Chapter 118: Clues Found in the Archives!

"Those are declassified peripheral materials; feel free to look at them. As for the core materials..."

He paused, raised his chin, and gave me a "what can you do about it?" look.

“Little girl, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you have a note. Every page here is related to the lives and fortunes of countless people. This is not a place for you youngsters to play house.”

He kept calling her "little girl," and his contempt was undisguised in his eyes.

Clearly, he mistook Su Yue for a young family member who was just messing around because of her husband's relationship with him.

Su Yue understood.

It's pointless to reason with a rock in a latrine.

She wasn't angry; instead, she smiled.

She withdrew her gaze and looked at the unnatural, dragging motion of Old Zhou's right leg as he stood up.

There's also his habitual habit of unconsciously pounding his lower back with the back of his hand.

“Uncle Zhou,” Su Yue’s voice suddenly became light and airy, “Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Instead of getting angry with me here, you should get your back treated sooner and suffer less.”

Old Zhou froze, then turned around abruptly and glared at her.

"You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting!"

"Am I talking nonsense?"

Instead of retreating, Su Yue advanced, her gaze landing precisely on his lower back.

"Your back pain isn't just a simple case of strain. I suspect it's a lingering ailment from those cold, damp tunnels years ago?"

"Right-sided transverse process syndrome of the third lumbar region compresses the nerve, so when the pain occurs, it feels like there's a red-hot iron skewer twisting inside your right leg, from the groin to the heel, right?"

With each sentence Su Yue spoke, Old Zhou's face paled a little more.

He stared at Su Yue with wide eyes, as if he had seen a ghost, his mouth opened and closed, but he couldn't utter a single word.

These symptoms were his secret suffering that he never told anyone else!

Even the best experts at the military hospital could only say it was chronic lumbar muscle strain, without being able to give a proper explanation.

How did this young girl know?!

"You...how could you..."

How I know is not important.

Seeing his reaction, Su Yue knew she had made the right bet.

She took a step forward, exuding an aura of power.

"The important thing is that I can cure it."

"You?" Old Zhou instinctively expressed his doubt.

"Just me, Su Yue, Huo Lao's last disciple and a specially appointed expert at the military hospital."

Su Yue spoke slowly and deliberately, each identity like a boulder crashing down on Old Man Zhou's heart.

He was completely dumbfounded.

This seemingly delicate little girl actually has such a powerful background?

Seeing that the time was right, Su Yue unleashed her final trump card.

"Uncle Zhou, let's make a bet. You can give me a massage for ten minutes. If it doesn't work, I'll leave without saying a word and never bother you again."

"But what if...it works?"

A sly smile curved her lips.

"Please, do me the favor and let me see the files I want to see. How about that?"

Old Zhou had been tormented by a back injury for decades, and had tried everything he could think of, so he had long since given up hope.

But looking into Su Yue's confident and clear eyes, the extinguished hope in his heart suddenly rekindled.

"good!"

He gritted his teeth, as if he had made a tremendous decision.

"If you can really make my old back feel a little better, I'll not only look at the files, I'll empty this entire archive room!"

"That's not necessary."

Su Yue smiled slightly, "Please sit down."

She had Old Zhou sit in a chair with his back to her, then took a deep breath and focused her mental energy on her fingertips.

She didn't use silver needles; instead, she put her index and middle fingers together and quickly, accurately, and forcefully pressed several key acupoints on Old Man Zhou's waist.

Chengfu, Yinmen, Huantiao...

One press, one push, one knead.

Her movements looked simple, but the force she applied was precise, penetrating the skin and reaching the affected area.

Old Zhou initially stubbornly refused, looking completely disbelieving.

But when Su Yue's fingers pressed on a sore spot on his waist, he felt a tingling and swollen heat burst from his lower back, and then, like a bolt of lightning, it traveled down his right leg and straight to his feet!

"Well!"

He couldn't help but groan, and a fine layer of cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.

That feeling was both painful and pleasurable!

A dozen minutes later, Su Yue withdrew her hand, her forehead beaded with sweat.

"Okay, try standing up and walking a few steps."

The office was deathly silent.

Old Zhou sat stiffly in the chair, motionless.

Su Yue didn't urge him.

After a full half minute, Old Zhou finally managed to stand up, shakily supporting himself on the table.

He first moved his right leg cautiously, then tentatively took one step, and then another...

After walking around twice, he suddenly stopped, his face showing an expression of ecstasy and disbelief.

He stomped his right foot hard and bent over.

It doesn't hurt anymore!

The "iron skewer" that had tormented him for most of his life had actually disappeared!

My entire lower back feels warm and comfortable, and I feel relaxed like never before!

"Oh my goodness!"

Old Zhou was so excited that his face turned red. He slapped his thigh and looked back at Su Yue with a gaze that had changed from contempt to fervent admiration.

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

He rushed to Su Yue in one stride, his attitude completely changing, and his face beaming with a smile.

"Daughter...no! Dr. Su! Dr. Su! Please, please come inside!"

He rubbed his hands together, bowing and scraping as he led Su Yue into the inner room, his attitude even more respectful than towards Dean Wang.

"Dr. Su, what do you need to find? Tell me! I'll find it for you personally!"

Su Yue looked at him and chuckled inwardly.

As expected, the only way to truly subdue anyone who dares to challenge you is through sheer strength.

Under Old Zhou's guidance, Su Yue finally entered the real core archive area.

She gave the date: "October 23, 1947."

Old Zhou didn't dare to delay. He climbed the ladder and quickly pulled out a yellowed and brittle file wrapped in kraft paper from a cabinet on the top shelf.

On the cover of the file, several large characters were written in calligraphy: Supplies Escort Mission (Top Secret).

Su Yue's heart jumped into her throat instantly.

She took the file and opened it eagerly.

My fingers trembled slightly from nervousness.

The file records a failed "supply escort mission." A batch of medicines and important supplies destined for the front lines were ambushed by enemy agents en route, resulting in the annihilation of the entire team and the disappearance of the leader.

Su Yue flipped through the pages one by one, looking at them with utmost care, not even missing a single punctuation mark.

However, the words "lone eagle" never appeared from beginning to end.

There wasn't a single clue.

how so?

A huge wave of disappointment washed over her. She leaned against the cold metal cabinet, feeling as if all her strength had been drained away.

Could it be that... the trail ends here?

No.

wrong.

Su Yue suddenly opened her eyes.

She still has mental strength!