Chapter 235: Chapter 135: The Special Operations Department
The crowd immediately erupted into chaos. Everyone thought Shi Yu had lost her mind, and a few young boys began teasing. The aunts pointed and murmured, and I just shook my head."What's the joke, buddy? If you don't kiss her, I will!" someone shouted.Most of the people thought I was crazy, and some criticized me for not being a man. But… under the influence of the Calming Spell, I could no longer feel the usual emotional stirrings between men and women. I wasn't sure if I was trying to refuse because I feared the pain of peeling away my emotions, or because I dreaded the emotional shackles that might resurface.After all, I wasn't a god, and even the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, could be constrained by the tightening spell. Similarly, this spiritual restraint made me afraid.
Her voice cracked as she shouted at me, "Are you really so heartless? Zhang Dabao, do you know who I am? If you kiss me now, from today on, I'll never bother you again!"The crowd that had been watching eagerly fell silent.
When I saw her bite her lip, something inexplicable made my tears fall. I wanted to turn and leave, but my feet wouldn't move. Slowly, Shi Yu walked toward me. She stood in front of me, wrapped her arms around my neck, stood on tiptoe, and kissed my lips gently.Without realizing it, I felt her tears on my face—so salty.She tilted her head back, giving a small, bittersweet laugh as if trying to suppress her tears. Then she took a deep breath, her eyes becoming firm. She looked at me and pointed to the flower bed behind us. Her words came out slow, each word deliberate:"Dabao, after those flowers bloom, I'll wait for you to come and marry me!"After that, she pulled out a silver amulet from her pocket and said, "I bought this today because I knew you were a Taoist. I didn't have it blessed at the temple, but I hope you accept it and let it bring you peace."I stood motionless, feeling like an idiot. The Calming Spell had been recited countless times, and the sharp, splitting pain gradually resurfaced. I gritted my teeth in silence, letting her put the amulet around my neck.Then she smiled at me again, turned, and swiftly ran back to her house, disappearing from my sight.Before long, the crowd dispersed as well… I stood there for a long time, gazing at the lights in Shi Yu's house. I took a deep breath, walked slowly away, feeling more lost than ever. I had no idea what I had just lost!
After taking one last look at Shi Yu, I felt completely detached from this city. That night, I went to the place where my parents were buried. I knew their souls had already scattered, but I still wanted to visit before leaving. My grandfather had guarded the Dragon Hole for three years. After three years, my parents didn't need to endure their ghostly years—they could reincarnate.After bidding farewell to my parents, I returned home to pack. It wasn't much, just some Feng Shui tools. The Seven-Star Sword was about 35 cm long, resembling a dagger. To make it easier, I put it in my suitcase.
The next morning, I left home with no particular destination or plan. The only thing I remembered was that, before my death, Wang Yi had said my grandfather had gone to handle something important, while Yuan Beitang thought my grandfather had foreseen his death and escaped.Regardless, both their goals pointed to Jilin, and I speculated that the "Nine Dragons" referred to nine dragon veins. The imperial dragon vein of the Qing Dynasty originated from Changbai Mountain in Jilin. During the mid-Qing Dynasty, Changbai Mountain was a heavily guarded area where ordinary civilians were not allowed to enter. However, for various reasons, half of it was later given to Korea.
In the minds of the Koreans, Changbai Mountain was their ancestral mountain, but the dragon energy ran toward China. It seemed unlikely that Korea would ever produce great individuals.
Anyway, Jilin was the starting point, and as a Feng Shui master, if I could find the true Qing Dynasty Dragon Vein, it would be the fulfillment of a lifetime of study.
As I walked out of the neighborhood, carrying a small suitcase, an Audi A6 suddenly stopped below my building. A middle-aged man stepped out and looked up at our old house. The original residents had long moved out, and now it was mostly workers and college students living here. So, seeing a car with Beijing plates piqued my curiosity.
The middle-aged man, dressed in a suit, walked toward me. Based on his movements and demeanor, I could tell he had been a soldier. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, lips slightly thin, and cheeks like a knife's edge. There was a palpable evil aura around him that made it impossible for me to get close. This man not only had military experience but had likely fought in many battles. The number of lives lost under his command must be countless.
He approached me, looked me up and down, and spoke in a deep voice, "Young man, are you from this building?""Uh, yes," I said.He asked, "Do you know which floor Li Xiaozhang's family lives on?"I initially thought he might be here for a funeral arrangement, needing my grandfather to select a tomb for some prominent official. But, as you might know, officials are often deeply superstitious about Feng Shui. I know several fortune-tellers who have prominent clients.
"My grandfather has been gone for a while. To be honest, I'm heading out to find him." I motioned to my suitcase."You're Li Xiaozhang's grandson?"The man seemed surprised, and I was confused—why would he react like that?"Yes, I am. If you don't have anything else, I'll be on my way. I need to catch the train." I tried to walk past him, but he grabbed my arm. At first, I tried to pull away, but his grip was as tight as a vice.
"What do you mean?" he said, his tone indicating rising anger."Your grandfather, Professor Li, left during a mission. He and 12 others were all killed, with only your grandfather missing. However, some locals claim to have seen him leave by himself. The higher-ups are pursuing him for accountability. Professor He from the research institute mentioned you, saying you're very talented, the grandson of Li Xiaozhang and disciple of Wang Daoist. So… you've been requisitioned by the state on behalf of your grandfather." His expression was serious.
"Professor Li? Wang Daoist? Abandoning his post? Requisitioned? What the hell are you talking about?" I was completely baffled.The middle-aged man flashed a red ID in front of me, and I barely had time to process what was written before he spoke again, "I'm the director of the Special Operations Department. You can call me Director Xing. According to national regulations, I have the authority to requisition any Chinese citizen for special assignments."
I scratched my head, "Are you joking? I'm just a Feng Shui master. Did someone from your family die or something?""Get in the car!" He yanked me by the arm and shoved me into the back seat.I pointed to my suitcase, "My suitcase! I'm calling the police!""We're not under local police jurisdiction. If you want to report me, you'll have to go to the military court. Since you don't have a military rank, it'll require special procedures. But if you're fast enough, I'll personally apologize to you within ten years," he said coldly, slamming the car door shut.
And just like that, I, a young man, was kidnapped in broad daylight.
At first, I thought about jumping out of the car, but when I tried to open the door, I realized he had locked it with the child safety lock. The car sped along the highway without stopping. To my surprise, I saw Master Miaoyin and Monk Yicheng walking along the side of the road as we got onto the highway.
Master Miaoyin was holding a yellow cloth, the other end tied around Monk Yicheng's waist. If you looked closely, you could see the cloth covered with dense scriptures and a large swastika symbol. Monk Yicheng appeared confused, walking behind her, the yellow cloth acting like a chain that bound him. No one knew where they were headed.
The car continued speeding toward Beijing, and as I lay back in the seat, I fell asleep for a while. When I woke up, I asked, "Big brother, is it really necessary to kidnap me so blatantly?"Director Xing smiled and handed me a cigarette. "It doesn't matter if it's necessary or not. We just want to know where your grandfather went. Since we met, your behavior and speech tell me you're not lying, but we still need you to explain things to the higher-ups. After all, 12 people died, and only your grandfather survived."
Once I learned my grandfather was fine, I relaxed a little and curiously asked, "