Iron Bull taucht wieder auf

Kapitel 136

He was still laughing. I hung up the phone first, stood up abruptly, and felt a surge of unease.

The sound of a car engine approached rapidly from afar, and a minute later, the sound of screeching brakes came from in front of the temple gate.

I walked quickly outside, through the quiet temple gate, and stood on the steps outside. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw strange figures moving around the temple gate, the wall, the big tree behind the wall, and the corner of a nearby pigeon coop, along with the "click-click" sound of safety bolts popping.

The prelude to the Feast at Hongmen has begun; all that's left is for the target to step into the trap.

Parked at the bottom of the steps was a black, extended Mercedes-Benz, its exterior spotless, its body constantly reflecting the gleaming sunlight. Besides the famous steering wheel emblem, a brand-new, dazzling five-star red flag was also printed on the hood.

The vehicle was not equipped with bulletproof armor, and the glass was just ordinary tempered glass with no bulletproof function. It was completely vulnerable to armor-piercing bullets from sniper rifles.

I scratched my head with a wry smile. It was quite unexpected that Sun Long would come so rashly.

The door next to the driver's seat opened, and a girl in a white leather jacket with long, flowing hair jumped out, slammed the door shut, then took a few steps back, gently opened the passenger door, and placed her hand on the top of the door frame. She had a slender waist and a delicate figure, like a budding rose; it was a pity I hadn't seen her face. Intuitively, she must be a girl with near-perfect looks; otherwise, in the highly skilled Sharpshooter Guild, Sun Long wouldn't have needed to choose her as his driver.

In that instant, her body was completely exposed to the sniper's line of sight. Even with the most perfect bulletproof vest under her leather jacket, she could not withstand the relentless penetration of the steel-core bullet.

I hurried down the steps, and Sun Long's laughter boomed out: "Feng, I'm a little late, sorry, sorry."

The moment he stepped out of the car, he instantly created a strange illusion for me. It seemed as if the temple gates, walls, and buildings all around him had suddenly shrunk, and the heavy, oppressive atmosphere inside and outside Fengge Temple had been dispelled by his kick. All of this was because of the surging, turbulent killing intent emanating from him. He was like a peerless martial arts master, whose every move exuded an invincible and awe-inspiring aura after countless exhilarating killings, leaving everyone suddenly filled with dread.

The girl in white appeared even more slender against the backdrop of Sun Long's imposing presence. She calmly closed the car door and followed behind him.

Sun Long was wearing a very ordinary Chinese-made suit, his hair was slightly messy, and he looked somewhat tired. As he looked at me, he also saw the snipers lurking with murderous intent. He snorted and raised an eyebrow, completely unconcerned.

"Feng, I've missed you so much! How are you?" He gripped my hand tightly, patting my shoulder with his left. He was nearly forty, yet his smile was as bright and sincere as that of a twenty-year-old.

He looked completely different now than he did in court. He wasn't wearing glasses or a stiff, old-fashioned tie; his shirt collar was half-open, revealing a prominent scar below his Adam's apple.

I could feel the surging passion emanating from Sun Long. Every patriot must have boundless energy and a constant burning passion in their body, and he is the most typical representative of this kind of person.

"This is Xiao He, my driver, who also serves as my private bodyguard and secretary." He pointed to the petite girl behind him, a smile on his face.

Xiao He bowed deeply to me: "I have long heard of Mr. Feng's great name. Please give me your guidance."

Her every movement was gentle and graceful, her demeanor neither humble nor arrogant, reminding me of someone—Tang Xin of the Tang Clan, the girl who mysteriously disappeared in the Egyptian desert. Both were dressed in white, but Tang Xin wore a fox fur coat while Xiao He wore a leather jacket; the cold and aloof aura they exuded was remarkably similar.

"Bringing only one person? Are you really thinking of yourself as Guan Yu, the lone hero who went to the meeting alone?" I winked wryly, signaling Sun Long to watch out for the restless snipers. There was no other way; the open space in front of the temple gate was the perfect training ground for snipers to demonstrate their one-shot kill skills.

“Yes.” Sun Long sneered, whistled easily, and ran his hand through his hair.

"Well then, you should at least have come in a car with better bulletproof performance. Recently, steel-core sniper bullets have become popular internationally, which can easily penetrate six layers of ordinary car steel plates. It's better to be careful!"

“Feng, you’re overthinking it. The Sharpshooter Society has always considered the islands of East Asia as its territory. It’s just that in recent years they’ve been busy expanding into Europe and America and haven’t had time to clear out their own sidelines. Let alone these snipers, even if the Japanese increased their manpower tenfold, I could come in laughing and leave laughing, without a scratch on my head.” As he spoke, he liked to constantly stroke the scar below his Adam’s apple with his right hand.

I shrugged, unable to continue the conversation.

"Wind, could you take me to the 'Tower of the Dead'? Old Du said, 'When you reach the summit, you will see all the mountains below.' I want to experience what it's like to climb the tower and look out into the distance, to see if I can take in the entire northern gateway to Japan and embrace it all." He laughed loudly, and the mountain wind blew hard, messing up his hair once again.

Xiaohe listened calmly, a faint smile on her face.

She wore pure white deerskin gloves, clasped together and hanging in front of her, with an air of attentive listening. For a private bodyguard, she was rather slender. Besides, what weapons could she possibly conceal in such thin, tight-fitting clothing? In my opinion, even hiding a revolver on her would be difficult.

This was a dangerous attempt, with three unarmed Chinese people finding themselves under the noses of hundreds of heavily armed and menacing Japanese special police, one of whom was their target.

As Sun Long passed through the temple gate and entered the small courtyard of the "Well of Spiritual Connection," he stopped, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply three times to the "Well of Spiritual Connection."

I saw fallen leaves floating on the water again, still resting on the edge of the pond, gently swaying with the ripples. Common sense dictates that birch leaves have a strong ability to absorb water and should sink quickly. If they continue to float, it can only mean that the undercurrent in the water is consistently flowing upwards, possessing extraordinary buoyancy.

“Underwater currents can disrupt a diver’s course, and all currents originate deep within the water source. Assuming this well is twenty meters deep, how much jet force would the water need to create rolling ripples on the surface?” I’m certain that the “Well of Spirits” is more than two hundred meters deep. You can imagine the force required to propel a jet of water from the bottom of the well to the surface—it’s practically astronomical. Even the most intense oil well blowout wouldn’t be that powerful.

I immediately took out my phone and dialed Xiao Keleng's number, hoping to tell her about my discovery. She was still at the Xunfuyuan villa and shouldn't be under the surveillance of the special police yet, but I immediately realized that the phone had no signal.

“The Japanese have launched radio jamming. It seems they’re treating you like Asia’s top terrorist this time!” I joked with Sun Long. At least the title of “top terrorist” is still held by Bin Laden, and no one can surpass it. Sun Long is at most just Asia’s top terrorist in the eyes of the Japanese.

"Is the matter that serious?" Sun Long sneered and walked straight towards the moon gate, completely unconcerned about the Japanese's treacherous tricks.

Five minutes later, we entered the courtyard of the "Tower of the Dead".

"Feng, there shouldn't be any Japanese henchmen on that tower, right? Otherwise, that would be a real disappointment!" Sun Long was very interested in the pagoda, perhaps because he had heard the story of my disappearance with Guan Baoling.

There won't be any snipers on the tower, but the courtyard walls surrounding the tower are the best hiding places, and the large open area around the tower is exactly the kind of battlefield that snipers love to fight.

Sun Long strode towards the pagoda, like an artist eager to perform on stage, impatient to stand under the bright spotlight. Xiao He followed closely behind, while I lagged behind.

There must be some connection between Fujika, Tanino Shinshu, and the woman in black who appeared in Youhuangshui County.

There seems to be some kind of mysterious agreement between the powerful figures and the ninja organization—the focus of the matter is slowly shifting to Tanino Shinshu, who has been secluded in the "Meditation Hall." What is he doing? If his scheme is also aimed at the "Wrath of the Sun God," will it conflict with the powerful figures?

“Feng—” Sun Long called to me. He had already climbed to the second floor and was waving vigorously at me from the doorway.

Approaching the "Tower of the Dead" once more, memories from inside the glass box suddenly surfaced. I had crawled out of the tower countless times, swimming around in a water-filled box. The real "Tower of the Dead" has seven floors, and the building with the glass roof and glass floor also has seven floors. Is there some strange connection between them?

I quickened my pace, entered the first floor, and went up the stairs.

The pagoda was filled with the strange smell of burning paper money, and in many places were Buddhist vajras, demon-slaying spells, and incantations, all to drive away evil spirits associated with the pagoda.

He walked all the way to the seventh floor before catching up with Sun Long and Xiao He. He was leaning on the railing, gazing into the southwest.

This was the first time I'd climbed back up the tower since escaping, and the feeling was incredibly complex, a mix of bitterness, spiciness, sourness, and sweetness. If the top of the vertical tunnel hadn't suddenly opened, I still wouldn't know where I was trapped.

The white stone railings remained cold, and I remembered Guan Baoling, a girl who had shared hardships with me. It was a pity that we would soon be separated by the ends of the earth, passing each other by in haste.

"Feng, what are you thinking about?" Sun Long turned around, his sharp, all-seeing gaze fixed on my face. His casual appearance and clothing were worlds apart from his keen and complex inner world. Perhaps he was using these unassuming clothes to conceal his brilliance, just as a martial arts master would use tattered cloth to disguise the extraordinary nature of a divine sword.

Sun Long is like a divine sword deliberately concealed, simply unwilling to reveal his true face. In this respect, he is similar to great figures, both biding their time and waiting for the opportune moment.

"I'm wondering when I'll be able to get out of this vortex?" I made no attempt to hide my worry.

Sun Long stared into my eyes, his gaze as bright as a torch in the cold winter, as if he wanted to ignite me.

I raised my chin and pointed towards Youhuangshui County to the north: "The important person is over there. There are countless gun barrels pointed at your head around this pagoda. You should know better than me how much your life is worth. Mr. Sun, to be honest, I feel that you came here not just to see me. I want to know the truth, if it's convenient."

A gust of north wind swept over, making my eyelids sting and then suddenly poured into my mouth, chilling me to the bone.

"Xiao He, tell me about the enemy's firepower deployment so that Mr. Feng can rest assured," Sun Long said with a slight smile, giving the order to Xiao He.

"The troop deployment is at a first-level combat readiness level, under medium alert. The total number of military personnel is 650, excluding the 50 royal bodyguards and the six coast guard vessels that can directly participate in the target strike. Roughly estimated, the firepower within Fengge Temple can directly and devastatingly strike helicopters and armored personnel carriers on the ground. From the start of the attack to the end of the battle, it will not exceed eleven seconds. Furthermore, the ammunition reserves are sufficient to crush four armored assault companies and two American air force offensive combat formations."

Xiaohe calmly gave her report, and the information she presented was almost exactly what I had expected.

"As if facing a formidable enemy? Isn't that right?" Sun Long sneered, made a gesture, and Xiao He immediately took out a miniature telescope, not much bigger than a cigarette box, and handed it to him.

Sun Long observed the situation to the due north through his binoculars. Half a minute later, he suddenly spoke: "Feng, how much do you know about the 'Wrath of the Sun God'? The reason I came to see you is because of it."

I remember his "sinking Japan" plan, that insanely crazy idea. Even Hitler, the madman of World War II, might not have been able to come up with such a bold design. If the plan had been implemented, its scale of destruction would have been more severe than World War I and World War II combined, and it would have almost completely rewritten the geographical landscape of Asia and the Pacific Rim.

He touched the scar again, put down his binoculars, and pondered.

“Mr. Sun, we can actually meet at Xunfu Garden, and I hope you can forget about this far-fetched plan.”

Volume Three, The Well of Spirits

Part 1: Clash of Titans

— Chapter 6 — Tensions Rise, Storm Brews —

It's fine to hate a country, but to think about completely severing its territory from the Asian continental shelf is absolutely wrong. After all, the Earth is a whole; who knows what kind of chain reaction using such destructive power would trigger?

"Feng, since the beginning of the 21st century, the most common saying among Chinese people around the world is 'Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it'—imagination is the only limit for humankind. I won't force you, but I need to tell you something: regarding 'Apollo's Wrath,' it's not just the Japanese who are eagerly trying to uncover it. According to the latest international secret information, the Americans and Indians took action two years ago. In particular, the Indian side has planted a record-breaking 300 agents in Hokkaido, exceeding the total number in history."

I shook my head: "Mr. Sun, I don't want to hear about these ever-changing international struggles..."

"Mr. Sun, look to the northeast, it's foggy!" Xiao He suddenly whispered a reminder.

We were so engrossed in our conversation that no one noticed the white mist that suddenly rose from the top of the "Meditation Hall." In just a few seconds, the mist condensed into white ribbons that swayed and drifted in the wind.

The meditation hall remained as silent as ever, exactly as it had been when I first saw this strange white house.

Sun Long raised his binoculars, glanced at it, and decisively ordered, "Xiao He, be on guard! That's a Kirigakure ninja technique; it has nothing to do with the military!"

After circling the meditation hall once, the white ribbons danced in the wind, slowly stretching into a five-meter-wide wisp of mist, aimed directly at the spot where we were standing.

“Feng, no one is forcing you to listen or do anything. My ‘Japan Sinks’ plan is just an invitation to you. To accomplish anything great, you need the strong support of like-minded friends. If it weren’t for Master Guan’s strong recommendation, I would never have extended invitations to you again and again.”

I tried to relax and smiled faintly, "Thank you, it's an honor to have you think of me."

The Hidden Mist Ninja sect distinguished itself in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, using the dense fog at sea before sunrise and after sunset to severely damage the ships of the Qing Dynasty's Beiyang Fleet, gaining fame in one battle and receiving lavish praise from the Japanese Emperor at the time. Those familiar with the history of the late Qing Dynasty would have considerable apprehension towards this sect, which was famous for its "naval warfare and cunning tactics."

Xiaohe's body was so slender, and in the information I had previously gathered about the top members of the Sharpshooter Guild, there was no mention of this girl.

I know Master Guan, and he's a household name, but I don't think I've ever met him. So why would he recommend him so highly?

"Zhang in the North, Guan in the South, each holding half the world's wealth"—this eight-character phrase describes Zhang Baisen and Guan Fuzi. One was proficient in special abilities, and the other was best at bone reading and physiognomy; both were considered semi-divine figures in the eyes of the Chinese people.

Guan Fuzi's family lineage can be traced back to Guan Ke, a diviner from the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. His research on bone reading had reached its pinnacle. Before the age of twenty, he was invited by an American research institution to move from Hong Kong to New York. The following year, his article "On the Relationship Between Human Skeletal Structure and Thought Impulses" won the American "Top Ten Outstanding Theoretical Inventions" award, receiving a prize of fifty million US dollars. For the next twenty years, he remained low-key and silent until 1997 when Sun Long took over as head of the Divine Sniper Society. He suddenly appeared by Sun Long's side and became the Society's chief strategist.

His surname was Guan, but his Chinese name has been forgotten. He was given the title "Master" because in some people's minds, his status was comparable to that of Confucius and Mencius.

"I never imagined that someone as insignificant as me would be so highly regarded by Master Guan?" I smiled bitterly, unsure whether to feel honored or unfortunate.

On a sunny day, Fengge Temple appears orderly, with all the pavilions arranged neatly. However, it suddenly loses its vitality, as if it has become a strange and eerie empty temple.

"With your arrival, I believe the entire Fengge Temple is on edge, seeing threats everywhere." I gazed towards "Youhuang Water County," and a chill ran down my spine as I recalled the ambitious scheme hidden behind the magnanimous smile of the powerful figure. Perhaps in the next second, someone would lie dead on the tower. This is the world of martial arts; every second someone falls, and more masters emerge, stirring up the waters of the martial world, creating turbulent waves.

“Feng, I know the danger of coming here. Just like when I joined the ‘Comfort Women Compensation’ lawyers’ team in 1999, danger surrounded me everywhere. Many radical groups have already spread rumors that they want to take my head, Sun Long. But I couldn’t not come, whether for the reputation of the Sharpshooter Society, the self-esteem of the Chinese people, or the image of the lawyers’ team. From America to Japan, from Sapporo Airport to this tower, the dangers I faced were no different, and I never took them to heart. What I was worried about was the confidence of all the brothers in the Sharpshooter Society. If I were to worry about my own life and death and always stay in a safe place while making my brothers fight on the front line—that would have long gone against the original intention of the ‘King of Assassination’ Senior Wang when he founded the Sharpshooter Society, wouldn’t it?”

His hand pressed heavily on the fence, his tone calm and composed.

"No one can kill me. In the martial arts world, there are more than three thousand masters who have boasted about 'killing Sun Long and massacring the Divine Gun Society,' but what about now? They all lie in the nameless cemetery, their souls returned to heaven, and they have been forgotten by the martial arts world forever. I have many good brothers who are willing to risk their lives to take bullets for me, and I will take bullets for my brothers at any time, exchanging my life for theirs."

These words, spoken with firm conviction and resounding force, were repeated verbatim on numerous occasions.

“You’re my brother too, Feng. If someone has to step up and take the bullet today, it’ll be me—” He patted my shoulder, his eyes filled with unfathomable sincerity.

"Ruthless to enemies, loyal to brothers—this is the motto of the Sharpshooter Society. We have 60 million brothers across Asia, Europe, and America, ten times the size of the Yamaguchi-gumi and twenty times the size of the Mafia. Financially, we possess over 50 billion US dollars in various currencies, industrial resources, and securities. Furthermore, we receive unconditional financial support from the world's top twenty wealthiest Chinese, with nearly 100 billion in readily available funds at our disposal 24/7."

"The Sharpshooter Society has developed to this point not for certain individuals to form cliques, seek personal gain, or become the world's leading organized crime syndicate, but to do meaningful work for the Chinese community, such as—"

I immediately followed up: "Like the 'Japan sinking' plan?"

To be honest, I never expressed support for or faith in his plan from beginning to end.

Sun Long frowned and smiled, stroking the scar forcefully. He didn't refute me, but continued in an extremely sorrowful tone: "That plan could have been abandoned, it could have remained in my filing cabinet as a dream that could never be realized. But now, whether or not to take 'The Wrath of the Sun God' is a matter of life and death, something that must be done. Otherwise, if it falls into the hands of the United States, India, and Japan, it will be the end of humanity."

Since the 1970s, India has played an aggressive role in the global arms race. In addition to massively increasing its own arms production, it has actively hosted more than a dozen international arms and aviation weapons exhibitions, gradually positioning itself as a "great power".

I remained silent, skeptical of the veracity of this information.

How can one allow others to sleep soundly beside one's bed? Once the bigwigs receive this information, they will definitely not sit idly by and allow Indian spies to operate on their territory. With a single order, they can wipe them all out, just like they did today to set up this trap.

“Feng, I don’t want to say too much. There’s another reason why I came to visit you alone today. It’s to let Hawke, Wang Shisan, and the people from the Japanese branch of the Divine Gun Society know that we are brothers, that I value you, and that you are a talented person. So, I can naturally hand over the management of the Japanese Divine Gun Society to you. Don’t rush to refuse. This is just a temporary decision. Once you get the ‘Wrath of the Sun God,’ you will still be free and can change your mind at any time.”

I shook my head: "No need to bother."

If I had decided to join one of their teams back then, I would have agreed to join Tina or James in the desert long ago. Why would I have waited until today?

This answer seemed to be exactly what he expected, and he immediately raised his eyebrows and laughed: "Feng, the world is in turmoil, and it's unwise to cling to prejudices. No one is forcing you, but I hope you can have a good talk with Xiao Xiao and recognize the current situation in Asia. I can even promise you that even if I get the 'Wrath of the Sun God,' I will never implement the 'Sinking Japan' plan—think about it, don't make any decisions so quickly."