King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 140

Once again, I sat by the pool.

If everything Fujika said is true, then in an absolute sense, jumping into the well and going infinitely downwards would lead to the "Underwater Tomb of the Gods"—"Infinite? How deep would it take to reach that? Five thousand meters, ten thousand meters? It can't possibly be deeper than the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth, can it?"

The Mariana Trench is located in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of a series of trenches on the western Pacific floor. It lies between the Asian Plate and the Pacific Plate, extending from the Iwo Jima Islands in the north to near Yap Island in the southwest. To its north are the Aleutian, Kuril, Japan, and Ogasawara Trenches, while to its south are the New Britain and New Hebrides Trenches.

The palace of the sea god in Japanese mythology is hidden in the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, the people who created the myth did not know the standard depth of the Mariana Trench. They must have thought that "the ocean is infinitely deep and the power of the gods is everywhere."

In the era of Master Jianzhen, the level of technology was extremely low. Even though he and his ten disciples developed the special ability of "mermaid lungs" and could stay underwater for a long time and live by absorbing oxygen from the water, they did not have enough strength to resist the undercurrents of the sea.

Christopher Columbus, one of the greatest navigators in history, once said: Every inch of the sea is mysterious and ever-changing, and humankind can never fully fathom its secrets.

Beneath the seemingly calm surface, undercurrents and whirlpools lurked everywhere. Perhaps Master Jianzhen and his disciples overlooked this, believing that by transforming into mermaids, they could roam freely across the world. And so, they vanished forever.

The water was crystal clear, like a huge, colorless crystal, reflecting my extremely tired face.

The setting sun cast its light on the water, creating ripples of fine, golden waves. I have seen thousands of wells of varying depths around the world, and just as the ancients described, "ancient wells are without waves," true well water is smooth as a mirror, still and silent, unlike the "spiritual well" before me.

The water surface is constantly moving. What force can keep pushing the water to move? If it is constantly gushing groundwater or a natural fountain, then why doesn't the water overflow when it is constantly being stirred, and instead stays parallel to the edge of the pool?

"Mr. Feng—" someone was calling me, right by the moon gate.

I looked up in confusion, startled from my reverie. Being called out to me in such an extremely quiet environment was certainly not a pleasant thing, but it was Guan Baoling, a girl I had almost forgotten. Sun Long's first encounter with the important figure had nearly drained me of my energy; at least ever since Sun Long arrived at Fengge Temple, I had temporarily forgotten about her.

The word "Mr. Feng" has widened the distance between us again, unlike when we were imprisoned in that glass box, embracing each other tightly and depending on each other for survival.

"A car will come to pick me up in half an hour. I've come to say goodbye." The wind whipped her long hair, obscuring her face and eyes, so I couldn't see her expression.

My heart sank suddenly; the farewell I had imagined countless times before had finally arrived.

"Thank you for your kindness. I know all good things must come to an end—goodbye..." She walked up to me, extended her right hand, her head bowed, her voice thick with tears, as if she had just been crying. I noticed her neatly combed, center-parted hair, divided in two by a distinct hairline. That thick, smooth hair must feel like the most comforting touch in the world.

I took her hand and smiled blankly: "Yes, all good things must come to an end. Take care on your journey."

Perhaps in a few hours, she'll return to the tycoon's embrace, and with the passage of time, she'll forget Hokkaido, Fengkuji Temple, the Well of Spirits, the glass box, and everything else. Over there, she'll be a gentle, affectionate bird, a canary in a mansion, a beautiful woman favored by the tycoon… A heavy melancholy instantly enveloped me—"Even if I become the invincible king of tomb raiding, the one I imagine myself to be, reaching the pinnacle of glory, what then? Who will be by my side then, sharing all that glory? If it's not the captivating Guan Baoling before me, what good will achieving all my dreams do?"

Her hair flew up, sending its fragrance into my nose.

I could see her long, dark, slightly upturned eyelashes and her fair, high-bridged nose, and suddenly I had the urge to hold her in my arms. Perhaps I had wasted too much time before this. I should have cherished our time together when she first broke into Xunfu Garden at night, instead of letting Wang Jiangnan support and protect her.

"Will we ever meet again? Or I'll follow every new movie you make, buy DVDs to watch, and hope you'll stand on the Oscar stage soon..." I was in a daze and speaking insincerely, reluctant to let go of her little hand, having long forgotten that behind certain corners and bushes, countless subordinates of important figures were lurking.

Guan Baoling took a step back, withdrew her hand, and looked up at me with a wry smile.

Her waist was so thin, at most only 1.7 feet, that it could barely support the weight of the black dress and fox fur.

"Thank you." She forced a pale smile.

Half an hour was too short for me; I only checked my watch twice before I heard the sound of a car engine outside the temple gate.

Many words were stuck in his throat, and he didn't know which to say first. Suddenly, he blurted out, "You're leaving. What about the tycoon's illness? What about the 'black magic' he's been afflicted with? Are you just going to give up and leave him alone?"

That was the tycoon's only weakness that could be attacked, and I held the key to destroy that weakness. Perhaps I could use that key to keep Guan Baoling here.

My hand groped aimlessly in my pocket, finally finding the black silver ring that had accompanied us through our adventures and escapes. I held it high like a lifeline, shouting, "Look, look! The black silver ring, the black silver ring enchanted with 'dark magic,' and Reese, the American girl who mysteriously disappeared from the glass box—"

The amber shimmered eerily in the sunset, and the woodpecker embedded within it came to life.

"So what? We've searched all over Asia, Africa, and the Americas for sorcerers and witchcraft masters, and they're all helpless. Almost every master has said the same thing: unless we find the sorcerer who cast the curse and obtain the blood and bones of the tycoon's own offspring, there's no way to break the 'blood and bone curse.' You know, it's only 'possible.' No one knows how likely it is; it could be one, or ninety-nine. No one can be sure." She tightened her fox fur coat, letting the near-perfect Croatian fox collar press against her chin, revealing an expression of utter despair.

The courtyard was cold and gloomy. As the sun set, only the last rays of sunlight scattered through the western wall.

I stubbornly held up the ring, as if it were the only trump card I could use to keep her: "Didn't you say that as long as we demolished the Xunfuyuan villa, there would be a way to save the tycoon? If I agree to your request, can the magic of 'black witchcraft' be completely eliminated?"

No one remembers Resica's disappearance anymore. To the Maple Temple, where a storm is brewing, she is not even a passerby, just a small pebble thrown into the water, coming and going silently, insignificant to the overall situation. The only memory of her is this small ring in my hand.

Guan Baoling gave a bitter smile again: "No, it's too late. Do you know why I climbed over the iron gate of Xunfu Garden to see you that night? It's because—" She approached the pond, pointing to the still rippling water, and continued: "'The Well of Spirits' gave me a ten-day deadline. I could see your stubbornness. Perhaps Xunfu Garden is too important to you? Before the tenth day was up, I had already given up on my initial idea."

She never told me this, and I always thought I had the tycoon's life and death in my hands—the sound of leather shoes clattering on the bluestone slabs rang out, and a young man's voice called out exaggeratedly, "Baoling, Baoling, are you alright?"

This jarring sound came from the young man with fair skin who was the first to appear at the entrance of Xunfuyuan Villa. He was dressed in a snow-white suit, white leather shoes, and wore an expensive pair of narrow-rimmed white glasses. His skin was as fair and delicate as a girl who had just had a steam bath.

Ten steps away, he opened his arms and made a gesture of affectionate embrace, his eyes only on Guan Baoling, completely ignoring me.

Guan Baoling sniffed and forced a smile: "Jenny, I'm fine. Thank you for coming to pick me up."

The moment of parting finally arrived. When Su Lun left, I only felt abruptly, without much heartache or reluctance. But Guan Baoling was different. This departure might be a final farewell, and our lives would never intersect again.

"The villa—I can give it to you, or breaking the 'black magic' isn't as difficult as you think. Could you stay a little longer until we find the entrance to that mysterious underwater structure? Don't you want to see what secrets it holds?"

The days I spent with her in the glass box were the most magical experience of my life. I hope that when all the secrets are revealed, she will still be by my side.

Genny turned his head and stared at me with disgust: "Hey, who are you? What does Baoling have to do with you? I don't see anyone here who has the right to speak. Get out of here!" Behind his expensive glasses were a pair of empty, lifeless eyes, mostly white with little black, and full of bloodshot veins. It was obvious that he was a playboy whose body had been emptied by alcohol, women, and nightlife.

I didn't want to talk to him and tried hard to control my frustration that was about to erupt.

“I don’t want to. Those are the most terrifying memories for me. I’m tired. I just want to leave this place full of danger and fear, go back to Hong Kong Island, go back to my home…” Guan Baoling raised her hand and gently tapped her temples. She frowned and looked back at the water. Suddenly, she let out a long, soft sigh.

Her sigh was like the sharpest knife, tearing my heart apart.

I sighed deeply, "Since I can't keep you here, then I can only say goodbye. Take care on your journey!"

Love for one's children can be overwhelming, but even heroes have their limits.

I never thought those words would ever befall me, that only other girls would be heartbroken for me, and that I would never be so attached to anyone as to be unable to part with them. Now, I understand. If I could keep her, I would gladly give up Xunfu Garden, but it's too late.

Genny frowned at me, then chuckled coldly twice: "I know who you are!"

He pulled a check from his pocket, held onto one corner, and handed it to me with an air of arrogance: "This blank check is a reward from the tycoon. Fill in any amount you like as a bounty for protecting Miss Guan. Of course, for guys like you who only know how to hunt for treasure and rob tombs all day, such a large sum of money falling from the sky would make them laugh in their sleep, right?"

When I met his arrogant and haughty gaze, I wanted nothing more than to punch his glasses and smash them, but I still gently accepted the check, wanting to leave a last good impression on Guan Baoling.

"Let's go, Ginny." Guan Baoling turned and walked hurriedly towards the temple gate, as if she were running away.

Genny let out another cold laugh and then left the courtyard.

I didn't chase after them. All the heat and frustration in my body turned into endless pain, seeping deep into my internal organs, churning and entangled within me.

The car engine roared back to life, slowly fading into the distance. I stared blankly at the check in my hand, unconsciously folding it and putting it in my pocket. If this was my fate with Guan Baoling, then heaven had played a cruel joke on me, letting me meet her, fall in love with her, and spend that wondrous journey together in the glass box, only to find her deeply etched in my memory, and then suddenly we were separated, leaving not a trace of illusion.

A moment of mental confusion struck, and my head began to throb violently again, as if some unseen thread had tethered my pain receptors, pulling them relentlessly. I scooped up water from the pool and splashed it forcefully on my face; the cold water could extinguish the fire in my heart and cool my boiling blood.

"Um, young man, do you need any help?"

Without even looking up, I knew it was the voice of an important person. My hands remained immersed in the water, frozen in place. The water was so cold, so deep, carrying an infinite, mysterious allure.

“Actually, everyone suffers from longing when they are young. You could say that love and pain can make people mature. Without going through this hurdle, young people can’t get rid of their boyish immaturity—” He put his hand on my shoulder, like a mature and wise elder.

As a high-ranking member of the Japanese Imperial Family, his attitude towards me seems exceptionally friendly, which also proves that I am currently of great use to him, hence his willingness to set aside his airs and stand here. What is my value? Have I somehow become the most favored candidate among various factions to obtain the "Wrath of the Sun God"?

I took a deep breath, thinking about the story of Master Jianzhen that Tengjia had told me—"A thousand years ago, right beside this mysterious ancient well, did so many thrilling and legendary stories really happen? A Chinese monk, carrying the resounding New Year's vow of 'If I don't go to hell, who will?' led his disciples to leap into the icy pool..."

Everything felt like a bizarre and fantastical novel. Suddenly, I felt a cold sweat trickle down my back and abruptly pulled my hand back. It was as if countless ghostly hands were about to leap up from beneath the clear water and pull me into the water.

"Are you alright, Feng?" The important man was startled and took a half-step back. From behind the bushes not far away, the barely perceptible sound of a gun's safety snapping open immediately rang out. It was clear that his bodyguards were already on edge, fearing a repeat of Sun Long's blunder with the important man.

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern." I shook my hands dry and let out a long breath, hoping to forget the depression brought by Guan Baoling's departure.

Part Two: Ancient Temple Under the Dark Night

— Chapter 1 — Latest News from the Pentagon —

"Mr. Feng, should we inform Brother Thirteen and Mr. Hawke?" Xiao Lai asked cautiously.

The important figure's subordinates have all disappeared; there's no need for their help or spying here. I just want to sit quietly with Guan Baoling for a while, cherishing this rare reunion, even if it's only for twenty minutes.

The phone was on the table. After thinking for a moment, I dialed Xiao Keleng's number.

Her voice was flat, tinged with a strange sadness: "Mr. Feng, is there anything I can do for you?"

I answered gently in a low voice, "Xiao Xiao, I would like to ask you to come to the temple. Su Lun said that I can trust you unconditionally, just as I trust her. I hope you will not disappoint me."

Su Lun came and went, seemingly without offering me much help. Xiao Lai, who was by my side, lacked foresight and couldn't be a competent assistant. So, after much thought, I realized that only Xiao Keleng could take on this role.

Xiao Ke sneered: "Mr. Feng, I am honored to have your trust, but I always feel that there is some kind of barrier between us, especially after Anzi's death, which has accelerated the formation of this chasm. At this time, won't staying by your side cause Miss Guan to misunderstand?"

The moment Guan Baoling was mentioned, her tone immediately became sour, perhaps as if she was standing up for Su Lun.

The voice coming through the receiver was loud, and Guan Baoling heard it clearly. She suddenly sighed softly, "I'm sorry, I never knew... I would cause you so much trouble—"

Her eyelashes fluttered gently once more, like delicate butterflies resting on the tips of grass.

I sighed helplessly: "Xiao Xiao, let's talk in detail over here. I need your help."

Xiao Keleng softly agreed: "I'll be there in half an hour. Sister Su Lun has some new information for you, so I'll deliver it to her at the same time."

After hanging up, Guan Baoling lowered her head and asked thoughtfully, "Is that Miss Suren your confidante who went through thick and thin with you in the desert? As far as I know, there's also an Egyptian female general named Tina, who's also a good friend of yours, right?"

As she slowly raised her head, the light gradually illuminated her snow-white cheeks, like a classic slow-motion scene in a movie, making my breathing become unnatural once again. She was so beautiful, seemingly untouched by worldly affairs, as pure as an ancient, unmelting block of ice, enough to move any man's heart.

"Yes." I knew that such an answer would also cause Guan Baoling to misunderstand.

Guan Baoling brushed two strands of hair that had fallen beside her cheeks, and a gentle smile bloomed on her face: "What a coincidence! Before coming to Hokkaido, a Hong Kong director planned to make an adventure movie about your experience at the Egyptian pyramids, and invited me to play the female lead, Suren. Do you think I can play the role well?"

I burst out laughing: "Impossible! Your demeanor is as noble as a royal princess, how could you possibly play a nimble martial arts master? No way, you're completely different from her. I'm afraid even if you forced yourself to do it, you'd disappoint the audience—"

At this point, a sudden realization dawned on me. I knew perfectly well that Su Lun and Guan Baoling were two completely different types of girls, and it was impossible for me to like one while also being unable to let go of the other. Otherwise, I would only be asking for trouble.

Guan Baoling smiled faintly: "Really? In your heart, am I really like a princess? Or a Cinderella who can only be a princess before the midnight bells ring?"

In an instant, my thoughts inappropriately drifted back to the tycoon—"With something this big happening, the tycoon will be the first to know. Will he come to pick up Guan Baoling in person? I'm afraid we won't have more than three nights left before we're separated forever?"

I wiped my face, masking my melancholy with a smile: "How could you be Cinderella? I believe billions of men worldwide see you as a princess. Especially your fans, they're absolutely crazy about you—"

Xiao Lai asked again from outside the door: "Mr. Feng, Mr. Yingdao requests an audience."

I nodded to Guan Baoling: "I'm going out for a bit, just in the yard. If anything unusual happens, just call me loudly." Actually, I had a heavy, ominous feeling, worried that the delicate Guan Baoling would be hurt again. Men immersed in love are all like this, afraid that the person they love will suffer even the slightest grievance, and they will give her countless instructions and warnings.

"I know, don't worry." She fluttered her long eyelashes, smiled slightly, revealing her white teeth, and stood up, letting the light cast her shadow on the sliding door.

The courtyard was dark and gloomy. Eagle Blade looked somewhat anxious, but as the captain of the bodyguards for important figures, he managed to remain calm and waited quietly for me to come out before closing the door behind him. He then whispered, "Mr. Feng, the results of the accident scene investigation show that the braking system was tampered with. All the hydraulic fluid responsible for braking has disappeared, which is why the car fell off the cliff."

He squeezed his knuckles hard, making a dull "crackling" sound.

I suddenly found it somewhat amusing. The car was Kenny's personal vehicle, brought by Kenny, and after arriving at Fengge Temple, the driver never got out. From beginning to end, no outsider had a chance to approach the car alone. So, who drained the hydraulic fluid?

Hurried footsteps sounded outside the wall. Eagle Blade quickened his pace: "Both the driver and the dead young man had a teeth mark on their Adam's apples. Mr. Feng surely understands what that means. Given the situation, the important figure needs to leave Fengge Temple immediately. He wants me to give this to you—"

Eagle Knife held a glittering gold coin in his hand and slowly handed it over.

"This can mobilize the police mobile forces of the three small cities south of Fengge Temple for emergency combat. It is an authoritative token of an important person, and I hope Mr. Feng will keep it safe. The important person asked me to tell you that he will treat you as one of his own, whether or not he obtains the 'Wrath of the Sun God', it will always be so."

He took a step back, bowed deeply respectfully, and quickly turned and walked out.

In the distance, the helicopter had already started up, the whirring of its rotors shattering the tranquility of the desolate mountain night.

The fang marks signify the reappearance of the Fang Demon. The important figure values his life and is therefore in a hurry to leave. A few minutes later, three helicopters took off one after another, their navigation lights flashing, heading south.

"Hopefully, the helicopter wasn't sabotaged by the mysterious figure, otherwise..." I sneered, looking up at the helicopter gradually disappearing into the night. Guan Baoling survived a car accident that plunged off a cliff; I wonder if powerful figures also have such miraculous escapes?