“Professor Oman? Professor Oman?” Linda knelt by the old man, frantically calling his name.
The old man was not dead yet. He looked at Linda with his eyes filled with fear. He seemed to want to lift his hand but he could only move a finger.
Linda panicked. “Professor, don’t be afraid. You’ll be alright! I’ll call the ambulance now!” She quickly pulled out her phone to call the emergency line.
She had just reported their address when a sound came from his throat. “Ugh.” It was his last breath. His pupils started to dilate as they slowly dimmed.
“Professor? Professor?!” Linda grabbed his hand, calling his name. She shook his arm, desperately trying to wake him.
Professor Oman did not respond.
Xia Lei’s eye swept across the entire study. The study was in a mess, the books on the shelves were scattered on the ground. The drawers and wooden cupboards were opened violently and their contents were strewn all over the floor.
It looked like a robbery but Xia Lei sensed something was unusual. First, the shooter looked professional. Second, why would robbers only rob a study?
“Professor? Professor Oman…” Linda was in grief.
Xia Lei wanted to comfort her but suddenly saw a symbol drawn using blood on the loosened floorboard. It was previously under the professor’s hand but after Linda held it, the symbol was revealed.
The image was not complete. It wasn’t clear either. To anyone, it was just a bloodstain.
Xia Lei’s left eye twitched. He saw the parts drawn by a fingertip from the smudge of blood. Based on the general shape of the symbol, he had an answer. It was an unfinished drawing of a swallow’s tail cross and a pyramid.
It was also known as a Maltese cross, made of four ‘V’s. This was the signet of the Knight Hospitallers.
Xia Lei was deeply shocked by this discovery. He wondered, “Was the old man hinting that his death was related to the Knight Hospitallers? Or was he hinting something else at Linda?”
He wanted to tell Linda his discovery but he swallowed his words. He was now Ma Lei, not Xia Lei. He was just a businessman with a clothing factory. He had already acted very suspiciously for his story. If he told Linda his discovery, would she still think he was a businessman?
“He was my best teacher...” Linda started to sob.
Xia Lei grabbed her shoulders gently. “I believe the police will punish the culprit.”
“He was a very kind man. I can’t believe someone would kill such a good man…” Linda leaned against his leg, grieving.
Sirens could be heard from outside the house. One minute later, two policemen entered.
Xia Lei helped her up.
Two policemen surveyed the site and asked Linda questions. Then, they also asked Xia Lei but he merely briefly explained the situation. He did not elaborate.
Half an hour later, Professor Oman’s body was taken away. The police also sealed the place up with tape. Linda left her number with the police and then went home with Xia Lei.
She sat at the balcony overlooking the town at the foot of the hill wordlessly.
Xia Lei made her a cup of coffee and put it in her hands. “I know you’re in grief. I hope you feel better soon. Everyone has to leave this world sooner or later, just in different ways.”
“Thank you for saving me.” Linda looked at him gratefully.
“I just did what I was supposed to do. You don’t have to thank me,” said Xia Lei.
“But…” Linda looked confused. “When I stood at the door, I didn’t see the shooter. How did you see him?”
Xia Lei said, “I was standing next to you and an open window nearby. The dark walls made it more like a mirror. I saw the shooter from the glass. He was already aiming his gun at the door. I didn’t have much time so I just dove to the ground with you.”
“Thank you.” her eyes were gentle. “You must be an angel sent by God. Without you, I would be dead, along with Professor Oman.”
Xia Lei was silent before he continued, “Linda, can you tell me what is going on? You and Professor Oman agreed to meet and he was about to give you something. Yet he was harmed. I did not see you receiving anything from him either.”
Linda merely looked at Xia Lei silently.
He shrugged. “Forgive me for my curiosity. I just wanted to know the cause. If you can’t tell me, then pretend I didn’t ask.”
Linda then said, “I returned to Sicily mainly to get the metal leaf book from Professor Oman. But I didn’t know this would happen.”
“Metal leaf book? What’s that?” Xia Lei was interested.
“It’s made of bronze.”
“A bronze book?” Xia Lei’s heart clenched. He recalled the bronze book he had with him!
“Yes, it’s a bronze book. An indecipherable language is etched on it. Previously, it was in the Vatican museum, a mysterious artefact that was not available for public view. Some people used to suspect it was the legendary ‘Leaf Book’. Professor Oman happened to be good friends with the pope. The pope wanted him to study the book. Mm, that was a month ago.”
One month ago, Zhu Xuanyue was awakened and the black-robed man appeared. Now, on the other side of the world, a bronze book appeared too. Was this a coincidence or was someone orchestrating all this in the dark?
Despite his high IQ, he still couldn’t connect the dots.
“The academic exchange I attended in China hadn’t actually ended. Professor called me saying he made a new discovery so he wanted me to return and bring the metal leaf book to Malta. I asked if it could wait for a few days, but he had already arranged the transport details.”
Xia Lei’s heart clenched. “Did he book the tickets, or did someone else book?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t ask. He just seemed very anxious so I didn’t refuse and came here. Such a coincidence that we met too, sitting next to each other,” said Linda.
Was it really a coincidence?
On a plane, if two people were friendly, it was not an odd thing if people sitting together would become friends. This happened often, it was not peculiar. However, Xia Lei’s feeling that someone had orchestrated him meeting Linda grew stronger. Before Linda mentioned the metal leaf book, he assumed nothing of it.
“Why must you bring the book to Malta? Why can't he do it?” Xia Lei probed after a short pause.
“He didn't say but I think he must’ve had his reasons.”
“Did he tell you where to bring the metal book? Or meet someone?” Xia Lei needed answers.
“Uh…” Linda’s gaze fell on his face. “Mister Ma Lei, why are you so interested in the metal book?”
Xia Lei realised he must've sounded desperate. “Nothing, I was just very curious. I’m naturally interested in mysterious occurrences. I like going to mysterious places too, like Hansong Cave in Vietnam. I even single-handedly survived Venezuela’s Angel Falls.”
“Wow!” Before Xia Lei could continue lying, Linda looked at him in disbelief. “You survived the Angel Falls? That’s the tallest waterfall in the world and has a ninety-degree drop. Many professional extreme athletes can’t do it. This is unbelievable!”
He shrugged. “I like the adrenaline rush. I don’t actually want to be a businessman but you know, a job’s a job. I have to do what I need to eat.”
“You’re a strange man.” She stared at him. “You must have many stories.”
“Everyone has their stories.” Xia Lei expertly changed the topic. “Now that Professor Oman was killed and the metal book is missing, are you still going to Malta?”
If she wasn’t going, he had to leave this place tonight. He wasn’t going to waste time with her otherwise.
“I will go. I will go check out the place Professor Oman told me to go.”
Xia Lei did not ask where. He had already made the mistake of sounding too interested. He would not make the same mistake again.
She suddenly stood up from the chair and came to him.
He looked at her, measuring her intentions.
Linda suddenly placed a hand on his chest.
He was slightly stunned. “Miss Linda, what are you doing?”
“Very strong muscles,” said Linda, “You said you survived Angel Falls. I want to see if your body could really survive that. Can you show me?”
She was a smart woman.
Xia Lei hesitated and unbuttoned his shirt. His upper body was very strong but he didn't have exaggerated muscles. All the lines were gentle and proportionate, it was the perfect balance of aesthetic and power.
Linda’s hand slid from his chest to his eight-pack. The fair and hard muscles made them look like they were chiselled out of jade.
“I have never seen a body like yours. Your skin, your muscles. I cannot find words to describe them.” Linda’s eyes filled with excitement, her hand sliding down the gap between his muscles and his pants.
Xia Lei took a step back. “Uh, it’s late. I’ll go back to my room. Goodnight, Miss Linda.”
She looked disappointed. “Mister Ma Lei, will you be going to Malta with me tomorrow?”
“Of course. I will be happy to go with you,” said Xia Lei.
He was waiting for her to ask.