King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 112

According to the principles of reflection and refraction of a mirror, it must be him at this moment. I walked back to the mirror and stared at my face and messy hair. Things in this world are often so strange; those who hope to disappear never get the chance, while those who fear disappearing are repeatedly trapped in trouble.

I originally wanted to call Xiao Keleng, but remembering Hawke's warning advice to her, I decided against it, lest she be caught in the middle between me and the Sharpshooter Society.

Part 4: Reincarnation

— Chapter 8 — The Mysterious Disappearance No One Saw —

"Xiao Lai, I want to go to Fengge Temple. Would you like to come with me?" Since we can't find anything in the restroom, we might as well go directly to the scene and see what Guan Baoling has encountered this time.

Xiao Lai exclaimed "Oh!" with an extremely excited expression: "Of course I'd go! Of course I want to go! Mr. Feng, ever since I saw your heroic deeds in the Egyptian desert in the newsweekly, I've been hoping to adventure with a boss like you. I don't care about your US dollars; if I could follow you around non-stop from now on, I'd be willing to pay you every day..."

His excessive excitement made him somewhat incoherent—I had no idea what kind of elaborate story the Egyptian cultural authorities had fabricated about the process of obtaining the "Eye of the Moon" under Tina's direction, making me sound like a superhero saving the world.

As I walked outside, I tidied my hair to avoid giving Wang Jiangnan a reason to laugh at me.

Xiao Lai acted extremely quickly, and within five minutes he had given instructions to his men on what to do, and then drove out in a nearly new green Mitsubishi Jeep.

I paused on the steps for half a minute to gather my thoughts. The monks in Fengge Temple are all skilled in martial arts. I could take on ten at once, but if hundreds of them swarmed me, it would waste my time. It would be best to bring a personal firearm. Just as I thought of this, Xiao Lai raised a silver-white pistol through the car window: "Mr. Feng, this is the weapon prepared for you, a Japanese modified version of the Desert Eagle."

He was so understanding, which made me like him even more.

Once inside the car, I realized he had prepared an unexpectedly comprehensive array of equipment, including an infrared night vision device, diving mask, wetsuit, diving oxygen tank, underwater crossbow, powerful flashlight… I stroked my chin, my face darkening as I asked, “Xiao Lai, did you plan this all along? Didn’t you?”

In such a rush, who could have prepared all the necessary tools so completely? Unless someone had already anticipated my departure for Fengge Temple. Besides, with so much diving equipment, does Xiao Lai understand my lingering suspicions about the "Well of Spirits"? Could he possibly guess my thoughts?

Xiao Lai slammed on the gas pedal, and the Jeep roared as it sped out of the manor gate.

"Mr. Feng, these were all purchased after Mr. Hawke made a detailed shopping list upon his arrival. Almost every vehicle carried four sets, and they weren't prepared specifically for any one person. Only this pistol was purchased specifically based on your memoirs. It's almost identical to the one you used when you entered the desert pyramid, including its weight, trajectory, bullet specifications, and recoil... You can judge for yourself how well it will suit your needs..."

Xiao Lai floored the accelerator, and the car sped forward at 160 kilometers per hour.

"I even have a memoir? My God! Tina is truly omnipotent..."

As long as she has the money, Tina can have any version of the Heroes' Memoir she wants. Even if she describes me as the invincible "Rambo" or "Schwarzschild" wielding a heavy machine gun, it's a piece of cake.

Silently, I unloaded the magazine, meticulously inspecting each bullet, and raised the empty gun, aiming at the distant road sign. Having a gun makes killing easy, but finding a reason to kill is the most difficult thing of all.

Xiao Lai turned on the record player, playing a light blues jazz song. A black female singer was softly singing in cloyingly sweet English, which was completely out of sync with our anxious mood as we rushed to Fengge Temple.

I flipped the switch to shortwave FM radio, and what I heard was the latest news from the Associated Press radio channel—"A sudden earthquake struck the Egyptian desert, with its epicenter at another newly developed tourist site south of the Great Pyramid of Giza, called the 'Tirakhan Underground Temple.' The powerful earthquake leveled the Tirakhan Pyramid to the ground, burying the site under shifting sands. Fortunately, there were no major casualties. Please wait for further reports..."

I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Tina was alright; I was finally relieved. My delaying tactics had worked. To be honest, I hoped to be friends with Tina, fighting side by side. Whether she loved me or not was her business, and whether I accepted her was my decision—that was all.

As we passed through the dark town of Kamito, the sun was just setting, and the sea breeze carried the mournful cries of seagulls, making us feel even more strongly that Hokkaido's winter can chill you to the bone.

The road was deserted, so Xiao Lai pushed the car to its limit, and the speedometer needle went right up to the top of the red line.

I gradually began to trust this capable young man in front of me, and confidently pointed my gaze toward the Tower of the Dead.

In fact, every explorer in the world knows that "the underwater tomb is located beneath the Tower of the Dead," but how to enter and where to begin has always been an unsolved mystery. So much so that some extreme explorers have even discussed applying to the Japanese government to buy the entire Muwanzhoushan area for destructive development.

Just thinking about this grand plan, as ambitious as the Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains, makes me smile to myself.

The saying "The Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains" can be interpreted in a positive light as a lack of ambition, fearlessness in the face of difficulties, and steady progress; conversely, it can be seen as a synonym for "utter foolishness."

Take the astronomical price of "1.5 billion US dollars" offered by the Japanese government for the wooden bowl Zhoushan as an example. This was not a problem for the powerful cultural relic collectors in Europe and North America who had long coveted the "underwater tomb". However, after conducting on-site surveys and investigations, each team had no choice but to give up.

I've seen the final report submitted by the surveying experts to several major conglomerates. Relocating the entire Muwanzhoushan is easy; four tons of TNT and seven months would suffice. Just blast the mountain and dump it directly onto the northwest coast—it's quick and easy. However, Muwanzhoushan is surrounded by the sea, and the vertical distance from Fengge Temple to the foot of the mountain is 320 meters. Once below ground level, waterproofing will be the biggest challenge.

The unit waterproofing cost for an excavation depth of 20 meters differs by nearly a hundredfold from that for an excavation depth of 200 meters. Moreover, no one can guarantee that the underwater tomb is located within 200 meters below the ground level. To exaggerate a bit, it might not even be found within 500 meters or even 1,000 meters.

Therefore, purchasing the overall development rights of Muwanzhoushan is a laborious project that would cost billions of US dollars, and no one dares to attempt it rashly.

As the car climbed the winding mountain road, Xiao Lai's superb driving skills became even more apparent, with his speed never dropping below sixty kilometers per hour on each curve. If I weren't also a skilled driver, I would have screamed countless times in fright.

Of course, this doesn't rule out the possibility that Xiao Lai is deliberately trying to show off in front of me. Anyone who gets a chance to stand out will spare no effort to show off their expertise. But I can't be sure that I can bring Xiao Lai a bright future, because I'm really not as amazing as Tina has made me out to be in the newspapers.

In the distance, the deserted main gate of Fengge Temple could be seen, and four cars belonging to the Divine Gun Society were parked in front of the steps outside the gate.

"Where could Guan Baoling have gone? Could she have disappeared like she did in the bathroom last time?" The car stopped, and as I jumped out of the car, I pinched my chin hard, pondering this nagging question.

I really dislike the desolate temple gate in front of me. It gives people a sense of loneliness and vicissitude, especially after dusk gradually approaches. Flocks of white crows cawing and circling around the ancient trees outside the Fengge Temple wall make me feel even more depressed.

The other four cars were empty; presumably, everyone had gone into the temple to look for Guan Baoling.

"Mr. Feng, would you like to have a cigarette and consider it?" Xiao Lai took out a cigarette case and respectfully handed it over.

I shook my head, my gaze filled with astonishment, and I couldn't help but wonder, "Would Tina portray me in her autobiography as a notorious bandit who's proficient in smoking, drinking, guns, gambling, and whoring?"

Right under the wheel of the car closest to the steps, I found a brass cartridge case, six centimeters long, which was probably a modified signal gun bullet.

Xiao Lai kept a close eye on my every move and blurted out, "This is a special signal flare from the association. It seems that Brother Thirteen's alarm signal was sent from right here. I was on guard on the roof at the time, so I couldn't have been mistaken—however, judging from the timeline, Brother Thirteen must have sent the signal about five hours after he left Xunfu Garden this morning. Mr. Feng, a lot can happen in five hours, so why would Brother Thirteen wait until then to send the signal?"

The fact that Xiao Lai was able to discover this problem is enough to prove that he is a smart person who is willing to use his brain.

I can imagine Wang Jiangnan's thought process. After discovering Guan Baoling's disappearance, his first reaction was to demand her return from the monks and prepare to search every room. A stubborn person like him would never believe in something like "disappearing into thin air," so he wasted at least two hours before helplessly seeking help.

Actually, after Guan Baoling disappeared in the villa last time, I spent most of the night working in vain before I had to accept this strange, predetermined outcome.

Wang Jiangnan and Hawke can't find Guan Baoling, and with the two of us added to the mix, it's probably all for naught.

I was sitting in the front of the car, facing the southwest sea, when I suddenly realized I was sitting in the direct line of fire of a "piercing arrow" formation. I immediately jumped off and moved five steps to the side. The changes in the yin and yang pattern cannot be perceived by the naked eye or the physical body alone; everything happens silently and subtly, making it impossible to guard against.

Xiao Lai nervously kicked at the fallen leaves at his feet, glancing up at the Tower of the Dead every now and then.

The twilight in the mountains seemed particularly heavy and somber, weighing heavily on one's heart, and making breathing feel less easy and free.

"Xiao Lai, if you were in that situation and discovered your companion was missing, what would you do?" I'd like to hear different opinions.

"I will—" Xiao Lai clasped his hands together, his gaze fixed on the quiet temple gate. No one entered or left, and there was no sound, as if the entire temple was asleep in the mountain and sea breezes.

"I will walk the route my companion took into the temple more than a dozen times, trying to imagine all possible scenarios. Using this as the main thread, I will radiate outwards to look for clues. What others say, whether intentionally or unintentionally, can be misleading, so it's best not to listen to anyone's account of what happened before actually searching..."

His thoughts coincided with mine in some ways, and I was also trying to figure out Guan Baoling's intentions, preparing to reenact her actions. However, she left me with too little information. Perhaps... perhaps Wang Jiangnan knew more about her relationship with Fengge Temple?

Wang Jiangnan, who loves to show off, once again lost face in front of the Sharpshooter Brothers, which made me feel depressed, but also made me chuckle to myself from time to time.

I led Xiao Lai through the temple gate and into the courtyard where the "Well of Spirits" was located. It was eerily quiet; not a soul was in sight. Only the water in the pool rippled, shimmering in the twilight, and constantly emanating a chilling aura. For some reason, I suddenly recalled a scene from the villa where she always liked to sit in the dried-up pavilion by the water—"She must be a girl who loves being near water. After coming to Fengge Temple, will she develop a special fondness for this 'Well of Spirits'?"

I took a dozen steps forward and stopped at the edge of the pool, gazing at the unfathomable depths of the well. A wave of icy air rushed towards me, and the clothes I was wearing offered no protection against the chill. Xiao Lai, who had been following behind me, immediately went around to the side and stood by the moon gate.

The water surface rippled, like a soul that could never find peace and tranquility.

No matter how captivating the legends surrounding the "Well of Spirits" may be, I still don't believe it can reveal a person's future. For example, does it know what I'm thinking right now?

I snapped my fingers, and Xiao Lai, understanding perfectly, tossed me a flashlight that was nearly forty centimeters long. However, he then reminded me with some regret, "Mr. Feng, it's useless. Even if you look into the well with a super-powerful searchlight, you won't find anything unusual. The water is crystal clear and bottomless; you won't be able to find anything else."

What's really strange is that Xiao Lai can almost guess what I'm going to do and accurately follow the direction of my thoughts.

I switched on my flashlight, held it close to the water's surface, and let the beam of white light shine straight down. Indeed, all I could see was the bottomless water, and my gaze could follow the beam of light downwards without any obstruction, all the way to the eerie, dark green that appeared in the infinite distance.

There were very few aquatic plants and not a single small fish, which perfectly matched the ancient Chinese saying, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish."

Sparse moss clung to the stone walls in the water, appearing only occasionally in the crevices between the stones. I found this questionable; after all, the water in this well had existed for hundreds of years. According to botanical principles, wells anywhere on Earth would invariably be covered in moss, sometimes even affecting the quality of drinking water. However, in the "Well of Spirits," the stone walls were completely bare, as if some force had scraped away all the moss.

"The water is so deep, could it really lead to the legendary sea eye?" I muttered to myself as I turned off the flashlight.

From the moment I prepared to set off for Hokkaido, I had one perplexing question about the "Well of Spirits": "With modern diving technology so advanced, hasn't anyone ever conducted a thorough deep-sea exploration to see where it leads?"

If it leads to the sea eye, the well water should at least be connected to the seawater, so it should be both salty and astringent, and there should be absolutely no fish in it. Seawater contains abundant microorganisms, which would surely encourage the growth of more algae and mosses, and the water would have been muddied long ago... "Mr. Feng, shall we go in? Wouldn't it be better to meet up with Brother Thirteen and the others sooner?" Xiao Lai seemed increasingly uneasy, constantly looking around at the moon gates, looking restless.

A chilling, eerie atmosphere permeated the courtyard. There was no moonlight tonight, and the dark rooftops, walls, and withered trees were half-hidden in the night, resembling menacing monsters.

As a future tomb raiding expert, I was already used to this gloomy environment, and my mind was not moved at all. Besides, I had a terrifyingly powerful Desert Eagle in my pocket.

"Xiao Lai, don't you think Miss Guan might pause here for a moment after entering the temple?" I gently tapped the stone slab of the well, making a soft "pat-pat" sound. The monks in the temple were nowhere to be seen; there had been no movement for so long. Could it be that everyone had gathered at the "Marrow Cleansing Hall" again to collectively comprehend the secret of reviving Teng Jia?

The "Well of Spirits" is a necessary passage for anyone entering the temple. Guan Baoling once said that she had received enlightenment from the well water, so she must have prayed here again this time. It's a pity there are no professional tools, otherwise it would be easy to find all the footprints left by the well, extract the ones belonging to Guan Baoling, and quickly find out where she went.

Xiao Lai nodded: "Yes, definitely. She came to Fengge Temple specifically for the 'Well of Spirits,' and stubbornly believes that the well water can guide her in the right direction—"

I walked over to Xiao Lai, reached into my pocket, and quietly gripped the gun handle: "Xiao Lai, you know quite a lot about Fengge Temple and Miss Guan. Did you do some research on this beforehand?"

If he came to Fengge Temple with ulterior motives, then I can't keep a ticking time bomb by my side, lest it jump out and betray me at any time.

Xiao Lai is quite skilled, but I'm confident I can easily subdue him. Of all the members of the Sharpshooter Society I've encountered so far, only the unfathomable Hawke might be my true opponent.

Xiao Lai slowly raised his hands, making a gesture that indicated "absolutely no hostility".

“Mr. Feng, I know what you suspect, but the reason I was able to obtain so much information is because the Divine Gun Society has been paying attention to Maple Rift Temple for three years, and I have been specifically responsible for collecting this information. In addition to the Tower of the Dead and the Well of Spirits, I also have to record in detail the identity, characteristics, background, and movements of all visitors who enter Maple Rift Temple. This is also the main reason why I am willing to come with you—I want to contribute as much information as possible to assist you…”

His eyes were calm, and a helpless, bitter smile graced his young face.

I nodded, my doubts dissipating somewhat: "I'm not doubting your sincerity, it's just a habit of vigilance I developed while navigating the world, sorry."

He was a member of the Sharpshooter Society and volunteered to help me. As the saying goes, "One should not have the heart to harm others, but one should not be without the heart to guard against others." I didn't want to become a sucker in someone else's trap for no reason.

Before we could decide on our next move, we heard footsteps approaching from the moon gate in front of us. A dozen people were whispering among themselves as they hurried into the courtyard.

"It's... Brother Thirteen and the others..." Xiao Lai whispered to me.

Sure enough, several beams of light flickered and danced, and as soon as they passed through the moon gate, they all pointed at me and Xiao Lai. Then, Wang Jiangnan's dejected voice rang out: "Huh? It's you...you guys?"

Hawke interjected, "Mr. Feng, what brings you all here? I was hoping you could rest a little longer—"

I couldn't find Guan Baoling in the crowd, so it seemed the situation was very bad.

Wang Jiangnan stood side by side with Hawke, looking like a defeated rooster, listless and dejected. If Guan Baoling were to truly disappear from this world, I swear I would kill him—only when you lose someone forever do you understand heartache. Even though Guan Baoling was a tycoon's woman, she is deeply imprinted in my heart, indelible for the rest of my life.

The courtyard of the "Well of Spiritual Connection" was too cold and gloomy, so we kept leaving Fengge Temple and standing in front of the car.

Xiao Lai beckoned to the members of the Sharpshooter Society to take out a battery-powered flashlight and illuminate a small open area below the steps. His competence was indeed remarkable; he considered everything more thoroughly than others.

Hawke kept frowning, holding the phone in his hand, pacing back and forth.

In this situation, if I didn't ask him, Wang Jiangnan might not be willing to recount what happened at all—looking at his distraught appearance, I really wanted to jump over and slap him a few times across the face.

The silence lasted for at least ten minutes before Hawke couldn't hold back any longer: "Mr. Feng, why don't we go back to Xunfu Garden first? Something strange happened today. It would be best if we met up with Miss Xiao and then we could discuss it further. What do you think?"

I shook my head firmly: "No, Miss Guan disappeared right under our noses. If the tycoon comes looking for answers later, no one will be able to escape blame. Mr. Hawke, if you don't want the Sharpshooter Society to clash with the tycoon and put Mr. Sun Long in a difficult position, you'd better get to the bottom of this tonight!"

With Guan Baoling missing, even if I retreat back to the villa, my heart will still be with Fengge Temple. I'll definitely be restless and unable to eat or sleep. It's better to keep everyone here, even if there's only a sliver of hope.

Hawke sighed, stamping his foot in frustration and shrugging his shoulders: "It's not that we didn't try, it's just that Miss Guan's disappearance is so bizarre. No one has ever seen her, and then she just vanished without a trace... You know what? She was in the temple for an hour, and none of the monks there had ever seen her..."

His words were somewhat incoherent, so I waved my hand to stop him: "What exactly happened? Can you tell me from the beginning?"

With Wang Jiangnan, one of the parties involved, here, I don't want to hear other people's accounts. Of course, I almost embarrassed Wang Jiangnan in front of everyone in Anzi's room, so he must hold a grudge against me. But all those minor conflicts are insignificant compared to the major event of Guan Baoling's disappearance. I just want to know the truth and then investigate step by step.

Wang Jiangnan snorted, turned around and opened the car door, intending to get into his own car.

I slid down and suddenly rushed in front of him, grabbed the car door, and said with a cold smile, "Mr. Wang, please tell me again how Miss Guan disappeared."

Part 4: Reincarnation

— Chapter 9 - Japanese Escape Techniques —

With a series of "clicks," all the members of the Sharpshooter Society, except for Xiao Lai and Hawke, drew their guns and glared at me menacingly. These men were all Wang Jiangnan's subordinates, so of course they had to protect him. But at this moment, it was clear that Wang Jiangnan was not displaying his usual arrogant and domineering attitude. Perhaps my actions this morning had already intimidated him.