King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 105

Of course it didn't work, otherwise Fujika would have woken up long ago, and wouldn't have provoked the "Gemini Killers" to kill him.

“I’m not mistaken…not at all, the spell is…” he mumbled a phrase in Egyptian.

Xiao Ke was baffled. She had never been to the desert, so of course she didn't understand what that sentence meant. I was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly turned around and punched Yelan on the shoulder, knocking him to the corner of the back seat with a horrified scream.

I'm not an impulsive person, but what Yelan said was utterly ridiculous, because translated into Chinese it's just three words: "Wake up!"

Yelan was curled up with a sallow complexion. As I turned on the overhead light with a "snap," his body trembled violently, clearly terrified.

"Yeran, you're not telling the truth! Did the dragon teach you this spell?" This sentence is hardly a spell; it's just everyday Egyptian language.

“I did tell the truth, Mr. Feng, it’s the truth… I’ve already lost my arm, and I don’t want to lose anything else. The dragon said that only a destined person can recite this incantation on a dead body sprinkled with resurrection sand for it to have its magical power. I won’t joke with my own life, believe me… believe me…”

I stared at his face in disbelief for more than two minutes, convinced that he wasn't lying: "A destined person? What conditions must be met to be called a 'destined person'?"

Yelan replied, "I don't know, that's what the dragon said, and I can only relay it."

I don't know if everything I did to save Yelan was worth it. If the spell is really just this one sentence, it's not even worth two dollars, let alone twenty million.

“Mr. Feng, Mr. Feng, I have an even more important treasure map for you… The price is negotiable…” Yelan regained his spirits and brought up the fictitious “treasure map” again.

I waved my hand dejectedly: "Forget it, Yelan, I'm not interested in your treasure map. I can give you a few hundred dollars tomorrow, and we don't need to contact each other again..."

The plan to wake Fujika was abruptly canceled—I felt that sending her to a top hospital in the United States or Europe for treatment might offer a better chance, but I didn't know if Master Shinbeki at Fengge Temple would agree. Of course, whether she wakes up or not is not of any personal interest to me.

Part 4: Reincarnation

— Chapter 1 - Treasure Map —

Xiao Keleng glanced at Yelan's face in the rearview mirror and asked with interest, "Mr. Yelan, how much is your other big secret worth?"

I turned my head to look out the window, not wanting to participate in any discussion about the treasure map, and the image of the vine-like object lying peacefully inside the golden cylinder kept flashing through my mind.

"Can a simple Egyptian phrase really wake her up? Are you kidding me? If it were that easy, the effect of this 'soul-reviving sand' would be nothing but child's play..." I thought of the disheveled dragon, that vagabond-like alien. When his soul was inexplicably seized by the god Turks, would he hope to be reborn and awaken?

If it weren't for the tiger's unexpected interference, perhaps the dragon could have awakened—thinking of the tiger and Tang Xin, I suddenly had an inspiration: "Although Tengjia can't possibly awaken, at least the missing 'Azure Heaven and Yellow Springs Scripture' still exists. I absolutely do not believe that, apart from Tengjia, there isn't a single person on Earth who can decipher that script..."

I took out my phone, ready to call Suren.

Her current location is very close to the Tang Clan's stronghold in Sichuan, where she might be able to find some clues left by Tang Xin. Find the scriptures, then have all the ancient Chinese linguists study them together. With a generous reward, there will surely be brave men. I refuse to believe that the wisdom of the Chinese is inferior to that of a young Japanese girl.

"I...I will not sell this secret unless I find a suitable partner to uncover it together...Ms. Xiao is interested, we can have a serious talk..."

In just a few months, Yelan had transformed from a meticulous desert drilling expert into a shrewd speculator. But in modern society, shrewdness alone isn't enough; one must also possess power and influence, and have connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds. Blindly venturing into this line of work might leave one wondering who fired the first shot before they even know it.

"Haha—" Xiao Ke laughed loudly, opened the car window, and let the salty sea breeze from Hokkaido rush in.

"Mr. Yelan, wake up! The legend of treasure maps has been circulating for centuries, since the Spanish Viking era of the 17th century. There's only one Earth; how could so much treasure be buried there? If there really is a treasure map, I suggest you go to the Australian countryside and find a few nouveau riche to partner with. Perhaps those people are so bored that they'd believe your nonsense—"

Yelan suddenly became agitated, slamming his remaining hand against the cushion of Xiao Keleng's seat: "You... how do you know there's only one Earth? Ignorance! Ignorance! Ignorance! In this vast universe, how many secrets do Earthlings not know—what are treasures? What are pyramids? If I were to reveal the great secret in my heart, physicists worldwide would be dumbfounded..."

I tapped on the dashboard and whispered irritably to Xiao Keleng, "He's crazy, ignore him!"

By now, the lights in Xunfu Garden were visible. Yelan, panting, continued patting the back of my seat: "Mr. Feng, you said, regarding everything in the Turkham Pyramid, who could have predicted... the enormous gold ingots, it was absolutely a discovery that shocked the world..."

He's really gone mad. He believes the Egyptian government has already given him and the workers enough "hush money." If he keeps spouting nonsense like this, it won't be long before Tina orders a manhunt.

Xiao Ke's face darkened. As she discovered that I was hiding more and more secrets, the distance between us would gradually widen.

I'm not one to meddle, and there's absolutely no need to tell anyone what happened in the Egyptian desert. If Yeran really does have a treasure map, so be it. Besides me, there are plenty of explorers in the world interested in finding treasure in the pyramids, and I'm sure he can find partners to work with anytime.

The villa was quiet. Xiao Keleng pointed to a room with a light on on the right side of the main building and said in a low voice, "That's where Miss Guan is resting. After being frightened during the day, I asked Anzi and her sister to stay with her. Please don't worry."

I nodded. No matter how Xiao Keleng misunderstood, as long as Guan Baoling was alright, everything could be discussed in due course.

Tonight, I hope to have a long talk with Suren. Finding the "Blue Heaven and Yellow Springs Sutra" is another extremely important clue, and I also want to contact a renowned philological expert at the University of Hong Kong to consult him on some knowledge about ancient Sanskrit.

Before getting out of the car, Xiao Ke asked thoughtfully, "Mr. Feng, don't you think we won this battle too easily?"

I nodded almost without thinking: "Yes, it's too easy, that's why I have a bad feeling—" From the moment the "Gemini Killers" appeared, no other Yamaguchi-gumi members showed up. Even the sneak attack that took place in the shadows of the "Duo Lan She" villa likely only killed some insignificant characters.

So, did Watanabe's plan to send the "Twin Assassins" to Yelan end completely here?

“Mr. Feng, ‘Steel Nail’ Hawke is Mr. Sun’s right-hand man in the Sharpshooter Society. Mr. Sun will be arriving in Hokkaido soon. I think tonight’s battle is just a probing engagement between the two sides. The battle to come will be…”

The ground suddenly trembled, like a sudden, low-level earthquake, but the tremor was clearly felt. Yelan, who had just gotten out of the car, swayed and bumped into the car door with a bang.

"It's an earthquake... or is it an earthquake or a volcanic eruption..." he cried out in horror.

Hokkaido is a dangerous area prone to volcanoes and earthquakes, and the locals have long been accustomed to these large earthquakes that come and go quickly.

"It's not an earthquake, look—" My premonition came true, because a huge fireball suddenly shot out from the direction of the Southern Blue Society in the south, flying brilliantly into the sky. It was an extremely violent explosion; one could imagine that the Hashizu-ha ninja had planted enough high explosives in that building.

I burst out laughing and went into the living room alone, leaving Xiao Keleng and Yelan by the car.

If this were a battle of wits against wits, neither side would allow themselves to be put on the defensive. The Hashizu ninja knew that the Shinsho-kai would track, ambush, assassinate, and annihilate them, so they secretly hid explosives. The Shinsho-kai also knew that the Yamaguchi-gumi wouldn't sit idly by. The Dolan Society was blown up, but I think the clever Wang Jiangnan would be unharmed. What was blown into the sky was just an old house. The only ones who would have a headache would be the Hokkaido police department.

I've thought a lot about it, so even with the phone in my hand, I haven't dialed Su Lun's number. Perhaps I need a few hours to calm down before I can start considering investigating the "Azure Heaven and Yellow Springs Sutra."

After each brief turmoil, I would recall the words Sun Long had spoken to me earnestly on the gondola in Venice. Perhaps only a true warmonger could conceive of such an absurd plan—the existence of "Apollo's Wrath" was still ambiguous, yet he could fantasize about using this magical gem to destroy an island nation.

The Shingun Society's influence in Japan hasn't yet reached the point where it can rival the Yamaguchi-gumi. The old saying is absolutely true – "Even a mighty dragon can't suppress a local snake." Despite facing crackdowns from various governments in recent years, the Yamaguchi-gumi, like a centipede that dies but doesn't fall, still maintains absolute control over the Japanese underworld.

I slowly sat down in the living room on the second floor. After being severely frustrated by the "Soul-Resurrection Sand Curse," I was extremely depressed and almost lost all hope of waking up Tengjia.

My laptop was left open. After logging into my email, I found that Suren's pictures had been successfully sent. There were probably several hundred pictures, including many odds and ends, as well as more than a dozen pictures of an old, dilapidated stone house.

A wave of extreme drowsiness washed over me. After being controlled by Mino's soul-shifting technique, I was left with a slight dizziness as a side effect, causing a dull ache in both temples.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have gotten involved in the Divine Gun Society's plan today. If the leaders of the Divine Gun Society from all over the country are really going to gather in Hokkaido, it would be a gathering of experts. Why would a junior like me have to jump out and force my way in?" I really regret it, even though half of the reason I stepped forward was for Guan Baoling.

After a long sigh, I slumped weakly onto the sofa, my mind filled with the eerie images of the Hashizu-ha ninja.

As for tonight's events, Xiao Keleng might explain them to me tomorrow. Whether it's the truth or a fabricated one, I feel I have the right to know some of the inside story about the Sharpshooter Society. But what if I know? What if I don't? To the Sharpshooter Society, I, Yang Feng, am always just a passerby, and I will never get involved in their various secret operations... Someone went up the stairs, their footsteps light as they walked, stopping at the top of the stairs.

I closed my eyes, but my keen hearing told me that it was Anzi's footsteps.

"Mr. Feng, Mr. Feng? I've brought the coffee..." she called softly a few times, her voice gentle and sweet.

I didn't respond. My mind was a jumbled mess, and I didn't want to engage in any perfunctory conversation with anyone. In this state, I had no interest in asking about Guan Baoling. Anyway, Xiao Keleng was in the villa; she would manage everything. Besides, the Sharpshooter Gang would be back from the Blue Dome Society soon, and Wang Jiangnan's first priority would definitely be to greet her. Why should I bother and risk making Wang Jiangnan see me as a rival in love?

Anzi gently placed the tray on the coffee table, and the aroma of Brazilian coffee silently filled the air.

She stood in front of the coffee table for more than ten seconds, her feet motionless, and her breathing became very low—this was a strange and abnormal phenomenon, because I was not so presumptuous as to think that she was paying attention to me.

“Something must have attracted her. What could it be? Could it be the picture on the computer screen…” I asked myself suspiciously. The computer had been on the whole time, and anyone in the villa could have easily accessed it, but the picture of Su Lun had only just been sent—I hadn’t mentioned the ambiguous things Anzi had said to me on the way to Fengge Temple. Now, thinking back on it carefully, it seemed unlikely that a Japanese girl would so readily and openly confess her feelings to a Chinese man she had only known for a few days. Her intentions were definitely questionable.

"Click," the computer keyboard made a sound; it must have been Anzi pressing the turn key, hoping to get more image information.

My suspicions were confirmed; she was very interested in my information. I just hoped she wasn't a mole planted by Watanabe in Xunfuyuan.

I just glanced through the photos Su Lun sent me; there weren't any major secrets hidden, so I wasn't worried about anyone peeking. I didn't want to expose An Zi, so I just lay there quietly, maintaining a motionless, feigned sleep posture.

The keyboard was tapped six times in total. She had browsed all the pictures within a minute and then quietly disappeared like a nimble cat.

I opened my eyes. The coffee was steaming hot and fragrant, but I absolutely dared not drink it again. Who knew what special "ingredients" Anzi might have put in it? The computer screen returned to its original state, with a giant compass at the top.

It was late at night, and so far, all my work in Hokkaido had come to a standstill, with no clue what to do.

"Guan Baoling? Hehe... What exactly is this mysterious girl up to? Is she determined to get me to buy the villa? Who's behind her? The fact that she's willing to sacrifice her filming time to stay at Xunfu Garden shows how important the 'villa acquisition' is to her. Now, she's already captivated Wang Jiangnan. Tomorrow, the day after... will she also captivate Sun Long? Will all the top fighters of the Divine Sniper Society fall at her feet?"

Feeling a bit stuffy, I stood up, opened the window, and unbuttoned my coat, letting the cold night wind hit my chest.

Actually, I kept telling myself: "Guan Baoling is the tycoon's woman, don't think about her! Don't concern yourself with her affairs! No matter how others treat her or how she treats others, it has nothing to do with you!" But people's thoughts are not entirely under their control. I always think of her for no reason, even when I don't see her or can't see her—Xiao Keleng stood behind me for a long time before I suddenly realized it.

“Mr. Feng, be careful, the night wind is so cold, be careful not to catch a cold…” She crossed her arms, her expression full of concern.

I returned to my computer with a wry smile: "Xiao Xiao, what's wrong? It's so late!"

Anzi's strange behavior sent chills down my spine. The entire villa was filled with unsettling elements, and with the repeated intrusions of external enemies, perhaps I should explain what was happening here to Su Lun, so as not to get involved in the feud between the Sniper Society and the Yamaguchi-gumi.

I have enough headaches to deal with, why make trouble for myself?

“Mr. Feng, actually today’s events were part of Mr. Sun’s plan, and I was just one of the executors. Watanabe Castle has too many experts under his command. If the Divine Gun Society wants to successfully occupy Hokkaido, it has to keep ‘nibbling’ away at the Yamaguchi-gumi’s forces bit by bit… Brother Thirteen was the bait in the plan. I didn’t expect them to specifically ask you to go out. Therefore, I hope to apologize to you on behalf of Brother Thirteen.”

Xiao Keleng's words were still hesitant and stammering, indicating that she did not intend to tell me everything about the Divine Sniper Society's operations.

I looked at her shimmering short hair and her constantly shifting eyes: "Xiao Xiao, tell me, you're also a member of the Sharpshooter Society, right? Su Lun didn't tell me this, otherwise I would have made preparations earlier and wouldn't have dragged Xunfuyuan into this underworld factional conflict. I have many things to do and don't have the energy to deal with conflicts with the Japanese underworld. If possible, please have you and everyone from the Sharpshooter Society leave. I will rehire other people to manage the business here—Su Lun will understand, after all, the Yamaguchi-gumi has dominated the Japanese underworld for over a decade, and their power cannot be easily shaken... Do you understand what I mean?"

I'm not someone anyone can use as a tool, and I certainly don't want to become a shield for Wang Jiangnan to use to curry favor with Guan Baoling. He likes to provoke tycoons' women; let him stir up this hornet's nest if he wants, there's no need to drag me into it.

Xiao Keleng remained silent, neither denying nor admitting her identity.

"I'm tired. Can we talk about this tomorrow?" I said, signaling him to leave. Men all have tempers; it's just a matter of when they'll lash out.

"Mr. Feng, I think you've misunderstood. The Sharpshooter Society is our friend—"

I raised my hand, silently rejecting her explanation, and didn't mention Anzi's suspicious actions. In this situation, I only needed to protect myself; there was no need to meddle in other people's business. The Sharpshooter Society's affairs were all kept from me, so of course I had to keep my own secrets as well.

Xiao Keleng wanted to explain something, but in the end she just nodded silently and went downstairs.

There's so much to explain, and I need her to spend a whole day explaining it to me, instead of us being alone together late at night.

I was so tired tonight that I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. I kept having a long string of strange dreams—giant white waves crashing down like small mountains, and I was alone, navigating a canoe through the crests and troughs of the waves. I knew very well that I was going to a mysterious place, and there was something very important for me to do.

A huge compass rests on my lap, pointing due north.

When I saw a lazy polar bear on the distant ice, devouring half a dead fish, I suddenly remembered that I was paddling all the way to the North Pole. The waves suddenly stopped, and in the distance ahead was a silvery-white marker, so high, piercing the clouds.

The sky was azure, and the sunlight poured down without any obstruction. I abandoned the canoe and ran all the way to the marker.

This should be a high-intensity, high-sensitivity receiving antenna, but unfortunately, it doesn't indicate its nationality, making it impossible for me to determine which country's Arctic observation station it belongs to.

"So, what am I doing here?"

Unable to answer the question in my heart, I clasped my hands together, cupped them around my mouth, and shouted loudly. Strangely, I didn't understand the syllables coming out of my mouth, because these words didn't belong to any language I had ever learned, but rather to a kind of extremely vague and rapid alphabet similar to Russian—the sky suddenly darkened, and I had a premonition that the magical aurora borealis would appear, so I concentrated and looked up at the sky.

"How do you know there's only one Earth? How do you know there's only one Earth..." A voice suddenly entered my ears, repeating itself over and over with great emotion, growing louder and louder, making my eardrums itch.

I couldn't help but reply, "Of course, there's more than one Earth in the universe. According to Earth scientists' calculations, there are also highly intelligent beings on many unknown small planets in the Milky Way. These planets exist in the same state as Earth, so of course they can also be called 'Earth' or something else."

The voice echoed loudly: "Absurd! Absurd! I'm talking about Earth, another Earth, the tenth, the hundredth identical Earth..."

Without a doubt, this was Yelan's voice, the voice of that Egyptian engineer who only knew how to drill in the desert.

I know more about astronomy than Yellan does. What he said is just a small branch of the "parallel universe theory," the central idea of which is that "human beings live in multiple parallel universes. Suppose that we live in Universe 1 today, and then in the space outside Universe 1, there exist countless identical Universe 2, Universe 3, and so on, up to an infinite number of universes with completely identical development processes."

This is the "mirror universe theory" of American visionary scientists, which has always been denounced by orthodox physicists as "the wild fantasy of madmen."

"Yelan, what do you know? What have you discovered?" I asked loudly, instinctively gripping the marker beside me, afraid of being blown away by the chaotic Arctic wind.

"No one can unravel the secret of the 'Sun Ark,' and that's why humanity remains oblivious to the secrets behind the mirror. Foolish people, when you stand before the mirror, your soul has already entered another universe, hasn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it…"

Yelan's voice drifted back and forth, until it was carried by the wind to infinity.

I forgot my original purpose for coming to the Arctic and was suddenly puzzled by the "mirror universe theory".

Buddhist verses often contain the wisdom of "a grain of sand contains a world, a flower contains a Buddha-land." In human eyes, Mount Sumeru is immensely vast, while a mustard seed is incredibly small. However, if we shrink our bodies to one ten-thousandth of a micrometer, even a mustard seed would be as enormous as Mount Sumeru. Therefore, if we compare the Earth to one ten-thousandth of a mustard seed, and the universe to a mustard seed, how many universes should exist? There should be countless, infinite, and immeasurable universes. Humanity's current wisdom is insufficient to reach the edge of the universe using manned spacecraft, and thus, we cannot discover whether "parallel universes" truly exist.