The physician Ciren could no longer lift his head; his eyes, where black and white were unevenly distributed, flickered a few times before settling again on Tang Minghao. He was naturally hideous, and after the recent string of events, I had become utterly disgusted with him. It didn't matter if he was mentally ill, terminally ill, or suffering from something else; I had firmly decided I would not concern myself with whether he lived or died. As for how the yaks and sheep had appeared, someone else could figure that out later; I wouldn't rely on him.

With that, I didn't hide my revulsion, glared fiercely at Physician Ciren, and turned to call Tang Minghao to leave with me. Everyone except Yanzi was losing patience.

Xu Zhiwu said, "Originally, I intended to take you back for study... but looking at you now, I've completely lost the desire." Physician Ciren’s eyes rolled frantically, looking pleadingly at Xu Zhiwu, trying to speak, but nothing came out. Yanzi suddenly stated coldly, "Even if I wanted to save you." She paused, glanced at the slain cattle and sheep on the ground, then at Tang Minghao, and finally rested her gaze on Physician Ciren. "Even if they didn't stop me. But I simply don't know how to proceed. This is supposed to be the work of the gods; they should be the ones to do it. I am merely a mortal; how can I do the work of gods? Especially now that you cannot even speak, making it even more impossible." With that, she spread her hands and turned to leave.

Physician Ciren had completely lost his strength; even his eyeballs could barely move, his face a mask of supplication, looking as if tears were about to fall. None of us paid him any further attention and began discussing how to exit. Old Li, Xu Zhiwu, and I were for immediately finding an exit to get back. But Yanzi was resolutely determined to find the treasure before leaving. I couldn't help but flare up in anger: "We've already said that none of us want the treasure, yet you insist on finding it. Fine, if you want to go, go by yourself. The rest of us will find the exit!"

Tang Minghao was somewhat delirious. In my mind, he was naturally our responsibility. Unexpectedly, before Yanzi could say anything, this ancestor of ours spoke up first: "I'll go with her." He pointed at Yanzi as he spoke. Yanzi was startled, not expecting Tang Minghao to side with her, and was about to speak. Tang Minghao cut in again: "Only she can save me..." As he said this, his expression suddenly changed, his mouth crumpled, and he burst into loud, earth-shattering sobs, tears streaming down his face.

"This..." For a moment, everyone panicked, unsure of his intent. Old Li quickly went to comfort him, assuring him that we would definitely find a way to save him, adding that Xu Zhiwu knew many high masters among the Tibetans who could certainly help. Tang Minghao remained unmoved, his wailing ceaseless. I quickly added, "If there's truly no other way, we can go find Zhuoma Yangjin; she can definitely save you."

Tang Minghao was impervious to reason; no matter what we said, he only cried louder. I quickly lost patience. For a grown man to weep so profusely was a disgrace to manhood. "Forget it, stop wasting time with him. Let's go." I intended to drag him away forcefully, but in my urgency, I hadn't expressed myself clearly. Unfortunately, these words opened a whole new can of worms. Tang Minghao immediately became relentless: "You are abandoning me, just like you abandoned Physician Ciren! You clearly could have saved him, yet you..."

Seeing him spout more nonsense, I realized we couldn't stay; who knew what else would happen if we lingered. So, I exchanged a look with Old Li. We each took an arm of Tang Minghao and, ignoring his struggles and cries, dragged him away. Surprisingly, Tang Minghao's strength had also diminished significantly, so we managed without too much effort.

Although Tang Minghao lacked physical strength, his mouth was still busy, continuing his wailing: "You could have put Physician Ciren's head on me, and he could have lived, and I could have lived too! Why didn't you save him? You animals! Worse than pigs and dogs! If they weren't killed by you, the yaks on the ground could have provided bodies for Physician Ciren. You beasts, sons of whores! Watching someone die without helping! I curse you to be chewed into tiny pieces and have your flesh and blood entirely consumed by Mima Chhama..." The following string of words was entirely obscene.

Tang Minghao has gone mad! I think everyone must have shared my thought. What he was saying was completely beyond the scope of anyone with even slightly normal reasoning—talking about swapping heads and changing bodies, and even Mima Chhama! It was quite something that he could even recall Mima Chhama, one of the eight skull demon generals in Tibetan Buddhism, to curse us. I suppose he has some cultural knowledge—it was truly laughable and maddening.

But a new problem immediately arose: where to go? Returning the way we came was impossible. Moving forward, with Physician Ciren and the dead cattle and sheep lying there, didn't look like an exit, so that was out too. More critically, I had completely lost my sense of direction and had no idea where we were.

The irritating Tang Minghao continued to scream and shout: "Look, you devils, you animals! Look! You see the body of the Shepherd Ciren slowly decaying, his flesh and skin falling to the ground. You cold-blooded devils, you wouldn't save him! How pitiful he is! He thought Physician Ciren could grant him eternal life! It's you beasts who ruined Physician Ciren and him! Devils! Devils!"

"Shut your mouth, for the love of—!" My patience had reached its limit, and I fiercely snapped at Tang Minghao. Xu Zhiwu quickly intervened: "Xiao Luo, don't take offense with him; he... he... he's not right."

"I know he's not right, but must he keep shrieking like this, not letting anyone live!" I replied irritably.

Xu Zhiwu hesitated, stuttering: "Perhaps we should perform a ritual for him. I think he might be possessed by something. He mentioned Mima Chhama earlier. An ordinary person shouldn't know that, especially since we never heard anyone say he believed in Tibetan Buddhism before."

I looked at Old Li; he should know. Unexpectedly, Old Li just shook his head, saying Tang Minghao had always been a staunch materialist.

All signs indicated that Tang Minghao wasn't just normally insane. There were many things we hadn't seen or encountered that didn't mean they didn't exist. Furthermore, the zombies and the faceless ones on Mount Qiangbak still lacked any reasonable explanation. Thinking of this, a sense of awe immediately struck me. "He really has been... possessed?" I omitted the word "ghost," but everyone understood.

Old Li pondered, "It seems so... But my peachwood sword..." He meant, why couldn't the peachwood sword ward off evil spirits, especially since it was struck by lightning.

Yanzi said with a hint of undisguised pride in her tone: "Your Han Chinese peachwood swords only work on Han ghosts and deities."

"Then what do we do? If Brother Hao continues to act like this, someone will die," I stated.

Yanzi thought for a moment, seeming uncertain: "He mentioned Mima Chhama just now, so that must be the instruction from the deity. We must do as he says."

I was speechless. "You mean cutting off Physician Ciren's head and putting it on him? And we also have to save this Shepherd Ciren?" I was frustrated and angry. "Can his words even be trusted?"

Yanzi immediately countered me: "The deity's instructions are always correct." Then, perhaps feeling that my doubt regarding their "deity" was highly inappropriate, she sneered, "Your own hand isn't healed, so what are you yelling and shouting about here! Worry about yourself more. The main thing is not to let your wound touch Tang Minghao, or you might lose your life, and then you’ll have to beg Mima Chhama for salvation."

I was choked with anger and wanted to retort, but Xu Zhiwu quickly stepped forward, insisting on taking over supporting Tang Minghao from me. His excuse was that my hand was injured and I shouldn't exert myself, but in reality, he must have taken Yanzi’s words seriously, believing I truly shouldn't touch Tang Minghao. Still, that was fine; I was relieved to step aside.

Tang Minghao still wouldn't quiet down, howling alternately that we were beasts and devils, and then shifting to Physician Ciren and Shepherd Ciren. I felt restless and agitated. "What the hell are you screaming about!"

Then Yanzi said something very calmly: "He (Tang Minghao) is not talking nonsense, nor is he just yelling. His words are the instructions of the deity Mima Chhama." "Damn it! What time is it for deities and gods? The man is dying!" I cursed inwardly.

"What are the deity's instructions?" Xu Zhiwu, living up to his reputation as an expert in Tibetan studies, immediately adopted a respectful demeanor and asked Yanzi (Tibetans are generally easygoing; if you respect them, they will respect you. However, if you show the slightest hint of disrespect, it is quite normal for them to immediately turn hostile. As a Tibetan studies expert, how could Xu Zhiwu not know this principle?). Yanzi, who had previously seemed unwilling to deal with us, softened her haughty expression upon seeing Xu Zhiwu’s deference. "Mima Chhama wants to tell us that Physician Ciren has occupied Shepherd Ciren's body. But because neither of these two had sufficient cultivation, combined with our arrival bringing in the outside world's foul air, Shepherd Ciren's body is quickly deteriorating. If Physician Ciren does not find a suitable new body before Shepherd Ciren's body is completely ruined, he too will perish along with it."

"Then what Tang Minghao said..." Xu Zhiwu remained politely humble. "He said to switch Physician Ciren's head onto his body? Must... must we do this?"

Yanzi frowned, looking somewhat troubled, and remained silent. Xu Zhiwu quickly added, "It’s not that I don't believe Mima Chhama's words... it's just that we don't have a doctor among us to perform surgery on him."

I actually very much wanted Xu Zhiwu to ask how Physician Ciren managed to usurp the Shepherd's body, why the Shepherd's body was incorruptible, and furthermore, if they were so miraculous, how did they get from Tibet to the ancient city under Fuxian Lake in Yunnan? Also, did those cattle and sheep come with the Shepherd?