Hong Kong films: Starting from Shaolin Temple

Page 253

"What should we do?" Xiaolong was at a loss.

The arrogant Wen chuckled and pulled a small device resembling a game console from his pocket. This was his invention, the "universal fingerprint scanner." He attached the device to the fingerprint scanner, and various data streams immediately began scrolling rapidly on the screen.

A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened with a "ding".

The elevator descended and eventually stopped in a huge underground space filled with futuristic technology.

The atmosphere here is completely different from the luxurious and classical style upstairs. The entire space has a cold, metallic feel, like a highly confidential biological laboratory. Huge glass containers are filled with all sorts of strange biological specimens. Dozens of supercomputer screens flash with complex genetic sequence maps.

In the center of the laboratory is a huge device resembling a hibernation chamber.

Xiao Long and Chou Pi Wen were so shocked by the scene before them that they were speechless.

They wandered around the lab curiously, and Wen was soon drawn to a computer that was still running. He sat down in front of it, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he quickly cracked the password.

Numerous encrypted files immediately popped up on the screen.

Choupiwen casually clicked on a folder named "Chimera Project." Inside were a large amount of experimental data, reports, and some shocking video materials.

According to reports, Wang Baiwan was obsessed with research on "immortality" and "genetic modification" during his lifetime. Through a multinational corporation called "Pangu Biotechnology," he recruited top scientists from around the world to conduct various strictly prohibited and unethical biological experiments in a secret underground laboratory!

And that arms deal also seems to be inextricably linked to this "Pangu Creature"!

They even found a recording in an encrypted video file. In the recording, Wang Baiwan was excitedly discussing something with several scientists dressed in white lab coats, who appeared to be foreigners. Behind them, in a glass container, was a strange, humanoid creature with wings!

"Oh my God……"

Xiao Long and Chou Pi Wen turned deathly pale upon seeing this. They finally realized that what they had discovered was not some gold and silver treasure, but a colossal conspiracy capable of overturning the world!

They dared not linger. Wen quickly copied a crucial experimental report onto a miniature USB drive. Then, the two of them scrambled away from the ominous underground chamber.

They knew they had to tell Senior Brother Longyan and Zhou Xingxing this amazing secret immediately.

Chapter 266 Dragon Flame Heals, Gynecological Master

Just as Xiaolong and Choupiwen unexpectedly discovered Wang Baiwan's astonishing underground laboratory, and the case was developing in an increasingly large and terrifying direction, another key figure quietly came into Long Yan's sight.

This person is Tang Judy's close friend, Cheng Wenjing, who is also listed as a suspect by the police.

Cheng Wenjing is quite different from Tang Judy. She always wears a smart business suit, has short hair that reaches her ears, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, giving off a smart, capable, and even somewhat ascetic vibe. If Tang Judy is a passionately blooming and poisonous red rose, then Cheng Wenjing is a calmly growing green vine, whose sap also hides secrets.

They are not only close friends but also business partners, and their relationship is so close that outsiders have made some ambiguous speculations about their sexual orientation.

On this day, Cheng Wenjing came to the Wang family mansion under the pretext of "visiting a good friend".

Unlike other women, she didn't focus her attention on the incompetent "fake husband" Stephen Chow, nor did she engage in insincere social interactions with Judy Tong. From the very beginning, her goal was exceptionally clear.

She found Long Yan meditating and regulating his breathing in the villa's gym.

Inside the gym, various cold machines gleamed with a metallic sheen. Long Yan sat cross-legged on a yoga mat, his posture upright, his breathing long and deep, completely immersed in an absolute tranquility that seemed out of place with his surroundings.

Cheng Wenjing didn't make a sound to disturb him. She simply leaned against the door with her arms crossed, scrutinizing the young bodyguard who was resting with his eyes closed with a look of scrutiny and inquiry.

After a long while, Long Yan slowly opened his eyes, looked at her calmly, and said, "Miss Cheng, is there something you need?"

“It seems you are very vigilant.” Cheng Wenjing pushed up her glasses, her eyes behind the lenses gleaming with intelligence. She walked slowly to Long Yan, looking down at him, her tone direct and sharp: “I don’t want to beat around the bush. Mr. Long, I’m here to give you some advice.”

"please say."

“Stay away from Judy Tang.” Cheng Wenjing’s voice was cold and serious. “She is a poisonous rose. Any man who tries to pluck her will end up being pricked by her thorns and even… pay with his life.”

Her eyes held a warning, and a hint of something else... jealousy?

Upon hearing this, Long Yan frowned slightly. He sensed the familiar atmosphere of a "battlefield" again. However, he remained calm and simply asked, "Miss Cheng seems to know a great deal about Madam's past."

“Of course I know.” Cheng Wenjing sneered, a hint of self-mockery in her smile. “Because I witnessed firsthand how her two ex-husbands, obsessed with her, gradually led to their downfall. One died in an ‘accidental’ car crash, and the other mysteriously ‘fell’ into the water while at sea. And each time, Judy gained enormous wealth, and even more… freedom.”

As she spoke, she crouched down, bringing herself to look Long Yan, who was sitting cross-legged, in the eye. The distance between them closed to a level that was intensely imposing.

“I know you’re no ordinary bodyguard,” she said, her gaze fixed intently on Long Yan’s eyes, as if trying to pierce his soul. “You’re strong, and you’re special. That’s what makes you even more dangerous. Because Judy loves challenging men who are hard to conquer. You will become her perfect prey. She will use every means to make you fall in love with her, and then, when you’re most infatuated, she will destroy you completely.”

These words were harsh and direct. But Long Yan detected a contradiction in them. She seemed to be warning him, yet it also seemed like... she was venting some long-suppressed emotion.

"Then, in Miss Cheng's opinion, how should this humble monk conduct himself?" Long Yan's tone remained calm.

Cheng Wenjing stared at his calm, expressionless face, remaining silent for a moment. Suddenly, she smiled, a smile tinged with provocation and a unique allure.

“The way to deal with this is simple.” She reached out and gently tapped Long Yan’s chest with her slender index finger, slowly drawing circles as she said in an ambiguous tone, “For example… you could consider changing partners. What Judy can give you, I can give you too. Moreover, I know better than her how to make a man enjoy ultimate pleasure while ensuring absolute… safety.”

Her implication couldn't be clearer. She not only wanted to pull Long Yan away from Tang Judy, but even... replace him.

This was an invitation from another woman, equally deadly.

However, Long Yan's reaction once again surprised her.

Faced with the provocation brimming with erotic undertones, Long Yan neither flinched nor became angry. He merely glanced down at the fingers "misbehaving" on his chest, then slowly raised his head, looked into her eyes, and asked with utmost solemnity and earnestness:

“Miss Cheng, I see that your forehead is dark, your lips are purple, and there are blue veins under your eyes. This is a sign of stagnant liver qi and excessive heart fire. If this continues for a long time, it will not only affect your sleep, but also lead to endocrine disorders and premature aging. If you trust me, you can take three qian of Angelica sinensis, five qian of Paeonia lactiflora, and one and a half qian of Bupleurum chinense every morning, decoct them with water without roots, and take them for seven days as a course of treatment. This may provide some relief.”

"..."

Cheng Wenjing's alluring expression froze on her face instantly.

Her outstretched finger froze in mid-air. She felt as if her meticulously planned, deadly seduction had crashed into a wall covered with the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic.

"What...what did you say?" she stammered, wondering if she had misheard.

"A doctor's heart is like a parent's." Long Yan replied solemnly, "Seeing that you are unwell, this humble monk could not bear to sit idly by. I hope you will take care of yourself."

After saying that, he put his hands together and performed a standard Buddhist salute to Cheng Wenjing.

Cheng Wenjing was completely petrified. She looked at the man in front of her, his handsome face etched with the compassionate spirit of a healer. She felt like she wasn't flirting with a man, but rather visiting a traditional Chinese medicine clinic for a gynecological checkup.

An unprecedented sense of frustration and absurdity welled up inside her. She withdrew her hand, stood up, glared angrily at Long Yan, and finally, without saying a word, turned and strode away in her high heels.

Watching her fleeing figure, Long Yan sighed softly. He felt that every woman in this house seemed to carry a heavy burden of "karma."

Unbeknownst to him, this unintentional attempt at "Buddhist-style flirting" unexpectedly turned an ambiguous conversation into a "lower-dimensional attack" of a health lecture, which, in turn, made Cheng Wenjing, despite her frustration, develop an even stronger, almost morbid, curiosity about this man who did not play by the rules.

Another powerful competitor has quietly joined Long Yan's list of rivals.

Chapter 267 Stephen Chow's Mistake

After Cheng Wenjing's dramatic "warnings and provocations," the entire undercover operation enters a new, high-speed phase due to the astonishing secrets brought back by Xiaolong and Choupiwen.

When Zhou Xingxing learned that Wang Baiwan was conducting terrifying biological experiments on "immortality" underground and was also involved with the "Pangu Bio" multinational corporation, his already limited brain capacity was almost "burned" on the spot.

"Immortality...immortality? Biological experiments? And people with wings?" Zhou Xingxing held the small USB drive, his hands trembling. He felt like he wasn't solving a case, but filming a sci-fi thriller. "What...what is all this?! This case is way too far-fetched!"

Upon receiving the intelligence, Inspector Wong was so shocked that he was speechless for a long time. He immediately reported the matter to the higher-ups in the police force. Soon, a joint task force secretly formed by the police, Interpol, and even military intelligence was established.

Long Yan and Zhou Xingxing's mission has been upgraded from simply "luring out the murderer" to "undercover investigation and collecting more evidence about the 'Pangu Creature'."

In order to have legitimate access to Wang Baiwan's documents and business dealings, Zhou Xingxing received a new and arduous task—to imitate Wang Baiwan's handwriting and sign an emergency business authorization document.

Once the documents are successfully signed, he can use his legitimate identity as "Wang Baiwan" to access all of the company's confidential information.

That afternoon, the sun shone brightly. Zhou Xingxing sat alone in his enormous study, hundreds of documents bearing Wang Baiwan's handwritten signature spread out before him. Holding an expensive Parker pen, he practiced imitating Wang Baiwan's flamboyant and highly personal signature on the blank paper, sweating profusely.

"Damn it, this guy's handwriting looks like scribbles!" Zhou Xingxing practiced for hours, throwing away crumpled pieces of paper that piled up at his feet, but he couldn't even achieve a third of the likeness.

His signature is either too stiff, lacking the elegance of a flowing stroke, or too illegible, so much so that even he can't decipher what he's writing.

"No, this won't do, we'll definitely be exposed if this continues!" He scratched his hair anxiously.

Just then, a brilliant idea struck him. He took out a piece of transparent paper (tracing paper) from the drawer, covered it with one of Wang Baiwan's original works, and then carefully traced the signature stroke by stroke with a pen.

"Hehe, I'm a genius!" He looked at the almost indistinguishable signature and laughed smugly.

He immediately took out the official authorization document and carefully traced his signature onto it using the same method. This document needed to be handed over immediately to the Wang Group's chief lawyer and the loyal old butler who had been waiting outside the door.

He walked out triumphantly with the signed documents in his hand and handed them to the two men.

The old butler and the lawyer took the documents and, as was their habit, held them up to the sunlight to take a look.

In that one glance, their expressions changed simultaneously!

"Sir..." The old butler's voice, which was usually devoid of emotion, carried a hint of suspicion and coldness for the first time, "Your signature... seems to have a problem."

"What's the problem?" Stephen Chow's heart skipped a beat, but he still tried to remain calm on the surface. "What could be wrong with my autograph?"

The lawyer adjusted his glasses, pointed to the signature, and calmly analyzed in an extremely professional tone: "Mr. Wang, your signature is always known for its sharp strokes and penetrating force. Especially at the end of the stroke, there is a very confident upward flick. But look at this signature..."

He paused, his eyes sharpening: "Every stroke is too even, lacking variation in strength. More importantly, there are subtle, unnatural pauses and hesitations at the turns of the strokes. This... doesn't seem like a signature, it's more like..."

“…It looks like it was drawn.” The old butler took over the conversation, his eyes shifting from suspicion to cold scrutiny.

Zhou Xingxing broke out in a cold sweat! He never dreamed that these two had eyes sharper than a microscope! They could spot such a subtle difference!

"Nonsense!" he could only stubbornly insist, snatching the document away. "This is how I sign my name! What do you know! This is the latest artistic signature technique!"

However, his excuses seemed weak and unconvincing.

The old butler and the lawyer exchanged a glance. Though they didn't speak, the deep suspicion in their eyes was self-evident.

This fatal mistake, like a stone thrown into water, instantly created a huge ripple.

That evening, a mysterious phone call was made from a corner of the Wang family's (Zhao Ma Zhao) mansion.

"...Yes, I'm absolutely certain he's not Mr. Wang. He's an imposter."

"...Yes, he had a very capable bodyguard. Our 'Gardener' was killed by him."

"...Understood. I'll find a way to lure him to a place where there's no bodyguard. I'll leave it to you then."

Unbeknownst to Zhou Xingxing, his seemingly clever "little mistake" had completely exposed his identity. A deadly web, meticulously woven by the "Pangu Creatures" and brimming with murderous intent, was quietly unfolding before his very eyes.

He has become a target that the assassin group must "eliminate" immediately.

Chapter 268 Dragon Flame Makes His Move, A Thunderous Strike

Stephen Chow's fatal mistake was like a lit fuse, quickly igniting the murderous intent hidden deep within the mansion.

The next day, the old butler invited Zhou Xingxing to inspect a real estate project in the suburbs that Mr. Wang had valued highly and urgently needed to be addressed. This seemingly reasonable invitation was shrouded in mystery.

"Sir! I suspect something's fishy!" After receiving the notification, Zhou Xingxing immediately contacted Inspector Huang. "That old butler was suspicious of me yesterday, but today he's suddenly being so enthusiastic, asking me to go out alone. It's clearly a trap! I'm not going!"

"No, you have to go!" Huang Sir's tone on the other end of the phone was unusually firm. "This could very well be their last step in testing you, and also a perfect opportunity to lure out the mastermind! We've already laid a tight net around the target location; as soon as they dare to make a move, we'll immediately close in!"

"But……"

"No buts! This is an order!" Inspector Huang hung up the phone without room for argument.