Chapter 60: Dongfeng Express, Delivering Worldwide with Precision

A few days later, inside Xi'an city.

Zhao Zhen walked through the streets of Xi'an, heading toward his destination while admiring the rich historical and cultural atmosphere of the ancient capital that had served thirteen dynasties.

According to Zhao Yufei's instructions, upon entering Xi'an, he only needed to find a bookstore named Xinhua Bookstore, deliver the password, and hand over the documents to the bookstore owner.

Since he was entrusted with a commission this time, Zhao Zhen did not waste too much time on the road and quickly found the Xinhua Bookstore mentioned by Zhao Yufei.

Should he say that up to this point, everything fit his stereotypical impression of spy thrillers?

With a helpless shake of his head, Zhao Zhen stepped inside the bookstore.

Just as he walked through the front door, a young man wearing glasses greeted him with a smile.

"Sir, what kind of books are you looking for?"

"I'd like a copy of Evolution and Ethics."

Upon hearing these words, the young man's gaze suddenly shifted.

"There are many editions of Evolution and Ethics. Which edition are you looking for, sir?"

"The edition for national salvation and survival."

"Very well. That edition is quite rare. Please follow me to the back room to get it."

Guided by the young man, Zhao Zhen followed him into the back room of the bookstore.

Watching the man carefully peer out the door first, make sure no one was eavesdropping outside, and then scurry back in front of him, Zhao Zhen couldn't help but chuckle silently.

"Why are you smiling, little brother?"

"It's nothing."

Zhao Zhen shook his head. He couldn't possibly say that his series of actions truly made him feel like he was trapped inside a television drama, could he?

Still, for ordinary people, being cautious was for the best. After all, not everyone could run away whenever they pleased like he could...

The young man cast a strange look at Zhao Zhen, but because Zhao Zhen had given the correct password, he could only bury his doubts deep in his heart.

"Hello, my name is Liu Fang."

"Hello, Boss Zhao from Beiping asked me to deliver this to you."

With that, Zhao Zhen took out the documents that Zhao Yufei had entrusted him to escort from his accompanying pocket.

"So fast?"

Liu Fang's mouth dropped open, a flash of astonishment crossing his eyes.

Although he had indeed learned from the telegram that a confidential document from Beiping might arrive for him to receive in the next few days, Liu Fang never imagined that it would be delivered in less than three days!

You must know that the distance between Beiping and Xi'an was a full thousand kilometers!

Even if one took the train the entire way, it probably wouldn't be this fast, let alone the fact that taking the train was impossible, and enemies had checkpoints set up along the route, which was why Beiping had specifically entrusted someone to escort it.

"Dongfeng Express, delivering your mission with absolute dedication."

Zhao Zhen smiled slightly and handed the documents into Liu Fang's hands.

"You can inspect them, sir, and check if the documents are damaged."

Only then did Liu Fang snap back to his senses and hurriedly check the sealing wax on the documents.

Confirming that the wax seal was indeed intact, he shook Zhao Zhen's hand to express his gratitude.

"I have received the documents. Thank you for making this trip, little brother."

"No trouble. Entrusted by others, I am simply fulfilling my duty."

Zhao Zhen shook his head and was about to leave directly, but before reaching the door, his footsteps suddenly halted.

"Brother Liu, did you invite friends over for a gathering here today?"

Zhao Zhen turned back to look at Liu Fang with a deeply meaningful gaze.

"Ah? No, I didn't."

Liu Fang shook his head in blank confusion. This was a stronghold of the organization; how could he possibly brazenly invite people to gather here?

Confirming that Liu Fang genuinely knew nothing about it, Zhao Zhen spoke up again: "Then it's likely you've been targeted for a while. Right now, this bookstore has been surrounded by a group of special agents."

"What?!"

Liu Fang was greatly startled, then hastily pressed against the window, probing the situation outside through a crack in the glass.

Sure enough, a group of suspicious-looking individuals were currently lying in ambush all around the bookstore.

With no time to ponder how his identity had been compromised, Liu Fang immediately handed the documents back to Zhao Zhen.

"Little brother, take the documents and run while you can in the chaos! I'll go create a distraction for you!"

Saying this, Liu Fang pulled a pistol out from beneath his pillow and made a move to rush out and draw fire for Zhao Zhen.

Meanwhile, outside the Xinhua Bookstore.

"Boss, is the intelligence reliable?"

"Reliable or not, we've been watching this bookstore owner for half a month. Today he suddenly called someone into the back room; they must be up to something shady. No matter what, let's take down this stronghold first!"

"Understood!"

"Listen up, all of you! Surround this bookstore tightly. Don't let even a single fly escape!"

"Don't worry, Boss! With it surrounded like this, if anyone inside manages to run away, I'll eat my hat right here!"

...

Seeing that Liu Fang's panicked demeanor was genuine and not an act, Zhao Zhen dismissed any suspicion that the other party was setting a trap for him.

"Brother Liu, come here for a second."

"What is it?"

Liu Fang looked at Zhao Zhen in bewilderment.

The next instant, Zhao Zhen suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist.

Accompanied by a dazzling flash of golden light, when Liu Fang opened his eyes once more, the scene before him instantly caused his pupils to constrict violently.

"This is... Chaoyang Gate?!"

"Alright, we're out."

Zhao Zhen smiled faintly, then, amidst Liu Fang's dumbfounded gaze, casually tossed the documents back to him.

"Now that the goods have been delivered, any subsequent damage or loss will no longer be my responsibility. Well then, I'm leaving."

With those words, Zhao Zhen turned around and waved goodbye to Liu Fang.

A moment later, until Zhao Zhen's figure gradually vanished into the crowd did Liu Fang finally snap back to reality.

Looking at the documents in his hands, as well as the three characters "Chaoyang Gate" overhead, Liu Fang couldn't help muttering softly under his breath, "Could it be that I've just met an immortal..."

-----------------

One hour later, outside Xi'an city.

Seeing Zhao Zhen's figure slowly appear at the edge of the horizon, Wugensheng waved at him from afar.

"Brother Zhao, long time no see. I didn't expect that after our parting at Mount Siming, you would actually take the initiative to come find me. I thought you wouldn't want to see me ever again in this lifetime."

"If I had a choice, I really wouldn't want to see you again," Zhao Zhen replied with a helpless shake of his head.

"I heard that not long ago, you persuaded the eccentric Daoist Momo into running off to the Wang family to die on his own? Tsk, Wugensheng, you're truly something else—talking another old man to death."

Faced with Zhao Zhen's sarcasm, Wugensheng didn't get angry; he just laughed heartily, then pointed to his head, which hadn't yet grown back a full head of hair.

"Look at what you're saying. The Daoist simply figured things out on his own. To commemorate that, I even shaved my head and became a monk for quite a while.

Well, let's get down to business. Tell me, what made you think of coming to find me?"