BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 36 Friends and Brothers

When Che Qianzi was being lowered into the cave, something had already seemed wrong with Xiong Wanyi.

It was as if he had seen something deep within the cavern. He kept staring into the darkness ahead, unable to look away. Then he began muttering to himself.

Xiong Wanyi was a veteran of the Bureau. He had risen from a grassroots investigator all the way to Director of the Second Division. There was no reason for him to make a rookie mistake like being possessed or mentally influenced.

Besides, he had always acted a little eccentric.

Since Sun Desheng and Ximen Lian were focused on Che Qianzi’s descent, neither noticed the changes in Xiong.

Before Che Qianzi reached the bottom, Xiong Wanyi had already started walking deeper into the cave.

When Sun and Ximen finally noticed something was wrong, they repeatedly called out to him.

It was useless.

Without turning his head even once, Xiong disappeared into the darkness.

Realizing something was seriously wrong, Sun immediately ordered the soldiers to pull Che Qianzi back up.

Unfortunately, they were too late.

By the time the soldiers began hauling on the rope, the young Taoist had already landed.

And he too began acting strangely.

It was as though he couldn’t see the people above him.

After shouting a few times, he simply walked off in the same direction Xiong Wanyi had gone.

Seeing the situation deteriorate, the company commander quickly ordered additional ropes prepared.

A group descended into the cave.

Along the way they found several unconscious Wu Jing soldiers.

Judging from their condition, they had only suffered mild poisoning.

The commander immediately sent them back to the surface.

There was only one passageway underground, and before long they found Che Qianzi.

As they talked, the three men continued forward with flashlights, searching for traces of Xiong Wanyi.

The tunnel ahead was a broad earthen passage.

There were no visible forks or side tunnels.

As long as they kept moving forward, sooner or later they would find him.

While walking, Ximen Lian suddenly asked:

“Little brother, how did you figure out that Old Xiong was fake?”

“You’ve only known him for a few days. Even some of our veteran investigators from the Second Division might not have spotted anything suspicious.”

Che Qianzi looked rather pleased with himself.

“You think I’m stupid?”

“That fake talked about some Lich King’s lair.”

“Just because I’m a Taoist doesn’t mean I don’t play video games.”

“I’m a max-level Shaman in World of Warcraft.”

“A Lich King, huh? Did he bring Frostmourne with him?”

After hearing this, Ximen Lian’s expression became rather strange.

He exchanged a glance with Sun Desheng before quietly asking:

“Your little brother really doesn’t know about the Loulan Lich King?”

“You never told him?”

Although he spoke softly, the cave was so quiet that Che Qianzi heard every word.

He stuck out his tongue.

“Wait… there really is a Lich King?”

“I thought Blizzard just made that up for the game.”

“Well then… Xiong’s luck must be pretty good.”

As he said this, cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

The underground air was already chilly, and he couldn’t help sneezing.

Sun laughed.

“Don’t worry. A monk once read Old Xiong’s fortune.”

“He didn’t say exactly how long Xiong would live, but he did say he’d eventually be angered to death by his own children.”

“So he’s definitely not dying down here.”

Then Sun suddenly thought of something and turned toward Che Qianzi with a grin.

“Not that I’m bragging, brother, but what if that fake had disguised itself as me instead?”

“Would you have stabbed me the same way you stabbed Old Xiong?”

Che Qianzi immediately replied:

“Of course not. We’re friends.”

Then he paused.

After a moment, he added solemnly:

“I’d stab you two times less.”

Ximen Lian burst out laughing.

Sun Desheng looked completely unconcerned.

“Big Official, do you think just anyone gets stabbed two times less?”

“That’s treatment reserved for your truly beloved brother here.”

“Good brother, I haven’t spoiled you for nothing.”

“When we get back, I’ll treat you to shark-fin soup and introduce you to some friends from out of town.”

Che Qianzi immediately countered:

“We’ll talk about the shark-fin soup later.”

“I’ve got a question too.”

“Fatty, if we’re really brothers now…”

“What if I had actually killed Xiong Wanyi back there?”

“Would you visit me in prison?”

“My old man definitely wouldn’t.”

Sun turned and looked directly at him.

Without the slightest hesitation, he answered: “What kind of question is that?”

“I’m the older brother. How could I just stand there and watch you go to prison?”

“If you’d really killed Old Xiong, I’d help you bury the body.”

Seeing Ximen Lian’s shocked expression, Sun added: “Don’t look at me like that, Big Official.”

“We’re all the same.”

“Not that I’m bragging, but even if you killed Xiong Wanyi, I’d help you bury him too.”

“Great Sage, are you really not nervous at all?”

Ximen ignored Sun’s joke.

He swept his flashlight across the surroundings and continued:

“Old Xiong’s fate is unknown.”

“We have no idea what’s ahead.”

“And you’re still joking?”

“Honestly, this wasn’t a case assigned to the Second Division.”

“If things go badly, none of us may make it out alive.”

Sun chuckled. “Big Official, that’s where you’re different from our Spicy.”

(Shen La’s nickname.)

“In all these years, what haven’t the two of us encountered?”

“We’ve dealt with situations far worse than this.”

Just then, their view suddenly opened up.

Ahead was a vast open area resembling an underground plaza.

At its center stood a mountain-like pile of rubble.

There appeared to be an exit on the opposite side, but it had been completely blocked by a collapse.

This seemed to be the cave-in location described in the reports.

But if the passage was sealed…where had Xiong Wanyi gone?

Because of the earlier fake-Xiong incident, none of the three dared separate.

They carefully circled the underground plaza together, searching for hidden doors, secret passages, or anything unusual.

Nothing.

The entire area was covered in a thick layer of dust.

If there had been a concealed door or tunnel, the disturbed dust would have revealed it immediately.

After a full circuit, they found nothing.

“Stop looking.”

Sun suddenly shone his flashlight across the ground.

“Old Xiong never came in here.”

He pointed at the dusty floor.

“All this dust accumulated after the collapse.”

“If Old Xiong entered, there should be footprints.”

“Do you see any?”

Ximen looked carefully.

Sun was right.

There were no footprints.

But almost immediately he noticed another problem.

“Wait a second.”

“That doesn’t make sense either.”

“If there are no footprints from Old Xiong, then why aren’t there any footprints from the rescue teams?”

“They came down twice.”

“They even carried several people back out.”

“That doesn’t add up.”

Sun slowly nodded.

“Something’s wrong here.”

He glanced back toward the tunnel they had come from.

Then he said to Ximen:

“Big Official, call Old Xiong’s phone.”

“If he’s nearby, it should ring.”

Che Qianzi rolled his eyes as he watched Ximen take out his phone.

“Fat Brother, now you’re really talking nonsense.”

“We’re over a hundred meters underground.”

“How could there possibly be a signal down here?”

“Even a three-year-old—”

Before he could finish—a cellphone ringtone suddenly echoed from the rubble pile ahead.

The sound was startlingly clear in the vast underground chamber.

“My dear little brother, the Bureau has plenty of good equipment.”

“When we get back, I’ll get you a set.”

Sun’s eyes were fixed on the source of the ringtone.

As he spoke, he explained that Bureau-issued phones also functioned as radio communicators.

As long as the target was nearby, communication was possible even without a cellular signal.

While talking, he exchanged a hand signal with Ximen.

Then both men raised their weapons and advanced toward the rubble pile.

At the same time, Sun repeatedly instructed Che Qianzi to stay where he was and not follow.

The young Taoist hesitated.

Then, gripping his short sword tightly, he quietly followed two or three meters behind them.

When Sun reached a point about ten meters from the rubble pile, he suddenly stopped.

Lowering his voice, he said:

“Big Official, you go first.”

“I’ll provide cover.”

Ximen Lian was already accustomed to this routine.

He shot Sun a glare over his shoulder and slowly approached the pile of rocks.

At that very moment—the cellphone ringtone abruptly stopped.

Then the rubble pile began to move.

Like a pot of boiling water, stones of every size started bubbling and tumbling outward from within…