Histoires de fantômes

Chapitre 146

From its vantage point, the view was breathtaking and unstoppable. Standing atop the tower, one could indeed see the entire layout of the meditation hall clearly.

“As long as this tower exists, all of Gu Ye Shenxiu’s formations will be exposed. But first, I need to figure out what our purpose is in breaking through the formation. Boss Zhang, to be honest, I didn’t feel any hostility from the other side, or is this just a misunderstanding? What about you? What did you feel?” Shao Hei yawned sleepily and squinted at Shao Bai.

Shao Bai shook his head and remained silent, glancing at me furtively out of the corner of his eye.

Zhang Baisen stretched out his right foot and smoothed out all the patterns on the snow. He sighed in disappointment, "Let's get out of the courtyard first. We haven't got the timing, the location, or the people. Staying here will only be a waste of our energy."

This vast, empty courtyard always gives people an indescribable sense of oppression. At least for me, every time my gaze sweeps over the top of the tower, I am reminded of that mysterious and strange encounter.

As we prepared to return to the courtyard, we had only taken a few steps back when Shao Hei suddenly threw the Emei dagger in his hand, which stuck into the snow with a snap, right in the center of the graphic that Zhang Baisen had erased.

“There’s someone there, I can feel it. He’s… he’s swimming, constantly swimming… what’s going on? I think he’s submerged in the water, diving or swimming— um, my thoughts are a bit jumbled, how could someone swim under the strange house?” He pressed his hands to his temples, closed his eyes, and frowned as he pondered.

In this highly skilled duel of supernatural abilities, Xiao Keleng couldn't offer any help and could only be an outsider spectator.

"Location, distance, depth, and thermal activity?" Shao Bai asked eagerly.

Shao Hei bit his lip and forced out a sentence: "The depth is about... seventy meters. There's not much thermal activity. I feel that the other person's breathing rate is unusually low, only... fifteen to twenty breaths per minute..." He lowered his hand, pressed his pulse point on his left wrist, and then concluded with certainty: "Sixteen breaths per minute, only sixteen breaths per minute! Can a person's breathing rate drop to this level during strenuous activity? It's extremely strange!"

We return to those paintings that no longer exist. Under normal circumstances, an adult swimming would maintain a heart rate between 120 and 180 beats per minute, not the slow limit of only 16 beats per minute. Only when an Indian yogi enters a state of "apparent death" can breathing exhibit this behavior.

"Could it be—a fish? Look more closely, what exactly are the changes in its bones when it moves? In any case, I can't believe that Gu Ye built such a strange house just to cover up the existence of an underground swimming pool!" This time, even Zhang Baisen showed an incredulous and horrified expression.

Xiao Keleng took out a booklet, flipped through a few pages, and quickly handed it to Zhang Baisen: "Master Zhang, this is the geological structure and rock strata analysis results of Muwanzhou Mountain. When the Meditation Hall was built, there were no naturally formed rock fissures or deep wells below, and the rock strata on the mountaintop are exceptionally complex. To think that a swimming pool could be dug seventy meters below the ground is simply a pipe dream."

Shao Hei's remote sensing ability was once listed in the Guinness World Records, and he still holds the super records for blindness and guessing objects from a distance, which is why everyone believes what he says.

"It's not a fish. The human body generates dozens of times more heat than a fish, and its swimming style is completely different. It's a person, a man with all four limbs intact—" Shao Hei suddenly screamed, his body swaying as he almost fell onto the snow.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Baisen quickly helped him up.

"That person... that person's speed suddenly increased countless times, and he moved vertically upwards forty meters in an instant! My God! In less than a second, how did he do that?" Shao Hei pressed his temples hard, his facial features contorting in shock.

Shao Bai kicked at the snow at his feet in frustration, sighing repeatedly. His displeasure was clearly written all over his face after Zhang Baisen rejected the suggestion of a violent attack.

A sudden ascent of forty meters is not difficult to achieve even at high speeds, like an elevator. However, there's no elevator beneath the meditation hall, only bare rocks.

“A strange person with a special identity, or rather, a hidden genius—” Shao Hei lowered his hand, opened his eyes, bent down to pull out the Emei dagger, and sighed with relief. No one could give a reasonable explanation for what he sensed, unless they could go into the meditation hall to see for themselves.

Zhang Baisen silently led the way toward the moon gate. We need a quiet environment to sit down and have a proper discussion about our views on the meditation hall.

After passing through the moon gate, go through a long corridor with three sides covered by withered ivy branches, and turn onto a slightly wider stone path. From here, keep going west, and you will return to the courtyard.

Suddenly, Shao Bai and Shao Hei both raised their hands and scratched their hair, asking loudly, "What? What happened? What did I just do?" They stopped at the same time, groping their faces in confusion, as if waking from a dream.

Zhang Baisen urged in a low voice, "Everyone, hurry up and go. Whatever it is, we'll talk about it when we get back. Stay calm!" He strode ahead, with Shao Bai and Shao Hei following closely behind, and Xiao Keleng and I bringing up the rear.

"When Mr. Sun Long left Hokkaido, he made a special trip to Xunfuyuan to make arrangements, instructing Mr. Hawke, Brother Thirteen, and all the brothers to obey your orders from now on. Hawke, in particular, who just returned from the United States, is very prominent among the middle and upper-level leaders of the Sharpshooter Society. Since Mr. Sun Long has even included him in your management scope, it shows how much he values you."

Xiao Keleng gave me a brief overview of the situation at Xunfuyuan, occasionally revealing a hint of worry. Wang Jiangnan and his group were used to being arrogant and unruly; aside from obeying Sun Long, they never took anyone seriously. She was worried about whether I could manage these people, but that was an overreaction.

“I’ll call them directly if anything happens. Keep a close eye on Xunfuyuan these next few days. Have everyone work hard and be on high alert, especially watch out for the ‘Black Angel’ thieves. They should even sleep with one eye open.” I was worried that the sudden appearance of the plague would reignite a conflict between South Koreans that had taken place in Hokkaido.

Back in the courtyard, Zhang Baisen led the way into my room, carefully closing the door before letting out a long sigh: "Apart from Miss Xiao, the rest of us were all hypnotized to varying degrees. That person is an absolute master, capable of fighting five people at once, and subtly trapping them without them even realizing it. It seems he knows quite a bit about us; at least from the start, he targeted each person's weaknesses with great precision—"

He pointed at Shao Bai: "Especially you, you're too petty about gains and losses. What you said to Feng was extremely disrespectful, and it even involved unrelated people. If these words reach the ears of the tycoon, you'll be in big trouble."

Shao Bai smiled awkwardly and walked up to me, bowing deeply in apology: "Mr. Feng, I'm so sorry. Outside the meditation hall, I really couldn't control my thoughts. It was as if my mouth wasn't my own anymore, and many words just came out involuntarily. Please forgive me if I offended you."

I smiled, and that was the end of that. If I couldn't successfully remove the tooth pupa curse from Guan Baoling, I'd really deserve to be called an idiot and a moron.

In the next room, Guan Baoling was singing softly, her voice deep and melancholic.

“Master Zhang, I would like to ask you to help break the curse of the Fang Demon that Miss Guan is under. As for Tanino Shinshu, if he is not a direct adversary, we can put that aside for now.”

Part Two: Ancient Temple Under the Dark Night

— Chapter 7 - The Strange Well Beneath the Strange House (Part 1) —

Zhang Baisen's square face was gloomy. He had changed out of the gray Tang suit embroidered with golden dragons that he had worn before, and was now wearing just an ordinary gray suit.

"To break the Fang Cocoon, we must kill the Fang Demon. Once it's dead, all the curses that haven't yet materialized will vanish. Feng, this is a rather troublesome matter. If you don't mind, it would be wise to inform the Tycoon first and invite more experts to help. The Tycoon's influence is unmatched in the Asian continent. What do you think?"

He sat wearily in the chair, as if the tentative battle in front of the meditation hall had exhausted all his strength.

Shao Hei leaned against the door, his brows furrowed, and suddenly interjected, "Feng, you said that Miss Guan's painting skills are exceptional. Could I give it a try?"

Shao Bai quickly interrupted him: "Second brother, don't waste your time. Let whatever's in the house be! We'd better stay out of this and not lose our lives here. Don't you remember the divination we did together during the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

His face turned very ugly, but he was too embarrassed to lash out immediately in front of everyone.

"Brother, I just want to express what I just sensed. It was a person, not a fish, and certainly not some kind of mechanical device. Sigh, I really want to know what kind of force could make it rise forty meters in an instant. Although we are revered as 'celestial beings' by the Americans, we know very well that the world is vast and profound, and each person only understands a small part of it. Aren't you curious about what happened in that strange house?"

Shao Bai shouted without any politeness, "People will die, you know that?! 'Stop when encountering water, die when encountering a god, be trapped when encountering wind, bewildered when encountering a demon'—that divination refers to today's predicament. I've decided, I'm booking a plane ticket back tomorrow. I can't control these things, and I don't want to!"

He rushed up to Shao Hei, his neck stiff, and glared fiercely at his brother.

Just as a doctor cannot heal himself, a fortune teller cannot use supernatural methods to predict his own future, because any scientific and rational method immediately loses its standard of judgment once it involves oneself.

Shao Bai was extremely agitated; his messy hair at the back of his head almost stood on end, and he raised his arms high, like a frenzied monster.

Guan Baoling's singing stopped, and I heard the door open as she quietly walked into the courtyard.

“Brother, I want to do what I love, instead of just being content with the status quo. Our ancestral teachings say, ‘One is never too old to learn, and the mysteries of the universe are endless.’ Last time we helped the Americans, didn’t you readily accept and do an excellent job? Don’t worry, I won’t infringe on the privacy of other factions. I’ll just draw out what I perceive and give it to Boss Zhang. Is that alright?”

Shao Hei grinned bitterly, revealing his yellowed and broken teeth. His skin was already dark, but in his extreme depression, it became even more horribly gloomy, like a blackfish caught in a fishing net.

"You've forgotten another part of our ancestral teachings—'Heavenly secrets must not be revealed,' and 'There are always people more powerful than you, and heavens beyond heavens.' Now that you understand how powerful our opponent is, why go against fate? I am your brother, your only relative in this world, the only one who will not harm or scheme against you. Listen to my advice, let's leave together tomorrow and completely forget about this, okay?" Shao Bai lowered his voice, his attitude shifting from fury to gentleness.

As a renowned and orthodox school of Zhouyi divination, the Shao family has many ancestral precepts, reportedly more than three hundred, which make detailed regulations on almost every aspect of their disciples' lives, including clothing, food, housing, transportation, sitting, standing, and walking.

Shao Bai treated me terribly, but now, facing Shao Hei, the deep brotherhood between us is on full display.

Xiao Keleng could only manage a bitter smile, unable to get a word in edgewise, standing by the table with a bewildered expression.

"What exactly did Tanino Shinshu arrange in that strange house? Could it also be related to exploring the 'Underwater Tomb'? What kind of strange person can move through the water at high speed like an enraged swordfish?" The many questions in my mind slowly became tangled and knotted.

Zhang Baisen, Shao Bai, and Shao Hei, as the three top masters on the Chinese list of extraordinary individuals, had already lost a move before even having a proper face-to-face fight with Gu Ye Shenxiu, which was truly frustrating.

"I've had enough of this peaceful, uneventful life, brother. I want to challenge them. Taniguchi Shinshu's Japanese escape techniques aren't without flaws. Give me enough time to break through the Eight-Sided Heavenly Net and completely shatter the Japanese confidence. You know, from the very first day I officially began my apprenticeship and ventured into the martial world, I've been looking forward to this challenge. Even if I die, it will be a perfect ending to my life, not like those pretentious fate hunters in the martial world, hiding in seclusion, living only for face and empty fame. Let me try—"

Shao Hei extended his right hand and placed it on Shao Bai's shoulder, his eyes growing increasingly determined.

Shao Bai sighed helplessly, "I've said everything I needed to say."

The sunlight shone on the two tall, thin, and eccentric figures from the martial arts world, making them look like two tragic actors under a spotlight, exuding a desolate and sorrowful aura.

"Feng, I'd like to speak with Miss Guan and borrow her skillful pen to express my thoughts. Perhaps it will be helpful for what we're about to do!"

Shao Hei's expression turned extremely serious, and everyone could hear Guan Baoling pacing in the courtyard. No one cared about her status as a top star in the entertainment industry anymore; what everyone wanted to know most was what Shao Hei had sensed remotely.

I stood up and said, "Mr. Shao, I'll go talk to Ms. Guan right away."

The other three men's eyes all fell on me. Zhang Baisen and Shao Bai's eyes were slightly uneasy, while Xiao Keleng's expression was the most complicated. She kept raising her hand to stroke her short hair, like an ant on a hot pan, overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Shao Hei grinned self-deprecatingly: "The crisis lurking beneath the strange house is about to expand to an infinite extent—when the crisis erupts, even we might not be able to save our lives. This time, we have no choice but to fight! Miss Guan will be fine, at least until all thirty-three tooth marks appear. Moreover, I guarantee that I will not harm her when I use the 'Mind Communication Technique,' so please rest assured."

Shao Hei patted his chest lightly and solemnly made a promise to me.

Half an hour later, drawing pencils and a large stack of white paper were prepared in Guan Baoling's room. There were more than a hundred sheets of paper, enough to draw for three days and three nights.

The bright red teeth marks under Guan Baoling's earlobes were very conspicuous. Every time she unintentionally tossed her hair, it sent chills down my spine. Tomorrow morning, there would be two teeth marks, arranged one after another along the bottom of her neck, gradually forming a bizarre collar made of teeth.

Fortunately, she was unaware of this and felt honored to be able to use her talents to help these martial arts masters: "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

She didn't look at me when she said that, but I knew she was talking to me.

Outside the door, the snow was gradually melting, and water dripped continuously from the eaves.

Shao Bai scratched his hair vigorously, fidgeting and making everyone's mood uneasy.

Xiao Keleng approached me and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Feng, would you like to call Sister Su Lun now?" She took out a brand new Nokia phone, skillfully removed the plastic sleeve, and installed the SIM card.

My phone is still inside that mysterious glass box. Suddenly, a thought struck me: if someone else were to fall into that mysterious space and find their lost phone, they would surely be astonished, thinking it was an alien relic from some era. So, could we conclude that "the 'compass' discovered by Suren might simply have been left behind by explorers in an underground palace, its origins completely unremarkable"?

Of course, all of this is based on the theory that the mysterious Epang Palace actually exists—another discovery that has astonished historians worldwide. Poor modern people have already blamed Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King, for burning down the Epang Palace, but now, in the 21st century, it has miraculously reappeared.

I left Guan Baoling's room. The air after the snow was crisp and pure, which was invigorating.

I should definitely make that call, but not to Su Lun, but to the tycoon. I don't want Guan Baoling to leave like this; even if something unfortunate happens to her, it has to happen within my sight.

I dialed the tycoon's number, expecting one of his dozen or so young female secretaries to answer, but to my surprise, it was his own voice: "Hello, who is this?"

I was taken aback for a moment, then quickly introduced myself: "I am Feng, Mr. Ye, do you remember me?"

The tycoon chuckled knowingly, "I remember, of course I remember."

"I'd like to talk to you about Miss Guan's matter. Could you spare me twenty minutes?" I could only get straight to the point. The matter of Guan Baoling being cursed couldn't be kept secret forever. The sooner I revealed it to the tycoon, the easier it would be to handle.

"Twenty minutes? No problem, I'm on my way to Fengge Temple, I'll be there in half an hour. I can give you the whole afternoon, I know exactly what you want to say, sigh—" He sighed, his voice devoid of his usual domineering arrogance, only revealing the vicissitudes of aging.

I was startled. Arriving in half an hour? Instinctively, I looked up at the southern sky, confident that the tycoon's private helicopter would soon roar into view.

"Okay, see you in half an hour, I'll be waiting for you." I had just hung up the phone when Zhang Baisen strode out in a hurry, his phone ringing loudly.

"It's the tycoon! Something big must have happened again!" He briefly explained to me before answering the phone.

Shao Bai and Xiao Keleng also came out, closed the door behind them, leaving only Shao Hei and Guan Baoling inside.

Xiao Ke's brows furrowed into an exaggerated, distorted "川" shape, his fists clenched, and he sighed repeatedly: "Mr. Feng, things are a bit... strange. Below the meditation hall is a bottomless abyss. If—what Mr. Shao Hei said is entirely true, my God! This will be the most shocking secret in Fengge Temple, and it will definitely be on par with the 'Underwater Divine Tomb' in the future!"

Shao Bai held three sheets of paper in his hand, covered with messy pencil lines, and kept flipping through them.

Part Two: Ancient Temple Under the Dark Night

— Chapter 7 - The Strange Well Beneath the Strange House (Part 2) —

I opened my room door and invited them in.

Shao Bai threw the paper on the bed, slumped into a chair, and buried his head in his hands, revealing a pained and confused expression.

The three sheets of paper, when viewed vertically, form a complete picture. At the very top is the strange house, with the words "Meditation Hall" hastily written beside it. Below the horizon, except for a very shallow foundation, everything transforms into a huge, dome-shaped space that extends all the way to the very bottom of the three sheets of paper.

Based on the scale, the cross-sectional dimensions of the house are no more than ten meters, but the depth of the dome-shaped space is at least one hundred meters, and the width of the cross-section is definitely more than sixty meters. This space is filled with wavy lines representing flowing water, while the small square representing the strange house hangs alone at the top of the picture, like a small boat on a vast ocean.

No wonder Xiao Ke was shocked. Shao Hei's mental detection results proved that there was a huge "well" under the meditation hall, even more astonishing in scale than the "Well of Spirit Communication".

“Look at the bottom of the painting, there’s an arrow pointing to it—Mr. Feng, no matter what, I can’t believe that there’s a second well on Muwanzhou Mountain, and that its depth and width extend infinitely until… until it merges with the sea.” Xiao Ke looked down at the ground, his meaning clear: if this painting is real, then the ground beneath our feet, and even the ground beneath all of Fengge Temple, has been swallowed up by this strange well.

I noticed the black arrow with the small print that read "Depth approximately 400 to 600 meters".

"What does this mean?" Xiao Keleng couldn't suppress her surprise. Should she believe Shao Hei's remote sensing or the academic data from the previous special page's detection team? Clearly, the latter's extensive and rigorous scientific data was more convincing.

"You'd better believe the second brother's words one hundred percent. This time, he has pushed all his potential to the limit, and it may be his last move." Shao Bai's face was so gloomy that it looked like it could squeeze out cold ice water.

Xiao Keleng gave a wry smile, while I hoped the next painting would offer a more reasonable explanation. Guan Baoling's painting skills had left a deep impression on me; she could depict scenes she had experienced almost flawlessly. I hoped that this time, she could express Shao Hei's thoughts and feelings, living up to everyone's expectations.

After finishing his call, Zhang Baisen stood silently at the door.