King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 302

"I can weather the storms and rise again." I murmured these words to myself, and suddenly felt that with such a confidante as the "Three Heroines of Flying Flowers" by my side, all the darkness, demons, storms, and monsters could be taken lightly.

I was left alone in the living room on the first floor. As the firewood in the fireplace roared to life again, I felt that another cycle of life had begun, and the tycoon and Guan Baoling had become a distant past.

The phone rang, and the LCD screen displayed an unfamiliar number from Egypt.

I paused for a moment, waiting until the phone rang ten times before calmly picking up the microphone.

"Feng, it's me." The tycoon's voice rang out, calm and gentle, the domineering aura he once possessed completely gone. One could hear the weakness in his voice, a harbinger of illness.

"Hello, how was your trip to Egypt?" I asked with a faint smile.

In the past, he was incredibly wealthy, influential, and possessed Guan Baoling, surpassing me in every way. Now, all his assets combined cannot exceed the value of ten boxes of crystals, his political power will decline as his health deteriorates, and Guan Baoling no longer belongs solely to him—back then, I knew that one day I would surpass him, and now I have done it.

"Very well, I was hoping to invite you, the host, for a meal, or perhaps have you be my and Baoling's free tour guide, but unfortunately you've gone back to Hokkaido. When are you coming back? Several government officials want to invite me to dinner, and they're waiting for you to come back and keep them company!" He was beating around the bush, not revealing his true intentions at all.

I replied casually, "It will be some time later. I hope we will have the opportunity to meet in Egypt. Suren has also said several times that he wants to ask the senior for advice in person."

The tycoon laughed: "Feng, congratulations. I've met Scalpel's sister before, and she's a good match for you. However, Baoling wants me to tell you that you two made a gentleman's agreement, so you shouldn't forget it." He cunningly used this opportunity to stir up trouble by bringing up Guan Baoling and my past.

I smiled faintly: "Where is she? Not here?"

Intermittent piano music came through the receiver; it was clearly Guan Baoling playing the piano.

"She's here, but she doesn't want to disturb you while you're doing your business. Feng, General Tina said you've found enough investment for the desert excavation project. Actually, we're old friends. If there's anything I can do, just give me a call. I can allocate hundreds of millions of dollars anytime, so please don't be shy, okay?" When he realized he couldn't effectively control me in terms of power, benefits, or people, he immediately switched to a polite and courteous approach to winning me over.

I didn't want to beat around the bush, so I went straight to the point: "Mr. Ye, just tell me, what do you need me to do? Is it related to 'The Wrath of the Sun God'?"

Actually, I have no time for restrictive negotiations or appeasement with anyone right now. I need to calm down and organize the information related to the "Underwater Tomb" for future use when I have the opportunity to enter. Anyone might covet the "Wrath of the Sun God," but coveting it is one thing, and actually obtaining it is quite another.

The tycoon laughed again: "Feng, you're really straightforward! I want that thing, just name your price."

The last time he mentioned the "ultimate weapon," he used the same tone, as if he could buy the whole world with just a check. If money truly had that kind of magic, I'd gladly bring out ten boxes of crystals to buy back my brother and bring him back to my side.

I replied briefly, "Okay, let me think about it some more, goodbye." Then I slowly hung up.

I never expected to be able to face the tycoon and Guan Baoling so calmly again. Perhaps after the life-and-death separation with Su Lun, the youthful impulsiveness and immaturity in me have completely disappeared. In their place, I am more calm, more composed, and more adept at handling any problem.

The tycoon is a seasoned veteran of the business world, politics, and political arena, so he always talks about profit, which I can understand. However, we are on completely different paths. From now on, it's best if we keep to ourselves. Perhaps if we meet again, I will still greet him politely, but by then, there will be absolutely no possibility of cooperation.

Someone knocked softly on the door, making a "knock knock knock knock" sound, and then Master Guan's voice rang out: "Brother Feng, may I come in?"

I walked over, slowly opened the door, and appeared before me not only Master Guan, but also another person—the Dragon-Slaying Saber. These two people, who should never have come to my door at the same time, were standing together.

"Brother Feng, I've brought the finest sake from Mount Fuji. How about a good night and some fine wine for the three of us?" Tu Longdao's face was full of a mysterious smile as he carried a large, bell-shaped celadon wine jar, which turned out to be the classic Japanese "Koshigami porcelain." Sake stored in such an expensive vessel must be of the highest quality.

After we sat down on the sofa, Tu Longdao eagerly took out three wooden sake cups wrapped in vacuum-sealed bags from his pocket: "To truly appreciate the wonders of Fuji Mountain sake, it must be tasted in a nine-grade cherry wood cup."

Master Guan remained seated upright until the Dragon-Slaying Saber broke the mud seal on the wine jar and filled every cup with wine. Only then did he slowly speak: "Brother Feng, I know you have doubts, because both the Japanese Imperial Family and the Divine Gun Society are determined to obtain the 'Wrath of the Sun God' gem, putting you in the middle. Anyone in this position would have a hard time, right? So, I'm here as a friend to point you in the right direction."

His way of speaking carried a condescending tone, which I found slightly jarring.

I nodded slowly: "Senior Guan, please speak. I am all ears."

He was a master of supernatural arts, on par with Zhang Baisen, and calling him "senior" was absolutely fitting. I never want to be impolite, because the Chinese have always valued "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness." True masters use these five principles as their guiding principles, no matter how dire the situation.

Master Guan took off the rings from both hands, arranged them on the table, and pushed them in front of me.

Upon closer inspection, a hidden dragon can be seen inside the emerald set in the ring. The dragon's head is on the left, and the dragon pattern is on the right. When placed side by side, they form a complete dragon.

"What do you mean?" I leaned back, patted the back of the sofa lightly, and looked directly at Master Guan.

The knife-shaped wrinkles on his face slowly gathered, forming a long sword array that was about to be unleashed: "Brother Feng, why should a wise man ask a question he already knows the answer to?"

For a moment, I had a strange feeling of chills down my spine, because the people I had relied on as "reinforcements" were actually members of the Azure Dragon Society? Sun Long probably never expected this.

Outside the window, occasionally a member of the Sharpshooter Society would stroll by, but they would never guess that the people inside had already laid their cards on the table, and that they had dealt them an extremely bad hand.

"Good, very good." I turned to look at the fire in the stove, my mind racing. "What does Master Guan mean? Is the Dragon Slayer also a member of the Azure Dragon Society? Could it be that the Japanese Imperial Family and the Divine Spear Society have been tricked by the Azure Dragon Society this time, becoming pawns in someone else's scheme?"

It was as if a piece had suddenly appeared out of nowhere in an already complex game of chess, causing chaos and making the situation completely uncontrollable.

"Brother Feng, I hope you can be pragmatic and read the winds. I believe we both understand the current situation. Joining the Azure Dragon Society is the wisest choice. What about the Sharpshooter Society, the Yamaguchi-gumi, the Mafia, the September Brigade? Aren't they all ultimately vassals of the Azure Dragon Society? As far as I know, at least five of the seven leaders of the Yamaguchi-gumi have already joined the Azure Dragon Society. The remaining two only have two paths: joining the society or dying suddenly. What do you think they will choose?"

The Dragon-Slaying Saber picked up the wooden cup and began to offer me "good advice".

"Those who obey prosper, those who defy perish" has always been the principle of the changing of the guard among the old and new forces in the martial arts world. The words of the Dragon Slayer Saber clearly contained a certain threat.

"Brother Feng, the wine is on the table. Whether you choose a toast or a penalty drink is up to you. Xiao Lai may have told you that I once inadvertently examined your bones, and in the not-too-distant future, probably within three to five years, your career will rapidly rise to its peak, achieving a glorious status admired by all. Therefore, we must bring you into our organization. Two tigers cannot share one mountain, and two kings cannot share one country. The goal of the Azure Dragon Society is not merely to dominate a region or to seize control of the underworld like the Mafia; what we want is the world, the entire world—"

When Master Guan spoke of these grand matters of imperial ambition and conquest, he did not show excessive excitement. In the deepest recess of his left brow bone, there was a perfectly round blood mole, which was the "Left Prime Minister's Seal" most highly regarded by physiognomists. Those who possessed this feature could easily rise to the highest official rank.

I picked up the two rings and examined them closely under the light, my mind replaying the numerous rumors circulating about the Green Dragon Society in recent years. The news stories were a mix of positive and negative, but no one could provide evidence to accuse the Green Dragon Society of wrongdoing; even Interpol was powerless to do anything about it.

“Brother Feng, we don’t have much time to waste. We can only give you five minutes.” Master Guan took off his wristwatch, gently placed it next to the wine jar, and pressed the metal handle for adjusting the date. The ticking sound of the watch hands immediately amplified several times.

"Five minutes. Give me an answer." He leaned back, spreading his arms and resting them on the wide sofa armrests, inadvertently revealing four dark gun barrels under his ribs. "Whether it works or not, that will be our final destination. Of course, if you like, any destination can be a new beginning. I've said it repeatedly, the choice is yours, really yours."

I put down the ring and coldly asked my first question: "I want to know, who is the leader of the Azure Dragon Society?"

Master Guan nodded to the Dragon-Slaying Saber: "Show him, Brother Feng, I expected this problem long ago."

Tu Longdao took out a folding CD player, flipped open the screen, and pressed a red button: "The leader is here, Brother Feng, please take a look."

My mind went blank because he uttered the word "führer," a word that, in the human lexicon, was once used to refer to a person—a madman who caused chaos and shocked the world during World War II.

A black-and-white image of a military parade flashed on the screen, showing countless soldiers carrying submachine guns and wearing helmets marching in formation. The scene shifted to close-ups of the inspectors on the reviewing stand, and my gaze was fixed on a short man in military uniform with parted hair and a small mustache. Around him stood at least thirty people of varying heights and builds, but as soon as he spoke, everyone held their breath and listened attentively, their attitudes utmost respect.

"The head of the Green Dragon Society is none other than the Führer himself. World War II ended not because the Allied offensive was particularly fierce, but simply because of the Führer's 'retreat-to-advance' military strategy. When he realized that his two Axis allies each harbored personal ambitions, he decisively implemented a 'divide and conquer' plan, transferring his main forces underground, leaving only an empty shell for the Allies. For many years, he has been studying the world order, and soon—"

Master Guan's words faded into the distance, while the words the tiger spoke to me before falling off the cliff, spoken before the large mirror, grew louder and louder. The person I saw after entering the mirror was indeed the war maniac from World War II; he hadn't died, only a double had. Now, he had returned, growing younger and more violent than ever.

Part 6: Invincible

— Chapter 6 - The Truth Behind the Underwater Tomb —

"Is all of this real?" My mind was buzzing.

"Of course it's true. If it weren't for the leader's influence, how could the Azure Dragon Society have recruited so many top experts from all over the world in just a few years? Brother Feng, a super talent like you should never serve any mediocre person. You can only follow the leader and achieve great things. I hope that one day you will become the new generation of the illustrious 'Desert Fox,' forever remembered in history—"

Guan Fuzi's words were incredibly alluring. When those legendary figures from World War II came to life on paper, they stirred the passions and longings of countless war enthusiasts. To be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with a great general like Rommel is perhaps the dream of every modern man.

“You have no reason to refuse—” Master Guan suddenly stopped and turned to look out the window.

It was deathly silent outside the window, far too quiet; not even the footsteps of the night watchmen could be heard.

"Who's outside?" Master Guan raised his voice, staring at the two tightly closed doors. With a "clang," two short swords popped out from the sleeve of the Dragon Slayer Sword, and with a flick of his wrist, they transformed into a ninja cross sword with gleaming blades at both ends.

"Go, take a look." Master Guan gave a brief order, then turned around and revealed a golden, heavy-duty revolver. Using the back of the sofa as support, he aimed at the door.

I truly felt that eerie sensation Xiao Keleng had once described. It was the same feeling when the Fang Demon killed Yelan and Anzi in the villa last time—as if everything in the world had fallen asleep and was completely still. In early spring in Hokkaido, even in the quietest places, you can hear the howling of wolves in the valleys, but now you can't hear anything at all.

He carried the Dragon-Slaying Saber with one hand and walked towards the door.

Originally, the upper part of these two doors was inlaid with carved glass. Now, Xiao Keleng has replaced the glass with window lattices covered with white cotton paper, giving it a genuine Japanese style.

The Dragon-Slaying Saber listened intently, and suddenly a figure appeared on the window paper, standing blankly outside.

I reacted the fastest, immediately blurting out, "Xiao Lai?"

The door swung open with a thud, and standing on the steps was indeed Xiao Lai, but he was now a blood-soaked figure, his head like a fountain of blood, gushing blood flowing down his forehead and behind his ears. He carried a gun in his hand, his arm hanging limply at his sides, and staggered in.

"Close the door," Master Guan calmly instructed in a low voice.

The Dragon-Slaying Saber slammed the door shut, but there was no one outside; only the night wind rustled the withered branches of the old tree.

"Xiao Lai, who is the enemy—" Master Guan only asked this one question before Xiao Lai's body suddenly collapsed forward, falling in front of the fireplace, a more turbulent fountain of blood gushing upwards from his back. The blood splattered in the fireplace, accompanied by the flickering flames, constantly making a "sizzling" sound, a feeling that would be unforgettable for a lifetime.

"Our people are within a five-kilometer radius of the villa. No other force can fly in even if they have wings. Moreover, no other force in Hokkaido would dare to snatch our teeth from their jaws..." Tu Longdao shouted urgently.

Although he ruled out all possibilities, Xiao Lai was indeed dead, and facts speak louder than words.

"Shut up!" Master Guan's status in the Azure Dragon Society was probably much higher than that of the Dragon Slayer Saber, so he could reprimand the other party.

The Dragon-Slaying Saber indeed fell silent, but with a "whoosh," the hidden weapon pierced the air, and he fell back, a small hole pierced through his forehead, blood mixed with another white liquid flowing out from the hole. I immediately opened my arms and caught the hidden weapon with a cherry wood wine glass.

It was a gleaming white tooth. I took a deep breath and whispered, "Fang Demon!"

This isn't the first time I've seen this thing. Two people died last time. I wonder what will happen outside this time.

"Brother Feng, have you planted accomplices outside?" As expected, Master Guan was suspicious, pointing his revolver at my forehead.

I showed him the teeth embedded in the wine glass: "Help? See that? That's the Fang Demon's killing signal. If I'm not mistaken, someone will be killed in the rooms on both the east and west wings."

With a loud bang, the door was flung open. Master Guan leaped behind the sofa, but a beam of white light streaked through the air, tracing a perfect arc before embedding itself in the back of his head. The beautiful revolver didn't even have time to fire before he breathed his last without a sound.

I admit that I've been completely disoriented by the series of tense developments. After all, the fact that Master Guan showed me the leader of the Azure Dragon Society was a war maniac from World War II was something no one could have imagined. The subsequent murders by the Fang Demon caught me even more off guard.

The door was open, and two people walked in one after the other. The one in front was Xiaoyan, and the girl behind her followed respectfully with her head down, step by step. It turned out to be Xinzi, who had been missing for a long time.

"Feng, I've come to invite you. How about we visit the underwater tomb together? Tomorrow at dusk, when Venus appears, we'll be leaving Earth. And once we leave, we'll never return. I can't help feeling a little sad, so I must invite you to see that magnificent world. You're the only one qualified to receive this invitation, so please don't refuse, okay?"

Xiao Yan laughed nonchalantly, kicked the corpse of the Dragon-Slaying Saber, and turned to Xinzi with a smile: "Hmm, this guy's dodging speed is incredibly slow. Compared to the wind, he's practically a giant sitting duck. You could shoot him dead even with your eyes closed, hahaha..."

He had shaved his chin clean and combed his hair neatly, as if he were going to an important party. I even noticed that his leather shoes were unusually shiny and spotless.

I stood up, put the two rings in my pocket, and calmly nodded: "Okay, I accept your invitation. Let's go."

Actually, I was always worried about Su Lun, Xiao Keleng, and Yan Xun. If the Fang Demon possessed Xiao Yan, its own madness combined with Xiao Yan's arrogance would likely leave no one safe. I tried to clear my mind of the jumbled thoughts and followed them out.

"Feng, a lot of people have died inside and outside, but don't worry, my sister, Sister Su Lun, and Sister Xiao are fine. They just weren't qualified to accept the invitation." Xiao Yan smiled, just like before. But when we left Xunfu Garden, we found corpses lying everywhere, at the base of the wall, in the grass, and by the pond. Roughly estimated, there were at least 130 bodies.

We crossed the wall of Fengge Temple and headed straight for the Well of Spirits, where the dark submarine was moored at the wellhead.

"Eighteen hours from now, we'll blow up the Tower of the Dead and soar into the sky. It'll be a spectacular sight. Feng, don't forget to enjoy it and record it, okay? I'll miss you all when I leave here." Xiao Yan stopped and pointed at the Tower of the Dead in the night, looking deeply moved.

I grunted, "We'll miss you too."

My choice to endure the lack of a suitable opportunity, and the ability to enter the underwater world at the opportune moment, was part of my original plan. As he said, if the spacecraft were to actually launch from the Tower of the Dead, Maple Temple would likely be completely destroyed, reduced to ruins. Unfortunately, the Americans' action plan was far too slow; eighteen hours was only enough for half a discussion, and those bureaucrats couldn't even produce a draft opinion.

The submarine slowly descended into the water. We stood in the cockpit, watching two bright beams of light shoot into the deep well. At that moment, I felt no fear, only a desire to do everything in my power to uncover the secrets of the underwater tomb. The Plague had said that my elder brother had once swum into the Well of Spirits barehanded. In my opinion, there was nothing my brother couldn't do. Whether it was possessing "mermaid lungs" or traversing mirrors, things that ordinary people couldn't even imagine, he accomplished with ease. This is probably the main reason why many who had met him unanimously believed that "he wasn't from Earth."

Tang Qing, Tang Xin, He Jishang, and Alpha have all said the same thing, and gradually, even I started to believe it to some extent.

"Feng, we should go check out the three people hiding in the dark depths. You'll never guess who they are!" After the submarine passed the bottom bend, it began to slowly ascend. Under the beam of light, various strange deep-sea creatures flashed by from time to time, then quickly fled.

"Who is it?" I tried my best to remain calm and composed, without getting angry.

“Hahahaha, it’s—Zhang Baisen, Shao Hei, and Shao Bai. Surprised? They weren’t missing or dead. Those corpses burned to ashes were just insignificant monks from Fengge Temple. Now, they’re with another group of people, right there—” He pointed diagonally upwards.

Now, exposed to the beam of light, is a row of neat underwater Buddhist niches. The first one that catches my eye is Zhang Baisen, who is sitting cross-legged with his palms facing each other in front of his chest, performing the authentic Taoist "withered bone meditation" posture. He is alive, but he lives in the water in a way that earthlings cannot understand, with dark moss growing everywhere on his hair, eyelashes, and between his fingers.

In an instant, anger surged up from my dantian, and I couldn't help but feel the urge to "draw my sword and kill someone".

After cremating the Shao brothers, Zhang Baisen said he was going back to Nepal, but Xiao Keleng couldn't get through to him on the phone afterward. No one would have expected that he would be imprisoned here.

"Xiao Yan, what's the point of bringing Master Zhang here?" Now, anyone who still sees Xiao Yan as a child who never grew up is simply extremely foolish.

Several deep-sea electric eels coiled in Zhang Baisen's hair caught Xiao Yan's attention. He pressed a button, adjusted the angle of the spotlight, and shone it directly at the eels. Zhang Baisen's face turned deathly pale under the bright light; his eyes were tightly closed, and his eyelids were still trembling slightly.