Iron Bull taucht wieder auf

Kapitel 237

The tiger sighed into the wind, "I don't know. I've already said that as long as we find the right person, everything will be fine."

Aside from the driver, everyone else in the jeep was extremely perceptive and saw right through Tiger's ulterior motives. His only goal was to rescue Tang Xin, which was why he portrayed her as the key to unlocking all the mysteries, thus drawing everyone's attention to her.

Uncle Wei chuckled silently. He was shrewd and calculating, and had plenty of patience to wait until the mystery was revealed. He was never impulsive or blindly obedient.

In contrast, Red Devil's way of thinking was too direct. He immediately laughed loudly, "Haha, don't worry, we will definitely help you find the great Miss Tang Xin, right, Feng?"

The car quickly approached the campsite, and Gu Qingcheng lowered her voice: "Mr. Feng, is it alright if we can talk alone?"

She looked somewhat dejected, but still managed a forced smile as she met Uncle Wei's inquiring gaze.

Our group only went for half a day, but we experienced life-or-death dangers, almost turning into skeletons in a sea of snakes like the second jeep that disappeared. Life is unpredictable, and so is the world. Only after seeing the familiar smoke rising from the chimneys behind the camp did we suddenly feel an unparalleled sense of warmth and familiarity.

Feiyue stood at the camp entrance, watching me suspiciously from afar. Perhaps she wanted to know everything, hoping I would come to her side. Feiying had also become a vegetable; everyone who had come with her had collapsed, leaving her all alone.

“Mr. Feng, why don’t you go and say hello to Fei Yue first? She might have something to do with you—” Even when Gu Qingcheng was joking, her furrowed brows did not fully relax, which was enough to prove that her heart was full of heavy thoughts.

I shook my head: "No need, let's talk about serious matters. I also have something to tell you."

The car stopped about thirty steps from the campsite. Gu Qingcheng and I jumped out and strolled eastward along the grass roots that were just beginning to turn green.

Actually, I understand what the team members were thinking at that moment. They came for the money, witnessed the deaths of their comrades, and couldn't wait to collect their payment and leave these mountains. It's better to have money but no life to spend than to have life but no money. Uncle Wei, Kaku, and others probably thought the same way.

If morale cannot be boosted, the expedition will ultimately end in heavy losses and nothing gained.

"I'm going to get the Jade Blood Night-Shining Toad. As long as that treasure is with He Jishang, I'll do everything I can to borrow it back. You stay at the camp and keep everyone calm. As the old Chinese saying goes, 'A great reward will surely bring forth brave men.' Triple everyone's reward and promise to keep it as soon as we leave the mountain. I think none of these people will turn down money, and we can manage for another month without any problem."

Our exploration mission, after a month, should come to an end. Regardless of victory or defeat, it deserves a proper conclusion. However, I also foresee that Suren's situation won't be good. If we delay for another month, any glimmer of hope we might have will be completely extinguished.

"When do we set off?" Gu Qingcheng didn't waste a single word.

"Right away, um, I'll go back and pack. We'll set off in an hour and try to reach the ancient village before dark." The sun was behind us, once again blocked by the mountains, and the sky and Gu Qingcheng's face both darkened. There really wasn't much time left for us to waste. I suddenly felt that the mountain wind after sunset was increasingly mixed with the chill from the north, a cold feeling that went straight from my skin to my heart.

"Okay, I'll keep everyone in line and wait for you to come back." Gu Qingcheng frowned and answered simply, without a trace of emotion.

There was a subtle awkwardness between us. She was a girl, and when she was helping a man save another girl, she was bound to feel a little unwilling.

Feiyue continued to watch us from afar, without taking the initiative to come forward.

"I'll take Feiyue with me. At least she's met He Jishang once, and she might be able to help." It was still the same formulaic language, but my heart was already flying to the ancient village. After all, He Jishang was not an easy character to deal with, and getting the Azure Blood Night Toad from her was still an unknown.

Gu Qingcheng tossed her long hair uneasily, a hint of displeasure showing on her tired face: "Mr. Feng, I think Uncle Wei or Kaku would be of more help to you right now. The Five Poisons Sect is ruthless and insane, and He Jishang was once a saintess of the sect. Every inch of her being is steeped in vicious poison; she cannot be judged by ordinary standards. This time, the chances of achieving your goal through sweet talk are slim. If you have to resort to violence, Feiyue will only be a burden to you."

She's right, but I have no intention of fighting He Jishang. She's suffered enough all these years, longing for my elder brother; I can't just turn on someone I know indiscriminately.

“I know what I’m doing. Uncle Wei’s idea of plundering by force is unrealistic. If it results in a lose-lose situation, it will only give a third party the benefit. You should know that the Southwest Caravan is always eyeing control of this mountain area and could jump out at any time. Miss Gu, keep the people in the camp under control. We can’t afford to make any more mistakes.”

In critical moments, it's better to follow your own ideas than to listen to others' opinions, because I know a lot of inside information that only I do.

Gu Qingcheng smiled helplessly: "Mr. Feng, going your own way is not your style. Uncle Wei is an old hand, you should listen to his advice, right?"

I overheard her conversation with Uncle Wei that night. Everyone has different interests at heart, which is why they decide how to handle problems. Now, my only wish is to rescue Su Lun, uncover the secrets of the underground palace, or even further, find the enormous crystal pit and obtain news of my elder brother, Yang Tian. I will always use strategy to overcome any obstacle, never resorting to force.

"I've made up my mind, Miss Gu. What did you want to talk to me about just now? Please speak frankly." I glanced at my watch; twenty minutes had already passed. Time was of the essence; I needed to act immediately.

Gu Qingcheng leaned closer to me: "My informant said that the Southwest Caravan has been alerted and will soon seize our spoils of victory. This news took three days to get through, so their operation must have already begun. Therefore, you must be on high alert when you head back."

In the southwestern border region of mainland China, caravans have always been the masters of the mountains and forests. Their history, passed down through generations, can be traced back to the end of the Southern Song Dynasty. At that time, Fang La, who was regarded by the imperial court as the leader of the "Four Great Bandits," was defeated by Song Jiang in Shandong. His remaining forces fled to the southwest, dispersed, and became unruly mountain tribes. They fought and made peace with successive dynasties, and fought and made peace again, dragging on for hundreds of years. They never obediently and wholeheartedly submitted to any government.

Therefore, anyone from outside who wanted to do anything in the mountains had to first prepare gifts and "pay respects" to the caravan to obtain permission. Otherwise, their business would fail, their men would be slaughtered, and they would never be able to establish themselves there.

When Suren first told me she was going into the mountains to search for treasure, I warned her to first cultivate a good relationship with the southwestern caravan. However, now that the person has disappeared, no matter how many times we visit the mountain, it will be useless.

"I understand." It was our little unpleasantness in the cave that led to our current "unable to agree on anything."

I can guarantee that Su Lun would not feel comfortable letting me explore the cave alone and risk danger, but Gu Qingcheng calmly agreed to my request and agreed to let me explore that side path without hesitation.

“Mr. Feng, I want to explain something—” Gu Qingcheng took a step back, creating a suitable distance between us, “In the first five-pointed star formation, I didn’t want the team’s morale to be dampened, and as you know, military strategy emphasizes that ‘the morale of the army should be boosted but not dampened.’ Actually, I was willing to accompany you on the scouting trip, more worried about your safety than anyone else, otherwise I wouldn’t have rushed here day and night. However, since it’s a formal team, it must have a commander, otherwise it’s just a rabble with no fighting power. While you’re exploring, what I need to do is become a solid support and stabilize morale. You know, when I watched your jeep drive away, I secretly vowed that if anything happened to you, even if I were to be shattered to pieces, I would rescue Miss Su Lun and complete your great mission from beginning to end. This time, it’s not a sentimental drama about someone dying for someone else, but a real life-or-death experience. Similarly, if I die one day, I hope you can find that guqin and take it back to Hong Kong to give to my brother.”

Her face flushed again, and deep in her eyes, a hazy glint of tears welled up.

I sighed deeply, unsure whether I should believe her words.

"One day, you'll understand. This is a world where success or failure is everything. I hope we can both leave these mountains alive. Mr. Feng, I want to remind you that the purpose of exploration is to save lives by all means, not to act blindly, risking your life for another, or even foolishly losing your life without being able to save your target. Good luck—"

She sighed with relief and turned due north.

Behind us, the setting sun gilded the edges of the mountains with a brilliant gold, but the dark tunnel entrance remained ever gloomy and terrifying, like the entrance to the eighteenth level of hell.

"Suren, for you, I dare to go anywhere. Don't be afraid, I'll be back soon." In my mind's eye, I felt that Suren could hear my thoughts, and that she would definitely be alive to wait for me to enter the depths of the mountain.

An hour later, I drove the jeep onto the road, accompanied only by Feiyue, whose brows were furrowed.

The camp was quickly left behind. I knew that Gu Qingcheng and the others were having a hard time every minute they were stationed here. After all, there were countless poisonous insects hidden in that huge, deep cave. Who could guarantee that they would stay there obediently forever?

Too many uncertainties are giving me a terrible headache, but I just don't want Feiyue to find out.

I turned on the Jeep's record player, and a blast of loud disco electronic dance music hit me, filling my ears with noise that even drowned out the Jeep's engine. That's fine, at least I don't have to rack my brains trying to think of what to say to Feiyue.

"Mr. Feng, would He Jishang hand over the Jade Blood Night-Shining Toad with open arms? Although you get along very well, she's not at the point where she'd give you everything she has without expecting anything in return, is she?"

Feiyue had two pistols tucked into her waistband and a black submachine gun lying across her knee. Of course, there were two magazines in each of her trouser pockets, making her look ready to go on a killing spree.

Part 5: The Blade of Distance

— Chapter 9 - The Guardian Dragon of the Village —

I wasn't confident of obtaining the Night-Shining Toad, but I was determined not to resort to force, and of course, I wouldn't allow anyone else to harm He Jishang.

“Sometimes, you really can’t be merciful to the enemy, that would be a crime against your comrades. I’ve made a mistake once, and I will never make the same mistake again, you know?” She removed the magazine and carefully checked the sights of the submachine gun.

Tang Xiaogu's sudden attack caused Feiying and the others to fall into a coma, which was indeed an unforgivable mistake. No wonder Feiyue took it as a warning.

“The people of the ancient village haven’t invaded us. Even if they’re not friends, they’re not enemies either.” I slowed down and carefully drove through a path through the bushes. Blindly making enemies would be unwise, and I was thinking of reasons that might sway He Jishang.

Gu Qingcheng's intelligence is likely correct. The reason the southwestern caravan hasn't acted hastily is because they have a larger conspiracy in the works, waiting to strike halfway through the journey and effortlessly seize our expedition's spoils. If we really have to resort to force, it's better to save our strength for dealing with them.

Fei Yue gave a cold laugh, then fell silent, glancing around warily before suddenly frowning: "Mr. Feng, I have a feeling that someone is watching us from the shadows?"

I sensed that malevolent killing intent before she did; the birds in the nearby bushes fell silent—a sign that someone was stealthily approaching. I accelerated, quickly passing the bushes and driving onto a stone-paved path that was half against the mountain and half bordering a ravine.

Fortunately, nothing strange happened. If the enemy had attacked rashly, they would certainly not have fared well against Feiyue's submachine gun at such close range.

"Are they from the Southwest caravan? I smell a strange odor mixed with the smell of mutton and sweat. There are at least five enemies. Their weapons are light and don't seem to be modern firearms. They're probably old-fashioned bows and arrows, right?"

Feiyue sneered. The enemy dared to use bows and arrows against submachine guns; they were utterly foolish.

I immediately reminded her, "Look at the right rearview mirror, about 70 degrees to the upper right, there's that wild jujube tree hanging on the cliff. I suspect these are just sentries lying in ambush, and their heavy weapons must be hidden in some cave nearby, ready to be the first rope to tighten the trap at any time."

Feiyue glanced at it out of the corner of her eye, and her lips suddenly turned deathly pale.

This mountain road is so narrow that if two machine guns were to cross and block it, it would immediately become a death trap. Before we succeed, we can come and go freely on this road, but once we find something inside the mountain, the enemy will definitely strike immediately.

Crystals, gold, and the treasures of the Epang Palace—the secrets hidden deep within the mountains have long been tempting the southwestern caravans. Now, with our free advance team exploring and retrieving treasures for them, it's exactly the kind of thing they've been asking for.

I have a very ominous feeling: "If the Southwest Caravan is about to make its move, will they also take care of the ancient village next to my bed? The Five Poisons Sect is an unruly and unorthodox force in the martial arts world, impossible to subdue, let alone turn enemies into friends. Perhaps the clash between the two forces will be the prelude to the treasure hunt?"

With a click, Feiyue ejected the magazine again. If I remember correctly, this was the sixth time she had repeated the same action, which fully demonstrated her extreme tension.

"Aren't you scared?" I laughed.

Like a child spoiled by an overprotective eagle, she became somewhat lost when she first started carrying out missions alone. This reminded me of Guan Baoling, and a sharp pain shot through my heart. I thought I had temporarily put aside that beautiful girl who was famous throughout Asia, but in reality, no emotion can be easily picked up and put down.

"Don't be afraid. When you said that, you sounded just like my brother." Fei Yue smiled, holding the magazine horizontally in front of her eyes and staring at the closely packed, cold bullets.

I firmly believe that Flying Eagle will be fine. Even if they were poisoned by Tang Clan's Gu poison, when Tiger leads us back to Tang Xin, she can easily break any poison and restore everyone's mobility, including Schiller, who was in a vegetative state from the beginning.

The Five Poisons Sect relies solely on "poison." Once this barrier is broken, their defenses are even weaker than those of ordinary martial arts sects. Unconsciously, I stepped on the gas pedal again, increasing the car's speed, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on my forehead and the tip of my nose.

"Mr. Feng, what are you worried about?" Fei Yue showed the meticulous side of a girl.

The speedometer climbed to forty kilometers per hour, and the wheels kept rolling over the gravel on the road, causing it to bounce violently.

“I’m worried that the ancient village will fall into the hands of the caravan. Everyone knows the miraculous effects of the Blood-Red Night-Shining Toad, and they certainly won’t let go of the treasure that’s been delivered to their mouths.”

More importantly, He Jishang is a very beautiful and charming woman, and I don't want her to be hurt by anyone. To tarnish her reputation would be to tarnish the prestige of my elder brother, Yang Tian.

In the hidden compartment to the left of the steering wheel lay a powerful Desert Eagle pistol, which Uncle Wei had deliberately left behind. He must have known what I had done in Egypt and Hokkaido, and he was aware of my fondness for firearms.

At all times, I hope to protect my elder brother's interests as much as possible, especially his unparalleled reputation as the "King of Tomb Raiders." A person like him must be perfect, like the full moon on the fifteenth night, its bright and clear light shining on the earth, becoming an idol that everyone looks up to and admires.

This time, I will take action against He Jishang. If the caravan dares to touch her, they will be courting death.

Fei Yue sighed softly, "I see your heart. He Jishang is a woman of elegance and grace. If I were a man, I would also be irresistibly attracted to her."

I frowned slightly: "Feiyue, what are you thinking?"

She gently turned off the record player and asked in a hoarse voice, "Mr. Feng, can I ask you for a favor?"

We could already see the flagpole at the highest point of the ancient village ahead. It was quiet all around, with no gunshots or shouts of battle.

Having calmed down a bit, I casually asked, "What? Please tell me."

With a formidable enemy at hand, I had little time to deal with Fei Yue's impending romantic musings; I only hoped to see He Jishang the next second, and to see He Jishang completely unharmed.

As the car rounded the last bend, the half-closed gate of the village came into view, smeared with horrifying blood.

Feiyue was startled. She concealed her submachine gun under her arm and leaned forward to look ahead. On the bluestone ground in front of the village gate, a huge "kill" character was painted in blood.

The ancient village was quiet. I stepped on the brakes, and the jeep screeched to a halt in front of the blood-red characters. The sun had already set, but dusk hadn't yet fallen, so we could clearly see the entire village. At least the houses were still intact, and there were no bloody corpses inside the village gate.

"Mr. Feng, if anything happens to me, please save my brother. He is my only family." Fei Yue's face darkened, and her right hand gripped the car door handle.

I slowly shook my head: "Don't get out of the car, and don't say anything about dying. If I were Flying Eagle, I would hope that you would live on strongly and that the first thing you would want to see when you wake up is your sister."

The surrounding hillsides, bushes, dead trees, and gullies could all hide enemies. The two of us standing in front of the village gate were like two huge live targets.

"Now, follow my instructions. Let's go in." I released the brakes, drove around the blood-red characters, and entered the village gate.

The mountain wind carried the unpleasant stench of blood; no one came out, and the ancient village was shrouded in deathly silence. I drove the car to the bottom of the stone steps outside He Jishang's small building and parked it steadily.

Feiyue jumped out of the car and looked up. The stone steps reflected a bluish light in the deepening twilight. The vast ancient village was dark and gloomy, without a single lamp, like a cemetery that existed only for the dead.

"Could it be that everyone here has met with misfortune?" Fei Yue muttered to herself in confusion.

I didn't move from the driver's seat, but I loosened my grip on the steering wheel and stretched my aching back. Lately, I've been experiencing a series of strange and inexplicable events, and I haven't been sleeping well at night, so my physical condition isn't great.

"Impossible. If the ancient village could be so easily slaughtered, it wouldn't have stood here long ago. As the Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons Sect, He Jishang's abilities are not to be underestimated, which is what the caravan fears most."

I smiled and shook my head. Perhaps only a smile could embolden Feiyue to continue the fight. No one should lose their life in these mountains for any reason. Those who came in alive should do everything possible to leave alive.

At the top of the stone steps, a brass lantern suddenly lit up. The glass cover was wiped clean, and the wick inside was stretched high, producing a large flame, like a small torch, illuminating the snow-white dress of the person carrying the lantern.

"Hello, what do you want from me at this hour?" It was He Jishang's voice. As the mountain wind blew her white dress, the scattered red poppies on the hem looked like blood splashed in the twilight, giving me a feeling of both terror and amazement.

She had changed her clothes; her jet-black hair was loosely draped over her shoulders. She held a lantern aloft in her left hand, and the hideous, menacing human skin mask was gone from her face; her expression was cold and indifferent. When her gaze swept across my face, I could feel a surging, overwhelming killing intent crashing against me like waves crashing on the shore.

Feiyue took a deep breath: "Where are the people in the village? Where are the caravan's enemies? What happened here?"