you didn't reply. Look, everything's already loaded in the car."
"Ha, ha. Really?" Tashi Damba chuckled awkwardly. "I must've been distracted. Sorry, sorry. Let me introduce someone—this is Miss Tang Min. She's… she's…"
Tang Min pouted unhappily and said, "I'm his girlfriend."
"Ah!" Zhang Li's eyes widened in shock, his already large eyes nearly bulging out. Laba's mouth also hung open, and his dentures nearly fell out. Tashi Damba helped Tang Min into the car, climbed in after her, and said, "Uh, I'll explain this slowly later. For now, let's head to Professor Fang Xin—he must be tired of waiting."
When they picked up Professor Fang Xin, the pile of cigarette butts at his feet made his mood all too apparent. Tashi Damba wasn't sure how to apologize, so he simply introduced Tang Min and then fell silent.
Professor Fang Xin gave Tang Min a scrutinizing look before saying coolly, "So you're Tang Min? Tashi Damba mentioned you."
Tashi Damba thought, Oh no, oh no. The professor's blaming her for our delay!
The professor shook Tang Min's hand courteously, gave a serious smile, and said, "Let's get in the car. It's late, and it'll be hard to make it back to Guwei."
Tashi Damba chimed in, "Right, right. Let's get going. By the way, Professor, why didn't you come to Lhasa with us?"
Professor Fang Xin replied, "I hadn't planned on coming, but I remembered a friend who specializes in Tibetan artifacts. I wanted him to examine those two items we found. Since EMS shipments all go through Lhasa, I came directly here."
"Oh," Tashi Damba said. "So, you've already sent them off?"
The professor nodded. "Yes, and if he's home, I should hear back soon. So, how did your search go?"
Tashi Damba briefly recounted their visit to the prison. Professor Fang Xin nodded. "This confirms that the Goba people's territory is likely within the Himalayas. Our search area is narrowing. Once Basang is out of prison, we'll set out."
Laba shook his head. "Basang was sentenced to 14 years—he still has several to go."
Tashi Damba clapped Laba on the shoulder, brimming with confidence. "We'll find a way." He then filled Tang Min in on recent events and asked about her situation. After retrieving Tang Min's suitcase from her hotel, they stopped by Tashi Damba's Tibetan mastiff breeding base before heading straight to Guwei.
Back home, Tashi Damba helped settle Tang Min in and secretly told his mother about their relationship, cautioning her to keep it confidential. Afterward, he went to see his father. When Tashi Damba emerged from Derin Laoye's room, he immediately ran into Laba. The old man looked downtrodden, his head hung low, with a sorrowful expression. Seeing that Laba wanted to speak but hesitated, Tashi Damba asked, "What's wrong, Uncle Laba?"
Laba sighed and said, "Don't feel bad, young master. Derin Laoye has his principles. Basang committed a crime, and this is his punishment. I understand that this isn't something we can demand."
Tashi Damba was surprised. "Oh, you already know, Uncle?"
Laba smiled and said, "If it were a small matter, the master would've resolved it long ago. Although he has a good personal relationship with the warden, favors have their limits. We can't ask him to overstep those bounds—it would make both the warden and the master uncomfortable."
Tashi Damba's expression darkened. "But without Basang to guide us, our plan will fall apart."
"It won't fall apart!" Professor Fang Xin said from behind. "I've discussed this thoroughly with Uncle Laba. Derin Laoye won't grant your request, but that doesn't mean Basang must wait until his sentence is complete. We can pursue legal avenues for bail pending trial. I have friends in Shanghai who are experienced in this area. It'll just take some time and a security deposit."
Tashi Damba's face lit up with hope. "The deposit won't be a problem. I just hope they can expedite the process!" Money wasn't an issue for him; his purebred mastiffs brought in substantial profits, as they cost him almost nothing to raise but sold for at least tens of thousands of yuan each.
Professor Fang Xin's expression changed slightly as he said, "However, Damba, there's something I need to ask you."
"Please go ahead."
"How do you plan to handle Tang Min?" Professor Fang Xin's tone was serious.
Tashi Damba looked troubled and scratched his head. "Minmin… she… she insists on going—"
"No way!" the professor interrupted harshly. "After listening to Basang's account, you should have a clear idea of what that place is like. It's not just dangerous for a young woman; even for us, survival is uncertain. Tang Min is not her brother, Tang Tao. Just by looking at her, you can tell she has no experience in wilderness survival. Forget about climbing snowy mountains; even living on the Tibetan plateau is already a challenge for her. The area we're heading to has no hospitals, no external support. If she falls ill or suffers altitude sickness, what then? Can you treat her in such an environment? Bringing her along is nothing short of sending her to her death."
"But—" Tashi Damba hesitated.
The professor pressed on. "Even if she stays healthy, let me ask you this: how much gear can she carry? If one of us collapses, can she help them up? How many kilometers can she cover in a day? Twenty? And having a woman in our group will create various inconveniences. Think carefully. She won't contribute to our efforts and will instead require ten times the energy to look after her. If we take her, we might die in the mountains before even finding the entrance."
Tashi Damba had never seen Professor Fang Xin so stern. He couldn't respond, especially since the professor's words made sense. But when he thought of Tang Min's pleading eyes, he couldn't muster the courage to persuade her to stay behind. Laba interjected, "The professor is right, young master. Why not let Miss Tang rest at home? It'll give her time to bond with the mistress and put your mind at ease."
The professor stared at Tashi Damba and added, "If you're struggling to explain, I can do it for you."
"No need." A crisp voice came from the inner room. Tang Min appeared, wrapped in Tashi Damba's fur coat, resembling a porcelain doll. Pouting, she said, "I heard everything."
Tashi Damba motioned for her to return to the room, but Tang Min pretended not to notice and addressed the professor. "You're right—my body is frail. I can't carry much or move quickly. But, Professor, you've overlooked one important detail."
The professor turned to her. "What detail?"
Tang Min bit her lip and glared playfully. "You're also a man in your sixties."
"What! You—" The professor was caught off guard by her retort.
Tang Min continued confidently, "Though you're in good health, age spares no one. Your physical condition will only decline. I, on the other hand, am young and can endure hardship to build resilience. If a bird never spreads its wings because it can't fly, it will never know if it's a sparrow or an eagle. Older people are different. They're prone to osteoporosis and can't bear weight or endure prolonged physical activity. Their cardiovascular health declines, so heavy labor or high-altitude expeditions are unsuitable."
"You—" The professor's tone shifted, but Tashi Damba quickly interrupted, "Minmin! Watch your words!" He covertly signaled for her to stop and return to her room.
The professor composed himself, chuckled dryly, and said, "I've entered Tibet seven times, joined three Everest expeditions, run ten kilometers every morning, carried 20 kilograms up and down eight flights of stairs, and taken cold showers year-round. If you can manage even one of these, I'll consider you fit for the trek."
Tang Min turned her head away. "I believe that if you're fit to go, then so am I. After all, I've studied at a medical school. At the very least, I can provide medical assistance."
The professor, shifting tactics, said, "Where we're going isn't just tough—it's filled with unknown dangers. Three people, including your brother, went mad. Doesn't that scare you?"
"Not at all!" Tang Min responded firmly, meeting the professor's gaze head-on. "I need to see what drove my brother… to become like this." Her voice wavered as she fought back tears.
The professor, faced with this defiant young woman, was momentarily at a loss. Tashi Damba, well aware of Tang Min's stubbornness, understood her as a spoiled princess. Then, from the other room, Zhang Li's voice broke in. "Stop arguing. You all make valid points. Honestly, by these standards, none of us qualify."
Everyone turned to see Zhang Li stepping out, looking as though he'd just left a particularly difficult meeting with Derin Laoye.
"What's wrong? Why the long face?" Tashi Damba asked.
Zhang Li grimaced. "I just contacted the regiment and shared what we learned from Basang."
"What did your commander say?" the professor asked anxiously.
"He said that due to the unique situation, they won't support us entering the mountains."
"What!" Both Tashi Damba and the professor exclaimed. Without military support, they'd lose access to specialized equipment, including weapons, communication tools, satellite tracking, and essential supplies.
Zhang Li added, "However, the commander said he'd first discuss this with Derin Laoye."
Relieved, Tashi Damba sighed. Even a single military knife was far superior to anything commercially available, let alone the rest of their equipment. Only Tang Min muttered, "Hmph. So what if they won't support us? My brother never relied on military resources."
The professor shook his head. "He didn't use domestic military gear, but he didn't lack for high-quality equipment either. Every piece of his gear was likely sourced from the black market. He didn't just use military supplies—he used the best from around the world. You have no idea what you're talking about, yet you want to join us. Ridiculous."
Tang Min, her temper flaring, stamped her foot. "I didn't plan on going, but now that you've said this, I insist on joining. And for your information, I came to tell you the route to that place. Why else would I come all the way here?"