Histoires de fantômes

Chapitre 91

The man in the white suit looked up at me and smiled, then gracefully cupped his hands in a respectful gesture: "This must be Mr. Feng from Cairo? Mr. Sun often reminds us brothers in the gang to take the opportunity to learn from Mr. Feng. I never imagined that I, Wang Shisan, would be the first to have this honor—"

His voice was deep and powerful, with a strong magnetic quality, demonstrating his profound internal martial arts skills.

This simple, traditional greeting, performed with a cupped-hand salute, was executed with such grace and rhythm, it was as if a master of long fist was giving a live performance. The simple starting gesture alone was enough to leave the entire audience speechless and awestruck. He wore thin white sheepskin gloves, perfectly complementing his white suit.

I walked down the steps and returned the same fist-and-palm salute.

People in the martial arts world rarely use modern handshake etiquette when they meet. You can know a person's face but not their heart; the more skilled they are, the more wary they are of everyone.

Wang Jiangnan was a man of regular appearance and impeccable manners, always behaving with great tact in his speech and actions. It's important to understand that the "Sharpshooter Society" originated in Shandong, China, and gradually expanded its influence to countries around the world. Such a massive and subtle plan required recruiting elites from all walks of life.

Each member of the "Thirteen Eagles" holds at least two master's degrees and has over five years of management experience in multinational business. Their public identities are all legitimate businessmen, each holding the chairmanship of at least two companies. Several of them have already entered the ranks of core executives at Fortune 500 companies. These individuals are strictly adhering to Sun Long's proposed path of "legalizing organized crime," and have been secretly clashing with large terrorist organizations such as the Mafia and Yamaguchi-gumi worldwide.

I don't want to say much about Sun Long's character; at least the fact that people in the martial arts world have mixed opinions about him speaks volumes.

Wang Jiangnan and I entered the living room side by side. Guan Baoling had already sat up and was gathering her hair with her hands as she walked towards the bathroom.

Since a stranger had entered, she naturally turned around to look, a normal reaction for anyone. Wang Jiangnan was also looking at her; men can't help but glance at pretty girls—but these two seemingly "normal" reactions caused Wang Jiangnan to let out a soft "Ah," and the hand he was holding onto Xiao Keleng suddenly tightened its grip, causing Xiao Keleng to cry out in pain: "Ouch—ouch! Thirteenth Brother, what are you doing?"

After their eyes met, Guan Baoling nonchalantly continued to the restroom, but Wang Jiangnan's expression suddenly became extremely confused. Ignoring the fact that everyone was watching, he turned to Xiao Ke and coldly asked, "Who...who is she? Who is she..."

The reason why a 30-year-old middle-aged man would suddenly display such a huge loss of composure is only one: he was directly struck by Guan Baoling's beauty.

I understand Wang Jiangnan's feelings. When Guan Baoling lazily turned her head to look at the door just now, my heart was also touched, but there was a psychological resistance involved, unlike Wang Jiangnan's strong reaction.

“That’s Hong Kong movie star Ms. Kwan Po-ling. Don’t you know her, Brother Thirteen?” Xiao Ke-leng realized the seriousness of the problem and answered in a low voice, his expression becoming tense.

A psychologist once famously said: "Once a middle-aged man's love is aroused, it's like an old house on fire; there's no way to save it until it's completely burned down."

Wang Jiangnan let out an "Oh," and stood stunned at the doorway, a dazed smile on his face. He couldn't possibly not know Guan Baoling's name, and he certainly knew what relationship Guan Baoling had with tycoon Ye Hongsheng. Perhaps at this moment, he wasn't thinking about anything at all; his soul had already flown to the bathroom with Guan Baoling's footsteps.

He was about my height, but much more robust and muscular, in the prime of his life. I coughed loudly and gestured for him to sit on the sofa. Now, I had completely set aside any ulterior motives towards Guan Baoling. I wondered if Wang Jiangnan possessed the same wisdom and understanding—I could read it in his eyes: "He's completely captivated by Guan Baoling! And hopelessly in love with her!"

Xiao Keleng scratched his head frantically, his short hair immediately becoming a mess.

The three young men who came in with us understood Wang Jiangnan's thoughts best. One of them, oblivious to his own limitations, laughed and said, "Thirteenth Master, which girl have you taken a fancy to? Let us handle this, we guarantee it—" Upon seeing a pretty girl, the pimples on their faces seemed to swell up, revealing their youthful impulsiveness.

Xiao Ke's words blurted out: "You... shut up! Shut up! Talking nonsense, do you want to die?"

She was a girl, and wouldn't be seduced by Guan Baoling's beauty and magic. Only in this way could she remain constantly aware of the tycoon's ruthlessness.

After sitting down on the sofa, Wang Jiangnan remained stunned for a long time. Suddenly, he looked up at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling and sighed three times: "I know, she is the tycoon's woman... I know... I know..." After saying these inexplicable words, his expression became serious, and the confusion and bewilderment he had just felt vanished.

His decisiveness truly impressed me. If it were me, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to sever the ties of affection so quickly and decisively abandon all worldly thoughts. However, after seeing Wang Jiangnan's expression return to normal, Xiao Keleng's brows furrowed even more.

Wang Jiangnan got straight to the point: "Mr. Feng, the people who took the map, although they were Koga ninjas, now belong to another organization. I have already arranged for people to investigate the ultimate boss of that organization. If it is confirmed that it is related to Watanabe Castle, I will ask Mr. Sun to take further large-scale actions to wipe out Watanabe Castle's henchmen in one fell swoop."

Xiao Keleng knew the identity of the man in black, "Black Cobra," better than I did, and had already quickly introduced him to Wang Jiangnan.

The Japanese branch of the Sharpshooter Society dispatched over thirty members this time. Besides the sixteen in the tour bus, fourteen others were already secretly deployed around Xunfu Garden, preparing to lie in wait day and night, maintaining close communication and responding to any possible changes. Stealing the map was merely a small test of the forces coveting Xunfu Garden; there were likely to be more ruthless methods to follow.

The matters at the villa can be temporarily left to the Sharpshooter Gang and Wang Jiangnan. Those three young men, nicknamed the "Three Heroes of Fire," are Wang Jiangnan's capable henchmen. With their well-organized arrangements, there was no room for me to interject.

After pacing around the courtyard a few times, my gaze once again fell upon the majestic pagoda. To avoid Guan Baoling's presence, I decided to take this opportunity to visit Fengge Temple.

If the legendary "Underwater Tomb" is located beneath the Tower of the Dead, then why has no one been able to decipher its secrets and enter it all these years? Does that mysterious space truly exist, or is it merely a figment of people's imaginations, like the so-called "Heaven"?

The unconscious Fujika is shrouded in mystery. If he can wake up smoothly, a huge weight will be lifted from my heart.

Xiao Keleng sighed repeatedly at my decision, nervously stroking her short hair at her temples and secretly gasping for breath.

I ignored her strange behavior—great things don't concern themselves with trifles; the more others think something shouldn't be done or dare not do, the more you have to brave the danger to discover the truth.

“Mr. Feng, regarding Maple Temple, the Well of Spirits, and the Tower of the Dead… I think it would be best to wait for Sister Suren to arrive so we can discuss a more detailed plan together before deciding what to do… After all… as you know, there’s a long-standing legend of a monster called the ‘Fanged Demon’ circulating in the Hokkaido area…”

Her eyes started sparkling again; I know she always looks like this when she's hesitant or struggling to think about something.

I laughed: "Yes, I know the story of the 'Fanged Demon,' but there are countless stories in Chinese ghost tales that are a thousand times more terrifying than the 'Fanged Demon.' Supernatural and bizarre things exist everywhere in the world, so don't worry about me."

That milky-white spire, with its graceful form piercing the sky, held an endless allure for me. Once I made a decision, I would act immediately and without hesitation.

Xiao Keleng hesitated, then sighed, made a phone call to order An Zi to drive over, and then drove me out of the lobby.

The sun was shining brightly, but the air temperature was quite low. This kind of weather is unique to Hokkaido and is a favorite for monks seeking quiet meditation. I believe that the monks, young and old, of Fuuki-ji Temple will seize this good weather to meditate and chant sutras under the sun, diligently practicing their spiritual disciplines.

For some reason, Xiao Keleng seemed preoccupied, frowning and keeping her head down in silence.

We stopped under a birch tree and waited silently for Anzi to drive over.

Looking back at the main building of the villa, the feng shui layout of "Nine-Headed Birds Struggling for Their Lives" is particularly clear in the sunlight, while the ominous "Arrow Piercing the Heart" layout makes one wonder if the builders at the time really understood feng shui, or if it was a charlatan or a charlatan who was misleading people's future.

“Mr. Feng, I have a bad feeling… Thirteenth Brother is finished… He’s in deep trouble…”

Xiao Ke spoke haltingly, coinciding with my vague premonition. Wang Jiangnan had truly fallen into the vortex of love at first sight. Just as I was captivated by Guan Baoling within three days, he became Guan Baoling's captive in just one day and at first glance, without even saying a word to her.

I shrugged and shook my head helplessly: "Xiao Xiao, as a foreign philosopher once said, only love and cough are unbearable. It's his freedom to get caught up in it, who can stop him?"

Xiao Ke looked up, her eyes sparkling again, and smiled bitterly as if she were trembling with unease: "Mr. Feng, can't you sense that Guan Baoling is a bit unusual and strange?" She kicked the dry grass under her feet in a nervous manner, and the grass blades flew around, gradually filling the air with the special scent of dry grass.

I retorted, "Strange? What do you mean? I didn't sense anything."

I know that even the slightest bit of jealousy could cloud Xiao Keleng's judgment, but I don't want to say it outright, lest I embarrass her.

Xiao Keleng hesitated for a moment, gazing southwards, her eyes passing through the main gate and looking outwards.

Two kilometers south, the road reaches an irregular three-way intersection. The northwest fork leads to Shentou Town, then turns due north, climbs along the winding mountain road, and then slopes northeast to reach the gate of Fengge Temple. In other words, the road makes a small loop to reach the temple, while the villa complex on our Xunfuyuan side has already encircled Muwanzhou Mountain.

If we can also take over the territory of "Shentou Town", the entire Muwanzhoushan will be within the embrace of Xunfuyuan.

"Her ability to fascinate men is itself a kind of evil. I can't help but think of certain special aspects of 'black magic,' where young girls use at least thirty different methods to bewitch their lovers. If it were just you acting strangely, that would be one thing. Thirteen has always been a representative of upright men in the gang, never going to red-light districts or brothels. Moreover, the martial arts he practices are of a pure, gentle, and feminine nature. Even if he saw a very beautiful girl, he would never act as if he were completely distraught as he did just now..."

Once Xiao Keleng started the conversation, she talked on and on, leaving me no room to interject.

I've also dabbled in the mystique of "black magic," but those methods of bewitching and casting spells must at least involve some simple ritual or obtaining a hair from the cursed person; it's impossible to cast a spell out of thin air. An international movie star like Guan Baoling, with her elegant demeanor and stunning beauty, is already captivating, considered the dream girl of millions of men worldwide. Her mere appearance often elicits screams and whistles from her admirers—so what's so strange about it that such a top-tier woman would attract me and Wang Jiangnan at first sight?

I disagree with Xiao Keleng's reasoning. The tycoon has already suffered enough from the torment of black magic; why would he keep a black magic successor who knows how to cast spells by his side? A man of the tycoon's status would definitely have someone conduct a thorough investigation before getting close to a girl. If he didn't suspect anything, why should we?

“You trust Wang Jiangnan too much! In fact, men sometimes don’t even understand themselves. Even a man who has practiced virginity cultivation can have a moment when he falls in love, right?” I slowly shook my head, denying her conclusion.

Wang Jiangnan can be considered a hero in the Sharpshooter Society. The fact that he and I like the same girl, sharing similar tastes, is perfectly understandable. The only concern is how he can contend with the tycoon Ye Hongsheng. As a member of the "Thirteen Eagles," his status is still several levels below that of the tycoon.

Part 2: Tower of the Dead

— Chapter 7 — Zhang Baisen, Master of Special Abilities —

Xiao Keleng suddenly reached out and opened her palm in front of me, revealing a black and silver ring. She breathed heavily, her voice filled with frustration: "Mr. Feng, I... I found this on her! Look what this is! What is it...?"

This is indeed a genuine black silver ring, the iconic ornament of Guatemalan black magic. Anyone who possesses such an ornament must be either a witch from a black magic tribe or a member of a tribe with extremely special status; otherwise, they have no chance of obtaining it, and even if they manage to steal it, they will suffer a curse and die.

I was stunned: "Found it on her? Really?"

The ring gleamed eerily in the sunlight, its yellow amber setting reflecting a crystal-clear light that seemed vaguely familiar. When I held the ring to my finger and saw the miniature woodpecker embedded in the amber, it suddenly dawned on me: "Resica on the plane…Resica wore a ring like this, almost identical…What? Could there be two identical black and silver rings in the world?"

These handmade items are never exactly the same, and it may take more than a decade to find a pair of amber stones with the same pattern.

Xiao Keleng practically spat out the words through gritted teeth: "She... is a sorcerer possessing 'dark magic'... isn't she?"

For such a strong and brave girl to be so afraid under the midday sun shows that "black magic" has created enormous invisible pressure in her heart.

According to legend, people controlled by "black magic" suffer unbearable pain and are prone to all sorts of bizarre and incomprehensible acts, such as eating raw rotten flesh, sleepwalking, smearing dog blood on their faces, howling like ghosts, and so on.

“She… what she said about… the underwater palace… wasn’t that just sleepwalking…” Xiao Keleng could barely stand, reaching out to steady herself against the birch tree trunk beside her. Beneath her short hair, her forehead was covered in glistening cold sweat. Fortunately, it was daytime, and Wang Jiangnan’s men were there to bolster her courage; otherwise, this large manor would have been truly eerie and ghostly.

Regarding what Guan Baoling said, I've always held the belief that "it's better to believe it than not," because I've also heard the sound of bubbles several times. If the sound of bubbles is real, then what Guan Baoling experienced could also be real.

I held the ring in my palm, watching the sunlight reflect off the facets of the amber, creating a sparkling, translucent effect. I thought it was very likely the one Reese was wearing: "But how did it end up on Guan Baoling instead of Reese?"

Xiao Keleng smiled awkwardly, "Mr. Feng, please don't blame me for being rude to Miss Guan. I just happened to touch her pocket and that's how I found this..."

The real meaning of this statement is that Xiao Keleng became suspicious of Guan Baoling and conducted a very secretive, close search, stealing the ring. The identities of Su Lun, Xiao Keleng, and their group lie somewhere between ordinary citizens and gangsters; occasionally resorting to extreme measures is nothing more than commonplace for them, with no concept of "breaking the law" or "infringing on rights."

The ring was heavy, and the miniature woodpecker was so lifelike that even the smallest details, like the claws, were perfectly preserved without any missing parts. I really don't know how the "Black Magic" cult managed to do this, transforming a huge woodpecker into a miniature landscape smaller than a peanut.

The roar of an engine echoed outside the door. Anzi drove up in an ordinary Mazda station wagon, waved to me, and looked very pleased with himself.

Xiao Ke was stunned for a moment, then muttered under her breath, "Huh? What's this girl doing? Is she feeling romantic?" She glanced at me, her face full of a sneaky, half-smiling expression.

I pretended not to notice, but An Zi had already changed into another brand-new, fiery red tracksuit, which unceremoniously filled my field of vision. This was her third time changing clothes, each time more vibrant than the last, as if she were deliberately trying to attract my attention.

Xiao Keleng and I walked slowly towards the main gate, and I carefully wrapped the ring in a handkerchief and put it in my pocket. I remembered that Reese had mentioned going to Maple Temple; if I happened to run into her there, I could ask her about the ring.

Walking to Anzi's car, Xiao Keleng nervously instructed, "Mr. Feng, I've already contacted the reception staff at Fengge Temple. You're welcome to visit as much as you like, but please be back before dinner. You can't stay overnight at the temple, understand? Because—"

I raised my eyebrows and smiled: "Because of the 'Fang Demon'? You believe that thing really exists?"

Anzi laughed along, her medium-length black hair bouncing on her shoulders, giving the impression of being in a great mood and beaming with joy.

Xiao Keleng was slightly annoyed and glared at An Zi: "What are you laughing at? Go with Mr. Feng. If anything goes wrong, be careful..." She took a step back, put her hands in her pockets, and looked at me sideways, as if blaming me for "not knowing what's good for me".

"Yes, ma'am!" Anzi replied loudly, a smile spreading across his face. He stepped on the gas, and the car sped forward.

The car sped south towards the three-way intersection. In the rearview mirror, I saw Xiao Keleng standing at the gate, staring in the direction the car had left. At the same time, Guan Baoling also came out of the villa's hall and stood on the steps, gazing in this direction. A small mirror reflected both of their figures, and a sudden thought struck me…

I'm not exactly a womanizer when it comes to dealing with girls, especially right now. My entire focus is on finding out where my older brother, Yang Tian, is, so I haven't had time to understand the hidden feelings of girls—except for Guan Baoling. Before, I'd seen her from afar on the dazzling television screen; she was a star, unique and radiant. Now, in close proximity, even after only three days, the innate vulnerability and helplessness within her has deeply moved me…

“Mr. Feng—” Anzi turned the rearview mirror. Xiao Keleng and Guan Baoling were gone, and only Anzi’s bright eyes were reflected in the mirror. She was carefully made up, with black and curled eyelashes, and every flutter of her eyelashes made her look as beautiful and charming as a young girl in a Japanese commercial.

She looked at me in the rearview mirror, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "Fūki-ji is the most famous tourist destination in Hokkaido. I am very honored to be your private guide. If you need anything, please feel free to let me know. I will do my best to make you feel at home."

Although she is Japanese, she speaks fluent Chinese, which must be the result of Xiao Keleng's daily tutelage.

I grunted and nodded indifferently.

If I were to say I might be interested in a Japanese girl, Fujika would probably be the only one, but that "interest" is limited to the enormous secret she holds. Beyond that, I have no romantic feelings whatsoever.

Anzi, taking advantage of the situation, turned her head and boldly and passionately blinked her big eyes: "Mr. Feng, I hope I can make your trip to Hokkaido enjoyable and romantic—the local hot spring baths are the most famous in all of Japan, perhaps we can..." At this moment, the car was speeding along, and her driving skills were so good that she was able to control the direction by feeling alone without looking at the road.

This blatant confession aroused a slight aversion in me. I turned my face away and looked at the wilderness to my right, with no intention of having a deep conversation with Anzi.

Japanese hot springs are world-renowned for their mixed-gender bathing, but I'm not particularly interested in this kind of "luxury" experience right now. Besides, Anzi and I have only had a few days of sporadic contact, and I don't think any real feelings could develop in such a short time. Just as I was about to firmly reject her advances, a cream-colored Toyota minibus suddenly appeared at the three-way intersection ahead, traveling at an extremely high speed.

The minibus was turning from the east, the screeching of its wheels on the ground and the screech of its brakes creating a cacophony. Anzi's reaction wasn't bad; he slammed on the brakes and turned the steering wheel to the left almost immediately. But by the time the two vehicles saw each other, the distance was less than ten meters. Even the most sensitive brakes couldn't stop the vehicles in such a short distance.

A horrific car accident was about to occur—

Suddenly, a middle-aged man of about forty years old appeared next to the driver of the car opposite, and his fists shot out from the side window, striking our car with a whoosh.

The moment I saw the middle-aged man's face, a name immediately popped into my head: "Zhang Baisen!" A special figure who is almost universally known among the people of mainland China.

Anzi suddenly screamed "Ah!" and released the steering wheel with both hands. Then I noticed that the Mazda wagon was rapidly reversing, as if a dozen burly men were pushing it backward at the same time. In a few seconds, the car had reversed about seven or eight meters, and the minibus on the other side also slammed on its brakes and came to a stop.

At this moment, Anzi's hand was still raised high, as if in a "surrender" gesture.

Zhang Baisen in the opposite car slowly inhaled, his fists retracting to his waist, his gray hair standing on end, strangely pointing towards the sky. This move was not the special ability he was famous for, but genuine Chinese hard qigong, the "hitting a cow across a mountain." It was with the force of his punches delivered in mid-air that he forcefully forced back the station wagon driven by Anzi.

The Japanese driver of the minibus opened the door and jumped out. He looked down in horror at the charred black skid marks left by the two vehicles on the ground, then looked up at Zhang Baisen in utter shock, clasping his hands together in front of his chest and bowing repeatedly in worship.

Zhang Baisen's martial arts skills and supernatural abilities are not limited to this. His ability to make such a quick emergency response in just one second, and then gather his energy to throw a punch and save the day from disaster, has exceeded the limits of the abilities of ordinary supernatural masters. Extrapolating from this small incident, it is not surprising that he is revered by the people of China.