"Alright, everyone, let's eat something to replenish our energy. We still have several hours of mountain road to travel to Karma Village..."
Dean Laba Tsering made the arrangements. Walking on the plateau requires a lot of physical strength, so everyone took out the food they had brought and started eating. Only Zhuang Rui, with the white lion, wandered around the mountaintop.
"So beautiful..."
Upon reaching the summit, the snow-capped mountains stretched out before him in their entirety. Gazing at the towering peak that seemed to pierce the clouds, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but sigh in awe.
The long and wide glacier landforms formed by the snow accumulation on the high mountains are magnificent and spectacular. In the distance, the strangely shaped and angular mountain ridges formed by ice, snow and stone on the mountainside are as if they were carved by a giant axe. The rocky valleys are rugged and the bird paths are winding.
However, only Zhuang Rui would appreciate such scenery; the others rested silently to recover their strength, as there was still a long way to go.
"Waaaaah..."
"White Lion, what are you doing?"
The white lion, which had been strolling on the mountaintop, suddenly darted out, its movements so fast that all the people could see was a white shadow darting through the bushes. Its enormous size made it appear exceptionally agile.
"Xiao Zhuang, don't chase, don't run too fast..."
Zhuang Rui was also taken aback and quickly chased after him. He heard shouts from Laba Ciren and the others behind him, but he couldn't care less at the moment. Nothing was more important than the white lion.
At an altitude of over 4,000 meters, no one dared to run like Zhuang Rui, not even Peng Fei, who had undergone special training. So, after only a minute or two, Zhuang Rui and Bai Shi disappeared from the mountaintop.
"Quick, stop resting, get ready to go down the mountain..."
Laba Tsering was frantic. He was counting on Zhuang Rui to donate some medical equipment to the hospital. If something went wrong, he would lose all hope.
Suonan and Jiacuo exchanged bewildered glances. They hadn't expected Zhuang Rui to be in such good physical condition, still having the energy to run even now.
Peng Fei had already rushed to the place where Zhuang Rui had disappeared. He felt extremely awkward. If it weren't for the fact that his chest injury hadn't healed, this altitude sickness wouldn't have been a problem for him.
When everyone reached the other side of the hillside, they were stunned by what they saw.
There were about fifty or sixty large ibex running frantically down the mountain. The white lion, which had looked somewhat lazy, was now chasing after one of the ibex like a lion. The nimble ibex changed direction several times, but it couldn't shake off the white lion.
"Go, White Lion!"
Zhuang Rui stood not far from the group, shouting loudly to encourage the white lion. This was the first time he had seen a white lion hunting in the wild. The fierce and powerful figure of the white lion chasing the argali sheep excited Zhuang Rui, and his blood seemed to boil.
Zhuang Rui has always loved watching Animal World, especially the scenes of wild beasts hunting. However, what he sees on TV is completely different from what he sees in real life. That kind of running that surpasses human limits is an unparalleled visual enjoyment in itself.
Running in the mountains, the white lion was still far inferior to the ibex that lived there. Just as the distance was about to widen, a low growl suddenly came from the white lion's throat. The deep sound made the ibex it was chasing pause abruptly. In that instant, the white lion had already caught up behind and slammed its front paws into the ibex's hindquarters.
To everyone's surprise, the ibex was knocked off balance by the slap, and the white lion seized the opportunity to pounce, its large mouths accurately biting the ibex's throat.
Unlike leopards and other felines that suffocate their prey by biting them, white lions have a very strong bite. As their jaws snap shut, the ibex's neck makes a cracking sound, clearly indicating that it has been bitten off.
"Woo...wooooo..."
The white lion released its grip, its front paws pressing down on the ibex carcass. Its blood-red mouth opened wide, and it raised its head and roared. The deep roar carried far and wide, like the arrival of a king. The ibex herd that had fled far away fell silent, and the world was utterly still.
"Well done, White Lion..."
Zhuang Rui rushed over and grabbed the white lion by the neck, completely unconcerned that the blood from the white lion's mouth had smeared onto him. The white lion, now back to its wild self, felt even more real to Zhuang Rui.
It is said that domesticated Tibetan mastiffs have lost their ferocity, but the white lion's performance is quite the opposite. Zhuang Rui believes that, let alone a blue sheep, the white lion is in no way inferior to a lion or tiger, given its size.
"This is too unbelievable! A Tibetan Mastiff can catch a Himalayan blue sheep?"
While Zhuang Rui was playing with the white lion, everyone gathered around, but they all had blank stares, clearly not yet recovered from the scene of the white lion pouncing on its prey.
Apart from Zhuang Rui and Peng Fei, the rest of the people had lived on the plateau their whole lives and were naturally very familiar with the blue sheep.
Because their fur is so similar in color to the rocks, argali sheep are very difficult to spot. They can climb cliffs with just a foothold. They can jump 2 or 3 meters in a single leap, and can leap more than 10 meters from a height without falling and getting injured.
The only natural enemies of this animal are golden eagles, vultures, snow leopards, and jackals. However, when jackals hunt argali sheep, they rely entirely on group cooperation to trap and kill the sheep. But today, everyone has learned something new: Tibetan mastiffs can also hunt argali sheep.
"Woo...wooo wooo" Seeing the group approach, the white lion broke free from Zhuang Rui and growled at them menacingly. This was the first large animal it had hunted, and its protective nature was immediately revealed. It would not allow anyone other than Zhuang Rui to touch its prey.
The white lion's appearance made everyone nervous, and they all retreated. Even Peng Fei did not dare to provoke the white lion at this time. Having just hunted the argali, the white lion was like a tiger unleashed from its cage, with an undisguised aura of savagery.
"Fine, I won't fight you for it. Damn it, I've been feeding you for nothing all this time..."
Peng Fei held a home DV camera in his hand, muttering indignantly to himself.
Chapter 736 Karma Village (Part 2)
Peng Fei reacted quickly. When he saw the white lion chasing the ibex, he turned on the DV camera. Although the scene of the white lion chasing the ibex herd was not very clear, the scene of the white lion pouncing on the ibex was clearly recorded.
"Hey, don't get excited, don't get excited, no one's going to take your food..."
Zhuang Rui chuckled and turned the white lion by the neck. This guy had been possessive of his food since he was a cub. He was the only one who could move his food. Even if it were Ouyang Wan or Nannan, the white lion would bare its teeth. Of course, after Zhuang Rui scolded him several times, he didn't dare to bite.
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, the white lion let out a low growl and turned to tear at the ibex.
"Xiao Zhuang, wait, don't let it eat it yet..."
Gyatso, who had stepped aside, saw the white lion preparing to eat and suddenly shouted.
"What's wrong, Brother Gyatso?"
Zhuang Rui turned around in confusion. This was originally the white lion's prey, and everyone had brought food. They wouldn't be thinking of competing with the white lion for food, would they?
"Could you let me skin this argali sheep first, and then feed it to this Tibetan mastiff?"
Gyatso was a little embarrassed, but it would be a real pity if such a complete sheepskin were torn apart by the white lion.
Wild argali hides are sturdy and durable, and can be used to sew clothing and women's handbags. Although they are not as valuable as Tibetan antelope hides, they are still rare and good materials, with each hide costing around a thousand yuan.
Zhuang Rui thought for a moment, then bent down and put his arm around Bai Shi's neck, saying, "Let Peng Fei peel it. He's more familiar with Bai Shi. If it were you, Bai Shi definitely wouldn't agree..."
"Okay, whatever, whatever. Actually, one leg of lamb for your white lion is enough for him to eat..."
When Gyatso heard Zhuang Rui agree, he immediately beamed with joy. The taste of this argali was much better than the cattle and sheep he raised at home. However, argali were naturally agile and difficult to catch. Gyatso had not expected to encounter them here.
Peng Fei handed the DV camera to Zhuang Rui, then took his small knife, which was hidden somewhere, and began to skin the sheep. However, he kept glancing at the white lion, afraid that the guy might swat him if he was displeased.
"It's a male Himalayan blue sheep, hehe, we're all in for a treat..."
Except for the young lama Basang, everyone else had a smile on their face.
After hearing Jiacuo's words, Zhuang Rui also turned his head to look at it. This argali was much larger than ordinary domestic sheep, with a body length of more than 1.6 meters. Its head was relatively small, with a pair of big eyes that were half-open and half-closed. It had two long horns on its head, which were V-shaped and curved backward and outward.
The argali's fur on its back is slate gray with slight blue markings, closely resembling the color of the mountain rocks. Its belly and the inside of its limbs are white, while the front of its limbs is black. Zhuang Rui estimated that this argali weighed at least 80 kilograms, enough for his dozen or so people to have a hearty meal.
"Damn, White Lion, you're something else! That swipe of your paw was almost as heavy as a tiger's..."
Peng Fei seemed to have done this job before, and he was very skilled at dissecting the argali. In no time, he had peeled the skin down to the rump. He touched the spot where the white lion had struck him and felt that the bone there was completely broken. Even if the white lion hadn't finished the job with that last bite, the argali wouldn't have been able to escape.
It's important to know that leopards and lions primarily rely on their sharp claws and teeth to tear apart their prey, but tigers generally strike first with their claws. Like bears, a tiger's paw strike can deliver up to 800 kilograms of force, and if the strike lands solidly, the prey will usually lose its ability to resist.
If some zoologists were to see the white lion, they would surely ask Zhuang Rui to study it. It can be said that the white lion has now surpassed the capabilities of the Tibetan Mastiff. In some aspects of its evolution and abilities, it is no less than that of fierce beasts such as lions and tigers.
"Alright, stop nagging and hurry up and finish the work. We'll eat meat then..."
Zhuang Rui had no interest in the dried meat he carried with him. He had no appetite to begin with, but upon seeing the argali, he immediately changed his mind. Having some roasted meat for lunch before continuing his journey seemed like a good option.
Peng Fei quickened his pace, and after skinning a whole argali sheep, he removed a whole hind leg weighing about 20 pounds and tossed it to White Lion.
Seeing the white lion enjoying its prey, Gyatso, Suonan, and the others, at Zhuang Rui's urging, each took out their Tibetan knives and began to butcher the mutton.
There was a clear stream in the mountains. The two nurses took the butchered mutton to the stream to wash it, and then strung it together with thick shrub branches.
The other male doctors also enthusiastically began gathering firewood to start a fire, and quite naturally dug a shallow pit in the rockless ground, using a few stones to build a frame.
For the nomadic Tibetan people, outdoor barbecues are almost an innate skill. Just over ten minutes later, a bonfire was lit on a flat hillside near the stream, and strings of sliced mutton were hung on it.
Gyatso was a person who traveled all year round. Even when he went to the deep mountains, he would carry barbecue materials with him. He had a mineral water bottle filled with cooking oil and a small brush that he kept dipping into the oil and brushing it onto the mutton.
The mutton quickly changed color from the grilling, and the dripping oil sizzled in the fire, releasing a rich aroma. Suo Nan then took cumin and chili powder and sprinkled them on the golden-brown mutton.
"Alright, everyone, eat it while it's hot. Himalayan mutton is a delicacy you don't usually get to eat..."
Each person had a sheet of oil paper or a plastic bag laid out in front of them. Jiacuo skillfully used a knife to place pieces of mutton in front of each person. The aroma made even the white lion, who was already full, twitch his nose.
Some meat rolled off the oil paper and onto the grass, but the doctors didn't mind. They stuck it in with small knives and ate it directly. Compared to the elegant eating with knives and forks in a fancy restaurant, this scene was undoubtedly more unrestrained and whetted one's appetite.
"Good, delicious!" Zhuang Rui took a bite of the golden mutton and almost swallowed his tongue. The delicious taste was something he had never tasted before.
I don't know how Gyatso did it, but the roasted mutton had no muttony smell at all. The meat was tender and juicy, slightly spicy, and even had a faint fragrance.
Unfortunately, the Moutai liquor from yesterday was all gone, and all that was left was the barley liquor that Laba Ciren brought. Although he wasn't used to the taste of this liquor, Zhuang Rui still drank almost half a jin (250ml) with the mutton.
More than an hour later, these 11 people actually ate all the 40 to 50 kilograms of mutton, leaving only a lamb skeleton.
In the end, Gyatso even drank the sheep's brain. He originally intended to give it to Zhuang Rui, but Zhuang Rui couldn't accept such treatment, so Gyatso ended up getting it instead.
With food in their bellies, they felt less tired from work. On the way down the mountain, everyone quickened their pace. After crossing a canyon and climbing over a not-so-high hill, it was already past noon when Karma Village came into view.
"This...this is Karma Village?"
Standing atop the hill, gazing at the distant village, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but conjure up a landscape painting in his mind.
The clear stream meanders and flows into a small lake, which reflects the bright sunlight like a mirror, mirroring the blue sky, white clouds, snow-capped peaks, and cliffs.
The terraced fields nestled in the mountains are planted with nearly ripe grains. A gentle breeze stirs the water, creating ripples that sound like the gentle rustling of bamboo, evoking a resonance in Zhuang Rui's heart.
There are about thirty or forty wooden houses, built haphazardly along the shore of the small lake. From afar, you can hear children playing and Tibetan mastiffs growling.
The children who were playing in front of the door saw Zhuang Rui and his group and immediately started shouting. Several adults came out of the various wooden houses and came to greet them.
The person leading the group from the village was an elderly man with gray hair and a face full of deep wrinkles, showing the vicissitudes of time.
After exchanging a few words with Laba Tsering, the old man laughed heartily, waved his hand behind him, and shouted a few words. The young men behind him immediately turned around and ran back to the wooden house, leaving Zhuang Rui somewhat puzzled.
However, Zhuang Rui immediately understood. After the young men ran back to the village, even more people came out of the village, some holding hadas (ceremonial scarves) and others carrying butter tea. They had come to welcome their distinguished guests.
At this moment, words were superfluous. Zhuang Rui was surrounded by several people, and the enthusiastic villagers presented him with several snow-white hadas around his neck. The white lion received the same treatment, with even more hadas around its neck than Zhuang Rui.
The beautiful mountain village and the hospitable Tibetan people brought Zhuang Rui a sense of peace despite the arduous journey. There was no hustle and bustle of the big city, and the trip was not as boring as he had imagined.
The Tibetans here don't understand Chinese at all. Zhuang Rui stood in front of the village and listened to their conversation for a long time before he was welcomed into the village.
The Tibetan mastiffs that had been growling in the village immediately pounced on the white lion upon seeing it, but they obediently followed behind it, clearly regarding it as their leader, which startled Zhuang Rui.
Upon entering the village, Zhuang Rui saw two men dressed in mountaineering gear emerge from a wooden house. Judging from their appearance, they were not locals from Tibet.
"who are they?"
Zhuang Rui turned to Jiacuo and gestured for him to ask the villagers.
"Hi, hello everyone..."
Just as Gyatso was talking with the villagers, another person came out of the house. He was a foreigner with a high nose bridge. When he saw Zhuang Rui and Peng Fei, he greeted them warmly in Chinese.