Chapter 73: Blowing Up 731

Ha'erbin City was like a pot of boiling water, completely boiling over. The explosion at the Special High Section Gate was like stabbing a hornet's nest; Japanese soldiers and secret agents swarmed out, setting up checkpoints all over the streets, searching house to house, as if they wanted to overturn the entire city.

Police sirens blared all night, the streets were in an uproar. Ordinary people hid in their homes, afraid to go out, their hearts pounding, not knowing which brave soul dared to cause trouble on the emperor's head.

Li Ping'an had already slipped out of the city early, hiding in a dilapidated hut used for watching melons in the suburbs. This place was inhabited in summer but deserted in winter, drafty all around, but its advantage was concealment. He curled up in a pile of straw, covered himself with a torn sack, listened to the faint noises coming from the city far away, and smirked in his heart.

Let them riot, the more chaotic the better. The crazier the Japanese get, the easier it is for them to reveal a weakness.

He stayed in the hut for a day and a night, filling his stomach with supplies from the space, and when tired he went into the space to sleep. The Spiritual Spring Space was warm, he slept soundly, and came out full of energy.

Late the second night, guessing the city's search had loosened, he changed into the Japanese soldier uniform he had taken—prepared back when he was in Fengtian, though never used until now. He checked his reflection in a puddle; he looked the part, just a bit thinner.

He had to return to the 731 Base again. Last time he left in a rush, many places weren't surveyed, especially that Top Secret Sample Library, which surely hid unspeakable things. This time he must not only destroy it but also leave evidence—what if these beasts try to deny it later?

This time he had learned his lesson, avoiding the main roads and choosing desolate wilderness. A string of footprints in the snow was soon blown away by the wind. With the Carefree Step deployed, his speed was astonishing—several tens of li passed in a flash.

From afar he saw the base lit up, security tighter than last time. Searchlights on the wall swept back and forth, the watchtowers added double sentries, and patrol squads came one after another.

It seems the previous disturbance frightened the Japanese into cowardice.

Li Ping'an didn't rush to approach; he lay in a snow hollow observing for about half an hour, figuring out the patrol's rhythm. These Japanese looked tense, but were actually lax inside—after walking their routes a while they still yawned and slacked off.

He circled to the base's side, where a small grove lay near the wall. Timing the gap when the searchlights swept past, he slipped to the wall's base like a shadow—still the same spot, the drainage ditch.

The iron fence had been repaired, with two extra bars added. Too bad it was useless. He exerted force with both hands, cracked it open a few times, bent the fence open a gap, and slipped through.

The conduit still smelled the same, even stronger than last time. He moved through it familiar with the route, and soon reached the stairway leading to the basement.

This time he didn't rush up; he first pressed his ear to the door crack to listen. Outside it was quiet—apparently the alarm had been lifted, and the guards here had relaxed considerably.

He gently pushed the door open and slipped inside. The corridor was empty, only the ceiling light humming with electricity. He adjusted his uniform, straightened his cap, and swaggered forward.

Upon encountering two patrolling Japanese soldiers, he greeted them first: 'Hard work!'

The Japanese soldiers blinked, then instinctively stood at attention and saluted: 'Serving His Majesty the Emperor!'

After they walked away, one could still hear them muttering: 'Who is that? He looks so unfamiliar... maybe he's a new transfer...'

Li Ping'an smirked to himself, his feet never stopping as he headed straight for the Special Experimental Area. The deeper he went, the stricter the guards, yet relying on this disguise and his calm composure, he managed to pass through unhindered all the way.

Again he arrived before that large iron door. This time four sentinels stood at the entrance, each with sharp eyes, as if facing a great enemy.

Identification! The leading sergeant reached out to stop him.

Li Ping'an handed over the corpse researcher's ID. The sergeant examined it closely, then stared at his face: 'Dr. Shantian? What are you doing here so late?'

The section chief urgently ordered samples to be taken for inspection. Li Ping'an lowered his voice, imitating a Japanese accent: 'The latest experimental data has a problem; possibly sample contamination.'

The sergeant frowned, seeming doubtful. Just then, a sudden rush of footsteps and shouts came from inside: 'Hurry! No. 3 lab is leaking! Everyone evacuate!'

A piercing alarm blared immediately! Red warning lights began to flash!

'Damn it!' the sergeant cursed, no longer bothering to interrogate, hastily directing his subordinates: 'Quick! Assist with the evacuation! You! Dr. Shantian, get out of here now!'

An opportunity came! Li Ping'an's heart stirred; he pretended to be flustered and nodded: 'Hey! I'm leaving now!' Yet he slipped into the blast-proof door that was just opening amidst the chaos.

Inside, it was indeed chaos! Researchers in protective gear ran out in panic, nobody noticing an extra person. A pungent chemical smell filled the air, and in one lab yellow smoke was still rising.

Li Ping'an charged against the flow of people, his target clear—the Top Secret Sample Library!

The sample library's door was shut tight, but the adjacent emergency passage had automatically unlocked due to the leak alarm! Truly heaven helped me!

He slipped into the passage, which was a downward staircase; the deeper he went, the colder it got. At the end stood a heavy alloy door, with a plaque hanging on it, beside a fingerprint lock and a code dial.

What to do now? Forcing entry definitely won't work.

He was pondering when suddenly footsteps came from below! Someone was heading up!

In desperation, he lunged upward, bracing his hands and feet against the passage walls, clinging to the ceiling shadow like a giant spider.

A middle-aged Japanese in a lieutenant colonel's uniform hurried up, cursing: 'These good-for-nothings! Can't even handle a leak...' As he spoke, he walked to the alloy door, skillfully entered the code and pressed his fingerprint.

With a click, the door opened. The lieutenant colonel stepped inside.

Just as the door was about to close, Li Ping'an drifted down like a leaf, silently and swiftly extending his hand to jam the door gap!

Close call! He almost missed it!

He slipped sideways into the door; inside was a huge freezer, bitterly cold. Rows of metal racks held neatly arranged sealed containers, their labels bearing incomprehensible Japanese and codes. In the middle stood several large glass jars, filled with unnameable biological tissue that made the scalp tingle.

That lieutenant colonel was standing before a console operating something, completely unaware of someone behind him.

Li Ping'an approached silently, his gaze sweeping over the labels. Suddenly his pupils contracted—on one rack was clearly marked 'Special Demolition Bomb'! Nearby also read 'Disease Vector Water Contaminant' and such!

These beasts! Indeed they were developing biological weapons!

Just then, the lieutenant colonel seemed to sense something, whirling around: 'Who?!'

What greeted him was an ever-enlarging fist!

Bang! A heavy punch smashed into his face; the lieutenant colonel didn't even grunt before falling flat on his back, nose blood gushing.

Li Ping'an quickly trussed him up, gagged him, then began to swiftly search the sample library.

The more he looked, the more shocked he became. This place stored not only deadly bacteria and virus samples, but also detailed experimental data and weaponization plans! On the wall hung a map of China, marked with several possible test sites!

These must be recorded!

He suddenly recalled that earlier he had snatched a German-made Leica camera from a Japanese warehouse in Tianjin, left gathering dust in a corner of his space. Now it would finally come in handy!

He hurriedly took the camera from his space and snapped away at those labels, the map, the experimental records. Especially the racks marked 'Special Demolition Bomb Disease Vector', he shot multiple angles, several frames each. The film spool clicked, the flash flickered intermittently in the freezer.

After taking the photos, he felt it wasn't enough. He then selected a few of the most damning experimental records—detailing live‑subject experiment data and biological weapon efficacy assessments—and stuffed them into his space. These black‑and‑white words, let's see how they'll try to deny them later!

Having done that, he began to set up the demolition. Most sample containers were specially reinforced, making regular means hard to break. Moreover, violent rupture could cause leakage, which would be counterproductive.

He thought it over and had an idea. He took out several time‑delayed bombs from his space—homemade from previously seized explosives, their power modest but enough to sow chaos.

He cleverly placed the bombs at key spots: the refrigeration system, the power control box, and under the rack of those special demolition bombs. The timer was set for half an hour later.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed an indicator light lit on the console, labeled 'self‑destruct system'.

Self‑destruct system? Could it be...

He examined the console closely and found a hidden switch compartment containing a red button, with Japanese characters labeling it 'emergency disposal'.

Great! It's like someone sending a pillow just when you want to sleep!

But he didn't press it rashly. Such systems usually require authorization or a password. However...

He glanced at the placed bomb. Perhaps it could...

A bolder plan formed in his mind.

He quickly set it up, fixing one bomb onto the self-destruct system's control line, timing it a few minutes later than the other bombs. That way, once the explosion destroyed the control system, it could trigger a chain reaction...

By then, this Demon Cave would self-destruct from within!

Setup complete, he glanced at the fallen lieutenant colonel on the ground. Such a menace couldn't be left, but he didn't intend to take the corpse—after all, everything would soon be blown to ash, what did he fear exposure? He raised his hand and dealt a finishing blow, ending its life.

He dared not linger, swiftly withdrawing from the sample depot.

The leak outside seemed to have been contained, personnel were gradually returning. He blended into the crowd, head down, walking outward.

Suddenly, a voice called out to him: Hey! You! Stop!

Li Ping'an's heart tightened, his hand furtively moving to the gun at his waist.

A bespectacled researcher ran over: Which department are you from? I haven't seen you before—let me see your ID!

Several Japanese Soldiers nearby also glanced over warily.

Li Ping'an slowly pulled out his ID, his mind racing, ready to erupt at any moment.

Just then——

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Continuous explosion sounds came from the sample depot direction! The whole ground trembled! The piercing fire alarm rang again across the base!

Another explosion! Run!

The crowd instantly erupted in chaos! Everyone scrambled desperately outward, no time to check IDs!

Li Ping'an took advantage of the chaos to break out of the encirclement, sprinting along the familiar route. Behind him came more violent explosion sounds, as if the entire underground structure were collapsing!

Success! The self-destruct system has been activated!

He charged straight out of the base, headlong into the wilderness without looking back. Behind him, towering flames painted half the sky red, explosions continuing nonstop, as if doomsday had arrived.

Having run far enough, he finally stopped, turned back to look. The Demon Cave had already fallen into a sea of fire, buildings continually collapsing in explosions.

Although it was impossible to completely destroy this massive base, at least the deadliest sample depot was done for. More importantly, he left behind irrefutable evidence—those photos and documents, enough to expose the beasts' crimes to the world.

A cold wind blew, stirring up drifting snow. Li Ping'an stood in the snow, gazing at the distant firelight, exhaling a long white breath. He felt the heavy camera in his pocket, his heart more at ease.

It was time to leave Dongbei. This place had already startled the snake; we couldn't stay any longer.

Next target—Tianjin? Or head straight south?

He turned and stepped away, his figure quickly vanishing into the vast snowy night.

Behind him, the towering flames continued to burn, as if holding a belated funeral for the fallen compatriots. And those evidences had already been quietly taken by him; one day they will reveal the truth to the world.