Assassination

"The beast!" Zhang Minquan beat his chest and stamped his feet in fury. "The motherfucking bastard!" Dongfang Xu was gone. With a flick of his sleeves, he had whisked away the codebook. Most infuriating of all, Dongfang Xu had simply walked off with his trusted aide Zeng Qing, leaving behind only word through Zhao Ding to inform him after the fact. What was the meaning of this? That bastard Dongfang Xu never had any intention of sharing even a sliver of the credit for recovering a Japanese codebook with Danyang Station. Otherwise, he would have sat down for a proper talk with the station chief beforehand, no matter what. "Secretary Dongfang truly conducted himself with no class whatsoever," Jiang Guanghan said, his face equally dark with indignation. "However you slice it, the codebook was recovered by Zhao Ding and his men. Our Danyang Station deserves a major share of the credit." Zhang Minquan snapped his head up and glared at Zhao Ding. "Idiot!" Zhang Minquan barked. To recover a codebook was a monumental breakthrough, yet Zhao Ding had simply stuck by Dongfang Xu's side the entire time without bothering to sneak a man over to report it. Only when Dongfang Xu was about to leave and dismissed Zhao Ding did they finally learn what had happened. "Chief," Zhao Ding said, aggrieved, "it was you who instructed me to stick to Secretary Dongfang like glue and protect him at all times. Secretary Dongfang didn't give the word, so I..." "You fool," Zhang Minquan cursed again. *** "Brother Dongfang." Zeng Qing handed a cigarette to Dongfang Xu. "Station Chief Zhang is probably cursing your name right about now." "Doesn't matter." Dongfang Xu gave a soft chuckle. "Zhang Minquan is senile and inept—mere dry bones in a tomb." He glanced at Zeng Qing. "What's on your mind?" "I just feel that, at the end of the day, he's still the chief of Danyang Station," Zeng Qing said. "Besides, as you mentioned, back in Nanjing, Section Chief Yiyan personally pleaded on Chief Zhang's behalf in front of Boss Dai." "You don't understand." Dongfang Xu shook his head. "Section Chief Yiyan pleaded for Zhang Minquan because he is Section Chief Yiyan. And what am I? I am Section Chief Yiyan's secretary." He flicked his cigarette ash and lowered his voice. "Section Chief Yiyan did Zhang Minquan a favor, and my role was to make that favor known so Zhang Minquan would recognize the debt. But," Dongfang Xu scoffed, "I can never become too close to this Zhang Minquan. Not only that, I must keep my distance—even show some friction." "Brother Dongfang." Zeng Qing scratched his head. "I don't get it." "It doesn't matter if you don't," Dongfang Xu said with a smile. "Just follow my instructions and you won't go wrong." "Xiaoqing understands that much," Zeng Qing grinned. Dongfang Xu burst out laughing. But as he laughed, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he waved his hand. "Brother Fang, it seems our paths were bound to cross wherever we go." *** "Brother Fang, you truly cut a dashing figure," Dongfang Xu commended with a smile, looking Fang Jibai up and down with admiration. Fang was dressed in the crisp, freshly laundered uniform of a military academy cadet. His collar insignia was fastened impeccably, and a leather military belt cinched tight around his waist, accentuating a lean, powerful physique with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He strode forward with his head held high, exuding a rhythmic vigor born of rigorous training. While he wasn't completely unrecognizable from the man Dongfang Xu had met at Anggong's house in Jiangjia Village, Lücheng Town, the transformation was striking. Back then, Fang Jibai had looked like an ordinary young patrolman. Now, a single glance made it obvious that he was an elite revolutionary soldier. "Mr. Dongfang." Fang Jibai met his gaze and shook his hand, a somewhat wry smile touching his lips. "What a coincidence." "Heading back to Nanjing?" Dongfang Xu asked. "Yes, back to Nanjing." Fang Jibai paused briefly before smiling. Dongfang Xu smiled as well. Of course—this boat sailed directly to Nanjing; where else would he be going? "My elder sister got married, and the academy granted me a four-day leave. I have to report back today," Fang Jibai explained, handing Dongfang Xu a cigarette. "Finished with your assignment outside the capital, Mr. Dongfang?" "Come now, there's no need for pleasantries between us. If others don't know why I'm rushing back to Nanjing, don't tell me you don't." Dongfang Xu took the cigarette and waited for Fang Jibai to light it for him. Looking up, he saw Fang Jibai watching him with a half-smile, and pointed at him. "Stingy, aren't you?" Fang Jibai couldn't help but laugh dryly. "Mr. Dongfang, if you had asked around about me in Lücheng, you would know that my temper has already improved considerably." "Alright, alright." Dongfang Xu struck several matches, only for the wind to blow them out. Seeing Fang Jibai step forward and shield the flame with his body, Dongfang Xu finally got a match lit. He drew on the cigarette, taking two deep drags. "Not bad. A proper gentleman." With that, he took the cigarette from between his lips and offered it to Fang Jibai. This time, Fang Jibai was genuinely exasperated into a laugh by Dongfang Xu. He took Dongfang Xu's cigarette, touched the tip to his own to light it, and took a deep drag. "Mr. Dongfang, if it were up to me, I truly wouldn't want to have any dealings with your sort." "And so?" Dongfang Xu tilted his head, looking sideways at Fang Jibai with the cigarette dangling from his lips. "If possible, leave my name out of it." Fang Jibai cupped his hands in a respectful salute. "I'm asking a favor." "You're that sure I won't just swallow up your credit and will actually mention your name?" Dongfang Xu gave Fang Jibai a surprised look, then smiled. "Seems you have a fairly decent opinion of me, Brother Fang." "Not at all." Fang Jibai glanced at Dongfang Xu and shook his head impassively. "I mean it sincerely. I don't want to deal with your sort again." "Depends on my mood." Dongfang Xu's expression darkened, and he shot Fang Jibai a cold look, though he refrained from saying anything harsh. Fang Jibai watched Dongfang Xu turn and walk away, then pulled back his gaze. The wind across the deck had picked up, and the waves were growing rougher. *** Xiaguan Pier was already visible in the distance. Fang Jibai ran into Dongfang Xu again on the deck. Both nodded in greeting, wearing polite smiles, though the chill behind the courtesy was evident to them both. The boat docked. The crowd stirred restlessly, surging forward toward the gangway. Gripping his peachwood-colored suitcase, Fang Jibai was swept along by the press of people. The suffocating crush only eased once he stepped off onto the pier, where he could finally breathe freely. Right at that moment, Fang Jibai noticed a car parked alongside the road in the distance. A driver leaned against the cab door, watching the arriving passengers intently. When his eyes caught Dongfang Xu among the crowd, a smile broke across his face. Fang Jibai assumed the vehicle had been sent by the Lixingshe Special Services Department to pick up Dongfang Xu. Curiously, though, Dongfang Xu didn't appear to notice the car waiting for him. Together with his subordinate, he started across the road toward the opposite side. Fang Jibai's heart gave a sudden lurch. He immediately looked back at the driver. There, he saw the man lift his right hand, which had been hidden inside a briefcase—and in that hand was no car key, but a Colt pistol. "Dongfang Xu!" Fang Jibai cried out in alarm. "Gunman!"