Chapter 270 Mother's Faction
Su Wantang returned to Courtyard No. 1 and went straight into the study.
She locked the door and slipped into the Begonia Space.
The spiritual spring in the space was still flowing, and the moonflower grass in the herb field was growing well. But she had no mind to look at these things right now.
She took out two diamond-shaped badges from her bosom, and then removed the phoenix blood jade bracelet from her wrist, placing the three items together.
Under the light, the two badges look almost identical, both depicting an eagle with outstretched wings grasping a crescent moon.
But the reaction of the jade bracelet was completely different.
When they got close to the assassin's bracelet, it was so cold it felt sharp to the touch, and the feeling it gave them was deathly, like touching rotting flesh.
When I switched to the bracelet belonging to prisoner number three, the temperature was normal, and there was a faint warmth. I couldn't quite describe the feeling, but I didn't dislike it.
Su Wantang stared at the two badges for a long time.
The eagle's talons, one grips tightly, the other loosely. The curvature of the crescent moon also has subtle differences.
You can't notice it unless you look closely.
She put down the badge and opened the book, "The Bai Family Records".
She had read this book several times already; it only recorded the deeds of the Bai family throughout the ages, nothing particularly special.
But today she looked through it with unusual care.
She stopped when she turned to the middle page.
The edges of the pages are a bit yellowed, unlike the other pages.
She leaned closer and smelled it; there was a very faint medicinal scent.
Su Wantang's heart skipped a beat.
She took out some spiritual spring water from her spatial storage, dipped a cotton swab in it, and gently applied it to the pages of the book.
The words slowly appeared.
Her small regular script is exquisite, with each stroke meticulously executed.
"The ancestors of the Bai family once entered Eagle's Nest, intending to change it from within. However, Eagle's Nest had become a malignant tumor, beyond cure. So the ancestors established the Begonia lineage to secretly resist it. Begonia uses a rhombus shape as its mark, but there are differences in the details to distinguish friend from foe."
There's another section after that.
"Xiuzhu, if you see this, it means your mother is no longer alive. Remember, the Haitang lineage has been passed down through generations, and you are the young master of this generation. The jade bracelet can distinguish friend from foe, so be sure to keep it safe. The Eagle's Nest is powerful, so never act rashly."
Su Wantang gripped the book tightly, her fingers trembling.
It turns out that Mother was not a traitor to the Eagle's Nest.
She is the young master of the Begonia faction.
The third prisoner was one of our own.
She took a deep breath, closed the book, and turned to leave the space.
It was almost dawn.
She changed her clothes, called Qin Zheng, and headed straight for the secret stronghold where prisoners were held.
The place was in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Beijing, and it was guarded by Gao Jianjun's men.
Su Wantang got out of the car, and Qin Zheng followed behind.
“Miss, do you really want to see that Number Three?” Qin Zheng lowered his voice. “That person is very strange. He hasn’t said a word since he was captured.”
“Okay.” Su Wantang nodded. “I’ll see him alone.”
Qin Zheng wanted to offer some advice, but seeing her expression, he swallowed his words.
The two entered the factory, walked through a long corridor, and arrived at the interrogation room at the very back.
Two heavily armed soldiers stood at the entrance.
"Boss Bai." One of them saluted.
Su Wantang nodded: "I want to see Number Three."
"yes."
The soldier opened the door, and inside sat a middle-aged man.
He was in his forties, with a sallow complexion and sunken eyes, clearly suffering from long-term malnutrition.
He was tied to a chair, head down, motionless.
Su Wantang went inside, and Qin Zheng wanted to follow, but she stopped him.
"Wait outside."
"Young Miss..."
"fine."
Qin Zheng hesitated for a moment, then went out and closed the door.
Only Su Wantang and Number Three remained in the interrogation room.
She pulled up a chair and sat down, not saying a word, just looking at him.
Number Three raised his head, his eyes vacant, like a dead man.
Su Wantang took the warm badge out of her pocket and placed it on the table.
Number Three's gaze fell on the badge, and his eyelids twitched.
She then took off the phoenix blood jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it on the table.
The jade bracelet gleamed with a warm glow under the light.
Number Three stared at the jade bracelet, and his expression finally changed.
His lips trembled, and he made muffled sounds in his throat.
"Young...Young Master"
Su Wantang's heart skipped a beat.
She nodded: "It's me."
Number three's eyes instantly reddened, and tears streamed down his face.
"Young Master...you're still alive..." His voice trembled. "I thought...I thought you were alive too..."
Su Wantang gripped the jade bracelet tightly: "You belong to Haitang."
"Yes." Number Three nodded vigorously. "My name is Fang Zheng, and I am a bodyguard under Madam Bai. When Madam had her accident, I risked my life to escape and have been looking for you ever since."
“My mother…” Su Wantang paused, “How did she die?”
Fang Zheng closed his eyes, and the tears flowed even more fiercely.
“It was Mr. Shadow.” He gritted his teeth. “He discovered Madam’s identity, set a trap to lure her to the docks in Shanghai, and then…”
He couldn't continue.
Su Wantang dug her fingers into her palm, the pain bringing her to her senses.
"Then what"
"Then the lady was surrounded and attacked, shot multiple times, and fell into the Huangpu River." Fang Zheng choked up, "I was there too, but I couldn't save her..."
Su Wantang took a deep breath, suppressing her surging emotions.
How did you get arrested?
“I infiltrated Eagle’s Nest, hoping to find an opportunity to kill Mr. Shadow.” Fang Zheng shook his head. “But I failed and was imprisoned by them. Later, when Brigade Commander Lu took down that stronghold, I was brought back as a prisoner.”
Su Wantang stared at him for a few seconds.
How many people are still living in the Haitang area?
“Not many left,” Fang Zheng said. “After Madam’s accident, Mr. Shadow carried out a large-scale purge, and many people died. Now, scattered in various places, there are only about ten left in total.”
Where are they?
"I don't know." Fang Zheng shook his head. "The rules of Haitang are one-way communication, and neither party knows the other's whereabouts."
Su Wantang fell silent.
A dozen or so people against the entire Eagle's Nest—this battle is unwinnable.
"Young Master," Fang Zheng suddenly said, "Madam left something behind."
Su Wantang looked up: "What?"
“A list,” Fang Zheng said in a low voice, “containing the contact information of everyone in Haitang, as well as the spies inside Eagle's Nest.”
Su Wantang's heart skipped a beat.
Where is the list?
“I don’t know,” Fang Zheng said. “Madam only told me that the list is hidden in a place that only the young master can open.”
"Where?"
"The place where crabapple blossoms bloom."
Su Wantang was stunned.
Where crabapple blossoms bloom
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
There are crabapple blossoms in the space.
But it grows by the spirit spring; what could it possibly have to do with the clues left by my mother?
She stood up and put the jade bracelet back on her wrist.
"You stay here for now, I'll figure out a way to get you out of here."
"Young Master..." Fang Zheng was about to say something when she interrupted him.
"Don't call me Young Master," Su Wantang said. "Call me Bai Shu."
Fang Zheng paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, Boss Bai."
Su Wantang turned and left the interrogation room.
Qin Zheng immediately came forward: "Young Miss, how is it?"
“He’s one of us,” Su Wantang said. “Find a way to get him out of here and give him a new identity.”
Qin Zheng was taken aback: "One of our own?"
"Okay." Su Wantang didn't explain further. "Hurry up, don't let anyone find out."
"yes."
The two walked out of the factory; it was already broad daylight.
Su Wantang got into the car, leaned back in the seat, and closed her eyes to rest.
My mind was filled with Fang Zheng's words.
The place where crabapple blossoms.
...
Northwest, canyon.
Lu Jingyan hung up the phone and put away the communicator.
He stood at the entrance to the canyon, holding binoculars in his hand.
The canyon was very deep, with steep cliffs on both sides. At the bottom of the canyon, a child sat on a rock, holding a rattle drum in his arms.
Wang Kun walked over: "Brigade Commander Lu, should we retreat first?"
"Don't retreat." Lu Jingyan put down his binoculars. "Go in."
"But……"
"Listen to me."
The members of the Knife Tip Squad followed behind, guns at the ready, watching their surroundings warily.
They entered the canyon, their footsteps echoing between the mountain walls.
The child looked up, saw them, and smiled.
"Uncle is here," he said.
Lu Jingyan walked up to him and squatted down: "Where's your father?"
"I don't know," the child shook his head. "He told me to wait for you here."
Lu Jingyan stared at him for a few seconds: "What's your name?"
"Little stone".
"Little Stone, do you know what your father is doing?"
"I don't know," Little Stone said. "He only asked me to deliver things to you."
Lu Jingyan reached out and patted his head: "Good boy."
He stood up and turned to look at Wang Kun.
Wang Kun understood and led two people forward, preparing to take Xiao Shitou away.
Suddenly, dozens of dark gun barrels appeared on the mountain walls on both sides of the canyon.
Lu Jingyan's pupils contracted.
"Lie down!"
Before he could finish speaking, a gunshot rang out.
Bullets rained down, kicking up dust as they hit the ground.
The members of the Knife Tip Squad quickly took cover and returned fire.
Lu Jingyan threw himself on Xiao Shitou to protect him.
The bullet grazed his shoulder, tearing a hole in his clothes.
"Brigade Commander Lu!" Wang Kun shouted.
"Don't worry about me!" Lu Jingyan roared, "Cover the retreat!"
The gunfire grew increasingly frequent.
The canyon turned into a giant trap, and they were stuck at the bottom, unable to move forward or backward.
Lu Jingyan hugged the small stone and hid behind a boulder.
Little Stone was so frightened that he trembled all over and dropped the rattle drum on the ground.
"Don't be afraid," Lu Jingyan said. "Uncle will protect you."
He took out his communicator and pressed the button.
"Gao Jianjun, this is Lu Jingyan," he said. "We've been ambushed in the canyon and need backup."
Gao Jianjun's voice came through the communicator: "Received, will arrive in ten minutes."
Lu Jingyan put away the communicator, picked up his gun, and fired at the mountain wall.
The bullets struck the rocks, sending sparks flying.
The gunmen on the cliff were equally fierce, raining down bullets as if they were free.
One by one, the members of the Knife Point Squad fell.
Wang Kun rushed to Lu Jingyan's side, but was shot in the shoulder and bled profusely.
“Brigade Commander Lu…” he said through gritted teeth, “We’ve been surrounded.”
Lu Jingyan glanced around.
There were at least fifty gunmen on the cliffs on both sides of the canyon.
Their firepower was too intense; the Knife Point Squad simply couldn't withstand it.
"Hold on," Lu Jingyan said. "Reinforcements will be here soon."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the roar of a helicopter came from outside the canyon.
Gao Jianjun's men have arrived.
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