Chapter Eighty-One: The Arrest

Chapter 81: The Arrest

The sudden shout from Bai Zeshao instantly drew the attention of Liu Xiaobing and the old man, Lao Tian, who accompanied him. Both men instinctively turned their heads to look at Bai Zeshao, who, in turn, finally caught a good look at the man’s face beneath the bowler hat. As he suspected, Lao Tian was none other than Lu Tiankang, the spy that Liu Peiru had planted within the Red Party.

“What’s the matter?” Liu Xiaobing, noticing Bai Zeshao’s prolonged silence, asked with curiosity.

“It’s been a while since we last met. Are you free tonight? How about we go to the Rose Cabaret for some fun?” Bai Zeshao suggested with a smile.

“Ah, I really don’t have time these days. You know how busy things have gotten lately. When I have time, I’ll treat you. I have to go now,” Liu Xiaobing replied, turning away and leaving without another word.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Bai Zeshao’s expression darkened with frustration and regret. He had been so close—just one step away. If only he had recognized Lu Tiankang sooner, he would never have let him enter the Special Services Office.

Alas, it was too late for that. The only consolation was that Lu Tiankang had only just arrived at the Special Services Office, giving the Red Party ample time to alter many of their established communication methods and contact points.

Still, it was best to eliminate this hidden threat as soon as possible. No one could know exactly how many secrets Lu Tiankang had learned.

Bai Zeshao quickly passed the news of Lu Tiankang’s appearance to Ah Hai, instructing him to inform Mr. Li, then returned to his office. Yet he could think of nothing else but Lu Tiankang. More than once, he found himself wandering the corridors, making his way up to the third floor to keep an eye on Liu Peiru’s office. But since Lu Tiankang had gone in, hours passed without any sign of him emerging.

At three in the afternoon, just as Bai Zeshao ascended to the third floor once again, he finally saw Lu Tiankang coming out, closely followed by Liu Xiaobing.

Feigning surprise, Bai Zeshao acted as if he had just come up the stairs and met them head-on. Casually, as if by chance, he said, “Xiaobing, is this a new recruit for your Intelligence Department?”

“No, I can’t say much about it,” Liu Xiaobing replied hurriedly, and he and Lu Tiankang left at once.

Upstairs, by the window—

Bai Zeshao watched as Liu Xiaobing and Lu Tiankang hurriedly led their men away, a sudden sense of dread striking him. Was Lu Tiankang about to betray a Red Party secret and lead a raid on someone’s location? Without pausing to think, Bai Zeshao rushed downstairs, flagged down a rickshaw, and followed closely behind their car.

About ten minutes later, the car ahead finally stopped. Lu Tiankang and Liu Xiaobing got out, standing before the Hongxi Photo Studio. A cold, satisfied smile played across Lu Tiankang’s lips.

In truth, Lu Tiankang should never have known about the Hongxi Photo Studio as a Red Party contact point, given his former rank. But during a previous operation, Guo Xiaofei had let something slip during an idle chat. Guo Xiaofei had quickly realized his mistake and changed the subject, but Lu Tiankang had remembered—and after discussing with Liu Peiru earlier, he had confirmed that the Hongxi Photo Studio was indeed a Red Party contact point.

Not wanting to leave things to chance, Lu Tiankang had immediately set out with Liu Xiaobing for the photo studio as soon as they left the office.

Inside the photo studio, Ye Weitian saw Lu Tiankang through the glass at the entrance. At the same moment, Lu Tiankang’s eyes locked onto his.

Unlike the triumphant, cold glint in Lu Tiankang’s gaze, Ye Weitian’s heart sank. He regretted not heeding Mr. Li’s advice and evacuating the site sooner. Now that Lu Tiankang had come with reinforcements, his chance of escape was slim. Still, Ye Weitian refused to resign himself to fate. There were documents in the studio that needed to be destroyed, so he had to buy time.

Bang!

Reacting first, Ye Weitian fired through the glass, the bullet grazing Lu Tiankang’s neck and drawing a spray of blood.

But Lu Tiankang’s luck held—the bullet only grazed his skin.

So close—just a hair’s breadth from death. Lu Tiankang was shaken to his core. He had survived far worse dangers in the past, only to almost be killed today by this old fox, Ye Weitian.

He couldn’t help but shudder with lingering fear, but anger quickly replaced it. He needed to vent his rage, so he barked at his men, “Open fire! Kill everyone but the man who shot first!”

Gunfire erupted. Glass shattered, blood soaked the floor, and one by one, silhouettes fell forever into the spreading pools of crimson.

Witnessing his young comrades lay down their lives for the revolution, Ye Weitian was filled with sorrow and rage. There was nothing more he could do—thankfully, the documents had all been destroyed.

In the end, Ye Weitian was the only one left alive in the studio. Facing the muzzles of countless guns aimed from outside, he suddenly stood up from behind his cover. An expression of solemn bravery crossed his face, and the images of his wife and child flashed through his mind.

Then, to the astonishment of Lu Tiankang and his men, Ye Weitian raised his gun to his own temple and gently squeezed the trigger.

Bang!

Ye Weitian’s eyes opened wide as his right hand, still clutching the pistol, fell limp. Blood trickled silently down his arm, dripping to the floor.

“Hmph, you think dying is that easy? Take him away!” Lu Tiankang, who had rushed in, quickly knocked the pistol aside and gave a cold laugh, ordering his men to remove Ye Weitian.

Luckily, he had acted swiftly, or Ye Weitian would have succeeded in killing himself, and Lu Tiankang would have lost a major piece of credit.

That was not what he had endured so many years for. Having changed his name and infiltrated the Red Party, he had risked it all not just for Liu Peiru’s generous rewards, but for this very day—the day he could restore his identity and rise higher than ever.

Capturing Mr. Li would have been enough to secure his future, but Mr. Li had escaped. Now, the only Red Party stronghold he could expose with certainty was the Hongxi Photo Studio, so Ye Weitian’s capture mattered greatly to him.

That was why, at the critical moment, he had intervened and thwarted Ye Weitian’s suicide attempt.

Far outside, Bai Zeshao had already heard the crackle of gunfire and urged the rickshaw driver to hurry. But by the time he arrived, the shots had ceased. He could only watch as Special Services men led a wounded prisoner away.