This matter concluded without a resolution. The next day, when I went to retrieve the duplicated key, I found a note stuck to my door. It read: Lin Han is dead, her ashes unclaimed at the crematorium.
The handwriting on the note was shaky, as if written with the left hand. This person knew where I lived, and I had only recently acquired the Wen Liang Jade Guile. It was not a good time to reveal myself. I immediately relocated to a temporary, modest hotel and then proceeded to the crematorium.
I had no reason to believe Lin Han was dead. Upon arriving at the crematorium, I deduced that the ashes were likely Jessica's, who had gone missing. After a brief inquiry, I learned that Lin Han's ashes had caused an unprecedented "miscarriage of justice" at the crematorium, leaving all the staff highly displeased with me. I didn't care, as long as I retrieved the ashes. During this period, the intrusion into my home still bothered me. Judging by the method of the second note, this person could not simply enter my room. However, at the first hotel, replicating my room card with a magnetic strip would have required a specific opportunity.
The following days passed peacefully, with no unusual events. Well, there was one… That day, I had coffee mixed with wine, and only then did my mind become somewhat hazy. Theoretically, it shouldn't have been like that? I happened to see two packets of instant coffee on the table and took them. I planned to try them with white wine that night. If I didn't experience that hazy feeling, it meant the coffee had been tampered with that night.
Unfortunately, I never got the chance to try.
Back at the hotel, I began my plan. I called Zhang Si and told him I had obtained evidence that his depraved personality had murdered a foreign friend. My intention was to distract Zhang Si, then use the duplicated key to rescue the person from Copper Vault's Jianghu Bar. However, to my surprise, Zhang Si seemed to have anticipated my plan. He told me, "Lin Han is pregnant. Bring the evidence to Mount Tai for the exchange."
I didn't believe Lin Han was taken to Mount Tai, but I couldn't gamble. This was Zhang Si's understanding of human nature; he knew I couldn't abandon Lin Han. After much deliberation, I still hesitated to risk Lin Han. But I was unaware of Zhang Si's arrangements. Based on my understanding of Zhang Si at the time, he only had two pawns in Tai'an: Boss Wan and Copper Vault.
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Ultimately, I decided to keep a contingency. I called Chang Dachun and told him Lin Han was dead, and I also gave him my hotel address. I had two objectives: first, to ensure Chang Dachun arrived in Tai'an as quickly as possible; second, if something happened to me, perhaps Chang Dachun could rescue Lin Han. So, I packed everything into Jessica's backpack, left it at the hotel, and went to Mount Tai alone.
At that moment, Old Ghost and I made a mistake. We never considered the issue of martial arts, and I certainly never believed that I, a young man who had practiced combat, could lose to an old man.
Thus, it was this common sense error that doomed me.
I took the cable car up Mount Tai. Zhang Si was already waiting there, and he boarded the cable car with me.
Without overthinking, he told me en route that Lin Han wasn't on Mount Tai at all. He had lured me onto the cable car to subdue me and push me off. I didn't believe him and started fighting him. As we struggled, I realized I was no match for the old man. Seeing that the cable car was very close to the trees, I jumped. If I had been thrown off unconsciously, I would have died instantly. By jumping from a lower position, I still had a chance.
In mid-air, I lost my balance, crashing through several branches on the side before hitting the ground. I don't know how long I was unconscious. I vaguely felt someone. I used all my strength to call for help. She picked up my phone, dialed 120 for me, and then left, taking my phone with her. As she walked away, I could tell it was a woman; her back was blurry. After she was gone, I woke up, and that's when I lost my memory in the hospital.
...
Who was that person? Her silhouette felt somewhat familiar!
Just then, a medical orderly entered with a fruit basket, saying, "Tang Nan, someone delivered a fruit basket to the nurses' station."
"Who was it?"
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"I don't know. She left it and walked away. It was a girl."
"When was this?"
"A little while ago."
The fruits in the basket were very fresh and wrapped in plastic wrap. I tore off the wrap and placed the fruits on the table. As expected, there was something beneath the fruit basket: my lost sheepskin notebook, my phone, and a note with delicate handwriting.
Tang Nan: Long time no see~
Humans stand at the apex of the food chain because of their ability to adapt and survive. While Master disappeared for a year, Gao Ji was never idle. He continuously provided the police with clues. The "Black Gold" task force virtually destroyed all of "Logic Paradox's" domestic strongholds. You already know that "Logic Paradox" was established by Li Jiu and Zhang Si's impostor. Zhang Si granted this impostor too much power. This impostor had long considered himself the supreme authority. When the "Black Gold" task force cornered us, the impostor, as the "New Mentor," reorganized the organization. People within the organization had to choose sides, leading to a bloody battle. I sided with the "New Mentor." We were just one step away from controlling "Logic Paradox." I was ordered to Tai'an to terminate the "Mentor."
Perhaps our destiny is not yet fulfilled; you surprisingly ended up here too. I must say, you are as useful as ever, though there was a slight problem later. I had already given you the note, and you could have completely disregarded Lin Han's life and defeated Zhang Si. But you didn't. For a girl, you nearly died at Zhang Si's hands. Be thankful for my saving your life; if it weren't for me that day, you would have bled to death. Fortunately, the process was a bit convoluted, but the outcome was good. I completed my mission, the "Black Gold" task force will close the case, and from now on, there will be no more "Logic Paradox" in this world. Our new name is inconvenient to disclose, but I believe our destiny is not yet fulfilled, and we will meet again eventually. I suspect our relationship will become even more interesting then.
Farewell, Tang Nan (You performed admirably that night). Sincerely, Cao Qianqian~ (Oh, I almost forgot to mention, Zhang Si's Shandong cuisine restaurant has a fake wall fifty centimeters thick. Ask the police to check it.)
...
Senior Sister? It was her!
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How could this be?
...
Zhang Si is dead!
Not long after Yu Xiaoluo learned of this, I called to confirm. It seemed my Senior Sister struck first, then came to the hospital to deliver this fruit basket. Upon learning this, Yu Xiaoluo specifically returned to retrieve the note.
"We've controlled all transportation. We definitely won't let this Cao Qianqian escape," Yu Xiaoluo said seriously.
"Cao Qianqian is not someone who can be easily caught. Why hasn't Brother Luo returned?"
"He's been too busy lately. A major incident has occurred. Not only the task force leader, but also leaders from the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the provincial public security department, and even the local municipal leaders will be here these few days."
"What happened?"
"The intelligence you provided stated that Zhang Si's Shandong cuisine restaurant had a fake wall."
"Yes. Is there a secret behind the wall?"
"From the outside, the wall showed nothing. After we broke through it, we discovered it was made of gold. I'm not allowed to say, but this information is currently classified."
"Oh!"
Seeing my reaction, Yu Xiaoluo glared at me. "Don't you understand the concept of a gold wall? Let me tell you, one ton of gold occupies 0.05 cubic meters, which is a cube 37 centimeters long. At current market prices, gold is 300 yuan per gram, so one ton of gold is worth 300 million yuan. Zhang Si had a wall of it in his home."
Human ignorance stems from a lack of knowledge. I had no concept of a gold wall in my mind, unlike what's depicted on television – a shining expanse of gold. But in reality, the value of a gold wall is astonishing.
"No wonder the leaders are here."
"Captain Luo said the 'Logic Paradox' case should be closed."
Indeed, everything my Senior Sister had predicted came true. I wasn't surprised and didn't ask how they planned to deal with the new organization. All of the "New Mentor's" forces are currently abroad. He has just reorganized and will likely need some time to make a comeback. Next time, it might not be the "Black Gold" task force dealing with them. Platinum, gold, or colored gold, it doesn't matter; our country will never allow criminal organizations to take root and flourish.
...
After Yu Xiaoluo left, I went to see Teacher Wang Ren in my wheelchair. She had already woken up and was unaware of Zhang Si's death. I told her that after Zhang Si was apprehended, he hired a lawyer, and it turned out my Senior Sister met Zhang Si disguised as a lawyer. Not long after my Senior Sister left, Zhang Si foamed at the mouth, having taken poison.
Upon hearing this, Teacher Wang Ren's eyes welled up with tears. She had been an orphan since childhood. After coming to Beijing, Teacher Wende became her home. While the Five Little Ghosts weren't exactly good people, they were her siblings.
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The person they discussed the most over the years was Zhu Guang. To think that Zhu Guang had died long ago, along with Li Jiu who died of cancer, Zhang Si who committed suicide by poison, and Cao Shi, whose whereabouts are unknown, only Wang Ren remains. How could she not be heartbroken?
"Martial Uncle, I saw Old Ghost. The doctor says his condition has stabilized considerably and he should be out of danger in some time. Sometimes, life is truly about karma. If Old Ghost hadn't been constantly eating and drinking himself into a large physique, no one else could have survived for over a year on starvation."
Hearing me say this, Teacher Wang Ren broke into a smile through her tears. "Ah, the younger generation surpasses the old. Although that girl Qianqian is a little imp, I always said there was something wrong with her, but for some reason, Cao Shi insisted on taking her as a disciple. And you, with a good foundation and a kind heart, became Li Jiu's disciple by a twist of fate. Regardless, you're right, life is indeed about karma. From now on, the world of the Schemer belongs to your generation."
"After graduation, I want to find a job!"
"What kind of job?"
"I haven't decided yet. Maybe I'll start my own business. In any case, I don't want to be a Schemer anymore."
Wang Ren listened and smiled without answering.
"Martial Uncle, I'm serious."
"Can you let go?" Wang Ren asked. I wanted to say yes, but for some reason, I couldn't. Wang Ren smiled. "Li Jiu said you are the designated successor of the fifty-sixth generation Schemer. Today, representing my teacher Wende, I will help you remove the 'designated' part. From today onwards, you are the fifty-sixth generation Schemer successor."
"Here we go again."
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Teacher Wang Ren smiled warmly. She extended her hand to me. "Sect Leader, please write something on my palm."
"Write what?" I was utterly confused.
"Seal!"