Chapter 233: Trust (Part 2)
From last night until now, for a whole day, Jiang Yao’s mood has been very low. The once impulsive and carefree demeanor has transformed into a melancholic sensitivity. That initial determination felt as sturdy as a boulder atop a mountain—appearing unassailable, as stable as Mount Tai; yet, upon the slightest touch, it slid down the slope all the way to the valley below, bringing with it pain and regret.
Jiang Yao’s state was poor, and naturally, Jiang Yan no longer urged her to participate in the latter half of the discussions. At this moment, only Jiang Yan sat at the side and slightly behind Wan Yue.
Regarding Han Jie Li, aside from a casual encounter, Jiang Yan could be said to know very little about him. Previously, among the Han family members that Jiang Yan understood, the most memorable were the Deputy Commander of the Western Inspection District, Han Guowei, and the embroidered-clothing team leader, Han Bi, who was rumored to have a fondness for Meng Huai.
After becoming a blood clan member, Jiang Yan had a chance meeting with Han Jie Li and Han Bi at the W District Children’s Welfare Institute. She even took a photo with the elderly Jiang Chunhua along with the latter.
From Wan Yue’s hints, it seemed that everything on the surface and below concerning An Jian, including Meng Huai himself, was intricately connected to this unexpectedly young officer.
“Old senior, this is a personal letter from General Wu Zhongxian, which I bring on behalf of the Wang family.”
Han Jie Li took an envelope from his regained briefcase and placed it on the tea table in front of him. Although he knew that the other party must have checked these things while he was unconscious, the basic protocol still had to be followed.
The atmosphere during the latter half of the discussions was, from the very beginning, filled with a serious and official vibe, entirely different from the first half.
“Yes, I understand. In the end, it was both the Wang family and An Jian that had internal traitors, resulting in the tragedy. Speaking of which, the Wang family also bears some responsibility; let’s just gloss over this matter.”
A female attendant quietly appeared, taking the envelope behind the screen, but the elder of the Wang family did not open it, merely setting it aside.
The elder of the Wang family exchanged a glance with Wan Yue and sighed, “It’s not difficult to restore the intelligence cooperation between the two families… Just who can guarantee that the words spoken by the Wang family afterward won’t continue to fall into the traitor’s ears?”
“Hmm… Seems like a big problem, but I can only convey this.”
Han Jie Li scratched his head, feeling helpless, as he had thought of this too.
“Han Jie Li, who do you think the traitor in An Jian is most likely to be? Don’t worry, this isn’t An Jian; no one will blame you; think of it as casual chatting.”
At this moment, Wan Yue unexpectedly spoke up.
Huh? This can be casual chatting?! Han Jie Li was taken aback, glancing around. Although he didn’t see many people, he still felt it was inappropriate to discuss An Jian’s family secrets in such an open manner on the Wang family’s territory.
Perhaps sensing Han Jie Li’s concerns, the elder of the Wang family clapped his hands, and all the present or absent maidservants in the main hall quietly withdrew, also closing the main door.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became slightly subtle.
“There are no outsiders, and it’s just casual chatting. It doesn’t count, right?”
Wan Yue glanced at the elder of the Wang family, who cast a supportive glance back.
If I were to guess, it must be someone who can promptly grasp intelligence, at least linked directly to the core positions of intelligence and action planning in each inspection district.
As for who exactly, the relevant leaders are still conducting an investigation…
This question was something Han Jie Li had derived countless times already; once spoken, it flowed seamlessly, yet the last half-sentence came off as stiff and perfunctory—after all, discussing family secrets was ultimately unsettling.
It shouldn’t be difficult to pinpoint; after thorough consideration, it’s really just a few people… You’re being cautious.
Wan Yue smiled lightly but unrelentingly added.
Han Jie Li furrowed his brows, his heart suddenly racing. However, a second later, he slightly shook his head, remaining noncommittal.
Han Jie Li, the most unlikely people and events may very well be the truth. I don’t know who arranged for you to act as An Jian’s representative, but since you’ve come, it is both a fortune and a responsibility.
As Wan Yue spoke, she glanced at a small wooden box placed beside her.
Well… Investigating traitors is the responsibility of An Jian itself, and I will do my utmost as well.
Han Jie Li felt increasingly tense, even experiencing a moment of panic and unease. He had caught the hint from the mysterious woman sitting beside the elderly lady.
Now, the behind-the-scenes manipulator is accelerating their actions, or rather, once the news of reconciliation between An Jian and the Wang family spreads, the traitor would have to hasten their movements; who knows what more malevolent events may occur…
Having reached this point, the mystery will soon be unraveled; it will either be a happy resolution or everlasting regret!
Wan Yue’s words rang like a tolling bell, shaking the hearts of everyone present; even the elder of the Wang family restrained his smile and became exceedingly serious.
Indeed, and it has a lot to do with you, young lad!
The elder of the Wang family nodded, continuing with Wan Yue’s point.
Han Jie Li stroked his chin, pondering for a moment and showing a puzzled expression, “Related to me? If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be enough to simply eliminate me?”
Hehe, haven’t you already experienced that? However, it seems some people are still a bit hesitant or reluctant, perhaps thinking that to achieve their goals, your disappearance isn’t necessary, or because after all, you are a member of the Han family…
As Wan Yue spoke, upon receiving a nod of approval from the elder of the Wang family, she lightly tapped the small wooden box beside her. “Han Jie Li, I’m giving you two items as well, allowing you to save face in front of An Jian’s leadership.”
After saying this, Wan Yue turned her head and nodded at the silent Jiang Yan.
Meanwhile, Han Jie Li’s expression was gradually becoming serious as he fell into deep thought. The implication was very clear: the accident he had encountered in the car crash was orchestrated by those behind the scenes, with Zhen Guangquan merely a pawn.
Zhen Guangquan’s attack on him theoretically favored the forces behind the scenes; yet afterward, even if Zhen Guangquan was quietly silenced, nothing similar happened to him again.
This indicated that the traitor hiding within An Jian had intentionally spared him, while the obviously presumptuous Zhen Guangquan had become an expendable pawn.
Lost in thought, Han Jie Li suddenly felt a profound discomfort. The nagging suspicion buried deep in his mind felt like it had sprouted sharp thorns, making his head throb faintly.
While Han Jie Li was lost in contemplation, a slender figure quietly emerged from behind the bamboo curtain screen and placed a small wooden box onto the tea table in front of him.
Dressed in a white ancient-style long-sleeve shirt and a black skirt embroidered with golden patterns, her figure was both graceful and beautiful. Under the dim light, most of her face was covered by a white scarf, yet her clear and striking eyes were exposed.
Their gazes briefly met, and the girl made a point of looking at Han Jie Li’s face for a few extra seconds before silently turning away.
Looking at the small wooden box on the tea table, then at the receding silhouette of the girl, a strange feeling suddenly surged within Han Jie Li.
That figure, those eyes—he felt like he had seen her somewhere before… Han Jie Li stared intently at the girl’s figure disappearing behind the screen, finding it somewhat familiar but unable to recall where he had seen her.
“What’s wrong, aren’t you going to open it and see what’s inside?”
From behind the screen came the mysterious woman’s voice, snapping Han Jie Li back to reality.
Taking a deep breath, he picked up the small wooden box, revealing a strange vial and a scroll of paper inside.
“That syringe is the infamous Frankenstein serum, captured from the head of the Southeast Asian blood clan, Nava. I’ve heard An Jian has been eager to obtain the actual item.”
“As for the other one, it’s the complete formulation and production process of the ‘Yuheng Dan’ from the Hermit Alliance, which the Blood Dragon Team should find useful.”
The mysterious woman’s voice echoed, and Han Jie Li suddenly trembled in his hands, displaying a shocked expression—she even knew about An Jian’s top secrets and matters concerning the Blood Dragon Team!
“Kid Li, although this old woman has feelings for the Han family, things are serious, and I don’t want anything to go wrong… How about this? In the future, if you want to inquire about anything, contact Wang Sheng, or provide a safe contact method. But it has to be just you!”
“As for today, or in the future, when we tell you things, whether you inform those high-ranking figures in An Jian is up to your own judgment—think carefully…”
The old woman’s words made Han Jie Li sweat again—many topics discussed today were chillingly serious, and there was even a hint of divisiveness in the earlier discussions.
However, the implication was very clear: the Wang family wanted to turn the reconciliation with An Jian into a one-sided partnership with themselves to avoid the ears and eyes of the traitor, at least on the surface.
They still believed in me, yet still did not trust An Jian, including other members of the Han family. But do I hold such substantial weight?
What will I clarify when I return… Han Jie Li’s fingers traced the surface of the wooden box, although he maintained a calm exterior, his inner turmoil was overwhelming.
“A gift of this magnitude, An Jian has to return the favor, right?”
While Han Jie Li was still in deep thought, the mysterious woman’s voice sounded again.
“Ah?”
The corners of Han Jie Li’s mouth twitched as he looked at the items in his hands, unsure how to respond.
“Well, there are always more solutions than difficulties, aren’t there? At the very least, I have not urged you to steal.”
On the other side of the screen, Wan Yue looked at the bemused elder of the Wang family, blinking her eyes twice and smiling mysteriously.
The main hall fell silent once again.
“Alright, I will do my best! However, I have an immature idea… You two seniors, my third uncle is about to engage in a second battle against the Liang family’s rebels in the south, and he may face some tough Southeast Asian advanced blood clans, especially with the Frankenstein serum. Can the Wang family covertly support some personnel?”
“The Liang family has split, and several of the elder executives, including Feng Jiulong, are dead. It can be said that in the south, the Hermit Alliance and Liang family are both crippled, and this battle puts a lot of pressure on my third uncle!”
Han Jie Li clenched his teeth and articulated his startling thought from a few minutes ago.
It is not unthinkable for the Wang family to directly cooperate with An Jian in combat; reportedly, more than eighty years ago, the Wang family and An Jian had joined forces against the Japanese blood clan.
After all, they could make a high demand; at worst, they could negotiate later, and whether they had definite results or not, they could at least throw a few punches!
When dealing with blood clans, the best weapon is still the blood clans themselves. Even if the sky were to fall, there are still seasoned veterans like Wu Zhongxian and Han Guowei to hold the fort!
“No, the Wang family has already suffered serious injuries, and there are still many people watching from the dark. The Wang family cannot act easily. I know your third uncle Han Guowei and he is quite bold and cautious; moreover, An Jian still has the Blood Dragon Team as a trump card.”
The old woman decisively shook her head from behind the screen, her tone slightly cold.
“I don’t believe it!”
Han Jie Li stood up directly, his expression extraordinarily serious, yet there was a hint of a smirk in his eyes: “Senior, this might very well be a decisive battle between An Jian and the shadowy manipulator. If the Wang family misses this, it would completely lose its significance for cooperation!”
From today’s two rounds of exchanges, Han Jie Li had already deduced a fact: the Wang family’s upper management still had traction over the situation; they had even grasped the truth behind the collusion between An Jian’s internal traitors and the Wang family’s Qin Lao Wu.
On the surface, the Wang family had suffered heavy losses under Zhen Guangquan’s aerial attacks, but there were obviously a number of seemingly coincidental and illogical hard points.
For instance, the subsequent site inspections of the remains and verification of multi-channel intelligence; aside from a few segments solidly tied to the Hermit Alliance, all others could only confirm indirectly without absolute proof to demonstrate the Wang family’s real losses.
This led to the realization that the Wang family had been enduring patiently, even turning the tables, preparing for an opportunity to counterattack against the forces behind the scenes!
“Hehe, another exceptional child. Alas, though they claim to be descendants of my Wang family, they sadly do not belong to the Wang family… Girl, what do you think? The old woman was right; this child can be trusted and tested.”
The elder of the Wang family sighed repeatedly, both gratified and regretful, while Wan Yue remained silent with a smile.
From start to finish, Jiang Yan, who had been sitting quietly behind Wan Yue, could no longer help herself and narrowed her eyes, attempting yet again to observe the young soldier recognized by both the elder of the Wang family and Wan Yue through the gaps in the bamboo screen.
Though she couldn’t clearly see Han Jie Li’s expression, Jiang Yan could sense a mix of confidence with surprise, and a feeling of anxiety about losing or gaining.
…
An in-person exchange that wasn’t entirely face-to-face finally concluded, totaling over two hours for both halves.
Han Jie Li was taken to an independent single guest room, and according to the earlier words of the old woman, the Wang family would send someone to return him to City C tomorrow. Of course, it was inevitable that he would sleep through a few hours of the journey.
This time, even though Han Jie Li had done a lot of preparation and psychological buildup in advance, the impact still hit him quite hard.
Especially with the model of relationship restoration proposed by the other party, which was aimed at him personally and not An Jian or the Han family, left Han Jie Li both shocked and deeply worried.
The reason was simple: regardless of whether the other party’s reasoning was correct, it had almost revealed the scope of suspicion regarding An Jian’s high-level internal traitors: that mysterious traitor might very well be a member of the Han family and might also include other high-ranking officials of An Jian closely linked to the Han family.
He hadn’t dismissed this possibility before, but he had subtly probed into this with his third uncle Han Guowei, yet was met with unprecedented strict reprimands.
The Han family, after all, was a group wandering between the normal human world and the blood clan world, and they were of a particularly extreme stance and style; being able to access the most secretive content in this world, they would naturally also be subject to the most secretive temptations…
Han Jie Li couldn’t help but spread out in his mind the list of all the mid- to high-level figures from the Han family within An Jian, feeling increasingly as if he were courting disaster.
With heavy and complex emotions, Han Jie Li pushed open the window, suddenly yearning for a smoke, even though he had hardly ever touched one before.
Outside the window, he could see a curving inner courtyard corridor, where, from this angle, in the dim light, a mysterious girl appeared, standing next to none other than Meng Huai.
The girl, dressed in an ancient style long-sleeve shirt paired with a horse-faced skirt, and with her long white satin bow tied at the back of her head, was the very same person who had delivered the small wooden box to Han Jie Li earlier.
Although the mysterious girl wasn’t wearing a mask at the moment, from Han Jie Li’s current vantage point, he couldn’t see her face.
“Someone close to the higher-ups of the Wang family, who knows Meng Ge, and they seem to have a close relationship…”
Watching the scene of a man and a woman conversing intimately in the night, Han Jie Li’s brows gradually furrowed.
