Chapter 167: The Oriole Behind

The news of Zheng Zeming's capture spread like wings, reaching all of Four Nine City overnight. The Steel Rolling Mill Security Department also became famous; even the old man selling pancakes at the gate would give Li Ping'an an extra egg when he saw him.

Section Chief, this time we really nailed it! Wang Dahu gave a thumbs up, his smile uncontainable; the higher-ups are going to give us merit and awards! Tonight at Donglaishun, I'll treat!

Li Ping'an took the pancake, bit into it, the hot fragrant aroma melted in his mouth, but his heart wasn't as light as his expression. He smiled: 'The credit belongs to everyone, but we still need to eat the meat.' However…

'However what?' Wang Dahu leaned in closer.

'But don't forget, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.' Li Ping'an gazed at the workers coming and going at the factory gate, lowered his voice: 'Now that Zheng Zeming's tree has fallen, there's no guarantee there aren't still some monkeys that slipped through the net.'

His words were like a bucket of cold water, shocking Wang Dahu. He scratched his head: 'No way? Didn't we catch everyone on the list?'

'Let's hope so.' Li Ping'an finished the pancake in a few bites, brushed off the sesame on his hands, and went to work.

In the following days, everything was calm. The commendation ceremony was held, certificates awarded, and even the municipal Party secretary praised the Steel Rolling Mill Security Department by name at the meeting. Li Ping'an, as the representative, took the stage to speak, and thunderous applause erupted below.

But he always felt something was off.

It was too smooth. From discovering Zheng Zeming's flaw, to finding the secret room, to rounding everyone up in one sweep, it went as smoothly as a well-rehearsed play. How could such a cunning and experienced spy chief like Zheng Zeming fall so easily?

That night, he was alone in the office organizing the case files. Outside the window, the moonlight was clear; the siheyuan was quiet, with only occasional cricket chirps.

He opened Zheng Zeming's codebook and page by page examined it carefully. These days he'd been busy wrapping up the case and reporting, and hadn't had a chance to study it properly.

The pages were yellowed, the paper fragile, showing its age. The content was indeed classical literary analysis, but beside certain passages there were extremely fine pencil marks—not numbers, but some seemingly random symbols.

The more he looked, the stranger it seemed. The strokes of these symbols differed slightly from Zheng Zeming's usual handwriting—finer, more meticulous. Moreover, their placement was special, not like casual notes.

Suddenly, his gaze locked onto the crease of the page.

There was a line of tiny writing there, almost invisible, written with an extremely fine steel pen:

The shadow warrior has awakened; the new contact point is at St. Michael's Church.

Li Ping'an's breath caught.

'Shadow warrior? Isn't that a body double from Japanese ninjas? Could Zheng Zeming also just be a stand-in? The real mastermind might be someone else.'

He sprang to his feet and paced back and forth in the office. The moonlight stretched his shadow long across the wall, swaying.

If Zheng Zeming is just a front, then the real spy chief is still at large. Moreover, this person hides even deeper and is more dangerous than Zheng Zeming.

He recalled how overly cooperative Zheng Zeming had been during his arrest; how the neatly arranged evidence in the secret room seemed deliberately placed to be found; how a few small details didn't add up when closing the case…

It all makes sense now!

Early the next morning, he found Wang Dahu: 'Wang Dahu, there are still a few details to add to the Zheng Zeming case. Take some people and search his office again, paying special attention to anything bearing those symbols.'

'Still investigate?' Wang Dahu looked puzzled: 'Haven't we already closed the case?'

'Better safe than sorry.' Li Ping'an patted his shoulder: 'Go on, be careful.'

After seeing Wang Dahu off, he went alone to the Municipal Public Security Bureau. The one who received him was Old Liu from the Criminal Investigation Division, who had participated in the interrogation of Zheng Zeming.

'Section Chief Li? What wind blew you in?' Old Liu laughed as he poured him tea.

'Director Liu, I came to review Zheng Zeming's interrogation records again.' Li Ping'an took the teacup, wanting to confirm a few details.

'They're all in the archives; I'll take you there.'

The archive room was stacked with case files, the air thick with the smell of old paper and ink. Old Liu pulled out Zheng Zeming's case file—three thick volumes.

'Take your time; I have a meeting outside.'

After Old Liu left, Li Ping'an eagerly opened the file, reading page by page, missing no detail.

In the third interrogation record, he found an anomaly.

When the interrogator asked whether any accomplices were still at large, Zheng Zeming replied: 'I've said all I need to say.'

But beside that statement, there was a parenthetical note reading: '(The interviewee suddenly laughed at that moment.)'

'He laughed? What was he laughing at?'

Li Ping'an continued reading. In the fifth interrogation, Zheng Zeming said a strange line: 'You think catching me ends it? The game has only just begun.'

At the time, the interrogator thought he was just bluffing and didn't pay much attention. But looking back now…

Li Ping'an closed the file, leaned back in his chair, and felt a chill run down his spine.

He had been too careless. Victory had gone to his head, causing him to overlook so many obvious warnings.

Leaving the archive, he lit a cigarette in the courtyard of the Public Security Bureau. The afternoon sun was blazing, making it hard for him to keep his eyes open.

'Section Chief Li, finished?' Old Liu emerged from the office building.

'Finished.' Li Ping'an stubbed out the cigarette. 'Director Liu, where is Zheng Zeming being held? I'd like to see him again.'

'This……' Old Liu's face showed difficulty; it's probably not convenient. There are orders from above that the case is closed and no further visits are allowed.

'Just ten minutes.'

'Really can't.' Old Liu lowered his voice: 'Section Chief Li, hear me out—let's drop this case. Digging further won't help anyone.'

There's meaning behind his words. Li Ping'an stared at Old Liu for a few seconds, then suddenly understood something.

'Thanks, Director Liu. I understand.'

He turned and left, his steps heavy.

Back at the Steel Rolling Mill, Wang Dahu came running up to him, excited: 'Section Chief, we really found something! At the bottom of Zheng Zeming's office trash can, we found this!'

It was a crumpled cigarette pack; when unfolded, a strange symbol was drawn on the back—a moth.

'What is this......?'

It was hidden in the interlayer of the trash can. Wang Dahu said, if you hadn't told me to search again, we wouldn't have found it.

'Moth...... shadow warrior......'

Li Ping'an recalled the line from the codebook: 'The shadow warrior has awakened.'

He felt he had brushed against the edge of a massive conspiracy.

That night, he once again slipped into the darkness. This time his destination was St. Michael's Church—the contact point mentioned in the codebook.

The church is in the West City, abandoned for years. The iron gate is rusted, the courtyard overgrown with weeds. Under the moonlight, the Gothic architecture looms like a dormant beast.

He silently scaled the wall and landed on the soft grass. Inside the church was pitch black, save for faint moonlight filtering through the stained‑glass windows.

Divine Perception slowly unfurled, sensing the activity around.

No one was there.

But he could feel that someone had been here not long ago; a faint tobacco smell lingered in the air, and fresh footprints marked the ground.

He discovered a hidden compartment behind the altar; it was empty, but the dust showed traces of something having been placed there.

He was a step too late.

Just as he was about to leave, his Divine Perception suddenly caught an extremely faint sound—coming from the direction of the church bell tower.

He held his breath, executing the Carefree Step to its utmost, like a wisp of green smoke drifting toward the bell tower.

The bell tower door was ajar; he gently pushed it open and went up the narrow spiral staircase.

On the top floor of the bell tower, moonlight streamed through the louvers, falling on a figure with its back to him.

"You've come." The person turned, revealing a white moth mask on their face—faster than I expected.

"Who are you?" Li Ping'an gripped the gun in his chest.

"Shadow Warrior." The voice behind the mask, processed, was hoarse and indistinct—or rather, Zheng Zeming's successor.

"Zheng Zeming is indeed your discard."

"A discard?" the Shadow Warrior chuckled lightly. "No, he was our bait—to lure out this big fish—Li Ping'an."

Li Ping'an's heart jolted: What does that mean?

"You thought you found Zheng Zeming?" the Shadow Warrior shook his head. "We let you find him. We needed a proper excuse for him to exit the stage. And you just helped us with that."

"Why?"

"Because he's been exposed; keeping him would only cause trouble. And you..." the Shadow Warrior's gaze through the mask was icy and piercing—"you are more valuable than we imagined. You are an Evil Ghost, not only having killed Miyamoto Musashi but also a veteran—how about joining us?"

"You've investigated thoroughly—you can even look up things I used to do—but it's just a dream."

"Too bad." The Shadow Warrior sighed. "Then you can only keep Zheng Zeming company."

As his words fell, Li Ping'an suddenly felt a pang in his chest—a Divine Perception warning!

He darted sideways; a crossbow bolt grazed his ear and buried deep into the wooden pillar behind him.

"Quick reflexes." The Shadow Warrior applauded, but the game has only just begun.

Saying that, he leapt backward and actually jumped straight out of the bell tower window!

Li Ping'an rushed to the window; below was pitch black, no trace of anyone remained—only the rustling of weeds stirred by the night wind.

He lowered his gaze to the moth mask in his hand—that was the Shadow Warrior's deliberate leavings.

Inside the mask, two characters were written in blood:

Li Ping'an stood on the bell tower, gazing at the sleeping city beneath his feet, feeling powerless for the first time.

He thought he was the hunter, never expecting to be the prey in someone else's eyes.

And now, the game has truly only just begun.

When he returned to the Siheyuan, the sky was already paling. Li Pingle was brushing his teeth in the courtyard, mouth full of foam, asking him: "Brother, working overtime again?"

Li Ping'an ruffled his sister's hair. "Hurry to school, you'll be late."

He watched his sister's bouncing, skipping back, and an indescribable panic welled up inside him.

If the Shadow Warrior had already set his sights on him, then his sister...

He dared not think further.

That morning, the sun was still bright, but Li Ping'an knew that some things had changed.

The enemies in the shadows are more cunning and stronger than imagined.

And he must protect everything around him.