Histoires de fantômes

Chapitre 301

Whenever Yan Xun, Su Lun, and Xiao Keleng mentioned Xiao Yan, they always regarded him as a child, which shows how much they doted on him.

The main building's doors swung open with a whoosh, and Xiao Lai's men rushed up, blocking the steps.

In an instant, the young man behind the Dragon Slayer Saber also drew his gun, immediately forming a tense standoff. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, as if striking a match would immediately trigger a massive explosion.

"Young man, please step aside. I'm here to meet a friend," the lazy voice of the Dragon Slayer Saber drifted up.

"There are no Japanese friends here, please make yourself at home." Xiao Lai stood firm. Sun Long and the others were right; in this crucial moment, Xiao Lai's control of the situation was effortless and natural. He wouldn't say an extra word or utter a single wrong syllable. This young man was sure to have a bright future in the underworld.

“Young man, even if Old Sun from the Divine Sniper Society were here, he would still have to give me some face. Who do you think you are? I’ll only count to three, and if you don’t get out of the way, I’ll make sure you leave here on your own.”

In his youth, Tu Longdao roamed the martial arts world in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia. He was the most famous swift-knife user and had an extremely volatile temper, earning him the nickname "Thunder God Cannon" among the local underworld. Now, however, he has matured and is much better able to control his temper; otherwise, Xiao Lai would have been torn to pieces before he could finish a few words.

The crisp sound of countless bullets being chambered echoed. Judging from the weapons used by both sides, they were evenly matched. The real key to victory lay in the manpower deployment. From my observation, the Sharpshooter Society stationed at Xunfu Garden numbered forty, but only sixteen were currently on the steps with Xiao Yan. Therefore, at least twenty-four were hidden in the shadows, aiming at the Dragon-Slaying Saber. The outcome of the battle was absolutely obvious.

Suren peered out the window and slowly shook his head: "It seems the two sides won't fight. Their goal is the gems, not a gang fight. Brother Feng, do you want to go down and take a look?"

Of course I'll go down, but I also want to see what the Dragon-Slaying Saber looks like when it's cornered. It's renowned in the martial arts world for its "swift blade," but since retiring to Mount Fuji to focus on forging swords, it hasn't fought anyone for a long time.

As I slowly descended the stairs, with Su Lun gently by my side, this feeling was unlike anything I had ever experienced before, and irreplaceable by any other girl. For a fleeting moment, I even had a longing to "retire from the martial world with Su Lun," but it was just a fleeting thought. If I really thought that way, would it mean that I was already tired of the martial world?

"Suren, once we've finished what we need to do here, let's go back to Cairo immediately, drink, plant flowers, and read ancient books. Let's never leave Villa No. 13 again, okay?" I temporarily put aside the sword fight outside the door, my heart filled only with Suren's smile and tears, and I held her hand gently the whole time.

"Brother Feng, don't forget to call General Tina. If we can manage our time better, we can achieve more, right?" She gently withdrew her hand, not answering my question, her expression becoming solemn and serious.

I was taken aback: "You don't want to?" I immediately felt a slight sense of frustration.

“I am willing, but a good man’s ambition lies in all directions. It’s not too late to consider poetry, painting, and romance after all the important matters have been arranged, is it?” She smiled and put a little distance between us.

I understood her thoughts. Xunfuyuan was currently facing numerous crises, and my elder brother was still deep in the unknown desert. We should not be entangled in personal feelings. The phrase "A good man's ambition lies in all directions" expressed Su Lun's foresight. Her deep affection for me was not reflected in tender feelings, but in her doing everything she could to help me accomplish great things.

"Thank you, Suren." I suddenly perked up.

Perhaps it was because of revisiting a familiar place, and being somewhat influenced by Guan Baoling, that I was enveloped in a sense of weariness. After Su Lun's wake-up call, I immediately woke up and stopped dwelling on the past.

Suren smiled slightly: "No need. We're going to be together for life. How can such a skyscraper be built without a solid foundation? Brother Feng, Xiao Xiao and I suggest that the Japanese stay in the west wing of the main building, and when Master Guan arrives, they can be arranged in the east wing. If anyone tries to cause trouble, call the police immediately to arrest them."

I nodded. With her and Xiao Keleng discussing things together, I was confident that everything could be handled cleanly and without leaving any future troubles.

The stalemate at the entrance remained unchanged. When I pushed aside the Divine Gun Society's men and came out, the weathered and wrinkled Tu Long Dao laughed loudly: "Feng, my good brother, we meet again."

His smile was not welcoming, because his face was covered with deep wrinkles like long swords, and his narrow eyes and thin, straight lips resembled Japanese swords drawn from their sheaths but not yet unsheathed.

I held his hand: "Is this meeting a good thing or a bad thing?"

He laughed again, revealing sharp, dagger-like white teeth: "Of course it's good news—you said last time you found a fine sword, and I came all the way from Mount Fuji to wait for news. So? Where's that sword? Is it still there?" He was a man obsessed with swords, and once he mentioned a precious sword, he completely ignored the fact that the two sides were facing off with swords and spears.

I led him to the guest rooms in the west wing of the main building. He remained enthusiastic, lowering his voice to press on: "Feng, that sword you mentioned, the one belonging to the 'Ten Saints of the Fangshin School,' is absolutely priceless. Also, famous swordsmen of ancient times would bury their life's martial arts secrets in their tombs before they died; the value of those materials is no less than that of the sword. I've already decided, brothers, let's join forces, buy the sword, and at the same time excavate their tombs to see what else we can find—"

A barely perceptible greed gleamed in his eyes, but I still keenly noticed it.

"That knife is very, very deep underwater. Is there any way to get it?" I told him the truth, not wanting to lie to him.

"Oh? Underwater? How deep?" His eyes lit up, like a peerless sword that had just been honed to its sharpest edge.

"I can only say it's very, very deep. Without a depth gauge, you can't even make a rough estimate."

The Shao brothers died, and their ability to sense things remotely didn't completely transfer to me. So, I don't know when I'll be able to see the "Ten Saints of the Fang God School" and the long swords they carry for the second time.

The setting sun cast a dazzling, iridescent halo on the fur coat of the Dragon Slayer Sword. In my memory, he was not a person who liked luxury and extravagance, and what his eyes most often revealed was an iron-willed arrogance, not the greed he had just shown.

"Brother Feng, do you mean to say that the 'Ten Saints of the Fang God School' are in the 'Underwater Divine Tomb'? This time, the important figure asked me to meet you for that legendary gem. The 'Wrath of the Sun God' is a treasure of Japan. Even if we cannot obtain it, we will take extreme measures to destroy it, ensuring that no one leaves empty-handed."

His resolute attitude, clenched through gritted teeth, filled me with disdain. Even in the world of martial arts, one is often not in control of one's own destiny; once one submits to the powerful and influential, one is even more forced to change one's life ideals, becoming unrecognizable.

The Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai once said: "How can I bow and scrape before the powerful and wealthy, making me unable to be happy?" It seems that only by completely getting rid of the desires for fame and fortune can one achieve the state of being free from desires and become a truly free person.

“You’re right, but I really can’t help with the ‘Wrath of the Sun God,’ I’m sorry.” I only saw him to the door, then retreated, feeling utterly dejected. Just then, I saw Xiao Lai standing on the steps, looking confused.

I didn't want to say anything or explain anything. I turned around, went into the living room, and closed the door behind me.

If those江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) figures outside are all coveting the "Wrath of the Sun God," willing to fight to the death for the gem, even resorting to heavy firepower in a bloody battle—then they are merely repeating history that has been repeated countless times, repeating the game of "men die for wealth, birds die for food." As the owners of Xunfuyuan Villa, we only want to find our brother, Xiaoyan.

"Brother Feng?" Suren walked behind me, placed her hands on my shoulders, and gently massaged them.

Xiao Keleng walked out from the corner and placed a fragrant cup of mocha coffee on the coffee table next to me: "Mr. Feng, I have failed the scalpel's instructions and failed to manage the villa well. If you are unhappy, please punish me."

I realized my dejection had upset them, so I quickly shook off my gloomy expression and put on a smile: "No, no, Xiao Xiao, it has nothing to do with you. I was just thinking that once friends in the martial arts world are involved in a conflict of interest, they immediately become different people. Everyone is greedily calculating their own little gains, like a wolfhound guarding its food. Xiao Xiao, I hope that one day, things won't turn out like that between us."

Xiao Keleng was amused: "Of course not, because I, Sister Yanxun, and Sister Sulun are the best of sisters. There is no conflict of interest between us, and never will be."

I roused myself, picked up the phone, and dialed Tina's number.

Her voice sounded utterly distraught: "Feng, I probably won't be able to complete the mission you entrusted to me. The budget for the desert excavation project is right on my desk, and that long string of zeros after the final figures is making my head spin. Well, I had the Ministry of Finance submit a rough estimate of the national treasury's revenue and expenditure. Comparing the two, it would take about 3.5 times the total Egyptian treasury to cover the project cost. Listen, almost every desert engineer, whether senior, intermediate, or junior, thinks this excavation project is recreating a fantasy—"

I smiled and said, "Arabian Nights? It is said that the stories in Arabian Nights are not entirely fictitious, but rather come from the extraordinary encounters of certain strange people."

“Feng, I’m not kidding. Can’t someone else do this kind of headache-inducing thing? Like your Miss Su Lun or Miss Guan Baoling? Seriously, if you want to get enough financial support, finding a tycoon to invest seems like a good option, don’t you think?” She was indeed thinking of me, but I didn’t appreciate it.

The receiver was very loud, and both Su Lun and Xiao Keleng heard Tina's words. They both smiled at the same time.

In the world of ordinary people, the word "tycoon" is like a huge gold mine, inexhaustible and readily available. Any financial problem that comes to his attention can be solved instantly and without any problem.

After Tina finished sighing, I told her clearly, "The money is not a problem; I have already raised it. Now, I hope you can gather manpower and start construction within three days. Not only will I double the payment for the project, but I can also provide a considerable amount of funds as grant aid to the Egyptian government to build roads, airports, and schools. Please give me your account number; the first installment will be transferred within ten days. I will keep my word."

Ten boxes of crystals have already been delivered to Egypt through secret channels. Even a small portion, if auctioned off, would be enough to make Suren and me surpass the tycoon's combined assets. However, we will never deliberately compare ourselves to anyone; such self-aggrandizing behavior is what we despise most.

Suren's hand reached over my shoulder and gently pressed into my palm. At that moment, we were in perfect harmony, both knowing that our hard work had finally paid off.

"What?" Tina exclaimed, seemingly jumping up and knocking over something with a loud crash. "You? You raised the money in just a few days—who in the world, besides a tycoon, would be willing to give you money? No, I absolutely don't believe it, I absolutely don't believe it!"

She was the kind of girl who wore her heart on her sleeve, and I could imagine the look of horror on her face right now. Perhaps in her mind, the tycoon was the richest man, and because of Guan Baoling, only he was willing to help me do this far-fetched thing for free.

I replied to her seriously, "General Tina, things in the world change every day, believe me. A gentleman's word is as good as his bond, and we Chinese are the most trustworthy people; we will never break our promises."

Tina smiled bitterly: "Feng, I believe you, but... but... I really can't think of a reason to convince myself. So much money, and it's real gold and silver, can you really come up with it?"

Suren frowned and took the microphone: "General Tina, this is Suren. There's no need to worry about that sum of money. My brother owns more than 400 treasure vaults around the world. I will be auctioning some items, and all proceeds will be used for desert excavation. I hope you can bring your Egyptian government officials to the auction to support us. Thank you in advance."

Since the origin of the crystal cannot be explained to the world, using the treasure hidden in the scalpel as a shield is indeed a good idea.

Tina finally hung up the phone with relief, but she was still sighing until the very last second the line was disconnected, her tone as if she were going crazy with jealousy of Suren.

Part 6: Invincible

— Chapter 5 — The True Leader of the Azure Dragon Society —

“Being rich is truly the happiest thing in the world.” Suren put down the microphone, suddenly feeling a pang of emotion.

"But money can't buy everything, can it? Take the tycoon, for example. Can he really become invincible with the power of money? I doubt it." Xiao Ke let out a cold laugh when the tycoon was mentioned. "The black magic in his body is still unresolved. I heard that in his most recent physical examination, multiple organ lesions were found, and he was forced to take more than a dozen Western medicines with significant side effects for treatment. The final result may be that he gradually degenerates into a vegetative state within a few years. No matter how much money he has, it will probably just become a series of meaningless numbers."

Suren fell silent. She must have been thinking about something. Sure enough, a few minutes later, she spoke again: "Brother Feng, I have some knowledge of the witchcraft groups in South America. If needed, I can make a special trip to the heart of the South American mountains in a while to see if any of the indigenous tribal witches there can help. Is that alright?"

I smiled slightly: "Let's talk about it later. With the tycoon's wide circle of friends, he's probably tried every possible avenue. If we can't find anyone to cast a spell on him, it's all just empty talk."

The safest way to remedy black magic is to "untie the knot that tied it"; if you try to cure it haphazardly, you may end up going further astray.

As the sun set, Master Guan, the master of bone reading, arrived as promised, leading twenty elite members of the Divine Sharpshooter Society.

In some ways, he resembled the Dragon Slayer Sword; both were tall and thin, with deep, rigid wrinkles on their faces. However, his eyes often flashed with a cold, sharp light, and every time he lifted his eyelids to stare at me, I felt a chill that I could not escape.

"His eyes, like the backlight of a microscope shining on a sample lens, were chilling." That was Xiao Keleng's first impression.

As one of the most famous physiognomists and bone-reading masters in the Chinese world, Master Guan's name is known in almost every corner of the globe. He also has deep connections with several major Chinese underworld organizations and ten prominent Chinese families. When Hong Kong and Macau returned to China, he was nominated as the Chief Executive of both countries, but ultimately missed out on the position due to other reasons.

"Brother Feng, Mr. Sun Long once said that you are the most outstanding young hero in the martial arts world, and that's absolutely true. I hope we can sit down and have a good chat sometime. I'll give you a bone reading and back massage to see what your lifelong fortune and reputation will be like, okay?"

When he shook hands with me, his five fingers were curved like hooks, straight like swords, bent like bows, and joined like knives—exactly the "hand of a prime minister" described in physiognomy books, signifying a position second only to the emperor. Unfortunately, Sun Long was not a king who could command the country, thus preventing Master Guan, who possessed the "hand of a prime minister," from achieving great success.

I simply smiled and thanked them. If success in life could only depend on one's character and destiny, then there would be no need to strive. After experiencing so much, I'm more inclined towards the life principle of "striving for progress and aiming for complete victory."

In front of Master Guan, Xiao Lai was always humble and cautious, never daring to overstep his bounds.

"Brother Feng, are you free tonight? I'd like to follow the ancients' example of taking a candlelit stroll at night and have a long talk with you. Is that convenient?" Master Guan wore an emerald ring on each of his left ring finger and right index finger. Every time he raised his hand to stroke his short beard, the green light reflected on the tip of his hooked nose.

"Of course, please give me your guidance, Master Guan." I hope to rely on the strength of the Divine Spear Society to offset the forces of the big shot. Although the Dragon Slayer Sword and I are friends, the current situation is somewhat like "two countries fighting for their own masters." He was entrusted by the big shot to go to Hokkaido, and he will definitely not care about brotherhood when it comes to interests.

A faint smile appeared on Master Guan's pale face: "Alright, I'll come find you tonight." After saying that, he led his men to the east wing of the main building.

As he stepped down the stairs, he happened to emerge from the west wing guest room, coughing loudly. Their eyes met instantly, and as leaders of their respective factions, their gazes held a complex meaning that was impossible for outsiders to decipher.

Before dinner, Su Lun and I had a long talk because we both felt a faint but heavy aura of murderous intent hanging over Xunfuyuan.

“Brother Feng, I’m worried that there seems to be a large number of people still around Xunfu Garden. Whether it’s the Divine Gun Society or some big shot, they’ve sent more than just the two groups we’ve seen. There should be more and more powerful forces. We’re at the heart of the struggle. The wisest thing to do is to withdraw and wait and see.”

She took two black "Palm Thunder" pistols out of her pocket, handed me one of them, along with a box of silver bullets.

"German-made tranquilizer darts?" I remember using these darts when hunting in the desert, but back then we used double-barreled shotguns to capture desert martens alive.

“Yes, Xiao Xiao and I have discussed this. If Xiao Yan reappears, we must capture him no matter what, and then take him away from Xunfu Garden and far away from Fengge Temple. The ‘Underwater Divine Tomb’ is important to us, but everyone’s lives are more important. The best course of action is to retreat while the tide is high. What do you think?”

She tucked the palm grenade into her left sleeve, making it completely invisible from the outside, so that it would only be used in crucial moments.

I have a slight disagreement: "No, Suren, this might be the best opportunity to enter the 'Underwater Tomb.' The information Yan Xun obtained indicates that no matter how things develop, this corner at the northernmost point of Japan will eventually be sunk. In other words, if we don't seize this opportunity, we will miss out on the 'Underwater Tomb.' Last time in the underwater tunnel, I found my elder brother's message, 'Vajra Finger.' No matter what, I must go inside and take a look. Even if I find nothing, I will be willing."

Suren's face immediately turned pale, and her lips trembled with excitement: "I object."

I carefully put away the pistol and answered her seriously and calmly, "I don't want to regret it for the rest of my life, so I have to do it—"

She interrupted me, her voice trembling: "Regarding the whereabouts of Hero Yang Tian, haven't we already decided to carry out a large-scale desert excavation operation? There's no need for you to venture into the ocean. Even the ancients knew that 'a son of a wealthy family should not sit under a dangerous roof.' Brother Feng, I think you should face reality instead of acting impulsively."

I understand her feelings, but I just want to clear my own mind of the last vestige of confusion. If I can't solve this problem, I'll never be happy. Digging in the desert is a last resort, like finding a needle in a haystack. No one can guarantee that digging 500 or 1000 meters will find my brother. What if the plan fails? We can't exactly turn the entire Egyptian desert upside down, can we?

“If you insist on going, I’ll go with you.” Suren changed her stance, but it was a compromise that I couldn’t accept.

“I’ll go, you stay here. If I don’t come back, you go back to Cairo and finish the excavation.” Between us, there seemed to be no sweet words or tender moments, only endless discussions about work and future plans, more like business partners than lovers reunited after a long separation.

Suren gazed at me for a long time before answering decisively, "Okay."

This single word carries countless meanings, but I know that no matter what happens in the future, the excavation will proceed as scheduled. Anything entrusted to her will be foolproof.

Dinner was plentiful, but none of the three of us could eat it; we only drank a little soup.

Xiao Keleng also frowned, looking worried: "Mr. Feng, I have a feeling, but I don't know if I should say it?"

Her sleeves were bulging, clearly concealing short guns. Just now, when she bent down to move her chair, I caught a glimpse of the handle of a miniature shotgun peeking out from the side of her boots. Even seated at the dining table, she was fully armed, ready to engage in fierce combat at any moment.

"Go ahead and say it." I finished the last mouthful of soup in my bowl and picked up a tissue to wipe my mouth.

"Just like when the Fang Demon appeared last time, I felt a little panicked. This time, I ordered five hundred high-explosive bullets from the Japanese underground arms market, hoping to hit the Fang Demon with them all, no matter what it is. Mr. Feng, I want to tell you that, without realizing it, you have become my backbone and my support. As long as you are sitting here, I will feel at ease."

Xiao Ke's face flushed, but she still mustered her courage to continue, "I have a small request. If one day you and Sister Su Lun go back to Cairo, I hope to leave here and be with you. Only then will I feel truly safe, okay?"

The dining table fell silent. I hadn't expected Xiao Keleng to confess her feelings under such circumstances, and I was caught off guard.

Suren raised her glass of red wine: "Okay, I'm the first to agree. Xiao Xiao, once we've finished things in Hokkaido, let's go back together. You, me, and Big Sister will never be apart, and of course, Brother Feng too. Come on, let's drink to our bright future."

The three of us clinked our glasses together, the crimson liquid shimmering, representing the hopes and dreams of each of us. However, I knew that to achieve a bright future, there was one final hurdle to overcome.