King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 275

No one knew which direction Alpha came from, but his body floated like a great bird, and his golden sword carried the power of decisive action, attacking from above. Just as the gray-robed men touched the ground and exhausted their strength, they were struck by his killing move almost without any reaction.

"Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!" Alpha shouted nineteen times, but only swung his sword once.

Looking through the gap, we saw nineteen heads fall silently to the ground, the headless corpses standing still, with only blood gushing from their short necks, like fireworks set off on National Day.

"What a fine sword...what excellent swordsmanship!" The swordsmith was a lifelong sword enthusiast, and his exclamation was enough to prove Alpha's superb swordsmanship.

"His swordsmanship is excellent, and his momentum is even stronger. This sword strike is truly the Emperor's Sword, unmatched throughout the four seas. Qiu Ran Ke has loved martial arts all his life and is madly in love with precious swords. If we could take this sword back to him, it would be a gift to atone for our sins—" Situ Qiu Shi's spirits had improved considerably, and he was even able to make this connection, which was quite a wild idea.

“That’s right, senior brother, I think so too, hahaha…” Lei Aobai echoed.

Given their current state, their lives are in danger, yet they are already considering killing each other to steal the sword. It seems that human greed is innate and unchangeable, and has never changed from ancient times to the present.

Tang Xin quietly came downstairs and silently approached us, her brows furrowed: "Mr. Feng, I don't think things are that simple. Alpha got its hands on it too easily, don't you think?"

I wholeheartedly agree. As the two people most trusted by the Great God Tu Liehan, Youlian and Sahan would always lead any operation, such as the first attack on the ley line exit. Now, their absence means that this operation was merely a feint, and the nineteen experts who died were just bait to lure the enemy.

Tang Xin sighed softly, "I'm very worried about whether he can survive this ordeal."

I smiled and looked at her, hoping she could cheer up: "Is this fate you've been seeing again? Maybe when everyone works together, we can break free from this vicious cycle of fate. Just like that music maverick said—'I will seize fate by the throat,' right?"

“If it is destiny, how can it be broken? And if it can be broken, how can it be considered destiny?” She answered me with this very dialectical and philosophical statement.

Lei Aobai chimed in from the side: "Young lady, you understand your destiny. Isn't going against it the same as breaking it and rebelling against it?"

Situ Qiu then sighed deeply: "Junior brother, when you break free from destiny, how can you know that this so-called 'breaking and resisting' is precisely the arrangement of destiny?"

None of the four of us are ordinary people in this vast world; we each have our own ideals, wisdom, and unique ways of thinking. But after each of us finished speaking, we all realized at the same time that so-called "destiny" is an unsolvable problem that the ancients discussed in their "sitting and talking about the Tao," and we can never find the answer, just like a puppy can never catch its own tail.

“Very good, very good…” Lei Aobai shut his mouth, turned his head to look at the empty courtyard, and said no more.

His and Situ Qiushi's ordeal began when they saw Guan Baoling in the ancient mirror, and it has continued until now, with both of them severely injured and on the verge of death. Only such a tumultuous life experience can be called an arrangement of "fate," something that cannot be avoided or escaped.

"So, Miss Tang, what is Alpha's destiny?" I was genuinely seeking advice, not intentionally teasing. In this situation, I hope everyone can survive safely, and that we can pool everyone's wisdom to break the seal and bring Suren back. In my view, both the crystal wall and the seal can be broken; it just depends on who, when, where, and by what means.

To be honest, I miss Gu Qingcheng very much. Her calmness and competence are exactly what I need right now.

"His destiny was to live alone, in a world that others could not understand. He was appointed by Heaven and looked down on all living beings; above millions of people and below the clouds, but such a position was destined to lead to a lonely old age. However, he chose to 'not die,' which is how he got to where he is now."

Tang Xin answered my question calmly, and I couldn't help but frown: "So I guessed right, he is that person, the one whose whereabouts will never be known to the world? This result is truly beyond the expectations of historians, even though it was already..."

I couldn't say anything more, because Situ Qiu and Lei Aobai both focused their suspicious gazes on my face.

“Brother Feng, who is he? If he is ordained by Heaven, could he be a reclusive emperor?” Situ Qiushi’s ability to make connections was also very sharp.

I shook my head: "Forget it, what's the point of knowing all that?"

Throughout history, emperors have often had harems of three thousand beauties and officials of over a thousand rank and file, yet they themselves were often the loneliest. They had no friends, no one to confide in, and lived their lives in the cutthroat world of court intrigue. If Alpha was the one who created the imperial system, he deserved to be the first to reap the bitter fruits of his actions, forever enduring loneliness and solitude.

Part Three: Mirror Illusion, Chapter Seven

The tiger is actually Qiu Ran Ke?

When the shadow appeared, the wind in the empty courtyard suddenly intensified more than tenfold, and the normally falling snowflakes were swept upwards, rapidly rising with him to form a long, white tail.

Tang Xin quickly looked up, her right hand resting on her eyelashes, and exclaimed in horror, "The most formidable enemy has finally appeared!"

The shadow rushed into the white clouds overhead, the long tails of snowflakes connecting with the mist, like a trail of smoke left by a roaring airplane.

The four of us were looking up, and Alpha in the empty courtyard also shot straight into the sky, chasing after it along its long white tail. In a few seconds, they disappeared into the clouds together.

Lei Aobai exclaimed in disbelief, "What was that? A battle that completely transcended the limits of humanity?"

“They weren’t even human to begin with,” I answered him in my mind.

That was the shadow of the great god Tu Liehan. He used nineteen lives to lure Alpha into a well-prepared sword strike, then leaped like a bullet released from a bowstring, intending to draw Alpha out of the ambush, avoid its elite forces, and strike when it was exhausted. It was precisely because he had those "mutated" half-Saturnians under his command that he had the resources to plan ahead and strategize.

"Just like that, you disappeared?" Lei Aobai shook his aching neck, a half-smile on his tired face.

People who are passionate about martial arts would love to see a spectacular battle so that they can learn from it. But in the current situation, all the battles are taking place in the clouds, and no one can see them. Isn't that the biggest regret?

A temporary calm returned to the empty courtyard, but I knew that at least Youlian, Sahan, and many more half-Saturnians were still hiding in the Saturnians' spaceships. They were not showing themselves, simply waiting for a better opportunity to appear.

"Now, isn't it time to take Situ Qiushi and Lei Aobai back to the Ancient Mirror?" Of course, I was also concerned about the final outcome of the battle between the Great God Tu Liehan and Alpha, but that was a long time away, while the injuries of the two people in front of me could take their lives at any moment.

"Shall I take you both back?" I tried to keep a smile on my face to calm them down. One was poisoned, and the other had internal injuries, both potentially fatal. So, to save their lives, I couldn't get angry or have any wild thoughts.

Lei Aobai quickly shook his head: "No, no, I want to wait until they land and fight to see what kind of earth-shattering battle it is!"

A wound behind his ear began to fester, causing Tang Xin to frown repeatedly, but he couldn't care less about it. He just kept looking up, as if he wanted to pierce through the clouds with his gaze.

"But your injuries are very serious. If you could go back through the mirror, there are plenty of famous doctors and good medicines in the capital. Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing for everyone?"

In my mind, the ten most famous traditional Chinese medicine doctors in Chinese history can be considered almost immortals. They treated and saved lives with herbs, massage, and acupuncture, which was far more effective than the combination instruments currently used in Western medicine.

“They won’t be back immediately, but after the fateful turning point of other characters—” Tang Xin gazed sadly towards the west, where the entrance to the Epang Palace was.

“Brother Feng, we won’t leave. We’ll talk to your friend called ‘Tiger’ first.” Situ Qiu’s expression was serious as he continued to wipe the blood from his face with his sleeve.

The mere mention of the tiger made Tang Xin immediately uneasy. She gave me a wink and walked to the other side of the small building. The snowfall was intermittent, and judging from the looks of it, it would probably continue for a long time. Since they were unwilling to leave, I couldn't force them. We could all wait together for the tiger to appear, especially since Tang Xin was here too.

I approached Tang Xin and asked in a low voice, "What is it?"

Tang Xin gave a bitter smile: "Mr. Feng, I have a feeling that the tiger is nearby. If he appears now, I don't know how to explain this to him. Actually, when I went to the Egyptian desert, I vaguely mentioned the topic of Alpha and destiny to him, but he didn't take it to heart at all and even supported my coming here. You know, without his strong intervention, the 'Azure Heaven and Yellow Springs Scripture' wouldn't have fallen into my hands. I'm really afraid that he will remain obstinate, and since no one can change destiny, it will harm him."

These words came from the heart, and every single one of them was for the tiger's sake. He probably never imagined that the cold and indifferent Tang Xin had a burning passion hidden in his heart.

I thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll explain it to him. We've been friends for years, and I think I know him very well."

The sentence itself was grammatically correct, but Tang Xin suddenly raised her voice: "Understand? No, Mr. Feng, no one really understands him. His inner world is very chaotic. I have always suspected that his existence is a strange coincidence. In fact, he can probably be considered an ancient person who has mistakenly entered the modern world."

Without thinking, I retorted, "What do you mean by that?"

Since meeting Tiger, what I've noticed most is his magnanimity, his hatred of evil, and his unwavering commitment to keeping his word when it comes to friends. Few in the martial arts world can match him. If we go back a hundred years, he would likely have easily become the leader of the martial arts world, leading a group of heroes.

In my eyes, the tiger is almost a perfect person, without any flaws.

"Do you remember that game of chess he played with Song Jiu in the desert? To you, it was just an ordinary game, but every time he made a move, his first piece was always placed on the 'center' position, showing how seriously he took the game. This wasn't imitating the ancients, but rather a genuine expression of his character—"

I raised an eyebrow: "So what?"

Tang Xin snapped her fingers and sighed, "Several times, after making brilliant moves, he actually said to Song Jiu, 'King Qin, this time you have nowhere to escape, don't you?' Mr. Feng, there was such a person in history, you should know who he is referring to?"

I was speechless. The first move in chess, placing a piece on the center point, is the earliest documented example of this in the game between Prince Qin, Li Shimin, and the Bearded Stranger during their first meeting. The Bearded Stranger came on strong, but ultimately lost by a single move.

"You mean, his true identity is..." I smiled bitterly. If Tiger really was an ancient person, I was ashamed that I had known him for so long without realizing it.

“Sea, Inner, Strange, Knight, Stroke, Bearded, Guest,” Tang Xin pronounced each word carefully.

I wiped the snow water from my forehead. The answer felt like a heavy hammer, slamming into my chest. In that instant, my heart felt a sharp pain, and I could barely breathe.

"Even if he is Qiu Ran Ke, what does that mean? He won't do anything reckless; he has no reason to do anything reckless." I also started to sigh deeply with her. The world is truly unpredictable; how could things happen by such a coincidence?

Just as Situ Qiushi and Lei Aobai were brought out, Tiger arrived; the assassination at Lingyan Pavilion was Tiger's doing, and the three of them happened to meet in the southwestern border region in 2007—this intricately linked and bizarre plot is as wonderful as the brilliant pen in the hands of screenwriters, becoming more and more unbelievable.

"Sometimes, I'm afraid to look into his eyes when he's deep in thought, like a turbulent sea, forever unfathomable and unfathomable. Mr. Feng, every judgment I make is based on evidence. Over the years, he's brought more than 1,400 Tang Dynasty artifacts to the antique market, many of which are absolutely impossible to circulate on the market. Even the best tomb raiders of the past century couldn't obtain them, yet he acquires them effortlessly, in as many as he wants, and sells them to antique dealers at surprisingly low prices. That's not something a modern person could do—"

Tang Xin's narration became increasingly rapid, and several times she choked up, having to gasp for breath and pat her chest with her hand.

"Don't rush, take it slow." I hoped she could calm down, after all, even if the tiger arrived, things hadn't gotten out of control yet.

"I don't have time, Mr. Feng, I really don't have time..." Her eyes were so melancholy, like those of a person about to drown themselves.

"I will protect you, no one can hurt you." Although the tiger's martial arts skills are superb, he may not be my match.

Tang Xin leaned against the small building and smiled sadly: "In this world, the only one who can truly hurt a person is herself, and that hurt is the most fatal."

The howling sounded again, but it seemed farther away than before, as if the tiger was lost in the cave and could not find the path to the Epang Palace.

I originally wanted to call out to lure the tiger over, but when I saw Tang Xin's sorrowful eyes, I was immediately caught in a dilemma.

“Mr. Feng, let’s get the tiger over here. This is probably the final showdown.” She took out a black leather box from her pocket, opened it with a “snap”, revealing a dozen or so bright red pills. After a moment’s hesitation, she put two pills in her palm and swallowed them.

"What is that?" My heart sank.

"medicine."

The resolute expression on her face gave me a bad feeling, but I could only let it be. When the Tang Clan disciples mentioned the word "medicine," it was very likely not the kind that heals and saves lives, but rather a poison that could be activated at any moment, and the more brightly colored the pill, the more terrifyingly toxic it was.

"I kind of want to see him too, haha, like rain after a long drought, or meeting an old friend in a foreign land." She suddenly tilted her head back and let out a low, melodious whistle, like someone playing a bamboo flute that could pierce through clouds and split rocks, the sound drifting and flying away. The distant whistling suddenly intensified several times and continued to ring out, rapidly approaching this direction.

“That was the communication signal we agreed on before. In fact, we communicated in the same way when we intercepted the car and kidnapped Lu Jiacan in the desert. Mr. Feng, I hope what happened last time didn’t cause you any trouble.” She seemed a little dazed. After all, that incident happened a long time ago, and she shouldn’t have asked about it now.

I shook my head: "No."

In Tina's eyes, Lu Jiacan's death wasn't a bad thing. If she wanted to seize power, she would definitely purge the old ministers and promote her own young cronies. In this sense, she should thank Tiger and the others for the farce they instigated.

“That scripture is incredibly profound. I hope you can understand it. I… don’t have much time left…” She looked down at the pills, biting her lip as she put them all into her palm.

I wanted to dissuade her, but the howling sound was already nearby. Situ Qiu and Lei Aobai suddenly let out a long howl in unison, though their voices were weak, their heroic spirit was astonishing. In just a moment of stunned silence, Tang Xin swallowed the pill, casually tossed the box far away on the snow, and stood up straight.

Three extremely thin red lines appeared on her throat, extending upwards from her collarbone. The central line passed through her jaw, the center of her lips, the center of her teeth, her philtrum, the tip of her nose, and the center of her brow, running straight to the top of her forehead and disappearing into her black hair. The two lines on either side extended behind her ears and also disappeared into her hair.

"The Three-Red Loss of Mind Pill?" I understood it, but it was too late.

The poison's effect is equivalent to the evil sect's "Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique," which can gather all the spirit within a person's body to make a final battle, but it is truly the "last time." After it ends, the entire person will turn to ashes, beyond redemption.

"Why do this?" I held her arm and watched as the three red lines slowly disappeared beneath her snow-white skin. Then she suddenly perked up, like a flower that had just been watered by rain, its leaves green and its blossoms red, a hundred times more beautiful.

"This is the day I die. The ancestral precepts of the Tang Clan in Sichuan say that disciples must die with the thunderous force and live with the brilliance of summer flowers, otherwise they will be worse off than dead. Mr. Feng, thank you. You are a man of exceptional talent, one in a thousand years. I hope that Miss Su Lun will have the honor of spending her life with you in the future."

She broke free from my hand, gracefully turned around the corner, and her whole being was once again filled with that noble, aloof, and cold aura she had before.

"For Tang Xin, was 'dying after taking the Three Red Mind-Dissipating Pill' her destiny, or was 'taking the Three Red Mind-Dissipating Pill after seeing the inevitable ending' her destiny?" I was momentarily confused. Buddhism often says, "There is no effect without a cause, and every effect has a cause; cause and effect are cyclical and endless." Was Tang Xin's choice the most correct one?

"Watch out! Watch out—" I heard the tiger's shout, a mixture of sorrow and joy. "Watch out" was his unique way of addressing Tang Xin, just as "Brother Feng" was Su Lun's unique way of addressing me. I turned my head to look at the vast, dark mountain wall to the east, and the scene of Su Lun and me silently gazing at each other in front of the crystal wall came back to mind.

If I could save her, I would do anything, even risk my life. Suddenly, another voice rang out in my heart: "Feng, are you living only for Su Lun? Only for a girl? Wrong, you are completely wrong! People live for the greater good, for righteousness, for right and wrong, for the greater good of the world. Especially since the two of us exist in this world, we are merely passersby. A thousand years will pass in the blink of an eye. If we cannot wake up in time and fulfill the mission we are entrusted with, then why did we even come here?"

It was a man's voice, powerful, solemn, and righteous.

"Who is speaking? Who are you?" He spoke from his "inner voice," and I answered him with my own "inner voice." This feeling was like when I used my heart to sense the call of Alpha and the great god Tu Liehan; this man's voice was also a kind of enlightening call for me.

"Who I am is not important. You must be vigilant and never forget your mission. Live, but not merely live; exist, but not merely exist. Remember? You must achieve 'using things without being used by them,' be 'Yang Feng,' but not merely 'Yang Feng.' A name is just a code. If one day you remember who you are, that will be the moment of true awakening. Remember that code. I'll repeat it again—"

The voice then uttered a long string of strange syllables, and with my knowledge of languages from all over the world, I couldn't determine which region's ethnic language it belonged to.

"Did you remember? Repeat it once," the voice commanded authoritatively.

I obeyed his command without resistance and recited it fluently. It had forty-one syllables and was somewhat similar to the languages of the mountain peoples of Central America.

“Very good, remember it. This is the key to unlocking the door to your life. The name ‘Yang Feng’ is just a part of your life, not the whole thing. There is someone who shares the same mission as you, right here—” The voice suddenly stopped, as if a radio had lost power and immediately fell into silence.

"What? Who is it? Where is it?" I asked repeatedly, but the other party had already disappeared without a trace and stopped answering.

I repeated those strange syllables again, etching them deeply into my mind. For a long time, I had been paying close attention to memorizing these suddenly appearing fragments, deliberately trying to connect them organically. I was convinced that since they could surface from time to time, they must be related to my life.

"People must have past lives, and memories are like magnetic media that have been erased and rewritten. In the process of erasing and rewriting thousands of times, some things from the past will always remain. For example, Tang Xin was born with memories of her past life, and her experience is enough to prove this point. I want to find those memories that refuse to be erased, and perhaps I can enter another world of life."