King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 224

Facing the brilliant sunrise, I vigorously rubbed my face twice to hide the shock in my heart.

Gu Qingcheng subtly shifted her gaze, giving me a chance to adjust my expression in a very considerate way.

"Mr. Feng, who are you thinking of? Is it someone from the Tang Clan in Sichuan?" Fei Yue was young after all and didn't know how to leave room for maneuver for others.

When anyone mentions a sect in the martial arts world that uses highly poisonous hidden weapons, the Tang Clan of Sichuan is the first suspect. Over the years, only one person has openly and honestly engraved the character "heart" on their hidden weapons, because only she is worthy of using this character on her weapons. It's as if as long as she calls herself "Tang Xin," everyone else, whether before or after her, is just a boring imitator or follower.

"Tang Xin?" Fei Yue wasn't just a sheltered young lady who only knew how to embroider. In the martial world, one had to know some essential life-and-death situations.

I continued to stare at those dark, date-pit-shaped darts, only half an inch long, with a cold, menacing glint at their tips.

"It's possible, but no one can be certain. Perhaps a biochemical microscope would be needed to make a final judgment." Under Fei Yue's persistent scrutiny, I could only give a vague answer.

"Ah... Uncle Wei, no, no..." The team member whose finger was poisoned cried out in a pitiful voice, which conveniently diverted Fei Yue's attention.

A marksman cannot function without his index fingers, just as a swordsman cannot do without his thumbs, and a sharpshooter cannot abandon his eyes. Each of the ten fingers of the human hand has its unique muscle structure and joint distribution, which allows them to work together to exert the overall function of the "hand".

The original purpose of firearms manufacturing was to utilize the sensitive communication between the index finger and the mind, achieving perfect harmony between hand and mind, so that the trigger can be pulled at the most opportune moment to accurately hit the target. This is something that the other four fingers combined cannot replace.

Scientists have long conducted precise and rigorous experiments, and the conclusions can prove with 100% certainty that the index finger is the most dexterous and precious of all fingers, and its importance to the human body is no less than that of the facial features.

A reckless action led to this team member's lifelong regret, yet it was all unavoidable. If the poisoned finger hadn't been cut off in time, the toxin would have traveled through the bloodstream to the heart within hours, inevitably causing death.

"Ah—" Before the other party could make a move to escape, Uncle Wei had already swiftly punched him in the back of the neck, causing the burly young man to slump to the ground.

Gu Qingcheng shook her head and sighed helplessly: "Modern antiviral serums can't even withstand the poisons invented by the ancients. Is it that the development of technology has stagnated, or that the ancients had a more profound understanding of the world than modern people? Feng, can you answer this question?"

Many people have asked themselves similar questions. Back in the Egyptian desert, every time he saw the magnificent structure of the pyramids standing against the blue sky and yellow sand, Suren would murmur to himself, feeling genuinely perplexed by the unsolved mysteries of history.

Many of the sophisticated techniques that ancient people were able to achieve are things that modern people cannot accomplish even with high-precision instruments. Therefore, more and more archaeologists tend to believe in the fantastical view that "the wisdom of the ancients came from the legacy passed down from the previous generation of Earthlings."

“Miss Gu, don’t think too much about it. Let’s go back to the camp first.” Once we were out of trouble, I remembered Li Kang’s evasive words and that ancient book of paintings. That was the key to unlocking the secret of the “square-eyed monster” of the Qin Dynasty.

The person who was knocked unconscious had lost the ability to feel pain, and the knife was just as sharp as a surgical scalpel. So, as two streams of purplish-black blood splattered on the ground, the person had permanently lost his right thumb and index finger and could pack up and give up his job as a gunman.

This is the world of "fortune favors the bold"—two fingers could earn him tens of thousands of dollars, but from then on, he would never be able to touch a gun again.

Faced with a desperate situation, he had no other choice. Everyone is the same; when necessary, survival is the key to staying alive.

On the return trip, Fei Yue sat next to me, while Gu Qingcheng deliberately avoided sitting close to me, remaining silent and lost in thought in the driver's seat of another car. The midnight operation, which began with a pursuit, ended in a complete defeat for the expedition team, leaving everyone with a heavy heart.

"Mr. Feng, since it's so dangerous, why don't you choose to turn back?"

Feiyue carefully wiped her twin pistols with a gray velvet cloth. These imposing firearms were perhaps only suitable for close-quarters combat in the city, and their lethality was only apparent against their own kind. Using them against the Dragon Witch seemed far too weak.

I shook my head and sighed softly, "If I can't find Suren, I can never turn back..."

She's still too young to understand the genuine bonds forged in war and danger. If I could let go of and forget Suren, I might have left this hellhole long ago, just like Uncle Wei and the mercenaries abandoned Sun Gui, who was trapped in this perilous place. In my heart, Suren weighs more than anything else.

With two "clicks," Feiyue loaded the magazine, swung it into the holster on her belt, and turned to look at the gray mountains to the side: "Mr. Feng, there are so many good girls in the world, a myriad of possibilities, why cling to just the one in front of you?"

A strange flush appeared on her cheeks.

I turned my head as well, wiped a small patch of condensation from the car window, and replied with a faint smile, "There are many things you wouldn't understand."

No one can understand the deep affection between Su Lun and me, because no one else could have relived with me the series of life-and-death situations that unfolded in the desert camp. Just as no one could have rescued Guan Baoling from the glass box beneath Fengge Temple, the past will not repeat itself. Su Lun was the only one on my desert journey, and I was the only one on Guan Baoling's Hokkaido trip.

The emotions between men and women are like giant soap bubbles, displaying a colorful and beautiful spectacle, yet also containing unpredictable variables, making it impossible to say when they will shine brightly or when they will burst in sorrow.

The jeep jolted a few times, and one of the team members in the back seat suddenly spoke hesitantly: "Mr. Feng, I'd like to ask you something... what kind of monster is the woman in the tunnel? How could she possibly move more than two hundred meters instantly in the scope of a sniper rifle?"

He was the fourth person to participate in the sniping operation at the cave entrance, and he only told half of what he had to say at the time.

I turned to look at his bewildered and sorrowful face. His well-maintained rifle was clutched tightly to his chest, the barrel and handguard pressed against the stubble on his cheek. From the firm, steady grip on his left hand, I could tell he was a highly trained and skilled sniper.

"I saw a phantom of an object moving at high speed... The human body cannot reach that speed. My mentor, Milanman, once said that a sniper should only trust his own eyes and always dominate the unique world in the scope. As far as the eye can see, we are the hand of death that destroys all life."

His gaze alternated between fear, bewilderment, coldness, and despair, like a worn-out screen showing a black-and-white silent film.

My keen eyes spotted a narrow, silver lightning bolt engraved on the plastic handguard, standing out starkly against the gray-black background.

Feiyue asked in astonishment, "Milanman? Sniper Master Milanman?"

He nodded, his messy hair shook, and a miniature lightning bolt tattoo, about half an inch long, was revealed next to his left ear.

There were three more people sitting in the back seat, each holding a sniper rifle, their faces showing undisguised jealousy. One of them glanced at him sideways and let out a helpless "humph" through his nostrils.

Rivalry is common among snipers, and snipers are among the most independent and autocratic soldiers in warfare, leading to intense competition and rivalry that can border on hostility. For this reason, combat commanders rarely assign more than two snipers to each combat squad.

“Mr. Kaku, the protégé of sniper master Milanman, the sniper god of the Iraq War, isn’t he?” another sniper said in a strange tone.

The third man yanked open the car window, angrily spitting out his cigarette butt with a "pui," and then sneered with extreme dissatisfaction: "Why does he get more commission than all three of us combined? Does he think one of his bullets is as lethal as three people with three guns? Hmph, maybe we should all switch to other firearms so we don't steal Mr. Kaku's business!"

Kaku shook his head helplessly and turned his face to the window.

Feiyue gave me an incredulous look and shrugged strangely. I understood what she meant; she didn't believe Uncle Wei could recruit the "sniper god" from the 2003 US-British coalition forces.

Milan Mann is widely recognized by firearms experts worldwide as the greatest sniper since World War II. He wrote over two million words of sniping manuals, which are used as classic textbooks in thirty-five military academies around the world. No one else deserves the prestigious title of "Master Sniper."

Such exceptional talent is undoubtedly a target coveted by the Pentagon, but Milanman has so far rejected the earnest entreaties of three U.S. Secretaries of Defense. As a former Yugoslav military instructor, he deeply resented the American carpet bombing campaign against Yugoslavia and vowed never to serve the Americans again.

Milanman is said to be over seventy years old and currently lives a secluded life in a small mountain town in Switzerland, fishing, playing cards, and enjoying the tranquility of a hermit. No fewer than tens of thousands of top snipers from around the world want to become his disciples, and some have even offered millions of dollars to gain the status of "Milanman's disciple," yet they have never even been able to meet him.

In the martial arts world, only four people have truly received Milanman's teachings. All of them come from the small country of Yugoslavia and are respectively given the titles of "Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning." Each of them is worth more than 80 million US dollars.

"Lightning" Kaku is the real name of the aloof sniper in front of us. During the Iraq War, he single-handedly killed six enemy division commanders. His other nickname, "Sniper God," spread like wildfire.

I smiled and winked, signaling Feiyue to stay silent. Last night's operation failed, and what we need most now is for everyone to relax and remain calm so we can discuss any issues peacefully.

Kaku's doubts were also a mystery in everyone's minds. The Dragon Witch's instantaneous phantom teleportation had become a huge question mark in everyone's heads—they knew how, but not why. Even if Kaku had some unique ideas in front of the other three, he wouldn't speak them out without restraint. I had to find another setting to talk to him privately. A master like him deserved higher-level treatment, not to be mixed in with a large group of mediocre mercenaries.

I gave Kaku a subtle hint, replacing all words with a knowing smile.

He frowned, subtly lifted his eyelids, and gazed out the window again. Between top-tier masters, there's no need for further explanation.

Part Four: The Star Array, Chapter Six: Tang Xiaogu's Sudden Change

As the vehicle entered the camp, the stationed team members dutifully took on their guard duties, allowing their exhausted comrades to eat and rest.

I jumped out of the car and strode towards Li Kang's tent without hesitation. My gut feeling told me that Tang Xiaogu would definitely be with him, and I could find out more about why Feiying and Liang Wei hadn't gone to the tunnel through Tang Xiaogu.

Ten steps from the tent, Tang Xiaogu's childish, high-pitched laughter suddenly rang out: "You guys... hehe... are you all drunk? Why aren't you saying a word? Three grown men, and only two bottles of wine..."

My heart jumped into my throat. I leaped out, parted the curtain, and was immediately hit by the pungent smell of alcohol.

Tang Xiaogu was the only one standing in the tent. She was very short; even standing next to Li Kang, she was about the same height as someone sitting cross-legged. Her hands were on Li Kang's shoulders, and she kept laughing, revealing two sharp canine teeth on her lips.

Li Kang sat there with his head down, holding a glass in both hands, as if in deep meditation.

Sitting across the table from each other were Flying Eagle and Liang Wei. Both of them were holding a cup in one hand and tucked the other into their pockets, a gesture that resembled secretly drawing a gun. But for some reason, they stopped halfway through, staring blankly ahead with unfocused and dazed eyes.

"What happened?" Feiyue arrived first, flashing out from beside me and rushing towards Feiying.

The siblings shared a deep bond, but her only concern was for her brother, Feiying.

I knew something must have happened, and it revolved around the mysterious Tang Xiaogu. Those hidden weapons engraved with the character for "heart" had already deeply shocked me, but the dazed expressions of Feiying, Liang Wei, and Li Kang sent chills down my spine. However, standing in broad daylight was better than being in the dark, deep tunnel; at least I wouldn't lose sight of my target.

"He's drunk, they—they're all drunk!" Tang Xiaogu shook his braid, holding a brown Chivas Regal bottle in his left hand, shaking it incessantly, the remaining liquor spilling out haphazardly onto the table, the floor, and the mattress.

On the table, there were no bowls or plates, no snacks, no chopsticks, and not even an ice cube, which is usually a must when drinking foreign liquor.

"And you? The adults are all drunk, but the kids are getting more and more sober?" I remained calm, my gaze fixed on her small body.

Her free hand flailed wildly in the air as she laughed louder and louder, clearly drunk: "Am I not drunk? There's not enough wine... there's not enough wine, let's drink, don't stop..."

Feiyue nudged her brother's shoulder several times, but Feiying didn't react at all.

I took a step to the right, blocking Tang Xiaogu's escape route. The witch Longge who launched the hidden weapon could not possibly be the beautiful and aloof Tang Xin, because the latter had mysteriously disappeared in the Egyptian desert long ago. However, her technique in launching the hidden weapon was equally exquisite and accurate, and she must have an inextricable connection with the Tang Clan.

Therefore, no matter what means I use, I must keep a close eye on Tang Xiaogu.

"What's wrong with him? What's wrong with him?" Fei Yue realized something was wrong, and with a swift movement of her right hand, she drew her short gun and pointed it at Tang Xiaogu.

Tang Xiaogu stopped shaking the bottle, tilted his head back, stared at the gun in Feiyue's hand for a few seconds, and suddenly let out a sinister laugh: "Going into these mountains, you think you can go back safely? Hahahaha... Hehehehehe..."

Before her laughter had even subsided, she suddenly spun around and rushed toward me.

I had already secured the best route out of the tent, and her movement was tantamount to crashing into my chest. But when we were five steps apart, she changed direction again, suddenly flipping over in mid-air and, after a series of dazzling somersaults, lunging back at Feiyue.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!" Fei Yue reacted swiftly, firing two shots with her right hand followed by a volley from her left, six bullets accurately striking Tang Xiaogu in the chest. The immense impact of the bullets sent Tang Xiaogu tumbling backward, crashing into the tent before landing with a thud.

Feiyue straightened up, leaped over the table, and pointed the gun at Tang Xiaogu again.

I immediately called out a warning: "Watch out—"

If Tang Xiaogu were so easy to deal with, he wouldn't have let Feiying and the other two fall for his tricks at the same time.

Outside the tent, footsteps echoed from all directions, but more frequently, the clicking sounds of guns being chambered echoed. Fei Yue's gunfire once again turned the recently quiet camp upside down.

Tang Xiaogu, like a nimble and fierce wildcat, suddenly pounced on Feiyue's shoulder, her two jet-black braids wrapping around her neck with a "whoosh." Almost simultaneously, the knife in my hand shot out, just grazing past her bared fangs.

After two sharp cracking sounds, Tang Xiaogu let out a howl like a wild beast enraged, twisted his body, threw Feiyue away, and then spat out a mouthful of blood.

That strike was intended to save lives, not kill. Tang Xiaogu must not die until I understand the situation of Flying Eagle and the other two, because I suspect they have been poisoned by her Gu.

Tang Xiaogu sprang up again, and with a "whoosh," the thick, dense canvas of the tent ceiling was ripped open. She flew through the air, throwing the knife at me with a sinister, terrifying laugh: "Thank you for the knife, thank you for the knife..."

I didn't dare to carelessly reach out and catch the knife. I dodged to the side, and the knife fell limply to the ground.

It's daytime now, and once she takes to the air, she'll naturally become everyone's target.

Feiyue screamed, "Kill her! She's a monster—"

Before I could stop her, I slid over and covered her mouth with my hand, silencing her. But it was too late. Gunshots rang out one after another outside, a loud "bang bang pupu pupu" sound.

"Tang Xiaogu can't die! Only she can cure the poison she administered!" I explained urgently. Feiyue's face flushed red, and after a couple of seconds of stunned silence, she began nodding frantically. People like her and Feiying, who were considered江湖人士 (jianghu figures), always seemed somewhat weak in their ability to control the overall situation. Whenever a sudden change occurred, they only knew how to react to the situation as it arose, but they couldn't consider the bigger picture or take preventative measures.

Once Tang Xiaogu is killed, our team will likely have three more people in a vegetative state.

Looking up through the crack in the tent, Tang Xiaogu resembled a kite billowing in the wind, leaping more than ten meters before drifting southwards towards the tunnel.

"Mr. Feng, we can't let her escape into the tunnel! We've all been fooled by her!" Feiyue broke free from my grasp, shouting in a tearful voice. From the moment she discovered Tang Xiaogu until now, Feiyue had been taking care of her with all her might, sacrificing so much. Realizing she had been deceived all at once was naturally heartbreaking.

I frowned. The most urgent task was to get to the tunnel entrance and intercept them as quickly as possible; that was the most fundamental solution.

Just then, the shouts of "Kaku, Kaku, Kaku" came from more and more people, merging into a unified work chant.

The mental strain of staying up all night slowed my thinking. It took me a moment to realize that they were talking about the "sniper god" who struck fear into the hearts of Iraqi generals. Tang Xiaogu's speed in mid-air made him a perfect target for a sniper's demonstration, like a target launched from a target machine.

"Oh no—" I rushed out of the tent, but I could already hear five muffled thuds in a row, the sound of a heavy sniper rifle firing continuously.

The shouts from all sides suddenly ceased. In my field of vision, everyone was staring blankly up at Tang Xiaogu, dressed in a red jacket and red trousers, in the sky. Fifteen paces away, beside the jeep, Kaku held his gun in both hands, leaning steadily against the vehicle, his expression indifferent as he gazed up at the sky.

Tang Xiaogu was falling, but as Kaku raised his gun again, with two "thuds" and Tang Xiaogu's body was shot away once more. Using the impact of the bullets, he fell far away, and two bright blood flowers the size of bowls exploded on his body.

This sniping attempt turned into a personal showcase for Kaku. By the time I reached him, the third volley of four bullets sent Tang Xiaogu tumbling through the air before she finally crashed headfirst to the ground. The combined force of the bullets and the impact of the fall made her chances of survival slim.

"No—" My shout was swallowed back down my throat. In the world of snipers, "one shot, one kill" is the only fighting principle. What's the use of saying more nonsense now that the damage is done?