The curtain lifted, revealing Lama Yala with a black kite perched on his shoulder. The bird's sharp talons gripped firmly, and its eyes gleamed like lightning as it surveyed the unfamiliar environment with wary precision. Lama Yala held a paper scroll in his hand and said calmly, "It is time. Let us see how this team's training has progressed."
Lü Jingnan asked with concern, "Is there a new lead?"
Lama Yala showed a rare smile and patted his shoulder. The black kite spread its wings and soared into the sky, quickly disappearing into the azure as if it had never been there. Lama Yala commanded, "Map."
A large world atlas was swiftly placed on the table. Lama Yala flipped through to the map of the Americas, muttering to himself, "According to the newly deciphered Gidenima Gung poems and the Guge Golden Book, it is said that the greatest messenger brought the castle of light, where all that is holy is preserved in the Pabalha Temple. Later, the castle of light was to be handed to the Western Sage Piyang Bulang, but Yisivo Wobo refused to relinquish it. Fearing the destruction of sacred objects, he secretly had his men relocate the divine light to the edge of the world, where it would remain hidden forever. They crossed mountains and endless seas, arriving in a strange and mysterious land where the trees towered to the heavens and formed an unbroken canopy. In the depths of the jungle, danger lurked at every turn—man-eating plants and animals, and even bloodthirsty people who consumed human flesh. The architecture there was grander than any palace they had ever seen. The temple resembled a towering pyramid, with colossal triangular structures rising like a mountain into the clouds, and steps leading to the heavens. The writing was composed of head-shaped and animal and plant images…"
Lü Jingnan murmured, "A pyramid? But it should be in the desert. Why a forest?"
Lama Yala chuckled lightly, "Don't you understand? A tropical rainforest. The returning emissaries reported that they had preserved the castle of light within the temple of another civilization. The local king promised to keep the sacred castle locked away in darkness forever."
Lü Jingnan grasped the implication but hesitated, incredulous. "The Mayan pyramids? Impossible… How could they have crossed the Pacific and reached the Americas back then? And returned?"
Lama Yala replied, "In this world, what modern humans can accomplish today, who's to say ancient people couldn't do it too? Don't forget the records of the Classic of Mountains and Seas and tales of the Shang people crossing the seas. Those happened millennia before the emissaries of the Guge Kingdom."
"What exactly is the castle of light?" Lü Jingnan pondered aloud.
Lama Yala said, "I don't know either, but if one person could carry it away, it must not be very large. For our midterm test, let's traverse this rainforest." His finger circled a section of the map.
Lü Jingnan looked at the area he marked and exclaimed, "To my knowledge, Mayan civilization is limited to the Yucatán Peninsula. Isn't this too far away?"
Lama Yala nodded. "True, I'm not entirely sure either. But the clues are quite clear. Look here. Current discoveries show that Mayan ruins are primarily located in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador, ending at the Andes. East of the Andes—averaging 6,000 meters in height—is considered the region of ancient Incan civilization. It's widely believed that ancient people couldn't cross the imposing mountain barrier. However, just a few years ago, Brazilian archaeologists discovered an entirely different civilization in the Amazon rainforest. The site included intricately crafted pottery, evidence of clan-based living, roads, bridges, farmland, pastures, temples, and altars—a highly developed society. Three years later, they found an astronomical observatory similar to Mayan designs, with massive stonework and meticulous craftsmanship. This contradicts the prior understanding that the Amazon was an uninhabited jungle before European explorers arrived in 1492. Research indicates that the ancient Mayans were entirely capable of crossing the Andes into the Amazon to establish a new life. Their likely route was descending the Andes and following the Amazon River."
Lü Jingnan, unable to counter this logic, remained silent. She had little expertise in the history and ruins of the Americas. She voiced her concern, "From Putumayo to Santa Maria—don't you think this area is excessively dangerous? The Amazon is vast. How can we be certain the object we're seeking is still in this region?"
Lama Yala whispered, "No one can be certain. But reliable sources suggest a newly discovered 'dead city' of significant scale was found recently. There should be a temple there, though it hasn't been explored yet."
"Still two groups?" Lü Jingnan asked.
"Yes, it's an exam after all," Lama Yala confirmed.
Lü Jingnan frowned with worry. "Should we tell them the truth or…"
Lama Yala's expression turned solemn as he pondered deeply. After a while, he finally said, "Not yet."
"Why not?" Lü Jingnan asked, surprised.
"Something strange happened during Tashi Danba's last trip to Kekexili. I want to figure it out first," Lama Yala explained.
Lü Jingnan nodded thoughtfully but still seemed uncertain. "Master Yala, are you sure it's there? Even if the ruins are within this area, how can you be certain the two groups will pass through it?"
Lama Yala replied with unwavering confidence, "The omnipotent Buddha will guide us to the light. We cannot afford to miss any opportunity. I will lead my group toward the ruins, while Tashi Danba's group will follow their fate. I must see those ruins for myself." His tone left no room for argument, and even Lü Jingnan dared not oppose him.
As the sky darkened, Lama Yala gazed toward the direction where the black kite had vanished. In his heart, he quietly questioned, "Maya, Maya, where did you come from, and how many secrets do you still hide?" He thought of Deni Lama, standing at the mountain's peak, his robes and beard swept by wild winds. Deni Lama had stretched his arms wide and howled toward the sky, "A thousand years! We have waited a thousand years!" The valley echoed his cry, "A thousand years! A thousand years!" The reverberation struck Lama Yala's heart like a drumbeat.
Meanwhile, a shadow lingered silently beneath the barracks wall, standing near Lü Jingnan's window, eavesdropping wordlessly.
Tashi Danba left the barracks and wandered alone to the old training ground. He practiced hanging upside down on the ladder, climbed the rope net, walked across the steel cable, and rappelled down the rock wall. He felt entirely at ease, his breathing steady. At his physical and mental peak, he believed now was the perfect time to set out. Any delay might lead to snow blocking the mountains, forcing them to wait until next year. "Midterm exam? What kind of test will it be? Scaling snow-capped peaks like the Pamirs? Or heading to polar regions?" Tashi Danba mused as he swung effortlessly across a spike-filled sandpit and landed softly, lost in thought.
He trained for about half an hour, sweating lightly and preparing to return to camp to rest, when suddenly, with a sharp "snap," a spark flickered right beside Tashi Danba on the ground. Instinctively, he jumped aside, glimpsing a distant flash of light. Without hesitation, he rolled to the ground and shouted toward the barracks, "We're under attack!" The second bullet nearly grazed his scalp as it whizzed past.
Hearing the commotion, a shadow holding a gun bolted into the forest. In the past, Tashi Danba wouldn't have thought twice before charging after them. However, he now understood that in this twilight, the attacker, firing accurately from at least 500 meters away without a specialized long-range sight, must have undergone training akin to a professional soldier. Charging in unarmed would be tantamount to suicide.
The barracks stirred into action. Zhang Li and Yue Yang were the first to rush out, shouting, "Who's attacking the camp?" Tang Min followed closely, anxiously asking, "Are you hurt, Danba?"
Professor Fang Xin emerged as well, holding two M4 assault rifles, which he threw to Zhang Li. Zhang Li sprinted toward the woods, with Tashi Danba following behind. While running, Tashi Danba caught a rifle mid-air and coordinated with Zhang Li, saying, "It's just one person, likely armed with an AR-15, but it was too far to be certain. They fled toward the western hilltop. It seems they're targeting me."
Zhang Li glanced back to see Yue Yang and the others returning to the barracks for weapons and following them out. He gestured to Tashi Danba, and the two split up to flank the attacker.
The assailant suddenly vanished from view as they ran. Reacting instantly, both men dove behind trees large enough to shield them. Tashi Danba signaled with his eyes to Zhang Li, who was about ten paces ahead, glancing toward the treetops. Zhang Li understood, slung his rifle behind him, and climbed up the tree like a nimble monkey. Moments later, he gestured downward: the attacker was behind the fourth tree to Tashi Danba's left, roughly 300 steps away.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team arrived—Basang first, followed by Eric, Professor Fang Xin, Lama Yala, and Lü Jingnan. Tashi Danba made a hand signal, pressing his thumbs down to indicate for them to spread out and take cover. Silently, they formed a circle, surrounding the assailant with about 100 paces between each person. The signals conveyed the situation to everyone. Yue Yang carefully attached a grenade launcher to his M4 and displayed a tear gas canister. Lü Jingnan nodded, signaling the intention to capture the intruder alive.
A faint hiss filled the air. Tashi Danba gave Yue Yang a thumbs-up, but Yue Yang widened his eyes in confusion, indicating he hadn't fired yet. Peering cautiously, they saw white smoke rising from the center of the circle. It was a smoke grenade. The attacker, realizing the precarious situation, acted first, throwing several more smoke bombs. Dense smoke soon obscured their view of the target's position.
Two gunshots broke the tension. The first was from Zhang Li, who signaled that the attacker had jumped from a tree. The second came from Eric's direction, prompting everyone to regroup systematically toward Eric.
The attacker moved swiftly, occasionally turning to fire blind shots or tossing powerful Russian F-1 grenades to hinder pursuit. It became increasingly challenging to capture him, with near-misses causing Tang Min and Eric several close calls. Frustrated, Tashi Danba crouched and pulled out a crocodile hunting knife from his boot sheath, hurling it forcefully. Though he heard a distinct "thunk" as it struck, the attacker didn't even flinch, continuing to flee with the knife embedded.
As they slowed their pursuit, familiar with the terrain after extensive training, they realized the attacker was heading toward a cliff. Though only about 30 meters high, a fall would surely cause injury. With the attacker already wounded, escape seemed impossible. Cornered, the man turned and fired wildly before pulling the pins on two grenades, shouting, "Stay back! All of you! I only want Tashi Danba. This has nothing to do with you!"
From roughly 100 meters away, Tashi Danba got a clear look at the attacker's face and exclaimed in shock, "It's you!" The man was none other than Niu Erwa, the same individual Tashi Danba had narrowly defeated in Kekexili. The memory of nearly dying at Niu Erwa's hands was etched deeply in his mind.
With a vicious grin, Niu Erwa pointed a grenade at Tashi Danba and sneered, "So you remember me. Good. It's time for you to pay." The crocodile knife was lodged in his hip, staining his gray jeans red with blood. Tashi Danba had deliberately restrained his strike, ensuring the blade didn't penetrate too deeply. Without giving anyone time to react, Niu Erwa hurled the grenade toward Tashi Danba. Tashi Danba swiftly dove behind a tree. The grenade exploded, scattering everyone.
Amid the chaos, Niu Erwa threw another smoke grenade. Through the billowing smoke, the crocodile knife narrowly missed Yue Yang, its cold blade grazing his cheek and leaving him drenched in cold sweat. When the smoke cleared, Niu Erwa had already descended the cliff. As the team prepared to pursue him, another sniper shot rang out. Unable to determine the direction, they took cover, watching helplessly as Niu Erwa limped away.
Ten minutes later, certain the enemy had fled, the team regrouped. Yue Yang, pale-faced, asked, "What's going on? Do you know him, Danba?"
Tashi Danba, grim-faced, recounted his enmity with Niu Erwa, explaining how the man had killed his brother and nearly killed him in Kekexili. "How did he find this place? How does he know my name? And why is he so much stronger than before?" Tashi Danba wondered aloud.
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Despite their extensive training, a single wounded man had managed to escape right under their noses. Many began questioning whether they were truly as strong as they thought.
Lü Jingnan, who had observed silently, finally addressed Tashi Danba. "Didn't you think your training was sufficient? If that man is connected to your enemies—those also searching for the temple—do you still believe you're ready to face them with your current abilities?"
Tashi Danba remained silent. Tang Min interjected, "That's different! We were trying to capture him alive, but he was fighting to kill us. If we'd fired earlier, he wouldn't have escaped." Lü Jingnan smiled faintly, her tone tinged with disdain. "Back to the barracks. I have an announcement regarding your midterm exam location."
Meanwhile, two ridges away, in a smoky tent, Masuo entered, coughing heavily. Mo Jin, puffing on a cigar, asked, "What happened?"
Masuo reported, "It was Niu Erwa. Leibo said he found out the special training team had returned and couldn't resist seeking revenge for his brother. He's injured now, but Leibo's sniping prevented him from being captured."
"Idiot!" Mo Jin slammed the table in fury. "These fools almost ruined my entire plan! Do they even know who they're dealing with? They think a few months of training can make them invincible? Special forces instructors are not to be trifled with!"
On the table lay a classified red-headed dossier with Lü Jingnan's photo prominently displayed. Impatiently, Mo Jin growled, "How much longer are they going to train?"
Masuo interjected, "But Niu Erwa brought back a message…"
Mo Jin's interest was piqued. "Oh? Where is he?"
Niu Erwa, pale and bedridden, was having his wound tended to. The knife had hit an artery, and removing it had caused heavy bleeding. Mo Jin leaned close to listen to Niu Erwa's faint words. As he listened, a cold smile spread across his face. "Is that true?" he asked. Niu Erwa weakly nodded.
Excited, Mo Jin ordered, "Bring me a detailed map of North America!"
An hour later, as he marked circles on the map, Mo Jin's expression oscillated between excitement and anger. Finally, he exclaimed, "That's it!" But suddenly, he sneered, "Hmph! Trying to deceive me?"
Masuo, unsure whether Mo Jin was pleased or furious, cautiously asked, "What's going on, boss?"
Mo Jin's sharp gaze bore into Masuo as he replied, "They've found a new lead. It seems we're setting out soon. Prepare my ticket to Colombia. Let me think… which city should we start with?"
Masuo, confused, stammered, "Colombia? Boss, did you say Colombia?"
"Of course," Mo Jin replied. "Since the 1950s, there's been speculation that the object was taken to the Americas by early Tibetan ancestors and disappeared alongside Mayan civilization. I've excavated countless Mayan ruins—not for history, but to find the three critical clues that eluded Mr. Fuma his entire life. Unfortunately, I've found nothing. As more Mayan ruins are discovered, our chances of finding it diminish. But this newly discovered ancient city might be our last hope."
Masuo pointed to the map and hesitated. "Boss, you've told me before that the Mayan Empire never crossed the Andes. But the location you've marked…"
Mo Jin's lips curled into a cold smile. "That was a long time ago when I was just a novice who only knew what was in textbooks. This time, I'm certain. There are remnants of Mayan civilization in the Amazon rainforest, stretching from Venezuela and Colombia to Ecuador and Brazil."
Masuo, astonished, asked, "How can you be so sure?"