King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 150

The paper door was violently pushed open, and I felt someone rapidly approaching from behind, while two gusts of wind simultaneously attacked the back of my neck and the back of my head.

In the reflection of Shao Hei's eyes as he suddenly looked up, I saw Shao Bai's face filled with rage, and his hands transformed into a "crane beak strike." My anxiety about my elder brother's whereabouts had already made me lose enough patience. Without any thought of dodging or explaining, I suddenly spun around, using Shao Hei's chest as a fulcrum, and unleashed a series of flying kicks, striking Shao Bai's jaw and chest squarely.

With a "whoosh," Zhang Baisen, who rushed in at the same time, stretched out his arms in time, pushing Shao Bai away and dissipating all the remaining force from my feet.

"Feng, don't be impulsive!" Zhang Baisen shouted.

I wasn't impulsive; I just felt resentful watching the mystery that was about to be solved being blocked by a thin layer of paper.

Xiao Keleng approached the table, her shock even greater than mine. She held up the half-drawn door panel and stared at it blankly. During her time at Xunfu Garden, she had touched that lotus key countless times, yet she hadn't realized that the greatest secret was right there at her fingertips.

“Mr. Feng…this is…this is…” she stammered, unable to express herself clearly.

I let go of his hand, straightened Shao Hei's collar, and apologized in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Mr. Shao, I've offended you." Then I slowly left the room.

The tycoon and Xiao Guanbao were in another room. The door was open, and I could hear her chattering away, laughing and talking, her usual worries and sorrows gone.

A sudden sense of defeat plunged me into despair. I just wanted to be alone for a while, or find someone to get drunk with. I remembered Xiao Lai; he should be lurking nearby, on guard duty with the monks.

What can dispel sorrow? Only wine. I believe the numbing effect of alcohol will help me get through this sleepless night, temporarily forgetting the mysterious prophecies of "The Centuries," forgetting Tanino Shinshu's meditation hall, and forgetting all the strange things in the underwater world.

I leaped onto the roof and gave a soft whistle. Xiao Lai responded and emerged from the darkness, still agile and showing no signs of fatigue.

Part Two: Ancient Temple Under the Dark Night

— Chapter 10 - Light Crisis Squad (Part 2) —

"Mr. Feng, what can I do for you?" He always maintained a spirited and energetic demeanor.

I pointed towards the kitchen to the north, forcing a smile: "It's okay, let's go for a drink—" A smile can be faked, but my slightly hoarse voice betrayed my true feelings.

Monks with guns were patrolling like sleepwalkers on all four rooftops and in alleyways, completely distracted.

Xiao Lai gently touched the scar on the corner of his mouth, leaned closer to me, and whispered, "A lot of strangers have come to the temple. Their weapons are very strange, and their hand gestures and codes don't seem like those of Japanese gangsters. I suspect they might be the tycoon's men. Should we call over the brothers from the villa too?"

After Wang Jiangnan was publicly humiliated, the Sharpshooter Gang members who remained at the villa firmly regarded the tycoon as an enemy.

I opened my mouth wide, facing the north wind, and inhaled deeply the fresh night air to calm my restless heart: "How many people are there? Are they organized into small combat units?"

Regardless of their outward disguise, their nationality can be discerned from their organizational structure and weaponry. If they truly are the tycoon's men, there's a 99% chance they've mobilized elite Marines from US military bases in Japan.

"Fifty people, but strangely, they adopted an infiltration tactic of individual combat, and their target was already in the direction of the Meditation Hall."

I began to be utterly puzzled: "Lone wolf tactics? A siege of the meditation hall?"

The Marine Corps prefers the classic three-man combat team configuration, with each member responsible for tasks such as leading the search, sniping with long-range rifles, and close-range engagement. In recent years, they have rarely used individual combat tactics, and internationally renowned military training schools have eliminated individual combat training methods, as such offensive organization methods were only suitable for the jungle warfare of Vietnam in the 1960s.

“Mr. Feng, should we follow them and take a look? The most conspicuous weapons these people carry are high-pressure flamethrowers, powerful incendiary bombs, and miniature pressure mines. As for firearms, they mainly use short-necked shotguns, as if they are about to carry out a sweeping massacre. Which faction do they belong to?” Xiao Lai began to scratch his head.

This doesn't seem like a good sign, and it's not a good time to watch the spectacle.

This group was headed straight for the meditation hall, carrying flamethrowers and incendiary bombs, clearly intending to eliminate the strange ambushes surrounding the house first; they were obviously well-prepared.

"Give the order to the monks in the temple to stay far away and avoid being caught in the crossfire." It's best to remain still until the situation becomes clearer.

Xiao Lai left for only three minutes before returning. He not only clearly conveyed my message to the monks on guard duty, but also brought back a high-precision infrared night vision device with a stainless steel casing. From this angle, a quick search revealed two night travelers crawling on the rooftop, each carrying a somewhat cumbersome single-soldier combat backpack on their backs, and instead of submachine guns, they were holding powerful chain-reaction incendiary grenades.

This is a borderless world where weapons from all countries are interchangeable. Clearly, the combat backpack is an American product, while the incendiary bombs are standard Israeli imports. The only commonality is that they are both state-of-the-art military products in this era where firearms reign supreme, and they come at a hefty price.

Through the night vision goggles, I could clearly see that the fastest attacker had moved to the cobblestone path outside the strange house and was rapidly making hand gestures, finalizing the attack route one last time.

The door to the strange house was tightly shut, and the surrounding snow showed no signs of being cleared, making it seem like a long-abandoned magical castle from a myth.

Next, when one of the attackers made a gesture like rolling sushi, I blurted out, "They're Japanese!" Without a doubt, this command gesture, which represents "tiered attack and three-dimensional layering," is a special action of the "Light Crisis" special forces under the Japanese Ministry of National Defense.

Before going to Egypt, during my travels in various countries, I paid close attention to collecting information on the special forces of my destinations, categorizing and recording them in detail, and then memorizing them deeply. These elites of the elite among the military forces of various countries will be the last line of defense for protecting the highest regimes of their countries in the future. I had a premonition that one day I would deal with them directly, and now I have finally put that to use.

"Huh? Mr. Feng, you said they are Japanese? Is it some kind of infighting or backstabbing among Japanese people?" Xiao Lai didn't understand.

I repeated, "They are from the 'Light Crisis' special forces!"

Xiao Lai exclaimed in a low voice, "What? The special forces are going to attack Tanino Shinshu? What kind of nonsense is this?"

Special forces operations represent the will of the state; without orders from high-level authorities, such a thing would be impossible. This is something I don't quite understand: "Who wants to eliminate Tanino Shinshu? Is it a big shot? What does he want?"

Tanino Shinshu made one groundbreaking achievement after another in the international archaeological community, which was once the greatest honor for the Japanese government and people. He was received and commended by the imperial family more than once. It seemed that the government had no reason to target him.

Through the night vision goggles, the men in black who had stealthily advanced were all in attack mode. The person who had given the signal earlier was probably the commander of this operation. He extended his right index and middle fingers again, waving them to the left and right once each, and made a "scissor-like attack" gesture.

In an instant, five attackers on each of his left and right sides leaped forward, throwing incendiary bombs that landed in the bushes ahead.

The anticipated raging fire did not start; all ten incendiary bombs became duds, bouncing off and landing on the snow.

Xiao Lai craned his neck and peered into the distance: "They've started! It's on fire!"

The flames came from the flamethrowers in the attackers' hands; at least a dozen or so were firing simultaneously, powerful jets of fire shooting forward and quickly melting away the accumulated snow. Using the firelight, the group launched a leaping attack, alternating between covering each other as they charged forward. The dancing flames illuminated the lifeless black door of the strange house.

In the blink of an eye, they crossed the dried-up stream and stepped over the smoky bushes, and were about to approach the strange house.

I handed the night vision goggles to Xiao Lai, already sensing something ominous. Using fire snakes to clear a path was indeed the best offensive tactic against the Meditation Hall's defensive formation, but they still hadn't grasped the power of the Escape Technique. Rashly advancing would only lead to their deaths, and they would suffer a terrible one.

Zhang Baisen and three others walked out of the room, stood in the courtyard, and looked eastward.

An explosion came from the direction of the strange house, and a more dazzling flash of fire illuminated the towering "Tower of the Dead." This time, it seemed the incendiary bomb had been detonated at the right time, but those burned were the attackers who had already crossed the bushes. If all went as expected, the people inside the strange house would quickly regain control of the situation—"Mr. Feng, the flamethrower is out. Those affected by the incendiary bomb are rolling on the ground, trying to extinguish the flames on their bodies..." He saw the image through his night vision goggles, but the visible flames had disappeared, and the area around the meditation hall had returned to silence. Hidden within the strange house were unfathomable masters; the special forces' probing attack was merely using human shields to pave the way, attempting to find an opening.

I believe that at this very moment, from some high vantage point, many more elite "light crisis" units are watching this live-fire exercise. The formidable style displayed by the Japanese army during World War I and World War II vanished with the unconditional surrender of the entire nation in 1945, but in the sixty years since, with the rapid economic growth, it is not impossible that its military strength has also been revived.

"Mr. Feng, the attackers were completely wiped out; most of them were burned to a crisp." Xiao Lai put down his night vision goggles, nervously touching the scar on his chin, his eyes blinking rapidly. The people inside the strange house had easily crushed the attackers' attack without even opening the door. By now, Xiao Lai should have realized the danger of the strange house, right?

“Mr. Feng, please come down. Mr. Shao has something to say.” Xiao Ke looked up and waved the paper in his hand.

The appearance of the nuclear submarine would be quite a shock to both her and Zhang Baisen, because there was no waterway exit from this side of the strange house. For the submarine to be effective, it would have to descend deeper into the water and enter the sea through another passage. To put it simply, the strange well beneath the strange house would undoubtedly lead to a much larger area.

I returned to the courtyard, where Daheng and Guan Baoling were still whispering and laughing intermittently, their laughter stinging me like needles.

“Wind… I suddenly have a new feeling, but I don’t need to bother drawing anymore, I can directly transfer it into your mind… Would you like to try again?” Shao Hei leaned almost all his weight on Zhang Baisen’s shoulders, barely managing to support himself. His face had turned ashen, with only a faint flame flickering weakly deep in his eyes.

Zhang Baisen roused himself and revealed a long-lost smile: "I can also lend Xiao Shao a hand. By combining our internal strength, we might be able to obtain more valuable information—"

Shao Bai immediately turned hostile and shouted angrily, "Valuable information? Does that mean all those blueprints were worthless and just the second brother talking nonsense?" Ever since he re-entered Fengge Temple, his mood had been fluctuating wildly, and he was irritable and easily angered, exploding every now and then.

"Brother... stop talking nonsense... we can start..." Shao Hei tried to raise his hand and point into the room, but in the end he could only weakly move his middle finger.

Zhang Baisen reached out and put his arm around Shao Hei's waist, half-carrying him as they walked back into the house.

Xiao Keleng whispered in my ear, "Mr. Feng, did you have a premonition? I instructed Xinzi to keep that lotus key safe, as it might be useful when we enter the underwater world. Do you remember that strange map from the bronze warrior's scabbard? I think I've gained a different understanding of it. Perhaps I should clear my mind; I believe it can definitely help you."

She temporarily relaxed her furrowed brows and gave me a bright smile.

That feeling of mutual understanding and connection returned to my mind, making me feel even more at ease than when I fought alongside Su Lun before. The interdependent relationships between people are formed only after going through a series of crises, struggles, counterattacks, and trials; it's a transformative process of "sifting through the sand to find gold."

At this point, Su Lun's words, "Trust Xiao Keleng as much as you trust me," truly became a reality.

The second part, "Ancient Temple in the Dark Night," is now complete. Please read the third part, "Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain." Thank you.

Part 3: Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain

— Chapter 1 — The King of Tomb Raiders, Yang Tian Arrives (Part 1) —

Shao Heiping lay on the bed, his right hand resting in Zhang Baisen's palm, his left hand outstretched towards me, smiling weakly: "The ultimate principle of the world is nothing more than Yin and Yang... I hope the 'Yin-Yang Divine Power' stored within you won't disappoint me..."

Before Master Bumenlu passed away, he passed on the "Yin-Yang Divine Power" to me without any warning or explanation, so I have not had the opportunity to put it to use until now.

I grasped his left hand, which was as cold as an ice sculpture in the cold winter wind.

"Please, both of you... sit down cross-legged. I have a premonition that this will last... a very long time, several hours or even more than ten hours... Zhang, Zhang Laoda, if I reach the point of 'running out of oil,' remember... tell my brother that there is a letter for him in my pocket, and that he should do as instructed... according to the ancestral teachings..."

Shao Hei's words carried a strong sense of farewell, instantly creating a somber, oppressive, and eerie atmosphere in the room.

A gentle and kind smile appeared on Zhang Baisen's face as he softly comforted him, "Don't talk too much, you'll be alright. I'll exert all my strength to protect your heart, qi, blood, and spirit. You'll be fine!"

The chill emanating from Shao Hei Shou and the coolness emanating from the blue brick ground combined to force me to quickly activate my inner energy to combat the cold.

"Can we begin?" I asked in a low voice.

"Okay... please turn off the light, it always makes me uneasy..." Shao Hei murmured to himself, slowly closing his eyes. From this angle, his facial features no longer looked as strange and ugly as before, but instead revealed an unprecedented peace and wisdom.

Zhang Baisen flicked his sleeve and unleashed a powerful palm strike, causing the switch on the wall to click and the light to go out.

The sudden darkness sent a shiver down my spine, a feeling of extreme fear, like falling off a cliff. When surrounded by enemies on all sides, bright lights are indeed unsettling; one always feels that the unseen darkness is filled with endless danger and murderous intent.

A minute later, my eyes had quickly adjusted to the darkness, and the snow light in the yard reflected in, making the wooden paper pasted on the door look as pale as a half-old projection screen.

The cold air was everywhere and growing stronger. I further enhanced the true energy stored in my dantian, transforming it into warmth that slowly circulated through my meridians, spreading throughout my body. I continuously exhaled true energy from my palms, rushing into Shao Hei's body, and his hands gradually became warm.

The room was silent. The wall connecting to the next room had suddenly lost its soundproofing, and Guan Baoling's laughter and whispers reached my ears without any obstruction—"...That dream was truly terrifying! My heart is still pounding as I tell you about it. Just imagine, a strange man with six arms was torturing earthlings with all sorts of cruel punishments, like biologists dissecting frogs and rabbits, or entomologists making specimens with steel needles..."

I understand that she was describing the hallucinations she experienced when she first disappeared, and that the places where she disappeared and reappeared were all in the bathroom of Xunfuyuan Villa.

The tycoon kept smiling, a genuine and gentle smile, occasionally responding with "Hmm? Ah? Really?" as if listening to Guan Baoling tell a fantastical story from Arabian Nights.

"Maybe she'll tell me about what happened inside that glass box? I wonder if the tycoon will get jealous?" As soon as this mischievous thought popped into my head, I couldn't help but feel a sting in my eye, as if some bitter liquid was being squeezed out.

Suddenly, I heard the intermittent sound of a guqin. The originally flowing melody was broken into countless individual notes, mercilessly tormenting my hearing. The only one capable of playing such music in Fengge Temple could be Fujika from "Youhuang Shuijun." So late, is she still tirelessly studying that iron plaque?

The "Poseidon Plaque" is a true testament to the strange experience I had with Guan Baoling. In her life, there will never be another man who could accompany her through such a predicament like I did, and that is the thing she should be most proud of. I don't know when it started, but I became clearly aware that I could not escape the fact that "Guan Baoling is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my life."

"How dare the ninjas of the Hashizu faction take you hostage?" The tycoon's voice was filled with anger.

"Yes? The knife is pressed against my neck, not a prop from a movie, but a real blade. I'm terrified, afraid that the ghostly female ninja will cut me off with one slash—and then I'll never see you again..." Guan Baoling said in a sweet, coquettish voice, making me feel like I was sitting on pins and needles.

The phrase "the tycoon's woman" felt like an unbreakable curse, once again looming heavily in my mind.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, accompanied by a lingering echo that only exists in deep caves. The dampness was everywhere, and the sound of water converged on my ears from all directions. I snapped out of my bittersweet memories and looked towards the door. The large, light gray wooden screen seemed to tremble, displaying a huge image.

It was an ancient battle sword, with white teeth embedded in the hilt that were highly three-dimensional, and the skull pattern on the blade that carried an endless aura of resentment and killing intent.

"The sword of the Yagami-ryu ninja?" My conversation with the Dragon Slayer Sword suddenly flashed into my mind.

Like watching a documentary film with a constantly moving camera, I saw a statue of a sword-wielding deity, but strictly speaking, it was not a statue, but a soldier sitting quietly, completely submerged in water, with the hem of his clothes and cuffs rising and falling slightly with the unseen undercurrent.

Without realizing it, I let go of Shao Hei's hand, and the screen instantly zoomed in, right in front of me.

My instinctive reaction was to push it away with both hands. The instant I reached out, I felt the resistance of the water flow. The seaweed clinging to the soldier's eyebrows trembled rapidly, and several dark green seaweed detached and slowly floated upwards. My gaze followed the seaweed and a string of bubbles that seemed to come from nowhere, all the way upwards.

In the far distance, there is a blurry halo, like the cold and lonely moon in winter.

I realized that what I was seeing was the situation in the bottomless well beneath the meditation hall. What surprised me most was the soldier's rank, cap insignia, and shoulder boards, which indicated that he was Japanese and wore standard military uniform from the middle of World War II. The black boots he wore further confirmed my judgment.

"A Yagami-ryu ninja? A Japanese officer?" But his current appearance was like an animal specimen soaked in formalin, with pale skin and lifelike features.

He sat upright in a rectangular shrine. I turned to look to my left, and there were shrines lined up one after another, all carved from a large black stone wall, and all exactly the same size. The people sitting in the other shrines were exactly the same as this one, both in their clothing and their swords. No wonder Guan Baoling only showed a close-up of a sword in her writing.

This stone wall seemed to stretch endlessly, unlike being in a circular cave like a deep well. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough light to allow me to see the terrain and surroundings behind it.

If only we could find out the identities of the Kibagami-ryu ninjas, what would ten identical copies mean?

I suddenly realized that if I had already entered Shao Hei's remote sensing realm, the most urgent thing to find out was the situation of those two doors, because I had always suspected that someone had been to that place before me and, for some reason, had left a key in the lock.