Chapter 87: Sending Word Once More

Thoughts on the Book's Launch

This is my first attempt at writing. In the past, my greatest passion was espionage stories! I was utterly captivated, devouring them without rest or sleep, watching every espionage drama and film available! Classics like “Hidden,” “Cliff,” “Before Dawn” were not only beloved but deeply admired. Of course, there were some toxic ones that prompted endless criticism—even heartbreak. Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore, so I rolled up my sleeves and decided to write my own! Haha!

I never imagined that, from the moment I started, so many readers would enjoy my story. There are countless people I need to thank: the readers who have accompanied me from the very beginning, the editor who recognized my work, and all of you who are now following me. Thank you! Truly, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I promise, no matter how difficult it gets or how much effort it takes, I will continue writing this story. Thank you again! My heart is warmed!

Now, the main text:

The first scene is surely of Zhang Pei as a young man, joining the revolutionary ranks and spreading revolutionary ideas among workers in a factory. This is a distant memory, and its information is of no value to Ning Zhiheng.

The second scene shows Zhang Pei, now middle-aged, teaching at a rural elementary school. His whereabouts are discovered by secret agents, and he is arrested. This scene, too, yields little information.

Ning Zhiheng had received scant information from Lu Ming; their exchange was brief before Lu Ming’s death. In Lu Ming’s memories, there was no recollection of Zhang Pei. Thus, Ning Zhiheng understood little about Zhang Pei’s circumstances—only that he had betrayed the revolution and sold out Lu Ming. He did not know Zhang Pei was an underground party member who had lost contact for years. The paucity of information left Ning Zhiheng unable to learn more about Zhang Pei’s history.

The third scene is straightforward: after his capture, Zhang Pei, under Ma Hong’s harsh torture, failed to uphold his beliefs, betrayed the revolution, and became a shameful traitor.

The fourth scene likely depicts Zhang Pei and Lu Ming meeting in a private room at a restaurant. From their conversation, it’s clear they knew each other in the past, but this meeting was their first after many years.

What happened afterward, Ning Zhiheng already knew: Lu Ming, surrounded by agents, fought his way out and was wounded. Zhang Pei, returning to the surveillance point at the hotel, was captured by Ning Zhiheng and Ma Hong.

The fifth scene was the most valuable: in it, a middle-aged man with a long face appeared—likely an intelligence officer from the Central Party Affairs Investigation Office.

He handed Zhang Pei a document folder and spoke plainly, instructing him to read and understand the profile of a certain individual.

Clearly, the man referred to someone who was an underground party member. The Central Party Affairs Investigation Office had discovered his true identity but had not arrested him. Instead, they wanted Zhang Pei to approach and gain this person’s trust, hoping he could infiltrate the underground party once again and become a planted agent within their ranks.

It was a ruthless plan. The Investigation Office valued Zhang Pei's experience working with the underground party years ago. By gaining the trust of this exposed member and then revealing his own identity as a veteran underground party member at the right moment, Zhang Pei could seamlessly rejoin the underground party.

Step by step, the plan was meticulously devised, showing the Investigation Office’s extensive experience in dealing with the underground party.

But now, Zhang Pei’s death had doomed the operation from the start. Yet the danger remained: they had to identify the exposed underground party member.

The document folder! The long-faced man had handed Zhang Pei a folder containing information about this underground party member. It had to be found!

Time was pressing; there was no room for delay. Ning Zhiheng returned to Zhang Pei’s room. Since he was now the only person left in the apartment, he no longer needed to conceal his movements.

He flicked on the lights and quickly began searching the room. Since Zhang Pei needed constant access to the information and had not expected a sudden ambush, he had not hidden it carefully.

Soon, Ning Zhiheng found the document folder in the desk drawer. He opened it and swiftly leafed through the papers.

Wu Quanjiang, owner of Zhongkang Traditional Medicine Shop, forty-eight years old, underground member of the Red Party, judged to be a key figure in the Red Party’s Nanjing Provincial Committee. The dossier was detailed, listing even Wu Quanjiang’s height and weight, his relatives and friends, as well as his daily preferences and routines!

It was clear the Central Party Affairs Investigation Office had done its homework; Wu Quanjiang was under comprehensive surveillance.

At this, Ning Zhiheng became deeply anxious. Wu Quanjiang, a key member of the underground party in Nanjing, surely knew many important secrets. His exposure posed immense danger to the underground party!

This situation had to be reported to the underground party immediately, so they could take emergency measures. But the only underground party contact Ning Zhiheng knew was Xia Deyan, the proprietor of Bluestone Teahouse, codenamed Farmer.

Yes, that’s the plan! He must inform Farmer at once!

The folder must also be delivered to Farmer promptly, as its contents proved Wu Quanjiang had been completely exposed. Farmer and the underground party leadership, upon seeing the dossier, would have no doubt about the authenticity of the intelligence.

If, come tomorrow, the Investigation Office discovered Zhang Pei’s death and the missing folder, they would immediately realize the secret of Wu Quanjiang’s exposure had leaked, and surely move quickly to arrest him.

Time was short for Ning Zhiheng. It was already two in the morning, with five hours till dawn. He had to act immediately, hoping it was not too late!

He found a sheet of paper and a pen on the desk, quickly scribbled a few lines, and placed the note in the folder.

Despite the urgency, Ning Zhiheng was careful and thorough, checking and erasing any traces he’d left in the apartment, then left quickly with the folder.

Leaving the apartment, Ning Zhiheng felt a pang of regret. To hide his movements, he had come to this northern apartment on foot and hadn’t brought his military jeep.

This was a habit born of caution and suspicion—when handling covert matters, such as searching for Farmer or eliminating Zhang Pei, he deliberately avoided using vehicles, which would attract attention and expose his movements.

Yet now, with time critical and a long way to Bluestone Teahouse, Ning Zhiheng could only break into a run, pushing himself at full speed through the deserted streets. Fortunately, at two in the morning, the streets were empty and he needn’t fear being discovered.

It was now that Ning Zhiheng’s formidable stamina shone through. Despite the heavy exertion, he ran at a blistering pace without slowing for a moment. After half an hour, he finally arrived at Bluestone Teahouse.

He went straight to the back door, knocked rapidly, urgency forbidding any further delay—he would have to wake Xia Deyan directly.

The knocking quickly roused Xia Deyan inside the teahouse. Alert, he did not respond immediately, but swiftly retrieved a pistol from beneath the bed, crept to the back door, and hid behind a corner to observe the situation. Why would someone knock at this hour?

The knocking continued, growing more urgent. Xia Deyan reasoned it certainly wasn’t the enemy; otherwise, they would have stormed in for a surprise attack rather than simply knocking to wake him.

“Who is it? What’s the matter at this hour?” Xia Deyan finally called out.

He vaguely glimpsed something being slid under the door. The knocking ceased.

After a moment, when all was quiet outside, Xia Deyan turned on the light, approached the door, and discovered a document folder had been pushed underneath.

What was going on? Someone wanted him to have this folder!

He picked it up, opened the door cautiously, and peered outside. The night was silent and empty; no one was there.

Clearly, the visitor had left. Xia Deyan glanced at the folder in his hand in confusion, then retreated inside and shut the door.

Watching in the darkness, Ning Zhiheng confirmed that Farmer had received the folder, finally set his mind at ease, and melted into the night.

Back in his room, Xia Deyan quickly opened the folder. On top was a sheet of white paper, with the words boldly written: “Zhang Pei eliminated. Wu Quanjiang exposed and under surveillance. Must relocate before dawn. Shadow.”

Just a handful of words, yet they left Xia Deyan utterly shocked. Zhang Pei was the traitor who had betrayed Lu Ming two months ago; Xia Deyan had first learned the name from a note left by “Shadow.”

Now it was clear: Zhang Pei had been eliminated. The traitor who had threatened the underground party’s safety had finally met his end.

But who was Wu Quanjiang? Xia Deyan didn’t know—the underground party was tightly organized, and on each line, members knew only their immediate superior and subordinate. Who was Wu Quanjiang? Judging by the note, he seemed to be a comrade.

Once he finished reading the dossier, the answer became clear—and the matter was far more serious than he had imagined. His body broke out in cold sweat.

Wu Quanjiang was actually a key member of the underground party’s Nanjing Provincial Committee. The dossier’s contents made its authenticity obvious at a glance.

The investigation was frighteningly thorough; clearly, Wu Quanjiang had been under surveillance for some time, yet the danger was imminent and the underground party was completely unaware!

Xia Deyan’s gaze returned to the sheet of paper, to the elegant, familiar Song-type script, and especially to the fluid signature: “Shadow.”

It was a message from “Shadow.”