Iron Bull taucht wieder auf

Kapitel 138

I looked at the door and couldn't help but smile wryly: "Mermaid lungs? Do I also need to cultivate that kind of superpower?"

When I first heard that my elder brother Yang Tian had become a merman, I was indeed extremely excited, but I've calmed down now. My brother's martial arts skills and wisdom far surpass those of ordinary people. If he really became a merman, he must have his own reasons, so there's no need for others to make a fuss. Besides, such a major event can't be taken as fact simply based on a single statement from a powerful figure.

The Meditation Hall stands alone here, its solitary, towering presence resembling a miniature "Tower of the Dead." I turned southwest, passing through a single tower gate. My view was blocked by pavilions and courtyard walls, but I knew that beyond that, the pitch-black town of Shentou lay ahead.

One person's strength is always too insignificant, especially since Suren is determined to return to the Sichuan-Tibet border to complete his search for the Epang Palace. I have almost no manpower that I can readily mobilize.

I withdrew from the defensive perimeter of the meditation hall, filled with even more doubts about the mysterious Tanino Shinshu. Recalling Tanino Shinshu's confident statement that he was "immortal," with an expression like a devout believer kowtowing before Buddha, he said he had swallowed the relics of a high-ranking monk in the "Tower of the Dead." So, where do relics go after a person dies?

"Never to die? Who can truly live forever? Perhaps that's just a mythical legend?"

In his quest for the elixir of immortality, Qin Shi Huang dispatched over a dozen expeditions across the sea to search for the mythical islands of immortality, all to no avail, leaving him only as a laughingstock in history. This proves that those who most believe in their own immortality die the quickest, often perishing in the blink of an eye.

My thoughts suddenly became hazy, and I felt a tightness and chill all over my body, as if I had caught a cold. My legs also felt like they were filled with lead and were getting heavier and heavier.

Turning past the pagoda, Sun Long and the important figure remained silently facing off, five meters apart, like two peerless swordsmen about to engage in a final battle. Xiao He stood before the pagoda, his expression indifferent, like an old monk in deep meditation.

I lingered in front of the meditation hall for at least half an hour. It seemed that Sun Long and the big shot were just standing there motionless, neither speaking nor making a move.

"Xiao He, does Mr. Sun have any instructions?" My temples were throbbing, and the chills were intensifying. I could only grit my teeth and try to keep from shivering.

Xiao He shook his head, not saying another word.

Looking at her from the side, Tang Xin's image immediately jumped out, because the two were so similar in temperament, almost identical. Tang Xin, covered in poison, the infatuated Tiger, the eccentric Song Jiu, and the Egyptian expert Lu Jiacan, who had disappeared at the same time, were all in a state of constant memory replay, and the people and events in the desert surfaced together.

I leaned against the tower, unable to help but groan from the cold. My clothes seemed to have become as thin as paper, offering no protection against the biting north wind. At first, my shoulders trembled, then my legs, arms, and entire body began to shake. It felt as if a heavy lump of ice was lodged in my chest, unable to melt.

"Nice to meet you!" Sun Long was the first to speak, taking a big step forward and extending his right hand.

The important figure wore a gentle smile and extended his right hand. Although it was a simple handshake, the two of them had been preparing for it for so long.

"Have you read the Asahi Shimbun's reports on 'comfort women's compensation claims during World War II'? Do you have any thoughts on it?" Sun Long spoke casually, as if he were facing an old Japanese friend he hadn't seen for many years. He didn't treat the important figure as an enemy on the opposite side, but spoke frankly and openly.

This is the most painful topic for the Japanese, but the bigwig smiled calmly and said, "I've seen it, but I think this matter is a bit troublesome. The High Court's assessment of the evidence doesn't seem to be favorable to the Chinese. So, you should be prepared to lose. You know, this is Japan, a country that values human relationships but places even greater emphasis on the rule of law."

Their hands remained clenched. With Sun Long's martial arts skills, he could easily kill a big shot in one move. Of course, he also couldn't dodge the bullets of snipers and marksmen.

“I know, and I’m prepared for a protracted battle until I win the case. I hope that you will still be in charge of the Japanese Imperial Family by then, and that we can work together to promote peace in Asia and heal the wounds of World War II.” Sun Long’s words were rigorous, steady, and meticulous, which is exactly the style of a senior lawyer.

The feeling of cold suddenly disappeared. I felt as if someone had peeled off a layer of plastic wrapping from my body, and I immediately relaxed completely and felt completely normal.

I touched my temples and the throbbing pain was gone. My limbs moved freely, and the dizziness was gone.

"What just happened?" I couldn't help but scratch my head, feeling uneasy. A sudden fever and chills always indicate some kind of internal illness, and I didn't want to contract any strange disease before finding my older brother, Yang Tian.

"Haha, I'll definitely wait for you, but only if you obtain sufficient evidence to receive this compensation from the Japanese treasury. I just don't know if that date will be ten or twenty years? Or perhaps it will never be set?" The important figure's attitude was humble, but his tone was arrogant, almost completely dismissing the issue of "comfort women compensation." Undoubtedly, his decision had a direct impact on the ruling of the Japanese High Court.

I quickly composed myself and walked towards them. As long as we didn't start a fight at Fengge Temple, everything was negotiable. Actually, I was more worried that if the important figure was taken hostage by Sun Long, the gunmen on all sides would be leaderless and might accidentally shoot or kill someone, causing the situation to spiral out of control with unimaginable consequences.

“Well, money is a minor issue. What the Chinese are fighting for isn’t millions or tens of millions in war reparations—I’ve heard you’ve been widely promoting Chinese cultural education among the royal family, and you’re a true China expert. You must understand the ancient saying, ‘Unyielding in the face of power, unmoved by poverty, and uncorrupted by wealth.’ This is the highest level of Chinese thought. Even if we get the reparations, money can’t shut the mouths of the Chinese people, nor can it change their minds.” Sun Long smiled contemptuously and turned to greet me.

The important man silently tolerated Sun Long's contempt; his composure was better than what was being praised in the Japanese newspapers.

Xiao He followed, standing on either side of Sun Long, to at least block the gun barrels from this angle.

"This is Japan, Japanese territory, and we set the rules. Mr. Sun, I advise you not to waste your time. Look, the sky is clear, the mountains are high, and the water is wide. Even the best headhunting firms on Wall Street are drooling over your intelligence. Take my advice: why not take advantage of your youth and develop in another field, abandoning your current dead-end legal career? Wouldn't that be wise?"

The important figure changed to a warm and admiring tone. Of course, he knew Sun Long's true identity, and these words were just to advise him not to make things difficult for the Japanese government.

Their meeting would perhaps have been more appropriate at an official negotiating table; it certainly shouldn't have taken place in the strange location of Fengge Temple. Furthermore, it was somewhat inappropriate for a triad leader like Sun Long to jump out and talk about "patriotism."

Sun Long smiled and said, "Yes, that's exactly what I was planning to do. But please do me the favor and let me finish this last business deal in Japan, okay?"

He pointed to the "Tower of the Dead" and continued calmly, "Once I get what's pressed under this tower, I'll leave the country immediately, without waiting for your country's police to come and expel me. We've had a very fruitful talk today, and I'm sure you'll be happy to do me that?"

The Tower of the Dead stands unmoved, like a silent giant bowing to the heavens and earth.

The important figure followed Sun Long's gaze and looked up, winking humorously: "Under the tower? Legend has it that the 'Tower of the Dead' suppresses a sea eye. What do you want? You want Japan's sea eye? Unless you're willing to become a Japanese citizen or..."

He was only 1.7 meters tall, a full head shorter than Sun Long, and was initially overwhelmed by his opponent's imposing presence, so he tried to ease the atmosphere with this action.

"Hmph." Sun Long sneered.

"All valuable items existing in the skies, seas, land, and underground within Japanese territory belong to the state. Foreign citizens are not allowed to take anything out of the country without government permission. Anyone who violates this regulation will have their items confiscated and never returned. Mr. Sun, if you want to take anything away, I'm sorry, the customs authorities are impartial and will confiscate it. I advise you to give up on that idea."

Everyone knows that everyone's goal is to find the "Underwater Tomb" under the tower and the "Wrath of the Sun God" hidden within it. Since the gem is on Japanese soil, the big shot's words make perfect sense, because almost every sovereign country on Earth has similar provisions in its constitution.

"No one can take away what I want," Sun Long sneered again.

"Ha, why don't you give it a try?" This time, the important figure didn't back down. He confronted the situation head-on, calmly raising his hand to point at the layers of buildings around him. This gesture was also a code. Suddenly, five heavily armed teams rushed out from all four sides, single file into the square, and pointed their guns at Sun Long, me, and Xiao He.

This group numbered over three hundred people. At the same time, countless gray-clad figures appeared on the rooftop, carrying long spears and poised to attack.

"With a team of over six hundred archers, it might not be easy for Mr. Sun to leave." The important figure did not show any arrogant or smug expression; on the contrary, his face carried a faint bitterness.

Everyone's face was cold and emotionless; this was the true nature of the Feast at Hongmen. The previous gentle attitude of the important figures was merely a pretense before their masks were torn off.

Sun Long touched the scar below his Adam's apple again, a cruel sneer on his face: "You should have made this show of force a long time ago. Otherwise, just spouting nonsense with gentle words doesn't seem like the style of a big shot. What? You really intend to keep me here today?"

He wasn't carrying any weapons; I could tell with my own eyes. For the three of us, unarmed, to try and repel seven hundred armed men was simply a pipe dream.

"Mr. Sun has made too much of a scene and shown no respect for our government. This is something the whole world has witnessed. So, it would be best if you could stay here for a while to rest and clear your head. What do you say?" The important figure was slowly backing away. If he could get away, the three of us were doomed.

Xiaohe's eyes were fixed on the important figure, but she was also unarmed; her tight-fitting clothes couldn't hide anything.

"Want to leave? Scared?" Sun Long laughed sarcastically.

I hurriedly interrupted, trying to keep the important person in line: "Hey, don't let them make a move yet, let's talk this over."

The secrets beneath the "Tower of the Dead" will likely remain hidden for a long time before they are revealed to the world. What's the point of these two families engaging in a bloody battle over a treasure that's barely even worth mentioning?

The important figure retreated behind two burly men in gray carrying submachine guns, avoiding a possible counterattack from Sun Long and Xiao He.

My influence isn't strong enough, especially since this important figure dared to stand up so confidently, he must have known Sun Long's intentions all along. Therefore, he didn't need to give anyone face, and by waiting for the opportune moment, he successfully brought Sun Long under control.

"Would you two like to hear my opinion?" I tried my best to remain calm.

"In fact, everyone knows perfectly well that the root of all the disputes lies in the question of who owns the 'Wrath of the Sun God.' Why not recruit experts throughout Japan and involve more people who are interested in this matter? Only by pooling everyone's wisdom can we more quickly find the focus of that secret and quell the conflict in the martial arts world. Everyone shares the same goal on this matter, so please seriously consider my proposal."

The rumors about the gemstone were completely eradicated, and no one in the martial arts world continued to mention it, so the matter was gradually forgotten.

A virtuous person is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime. It is believed that whoever falls into the hands of the "wrath of the sun god" will likely face immeasurable disaster.

"I must remind you all that this is Japanese territory. If you don't mind, it would be best if you could follow Japanese rules, would that be alright?" The important figure had already taken control of the situation, holding back his words, just to get more information out of Sun Long.

“That’s right, this is Japanese territory, but the rule of ‘might makes right’ in the martial arts world has never changed. So, if you want Chinese people to follow Japanese rules, you’d better at least have something to prove yourself—” Sun Long sneered, remaining calm and composed in the face of hundreds of gun barrels.

Volume Three, The Well of Spirits

Part 1: Clash of Titans

— Chapter 8 — One Hundred and Seventy-Four Super Bombs, A Thousand Armies Escape —

I'm not a member of the Sharpshooter Guild, and I've been inexplicably dragged into this mess. You can imagine how annoyed I am.

"Mr. Sun, in this situation, what do you need me to prove? Japanese bullets are no different from European and American bullets; they can easily turn a normal person's flesh and blood into a honeycomb. Do you want to try?" The important figure was protected by an impenetrable wall of protection.

When Guan Yu went to the meeting alone, he escaped by taking the enemy commander hostage. Now, without a hostage, I'd like to see how Sun Long plans to break free.

Sun Long sneered, pushed aside the submachine gun closest to his body, and nodded to Xiao He.

Xiaohe took out a neatly folded piece of white paper from her pocket, gently unfolded it, and raised it above her head with both hands.

"Take a look at this, and I believe you won't act rashly!" Sun Long raised his chin, sneering arrogantly.

This is a simple, hand-drawn map of Japan, clearly marking the territory of Japan and its eleven most important cities. However, the entire map is marked with many small crosses in fine black ink, with more crosses around the larger cities.

With bright sunshine and excellent visibility, it's safe to assume that the Japanese standing nearby, including important figures, could see everything clearly.

"This is a map. Anyone with even a little military knowledge knows what those crosses represent. But I'd still like to take the time to explain again: those are TNT super bombs. Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Kobe... all these international metropolises that the Japanese call national pride are riddled with these bombs. I'm giving them to you as a New Year's gift for 2006. Please accept them with a smile."

Sun Long's words landed with a resounding force, and the air seemed to freeze. All the armed personnel who had surrounded them fell silent, even holding their breath, as if they were facing not three unarmed Chinese, but a whole bunch of super bombs that could explode at any moment.

Cold sweat broke out on my back once again. This was Sun Long's trump card, but it was far too vicious.

"Clap, clap, clap—" The important person clapped lightly.

"Thank you for the New Year's gift, Mr. Sun. As the Chinese saying goes, 'It is impolite not to reciprocate.' I will also prepare a huge return gift and send it to Mr. Sun's hometown in Shandong another day." Every word about "gift" mentioned here can only mean bomb or devastating blow.

The Divine Gun Society originated in Shandong, and the entire Sun family's roots are also located at the foot of Mount Tai in central Shandong.

"No need to worry. If your air radio signal blockade isn't lifted within 24 hours, the Sniper Society's suicide squad will detonate these bombs. Think about the Battle of Hiroshima—all the houses, farmland, and waterways were destroyed, leaving it indefinitely in a state of death. I'm not an American who only knows how to swagger and intimidate. Besides, I don't need to use nuclear strikes against a small Pacific nation like Japan. In 24 hours, my life alone can bring about the total destruction of Japan. I wonder if this deal is worth it?"

Sun Long reached out, and Xiao He immediately handed him a black telephone. He looked at the phone's LCD screen, frowned, and sneered, "Did you hear what I said? I want to see a communication signal immediately."

Bin Laden's terrorists only carried out suicide attacks that destroyed the Twin Towers in the United States, while Sun Long's plan was far more insane than Bin Laden's, aiming to destroy an entire country. Even if the explosive effects of these bombs did not match his "sinking Japan" plan, the actual damage they caused was equivalent to directly plunging Japan into a barbaric era of destitution and slash-and-burn agriculture.

Xiaohe stepped forward, and the gunmen involuntarily retreated to the sides, as if she were holding a bomb herself.

The important figure, with a solemn expression, accepted the map and carefully held it in his hands.

“I rarely joke, especially about something this important.” Sun Long didn’t look up at the important person’s expression; he just stared at his phone screen.

"One hundred and seventy-four bombs, please check them." Xiao He bowed and then slowly retreated.

The wind blew by, making the map in the important man's hand rustle a few times. When he looked up again, his face was as serious as an ancient copperplate engraving.

"You never cherish your own life? If you die, all your fame and fortune will vanish. In a decade or so, no one will remember who Sun Long is. Why risk your life to be an enemy of the Japanese?" He tried to smile, but his lips twitched, and he only managed an ugly, bitter expression.

"My life? Counting from the Ming and Qing dynasties, no fewer than ten thousand members of the Sun clan died at the hands of Japanese pirates; since the founding of the Sniper Society, over 140,000 members, along with their families, died at the hands of the Japanese during World War II—as for the exact number of Chinese who died during the Japanese invasion, the United Nations already has detailed statistics. My life is completely unimportant. If I die here today, tomorrow, the day after, the Sniper Society will have a newer, more charismatic leader who will push this fight forward until—"

He waved his left hand southward, pointing to the vast territory of the Japanese archipelago, then slashed his palm downwards with a "one-hit kill" gesture.

The tragic history of World War II has become a fictional history on paper for many young people. When I first heard Sun Long speak so passionately, my impression of him gradually changed: "Would a martial arts master with such a powerful aura have the kind of selfish thoughts that can be detected by a scalpel?"

"One hundred and seventy-four bombs? I suspect Mr. Sun is just bluffing. Heh, our customs and security departments have been using the TBT detection system from the United States for ten years. Terrorists simply cannot smuggle large quantities of explosives into the country unless they carry out extreme suicide attacks like Al-Qaeda..." The bigwig began to refute, but he was clearly not confident enough.

He was the ruler of the royal family, not the commander of a professional counter-terrorism force, so naturally he was no match for Sun Long in the professional field.

“Alright, you order the removal of the radio signal interference, and I’ll do a little experiment for you.” Sun Long tossed the phone high into the air and caught it with a flourish.

I felt like an outsider, but I knew that if a bombing occurred, only innocent civilians would be harmed, and tens of thousands of ordinary people would become victims of the power struggle between the two sides. At this moment, the key to resolving the issue was for both sides to back down. I gradually understood that Sun Long's solo trip to the meeting was to demonstrate his power to the bigwigs, thus securing his claim for "comfort women compensation."

When a master does something, only the tip of the iceberg is revealed; it will never be guessed by ordinary people.

On this sunny Hokkaido noon, only a silent, chilling atmosphere remained at Fuuki Temple. Hundreds of gunmen could kill Sun Long and Xiao He in a second, but they could not dispel the heavy gloom brought by the 174 bombs.

"Experiment? Fine, let me see the firepower of the Sharpshooter Society—" The big shot made a gesture, and Eagle Blade, his face covered in sweat, appeared in response.

"Tell the personnel on the perimeter that everything has returned to normal, but to remain on high alert at all times," the important figure gave a brief instruction.

Eagle Knife stepped back a few paces, took out a signal gun, and fired a shot into the sky. A green signal flare shot out, leaped into the air to a height of more than 30 meters, exploded with a crack, and scattered into dozens of emerald green flowers that slowly fell to the ground.

Sun Long glanced at the phone screen again and smiled slightly: "Hmm, your efficiency is not bad, there is already a communication signal." He quickly dialed a number and loudly ordered: "In five minutes, blow up the right-side parallel lane of the Ghost Letter Expressway Bridge No. 9. If there are no other action plans, launch the full-scale detonation plan in eleven hours."

Onishin Expressway is the only way from Sapporo to Kiwanzan, while Bridge No. 9 is a two-way road bridge.

The big shot laughed loudly: "What? Blow up there? Do you know that the checkpoint we set up to cut off Muwanzhoushan's connection with the outside world is located at the No. 9 bridgehead, with at least sixty people guarding it—" He then ordered Eagle Knife: "Tell the people blocking the No. 9 bridge to quickly search all suspicious vehicles and check places under the bridge where explosives may be hidden. Make sure the No. 9 bridge is safe and sound."