King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 178

Gu Qingcheng repeated, "Mr. Feng, if the answer is satisfactory, can we make a deal?" She didn't seem to care about the police officers outside and calmly continued with her work.

I pointed out the window: "Miss Gu, even if you buy the guqin, how will you get it out of here?"

Gu Qingcheng laughed: "Mr. Feng is joking. We are all people in the martial arts world, why ask so many questions?"

I laughed along. If you wanted to smuggle goods out of Japan, foreign merchant ships were the best secret route. But when we saw a long, black Toyota Crown smoothly appear at the end of the road, Gu Qingcheng's smile immediately vanished. Toyota only produced one hundred of that model, all glossy black, and exclusively for the Japanese Imperial Family. They didn't have license plates; instead, they had a one-foot-long, three-inch-wide silver metal plate embedded in them.

The Fifth Undersea Mystery

— Chapter 8 - The Debate Over the Guqin (Part 2) —

"Miss Gu, do you still think you can successfully take the guqin this time?" Teng Jia is a royal princess, and those who have come this time are undoubtedly important figures who have visited before. Therefore, the guqin belonging to the royal family will definitely be reclaimed; how could they allow others to covet it?

"Why not? If I hadn't been worried about implicating Mr. Feng, I would have left with it long ago. It's even better if a big shot comes. It won't cause you any trouble, our transaction will be clean and safe, so as not to become a laughing stock in the martial arts world."

Her purse was hanging on the coat hook by the door. She casually took it down, took out her checkbook, tore off a check, and placed it on the coffee table in front of me.

"Eight million pounds?" I pinched the corner of the check, flicked it lightly, and it made a "click" sound.

My impression of Gu Qingcheng is that she is unfathomably cunning. Any problem in her hands will be solved as easily as a knot under Alexander's sword. However, when I passed through Hong Kong Island before, it seemed that no one mentioned her. Even among Gu Zhijin's business partners, no one ever mentioned her.

"Not satisfied?" She took off her glasses, her eyes deep and calm, clear and distinct, like two shimmering, cold pools. Compared to Guan Baoling, she wasn't as alluring, but she possessed a refined and intelligent composure. Those glasses were also a new Versace design from this season, each temple adorned with two tiny, sparkling diamonds.

"Satisfied." I folded the check and put it in my pocket, wanting to see what she could do to defuse the big shot's aggressive approach.

She scrutinized my face, a slight upturn at the corners of her lips, a thoughtful smile on her face: "I know Mr. Feng still has doubts about the origin of the zither, but I don't want to speak carelessly and irresponsibly parrot what others say, like those lowly fishermen in the marketplace. Perhaps we can discuss this in detail another time?"

Footsteps echoed up the stairs, and the first to rush up was none other than Eagle Blade, the bodyguard captain of the important figure. Closely following behind him were four highly vigilant and fierce SWAT officers, their submachine guns pointed directly at Gu Qingcheng.

"Ms. Gu, someone has reported you for illegally trafficking and transporting national cultural relics, and for having a tendency to spy on national political intelligence. Therefore, we must take you back to the Security and Defense Agency for isolation and investigation. Please cooperate with our work, otherwise, if we get into a fight, it will be embarrassing for Mr. Gu Zhijin. Do you understand?"

Eagle Blade showed no mercy, immediately slapping two heavy accusations on Gu Qingcheng to prevent anyone from intervening or pleading for her. His expression was grim and uncertain, his eyes darting around as if searching for something.

Gu Qingcheng put away her checkbook, put her glasses back on, raised her chin, and sneered: "What is it? I hold a US citizen passport and have not violated Japanese law, so why resort to knives and guns? Is this how the Japanese government welcomes foreign business investors?"

Her waist was very slender, but not in the frail way of Guan Baoling; instead, it was full of resilience, and her every move was incredibly harmonious. From her not-so-smooth breathing, I could tell that she had some hidden injuries and could not exert her full strength at any time, so her martial arts skills were not particularly high.

Gu Qingcheng laughed heartily: "What? Spying on intelligence? You must have misunderstood. I'm just an ordinary university professor, occasionally working as a financial investment advisor abroad. I have absolutely no interest in your Japanese politics—"

I looked closely at Eagle Knife's face and suddenly interjected, "Mr. Eagle Knife, are you looking for an ancient zither?"

I've always been puzzled by this: given the prestigious provenance of the "Five Lakes" guqin, it should have been quite well-known in Japan. How did it end up abandoned by history, relegated to the status of a discarded artifact in "Yuhuang Shuijun"? At the very least, a guqin worth eight million pounds should have required a professional security team. Furthermore, how could the "Black Angels Gang," known for its ruthless thieves, have let it go?

During my conversation with Gu Qingcheng, I kept thinking about this question, but I couldn't find the answer. I doubt she could tell me so easily.

“Yes.” Eagle Blade squinted at me. This was our second meeting, but we were just acquaintances; we weren’t really friends.

"I want to see a very important person, and I need to know the origin of the guqin. Then, perhaps I can give you some clues on how to find it." What I can't get from Gu Qingcheng, I can try to get from the important person in another direction. I judge that the important person is in the Crown car downstairs, but they can keep it low-key and hidden.

Eagle Blade chuckled: "See him? Do you think important figures are always waiting to see you, doing nothing all day? Don't be ridiculous—I'll pass on the message, whether he sees you or not depends on your own fate."

As the head bodyguard of a powerful figure, he was a very influential person in Japanese politics. After all, being by the side of such a person every day gave him access to firsthand news information, which was considered the most valuable news source by journalists. Therefore, he always displayed an air of superior arrogance.

Through the window, I saw that the Crown car's four doors were tightly closed, and black veils covered everything inside, making it impossible to see anything. Meanwhile, the situation in the yard was entirely under the control of the Japanese special police. The American counterterrorism experts' plan was to deal with the sneaky attacks of the Yamaguchi-gumi terrorists, not a large-scale police operation, which is why the watchtowers at the four corners hadn't had time to function.

"I also want to meet some important people, is that alright? Or could you allow me to make a phone call?" Gu Qingcheng calmly unzipped the inside of her purse with a "whoosh".

"Stop! Miss Gu, please don't make any moves—" Eagle Knife was highly vigilant. In his eyes, the quiet and elegant Gu Qingcheng was no different from a terrorist who could draw his gun and shoot at any moment. His eagle eyes were fixed on Gu Qingcheng's right hand reaching into her purse, while four SWAT officers behind her moved forward in a fan formation to surround her.

Gu Qingcheng slowly withdrew her hand and raised it above her shoulder.

One of the special police officers yanked the steel handcuffs off his belt and walked up to her without any hesitation. The handcuffs had sharp spikes on the inside, which were specifically designed to deal with extremely dangerous criminals, but using them to deal with a girl was overkill.

Her hands should have been bathed in clear spring water, burned with incense, and then gently caressed on the guqin, not subjected to the torment of wolf-tooth handcuffs. But now, facing the muzzles of Japanese guns, she had no choice.

I have a very good impression of Gu Qingcheng. From her first phone call to our initial meeting in the courtyard, and then to the check she just handed me, she's at least better than Gu Zhijin, who's only interested in profit and obsessed with money. So, I stepped in front of the burly SWAT officer, turned to Eagle Knife, and smiled: "Mr. Eagle Knife, Miss Gu is a guest of Xunfu Garden. I guarantee she won't do anything detrimental to your country, nor will she suddenly run away. How about we skip the handcuffs?"

Eagle Blade tilted his chin to the sky and arrogantly snorted.

All crows are black; such people are used to opportunistic and bullying good people. They always treat orders from above as absolute authority, only seeking to please their superiors without considering whether their methods of handling problems are appropriate.

"Get out of my way, Chinese!" This SWAT officer probably didn't know who I was. He slapped me on the shoulder with a nonchalant swear word in Japanese. His hand was broad, thick, and short, clearly showing that he had practiced the "striking stance" technique in karate. If an ordinary person had been hit by his slap, their shoulder would have been swollen and red for at least a few months.

"What did you say?" I sneered, flipped my left hand, and snapped my wrist shut.

He barely paused, his left hand, gripping the handcuffs, swung violently, whistling through the air, aiming for my right temple. This was a deadly blow, enough to kill in an instant. One can imagine how brutal the Japanese special police were when carrying out their missions, capable of killing innocent strangers at any moment.

"Baka—" It seems he really has no manners, using only Japanese swear words.

The window was open, so Gu Qingcheng must have opened it to let in some fresh air beforehand, which conveniently saved a tedious procedure. Before the curses had even finished, the SWAT officer suddenly flew out from above my head, through the window, and into the air.

I clapped my hands, frowned, and asked, "Mr. Eagle Knife, do all your men like to curse people so casually?" Only then did I hear the man fall to the ground with a "thud," and after a few seconds of silence, he screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

Eagle Knife's expression changed, but the other three SWAT officers were all stunned. Their target was Gu Qingcheng, and they had not yet received orders on how to deal with me. Although the safety of their submachine guns was off, they dared not fire rashly.

“I need to see a big shot. If you don’t dare to inform him in person, I can call him.” I only said this much before Gu Qingcheng handed me the phone, still warm and fragrant from her palm. Everything she did seemed to be strictly in sync with the rhythm, perfectly measured, as if it were a stage play performed entirely according to a script, with Eagle Knife and the SWAT officers merely actors or props she could casually direct.

I gripped the phone tighter, turning back to look at her with amusement: "Ms. Gu, what's this? Did you expect me to make a move?"

She smiled happily, her lips curving upwards to reveal two rows of perfectly aligned, white teeth.

I remember the big shot's number. I only meant to mention it, but now she's forced me to call.

Eagle Knife is merely a lackey of powerful figures. No matter how many decisions he makes or how many words he speaks, they are not as effective as a nod or a shake of the head from those powerful figures.

When the call connected, the important man's voice was slightly hoarse, clearly indicating a very low mood. He recognized my voice and raised his voice, forcing a smile: "Feng, are you upstairs? I'm in my car downstairs. How can I help you?"

Faced with the Japanese's shameless and obvious question, all I could do was smile bitterly and force a polite greeting: "Your special police officers were too aggressive; they almost frightened my friend, Miss Gu Qingcheng. The thing is, she came to Hokkaido only to retrieve a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument). She has no political motives and will not harm your country's national security or interests. Could you please give me some face and be lenient?"

We were only a few dozen meters apart, one floor above the other, but he pretended to be deaf and dumb, as if he didn't understand what I was saying.

Eagle Blade glared at me angrily: "Mr. Feng, I have to remind you, this is Japan. If you want to play the hero saving the damsel in distress game, be careful you don't end up getting yourself into trouble too!" His martial arts skills weren't necessarily better than mine, so it was just empty threats.

I waved the phone in my hand at him, signaling him to be quiet.

“Feng, I’d really like to help you, but the guqin is a royal heirloom and also a relic of Teng Jia. Sigh, I hope to keep it so that I can remember him when I see it in the future, which will be a kind of solace. If you want to give it to your girlfriend, I can have someone send over the same guqin. You can choose whichever you prefer…”

I paused for about a second, vaguely sensing that something was amiss: "Gu Qingcheng said that the guqin is priceless, but the big shot's words show that he doesn't understand the guqin's value—the Japanese experts on ancient musical instruments are not much less knowledgeable than Gu Zhijin in their research on the guqin, so didn't they realize how precious this guqin is?" Following normal logic, I would think that Gu Qingcheng and the big shot were not referring to the same guqin.

Gu Qingcheng chuckled softly: "Mr. Feng, who is your girlfriend?"

The Fifth Undersea Mystery

— Chapter 9 — The Second Thousand-Year Imprisonment that Fujika Endured (Part 1) —

I ignored her jokes and nervously calculated in my mind.

The Crown car door popped open, and the VIP slowly stepped out, tilting his head back and waving at me. On the surface, Fujika's death didn't seem to have affected him much; he remained energetic and impeccably dressed.

"Feng, promise me one thing: the zither is yours, and I won't lay a finger on Miss Gu. How about it?" Although it was said in a negotiating tone, the courtyard was filled with the murderous intent of gun barrels. We were already at the gates of the city, and it seemed that I had no way out but to sign a treaty under duress.

I leaned against the window, and Gu Qingcheng followed me over.

"What are the conditions?" I waved back to him, while subtly lowering my voice: "Miss Gu, if you want the zither, then follow my arrangements. Come downstairs in a bit, and erase the words 'Five Lakes,' and at the same time, reduce the price by a hundredfold—" I said these words almost right next to her ear, and I could smell the enchanting fragrance emanating from her hair.

She blinked repeatedly, smiled knowingly, and understood what I meant.

If this guqin underwent different changes before and after Fujika's death, I am the only one who knows the truth, so I can easily cover up the process. The most expensive guqin on the Japanese musical instrument market is only two hundred thousand US dollars. Only by drastically devaluing the "Five Lakes" guqin can I make important people stop valuing it.

Whatever secrets the guqin holds, I hope it will be obtained by my own people, rather than being lost to the Japanese.

The important man raised his thick eyebrows: "Let's talk down here. I think you'll accept it."

The members of the Sharpshooter Society and the tycoon all retreated into the house, refusing to step out even half a step. Everyone understood that once the big shot arrived, the entire area within several kilometers of Xunfu Garden would be filled with elite special police forces. Any rash action would only result in their own destruction and their bodies left to rot in the wilderness.

What I find most regrettable is that the four watchtowers didn't exert a significant deterrent effect. Perhaps their weaponry was still too rudimentary to effectively counter any foreign threats. This illustrates the adage "even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake"—directly confronting the local police on Japanese territory would be extremely unwise.

"Okay, I'll be right down." I turned and walked towards the stairs. Ying Dao and his men immediately split into two groups, sandwiching Gu Qingcheng and me in the middle, and we walked down the stairs together.

Outside the hall, the sun shone brightly, and all the doors on both sides were tightly closed; not a single person was in sight. I saw at least thirty disguised cameras rotating in the corners—the result of counter-terrorism experts' work; those inside could monitor everything in the courtyard without leaving the building.

The important man stood with his hands behind his back, a victor's smile on his face: "Feng, you're a smart man. You can figure out my terms just by thinking about them. Is there any need to say them?"

Since assuming the throne, his ambitions have been blatantly obvious; all he has ever sought is "power," a fact that almost all Asian military analysts can see. He wants vast amounts of power—national, East Asian, Asian, and even global. Currently, he has completed the first step of "conquering the world with carrots," and the next step will likely be to follow the Americans' example and adopt a "big stick" policy to reshape the image of a military superpower.

I stared at his face, which had suddenly flushed red with excitement, and suddenly found his idea utterly ridiculous—"We only have one Earth. The United States wants to dominate, Russia wants to dominate, small African countries want to dominate, Iraq wants to dominate, and even small East Asian countries like North Korea, Japan, and South Korea want to dominate. How many independent parts of this Earth would it take to satisfy the needs of so many countries? What's the difference between the actions and thoughts of these bigwigs and the war maniacs in Iraq?"

"You want the 'Wrath of the Sun God'? Do you really think I can go down to the bottom of the sea and retrieve that gem?" I chuckled easily. So far, going down to the bottom of the sea is still just a pipe dream, something I can only dream of, but I really want to go in. Although my goal is slightly different from the tycoon's, we'll ultimately reach the same destination.

"Yes, you definitely can." The important man was very certain.

With his complete trust in me, I knew that no matter how I explained, it would be useless, so I simply admitted frankly: "Yes, I can, but I hope you can be lenient and let Miss Gu leave Japan with the guqin. Trading the guqin for gemstones is a more profitable deal for you, isn't it?"

The important man glanced at Gu Qingcheng, a sudden light gleaming in the depths of his eyes—a common reaction men show when they see a girl they're interested in. Actually, Gu Qingcheng wasn't strikingly beautiful, but she was very pleasing to the eye in the long run; I realized this after only a brief encounter with her.

"Miss Gu, don't you have anything to say about this guqin?" The important man didn't apologize for the sudden, menacing intrusion of the special police, but acted as if nothing had happened, displaying the warmth of a host. Successful men around fifty years old, like this important man and tycoon, might be attracted to young and charming girls, but I know very well that their actions are like striking a match to burn pebbles—a futile effort.

Despite the VIP's attentiveness, Gu Qingcheng maintained a humble yet assertive attitude: "If you could kick these rude bastards out first, I would indeed be happy to share my thoughts on the guqin, but I have no interest right now—if it weren't for Mr. Feng's timely intervention, my wrists would already be injured under their wolf-tooth handcuffs."

Gu Qingcheng isn't the kind of lowly girl who becomes spineless and weak-willed when she sees important people, and this gives me a secret sense of joy.

The SWAT officer I just abandoned has been rescued by his comrades, but he's seriously injured in the leg. His service to the Japanese people is probably over. If it were just a simple hand-to-hand combat, I probably wouldn't have gone too far; I'd always leave the other side a way out. But he shouldn't have used the Japanese national curse word "baka." Almost all Chinese people have an innate aversion to this word, often impulsively leading to a fight.

The important man, having been turned away, froze on his smile and gave Eagle Blade a meaningful look—

Eagle Knife gave a whistle, and the group of special police officers immediately assembled, quickly boarded their police cars, and quietly withdrew from the villa.

This was merely a Japanese "demonstration," ostensibly aimed at the Sharpshooter Association, but in reality, it was a power play by a powerful figure to force me out of my position. Unfortunately, he will never understand that at that moment, more than anyone else, I yearned to delve into the ocean depths and explore its mysteries. His request was simply a convenient excuse.

Gu Qingcheng suddenly shook her head and sighed, "Although your country's special police force is touted as the nation's impregnable wall and a force for national rejuvenation, its combat skills and humanistic qualities are so terrible that it's laughable. Mr. Feng, what do you think?"

I shrugged. Back in the living room on the second floor, I could have taken down those four SWAT officers anytime I wanted. Eagle Knife is the most famous bodyguard among the big shots, but I'm more than 50% confident that I can beat him in marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and melee weapon fighting. And in a life-or-death struggle, he wouldn't last ten moves against me.

“Yes, perhaps Japan’s special police forces should continue to learn from their American allies, at least reaching the average level of Marine Corps personnel. Otherwise, how can they protect our beloved Japanese citizens?” I echoed Gu Qingcheng’s words.

"Ha, by the way, your country's inferiority complex and fear are also reflected in entertainment features filled with monsters flying everywhere. Or perhaps the people aren't worried about future security because there's a very powerful Ultraman protecting this beautiful seaside paradise?" Gu Qingcheng didn't want to let go of this topic that satirized the Japanese, but I had already shut up in time, not wanting to get the upper hand with my words.

With our back-and-forth banter, the important figure managed to maintain his smile once again: "I will pass on your sincere suggestions to the National Security Agency. The Japanese police will certainly be able to protect Japan, and will extend that protection to safeguard peace and tranquility in the Pacific Rim region."

He took out a white card from his pocket and humbly handed it to Gu Qingcheng with both hands: "Miss Gu, please take this personal business card with you. It will allow you to pass through customs without any problems. I wish you a safe journey."

The Japanese people's "courtesy" and "forbearance" are shining examples of the Yamato people's qualities. After the important person got into the car and drove away from the villa, Gu Qingcheng and I looked at each other, sincerely admiring the important person's cultivation in these two aspects.

The card featured a blooming golden chrysanthemum in the center and a miniature Japanese flag in the upper right corner, without a single word. Gu Qingcheng held the card in her hand, flicked her fingers against the wind, and asked with a hint of regret, "Mr. Feng, it's a pity I have to rush back to Hong Kong Island and won't be able to witness your treasure hunt. I've heard many legends about the 'Wrath of the Sun God,' with over a hundred versions, some true and some false. I wonder which version you'll be following?"

She frowned and put the card into her purse.

The twilight of late winter and early spring arrived swiftly, as if it had descended all at once. The streetlights were still out, and because of the twilight, my relationship with Gu Qingcheng suddenly felt much closer.

"How do I get started? I don't have a particularly detailed plan yet." I didn't want to be too honest with her.

She pointed in the direction the important figure had vanished, adjusted her glasses, and a meaningful smile appeared on her face: "The old Japanese island culture is so entrenched that it's impossible for them to allow other Asians to get involved and share the spoils. Here, foreign cultures are either assimilated and disintegrated, or they disappear with a 'those who comply prosper, those who resist perish' mentality. Therefore, I think cooperating with them is more difficult than trying to negotiate with a tiger."

Gu Qingcheng's view of the Japanese coincides with mine. Before obtaining the "Wrath of the Sun God," powerful figures might be very accommodating and generous towards me, but once I lose my usefulness, their attitude will change drastically.

The phone in her purse suddenly rang—"Let's go take a look at the guqin first. Actually, before you reminded me, I had already corrected the writing on the outside, but I have a little doubt..." She only heard the ringing and did not take out the phone to check it in time.

The zither was in the last room on the right wing, the door tightly locked. As she took out the key to open the door, the doubt on her face deepened: "Mr. Feng, don't you feel that this zither carries an extremely deep resentment?"