Chapter 269 The Warning of the Jade Bracelet
Bai Zhu stood at the edge of the crowd, a cool sensation emanating from the jade bracelet on her wrist.
The feeling was strange; it wasn't just a simple chill, but more like being watched by something. She lowered her eyelids, glancing around the hall out of the corner of her eye.
Guests gathered in twos and threes, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts.
Waiters carried trays and moved among them.
Everything seems normal.
However, the vibrations of the jade bracelet became more and more intense.
Bai Shu picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and his gaze fell on the southeast corner.
There was a young waiter wiping wine glasses.
His movements were standard and his posture was perfect, just like any other waiter.
But his eyes looked wrong.
While others would look down when wiping cups, he stared straight ahead, his eyes empty, like a puppet.
Bai Zhu gripped the wine glass tightly, his fingers touching the miniature communicator on his collar.
That was a military experimental item that Qin Zheng got from Gao Jianjun. It was uncomfortable to wear, but it was useful in critical moments.
“January,” she said in a low voice, “southeast corner, third row, waiter in a white shirt. It was him.”
A response came through the communicator: "Received."
Bai Shu didn't say anything more, and walked in that direction with her wine glass in hand.
The high heels on her feet made a crisp sound as they stepped on the marble floor.
She walked slowly, her steps were steady.
Wu Wenshan was talking to Madam Qian when he caught a glimpse of Bai Shu out of the corner of his eye, and his brows furrowed slightly.
"What is she going to do?" Mrs. Qian asked in a low voice.
"I don't know." Wu Wenshan shook his head. "Keep an eye on it."
On the other side of the hall, January had already begun to move.
She carried a tray and walked in through the side door, approaching her target.
Qin Zheng and two others guarded the back door, while Gao Jianjun's men were scattered in various corners.
Bai Zhu counted her steps.
Ten steps, eight steps, five steps.
She stopped in front of the waiter and smiled gently: "Could you please pour me a glass of wine?"
The waiter looked up, his eyes still vacant.
He put down his glass and picked up the wine bottle from the tray.
Bai Shu looked at his hand.
Those hands were very steady; they didn't move an inch when pouring the wine.
But there was a diamond-shaped scar on the back of his hand, exactly the same as the mark on his pocket watch.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Found it.
The waiter poured the wine and handed it over.
Bai Zhu took the cup and deliberately flicked his wrist.
Red wine spilled out and soaked him.
"Ouch!" Bai Shu covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
The waiter glanced down at his soaked clothes, a flash of annoyance in his eyes.
It was in that very moment.
Bai Zhu flipped her wrist, and the silver needle slid out from her sleeve, precisely piercing the acupoint on the back of his neck.
She acted extremely quickly, in less than the blink of an eye.
The waiter froze, his eyes rolling back.
Bai Shu helped him up and winked at Yi Yue beside him.
January came over immediately and, together with another waiter, helped him restrain himself.
"I'm sorry," January said with an apologetic smile to the surrounding guests. "This young man has had too much to drink. Let's help him down to rest."
After saying that, the two men helped the "drunkard" out the back door.
The whole process took less than ten seconds.
Wu Wenshan's eyelids twitched as he read it.
"Just now..." Mrs. Qian was stunned. "What happened?"
"I don't know." Wu Wenshan stared at Bai Shu's back. "Something just feels off."
Bai Shu turned around, smiled at them, and said, "I'm so sorry to have made you two laugh."
Mrs. Qian chuckled twice: "It's nothing, it's nothing."
Bai Zhu picked up a new wine glass and continued to weave through the crowd.
She greeted the guests with a polite smile.
But the jade bracelet on her wrist had stopped vibrating.
At the back door, Qin Zheng took the "drunkard" and carried him on his shoulder.
"Below" asked in January.
"Yes." Qin Zheng nodded. "The interrogation room."
The two men carried the person downstairs, through a long corridor, and pushed open the basement door.
A dim yellow light shone in the interrogation room.
Qin Zheng threw the person onto a chair and tied him up with a rope.
They searched his body in January.
A wallet, matches, a cigarette case, and a small black box.
"What is this?" January picked up the box, opened it, and took a look.
Inside lay a diamond-shaped badge, exactly the same as the mark on the pocket watch.
There was also a miniature signal transmitter, about the size of a fingernail.
Qin Zheng took it and looked at it: "Who is the transmitter sending the signal to?"
January shook her head: "I don't know."
Qin Zheng took out his communicator: "Miss, the item has been found."
"Bring it up," Bai Shu's voice came. "I'll be right there."
The party was still going on.
Bai Shu chatted with the ladies for a few minutes, then excused himself to go to the restroom and went downstairs.
She pushed open the interrogation room door, and Qin Zheng handed her the badge and the transmitter.
Bai Zhu held it in her hand and examined it against the light.
The diamond-shaped badge is exquisitely crafted, with fine patterns engraved along its edges.
In the center is an eagle with outstretched wings, its talons grasping a crescent moon.
She touched the crescent moon, and her heart skipped a beat.
The pocket watch my mother left behind also has this mark.
"Young Miss," Qin Zheng noticed that her expression was off.
Bai Shu snapped out of his thoughts, put the badge in his pocket, and asked, "Is this person awake yet?"
"Not yet," Qin Zheng said. "You used quite a few needles."
"Hmm." Bai Shu walked to the chair and stared at that face for a few seconds.
He was in his early twenties, with an average appearance and empty eyes.
She reached out and grabbed his chin, twisting it forcefully.
With a snap, his jaw dislocated.
The man suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes filled with terror.
Bai Shu released his grip and patted his face: "You're awake."
The man opened his mouth to speak, but found that his jaw couldn't close, so he could only make muffled sounds.
Bai Shu pulled up a chair, sat down, and crossed his legs: "I ask, you answer. If you're not honest, I'll make sure you can't speak for the rest of your life."
A flicker of fear crossed the man's eyes.
"Who sent you?" Bai Shu asked.
The man shook his head.
Bai Shu laughed: "I won't tell."
She pulled a silver needle from her pocket, examined it under the light, and said, "This needle is poisoned. If you stick it in for three minutes, your whole body will fester. Want to try?"
The man's eyes widened in surprise.
Bai Shu held the needle and slowly brought it closer to his neck.
"Waaah..." The man shook his head desperately.
To tell or not to tell
The man nodded vigorously.
Bai Zhu withdrew the needle and raised her hand to put his chin back on.
The man was panting heavily, his voice trembling: "I...I'll talk..."
"Who sent you?"
"Mr. Shadow".
Bai Shu narrowed his eyes: "What did he tell you to do?"
"To monitor you." The man swallowed hard. "And...and to find something."
What is it?
"A piece of jade."
Bai Zhu tightened her wrist.
Jade bracelet.
She stared at the man: "How did you know the jade was with me?"
“I don’t know.” The man shook his head. “Mr. Shadow only said that the jade would react to the mark.”
Bai Zhu looked down at her wrist.
The jade bracelet is still on her wrist, as warm and lustrous as ever.
“Where is the mark?” she asked.
The man pointed to his chest.
Qin Zheng stepped forward and tore open his clothes.
He had a diamond-shaped mark tattooed on his chest, exactly the same as the one on the badge.
Bai Shu stared at the mark, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.
My mother also has this mark.
So, is she also...?
"Young Miss" Qin Zheng interrupted her thoughts.
Bai Shu snapped out of his daze: "Keep asking. Where is Mr. Shadow now?"
“I don’t know,” the man said. “We’ve never seen him in person; we’ve always communicated with him via signal.”
"Signal"
“Yes.” The man pointed to the transmitter. “This thing emits a specific frequency that Mr. Shadow can receive.”
Bai Zhu picked up the launcher and held it in her hand.
This thing is about the size of a palm and looks inconspicuous.
But if we could actually track her location, that would be too dangerous.
"Who else is with you?" she asked.
"No more," the man shook his head. "It's just me."
Bai Shu stared at him for a few seconds: "Are you sure?"
"Sure."
Bai Shu stood up and threw the launcher to Qin Zheng: "Destroy it."
Qin Zheng caught it, turned around and left.
Only Bai Shu and the assassin remained in the interrogation room.
She walked up to him, bent down, and said softly, "Do you know who I am?"
The man shook his head.
“My name is Bai Shu,” she smiled. “Also known as Su Wantang.”
A hint of surprise flashed in the man's eyes.
I've heard of it.
"I've...I've heard of it."
“Then you should know that I hate being stared at the most.” Bai Shu patted his face. “So, you have to die.”
The man's face turned deathly pale: "I...I've already said..."
"So what if I told you?" Bai Shu straightened up. "Mr. Shadow sent you here with no intention of letting you go back alive."
She turned and walked out.
"Wait!" the man shouted, "I know something else!"
Bai Zhu stopped in her tracks.
"What's up"
“Moonlight Grass.” The man gasped for breath. “Mr. Shadow is looking for Moonlight Grass. He said… he said that thing could grant him immortality.”
Bai Shu turned around, her eyes icy: "And what else?"
“He said…” the man swallowed, “He said your mother died because of this.”
Bai Shu was startled.
She went back and grabbed the man by the neck: "Say it again."
“You…your mother…” the man gasped for breath, “She…she knew the secret of the Moonflower…so…so Mr. Shadow killed her…”
Bai Zhu released her grip and took a step back.
It felt like I'd been stabbed in the chest.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her surging emotions.
How did you know?
“I…I heard it from Mr. Shadow.” The man clutched his neck. “He said…he said your mother was a traitor…betrayed the Eagle’s Nest…”
Bai Zhu closed her eyes.
My mind is a complete mess.
Mother is from the Eagle's Nest
The pocket watch and the badge she left behind both belonged to the Eagle's Nest.
"Young Miss" Qin Zheng pushed open the door and came in, "The transmitter is destroyed."
Bai Shu opened his eyes, glanced at the man, and said, "Lock him up, but don't let him die."
"yes."
She turned and left the interrogation room, walking into the corridor.
The corridor was quiet, with only the buzzing of the overhead light bulbs.
Bai Zhu leaned against the wall and touched the jade bracelet on her wrist.
The jade bracelet is warm and smooth, with a subtle warmth to it.
She remembered the letter her mother had left behind.
"Wantang, if you see this letter, it means I'm no longer here. Remember, don't trust anyone, including me."
Don't trust anyone.
Including her.
Bai Zhu bit her lip tightly, her nails digging into her palm.
pain.
She took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and returned to the party.
The hall was still bustling.
Wu Wenshan and Mrs. Qian were still talking in the corner.
Bai Zhu picked up her wine glass and walked over.
"How was your chat?" she asked with a smile.
Wu Wenshan glanced at her: "Boss Bai, that waiter just now..."
"He drank too much," Bai Shu interrupted him. "He's already been sent back to rest."
Mrs. Qian smiled meaningfully: "Boss Bai is really strict."
“Of course,” Bai Shu said. “After all, he’s one of my people.”
After she finished speaking, she nodded to the two of them and turned to leave.
Wu Wenshan stared at her retreating figure, his brows furrowing even more deeply.
"What did you see?" Mrs. Qian asked.
"I can't tell," Wu Wenshan shook his head. "But I always feel that this woman is not simple."
The party ended, and the guests left one after another.
Bai Zhu stood at the door seeing the guests off, a polite smile on her face.
After the last person left, she turned and went back into the hall.
Qin Zheng walked over: "Miss, everyone's gone."
"Hmm." Bai Shu rubbed his temples. "Tell Yi Yue to compile the killer's statement and give it to me tomorrow."
"yes."
Bai Zhu walked back to her office and closed the door.
She sat in the chair, staring at the badge on the table.
Rhombus, eagle, crescent moon.
These three things connected the mother and the eagle's nest.
But who exactly is my mother?
Why did she betray the Eagle's Nest?
And why leave these things behind?
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