King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 108

— Chapter 4 — The Fanged Demon Arrives —

The room was a bit cold. I lightly stamped my feet on the stone floor, feeling somewhat disheartened. Everyone was keeping their own secrets; even Su Lun sometimes spoke evasively. When she spoke of Xiao Keleng's background, she clearly concealed something as well. Given this, could I still wholeheartedly believe in Xiao Keleng? Definitely not! The separation of time and space had created a sudden chasm between Su Lun and me.

“That’s all. If you agree to cooperate, we can arrange a time to meet in Cairo.” Yelan calmly finished dressing, appearing as if he had done everything he could to be considerate.

"So, what about the treasure map? Don't you want to show it to your partners beforehand?" He thinks he can talk about cooperation based on just two tattoos? He's far too confident in the allure of gold. Needless to say, I have important business to attend to right now, and even if I were extremely bored, I wouldn't rashly accompany him on a gold rush through the pyramids.

I need more information, not for the gold, but to explore the secrets of the so-called "divine" instructions in the dragon's message.

In ancient times, when science was extremely underdeveloped, people blindly revered all creatures that descended from the sky as "gods," regardless of whether these extraterrestrial beings resembled monkeys, dinosaurs, or even monstrous creatures with blue faces and fangs—the words inscribed on Yeran's chest had been passed down for hundreds of years. I suspect those gods were merely interstellar astronauts who had lost their way, or perhaps just myths fabricated by the indigenous Egyptian people themselves.

Imagine this: ancient Earthlings had very few hieroglyphs, so how could they understand and communicate with extraterrestrials? And how could they possibly have their extraterrestrial instructions engraved on their bodies to be passed down? That's just too absurd!

Yelan grinned mischievously, feigning sudden realization: "Right, right, there is a treasure map, but it's with my girlfriend. After we get to Cairo, we'll meet up with her, get the map, and head towards the 'Sea of Gold.' In Cairo, with enough US dollars, you can find any digging tools and digging teams. I think you understand this better than I do..."

I didn't want to get angry because we still need Yelan to participate in the operation to awaken Tengjia at Fengge Temple tomorrow. Besides, Yelan's method of keeping the secret step by step is completely understandable. Assuming he's the only one on Earth who possesses the great secret to opening the "Golden Sea," how could he easily reveal it to outsiders?

"Mr. Feng, after the gold is unearthed, how about we split it 30/70? But you'll have to pay all the excavation costs upfront. I think your return will be no less than ten thousand times, hahahaha..." Yelan laughed smugly. It seems he doesn't mind losing half his arm in Japan; his mad desire for gold has made him lost and intoxicated in his own wonderful fantasies.

I went back to my room—if it could still be considered my room.

Outwardly, there were no visible changes, but I believe the members of the Sharpshooter Society must have installed countless surveillance and alarm systems in the study, living room, and bedroom. Under their meticulous control, even a bird or a moth entering Xunfu Garden would be monitored from every angle until it dies or escapes on its own.

I sat down on the sofa, used a knife to pry open the envelope, and from the back of the neatly folded letter, I could clearly see the blood-red dragon seal. I took a deep breath, spread the letter out on the coffee table, and couldn't help but smile, because in this letter, Sun Long actually wanted to invite me to be the Chief Inspector of the Divine Gun Society in Asia.

His words were very polite: "Feng, your extraordinary wisdom, resourcefulness, and courage displayed in the Egyptian desert have not only aroused the strong interest of the Egyptian military, who want to recruit you, but in recent months, your name has also appeared on the list of outstanding individuals in the police databases of various countries. The future world will surely belong to young people like you, so I earnestly request that you join the Sharpshooter Society and do great things for the nation. Scalpel was my most respected senior, who recommended you to me countless times. Now that he has passed away, I hope you will not disappoint his expectations and join me in conquering the world and sharing it equally."

Although the Sharpshooter Society has always been a notorious force in the underworld, it has always emphasized "love for the Chinese nation," much like Dr. Yat-sen's "Three Principles of the People," and has consistently received enthusiastic responses from patriotic overseas Chinese. Globally, Chinese people naturally feel their blood boil upon hearing the phrase "love for the Chinese nation."

I pushed the letter aside, wondering if I had become so famous.

The most thrilling part of my experience in the Egyptian desert was the final battle after entering the secret chamber of the god Turkhan, where I fought against the scalpel controlled by the shadow of the illusion demon—but I only told Suren about that, and no one else knows.

I love my country, but I'm not so fanatical as to join an organization and take radical actions. I can only apologize to Sun Long for his kindness. Everyone has their own goals in life, and I can only consider other things after I've completed my mission to find my elder brother Yang Tian. The key right now is to wake Teng Jia and see if we can find any clues in the *Azure Heaven and Yellow Springs Scripture*.

After dusk, the Sharpshooter gang, who had been busy all day, finally quieted down. The van drove away, and on the surface, the villa returned to its peaceful state.

Imagine, an entire carload of advanced electronic tools and firearms of all sizes have been hidden in every corner of the villa. The villa, which appears unchanged on the outside, has essentially been transformed into a first-class, solid defensive fortress, sufficient to handle any espionage attempts by the small ninja squad from Watanabe Castle.

Hawke maintained a refined and reserved smile towards me throughout. Perhaps he already understood the meaning of Sun Long's letter. He kept a polite distance from me while subtly probing my intentions.

I ate very little at dinner because I was still bothered by the fact that Suren couldn't fly to Hokkaido immediately. I hadn't done anything to Guan Baoling, and I knew very well that she was the tycoon's woman and no one was allowed to touch her—if Suren was jealous over something unrelated, I couldn't explain it.

"Tomorrow! We can try our luck tomorrow and see if it can bring a turning point for Fujika's awakening..."

I sat cross-legged on the sofa in the second-floor living room, closing my eyes to rest. After experiencing so many bizarre and mysterious events, I needed to calm down and process my thoughts. Otherwise, having too many questions piling up in my mind would only be a waste of energy and greatly reduce my work efficiency.

The phone rang; it was a completely unfamiliar Japanese number. I'm sure Xiao Keleng and the others who were having dinner downstairs could hear my phone ringing, because they almost simultaneously stopped the clinking of their cutlery.

I answered the phone and was immediately taken aback, because it was Watanabe Cheng's voice on the other end: "Mr. Feng, are you alright? Hahahaha..." He only said one sentence before he started laughing triumphantly, as if he had called just to make fun of me. I wasn't mistaken; it was indeed Watanabe Cheng on the other end, because from that arrogant and haughty tone, I could already picture his invincible image.

“I’m fine. How about you, Mr. Watanabe? The Hashizu-style ninjas’ defeat didn’t make you too angry, did it?” My words hit his sore spot, because the “Gemini Killers” died at my hands. I had to let him know that Chinese people, even on Japanese soil, know how to fight back, instead of just retreating and giving in.

"No—how could that be? A ninja who fails to complete a mission assigned by his master will either be killed by the enemy or commit suicide at his master's feet. The 'Twin Assassins' are nothing more than ninja assassins I keep. To die at the hands of a powerful enemy like you is the highest honor in their lives. Mr. Feng, even our great Emperor has heard of your name, so he hopes to invite you to Princess Mei Ying's forty-fourth birthday celebration soon. I wonder if Mr. Feng would do me the honor?"

This is truly an incredible story—how could a young, unknown Chinese person like me attract the attention of the Japanese Imperial Family?

I sneered, hoping it was just an April Fool's joke, even though the next April Fool's Day was still six months away.

The clatter of cutlery downstairs resumed, but I knew the people at the table were all listening intently, each with their own thoughts. Especially Hawke; I always felt that beneath his humble and amiable exterior lay an unfathomable, volatile heart.

His domineering presence is undeniable; compared to the "love-obsessed" Wang Jiangnan, he is many times more shrewd and capable.

Watanabe's background has become almost transparent under the spotlight of media around the world. He is a staunch supporter of the Japanese Ministry of Defense's military weapons reform. In 2004 alone, he donated US$900 million to the military to upgrade its weapons for near-shore and shallow-water warfare.

He belongs to the hardliners in Japan's postwar economic circles and has consistently denied the heinous crimes committed by Japan during World War II.

It is utterly inconceivable that such a powerful and ruthless figure would condescend to come to Hokkaido to personally execute the acquisition plan of Xunfuyuan.

After pacing back and forth in the living room a few times with the phone in my hand, I deliberately used silence to wear down his patience.

"Mr. Feng, according to the Chinese code of conduct, you absolutely mustn't refuse a polite offer only to be forced to drink a forfeit. On our Japanese turf, things will ultimately be done according to our rules. You're a smart man, of course you understand this principle—"

Even though it was just over the phone, I could feel Watanabe's aggressive demeanor and his unwavering confidence in acquiring Xunfuyuan.

I sneered, "Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Watanabe, but we have different paths and cannot work together. I'm sorry."

Watanabe Jo burst into another fit of maniacal laughter: "Mr. Feng, don't think that the Sharpshooter Society can become your partner—in Hokkaido, in Japan, wherever there are people, it absolutely belongs to the Yamaguchi-gumi, without exception. You can decide for yourself; the Yamaguchi-gumi's doors are always open to you..."

This sudden phone call clearly indicated that I had been drawn into the vortex of the battle between the Shinshogunate and the Yamaguchi-gumi, whether I admitted it or not. This was truly frustrating, because I had never received any benefits from the Shinshogunate, and my purpose in coming to Hokkaido had nothing to do with them.

Xiao Keleng walked up and asked with concern, "Mr. Feng, do you need any help?"

She also looked very tired. Today, the Sharpshooter Society carried out strategic renovations on the villa, keeping her extremely busy and exhausted.

I was standing in front of the bronze statue, diagonally facing the window. Suddenly, I felt something flash past the window, and I quickly turned to look out.

Outside the window was the vast darkness of night. That thing was furry, and looked like a sneaky monkey.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Ke brushed her short hair from her forehead and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Maybe I was just seeing things, I thought something flew by—" I said with an embarrassed smile.

Xiao Keleng walked over, stared at the clock face, snapped open the cover, took out the lotus key, sighed, and began to wind the clock.

The green indicator light on the computer remained on. I remembered Anzi's strange behavior and couldn't help but remind Xiao Keleng: "Xiao, Xunfuyuan is going through a turbulent time. Are the people around you reliable? Especially the Japanese you hired, you have to be careful."

Anzi saw the pictures Su Lun sent, that much is certain, but was she really interested in them? Or was it just a little girl's curiosity?

I rubbed my throbbing temples, determined to thoroughly study the pictures Su Lun had sent me after returning from Fengge Temple tomorrow. Anyway, the leads for finding my elder brother Yang Tian were almost exhausted, so there was no point in rushing things.

When the key turns, the clock makes a strange "clunking" sound; this clock needs some oiling.

Xiao Keleng suddenly smiled: "Mr. Feng, many things can't be hidden from you, but please believe me on this: I'm Su Lun's good friend, and I have no ill intentions towards you. On the contrary, Miss Guan, people in the entertainment industry sleep with one eye open, they're extremely shrewd. Whether she's intentional or not, you have to admit that she's deliberately using her charm to bewitch everyone, am I right?"

She harbored a prejudice against Guan Baoling, compounded by the natural jealousy that comes with being a girl.

"Furthermore, the tycoon has always maintained close ties with the Japanese, which has drawn criticism from Hong Kong film stars. Under the influence of such a man, every move Miss Guan makes will be subject to suspicion. I have reason to suspect that her acquisition of Xunfuyuan and Watanabe Castle's acquisition are ultimately aimed at bringing some tangible benefits to the Japanese..."

She turned the key while lost in thought.

In any case, I will not sell the villa under the temptation of beauty; I am confident of that.

"Xiao Xiao, I'll take Yelan to Fengge Temple tomorrow to see if his incantation can successfully awaken Tengjia. Then, send two people to categorize and organize the books in the study. Sulun won't be coming anytime soon, so I'll have to entrust many things to you..."

I will compile all the translations of "The Centuries" and carefully read through every page to see if my elder brother has left any annotations.

Xiao Ke shrugged, put the lotus key back, and said dismissively, "Mr. Feng, you may be disappointed. These books have already been thoroughly searched by Mr. Scalpel, and there's no possibility of finding any other value. However, I will certainly do as you say, and I will have Anzi and Xinzi come and be at your service."

The moment Anzi was mentioned, my face darkened. When she furtively looked through the pictures on my computer, I already had serious doubts about her identity.

"Huh? What's that—" Xiao Ke leaped to the window in a flash, opened it with a "bang," and peered out to look around.

A chilly night wind rushed in, making me shiver.

"I saw something... fly by..." Xiao Ke hesitated, then shrank back. Like me, she also saw something mysterious, but it flashed by so quickly, like a fleeting shadow, that she couldn't make out what it was. She scratched her head, quickly went downstairs, and called out loudly, "Thirteenth Brother, Thirteenth Brother..."

The Sharpshooter Society's surveillance system covered every corner and every level of the villa's perimeter, so it was naturally able to capture the strange thing that had just flashed by. I followed them downstairs and saw Wang Jiangnan shouting orders into the walkie-talkie: "Search the villa's roof and exterior walls carefully to see if any wild monkeys have sneaked in. Kill them without mercy."

His white gloves were particularly striking because I knew perfectly well what strange iron hands were hidden beneath them.

Guan Baoling sat at one end of the long table, holding a glass of water, her head tilted in deep thought. Also present were Hawke, Zhang Baisen, Shao Bai, and Shao Hei.

The firewood in the fireplace crackled and popped. Everyone in the room harbored their own ulterior motives and had their own agenda.

Fifteen minutes later, the sentries outside reported in turn: "Nothing was found."

Xiao Ke's cold expression turned extremely bad: "Didn't you notice? I can't read faces, it's a furry thing."

I trust her eyesight, and I saw it with my own eyes.

“There are no monkeys in Hokkaido in winter—no animals can survive without food.” Wang Jiangnan arrogantly tossed the walkie-talkie onto the table, as if his words were absolute truth.

I hate it when he tries to act cool in front of Guan Baoling, but he's the one with the upper hand now, so even though I'm full of resentment, I have to watch helplessly. The Sharpshooter Society has over thirty mobile and stationary sentries, and with advanced monitoring equipment, they shouldn't be making mistakes. So what exactly is that thing flashing past the window?

Xiao Keleng strode out the door, his hands in his pockets, presumably worried about the sentries' abilities, and went to patrol on his own.

I hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed her, because I felt it was necessary to understand all the manpower deployments of the Sharpshooter Society. Letting Wang Jiangnan and the others do as they pleased was tantamount to handing one's life over to others, which would leave one with no control over oneself.

"Xiao Xiao, what are you seeing? If there's someone outside the window with incredibly high lightness skills, wouldn't that give people the illusion of a 'monkey'?" I know that in this cold weather, it's impossible for a monkey to suddenly run out and cause trouble.

We slowly climbed the iron ladder next to the last room on the right wing of the main building to the roof.

The wind howled loudly, and there was no sign of anyone approaching Fengge Temple; the entire Muwanzhou Mountain was shrouded in darkness. The rooftops were perfectly flat, and members of the Divine Gun Society lay in ambush in several dark corners.

When Xiao Keleng climbed back up to the roof of the main building using the iron ladder, she became extremely alert. She walked straight up to the living room window and leaned down to look down.

I pay more attention to the hillsides and bushes within my field of vision, as those places are very likely to be hiding enemies.

Xiao Keleng suddenly sighed, "Mr. Feng, perhaps I really am seeing things. In this state, the sentries would never let go of any suspicious clues." Looking around, there were at least eight capable young men vigilantly scanning all directions on the roof of the main building and within a 20-meter radius of both wings.

"Maybe so! You're too tired, it's understandable that your eyes are blurry..." I said with a wry smile.

Right at Xiao Keleng's feet, a white thing suddenly flashed. I squatted down and slowly picked it up.

“What is this…?” I reached out my hand to Xiao Keleng.

With a "snap," she turned on a miniature high-powered flashlight and shone it into my palm. Suddenly, I cried out "Ah!" and my body trembled. The flashlight slipped from my hand and fell to the ground.

“Mr. Feng… Mr. Feng… is… is… Fang Demon…” Her voice trembled violently as she grabbed my arm and pulled hard.

After picking up the flashlight again, I examined my palm closely. Yes, it was a tooth, a canine tooth of some animal, its tip forked into two, pointing outwards in an exaggerated manner. The tooth was two centimeters long, gleaming with a grayish-white light, but it was dry, indicating it had been missing for a long time.

I didn't care about the legend of the Fang Demon, but I never expected Xiao Keleng to be so afraid. She took a step closer to me and whispered, "Let's go downstairs, I'm so cold..."

When we stood again under the bright lights of the living room, Xiao Ke dragged a chair to the fireplace. Perhaps the firelight could dispel the fear in her heart? The teeth were already on the table, having been passed around among everyone beforehand.

"Without a doubt, this is just an ordinary animal tooth, and it's been discarded for a long time. There's nothing to be afraid of!" It was Wang Jiangnan, ever the smug one, who rushed to speak. He always had something to say in front of Guan Baoling, and he always insisted on speaking first.

With a "hiss," Zhang Baisen, Shao Bai, and Shao Hei almost simultaneously let out a cold laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" Wang Jiangnan's eyes widened.

Shao Bai swayed as he got up and patted Shao Hei on the shoulder: "We're only here to attend the Sapporo Supernatural Ability Exchange Conference. We don't need to cause trouble, right?"

Since seeing the teeth, his expression had changed several times, and now that he was saying such things, it was clear that he was backing down.

With a bitter face, Shao Hei replied in a sullen voice, "Yes, what does Boss Zhang mean? We, this whole group, all look to Boss Zhang as our leader, so we'll just do whatever he says!"

Their question-and-answer session completely disregarded Wang Jiangnan.

Wang Jiangnan grew increasingly furious, grabbed the tooth, and hurled it into the fireplace. His temper was indeed volatile; with such a temperament leading a force, the fate of the gang was predictable. In the rapid expansion of the Divine Gun Gang, mistakes were inevitable, stemming from poor personnel management.

"Wait—" Hawke jumped up, trying to stop Wang Jiangnan, but it was too late; his teeth were already in the flames.

Zhang Baisen sighed softly and stretched his right hand toward the fireplace. He was sitting at least ten steps away from the fireplace, but the moment he reached out, it was as if his arm had suddenly grown dozens of times longer, and when he pulled his hand back, he was already clenching his teeth in his palm.

As the top expert in special abilities in mainland China, such techniques are just the tip of the iceberg, so although everyone admired them in their hearts, no one shouted them out.