Chapter 190: The Mist Gradually Clears

The news that three spies were captured at the Abandoned Brick Factory spread to the Steel Rolling Mill like it had grown wings. While working, the laborers discussed the matter, and even in the cafeteria line you could hear various versions of the story.

Did you hear? Li Chief single‑handedly seized a Spy Nest!

Where? I heard it was one versus three, taking the blade with bare hands!

Li Ping'an listened to these increasingly absurd rumors and could only shake his head helplessly. At this moment he was sitting outside the Interrogation Room of the Public Security Bureau, waiting for news from inside.

Chief, they've been interrogated all night and still won't speak. Wang Dahu emerged with two dark circles under his eyes; those kids are really stubborn.

Li Ping'an peered through the small window into the Interrogation Room. The three spies sat there with heads down, but their eyes still held defiance.

Let me try.

He pushed the door open and entered the Interrogation Room, sitting opposite the lead spy. The man lifted his head and gave a mocking smile: "Li Chief, you're up again?"

Li Ping'an gave no reply, merely watching him quietly. Divine Perception unfurled like liquid mercury, capturing the subtlest emotional fluctuations of the other.

You placed the base where you can see the Steel Rolling Mill's smokestack not for easy observation, but because that spot is a signal relay station.

The spy's complexion changed imperceptibly.

The Radio Station powers up precisely at ten p. m. each night to receive orders sent from overseas.

The spy's breathing quickened a bit.

Your handler is left‑handed.

"How do you know?" the spy blurted out, then realized the slip and quickly shut his mouth.

Li Ping'an smiled. He noticed a faint stain on the spy's collar—a spot often smudged when a left‑hander writes.

You are merely bait thrown out by Zhu Jiguān. Li Ping'an rose slowly; the real core members had long since relocated.

He stepped out of the Interrogation Room and said to Liu, the Deputy Director waiting outside: "They truly don't know the whereabouts of the core members. However, I have a rough idea where to look."

Back at the Steel Factory, Li Ping'an immediately convened a full meeting of the Security Department.

Based on the current clues, Zhu Jiguān has another secret base in the northern part of the city. He pointed to an area on the map; there are many old courtyards and few transient residents, making it ideal for hiding.

Chief, should we sweep the whole area? Wang Dahu asked.

No, we'll stir the grass and scare the snake. Li Ping'an shook his head. "Since they were willing to sacrifice three peripheral members, they're already on alert. We must wait for them to reveal themselves."

In the following days, Li Ping'an adjusted the Security Department's work schedule. On the surface, the plant's guard seemed a bit relaxed; covertly, he dispatched the most elite team to set up a net in the northern part of the city.

That night, after finishing overtime, Li Ping'an returned home and saw his sister still embroidering under the lamp.

It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?

Almost done. Li Pingle didn't look up, "Sister Lin has a birthday tomorrow; I want to finish embroidering this hand‑silk and give it to her."

Li Ping'an felt a warmth inside. Since confirming his relationship with Lin Xueqing, his sister has been even more attentive, sending the future sister‑in‑law little embroidered items every few days.

Brother, how does this orchid embroidery look? Li Pingle raised the hand‑silk; Lin Xueqing loves orchids the most.

Looks good. Li Ping'an sat beside her, "Tomorrow I'll go with you to celebrate her birthday."

Really? Li Pingle's eyes lit up. "Then you'll have to prepare a proper gift!"

The next day, Li Ping'an took a half‑day off on purpose. He first went to a department store and picked out a fountain pen for Lin Xueqing—she had mentioned wanting a new pen for writing prescriptions.

Brother, you're giving her that? Li Pingle pursed his lips, "That's not romantic at all!"

Then what do you suggest we give?

We have to at least give a bouquet of flowers!

Finally, at Li Pingle's insistence, Li Ping'an bought a bouquet of pure white orchids.

When Lin Xueqing saw the gift, she indeed liked the bouquet even more.

So beautiful! She placed the flowers in a vase. "Pingle, you chose them, right? Your brother isn't that meticulous."

Li Ping'an smiled awkwardly. As the three were about to go out for a meal, a duty officer from the Security Department rushed over.

Chief, there's a situation!

Li Ping'an felt a knot in his stomach: what's wrong?

The team stationed in the north spotted a suspicious target!

Li Ping'an glanced at Lin Xueqing, his face showing reluctance.

Go then. Lin Xueqing replied understandingly, "Birthdays come every year; the matter is urgent."

Wait for me to make it up to you when I return. Li Ping'an said apologetically, then hurried off with the officer.

In an alley in the northern part of the city, two plain‑clothes officers were guarding the back door of a courtyard.

Chief, about half an hour ago a suspicious individual entered. One officer whispered a report, noting the gait looked like that of a martial‑family disciple.

Li Ping'an examined the courtyard closely. It was a typical two‑gate courtyard, but the walls were taller than ordinary homes and the door heavier than usual.

You stay here on guard; I'll go in and take a look.

He circled to the front door, pretending to be a neighbor looking for someone, and knocked.

Who is it? an old man's voice called from inside.

Sir, I'm inquiring about someone—does Wang Jianguo live here?

The door opened a crack, revealing a wrinkled face: "You've got the wrong place; that person isn't here."

As the door was about to close, Li Ping'an's Divine Perception had already swept the entire courtyard. In the East Wing Room, he sensed a familiar aura—the same as the one on the earlier spies.

Sorry to disturb. He stepped back calmly, showing no reaction.

Returning to the back door, he immediately ordered: "Dahu, gather men and seal off the courtyard. This time we can't let them escape."

Should we wait for night to act?

No, act now. Strike while they're still unaware.

The operation went smoothly. When the officers rushed into the courtyard, the three inside hadn't reacted before being subdued. In a hidden compartment of the East Wing Room, they uncovered more classified documents and a New-style Radio.

Chief, take a look at this. Wang Dahu handed over a Code Book.

Li Ping'an opened the Code Book, his pupils contracting sharply. It listed all of Zhu Jiguān's contact points and personnel in Four Nine City!

Report to the Public Security Bureau immediately!

This discovery shook the entire public security system. According to the Code Book, the police dismantled seven of the Zhu Organization's bases in Four Nine City over the next three days, arresting more than twenty agents.

But the most important target—Zhu Organization's Four Nine City leader Zhu Yeqing—remains at large.

Zhu Yeqing is too cunning. Liu said at the debriefing that he always manages to escape a step ahead.

Li Ping'an stared at the seven marked base locations on the map and suddenly noticed a pattern: the bases formed a fan shape, and the fan's center point...

I know where he is, Li Ping'an said, springing to his feet. He must be at the fan's center—that is, near the Steel Rolling Mill!

Everyone was stunned.

The most dangerous place is the safest place, Li Ping'an explained. He's been right under our noses!

A new round of sweeps began immediately. This time, the scope was narrowed to within five hundred meters of the Steel Rolling Mill.

Two days later, late at night, the on‑duty team reported a suspicious situation: a candy‑skewer vendor had been lingering near the plant, yet he never seemed to sell any sticks.

Li Ping'an went to inspect the vendor himself. Though the man dressed plainly, the way he pushed his cart and his hawking tone both felt off.

Keep an eye on him.

After three days of tailing, the team found that the vendor went to a nearby sundry shop after work each day. The shop's owner was Left-handed.

That's him! Li Ping'an was almost certain.

To avoid alerting the target, Li Ping'an did not act immediately but sent people to monitor the shop around the clock.

Another Friday night, the surveillance team reported a few unfamiliar faces entering the shop. Li Ping'an felt the time was right.

Action!

When the team burst into the shop, the owner was transmitting from the back room. Seeing Li Ping'an, he did not panic; instead, he gave a strange smile.

Li Chief, a pleasure to finally meet you.

Zhu Yeqing

"It's me," he said, slowly setting aside his headset. "What a pity, you arrived a step too late."

What does that mean?

All the intelligence that was supposed to be sent out has already been dispatched, Zhu Yeqing said proudly. "Catching me is useless."

Li Ping'an sneered, "Did you think we didn't know you were using a commercial Radio Station as a cover? Every piece of false intelligence you sent was under our control."

Zhu Yeqing's expression finally changed.

Take him away!

While escorting Zhu Yeqing back to the Public Security Bureau, Li Ping'an gazed at the street scene outside the window and let out a long sigh. The long‑entangled opponent had finally been captured, but he knew the struggle was far from over.

Back at the Security Department, Wang Dahu and the team were waiting for him.

"Chief, you can finally breathe easy now, right?"

"Not yet," Li Ping'an shook his head. "The Zhu Organization has collapsed, but other spy groups will arise. As long as the enemy's murderous intent remains, our fight will never cease."

He said that, yet the days that followed were indeed much calmer. No suspicious figures appeared in the plant area, and the lingering sense of danger gradually faded.

On the weekend, Li Ping'an finally kept his promise and gave Lin Xueqing a belated birthday celebration. He deliberately chose a newly opened restaurant and invited his sister and Wang Dahu along with a few close colleagues.

"Brother, you can't slip away halfway this time," Li Le warned him.

"Don't worry, even if the sky falls today I won't leave."

The dinner table buzzed with excitement; everyone was happy about the recent victory. After a few drinks, Wang Dahu became more talkative.

"If you ask me, our chief really earned a great merit this time! Once the commendation comes, shouldn't we be treated to a celebratory banquet?"

Li Ping'an felt embarrassed by the remark, and Lin Xueqing blushed.

"What nonsense!" Li Ping'an glared at him.

"Where did I speak nonsense?" Wang Dahu retorted, "Isn't it great that you and Dr. Lin are together!"

Li Le chimed in from the side: "Exactly, exactly—bro, you're already so old, you should hurry and marry Sister Lin!"

The meal ended amid laughter and chatter. On the way back to drop off Lin Xueqing, the two fell into a slight silence.

"Ping'an, in the end Lin Xueqing spoke first. What are your plans now?"

"First, finish the work at hand," Li Ping'an said. "Then... it's time to think about the lifelong matter."

Lin Xueqing lowered her head, but a sweet smile curved her lips.

Back at the Siheyuan, Li Ping'an found the light still on in his sister's room.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Li Le looked at him seriously, "You really like Sister Lin, don't you?"

"Of course."

"Then don't keep her waiting too long," Li Le said like an adult. "A girl as wonderful as Sister Lin, if you miss her, she's gone."

Li Ping'an patted her head: "Got it, little housekeeper."

That night, Li Ping'an slept unusually soundly. The fatigue of recent days seemed to melt away with Zhu Yeqing's capture, yet he knew it was only a temporary respite. The road to safeguarding peace was still long, and he was already ready to keep moving forward.

In the soft morning light, the Steel Rolling Mill's chimney began to billow smoke again, heralding a new day. Li Ping'an's story continued.