Chapter 267 I'm Behind You
On the other end of the phone, Lu Jingyan heard no sound for a long time, only static from the electrical circuit.
His heart tightened.
"Wantang, it's me." He lowered his voice. "Something's happened."
Su Wantang bit her lip, her nose stinging with tears.
She wanted to say it was nothing, but her voice trembled with tears as soon as it came out: "It's nothing, it's just... I miss you."
Lu Jingyan remained silent for a few seconds.
“Go to the study.” His voice was steady and strong. “Open the third drawer. The password is your birthday. There’s something inside for you.”
Su Wantang paused for a moment, then got up and went into the study.
She opened the third drawer and entered her birthdate.
With a snap, the hidden compartment popped open.
Inside lay a small, exquisite Browning pistol, two full magazines, and a folded note.
She unfolded the note; it bore Lu Jingyan's strong, vigorous handwriting:
"Remember, I'll always be there for you."
Su Wantang's tears fell.
She gripped the pistol tightly; the gun was still warm, as if it had just been taken from his hand.
"Did you get it?" Lu Jingyan asked.
"Mmm," Su Wantang replied in a hoarse voice.
“Qin Zheng will activate ‘Hound,’ but I have a backup plan in Beijing,” Lu Jingyan said. “Don’t worry, wait for me to get back.”
He didn't ask her what danger she had encountered, nor did he pry for details; he simply told her in the simplest way that he was there.
Su Wantang sniffed: "Have you caught the messenger over there?"
“They escaped,” Lu Jingyan said, “but we captured Black Sand Scorpion and uncovered several strongholds. We plan to take them down early tomorrow morning.”
"Be careful," Su Wantang said.
"You too." Lu Jingyan paused for a moment. "Put the gun under your pillow when you sleep at night. Don't worry about it going off accidentally. I've adjusted the safety."
Su Wantang laughed: "Do you think I'm a greenhorn?"
"No," Lu Jingyan's voice lowered, "I just wanted you to know that I've always been by your side."
Su Wantang's heart clenched.
“I know,” she said. “I’ll wait for you to come back.”
"good."
The call ended.
Su Wantang sat at her desk, staring at the pistol for a long time.
She picked up the gun and skillfully disassembled, inspected, loaded, and reassembled it.
Her movements were so fluid that she didn't look like a twenty-year-old girl.
She tucked the pistol into its holster at her waist, got up, and left the study.
Qin Zheng was still patrolling the yard.
"Young Miss." He walked over quickly.
"The hound has started," Su Wantang asked.
"It's been launched," Qin Zheng said. "According to the plan left by Brigade Commander Lu, thirty checkpoints have been set up throughout Beijing to specifically monitor suspicious out-of-towners."
"Any news about that candied hawthorn vendor?"
"No." Qin Zheng shook his head. "That person ran too fast, and our people lost track of him."
Su Wantang frowned: "Keep searching."
"yes."
"And one more thing," Su Wantang said, "Starting tomorrow, the guard company at the Lu family compound will add a shift of men, working in 24-hour shifts. Two more people will be added outside Miss Lu's room."
"Understood," Qin Zheng replied.
When Su Wantang returned to her room, Wang Ma had already brought out the food.
"Miss, you need to eat something," Wang Ma advised.
Su Wantang nodded, sat down, and ate a few bites.
The food was her favorite, but now it tasted bland and tasteless.
She managed to eat half a bowl of rice before putting down her chopsticks.
Wang Ma looked at her with concern: "Miss, don't be too nervous. Commander Lu is so capable, he'll definitely be fine."
"I know." Su Wantang smiled. "Aunt Wang, you should get some rest."
After Wang Ma left, Su Wantang lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
She reached under the pillow and held the pistol in her hand.
The gun was cold, but it made her feel at ease.
The sound of Qin Zheng and his men patrolling could be heard outside the window.
She closed her eyes, her mind filled with the look in the eyes of the candied hawthorn vendor from earlier that day.
That look in his eyes was as cold as the Gobi Desert in Northwest China.
She suddenly remembered something.
The vendor was wearing a blue cloth jacket with a small hole in the cuff.
She opened her eyes and sat up.
Where had she seen this detail before?
She got out of bed, went into the study, and took out the file that Qin Zheng had compiled.
On Nightingale Island in Hong Kong, among the Huo family's assassins, there is one named "Blue Shirt".
The file states that this person is skilled at disguise, likes to wear blue clothes, and has a cigarette burn hole on his right sleeve.
Su Wantang's hand trembled slightly.
It was him.
The man in blue chased them from Hong Kong Island all the way to Beijing.
She closed the file and took a deep breath.
She must get rid of this person.
...
Northwest, temporary outpost.
Lu Jingyan hung up the phone, his face frighteningly gloomy.
Wang Kun stood to the side, not daring to breathe.
“Contact Gao Jianjun,” Lu Jingyan said.
"Yes." Wang Kun quickly went to make a phone call.
Ten minutes later, the call was connected.
"Old Lu," Gao Jianjun's voice came through, "What's up so late?"
"Keep a close eye on things in Beijing," Lu Jingyan said. "Especially No. 1 Courtyard and the Lu Family Compound."
Gao Jianjun was stunned for a moment: "Something's happened."
“Someone’s got their eyes on her.” Lu Jingyan’s voice was low. “Someone from Eagle’s Nest.”
Gao Jianjun gasped: "I'll arrange it right away."
“Furthermore,” Lu Jingyan said, “any threat can be acted upon first and reported later.”
Gao Jianjun was silent for a few seconds: "Understood."
The call ended.
Lu Jingyan sat in the chair and lit a cigarette.
He smoked very quickly, finishing a cigarette in just a few puffs.
The smoke swirled in the dim light, his face hidden in the shadows.
Wang Kun walked in: "Brigadier Lu, the Knife Tip Squad is ready."
"What time?" Lu Jingyan asked.
"Three o'clock in the morning."
“Okay.” Lu Jingyan stood up. “Go check on the Black Sand Scorpion.”
In the interrogation room, Black Scorpion was tied to a chair, his face covered in injuries.
He looked up and saw Lu Jingyan enter, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes.
"Is there anything else I haven't said?" Lu Jingyan asked.
“I already told you…” Black Sand Scorpion’s voice trembled.
"You really don't know how the messenger contacts you?"
"I really don't know!" Black Sand Scorpion exclaimed anxiously. "He always shows up out of nowhere, how am I supposed to know where he lives!"
Lu Jingyan stared at him for a few seconds, then turned and walked out.
"Lock him up," he said to Wang Kun. "Take him with you tomorrow."
"yes."
Lu Jingyan walked out of the interrogation room; it was almost dawn outside.
The wind was blowing fiercely in the Gobi Desert, making his military overcoat flutter loudly.
He looked up at the sky.
The stars are very bright.
He remembered Su Wantang crying on the phone.
It felt like my heart had been twisted.
"Commander Lu," Wang Kun called after him, "you should rest."
"No need," Lu Jingyan said. "Go and call the Knife Tip Squad to assemble."
"Now?" Wang Kun was stunned. "Wasn't it supposed to be three in the morning?"
“It’s changed,” Lu Jingyan said. “Let’s set off now.”
He couldn't wait any longer.
He needed to finish things in the Northwest as soon as possible, return to Beijing, and be back by her side.
The Blade Point Squad quickly assembled.
Fifteen people, fully armed, boarded three military trucks.
Lu Jingyan sat in the first car, holding the hand-drawn map in his hand.
The map is marked with seven red dots.
He circled the first red dot with a red pen.
“Let’s go,” he said.
The truck started and drove deep into the Gobi Desert.
...
Beijing, No. 1 Courtyard.
Su Wantang finally fell asleep.
She had a dream.
In her dream, Lu Jingyan stood on the Gobi Desert and reached out his hand to her.
“Come here,” he said.
She tried to run over, but the sand beneath her feet sank deeper and deeper.
She struggled desperately, but couldn't break free.
"Jingyan!" she called out.
Lu Jingyan didn't move; he just stood there watching her.
His eyes were calm, so calm that it frightened her.
"You'll come back, won't you?" she asked.
Lu Jingyan did not answer.
He turned and walked into the sandstorm.
"Jingyan!"
Su Wantang suddenly opened her eyes.
It was already daylight, and birdsong could be heard outside the window.
She sat up, her forehead covered in sweat.
The pistol and the note were still under the pillow.
She picked up the note and read it again.
"Remember, I'll always be there for you."
She gripped the note tightly and took a deep breath.
We must not be afraid.
She got up, washed up, changed into a neat Zhongshan suit, and hid the pistol at her waist.
Qin Zheng was already waiting in the courtyard.
“Miss, Commander Gao called. He said it was arranged by Brigade Commander Lu and that we need to cooperate.”
How to cooperate?
“He sent a whole squad of men to protect you and Miss Lu,” Qin Zheng said. “In addition, plainclothes officers have been stationed at all intersections, stations, and docks in Beijing to keep watch.”
Su Wantang nodded: "Okay."
She walked out of Courtyard No. 1 and got into the car.
“Let’s go to Tangdixuan,” she said.
Halfway there, Qin Zheng suddenly said, "Miss, there's a car following us."
Su Wantang glanced at herself in the rearview mirror.
It was a black sedan, but the license plate number was illegible.
“Get rid of it,” she said.
Qin Zheng stepped on the gas, and the car accelerated and turned into a small alley.
The car behind was in hot pursuit.
Su Wantang pulled out her pistol and released the safety.
“Stop the car,” she said.
Qin Zheng slammed on the brakes, and the car stopped in the alley.
Su Wantang got out of the car and pointed her gun at the black sedan behind her.
The person sitting in the car was not "in blue".
He was a young man in military uniform.
He got out of the car and saluted Su Wantang.
“Mr. Bai, don’t misunderstand,” he said. “I was sent by Commander Gao to protect you.”
Su Wantang stared at him for a few seconds before putting away her pistol.
"Give me a heads-up next time," she said.
"Yes." The young man smiled. "My name is Li Weidong, you can just call me Xiao Li."
Su Wantang got into the car, and Qin Zheng started the car and continued driving forward.
The black sedan followed at a distance, neither too close nor too far.
Su Wantang leaned back in the back seat and closed her eyes.
She knew that from this moment on, she was not fighting alone.
Lu Jingyan was in the Northwest, while she was in Beijing.
They each guarded their own territory, yet their hearts were connected.
Mr. Shadow, if you want to play, I'll play along to the end.
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