Chapter 88: A Transaction

When He Yuzhu followed Liu Jinguo back to the Liu compound, the twilight had already deepened. Red lanterns were hung high in the courtyard, and a banquet was laid out under the veranda. The Huaian specialties, soft-stewed long fish and Pingqiao tofu, were steaming, and their fragrance drifted through the evening breeze to fill the courtyard.

He was ushered to the main table, flanked by the elders of the Liu family, Battalion Commander Liu, and several of his trusted aides; the clinking of cups was filled with polite formalities.

"We were in a rush to host you today, I hope everyone will bear with us!" Old Master Liu said, holding a cup of Yellow Wine, his voice resonant.

The Deputy Battalion Commander hurriedly stood up to return the toast, and several Company Commanders followed suit. Only He Yuzhu, being straightforward by nature, finished his drink and spoke bluntly: "Battalion Commander Liu, we have been traveling continuously and are truly exhausted. We are now only a step away from Nanjing, why not rest for another day?" What he was calculating in his heart was to take these two days to scout that mysterious residence at the edge of the village. And to have a chance to see Wang Jiazhi.

The Deputy Battalion Commander also chimed in: "Old Liu, one of the five wounded has already passed away. If the remaining three who are seriously injured aren't treated, I'm afraid they won't hold on!"

Battalion Commander Liu nodded: "After the meal, I will take the wounded to the county seat and report to Miss Liu while I'm at it. I cannot make the decision on this matter!"

He Yuzhu quickly interjected: "Tell Miss Liu more about the difficulties; everyone is exhausted and worn out, we really can't walk any further."

"Then why don't you come with me?" Battalion Commander Liu suggested.

"She is still angry with me! I don't want to deal with her!" He Yuzhu shook his head.

The little Pangzi on the side, hearing that his brother might be able to stay for another day, immediately shouted with a smile: "Second Brother, hurry up and make the call! I can still play with Yuzhu for another day!"

After dinner, Liu Jinguo pulled He Yuzhu back to his own room.

In his room, there was a wooden rack displaying a Type 38 Arisaka and a Zhongzheng Rifle, and there was also a Box Cannon on the corner of the table. However, as soon as He Yuzhu tested them, he knew they were all junk guns—either the rifling was worn away, or they were prone to jamming.

He simply took a brand-new Box Cannon out of his bag and handed it over.

"You're giving this gun to me!" The little Pangzi was initially a bit incredulous. Seeing He Yuzhu nod vigorously, his eyes lit up instantly. He clutched the gun, unable to put it down, and pestered He Yuzhu: "Sleep in my room tonight! I want you to tell me about things in Beijing."

He Yuzhu was planning to scout the big mansion at night; sleeping with the soldiers would make it easy to be discovered, but it was different with the little Pangzi, as few people lived here. Therefore, he agreed immediately.

The two chatted about everything under the sun until nearly midnight, and the little Pangzi's snoring began to rise.

He Yuzhu tiptoed out of the room, avoided the patrolling guards, and slipped out of the Liu compound.

He entered his space in the Po Miao outside the village to disguise himself: sticking on fake eyebrows, attaching a Xiaohuzi, smearing ash on his face, and changing into dark-colored short-sleeved attire and soft-soled shoes to ensure his movements were silent.

Everything ready, He Yuzhu crept toward the residence at the edge of the village.

The vermilion gate was tightly shut, and there were no sentries on the wall. He hooked his fingertips into the crevices of the wall and easily vaulted into the courtyard.

Just as he reached the moon gate, two vicious dogs suddenly darted out from a grass shed on the east side, rushing at him while barking wildly.

He Yuzhu ducked down abruptly, and the two dogs flew over his head with a "whoosh."

"There's a thief!" Shouts erupted inside the house, and rapid footsteps approached.

He Yuzhu exerted force through his feet, leaped onto the wall, and then used the momentum to spring onto the roof.

Four Bodyguards wearing black cotton-padded jackets and carrying Submachine Guns rushed out of the house. After searching for a long time without seeing anyone, they lit torches and searched everywhere.

He Yuzhu lay on the roof, using the tiles as cover to move to the rear eaves, then bent his legs and jumped down, landing with only a soft sound.

In the corner of the Houyuan stood a two-story building with carved wooden windows tightly shut; it looked like the owner's living quarters.

He circled to the back of the building, grabbed the gaps in the brick wall to climb up in a few moves, pried open the window with a Dagger, and flew into the room.

Inside the room, a woman wearing a moon-white silk nightgown had just sat up from the bed, clearly awakened by the commotion outside.

He Yuzhu was quick-witted and fast-handed; he stepped forward to cover her mouth and held the Dagger against her neck—the cold blade pressed against her skin, and the woman instantly froze, her body trembling slightly.

He Yuzhu felt his arm embrace something soft. He felt a bit distracted for a moment. However, he quickly calmed down.

The courtyard became even more chaotic; seven or eight people holding torches surged toward the rear residence, the torchlight flickering on the window paper.

The two vicious dogs also chased after them, circling the small building and barking wildly.

The woman struggled desperately. He Yuzhu was about to knock her unconscious, but his gaze swept across her face and he suddenly paused—it was Wang Jiazhi, whom he had seen in the tree during the day!

He leaned into her ear and whispered: "Don't make a sound, I won't kill you. The owner of this house is a big traitor who has killed progressive students; I've come to kill him."

Wang Jiazhi stiffened for a moment, then she nodded vigorously.

He Yuzhu asked again: "I'll let you go, but don't scream—if you scream, you'll die!" Wang Jiazhi nodded forcefully, her eyes full of pleading.

He Yuzhu released his hand, though the Dagger still pressed against her neck.

"Are you from the Liu family?" Wang Jiazhi whispered.

"I have nothing to do with the Liu family. I am purely a patriot!"

Wang Jiazhi gasped for air and suddenly grabbed his wrist: "Take me out, I'll hide you first."

"I'm not afraid of them. Who do you want to keep in the courtyard?" He Yuzhu asked.

"None of them are good people! If you have the ability, kill them all!" Wang Jiazhi's tone was filled with hatred. "The only kind-hearted one has already been driven away by me. They are all accomplices of the traitors! Their hands are all stained with blood!"

"I'll take you away after I kill them, what can you give me?" He Yuzhu probed intentionally.

He said this to test her resolve.

Wang Jiazhi was stunned for a moment, then frowned and said: "There are ten of them, and they have Submachine Guns. You kill them first, then we'll talk. Otherwise, it's all in vain!"

"Fine, we'll discuss the deal afterward!" He Yuzhu's figure flickered, and he jumped out of the rear window.

Using the corners of walls and the shadows of trees as cover, he crept toward the guards in the rear courtyard.

Three Bodyguards in black short jackets stood with their backs to him, holding their guns and staring toward the courtyard gate.

He Yuzhu approached with light steps. When he was three meters away, his eyes focused and his mind stirred; the three Bodyguards instantly vanished into thin air, having been taken into the space.

Ever since the little devils were defeated and retreated, he hadn't used this skill for a long time. Using it this time, he felt it was quite satisfying.

After clearing the rear courtyard, He Yuzhu moved toward the front courtyard, sticking to the base of the wall.

The three Bodyguards in the front courtyard were more alert, standing by the fire with Submachine Guns in their hands, their muzzles pointed in all directions.

He Yuzhu saw the distance was over three meters, making it impossible to use the space. He took a deep breath and rushed out from the shadows. With a flick of his hands, two Flying Knives flew out with a cold glint—"Puff! Puff!"—precisely piercing the throats of two Bodyguards.

The third one was just about to pull the trigger when the third Flying Knife had already pierced his throat.

The three Bodyguards fell to the ground, their throats leaking air with a "he-he" sound, and fresh blood stained the bluestone slabs.

He Yuzhu stepped forward quickly, took the three of them into the space as well, turned around, and returned to the small building, heading up the stairs.

In the second-floor corridor, three men in gray long gowns were accompanying an old woman wrapped in a dark blue cotton-padded robe toward the bedroom. The old woman was cursing: "It must be that little slut colluding with outsiders! I'll beat her to death today!"

The old woman cursed as she walked.

When she saw Wang Jiazhi, she pointed at her: "Don't think that just because Yi Xiansheng hasn't forgotten you, you can dare to collude with outsiders. Give up! Your colleagues are all dead; it was you who betrayed them, and they have all turned into ghosts. No one is coming to save you!"

Wang Jiazhi stood at the bedroom doorway, looking at the old woman, her face livid, not saying a word.

"Swish!"

A Flying Knife flew out from the shadows, plunging straight into the back of the old woman's head.

The old woman didn't even groan, falling straight to the ground.

The expressions of the three men changed abruptly, and they just started to reach for their guns.

He Yuzhu's figure had already reached behind them—a cold glint flashed from his Dagger, and a bloody gash instantly appeared on each of their necks.

Fresh blood sprayed out with a "hiss! hiss!", staining the white walls and window paper red.

Wang Jiazhi was so frightened she took a step back, her face deathly pale, yet she did not cry out.

He Yuzhu wiped the blood off the Dagger on their clothes, his tone calm: "Everyone in the courtyard is dead."

"You... you killed ten people all by yourself?" Wang Jiazhi's voice trembled, her eyes full of shock.

"Yes." He Yuzhu nodded, "You cannot live in this house anymore; let's discuss a deal next!"

Wang Jiazhi was silent for a few seconds, a fierce determination igniting in her eyes: "I want to kill Yi Xiansheng. He is the one who killed my comrades!"

"Just by yourself?" He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow.

Wang Jiazhi stepped forward, her eyes filled with pleading: "You help me kill him, and I will help you find his money—he is very wealthy. Let's make this deal, how about it?"

He Yuzhu looked at the resolve in the depths of her eyes, calculated for a moment, and nodded: "Fine."