Iron Bull taucht wieder auf

Kapitel 180

I strolled toward the restroom. Her mysterious disappearance had become a thing of the past that no one remembered. No matter how thrilling my experiences were, to others, they were just fleeting pages in a comic book, past events that were like old news, not worth revisiting.

The bathroom was spotless; the bronze mirror on the wall and the dressing table in front of it were gleaming. Nobuko must have used some kind of air freshener, because the faint scent of jasmine permeated the air.

The Fifth Undersea Mystery

— Chapter 10 - Dismantling Xunfuyuan (Part 2) —

I paused at the bathroom door, looking at myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess, my eyes were puffy, and the shirt I was wearing underneath was wrinkled—I looked utterly lacking in style. Men, like women, without dressing up, makeup, and changing clothes, look like disheveled homeless people on the street.

"Ring ring—" The phone next to the sofa rang.

I snapped out of my thoughts and went into the lobby to answer the phone, only to find it was Suren's voice.

"Brother Feng, all my equipment is ready. It's raining and snowing right now, and the air is too cold. I expect to officially enter 'Lan Valley' in about a week. How are things on your end?" She seemed to have caught a cold, her voice thick with nasal congestion. She only managed to say a few words before letting out two loud sneezes.

I comfortably propped my legs up on the coffee table, leaned back, and half-reclined on the sofa. Even without her call, I would have to contact her within two days to discuss the dismantling of Xunfuyuan. Regardless of whether the house belonged to my elder brother Yang Tian or the scalpel, I had to consult with her before making a single move; that was the bare minimum of courtesy.

The climate in China's southwestern border region is extremely harsh. Besides the scattered local indigenous people, there are also fugitives who have committed various crimes and then fled into the primeval jungle. Therefore, in addition to protecting herself from wild animals, poisonous insects, miasma, and dark caves, her expedition work also requires her to be prepared to fight against those greedy and unscrupulous gangsters at any time.

I briefly described the changes at Fengge Temple, because she would learn about these situations through Xiao Keleng's retelling. However, her retelling was only fragmentary and half-baked, sometimes going on and on without getting to the point, or even distorting the meaning of certain words.

When she heard that Gu Qingcheng had appeared, she hurriedly interjected, "Brother Feng, this girl is not simple. Although she is unknown in the martial arts world, she has two extreme abilities—solving mechanisms and comprehending music. As a tomb raider, you will encounter poison traps and hidden weapons every day. With her by your side, you may be able to reduce a lot of unnecessary casualties."

The implication was that Gu Qingcheng could stay, and everyone could work together peacefully. Su Lun had always been resistant to Guan Baoling's presence, but she warmly welcomed the sudden appearance of Gu Qingcheng.

Upon closer examination, Guan Baoling isn't a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person of the martial arts world). Her delicate and frail nature only brings unexpected trouble; whoever she's with will be a burden. Su Lun's apparent pragmatism made me burst into laughter, instantly dispelling all the gloom and depression in my heart.

After I finished laughing, Su Lun spoke up seriously again: "Brother Feng, what are you laughing at?"

I didn't want to criticize anyone, so I immediately got to the point: "Suren, regarding the character 'Sparrow' displayed on the 'Well of Spirits,' and Master Shenbi's interpretation—I have an idea. Let's dismantle Xunfu Garden and see if Mr. Scalpel overlooked anything during his exploration. I don't believe that my elder brother would build a house that completely violates feng shui principles and stand here. That would not only be meaningless, but would also bring immeasurable disaster to his own people."

At the end of this passage, I did not humbly seek Suren's opinion. Those who have not witnessed the manifestation of the "Well of Spirits" cannot possibly comprehend the eeriness of the large characters formed by the bubbles; even someone as intelligent as Suren lacks such powerful imagination.

The fire in the fireplace was about to go out, and as I sat, my gaze naturally fell on the bronze statue.

Suren remained calm and did not immediately express strong opposition; she was, of course, aware of my public and private motives in doing so.

I picked up a pencil from the side coffee table and wrote the character "雀" (sparrow) on the cover of the phone book, staring at it intently.

"Brother Feng, do you mean that Master Shenbi deciphered those four mysterious short phrases, with the target being Fengge Temple—as long as the 'Nine-Headed Bird's Fate-Struggling Formation' is broken, Guan Baoling's wish will be fulfilled? But breaking the formation doesn't necessarily mean destroying everything. Didn't the four watchtowers you arranged to build also achieve the goal of 'breaking the formation' through another normal means?"

I scribbled twice on that character, turning it into a black blob. I had considered all the objections that Su Lun could cite, and even thought further ahead—"Change Xunfu Garden into a canal shaped like the character '雀' (que, meaning bird). It's to the south, and to the north is the 'One Arrow Piercing the Heart' formation of Fengge Temple. The arrow is aimed at the Vermilion Bird, which is in danger of dying at any moment." Of course, no one can live in the canal. Everyone will move to another villa 200 meters to the east. The old site of Xunfu Garden here will be temporarily abandoned to avoid the evil aura of the "One Arrow Piercing the Heart" formation.

Suren started sneezing again, covering her mouth, her voice even more nasal: "Brother Feng, I respect your decision."

She must have had a lot to say, but separated by thousands of miles, she omitted it all. Just as I couldn't decide the next move of her search team, she couldn't persuade me to do or not do anything. Putting myself in her shoes, her decision to remain silent was undoubtedly the wisest course of action.

An awkward silence fell over the phone, which I finally broke: "Suren, have you ever considered that the 'second Epang Palace' might just be a myth fabricated by someone? After countless repetitions and misinterpretations, it has become a vivid and realistic story. Also, you must have been to Mount Putuo, right? When one of the eight famous scenic spots on the mountain, the 'Sea of Clouds over Putuo,' appears, many people have personally witnessed a series of palaces with rays of light shining from the clouds—I don't need to tell you, you understand that it's just a mirage, often seen in the Egyptian desert. In the southwestern border region you've been to, many people who have lived in the jungle for generations, like the hermits in Tao Yuanming's 'Peach Blossom Spring,' are unaware of dynastic changes, so how would they know the difference between the Epang Palace and a mirage?"

Suren laughed: "Brother Feng, your analogy is very apt."

Mirages are often described as "the temptation of the devil of greed." Throughout history, they have claimed the lives of countless greedy people who always thought that by traveling a hundred, five hundred, or a thousand miles ahead, they could enter that magnificent place, only to become a meal for desert scorpions.

Deep in the mountains and forests, there is often miasma and poisonous fog, especially when there is no wind. It can often solidify and remain in one place for 24 hours or longer. When sunlight shines into this murky fog, it is most likely to produce rainbows and inexplicable illusions.

Given Suren's knowledge base, these were all common-sense exploration facts he already possessed.

"So, Brother Feng, where does the 'Sky Ladder' lead? According to local legends and the oaths sworn by those two old farmers, once you enter the 'Sky Ladder,' you can see stars, the moon, fireballs, and ships floating in the air..." She paused with a smile, explaining to me, "Ships can't possibly float in the air. The old farmers pointed out something they thought was a 'ship,' which looks very similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. So, it should be corrected to 'spacecraft'—"

I was speechless. But to be honest, Suren's description was very intriguing: a dangerous, enclosed valley, an ancient house called "Heavenly Ladder," and the eerie scenes that awaited visitors after entering the ancient site... If it weren't for the "Underwater Tomb" incident, I would have loved to go into that "Heavenly Ladder" to take a look.

"The old farmer said that after entering the 'Heavenly Ladder,' your body will suddenly sink to the ground and continue to fall. After about the time it takes to smoke half a cigarette without a filter, when you see a light, you will have entered the Epang Palace." Su Lun narrated with great relish, as if he were reading a legendary tomb raiding novel.

"An elevator? The old house's 'sky ladder' is an elevator?" That was my first reaction, and it's the reaction any modern person would naturally have.

Suren sighed, abruptly ending the conversation, and changed the subject: "Brother Feng, do you remember those Bengal golden-line vipers under the Turkham pyramids? Given the nature of snakes, their survival rate is extremely low when they move to new places. Even if they manage a large-scale migration, the end result is either complete extinction or complete assimilation by the local snakes. I've been wondering, where did the flying snakes in 'Lan Valley' come from? According to the global snake guide, such 'flying snakes' have been found in the tropical rainforests of Central America, but their numbers are extremely rare—"

Suddenly, a beam of light shot out from the box in the bronze statue opposite me, heading straight west and passing over my head.

I jumped up abruptly, yanking the telephone to the ground with a sharp "crack," a plastic part breaking off and shards flying everywhere. The light shone on the west wall of the hall, then veered upwards, reflecting a second time at the stairwell bend before shooting towards the second floor.

“Brother Feng—” Suren called out.

I tossed the phone aside, leaped over the sofa, jumped up the stairs, grabbed the handrail with my right hand, and soared into the air, avoiding the light, landing at the second-floor entrance. The last point of the light fell upon the bronze warrior statue's brow—and the most incredible thing happened: his angle of stance had shifted at least fifteen degrees to due north. This change was very obvious, as he was now almost facing the stairs directly; anyone paying close attention could see it.

The light lasted for three seconds and then disappeared, leaving no trace or smell in the air. The only change was in the angle at which the warrior statue stood.

The Truth of the Sixth Tomb of the Gods

— Chapter 1 — Guan Baoling's Background (Part 1) —

I strode over, gathering strength in my palms, remaining vigilant at all times, treating him like a normal living person. Before this, I had tried countless times to move him, but he wouldn't budge. How could he suddenly start moving on his own now?

After the light disappeared, everything returned to normal, upstairs and downstairs. I tried to push or turn the samurai statue again, but it was too heavy, roughly estimated to be around 400 kilograms, requiring at least three adults to move it. The sword remained tightly sheathed and could not be drawn.

The clock points to 1 a.m., which, to put it more bluntly, would be the intersection of the Zi and Chou hours in the ancient Chinese timekeeping system.

“How did the change come about? Perhaps my previous suspicions were not wrong. There is some kind of connection between all the bronze artifacts in this hall—” I slapped the bronze statue’s shoulder a few times, making a loud “thump thump” sound, and then slowly went downstairs and stopped at the corner of the stairs.

The reflection of light requires a smooth surface, or at least a surface that absorbs light less. But the whitewashed wall in front of me was slightly old and had a light absorption capacity of nearly 90%, so it had absolutely no reflective properties. I took out a knife and poked at that turning point four or five times until the bluestone under the wall was exposed, but I still didn't find anything like a mirror.

Similarly, at the first turning point of the light, there was also a white wall. What's absolutely ridiculous and terrifying is that light reflection requires at least a reasonable angle, with the angle of entry and the angle of exit being absolutely equal. It's impossible for light to travel from the east wall to the west wall and then inexplicably slant upwards. So, I walked to the fireplace, calmed down, and thought, "Rather than comparing it to light refraction, it's more like the wireless transmission of light!"

Using the radiant bronze statue as a light source, an invisible wire connects the west wall, the corner of the staircase, and the forehead of the warrior statue, generating powerful kinetic energy that causes the warrior statue to change its angle.

Human thought is omnipotent; it can connect seemingly unrelated things. But the bronze statue was cold and lifeless, its movements and form unchanged. Without hesitation, I turned and went into the bathroom, grabbed the frame of the bronze mirror with both hands, and with a quick lift and pull, I immediately removed it.

The stone wall was spotless, and with each tap I struck it, it produced a solid, resounding "thump, thump, thump," proving it was a genuine solid stone wall and there were no hidden passages or anything like that. The back of the mirror was even cleaner, without a single cobweb.

Guan Baoling's first disappearance occurred in front of the mirror, so I suspected that this magnificent mirror might play some role in the mysterious events. However, I was disappointed once again. It did not change after my second visit; it was just an old-fashioned mirror with a glass surface reflecting a luxurious, cold light, and everything in front of it was reflected in perfect detail.

"Hello, hello..." Suren kept calling.

I picked up the receiver that had fallen to the ground and forced a smile: "Suren, something very interesting happened just a few seconds ago." It's really difficult and strange to relay something that seems impossible to an outsider.

"What is it?" Suren remained calm as usual.

"A beam of light shot out from the bronze statue above the fireplace, passing through several points before striking the bronze statue in the second-floor living room between its eyebrows. Then, its angle changed, shifting twenty degrees to the north. What's your opinion on this, Ning?" Before asking her, I had already reached a conclusion: "There's a mechanism beneath the statue, controlled by some force, that periodically performs certain actions. And the leader issuing these commands is the bronze statue above the fireplace—"

Xiao Keleng had never mentioned this unusual behavior. Had she simply not noticed, or was she deliberately concealing it?

"What kind of light was that—"

Suren's voice was interrupted by a knock on the door, and then the tycoon pushed the door open and entered. His cautious way of visiting others was very rare, and I could tell from the gloomy expression on his face that he must have something on his mind.

I quickly covered it up: "Okay, I'll call you again tomorrow. We have guests now."

Suren paused for a moment, then said "Goodbye" knowingly, and hung up.

I don't want the tycoon to discover my secret. We can all sail together on this boat of seeking happiness, but once we disembark, it will be hard to tell whether we are friends or foes.

The tycoon sat down without any ceremony, took out his cigar case, and thoughtfully picked up a cigar, toying with it in his hand. My worries were even heavier than his; I bent down to pick up all the broken pieces of the telephone and gently tossed them into the trash can next to the coffee table.

“Feng, there’s something I need to tell you straight up. I hope you’ll keep it a secret, because it involves Bao Ling’s background…” The tycoon’s words were curt. He took out a golden Dupont lighter and lit a cigar.

Half of my thoughts were still lingering on the light emanating from the bronze statue. I'll just have to listen to what the tycoon has to say for now.

"Why is the samurai statue rotated at an angle? Is it to activate some kind of mechanism, secret door, or seal?" He's so heavy; the force needed to rotate him is at least three to five times greater than mine. Could the ancient spring mechanism possibly achieve that? The air in coastal areas has a particularly high salt and alkali content, which corrodes all metals except gold. After a certain period of use, the mechanism would lose its elasticity and eventually become unusable.

It seemed odd that the warrior statue didn't even make a harsh metallic scraping sound as it rotated. The ground beneath its feet was paved with a single slab of marble, and rotating around the center with a weight of nearly half a ton should have produced a strange "screeching" sound even on smooth marble.

The aroma of cigars filled the entire hall. The tycoon, through the swirling smoke, stared intently at me like a hungry farmer eyeing a roast chicken on a plate. I didn't want to endure this unbearable torment, but I couldn't say anything directly. I got up and went to the corner to make myself a cup of coffee.

"Feng, you like Baoling, don't you?" His words were indeed "straight to the point," directly addressing the crux of the conflict.

I turned around in front of the stove, and he had already stood up, waving his cigar like an ancient warrior brandishing a weapon: "Feng, you like her, do you dare to admit it?"

Without pausing, I continued, "Yes, I like her, and I want to marry her in the future. Do you have any objections?"

If a tabloid reporter overheard our conversation above, he would surely drop his camera in shock—"Feng falls in love with a 'tycoon's woman'? Will the two of them duel over this woman?"

The tycoon's eyes widened. It was a pity that the cigar wasn't a spear; otherwise, it might have taken my life with a single strike.

"Young man, how dare you say that? That's incredibly arrogant! In the underworld, everyone knows she's the woman of tycoon Ye Gongsheng. Wherever she goes, people have to keep their distance. Only you, a toad trying to eat swan meat! Feng, if you're smart, take my money and disappear immediately—"

I made myself a cup of Nescafé. While looking for sugar cubes, I chuckled and retorted, "Mr. Ye, you need to change one word in your statement. She's your daughter, not a woman. Just one word makes all the difference." While drawing those two lotus flowers, I understood a fact in Teng Ying's mind: "She's the tycoon's biological daughter. The tycoon abandoned her mother after a one-night stand, leading to her eventual death from depression. The tycoon found his daughter in the orphanage, on one hand, paving her way to stardom, and on the other hand, openly proclaiming his 'sugar baby' arrangement, making lecherous directors, ingrates, and self-proclaimed charming young actors in the film industry afraid to approach him, lest they repeat her mother's fate."

"You know the whole story, she told you herself." The tycoon was very surprised. This might be the biggest secret in his private life. Family scandals should not be aired in public. He probably didn't want Guan Baoling to have psychological trauma since childhood.

I shook my head. That wasn't what Guan Baoling herself said. We were supposed to communicate verbally, but I just happened to see it.

News of illegitimate daughters in the film and television industry is endless, such as the "Phoenix and Dragon Girl" incident, which had the greatest impact at the end of the last century. However, the relationship between the tycoon and Guan Baoling was kept "absolutely" confidential. To this day, it is only known to him, Guan Baoling and me.

The aroma of coffee mingled with the smell of cigarette smoke, and my relationship with the tycoon instantly transformed from theoretical opposition to friendship based on shared goals. We would both strive to protect Guan Baoling's interests and prevent her from suffering any harm. The tycoon's aggressive aura was slowly diminishing; both sides were getting straight to the point, revealing their most formidable cards, thus saving a lot of time spent on roundabout maneuvering.

I understand that many of Guan Baoling's former admirers and followers stopped halfway through because of the tycoon's intimidation. Just like Wang Jiangnan not long ago, he lacked confidence and retreated in front of the tycoon's imposing presence at Fengge Temple. The five words "the tycoon's woman" were like five heavy cannons, ruthlessly keeping people at arm's length.

"Perhaps it's fate... I repeatedly told her not to come to Hokkaido because many metaphysical scholars had warned me that the map of Hokkaido has the appearance of decline, like a clay ox sinking into the sea and never returning. My life destiny and Baoling's both belong to the 'Red Wood Fire Dragon,' and when they encounter 'Boundless Water,' an unexpected reversal will occur."

He sat down again, relaxing his previously aloof demeanor and no longer regarding the cigar as a symbol of authority. He also spoke in a more casual, conversational tone.

In the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, the "Red Wood Fire Dragon" represents a destiny of "finding tranquility amidst chaos, full of energy, and unstoppable from birth to death." In constant rhythm, progress, struggle, and hard work, it can get whatever it wants and is suitable for all challenging jobs, but it cannot adapt to a peaceful and tranquil life. Once it turns from prosperity to decline and from movement to stillness, it is the time when its life reverses and suffers a major defeat.

As a prominent figure in both the legitimate and underworld circles, the tycoon's destiny is often used as a typical example in new books on metaphysics. The most prominent comment is: "In all regions of the earth, one should not be near stagnant water, for being near stagnant water will inevitably lead to ruin."

"I know that fortune tellers have said that the water in the Pacific Ocean is the most stagnant, known as the world's largest dead water pool." In this world where information is shared to a very high degree, much of the tycoon's personal privacy is extremely transparent. Just like a famous Dutch soccer star who refuses to fly, the tycoon also suffers from "Pacific phobia."

The tycoon laughed: "Yes, the US president uses this as a signature joke at his New Year's Eve party, and he tells it every time."

This is a very unfunny "joke." The tycoon's signs of ruin are still evident, but Guan Baoling has already faced numerous dangers in Hokkaido, and so far, she is under the control of the Tooth Demon's curse. Just thinking about the increasing number of teeth marks on her neck every day makes me feel a sudden surge of heat.

Human life is fragile; death is the easiest thing to happen. Her fate is such that staying in Hokkaido will bring her nothing but harm. If this time, we can safely resolve the "tooth chrysalis" situation, I hope she can immediately return to Hong Kong Island and leave this place of trouble.

“We all have time to reminisce about the past—Mr. Ye, perhaps we can talk about reminiscing and making new connections after Miss Guan has recovered. Right now, I just want to know, for you, is it more important to eliminate the extortionists and protect your own authority, or is Miss Guan's life more important?” I already knew his exact answer. Now I just wanted to end this “cat and mouse game” ahead of time and not let Guan Baoling become bait for the shift in the conflict between the two sides.

The tycoon sighed deeply, twirling the cigarette holder in his hand, without immediately answering my question.

I pointed towards the restroom: "Miss Guan disappeared there before. She should have told you, right? In any case, her trip to Fengge Temple was a major directional mistake in her life. A flaw in one's destiny can kill in an instant. Perhaps here, the next second, something unpredictable will happen. She can disappear in Xunfu, she can disappear in Fengge Temple, but what if she disappears right in front of you next time? What will you do then?"

Another long sigh escaped his lips as the tycoon muttered to himself, "The fortune tellers said her soul control was too weak, and her birth chart formed a 'lone sheep in a desolate desert' configuration, making her most vulnerable to demonic possession. Back in Hong Kong, she had been possessed by evil spirits more than five times, and each time..."

While one's inherent flaws can be mitigated through effort, completely altering one's fate or destiny through any means is something even the most skilled sorcerers on Earth could never achieve. The idea that "man can conquer nature" is nothing but a self-deceiving lie, a way to console oneself in adversity.

The Truth of the Sixth Tomb of the Gods

— Chapter 1 - Guan Baoling's Background (Part 2) —

We all skipped the topics of "illegitimate daughter" and "sugar baby" and if everyone is smart enough, they will all forget about this malignant tumor that is weighing on Guan Baoling's heart.

The sun is new every day. When Guan Baoling wakes up tomorrow morning, she will be reborn as herself, and perhaps one day she will become "Mrs. Wind".

“1.5 billion is not a problem. I already taught Helen to prepare. The money can be transferred from North America to Switzerland in a second to meet the extortionists’ demands. You’re right, Baoling’s life is the most important. Even if they go back on their word after receiving the money, I have to try. She only has one life, and there’s no reason to risk it. Every time I see the teeth marks under her neck, my heart is torn apart.”

He stretched out his left palm, extinguished the cigar in his right hand, and then gently blew on it, leaving no burn mark on his palm.

"Next time, I'll let them experience my methods, Ye Hongsheng's methods." A thick blue vein above his brow trembled incessantly, clearly indicating that he was trying his best to suppress his anger. No matter how high one's martial arts skills, wisdom, power, or money, in the end, one must still succumb to the machinations of metaphysics. He would not swallow this insult so easily.

"Then why not do it now?" I pointed to the phone.