Ning Zhiheng's words made Luo Xingchao realize that he had been blinded by his previous successes, overestimated himself, and subconsciously underestimated his opponents.
He quickly bowed and said, "This humble servant is foolish; if it weren't for your reminder, I would have almost made a grave mistake."
Ning Zhiheng smiled slightly, patted Luo Xingchao on the shoulder, and said softly, "When you get used to winning battles, it's easy to become arrogant. This problem isn't just yours; many others in the intelligence section have it too. Sometimes, even I can't escape it. However, since we're behind enemy lines, we must always be vigilant and never be careless!"
Luo Xingchao asked, "Yes, so what should I do next?"
Ning Zhiheng waved his hand and said decisively, "Investigate! Investigate with great fanfare! Follow the clues! Anyway, you know what's going on and you won't find anything. Just do everything properly and don't let anyone find fault with it. Just make sure you can get the job done in the end! Also, continue to monitor Wang Hanmin's whereabouts. I will get rid of this traitor sooner or later, otherwise he will become a major threat!"
"Yes, I understand!"
The next morning, at the Mulan Academy in Shanghai, Ning Zhiheng was playing chess with Kuroki Yueyi. Since returning to Shanghai, Ning Zhiheng had been busy dealing with the conflict between Ding and Li, and had hardly visited the Fujiwara Society. Whenever he had a spare moment, he would linger at the Mulan Academy, trying to appear in public and give outsiders the impression that he had been staying there for a long time.
The two played a game on the spot, while several other scholars and friends watched from the sidelines. Ning Zhiheng's chess skills were not weak, and he and Kuroki Yue were locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle.
Holding a white piece in one hand, Kuroki Gaku was forced to make a move after a long while by Ning Zhiheng's offensive. He smiled and said, "I'm not in good form today. It seems I'll lose to Fujiwara-kun."
Ning Zhiheng, in high spirits, placed another piece, shook his head and laughed, "Sir, you were a little distracted. My victory was not entirely fair!"
Kuroki Takeichi laughed and gave up, simply conceding defeat. The renowned calligrapher and painter Ito Hiroki, who was standing nearby, was also somewhat disappointed. He said to Kuroki Takeichi, "Kuroki-kun, why are you out of your element today? Fujiwara-kun rarely beats you!"
Kuroki Yueyi's chess skills have always been superb, making him virtually unbeatable among the crowd. Ning Zhiheng, who is slightly inferior, also spoke up upon hearing this, saying, "Yes, sir, you don't seem to be in very good spirits either?"
Kuroki Gaku waved his hand and laughed, "It's nothing serious, I just haven't been sleeping well these past few days. I'm getting old, so it's inevitable."
"That's true. Nobody's been sleeping well these past few days. Ever since that so-called new government was established, the security in Shanghai has been getting worse and worse. Assassinations, explosions, and gunfire all night long."
"That's true. It's gotten even more outrageous these past few days. There was unrest in broad daylight, and I heard that a lot of people have died. Many Chinese citizens have fled to the foreign concessions. I wonder when this situation will improve?"
"There are soldiers patrolling everywhere outside now, so there are hardly any people on the streets."
"Our eastern urban area is still safe, but everyone should still be careful when going in and out. I'm not leaving Hongkou District unless absolutely necessary..."
For a time, everyone shifted the topic to the previous turmoil, since this was the most pressing issue for all parties involved. Outsiders still didn't know the specific reasons, so naturally, they were all discussing and speculating.
Okazaki Kazushi asked Ning Zhiheng, "Fujiwara-kun, your Fujiwara company is well-informed. Do you know why such a big commotion has been caused?"
Ning Zhiheng shrugged and said with a smile, "I don't care about politics, and I haven't bothered to find out about these things."
Just as everyone was talking, Kagesa Hiroki, dressed in a kimono, appeared at the door and said with a smile, "Fujiwara-kun is far removed from politics and is engrossed in this, so relaxed and carefree. How enviable! Haha!"
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