Histoires de fantômes

Chapitre 208

Just as I turned around, a sigh came from afar. Though the sound was distant, it struck my eardrums like a thunderclap, because I was 100% certain that the sigh came from Suren, without a doubt.

"Sulun—" I couldn't help but let out a long shout, the echo reverberating through the valley, ten times stronger than the call of the eagle summoning Tang Qing. Tang Xiaogu, the Bakun brothers, and Li Kang were all jolted awake, rubbing their eyes in panic, not knowing what had happened.

The sigh came from inside the cave, and a sudden glimmer of hope ignited in my heart: "Suren must be inside! Although I don't know how far away she is—"

"Mr. Feng, what are you doing?" Fei Yue pushed Tang Xiaogu aside, stood up and peered into the cave.

“I heard Suren sigh; it must be her.” I trusted my hearing and judgment.

Flying Eagle shook his head vigorously: "Impossible, right? Some echoes become very similar to human voices after being refracted through the cave. You must have misheard. How could Suren suddenly appear deep in the tunnel?"

He pointed to the way he came, shrugged silently, and the meaning was self-evident: "Since there are no footprints, which way did Suren enter the tunnel?"

There are those in the martial arts world who possess the lightness skill to leave no trace in the snow, but Su Lun is an explorer and has no need to hide his whereabouts.

Unable to explain, I turned and walked towards the cave entrance.

Feiyue caught up: "Mr. Feng, shall I go with you?"

I shook my head and refused her: "No need. Staying here is risky; we might be followed by enemies." The Southwest Caravan could jump out from the shadows at any moment, trapping us like turtles in a jar—that would be the end of us. Besides, I know there's danger in the tunnel. Feiyue is too young; if something happens to her, I'll never forgive myself.

The tunnel was gloomy and chilly, at least five degrees Celsius lower than the outside temperature.

I hurried forward, passing through the gaps between the stone pillars. After walking about thirty meters, I saw Liang Wei standing motionless, holding a submachine gun in both hands, facing due south, seemingly deep in thought.

The beams of the flashlight, like countless giant scissors, recklessly sliced through the boundless darkness. No one spoke; only from the distant depths of the cave came strange sounds, sometimes like the wind, sometimes like birdsong. The number and diameter of the stone pillars did not increase proportionally with the increase in the cross-sectional area of the cave; they varied in thickness, and eventually, no two adjacent stone pillars were the same diameter.

The one closest to me is about one and a half meters in diameter and nearly twenty meters tall; it feels round and cold to the touch. The other one, just two steps away, has a diameter that shrinks to half a meter. The contrast between the two makes it feel incredibly strange.

As Liang Wei said, this strange architectural layout is rarely seen in the world.

“Feng, I’m thinking, those who created these stone pillars weren’t human at all, or rather, not the same race as you and me—” Liang Wei finally spoke, but his tone was low and dejected. He didn’t have Fei Yue’s imagination, but he was not lacking in foresight regarding danger.

Further ahead, the stone pillars are intersecting and misaligned, so the beam of a flashlight cannot pass through in a straight line. Therefore, it is impossible to see what is on the other side, and you have to keep going around the pillars.

He opened his palm and held it out to me; it was a small compass. This military product, made in Switzerland, is world-renowned for its high stability and precision.

I immediately realized the meaning behind his gesture: "What? The compass is malfunctioning?" The reason I made this connection so quickly was because I had previously experienced my wristwatch being magnetized. If there was some unknown magnetic field in the cave, the compass would definitely become useless.

Liang Wei exclaimed in amazement, "Feng, do you have the divine power of foresight? You know everything without even looking?"

I smiled and shook my head: "Divine power? That's too much of an honor."

Part Two: A Smile That Captivates a City

— Chapter 10 - Xiao Guan Suddenly Appears —

Walking around the stone pillars in the dark without a compass, it's easy to get lost. This is only a small part of the tunnel; the deeper you go, the greater the chance of getting lost.

Liang Wei tapped the pillar beside him a few times and sighed pessimistically: "Due to the influence of the magnetic field, not only will the compass fail, but if we move forward about 100 meters, radio communications will also be severely interfered with. At that time, we will become a group of blind and deaf people, and there is a 70% chance that we will be trapped here and die."

I nodded. This is not some sensationalist or bizarre theory. All our discussions are based on scientific theory and are never driven by emotions.

Suddenly, a team member to our left and rear exclaimed, "Out of power!" Immediately, the crisscrossing beams of light began to diminish, and cries of alarm rose and fell. A rough calculation showed that we had been exploring the cave for over two hours, reaching the limit of our flashlights' power.

I patted Liang Wei on the shoulder: "Let everyone evacuate first, and we'll continue tomorrow."

To do a good job, one must first have the right tools. Faced with such a huge predicament, the team members, lightly equipped, are simply not up to the task; we need more machinery and tools.

As I turned to walk towards the tunnel entrance, I had a strange premonition—this bizarre tunnel was like a military torpedo launch simulation system, and we were all like torpedoes about to be fired, controlled by the enormous explosive force behind us.

Liang Wei also sensed it, and while walking forward, he kept turning his head to look back.

I didn't mention hearing Suren's sigh; there was no point in saying anything more since we couldn't get past the stone pillar formation. The moment I stepped out of the cave, Liang Wei suddenly muttered to himself, "Why does it feel like bullets are being fired? Could this tunnel have been constructed based on the recoil principle of a gun barrel?"

Air propels, rotates, and launches – this is the entire process of a bullet's movement. But what is such a huge space used for launching? Moreover, it has a square funnel structure, which is not the same as the working principle of a firearm.

Liang Wei looked at me with a complicated expression: "Feng, with your experience in the martial world, can you explain what this tunnel is used for?"

Without hesitation, I shook my head: "No, but I think there must be a way to reach the end of the stone pillar."

The distribution of these stone pillars is like a maze in a theme park. The maze is inanimate, but people are alive, which is why I was so sure I could get through it.

Dusk had fallen from all sides, and the team members were busy setting up tents. The Bakun brothers lit four campfires, illuminating the desolate valley. Everyone seemed dejected and exhausted. After quickly eating a few pieces of compressed biscuits, they crawled into their tents.

I sat by the campfire, the phone flipping through my fingers dozens of times. I desperately wanted to call Guan Baoling, but I restrained myself. Su Lun was in an unknown predicament, and I didn't want to dwell on my personal feelings at such a crucial time; that would be an invisible harm to Su Lun.

Liang Wei, clutching a flat Russian military flask, trotted over and plopped down next to me, reeking of alcohol.

"Wind, listen to me, let's turn back." He wasn't drunk; his voice was calm and clear.

Silently, I poked at the fire, grabbed a handful of dry branches and threw them on, which immediately produced a strange "crackling" sound before being engulfed by the flames.

“If I put you in the tiger’s shoes, I would say the same thing. That’s what friends do—friends either don’t speak, or they speak the truth. It’s dangerous ahead. This team has already lost quite a few people for no reason. If we just keep rushing forward, I don’t care if others die, but I can’t just watch you die.”

He raised the wine jug and gulped down a large mouthful, the remaining wine sliding down his lips and onto his chin.

“I can’t turn back,” I answered him calmly.

"Why? What are you looking for?" He understood what I said, but he didn't understand what I was after.

“I heard Suren’s sigh coming from deep inside the tunnel. She must be somewhere in there, so I’ve cut off my escape route unless I find her and leave together. If you’re a friend, you don’t need to try to persuade me anymore.”

Su Lun's sigh broke my heart. Since meeting Guan Baoling, I had rarely considered Su Lun's feelings, let alone reflected on the immense harm I had caused her by falling in love with someone else. At this moment, I saw my own heart clearly; Su Lun was always there, but she was suppressed by the dazzling Guan Baoling and couldn't surface in time.

Liang Wei took another big gulp of wine, slapped his thigh, and exclaimed, "Alright, I won't try to persuade you anymore. You're as stubborn as a tiger! But I like it—"

He was a killer on the run, while Tiger, because of the incident of stealing scriptures in the desert, also became a fugitive wanted by the Egyptians and the Japanese. The two of them really had something in common.

In relationships between men, there are often no fixed rules to follow, and reputation, power, or status are not important. Often, a single second or instant can determine a lifetime of unwavering loyalty. If I could turn back time and face that situation in the desert again, I would still unhesitatingly help the tiger steal the scriptures and unconditionally trust him.

Men live by passion and heroism; throughout thousands of years of history, all heroes and great men have lived this way.

“I, Liang Wei, will definitely help you find… Miss Suren… It’s a pity Tiger isn’t here, so we can’t have a good drink together. I’m willing to sacrifice my life for my friends at any time. Feng, whatever you ask, I’ll go through fire and water without hesitation.”

Liang Wei took several large gulps and was already tipsy. Those brotherhood oaths that had been recited countless times by the older generation of martial arts masters only had the power to move people's hearts when spoken under the influence of alcohol.

I pressed down on his wine flask: "Everyone's life is their own. A true friend wouldn't ask a brother to shield them from death. I, or Tiger, both hope you live well, and hope that one day, when the world is at peace, you can resume your identity as Wolf Xie. Living in anonymity and fleeing the world is only a temporary predicament, understand?"

In my dictionary, everyone should live with dignity and be themselves, instead of wandering like a stray dog, living under a mask of hypocrisy. Even the mighty Tang Clan of Shu will eventually decline, and those who commit many evil deeds will perish. Liang Wei will also eventually end his life of wandering.

Liang Wei was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Yes, yes, one day I will let everyone in the martial arts world know that the Sichuan Wolf family has not perished, and that I, Lang Xie, am still alive and well."

The campfires flickered violently, and a chilling wind rose from the ground, circling all four campfires before silently disappearing into the night. The flames danced incessantly, while the howls of owls and lone wolves echoed simultaneously from the cliffs on either side.

“Look at the trajectory of those flames—” Liang Wei whispered. The flames were heading straight for the tunnel entrance.

I smiled calmly: "This time, no matter what lies ahead, I will not stop. We will have reinforcements tomorrow. As the ancients said, 'Man can conquer nature,' let alone modern people in the 21st century?"

Liang Wei stared at my face: "Reinforcements? Another woman?"

Despite being such a dull person, his mind was surprisingly quick and sharp, always hitting the nail on the head.

I nodded, and he chuckled, "Feng, you really have a way with women. Unlike Tiger, who's always chasing after women, no woman ever shows interest in him. A man should be like you, charming everyone he meets, attracting girls wherever he goes—you know what? Feiyue has fallen for you. I can see it; her eyes are full of affection when she looks at you. This girl has never acted like that with anyone else before..."

I never bothered to investigate Fei Yue's thoughts. Her concern for Su Lun overshadowed everything else, leaving her no time to consider anyone else's feelings. As for Gu Qingcheng, she didn't seem to have any intention of flirting with me or throwing herself at me. She was always so calm and composed, more confident than any powerful man.

I will not fall for any other girl until I rescue Suren, so as not to cause her further distress.

"What are you thinking about?" Liang Wei stopped joking and adopted a somber tone.

"I'm thinking about something you said: the stone pillars in the tunnel weren't built by humans like us. So, what force placed them here?" The mystery is shrouded in mist, and it's not just a fictional legend of the "second Epang Palace," but something that is very real and right in front of us.

Liang Wei smiled faintly: "The southwestern border region has always been one of the most mysterious places in China, rife with strange occurrences. Even if we gathered biologists, physicists, and even paranormal experts from around the world, they couldn't explain them. Ordinary people shouldn't waste their brainpower on it. Tomorrow, I'll order the brothers to use the most basic method: counting each pillar one by one. In any case, encountering such a strange event is an opportunity to broaden our horizons. Unfortunately, we're only carrying light weapons this time. If we encounter any emergencies, casualties are inevitable. If I..."

Realizing his words were inauspicious, he immediately raised the wine jug to cover his mouth and stopped talking.

Four mobile sentries were stationed outside the tents, while the rest of the people were fast asleep, with snores of varying pitches emanating from each tent.

"I should go to sleep now, we'll talk about it tomorrow." He stood up and staggered into the nearest tent.

Tomorrow? Will Gu Qingcheng arrive on time? And what help can she offer? Thinking about these things, I couldn't sleep. Tang Xiaogu's words cast a shadow over my heart. If Tang Qing were nearby, given the poisoning methods of the Tang Clan of Sichuan, in this wilderness where no fortifications could be built, we would have almost no chance to retaliate.

The Southwest Caravan and the Longge Witches, these two major forces, should be completely opposed to the expedition team. Considering the whole situation, Suren's preparations before entering the mountains were too hasty. The Lan Valley Flying Serpent, which she feared most, had not even appeared yet, and the entire expedition team had already fallen apart. Even the second backup, including Flying Eagle, was not effective enough in its rescue efforts.

My experience at the "Tower of the Dead" in Maple Ridge Temple has taught me a lesson: one person's wisdom and strength are limited. Take Suren and me as an example; only by working together can we successfully accomplish a major task. Separating halfway and acting independently will only lead us into a quagmire of difficult journeys.

Suren, I understand that now. What about you? Will you also reflect on this deeply?

I got up and went to relieve myself in the bushes to the side, feeling acutely how the mountain night wind was growing increasingly cold and biting. I learned from Li Kang that Su Lun's only warm clothing was a deerskin sleeping bag, which was rather inadequate for sleeping outdoors in the mountains.

The luminous hands on my watch showed that it was already two in the morning. I forced myself to go to sleep. So many questions, even if I sat by the campfire all night, I might not have a complete answer.

My face was initially turned towards the dark stone wall, but as I turned, my gaze naturally fell upon the campfire. There, in the spot where Liang Wei had been sitting, was another person. He sat there, sideways to me, his trembling hands reaching towards the faint flames.

"Ghost? Demon?" In an instant, my mind went blank. Within a tenth of a second, the gun was in my hand, the bullet was chambered, and I aimed it at his temple.

We were about fifteen steps apart. I could clearly see that his hands were covered in blood, his face and hair were very dirty and messy, and his clothes were tattered. The only thing I could identify was his gender.

The roaming sentry wandered around like a sleepwalker, completely unaware that there was another person on the scene.

At this distance, I was 100% certain I could blow his head off with a single shot. His approach to the flames was so greedy and desperate that he only looked up in alarm when I was within five steps of him. His face was covered in blood and mud, with only his eyes shining with a weary light.

"Who are you?" I gripped the gun with both hands, aiming steadily at his forehead. After experiencing a series of bizarre events, including the Egyptian pyramids and the "underwater tomb" in Hokkaido, my tolerance for horror and strange occurrences had reached an impenetrable level. Even if the person in front of me suddenly transformed into a blue-faced, fanged monster, I believed I could quickly pull the trigger without being swayed in the slightest.

“I…I am…” he began with difficulty, his voice rough and hoarse.

The gun in my hand trembled slightly, and I blurted out, "Xiao Guan? You're Xiao Guan?"

He stood up, opened his arms as if to "hug," but then looked down at his dirty body with a self-deprecating smile, took a step back dejectedly, and nodded vigorously.

Faced with this person who fell from the sky, I simply didn't know what to say.

He spotted a half-empty bottle of mineral water by the fire, his eyes lit up, and he quickly pounced on it, grabbed it, tilted his head back, and gulped it down, making loud "glug-glug" sounds in his throat.

The sentry was finally alerted and rushed over with his gun. We all thought Xiao Guan was dead, suffering the same fate as the six men he led, only their bodies were missing. But now it seems he only suffered minor scratches, is conscious, and of sound mind.

"I...I'm back. Where's the boss? I need to see him." After drinking some water, chewing a few biscuits, and wiping the dirt off his face, he regained some energy.

I instructed the four sentries: "Be on high alert, keep a close eye on the south tunnel entrance and the road coming from the north." This time it was Xiao Guan, but next time it might not be one of our own. The sentries' reaction time was really frustrating; this kind of vigilance was practically non-existent.

Flying Eagle and Flying Moon hurriedly left the tent, and Liang Wei also got up, still sleepy.

Xiao Guan had already taken out three tin cans of beef and a bottle of liquor from the team members' backpacks and started wolfing them down. He probably choked accidentally, because he kept stretching his neck and burping.

I simply observed him silently across the fire, not speaking easily. Perhaps after he calmed down, he would tell us a thrilling story.

Feiyue was wrapped tightly in a blanket, closest to the fire. She kept glancing at me furtively, her gaze hazy and unfocused. Liang Wei was right; she did indeed have strange, budding feelings for me, but she simply didn't want to accept them.

Aside from the crackling sound of the burning branches, the only other noise at the scene was Xiao Guan's exaggerated chewing.

Finally, he finished the last large piece of beef tendon in the can, let out a satisfied burp, and finally broke the awkward and mysterious atmosphere: "I'm back, I escaped death. Boss, a very important reason why I didn't choose to escape directly out of the mountains is that I had to come back to tell everyone that the mountains are very dangerous, and we shouldn't have taken this job in the first place—we're brothers, so I can't abandon everyone and run away alone."

It was a very high-sounding opening remark. Flying Eagle laughed: "Good brother, continue."

"After leaving the main force, we only walked back for two hours, resting by an unnamed mountain stream. I was sitting at the very bottom of the stream, with a steep slope just five steps away. When the first drop of blood appeared in the water, I only glanced up, not having time to draw my gun to retaliate, and immediately leaped down the slope, rolling about fifty meters before disappearing into the dense forest, thus escaping the massacre—the murderer was a hooded woman, perhaps more like a humanoid monster, floating in mid-air, half a meter off the ground. The slain brothers fell silently, like autumn sorghum, their faces backs slumped, blood spurting from their brows to their chests and abdomens. Their submachine guns were clearly in their hands, but they seemed to be haunted by a nightmare, forgetting how to fire. From beginning to end, I didn't hear a single gunshot."

Xiao Guan stared at the fire, his voice low and dazed.