Histoires de fantômes

Chapitre 210

Having such a pedantic person around spouting such ominous things is both laughable and frustrating, but I couldn't dwell on it. Suddenly, I sensed an even greater horror was about to unfold, and I pointed towards the tent: "Li Kang, listen—"

I don't know when, but the intermittent snoring had stopped. After so many people had traveled a long way all day, lying together to sleep, it was impossible for them not to be talking in their sleep or muttering, but I couldn't hear anything. Only the dead remain completely silent, so I felt that the people in the tent had also been poisoned.

I turned towards the nearest tent, extended the barrel of my gun, and parted the curtain. In the darkness, three people lay side by side, quiet and silent. Li Kang switched on his flashlight, and in the light, a horrific vertical wound was visible on the front of each person's body. One of them even had his blanket torn in two.

A faint smell of blood permeated the tent. When I lowered the curtain, the air was filled with the smell of blood, which grew stronger and stronger.

Li Kang started running frantically, peeking through the curtains of each tent, then moving on to the next, and then the next.

I know no one can escape. What killed these people was no longer simple martial arts or weapons, but a mysterious force beyond human imagination. This night was destined to be anything but peaceful. From Xiao Guan's unexpected appearance until now, the events have unfolded like a suspenseful horror novel with an exaggerated plot.

Back by the fire, I stared at the sleeping Xiao Guan, trying to discern something from his pale face. The flickering firelight cast shadows on his face, including his nostrils. His eyelids were drooping, but his eyes darted about beneath them.

Was he involved in this sudden massacre? Could it be that he led... the murderous demon here? The situation is becoming increasingly perplexing. The killer's power is truly astonishing, capable of killing so many people silently at the same time.

"They're all dead." These were the first words Flying Eagle spoke upon his return. He was so grief-stricken that he showed no emotion. He had just said he would set off from the mountains for the sake of his brothers, but now there was no need for that.

Tang Xiaogu nestled in Feiyue's arms, her eyes still heavy with sleep, completely unaware of what had happened. Aside from those around the fire, she was the only survivor.

"Who did it?" Liang Wei muttered to himself.

Everyone was asking this question in their hearts, but there was no answer. The stench of blood drifted on the night wind, eventually seeping into the tunnel.

“Perhaps we should retreat a bit, right?” Liang Wei looked at the dark tunnel entrance, still feeling lingering fear.

"Yes." Just as blood in the water can attract ferocious sharks, on land, blood can also attract bloodthirsty beasts. The campfire has become the most dangerous place, let alone being with so many corpses.

We retreated two kilometers and chose a slightly protruding hillside to rest and wait for dawn.

This was an incredibly difficult time; the slightest disturbance could send Flying Eagle pointing his gun at someone. As the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon, I saw that his face was extremely pale, and the aura of a gangster boss had completely vanished.

"The night is finally over." Liang Wei, who had been keeping watch from a nearby tree branch, let out a long sigh after jumping down.

An unusual expedition turned into a massacre by a mysterious force, something I never expected. In the past, I would have been unable to control my impulse and rushed into the tunnel or gathered a large group of people to search for the killer, but now I did nothing.

"Our reinforcements will arrive soon, everyone please be patient for now." Only I could maintain a calm and composed demeanor, a quality essential for any excellent explorer or tomb raider. I believed that Suren, trapped in his predicament, would also possess the same patience and confidence as me.

"Reinforcements?" Eagle gave a bitter smile. I understood what he was thinking. Reinforcements were just ordinary people, and they could very well be mercilessly slaughtered like his brothers.

I stepped away from them and dialed Gu Qingcheng's number. The audio signal was heavily interfered with, and I could only hear each other's voices intermittently, but I could hear birdsong in the conversation, melodious and lingering.

"We've already...entered the mountains and will arrive before 11 a.m. We're...bringing some...equipment and will be traveling in American-style mountain jeeps...don't worry."

It was 5:30 in the morning, five and a half hours before the time she mentioned.

Her words brought me a great sense of relief. The Flying Eagles' entire force was wiped out because they lacked experience and preparation. Furthermore, their initial mission was only to escort Suren on his expedition, not the main expedition itself, so their equipment was extremely poor.

“Miss Gu, but I must warn you, a horrific massacre has just occurred here. Some unknown, mysterious force has killed all the team members in the camp—”

Gu Qingcheng chuckled softly, "I hope this isn't a fairy tale. But Uncle Wei will arrange everything, so don't worry. I will definitely help you win the heart of your beauty, and I mean what I say."

She mentioned the name "Uncle Wei" repeatedly on the phone, but I had no information about this person in my knowledge of the underworld, and I had no idea who he was.

The situation inside the tunnel couldn't be explained in a few words, but I tried my best to convey to her, in concise terms, how strange those towering stone pillars were. The search operation that was supposed to take place today was canceled because of the massacre. Actually, I should have been more anxious than anyone else, because only I clearly heard Suren's sigh.

“Oh, is that so? You think Miss Suren… is behind the stone pillar? You’re 100% sure? But, based on my intuition, sound travels in all sorts of ways. Even if that really was her sigh, it might have come from some distant place. We can’t just blindly assume she’s in the area very close behind the stone pillar, right? We can only believe what we see with our own eyes. Even ‘seeing’ can lead to hallucinations, let alone just ‘hearing’?”

Part 3: The Square-Eyed Monster

— Chapter 2 — Gu Qingcheng and Uncle Wei —

I sighed, "No wonder the ancients said, 'Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving!'"

Hearing Su Lun sigh about that matter, whether others disdain to deny it or firmly admit it, none of them are as helpful to me as Gu Qingcheng's rational analysis.

"The world is vast and full of wonders. Relying too much on your hearing will lead you astray. I studied music and have some understanding of the characteristics of sound. Remember? A few months ago, a Greek witch doctor claimed in the newspaper that he heard the voice of God, saying that 'Judgment Day' was coming soon and the earth would accelerate its decline within a few years, until..."

The signal interference suddenly increased, and after a few seconds, I could hear her voice again: "We are approaching the stone wall you mentioned. The signal interference is too strong and the power is severely weakened. We'll talk when we meet. Take care."

I sincerely said to you, "Take care too."

Reflecting on Su Lun's sigh again, for some reason, I was strongly reminded of the imagery in the Tang Dynasty poem, "Birds roost on trees by the pond, a monk pushes open the moonlit gate," as if she were walking alone out of some space, surrounded by loneliness, and sighed out of a sense of profound sorrow. That "space" might be the ancient tomb beneath the Heavenly Ladder, but how did she suddenly enter it?

Regarding the topic of "mysterious disappearances," there's the precedent of Tengjia in Egypt, and the incident in Hokkaido where Guan Baoling and I suddenly entered the underwater world. These mysterious, instantaneous shifts in time and space simply cannot be explained by the principles of physics. The only thing that brings me comfort is that Su Lun is still alive.

I returned to the temporary camp, where Eagle was examining his pistol, his eyes bloodshot.

"Reinforcements will arrive soon, and if all goes well, we can meet here at noon," I told him calmly. Having lost so many brothers, his dejection was unimaginable, and what was most infuriating was the lack of revenge, having no one to vent his anger on.

He raised his head, staring intently at the road he had come from to the north, his eyes bloodshot.

"Feng, do you think the Dragon Witch will come from that direction?" He slammed the magazine into the magazine and aimed his gun northward.

The road was deserted, with only withered grass swaying in the wind.

"Perhaps, we all need to stay calm." I can't say more to someone whose eyes are red with hatred.

After the sun rose, a thin layer of white mist suddenly rose from the direction of the tunnel. South winds rarely blow in winter, but today the wind direction had changed from north to south, and the mist rode the wind, enveloping us.

I was the first to have a bad feeling. When the fog was still fifty paces from the camp, a faint fishy smell had already entered my nostrils.

"There's poison in the fog, everyone evacuate immediately!" I promptly issued a warning, set up a small barrier, and led the way to a low-lying mountain stream on the right.

Liang Wei's face was ashen, and he kept muttering curses under his breath as he dragged Li Kang's arm behind me: "It's snake venom—when venomous snakes see the first rays of sunlight in the morning, they exhale the venom that has been brewing in their bellies all night, forming a mist. Judging from this, there are at least several hundred snakes coiled together. This is terrible!"

Flying Eagle only left the camp under Flying Moon's dragging. Blinded by anger, he seemed to regard the invisible mist as an enemy and insisted on charging forward. Liang Wei was right; the miasma exhaled by venomous snakes was one of the most potent poisons in the mountains and forests, and humans had no way to resist it and could only choose to avoid it.

Feiyue was still holding Tang Xiaogu. This little girl who had appeared out of nowhere had now become part of the expedition team and followed them everywhere.

The stream was shallow and the water murmured, but none of us went near the water's edge. Water is the perfect carrier of poisonous gas, and everyone was on edge, not daring to cross the line.

"There are venomous snakes in the cave, probably behind the stone pillar. Legend has it that there are winged snakes in Lan Valley, like the 'Ernstow viper' from the African Grand Canyon. Some explorers have indeed caught such creatures, and experiments have shown that the amount of venom stored in their fangs and the level of venom's potency exceed that of the Indian king cobra. So, it's even more dangerous beyond the stone pillar—" I wanted to share everything I knew so that everyone could make their own choice.

Li Kang was only a half-baked figure in the martial arts world. His skills and experience were the worst, but he was the first to raise his hand and say, "I'm not afraid. Even if I die here, I'll be a hero again in eighteen years." His weak and unassuming appearance was nothing like that of a hero, but his words were full of heroic spirit.

Liang Wei raised his hand, smiled silently, and bent down to remove the magazine, carefully inspecting each bullet.

Flying Eagle and Flying Moon shook their heads simultaneously: "Let's all go together and see where it leads!"

The massacre had completely cornered Flying Eagle. If he were to return to the martial world and escape by chance, his reputation and status in the martial arts world would vanish completely. No martial arts leader would allow all his brothers to die while he alone survives.

He had to give a reasonable explanation to so many innocent families. Money could no longer solve the problem, so he had to move forward, find the murderer, and avenge his dead brothers.

"Hey, haven't you guys heard of the 'Azure Blood Night-Shining Toad'? It's the nemesis of all poisonous snakes. With it, wouldn't the world be at peace?"

Tang Xiaogu chuckled and lay sprawled on Feiyue's lap, pointing due north. No wonder he's from the Tang Clan of Sichuan; at such a young age, he already remembers these legendary tales of the martial world.

"That ugly woman in the village is said to have the Azure Blood Night-Shining Toad. My aunt said that she is a member of the Five Poisons Sect and can use five kinds of poisonous insects as her weapons at will. The Night-Shining Toad is of no use to her and should be given to someone who needs it."

She spoke of it lightly, but for He Jishang, the luminous toad was a testament to that painful love. Even if it were in her hands, the possibility of her willingly giving it up was extremely slim.

No one responded to Tang Xiaogu's words. She sighed in disappointment, "So, you're all cowards too. No wonder Auntie said that many people in the world who call themselves heroes, knights-errant, or good men are all just empty names. When they encounter a formidable opponent, they immediately turn into cowards."

Liang Wei suddenly shouted, "Shut up, little guy! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll spank you!" Men are prone to getting angry for no reason when they're in a bad mood, and he was no exception.

Tang Xiaogu was stunned for a moment, then got up from Feiyue's arms, tilted his head and looked at Liang Wei, suddenly pretending to realize something: "Oh—I know, you are that person, the biggest coward in the martial arts world. Aunt said that your whole family was killed and left to rot on the snowy mountains of Nepal for seven days and seven nights, but you didn't even dare to show your face. In history, you are truly the number one coward in the world. I admire you."

"You're asking for death—" Liang Wei roared, raising his gun and pulling the trigger without hesitation.

With two sharp cracks, bullets struck the spot where Tang Xiaogu had stood, scattering stone fragments that hit Feiyue. Fortunately, I reacted in time, darting past Tang Xiaogu and pulling her into my arms.

Her words had reopened Liang Wei's deepest and most painful wounds. The moment the last word left his lips, I instantly guessed what Liang Wei would do next.

The spent cartridge case fell onto the rocks, making a crisp "clinking" sound.

Liang Wei lunged forward like an enraged leopard, his gun pointed at Tang Xiaogu's forehead, but my right leg lashed out, my toe landing firmly on his Adam's apple. His reaction was slightly slower; he raised his gun, pointing it at my chest.

Feiyue's guns were already drawn, both pointed at his right temple: "Liang Wei, put down your guns." Her concern for me made me feel a little guilty.

"Feng, if you're a friend, step aside. The Tang Clan of Shu killed my entire family, and I'll repay them in kind." Liang Wei said, revealing his gleaming white teeth. His index finger trembled on the trigger, as if he might impulsively fire at any moment. Of course, if he kills me, his own head will be pierced by the Flying Moon Arrow, resulting in a chain reaction of deaths.

I hid Tang Xiaogu behind my back, stood firmly on one leg, and gently shook my head: "She's just a child."

Liang Wei gritted his teeth and chuckled, "When the Tang Clan slaughtered my family, they didn't even spare nursing infants—"

In the world of martial arts, the grudges and grievances are so complex that it's impossible to clearly distinguish who is right and who is wrong. Therefore, his assassination of the Tang family leader and the Tang family's massacre of the Lang family are both complicated and muddled accounts.

"No, since I've decided to protect her, I won't give up halfway." Tang Xiaogu is a clever and quick-witted child, and she was controlled by Miyao when she joined the expedition team. I know there must be more to this story. We're not butchers; how can we just shoot and kill without asking questions?

"I'll only count to three, Feng, get out of the way." Liang Wei's face was stern. I believed he would keep his word, but Fei Yue would definitely not stand idly by.

"One, two..." He gritted his teeth and clearly uttered the first two numbers. Given his skills, I doubt I could counterattack and seize the gun while protecting Tang Xiaogu. His target was only the Tang family's children; with the gun in his right hand, he must have other deadly moves in his left.

"Three—" I saw his index finger point downwards, and immediately darted out, slashing straight at Fei Yue's wrist, knocking her gun to the ground before she could react. I didn't want Tang Xiaogu to die, and I didn't want anything to happen to Liang Wei. He was my friend, and as long as there was a glimmer of hope, I would save him without hesitation.

With three sharp cracks, Liang Wei's bullet struck the rocks, but then dropped downwards, pointing at Tang Xiaogu once more.

At that moment, Fei Yue's two guns landed simultaneously and bounced into the grass, while Liang Wei's right index finger pulled the trigger without hesitation.

It's perfectly understandable that he killed members of the Tang Clan in Sichuan to avenge his family. However, Tang Xiaogu was just a naive child and was truly innocent.

At that moment, I had no choice but to shield Liang Wei from the bullets with my own body.

A gray figure flashed out like lightning, and with a "crack," the gun in Liang Wei's hand instantly snapped in two and fell to the ground. The weapon in that person's hand was undoubtedly a peerless treasure sword capable of cutting through iron like mud, slicing through steel as easily as cutting tofu. His lightness skill was even more superb; when he leaped and landed on top of a withered tree, he remained perfectly still despite the howling wind.

The heated argument affected our hearing, and no one noticed when this person quietly approached.

He had an ordinary appearance, with short hair, a short beard, and single eyelids—nothing particularly striking about him. His clothes were also very casual, consisting of a simple gray down jacket, gray pants, and gray sneakers.

Liang Wei dropped the gun in his hand and glared at the man: "Who are you?"

The man's voice was deep and hoarse: "Who I am is not important. I just want to warn you not to easily entertain thoughts of killing in these mountains and forests. The mountain spirits and tree monsters are inherently bloodthirsty and like to bewitch those who are emotionally impulsive. When you kill, they drink your blood, and then their power will expand infinitely, allowing them to kill even more people. Young man, you don't want that, do you? The so-called 'impulse to kill' is just that an invisible external force is influencing your emotions. Calm down and think about it. You've just met the little girl for the first time. Where does all that hatred for her come from?"

He's absolutely right. Liang Wei has been patient for so many years, how could he possibly draw his gun over a single sentence? If he weren't good at controlling his emotions, he would have been killed long ago.

Liang Wei staggered back a step, hitting his forehead hard with his hand, his face full of frustration and annoyance.

"It's good that you know you were wrong. Forget those grudges in the martial arts world as soon as possible, and you'll be free from them sooner. After all, neither killing nor being killed is a pleasant thing."

His gaze finally landed on me, scanning me up and down. A smile suddenly appeared on his sallow face: "Young man, you have good composure and your judgment of the overall situation is very accurate."

I let go of Tang Xiaogu's hand. Now that Liang Wei had calmed down, she was no longer in danger.

Flying Eagle remained silent. With his extensive experience in the martial world, it was a real failure that he failed to recognize the other party's origins.

Tang Xiaogu bowed to the person at the top of the tree: "Thank you for saving my life, senior." Although she was young, she imitated the manners of adults very well.

The man nodded, landed gracefully, and stopped in front of Tang Xiaogu. He was probably around forty years old, slightly thinner and shorter than me, but his back and chest were very straight, and his humility and modesty concealed a hint of arrogance.

"Who are your parents?" He reached out and lifted Tang Xiaogu's chin.

"I have no parents, only Aunt Tang Qing." Tang Xiaogu was not unfamiliar with him and stared straight up at him.

Suddenly, the man's single eyelids lifted, and a glint of light appeared in his eyes. I immediately raised my right hand and shielded Tang Xiaogu's eyes, and I immediately felt a strange burning pain on the back of my hand.

"She's still a child. The 'Soul Searching Technique' will only damage her brain nerves. Please be merciful." I pulled Tang Xiaogu back behind me. She had become the focus of attention. She had just survived Liang Wei's gunshot and was now almost killed by this man.

"The Soul Searching Technique? Senior, are you from the Secret Demon Cliff in Hainan?" Flying Eagle blurted out, but he was clearly wrong. The Secret Demon Cliff sect has only accepted women for generations and has never had a male disciple. How could such a middle-aged man have come out?