Into the Jungle

The three of them finally made it back to Holman's place, utterly exhausted. Tashi Danba and Basang discussed the events but couldn't make any sense of them. Why had they clashed with the locals out of nowhere? Were those men targeting the indigenous group? If so, why did they stop chasing them?

Unable to decipher the incident, Tashi Danba and Basang set it aside for now. They began dividing the tools they had purchased into four equal packs, but before they could finish, Zhang Li and Yue Yang burst in, disheveled and out of breath. Even Holman was drenched in sweat, his face streaked with mud, the dirt on his face smeared into black-and-white patterns by the sweat.

As they shut the door behind them, Yue Yang leaned against it, sighing with relief. "It seems like we lost them."

Zhang Li dropped his large bundle onto the floor, bracing himself with his hands as he gasped for air, momentarily unable to speak. Tashi Danba quickly asked, "What happened to you?"

The three began talking over each other in fragments, piecing together a full story with difficulty. It turned out their experience mirrored Tashi Danba's—they had been inexplicably attacked by an unidentified group, ambushed, and beaten.

"How could this happen?" Tashi Danba couldn't wrap his head around it. Turning to Zhang Li, he demanded, "You didn't provoke anyone, did you? It must have been during the weapon purchase. Did you get into a dispute with someone?"

Zhang Li denied it vehemently, insisting their transaction had gone smoothly. Holman, being experienced, handled everything with ease. They had only encountered the attackers on their way back. The assailants hadn't said a word before launching an attack, leading Zhang Li and Yue Yang to suspect it was a case of mistaken identity.

Tashi Danba considered this. Could it have been that their weapon purchases had drawn attention, and someone had tried to rob them? He said, "Let's not dwell on it for now. Show me what weapons you got."

Zhang Li opened his bundle, revealing machetes, iron rods, chains, and even a pair of brass knuckles. Tashi Danba was stunned. "What is this? We're preparing for a jungle trek, not a street brawl!"

Zhang Li quickly explained, "Wrong zipper. These are our spoils of war." They had been ambushed by five or six men, whom they managed to subdue and disarm. However, reinforcements—about twenty to thirty men—soon appeared, forcing them to flee.

Zhang Li then opened the correct zipper, revealing their actual purchases: a medical kit, jungle knives, crossbows, and other tools. Unfortunately, they hadn't been able to acquire firearms, likely due to Holman's lack of connections. Yue Yang opened his own bundle, packed with assorted tools.

Tashi Danba instructed, "Sort everything into separate packs so we can leave at any moment." The earlier attacks unsettled him, especially the snake charmer on the road, whose presence had exuded a chilling, sinister air.

Yue Yang asked, puzzled, "Why the rush? Do you really think they'll come after us here?"

Basang, ever stoic, recounted their own encounter and concluded, "Do you think this is just a coincidence? It's clearly an orchestrated operation. We don't know their purpose yet, but the more resistance we put up, the more intense their actions will become."

Tashi Danba nodded in agreement. Zhang Li suggested, "Could this be part of our exam—a test they designed?"

Yue Yang immediately dismissed the idea. "Impossible. Those were locals—violent thugs. They attacked with the intent to kill. No way would the test go to such extremes. It felt more like…"

Tashi Danba, Basang, and Zhang Li paused their work, looking at Yue Yang. He finished his thought, "…someone trying to stop us from entering the jungle."

Everyone agreed this seemed the most plausible explanation. But who? None of them had any leads. Tashi Danba suddenly recalled Lu Jingnan's warning and thought, Could it be them? But why would they resort to such measures?

Holman, who had been silent since their return, wore an increasingly uneasy expression. Kesa noticed his friend's distress and asked, "What's wrong? Do you know those people?"

Holman hesitated, then stammered, "No… It's just… some of them looked like Basaka's men."

Kesa translated for the group, prompting Yue Yang to ask, "Who's Basaka?"

Holman explained, "They're violent militants in this region, causing chaos and opposing the government. I've heard they're linked to the Colombian drug lords, an armed force infiltrating from Colombia. But why…? It doesn't make sense." He eyed the four of them suspiciously, clearly questioning whether they had any connections to the drug lords.

"Drug lords!" Zhang Li scoffed. "You've got to be kidding. This is our first time in your country. We haven't even seen a venomous ant, let alone a drug lord!" He paused, glancing at Tashi Danba, wondering if the wealthy young man had any ties to such figures.

Tashi Danba's tone turned serious. "Impossible. I've never engaged in illegal activities or associated with criminals. My business dealings have never involved the Americas. Now, is everything packed? If so, grab your bags and prepare to move out."

Holman suddenly stiffened, peeking through a crack in the door. His face turned pale. "It's Basaka! He's brought his men here! You need to leave—now! Jump out the back window before it's too late!"

"What?" Tashi Danba and Zhang Li peeked out, seeing a burly man leading 30 to 40 armed men, their weapons gleaming ominously. It was clear that Zhang Li and Yue Yang had been followed, and their pursuers had called for reinforcements to settle the score.

Tashi Danba and Zhang Li each grabbed a large hiking pack. Turning to Yue Yang and Basang, still checking their gear, Tashi Danba ordered, "No time! Move!" He opened the window and climbed out first.

On the silent waters of the Putumayo River, a sleek canoe drifted. The Amazon's waterways were unpredictable—some were hundreds of meters wide and deep, while others were narrow and shallow. Only modified dugout canoes like this one could navigate such terrain.

The canoe was divided into four sections by wooden benches. At the front, two armed guards surveyed the river and surrounding jungle. Four rowers paddled rhythmically in the back. In the center sat two men: Mo Jin, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, and Sorais, the disfigured snake charmer. The jungle monkey perched on Sorais's shoulder, wearing a vest and curiously scanning the surroundings.

"Well? Impressed with their performance?" Mo Jin asked with a smirk.

Sorais sneered, "Not at all. No sense of vigilance. They only react after danger strikes. If it had been an unavoidable threat, they'd be dead. Still…" Noticing Mo Jin's displeasure, Sorais added, "Their combat skills are decent—almost on par with our trained soldiers."

Mo Jin sighed. "Forget about them for now. What do you think about that site? If it's there, there's no point wasting our time here."

"So, where do you plan to go?"

"Charapita. I just received word. South of Charapita, in the jungle 100 kilometers away, a company discovered a structure resembling a Mayan pyramid while constructing an oil pipeline. They've locked it down, and not even the national archaeology teams know about it yet. I intend to check it out."

Sorais grinned, his teeth showing in a serpentine fashion. "Go ahead. I'll stay and observe their jungle crossing. It'll be a good way to assess their capabilities."

Mo Jin's face darkened. Then, in a rare display of sincerity, he said, "Please don't kill them. They're important to me."

Sorais waved dismissively, signaling Mo Jin not to worry. The boat docked, and Sorais's wiry figure disappeared into the jungle like a shadow, vanishing into his element. Mo Jin felt a chill. In the jungle, Sorais was the true predator, a ghostly presence back in his domain.

Tashi Danba and his team sprinted through unfamiliar streets with their heavy packs. They weren't afraid of the Basaka group's numbers—they could handle them—but staying would endanger Holman. If the conflict escalated, Holman wouldn't be able to remain in Putumayo, and any further fallout could strain international relations.

Basang asked, "Where are we going?"

Yue Yang replied, "This city doesn't welcome us. With so many enemies and no clear understanding of what's happening, it looks like we'll have to enter the jungle ahead of schedule."

Tashi Danba hesitated. "But what about the boat? We planned to travel by river."

Zhang Li confidently said, "We've already rented a boat near the docks. We just need to pick it up early."

"Lead the way," Tashi Danba ordered.

Thirty minutes later, the four of them had left the bustling port far behind. The narrow canoe, approximately six meters long and two meters wide at its center, was divided into four compartments by three wooden benches. Their gear was strategically placed within arm's reach, ensuring it could be secured in case of an emergency. All four were paddling, guiding the vessel forward. As they rounded a river bend, all signs of human civilization vanished, replaced by an enveloping serenity. The gentle flow of the river seemed to halt time itself, creating a sense of peace that was both mesmerizing and calming.

The jungle stretched endlessly, its depths unfathomable. Towering trees dominated the landscape, their immense canopies casting a perpetual shade. Among these giants were American spruces, some reaching heights of over a hundred meters with trunks so wide that it would take 17 or 18 adults linking hands to encircle one. These trees, uniform in thickness from base to top, were true titans of the forest. The air was alive with the calls of unseen birds and beasts, but to the eye, only an impenetrable sea of foliage presented itself. The river wound its way through this green fortress, flanked by trees that formed an almost claustrophobic canopy. Occasionally, a macaw would streak across the sky, its vibrant feathers shimmering like living jewels in the sunlight. This lush and otherworldly scenery bore no resemblance to the forests they had encountered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna—it was an entirely different world.

Drifting downstream required minimal effort. The four men simply steered the boat to maintain its course while marveling at the exotic beauty on either side. In the shallows, the river's crystal-clear waters revealed a bed of colorful stones teeming with vibrant fish. Although their training had included identifying dangerous animals, and they had pored over countless references on South American fauna, they found themselves unable to name most of these shimmering creatures. The fish glided through the water with effortless grace, their movements instilling a sense of tranquility. It was so inviting that the men felt an almost irresistible urge to leap into the water and swim among them.

With one hand steering the boat, Zhang Li leaned back, using his arms as a headrest, and gazed up at the narrow strip of sky visible through the canopy. "This is even better than a vacation on Hainan Island," he said with a contented sigh. "At this rate, we'll reach our destination ahead of schedule."

Yue Yang trailed his fingers in the cool water, sending ripples through the surface. "It seems someone is enjoying himself a little too much."

Zhang Li chuckled. "Didn't someone say this place was full of hidden dangers and deadly traps? Turns out the only way to test the truth is through experience."

At the helm, Basang snorted disdainfully.

Zhashi Danba replied, "We've only just left Putumayo, barely ten kilometers in. This doesn't even count as the true jungle yet. If the dangers started here, the people in Putumayo would never get a good night's sleep."

Yue Yang glanced at the darkening sky. "It'll be night soon. We need to decide where to set up camp."

Zhang Li suggested, "How about stopping here and finding a place to land?"

Zhashi Danba shook his head. "No, the people from Putumayo might still be looking for us. If we're going to camp, it should be deep in the jungle, somewhere hidden."

The mention of being pursued brought Yue Yang back to their earlier troubles. "This whole situation is baffling. How did we end up crossing paths with drug traffickers?"

Basang, steering with a paddle, spoke in his usual blunt manner. "You've encountered drug traffickers right at the start, and it hasn't alarmed you? If I were you, even the slightest rustle in the bushes would make me break into a sweat."

Zhang Li sat up straight. "What do you mean?"

Basang replied, "This region is a hotbed for drug traffickers. They're more familiar with the jungle's terrain and waterways than even government forces or researchers. Without that knowledge, they couldn't smuggle contraband across borders. Frankly, dealing with them is far more dangerous than dealing with local authorities." His words carried the weight of experience from his past as a poacher.

Zhang Li's expression turned uneasy. "You're not exaggerating, are you?"

Zhashi Danba affirmed, "Basang is right. From now on, we must assume this river journey will be twice as dangerous as we initially anticipated."

Yue Yang added grimly, "If he's correct, they might send a motorboat after us, loaded with armed men, grenades, and machine guns. We'd be torn to shreds."

Zhashi Danba smiled faintly. "Not necessarily—"

Before he could finish, Zhang Li interrupted him, his face pale and eyes wide with disbelief. "No, it's exactly as he said!"

Zhashi Danba spun around to see a high-speed motorboat cutting through the water, kicking up a trail of white spray. Armed men crowded its deck, and at the bow, a menacing black barrel protruded, unmistakably a mounted weapon.

"No way!" Zhashi Danba exclaimed. All four men began paddling furiously. Although they were strong and moving with the current, their efforts were no match for the motorboat's engine. The distance between the two vessels rapidly shrank.

Fortunately, the labyrinthine waterways of the Putumayo River offered opportunities for evasion. The four men used their small boat's maneuverability to dart into narrow channels and reemerge from different routes, but the motorboat stayed on their tail. Despite their best efforts, they couldn't shake their pursuers. The narrow channels provided limited cover, and abandoning the boat to flee on foot wasn't an option.

As they rounded another bend, they found the motorboat closing in again. Zhang Li grumbled, "Why didn't we get a motorboat ourselves? We wouldn't be in this mess if we hadn't trusted that seller."

The motorboat, flying no recognizable flag, carried men in unfamiliar uniforms but unmistakably lethal weapons. Over a loudspeaker, the armed men shouted commands, likely ordering them to stop or face deadly consequences.

From the front of the canoe, Yue Yang muttered, "This has to be the Colombian guerrillas. What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?"

Zhang Li offered a wry smile. "It's clear this place doesn't want us here. Talk about a bad start."

Basang's voice was ice-cold. "Guerrillas are worse than government forces. If they capture us, we're as good as dead."

Behind them, gunfire erupted, and water sprayed into the air near their boat. The shots were a warning, but the next volley would not miss.

Zhashi Danba scanned the faces of his companions. "Surrender. Let's pull over."

Basang, however, remained calm. "Keep paddling. If we can hold on for two more minutes, there might be a chance."

The river curved sharply ahead. This might be their last hope.

"Are you sure about this?" Zhang Li asked nervously. "I haven't even dated anyone yet!"

Despite his complaints, Zhang Li's paddle moved with renewed urgency. Yue Yang, still skeptical, asked, "I don't see how this helps. What's the plan?"

Zhashi Danba tightened his grip on the paddle. "Row like your life depends on it! The moment I shout, everyone paddle in reverse."

Suddenly, Zhang Li noticed something. "Wait, what's that sound?"

The distant roar of rushing water grew louder by the second, from a gentle murmur to a deafening cascade. Both Zhashi Danba and Basang exchanged knowing smiles.

"Stop!" Zhashi Danba commanded. All four paddles reversed, just as their small boat began to lift into the air.