Chapter 57: As It Is In Heaven
Enlightenment appears suddenly, like a clap of thunder or a flash of lightning. It overturns Essence, strips Qi away like falling leaves, and pulls the spirit into the depths like a mighty whirlwind.
–Gustave Flaubert, <Madame Bovary>1
The energy wave, spreading in all directions at Ulrich Zuckerberg’s stomping signal, activated the formation.
-Whoosh!
The Kung-Fu Engineers of the Zuckerberg family, disguised as gardeners, had transplanted trees in the garden according to the formation, and they all emitted a bright light simultaneously.
Wood Essence, which represents the force of trees among the Five Elements, moves vertically from the ground toward the sky.
Lightning, which connects Heaven and Earth, is the same.
An old tree being struck by lightning is because the properties of the two energies are so close that the wood energy draws in the lightning energy.
The Wood Qi Lightning Attraction Formation is a Civil Engineering that artificially reproduces this phenomenon by adding internal energy to natural energy.
I deliberately used the two telephones in Ulrich Zuckerberg’s office to recreate the Phantom Fist’s fist blast so that information wouldn’t leak, and to seek the cooperation of the Zuckerberg family. -Bang!!
The fist blast flying toward me was instantly torn to pieces and flew toward the eight trees, which served as the Civil Engineering’s media, causing an explosion.
However, it wasn’t as if I was entirely unharmed.
Ulrich Zuckerberg activated the Civil Engineering at a precarious moment as planned to make the Phantom Fist lower his guard.
But because of that, the shockwave from the fist blast splitting engulfed me at close range, and as a result―
“…This was my favorite outfit.”
Not only the coat I had casually acquired for my disguise but also the shirt, vest, and trousers I was wearing underneath were torn here and there, becoming rags.
As a gentleman, having my clothing torn is more shameful than getting a scratch on my body.
Moreover, the garments I wore today were ones I deeply cherished.
I had them cleaned, except for the coat, planning to wear them to the Buckingham Palace ball and The Royal Combat Society’s full membership review.
Given the situation, I’ll have to splurge on a new outfit worth a fortune.
“What…is this…”
Meanwhile, the Phantom Fist, having exhausted most of his internal energy in addition to a part of his Innate Essence, was speechless from a sense of emptiness.
“You said you surpassed the 1200 Inch Punch. Interesting.”
For a mere demon relying on trickery to dare mock Kingwood’s unique Kung-Fu.
Ignorance is truly terrifying.
One who doesn’t recognize their own ignorance will not only be ridiculed by others but also hasten their own demise.
“I originally intended to quell that arrogance with the Kung-Fu of Kingswood, but even that seems too generous for you.”
I approached Timothy Young, who was gasping for breath, leisurely holding the Heavenly Demon Cane.
“Stay back!!!”
He recklessly launched fist blasts with what little power he had left, but not a single one hit me.
“I said stay back!!!”
The Phantom Fist gritted his teeth and wrapped Brain Stopper around his hand, aiming for my neck as I drew near.
-Swish!!
A Lightning Clap sliced through the air as it rushed towards me.
I tilted my head to dodge it and smiled at him.
“Yes. It would be better to punish you with the Kung-Fu of your own clan.”
I quietly recited the Thunder Manual to myself.
-Now, Once Again Where Does It Storm?
-The Storm In Spain Stays -Mainly In The Plains
The phrase mentions storm but seems inadequate to depict the image of a lightning strike.
However, this short phrase contained everything necessary.
The reason the instant scene of lightning was not described in the Thunder Manual was simple.
Clouds and fields drawing parallel lines for an eternity without getting closer, Heaven And Earth.
The single streak of lightning vertically piercing through them is intense but also carries the futility of leaving no trace behind.
Even if a mere human perceives it through sight and sound, the information only scratches the surface of the phenomenon.
Lightning strikes faster than the formation of intention.
How could the momentary scene of lightning engraved like a brand on the retina, its power, its speed, be expressed through words and letters?
In other words, unspeakable enlightenment.
The elders of Kunlun did not inscribe thunder directly in words because they knew presenting a concrete image could instead be an obstacle to Eureka.
Therefore, they taught their successors to embrace the Heaven and Earth that generate it instead of the purple lightning.
Its meaning is may it be fulfilled on Earth as it is in Heaven.
-Thy Will Be Done, As It Is In Heaven, So On Earth.
The essence of thunderfire indicated by the old prayer.
The Thunder Manual is not about transferring the lightning seen with eyes into imagination.
What is drawn in the mind is endless clouds and fields.
And the moment the intention like a drawn bowstring is released.
From Yang to Yin.
The arrow of Heaven flies.
“Thunder Clap.”
-Crack!
The accelerated reaction and movement of the body.
When the hands that moved like lightning firmly gripped his earlobes, Brain Stopper wreaked havoc inside the fellow’s head.
As its name suggests, it stops the brain’s functions with ferocious energy.
-Thud.
“Exorcism complete. Case closed.”
Thick blood flowed from the mouth of the unconscious Timothy Young.
A moment later.
“…He’s not dead.”
Watson checked the pulse of Young, who was lying on the floor.
The sight of him with eyes rolled back and foaming at the mouth was almost enough to evoke sympathy.
Lestrade then handcuffed his wrist and carefully let a powdered drug from his pocket into the nostrils of the unconscious Phantom Fist.
“Choke.”
The unconscious Phantom Fist coughed slightly and then fell asleep without moving.
“Is that the Pursuit Powder I heard about only in rumors?”
“Yes.”
When Watson asked, Lestrade nodded.
The Pursuit Powder was a powerful powder to seal internal energy for seven days and was exclusively supplied by the Tanne family2 to the police of various countries to prevent its misuse as a poison.
Its purpose was to prevent criminals from attempting to escape before being sentenced to elixir field destruction after trial by blocking the flow of energy.
To prevent misuse, the correct dosage had to be absorbed through mucous membranes like the nose or mouth, which made it difficult to use before fully subduing the criminal, but it was indeed a coveted item.
“Poison from the Tanne Clan of Liverpool. Scotland Yard uses interesting stuff.”
“It’s not from Liverpool; it was directly sourced from the Tanne Clan of Sachsen. Liverpool is not part of the big club.”3
When I said that, Watson nodded as if she understood.
“Well, the Tanne Clan of Liverpool is just mid-tier among the Tanne Families. More importantly, if it’s a handmade poison distributed by the direct Tanne Clan of Sachsen, its effectiveness must be certain.”
“It would be a big deal if a criminal escaped before the trial.”
It was understandable that Watson was impressed.
The Tanne Clan of Sachsen is renowned for poisons and medicines.
The handmade poisons from there are priced astronomically.
Among them, even if the Qi Disperser is not treated as top-grade, it is still considered a high-end product with high production costs and labor-intensive manufacturing.
This is not something the Tanne Clan of Liverpool, which has a factory in Manchester for mass-producing poisons, makes due to its high production cost, so the only way to obtain it is to import it from Germany at a high price.
Even so, the reason Scotland Yard provided the inspectors with Pursuit Powder was likely to prevent dangerous criminals like Phantom Fist from escaping.
Since I can use it much more effectively than Lestrade, I’ll have to ask the Home Secretary for one or two bottles when I return to London.
“Holmes. I never knew your schemes were this deep.”
“Hmm?”
I bit on the pipe again while watching Lestrade drag the Phantom Fist’s ankles back to the hotel when Watson spoke to me.
“Cutting the train tracks was to arrive before me, and digging the ground disguised as a gardener was to cut the phone lines. When we entered the hotel, the replanting of the trees was likely to set up the Civil Engineering.”
“Precisely.”
“You even gave advance instructions to Lestrade. To make sure I wouldn’t realize that Sir Fawcett was alive.”
“You’re right.”
“……”
Watson was squinting, looking at me.
It was a suffocating feeling as if overwhelmed by an unseen pressure.
“Please don’t be too upset. On the contrary, even Lestrade didn’t know what was written on the note I gave you. This was all part of the plan to apprehend the Phantom Fist without any harm coming to you―”
When the Postmaster General pulled out his Halo inside the carriage, I felt an eerie chill that compelled me to make an awkward excuse without realizing it.
“I’m glad it turned out well.”
She was smiling brightly.
“…Watson.”
It was unexpected.
I thought she would start scolding me right away.
“I told you when we got on the train. That this time, no matter what you’re thinking, I said I would trust and follow you.”
“……”
Even if my mouth were torn, I couldn’t say it.
That the reason I didn’t inform Watson of the detailed plan wasn’t just to make the culprit let down their guard and ensure her safety.
If I suddenly appeared in Cambridge through the hotel floor, while I was in London, Watson would be surprised, and I could never admit that I did it because I thought it would be amusing.
“Thank you for understanding.”
“However, if you try to hide something from me again next time, this cane won’t stay still.”
“What are you planning to do exactly?”
“For smooth resolution of the case, I intend to keep that a secret. Just as you did.”
I could only smile bitterly.
“You’ve become much more eloquent.”
“It’s all thanks to you.”
Turning around, I saw Ulrich Zuckerberg, who had descended from the hotel roof, and Sir Fawcett, who had been waiting inside, conversing about the Phantom Fist that Lestrade had taken away.
“…It’s over.”
The mysterious series of locked-room murders that threatened London has finally come to an end.
However, in my ears, the loud sound of the telephone bell still clung and wouldn’t let go.
To me, it felt like a greeting from a demon that would soon visit.
“…No. Is it starting now?”
My intuition whispered.
The mastermind behind this case, who taught Timothy Young the art of assassination using the telephone and magic, must be hailed as the worst criminal designer ever.
“We might see each other soon.”
The opponent is the Absolute Geist dominating the darkness of Europe.
I can dare to assert.
Just as John Watson is somewhere in the martial world, alive and breathing, that person too will be lurking in the darkness of London, waiting for me.
“James Moriarty…”
I muttered the unforgettable enemy’s name while holding my pipe.
The night breeze blowing from the River Cam scattered the smoke haphazardly.
- TL/N: A possible original quote—She felt herself sinking into vast darkness, and it was as if her soul, rising toward the infinite, was dissolving into it ️
- TL/N: Tang family ️
- TL/N: This line indicates that the Tanne Clan of Liverpool is not part of the main family/clan, but a collateral ️