"Don't move, Mr. Chen. The chill on the muzzle of the gun seeped through my clothes, causing me to frown slightly.

Brother Shi's face is a standard Chinese, but his eyebrows and eyes are narrow, his lips are extremely thin, and he has a "lonely and unblessed" face.

"I'm just going to get the phone out. I slowly raised my hands.

"There's something I can do. He let go of a hand and put it in my pants pocket.

At that moment, I could burst out at any moment and break his finger bones, but I didn't do anything but calmly raise my hand and wait for him to take out my phone.

"A beautiful phone—" He handed it to me, chuckling quietly and sliding back.

Gu Han also put away his gun, and didn't even say a word of apology, just stood silently behind me like a shadow. They're mid-level Guardians of the Dead at best, and don't deserve my anger over it.

Xi Wei's apologetic voice came from the phone: "Mr. Chen, I'm really sorry for what happened just now, the doctor said that I was poisoned, fortunately someone rescued me first, otherwise it would be life-threatening, thank you." ”

Her voice was weak and very weak, which showed that she was still affected by the poison.

I smiled and replied, "You're welcome, I hope I didn't bother you." ”

When I can't see her eyes, the past doesn't resurface, so I was able to respond to her calmly. The sudden change that took place in the research association gradually faded from my thoughts.

"Mr. Chen, Director Lorraine has called me, she is looking forward to meeting with you, and she has some materials to give you, is it convenient?" she coughed softly.

I pondered for a moment, and immediately subtly declined the invitation: "I know Lorraine's phone number, I will call her, you can rest in the hospital and recuperate, and you don't have to worry about other things." ”

The death of the expedition team is enough to prove that there are many forces that are paying attention to the story in the desert, and once they are involved, they will only encounter accidents. I didn't want Xiwei to be implicated, so I rejected her like this.

Xiwei sighed: "Thank you Mr. Chen for your concern, in fact, I am good friends with Leng Xin, and the professor is an elder I respect, so it is my greatest wish to do something for them." Mr. Chen, please write down my phone number and feel free to call me if you have anything. ”

She refused to close the line after saying "goodbye" and politely waited for me to hang up the phone first.

"Is there any news from Curator Lorraine?" I asked myself silently.

A philosopher once said that the love of an old man is like an ancient house on fire, once it burns, it will be unreserved and spare no effort until it burns out. I wish he would leave the most important secret to Lorraine, and she would pass it on to me, but with that, presumably, Lorraine would be involved and part of these cobwebbed mysteries.

During the time I was calling, Brother Ten had been exchanging glances with Gu Han, which was reflected in the corner of my eye. Although the two of them spoke in English, they were definitely Chinese. Moreover, they used the phrase "anti-Qing and restoration of the Ming Dynasty" as a password, and this organization must have something to do with that peculiar history of China.

I put away the phone and said to Brother Ten lightly: "Friend, where is Miss Mingyue?" Could it be that the hospitality of the undead guardians is to grab hands and silent pistols?"

The tenth brother's thin eyebrows raised: "Mr. Chen is deeply hidden, and a small role like ours will definitely not be able to get into the eyes of the law, but you better understand that the eastern district of Cairo is our territory, and once there is any wind and grass, even if it is a robot with steel and iron bones, it can be pierced through hundreds of holes in an instant." ”

I nodded slowly, "I know." ”

"So, Mr. Chen, if you have any lethal weapons on you, it's best to hand them over and let me keep them for you. Brother Ten blinked, smiling rather than smiling, but his gaze was already pointing to my right trouser pocket.

There's no evidence that the research guild's assassination was related to them, but he was able to figure out where my knife was hiding after just a few face-to-face interviews, which was remarkable.

I took out the knife and flashed it to him: "Friend, this knife is my good friend and good partner, so I can't give it to anyone." ”

He was quite vigilant, and the moment I flashed my sword, he stepped on his toes and took two steps back. Unfortunately, in this kind of room without obstacles, even if he retreats to the deepest part of the corner, he is still within the control of my throwing knife.

"Mr. Chen, on our turf, you must play by our rules. Gu Han sneered.

"Your rules?" I asked with a smile, "Your name is 'Guardian of the Dead', but you stick to another kind of underworld rules?"

The last four sentences are the jargon of the Chinese underworld. The underworld forces in the Chinese world can be traced back to their origins and are divided into four major forces: "bridges, horses, water, and mountains", which have been handed down from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and have entered various countries with laborers and gold diggers all over the world. Although the time is long, as long as it is an underworld society of a large scale, it will definitely have a relationship with the four major forces to prove that its background is great.

The tenth brother sneered: "It's not a bridge, it's not a horse, it's not a mountain, it's not water." We are at the feet of the Son of Heaven—"

Before he could finish his words, an old woman behind the curtain shouted: "Tenth brother, what nonsense are you talking about in front of your guests?"

The tenth brother's expression was stunned, and he immediately shut up, and his hands hung down in an orderly manner.

As soon as the curtain rolled up, a middle-aged woman with a thin body walked out slowly, her gray robe was deflated on her left shoulder, and an arm was missing.

"Mr. Chen?" she nodded to me, her thin face covered in fine wrinkles, and only a pair of black and white eyes shimmered. I noticed that she had a strange belt around her waist, and countless bright yellow flowers on a black background, like a tame snake.

"Miss is waiting for you, please. She opened the curtain for me and smiled.

"Third sister, this Mr. Chen's flying knife is quite sharp, for the safety of the young lady, we had better ask Mr. Chen to untie the knife before entering. Brother Ten whispered.

The third sister sneered: "Mr. Chen is a friend of the young lady, do you still need to remind you again and again at this point? You just go out with the thirteenth brother to watch the outside, and you don't need to talk too much about other things." ”

The tenth brother and Gu Han reluctantly retreated, and closed the door with their hands.

I flipped the knife in my palm and handed it to her: "Senior, the knife is here, please help me put it away." ”

The third sister was stunned: "Mr. Chen, I have already said that you are a friend of the young lady, so you don't need to untie the knife." ”

I shook my head, "Since I'm visiting a friend, I should follow the rules set by my friend." Besides, I have no ill will towards you, and I naturally do not suspect that others are plotting against me. ”

The third sister took the knife and nodded with a smile: "Please." ”

Through the door curtain, the ground is paved with silver-white square bricks, which are inlaid with golden lotus flowers with a strong sense of three-dimensionality. The room was empty, and the third sister led the way through the hall and into a staircase that sloped downward. In my judgment, it seems that we have entered the underground part of the cemetery, but after a clever and delicate transformation, it has been transformed from a cemetery into a splendid underground palace.

At the end of the stairs, the aroma is even heavier, and I can distinguish as many as six scents, all of which are famous Buddhist incense from all over the world.

The third sister quickened her pace, and after passing through the three layers of portals in a row, she suddenly stopped, cleared her throat, and reported to the two Chinese-style carved doors: "Miss, Mr. Chen has arrived." ”

That kind of door, which will only appear in the ancient court of China, is made of very precious Vietnamese red sandalwood, and then carved with meticulous carving, carved with flowers, birds and orchids, which is time-consuming and laborious. The last time I traveled to the mainland, I saw it many times in the Forbidden City in Beijing. In any case, it should not have been under the Egyptian cemetery.

"Well, please come in. A girl replied softly.

It was the sound of the bright moon, but after lowering the pitch by an octave, it became gentle and deep, making people listen as if the heart lake was lightly flicked by the falling bird feathers, causing countless subtle ripples.

The third sister responded humbly: "Yes." When she turned to me and made a gesture of "please inside", her expression was peaceful and loving, the corners of her lips were upturned, and her face was full of smiles.

I stretched out my hand to push the door, and the two doors opened silently, and a girl in white with long hair was standing in front of a large desk, holding a brush in her hand, smiling at me.

"Mr. Chen, meet again?" Mingyue, who had removed her gray robe, turban, and veil, seemed to have changed from a strong woman riding a camel cloak in the desert to a Chinese lady who practiced writing and practiced calligraphy and hid in the boudoir. This huge gap in role transformation makes me stunned.

"Third sister, please make our best tea and entertain your guests. She smiled and ordered, and the third sister immediately respectfully agreed to retreat.

The furnishings in the room seem to let people enter the set room in the costume drama, full of delicate embroidered curtains, antique carved furniture, and the side wall hangs splashed ink landscape paintings, and under the scrolls, there is even a purple-red paulownia guqin.

"Miss Mingyue, if it weren't for someone leading me along the way, I really suspect that I went to the wrong place. "This is my truth, from the time I called Miz, I always thought that the place where I saw Mingyue would be in a dilapidated local house, full of the smell of cows, sheep and camels, and the shouting of Arabs.

"You may be seated, Mr. Chen. She pointed to the antique Taishi chair across from her desk.

I shook my head: "There's no need to sit down, I'm here to talk about trades, not tourists." ”

After a series of surprises, I calmed down at the first time and firmly grasped the central point of the incident. Since it is a transaction, the other party must have something to hope for and will not hand over the chips easily.

Mingyue smiled and gently put down the brush: "Mr. Chen, as you said, we are going to talk about business, of course we have to sit down, how can there be a reason for the guests to stand and bargain?"

Her black hair, waist-length, was tied in a brilliant gold ring, swaying gently between her gestures. As she stared at me intently, her dark eyes seemed to be shining, and her face was full of sincere smiles.

I frowned: "Miss Mingyue, I took the liberty of bothering to come to the door, just to investigate the clues of the robbery of the team." Tea and sitting are free, please feel free to open any conditions. ”

The aroma diffusing in the air is getting heavier and heavier, and if the other party will use something like incense to inflict a plot, it will be impossible to detect it mixed with so many aromas.

She narrowed her eyes and stared at me: "Okay, Mr. Chen, I have a video tape in my hand, which records in detail the process of robbing money and killing people by bandits, that must be what you need, right?"

I was keenly aware that what she said was only the words "robbery and murder", not the whole process of the incident, and immediately corrected her: "What I want is all the information, including Leng Xin's disappearance, I hope there will be a record in your video." ”

She squinted her eyes and smiled, "Of course, of course, it's the whole process, yes." ”

I held out my hand: "Where's the tape?"

This one-on-one approach to negotiation is the most time-saving, and for me, the most important thing at the moment is time, and if you don't add a minute, the variables of searching for Leng Xin will increase exponentially. The video tape is the best evidence, whether you track it down yourself or take it to the police, you will get twice the result with half the effort.

"Then why don't you ask me what I want?" she held out her finger and pushed my hand away.

I took a long breath, "As long as I can do it—"

There is no doubt that I am willing to give everything in order to get Leng Xin back.

The door was pushed open again, and the third sister walked in with a plate in one hand, on which was a pot of tea and two snow-white bone china cups. A faint smell of tea came from me, and I felt my mind immediately become clear.

"Hehe, Mr. Chen, you are a manly man, you can say anything, and it is difficult to chase the horse, if you promise to come down and you can't do it, won't you always be laughed at by your friends in the rivers and lakes?

The third sister accompanied the smiling face: "Yes, what the young lady says is what it is, we are people at the moment, we just listen and remember with our hearts." ”

At her age, being so respectful and careful in front of Mingyue has exceeded the rules that a subordinate should follow. Suddenly, I felt that her behavior was less like the tame attitude of a slave to her master, but more like the sincere fear of a courtier towards the emperor. This thought flashed through my mind and was not taken seriously in my heart.

"Miss Mingyue, you can make conditions. I replied lightly.

Mingyue chuckled, picked up the remote control on the table, and pointed to the corner, and an image immediately appeared on an LCD TV. The desert, the sunset, the burning clouds, the pyramids, as the camera slowly panned, the late autumn beauty of the Giza Highlands was fully presented in front of me.

The photographer is supposed to be standing on a very high position, so the image is different from that of ordinary tourists, but this video lacks another representative sculpture of the Giza Heights, the Sphinx, so I judged that he was probably standing on top of the statue to shoot it. Sure enough, a minute later, the camera pans down, and I see the top of the Sphinx's head. The erosion of wind and rain for thousands of years has made the weathering and erosion on the top of the statue very serious, and there are pits and stone chips everywhere.

The Egyptian Tourism Authority clearly stipulates that tourists are not allowed to climb the statue, I really don't know how this guy climbed up, and no one stopped him.

The camera points to the depths of the desert, and after a puff of dust, two jeeps appear on the improvised highway one after the other. It was the team's car, and I was all too familiar with it. Watching the car gradually approach, I can even imagine Leng Xin sitting in the front seat frowning and contemplating.

The picture jumped suddenly, and the next thing I saw was a jeep that was about to burn, and the tires were bursting one after another, making a loud "bang" sound. There is not a single figure on the screen, neither the robbers nor the members of the expedition team.

"This is the beginning and end of the video, Mr. Chen, I show you this, just to let you understand that no one is lying, no one is buying and selling short, everyone is a businessman with good rules. She turned off the TV and put the remote back on the table.

I laughed silently, even though the anger in my heart was rising like a river and a sea, but I could still hold it back.

Mingyue stared at my face, suddenly brushed the hair that fell on her forehead, and smiled: "Mr. Chen is so determined, he deserves to be highly praised by the eldest brother and the third sister." ”

The sphinx's encounter at dusk did not make a good impression on me, and she came and went suddenly on a camel with a jingling bell, and her whole body was wrapped in gray robes, like the ghost of the desert night. Now, when she appeared with her golden ring hair and white clothes fluttering, she was noble and elegant like a princess hidden in the deep palace, and her smile was pleasing to the eye.

The third sister laughed: "Although Mr. Chen is young, he has complex experience and family history, which is not comparable to the general generation in the rivers and lakes. The eldest brother easily does not judge the heroes of the world, and every time he points to it, he is an infinite top master in the future. ”

I shook my head and smiled: "The senior has won the prize." ”

There are always things in a person's life that they don't want to talk about, even if there are splendor and brilliance in those scattered pieces. In the dusty memories that I am determined to resolve, things have passed without a trace, so I don't want to discuss them with anyone anymore.

I can see that the third sister and the tenth brother are all very clever figures in martial arts, and the "eldest brother" they mentioned must be outstanding masters. At the same time that Mingyue took the Miz spear, I realized that her martial arts came from the Gu family in Putian, and now I have reason to suspect that the "eldest brother" is the heir of the Gu family.

"So, is Mr. Chen still satisfied with the goods I presented?" Mingyue smiled and left the table, walked to the corner, and took out the video tape from the machine.

"Satisfied. I nodded calmly.

"This is just a sample, the real original is not here. She handed me the tape, "Promise my terms, and in ten minutes, Brother Ten will bring in the only original copy." ”

I put the tape in my pocket and immediately nodded, "Please." ”

This kind of alliance under the city, whether to make or not, the initiative is by no means in my hands, but in the hands of the other party.

"My condition is that Mr. Chen will promise to do three things for me in the future, but it will never be a bad thing that goes against human nature, nor is it a difficult thing like climbing to the sky and catching the moon. I promise that everything I propose is within your reach. She stood in front of me, her chin slightly raised, her gaze fixed on my face.

I raised my palms and rubbed my somewhat dry cheeks, thought for a few seconds, and when I put my palms down, I replied decisively, "Okay, deal." ”

Mingyue was stunned for a moment: "It's decided?"

I nodded, and two red glows flew up her cheeks: "Third sister, take the contract." ”

The third sister took out a golden card from a secret compartment on the desk and respectfully held it in front of Mingyue.

"Mr. Chen, the contract is here, you just need to sign it. She picked up the card and handed it to me herself.

The card was covered in shiny gold dust and the size of a standard playing card, except for a black knife placed diagonally in the upper left corner, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The third sister handed over a signature pen, and I signed my name without hesitation. All this is like an automated program, once it starts, it can't be stopped, because all the initiative is in Mingyue's hands. So far, I can't be sure what kind of organization she leads, whether it's the Undead Guardians or the mysterious Jianghu sect from China, it doesn't look like a righteous and bright society.

"What will be the three conditions?" I said, "My face remained unmoved.

"Hehe, Mr. Chen, let's celebrate the signing of the contract with tea instead of wine, okay?" she picked up the teapot and poured two shallow bowls of tea.

I shook my head: "Miss Mingyue, give me the tape first." ”

She nodded to the third sister, and the third sister immediately whispered into the intercom pinned to her collar: "Tenth brother, take the video tape and observe carefully." ”

I was relieved for a while, and with the video tape in hand, I could at least get clues before the police could find each other's lair before the bandits were aware of the danger. In this kind of duel where every second counts, the first opportunity is the most important, and the balance of power has become insignificant.

Soon, Tian Qi will be able to give full play to his killing advantage, and for the bandits who attacked the investigation team, killing with one blow is the most appropriate judgment for them.

Mingyue held a cup of tea in both hands, and her eyes were full of meaningful smiles: "Mr. Chen, don't be anxious, wait for the videotape to come in, I can provide you with a video player on a voluntary basis." After signing the contract, we are a family, success or failure share weal and woe, I believe that with your strength, it will be easy to complete the three things I delivered——"

The brown color is clear and blue, and it seems that her hand holding the cup is as white as jade.

I couldn't see through her thoughts, so I could only take the cup and smile apologetically: "Miss Mingyue, I'm a little dizzy, I want to close my eyes for a few minutes, is it okay?"

After leaving Mitz's police car, I experienced so many changes in the path that I needed to concentrate on remembering it all. Waiting for the few minutes before the video comes out may be a good break, so I don't want to waste time on trivial exchanges with Mingyue.

"Okay, Mr. Chen, please. Mingyue was a little embarrassed and slowly retreated.

I closed my eyes, first straightened out the path into this room, and then analyzed the martial arts origins of the tenth brother, the third sister, and Mingyue one by one. In the information of the Cairo police, these people are the "guardians of the dead", belonging to the remnants of the Egyptian pharaoh, but in essence, no Egyptian underworld force can gather so many Chinese masters at the same time. After all, this is Africa, which is extremely far away from Chinese mainland, not Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, and not Chinatown in the United States.

"What will be Mingyue's true identity?Is it the daughter of the leader of the Chinese community?The woman inherits her father's business as the leader of the community-" I have had the opportunity to look through the archives of the underworld Chinese community around the world, but I have never noticed that there is a powerful low-key Chinese organization in Egypt.

Although I closed my eyes and meditated, my hearing was always sensitive to detect the movements around me. For five minutes after the third sister gave the order, there was silence outside the door.

"Why haven't you come here yet?" Mingyue asked in a low voice.

"Wait a minute, miss, maybe it was a delay when I opened the safe, although the tenth brother's light skills are clever, the kung fu in his hands is average. The third sister's voice was also full of anxiety.

This is the cemetery of Cairo's Old City, and I believe that the power of the Guardians of the Dead has firmly covered the area, and there should be no surprises. The video that recorded the real situation would only be related to the robbers and the police, and neither of these forces would invade Mingyue's territory.