Великий божественный суд династии Цин

Глава 27

“Now that you mention it, we really do want to visit the Potala Palace,” I replied with a smile. The local Tibetan driver turned to look at me, a hint of doubt in his eyes, and asked, “What? You didn’t plan to visit the Potala Palace this time you came to Lhasa?” “Yes, because we’re not here for tourism; we have some business to attend to,” I quickly explained. The driver nodded, smiling, and replied, “Oh, that’s understandable. No tourist comes to Lhasa without visiting the Potala Palace. The Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple are two of Lhasa’s most famous attractions, attracting thousands of visitors every day. Not visiting the Potala Palace is like not having been to Lhasa at all.” Jenny chimed in, “Yes, since we’re on this sacred land, if we have the chance, we definitely want to visit these two famous sites; it wouldn’t be in vain that we traveled so far.”

We chatted with the driver while enjoying the scenery along the way. Soon, following Dunzi's directions, the driver took us to a pre-booked hotel in Lhasa. I got out and saw that it was an international youth charity. The entrance was adorned with colorful Tibetan prayer flags, and the words "Pingcuo Kangsang Youth Charity" were written in both Tibetan and Chinese above the door.

As Dunzi led everyone into the house, he explained, “It’s peak tourist season in Tibet right now, and all the high-end hotels are fully booked. So we had to find this youth hostel for a while. We won’t be staying long anyway, as we’re heading to Zanda County soon.” “But before we get to Zanda, we need to do two very important things,” I said as we walked. “First, we need to find a vehicle. A slightly higher price is acceptable, but the vehicle must be in good condition. From what I understand, the journey from Lhasa to Zanda will take several days, and the road conditions aren’t ideal. If the vehicle breaks down in the desolate highlands, it would be extremely dangerous.” Abao nodded and replied, “I’m quite familiar with the performance of various off-road vehicles. I’ll take care of that.” “And what’s the other thing?” Dunzi asked. “Find a guide, someone familiar with the Ngari region, especially the Zanda Earth Forest area,” I replied.

XIV. Divinely inspired singers

After listening, Dunzi smiled and replied, "That's not difficult. Lhasa has become a transit point for tourists entering the city, and many self-guided tour guides for various routes into Tibet gather here. Moreover, the ruins of the Guge Kingdom in Zanda Earth Forest have become a popular tourist attraction in recent years. Finding a guide to take us into the Zanda Earth Forest area shouldn't be too difficult." I nodded and smiled, saying, "Okay, then I'll leave this to you. Jenny and I will be responsible for preparing and purchasing some food, medicine, tools, and other supplies. If nothing unexpected happens, we'll set off for Zanda the day after tomorrow morning."

Afterwards, the hotel staff led us to our reserved rooms to rest. Lhasa truly lives up to its name as the City of Sunlight; even at seven or eight o'clock in the evening, the sky was still bright. We had originally planned to take this opportunity to sample authentic Tibetan cuisine, but since it was our first time in this high-altitude region, we were unaccustomed to the oxygen-deficient environment and dry climate. By this time, we were all starting to feel tired and drowsy. Dunzi was experiencing mild altitude sickness, constantly complaining of a headache. Fortunately, the hotel's owner, Kangba Zhatu, a local Tibetan young man, gave Dunzi a bowl of soup made with red sorghum, ginger, and some local herbs, which made him feel better, and he finally fell asleep peacefully. Since we had lost our appetites, we simply ate a few bites of biscuits and other dry food, and then went to bed early in our rooms. And so, our first night in Lhasa came to an end.

The next day, when we woke up again, we felt much better. Dunzi's altitude sickness wasn't as severe anymore, though he was still a little dizzy, so we decided to let him rest in bed first and deal with finding a guide later. Afterwards, everyone had some buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant, and then we went out to run errands as previously planned.

Arriving on the street, I saw Lhasa's markets teeming with people. Every Tibetan was dressed in brightly colored new clothes, bustling about. It was a scene of great joy. The shops and stalls lining the streets were mostly selling butter lamps and various Tibetan lanterns. I learned that today was an important Tibetan festival—Ganden Amchukhang. Translated from Tibetan into Chinese, it means the Butter Lamp Festival, commemorating the birth and death of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. On this day, as night falls, butter lamps are neatly arranged on the rooftops and windowsills of temples and houses. Row upon row, the flickering butter lamp flames create a continuous expanse, illuminating the Jokhang Temple inside and out. The area in front of the Jokhang Temple remains as bright as day. Amidst the light of thousands of butter lamps, monks and laypeople from near and far surround the Jokhang Temple for the annual circumambulation, and the entire city of Lhasa comes alive with excitement.

“No wonder Dunzi said it was hard to book hotels in Lhasa these days; we just happened to arrive before this festival,” Jenny said with a smile. I looked at the various pedestrians on the street and replied, “Tibetans are a very religious people, and there are several religious festivals like this almost every month of the year. It’s not a coincidence that we happened to be there; it’s a good opportunity to broaden our horizons.” As we walked, we soon arrived at Barkhor Street, a famous commercial street in Lhasa. We had heard that this commercial street had a particularly strong commercial atmosphere, selling various Tibetan handicrafts, as well as many supermarkets and outdoor equipment stores. So we hurried here to buy various supplies needed for our journey into the Ngari region. This commercial street has always been quite lively; almost every tourist visiting Lhasa comes here to buy various Tibetan-style daily necessities. In addition, today is the annual Butter Lamp Festival, making the street even more bustling. Barkhor Street never turns away visitors. Prayer wheelers circumambulate the streets, leading sheep for release; elderly Burmese people and children follow tourists, selling jewelry or begging; and monks chant sutras and solicit alms. Professional prostration workers, dealers of antiques, religious artifacts, and handicrafts, local scholars and onlookers, poetic wanderers, artists, tourists, explorers, and more converge on Barkhor Street's ring road, making this already narrow street incredibly crowded.

I enjoy watching the endless stream of people on the street, observing all sorts of tourists and homeless people. I also enjoy haggling with the vendors at their stalls. A deal is always a win-win situation, and even if it doesn't go through, we can chat like old friends, and I might even play with the cute little babies in their arms. Here, countless bronze Buddhas, prayer wheels, butter lamps, prayer flags, scriptures, rosaries, incense, dzi beads, divination beads, agate, amber, red coral, turquoise, snuff bottles, Tibetan knives, Tibetan hats, Thangka paintings, handkerchiefs, and Tibetan carpets dazzle the eyes. You don't need to worry about authenticity; if you see something you like, just bargain hard!

Jenny and I squeezed through the bustling crowd for quite a while before finally spotting an outdoor gear store on the street, so we went inside. The store wasn't large, but it was well-stocked with all sorts of outdoor equipment. After purchasing the items on our shopping list, Jenny and I went into a nearby supermarket and bought a large quantity of first-aid supplies. All this commotion quickly turned into noon.

Back at the hotel, we found Dunzi still asleep in bed, and Abao hadn't returned yet either. After a phone call, we learned he was dealing with buying a car and wouldn't be back for a while. So Jenny and I sat on some wooden chairs outside the hotel to rest. We watched the Tibetans and tourists in their colorful clothes passing by while waiting for Abao to come back so we could have lunch together.

At this moment, a group of people sitting on the same wooden chairs covered with animal hides caught my attention. There were five of them in total, three men and two women. Apart from the elderly man who was talking animatedly, the other four appeared to be tourists from inland China visiting Tibet. The elderly man who was speaking so enthusiastically seemed to be a local, around fifty or sixty years old, wearing a sheepskin hat, with dark, purplish skin. He wore a black sheepskin coat and dark blue trousers tucked into typical Tibetan leather boots with colorful trim, exuding a primitive and rustic beauty. At that moment, he was talking incessantly to the tourists.

"In ancient times, Guanyin Bodhisattva bestowed precepts upon a powerful macaque, commanding it to travel from the South China Sea to the Tibetan Plateau to cultivate itself. The macaque, as instructed, went to a cave in the Yarlung Valley of Tibet to cultivate compassion and Bodhicitta. While the monkey was diligently cultivating, a female demon appeared in the mountains, employing all sorts of lustful schemes, and directly demanded to unite with the macaque. At first, the macaque replied, 'I am a disciple of Guanyin Bodhisattva, sent here to cultivate. If I were to unite with you, wouldn't that break my precepts?' The female demon then said coquettishly, 'If you do not unite with me, I will have no choice but to commit suicide. In my previous life, I was destined to be a demon; because of our karmic connection, I have specifically sought you today as my beloved. If we cannot marry, I will surely become the wife of a demon, slaughtering countless lives and giving birth to countless demonic offspring. At that time, the Tibetan Plateau will be a world of demons, further harming many beings. Therefore, I hope you will grant my request.'" "Because the monkey was a Bodhisattva incarnate, upon hearing these words, he thought to himself, 'If I marry her, I will break my vows; if I don't marry her, I will commit a great sin.' Thinking this, the monkey somersaulted to Mount Putuo to find Guanyin Bodhisattva and ask for her guidance. Guanyin thought for a moment and said, 'This is the will of Heaven, an auspicious omen. Your union with her, and the propagation of humanity in this snowy land, is a great act of kindness. As a Bodhisattva, you should act bravely upon seeing good; quickly go and marry the demoness.' Thus, the monkey married the demoness. Later, the couple had six baby monkeys. These six baby monkeys had different personalities and interests. The monkey, in the form of the Bodhisattva, sent these six baby monkeys to an orchard to forage for themselves." the old man said.

Three years later, the father monkey went to visit his offspring and found that they had multiplied to five hundred. At this time, the fruit in the forest was dwindling and the forest was about to wither. When the little monkeys saw their father arrive, they cried out, "What will we eat in the future!" Each of them spread their hands, looking utterly miserable. Seeing this, the macaque monkey muttered to himself, "I have fathered so many offspring according to the will of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Today's events have left me utterly bewildered. I should go and consult Guanyin again." Thinking this, he immediately went to Mount Putuo to consult the holy one. The Bodhisattva said, "I can support your descendants." So the macaque monkey obeyed and took the seeds of the five natural grains from Mount Sumeru, scattering them across the earth. Without cultivation, the earth was covered with basins of various grains. Only then did the father monkey bid farewell to his little monkeys and return to his cave. Because the monkeys had ample food, their tails gradually shortened. They also began to speak, gradually becoming the people of the snowy plateau—the early inhabitants of the snowy land.

Upon listening, I realized he was telling these tourists from all over the country an ancient legend about the origins of the Tibetan people. As soon as the old man finished telling the legend, he received enthusiastic applause from the crowd. Then, at the tourists' request, he recited a passage from the Epic of King Gesar.

“It seems he’s a local lyric poet,” Jenny said softly, looking at him. “In the past, Tibet had many lyric poets who were knowledgeable in ancient and modern times and eloquent. However, because the myths and legends that lyric poets told were passed down orally and never written down, this magical skill is almost lost today.” I nodded to show that I understood.

XV. Ancient Legends of Tibet

Jenny continued, “There are all sorts of legends surrounding rappers. Among the many rappers, those outstanding ones who can sing multiple epic poems often call themselves ‘divinely inspired artists,’ meaning that the stories they sing are gifts from the gods. These ‘divinely inspired rappers’ often claim that they had a dream in their childhood, then fell ill, and in that dream received the wisdom of a god or Gesar, and from then on, they could sing. In Tibet, some illiterate teenagers, after falling ill or waking up one day, can sing long epic poems of several hundred words—a mysterious phenomenon that remains unexplained.” “This mysterious land has so many mysterious things that defy explanation!” I couldn’t help but exclaim.

As I watched the elderly chant master recount the ancient Tibetan epic, I observed his words and actions. For some reason, I felt there was an indescribable, special quality about him that left a deep impression on me. It was lunchtime, and after finishing the story of the Tibetan Buddhist master Padmasambhava's incarnation as King Gesar battling the Yinshan Mother Land, the old man stood up to leave.

Just then, Ah Bao returned from the market. Seeing Jenny and me sitting outside the inn, he shouted, "Ugh, I'm exhausted! I went to several markets this morning to find out where to buy a used car." "Did you go check them out? Did you find a suitable car?" Jenny asked. Ah Bao sat down on a wooden chair next to us and replied, "The cars I saw this morning were reasonably priced, but they were all in terrible condition. I was worried they'd break down on the road, so I didn't buy any." Jenny and I nodded. Ah Bao continued, "However, after searching all morning, several sellers there already know our needs and told me they have a few SUVs in relatively good condition. They told me to go check them out tomorrow. Apparently, a Cherokee, a Toyota Land Cruiser, and a Mitsubishi Pajero all fit our requirements." "Okay, go check them out tomorrow. Make sure the car issue is resolved. Jenny and I will find a suitable guide tomorrow. Let Dunzi rest a bit more; I don't want any more accidents to happen on the road." Afterward, we went into the room, woke Dunzi up, and found a place to have lunch together. Tibet is located on a high plateau, with a very harsh environment and climate, unsuitable for the growth of ordinary plants, so local vegetable and fruit resources are extremely scarce. Ordinary vegetables are ridiculously expensive, and the daily diet of Tibetans consists almost entirely of various meats and dairy products. We casually ordered a few local dishes, including sesame lamb ribs, cordyceps and matsutake chicken, Gesar roasted lamb leg, radish and yak beef ribs, and tsampa. We also ordered butter tea and two bottles of barley wine, and then enjoyed a delicious meal.

In the afternoon, Dunzi felt much better, so the four of them strolled around the square in front of the Potala Palace and the Jokhang and Ramoche Temples. Around 8 or 9 pm, bright butter lamps were lit in the Jokhang and Ramoche Temples, and devout locals lit their own butter lamps in their homes to pray for blessings. For a time, the entire city of Lhasa became a brightly lit city that never sleeps. Lamas of all ranks from the monasteries carried their ritual implements in processions. The streets, alleys, squares, and other public spaces were packed with onlookers. The climax of the festival lasted until midnight. Only then did the tourists and local Tibetans gradually disperse.

The four of us ate freshly grilled lamb skewers from a roadside vendor as we walked towards the almshouse. Just as we reached the entrance, we saw a large crowd outside, as if something had happened inside. Curiosity drove us to squeeze inside, and we learned that something had indeed occurred at the almshouse. A man staying there had suddenly gone berserk for some unknown reason. He was shouting, "Don't kill me! Don't kill me!" while smashing many items in the almshouse. After about ten minutes, he suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness. By the time paramedics and police arrived, the man had inexplicably stopped breathing.

At that moment, the police were investigating the scene of the death, and a cordon had been set up around the deceased. One officer was taking photos near the body, while several others carefully searched the room where the deceased had lived. About half an hour later, the police found an old beige canvas bag in the room. Inside was a bronze Buddha statue. I stood among the onlookers and glanced at the statue from a distance. It was simple in style and exquisitely crafted. The Buddha sat serenely on a lotus pedestal, with three eyes on its head and a thousand arms extending from behind it—a typical Tibetan Buddha image. What was even more remarkable was that, apart from the blackish-green color of the bronze as it oxidized, its eyes were silvery-white, as if plated with silver. This discovery immediately made me realize that this bronze Buddha was likely the precious artifact known as the "Guge Silver Eye." Jenny and I exchanged a glance; I knew from her eyes that she had also noticed this. "It seems this dead man was likely an antique dealer who stole and sold artifacts." As I pondered this, I suddenly heard a soft sigh from the crowd around me. I turned to see that the sigh came from the elderly singer we had met that morning. After a sigh, he whispered, "The Silver-Eyed Demon Mother is the guardian of the forbidden altar; being taken out of the royal tomb at will naturally bring retribution." Hearing this, I was about to approach him for further questioning when the police called me away. They were going to question all the guests staying at the charity. So the four of us went together to the charity's main hall to be questioned and investigated by the police.

About half an hour later, after the police finished questioning us, they told us to go back to our rooms to rest. As I passed the innkeeper, Kangbazatu, I pointed to the old hymn singer in the crowd and asked Kangbazatu about him. "His name is Tashim, one of the most famous divinely inspired storytellers. It's said that when he was seven or eight years old, people accidentally discovered he could recite the entire Epic of King Gesar. From then on, legends about him spread among the Tibetan people. When he was in his twenties, he entered a monastery and became a lama. During this time, he devoted himself to studying profound Buddhist and esoteric scriptures such as the Mahavairocana Sutra, the Tripitaka, the Lotus Sutra, and the Avatamsaka Sutra, achieving a high level of Buddhist attainment. However, for some unknown reason, he later returned to secular life. After returning to secular life, he began to study Tibetan medicine and became a famous Tibetan doctor. With his profound medical skills, he saved many Tibetan lives. Therefore, he became a legendary figure. Although he is said to be from this area, he has no fixed abode. He travels around year-round, treating patients and performing storytelling. He came here from elsewhere specifically to participate in the Butter Lamp Festival in Lhasa," said Kangba Zhatu.

“Oh? So, is he familiar with the roads and geography of Tibet?” I asked, “especially the road from Lhasa to the Zanda Earth Forest area.” Kangba Zhatu replied, “Of course he is. You know, he’s a storyteller who often travels alone to various counties in Tibet to tell local legends and treat the sick.” I nodded, indicating that I understood. “Old Tashim is very kind. If you want to hear him tell ancient Tibetan legends, you can go to his room later to chat with him. He’s staying in the room opposite yours,” Kangba Zhatu added. I thanked the young and enthusiastic innkeeper Kangba Zhatu and began to make my own plans.

XVI. The First Appearance of the Buddha's Eye

For some reason, I suddenly felt a magical attraction to the old rapper. I thought that if he could guide us, his vast knowledge and status as a renowned rapper would be a great help to our mission. With that in mind, I discussed my idea with Jenny and the others. "I think it's a good idea. If he's willing to guide us, it'll save us the trouble of finding a suitable guide," Jenny replied after hearing my suggestion.

After resting in my room for a while, assuming Old Tashim had already returned, I followed Kangba Zhatu's directions and went to the door of a guest room across the street, then gently knocked. A moment later, the door clicked open, and Tashim's face appeared in the half-open crack. I quickly clasped my hands together in a gesture of respect and asked, "Uncle Tashim, may I bother you for a few minutes?" Tashim returned the gesture with clasped hands and smiled, replying, "No problem, please come in. Would you like to hear a story about Master Padmasambhava subduing demons?" "Oh, no," I said sincerely as I entered the room. "My friend and I are adventure enthusiasts from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and Hong Kong. We've come to Tibet mainly to explore and investigate the historical sites of the Guge Kingdom. However, we need a guide familiar with the terrain and routes to lead the way. Would you be willing to do us this favor? Of course, the compensation will certainly satisfy you." “Oh, I see. Coincidentally, I’m planning to head to Shigatse in the next couple of days. If you’d like, we can travel together. As for me guiding you to the Guge ruins in Zanda, we can discuss that later. And as for payment, you can keep it and donate it to the local primary school,” Tashim replied with a smile. He then pulled up a chair for me to sit down.

I thought that traveling with Zashim for a while was better than not having the chance at all. If we spent more time with him on the road and got to know each other, we could figure out a way to have him act as our guide. With that in mind, I replied, "Okay, then it's settled." Afterwards, I chatted with the kind old Zashim for a while, and before we knew it, the topic turned to the sudden death that had just occurred in the almshouse.

I asked, "Uncle Zaxi, when we were outside earlier, I heard you mention the Silver-Eyed Demon Mother deity. Do you know the origin of that Guge Buddha statue?" Hearing this, Zaxi seemed somewhat surprised and didn't answer immediately. After a few seconds of silence, he replied, "So you also recognized it as a Buddha statue from the Guge ruins?" I nodded and answered, "Yes, this kind of 'Guge Silver-Eyed' bronze Buddha is an extremely rare artifact. This manufacturing technique only existed during the Guge Dynasty and has long been lost. No other region has produced a Buddha statue using this technique." "It's not just an artifact; it's a sacred object of the Guge Dynasty. It was used to worship and guard the Demon Mother deity at the forbidden altar of the Guge Dynasty," Zaxi murmured. Looking at his expression, it seemed he had entered into his distant and profound memories. I sensed he might have something important to say to me, so I didn't dare make a sound to disturb his thoughts and sat quietly beside him. We await his narration.

After about two or three minutes, the old man slowly came to his senses and gently began to tell me an ancient and mysterious legend. Looking at me with a solemn expression, he slowly said, “Long, long ago, in a time when Tibet was still in a prehistoric civilization, there was a beautiful lake. The gentle breeze would create waves that rippled across the shores covered with pines, hemlocks, and palm trees. Above the lake, the mountains were layered with verdant peaks, shrouded in mist. The forests were filled with all sorts of exotic flowers and plants. Herds of deer and antelopes ran about, while small groups of rhinoceroses, with their unsteady gait, leisurely drank water by the lake. Cuckoos, thrushes, and larks hopped and sang melodiously in the treetops, and rabbits ran carefree across the lush green meadows, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene. They lived freely and comfortably on this land.”

"However, one day, a demon mother from Yinshan, with a thousand arms and three eyes, suddenly appeared on this free and peaceful land with her minions of ghosts and demons. It turned out that they had secretly opened the Heavenly Ladder, connecting Heaven to Earth, while the gods and Buddhas who governed it were not paying attention. They then descended to Earth to wreak havoc. They wreaked havoc on the forests, stirred up towering waves, and destroyed flowers, trees, and shrubs. The birds and beasts living here all sensed the impending disaster. They fled eastward..." They fled, and to the east, forests collapsed and grasslands were submerged; they surged to the west, where raging waves crashed, making it hard for anyone to breathe. Just when the birds and beasts had nowhere to run, suddenly, five colorful clouds drifted over the great lake, transforming into five Wise Dakinis. They came to the seashore and, with boundless power, subdued the Yinshan Demon Mother. The demon was conquered, the sea became calm, and the deer, antelope, monkeys, rabbits, and birds living there bowed and worshipped the five Wise Dakinis, thanking them for saving their lives.

"The dakinis wanted to take their leave and return to the heavens, but the beings pleaded with them to stay and work for their benefit. So the five wisdom dakinis, out of compassion, agreed to stay and share the peaceful days with the beings. The five celestial maidens chanted to make the flood recede, and the east became a dense forest, the west a vast expanse of fertile fields, the south a garden full of flowers and grasses, and the north a boundless pasture."

To sever the passage between heaven and the mortal realm, and to prevent other demons from descending the celestial ladder to harm the living beings of earth, the Five Wise Dakinis broke off a section of the ladder and hid it in a secret mountain cave. They also commanded the Yinshan Demon Mother, whom they had subdued, to act as a guardian deity, protecting this magical ladder.

"Then the five fairies stayed behind and became the guardians of all living beings on earth. They transformed into the five main peaks of the Himalayas: the Auspicious Longevity Fairy Peak, the Emerald Beauty Fairy Peak, the Virtuous Wisdom Fairy Peak, the Crowned Singing Fairy Peak, and the Benevolent Beauty Fairy Peak, standing on the southwestern edge, guarding this happy paradise. The foremost one, the Emerald Beauty Fairy Peak, is Mount Everest, which is today the highest peak in the world. The local people affectionately call it the 'Goddess Peak'."

At first, I didn't understand why the old man was telling me this myth, but when I heard him describe the "Yinshan Ghost Mother" as having three eyes and a thousand hands, I realized that the "Guge Silver-Eyed" Buddha statue was likely the Yinshan Ghost Mother he was talking about. "So, this Buddha statue must be the Yinshan Ghost Mother who, according to legend, guards the Heavenly Ladder at the behest of the Five Wisdom Dakinis?" I asked.

17. The Mystery of the Heavenly Ladder

Old Tashim looked at me and nodded, saying, "Yes, the sacred mountain and holy land containing the Heavenly Ladder were so hidden that they remained undiscovered for a long time. During the reign of Langdarma, the last king of the Tubo Dynasty, he suppressed Buddhism and destroyed temples to stabilize his regime, causing many monks to flee to Ngari. Ngari, located on the western border, was heavily influenced by the Abbasid Caliphate and India, and was also the birthplace of Bon, making it a place where various ideologies and forces converged. In 843 AD, Langdarma was assassinated by a monk, after which civil war broke out. Four years later, a peasant uprising led to the collapse of the Tubo Dynasty. Afterward, seven kingdoms, large and small, emerged in Tibet, and Tibet was in a state of fragmentation under the rule of feudal lords for a long period."

"Langdarma's two sons, Osong and Yondan, also fought each other for the throne. Osong's son, Bekozan, was killed by a slave rebellion. Bekozan's son, Kyide Nyima Gon, seeing that the situation was hopeless and there was no way to reverse it, took three ministers and more than a hundred people and went to Ali, where he married the daughter of the local chieftain. Later, Kyide Nyima Gon divided Ali into three parts and enfeoffed them to his three sons. The Kingdom of Guge was the fiefdom of his third son, Dezu Gon."

"And then?" I asked with great interest. Actually, I had heard about this part of the history of the Guge Kingdom before. But I wanted to know what special things Old Zashim could say about this history. "It is said that later, when Dezugun established his own dynasty in Guge, he accidentally discovered the mysterious cave that held the secret of the Heavenly Ladder."

"A cave?" I said, quite surprised. "You mean that sacred place is within the territory of the Guge Kingdom?" "Not only within the territory of the Guge Kingdom, but the ruins of the Guge Kingdom are also within that sacred area," Old Zashim continued. "When Dezugun discovered this secret place, he made this cave the sacred site of the entire kingdom, building hundreds and thousands of palaces on the surrounding hills. Around this central sacred site, the Guge Kingdom gradually began to form its own political center." "I see," I murmured. I began to admire Old Zashim's profound knowledge. I never imagined that the establishment of the Guge Kingdom and the formation of the Guge ruins had such an inside story.

Hearing this, I thought about it carefully and finally understood what Zaxim meant by what he had said in the crowd at the crime scene. "So you think the bronze Buddha the police found was the Yinshan Ghost Mother, the guardian of the Guge sacred land, and that the man who suddenly died was cursed because he entered the Guge sacred land and stole the Yinshan Ghost Mother's bronze statue, leading to his mysterious death?" Zaxim looked at me, nodded solemnly, and said, "After the Silver-Eyed Ghost Mother was taken out of the sacred land, the terrible curse was also taken out. I fear that from now on, everyone who has seen this bronze statue will be surrounded by a vicious curse, and misfortune will befall us." I didn't pay much attention to the old man's statement. My interest and attention remained focused on the secrets hidden in the cave of the Guge sacred land.

Seeing that it was getting late, and not wanting to disturb the old man's rest, I got up to say goodbye to Zaxi and returned to my room. Dunzi, seeing me return, eagerly asked, "Brother, how did it go? Did he agree?" "Not entirely. The old storyteller said he'll be heading to Karizel in the next couple of days. He'll be traveling the same route as us, so we can go with him if we want. As for whether he'll continue to take us to the Zanda region, he hasn't said anything yet. I guess he probably wants to understand our specific situation first," I replied. "Oh, so you talked for so long?" Jenny asked. I replied, "I was going to tell you even if you didn't ask. That old storyteller is indeed quite knowledgeable. I heard a lot of legends about Tibet and Guge from him, and now that I think about it carefully, those legends might actually be related to the mystery of immortality in the *Burial Ground Mystery Scripture* we're looking for." "Then tell us quickly what he told you!" Dunzi urged, so I recounted in detail what Zaxi had said. "The old man is really something. He knows so much," Ah Bao exclaimed in admiration.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed this detail in the legend,” I said. “What detail?” Jenny asked. I replied, “The Heavenly Ladder!” “The Heavenly Ladder?” “Yes, the Heavenly Ladder,” I said, “I don’t know if you’ve thought about this. If we consider the world recorded in the Xuanjing that grants immortality as heaven, then the secret recorded in this Xuanjing is how to find the cave where the Heavenly Ladder is hidden. After cultivating through special methods to open the Heavenly Eye, find the location of the Heavenly Ladder, and then use the Heavenly Ladder to enter heaven…” “That’s right, now that you mention it, it really makes sense,” Dunzi shouted after hearing this. “Keep it down, be mindful of your words and actions during the operation,” Jenny reminded me. “It seems we were right after all; there must be important clues hidden in the Guge ruins.” I nodded and said, “Yes, although what Tashim said might just be some ancient legend widely circulated among Tibetans, there’s no smoke without fire. Every legend has its real-life counterpart, and it’s always passed down through generations after being artistically embellished by the people based on certain similar events. Moreover, according to archaeologists, many perplexing mysteries have indeed been discovered at the Guge Kingdom ruins. These mysteries may be related to the secret of the Heavenly Ladder.”

After discussing it for a while, the more they analyzed it, the more they felt that the events were just as they had predicted, and that all the mysteries would be completely revealed once they arrived at the ruins of the Guge Kingdom. Thinking of this, the four of them were overjoyed, seemingly having forgotten that someone had just died in this very inn. The death was sudden and suspicious.

I checked the time; it was already past 2 a.m. After a quick wash, we all went to bed to rest. This day had felt incredibly long. So much had happened in such a short time; looking back, it felt like a dream. Perhaps I was truly exhausted at the time, and before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.

The next day, I went to Zasim's room hoping to get some guidance so I could prepare more supplies for the Zanda region. However, his room was empty. The innkeeper, Kangbazatu, told me the old man had gone out early that morning, probably to a nearby village to sing and treat patients; he wouldn't return until evening. Without his guidance, Jenny and I had to rely on our instincts to buy supplies. In the evening, when we returned to the inn, Abao and Dunzi had already brought the car back. I saw it was a Mitsubishi Pajero. It was in good condition, almost new, with only about 10,000 kilometers on it. The engine had just been broken in, and the handling was excellent. The interior had been modified, with a walkie-talkie, GPS, and two high-powered long-range lights on the roof, making it ideal for off-road driving. In addition, the owner had given us a brand-new spare tire and an emergency repair kit, as he urgently needed money and was forced to sell the car to us at a low price.

Dunzi and I took turns driving around a few times, enjoying the ride. Then we parked the car in the open space outside the hotel and had Abao check it over carefully: checking the tire pressure, tightening the lug nuts, filling the tank with gas, and filling the radiator. We were ready to set off for Zanda Earth Forest early the next morning. Just as I was sitting on the row of wooden chairs outside the hotel, watching them meticulously inspect the car, the hotel owner, the young Kangba Zhatu, walked up to me, looked at the Pajero in front of him, and said, "Is the car sorted out?" I nodded and said, "Yes, Abao got it from a collector in Beijing. What do you think? Not bad, right?" "Not bad. It's not easy to see a car in this condition in Lhasa. I hope you have a smooth trip." "Thanks. Oh, by the way, how's things going last night?" I asked. Kang Bazhatu replied, "Yesterday, the police spent almost the entire night at the shop, and only took the body away after dawn. This morning, I heard from several friends who know people in the industry that the deceased was an antiquities smuggler with a criminal record. He had served five years in a labor camp and was just released last year, but unexpectedly, he went back to his old ways. According to the forensic examination, the deceased died from a sudden mental breakdown after being subjected to extreme fright and stimulation. Simply put, he was scared to death. No abnormal food or medicine was found in his stomach, so homicide has been largely ruled out."

I found Kangba Zhatu's words a bit strange. "Scared to death? Weren't there many onlookers when he died? Did anyone see anything terrifying around him? How could he suddenly be scared to death?" I asked, puzzled. "Yes, that's the strange thing. I was there too, and I saw him suddenly go crazy, smashing things around, as if he was going to destroy something. But no one saw anything unusual in the surrounding environment. I didn't see anything either, so I suspect he might have some kind of mental illness, and his own hallucinations scared him to death," Kangba Zhatu replied. I nodded and said, "Yes, that's a possibility. This commotion must have affected your business a bit, right?" "It did affect it a bit, but it's okay, it'll be fine after this." "Hehe, then I wish you good business. Thank you for your help these past few days. We plan to head to Zanda tomorrow, so I'll say goodbye now. We're leaving early tomorrow morning, and I'm afraid you won't be at the shop then," I said, shaking Kangba Zhatu's hand. "Don't mention it. I treat all customers who come to my shop as friends, and I'll help them whenever I can. In that case, I'll have Zhuoma check you out later. Have a safe journey!"

18. Nightmare

It was around eight o'clock in the evening, as it was already getting dark. I saw old Zaxim, carrying a yellow cloth bag and leaning on a wooden cane, slowly emerge from the street corner. He looked like he had been walking for a long time, as his steps were heavy and he wasn't walking fast. "Uncle Zaxim, you're back!" I called out to him. Zaxim heard my voice, looked up at me, and replied with a smile, "Yes, oh, you bought a car?" "Yes, we just bought it today, and we'll be driving it tomorrow," I replied. "Looks like I won't have to walk to Karizel tomorrow," Zaxim said with a smile. After chatting for a few more minutes, the old man went back to his room. Because they had to travel the next day, the four of them ate dinner early that night and went to bed early.

Perhaps it was the anticipation of solving the mystery that filled me with excitement, but despite going to bed early, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Dunzi didn't snore either; I figured he probably didn't sleep well either. The next day, as soon as it was light, everyone hurriedly got up. The four of us carried our pre-prepared luggage to the trunk of the car, and if there wasn't enough room, we put it on the roof, then secured it securely with netting. Zasim must have heard our footsteps; before I could even wake him, he got up. After checking our belongings, he reminded us to bring a few more buckets of water.

After we loaded everything onto the vehicle, it was almost completely full, except for the carriage where we could barely squeeze five more people in. I checked the time and it was already 7:15 in the morning, so I let everyone get on the bus and we set off for our first stop, Karizhe.

To get to Gyantse, our plan was to pass through Gyantse County. Since the road from Lhasa to Gyantse was relatively smooth, the ride was comfortable, and everyone was in high spirits. Old Tashim was also very talkative, sharing many stories about Tibetan history and folk tales, which everyone listened to with great interest. As the car sped across the vast plateau, watching the white snow-capped mountains recede into the distance, a feeling of unprecedented beauty suddenly welled up within me, lifting my spirits and leaving behind the fatigue of the previous night.

After Gyantse, the road conditions deteriorated significantly. The original asphalt road was gone, replaced by a two-lane gravel and dirt road. Due to a lack of maintenance, the road was riddled with potholes, and Abao reduced the vehicle's speed to around 30 km/h. He swerved left and right, trying to avoid the potholes, fearing that if the wheels got stuck, it would be difficult to drive out. Along the way, we tried our best to persuade Zaximu to be our guide and accompany us to Guge, but he didn't fully agree, saying that he had important matters to attend to and everything would have to wait until we reached Karizhe. So we didn't press him further.

We arrived in Karizel around 4 PM. Although Abao and Dunzi took turns driving, they were both quite tired due to the poor road conditions. So, we decided to spend the night in Karizel. If we could persuade Zaxi to be our guide, that would be ideal; otherwise, we'd have to find another guide locally. After making this decision, we drove into the city.

Shigatse City is located 250 kilometers west of Lhasa, at the confluence of the Nyangchu River and the Yarlung Tsangpo River, at an altitude of over 3,800 meters. With a total population of 82,000, it is the second largest city in Tibet and boasts a history of over 500 years. Historically, Shigatse Prefecture was known as Tsang, and Shigatse was its capital. It is the political, economic, cultural, religious, and transportation center of Shigatse Prefecture, and the residence of the Panchen Lamas throughout history. Currently, with strong support from inland regions such as Jiangsu, Shanghai, Sichuan, and Shandong, Shigatse has gradually transformed into a modern city with a wide variety of goods, excellent transportation, and a prosperous and peaceful life for its people.

After driving into the city, we found that the population density was quite high, a stark contrast to the desolate highland grasslands we had seen along the way. As a tourist city and a transit point into the Tsang region, Karizel receives a large number of visitors, thus promoting the development of its tourism industry.

Shortly after entering the city, Zasim said he had urgent business to attend to and got off the bus to leave. Before leaving, however, he gave us the address of a hotel, suggesting we stay there first, as he would also stay there after finishing his business. He added that if he had completed his work, he might consider accompanying us on a trip to Guge. We were naturally very happy to hear this and agreed to meet with him again the next day.

Karaseh city wasn't very big, and we found the inn quickly. However, we waited until dark, but the old man didn't come to stay. Having barely slept on my last night in Lhasa, I was exhausted by the time I arrived in Karaseh, so I went to rest early. I fell asleep almost immediately upon touching the inn's bed. But my sleep wasn't comfortable. Soon after falling asleep, I had a nightmare. I dreamt I arrived at the ruins of the Guge Kingdom and discovered that mysterious cave. Just as I was about to enter the cave, the sky suddenly changed, becoming extremely dark, with a strong wind blowing and sand and stones flying everywhere. Just as I was wondering what was happening, a large eye suddenly appeared from the cave. Its silver eyeball gleamed with a terrifying, malevolent light, as if it wanted to devour me whole. Then I became frightened and looked around for Dunzi and the others, only to find that I was all alone in the empty surroundings; I couldn't see anyone else. Immediately afterward, the silver eye in front of me multiplied into two more eyes, and the three terrifying silver eyes emitted countless rays of silver light, as if a thousand sharp swords were piercing my body. I screamed and woke up with a start, only to find that it was already dawn. Everyone else was also awake, but each of them had a slight sheen of sweat on their foreheads and a look of panic on their faces; I guessed they, like me, hadn't slept well.

19. The Ancient Curse

"Brother, you had a nightmare too, didn't you? Did you see those three silver eyes too?" Dunzi asked calmly, handing me a glass of water. "How did you know? Could it be..." "Yes, Ah Bao and I had the same dream. It's still a bit scary to think about it now," Dunzi said. Hearing Dunzi's words, I looked at Ah Bao with a hint of doubt. Ah Bao nodded at me, confirming that I had indeed had the same dream as Dunzi. Three people having the same nightmare at the same time was quite unusual. When I thought of the man who suddenly died during the youth charity in Lhasa, a strange panic arose in my heart. "Could Jenny have had the same dream too?" I wondered, and hurriedly put on my clothes and knocked on Jenny's door.

Thankfully, Jenny slept soundly all night and didn't have any scary dreams like we did. When I told her about it, she chuckled and said, "Look at you grown men, so timid. A small silver-eyed bronze statue gave you nightmares." "It's not that we're timid. When have we ever backed down in so many dangerous situations? I just feel there's something strange about this. It's really rare for three people to have the same nightmare at the same time," I replied. Jenny thought I made sense, so after a moment's thought, she suggested, "By the way, have you visited Uncle Zashim? He's very knowledgeable; maybe he can give us an answer." "Yes, I should ask old Zashim," I replied. "But did he come back last night?" "I don't know either. Let's ask at the front desk," Jenny said. Perhaps Zashim was a regular customer of this hotel; mentioning him would let the hotel owner know who we were looking for. So we quickly found out his room number.

When the four of us arrived at Zashim's door, I knocked gently, but no one answered. So I knocked harder and shouted a few times, but still no response. Looking at the time, it was indeed the agreed-upon meeting time. Unless something unexpected happened, the old man shouldn't have left the house so easily. Seeing this, Jenny and I suddenly had a bad feeling. We immediately became very nervous.

Just as we were about to break down the door, it suddenly creaked open. Zashim looked at us and asked, "Are you leaving? I was in meditation and didn't open the door in time. Did I worry you?" "Oh, it's alright. Jenny and I thought something had happened to you." So I told Zashim about the strange dream we had last night and asked him if it was normal. "It seems the curse has begun. Disaster could befall us at any moment. I think you should cancel this trip quickly," Zashim said worriedly. "If you continue, the incident that happened that night in Lhasa where the youths gave alms might repeat itself."

Hearing the old storyteller's words, everyone naturally felt uneasy. Dunzi quickly asked, "Uncle Zaxi, you keep talking about curses, can you tell us what kind of curse it is?" Zaxi didn't answer immediately. He first invited us into the room, closed the door, and then slowly said, "Legend has it that after the Five Wisdom Dakinis subdued the Yinshan Demon Mother, they ordered her to meditate quietly in the secret cave where the Heavenly Ladder was hidden, while guarding the Heavenly Ladder to ensure it wouldn't be stolen again. Subsequently, the Five Wisdom Dakinis also bestowed upon the Yinshan Demon Mother the power of the Heavenly Eye, giving her three eyes powerful magic, which could better protect the Heavenly Ladder. From then on, the Yinshan Demon Mother's eyes turned a very special silver-white."

Old Tashim paused for a moment, then continued, "This legend has been circulating among the Tibetan people for a long time, but no one knows whether it's true or not. Until one day, Dezu Gon, the founder of the Guge Kingdom and a descendant of the Tibetan kings, accidentally discovered this legendary ancient cave sacred site in his own kingdom of Guge. He then worshipped this land and designated this area as the kingdom's sacred site. At the same time, he built his own palace complex around this sacred site. To better protect the sacred object in the cave—the ladder to heaven—Dezu Gon then ordered the country's skilled craftsmen to cast it with silver-plated eyes." The bronze statues of the Yinshan Demon Mother were placed there, and renowned shamans and high-ranking monks from across the country were invited to cast spells and imbue them with a terrible curse. They were then placed in the sacred cave to protect the Heavenly Ladder from being stolen. The curse is said to be that once the statues are removed from the sacred site, the seal on them will automatically break. Anyone who sees the statues will first experience frequent and terrifying hallucinations, which will then worsen until they suddenly die in extreme panic. Therefore, the secret of the ancient cave sacred site will forever remain within the territory of the five kingdoms of Guge and will never be known to outsiders.

After listening to Zaxim's story, my heart began to race. Although the old man described the legends surrounding the bronze statue in great detail, we had no doubts about his words. We believed that the curses and witchcraft he spoke of were real, because we had witnessed similar mysterious witchcraft more than once during our search for the tomb of the tomb raider and during our journey into the Qin Mausoleum. This made us believe that, inexplicably, we had once again embarked on a perilous and dangerous path.

Tashim's words immediately silenced everyone. He looked at us and then said, "I will stay in Karizel for two more days. I suggest you think things through carefully during these two days. Because the curse you speak of is not yet deep enough. If you turn back now, leave this place, leave Tibet, perhaps the curse will disappear from you, and nothing bad will happen to you. But if you decide to continue, once you enter the territory of the Guge Kingdom, it may be too late to turn back."

Because Zasim had other matters to attend to, he left after saying these words. Jenny, the others, and I returned to our room, all remaining silent. Although the surroundings seemed peaceful, a fierce internal struggle was raging within us. After a long while, Jenny broke the silence. She said, "Have you thought of something? Although Zasim and I have seen the bronze statue of the Silver-Eyed Demon Mother, we didn't have that terrible nightmare. It seems the curse that old Zasim spoke of didn't affect us. Why is that?" Jenny's words were like a lightning bolt piercing the night sky. I suddenly felt a flash of inspiration. "That's right! How come I didn't think of that? It seems the truth isn't entirely as old Zasim said, that anyone who has seen the Silver-Eyed Demon Mother will inevitably suffer from that vicious curse. There must be some way to eliminate these curses." With this thought, the four of us felt much better and decided to talk to Zasim when he returned that evening. We hoped to find some common ground between him and Jenny, and thus find a way to break the curse.

We waited anxiously all day, and finally, in the evening, the hymn singer Tashim returned. Before he even entered his room, we invited him in and asked him about the curse. Once inside, Tashim asked, "Have you made up your mind?" I replied, "Uncle Tashim, we thought about it for a while today and suddenly noticed something strange. We'd like to ask for your advice." "Oh, tell us about it, I'm listening." "Uncle Tashim, did you notice? That night, you and we saw the bronze statue of the Silver-Eyed Demon Mother at the same time in the youth hostel in Lhasa, right?" I asked. "That's right," he replied. “But why did all three of us have nightmares last night, while you and Jenny were unaffected? It seems you two weren’t affected by the curse.” “Yes, I didn’t notice that,” Zasim replied. “Perhaps the curse doesn’t strike simultaneously. Maybe Jenny and I will be affected in a couple more days, but that’s just my guess, and I’m not sure.” Jenny said after hearing the old man’s words, “Then how about this? Let’s stay here for another two days and see if the same nightmares happen to Uncle Zasim and me. If not, it means our deduction might be correct, and there is indeed a way to break the curse.” “It seems that’s the only way. For safety’s sake, it’s necessary to delay for a few more days.” I said, looking at everyone. “Then let’s wait here for a few more days, find out the cause, and then figure out a solution. That’s better than recklessly going to our deaths.” Jenny said. Everyone nodded, agreeing to the decision.

After making this decision, we took Zaxi back to his room and then went out of the hotel to find a restaurant for dinner. Although the yak soup and roasted lamb chops served at this restaurant in Karize were quite authentically Tibetan, they didn't whet our appetites, and we ate a few bites before returning to the hotel.

As I expected, I had nightmares again that night, and they were even more terrifying than before. Besides dreaming of those three horrifying silver eyes, this time I also saw the man who had suddenly died in the Lhasa hostel. He was struggling in extreme pain in front of me, his facial muscles twisted and deformed from agony, looking extremely eerie and terrifying.

When I was jolted awake, I found that Dunzi and Abao had also been awakened by the nightmare at almost the same time, sitting up abruptly and panting heavily. The three of us sat on the bed, looking at each other; our faces were all pale, and our foreheads were covered in sweat. Although none of us said a word, we all understood that we had all had the same nightmare, which meant the curse was having an increasingly strong effect on us. After daybreak, we asked Jenny and Zasim, and as we had expected, they were both still unharmed.

20. Change the plan

“It seems your deductions are reasonable,” Zasim said thoughtfully. “It seems we need to sit down and study the reasons carefully.” “Yes, the key now is to find the commonalities between Jenny and Uncle Zasim. Only then can we discover why the curse’s influence is ineffective on them,” I said. Dunzi frowned and thought for a long time, then said, “One is an old man, and the other is a girl. What could they possibly have in common?” I thought for a moment and then said, “Since the curse belongs to the category of religious witchcraft, let’s verify it from these aspects one by one.” “I once practiced in a monastery when I was young,” Zasim said, “during which time I studied many Buddhist scriptures.” “I have no similar experience,” Jenny replied. “Since twenty years ago, I have been practicing meditation diligently during my evening rest.” “I still haven’t,” Jenny said.

Tashim thought for a moment, then said, "Besides what I mentioned above, I've also participated in many traditional Tibetan sacrificial ceremonies and celebrations at various monasteries." "This is my first time in Tibet, and I haven't participated in any religious sacrificial ceremonies at all," Jenny said. "But now that you mention it, I suddenly remembered that a couple of years ago I accompanied my grandfather to Nepal to discuss an investment project. Because I'm a hiking enthusiast, I had the experience of climbing Mount Everest there to pay homage to the holy mountain. I wonder if that counts as a religious sacrificial activity?" Upon hearing this, Tashim smiled and said, "You've also paid homage to the holy mountain? That's right. Every three years during the Tibetan New Year, I also go to Mount Kailash to circumambulate the mountain, thus paying homage to the holy mountain."

“So that’s how it is. Mount Kailash is a universally recognized sacred mountain, revered as the center of the world by many religions such as Buddhism, Bon, and Hinduism. This mountain is shrouded in clouds year-round, making it difficult to see its true face. Majestic above all other peaks, it possesses immense visual and spiritual power. We were fortunate enough to witness its true appearance; it resembles a lotus bud about to bloom. The sacred mountain is the most sacred place in the hearts of many believers. People often circumambulate it, some completing a full loop, others a shorter one. Legend has it that circumambulating the mountain once can cleanse one’s sins, and in the Year of the Horse, one loop is equivalent to thirteen. It seems that Tashim’s spiritual power and cultivation gained through circumambulating the mountain truly can cleanse sins and dispel curses.” I paused slightly. Then she continued, "Do you all remember that legend? The Silver-Eyed Demon Mother was subdued by the Five Wisdom Dakinis and ordered to guard the sacred ladder in a secret cave. The Five Wisdom Dakinis themselves transformed into five peaks that stretch across southern Tibet, which is the Himalayas. Jenny had previously made a pilgrimage to this sacred mountain, so the curse on the Silver-Eyed Demon Mother could not affect her."

“So lifting the curse isn’t that difficult after all,” A-Bao said with a smile after hearing my analysis. “At most, we can go on a pilgrimage to Mount Everest or do the circumambulation of Mount Kailash.” “If that’s the case, I suggest we do the circumambulation first,” I replied after considering for a moment. “Mount Kailash and the Guge Kingdom ruins we’re going to are both located in Ngari Prefecture. We can do the circumambulation of Mount Kailash before going to the Zanda Earth Forest to remove the curse, and then head to the Guge Kingdom ruins. This way, the itinerary will be smoother, and it won’t take up too much of our time.” “Okay, I have no objection,” Jenny said. “Okay, it’s settled then, Uncle Tashim. In that case, would you please take us there?” Dunzi asked, looking at old Tashim.

Looking at our expectant eyes, Zasim seemed somewhat helpless. He smiled and said, "The reason I kept declining was because I had a premonition that something ominous might happen to you on your trip to the Guge ruins. So I wanted you to give up your plans to go to Ali after experiencing some fright and leave this place as soon as possible. But I didn't expect your will to be so firm, your confidence so strong. Judging from your attitude, even if I don't guide you, I estimate you'll find someone else to lead the way." "That's right, that's exactly what we planned," Jenny replied with a smile. Zasim nodded and said, "Alright, in that case, I'll take you to Zanda Shilin. After all, it's fate that we've come together."

We were all overjoyed to hear that Tashim had finally agreed. So, Abao took out a map from his bag, and after discussing it with Tashim for a while, they re-marked a route on the map with a marker and created a new itinerary. Afterwards, Tashim explained all the things to be careful about during the pilgrimage and told us about the local conditions. Then we changed our route and started heading towards Mount Kailash.

The car sped across the endless plateau slopes. Aside from the distant, snow-capped mountains and the occasional herds of yaks appearing by the roadside, there was almost nothing else to see. Under the azure sky, a few wispy white clouds drifted by, like hadas (ceremonial scarves) floating in the air, making this sacred sky even more divine. The road to Mount Kailash was difficult; it was essentially a dirt road paved with various stones along the mountainside. The road wasn't wide either. If it were only wide enough for one vehicle, it would be manageable, but if two vehicles met, it would become quite troublesome. The only solution was to find a relatively wider section, stop one vehicle, and let the other pass close to it before continuing. Although this process often took a considerable amount of time, in such a dangerous area, everyone consciously followed this rule. Fortunately, there weren't many vehicles on this road, which saved us the trouble of avoiding encounters with other vehicles.

And so we drove along this uneven dirt road, the temperature dropping steadily as the altitude increased. The bumpy ride triggered a mild case of altitude sickness in me, causing headaches and nausea. Dunzi was in worse shape, barely able to keep going. He kept sticking his head out of the car, vomiting uncontrollably. At that point, even if there were more beautiful scenery outside, we had no interest in appreciating it; we simply slumped into the car and drifted off to sleep.