"What!" "What!" The four people present surrounded Tang Min, all staring at her in astonishment. This news was simply too incredible for them.
Tang Min cupped her chin and pretended to think deeply. "Hmm, how should I put it? I'd say I know a way to find the route to that place."
"Impossible!" Professor Fang Xin immediately denied. "As far as we know, only three people have ever been there, and they're either insane or suffering from memory loss. How could you know how to get there?"
Tang Min replied with confidence, "If I tell you a feasible way to find it, will you let me join your expedition team?"
Professor Fang Xin frowned and corrected her, "How many times do I have to tell you? This is not a travel group! This is an extremely dangerous mission." He sighed and softened his tone slightly. "Besides, we're not ready to set off yet. We don't have a guide, we don't know how to equip ourselves properly, and we're still unsure if our physical conditions can handle it. The reality is far from what we initially envisioned."
Tashi Damba interjected, "Alright, Minmin, stop joking. If you really know the way, just tell us. Only after you tell us can we start planning the next steps."
Tang Min nodded. "Fine, since you're all so eager, I'll tell you. Actually, my brother has always kept a habit of writing a journal!"
The courtyard fell silent. If there was a travel journal, it could indeed provide critical clues to finding that place. Professor Fang Xin and the others felt their hearts racing. The professor immediately asked, "Where is the journal?"
Tang Min gestured for him to calm down and smiled. "I remember my brother having such a journal. He documented all the places he went to and everything he encountered in detail."
Tashi Damba rushed forward, holding Tang Min's hands and shaking them lightly. "Then, where is it? Where is it?"
Tang Min pouted. "But when my brother was rescued from the Kekexili station, I couldn't find the journal. At first, I didn't pay much attention, but later, I searched through all his belongings and confirmed it wasn't there. I think—"
"The journal was lost along the way!" Tashi Damba looked crestfallen.
Tang Min shook her head. "No, I believe the journal must still be at the Kekexili patrol team or rescue station because my brother always kept it on him. All his outerwear had an inner pocket specifically designed for storing that journal."
Zhang Li interjected, "Could it have been lost during a hasty escape in the area we're planning to go to?"
"Unlikely," Tang Min said. "When I picked up my brother, his camera, mountaineering gear, and even his tripod were intact. This means he didn't leave in a panic—he had enough time to prepare. There's no reason he would leave behind something so important. Moreover, when I checked his clothes later, the pocket for the journal was fine; the journal itself was just missing. So, I think it must have been taken out during the rescue and forgotten to be returned."
Tashi Damba clapped his hands. "Alright, in that case, let's head to Kekexili! Maybe we'll find something unexpected." He smiled.
Laba added, "I'll take this time to persuade Basang to help you."
Professor Fang Xin said, "And I'll contact my lawyer friend to expedite Basang's release."
Zhang Li began, "Should I head back to—"
Tashi Damba interrupted, "No, I have another task for you. I'll tell you tomorrow." He chuckled and walked off with his arm around Tang Min. Zhang Li returned to his room.
Watching the pair walk off affectionately, Professor Fang Xin muttered softly, "So young, yet so sharp-tongued and quick-witted. I'm genuinely concerned about Damba's future with her."
Laba chuckled. "I think the young master and Miss Tang get along quite well."
The professor shook his head. "Right now, Damba indulges Tang Min not only as a lover but also with a sense of paternal affection. He's overly accommodating. The day he realizes their relationship isn't what he imagines—when two strong personalities clash—the conflict will be intense. Sigh…"
Laba smiled. "As the Buddhist scriptures say, everyone has their own destiny."
The next morning, Tashi Damba approached Zhang Li early. "I'd like you to accompany us to Qinghai."
"Why?" Zhang Li was surprised. His assigned duty was to assist Tashi Damba and Professor Fang Xin in Tibet; heading to Kekexili wasn't part of his job.
Tashi Damba smiled. "I've already spoken to your commander, and he agreed. You know Kekexili isn't an easy place to navigate. I'm worried Minmin's body might not handle it well. Another person means more support. Plus, over these past few days, I've noticed you're an excellent driver. I've prepared a great vehicle for you." He patted Zhang Li's shoulder and walked off with a seemingly casual demeanor, though it was clear he didn't want Zhang Li to see the trace of unease in his eyes.
Tashi Damba felt a hint of fear—something he had never experienced before. But now, he was truly afraid. Those chilling eyes, cold as a serpent's gaze, filled him with unease. A kind of instinct he had learned from his mastiffs made him feel threatened. Especially when thinking about bringing Tang Min to such a dangerous place—who knew what could happen? Having Zhang Li, an elite soldier from the army, by his side might provide some much-needed support.
Laba caught up to him and handed over a gold-embossed card. "Young Master Damba, the master asked me to give this to you. Since you're heading to Lhasa to catch a flight, he said to hand this card to Losang Deni, the steward at the Potala Palace, and request his presence."
Tashi Damba looked puzzled. "Deni Steward? Doesn't he only visit our home once a year, on the first Tuesday after the spring equinox and during the day?" Tashi Damba had known Losang Deni since childhood. As the head of the Potala Palace's Scripture Hall and once a teacher to the Dalai Lama, Losang Deni was well-versed in Tibetan history and culture and had a close friendship with Tashi Damba's father. Their annual meetings always involved scripture recitations and philosophical discussions.
Laba smiled. "The master said you should do as instructed. This matter concerns whether you can embark on your journey smoothly."
In Lhasa, Tashi Damba handed the invitation to Deni Steward. Later, they arranged for a helicopter to depart from Lhasa, landing in Zhiduo County. In this town known as the "first county of the Yangtze River," the three had lunch before preparing to enter the uninhabited zone.
Zhang Li asked, "Wasn't I promised a great car? Where is it?"
Tashi Damba pointed ahead. "Don't rush."
Pulling back a massive tarp revealed a rugged and aggressive camouflage off-road vehicle. Zhang Li's eyes lit up, and he immediately rushed over to touch the body, carefully inspecting each part. "6.5-liter V8 engine, coilover suspension, ground clearance of at least 18 inches, quad exhaust pipes, dual concealed fuel tanks!" With each discovery, he let out an amazed exclamation. Finally, he asked, "Is this an off-road vehicle or a rocket-powered race car?"
Tashi Damba laughed. "Hop in and see for yourself." He opened the door for Zhang Li.
Tang Min, standing nearby, said, "This car just looks a bit bigger and flatter than a normal off-road vehicle. Nothing special about it."
Zhang Li, peering at the controls, began counting aloud, "ABS anti-lock braking system, EBD electronic brakeforce distribution, DSC dynamic stability control, EBA emergency brake assist…"
Sitting in the back seat with Tang Min, Tashi Damba said, "This car is domestic—just released as the Xiaolong model—but has undergone some modifications. The engine cylinders were doubled, the exhaust pipes increased from one to four, and an auxiliary fuel tank was added. There are other upgrades too. The engineers told me about the specs, but I don't really understand them. Why don't you try it out?"
With a light tap on the accelerator, the vehicle shot forward like an arrow leaving the bow. Yet, inside the cabin, it was utterly silent and stable. Zhang Li, staring at the digital dashboard, exclaimed, "It only took a little over three seconds to go from zero to 100 kilometers per hour! This car must have at least 400 horsepower. My God, what kind of vehicle is this?"
Zhiduo County, known for its location at the source of the Yangtze River, is often called the "first county of the Yangtze." It boasts titles such as "source of the Yangtze, ancestral streams, land of yaks, homeland of dance and song, cradle of ecology, kingdom of animals, Tang-Fan ancient road," and the "nine rivers and ten lakes of the Yangtze." Heading west from Zhiduo County leads directly into the uninhabited Kekexili area, which can also be considered part of Zhiduo County.
The Xiaolong roared across the endless grasslands at 80 kilometers per hour, the ride smooth and unwavering. For Zhang Li, it was his first time driving an off-road vehicle that was both this fast and this stable. Looking out at the horizon's greenery, Tang Min softly murmured, "Kekexili, are you heaven or hell? Are you beautiful or cruel?"
Tashi Damba gently looked at the petite princess nestled in his arms and asked, "Isn't Kekexili just a desert? What's so beautiful about it?" He wasn't particularly familiar with geography.
Tang Min smiled. "Kekexili is a Mongolian term that means 'beautiful girl.' It can also refer to 'green ridge.' Both describe its beauty. But what we now call the Kekexili Uninhabited Zone spans nearly 80,000 square kilometers, making it the third-largest in the world and the largest in China. Right now, we're near the expansive grasslands close to the county. As we go deeper, you'll see its true face—its other name is 'the forbidden zone of life.'"
Zhang Li glanced around at the surrounding grasslands. Already, there were no signs of human or animal activity, even though they were less than ten minutes' drive from the county. Feeling uneasy, he asked, "Miss Tang, are you sure you can remember where the rescue station is? It's easy to get lost in such a vast area."
Tang Min replied, "Just keep driving. As long as we're heading in the right direction, we should reach the first natural reserve station before nightfall. We'll pick up supplies there and then head northwest. If everything goes smoothly, we should reach the rescue station in four to five days. The reserve stations usually have signal flags or balloons that can be seen from over ten kilometers away."
Zhang Li nodded. "That's reassuring."
Tashi Damba said to Tang Min, "You know a lot."
Tang Min smiled. "It's all from my brother's journal. He's been to Kekexili and even further north to the Yadzi River area many times, so he knows it well."
Tashi Damba asked, "What exactly does this journal look like?"
Tang Min explained, "It's a black leather-bound notebook, with a waterproof leather case. It's about this thick." She gestured with her thumb and forefinger, showing a width of about two fingers.
Suddenly, a thought struck Tashi Damba. He urgently asked, "By the way, did you go to Menghe to find that madman because of this journal?"
Tang Min nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. When you left the U.S., I remembered the journal and went to look for it, only to realize it wasn't among my brother's belongings. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't reach you by phone. So I went to the address you mentioned to find that madman. I thought he might know something if you had already visited him. But he knew nothing."
Tashi Damba chuckled. "If he's a madman, you can't treat him like a normal person. By the way, did you go back to look for him? Or did you tell anyone else about this trip?"
Tang Min blinked her large eyes, puzzled. "No. Since I couldn't get anything from him, I just left Menghe and returned to Lhasa. I haven't mentioned this to anyone. Why?"
Tashi Damba muttered, "Good. That's good." But an ominous feeling crept back. If Tang Min hadn't returned to the madman, then the person who took him away… He couldn't shake the image of that towering figure and those serpent-like, menacing eyes!