Chapter 132: Doubt
January 2nd, Thursday.
Beijing, a courtyard.
“… In the border area between the southwestern province and Myanmar, police and border soldiers have launched a joint operation, closely cooperating with the Myanmar government, focusing on crushing various armed drug trafficking and smuggling criminal organizations. A large number of cross-border illegal items and funds have been confiscated, and cross-border criminals are gradually being apprehended.”
“… A spokesperson from the relevant department pointed out that the peace, stability, and economic development of the southwestern border area require joint efforts from both countries to achieve…”
An off-road vehicle with military plates parked outside the courtyard as Zhen Guangquan turned off the vehicle’s radio and got out. First, he tidied up his appearance in the rearview mirror, then took out the gifts from the car and knocked on the courtyard door.
“Rong Jie, you’re taking care of the old chief again today.”
Facing the middle-aged female officer who opened the door, Zhen Guangquan smiled: “I heard the old chief caught a cold a while back, so since I’m here in Beijing for a meeting, I wanted to come and check on him.”
“Guangquan, it’s only just after New Year, and you’re so busy already… By the way, Xiaogai is doing grassroots training in the western inspection area. He hasn’t caused you any trouble, has he?”
Han Rong had known Zhen Guangquan for over twenty years; if her family hadn’t made arrangements back then, Zhen Guangquan might have been the one she married.
“Kang Jie’s kid is sharp, thinks carefully, and has a good character. I see he’s sure to be the unicorn of the next generation of the Han family! If I had a daughter, I’d definitely introduce her to him!”
Faced with the old friend’s praise of her son, Han Rong smiled as well. The two chatted casually and walked slowly, somehow ending up in the backyard. There, they saw an old man in a simple military coat with white hair, pruning the winter jasmine tree in the yard.
Han Rong started to turn around to clean up the odds and ends in the backyard while Zhen Guangquan tidied up his appearance again, took a few steps, and stood at attention: “Old Chief!”
“Oh? Little Zhen… Haha, it’s been twenty years in a flash; you’re getting older too. Time is relentless… I heard you became the chief of staff for the western inspection area last year. Not bad, you’re already at the division level.”
Glancing at Han Rong not far away, Han Zhongliang nodded slightly and walked toward the pavilion where tea was being brewed.
“Old Chief, if it weren’t for you insisting on letting me stay in the Xuanjia Brigade back then, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Zhen Guangquan smiled as he supported Han Zhongliang’s arm, helping him sit down in a chair, and then personally poured tea from the kettle for him.
“Usually, you just make a phone call to check in, but today you came all this way; it must be for something serious. Tell me, what difficulties are you facing?”
Han Zhongliang probably guessed something but still maintained a friendly attitude.
“Old Chief, it’s like this. The Xuanjia Brigade in the western inspection area executed a rotation in the southwest last month, but an incident occurred…”
“Wait!”
Han Zhongliang raised his hand to interrupt Zhen Guangquan after only hearing the beginning. He then turned to his niece: “Han Rong, go help me tidy up the study. I’ll have tea with Little Zhen in a bit.”
“Okay, Uncle.”
Han Rong understood and quickly set down the broom, quietly exiting the backyard.
What happened in the Xuanjia Brigade? From your expression, did something major go wrong?
Once his niece’s figure disappeared, Han Zhongliang’s expression quickly became very serious. Something more serious than casualties had happened; it was the former brigade commander Meng Huai, who was blooded…
Zhen Guangquan’s expression was heavy as he recounted the troubles he had been facing during this time, finally sighing deeply: “The year hasn’t been good; three members of the Xuanjia Brigade have been blooded and defected, including Brigade Commander Meng Huai himself…”
“You know, he’s also considered one of my successors. Recently, he was awarded a first-class merit for his health condition reaching stage 3. After this incident, the entire western inspection area won’t be able to catch a break.”
“… Currently, they’re still expanding the carpet search in the southwest, but I estimate it won’t be of much use. So, I shamelessly came to ask if you could say a few words for us at the headquarters…”
Han Zhongliang stared at Zhen Guangquan’s face closely, saying nothing but showing various emotions. Finally, he extended a hand and slowly spoke: “Got any cigarettes? Give me one…”
Zhen Guangquan quickly retrieved a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket, personally lighting one for him.
“I have an impression of the kid Meng Huai; twenty-three years ago, I personally reviewed his confidentiality materials… If anything were to happen to him, it would be serious. I estimate that Han Guowei is probably more anxious than you…”
Han Zhongliang took a deep drag on the cigarette, the nicotine withdrawal from a prolonged cessation making him dizzy again, and his age-spotted cheeks flushed slightly.
“Yes, due to confidentiality protocols, I can’t determine the direction of the subsequent work. Old Chief, if Meng Huai’s matter is significant, then you need to step in and lend a hand; a first-class merit blooded defect is almost a big deal!”
Zhen Guangquan sensed the implications and quickly lowered his voice: “However, Deputy Commander Han’s attitude toward this matter is just empty noise; I’m having a hard time grasping the direction of the work.”
Han Zhongliang smiled slightly and waved his hand: “I’m just an old man who retired twenty years ago; what can I say? You all just handle it diligently. If the headquarters wants to pursue accountability, it’ll be Wang Hongjun and Han Guowei carrying the weight… I’ll give Wu Zhongxian a call later to understand the situation.”
Han Zhongliang’s attitude was already quite clear; he would do his best to help Zhen Guangquan where he could.
“Understood, thank you, Old Chief.” Zhen Guangquan lowered his head in thanks, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.
In the distance, Han Xun appeared again.
“All right, the study is tidied up; let’s go inside and chat about the military readiness situation in the western inspection area. It’s the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month; you should have a meal here before heading out.”
Han Zhongliang stood up, and Zhen Guangquan quickly helped him, while Han Xun seemed somewhat superfluous at that moment.
Watching the two disappear into the backyard, Han Xun slowly took out her phone from her pocket, wearing a mysterious expression, she walked to the corner beneath a plum blossom tree.
“Hello… Third Brother, Zhen Guangquan and Uncle are done talking, and now they’re heading to the study… Mmm, I’ve installed the device in the study.”
“Third Brother, you really suspect Zhen Guangquan has problems… Okay, I…”
Hang up the phone, Han Ying brushed her bangs, revealing a sly smile.
…
…
South of K City in Y Province, next to Dian Lake, a national road near a certain township.
Wan Yue and Jiang Yan, both dressed in outdoor sports attire, were sitting outside a small eatery not far from the national road, engrossed in their lunch.
Laba tofu, laba porridge, and glutinous rice cakes are the must-eat delicacies for the Laba Festival in Y province. However, at the moment, the two were eating somewhat distractedly.
Despite their journey down south, arriving here early, there was still no sight of Xiang Zuxing and the others; the agreed meeting time had already passed a day.
A series of military and special police vehicles headed south, and even the national road in the township began setting up checkpoints. Wan Yue furrowed her brow, directly tossing aside her bowl and chopsticks, pulling out a cigarette and quietly watching a group of special police officers setting up at the roadside.
“Wan Jie, it looks like there’s been a problem in the southwest rotation area of the Dark Arrow.”
Jiang Yan ate the laba tofu while secretly glancing at a passing special police vehicle, lowering her voice: “It’s possible that someone from Dark Arrow has bled and fled again…”
Wan Yue discreetly took out her phone, opened the local news, flipped through a few items, and nodded slightly: “Hmm, the news says there’s a large-scale crackdown on drug smuggling in the south… maybe Y province has been affected by the Liang family’s internal conflict. Many black blood clans along the borders are becoming restless; Dark Arrow’s rotation pressure is greater than before this time.”
A black special military vehicle drove up from the southwest, roaring past the entrance of the small eatery from a distance of several dozen meters.
As the black military vehicle sped by, Jiang Yan’s pupils slightly contracted, and the glutinous rice cake in her hand silently fell to the ground.
“What’s wrong? Did you see someone you know?” Glancing at the receding military vehicle, Wan Yue picked up a piece of tofu and placed it in Jiang Yan’s bowl: “That should be the Xuanjia Brigade; I didn’t expect that last year’s fourth-quarter rotation would be them.”
“Hmm… I thought they would continue to rest.”
Jiang Yan shook her head, trying to rid herself of her strange thoughts.
“Seeing the Xuanjia Brigade’s license plate again, you think of Meng Huai, right?”
Wan Yue smiled mysteriously, reached out and gently wiped a grain of rice from Jiang Yan’s lips: “You, you usually look cold and distant, but your heart has more drama than most people… Zhong Jing has already told me that Meng Huai’s condition has improved a lot and that he retired at the end of last year; he can’t participate in such operations anymore.”
“I don’t know why, Wan Jie…”
Jiang Yan’s face flushed slightly; she raised her bowl to cover her face, her heart inexplicably starting to race.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. When he was fighting for his life, he was just reacting to a lack of maternal love. With your intelligence, you should be able to see that. But if you take it seriously and involve yourself, don’t blame anyone else.”
“Alas, what can we women do? We just have a weakness for that…”
Wan Yue’s laughter gradually faded, and her words became even more teasing.
Also, what am I thinking? Meng Huai has retired; the Dark Arrow and black blood world no longer belong to him. Isn’t that great? What am I still conflicted about… Staring at the food in her bowl, Jiang Yan fell into a daze again.
Seeing that the other person had once again become muddled by her teasing, Wan Yue’s jokes ceased, and they continued eating in silence, but her heart secretly sighed.
A few off-road vehicles slowly approached from the northeast, stopping at the small eatery’s entrance. A tall, robust man got out of the car, smiling as he looked at Wan Yue and Jiang Yan, waving from a distance.
…
The waters of Dian Lake were rippling, and even in winter, the climate of Y province was very pleasant. Many people from northern provinces chose to spend the winter around Dian Lake.
In a large guesthouse, the two from Fengxinzi met formally with Xiang Zuxing, the elder of the Hidden One Alliance.
“Brother Xiang, your phone was on silent; why didn’t you tell me in advance?”
In the room, Wan Yue was smoking a cigarette, distracted, just looking at the line where the water met the sky outside the window.
“Something happened in the Alliance… A few days ago, Wu Yuqing was ambushed and got hurt. Old Master Chu wants the Alliance to enter a level two alert. With this distraction, I forgot to tell you to use the new phone number.”
Xiang Zuxing drank silently, looking very serious: “Guo Hao should have already told you that they set off early to verify the intelligence. However, I received news yesterday that Dark Arrow is under high control around B City, and even the activities of the black blood clans on both sides of the border have significantly decreased.”
“I heard it’s easy to enter Y province but hard to leave. When I came over, Dark Arrow’s checkpoints were already set up north of K City.”
Wan Yue paused with the cigarette in her hand, turning her head curiously: “I heard the Wang family members say that last month the Black Dragon Society ambushed Wu Yuqing’s warehouse; how did they get bitten again?”
Xiang Zuxing nodded and even smiled: “Who knows? It could be that she plans to seek revenge, but someone set her up. I heard that Zhuang Jianfei and Old Master Chu have both gone to investigate this matter. But next, the Alliance is going to take major actions against the Black Dragon Society!”
“Just right, my cooperation with you this time is also to deal with the Black Dragon Society, so Old Master Chu has no objections either.”
“However, the news from Guo Hao indicates that the border is heavily sealed, so we must wait for the storm to pass.”
Saying this, Xiang Zuxing turned his head toward a certain black-haired girl sitting on the balcony enjoying the scenery, revealing a mysterious smile: “Did you only bring one person with you? Not bad, this young lady here is Hei Yu, the fiancée of Master Chu.”
Ah, Baron Ganbu, aside from Zhao Peng, you actually have another card up your sleeve.
Wan Yue was slightly stunned, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xiang Zuxing, her expression somewhat strange: “Brother Xiang, are you implying that our target against the Black Dragon Society this time is outside the border?”
“Northern Myanmar, Old Street.”
Xiang Zuxing drank the last drop from the wine bottle, smiling with even more confidence: “I told you, it’s Old Zhu’s business, right in his lair. We’re going to make a big play; the Luo family will help us hold back on the periphery, and with us joining forces, how could he and that fat guy Pang Yun resist?”
“The Luo family plans to take advantage of the Wang family’s extermination of the Black Dragon Society to reclaim the territory they lost decades ago. They’re leveraging me here, and when the deed is done, they’ll give me many business channels. Of course, Young Miss Wan, you’ll also have a share; I’ve made it clear.”
Wan Yue stopped saying anything, silently taking a drag on her cigarette.
…
As always, the dimness and unchanged stench.
Over the past few days, two people were missing from the basement, having been dragged out. From the lingering stench of blood and decaying flesh in the murky air, it seemed they had died from immune system collapse.
Shifting his gaze from the bloodied iron basin at his feet, Meng Huai attempted to activate his blood boiling technique. Unfortunately, that feeling of energy and excitement surged was like an old diesel engine devoid of fuel; it coughed a few times before stalling.
The attempts to boil his blood were met with penetrating pain spreading throughout his body and a rapidly uncontrolled body temperature, representative of the backlash after overextending his blood energy protein, coupled with erratic blood cravings.
“Damn it, the drug effect is over? Not giving up, what’s the point of boiling blood!”
At the entrance of the basement, a sitting shadow approached, stepping directly onto Meng Huai’s severed leg. The sharp pain made Meng Huai grunt, staring with bloodshot eyes at the shadow, his right hand pulling at the steel chain with a clanking sound.
“I’m about to become a first-tier servant soon; I can’t mix with you guys… let me go…”
Meng Huai’s voice was hoarse, filled with despair and fear, but a chilling smile played on his lips.
“Ha ha, a miscellaneous blood clan; what value do you have! The boss fed you so many good things just to hope you mature as a knight, to be a good blood person; otherwise, you would have been eaten long ago!”
The shadow squatted in front of Meng Huai, grabbing his hair with a particularly sinister smile: “Kid, accept your fate; as long as your appetite is good, you probably won’t die in the next few years.”
“Ha ha, I don’t even qualify to be a black blood clan…”
After the shadow left, it took a while for Meng Huai to lower his head and let out a miserable laugh, and then he began to struggle madly. His severed right leg and left hand twisted at odd angles, creating a clattering noise with the metal frame behind him.
“I can’t die… I still have a mission… Ugh… Mommy…”
The visibly emaciated young man slumped down, emitting an indistinguishable whimper.
Around him, a dozen figures were awakened by Meng Huai’s feeble struggles and self-pity, turning their heads in unison, all expressionless.
