The Frozen Ruins

Hu Yang's pace quickened, and after passing through a few more tunnel junctions, he finally caught up with Kirk at a corner. Kirk pointed into the dark passage and said, "There's no sound now, but the noise definitely came from inside here. It must have."

Hu Yang waved his hand and said, "Hold on, hold on. Let's turn down the flashlight first."

Tashi Danba and Zhang Li caught up as well. Tashi Danba asked, "Why?"

Hu Yang pointed at the ice wall and said, "Do you notice anything different about this wall compared to the others?"

Kirk felt the walls and replied curiously, "There's no ice. This cave seems warmer than the previous one."

Hu Yang whispered, "It's not just the lack of ice, the walls are also very dry. There's not a trace of moisture. The poachers probably chose this cave because it's warmer. This path should lead to the windward side of Malan Mountain."

Zhang Li asked, "But what does that have to do with the flashlight?"

Tashi Danba suddenly realized and asked, "Little animals? Furry little animals?"

Hu Yang nodded. "Exactly. This kind of cave, sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, is perfect for them to hibernate."

Kirk asked, "What kind of animals?"

Hu Yang replied, "Himalayan hamsters. Thousands of Himalayan hamsters gather in a giant cave to hibernate, and disturbing them could have dreadful consequences. When they wake up from hibernation, they're ravenous. They're like Southeast Asian locusts or desert army ants, driven by greed, devouring anything organic they encounter."

Tashi Danba was stunned. "Tens of thousands of hamsters in one cave!"

Hu Yang said, "Yes. Don't forget, this is Koko Xili. Surviving the winter on this frozen plain isn't as easy as you might think. Many animals use all kinds of methods to survive the winter. In some places, birds and ground squirrels even share a den, all in the name of surviving the harsh cold."

Kirk stuck out his tongue. "Wow, birds and hamsters living together. That's probably how bats are born."

Hu Yang's face darkened. "If they catch up to us, they'll leave nothing but bones behind." He lowered his voice. "I'm not trying to scare you, but I didn't expect to be in this kind of situation. This cave environment is ideal for their hibernation, and I have to warn you."

Kirk skeptically asked, "Are we really that unlucky, Captain?"

Hu Yang said sternly, "Didn't you hear the desperation in that terrified scream? What could make someone scream like that? I've been on expeditions for many years. I've seen teammates killed by vicious animals, fallen to their deaths in deep ravines, crushed by boulders, or impaled on tree stumps. They could barely scream. But only those creatures can make people scream in such hopeless despair. That's the sound you make when your soul is consumed. Do you understand?"

Kirk replied, "But, what if it's not? After all, there were still two lives lost."

Hu Yang glanced at the dark tunnel ahead. "That's why we need to be fully prepared before going in."

He took two fire extinguisher-sized steel tanks from Tashi Danba's backpack, strapped them on, and held a hose-like device in his hand. Stamping his feet, he said, "Let's hope this works against them. Let's go. Set your flashlights to the lowest setting."

Kirk muttered, "It can't be as bad as the captain says. We've been delayed, but we still don't know what's going on."

They turned a corner, and Hu Yang stopped in front of a slope. Ahead of them, there was no way forward. The path ended at a circular stone chamber.

Tashi Danba gasped and immediately stopped, whispering, "Did we find them?"

Hu Yang whispered, "Not yet. Focus your flashlight. I need to get a closer look at what's on the wall ahead."

Four beams of light hit the wall, and both Tashi Danba and Hu Yang looked up. They saw that the wall in front of them clearly bore the marks of human civilization, black patterns that unmistakably depicted scenes from an ancient culture that once lived and thrived on this desolate ice plain.

The black lines outlined figures resembling stick figures. Some were dancing, holding hands, while others were praying to the heavens. There were depictions of sexual worship, with male and female figures mating, as well as scenes of sacrificial rites, such as the slaughtering of cattle and sheep. Despite the simple lines, the meaning was clear.

Kirk, squeezing in behind them, tilted his flashlight to the left and immediately became interested in one hunting scene. A group of stick figures were attacking a large creature with slings and vines. The creature was covered in thick fur and had large, sharp tusks. Several of the stick figures had already climbed onto its back, stabbing with sharp objects and smashing it with large rocks. The scene looked like ants tearing apart a grasshopper, and it was vividly drawn. Kirk exclaimed, "That thing… It looks like an elephant!"

"An elephant? Were there elephants in Koko Xili?" Zhang Li asked, incredulously.

Hu Yang seemed to recall something, and his unease grew. He reminded them, "There's no such thing as giant hornets, but you must be careful, there might be a kind of furry little animal in here. They are even more terrifying than hornets the size of elephants." The three men felt a chill down their spines, unsure whether Hu Yang was serious or joking, but judging by his serious expression, it didn't seem like a joke.

They didn't know how much time passed before Hu Yang, looking as if he had made up his mind, said, "Let's not forget our purpose. Let's get to work."

Kirk responded and took the pack from Tashi Danba's back, pulling out various tools—some straps that could be worn, steel rings with loops, oval-shaped steel hoops resembling hollow shoes, sharp steel spikes with handles, and other necessary equipment. Tashi Danba looked at the assortment of tools, unable to name or understand their use. He wanted to ask about each one, but he knew it was neither the time nor place, so he just watched Hu Yang and Kirk carefully prepare.

They began by using the sharp tools to drill into the ice layer, then inserted steel bars with holes into the drilled holes. They connected the bars with hooks and square pieces of equipment, then wrapped straps around themselves like wearing clothes. After securing themselves to the steel bars with ropes, Tashi Danba and Zhang Li watched in confusion as Kirk handed them each a large cloth strap, helped them secure it, and fitted them with ice-clad boot covers.

When everything was ready, Hu Yang said, "Follow in order. I'll go across the ice bridge first, and you'll follow one by one. We're heading to the ice platform in the middle. Especially you two newcomers, I must remind you, I didn't expect this kind of terrain. You must be extra careful. When crossing the ice bridge, keep your eyes focused straight ahead and only use your peripheral vision to check the bridge surface. Hold your ascender tightly, and if you slip on the bridge, hold on to whatever you're gripping. Got it? I'll go ahead."

Tashi Danba watched as Hu Yang, holding a stick with a rope, easily crossed over, almost effortlessly. He followed second, focusing on the advice Hu Yang gave, looking ahead, and gripping the ascender with his hand. He crossed the ice bridge safely. Hu Yang praised, "Well done."

Tashi Danba smiled, "That was easy. The poachers could probably cross without safety ropes."

Hu Yang's expression darkened as he replied sternly, "Don't take it lightly. Crossing that ice bridge is like brushing shoulders with death. It may seem wide and solid, but if the surface tilts more than 1 degree and you're not wearing crampons, that nearly perfectly smooth surface can make you slip immediately. The colder the place, the more fragile the ice. The center of the ice bridge bears massive pressure, and even the slightest crack could cause it to collapse. The poachers don't value their lives, but we don't have to follow them into death."

Zhang Li was the third to cross the bridge. He noticed Hu Yang and Tashi Danba seemed to move effortlessly, and he thought to himself, why did Hu Yang tell them not to look at the bridge surface? It was already hard to see the ice bridge, and if they only used their peripheral vision, wouldn't that make it harder to stay on course? Midway, he couldn't resist glancing down. As he did, he saw a curious face staring back at him in the smooth, mirror-like ice. It was his own face, but everything below his head was hidden, and above, the ice pillars and icicles reflected in the bridge's surface. Below, the sheer cliff, the ice crystals, and ice stalagmites were all visible. Further down, the swirling ice mist seemed to entwine the half-wall of the cave, like a white dragon soaring in the space between heaven and earth. In that instant, Zhang Li felt as though he wasn't standing on solid ground but floating in mid-air. And in that air, there was another face, identical to his, but with an expression of panic and confusion. Only that face floated in the air, eerily.

Zhang Li suddenly lost his sense of direction. He felt as though he was sinking, the ceiling above and the ground below spinning around him. He thought he heard distant shouting, but it felt as though he heard nothing at all. His strength seemed to be drained, as if someone had sucked all the energy out of him with a syringe. His hands and feet wouldn't obey, and he had lost all control.

Tashi Danba noticed Zhang Li suddenly stopped in the middle of the ice bridge, motionless, his eyes glazed. He muttered, "What's wrong with Zhang Li?"

Hu Yang, busy adjusting the safety rope, turned and was shocked. "Not good! He's going to fall!"

"What!" Tashi Danba looked again and saw Zhang Li slumped, leaning against the safety rope, not yet falling but already unconscious. Hu Yang shouted, "Kirk, help him! Zhang Li! Zhang Li! Wake up! Zhang Li! Can you hear me? Zhang Li!"

With the safety rope's protection, Kirk managed to help Zhang Li across the ice bridge. Hu Yang quickly grabbed some ice and rubbed it on Zhang Li's neck to bring him back to consciousness. Tashi Danba asked, "How did this happen?"

Hu Yang explained, "This is called vertigo in midair. Humans are strange creatures. Our brains are conditioned to think we can only stand still on solid ground. But when you suddenly realize you're floating, the brain sends the wrong signal. You think you're going to fall, even though you aren't, and your heart rate and blood flow change to adapt to a fall. The brain briefly loses blood, causing dizziness. Rest a bit, and it'll pass. This is why I told you not to look down, and why we need to wear our safety gear. A lesson learned the hard way."

The flashlight fell to the ground, and Tashi Danba didn't dare to pick it up. He could only move toward the direction where there was light and wind in the dim cave. His backpack had broken, so he threw it away without hesitation. The nonsense Hu Yang said about "never throwing away the backpack even if you throw yourself away" was something he could care less about! The only comfort was that he hadn't heard Zhang Li's scream of agony; only the sound of his clothes tearing and pebbles scraping against the ground, which meant Zhang Li was still desperately running, just behind him.

Light! When Tashi Danba joyfully rushed out of the cave, he realized that they had ended up back inside the massive ice dome. The ice pillars crisscrossed, and the ice bridges intertwined, all illuminated by the sunlight, creating a magnificent and spectacular scene. As Zhang Li rushed out of the cave, the furry little black devils followed close behind, leaving no time to think. Tashi Danba had no choice but to take a risk and step onto the ice bridge as steadily as possible. It was impossible to walk quickly on the ice bridge—after taking two steps, he would slip with every step. Having heard Hu Yang's warnings, Tashi Danba understood that once they fell, there would be no chance of getting back up alive. Fortunately, on this slippery ice bridge, the hamsters couldn't move quickly either, but just being closely pursued by them made one's blood run cold. The nearest hamster was only a palm's length from Zhang Li's shoe.

Tashi Danba hurried two steps forward, and then his legs stopped moving, unable to control his body, sliding about a meter. Fortunately, he stopped on a huge ice platform, and Zhang Li carefully followed. This time, Zhang Li felt no fear stepping onto the ice bridge; the real terror was what was chasing behind him. A few pioneering hamsters quickly followed, and Tashi Danba swiftly kicked them off the ice platform with his feet, but more hamsters were slowly advancing, their eyes fixed on the group, seemingly about to encircle the platform.

Tashi Danba didn't have time to think and quickly stepped onto another ice beam after stabilizing himself on the platform. The hamsters seemed to have adapted to moving on the ice bridges and were moving faster. Reluctantly, Tashi Danba had no choice but to speed up as well, even though there was always the risk of falling into a hidden current. But falling into the current and freezing to death was better than dying in the mouths of those little monsters that ate everything, bones included.

After crossing half the distance, Tashi Danba realized that this was the same broken ice bridge from earlier. There was a one-meter-wide gap in the middle with no way forward and no way back. Without thinking, Tashi Danba lifted his leg and leapt across the gap, landing on the opposite ice surface. It wasn't until he landed that he realized his legs were shaking, and his calf muscles seemed to cramp, twitching in spasms. Tashi Danba knew he was temporarily safe. He turned around and saw Zhang Li standing at the gap, his eyes filled with despair. He glanced occasionally at the bottomless abyss below and then back at Tashi Danba, while the hamsters were already very close to him!

More and more hamsters poured out of the cave, like a fountain, flooding the area. Half of the ice dome was nearly covered in black, and the place where the hamsters were, even the sunlight couldn't penetrate. What had once been a mesmerizing ice dome had now turned into hell, with only the greedy, evil gazes and sharp teeth of the devouring creatures visible.

Zhang Li dared not look back. He knew the danger was closing in, but jumping across from such a high place was testing his limits. Tashi Danba could clearly see that some of the hamsters had already started gnawing on Zhang Li's pant leg, and some had even climbed onto his back. More hamsters followed, but Zhang Li was hesitating at the edge of the broken ice bridge, not daring to take the leap.

Tashi Danba shouted, "They're going to bite you! Jump over here! It's not that wide! Jump! Jump!" Just as Tashi Danba yelled, "Jump," one hamster scurried into Zhang Li's neck, its furry body squirming inside his collar. Zhang Li closed his eyes, screaming as he jumped to the other side. Tashi Danba grabbed him and pulled him close, while Zhang Li clung tightly to Tashi Danba, closing his eyes tightly and screaming, "Ah! Ah—Ah…Ah…"

Tashi Danba knocked the hamsters off Zhang Li's body, panting with him, "Okay, okay, it's okay now, it's okay. They can't come over. They can't come over. It's okay, it's okay…"

The hamsters at the front, realizing there was no way forward, tried to stop, but the hamsters behind them pushed forward, knocking the ones in front off the edge. Countless hamsters fell into the abyss, their black, furry bodies huddled together, becoming a never-ending nightmare. More hamsters turned toward other ice bridges, moving toward Tashi Danba and the others. They smelled fresh meat, hearing the sound of blood pumping, the call to battle, and the source of their hunger.

Tashi Danba realized this and, with difficulty, pushed Zhang Li, his sore legs moving slowly. He spoke calmly, "Let's go, we still have to move. Two more ice bridges, and we'll be safe on the other side. We can go back the same way, and once we're out of the cave, we won't have to worry. They won't be able to follow us. Can you still walk?"

Zhang Li, his face pale, nodded weakly. His lips trembled for a long time before he managed to say one word: "Go."

The two weren't exhausted, but they had to support each other to keep moving. Their calf muscles, having been overexerted in the panic, were cramping, making them feel weak. The sensation of walking on the ice bridge made them feel unsteady. Only one more ice bridge left. Tashi Danba encouraged, "Even if we have to crawl, we'll crawl over this last bridge. It's our only escape route."

The two supported each other, but the worst happened. As they reached the middle of the ice bridge, Zhang Li suddenly tilted to the left, pulling Tashi Danba with him. Tashi Danba was startled and quickly leaned backward, but unexpectedly, the hands they had placed on each other's shoulders slipped apart. Zhang Li's body was already in midair, unable to regain his footing on the ice bridge. Tashi Danba reached out…