Chapter 74

The cold wind in Harbin was like a knife, yet inside the city dark currents surged. Li Ping'an hid in the darkroom of an abandoned photo studio in the south of the city, the red light casting on his tense face.

The air smelled of developer. He held bamboo tweezers, gently agitating the film. The racks for special bombardment shells, the cans of disease vectors, and the maps marked with test sites appeared one by one on the negative.

Beasts... He stared at the photo of a baby soaked in formalin, his fingers pinched white. These crimes must be made known to the whole world.

Three days later, the editorial department of the largest Manchuria Daily in Xinjing received a thick anonymous package. The editor-in-chief tore it open, his face turning pale—inside were dozens of clear photos and documents plainly recording the shameful deeds of Unit 731.

Quick! Quickly send this to the president! His voice trembled—something big is about to happen!

On the same day, several newspaper offices in Beiping, Shanghai, and Tianjin received identical packages. Some editors were so frightened they burned them outright; some hid them secretly; a few bold ones stayed up all night typesetting to get them published.

The Shanghai edition of the Great Beauty Evening News broke the story first, its entire front page filled with photos and reports, the headline striking: The Japanese army secretly developing biological weapons, inhumane experiments on living people!

Now the pot has boiled over.

In the Kwantung Army headquarters, teacups shattered with a clatter.

You idiot! Trash! All trash! Commander Mei Jin Mei Zhi Lang flew into a rage, stomping his feet—what about Ji Cun Xiu Fu? Let him commit seppuku to apologize!

The officers standing below all had ashen faces. Special High Section Section Chief Ji Cun Xiu Fu had already met King Yama in the car explosion a few days earlier, and now there was no one left to take the blame.

Seal the news immediately! Shut down any newspaper that published these rumors! Arrest all editors and reporters! Mei Jin Mei Zhi Lang roared until his voice was almost hoarse, and what about Miyamoto Musashi! Isn't he supposed to be some sword saint? He can't even catch a person! Let him come see me!

At this moment, Miyamoto Musashi stood before the ruins of the Unit 731 base, his face black as a pot bottom. The fire had been extinguished, but the core specimen depot was completely destroyed. Worse still, the experimental data and specimen lists had vanished without a trace.

Your Excellency, confirmed—the lieutenant's corpse has been found, but... the documents in the file cabinet are all gone. An officer reported, trembling.

Miyamoto Musashi closed his eyes, drew a deep breath of cold air. He could feel that the one who had not only wiped this place out but also taken the most vital things. This time he lost everything, down to his shorts.

A nationwide manhunt. He said coldly, send it to every train station, dock, and checkpoint. A reward of ten thousand yuan for clues, fifty thousand for killing him, and one hundred thousand for capturing him alive.

He looked south, his gaze dark enough to drip water: You can't run...

Yan'an, Zao Garden.

Chairman Mao stubbed out his cigarette and said to the room: This matter speaks volumes. The more frenzied the little Japanese become, the clearer it is that they're nearing their end.

He picked up a flyer: Well done, nameless hero! We must learn this spirit—be able to wield both rifle and pen. Tell comrades everywhere to print and distribute these materials widely, so the common folk can see what kind of scoundrels the Japanese are!

Zhu Lao Zong added: We also need to remind the troops to guard against this. Desperate Japanese dogs may resort to any low trick.

Chongqing, 50 Zengjia Rock.

A middle-aged man in a long gown hurried into the office, placing an encrypted telegram on the desk: Chief Zhou, an urgent telegram from the Northeast.

Chief Zhou picked up the telegram; the more he read, the tighter his brow furrowed: Is the information reliable?

It's been confirmed. Multiple newspapers in Shanghai and Beiping published the photos; although they were quickly sealed, the news had already spread. The middle-aged man lowered his voice: Our comrades in Xinjing also confirmed that the Unit 731 base was indeed blown up.

Chief Zhou stood up and paced the office: Immediately through all channels, gather as much of this evidence as possible. Especially those photos and documents—we need to find a way to obtain copies.

But the Japanese are investigating too strictly...

No matter how strict, we must find a way! This is ironclad evidence of Japanese army atrocities! Chief Zhou spoke firmly, simultaneously notifying all bases to strengthen defenses against biological warfare, especially water and food supplies.

He walked to the window, gazing at the misty mountain city: This mysterious person... I don't know which line's comrade, but they've done a great deed.

Nanjing, Office of the Wang Puppet Government.

An official with slicked-back hair rushed in, panicking: Minister, not good! Today's newspaper...

Zhou Fo Hai waved his hand impatiently: I know, I know! Those rumors again! The Imperial Army has already clarified—it's slander by hostile forces!

But... the photos look genuinely real...

Photos can be faked! Zhou Fo Hai slammed the table, issuing my order: all publications are forbidden from mentioning this again; violators will be punished as traitors! Also, have the propaganda department quickly write a few articles exposing how Chongqing and Yan'an colluded with foreign powers to slander the Imperial Army...

After the subordinate withdrew, Zhou Fo Hai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and muttered under his breath: Those useless Japanese who can't accomplish anything but only cause failure...

Meanwhile, Li Ping'an wandered the streets of Harbin, intending to get a train ticket to Tianjin. Passing a tea stall, he overheard a few elders chatting.

Ah, thinking of Commander Yang makes my heart ache... What a fine man, just to be sold out by those beasts!

That bastard Cheng Bin—now he's become the police chief of Tonghua! Pah!

Zhang Xiu Feng is no good either—heard he's living it up in Shenyang!

Li Ping'an suddenly stopped in his tracks. The matter of General Yang Jingyu being betrayed by a traitor, he had heard before; hearing the elders say this now, a surge of fire shot straight to the top of his head. Anti-Japanese heroes fought to the death on the front lines, while these beasts stabbed them in the back!

Without a word, he turned around and headed back. No need to go to Tianjin—he must stay in the Northeast, first settle these scores before anything else.

Those photos are like seeds scattered; they will surely blossom and bear fruit sooner or later. For now, he has more pressing matters to attend to.

Miyamoto Musashi, wait for now. Li Ping'an gazed toward Changbai Mountain, his eyes icy cold. Wait until I've cleaned house, then I'll come settle the total score with you.

He turned and slipped into an alley, already calculating how to find those traitors' whereabouts. Cheng Bin is police chief of Tonghua? Good—just the person to make an example of.

Those traitors likely never dreamed that the life‑taking King Yama was already on his way to them.