Anti-Japanese War Auction (Part 2)
The crowd made the air thin and polluted, making even breathing feel painful. With each fallen figure she saw, her heart sank a little further.
"Clear the passage and prioritize moving the unconscious and immobile people!" She shook her head to calm herself down, and while going against the current, she moved the unconscious people she found to the wall to avoid a stampede.
Amidst the chaos, Qingcheng caught a glimpse of a figure in military uniform out of the corner of his eye—Li Sheng, who was also trying to drag an unconscious old man to the corner of the wall.
Qingcheng looked closely and realized that it was her father-in-law. Why was the old man alone? She called out to Li Sheng, who turned around at the sound of her voice. The two of them moved closer to each other at the same time.
"Ms. Xia was kidnapped, and Mrs. Gao went after her." Li Sheng didn't waste any words and directly explained the reason.
Huh? Qingcheng's mind went blank. What kind of bizarre development was this? She wouldn't even dare to write something like this in a novel. Just then, she heard a sharp shout in the noise: "You scoundrel, how dare you!"
On the auction stage, Madam Gao moved with astonishing speed. Holding a stick, her petite figure weaved between two knife-wielding thieves. Her fluttering skirt resembled a butterfly flitting among flowers. With a sharp, teeth-grinding crack, the thief cried out and released his weapon.
Swish—the blade sliced through the air, aiming straight for Madam Gao's nape. Qingcheng shouted, "Behind you!"
Clang! With a metallic clang, Madam Gao blocked the thief's attack with a backhand sword. Before the man could catch his breath, she delivered a powerful kick to his chest, sending him flying: "Thank you."
"Heroine, what skill!" Qingcheng couldn't help but give a thumbs up from behind, her gaze unconsciously falling on the cane sword. So cool! She'll ask Xiao to borrow it to play with next time.
"Help!" A faint cry for help came from ahead. It was her master. Qingcheng jumped onto the auction stage, while Madam Gao rushed over like an arrow.
In the cramped backstage passage, there were also two thieves dressed as waiters. Xia Wanlan's mouth was covered, and she made muffled hoarse sounds.
In the dim light, Madam Gao drew a silver arc, and the thief screamed and released his grip. Xia Wanlan struggled to break free of her restraints and stumbled towards Madam Gao.
Just as the two grabbed hands, more thieves surged out, surrounding Madam Gao and Xia Wanlan. Madam Gao gently pushed Xia Wanlan behind her, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, and her sword suddenly shot out. In the fierce battle, her movements were as fast as a ghost.
*Beep* Qingcheng whistled, and Guan Gong's team arrived at the sound. Two groups, one in black and one in red, filled the narrow passage, fighting fiercely. Qingcheng hesitated, fearing the consequences, and dared not fire easily.
Just five steps away from where Madam Gao was fighting with the two waiters, the auctioneer, who had been covering his head and trying to avoid the attack, suddenly turned around, seemingly shocked by Madam Gao's hidden skills.
In an instant, the auctioneer grinned maliciously and reached into his pocket, all traces of fear gone.
state!
Blood seeped from the auctioneer's chest. He clutched his chest and slowly slid down. Qingcheng held the smoking gun and blew on it. Within seven steps, the gun was truly accurate and fast.
But the next second, Qingcheng felt a chill in her throat. Before she could react, she was knocked to the side, and next to her was a corpse with wide eyes and blood spurting from its neck.
"Oh dear, how rude of me." Madam Gao abruptly pulled her leg back, shyly covering her feet with her skirt.
"Miaomiao, run!" Xia Wanlan grabbed Madam Gao and tried to escape.
Seizing the opportunity, Qingcheng pulled the two elders out of the chaotic passage: "Auntie, how are you?"
"Don't worry about me, they've stolen the collection, we absolutely... can't let the national treasures leave the country." Xia Wanlan coughed heavily a few times, then fainted again.
"Lan'er." Madam Gao hugged Xia Wanlan tightly.
At this moment, Li Sheng also jumped onto the stage to guide the elders to retreat. Qingcheng felt a little relieved and turned to enter the backstage area through the other passage.
The flickering afterglow cast a blurry shadow. Qingcheng kicked open the half-closed door, and a biting cold air rushed in. She passed through the makeup area and arrived at the office area, but the corridor was empty, with only closed doors.
Where are they? It can't just be those people outside. There's a peculiar light ahead. Qingcheng walks forward, leaning against the wall. At the corner of the corridor is a warehouse. Yellow lights shine on the tiles, and someone is opening the warehouse door.
"Boss, their advance payments have all been packed up."
"Hmm, quick, pack the small items into boxes, the big ones... Hmph~ Smash them!"
Clang, clang.
The cracking sounds stimulated Qing's senses. She cautiously peeked out half her head, her pupils suddenly contracting. Zhang Renjiu!
There was an iron basket on the platform outside the warehouse, leading directly to the unloading area downstairs. Several thugs were stacking boxes on it. Not only did the traitorous dogs embezzle the anti-Japanese donations, but they also tried to steal national treasures. They even smashed all the national treasures that they couldn't take with them.
This is outrageous! A nameless rage surged to the top of her head. Qingcheng gripped her gun tightly, aiming for a long time but hesitating to fire. She took a deep breath to calm herself; there were too many of them to act rashly.
My gaze swept over stacks of hemp rope, scattered advertising steel frames, and piles of prop boxes. Above them was a rusty electrical box with several tangled bare wires dangling beside it.
A thought flashed through her mind, and Qingcheng climbed onto the prop box to check the electrical distribution box. Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps behind her: "Who are you?"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Amidst flying sawdust, Qingcheng scrambled behind a prop box, firing two quick shots—not aiming to hit, but merely to draw the enemy's attention. Using the prop box as cover, she retreated in the opposite direction, engaging the enemy in a pincer movement.
"She's over there!" one of his men shouted, and the two immediately flanked her from different directions.
In the blink of an eye, Kiyosumi grabbed the heavy hemp rope ring from the ground and hurled it fiercely at the enemy.
The rope loops unfurled in the air like a hunter's lasso. The pursuers fired a few shots haphazardly, and the corridor was instantly filled with smoke. Qingcheng deliberately raised her little finger and made a provocative hiss. Sure enough, their anger intensified, and they vowed to grind Qingcheng to dust.
Now! Kiyosumi yanked the rope, and the two pursuers fell to the ground. The rope that was holding them was getting more and more tangled, and it turned into shackles.
Hearing the noise, the thieves came out one after another to reinforce the group. Qingcheng used both her hands and feet to jump towards the scattered steel frame. The steel pipe welded frame was heavier than she had imagined, and she couldn't move it even with her face turning red.
The enemy's shouts grew closer and closer. Qingcheng, panting heavily, chose the shortest one and pushed it with all her might onto the rusty electrical box. Then she kicked over a small triangular support that was blocking the corridor.
The thieves, unable to stop in time, collapsed onto the tripod.
state!
The bullet precisely severed the cable on the distribution box, which darted about in the air like a venomous snake with its neck snapped.
With a crackling sound, none of the pursuers escaped; they were all electrocuted and turned into charred remains.
A foul smell of burnt hair wafted out, and Qingcheng couldn't help but wrinkle her nose. She took three steps at a time, jumped onto the insulated wooden crate, easily avoided the death zone, and headed straight for the warehouse.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three rapid, almost consecutive gunshots rang out, and blood splattered from the back of the heads of three henchmen! Without even a groan, they fell to the ground like autumn leaves in the wind.
Qingcheng caught them off guard, quickly killing three of them and barely managing to save Zhang Renjiu. If he escaped, they wouldn't know where to put Number Seven.
"Who the hell are you?" Zhang Renjiu glared at Qingcheng, gun in hand, his eyes bloodshot.
"Your Japanese father's father," Kiyosumi teased, panting. She glanced at the manual winch controlling the raising and lowering of the suspended platform, which slowly turned. "Trying to run away after trying to have your cake and eat it too? Did you even ask our Punishment Hall?"
Zhang Renjiu scoffed, "Tch, they were just too stupid to be wiped out like this. They acted like Situ Mei was some kind of saint. We are the Green Gang, not a charity."
"Mr. Zhang, you flatter me. Our Criminal Investigation Department would never use the biological weapons researched by the Japanese on our compatriots." Qingcheng slowly moved towards the winch.
Bang! Zhang Renjiu fired the first shot, signaling Qingcheng to step back. Qingcheng saw the disdain in his eyes and took a step forward instead: "Our leader has ordered that if you can reveal the location of number seven, your life will be spared."
"Don't move." Zhang Renjiu threatened, raising his gun. "Situ Mei, you wish! If you're so capable, go find her yourself. I can tell you she's in the venue."
"Really? It's not a big deal. The No. 7 will just dissolve in the air. It'll just mean that Sincere Department Store will have to close for a few days to let the smell dissipate." Kiyosumi said with a nonchalant shrug.
"Number seven? That's a version from hundreds of years ago. This version is called Sakura... Hehehe, the time is probably almost up. Guess how long those struggling in the venue who haven't escaped, and those innocent passersby downstairs, can hold out." Zhang Renjiu had a twisted smile on his face, like a cat playing with a mouse.
Even a thousand cuts wouldn't quell the hatred in his heart. Qingcheng's finger, already white with tension, was on the trigger. Kill him, kill him...
"Hey, head down!"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Qingcheng immediately squatted down. With a "poof," white powder sprayed all over Zhang Renjiu's head and face.
"What is that?" Zhang Renjiu wiped his face in alarm.
Shan Hai proudly emerged from the ventilation duct, removing his mask: "Of course it's the poison powder secretly made by the Punishment Hall. Hand over Number Seven obediently, and this hall master might leave you with a whole corpse."
"Bullshit, you're not Situ Mei, he couldn't possibly be here." Zhang Renjiu scratched his face, and a rash quickly appeared on his skin where powder had been splashed on it.
"Yeah?"
Another tall man with a gun, or rather, the real Situ Mei, stood at the door, followed by countless Guan Gong masks, making a much larger spectacle than when Qingcheng arrived.
"Should I just vanish into thin air along with my car? What a pity, Mr. Xia is much smarter than you. Sorry, I couldn't keep up with you and was delayed for a moment." Situ Mei glanced helplessly at Shan Hai, who was the masked man who had appeared earlier.
"It's alright, you've come at just the right time. I was just about to clean house for our family." Kiyosumi also lifted her mask.
"You, you... Haha, hahahahaha, you're Mr. Xia." A hint of madness flashed in Zhang Renjiu's eyes as he abruptly pressed the red button on the wall. "You've come at the perfect time."
A buzzing sound—a chilling electrical hum—instantly filled the entire warehouse. Qingcheng instinctively covered her ears, and a wire fence was visible above both exits.
The cunning Zhang Renjiu lightly leaped backward and easily jumped into the iron basket suspended outside the platform. He even grabbed a greasy rag from the basket and threw it onto the fence.
With a sizzle and crackle, a dazzling blue spark flashed, and the rag instantly turned into smoking charcoal.
Kiyosumi's heart sank to the bottom. Her hand holding the gun trembled slightly from extreme tension. Her path was blocked.
"This is the latest anti-theft electric fence, installed specifically for this auction, so don't touch it." Zhang Renjiu said with a mocking smirk, one hand casually resting on the control lever inside the basket. "Of course, if you behave yourselves and kneel down to beg me, perhaps..."
Before he could finish speaking, the lights suddenly went out. In the darkness, a strange fluorescent green light appeared on Zhang Renjiu's face. He cursed and immediately pulled down the lifting handle.
The power grid has failed! Qingcheng lunged at the manual winch, Shanhai grabbed a stick to wedge it in place, and Situ Mei added another stick. The three of them worked together to pull it shut.
Bang! The steel cable and the hoisting wheel made an unpleasant scraping sound. The Guan Gong team members outside the door came to help when they saw this. Qingcheng made room for them, rushed to the edge of the iron gate and kicked it open. The cold and damp drizzle rushed in.
With the basket suspended in mid-air, Qingcheng, disregarding her own half-suspended position, drew her sidearm, and Zhang Renjiu also drew his gun.
Gunfire erupted immediately, and then a flash of red light appeared before her eyes as a bullet grazed her forehead. Qingcheng immediately darted back to the warehouse, her gaze fixed on the steel cable.
Bang! The last bullet was fired, the basket swayed in the wind, and then suddenly sank.
Zhang Renjiu seemed to have been prepared all along, and even made a throat-slitting gesture towards Qingcheng and the warehouse, his face twisted with pleasure.
With a snap, the main steel cable broke, and the iron basket plunged into darkness. But Zhang Renjiu was unharmed. He was still wearing another safety rope around his waist. He released his hand from the buckle and descended at a steady pace.
Qingcheng wanted to fire again, but the bullets were already used up. Situ Mei also reacted and fired two shots at the green dot, but it was too late. She could only watch helplessly as the green dot landed in the unloading area.
"Chase!" Situ Mei's hoarse voice carried an unprecedented killing intent as a group of disciples rushed towards the unloading area.
"Don't forget, he has fluorescent powder on him," Shan Hai shouted a reminder.
"Thank you, Brother Lei. Until we meet again," Situ Mei said, cupping her fists in greeting to Shan Hai.
After Situ Mei left, Qingcheng pointed at Shan Hai and said, "Hey, what are you two doing together?"
"Oh dear, it's a long story. Shouldn't we go find that... that... that pocket thing now?" Shan Hai's face was beaming with excitement, as if he wanted to stir up trouble.
"You're the one who's putting your pants down. Sakura is cherry blossom, a kind of pink flower," Kiyosumi couldn't help but explain.
"That's not the point, ah!" Shan Hai suddenly burst out with a loud bang, "You, you, you're disfigured, it's over, it's over, my face is going to be slashed to pieces too."
Following Xiaoshan Hai's horrified gaze, Qingcheng wiped the burning spot on her forehead. Sticky blood stained her index finger, but she couldn't feel the pain now. She'd deal with that later; finding "Sakura" was more important.
Why was the cherry blossom renamed "cherry blossom"? Perhaps it's because of its similar color or other similar characteristics, but which is it?
"It's not a pink cake, is it? I ate so much!" Shan Hai rubbed his stomach, feeling like crying.
"If it were really a cake, you would have been dead for a while by now," Kiyosumi said dismissively. Cherry blossoms should be more poisonous, and their original weakness of being easily decomposed has been improved, but their original advantage of being colorless and odorless is unlikely to be changed. Let's go out first.
Kiyosumi led Koyama away, the two lost in thought, unaware that a pair of eyes were watching them from the darkness.
The venue was mostly empty, with the remaining people being unconscious and needing to be carried out one by one. Kiyosumi didn't find Gao Junxiao, but instead saw Agnes and Comrade Ozaki using a handcart to transport the crowd.
I didn't expect that Comrade Ozaki would still help even though he was injured. Oh, and he's also Japanese. What a coincidence!
Kiyosumi jogged over and pulled Ozaki aside, explaining in detail the new information she had obtained. She also combined it with the information Zhang Chong had previously revealed, explaining that Number Seven had changed from a gas to a liquid, and asked him to think about why it was called that.
Ozaki glanced around, muttering to himself, "Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, dreamlike beauty, but beautiful things are fleeting."
Beautiful things are fleeting! This sentence, like a match struck in the dark, instantly ignited the chaotic clues in Qingcheng's mind.
So it's... ice! The "cherry blossoms" are hidden inside those ice sculptures. When the ice melts, the ice will dissolve. Zhang Renjiu definitely needs to give himself time to escape, so the ice blocks need to be big enough.
“What you said makes perfect sense!” Ozaki nodded in affirmation. “The ice sculpture is in the food area.”
But that's far from enough. The food court features several decorative ice sculptures, covered with fine water droplets, depicting swans, dragons and phoenixes, and the Sincere Department Store logo. Which one hides the fatal "cherry blossom"? Or does every single one have it?
Exposed to the deathly shadow of the "cherry blossoms," Kiyosumi could even faintly hear a subtle, continuous "tickling" sound, no matter which one it was, to cool it down and delay its melting.
"Cooling down? How?" Ozaki looked around helplessly.
"Use cold water." Shan Hai carried the lead bucket of iced champagne, the ice inside of which had already melted into water.
The cold water wasn't enough; she needed an even lower temperature. Qingcheng forced herself to calm down and walked along the self-service food counter. That's when she caught sight of white salt.
Got it! Kiyosumi poured all the white salt into the lead bucket. But that wasn't enough. Ozaki pointed out that there was imported sea salt for sale on the second floor, and the fresh food section would definitely have loose ice, since this was a department store.
"Okay, go quickly." Qingcheng turned to Shanshanhai and said, "Pour the ice water onto the connection between the dragon's head and body. For the swan, pour the water on its neck first, as that's where it melts the fastest. Be quick!"
After the two of them worked for a while, Qingcheng found several large cloisonné jars for decoration, gently placed the ice sculptures inside, and covered them with tablecloths.
“Darling, darling, stop stirring, let me do it.” Agnes grabbed Qingcheng and spoke very quickly, “The Green Gang was ambushed and suffered heavy casualties. Then a colonel went after your national treasure. The military is present and it’s inconvenient for us to intervene. Charlie wants you to go and support them.”
Colonel Gao Junxiao. Qingcheng's mind was on the verge of snapping.
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