Chapter 746: Guessing the Truth (3.5k)
“If that’s the case, then I probably understand.”
Upon hearing this, Su Jiu’s mind had already formed a complete plan: starting with the other party’s motives, then proceeding to the rendezvous point, and apprehending their companions together.
Of course, all of this was predicated on the information being correct…
As they spoke, the group entered the tavern. With the ringing of the doorbell, a senile yet spirited voice drifted over, seemingly carrying a faint scent of scallion noodles.
“You’re all back? This old man just cooked some noodles. If it’s not enough, go get more from the pot.”
As soon as they took a few steps inside, they could see the old man, wearing an apron and smiling, carrying a wooden tray to the table. On it were several large bowls of clear broth noodles, with wisps of white steam rising in the sunlight.
Three of the bowls were special, custom-made instant noodles. It was evident that the old man was a very considerate person.
“Eat first, some things can be discussed later.”
Smelling the familiar braised beef noodles, Su Jiu felt as if she had returned to her high school days, when she dared to be reckless with only Warrior Class strength, fearing nothing and nobody, spending the entire year in battles.
“Actually, there’s nothing much. Everything that happened has already been told to you on your phone.”
Ren nodded naturally, not being polite, and followed Youyou to sit on the sofa and eat. After all, for them, the tavern was home.
“Alright, alright, no rush…”
The old man nodded with a smile, and finally looked at Su Jiu with a beaming smile, like looking at his own granddaughter. A rare look of kindness appeared on his usually stern face. “Xiao Yezi is asleep in the bedroom upstairs, eat first, everyone.”
“Thank you for taking care of these two brats of mine all these days. I don’t know how to thank you.” Su Jiu smiled sheepishly, standing at the door. Thanks to the old man, her younger brother had finally become a decent person.
“We’re all family, don’t mention such things. When the tavern was short of people, Bairnis often came to help as the team’s priest.”
The old man waved his hand, clearly not wanting to dwell on such trivial matters.
“That’s right, we’re all family.”
With a smile, Su Jiu pulled the hand of the girl in the white dress behind her and sat down on the sofa on the right. She then urged E Huo, who had consumed a lot of energy recovering from her previous ancient dream, and the latter almost jumped out of the spiritual space upon hearing the word “eat.”
This moment of warmth reminded the girl, who had long traveled across various countries, of past scenes. Doan Bar had changed her. From the moment she learned “Elegy,” her path was destined to be extraordinary…
She thought of a dish from a movie by Master Xing: “Soul-Shattering Night Meal.”
The meal was just ordinary char siu rice, but the person eating it was consuming their past.
The three special bowls of noodles were: Bairnis’s was a special tomato flavor, and the largest bowl, the spicy one, was exclusively for E Huo. The old man was aware of her existence.
After jumping out of Su Jiu’s spiritual space.
E Huo’s eyes lit up, and she started devouring the large bowl of energy noodles. As for her image, since she was called E Huo, who cared about such things.
E Huo’s first motto: “Slow hands get nothing.”
“Miss, these noodles are indeed delicious, very suitable for the Blood Clan.”
Bairnis first offered a pair of chopsticks. After Su Jiu took them, she smelled the noodles and took a small bite. Her eyes narrowed slightly, like a docile kitten.
In fact, she was indeed like that.
“Eat more if it’s good. After you finish, I’ll buy you some.”
Su Jiu smiled, also sniffing the braised beef aroma that reached her nose. She picked up her chopsticks and started slurping a small bite.
Unlike Su Jiu, who was a half-demon, Bairnis, as a traditional blood relative, had a very high craving for energy. Every country provided different energy foods for half-demons. Here, instant noodles were the special supply food.
Boss Su was no longer the high school student who had to count her fingers for a few packs of energy instant noodles back then. Suffice it to say, she would take as much as she could get.
“Ren messaged me about what just happened. Did you two have an encounter with Grand Commander Li Zhen?”
The old man took off his apron, revealing his worn-out vest. He brought out a small chair and, from who knows where, procured a cup of baijiu. He then softly asked, “Did he mention what happened back then?”
Ren shook his head and continued eating his noodles. Youyou, not knowing what had transpired inside, sat opposite Ren and also ate her noodles in small bites.
“He didn’t say, but he mentioned his daughter’s matter.”
Putting down her bowl, Su Jiu also walked towards the liquor cabinet, her small fangs slightly bared. She picked up a bottle of Wuliangye, which looked quite strong, and walked back.
Ever since she finished drinking that turtle liquid, she always felt uncomfortable if she didn’t drink something stimulating, perhaps also influenced by Weir’s wine.
“His daughter is someone from the government. I heard she went to the Border City that day to inspect the city defenses on behalf of her superiors. Originally, everything would have proceeded as usual, until Tong led a group of people to breach the city…”
The old man slowly put down his wine glass, his face flushed, as if affected by the alcohol. His eyes were hazy, as if he were back on that rainy night.
“Although that person did many despicable things, this incident was likely instigated by the Ancient God Sect. I don’t believe he would go on a killing spree for no reason.”
Upon hearing this, Ren suddenly put down his bowl and repeated it as if hypnotizing himself, but his eyes revealed a hint of disappointment. He wished his explanation was true.
Many people died at the city gate back then. The autopsy reports, electronic files, and other information might be fabricated, but if every piece of evidence indicated the same result, then it was definitely true.
No one could alter the traces of history.
Glancing at Ren, the old man continued, his words filled with inexplicable sighs, as if lamenting something.
“On that rainy night, nearly a hundred city guards died. Grand Commander Li Zhen’s daughter also died at this banquet demonstrating ‘loyalty.’ Tong transformed from a Night Watcher elder into an Ancient God Sect Ferryman. As for the red-clothed White Crow, that was later.”
“Then, Old Man, can we trust the information from ‘Li’?”
Su Jiu stole a glance at him and tried to ask, but she was somewhat surprised to sense many emotions in his eyes, but no anger at all…
It was as if he had known something all along.
What exactly happened back then?
“That information should be reliable.”
Before the old man, who was drinking, could answer, Youyou preempted him.
“Sister Liuli is someone from the jianghu. Although she seems cold when interacting, she is very loyal to the people in the bar. Others might describe loyalty as an exaggeration, but for her, if something happens, she’s always the first to step in…”
“It’s a pity, though, that this loyalty was misplaced.”
As she spoke, her eyes showed admiration, but more so regret. It was regrettable that such an elder who aligned with her values had defected.
“As for what happened back then, this old man doesn’t want to bring it up again. I’ll just consider it as bad judgment.”
The old man also nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with Youyou’s statement.
Upon hearing Youyou’s answer, Su Jiu’s strange feeling grew stronger. That bold idea inexplicably began to spread, but she had no way to prove it…
The old man also seemed to be withholding something.
If the daughter of that Dragon Hunter Grand Commander was someone from the government, and she wanted to know about the situation back then, perhaps she could ask Li Ziwei. His father, as a former sequence elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, possessed great authority.
While everyone was chatting, Su Jiu discreetly took out her phone and sent some basic information to the other party. With an “OK” gesture, she began to wait…
In less than five minutes, the other party sent over information about a death certificate, including some of her life experiences.
[Du Juan: This is basic information, no incorrect details. Li Yingying, from birth to death, lived only twenty-three years. She studied at Southwest Military Academy and was the top student in any competition, a legendary student crowned with glory.]
Looking at this detailed record from birth to death, Su Jiu frowned. She paused midway through slurping her noodles, with a strand hanging from her mouth. After five or six seconds, as if struck by an idea, she suddenly typed:
[Me: Since she had such glory, why didn’t she directly inherit her father’s position? Can you help me find out which unit she worked for?]
The other party replied with an “👌🏻,” and after a few minutes, sent a message that made Su Jiu pause.
[Du Juan: The security clearance isn’t very high, but it’s strange. Only direct superiors are eligible to view it. Neither I nor my father has the qualification to check.]
Reading the message, she suddenly thought of a possibility…
Faked death!
Only this way could it fit her increasingly strong suspicion.
She immediately continued typing on her phone: “Try to check the files of those who died in the Fuzhou city breach case twenty years ago. See if those people were Dragon Hunters…”
“Or, more specifically, check if these people are actually dead.”
This time, it took a longer time. Even after eating several bowls of noodles, the information hadn’t been sent. Ren and the other two went to handle their own matters, as it wasn’t time for the serial killer’s transfer yet.
The prerequisite for the transfer was to kill the witness.
Looking at Guan Xiaorong, a high school student still holding her bowl of noodles, Su Jiu sized up the familiar yet strange high school uniform, a smile creeping onto her lips. She thought of a good idea…
When she was in high school, she had never worn it to pretend to be a bad student.
Thinking this, she glanced at Bairnis in the white dress beside her, wondering what it would be like if this Teacher Bairnis taught her a class.
With the methods of the Night Watchers, enrolling wouldn’t be difficult.
…
The old man informed Su Jiu that Bai Zhi was still rigorously training her physique and would appear after some time, then walked towards the main door, looking somewhat tipsy.
Su Jiu was not idle either. She sent over some of her deductions, including the possibility that Senior Brother “White Crow” might be setting up a trap to ambush someone who had achieved Red Cloth status for their merits back then.
About ten minutes later, Li Ziwei finally sent a message, and he seemed equally surprised.
[Du Juan: Although these people are marked as deceased, most of them indeed haven’t appeared. However, three deceased individuals have suddenly come back to life and have been reported in records ten years ago, seven years ago, and last year due to ID issues.]
[Du Juan: This is very likely someone who has collectively changed their identities. As for who it is, after hearing some of your ideas, I’ve formed a guess…]
Su Jiu tapped her phone screen: [Tell me about it.]
[Du Juan: His daughter most likely entered the National Security Bureau, which is a department directly under the central government. They often use faked deaths to conceal the identities of their members. Even though he is a Dragon Hunter Grand Commander, his actual authority is even less than yours or mine.]
[Du Juan: Of course, that Grand Commander might also be suspicious, but he dares not say it, and even dares not reveal that he suspects his daughter is alive.]
[Me: Could it be…]
[Du Juan: Yes, because only in this way can his daughter be safe. His daughter is very likely an undercover agent deep within the Ancient God Sect.]
…
In a secluded apartment, Li Zhen, wearing a thin jacket, looked on. He didn’t like the hustle and bustle of the city, nor did he like the emptiness of large houses. This apartment of about a hundred square meters was just right.
He glanced at a request from his subordinate to strictly investigate the Night Watchers for harboring someone, carelessly tossed his phone onto the sofa, and sneered.
“These fools, investigating the Night Watchers? Are they crazy?”
He sat on the sofa and stared blankly at the photo on the table, looking at a family photo of three. After a long while, he sighed.
“It’s been over a decade now…”
“Every year, during festivals and holidays, I inexplicably win prizes. Heh, I’m not stupid either.”
He leaned back into the sofa and looked at the ceiling, his eyes slightly downcast. However, winning prizes didn’t mean his daughter was still alive. His hatred for White Crow was real.
He could sacrifice himself for the greater good, but his daughter should not, and could not.
