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Chapter 15: Tashi Delek
The three men were utterly exhausted, too weary to even stand.
What had just transpired was beyond bizarre—even by the standards of this era. Few people could claim such an extraordinary experience, and fewer still survived it. But no matter what, Li Xingyuan had no desire to relive it.
The strange sensation that had lingered in his mind while they were airborne had vanished, replaced by a fatigue a hundred times worse than before. The light that had always lurked at the back of his skull now felt tangible for the first time—its weight pressing heavily within his cranium, as if it had replaced a part of his brain, leaving him mentally depleted.
The rain continued to fall. The localized gravitational anomaly had little impact on such a large-scale weather phenomenon. But this time, the downpour wasn’t just water; it included cars, mud, and rocks flung skyward by the gravitational disturbance. It was a deadly storm, and even from their distant vantage point, the sounds of debris crashing into the ground were unmistakable.
After resting briefly, the rain finally ceased. Supporting one another, the trio slowly emerged from the mangled remains of the truck cab.
They had survived—but their situation was dire. They had no vehicle, no food, no water. The journey ahead would have to be made on foot.
“We could return to The Ember Base and ask for another vehicle,” Lin Song suggested.
“Without a car, going back to The Ember Base is too dangerous,” Li Xingyuan shook his head. “We need to keep moving forward.”
Those snakes…
When they had a vehicle, the snakes were nothing more than obstacles to be crushed under the tires. But now, proceeding on foot—
All three fell silent.
And it wasn’t just the snakes. That intangible presence they’d encountered in the rain was now behind them.
Before, inside the vehicle, it hadn’t attacked. Now, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t.
“Let’s get moving,” Li Xingyuan spoke first. “We need to leave this area of gravitational anomaly as soon as possible.”
“I’ll lead the way,” Old Liu stepped ahead. Despite everything, he remained as steady and resolute as ever, like an unyielding stone.
The rain-soaked earth was soft and muddy. Each step squeezed out murky water from the soil. In the pitch-black wilderness, it was impossible to distinguish direction. After half an hour, they finally returned to the highway.
The vehicles flung up by the gravitational anomaly stood embedded in the ground like inverted tombstones. This latest disturbance had caused far greater destruction than the previous one. The road surface was severely damaged, and it took some effort to locate their once-sturdy military jeep—the loyal companion that had carried Li Xingyuan and Old Liu across half the country. Now, it was utterly destroyed: its frame bent, tires flattened, resembling a crumpled piece of paper.
Old Liu’s face bore a sorrowful expression, something Li Xingyuan had never seen so clearly before. His rough hands traced over the twisted metal frame. He stood silently for two minutes, as if mourning the vehicle’s demise, before beginning to search through the wreckage for any usable supplies.
They had originally brought enough compressed food, water, and diesel to last three people a week. But now, most of it was unusable. The fuel cans were crushed, mixing oil, water, and food together. Only a small portion remained salvageable.
After rummaging through the debris, Old Liu fashioned a simple pack from a waterproof tarp, placing the uncontaminated food and water inside.
If this could be called a victory, it was a grim one. They had merely survived the disaster. Without a vehicle, their progress would be slower, and their ability to resist danger significantly weakened.
But regardless, moving forward was their only option.
After another half-hour of walking, the sun rose. They had endured the first twenty-four hours since setting out, though it felt much longer.
The sun hung high and pale, its heat scorching and merciless. It parched their throats and sapped their will to speak.
There were no road signs on the highway. The distance to the next town was unknown, making the journey ahead disheartening. Li Xingyuan wiped the sweat from his brow; all he wanted now was to sleep.
In the distance, the asphalt road shimmered with rising heat waves, distorting his vision. Through the haze, he thought he saw the silhouettes of people moving ahead.
Li Xingyuan tensed, glancing at Old Liu and Lin Song. He noticed they were looking at him too.
“So it’s not a hallucination? There really are people ahead?”
He was surprised because the group didn’t look like they belonged to this era. Wrapped in thick Tibetan robes, their convoy included both horse-drawn carts and automobiles. Among them were elders and children. Prayer flags fluttered atop their vehicles, embroidered with galloping horses and flanked by mysterious mantras.
“It’s a Lungta flag. Those are Tibetans. Normally, they refuse to leave their pastoral lands. It’s strange to see them this far away,” Lin Song explained. His unit had been stationed near Snake Coiling Mountain, so his knowledge of the region surpassed that of Old Liu and Li Xingyuan.
“In these times, it’s not so surprising. Do you think we can get some supplies from them?” Li Xingyuan licked his dry lips. “At least some water.”
“It’s hard to say,” Lin Song hesitated. “We don’t know how these Tibetans will react to us, especially now…”
“Either way, we have to try,” Li Xingyuan glanced at Old Liu—specifically, at the rifle in Old Liu’s hand.
Harm no one, but stay cautious.
“I’ll go,” Lin Song jogged ahead a few steps, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Tashi Delek!”
A few vehicles at the rear of the Tibetan convoy stopped. Several riders on horseback turned to look. Lin Song began waving. “Tashi Delek! Tashi Delek!”
The Tibetans hesitated. A few at the back shouted in Tibetan to the front of the convoy. Slowly, the entire procession came to a halt.
The atmosphere grew tense. The Tibetans said nothing, their convoy looming like a silent mountain, blocking the path between Li Xingyuan’s group and the road ahead.
Li Xingyuan recalled the survivors they had encountered on their journey here. Some had been normal, but others…
Old Liu subtly stepped forward, positioning himself between Li Xingyuan and Lin Song. Li Xingyuan noticed Old Liu’s finger resting lightly on the trigger of his rifle.
The standoff dragged on, becoming increasingly unbearable. Then, a white horse emerged from the convoy, ridden by a red-cheeked Tibetan girl with braided hair. She waved at them.
“Tashi Delek!”
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