Chapter Forty-Two: The Mysterious Yueyue

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Chapter Forty-Two: The Mysterious Yue Yue

Few men can refuse an invitation from a beautiful woman, especially one as captivating as Yue Yue. Only now do I understand why Tan Da looked so enchanted whenever he spoke of her. Yue Yue truly is the kind of woman who could bewitch a man with a single glance.

Her features are classically elegant, her enchanting eyes and delicate, rosy lips alluring; if not for her slightly aquiline, dainty nose, I might have said she looked like Diao Chan, the legendary beauty from the annals of history come alive in the twenty-first century—though she possesses a uniqueness all her own.

The ones who entered Xiuyun Pavilion together were just Ren Tianxing and I. When we left, Wang Tingting feigned indifference, though she hadn't received an invitation. Yet I caught a complex look in her eyes—a feeling that left me deeply unsettled. Why did I feel this discomfort? Was it because I hadn’t satisfied her curiosity, her vanity, or…

In the end, I realized this discomfort was actually pity. For an instant, I saw a flash of jealousy in her gaze—subtle, but enough to leave me disquieted.

Thankfully, Yue Yue hadn't invited me alone; with old Ren by my side, I felt much more at ease.

“Mr. Ren, Mr. Chang, you are indeed men of your word, arriving at Xiuyun Pavilion neither too early nor too late. Perfect timing,” Yue Yue said, smiling at us with mesmerizing grace.

I grinned, replying, “I am never late when invited by a beautiful lady.”

“With such beauty before me, I wouldn’t dare be early, lest I offend our fair hostess,” old Ren added.

“There’s a saying in China: ‘Birds of a feather flock together.’ Seeing the two of you, I find it rings true,” Yue Yue said, handing us a box. “This is for both of you.”

Ren Tianxing and I immediately suspected—the gun was inside this box. Our eyes met, confirming our mutual intuition.

Yue Yue said nothing more, simply fixing her gaze upon us. Old Ren gently lifted the lid, revealing that our guess had been correct.

The moment my eyes fell upon the contents, I saw it—a handgun. Old Ren stopped, his eyes fixed intensely upon the weapon.

He carefully cradled the pistol, examining every detail as meticulously as an antique dealer authenticating a rare artifact. I, too, could not look away. This gun, unearthed from the Terracotta Warriors’ pit, had lain buried for two thousand years—what modern secret could it possibly hold?

Ren Tianxing nodded, passing the gun to me. “No mistake—it’s the one.”

“Miss Yue Yue, can you explain how you came by this gun?” Ren Tianxing asked coldly.

“Oh, Officer Ren, you certainly change your demeanor quickly—such skill! No wonder you belong to the Blade’s Edge division. How would you like me to explain?” Yue Yue replied with nonchalance, as if already prepared for such interrogation. But I was stunned—Ren Tianxing, a member of Blade’s Edge? That, along with Dragon Fang, is one of our nation’s most secretive agencies—more mysterious even than the special forces. No wonder he wields such power.

Ren Tianxing’s expression was grave. “Miss Shary, I hope you understand: this gun is classified as a top state secret, and it’s tied to the murder of several scientists. I’m sure you’re not unaware of that.”

“And what does that prove?” Yue Yue replied indifferently.

A cold glint flashed in Ren Tianxing’s eyes. “The appearance and disappearance of this gun have been classified as top secret. You should know that stealing state secrets—no matter who, no matter what status—carries the death penalty. Not even a consulate official is exempt.”

Yue Yue sipped her tea, then retorted, “That only applies to those who steal state secrets, doesn’t it? Are you sure this is the gun you want?”

“There are two shallow-to-deep scratches on the side of the grip, intersecting at the base within twenty millimeters. The neck bears no serial number; the inner trigger guard has a star-shaped mark. All match,” Ren Tianxing recited the gun’s identifying marks, then smiled. “Am I wrong? Withholding information on such a matter is enough to detain you, and you still have the item in your possession. How do you explain that? The tea here is nice, but our police station’s coffee is equally fragrant.”

Yue Yue covered her mouth, laughing. “Ren Tianxing, you really have no manners—so fierce to such a lovely girl! You could learn a thing or two from Chang Feng—he’s much more charming.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Ren Tianxing was only trying to intimidate Yue Yue, making a show of authority. I slapped him on the shoulder, teasing, “Old Ren, you can’t treat women like this! You’ll scare them away. Take some lessons from me.”

Ren Tianxing hadn’t meant to frighten Yue Yue; he was simply under too much pressure because of this gun. Now that it was recovered, his emotions got the better of him.

“Just routine, nothing more!” he replied, but quickly pressed on, “Miss Yue Yue, I’m grateful you’ve returned the lost item. May I ask how you acquired this gun?”

Yue Yue smiled cryptically. “I can only tell you this: I wasn’t involved in that mess in Xi’an. If you want to know how I got the gun, you’ll have to agree to two conditions.”

“Do you think you can bargain with the Chinese government?” Ren Tianxing’s face hardened. As a member of Blade’s Edge, and someone who could secure an Interpol identity for a stranger within half a day, his authority was immense. For Yue Yue, backed by the American ‘Supper’ organization, to demand conditions was nothing short of fantastical.

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If I were Ren Tianxing, I’d refuse immediately too. We’re not fools; we couldn’t possibly agree.

“A modern weapon discovered in a mysterious Terracotta Warrior—imagine what would happen if the world found out?” Yue Yue mused. “The Terracotta Warriors are hailed as the eighth wonder of the world. But compared to this gun, which do you think is more mysterious?”

“And I haven’t even said what my conditions are. Why so nervous?” she added playfully.

Ren Tianxing was unmoved. “I won’t negotiate any conditions.”

“What a killjoy! All I wanted was to ask you to take me to a bar for drinks—wouldn’t even agree to that?” Yue Yue muttered mischievously.

Both Ren Tianxing and I were stunned—her request was so trivial it shocked us. For a beauty like her, it would be an honor, not a transaction.

But that was only the first condition; the second was yet unspoken. I asked, “And the second condition?”

“Tell me a story,” Yue Yue replied cheerfully.

“A story?”

“What kind of story?”

We both asked at once, thoroughly intrigued by this unusual woman. With her background, these conditions were bizarre indeed.

“How about this: Take me out for grilled oysters and beer, and I’ll tell you how the gun came into my possession.”

Ren Tianxing frowned, saying nothing.

Yue Yue glanced at him and chuckled, “Interpol’s intelligence is impressive, but nothing beats firsthand information. Besides, if I really wanted to make things difficult for you, would I have handed over the gun?”

“Beer, oysters, and stir-fried rice noodles—it’s a deal,” I answered for Ren Tianxing, though I knew I wasn’t as handsome as he was. Despite my efforts, Yue Yue was only interested in him, which left me feeling a bit disappointed.

“But the story you want to hear—Ren Tianxing might not be willing to tell,” I added.

“He’s not the one I want to hear it from.”

“Not him?” I glanced at Ren Tianxing, who looked back at me, both of us relieved. “Chang Feng is the best storyteller. Does Miss Yue Yue want to hear one from me?”

“Exactly. Only you would know it—otherwise, how could you have resolved the Yinbian Incident in Changping, Beijing, years ago?” Yue Yue said, smiling at me.

She knew about the Yinbian Incident! She must have done her homework before meeting me. At first, I thought she’d heard of it from Tang Xin or Tan Da, since the mysterious stone had passed through my hands and she had purchased it for eighty million. Clearly, she had prepared thoroughly. I underestimated her.

“The Yinbian Incident?” Ren Tianxing had meant it as a joke, but was surprised to hit the mark—he had no idea what it really was.

Very few knew about the Yinbian Incident outside a handful of those directly involved, old Liu, and a friend of mine. It was a little-known story.

It began in a village in Changping, Beijing, where Japanese troops were wiped out by the New Fourth Army. The villagers, seeking revenge, hanged the Japanese soldiers from trees and flogged their corpses—leaving the burial ground reeking with decay. When winter came, the bodies were buried by snow.

After the Cultural Revolution, more restless souls gathered at the burial site. Later, a school was built there, and on the fourteenth of July a few years ago, the ghosts paraded—one vengeful Japanese spirit even tried to find a substitute among the living. That, in brief, was the Yinbian Incident.

I didn’t explain it, but if Ren Tianxing wanted to know, he could find out soon enough. For now, I was more curious about what story Yue Yue wanted from me.

“Brother Chang Feng, surely you wouldn’t refuse to enlighten me?” Yue Yue asked sweetly, her voice sending shivers down my spine.

“I’ll tell you what I can,” I replied. Some things are best left unsaid, so my answer was measured.

Yue Yue clapped her hands, delighted. “I knew you’d agree. I want to know what’s so strange about that stone.”

Still that stone—the one Yue Yue bought for eighty million.

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The Supper Organization is a secret body under the United Nations, funded by member nations to study extraterrestrial forces. Yue Yue holds a high position there, though I suspect her background is even deeper. Only later would I learn her true identity and how she came by the gun.

We chose a quiet spot, famous for its oysters.

Yue Yue was intelligent and eloquent. Through her, I learned why the stone was so important to her. The Supper Organization is dedicated to researching extraterrestrial forces; their scientists concluded that every celestial body exerts an attractive force upon others.

Yue Yue gave me an example: the classic case of magnetic fields—like poles repel, unlike poles attract. If the entire universe is a magnetic field, then every element within it is a “pole,” positive or negative. The largest units are galaxies, such as the Milky Way; smaller units are planets. Suppose Earth is negative, the Sun negative, the Moon positive—the three maintain a force of equilibrium, both attracting and restraining each other. Should this balance fail, Earth might be pushed away by the Sun or drawn into it.

This force maintains equilibrium throughout the universe.

But this balance is relative—if any force is disrupted, extraordinary phenomena can occur.

Ren Tianxing asked, “Does this force relate to the stone?”

“That stone is precisely what we are studying,” Yue Yue replied candidly. “The scope of our organization’s research is beyond your imagination. No one knows exactly when it was founded, but our predecessors began studying these phenomena secretly a century ago.”

A hundred years ago? That didn’t necessarily mean the organization began then; its origins might be even older.

I was fascinated. “With all the resources you’ve invested, have you found anything?”

Yue Yue smiled mysteriously. “Have you heard of Bermuda? We’ve studied it—and reached a conclusion.”

Bermuda? Ren Tianxing and I drew sharp breaths. With Yue Yue’s status, she wouldn’t make such claims lightly. If she said they had reached a conclusion, it was no joke. But what was that conclusion?

The Bermuda Triangle is a famously mysterious region in the Caribbean.

Ren Tianxing murmured, “Records show that since the nineteenth century, ships and planes traversing the Triangle have vanished without reason—modern science still has no definitive explanation.”

“Exactly. The lack of a definitive explanation doesn’t mean it can’t be explained—it may simply not be disclosed, or not yet fully understood,” Yue Yue mused thoughtfully.

I’d once researched Bermuda out of curiosity, though never investigated in person.

Sipping my drink, I said, “I’ve read about Bermuda too, and made some inferences. In 1840, the French ship Rosalie, carrying perfume and wine, lost contact near Cuba. Weeks later, the navy found it adrift in the Bermuda Triangle, intact, without a trace of its crew—they had vanished as if into thin air.”

Ren Tianxing asked, “The nineteenth century? Pirates were rampant then. Couldn’t pirates have killed the crew of the Rosalie?”

Yue Yue knew more about Bermuda than I did. “All the cargo on the Rosalie was untouched—only the crew had disappeared. Do you think that was pirates?”

“And on March 4th, 1918, the American vessel Cyclops, with 309 crew and 10,000 tons of ore, vanished overnight—no debris, no bodies, nothing. The military investigated, but found no trace of ship or crew.”

She ate an oyster, then continued, “In 1960, five U.S. warplanes were training over the Triangle. As they passed through a cloud, one plane vanished before the others’ eyes. Search teams found no wreckage. To this day, how those planes disappeared remains a mystery to the public.”

“To the public?” Ren Tianxing and I exclaimed in unison, startled.

So, according to Yue Yue, their organization knew the truth.

She clapped her hands and smiled. “Well, isn’t the information I’ve given you more valuable than what I want to know?”

Ren Tianxing and I exchanged glances. The revelations Yue Yue offered were earth-shattering. If what she said was true, their value was beyond measure—worth more than ten mysterious guns, more than any new discovery among the Terracotta Warriors.

The stories Yue Yue shared afterward would astonish me even further.