Chapter 29: Pursuit and Kill (6)

  Back at Dongfang Yu's home, Sun Heng was chatting with Dongfang Yong and Guo Sihuang, they seemed to be having a great time.

  They stopped talking when they saw me coming in. Sun Heng asked me, "Why did you take so long to come back? Dongfang Yu has been back for a while."

  I didn't see Dongfang Yu, she probably went to wash her face: "It's been a long time since I came back, just took a look at the scenery here. If Teacher Sun is interested, he might as well go take a look later."

  Sun Heng nodded: "That's good, I was just thinking of calming down and appreciating the scenery here, I'll go for a walk later."

  Dongfang Yong said on the side, "You guys should stay a few more days before leaving. Although this is a poor and remote place, there are also many fun places to visit. Jin Cang can take Sun teacher around."

  I responded with a sound and gave Sun Heng a signal, saying: "Things should not be delayed, I will take Teacher Sun to turn around now..."

  "Can't do that," said Auntie Guo hastily. "We have to eat lunch first, or we'll miss the time for eating."

  I thought so too, and waited with Sun Heng for lunch, everyone chatted and laughed together.

  So we settled down in Dongfang Yu's home. I took Sun Heng out to play during the day, and also got familiar with the surroundings here, just in case. At night, under Sun Heng's insistence, I started tutoring Dongfang Yu's studies. Dongfang Yu was originally a very smart and hardworking person, many university courses only needed me to mention them briefly, she immediately grasped them, her learning progress was astonishing.

  Dongfang Yu didn't betray me and Sun Heng, but instead cooperated very well, becoming Sun Heng's student, as well as my junior sister.

  We spent a week in quiet, during which Sun Heng and I came to this small town several times to ask for news, hoping to hear that the Wanlong gang had been eliminated. Unfortunately, despite our many inquiries, we were unable to get any relevant information.

  Sun Heng was getting anxious and said to me as we went out to play: "We can't just hide passively, it's not a solution."

  I also know it won't work out like this, I've been thinking of a way: "I have a preliminary plan, don't know if it's feasible?"

  Sun Heng said: "You say it out loud and I'll listen. If it's feasible, we'll follow your plan."

  I thought for a moment: "The people chasing us probably haven't thought that we would hide in a place so close to my hometown, but it's hard to say what will happen later. So we need to leave here as soon as possible, this is the first step."

  Sun Heng nodded: "We have to leave. I want to give your sister some money when we leave, and you'll take it to her. Tell her she must wait until the Wanlong is completely destroyed before going to school."

  "I agreed: 'This is just the first step. As for the second step, we need to determine where we want to go. My initial plan is to go to the government or public security bureau here. The fact that we escaped from the 1008 Brigade should have been covered up, otherwise there would have been reports by now. So we are not fugitives yet, and we can still use your military identity to ask the government or public security bureau for help.'"

  Sun Heng pondered for a moment: "This approach is somewhat risky, but it's also a viable solution. We can give it a try."

  I continued: "If the second step is successful, we can proceed to the third step. In the third step, what we need to do is report everything we have experienced to the relevant central departments and let them provide us with security guarantees and eliminate potential safety hazards. This step is the most difficult because I worry that when we go to the central authorities again, we will encounter unexpected difficulties."

  Sun Heng furrowed his brow: "This might be something I can manage..."

  "I felt a pleasant surprise: 'Tell me, if there's a way, our plan might have a chance of success.'"

  Sun Heng smiled mysteriously: "You'll know when the time comes."

  I also laughed: "Then it's settled, we'll leave here in two days."

  "Why don't you leave immediately? Do you have something to do by waiting for another two days?"

  I also smiled mysteriously: "You'll know when the time comes."

  Sun Heng was suddenly stunned, and after a while, he said: "You little...".

  For the next two days, Sun Heng and I acted separately. He drove to the town to make phone calls and gather intelligence; I rode a motorcycle around various places, appearing in front of and behind my old home several times, and had dinner with some fellow villagers and relatives, chatting for a while.

  Today is the day we scheduled to leave here, so I got up early and prepared to wash my face before going to find Dongfang Yu to explain everything.

  Dongfang Yu got up early and was preparing to go up the mountain to continue chopping trees. She still insisted on setting up a chicken farm, saying it was to make her parents' future life better.

  I stopped her and pulled her aside: "We're leaving today, remember what I've told you these past few days. After we leave, quickly review your high school knowledge, then wait for my call to go to the university to find me, at that time you can take part in our school's auditing student exam."

  Dongfang Yu nodded and suddenly said in a low voice: "The mobile phone you left for me has no signal here, how did you call me?"

  I was taken aback, and only then did I remember this very serious problem, but it didn't faze me: "Then I'll just write you a letter, you can receive letters, right?"

  Dongfang Yu responded with a "yes", whispering: "Write a letter? You'll have time to write me a letter?"

  I feel that she has not really forgiven me, so I smiled and said: "This time I will definitely write to you, otherwise it will delay the exam, won't you want to fight with me? You know, I'm afraid of death..."

  My words were somewhat wrong, Dongfang Yu listened halfway and cried: "Don't talk nonsense, what's dead or not dead, don't let you talk nonsense..."

  I quickly shut my mouth, took a look around, and changed the subject: "We already told Uncle Dongfang and Aunt Si about it last night, so we'll leave today. You thank them for taking care of us all this time. Oh right, this money..." I pulled out a stack of cash, roughly over 20,000 yuan, and handed it to Dongfang Yu: "You take it, this is the money for your school registration."

  Dongfang Yu took the money, glanced at it, and then stuffed it back into my hand: "You two are leaving now, who knows what you'll encounter. It's better if you bring this money with you. I'll think of a way to get the tuition fees, don't worry about it."

  I couldn't bear to see her suffer, insisting on giving her the money: "Listen, don't refuse again. If you miss this opportunity, you'll never get into university in your lifetime..."

  My words were a bit too heavy, she took the money with tears in her eyes, but then worriedly said: "Are you really going to find the government for help? You won't be cheating me, will you? Why didn't you look for government help before?"

  I laughed: "Before, I was only worried about escaping with my life, how could I have thought of this? Now that I've thought of it, of course we should hand over the difficulties to our government. You can rest assured, we'll be fine soon. By the way, if my parents come back, you use this phone - find a place with signal and give us a call. I've saved Sun teacher's phone number in the phone, you'll know it when you see it."

  Dongfang Yu nodded and after a moment of silence, suddenly said: "Brother, take care. If the government can't help you, hurry back, here is always your home..."

  I felt what she said was a bit strange, but I didn't think much of it: "Okay, if something happens we'll definitely come back. Don't work too hard, review your lessons at night and sleep in a bit later, don't exhaust yourself."

  Dongfang Yu nodded again and looked up at me with a glance, but didn't say anything more.

  I turned around and walked towards Sun Heng, who was already waiting not far away. Together with Sun Heng, I rode a motorcycle to Uncle Chen's house. Our jeep was still parked at Uncle Chen's place, we had to go there to switch vehicles, after all, we couldn't ride motorcycles for long distances.

  I occasionally turned back and saw Dongfang Yu standing outside her house looking at us, until we turned a corner and couldn't see her anymore, then I turned my head back.

  Sun Heng sighed and said: "If you can't bear to part with her, then don't leave. This girl is very good, she can endure hardship, and in the future, she will definitely make a good wife."

  I forced a smile: "She's my sister, so don't spout nonsense." I paused for a moment: "The news you received yesterday can't be false, right? Wanlong really has sent someone to rush over?"

  Sun Heng said seriously: "It was one of my comrades who learned about this news through their intelligence system, it won't be fake."

  "I said with some doubt: 'Is your comrade reliable?'"

  Sun Heng was taken aback for a moment, then said: "Don't worry, this comrade-in-arms is one with whom I have shared life and death, not just an ordinary comrade."

  I smiled and said: "I hope your comrades won't really betray you, otherwise we can't get out of this mountain, and will be blocked by people."

  Sun Heng let out a heavy sigh and didn't say anything else.

  We changed cars and slowly arrived at the town, then got on the highway leaving the town.

  There were few cars on the road, so we sped up and arrived in town by noon.

  Sun Heng still had some money on him, so we simply ate lunch and then walked into the local Public Security Bureau.

  There were three female police officers in the first floor of the Public Security Bureau's convenience hall. I and Sun Heng found one nearby, told her Sun Heng's identity, and she took us upstairs to find a deputy director of this Public Security Bureau.

  The deputy director surnamed Li, with a single name "Zhong", was in charge of criminal investigation. Sun Heng told him his background and the purpose of this visit, and Li Zhong immediately took us to a small conference room, then said: "This matter is too big, it's not something that I, a small deputy director, can decide on. Please wait for a moment, I'll go report to the director now and ask him to make a decision."

  What's even stranger is that this Li Zhong never asked for my name or background from start to finish, nor did he ask Sun Heng about the current whereabouts of the Golden Warehouse and so on.

  Li Zhong went out for over ten minutes and then came back with a line of five people into this conference room.

  At a glance, I saw that the first person walking behind Li Zhong was Zheng Hongming, the director of our local Public Security Bureau, whose photo is in the convenience service hall downstairs.

  The other four people I didn't know, but they were all in charge here. I stood up with Sun Heng and shook hands with Director Zheng Hongming, then listened to him say: "Do you know me? Let's save time and get straight to the point. A week ago, we received a document from the Provincial Public Security Department saying that recently, a gang called Wanlonghui has been active nationwide, killing and injuring many people. The provincial department requires our public security bureau to strictly control and monitor the possible flow of Wanlonghui gang members into our area. Once discovered and confirmed, we can immediately capture or shoot them dead. What you just told Deputy Director Li, if it's true, we will dispatch police forces at the first time, search the relevant areas, and once we find the Wanlonghui gang members, we will show no mercy."

  "What we say is all true," Sun said solemnly. "I am a soldier and I can guarantee it with the dignity and honor of a soldier."

  Zheng Hongming nodded in agreement and continued, "Li Zhong is our deputy director in charge of criminal cases. This matter will be handed over to you for handling. Remember to notify the municipal leaders immediately and request that the Municipal Special Police Unit send personnel to support us. Also, inform the traffic police department to strictly inspect each station and set up checkpoints on major roads to inspect suspicious vehicles. Regarding the areas in the countryside mentioned by Comrade Sun Heng, we must also dispatch people to investigate immediately. Once a situation is discovered, contact the Public Security Bureau at once so that we can send personnel to support."

  Li Zhong responded with a "yes" and was the first to stand up and leave. Next, another leader from the Public Security Bureau stood up and left, seemingly to implement Zheng Hongming's arrangement just now.

  Zheng Hongming thought for a moment, then said: "Comrade Sun Heng, I think since this matter has already involved the military, we need to get in touch with the military and report the specific situation. What do you think?"

  Sun Heng nodded: "This matter will be handed over to me. Give me a phone and I will contact the military district leaders immediately."

  A leader from the Public Security Bureau who was beside Zheng Hongming quickly went out to fetch a phone and brought it over, and Sun Heng dialed a number in front of everyone.

  The phone was quickly connected, and a very serious voice came through: "Comrade Sun Heng, you are using an internal confidential telephone. Please confirm that there is no one else around you before reporting what you want to say."

  Zheng Hongming and others listened to this and consciously stood up and walked out, and also closed the conference room door.

  "Reporting to the superior, I am currently on a mission to protect an important figure. However, I have been framed by some members of the 1008 squad and was forced to escape with the important figure. I urgently need support and request that someone be sent immediately to provide assistance."

  "That serious voice seemed to be shocked: 'What did you say? Can you guarantee that what you said is true?'"

  Sun Heng said firmly: "I guarantee that every word I say is true. Chief, now most of the officers and men of the 1008th Regiment have been ordered to carry out the task of annihilating the Wanlong Society. Among the personnel left behind in the regimental headquarters, some people are colluding with the enemy and helping the Wanlong Society to attack us, attempting to kill important figure Jin Cang. They once controlled me and locked me up in a confinement room. Fortunately, Jin Cang rescued me in time. We were forced to flee and hide in an old villager's home until we came to the Public Security Bureau for help today. Now Jin Cang is by my side, and we are still in the conference room of the Public Security Bureau. Requesting verification and sending support as soon as possible."

  A serious voice seemed to consider for a moment before saying: "You wait, we will immediately contact the public security bureau where you are located, and after confirming that everything is correct, we will give you a reply."

  The phone hung up, and Sun Heng also put down the phone. He stood up and said to Zheng Hongming and others outside the door: "Director Zheng, our leader will give us instructions in a while. We'll leave things here to you."

  Zheng Hongming walked into the conference room: "I will do my best. Recently, Wanlong Club's **** activities have been rampant, and the crime rate has risen linearly. Our public security bureau has already deployed most of its police force to key locations for control. Now that we have received this intelligence from you, we will definitely do our best to protect all citizens, please rest assured."

  Sun Heng nodded and said: "Then Director Zheng can go ahead and attend to his business first. We still need to wait for instructions from our superior."

  Zheng Hongming and Sun Heng shook hands again and left, leaving a people's policeman to accompany us.

  These people's police officers stood at the door of the conference room with guns, as if they were facing a great enemy.

  Sun Heng didn't care about him and said to me, "It seems that our second step is going smoothly. Later, if the military district chief gives an order, we just need to follow it."

  I didn't say much, just nodded, indicating I knew.

  Not long after that, the phone rang. Sun Heng immediately picked up the phone and listened carefully for a while before saying loudly: "Yes, Chief!"

  Putting down the phone, Sun Heng smiled and said: "The military region's leader has already given instructions. The helicopter squadron directly under the military region will arrive here to pick us up within three hours. We are finally safe."

  I furrowed my brow: "Does the captain want us to wait for them right here?"

  Sun Heng nodded: "Yes, what's wrong?"

  I suddenly laughed: "The problem is that there isn't one, but if you know any other confidential phone numbers... I mean, if you could try calling another number..."

  Sun Heng was taken aback and asked in puzzlement: "Why do it this way?"

  I said in a low voice: "You are a soldier, so you will not have any doubts about the superiors in the troops. You don't need to refute, last time you were caught by that staff officer of the 1008 regiment is an example. I am not a soldier, so I don't have your habit of resolutely obeying orders, I have some doubts, so if you still have secret contact methods, try again."

  "This time I used an absolutely confidential contact method, and the people who know about it, apart from the leaders of the military region, are no more than three. It's impossible to make a mistake."

  I immediately asked him, "Then you called back, did your superior ask you a question: that is, where are we now? And also, the director of the Public Security Bureau, Zheng Hongming, and his deputy, Li Zhong, why haven't they ever asked me who I am? Unless he already knew my identity, so he didn't bother to ask."

  Sun Heng was taken aback, and his face changed color: "Right, the leader never asked us where we were from start to finish? How did he know how to contact the public security bureau here, and how did he know our specific location? Zheng Hongming and Li Zhongye indeed didn't ask you anything... there's a problem here."

  I calmly said: "If I'm right, the phone call just now must have been tapped, and the person who answered the phone was not a military commander at all."

  Sun Heng thought for a moment and suddenly looked at the civil police officer standing at the door of the conference room, his eyes were enough to scare the timid.