Chapter 49
The "Sea Burial Church" isn't a true church, but a massive, completely refitted, derelict cruise ship permanently anchored in a hidden fjord off the coast of Redmayne. Its hull is rusted, and most of its windows are pitch black, making it a veritable floating steel tomb. Once a key base for Qin Zhengfeng's early shady dealings, it now serves as one of his potential hiding places.
Qin Xiao had obtained a very quiet speedboat through black market channels. It glided across the dark sea like a ghost in the night, avoiding the main channel and heading towards the coordinates. The sea breeze was fierce and biting.
Gu Jing sat at the bow, motionless, like a cold statue. His wound had been treated briefly, but the burning abrasion on his ear and the deeper cracks in his heart would not heal easily. Zhou Liguang's words, the mysterious sniper, the missing cigarette case... all the clues were tangled like a tangled thread, and Qin Zhengfeng seemed the only thread that could unravel it all.
739 was concentrating on driving the boat, while Qin Xiao kept checking the tablet in his hand, which showed the old structural diagram of the "Sea Burial Church" and limited real-time thermal signal scanning data.
"The defense is very tight," Qin Xiao lowered his voice, pointing to several flashing red dots on the tablet, "There are patrol boats on the periphery, and secret guards are stationed at key positions on the hull. Breaking in by force is suicide."
"What are your plans?" Gu Jing's voice was a little scattered by the sea breeze, but he was extremely calm.
"The old man values his life. The interior of this wreck is as complicated as a maze, but the core area where he's staying must be impregnable and have an emergency escape route." Qin Xiao's eyes flashed with calculation. "Let's not touch those tough bones. Let's go to the 'power compartment'."
"Power pod?"
"Although this broken ship is scrapped, the backup generators that maintain basic operations and defense systems are still in the engine room," Qin Xiao explained. "That's the 'heart' of the entire ship, and it's also the place with relatively weak monitoring and the place that would cause the greatest chaos if it were paralyzed. If the old man was really up there and something happened to the engine room, he would either send people to defend it or... he would be forced out."
The risk is extremely high, but it is the only possible way to get close to the core.
The speedboat shut down its engine about a mile from the "Sea Burial Church" and, using inertia, glided quietly toward the shadow of a reef. The three of them changed into pure black diving suits, simple scuba gear, and waterproof weapon bags.
"Follow me after you get into the water and pay attention to the undercurrent." Qin Xiao was the first to slide silently into the freezing cold sea water.
Gu Jing and 739 followed closely behind. Visibility in the water was extremely low, with only the beam of light from the diving flashlight piercing the inky darkness. The massive cruise ship's underside loomed before them like a cliff, covered in thick barnacles and seaweed, like the skin of a monster.
Qin Xiao clearly knew the area well. He guided the two men around possible sensors and underwater obstacles, sneaking along the bottom of the ship until they finally stopped in front of a large grate that looked like an abandoned drain. He pulled a miniature underwater cutter from his equipment bag, and the dark blue flames silently melted through several rusted bars.
The three of them went in one after another, and inside was a dark pipe system filled with rust and the smell of decay. They took off their scuba gear and climbed up along the narrow and slippery pipe.
After an unknown amount of time, a faint light and air movement appeared ahead. Qin Xiao carefully pushed open a maintenance hatch disguised as a bulkhead, and the three of them quietly slipped inside.
Before me was a narrow metal corridor filled with pipes and valves, the air thick with the smell of motor oil and ozone. This was already the interior of the "Sea Burial Church," and in the distance came the low roar of a generator.
"This way." Qin Xiao gestured, referring to the diagram on the tablet. The three of them moved through the intricate passages like shadows, avoiding scattered cameras and patrols.
The closer we got to the engine compartment, the stronger the vibrations in the air became, and the louder the roar of the machinery. Finally, a heavy metal door with an observation window appeared at the end of the passage, and two armed guards stood at the door.
Qin Xiao signaled to stop and hid in the shadows around the corner. "We have no choice but to force it. A quick and decisive battle."
Gu Jing and 739 nodded. Qin Xiao took a deep breath and dodged suddenly!
"Puff! Puff!" Two extremely quiet, silenced gunshots rang out. The two guards didn't even see who was coming before they were shot between the eyebrows and fell to the ground.
Qin Xiao quickly dragged the body to a corner, while Gu Jing checked the door lock. It was an electronic combination lock.
"It will take time to crack it." 739 whispered.
"There's no time." Qin Xiao took out a small directional blasting charge from his equipment bag. "Blow it up! Get ready, there might be someone inside!"
After the explosives were placed, the three men retreated and hid.
"boom!"
With a muffled sound, the door lock was blown off and the door panel bounced inward!
Almost the moment the door opened, the scene inside the power compartment came into view—a massive backup generator was humming along, its noise deafening. And right next to the generator, four or five technicians were busy. When they heard the explosion, they looked up in panic!
What shocked Gu Jing even more was that he saw one of them wearing an engineer's uniform with his back to them. That back... looked somewhat familiar?!
In the split second between those technicians subconsciously wanting to press the alarm or draw their weapons—
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Several familiar, subtle sounds of breaking through the air rang out again!
It was emitted from the shadows of the intricate steel beams and pipes above the power cabin!
The technicians collapsed to the ground, also shot dead! Only the engineer with the familiar back seemed to have been deliberately spared. The bullet shattered the communicator in his hand, and he crouched on the ground, trembling with fear, holding his head.
That sniper again?! He's actually here too?! He's cleared the way for them again, yet he still hasn't shown up!
Qin Xiao cursed, raised his gun and vigilantly scanned the shadows above, but there was no one there.
Gu Jing's heartbeat went haywire again. He stared at the engineer squatting on the ground and walked towards him step by step.
The man seemed to sense someone approaching and raised his head tremblingly.
The moment he saw the other person's face clearly, Gu Jing was struck by lightning and froze in place!
That face...although it was pale and haggard, and full of fear, Gu Jing would never make a mistake!
It was Engineer Han, his father's most trusted CTO when he was at Gu Group, and the one in charge of the core laboratory security system! He should have disappeared when the Gu family incident happened! How could he be here?! On Qin Zhengfeng's ship?!
When Engineer Han saw Gu Jing, his pupils suddenly contracted, and an expression of extreme fear and disbelief appeared on his face. His lips trembled, and he seemed to want to say something, but no sound came out.
The huge mystery submerged Gu Jing like a tsunami.
Qin Zhengfeng, Engineer Han, Gu's core technology, the chip, the man behind the scenes, and... Qin Yu!
What kind of earth-shattering connection is hidden between all of this? !
Gu Jing squatted down and grabbed Engineer Han by the collar, his voice hoarse and distorted due to extreme shock and anxiety:
"Han Gong! Why are you here?! Tell me! What happened?!"
Engineer Han's pupils trembled violently under Gu Jing's gaze, and fear almost overflowed from his eyes. His lips moved, but before he could utter a broken syllable -
“Woo-la-la-la!”
A piercing alarm suddenly blared, instantly drowning out the roar of the generator! Red warning lights spun wildly throughout the engine compartment, illuminating everyone's face like a ghost!
The blasting entrance finally triggered the highest level alarm!
"Fuck! Let's go!" Qin Xiao reacted very quickly, pulling up Gu Jing who was still in shock, and yelled at 739, "Take him with you!" He was referring to Engineer Han.
739 didn't hesitate and struck Engineer Han on the back of the neck with a palm, knocking him unconscious, then swiftly carried him onto his shoulder.
There were dense and rapid footsteps and shouts coming from outside the power cabin, and the guards were rushing over frantically!
"This way!" Qin Xiao rushed to an inconspicuous maintenance passage on the other side of the power compartment based on the structural diagram he remembered. The passage was narrow, only wide enough for one person to pass through, and was filled with thick pipes and cables.
The three of them (plus the unconscious Engineer Han) squeezed into the passage. Qin Xiao struggled to close a heavy fire door behind him and used the tools he had with him to lock the latch. Immediately, there was a violent banging and gunfire outside the door, but the heavy fire door temporarily blocked the attack.
"This passage leads to the abandoned cargo hold in the bottom cabin. There may be a way out!" Qin Xiao panted and groped forward.
Gu Jing's heart was still pounding, not only because of the pursuers, but also because of the huge shock brought by the appearance of Engineer Han. His father's old subordinate, an insider of the core technology, appeared in Qin Zhengfeng's lair... The truth hidden behind this may be darker and more complicated than he imagined.
The passage was dark, damp, and lacking in oxygen. The four of them struggled forward, the sound of doors slamming behind them incessant, like the footsteps of death.
After an unknown amount of time, a glimmer of light and an upward iron ladder appeared ahead. Qin Xiao climbed up and carefully pushed open a hatch. Outside was the cold, sea-smelling air.
They climbed out and found themselves in a huge warehouse filled with abandoned containers on the ground floor of the "Sea Burial Church". It was dimly lit and silent, and it seemed that the alarm had not yet affected them.
"It's safe for now." Qin Xiao leaned against the container, breathing heavily, and checked the ammunition. "But they will be found soon."
Gu Jing's eyes fell on Engineer Han, who was put on the ground by 739. He walked over and splashed cold water on his face.
Engineer Han woke up slowly, and when he saw Gu Jing and the surrounding environment, fear emerged again.
"Engineer Han," Gu Jing's voice was low and oppressive, with an unquestionable determination, "You have no time to be afraid, and you have no choice. Tell me, why are you here? What's going on with Gu's technology and my parents' death?"
Engineer Han looked at Gu Jing's eyes, which were very similar to his late father's, but now as cold as a knife, and his psychological defenses finally collapsed. He burst into tears and began to speak intermittently:
"It's...it's Zhou Liguang...and Qin Zhengfeng...they've been colluding for a long time..."
"Mr. Gu...your father...he discovered that Qin Zhengfeng was using Gu's medical channels to conduct illegal genetic experiments...he wanted to expose...and Zhou Liguang..."
"They staged an accident... forced me to tamper with lab data and security records... locked me up here... and helped them maintain those shady systems..."
Although it was only a fragment, it was enough to confirm Gu Jing's worst suspicion! His parents' death was no accident, but a murder orchestrated by Zhou Liguang and Qin Zhengfeng! And the Gu family had long been hollowed out and exploited by these termites!
A bone-chilling hatred surged and solidified in Gu Jing's chest like magma. All his previous doubts and pain found a clear purpose at this moment!
The end of a business war is no longer a fight for profit, but a settlement of blood debts with blood!
Just then, there was a clatter of footsteps and lights coming from the warehouse entrance! The search team is coming!
"There's no time!" Qin Xiao growled, "We have to find a way to get off this broken ship!"
Suddenly, a slight rhythmic knocking sound came from an abandoned container in the corner of the warehouse!
Morse code?!
Qin Xiao and Gu Jing looked at each other and approached cautiously.
The knocking sound translates to: [Follow me, there is a way.]
Who is it?!
Qin Xiao made a gesture, indicating 739 to keep an eye on Engineer Han, and he and Gu Jing, one on the left and one on the right, suddenly opened the door of the container!
It was empty inside, except for a large inspection cover on the container wall that should have been welded shut. It was pitch black behind it, and it seemed to be another secret passage leading to the interior of the hull.
Next to the access cover, a note was stapled to it with a dagger.
Qin Xiao took the note, which had only one line of printed words on it:
[The antibody is in Redmayne Central Bank, safe deposit box 714, password: Gu Jing's birthday.]
It’s that mysterious man again!
Not only does he/she know they are there, but he/she also provides the whereabouts of the antibodies and the path they take to leave! What is the purpose?
The footsteps of the pursuers were getting closer.
No time to hesitate!
"Trust him this time!" Qin Xiao made a quick decision and was the first to enter the maintenance passage. Gu Jing took a deep look at the note, engraved the password in his mind, and followed closely behind. 739 carried Engineer Han and followed him in.
The passage twisted upwards, seemingly leading to a higher floor of the ship. They struggled to crawl up, finally emerging from a ventilation vent and arriving at a hidden corner on the top deck of the cruise ship!
Outside, the sea breeze howled. In the distance, the lights of Redmayne Harbor could be seen against the night sky. And not far away, on the sea, a ghostly speedboat, devoid of any lights, floated silently. A figure stood at the bow, signaling to them.
It’s a support!
The three of them, along with Engineer Han, quickly slid down the gangway and jumped onto the speedboat that arrived. The speedboat immediately started up, its engine emitting a low roar, cutting through the dark sea and speeding towards Redmayne Port.
The figure standing at the bow of the boat always had his back to them, his body blending into the night, and his face could not be seen clearly.
Gu Jing's heart was beating wildly. He stared at the back. An indescribable premonition, a mixture of huge doubt and a hint of absurd hope, almost suffocated him.
When the speedboat approached the port, the man gestured, indicating that they should go ashore near a private pier. Then, the speedboat made a sharp turn and disappeared into the night, as if it had never appeared.
The four of them stepped onto the dock, feeling as if they were in another world.
Qin Xiao immediately contacted his remaining men. Soon, several cars drove up silently and took them away.
Inside the safely moving carriage, Gu Jing leaned against the window, watching the city lights and shadows whizz by. The chessboard of the business war had become clear, and the enemy's face was completely exposed. What followed would be a thunderous counterattack and reckoning.
In his hand, he tightly grasped the note that stated the whereabouts of the antibodies.
Antibodies...what Qin Zhengfeng and Zhou Liguang fought for at all costs, now its whereabouts are right in front of him.
And that mysterious contact...that figure...
Gu Jing slowly closed his eyes.
Qin Yu...
If this is your plan...
If you're still alive...
Well, this time, I won't let you take control of everything alone.
Under the impact of extreme hatred and huge mysteries, the ice of emotions began to crack. Surge beneath it was an even more complex and turbulent undercurrent.
Whether it is revenge or seeking an answer, he has stood at the critical point of the storm.
The car sped silently towards Redmayne Central Bank. The final curtain was about to be raised.
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