Chapter 39: He Daqing is Suspected

Xu Damao shrank his neck in fear, looking just like a startled turtle, then turned and ran away in a flash, leaving only dust swirling in the afternoon sunlight.

The sun gradually climbed to the top of the sky, yet the "guest" He Yuzhu was waiting for still had not appeared.

He leaned against the rough trunk of a large locust tree, his hands tucked into his tattered sleeves, kicking at a protruding tree root in boredom until the tip of his shoe was nearly worn through. He muttered to himself: Could it be that Boss Ma didn't go to report the case? Or did those little devils not take him seriously at all? Why, after waiting for the better part of the day, hadn't he even seen a ghost of a shadow?

Just as he was letting his thoughts run wild, he suddenly saw a hunched, gaunt man shuffling over at the mouth of the alley.

That man had a shifty look in his eyes, glancing left and right as he walked, just like a rat coming out to forage at night, every step filled with caution and probing.

He caught sight of He Yuzhu under the tree, immediately squeezed out an exaggerated fake smile, and fished a fruit candy out of his pocket, the candy wrapper reflecting the sunlight: "Little kid, come here, have some candy!"

He Yuzhu didn't move, tilting his head with an innocent and ignorant look: "My grandma said, anyone who comes up and gives a kid candy is a bad person! Are you a child trafficker?" He deliberately raised his voice, "Let me tell you, I'm very tough, you, you can't catch me!"

"You child, what are you thinking?" The man gave two dry laughs, "In this day and age, people can't even get enough to eat, who would still traffic children? I'm just looking for you to ask about something." As he spoke, he shook the candy in his hand.

He Yuzhu stretched out a dirty little hand: "Give me money, and I'll tell you!"

"I'm just asking, is this courtyard Nanluoguxiang No. 95? Just for this, you want money too?" The man shook his head and chuckled.

He Yuzhu blinked his large eyes, looking completely innocent: "Yes, this is No. 95. This one doesn't cost money."

"What's your name? Do you know someone called He Daqing?" The man asked tentatively, his small eyes darting around like two black beans.

"This, this matter, no money, we don't talk." He Yuzhu turned his head away, with the air of someone who had nothing to discuss.

The man clicked his tongue and pulled out a large handful of colorful fruit candies: "Are these enough?"

He Yuzhu immediately beamed with joy, took the candies, and impatiently unwrapped two to throw into his mouth, chewing them with a crunching sound. "He Daqing? That's just that lousy cook in our courtyard! What's wrong? Did he owe gambling debts again?"

The man narrowed his eyes, leaned in closer, and lowered his voice, carrying a mysterious tone: "I heard... a few days ago, He Daqing was taken away by the Imperial Army? And later, he returned safe and sound? Is that true?"

He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat. He had thought this person came for the arson case, but he didn't expect it to be about the foreign firm theft case. It was truly an unexpected joy. Today, he absolutely could not let him go.

Yet, he feigned mystery on his face and also lowered his voice: "I know about the things inside, but you have to give me money before I can tell you."

The man's eyes lit up suddenly, like a hungry wolf seeing meat, and he said impatiently: "Didn't I give you candy? Why do you still want money? Good child, come, follow me to a quiet place, there's plenty of candy!" He pulled out another large handful of candy, the wrappers shimmering.

He Yuzhu held up two fingers and shook his head firmly: "Candy won't do. You give me two Big Ocean coins! Otherwise, I'll go tell He Daqing right now that someone is secretly asking about him!" As he spoke, he made a move as if to run into the courtyard.

"Don't, don't, don't!" The man panicked instantly, fumbling to pull two Big Ocean coins from his bosom and shoving them over, "Here, take them! Is that enough now?" He cursed inwardly: This little brat is sharp!

He Yuzhu gripped the Big Ocean coins tightly and flicked one against his ear; the silver dollar emitted a crisp hum. He nodded with satisfaction and revealed a cunning smile: "I know a place, there's no one there, I'll tell you everything!" After saying this, he turned and left, giving the man no time to think.

The two walked one after the other, not going far before arriving at a remote, abandoned courtyard. The wall of Hao Yuan had already collapsed for the most part, the gate was crooked, and the inside was overgrown with weeds, making a rustling sound in the wind.

The man peeked through a crack in the gate and saw only the dilapidated, eerie interior, and immediately wanted to back out: "Ahem... kid, I'm just asking about a small matter, no need to go into such a desolate place, right? This place is creepy..."

He Yuzhu smiled, but his voice carried an unquestionable insistence: "There are old neighbors all around here. If someone sees me whispering with a stranger like you, it'll be trouble if they tell He Daqing. When he goes crazy, he hits people!"

The man swallowed his saliva, stopped in his tracks, and said firmly: "We aren't going in, you tell me right here!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he felt a sudden gust of wind strike his neck!

He Yuzhu's figure erupted, fast as lightning, as a fierce Flying Knife hand-strike carried the sound of tearing air and slashed heavily against the side of his neck!

"Ugh..." The man let out a muffled groan, his eyes bulging, and his body collapsed to the ground like soft mud, losing consciousness completely.

He Yuzhu did not hesitate, neatly dragging him up and throwing him into the courtyard like a dead dog. He himself grabbed the top of the wall, leaped lightly, and nimbly vaulted inside.

Inside the dilapidated side room, dust danced in the beam of light filtering through a hole in the window paper.

He Yuzhu brought a basin of cold water and splashed it down violently.

"Cough! Cough!" The man was jolted awake by the cold water and discovered in terror that he was tied up tightly. Standing before him was that half-grown child, who now seemed like a different person, his gaze as cold as a blade.

"Who are you? Who sent you to investigate?" He Yuzhu toyed with a gleaming Flying Knife, the tip of the blade chillingly sharp.

The man struggled but could not make a sound. He Yuzhu pulled out the rag from his mouth.

"My name is Watanabe Village."

"Listening to you speak, you don't sound like a Japanese person? How did you get such a name?" He Yuzhu asked with a grin, though his eyes held no smile.

"I went to the Northeast when I was a teenager; my father was a cook for the Kwantung Army."

"Then we two brothers are quite alike, both sons of cooks." He Yuzhu sneered, the tip of the blade pressing against his throat, "Since you've fallen into my hands, tell me the purpose of your visit this time!"

"I, I am just an investigator from the Military Police. Last time when checking household registrations, two Imperial soldiers died, and I came to investigate the cause of their deaths!"

"You aren't being honest!" He Yuzhu's smile vanished, and the Flying Knife was driven fiercely into Watanabe Village's thigh.

Just as Watanabe Village was about to scream, he was knocked unconscious by a punch from He Yuzhu.

When he woke up again, he found his mouth stuffed with a rag once more. He Yuzhu mercilessly drove the Flying Knife into his other leg. "Tell me everything you know, otherwise, I will stab you 120 times and let you taste the feeling of death by a thousand cuts!"

"Woo—!!!" Watanabe Village was in such pain that his whole body convulsed, cold sweat pouring like rain, instantly soaking his clothes.

He Yuzhu's gaze was icy, and he struck down blade after blade! Nineteen stabs in succession, each one avoiding vital points but bringing heart-wrenching pain and extreme terror.

Watanabe Village finally collapsed completely, tears and snot streaming down his face, nodding desperately, his eyes filled only with pleading.

He Yuzhu pulled the rag from his mouth and said faintly: "Let's get acquainted, I am He Yuzhu. Robbing the foreign firm and killing the devils, it was all done by yours truly. Surprised?" His voice was as cold as ice shards in the dead of winter.

"My superior is Kozu Jiro of the Special Higher Police... He has already found out that He Daqing was taken away by the Imperial Army and returned safely, but the people who arrested him are all dead... He Daqing has been listed as one of the suspects for the theft at the foreign firm!"

He Yuzhu thought to himself that these devils actually suspected his old man, and they weren't far from the truth. He asked a few more key questions, and Watanabe Village confessed them one by one.

"I'm going to send you on your way, don't blame me." After He Yuzhu finished speaking, he twisted his hands.

With a "Crack!" sound.

Watanabe Village went to meet his Amaterasu.

At the same time, Kozu Jiro of the Special Higher Police was enjoying a rare moment of leisure in his mansion. He had invited Gu Xiaobao, the head of the Qingyin Small Class, to perform a private show.

In the living room, Gu Xiaobao danced with her water sleeves, her singing voice winding and melodious. Kozu Jiro narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping the beat on the table, occasionally humming along, looking completely intoxicated.

As the song "Imperial Concubine Gets Drunk" ended, Kozu Jiro clapped vigorously, the fat on his face blooming with a smile.

Gu Xiaobao walked over gracefully like a willow in the wind, saying coquettishly: "Sir, it's getting late, I should go back."

Kozu Jiro rose with reluctance: "I'll drive you." As he spoke, he went to get his coat.

Gu Xiaobao kissed him lightly on the face, leaving a rouge mark: "Thank you, Sir. I'm only free next Wednesday night; if you want to find me, send word in advance."

Kozu Jiro put on his military cap and happily accompanied Gu Xiaobao out the door.

The moonlight was like water, spilling onto the bluestone road and lengthening their shadows.

What they did not know was that in the shadows of the alley opposite, He Yuzhu, like a leopard in the dark night, was silently watching their every move.