Iron Bull taucht wieder auf

Kapitel 285

"I understand, thank you for your kindness." Gu Qingcheng shifted her feet and slid over from the edge of the passageway, standing steadily in front of me.

I smiled and nodded: "I'm fine, how about you?"

In front of others, she was always reserved, noble, elegant, and proper, never showing excessive enthusiasm for me, but the tender affection flowing deep in her eyes was clearly revealed to me.

Yesak snorted, expressing his undisguised dissatisfaction, but Gu Qingcheng ignored him, her gaze fixed on me, and silently lip-read, "I'm very worried about you."

A wave of emotion washed over me, but instead of responding to her understandingly, I slowly took a step back, turned my face, and looked at the man in his sixties who was embracing Suren.

I've seen photos of Goro Kanan in many media outlets, but they all depict him as flat and silent. When he actually stood in front of me, his imposing presence, which commanded respect without uttering a single word, was like a giant net, enveloping everyone.

Gu Qingcheng sighed softly, "I waited for reinforcements on the cliff, and only rushed over after Master Guan Nan Wulang arrived. You won't blame me for being late, will you? There are so many corpses lying haphazardly on the snow outside, which really worried me."

"A corpse? A headless corpse?" I asked in surprise.

She nodded: "Yes, in an empty courtyard, there are at least twenty corpses, their deaths extremely gruesome. Also, outside there are large areas of strangely shaped small buildings, which at first glance look like a Qimen Dunjia formation, but most of them have been destroyed and are unrecognizable."

My thoughts immediately became extremely chaotic, because the passageway was behind a mirror, and Suren only saw me by passing through the mirror. Logically, the passageway should lead to the world she experienced, not Alpha's territory. Gu Qingcheng's description was precisely the location of Alpha's fierce battles with the Earth God, which was completely opposite to Suren's experience.

She stepped aside to make way for her: "Do you want to go out and take a look?"

I lowered my head, walked past Suren, and hurried toward the cave entrance. The group behind Guan Nanwu silently cleared a path, disappearing into the darkness without a sound.

The reason I didn't run out immediately is because I know that no matter what the outside environment is like, it doesn't prove anything. Everything I'm experiencing now is completely illogical.

I didn't expect Gu Qingcheng to follow me all the way. Just as we were about to leave the cave, she caught up with me: "Feng, what happened? You've already found Miss Su Lun, so why are you still so gloomy?"

The concern on her face made me even more uneasy, so I could only give a perfunctory reply: "It's nothing."

My heart belongs only to Su Lun. After our brief separation and reunion, I became even more cautious, lest I displease her. To be honest, Gu Qingcheng's looks and interpersonal skills are no less than Su Lun's, and in some aspects, she may even surpass her. Therefore, I must avoid getting too close to Gu Qingcheng.

"You've found what you want. The next step is to keep your promise and help me achieve my goal," she changed the subject, walking slowly beside me.

At the end of the passageway was actually the cave where the sealed gate was located, but the metal door I saw from the outside was twisted beyond recognition and left outside the cave, like an abandoned Impressionist artwork.

Looking west, small buildings and broken bricks and tiles are interspersed, a scene of chaos and desolation after the catastrophe.

"The empty courtyard is just ahead, shall we go and take a look?" Gu Qingcheng pointed westward.

I slowly shook my head: "No need, I want to be alone. Miss Gu, the 'Asian Gear' is at the other end of the passage, but I didn't see any peerless ancient zither. Perhaps you should go there to search for it soon, lest the treasure fall into someone else's hands and we have to spend money to redeem it."

After finding Suren and escaping danger, the tension in my heart suddenly eased, and I was immediately exhausted, both physically and mentally. I wished I could find a secluded place to sleep for three days and three nights straight, refusing to be disturbed by anyone.

Gu Qingcheng smiled and said, "Okay, take care of yourself. I'm going now." She turned around and walked back to the corridor without stopping. She didn't deliberately linger with me, which made me feel a little lost. I kicked the broken door and sighed heavily.

From the cave entrance to the empty courtyard, the jumbled footprints in the snow indicated that there were twenty-one people in the group. They came from west to east in a straight line without any detours or side paths, which showed that their goal was very clear: to reach the cave where the sealed gate was located.

I returned to the empty courtyard. The corpse lay motionless beside the ley line exit, half-covered by snow, making it appear even more desolate and chilling. Looking down from the wellhead, there was nothing but eerie darkness.

"What about the sea of fire that swallowed the aircraft and the tiger?" I smiled bitterly. Everything I had experienced felt like a dream, but it was the most bizarre nightmare I could ever imagine.

Returning to the small building via the original route, I crawled through the hole in the broken wall, but could no longer find the black hole that led to the aircraft. In other words, I couldn't convince anyone that I had entered the "Asian Gear" from here; there was no witness to the entire process, nor any credible evidence.

The only saving grace was that Suren returned unharmed, finally bringing their journey to the southwestern frontier to a perfect close. So many people died, so much had happened, and now, finally, dawn had broken and the dream had ended—shouldn't that be something to celebrate?

I paused in front of the cave, pondering for a long time, before deciding to re-enter the passageway. At this moment, I should be with Suren; no matter what happens, I must rush to her side to protect her. The thought of Yesak's cunning smile sent a chill down my spine again, like someone about to go to bed discovering a chilling python lurking beneath the covers.

"A snake? Why does Yesack, known as the 'Eagle of Lake Ontario,' always seem so hostile?" Recalling his background, everything seemed fine, so I put those feelings aside. After our brief exchange, I knew his martial arts foundation was solid; he wouldn't pose much of a threat to me.

Too many unexpected events have made me exceptionally sensitive, and I've become more cautious with every move I make. When the tiger fell, I was also on the verge of death; if I had taken just one more step, our fates would have been the same.

"Brother Feng?" Suren rushed out to greet me, a worried yet happy smile on her face. "Master wants to see you. He's heard a lot about you from Yan Xun and Xiao Keleng, so—"

When she saw the scenery outside the cave, she was stunned.

I stood quietly beside her, not daring to disturb her. A few minutes later, the smile on her face vanished completely: "Brother Feng, in my memory, there should be an exceptionally exquisite and standard Qin Dynasty palace wall here, with pavilions and terraces in perfect order, and lush moss growing in the corners. A few hundred meters ahead, there should be a tall building resembling a moon-viewing platform, with white marble railings carved with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns... But where are they now? And where are Reese and Sun Gui?"

Gu Qingcheng stood about ten steps away in the passageway, her face hidden in the darkness, only her delicate feet visible. I had reason to suspect that she was eavesdropping on my conversation with Su Lun.

Suren covered her face, quickly calming down: "I understand. That mirror can lead to different worlds. By extension, there are countless portals behind the mirror, which probably open and close randomly under the control of time. Brother Feng, let's go. No matter what happens in the future, as long as we are together, there will be no more fear."

As expected of Guan Nan Wulang's disciple, her tension lasted for less than five minutes before she completely regained her composure and was able to make her own judgment.

I led her by the hand into the passageway, doing it on purpose for Gu Qingcheng to see, so that the other party would give up.

Actually, I'm still worried about something else: the illusion demon sealed within the crystal. Even Alpha said that when the sealing energy rapidly weakens, the illusion demon can suddenly awaken. When he fought the great god Tu Liehan, the illusion demon once rammed into the sealing gate, causing the mountains to tremble.

"Protect Suren no matter what" is now my only principle in doing things, and the only choice I make in any situation where there are disagreements.

As they passed the large crystal again, Suren looked down at the shadows on the ground and asked worriedly, "Brother Feng, don't you have any feeling about the resurgence of the Illusion Demon?"

I don't know how to answer. Perhaps I should say this: "The resurgence of the illusion demon is absolute, but the timing of its resurgence is relative." Therefore, we cannot linger here.

“You two don’t need to worry. This time, Master Guan Nan Wulang is leading seventeen Qi Refining experts from the Azure Dragon Society. They can gather the explosive energy of more than five Hiroshima atomic bombs. Even if something unexpected happens, they can handle it completely.” Gu Qingcheng interjected as she followed behind us.

It's truly unexpected that she and Guan Nan Wulang would get involved with the Qinglong Society.

Su Lun gently pinched my fingers, signaling me to be quiet and continue listening to Gu Qingcheng.

“Mr. Feng, the Azure Dragon Society is not the evil organization that is rumored to exist, so I hope you can set aside your prejudices. If they hadn’t worked together to open that metal door, you two would still be imprisoned in the passageway, wouldn’t you? My cooperation with Master Guan Nan Wulang has just begun. He will help me find the whereabouts of that peerless zither. Any accidents will be eliminated by the Seventeen Qi Refiners, allowing all plans to proceed as scheduled.”

Her voice was always proud and calm, every word was clearly enunciated and full of energy.

The seventeen Qi cultivators of the Azure Dragon Society come from all corners of the world. I only know that nine of them are from Tibet, Outer Mongolia, Iceland, Montenegro, Mexico, and other places. The whereabouts of the other eight are elusive, and their identities are shrouded in mystery; there is no information about them at all. According to rumors in the martial arts world, when they combine their powers, they can produce miraculous effects such as summoning wind and rain and lightning, much like the "celestial immortals" in ancient unofficial histories.

"Is Miss Gu also a master of the Azure Dragon Society?" Su Lun smiled faintly and moved closer to me.

"I have no such honor. Your master, Master Guan Nan Wulang, was the mastermind behind this operation. Miss Su Lun, you know better than anyone that Master Guan Nan Wulang's pursuit of the 'Asian Gear' surpasses that of any other organization in the world. That's why even the Azure Dragon Society relies on him. As for me, I'm just a small-time businessman out of the game, here simply to find a good zither—"

The exchange between the two beautiful girls was devoid of any swordplay, yet every word they uttered carried profound meaning.

"What a coincidence! I happened to see a strange guqin in a certain place. It had no name, and its quality, materials, and strings weren't particularly valuable. However, the rosewood table on which it was placed was supported by sixteen other famous guqin. As far as I know, those sixteen guqin are worth over a hundred million US dollars combined, and they are all listed treasures on the Global Musical Instrument Alliance's ranking list. Furthermore, the incense burner on the stone table to one side of the music room was also made from a repurposed famous guqin; and the playing stool was crafted from pieces disassembled from the finest materials of the guqin—"

Suren linked arms with me, and we strolled leisurely through the dark passageway.

"Sixteen famous zithers? What are their names?" Gu Qingcheng pressed. She was a passionate lover of the zither, and her spirits would immediately lift at the mention of anything related to it.

"Guan Guan, Jujiu, Zaihe, Zhizhou, Yaotiao, Shunu, Junzi, Haoqiu—these eight names are engraved on the tail of the zither, in pairs. The incense holder is named 'Zisu Jiaowei,' and the stool seems to be one of three stands: 'Qiuhuang,' 'Fengming,' and 'Chutai.' Actually, these aren't particularly valuable. The key is a Wu silk handkerchief hanging on the wall of the zither room, embroidered with a musical score in seven-colored threads, titled 'Kuai Zai Cifeng.' Miss Gu, you are a renowned guqin master in Asia; you must be extremely familiar with these things. There's no need for me to embarrass myself further, is there?"

Su Lun rattled off so many famous instruments in one breath that Gu Qingcheng was stunned. She slowly stopped and stopped moving forward.

We had walked about twenty steps when Su Lun turned around and chuckled, "Brother Feng, look what's wrong with Miss Gu? She's standing on that big crystal, looking completely lost."

The crystal surface reflected a faint red light, illuminating the white trench coat Gu Qingcheng was wearing. She was looking down, one hand on the stone wall to her left, her expression very focused.

"Miss Gu? What's wrong?" Su Lun had already gained the upper hand in terms of momentum, but she wasn't overly flamboyant.

Gu Qingcheng looked up nervously: "It's nothing, nothing. The flame in the crystal is really strange. I thought it could jump freely! This world is so wonderful—Miss Su Lun, where is that guqin? Could you take me to see it?"

I guessed that Suren was describing something from the "third Epang Palace," and sure enough, she replied leisurely, "It's behind an ancient mirror. If I have the chance, I'll definitely take you there."

Gu Qingcheng abandoned her observation and continued forward, but secretly sighed, filled with disappointment.

The three of us stepped out of the cave. Yesak had already climbed to the very top of the mechanical structure, holding a small military telescope and peering into the deep well.

"Master, Master—" Suren called out to Guan Nan Wulang, who stood solemnly before the gears, and ran over to him with cheerful steps, taking his arm. He slowly turned around, like a machine of the utmost precision, his movements smooth and flawless, his bright eyes fixed on my face.

I met his gaze calmly and walked quickly over.

"Wind?" He only said one word, his two thick black eyebrows raised, and he continued to scrutinize my face.

"Yes, I have long admired Master Guan Nan Wulang." I grasped his outstretched hand.

When Scalpel was alive, he mentioned Kanan Goro to me more than once, and never hid his admiration for him. Influenced by him, I have always regarded him as a kind and approachable elder and a trustworthy mentor.

"Yan Xun, Xiao Keleng, Xiao Yan, Sun Long, and Da Heng have all mentioned you to me, and of course, the scalpel itself. These are all arrogant and eccentric individuals. If only one person praised you, that would be one thing, but every single one of them so confidently told me that you are remarkable. So, whether it's hearsay or just echoing others, I wanted to see you with my own eyes. Now, I have seen you, and I believe their judgment is correct. Young man, the future belongs to you. I feel very reassured with Su Lun by your side—"

When he smiled, the "Seven Treasures Embracing the Mountain" pattern across his brow gradually unfolded, like a delicate folding fan held in a scholar's hand, slowly opening, free and unrestrained, carrying an indescribable air of nobility.

I released his hand and humbly bowed my head: "Thank you for your kind words, Master. The scalpel once told me that when I see you in the future, I must respectfully perform the disciple's rites and listen to your teachings."

His hands felt steady and dry, and contained a circulating flow of true energy. In those few seconds, I touched the "Heaven, Earth, and Man" lines on his palm, which clearly formed a "dragon roaming the world" pattern. Each line was clear and deep, a rare imperial sign seen in palm lines.

“Feng, you seem to have realized something—but don’t worry about it. Fate is in the hands of heaven, not in our own hands. Even the best physiognomy, divination, and palm techniques will not amount to much without the right timing and circumstances, like the harmony of literature and martial arts, and the balance of water and fire, right?”

He stood with his hands behind his back, smiling confidently, his snow-white Italian suit gleaming silver alongside the spinning gears. Even though he had just walked through the ruins outside, his expensive European-style leather shoes remained spotless; only by constantly employing the "walking without leaving a trace" technique could he achieve such dust-proof effect.

I nodded, realizing that he could see through any small movement I made, so I calmly took a step back and nodded respectfully.

"Suren, you deserve the most credit for our successful entry into the world of 'Asian Gear' this time. What reward do you want? Just tell me when you've thought it through. As long as it's not about reaching for the stars and the moon, your master will definitely do it for you." He turned around and smiled at Suren, like a loving father looking at his beloved daughter.

Suren shook his head and answered loudly, "Master, this disciple doesn't want anything."

After encountering me, seeing Senior Brother Yesak, and Master Guan Nan Wulang, she was overjoyed beyond words. She completely shed her usual calm and composed "pretend adult" facade and transformed back into a chattering little girl, a stark contrast to Gu Qingcheng's silent waiting.

Gu Qingcheng was ignored, remaining standing silently about ten steps behind me.

Beside her, a strange-looking hunchbacked old man had appeared out of nowhere. He wore an ill-fitting gray suit, and his hair and beard were a mess, making him look quite disheveled. On his back was a similarly gray wooden box, about one and a half meters long and half a meter wide, which looked heavy and whose contents were unknown.

When he noticed me staring at him, he immediately blinked and put on a fawning smile.

"Master, may we begin?" Gu Qingcheng waited until Su Lun had finished laughing before respectfully bowing to Guan Nan Wulang and asking for permission.

The old man responded by taking the box off his back and carefully placing it flat on the ground.

Guan Nanwulang waved his hand: "No, let's wait a bit longer. We'll start after Yesak has determined the frequency of the earth's vein fluctuations. Miss Gu, I will definitely keep my promise to you. There's no need to rush, right?"

On his right index and ring fingers, he wore two brilliant platinum rings that shimmered with light as his hand moved.

According to media reports, he is nearly seventy years old, but his demeanor and presence make him look only in his early fifties. Especially when he gazes at someone, his piercing eyes seem to see through every pore of that person, as if capable of splitting mountains and splitting rocks. Even a powerful figure like Guan Nan Wulang, a master of martial arts, speaks highly of him; it's clear that the man before me is truly a master among masters.

“Feng, how about we take a walk on top of the mechanical body?” He beckoned to me, the lines on his palm lighting up, but then he quickly closed them again.

I naturally had no choice but to obey. A person like him standing here was like a sun suddenly falling from a constellation of stars. No starlight could rival the sun's brilliance; all of them paled in comparison.

The metal staircase was extremely long, and he climbed it leisurely, his toes barely touching the ground, floating lightly without making a sound.

"Feng, what do you know about the 'Asian Gear'?" he asked casually, his gaze fixed on the summit.

I answered seriously, "I have read most of the works from Europe and America, and I have read your dozen or so books two or three times." During the latter half of my university years, I was doing research on "The Centuries" and did not pay special attention to "Asian Gears," so my knowledge of it was still limited to the superficial.

"So, what about your brother? Did he say anything?" He smiled, his chin slightly raised.

I was taken aback: "My brother?"

He continued, "Don't be surprised. When Scalpel went to Hokkaido, he detoured through Kansai and consulted me about some things. So, I've carefully analyzed the mysterious disappearance of 'King of Tomb Raiders' Yang Tian. Feng, from the time I started learning my craft until today, Yang Tian is the only person I truly admire. If there's an opportunity, I'd be happy to help you with something. Don't worry, I'll keep this a secret. Call me whenever you need me—"

I nodded vigorously: "Yes, definitely, definitely."

Previously, only the scalpel and Suren were the people in this world who knew my true identity. Now, with the addition of Guan Nan Wulang, this extraordinary person of our time, I feel a warmth in my heart, as if I have been exposed to the winter sun of the Aegean Sea.

It's not difficult for someone with exceptional lightness skills to achieve "walking on snow without leaving a trace," but what's truly difficult is maintaining a state of constant levitation, like Guan Nan Wulang. Some martial arts texts mention that when one's lightness skills reach the level of "ascending to heaven in broad daylight, a blue rainbow piercing the brain," one will forever overcome gravity and become an Earthling capable of levitation at will. Undoubtedly, Guan Nan Wulang has achieved this.

We walked all the way to the top, where Yesak stood steadily at the edge of the well, holding a steel cable as thick as a finger, looking down. One end of the cable must have been attached to a heavy instrument, taut and straight, with a weight of at least thirty kilograms attached to the bottom.

"How is it? Is most of the gears strangely accelerating?" Guan Nan Wulang strode up and patted Yesak on the shoulder. The latter was nearly two heads taller than him, but his aura was far inferior, making him look like a silly, skinny boy.

"Yes, Master, we've come at just the right time. According to your acceleration calculation formula, when the rotation speed exceeds 300 revolutions per second, the mechanical body is close to the point of collapse. Of course, it will continue to accelerate, and the critical point for collapse is expected to be between 400 and 500 revolutions per second."