《天堂旅館》長篇奇幻愛情小說

【三十】幽冥山谷的坦雅公主 Chapter Thirty: Princess Tanya of Netherworld Valley

一行人順利地離開妖怪森林，進到一處開闊的山谷，一片大緩坡綠草如茵，穀口就在緩坡最低處。
陳約翰對照著地圖上的指示：「這裡，應該就是幽冥山谷了！」
朗恩說：「這山谷後方，雪山山嶺層層堆疊，那頭應該就是奧地利國境。到底這山谷有多深長，光憑目測是測不準的。」
陳約翰握拳，慨然說：「東方有句話說：不入虎穴焉得虎子，就算裡面是龍潭虎穴，再怎麼凶險，我們也得去闖他一闖。」
一行人隨即往穀口方向移動，這時看到一人身穿黑色披風斗篷，朝他們走來。
陳約翰說：「來人應該是魯夫吧？他怎麼沒進去穀裡？」
來人正是先行數日的大法師魯夫。
魯夫走近，拱手致意說：「陳約翰神父、大衛，你們果然趕來了。我一直在這裡等各位。」
陳約翰問：「大法師，你一直沒進去？」
魯夫苦笑說：「我找不到辦法進去啊！高牆大門外面趴著一條火龍，嘴裡會噴出烈焰，根本不讓我接近，何況飛龍身後，還有一對獨眼巨人，手持大鐵錐和長鏈鐵球。」
史特龍說：「連你也進不去，看來真的棘手！」
陳約翰說：「總會有辦法的，我們坐下來討論，如何引開飛龍和這對巨人。
一行人席地坐下來討論。陳約翰在地面上畫出三個圓圈，開始圖說：「我的想法是，分成三路行動，由史特龍、阿多諾和蘿娜、凱斯去引開那條火龍，我和朗恩這夥狼族弟兄去引開那對巨人，請魯夫護送林曉陽夫妻進入山谷。前兩路引開飛龍和巨人時，就往妖怪森林方向跑，躲進森林裡隱藏，以減少傷亡。」
朗恩問：「躲回森林去？那些妖怪和大蟲可不好應付啊！」
魯夫說：「這樣吧！兩路人員就在森林入口處會合，我使用幻影大法，帶著各位躲進森林，保證各位不會被妖怪和大蟲盯上，只是到時候得委屈各位一下。」
陳約翰：「魯夫大法師的幻影大法，我可是親自領教過。魯夫這辦法可行！我們就開始分頭行動。」

在幽冥山谷深處，一座名為綠光的城堡裡，兩隻妖怪首領急忙走進大廳。大廳裡，坦雅公主正在侍衛談話，身旁站著侍衛長胡賽爾，坦雅接見這兩位首領。
亞米拱手行禮說：「報告公主，我們已經查清楚，前來的這夥人分別是兩個教廷神父，三隻吸血鬼，還有狼族的大頭目朗恩和他的手下，以及一對法術很厲害的夫妻檔，其中那男的名字叫大衛。」
坦雅納悶問：「大衛？你說那男的名字叫大衛？他不是三百多年就已經被魯夫殺死了？」
亞米說：「我親耳聽見老狼人朗恩稱他叫大衛，喊他兄弟，兩人狀似親密。」
胡賽爾說：「公主，我推想只有一種情形，大衛靈魂轉世！
柯林說：「那個叫大衛的和他的妻子，兩人一起使一對長刀長劍，身手相當了得，我們的衛兵蜘蛛、蜈蚣和蠍子才靠近，就被他們兩個以刀劍削得身首異處，死狀甚為悽慘。我們這夥弟兄，自知不是他們的對手，後來根本不敢上前阻攔。」
胡賽爾說：「有可能是大衛，他的劍術精妙，連老主人都不是他的對手。」
坦雅憂心說：「如果來人是大衛，很可能是來要求我兌現諾言，交出那支太陽法杖。」
胡賽爾分析說：「如果是大衛，我們即使勉強攔阻他，恐怕也得付出慘重代價。」
坦雅思考了好一會兒，做出決定：「好吧！我就去見他，如果來人果真是大衛，我會先試著說服他，說服不來只好履行承諾，歸還法杖給瑪莉亞公主，如果不是，即使對方本事再怎麼高強，我也不能讓他如願。」

坦雅和胡賽爾等幾名貼身侍衛，各自乘坐飛龍，先後抵達西穀口。
這時，陳約翰等人已按原定計畫兵分三路展開行動。
坦雅和胡賽爾等貼身侍衛，站在瞭望塔上，胡賽爾以長筒望遠鏡觀察敵情：「公主，對方兵分三路，已經展開行動了！」
坦雅說：「傳我命令，緊閉大門，穀口守衛都先按兵不動，不要中了對方的計謀。蕭伯納，你騎飛龍出去，把那個叫大衛的找來，我要當面跟他談話。」
名叫蕭伯納的侍衛拱手領令，小跑步到到一處平臺，跨上一隻飛龍，飛上天空。
左路史特龍、阿多諾和蘿娜、凱斯一夥人接近高牆大門，守衛在那裡的火龍接到傳令兵指令，起身掉頭走進大門，關閉大門根本不理會來人。令他們四人頓時傻眼，杵在現場不知如何是好。
右路陳約翰和朗恩這夥狼族弟兄隨後抵達，見四人杵在大門口，大門緊閉，陳約翰一時也無計可施，下令後退一箭之遙的距離，等著和第三路魯夫、林曉陽夫妻會和。
這時，一隻飛龍飛臨大夥兒頭頂上空，幾個毛躁的狼族青年正要搭弓放箭，被陳約翰及時喝止：「不許放箭！來人是使者。」
飛龍在眾人面前著陸，蕭伯納從龍背跳下來，對著朗恩拱手。
蕭伯納說：「朗恩頭目，我是坦雅公主貼身侍衛，你們之中可有位大衛？公主要親自見他。」
朗恩正感納悶，心想：「來人素未謀面，竟然認得我？」
陳約翰拱手行禮說：「的確有位大衛，你稍等片刻，他正在隊伍後方。」
魯夫和陳約翰夫妻三人，當然也看見那隻飛龍著陸，於是加快腳步趕上前去會合。
陳約翰說：「曉陽，坦雅派使者前來，指名要見大衛。」
林曉陽說：「那我就去見她。」
魯夫提醒說：「對方故意堅壁清野，不肯出戰，其中恐怕有詐！」
林曉陽說：「既然坦雅都已識破我們的計謀，與其在此地跟他們僵持不下，不如就由我去會見坦雅。」
黃敏華說：「曉陽，讓我跟你一起去。」
林曉陽安撫說：「老婆，別意氣用事，我不會有事的。」
陳約翰說：「曉陽，就讓敏華跟著你一起去吧？公主有交代過，坦雅要同時見到你們夫妻。」
林曉陽從善如流說：「好吧，既然是公主交代的，我們就一起去。」陳約翰把大衛引見給使者，夫妻兩跨上那隻飛龍，跟著使者往高牆飛去。大夥兒望著他們的身影，這時除了等待，並無別的辦法。
陳約翰說：「我們退往森林邊緣，靜待大衛的消息。」
大夥兒跟著陳約翰往回走。

Chapter Thirty: Princess Tanya of Netherworld Valley

The group successfully left the Monster Forest and entered an open valley. A broad, gently sloping hillside was covered with lush green grass, and the entrance to the valley was at the lowest point of the slope.

Father John Chen compared the scene with the directions on the map and said, “This should be Netherworld Valley!”

Lang En said, “Behind this valley, the snow-covered mountain ranges rise one after another. That direction should be the Austrian border. It’s impossible to tell how deep and long this valley is just by looking at it.”

Father John Chen clenched his fist and said resolutely, “There is a saying in the East: ‘How can you catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den?’ Even if what lies inside is a dragon’s lair or a tiger’s den, no matter how dangerous it is, we still have to venture in and give it a try.”

The group immediately headed toward the entrance of the valley. At that moment, they saw a person wearing a black cloak and cape walking toward them.

Father John Chen said, “That should be Ruf, right? Why hasn’t he gone into the valley?”

The person approaching them was indeed the Grand Mage Ruf, who had gone ahead several days earlier.

Ruf approached, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, “Father John Chen, David, you really did make it here. I’ve been waiting for all of you here.”

Father John Chen asked, “Grand Mage, you still haven’t gone inside?”

Ruf said with a bitter smile, “I couldn’t find a way to get in! A fire dragon is lying outside the high wall and the main gate. It breathes fierce flames and simply won’t let me get close. And behind the flying dragon, there is also a pair of one-eyed giants holding huge iron spikes and long chains with iron balls.”

Father Stylon said, “Even you can’t get in. It looks like this is really going to be difficult!”

Father John Chen said, “There has to be a way. Let’s sit down and discuss how to lure away the flying dragon and the pair of giants.”

The group sat down on the ground and began discussing the plan. Father John Chen drew three circles on the ground and began explaining his idea.

“My idea is to divide into three groups. Father Stylon, Adorno, Lorna, and Keith will lure away the fire dragon. Lang En and I, along with these wolf-clan brothers, will lure away the pair of giants. Ruf will escort Lin Xiaoyang and his wife into the valley. While the first two groups are drawing away the flying dragon and the giants, they will run toward the Monster Forest and hide inside it to reduce casualties.”

Lang En asked, “Hide back in the forest? Those monsters and giant insects won’t be easy to deal with!”

Ruf said, “How about this? The two groups will meet at the entrance to the forest. I’ll use the Phantom Technique to take everyone into the forest. I guarantee that the monsters and giant insects won’t notice you. It will just mean that everyone will have to put up with a little inconvenience for a while.”

Father John Chen said, “I’ve personally experienced the Grand Mage Ruf’s Phantom Technique. Ruf’s plan will work! Let’s split up and get started.”

Deep inside Netherworld Valley, in a castle called Green Light, two monster leaders hurried into the great hall. Princess Tanya was talking with her guards, with Guard Captain Hussell standing beside her. Tanya received the two leaders.

Yami clasped his hands in greeting and said, “Reporting to the Princess, we have identified the group that has come here. They consist of two priests from the Holy See, three vampires, and Lang En, the chief of the wolf clan, along with his followers. There is also a husband-and-wife pair with extraordinary magical abilities. The man’s name is David.”

Tanya asked in puzzlement, “David? You said the man’s name is David? Wasn’t he already killed by Ruf more than three hundred years ago?”

Yami said, “I personally heard the old werewolf Lang En call him David and address him as his brother. The two of them appeared very close.”

Hussell said, “Princess, I can think of only one possibility. David’s soul was reincarnated!”

Colin said, “That man named David and his wife each wield a long saber and a long sword, and their skills are quite formidable. As soon as our spider, centipede, and scorpion guards approached, the two of them used their saber and sword to slice them apart, leaving them in a terrible state. Our brothers knew very well that they were no match for the two of them, so afterward they simply did not dare to step forward and stop them.”

Hussell said, “It is possible that he is David. His swordsmanship is exquisite. Even the old Master was no match for him.”

Tanya said worriedly, “If the person who has come is David, he is very likely here to demand that I fulfill my promise and hand over the Sun Staff.”

Hussell analyzed the situation and said, “If it is David, even if we force ourselves to stop him, we will probably have to pay a heavy price.”

Tanya thought for a long while before making her decision.

“All right! I’ll go meet him. If the person who has come is indeed David, I’ll first try to persuade him. If I cannot persuade him, then I will have no choice but to fulfill my promise and return the staff to Princess Maria. If he is not David, then no matter how powerful he is, I cannot let him have his way.”

Tanya and several of her personal guards, including Hussell, each mounted a flying dragon and arrived one after another at the western entrance of the valley.

At this time, Father John Chen and the others had already divided into three groups and begun carrying out their plan.

Tanya, Hussell, and the other personal guards stood on a watchtower. Hussell used a long-range telescope to observe the enemy’s movements.

“Princess, the other side has divided into three groups and has already begun to move!”

Tanya said, “Give my order: close the main gate tightly. The guards at the valley entrance are to remain still for now. Do not fall for their scheme. Xia Bo, ride a flying dragon out and find the man named David. I want to speak with him in person.”

The guard named Xia Bo clasped his hands and accepted the order. He jogged to a platform, mounted a flying dragon, and took off into the sky.

On the left, Father Stylon, Adorno, Lorna, and Keith approached the high wall and main gate. The fire dragon guarding the area received an order from a messenger, got up, turned around, and walked through the gate. It closed the gate without paying any attention to the people outside.

The four of them were instantly dumbfounded. They stood there, not knowing what to do.

Father John Chen and the group of wolf-clan brothers led by Lang En arrived on the right shortly afterward. Seeing the four people standing at the closed gate, Father John Chen was also temporarily at a loss. He ordered everyone to retreat about a bowshot’s distance and wait for the third group, Ruf and Lin Xiaoyang and his wife, to join them.

At that moment, a flying dragon flew over the heads of the group. Several hotheaded young wolf-clan warriors were about to draw their bows and shoot, but Father John Chen immediately stopped them.

“Do not shoot! The person coming is a messenger.”

The flying dragon landed in front of everyone. Xia Bo jumped down from its back and clasped his hands toward Lang En.

Xia Bo said, “Chief Lang En, I am one of Princess Tanya’s personal guards. Is there a man named David among you? The Princess wants to see him personally.”

Lang En was puzzled and thought to himself, “We’ve never met before. How does he even know me?”

Father John Chen clasped his hands in greeting and said, “There is indeed a David among us. Please wait a moment. He is at the rear of the group.”

Ruf, Father John Chen, and the husband-and-wife pair had naturally also seen the flying dragon land, so they quickened their pace and came forward to join the others.

Father John Chen said, “Xiaoyang, Tanya has sent a messenger and specifically requested to see David.”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Then I’ll go meet her.”

Ruf warned, “They deliberately refuse to come out and fight and have completely cleared the area around their stronghold. There may be a trap!”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Since Tanya has already seen through our plan, rather than remaining locked in a standoff with them here, I might as well go meet Tanya myself.”

Huang Minhua said, “Xiaoyang, let me go with you.”

Lin Xiaoyang reassured her, “Honey, don’t act on impulse. Nothing will happen to me.”

Father John Chen said, “Xiaoyang, why don’t you let Minhua go with you? The Princess specifically instructed that Tanya wants to see both of you as husband and wife.”

Lin Xiaoyang readily agreed.

“All right. Since that is the Princess’s order, we’ll go together.”

Father John Chen introduced David to the messenger. The husband and wife mounted the flying dragon and followed the messenger toward the high wall.

Everyone watched their figures disappear into the distance. At this point, there was nothing they could do but wait.

Father John Chen said, “Let’s retreat to the edge of the forest and wait quietly for news from David.”

Everyone followed Father John Chen back toward the forest.