Chapter Nineteenth: Counterflow

  "The sword of King Goujian of Yue was bent to a certain extent, but it could still return to its original state, which means that the bronze used to cast it had memory function and knew how to return to its position." Kiyotsugu explained as he walked.

  "King Goujian of Yue's sword is just a legend, and it doesn't exist in this world, how do you know about it?" I asked doubtfully, thinking that you wouldn't bully me for not reading much.

  Oni no Yaiba burst out laughing: "Hahahaha, fool! Have you forgotten my old profession? If I hadn't personally experimented with the Yue King Goujian Sword, I wouldn't dare say this to you."

  I immediately reacted, secretly thinking to myself that I was indeed foolish enough, and it's possible for a tomb raider to have stolen the sword of King Goujian of Yue. "Then what's the relationship between this memory metal and the bronze mask?" I asked in pursuit.

  Oni-ya smiled enough, calmed down a bit, scratched his head and thought for a moment, organizing his words. He paused and continued to explain: "Do you still remember that we found snakes in the pillar's body, but we didn't find any yesterday or at the beginning of today? This means that these beasts usually hide in the belly of the mud Bodhisattva when there is no one around! The mud Bodhisattva is not only fuel for human wax, but also a nest for snakes. And the bronze mask is their entrance and exit, more like a cleverly designed switch. I'm so suspicious because the position where the mud Bodhisattva holds the oil lamp is too high, almost burning towards the bronze mask. The bronze mask seems to have adopted a lost processing skill, below normal temperature it's in the shape of a Bodhisattva, but when the temperature rises suddenly due to the oil lamp's heat, its facial features change, its mouth opens and releases the beasts inside. When the living person's anger disappears, the human wax goes out, and the bronze mask returns to its original benevolent appearance. During this recovery process, the snakes will return to their nest. This whole series of processes forms a cleverly designed murder mechanism."

  I listened with great astonishment.

  The Oni's expression changed to one of puzzlement: "However, Buddhism was introduced to China after the Qin dynasty, so the image of a Bodhisattva shouldn't appear in the pre-Qin era. Looking at it this way, Ou Zichu's forging techniques were partially passed down to later generations."

  We had already walked to the edge of the big iron gate. I found that a steel bar had been placed on top of the gate at some point, and since the gate was opened inward, this steel bar was stuck firmly in place, probably done by the mischievous spirits to prevent being disturbed.

  "I wonder how Lao San's business is going?" I muttered to myself, hoping he wouldn't get caught and killed by the foreigners. But since we have a plan in place, the foreigners are off guard, so his chances of success are extremely high.

  I reflexively reached out to grab the door, when suddenly, the old eunuch who had been silent all along slapped my hand down. I felt a stinging pain and shouted: "What are you doing? It hurts... me..." The old man quickly covered my mouth with his hand and whispered seriously in my ear: "Be quiet, there's someone outside!"

  My eyes suddenly widened and I calmed down instantly.

  Looking uncertainly at the pitch-black iron gate, a left-handed revolver was already in hand.

  The air seemed to have solidified.

  Within a few seconds, a loud and clear voice came from outside the 'door': "Haha, brothers, it's me, Xie Lao San! Open the 'door' quickly!"

  I was indeed hearing Old Third Xie's voice, and I immediately felt relieved, scaring myself for nothing. However, Corpse Old's hand was still holding onto me, not letting me open the 'door', which made me a bit uncertain again, and my relaxed emotions became tense once more.

  "Brothers, open the 'door'! What's going on? Is it me, Old Third Xie? What's wrong with you guys?" Old Third Xie patted and pounded on the iron door, urging loudly with a mix of anger and laughter.

  "How did you end up here? Is everything taken care of?" Koinu asked coldly.

  "Hahaha, I'm grateful to Lao San for taking care of things. All thirty British people were sent to heaven by the Green Gang. As for those Green Gang members, they were killed off guard by me, and with a few shots, most of them are dead. It was exhilarating! Lao San excitedly shouted: "Now Captain Cai and Zhang Jue are leading others in cleaning up the scene and maintaining order. I took a look and saw that everything was fine, so I immediately slipped away and came to see you guys alone." He smacked his lips, with a sly smile: "Hehehe, you guys wouldn't have taken my spoils, would you? Don't blame me for being cautious, after all, I'm wearing 'pants' on my head, aiming for wealth and glory!"

  Xie Lao San kept talking non-stop, seeming a bit anxious, which made me suspicious. At this time, Shi Lao whispered secretly in my ear: "He can't deceive old man's ears, there are at least ten people outside!"

  As soon as I finished listening, I shuddered all over and immediately realized where the problem lay. This Xie Lao San, damn it, he's turned against us! He plans to cheat us out of our money!

  "Damn it, I'm going to kill him!" I was furious and couldn't catch my breath, yet I was blocked here by this despicable guy.

  I just wanted to ask the old corpse what they were going to do, but Ghost Nightshade had already taken out something like a hand grenade from his bag, staring at it with a fierce gaze.

  My face changed color: "Are you crazy? This is on a boat. If it pierces the hull, no one can escape!"

  Oni no Yaiba looked at me with a stupid expression and said disdainfully: "This is called an illuminating shell."

  "Oni's hand pressed against the steel beam, his low voice barely audible to us two, said: 'This illuminating shell is specially made for the Americans and can only last six or seven seconds. When I give the signal later, you guys make a break for it with your lives on the line. If you manage to escape, gather at the stern of the ship.'"

  "What if we can't escape?" I couldn't stop sweating in my palms. Oniichan glared at me with a scowl: "Look at you, don't drag others down."

  "Hmph, no matter what, I'm still a great Shanghai cop, one against two!" I coldly hummed to myself, but also knew this wasn't the time to say that.

  Oni no Yaiba waved his hand, parted the steel bars, and pressed one hand on the "door". With the other hand pulling a flare, he shouted loudly: "Xie Lao San, I'm going to open the 'door'! Aren't you coming to welcome me?"

  "Good, good, Third Shu has arrived." Old Third Shu was overjoyed.

  Inuyasha had just opened a crack in the door when suddenly, BAM! A massive force burst forth from outside the iron door. "Heh heh, I knew you'd try something like this." Inuyasha swiftly turned his back and firmly planted himself against the door, his slender body somehow holding its ground.

  "Blinding you!" Oni no Ya shouted coldly, flipping his wrist downwards, and the illuminating bullet shot out towards the gap in the 'door'.

  Coax

  In an instant, white light burst out from the gap of the door.

  Ah...... Outside the 'door', Xie Lao San and others were caught off guard, a burst of miserable cries.

  "Run!" Oni no Ya shouted loudly, with his ankle as the axis, he put down the iron 'door' and made another charge, rushing forward fiercely.

  "Ah! Whoever blocks me shall die!" I shouted loudly, closely following Guī Yè Jiāo. 'Meng' head directly charged out, originally thinking I was already very fast, but as a result, a gust of wind swept by from the side, and Lǎo Tàijiān's leg strength is not to be underestimated.

  As soon as I ran out, I knew I was in trouble. The white light all around was too bright to see the road. In just one breath, Gu Ye and Lao Tai Jian were gone. I vaguely felt that there were many people around me, but couldn't tell who was who.

  I dashed forward with my head down, bumping into several people along the way. I probably ran for over ten meters before entering the corridor of the room, which was just a few breaths' time. Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm fiercely, and at the same time, the hand holding the gun was slapped down by someone's swift backhand. I was shocked, but I couldn't fall here, so without thinking, I quickly turned around and pushed forward with one palm towards the shadowy figure that had grabbed me.

  When my palm touched that person's body, I hesitated for a moment, and a soft, elastic sensation made me tremble all over like an electric shock. I was shocked: "Huh, it's a girl?"

  Clap! Clap!

  I was caught off guard and slapped in the face, it seems my cheap hand had touched something that shouldn't be touched. The instincts of a spy didn't let me lose focus for too long, I immediately shook my head, regardless of whether you're male or female, no one can stop me.

  I struggled with all my might, but the grip on my hand was incredibly strong. However, knowing it was a woman, I felt at ease and used all my strength to shake her off, then suddenly bumped into her. My physique is robust, and she loosened her grip after being bumped by me. Seizing the opportunity, I ran away quickly.

  Just then, bang! A gunshot rang out.

  Damn it, I got shot in the back and it really hurts.

  "Ah, it hurts so much I'm going to die!" The pain was so intense that I fell to the ground, almost eating dirt. Luckily I wore a bulletproof vest, otherwise I would have been done for.

  "Don't run, or I'll blow your head off!"

  Just as I was about to make a last-ditch effort, five or six sturdy men rushed up and pinned me firmly to the floorboards, my cheek making intimate contact with the filthy ground.

  At the same time, the power of the illuminating bombs had weakened to nothing.

  I strained to lift my head and saw Old Third Xie's oily old face, winking at me with a comical expression.

  "You three-surnamed family slaves!"

  Xie Lao San wiped away non-existent tears and smiled hypocritically at me: "Hehe, Hong brothers, Xie San Ge didn't betray you guys. I was originally a mole planted by Captain An, doing my job."

  At this time, I caught a glimpse of a young and beautiful 'girl' standing behind Xie Lao San, with an air of elegance on her face, now covering her 'chest', glaring at me with a hint of anger, who was none other than Cai Lingyu, the captain of the Jinhua ship.

  "Haha, Captain's clever trick! This move of borrowing a knife to kill and borrowing a thief to steal treasure is something Old Third would admire with all his might!" Xie Lao San flattered Cai Ling Yu heavily.

  Cai Lingyu didn't smile, and coldly replied to Xie Lao San: "The people have escaped, the things haven't been obtained, it's not time to be happy yet." She ordered the sailors: "Find out the two who ran away just now and a few Green Gang members who slipped through the net. Remember, everything else will proceed according to plan."

  "Aye!" the sailor replied.

  "Zhang Jue, have all passengers been accounted for?" Cai Lingyu asked the second mate beside him.

  Zhang Jue's face was stern, and his personality was completely opposite to that of Xie Lao San. He replied in a low voice: "They are all concentrated in the cafeteria, although it's a bit crowded. The people guarding them are all new faces, they still think we're from the Green Gang and want to sell them to Nanyang as laborers, they're crying and begging for mercy."

  Cai Lingyu nodded expressionlessly and said, "Try not to take any lives."

  Zhang Yan nodded in understanding, pointed at me and made a throat-slitting gesture, asking: "What about this person? Should we get rid of him?"

  I was startled and looked at Cai Lingyu with hope.

  "Just then Cai Lingyu coldly snorted: 'Lock him up, with that British person.'"