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"My dad's back? Where is he?" Ah Cai's eyes widened, and he excitedly jumped into Mei Fang's arms, shaking his mother's shoulders vigorously. "Where is he? Where is he?"

"Hey, you brat, you've hurt me!" Mei Fang sounded a little impatient.

"Dad! Dad!" Ah Cai thought Mei Fang was deliberately keeping him in suspense, or that his father was playing hide-and-seek with him, so he kept calling out anxiously.

"Son, don't yell. Your father just left."

"Why did he leave so soon? Where did he go? Why didn't he stay a little longer to see me? Doesn't he love me anymore?" Ah Cai felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. He was heartbroken, aggrieved, disappointed, and in pain. Suddenly, he felt that life was so cruel.

Seeing that A-Cai seemed about to collapse, Mei-Fang immediately hugged him into her arms: "Child, don't be silly, listen to me..." A-Cai looked down at the red scarf on his chest, struggled to break free from his mother's embrace. He felt that he had grown up and should act like a man: "I won't cry!" he thought to himself, and he couldn't help but put on a cool look.

Mei Fang felt a sense of maturity in A Cai in an instant, and she felt a surge of joy. Her heart was filled with tenderness and affection. She said gently, "Child, your father has some business to attend to in Chengdu for a few days. He will be home for National Day."

"Really?" Ah Cai was still a child after all. No matter how mature he pretended to be, he would reveal his childlike innocence when he was happy. He immediately started jumping around in the room, his heart filled with sweetness, and the feeling of hunger had long been forgotten.

Seeing A-Cai's overwhelming joy, Mei-Fang felt a complex mix of emotions. From A-Cai's deep attachment to his father, Mei-Fang suddenly realized the importance of family. A sense of guilt gradually filled her. Watching A-Cai's immense joy at the news of his father's return, Mei-Fang found it difficult to face her son. She was conflicted; her feelings for Han-Qing were like a butterfly drawn to a flower, impossible to shake off. If these feelings were merely a fleeting impulse, so be it—things easily gained are easily discarded. But her feelings for Han-Qing were rooted in deep memories. What is childhood sweetheart? Childhood sweetheart is a lifelong bond! It is destined to influence, even entangle, a person's entire life.

That night, Mei Fang did not keep her promise to meet Han Qing.

96

The thought of his father being so close to Chengdu, and the prospect of seeing him in a few days, made A-Cai too excited to sleep. That night, Mei-Fang wanted A-Cai to sleep with her, but A-Cai refused. He felt that he should start being truly independent from now on, so as to show his father, whom he would see in a few days, that he had grown up and was not afraid to sleep alone at night.

Mei Fang wanted A Cai to sleep with her, seemingly to resist her longing for Han Qing, or rather, to resist the passionate desire deep in her heart. She didn't expect that A Cai would insist on sleeping alone: "Child, you should sleep with your mother for a few more nights. In a few days, if your father comes back, you won't be able to sleep with your mother even if you want to."

"Why?"

"You're too big for the bed! You've grown so much."

“Yes, I’m all grown up now, I can’t sleep with my mom anymore.” Ah Cai seemed very determined. Before going to sleep, he cleared all his things out of Mei Fang’s bedroom and carried them back to his own little room.

In the dead of night, Mei Fang still tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Although Ah Cai no longer slept beside her and she had the freedom to move around, she still tried her best to resist the temptation of lust.

Han Qing was truly an enemy, constantly tapping on the attic floor, their initially agreed-upon midnight signal. Not long after Han Qing moved in, and after Mei Fang and he had become intimate, Han Qing would use this method every night to express his passionate desire. Previously, when Mei Fang heard this signal, she would feel aroused and feverish. But now, she felt a strange fear. Mei Fang silently pleaded with Han Qing to understand her predicament, hoping he would calm down, think things through quietly, and empathize with her situation. The tapping on the ceiling continued intermittently, each sound gradually making Mei Fang's heart pound. She didn't blame Han Qing, only herself. After her husband left, Mei Fang had promised Han Qing that they would spend another night together, but at the last minute, she hesitated. Looking at the dark ceiling, she worried about the future. How would she live from now on? She felt more and more like a thief, living a life of stealth and deception.

Ah Cai had recently developed a habit of waking up in the middle of the night, no matter how sleepy he was. He would hear noises upstairs and immediately think of black-shoeed feet. Several times, he couldn't resist the urge to sneak out of bed and run to his mother's bed, but he always managed to restrain himself. He didn't want his mother to think he was still a cowardly child. Maybe it was a mouse scratching, maybe a cat playing, Ah Cai thought, trying to comfort himself. He figured nothing serious was happening upstairs. Although he kept trying to reassure himself with these normal thoughts, the memory of what he'd seen under the bed in the attic that night made him wonder about some secret hidden up there. Did someone really live upstairs? Did his mother know? Ah Cai pondered this as he continued to listen intently to the sounds upstairs. The sounds gradually faded, and eventually, after a long time, the noise stopped. Ah Cai waited and waited, and then he drifted off to sleep again. He was so tired. In his hazy state, he seemed to hear a scream, but the overwhelming sleepiness pushed him back into the depths of slumber…

Long Fei, who had been working hard all night, had just fallen asleep when he was jolted awake by the ringing of the phone by his bedside. Ling Yuqi was reporting to him: Something had happened at Mei Fang's house! Long Fei was instantly wide awake, quickly put on his clothes, and rushed out the door.

97

Upon receiving the Zhongzheng Sword, Huang Feihu knew he could not afford to pause for a moment. He immediately summoned Sun Hailong and issued an assembly order, gathering all the Plum Blossom Party members lurking in Chongqing to prepare for the "Sword of Restoration" plan.

Huang Feihu assumed Sun Hailong was the one who secretly issued the Zhongzheng Sword. According to the rules, Huang Feihu couldn't question him. He thought that only Sun Hailong in the inn could possess such an identity, and therefore treated him with great respect. Although he issued orders to Sun Hailong, he still took him seriously. However, he also felt a sense of unease; this organization was incredibly complex, and it was possible that someone might actually have connections to Chiang Kai-shek. This situation also gave Huang Feihu a sense of superiority, because it showed that the Plum Blossom Party held a truly special position in Chiang Kai-shek's eyes—absolutely special. Otherwise, Chiang Kai-shek wouldn't have made this organization so complicated.

Room 26 immediately became a secret command post. Various related orders, plans, and progress reports came and went. The news of Special Envoy Yu's accident also followed. Upon hearing the news, Huang Feihu's expression darkened. He summoned Sun Hailong and discussed the matter in secret. They then hurriedly moved to a new location overnight.

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In the middle of the night, Mei Fang couldn't fall asleep. She was tormented by her family responsibilities and personal feelings, tossing and turning in bed. Finally, Mei Fang felt bad for treating Han Qing so coldly tonight. She guessed that A Cai was already fast asleep, so she quietly got up, groped her way to the side room, carefully climbed the ladder to the attic, and entered the room. Unable to suppress her passion, she softly called out, "Han Qing."

The attic was pitch black, and the surroundings were not visible at all. If Mei Fang had called out like this in the past, Han Qing, who was usually on alert, would have turned on his flashlight to give Mei Fang some light. However, Han Qing did not react at all.

Mei Fang assumed Han Qing was fast asleep. No wonder, Han Qing had been living in constant fear these past few days and had hardly had a good night's sleep. Perhaps he was just too tired, Mei Fang thought with tenderness. She quietly crept to Han Qing's bedside, wanting to sit beside him and stay for a while.

Just then, the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, casting some light into the pavilion. The pale moonlight shone on Han Qing's face, and Mei Fang took a closer look, only to be shocked. His face was filled with pain. Mei Fang suddenly had a bad feeling and couldn't help but reach out to touch Han Qing's cheek. It was like touching fire; a terrifying heat scalded Mei Fang, making her startled. Han Qing turned his head weakly, casting a pleading look in his eyes, filled with a desperate desire to live. He could no longer speak.

When Hanqing talked to Meifang about their situation these past few days, he mentioned that if they encountered danger, they should hang a white shirt outside the window.

Coincidentally, the surveillance point that Long Fei had set up near Mei Fang's house had not yet been removed. The police officer on duty saw a white shirt hanging outside the window of the attic across the street and knew that something was wrong. He immediately notified Ling Yuqi.

Long Fei arrived a step too late.

Han Qing died as soon as he was admitted to the hospital.

Long Fei lifted the white sheet covering Han Qing's remains, silently gazing at the strange wound on his neck, wondering: What exactly killed him?

Chapter Fifteen: A Strange Discovery (1)

Ah Cai nervously hid on the ladder at the base of the wall, and only dared to peek out after a long while. The elderly couple next door had already carried a small box out of the well...

When A-Cai woke up needing to urinate, it was almost dawn. He found the side room door wide open and hastily urinated in the chamber pot in the living room. He first went to check his mother's room but found Mei-Fang was not there. He then shouted towards the kitchen, "Mom—" but there was still no response. He calmed down and noticed an unfinished embroidery piece on the living room table. This reminded him of his dreamlike experience in the middle of the night not long ago. Although he tried to remain calm, he felt very scared because his mother was not there and he was alone at home. He hesitated whether to go through the side door to the attic to check again when the living room door was suddenly pushed open. A-Cai turned around and saw his mother, Mei-Fang, looking exhausted. She weakly used her weight to close the door and then staggered to sit down next to the table.

Ah-Cai stepped back in surprise, wondering what had happened to his mother.

Mei Fang suddenly noticed the wooden door of the side room was wide open. Her whole body bounced up like a spring, and she quickly ran to the door, slamming it shut. She glanced back at A Cai, signaling him to go back inside.

Ah-Cai was very obedient and guessed that something might have happened at home. However, since his mother had returned home, he was relieved. At this moment, he did not want to ask any more questions. However, the questions buried in his heart grew more and more uncontrollably.

Lately, Ah Cai has become particularly sensitive. Mei Fang once jokingly said to him, "Why are you always staring at your mother? Are you afraid that she will steal things from the house?"

"Steal? Mom, do you want to steal something?" Ah Cai shook Mei Fang's arm. "Then Mom, just steal me away!"

Why would I steal from you?

"If you steal me, my dad will come home right away to find me!"

Upon hearing this, Mei Fang was shocked. So this child missed his father so much!

"How about it, how about it, Mom, you're cheating on me!" Ah Cai exclaimed excitedly, acting like a madman.

Upon hearing this, Mei Fang realized something was amiss and her face darkened. "What nonsense are you spouting!" In her haste, Mei Fang gave A Cai a hard shove.

Ah Cai was stunned. He didn't know why his mother was so angry, or what was wrong with her. Ah Cai immediately quieted down. When Ah Cai came home from school at dusk, he happened to see Teacher Tian and Aunt Ling leaving his house.

When he got home, Ah Cai found that the door to the side room had been nailed shut with two wooden strips. He thought something must have happened in the attic.

100

Mei Fang felt guilty, believing she bore an undeniable responsibility for Han Qing's death. She thought that if she had gone upstairs first that night, perhaps this tragedy would not have happened.

According to the doctor, the wound on Han Qing's neck could be an animal's teeth mark, but it's hard to say. It could also be from a strange weapon, but whatever it is, one thing is certain: it is highly poisonous.

This is a strange, unsolved case. If Han Qing was bitten to death by an animal, what kind of monster could it be? Aside from venomous snakes, no animal's teeth contain potent poison. If it was some unknown weapon, then since the weapon plans in Han Qing's possession had already been stolen, who else would be interested in them?

Long Fei was unable to fathom the hidden story.

It seemed like things were getting worse. Just when Long Fei was concentrating on dealing with the Plum Blossom Gang, Han Qing's murder happened. Long Fei wondered if this was another attempt to distract him, like the last time someone broke into his dormitory.

After some consideration, Long Fei decided that they should eliminate any distractions and focus all their efforts on dealing with the Plum Blossom Party issue. He assigned Ling Yuqi to handle the case of Han Qing's murder.

After shooting and killing two police officers who boarded the ship for inspection, Yu Minsheng and his gang fled desperately downstream along the Yangtze River. Although the passenger ship was eventually intercepted, the police found it deserted. It turned out that the bandits had abandoned ship and escaped under the cover of darkness. This gang was highly trained, comprised of elite members of the Plum Blossom Gang; their escape undoubtedly posed a significant challenge to future operations, as each member was a potential threat.

There was an even more distressing problem for Long Fei: Huang Feihu had suddenly and mysteriously disappeared from Wanlong Inn.

Lu Ming, who was in charge of surveillance, was so anxious that he kept scratching his head. This was the second time in recent days that he had been tricked by the enemy. When Lu Ming reported to Long Fei, he did not dare to look Long Fei in the eye.

Despite the current chaotic situation, Long Fei remained calm. He knew that no matter how cunning Huang Feihu was, he couldn't completely escape his notice, because these bandits still needed to obtain explosives based on the arms map.

Long Fei had already set up sentries at various relevant locations based on the arms map, and he would be able to detect anyone who appeared on the scene in time.

Strangely, however, there was no activity at any of the relevant locations, and not even a suspicious person appeared in the vicinity. Logically, after obtaining the blueprints, the cunning bandits would have surely conducted a survey of the relevant locations. This nonchalant silence struck Long Fei as very suspicious.

Long Fei increasingly felt that Huang Feihu was more cunning than before, and his treachery seemed to be no less than that of Bai Jingzhai.

In a secret room of a church near the Liberation Monument, Bai Jingzhai fiddled with a telegram and let out a cold laugh.

Although Bai Jingzhai also possessed the secret of the arms plans, he never expected that at this crucial moment, the special envoy would abandon him and leave him hanging. Chiang Kai-shek had formally informed him not to contend with Huang Feihu anymore, to prioritize the interests of the party and the country, and to absolutely obey the special envoy's decision. This made Bai Jingzhai, who had considered himself the leader of the Plum Blossom Party for many years, feel very embarrassed.

To appease Bai Jingzhai and prevent him from feeling neglected, Chiang Kai-shek immediately issued a secret order instructing Bai Jingzhai to focus on assassinations at the Liberation Monument. This way, two separate teams would be deployed to target the Liberation Monument, ensuring that nothing went wrong.

After dealing with Liao Yanjing, Bai Jingzhai hid inside the church. Although a special envoy was supervising the operation, Bai Jingzhai, as the leader of the Plum Blossom Party, had a group of men willing to obey his commands. Originally, once he obtained the arms maps, he could have asked Chiang Kai-shek for command of the "Sword of Restoration" plan. However, the special envoy had other ideas and secretly gave Chiang Kai-shek a different explanation. Bai Jingzhai, well-versed in the ways of officialdom, held back this time. At crucial moments, Bai Jingzhai especially knew how to conceal his cunning. His slight restraint indeed brought about a turn for the better. Chiang Kai-shek's decision to focus on the Liberation Monument was an affirmation of his abilities. It seemed that Chiang Kai-shek still remembered him at crucial moments. Thinking of this, Bai Jingzhai felt a sense of satisfaction. He felt that even if Huang Feihu was put in charge of the "Sword of Restoration" plan this time, his position would not be shaken for the time being, although he would indeed lose face.

The person who arranged for Bai Jingzhai to enter the church was Sima Qi, the church's master of ceremonies. Sima Qi was not a member of the Plum Blossom Party, but he was a high-ranking Kuomintang agent cultivated by Dai Li. Sima Qi had a daughter named Sima Huiqin, who worked at a hospital. Coincidentally, she was the nurse who was currently dating Wu Dengke.

Sima Huiqin was very naive. She had no idea about her father's secret identity. In the hospital, she was a key technical staff member and a probationary member of the Communist Party of China. This was indeed not an easy thing for Sima Huiqin. Generally speaking, the background of a Party member is required to be very pure. Even if one comes from a church family, it is often difficult to join the Party. This was mainly because Sima Huiqin performed too well at work.

Sima Huiqin met Wu Dengke when she attended a short training course at a military hospital. Wu Dengke, with his superb medical skills and gentle demeanor, left a deep impression on her. In fact, they had known each other for quite some time, but their relationship had only recently begun to warm up.

After completing the task assigned by Bai Jingzhai, Wu Dengke spent an entire day in a state of extreme unease. Dismembering a corpse was usually nothing to him, but this time, he found it particularly difficult. He later realized it was because of a deep-seated fear—not of the deceased Liao Yanjing, but of the living Bai Jingzhai. Wu Dengke wondered if he too would one day suffer the same tragic end as Liao Yanjing. He thought that although he had a huge sum of money in Hong Kong and a high-ranking position on the mainland, he had never truly experienced the joys of life. Even though Bai Jingzhai had painted a picture of worldly pleasures for him, to him, it was all an illusion, a pie in the sky. For him, the most real and tangible joy came from the girl named Sima Huiqin.

Having long lived a peaceful life as a doctor, Wu Dengke thought he would be forgotten by Taiwan for the rest of his life. On the mainland, as the deputy director of a military hospital and a high-ranking civilian officer, his position should have been quite good. However, Bai Jingzhai's secret order disrupted his life. From the moment he received the order to assassinate Liao Yanjing, Wu Dengke knew that he was not a respectable person at all, not even a human being, but merely a tool. Having received higher education, he understood the value of a person. He felt his life was no different from that of a puppet. After Bai Jingzhai left, he didn't contact him for several days. This silence was unbearable for Wu Dengke. He didn't know what Bai Jingzhai wanted him to do next. One night, he had a nightmare: he cut his wrists with a scalpel, letting the blood gush out…

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The person who secretly gave Huang Feihu the Zhongzheng Sword was not Sun Hailong, but Shi Wengsheng, the old accountant of Wanlong Inn. Shi Wengsheng lived nearby and didn't come to Wanlong Inn often. The thin Shi Wengsheng was inconspicuous to outsiders; he walked stealthily, always close to the wall, and rarely spoke, as if he were invisible. In fact, even Sun Hailong didn't know his true identity.

Shi Wengsheng held a position similar to both the Grand Seal Keeper and the Chief Financial Officer. He also controlled a huge sum of money and would never show his face except in critical times.

If the Plum Blossom Party was also divided into local and central factions, then Shi Wengsheng was undoubtedly a veteran figure of the local faction. Even central faction leaders like Huang Feihu and Bai Jingzhai had to rely on local veterans like him in crucial moments. Shi Wengsheng was originally a key member of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (Zhongtong), and it was Chiang Kai-shek who secretly arranged for him to be placed in the Plum Blossom Party's Chongqing branch. This fact alone demonstrates that Chiang Kai-shek paid special attention to the Plum Blossom Party from its inception.

Shi Wengsheng controlled primarily gold bricks, gold bars, and a considerable amount of silver dollars—so much so that it was known in Taiwan as the "mainland's treasury." In reality, much of the Plum Blossom Party's operating funds on the mainland were indirectly distributed through Shi Wengsheng: leveraging the convenience of inns and the Yangtze River transportation, funds were distributed to Plum Blossom Party organizations in various locations. Even Bai Jingzhai and Huang Feihu were largely unaware of this secret, demonstrating Chiang Kai-shek's brilliance. Military strategy dictates that "supplies must precede troops," highlighting the crucial importance of funds. Chiang Kai-shek understood this perfectly. He didn't usually concern himself with the conflict between Bai and Huang; he simply used money to ensnare the Plum Blossom Party—truly a master manipulator adept at behind-the-scenes tactics.

Strangely enough, this vault was located in a very inconspicuous ordinary residential courtyard, and there were only three people guarding it: Shi Wengsheng, his wife, and an old gatekeeper.

Although Shi Wengsheng's wife, Cai Gu, was over fifty, she was a nimble Tai Chi master. Despite her advanced age, several strong young men were no match for her when she started fighting. The old doorman, Zhu Dengyun, though mute, was no ordinary man either. He had practiced martial arts at the Shaolin Temple in Songshan in his youth and was later recruited into the Kuomintang's assassination agency. Not only was he highly skilled in martial arts, but his marksmanship was also exceptional. To assume that the vault was guarded solely by these three would be too hasty. In reality, there was another secret team—a special guard that rarely interacted with outsiders.

Let's talk about the vault first. The vault was located in an underground cave. Countless gold bricks, gold bars and silver coins were stored in different iron boxes, which were stacked in rows according to different types.

The vault's exit is a dry well, undefended except for an inconspicuous well cover. To assume it's a safe place to enter is a grave mistake. Besides two highly skilled martial artists guarding the surface, a special elite assassin squad is stationed underground, day and night to guard against uninvited guests. Incredibly, this squad consists of enormous rats. These rats fear only one thing—a cat (a mutant Siamese cat, entirely black). Anyone needing to enter the vault must bring the black cat. The cat's mere presence is enough to make the rats cower in a corner. Any outsider daring to enter, even with another black cat, will be torn to shreds by the rats. Not only that, but they will be devoured in an instant, reduced to a pile of bones. This is the secret security of this vault.

The giant rats do not eat ordinary vegetarian food, but only live chickens and rabbits. They are all ferocious and cunning, and move very quickly. The well walls are smooth and the well opening is sealed with a cover, so the giant rats can hardly get out of the well. If people want to get in and out, they can only use a ladder to go up and down.

Once upon a time, a skilled thief accidentally discovered the secret of a well. Thinking it contained only the gold and silver treasures of an ordinary family, he took advantage of the dark of night, confident in his skills, to silently scale the wall and leap into the yard. He quietly lifted the well cover, lowered himself into the well with a rope, and the moment his feet touched the ground, he was surrounded by a swarm of large rats. He only had time to let out a half-scream before he died. 102

Mei Fang suddenly fainted and was bedridden.

Mei Fang had no appetite all day. In the evening, she mustered her strength to take care of A Cai and feed him dinner.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Ah Cai asked, worried when he saw that Mei Fang looked unwell and listless.

Mei Fang did not respond; she was in a daze.

"Mom—I'm talking to you!" Ah Cai put down his chopsticks and shook the table.

Mei Fang then realized what was happening.

Chapter Fifteen: A Strange Discovery (2)

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the ceiling, making Mei Fang's ears perk up. After a moment of silence (A Cai also held his breath and listened intently), a howl suddenly came from the ceiling, followed by a rumbling rolling sound. It turned out that it was the stray cat causing trouble again.

"Quickly, eat!" Mei Fang seemed to have recovered and urged A Cai softly. Her voice sounded so weak and powerless, as if she had gone through a difficult journey and was exhausted. As she spoke, she struggled to stand up, holding onto the back of the chair with one hand. Before she could stand up completely, her body suddenly went limp and she collapsed to the ground like a rotten cotton ball.

That night, Aunt Ling came over to take care of her mother after hearing the news, and she slept in the same room as Mei Fang.

The doctor said Mom "doesn't have any serious illness, she's just tired." Extremely tired? Ah Cai didn't understand. Was fatigue that bad? Was fatigue a disease? Humph, just tired, nothing serious? Nonsense! Ah Cai thought Mom might be sick, and the adults were just saying that to comfort him, because Aunt Ling had asked him about his participation in the flag-raising training.

In the middle of the night, Ah Cai woke up again because he needed to urinate. If there were no outsiders at home, he would definitely urinate in the toilet in the living room. He took out his penis and was about to relieve himself when he suddenly remembered that Aunt Ling was still at home.

Aunt Ling seemed to have heard Ah Cai's commotion and peeked out from behind the door. This made Ah Cai even more aware that he couldn't urinate inside the house without permission. He felt that if he did, Aunt Ling would definitely laugh at him for being a coward. Aunt Ling was familiar with Teacher Yu and Teacher Tian, and if word got out, it wouldn't look good. Ah Cai took this matter very seriously. As if to prove his bravery and independence, Ah Cai ran to the backyard toilet, deliberately making his footsteps heavy. Strangely enough, running like this really made him bolder. Was it because Aunt Ling was home? In any case, these past few days, whenever there were outsiders in the house, Ah Cai became bolder. For example, that night he broke into the attic alone.

After Ah Cai finished urinating, he suddenly heard a noise from the next wall. Ah Cai became alert and quickly moved quietly to the base of the wall to continue listening. He heard a thud, as if something had been opened. This sound aroused Ah Cai's curiosity. He held his breath, quietly climbed up the wall, and used a large rock as a support. Peeking out, he saw a dark figure guarding the corner of the wall in the distance of the next courtyard. The dark figure kept looking around, appearing very vigilant.

Ah Cai was greatly surprised. Who was this person?