Chapter 70: The Deep Dreamer

Actually, there is another method: using modern cutting machinery to forcibly unlock the white copper pillar, dismantle it, and retrieve whatever is hidden inside, Guan Wen said.

There was a burst of applause from the side; Xiao Huo stepped out from behind the stairs, his face beaming with a smile. "Mr. Guan, we are thinking alike," he said.

He was also young, and his appearance was far more pleasant than Kalle’s, especially when he laughed openly and sincerely. Guan Wen felt greatly affected by his genuine happiness.

"My friends in Kathmandu are engaged in high-precision processing. They have the world’s top nano-level digital-controlled machine tools. Cutting open the white copper pillar is absolutely not a problem," Xiao Huo continued.

For nearly a century, countries around the world have focused heavily on the development of modern industrial machinery—an embodiment of the old Chinese saying: ‘Sharpening the axe does not delay the job of chopping firewood.’ All industrial leaders understand this: only with advanced machine tools can advanced parts be made, which in turn build advanced machines.

"That’s wonderful," Guan Wen nodded repeatedly.

Bao Ling’s face showed no joy, only a bitter smile and a shake of her head. "You’re wrong. The interior of the white copper pillar is ingeniously designed with strange mechanisms. Violent cutting would only turn it into meaningless scrap. The wisdom of the ancients always surpasses that of modern people. The sage who left the pillar foresaw future situations; except for finding the key, every other method is misguided."

A trace of doubt flashed across Xiao Huo’s lips. "Really? But the calculation and manufacturing abilities of ancient people were primitive. Isn’t that belittling ourselves and overestimating their wisdom?"

Bao Ling didn’t respond, merely sighing deeply into the cold northern wind.

Guan Wen suddenly realized: the era in which the pillar was cast is unknown, but if someone could forge it and engrave it, they surely had the ability to make its internal structure even more complex.

Before he could speak, Xiao Huo had already drawn a sharp breath. He muttered, "Ancient high technology—the white copper pillar uses ancient high technology! I understand, I understand..."

He exchanged a glance with Guan Wen; both understood Bao Ling’s explanation completely.

The three stood in silence for a while. Bao Ling walked alone toward the east side of the villa.

Guan Wen wanted to follow, but Xiao Huo spoke again. "Mr. Guan, I’ve always wanted to talk with you properly. Is now a good time?"

He stopped, smiling and nodding. "Of course, please go ahead."

Xiao Huo’s sharpness, humility, and friendliness had earned Guan Wen’s trust. In his mind, this young man surpassed Gao Xiang and Kalle—he was a friend worth trusting.

Xiao Huo raised the collar of his leather jacket, rubbed his face vigorously, and gathered his exhausted spirits before speaking in a low voice. "Mr. Guan, I know Sister Gu likes you very much. Sometimes, she steals glances at you—so focused, so affectionate. I’ve known her for a long time, and I’ve never seen her care about any man like this."

Guan Wen didn’t know what to say, for he could see the deep bitterness in Xiao Huo’s eyes—the true emotion of someone who has lost in love.

"You are so lucky. I wish you well. I will do everything in my power to help Sister Gu accomplish what she wants. If I survive, I’ll disappear, never see her again, and never contact her. I had decided not to tell anyone these things, but now, I’ve lost to you and must admit it honestly. Please cherish Sister Gu; she is a perfect woman, more precious than any treasure in the world..." Xiao Huo’s voice choked with emotion.

Guan Wen nodded repeatedly, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He cared for both Bao Ling and Gu Qingcheng, but the life that seemed so blissful in the eyes of other men had become a hindrance to demon-slaying.

"In the past, I knew Sister Gu’s aim was to assassinate the leaders of the Azure Dragon Society and earn a huge bounty. That work was dangerous but thrilling—it was her favorite. But now, I don’t understand what you, Bao Ling, and Miss Gu are trying to do together. You keep mentioning ‘demon-slaying’—such a matter concerning the earth’s safety should be handled by the great powers working together, not by the three of you bearing a Himalayan burden. Objectively, you’ll be crushed; it’s like striking a stone with an egg. Before I left for Tashilhunpo Monastery, I got news: the Azure Dragon Society, led by Tang Jue, has sent assassins after anyone daring to touch the secrets of Mount Nisiri. Mr. Guan, why not advise Sister Gu to retreat for now, wait for the right moment, and then make a comeback..."

Everything Xiao Huo said was wise, and Guan Wen listened, nodding frequently. When trapped in the thousand-year-old walnut tree cellar, he and Bao Ling had almost died at Tang Guang’s hands; only Gu Qingcheng’s timely arrival saved them. He was not a person of the underworld, but he fully understood its dangers.

"Thank you, Mr. Guan. Now that I’ve said everything, I feel much better," Xiao Huo sighed deeply.

"Thank you, Xiao Huo," Guan Wen said sincerely.

The two shook hands firmly. Xiao Huo earnestly reminded him, "Mr. Guan, you’re different from us. You don’t understand the underworld and never get involved. If anything happens outside, close the door tight and don’t act recklessly. If it comes to a gunfight, I’ll stand in front—no matter what, I’ll ensure you and Sister Gu return safely to Tashilhunpo Monastery."

Guan Wen was deeply moved, and he felt glad that Gu Qingcheng had such a passionate friend.

Xiao Huo withdrew his hand with a smile and walked alone to patrol the other side of the main building.

Guan Wen went to find Bao Ling. She was standing at the easternmost side of the main building, gazing up at the shattered eastern window of the meditation room.

"The window is broken, the meditation room is gone. Just right, just right..." she murmured.

Guan Wen realized his position had become increasingly awkward—a pawn drifting on the periphery of events, watching the game change but unable to intervene or alter its outcome. Now, in the matter of the white copper pillar, only Bao Ling and Kalle remained as key figures; he had been completely sidelined.

"Perhaps we could take the white copper pillar back to Tashilhunpo Monastery, mobilize all our resources, and search for the key. What do you think?" Guan Wen asked.

"That’s actually the only way. Holding the fort at the Summer Palace is pointless," Bao Ling replied.

"I used to think that too, but after seeing that window, I suddenly felt that nothing is gained unless something is broken; great destruction brings great creation. Since the window is broken, new changes are bound to happen." Bao Ling stared at the window for a full minute, then suddenly cried out, "I know what’s wrong—it’s the cats! We’ve been here so long, but haven’t seen a single cat, right?"

Guan Wen looked around and recalled Bao Ling’s story about cats before coming to Nepal.

In her account, the Summer Palace was surrounded by high walls, with cats roaming along wall-top cat paths, leaping up and down, carefree. Now, the walls remained, but not a single cat was in sight. The estate’s ecological environment should be adequate; there must be field mice in the woods for cats to hunt, and the vacant main building should provide them a place to play—there’s no reason not a single cat stays.

"Indeed, none," Guan Wen nodded.

"Without cats, I can’t enter that familiar world from before, nor can I uncover the secrets buried in the Summer Palace. My trip to Nepal would be in vain." Bao Ling tore at the messy hair by her cheeks, her brows knotted in pain.

"We could ask Kalle if anything ever happened at the Summer Palace to cause its current desolate state," Guan Wen suggested.

"I’m exhausted, my mind is a mess. I need to find somewhere to sleep. Once I’ve calmed down, I’ll make plans," Bao Ling said.

As she spoke, her legs gave way and she collapsed into Guan Wen’s arms, closing her eyes tightly.

"Bao Ling, are you alright? Are you okay?" Guan Wen called urgently.

Her eyelids fluttered, and she mumbled with a thick nasal tone, "Don’t call me... let me sleep, let me sleep..."

Guan Wen carried her upstairs to the second floor of the main building, pushing open the first guest room door on the east side of the stairwell. The room was clean, and on the table a vase held a bouquet of vivid red roses and three pale yellow lilies, filling the air with fragrance and tranquility.

He placed Bao Ling on the wide European-style iron bed, covered her with a blanket, and then reclined on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest. After a sleepless night, everyone felt weary; the only thing needed now was a deep sleep to dispel a thousand worries. He guarded her here, finding peace in his heart, and hoped she would as well.

Half-asleep, Guan Wen heard the door handle turn softly.

He sprang up; Gu Qingcheng had already entered.

"Shh," Guan Wen gestured for silence.

Gu Qingcheng lowered her voice, "Let’s talk outside."

Guan Wen glanced back; Bao Ling remained deep in sleep. He followed Gu Qingcheng out and closed the door behind him.

At the end of the corridor, Kalle’s curses echoed from the library—he still hadn’t managed to unlock the white copper pillar.

"The current situation is this: Kalle can’t solve the pillar. After tonight, I’ll discuss with him about taking it back to Tashilhunpo Monastery to find another way. Guan Wen, no matter what, we’ve gained the secret from the globe during our trip to Nepal. We didn’t leave the treasure mountain empty-handed. Also, you’d better have a long talk with Bao Ling and ask her to share everything she knows, so we can all study it together and avoid regrets," Gu Qingcheng tried to hide her disappointment, but her eyes and face betrayed her.

Guan Wen rubbed his eyes, entered the opposite washroom, turned on the faucet, and washed his face with cold water, immediately feeling much clearer.

He recalled the topic of cats: all domestic cats are born to hunt mice, and their reproductive ability is strong. With enough food and space, they should quickly form a large group inside and outside the Summer Palace. Yet, there was not a single cat nor a meow to be heard in the long-vacant estate—this was abnormal.

Gu Qingcheng followed him in, and in the mirror above the sink, they looked at each other.

"Qingcheng, help me think: why does Bao Ling see so many cats in her dreams, but not a single one in reality? According to common sense, wild cats should roam the estate, not this silence. What could have caused this?"

Gu Qingcheng replied without hesitation, "The extinction of any animal in a small area isn’t due to natural disasters, but to a sudden increase in its natural enemies."

Guan Wen suddenly remembered the large number of released dogs around Tashilhunpo Monastery. Dogs are among cats’ natural enemies, so it’s rare to see cats near the monastery. However, ‘rare’ does not mean ‘extinct’—occasionally, one or two do appear. Therefore, the cats’ nemesis at the Summer Palace is not dogs, since since they arrived, not a single dog had been seen.

"Don’t think about it anymore. I suspect it’s poisonous snakes or pythons," Gu Qingcheng explained quietly.

Guan Wen was startled. "So the dead grass outside is also because of snakes?"

He noted that the lawn was planted with the most resilient fescue, buffalo grass, and bermuda grass—all highly adaptable, with deep root systems, early greening, long green periods, and strong elasticity, able to recover quickly after damage. Even in harsh winter, they would never die so thoroughly. The only explanation was that venomous creatures had been crawling frequently, burrowing under the lawn and destroying the root systems that kept the grass alive.

Looking out from the washroom’s rear window, twenty meters beyond the estate’s wall, the vegetation gradually returned to normal.

"Exactly," Gu Qingcheng said, touching the pistol in her palm and reminding him gravely, "Take a deep breath—do you notice a faint, poisonous, fishy smell in the building?"

Guan Wen closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, and indeed detected a disturbing odor. In the left corner of the washroom was a stainless steel floor drain; he went over and found the smell emanating from it.

"Should we evacuate quickly?" He was troubled by this unexpected discovery.

"No rush—not yet. I want to see what Kalle’s real intentions are, after putting in so much effort to lure us here. Besides, Bao Ling did receive inspiration from heaven in the meditation room, which led us to discover the secret in the globe. Let’s stay put for now, play along, and wait for Kalle to show his true colors before making a decisive counterattack," Gu Qingcheng sneered, like a skilled hunter watching prey struggle in a trap.

The Summer Palace belonged to the Kanna family, and it was at Kalle’s request that the group came via the Zhangmu border. Thus, the mastermind behind all abnormal incidents could only be Kalle.

"Guan Wen, if a fight breaks out, you and Bao Ling must stay out of sight to avoid stray bullets. The underworld has its rules; matters of the underworld must be settled by its own people," Gu Qingcheng said.

Her tone was exactly like Xiao Huo’s, and Guan Wen couldn’t help but feel a touch of sadness.

"I’m truly ashamed. Not only can I not protect you, but I need you to protect me," he said.

Gu Qingcheng smiled gently. "Between friends, why think so much? Meeting each other in this world is a kind of fate, and also heaven’s arrangement."