King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 147

In an instant, a heavy atmosphere enveloped everything inside and outside the door, and everyone's mind was filled with unsolvable mysteries.

Regarding the specifics of Tanino Shinshu, besides official reports and rumors from the tomb raiding community, I can also consult Tengjia and Xiangseng for some information. However, since he has secluded himself in the meditation hall for three whole years, more than a thousand days, how could outsiders possibly imagine the extent of his mental transformation?

“Feng, the tycoon is coming, and… and he wants to talk to you and me about something else…” Zhang Baisen became hesitant, completely out of character for his forthright personality. What could trouble him was no small matter, perhaps even more serious than Guan Baoling being cursed by the Fang Demon.

Shao Bai muttered to himself, "If all the tragic things are going to come crashing down, might as well just come all at once. Having too many headaches will numb your body's reactions and actually make you feel a little better. Sigh..."

There was a knock on Guan Baoling's door, and a dozen or so sheets of paper were handed out before the door was closed again.

The paper was in Zhang Baisen's hand. He only glanced at it briefly, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh, flicked his wrist, and tossed it into the air towards me. At this moment, no one wanted to show off their martial arts skills anymore. I guessed he was just too exhausted, having even saved the strength to walk in.

The Simmons mattress became a makeshift puzzle table, and the lines on the twelve sheets of paper became even more chaotic, with wavy lines visible everywhere.

Shao Bai jumped up and, without thinking, casually arranged all the papers into a five-by-three grid. I saw a real "person," with hair two-thirds the length of its body, floating upwards like seaweed. On the next twelve papers, this person appeared on every single one, but in completely different directions.

"This is someone who can teleport. When the second brother sensed him, the other party was able to change positions and postures twelve times in an instant, which is more agile than the fastest fish." Shao Bai acted as the temporary commentator. He and Shao Hei were brothers and shared the same thoughts, so he understood Shao Hei's mind best.

"A man? Tanino Shinshu?" Xiao Keleng immediately retorted.

"I don't know. I believe the second brother will have the answer soon. The key issue isn't who he is, but how could he possibly reach the level of instantaneous teleportation? And in water, no less. You have to understand that water resistance, depending on its properties, can be fifty to five thousand times greater than wind resistance on land. A master of light-body skills who can freely tumble and leap on land would need to increase their explosive power by nearly a thousand times to perform the same action in water."

Shao Bai's reputation is well-deserved; his knowledge is sufficient to justify his high status in the martial arts world.

The first thing that popped into my mind was the term "mermaid." Humans can't do things in water, but perhaps these so-called "mermaids" can.

The mysterious ocean world is teeming with countless unknown animal and plant species. Even the most renowned and knowledgeable marine experts often say that what they know is merely "a drop of water in the ocean." How many drops of water are there in the ocean? Only the mathematical term "infinite" can express it.

There are numerous records about "mermaids" and "mermaids," and similar legends exist in every coastal country in the world. However, the lack of dynamic video footage leads some self-proclaimed orthodox scientists to dismiss them as strange tales.

"Is there a strange well hidden beneath the strange house? Could its water level be the same as the 'Well of Spirits'? And what is the connection between the two?"

I quickly measured the vertical distance between the meditation hall and the "Well of Spirits." As my gaze fell upon it, Xiao Keleng had already understood and quickly sketched a few lines on a piece of white paper before handing it to me.

There are three small circles on the paper, connected by a line segment, which should represent the "Well of Spirits," the "Tower of the Dead," and the Meditation Hall, respectively. The distances are also clearly marked—from the well to the tower, it is about 110 meters; from the tower to the strange house, it is about 300 meters.

For the first time, we felt a deep connection, and that was the only thing to be happy about. In this unpredictable and ever-changing environment, having another kindred spirit meant that half of the dangers and pressures were shared. Before this, I thought I could only communicate like this with Su Lun, and I never considered Xiao Keleng as one of my closest confidants.

“Four hundred meters or more. If the strange well beneath the meditation hall extends infinitely in the same proportion as a pyramid, it will connect with the ‘Well of Spirits’ at some depth. According to this conjecture, they would form a communicating vessel at the same level, which means—theoretically, one can enter the ‘Well of Spirits’ from the strange house.” Xiao Ke's face suddenly turned ashen, perhaps utterly stunned by his own terrifying analysis.

I nodded, basically agreeing with her analysis.

If he didn't have ulterior motives, Tani no Shinshu wouldn't have suddenly and mysteriously gone into seclusion at the height of his fame, only to have Tani no Shinshige step in to impersonate him. For him, money and fame were utterly worthless; so what did he want? What could possibly drive him to do such incomprehensible things?

"Perhaps we need more paintings to complete a puzzle?" Shao Bai sighed helplessly.

My understanding of the Shao brothers' superpowers mostly comes from negative reports in Iraqi media, especially Al Jazeera, which is known for its outspokenness and once bluntly gave the brothers the nickname "The Super Kings of the Poker Card Killing Order".

It was thanks to them that the Pentagon's manhunt order avoided being ridiculed as a "laughing stock of incompetence" by anti-war media worldwide, and the Iraqi war criminals listed in three separate batches were captured one by one. Just as the Iraq War was praised and criticized by both sides of international public opinion, the Shao brothers were superheroes in the eyes of Americans, but devils and nightmares in the Arab world.

Time was quietly passing by, and when the thirtieth picture appeared, the details of the monster's body were completely depicted, but his face was still not visible.

"This person is not Tanino Shinshu. He's at least a lot thinner than in the media photos, and his height is nearly 20 centimeters shorter. As for the proportions of his body parts, they are completely different." I came to my conclusion that the strange man in the painting had nothing in common with Tanino Shinshu. If there were a close-up of his face, I would be 100% certain.

So who could it be? Currently, everyone at Fuge-ji Temple knows that the person residing in the meditation hall is Tanino Shinshu. Who else could it be besides him?

The strange man's body was covered in semi-circular fish scales, which could also be seen as a fish-scale-like tight-fitting swimsuit. His feet were huge flippers, while his arms hung down at his sides like a normal person's.

"What exactly is this? A super diver, a water ghost, a merman? Or some kind of mutated deep-sea fish—Mr. Shao Bai, what exactly is your brother trying to express?" Xiao Keleng couldn't hold back any longer. While marking the serial number on the drawing, she frowned and asked Shao Bai.

“Miss Xiao, there’s no need to ask. The brothers’ abilities are different; one can sense a target remotely, while the other can quickly determine the target’s global geographical location based on the description in the drawing. Only through their seamless cooperation can we get a complete answer. All we can do is wait calmly until Shao Hei has finished expressing all his thoughts…”

Zhang Baisen's explanation is not entirely satisfactory.

The next dozen or so pictures all depicted the stones and algae surrounding the strange well, as if Shao Hei's thoughts were completely captivated by the stone walls.

"He's looking for something, but the stone wall is too vast, so he has to search section by section to find it. Unfortunately, this kind of sliding search is very taxing on his internal energy. I've always suspected that the second brother can't keep it up for much longer..."

The speed at which the drawings were being passed around gradually slowed down, from a dozen or so every few minutes at the beginning to only one every five minutes later. Shao Bai was worried about Shao Hei's safety, and I was equally concerned about Guan Baoling's health.

Zhang Baisen's phone rang again. He looked down at the number on the screen and nodded silently to me.

I knew the tycoon had arrived, and knowingly followed him out the door, heading towards the temple gate.

"The tycoon said he was being blackmailed. The blackmail call came in every half hour for 24 hours, and the amount was ridiculous—guess how much?" Zhang Baisen tried to break the silence with a light tone, but he obviously failed because my mind was still trapped in Shao Hei's painting and couldn't get out.

He could only answer his own question: "Fifteen billion, US dollars."

Part Two: Ancient Temple Under the Dark Night

— Chapter 8 — The $1.5 Billion Extortion Case (Part 1) —

I laughed. There are idiots every year, but tycoons always have bad luck; this year it's happened to me.

"It's truly laughable. The amount is laughable, and the person who came up with this plan to extort the tycoon is equally laughable." When the tycoon first became famous, many underworld figures did indeed covet his enormous wealth and repeatedly tried to take advantage of him. In the end, those people either died at the hands of his bodyguards or are still imprisoned in Hong Kong, the United States, and Europe. Unless there is a general amnesty, they will stay in there for the rest of their lives, until they or the tycoon die.

The tycoon is rich, but more importantly, he is powerful, far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

"Who is the other side? Is it that Italian Mafia gang that still hasn't given up?" As far as I know, after the Mafia's mastermind was captured, the eleven branches under him have been fighting their own battles, never taking the rules of the underworld seriously, and acting recklessly and madly. If you count them, they are the most likely to challenge the tycoon's authority.

"The phone signal came from the 'American Star 101' communications satellite over the Pacific Ocean, and even the Pentagon's super communications search network couldn't detect its source. The tycoon is mobilizing funds to deal with this inexplicable disaster. Of course, he always has more than one contingency plan; while making payments, he's also prepared for a massacre."

The chances of successfully challenging a tycoon's authority are extremely slim. The sum of $1.5 billion represents roughly one-tenth of the tycoon's total assets, and it wouldn't be difficult for him to come up with that amount of money in a short period.

Monks had already gotten up to clear the snow, but at this moment, an invisible layer of dark clouds seemed to cover the sky above Fengge Temple, making the place seem lifeless.

Zhang Baisen patted my shoulder: "Feng, don't worry too much. Shao Hei's 'mind-reading technique' is a true inheritance from his ancestors, and it won't cause any harm to Miss Guan. Besides, he's just using his own thoughts to make Miss Guan write, which is similar to an extremely sophisticated hypnosis—"

He understood me perfectly, and I smiled gratefully: "I know."

The tycoon's arrival once again stirred up unpredictable waves in my Hokkaido trip. Even if someone was blackmailing him over the phone, why would he bother coming all the way to Fuuki-ji Temple? Was he there to personally pick up Guan Baoling?

I didn't hear the sound of a helicopter. As I stepped out of the temple, I saw a reinforced, bulletproof Mercedes parked on the snow. A lone tire track behind the car seemed to come from the horizon, winding its way up the mountain road. The black body, against the backdrop of the vast white snow-covered mountains, looked like a beetle in distress.

Compared to the tense atmosphere of the last time, the tycoon's light-heartedness this time made me feel much more relaxed.

The rear door of the Mercedes opened, and the tycoon stepped out, his hair slightly disheveled, his steps large and hurried.

Zhang Baisen gave a strange "hmm": "It's been a long time since I've seen him so disheveled. Is the extortion case that serious?" Without a shrewd and capable attendant, without his personal secretary Miss Helen, and without bodyguards, he came alone, which was indeed different from his usual way of traveling.

“Feng, Lao Zhang, I’m sorry to bother you this time—” The “power and killing lines” on the sides of the tycoon’s nose appeared and disappeared. Although he came in a mess and in a hurry, the two glints in his eyes were still there. When he shook hands with me, his five fingers were still full of strength.

When someone offers a gift, they must have something in mind. His attitude towards me and Zhang Baisen right now is no less than that of someone meeting with high-ranking American politicians and their advisors at the White House; we should feel extremely honored.

The sky and earth were a vast expanse of white, and the north wind was howling wildly. We had no desire to sit down and have a detailed discussion. As we hurried toward the temple, the tycoon cut to the chase: "After the extortion case, the other party demanded 1.5 billion US dollars over the phone, but the target of their blackmail wasn't me, but—"

I keenly realized that the extortion case was connected to Guan Baoling, but I didn't want to interrupt him.

"They said they had Baoling's life in their hands, and if I couldn't get the money safely within a month, I should wait to collect Baoling's body." The tycoon was walking too fast and suddenly coughed, spitting out puffs of white mist from his mouth.

If his success in the business and political worlds can be described as a free-spirited steed, then now, this peerless steed is utterly exhausted and can no longer "aim for a thousand miles."

When I mention Kwan Po-ling, I immediately realize that the extortion case and the Fang Demon's tusk pupa curse are actually related. The other party's purpose in causing the car accident was simply to keep Kwan Po-ling and then indirectly control the tycoon through her.

"A fanged demon who craves worldly riches? Is he human or a demon?" I couldn't help but feel a little confused. I casually ordered a young monk sweeping snow in the alley: "Quickly go and invite Master Xiang to gather the temple's experts to my courtyard. We have something to discuss."

Since the other party can control Guan Baoling, they definitely won't go far, and might even launch another attack against Daheng. Therefore, I need to mobilize the people in Fengge Temple to form a perimeter around the courtyard to ensure everyone's safety.

The monk dropped his broom and quickly ran north toward the Marrow Cleansing Hall.

"How is Baoling?" The tycoon looked at me, his burning gaze seeming to scan out all the secrets in my heart.

“Not good.” I met his gaze without flinching. If I decided to keep Guan Baoling by my side, this standoff between the two men would be unavoidable.

"What? Did the car accident leave any aftereffects?" The "Power and Struggle Pattern" surged again, like two sharp blades hanging in mid-air. He was slightly shorter than me, but the powerful aura emanating from his body made up for it. In fact, when he raised his voice and pressed me aggressively, I felt an immense pressure coming at me.

"No, it's the curse of the Fang Demon—the person who made the extortion call to you wasn't wrong, Miss Guan really only has one month to live." I calmly and gently explained, silently dissolving his intimidating aura.

The curse of the Fang Demon was just as malevolent as the curse of "Black Magic." The tycoon visibly shivered and quickly raised his hand to turn up the collar of his coat, as if he had suddenly felt the bone-chilling cold of Hokkaido.

"Oh, I see." He paused for a moment before nodding absentmindedly and slowly taking the phone out of his pocket.

If I were a tycoon, I would agree to $1.5 billion to save Guan Baoling's life without hesitation. As long as my beloved woman is safe and sound, there will be plenty of opportunities to make money in the future.

When I first heard Zhang Baisen mention the extortion incident, I had already calculated in detail the amount of property left by the scalpel. The total value of movable and immovable property should exceed 3 billion, which was simply impossible to raise 1.5 billion US dollars in a short period of time, not to mention that more than half of these properties belonged to Su Lun.

Zhang Baisen, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "Feng, could we consider the matter of the Fang Demon from another angle? It was merely the result of manipulation, borrowing a trivial chapter from Japanese mythology—think about it, Yelan, who died in the Xunfuyuan villa, had two large pieces of human skin peeled off his body. Such a modus operandi is no different from a typical 'murder for money' case. I find it hard to believe that the Fang Demon would care about the privacy of human society, or be as profit-driven as a江湖 (jianghu) figure?"

I had already considered what he said, but I didn't dare gamble with Guan Baoling's life. What if her body undergoes a strange change a month later? Who could bear the responsibility?

"Perhaps we should focus all our efforts on dealing with the haunted house first—"

The tycoon and I shook our heads and shouted almost simultaneously, "No, no!"

"Baoling's matter is paramount—Old Zhang, if anything happens to her, don't blame me for not giving you face. Also, you'd better tell the Shao brothers that no matter if they are 'celestial beings' or whatever, protecting Baoling is their top priority. If Baoling escapes danger, everyone will get a reward; if she... hmph, everyone will be buried with her!"

The tycoon showed Zhang Baisen no respect whatsoever, completely disregarding the other party's status as a master of superpowers.

I kept silent when necessary. In times of difficulty, unity is strength. The enemy's identity was not yet clear, so we could not start infighting within our own camp.

As I approached the courtyard gate, Elephant Monk hurried over with a dozen tall, robust monks. He hadn't yet adapted to his role as the abbot of Fengge Temple; his attire remained unkempt, and a hint of hostility lingered in his eyes. After all, it was Sun Long's subordinates who had killed Master Shenbi and the Lion and Tiger Monks. I was present at the time, but I neither spoke nor intervened.

The tycoon hurried into the courtyard, not even glancing at the group of monks.

Zhang Baisen moved closer to me and asked in a low voice, "Feng, the tycoon's behavior is a bit strange, isn't it?"

Of course, given the tycoon's special status, firstly, it's impossible for him to rush into a solo operation; secondly, the extortion case is still unresolved, and it's indeed puzzling that none of his many expert-level subordinates have shown up.

I gently shook my head: "Let's see how it goes."

If every step of a tycoon's plans and decisions could be predicted by ordinary people, then he wouldn't be the unparalleled "tycoon" he is.

Zhang Baisen sighed and looked up at the sky: "Alright, I'll go see how Shao Hei is doing. You'd better come in quickly!" Unconsciously, he had developed a certain dependence on me, perhaps because the arrival of the tycoon had put some psychological pressure on him.

The monk kicked the snow nervously at his feet and didn't speak to me. The monks behind him were even more indifferent, as if I were an enemy of Fengge Temple.

I had no time to ponder his thoughts, and calmly instructed him: "Master Xiang, the courtyard needs security. Please select the most skilled and quick-witted people in the temple to guard all the entrances to the courtyard. Also, in this critical period, I require everyone to carry firearms and be on full alert."

The monk snorted and replied expressionlessly, "Master Shenbi once said that a monk's mission is only to chant scriptures and meditate, and they must never participate in worldly disputes. Our disciples have spent years meditating and chanting, and their other skills have become neglected. Besides, this is a royal temple designated by the imperial family; if we were to resort to violence, I'm afraid the imperial family would reprimand us—"

His words reminded me, and I casually took out the gold coins that the eagle knife had given me from my pocket and held them high in front of everyone.

The magic of the gold coins, like a conductor's baton, instantly stirred the spirits of the monks, and several of them couldn't help but murmur their admiration.

“Master Xiang, you should be very clear about the purpose of this gold coin. I don’t want to explain further. Just do as I say.” He dared to use the imperial family to fob me off, which backfired. With a gold coin given to me by a powerful figure, I am like an imperial envoy with a sword of authority within Japanese territory, able to issue orders and act first and report later at any time.

The monk's expression immediately changed. He respectfully clasped his hands and bowed, his voice becoming much more humble: "Yes, I obey."

He waved his arm and loudly ordered, "Second-generation disciples, immediately go into emergency mode! Get weapons out of storage and seal off all four passages and the roof of the courtyard—"

The chrysanthemum and ancient battle sword designs on the obverse of the gold coin are crystal clear, while the reverse features a three-lined verse: "The sword is the soul, the chrysanthemum is the spirit, and man is supreme."

Part Two: Ancient Temple Under the Dark Night

— Chapter 8 - The $1.5 Billion Extortion Case (Part 2) —

It is not merely a beautifully crafted piece of pure gold art, but also a symbol of the privileges of the Japanese Imperial Family. Without it, the monks of Fukō-ji Temple would never have upheld the teachings of Masters Bimmon and Shinbek, regarding me as their future leader. No wonder so many people in the world crave power day and night without end; indeed, the feeling of holding great power is incredibly exhilarating.

I flicked my right middle finger, and the gold coin tumbled rapidly into the air, making a "clang" sound, like someone suddenly plucking the strings of a zither, the lingering sound echoing endlessly. When it fell back into my palm, it absorbed the chill of the air, cold and hard, which inexplicably excited me.