Histoires de fantômes

Chapitre 245

I approached the bedside, brushed aside Schiller's damp, disheveled hair, and tentatively placed my left palm on his temple. If I couldn't transmit internal energy through the "Dazhui" acupoint at the back of his neck, I could try the temples on both sides and the Baihui acupoint on the top of his head. As long as he was a normal person, he would definitely be able to survive using my internal energy.

Schiller slowly opened his eyes, his pupils swirling around a few times with a dull ache, and weakly called out, "Mr. Feng... we meet again..." He forced a smile onto his face, and one could still vaguely see his former arrogant and domineering demeanor, but after several weeks of coma, his hair and beard had grown wildly, like a field that had been abandoned for a long time, devoid of any spirit.

“Yes, we meet again. Where did Suren go? Do you remember her?” I increased the speed of my breathing, stimulating his brain activity through his temples to make him more alert.

Gu Qingcheng must have asked these questions long ago, because these were the only things anyone cared about after seeing him wake up.

Schiller shook his head: "I don't know what happened, I don't remember any of those things... I'm sorry..."

His lips were also cracked, with a faint trace of blood seeping out. He moved his shoulders, trying to struggle to sit up. With his strong physique, even if he had been unconscious for a long time, he couldn't have become this weak. I believe that when Suren disappeared, he must have been struck by some mysterious force, which caused his body to be severely damaged.

I patted Uncle Wei on the shoulder: "Let me do it, please go and rest for a bit first."

The Sixth Part: The Mystery of the Heavenly Ladder

— Chapter 7 — Schiller's Narrative —

The tent was filled with an indescribable smell of decay, which must have been emanating from Schiller himself.

When Uncle Wei stood up and moved aside, his body was stiff, his brows were tightly furrowed, and he was taking deep breaths, focusing his energy in his lower abdomen.

I reached out my hand to him: "Uncle Wei, your internal energy encompasses both masculine and feminine characteristics, which should have been very effective. How come you've been working for more than an hour without any results?"

He understood and grasped my hand. In an instant, the inner energy of both of us surged and receded from our palms, creating a small, invisible collision. Uncle Wei's inner strength was unfathomable, like the surging waves of the ocean on a full moon night, rolling in without end.

"It's Yin-Yang Divine Power? Mr. Feng, do you possess Japanese martial arts within your body?" He took a step back in astonishment and immediately let go.

This time, even Gu Qingcheng was stunned, but after only a second or two, she quickly realized: "Hmm, it's Master Fumonri from Fukichi Temple in Hokkaido—Mr. Feng. Are you his direct disciple?"

The experience of Master Bumenru passing on the "Yin-Yang Divine Power" to me was overshadowed by the shocking scene of Fujika's resurrection, so it didn't stand out during the long journey in Hokkaido. Their surprise was simply because they felt that as a Chinese person, I shouldn't possess Japanese martial arts skills.

"I am not his disciple, and I don't want to bring up those things again." The matter of Fengge Temple is very complicated to explain, and I don't want to be distracted by it.

Uncle Wei's internal energy contained two completely different forces: one as fierce as iron and as fiery as fire; the other as gentle as cotton and as cold as ice, each cultivated for over twenty years. The only shortcoming was that he hadn't organically combined the two forces to achieve a state of harmony between water and fire, or between cold and heat. Under these circumstances, even if he successfully channeled the energy into Schiller's dantian, it would only result in Schiller suffering a double attack of hot and cold, leaving him severely injured even if he didn't die.

The art of martial arts is profound and complex, entirely dependent on personal comprehension; one's innate talent is far more important than the length of time spent practicing. I dare say that, given Uncle Wei's talent, his current state is already the limit he can reach.

I politely addressed Gu Qingcheng, who was still in shock, "Miss Gu, please prepare a large bowl of concentrated ginseng soup. I think Mr. Schiller needs some fluids, not any medicine."

Gu Qingcheng blushed, nodded obediently, and walked out with Uncle Wei.

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the concept of "ginseng prolonging life." For someone on the verge of death, a precious thousand-year-old ginseng could miraculously extend their life, perhaps even bringing them back from the brink of death. I don't know if the expedition team carried ginseng, but given Gu Qingcheng's abilities, she can often magically obtain what I need.

Of course, stimulants can have a more pronounced effect than ginseng, and perhaps Uncle Wei and Gu Qingcheng prefer to use such extreme measures, but that's a "killing the goose that lays the golden eggs" approach. The result could be a happy ending for everyone, or it could lead to Schiller's instant death. As long as there's a glimmer of hope, I'd prefer to use a gentler method to preserve Schiller's life. My intuition tells me he's more than just a biologist.

“I…have something to tell you privately…” Schiller had lost a lot of weight compared to when he was in Hokkaido, and his Adam’s apple was particularly prominent.

I pressed my hands together on his temples, continuously channeling Yin and Yang energy into them. Within three minutes, the effects were noticeable. He threw off the thin blanket covering him, sat up straight, and his eyes regained their arrogant gleam.

"How did Suren disappear? That's all I want to hear." I stared intently into his eyes, desperate to hear the truth. We really didn't have much time to waste right now.

“That’s exactly what I wanted to tell you. Suren is such an outstanding Chinese girl; I can’t find a single flaw in her. Feng, if I have the chance, I will try my best to prove myself and won’t lose to you, at least until she marries you—”

Unexpectedly, once he regained his strength, the first thing he said was this long-winded nonsense. I slightly increased the pressure of my palms and intensified my breathing, and his face immediately turned bright red. He shook his head violently, trying to break free from my grasp. A large lock of golden hair suddenly drifted down from between us, followed by two more locks, one of which landed on my forearm.

He froze, then suddenly raised his voice and screamed, "Wind, wind—what is that? What is that?"

I relaxed the pressure in my palm and calmly and slowly repeated the question, word by word: "How did Su Lun disappear?"

With two sharp "whoosh" sounds, the tent top was whipped up by a strong wind, sending down a cloud of dust. The wind rushed in from under the curtain, causing the hair that was resting on my forearm to flip over, swirl, and drift down.

Schiller paused, gasping for breath, and sleepwalked as he raised his hands and pressed them to his head, his eyes filled with despair like a trapped beast stuck in a dry well.

“That’s my hair. It doesn’t fall out for no reason. What did you do to me? What did you do?” He carefully grabbed his hair, and with just a gentle pull, a handful of golden hair was silently plucked out by the roots, leaving three or four coin-sized bald patches on his head.

"Ah—" he screamed as if his heart was being torn apart, his body jerked, and he broke free from my grasp, landing on the ground with a somersault, running barefoot outside. I could only strike him on the back of the neck, causing him to temporarily lose consciousness, to prevent further accidents due to excessive excitement.

I carried Schiller back to bed, covered him with the blanket, and unconsciously brushed the soft beard from his chin, which fell off easily. His body had undergone a fundamental change; such extensive hair loss could only occur under conditions of excessive radiation exposure.

"Strong radiation? The same fate as 'King of Catchers' Gui Luo? Then, what about Su Lun? Could it be—"

A surge of heat exploded in my chest, a result I found utterly intolerable.

Humanity has discovered the existence of radiation and has widely applied this strange power to disease treatment. However, one thing that patients are unaware of is that, to this day, no country or medical institution has truly controlled radiation technology. While numerous phototherapy machines use rays to kill viral cells in cancer patients, the damage to normal cells is even more alarming.

I cite the example above simply to clearly remind myself again: "If Suren had also been exposed to strong radiation, by the time I found her, she would already be—"

Both my elder brother and Suren have been rumored to have had close contact with strong radiation. Suren's martial arts skills are certainly no match for my brother's, so she is likely in the same extremely dangerous situation as Schiller. In that deep underground palace, with no one to help her prolong her life, can she wait for us to arrive to rescue her?

Before I knew it, my clothes were completely soaked with cold sweat, and my collar was clinging to my neck.

I picked up the golden hair that had fallen to the ground and examined it carefully. My heart ached so much that I dared not breathe. It felt as if a sharp knife was cruelly stabbing my insides. My mind was filled with only one question: "How is Suren now?"

When I first met Suren, she had a full head of long, shiny black hair, stunning everyone in the desert. Later, when she arrived in Hokkaido to meet me, her hair had been cut short, and she looked slightly haggard, but her spirit remained high. I really can't imagine what a beautiful girl would look like after she's lost all her hair.

"Mr. Feng, what are you doing?" Gu Qingcheng walked in silently, holding a can of Coca-Cola in her hand.

I showed her the blonde hair on my fingertips and whispered, "What does this hair remind you of?"

Hair was everywhere—on the floor, on the pillow, on the bedside. Even if the once proud and dashing Schiller fully recovered, he would become a sickly bald man with a completely shaved head, lacking any of the handsome features of a successful man.

"I noticed, that's why I called you in a hurry to come back." She opened my Coke, and brown foam rushed out of the can.

"So, do you mean you've decided that bad thing has already happened?" I didn't dare look her in the eye, afraid of getting a positive answer.

Gu Qingcheng pondered for a moment, then sat down in another chair: "Mr. Feng, you said you got through to Su Lun on the phone. What are the details? Oh, by the way, the ginseng soup is already simmering, so don't worry."

I looked up and pondered for a while, staring at the undulating tent ceiling, organizing my thoughts: "Suren said she's trapped in a huge ancient complex, surrounded by sheer stone walls that are impossible to climb. The sky she sees is gray, probably the dome of this underground space. Also, she found a metal door at the very back of the structure and is trying to open it. I think these descriptions corroborate what 'King of Catchers' Guiluo said: at the end of the crevice, there might be a passage into the underground world."

Gu Qingcheng only cared about one question: "Didn't she tell you how she got in there?"

Before I could answer, she nervously flicked her nails: "Never mind, Suren probably doesn't even know what happened. Maybe she suddenly fainted like Schiller and woke up to find herself there. Mr. Feng, things are very difficult now. The harm of strong radiation to people is self-evident. If we don't explain the situation to the team members, there will definitely be more accidental casualties; once we tell the whole truth, the remaining fourteen people will immediately run away. No one is willing to risk their lives for money. What do you think we should do?"

This is the truth. Just like the mountain people's immense fear of the Longo witch, they would flee at the mere mention of her name. Nobody is stupid; nobody values money more than their life.

Schiller struggled for a moment, curled up even tighter, and trembled violently in waves. In a daze, he pulled the blanket over his head, covering himself completely from head to toe.

"Uncle Wei and I have made a decision, and I hope you can agree. Tomorrow morning, the remaining team members will escort Flying Eagle and the others back. Only you, Uncle Wei, Tiger, Red Devil, and Schiller will remain here. It seems that Schiller only has a few hours left to live, which means that the five of us are enough for the expedition. We don't need to drag a bunch of useless people down with us. What do you think?"

This doesn't seem like a very wise decision. There are just too many places where we need manpower, and I only regret that we don't have enough helpers to cover everything. But I didn't want to argue with Gu Qingcheng, so I nodded gently: "Alright, I'll think of another way and see if I can pick some experts from the major sects in Sichuan to help us."

Gu Qingcheng pointed seriously at the hair scattered on the ground: "Mr. Feng, no matter how many people there are, how can they protect themselves under such strong radiation? Let's stop deceiving ourselves, okay?"

I was speechless for a moment, unable to respond. In the face of various mysterious forces, the resistance that humans can put forward is indeed too insignificant. We can only go with the flow, not go against it.

"Alright, dismiss the team members, everyone go back to your posts. I've already obtained the Crimson Toad, and I can go back into the tunnel tomorrow morning."

I took out the metal box and placed it flat in my palm. This was my only hope. Unlike ordinary snake medicine, it didn't emit a strong, strange smell. On the outside, it was just an ordinary box, about the size of two stacked decks of cards, with no keyhole and sealed tightly.

Gu Qingcheng expressed great doubt about it, but wisely kept quiet, and we both became speechless again.

After a long silence, Gu Qingcheng gently stroked her long hair and sighed softly, "Mr. Feng, I understand your thoughts. Don't worry, even if we're the only two left in the fight, I will stay with you and never back down. Finding Su Lun is important, but more importantly, everyone must ensure their own safety first. Although there are more than a dozen lead-plate protective suits in the vehicle, they can only block a tiny amount of radiation. It's a drop in the ocean and won't help much."

"I know, thank you." These are the only words I can say right now. In times of crisis, having a beautiful girl willing to stay by your side is an immense honor for any man.

In the midst of my busy journey, I had lost track of time. The light and shadow peeking through the curtains reminded me that more than half of another sunny day had passed. The journey through the crevices could only begin early tomorrow morning. In one's life, one faces countless tomorrows, but no one can accurately predict whether tomorrow will be sunny or cloudy, just as we cannot foresee the success or failure of our actions.

“Now, every word Schiller says is crucial. I don’t want anyone to follow in his footsteps, and I believe you feel the same way, right?”

Gu Qingcheng was only three steps away from me. The fragrance emanating from her breath gradually intoxicated me, and I nodded involuntarily: "Yes, we cannot follow in his footsteps."

"Every suggestion I make is for your own good. I hope you will listen carefully and try your best to adopt it, okay?" Her voice grew deeper and more mellow. I opened my mouth and let out a heavy yawn. My mind was foggy, and most of my body was so tired that I just wanted to lie down and have a good sleep.

“You’re very tired—” she said, gazing at me.

Schiller let out a loud "Ah!" and wildly threw off the thin blanket, instantly waking me from my sleep. In that instant, I felt a sense of crisis, as if I had fallen into a hypnotic state; a chill ran down my back and shoulders, and goosebumps rose on my skin.

"I'm going to die." Schiller sat up, staring blankly at me, and repeated with absolute certainty, "I'm really going to die."

This is a fact that must be faced. He is a biologist and knows his own physical condition very well; there's no way to hide it from him.

I sat down by the bed and calmly replied, "Yes, we are also very saddened by this accident."

The curtain was rolled up with a "whoosh," revealing bright sunshine and lush green grass outside.

"In that instant, I suddenly realized that being alive is truly a wonderful thing, but unfortunately, I've never truly cherished it. Feng, Suren is a good girl. Promise me you'll cherish her and treat her with all your heart. Although she appears strong and capable on the outside, a large part of her heart is incredibly fragile and easily hurt. Everything you did in Hokkaido was a heavy blow to her—"

Gu Qingcheng glanced at me anxiously, because what we wanted to hear wasn't this kind of sentimental nonsense, but the truth about Su Lun's disappearance.

Clearly, Schiller was deeply immersed in his memories, oblivious to the wry smiles on our faces.

I could only interject when he paused briefly: "Schiller, if you really want what's best for Suren, you first need to tell me how she disappeared? What exactly happened to you after you went into the mountains?"

When Li Kang and the Flying Eagle team discussed the situation before Su Lun's disappearance, they both mentioned that under normal weather and environmental conditions, the two men suddenly vanished without leaving any trace of fighting or attack.

Schiller stopped, tapped his forehead, and pondered deeply: "It was a very strange experience. Wind, I'm only telling you this, and you're the only one I can trust now."

Gu Qingcheng let out a long sigh of frustration, and smiled bitterly with a hint of dissatisfaction: "Mr. Schiller, if Uncle Wei and I hadn't done our best to save you, Mr. Feng would be facing a still-warm corpse right now, and you wouldn't have the chance to be so picky about choosing the right audience."

She was telling the truth. Schiller's ability to sustain himself for so long in his final moments of lucidity was inseparable from Uncle Wei's long-term infusion of internal energy.

“I’ll only tell him, I can’t worry about anyone else,” Schiller repeated coldly, not yielding to Gu Qingcheng’s words.

Gu Qingcheng tossed her hair in frustration: "Forget it, I never hold a grudge against unreasonable people. Goodbye."

I stretched out my arm to stop her, resolutely responding to Schiller's words: "Miss Gu is one of the key figures in the expedition. Her role will be crucial to the success of the rescue of Suren. Schiller, Suren is in grave danger right now. Any stubbornness will only kill her, do you understand?"

Gu Qingcheng has already done so much for me, and I don't want her to feel neglected or frustrated. As long as it's beneficial to rescuing Su Lun, I will not hesitate to protect and uphold it.

During my time at the Fontainebleau Monastery, I witnessed Schiller's arrogance, stubbornness, cunning, and conceit, and I was prepared for some of his eccentricities.

Gu Qingcheng glanced at me gratefully, her complex emotions unspoken.

"Feng, what I'm about to say concerns a huge secret, and I can only tell it to someone I can absolutely trust. Do you really believe her one hundred percent?"

Schiller wanted to continue arguing about this issue, so I silently raised my hand to stop him and nodded emphatically.

He reached out to grab his hair, but stopped awkwardly halfway through. Anyone would know that if he grabbed it, he would only pull out a handful of blond hair, which would only drive him to the brink of madness.

"You insist?" His eyes darted around, and the muscles in his cheeks clenched tightly, making it seem like he was having a hard time making a decision.

“I insist that we either listen together or neither of us listen, and the only outcome will be your death and Suren’s death. That’s it.” In the end, I’m not interested in any big secrets. I just want to know what happened before the disappearance. But Schiller has been tight-lipped about this issue.

He couldn't hold on for long. Once the internal energy was depleted, his heart and pulse would stop beating, and then all the organs in his body would fail and he would die.

The sunlight beneath the curtain began to dim, and time was slipping away in this meaningless stalemate. Just when I thought I had lost all hope, Schiller finally nodded reluctantly: "Fine, for Suren's sake, I'll trust you this once."

I breathed a sigh of relief: "Please go ahead, we're all ears."

“First, I must explain my identity, which is crucial to how things will unfold—” Schiller raised his right hand and brought it to his right ear, a gesture of American military salute, except that his thumb was sticking up and the other four fingers were lined up straight, making a strange gesture.

“My true identity is that of an expatriate in this region. You two are both well-informed experts, so there’s no need for me to explain the specific meaning of this action, is there?” His tone was seven parts proud, but also three parts helpless.

I nodded slightly: "Yes, I know."

Gu Qingcheng gasped in shock: "Area Fifty-One? You came here? Could it be that there are aliens or UFOs hidden inside this mountain?"

That gesture represents a mysterious no-fly zone within the United States. In the eyes of global news media, Area 51 is also known as the "Alien Information Gathering Center" and is a core secret area within NASA.