During the training process, each member's personality traits gradually became evident. Basang, with his habitual aloofness and arrogance, rarely interacted with others, behaving as though he were independent of the group. This attitude displeased Tashi Danba, but if anyone could be called reclusive, it was Lama Yala, who was even harder to approach. Lama Yala spent his time either completing the training tasks or chanting scriptures, making him unapproachable even for someone as outgoing as Eric. However, Lama Yala possessed an extraordinary memory. No matter what was taught, he could recall it perfectly after just one explanation from Eric or Lü Jingnan. Only Tashi Danba understood that these monks, capable of reciting millions of words of Tibetan Buddhist scriptures without error, had developed their memory through years of rigorous training.
Surprisingly, Tashi Danba himself had the poorest memory in the group. Professor Fang Xin contributed some biological knowledge, Zhang Li, Yueyang, and Tang Min were young, and Basang had considerable outdoor experience. Tashi Danba, however, appeared to be a complete novice. Yet, he was undoubtedly the most diligent trainee, dedicating almost all his free time to reviewing notes and consolidating what he had learned, often to the point of forgetting himself. For instance, during meals, he would suddenly realize that the porcelain bowls they were using were Qinghua-style, fired in the mid-1980s, with counterfeit Jingdezhen marks. He noted that their chopsticks were made of nan bamboo, which grows in the same environment as the harder gong bamboo used for making bows. He could identify the rice they ate as northeastern rice, grown in the fertile black soil formed by accumulated basalt, known for its glutinous, soft, and fluffy texture. Before sleeping, he would analyze the construction of the dormitory bunks, identifying them as two-tier wooden frames made from ordinary firewood, joined with wedge mortise and tenon, just sturdy enough to support two people. In his dreams, his roommates could sometimes hear him muttering about exotic species: "Green-eyed silkworm moth, Lepidoptera, Saturniidae family, native to northwest South America, wingspan 1.2 meters, scales contain allergens, seventh abdominal segment has venom glands capable of producing hydrogen cyanide, highly toxic… Australian box jellyfish, lethal… 30 seconds of contact causes death…"
As if this weren't enough, during lunch breaks, Lama Yala demanded that Tashi Danba memorize ancient Nyingma scriptures dictated by his father verbatim. The purpose was to uncover guidance from the myth-like stories in the scriptures, which might lead them in the right direction.
It was also Tashi Danba who proposed studying the origins of writing and the evolution of civilizations, though this ultimately went nowhere. Nevertheless, he constantly sought Eric's expertise, inquiring about the distinctions between pictographic and symbolic scripts, as well as the characteristics and commonalities of cuneiform, Mayan script, seal script, oracle bone script, and hieroglyphs. His relentless questioning often left Eric scratching his head and ultimately conceding with a resigned "I give up."
Among those most intrigued by Tashi Danba was Lü Jingnan. She found it remarkable that this tireless, inquisitive man seemed to possess boundless energy. Despite her frequent hints at wanting to talk with him privately, Tashi Danba either feigned ignorance or declined outright. His emotions were entirely devoted to Tang Min, and he had no desire for any other emotional entanglements.
In practical training, Tang Min was undoubtedly the weakest. The delicate girl often failed during exercises but never shed a tear. Her persistence saw her through every test, earning respect from everyone. The most surprising participant was Lama Yala, the unassuming elder who appeared to be a hidden master. Just as he memorized theoretical knowledge effortlessly, he breezed through even the most challenging training tasks. Even feats that Tashi Danba couldn't complete in one go, Lama Yala managed with ease, often leaving Eric in awe.
However, throughout the initial training phase, Tashi Danba couldn't shake an uneasy feeling, a sense of being watched that made his spine tingle. He was certain the blonde man wouldn't give up so easily, yet he couldn't find any trace of the enemy. The lack of visible threats only heightened his sense of danger. Another issue nagged at him: the absence of the mission's overall commander. Despite the prolonged training, this leader remained unseen. When Tashi Danba raised the question with Lü Jingnan, she explained that the individual was abroad on a research trip related to a major hydraulic project.
As time passed, the camp's daytime temperatures climbed to 26 degrees Celsius. After an afternoon training session, the male team members donned camouflage vests. The towering Tashi Danba, with his near-perfect musculature, exuded an air of dominance in the sunlight. By now, he was a far cry from the man he had been months ago. His performance in climbing, rope-bridging, tunneling, swimming, and combat was unmatched among the trainees. Even his theoretical knowledge had reached a passing standard—he could now identify the items from Lü Jingnan's first-day test. The grass was Jiji grass, common on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; the stone was weathered red sandstone, which, despite its solid appearance, was brittle and unsuitable for climbing anchors or fixing equipment; and the insect larger than an ant was the infamous, fearsome army ant of the desert.
Tashi Danba had also gained insight into the extraordinary flora and fauna Basang had once described. For instance, the man-killing tree appeared to be a mutated wisteria with root-like tendrils that would wrap around anything it touched, growing several meters in a day. If it found a tree to climb after entangling a person, by morning, the victim would be tightly bound to the tree. The colorful Tibetan leeches, which once caused widespread devastation, could grow over ten centimeters long. As temperatures rose, they would become active. Tibetan villagers described these infestations with a saying: "A white horse passing through turns red; a white dog passing through leaves only bones." As for the ice axes, crampons, figure-eight rings, and carabiners used by the scientific team in Kekexili, Tashi Danba now understood them as well as his own limbs—though he still lacked practical experience.
One evening, Tashi Danba was in the camp, slowly practicing Lü Jingnan's grappling moves. Zhang Li and Yueyang, who had become fast friends, sat under a tree nearby. Basang perched on a high branch, solitary as ever. He had learned to temper his temperamental and impatient nature after suffering defeats at the hands of both Tashi Danba and Lama Yala. Meanwhile, Professor Fang Xin and Eric were engrossed in an endless academic discussion. Tang Min and Lü Jingnan stood in the distance, and though they didn't approach, Tashi Danba could feel their eyes on him. Lama Yala, the enigmatic monk, approached silently.
After observing for a while, Lama Yala asked, "Are you Kubai?"
Tashi Danba nodded lightly and replied, "I used to participate in a few competitions, but I later went into business and grew out of practice."
Zhang Li suddenly jumped up from under the tree and asked, "Danba, I've heard this term Kubai mentioned several times. What exactly does it mean?"
Tashi Danba chuckled and said, "It's just a regular competitive event, similar to a championship title."
Yala, however, spoke with seriousness. "It's not that simple. Kubai is a title of honor and reverence, signifying a Tibetan warrior. Long ago, large-scale competitions were popular in the Tibetan region. Each principality would send its strongest youth to compete for the Kubai title. The events included horse archery, yak racing, Tibetan wrestling, tug-of-war, and stone throwing, among others—about ten events in total. Nowadays, only the southwestern region of Ngari preserves the Kubai tradition, and the competition has been reduced to four events: tug-of-war, wrestling, stone-lifting, and lasso throwing." Yala glanced at Tashi Danba and added, "Winning the Kubai title is no small feat; it requires exceptional all-around ability."
Yueyang stood up as well and asked, "What's tug-of-war, stone-lifting, or whatever else it is?"
Having some knowledge of these Tibetan games, Zhang Li explained to Yueyang, "Tug-of-war is like an elephant pulling a rope. Two men stand back-to-back, a rope tied around their shoulders like dockworkers hauling cargo, and they pull with all their might. The rules are similar to standard tug-of-war. Stone-throwing involves using a sling to hurl a rock as far and as accurately as possible. Stone-lifting is akin to weightlifting, where you lift large rocks. There are also activities like horn-pulling and wrestling."
Yala then asked Tashi Danba, "The first time I saw you in action, I noticed your wrestling techniques involved sticking, leaning, hooking, and circling. That's probably not something you learned from Kubai, is it?"
Tashi Danba silently praised Yala's sharp observation and explained, "When I was doing business in Chengdu, I met an old man at Qingyang Palace who taught me Tai Chi."
Yala nodded, and Tashi Danba countered with a question, "Speaking of which, Yala Lama, your skills have left us all in awe. The saying, 'A true master conceals his abilities,' fits you perfectly."
Yala replied in his usual calm tone, "I spent decades in meditative training at Sera Monastery and learned some leaping techniques." After that, he walked aside and resumed chanting mantras.
Tashi Danba found it odd that Yala Lama would suddenly ask such questions. In a daze, he noticed something reflecting light in the mountains.
On an electronic display, data such as time, distance to the target, angle, and slope were shown one by one. A close-up of Tashi Danba's puzzled face filled the screen. Mojin, clad in an imposing military uniform, stood amid dense forest on a mountainside. Removing his electronic binoculars, he muttered suspiciously, "Are they really so confident? What's this special training for? Could they already know the location?"
"Maso!" Mojin roared. A tall, brown-haired man with narrow eyes, a high nose, and a flat mouth scurried out from the shadows of the trees. Though he was about 1.8 meters tall, his constant hunched posture made him appear obsequious and even sleazy. "Yes, boss?" Maso's English was fluent—he was the same operative who had offered Mojin a cigarette in Kekexili.
Mojin adjusted his hat and asked, "Is that lunatic still unresponsive?"
Maso replied nervously, "Yes, boss. The Americans said communication is key to rehabilitating psychiatric patients, but it's difficult to establish with him. The translator we hired in Lhasa isn't fluent in Goba, so his translations are… well… like my Chinese—awkward."
"Your Chinese? You mean my Chinese, right? Hmm?"
"N-no, no, sir. I wouldn't dare."
Mojin lit a cigarette, exhaled a long plume of smoke, and muttered, "Is there anyone proficient in Goba?"
"There is."
"Then why aren't you bringing them here already?"
Maso hesitated, pointing downhill. "They're… down there."
"Huh?" Mojin raised an eyebrow. "You're saying someone in that training camp knows Goba?"
Maso nodded. "Yes. Their name is… something strange… sounds like… Freckle Fake-ba."
Mojin glared at Maso fiercely and cursed, "Idiot!" He took a few steps, then turned back to scold, "Moron!" Suddenly struck by an idea, Mojin smirked. "They're doing special training? Fine, we'll do our own! Maso, organize the men from Kekexili. Train them thoroughly. Even if they're heading to their deaths, they should die gloriously."
Maso immediately agreed but then nervously asked, "Boss, about Sorris—he's locked himself in with all those chemicals, running experiments. The local Tibetans are starting to complain. Could it expose us?"
Mojin remained silent for a moment, took a deep drag on his cigarette, and said, "Ignore him for now. Whatever equipment he needs, make sure he gets it. Whether we succeed or not will ultimately depend on his little creatures." After Maso and Mojin left, the forest returned to its quiet state, as though nothing had happened.
The basic training was over, and now it was time for field training. With the strong financial support of Tashi Danba's foundation, the team embarked on adaptability training in different environments around the world.
The first group competition was a simple test of wilderness survival skills, starting with fire-making. Various tools were laid out, and each team was to choose their tools. The first team to ignite a flame would win. At the sound of Lü Jingnan's whistle, Tashi Danba, Basang, Zhang Li, and Yueyang—using their physical advantage—rushed to the pile of materials, grabbing the driest and thickest piece of wood. They carved a small groove in the wood, filled it with shavings, and sharpened a small stick to firmly press into the groove. Then, taking turns, they began spinning the stick vigorously with their hands. Five minutes later, smoke began to rise from the shavings. The group, drenched in sweat, was ecstatic and spun the stick even harder. Half an hour later, a tiny flame finally appeared. The four men, their faces blackened with soot, looked like soldiers in camouflage as the sweat streaked through the grime.
Turning around to check on Fang Xin's group, they froze in disbelief. Fang Xin's team stood there, each holding a lit torch, watching them as though they were cavemen.
Tashi Danba stared wide-eyed at them, noticing how calm and effortless Fang Xin's group appeared. Basang and Yueyang were equally stunned, while Zhang Li continued blowing into the groove with determination, yelling happily, "It's burning! It's burning! Haha, we did it!"
Fang Xin's team approached with their torches, struggling to suppress their laughter at the sight of the four soot-faced men panting heavily. Tashi Danba, unwilling to accept defeat, asked, "Professor, how did you finish so quickly?"
Fang Xin opened his left hand, doing his best to maintain a serious expression as he explained, "A Raymond-brand lighter, hidden under the wood you moved…" He couldn't help but burst into laughter but managed to finish his explanation like an ad pitch: "Using an oxygen-pressure mix, windproof and waterproof, with a maximum flame temperature of 5,000 degrees capable of melting ordinary steel. It's gas-intensive, with a full tank lasting only five minutes on maximum output. Made of alloy to withstand direct hits from an 8mm caliber handgun. Features a side-touch ignition button for hands-free operation, allowing even a mouth to light it. Ergonomically designed, it's a must-have for special forces."
Tashi Danba felt like crying. Turning to Lü Jingnan, he asked, "Wasn't this arrangement a bit excessive?"
Lü Jingnan unapologetically replied, "I told you the tools and materials were yours to choose. You saw the big piece of wood and thought only of friction fire-making. Where was your observation and discernment? I hereby announce: Tashi Danba's team loses; Fang Xin's team wins!"
No one expected this to be just the beginning of Tashi Danba's team's losing streak.
During subsequent world-class training, their team faced repeated setbacks. In the Dakar Rally, they often suffered tire blowouts or found that maps didn't match actual routes, arriving hours after Fang Xin's team. During the Sahara desert crossing, Yueyang's poor protective measures allowed a sand scorpion to sting him on the buttocks, forcing the other three to take turns carrying him, slowing them down significantly. In Xishuangbanna, they were chased by wild elephants, got lost in the rainforest, and took four extra days to find their way out—all because Zhang Li teased a baby elephant with bananas, angering its mother. In Australia's Devil's Peak climb, Basang's faulty pitons and Tashi Danba's frequent navigational errors caused the team to repeatedly fall and dangle precariously from cliffs. During the Black Gobi desert crossing, Tashi Danba's poor judgment led them into a sandstorm, and they narrowly escaped by finding shelter in a rocky cave on Mount Mazongshan.
Whether on grasslands, swamps, deserts, or glaciers, Tashi Danba's team consistently failed. Even Lü Jingnan frequently complained about how such seemingly capable men could be so clumsy.
Months passed, and the grueling physical training began to numb them. The constant battle to endure each day's challenges left little energy for deep thought. Conversations increasingly revolved around recounting their training misadventures, except for Tashi Danba, who remained focused on the purpose of their mission.
Returning to the Special Forces camp in Lhasa after a Vietnam mission, the team had only two days of rest before awaiting Lü Jingnan's next training destination. Impatient, Tashi Danba went to Lü Jingnan's room and knocked persistently until she opened the door and asked what he wanted. Tashi Danba expressed his frustration, and Lü Jingnan frowned, saying, "Your training is only halfway complete. Basang is still undergoing psychological recovery, and his memory is gradually returning. If we rush to start the mission now, it might not yield the desired results."
Tashi Danba insisted, "I think we've already completed comprehensive adaptability training. What else is left to train? I personally believe I'm ready to set out and search for the target location. Moreover, we have no idea how far the other group has progressed."
Lü Jingnan, unwilling to argue, replied coolly, "Oh, in fact, there's still plenty left to train. But I don't think you need to worry too much about the other group. If it were so easy to find, they wouldn't have spent so many years searching."
As Tashi Danba began to retort, Lü Jingnan made a dismissive gesture and said, "Alright, I understand what you're trying to say, and I don't want to argue. Here's the deal: your mid-term assessment is about to begin. We'll revisit this after the assessment. If you still think you're ready to proceed, we'll hold a team meeting to discuss it. Okay? For now, I need to organize some materials. If you don't have anything else—"
After a moment of hesitation, Tashi Danba reluctantly agreed and left. After he was gone, Lü Jingnan muttered, either to herself or someone else, "It seems he's getting impatient."
From behind the curtain, a voice replied, "Naturally. After all, he has no idea what we've been working on."