King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 273

I quickly leaped out of the small building and grabbed Lei Aobai's shoulder. If he showed any signs of anything amiss, I would immediately take him back into the building.

"This world... is so good, so good," he mumbled incoherently, pulling his hand away from mine, squatting down, grabbing two clumps of snow, and stuffing them into his mouth like a wild beast suddenly released from its cage. He wasn't dead, and there was nothing unusual about him; everything seemed normal.

I suddenly realized that the two of them had simply stumbled into the flying machine of the god Tu Liehan, and had not undergone any "alienation" at all. Therefore, they were different from Sahan and the others in essence, and could leave that dark world by any means.

After two loud booms, Situ Qiushi also leaped out of the dust and landed steadily on the snow.

Sahan chased them to the edge of the breach, refusing to take another step. His cold, sharp blades pressed against his forearms as he roared, "You chose this path yourselves. If anything goes wrong, don't blame your master!"

Situ Qiu and Lei Aobai ignored what he said, holding hands and running towards the end of the alley, full of vigor and joy.

Sahan gazed at the two figures as they walked away, then suddenly asked thoughtfully, "Mr. Feng, is it a good thing or a bad thing that they broke out?"

As he sheathed his sword, a sudden sense of foreboding washed over me, though I couldn't quite pinpoint its source. From the moment I entered the building, my thoughts had been in a state of tense flux, without a moment's respite. My brain cells were exhausted, and my mental agility was plummeting.

Sahan and I bowed to each other across the gap and said goodbye. He turned around and walked down the escalator, leaving only the sound of his footsteps.

"What could possibly happen? Why do I feel a chill down my spine whenever I see his knife?" I patted my swollen forehead and hurried through the snow, following in the footsteps of Situ Qiu and the others.

I reached for the small box in my breast pocket, but couldn't make a decision. Breaking Tang Qing's poisonous insect formation was easy; that was the unique ability of the "Azure Blood Night-Shining Toad." But I wanted to keep the situation under my control as much as possible.

They had reached the small building where Tang Xin had stayed behind. The courtyard was quiet, without any sounds of fighting.

"Mr. Feng, I'm here." Tang Xin appeared on the rooftop, gliding down gracefully with exquisite movements. After enduring such a long period of darkness, seeing her smiling face again invigorated me.

I immediately cut to the chase and asked, "Have Tang Qing and Alpha made any appearances?"

If those two really did work together, I have to find Alpha and get to the bottom of this. The empty courtyard was still covered in snow, and the once surging venomous insects had all gone into hibernation, hiding under the snow. It was hard to imagine that so many mutated venomous insects could be so well-trained and concealed here, ready to charge at the enemy at any time, like squads of fierce soldiers.

Tang Qing shook his head: "No, the people who rushed out of the 'earth veins' were severely injured and had to retreat."

I looked into the distance, and the world in the snow was nothing but a silver-white expanse, with not a single person in sight.

“Mr. Feng, I just heard someone howling loudly, the sound is very much like… a tiger, I wonder what’s going to happen?” She turned around and looked towards the entrance of the Epang Palace, but the snowflakes obscured her view, and the area to the west of the empty courtyard was a vast expanse of white, and she could not see anything clearly.

"Oh, if the tiger can get in, we'll have another helper—" My spirits lifted even higher. Of course, if Gu Qingcheng could arrive at the same time, I would at least have another strategist to discuss things with, and there would be hope of untangling these seemingly intractable problems.

"But, but..." Tang Xin couldn't continue, letting out a helpless sigh. Countless snowflakes clung to her hair, the melted snow refreezing into thin ice on the ends. Her clothes were also soaked with snow, making her look pitiful. If a tiger were standing here, it would surely feel immense pity.

"He must really want to see you." I sighed softly, completely from the bottom of my heart. Tiger wanted to see Tang Xin, just like I wanted to find Su Lun at all costs. There is no distinction between noble and lowly, high and low, deep and shallow, in the feelings between men and women in the world. As long as they come from a sincere heart, they can all move heaven and earth.

“I know that if I could also give up those strange thoughts and accept him with the same enthusiasm, that would be great, but I can’t. I’ve said it before, it’s fate, an irresistible fate.” Tang Xin raised her head and shook her hair forcefully, as if trying to shake off all the unpleasantness.

"Aha—wooo..." A series of strange cries came from the direction of the sealed gate. Lei Aobai rushed over like a howling monster, using his lightness skill to the limit. He swept past Tang Xin and me with a whoosh, overjoyed and dancing around like a happy and ignorant madman.

Situ Qiu followed closely behind, running at breakneck speed. He didn't forget to humbly clasp his hands in a salute to me: "Mr. Feng, thank you for saving my fellow disciples and me. We are deeply grateful and will definitely repay you in the future..." A gust of snowflakes swept by, silently scattering his remaining words.

"Who are these two lunatics?" Tang Xin frowned, slightly displeased.

I waved the snow off my head, preparing to explain their origins in the most appropriate way, but in an instant, I suddenly looked up and shouted: "Don't go—don't go forward!"

From the moment Lei Aobai swept past until now, no more than three seconds had passed. My reaction wasn't exactly slow, but it was still a little too late. The two brothers had almost simultaneously leaped over the wall and entered the empty courtyard. With their lightness skills, achieving "walking on snow without leaving a trace" was effortless, and in their extremely excited state, they initially glided lightly across the snow, their toes barely touching the surface, certainly not disturbing the poisonous insects beneath the snow. However, once they penetrated deeper into the core area of the empty courtyard, it was precisely when the poisonous insects began to stir.

"Ah? What... what are we going to do?" Tang Xin exclaimed, clapping her hands together, her face filled with sudden horror.

Part Three: Mirror Illusion, Chapter Five

The Blade of Distance, the Crystal Sword

I didn't have time to save them. The crazy Lei Aobai not only harmed himself, but also dragged Situ Qiushi into it.

The snake formation was the first to attack; thousands of venomous snakes leaped up from the snow, like waves of wheat in early summer, instantly covering Lei Aobai.

"Mr. Feng, how do we save them?" Tang Xin stomped her feet, kicking up snowflakes.

I truly regret not restraining them earlier, which led to this accident. However, I have the Azure Blood Night-Shining Toad with me, so I can immediately rush into the empty courtyard to drive away the insects and save people. But that would definitely break through the "Heaven and Earth Spinning Dragon Control Formation," giving the Earth-Cracking Khan's flying vehicle a chance to escape. The ensuing chain reaction could potentially turn this world upside down—"Let me think, let me think."

My mind was still a complete mess, and I couldn't make the right choice between "saving people" and "protecting the enemy."

“I’ll go save them. At least I’ve been cursed with the ‘Innate Poisonous Insect Curse,’ so I’m not afraid of being bitten by snakes. Too many innocent people have died already; it’s time to stop the killing.” She turned to rush towards the empty courtyard, but I grabbed her arm.

"Miss Tang, stay here and do nothing!" I shouted to her, then used my lightness skill to leap fifty steps and rush into the empty courtyard through the gap. The snow beneath my feet was slowly creeping, and the poisonous insects covering it were already poised to pounce. This scene was like the most terrifying nightmare.

"Ao Bai, Ao Bai—" Situ Qiu struggled and leaped atop the snake formation, fending off the venomous snakes that lunged and bit him, all the while calling out his junior brother's name. Lei Ao Bai had already been dragged down when the snake formation first attacked; now, all I could see were venomous snakes, no sign of him.

I remember when we were in the snake pit under the pyramids, Tano no Shinji also fell in, but I was lucky enough to rescue him. I hope Lei Aobai will have the same good fortune, at least he can get out of the aircraft and enter this world. He shouldn't die so quickly; that wouldn't be fair to him.

I reached out and took out the square box, which was the legendary "Azure Blood Night-Shining Toad". Although I didn't know what secrets it held, it truly had the magical power to repel insects and ward off evil spirits. As I approached the snake formation, the venomous snakes all crouched down and parted to both sides like a tide.

"Brother Feng, save Ao Bai, save Ao Bai!" Situ Qiu rushed over, staring at the box in my palm.

As the snakes swarmed, I saw Lei Aobai's body tightly bound by hundreds of snakes, being dragged southwards. These snakes were intelligent; they not only ate people but also knew how to abduct them.

"Feng, what are you doing? Get out of here, get out of here!" Alpha's furious voice rang out from the "Gate of Life" in the southeast of the empty courtyard. He finally appeared; it seemed that what I was doing had greatly harmed his interests.

I chased after Lei Aobai with almost no effort; the venomous snake, under the overwhelming power of the "Azure Blood Night-Shining Toad," fled far away. Just then, on the other side of the deep well, a swarm of wasps took flight with a whoosh, a vast, dark mass that seemed to blot out the sky.

Centipedes, scorpions, and toads all stirred and took the place of the venomous snake.

"Feng, this isn't a fight between two or three people. Don't interfere, or I'll have to kill you too!" Alpha roared angrily.

I was now surrounded by venomous insects. If Alpha were to launch another surprise attack, I would likely be devoured instantly. But I couldn't give up halfway; I had to rescue him. As I strode after the swarm of snakes coiling around Lei Aobai, Alpha suddenly appeared on the southeast corner of the wall. Besides his golden mask, he was clad in golden armor, and even his boots were made of pure gold. He stood there majestically.

"Wind—" He pointed at me with his left hand, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword over his shoulder, "If you don't retreat now, kill me without mercy!"

I caught up with Lei Aobai. Those seemingly incredibly powerful venomous snakes were terrified of the "Azure Blood Night-Shining Toad" and had scattered and fled long ago. Fortunately, he was still alive. He had at least a dozen wounds on his arms, thighs, and cheeks, all oozing black blood and slightly swollen. A martial arts master like him, after fully sealing his blood vessels, would be unable to let the snake venom invade his heart, which should allow him to survive for at least ten hours.

"Are you alright?" I grabbed his wrist and pulled him up with force.

"Slash—" Alpha lunged forward in a rage, his sword flashing, emitting a dazzling golden light that captivated all who saw it. It turned out that his weapon was also made of gold, with countless tiny black crystals inlaid on its blade, making it incredibly magnificent and dazzling when wielded.

Situ Qiu went to greet him, holding a bronze ancient mirror in his hand.

With a clang, the sword and mirror clashed. Alpha's body spun rapidly, rising higher before diving down again, its momentum like an eagle seizing a rabbit, unstoppable. Situ Qiushi rolled forward, and seven or eight identical mirrors flew out from his sleeve, shooting through the air. The clanging sounds continued as the golden sword pierced through all the mirrors, its trajectory unchanged, aiming straight for Situ Qiushi's crown.

When Alpha first revealed its martial arts skills, it felt to me like a divine eagle soaring in the sky and plundering the earth. Once it made a move, it was invincible and never missed.

Situ Qiushi's body spun in place, more mirrors shooting out from between his ten fingers, but they were all pierced by Alpha's golden sword. If his sword was infused with the power of crystals, it would indeed be beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"Kill!" Lei Aobai spat out a single word through gritted teeth. With a wave of his hands, his gray robe billowed upwards, and the long sword hanging from his belt flew out with a whooshing sound, forming a three-by-three sword formation to meet Alpha.

The combat scenes with cold weapons are more ferocious and brutal than those with firearms. They are a life-or-death struggle where strength is the only measure of power, and the slightest carelessness can lead to death on the spot.

Alpha bounced back, dodging the sword formation, but his crystal sword also rose high. When it fell again, it would be the end for Situ Qiushi and Lei Aobai. The bloody poisonous mist spewed by the venomous insects grew thicker and thicker; the nearest scorpion was only ten steps away from touching my shoes. We couldn't stay in the empty courtyard any longer; we had to retreat.

"Go! You're no match for him, Ao Bai, run!" Situ Qiu roared in a low voice, dragging Lei Ao Bai by the wrist as they retreated towards the gap to the north. In reality, that place was a deadly gate fraught with danger. What seemed like a place that could be reached in a hundred steps was actually a place where, due to the complex changes of the Qimen formation, it might take another hour to escape.

While rescuing Lei Aobai, I observed that the only way out now is through the "earth vein" well. Perhaps Alpha wants the Earth God and others to rush out and then wipe them all out in one fell swoop. Anyway, with the "Heaven and Earth Spinning Dragon Control Array" in control, there's no fear that the guests from the ground will turn the tables.

Suddenly, the sky above us darkened, and all the poisonous insects took flight, forming a dense canopy a meter above my head, keeping the soaring Alpha at bay and at least giving us a brief respite.

Lei Aobai wiped the snow off his face, looked up, and laughed loudly: "Let's see how you get down here, haha, haha—"

Approaching alongside the poisonous insects was Tang Xin, her expression tense, clutching a frozen toad tightly in her hand: "Mr. Feng, let's retreat to the wellhead. The situation is out of control. I feel that Alpha is being controlled by another force and cannot act on its own..." Her hairline was dripping with what seemed to be snow or cold sweat.

I looked up and saw nothing but the uneven legs and limbs of venomous insects; their sheer numbers were truly astonishing. The Crimson Blood Night-Shining Toad was only effective against venomous snakes; it was powerless against these mutated insects.

"I exerted all my strength to fight against Tang Qing and participated in controlling the poisonous insects. I was at my last gasp—" Her eyes flashed with a blood-red light, the muscles in her cheeks trembled slightly, and her lips were bitten until they were stained with blood.

Originally uninvolved, we were unexpectedly drawn into a desperate situation due to Situ Qiushi and Lei Aobai's madness. After weighing the pros and cons, retreating to the well was indeed the best safe haven. I leaped over, grabbed Situ Qiushi and Lei Aobai's shoulders, and sprinted towards the well, which was also the focal point of the Dragon Control Formation's attack.

Tang Xin followed behind us, but as soon as we left the shed formed by the poisonous insects, the four of us were immediately exposed to Alpha's attack range. He was still floating in the sky, his golden sword raised high above his head, radiating dazzling light.

The sulfur defenses around the wellhead had long been destroyed by the poisonous insects. After we retreated to the edge of the well, the poisonous insects swarmed in from all directions like a tide, piling up a half-meter-high "insect wall" on the flat ground.

"Unless I jump down, this is the first time I've ever seen so many poisonous creatures at once..." Situ Qiu said with a wry smile. In this situation, he and Lei Aobai had probably forgotten about the strange large mirror and only wanted to save their lives.

The well was pitch black, and nothing could be seen. Youlian and the others had vanished without a trace.

"I think they've reached some kind of agreement to fight the outsiders together. Miss Tang, where is Tang Qing? We've reached a critical point where life and death are at stake; we need to subdue her first."

I put away the Crimson Night Toad, turned around and looked towards the northwest corner. Instinctively, I saw a small building with one corner collapsed.

“Yes, Mr. Feng, she is right there, at the apex where metal and water meet, echoing the apex where fire and wood coexist in the southeast, forming the four elements of the Dragon Control Formation: ‘Fight, Charge, Kill, and Traps.’ I want to ask you for a favor: don’t kill her. She is just a puppet manipulated by someone else.”

At this point, she still had some concerns.

“She’s not just a puppet—” I wanted to continue, but suddenly tears welled up in Tang Xin’s eyes.

“Mr. Feng, the reason she and I went through so much trouble to get here is to find the ‘Pandora’s Box.’ We are the same kind of people, except that I was a little luckier than her, arriving a bit later, and encountering Alpha and you instead. Otherwise, even if I were Tang Qing, I would have become a puppet manipulated by evil forces.” She brushed aside the sweat-dampened hair between her brows and resolutely continued, word by word, “Please let her go, for the sake of me and Tiger.”

The dilapidated building was less than 500 steps from the well. I could sense that Tang Qing was hiding in some corner of the ruins.

"She killed too many people, but those people didn't even have a chance to beg for mercy when they died."

In my heart, there is no hatred or anger, no raging flames of war; I remain as calm as still water. Perhaps in the heat of battle, only by taking a detached view of the threat of death can one survive forever; the more anxious, irritable, fearful, and arrogant one is, the more easily one is enveloped by death.

"I know, but aren't all the members of the Tang Clan in Sichuan stained with the blood of hundreds or thousands of people?" Tang Xin smiled melancholically.

"Except for you, Tiger told me everything about you." This was true; with Tiger's ability to gather information, he could investigate even the smallest things that happened more than a decade ago. However, she was destined to become the head of the Tang family, yet she had never broken the law of killing—a fact that seemed utterly unbelievable to people in the martial arts world.

Tang Xin sighed, "That's fate. I'm not a true disciple of the Tang Clan, but she is. The future of the Tang Clan depends on her. I must return what belongs to her, Mr. Feng, I beg you—"

Lei Aobai suddenly screamed, interrupting my conversation with Tang Xin. Smoke was slowly rising from the back of his right hand, and a diamond-shaped wound began to rot horribly, revealing the blue bone in the blink of an eye.

"What kind of poisonous insect is this... My hand! My hand!" He swung his right arm violently, and the blood that fell to the ground turned gray, like the sap of some kind of plant.

“That’s a hybrid of the ‘Bronze Cauldron Blue Flower Scorpion’ and the ‘Maha Tail’ and ‘Red Fire Intestine Killer’ scorpions. Once stung, you have to cut out the flesh and break the bones, otherwise the poison will attack your heart and you will die within three hours.” Tang Xin turned her face and glanced at it before quickly drawing a conclusion.

That was the hand that held the sword. For someone who had dedicated his life to sword practice, losing a hand was tantamount to losing his life. Therefore, both Situ Qiushi and Lei Aobai's expressions changed drastically at the same time.

"How did you know, young lady?" Situ Qiu tore off a strip of cloth with a "hiss" and quickly tied it around Lei Aobai's elbow.

"Of course I know, but I must tell you, losing an arm is not enough. He has countless wounds, at least fifteen of which are enough to kill him. Smell his breath; doesn't it have a strong sweet smell? The poison has long since reached his dantian, rushed up his throat, and entered his ribs, hip bones, and the tip of his middle finger. I can only say that he is now a talking dead man."

A melancholy, bitter smile reappeared on Tang Xin's face.

Lei Aobai slowly exhaled, blowing away the snowflakes in front of him, which flew horizontally towards Situ Qiushi's face.

"Ah—" Situ Qiu took a big step back, sniffling repeatedly.

I believe her; Tang Xin isn't someone who likes to joke.

"I don't want to die, I can't die...*** I can't die..." From his senior brother's expression, Lei Aobai saw the truth. After shouting three times in a row, he flicked his left hand, and a shiny dagger appeared in his palm.

Tang Xin slowly turned her face away, not wanting to look anymore.

"If we kill Tang Qing, will the poisonous insects scatter and flee because they've lost their master?" I asked in a low voice, while simultaneously assessing the surrounding situation and searching for the best route to bypass the poisonous insects and kill Tang Qing.

"It might cause the poisonous insects to devour and kill each other, but the sealing power of the Dragon Control Formation will be reduced by half, and those trapped will be able to escape." She looked down at the deep well. When Feixue went in, it seemed as if she was swallowed up by the monster's gaping maw in an instant, without a sound or a trace.

"I have to kill her." I said those five words, then sprang up and rushed westward.

The West belongs to the element of metal, which governs warfare and killing. This is the aspect that Alpha, floating in the air, must save. By drawing him away, at least Situ Qiushi can have a chance to survive.

As expected, the moment I moved, a beam of golden light suddenly shone down from above, like the sun bursting through the clouds after being obscured by dark clouds. I lunged forward, zigzagging across the insect array. The golden light fell to the left and right, but I skillfully dodged it all.

My left toe touched the wall, lightly touching the gray Qin and Han dynasty bricks and tiles, and then I whirled around like a windmill, a blade flashing from my sleeve. The light emitted by the blade was pale gray, inconspicuous amidst the golden sword light, but its destructive power was overwhelming. In an instant, the golden light diminished considerably.