Chapter 32: The Moment of the Hunt

"Aunt, be gentle, it hurts!" Liu Shuyun said plaintively.

Liu Ying furrowed her brows, seeing Liu Shuyun pouting with a pitiful look, she finally softened and let go.

After all.

This child was raised by me alone, and is my only relative.

"I knew Aunt was the best." Liu Shuyun chuckled twice, snuggling up to Liu Ying's arm and said, "Aunt, why don't I go to Hongkou to tail them?"

Liu Ying poked her forehead with a finger, helplessly saying, "Silly girl, if you're caught, wouldn't that just tell them we have a problem?"

"You don't need to worry about this anymore; I have it arranged. Go rest in your room."

Hearing that, Liu Shuyun said no more, head down and dejected, she returned to her room.

Watching Liu Shuyun's retreating back, Liu Ying sighed helplessly, a flicker of worry crossing her eyes.

Obviously.

Liu Shuyun didn't take yesterday's words to heart.

I must do something.

"Milady." A Cai walked up to Liu Ying's side.

"While they're out, first install the bugs." Liu Ying took two tiny eavesdroppers from her bag.

"Yes!" A Cai took the bug, showing no emotional fluctuation.

Then Liu Ying added, "Plant the other one in the young lady's room when you have a chance."

This time, A Cai's eyes flashed with surprise, but she ultimately bowed and obeyed.

"Immediately send more personnel to Hongkou to stake out; if they really are linked to the Japanese or the Red Party…" Liu Ying paused, then snorted coldly.

"Then we'll have no choice but to help the Military Statistics Bureau clean house!"

……

"A Ren, I feel something's off; it seems like someone's tailing us." Zhang Haifeng said nervously, "Could it be that Japanese spies have spotted us?"

Chen Yongren, however, remained calm, took a leisurely drag of his cigarette, and smiled, "Relax, they're just agents of the Central Bureau."

In fact, after the two left the Liu family's villa,

Chen Yongren noticed someone trailing behind at a leisurely pace.

They were clever too, switching tailers every so ever and never getting too close.

"Why?" Zhang Haifeng asked.

Chen Yongren said, "Simple: if they were from the Military Intelligence Bureau, they'd have already moved in to arrest us."

"This is the International Settlement; even if the Japanese were crazy, they'd never dare cause trouble here in broad daylight!"

"Besides, we're holed up in a Central Bureau agent's house—do you think an outsider could follow us from the moment we step out?"

Chen Yongren's words made Zhang Haifeng admire him even more; he couldn't help but think, "A Ren really is a natural-born talent for espionage."

Of course.

Aside from reasonable speculation.

The reason Chen Yongren is so confident is that, when the followers drew near, he used his insight to confirm their identities.

But with Central Bureau agents on our tail, there's no reason not to be urgent," Zhang Haifeng said, "they keep following us, making it hard for us to act."

"So we can shake them off now!" Chen Yongren waved at a rickshaw puller by the road.

Soon, a rickshaw puller came running up with his cart: "Sirs, where to?"

"Hongkou."

The two got in, one in front and one behind, and Chen Yongren told the driver,

Seeing this, the two Central Bureau agents tasked with tailing exchanged a glance, quickly hailed another rickshaw, and followed behind them.

Chen Yongren remained composed, a confident smile playing on his lips.

Follow if you will—I'm not afraid you'll follow, I'm afraid you won't.

The rickshaw puller strode off, heading straight for Hongkou.

Actually, the so‑called Shanghai Japanese Concession is just a common name people give to the Japanese‑residential and occupied area of Hongkou.

Though the Japanese have monopolized security in this area, Hongkou may lack the formal concession title, but it functions as one.

After twenty‑plus minutes, the two arrived in Hongkou.

Tossing down a French‑Indochinese piastre, Chen Yongren quickly had Zhang Haifeng jump from the rickshaw, and they soon vanished into the crowd.

Their swift action left the tailing Central Bureau agents no time to react.

By the time they jumped from the cart, Chen Yongren and Zhang Haifeng had already disappeared into the crowd.

"Damn, we lost them!"

The two agents stood where they were, looking around anxiously, scratching their heads.

But soon they split up on the street and began patrolling both sides.

And at this moment.

Chen Yongren and Zhang Haifeng were already seated in another rickshaw.

Watching the Central Bureau agents spin about like headless flies,

Chen Yongren gave a faint smile, worried that the Central Bureau people wouldn't take the bait, so this morning he deliberately left a flaw, writing 'Hongkou' on paper to divert their attention.

After shaking off the tailing Central Bureau agents, the two came to Hongqiao Wharf by the Huangpu River.

This is also one of Shanghai's major wharves, with merchant ships and cargo vessels coming and going nonstop.

With the Songhu Battle imminent, the National Government's secret supplies likewise pass through this port, bound for secret warehouses in Shanghai.

Last night the Military Statistics Bureau's Shanghai station suffered heavy losses; given the Japanese temperament, they will surely press the advantage, starting at the port and such points to uncover the National Government's Shanghai warehouses.

Chen Yongren and Zhang Haifeng strolled leisurely along the riverside street.

Seeing Zhang Haifeng constantly on edge, Chen Yongren comforted: "Haifeng, don't be nervous, you look like that, anyone can tell you're a spy."

At the same time, Chen Yongren opened his Insight.

Centered on Chen Yongren, the inner voices within a 20-meter range suddenly flooded into his ears.

A Japanese spy's head doesn't have "I am a Riben spy" written on it.

Chen Yongren could only use this stupid method.

"I must work doubly hard today and buy a house of my own."

"Damn boss, docking my wages again!"

"After a day's work, I'm exhausted; after work I definitely need to drink two more cups to relieve fatigue."

"One person's full stomach feeds the whole family; once wages are paid, I can go have fun again!"

"Today I smuggled a lot of scarce supplies again; reselling them brings in several thousand pounds into the account—pounds look much friendlier than French francs!"

"The Marie, I finally found her; intelligence says the Nationalist Government is transporting supplies via this cargo ship."

"As long as I follow the trucks carrying the cargo, I will surely discover the Nationalist Government's secret supply warehouse in Shanghai!"

……

Hearing this, Chen Yongren's spirit jolted; he immediately looked up and searched around for the source of this inner voice.

"As long as I can find the Nationalist Government's secret warehouse, my mission will be considered complete!"

"This land will sooner or later submit under the feet of the Great Riben Empire!"

Still can hear it now.

This shows that this Riben spy is within the 20-meter range centered on myself!

Chen Yongren stopped his steps, observing his surroundings, focusing his attention as much as possible on that Riben spy's inner voice.

Finally.

Chen Yongren directed his gaze toward a ragged, disheveled beggar holding a broken bowl and begging for money by the street.