Chapter 76: Azure Shadows

“Wen Sheng, are the documents still at the waste disposal station?” His uncle asked, turning to Li Wen Sheng after reading the interrogation records.

“Uncle, I can’t say for certain. According to this confession, the Japanese spy is still hiding something. She mentioned the Yan Gui group and Shadow, but only to conceal someone else. However, I’m sure that Shadow is a janitor at the Executive Yuan.”

His uncle set down the confession, fell silent for a few seconds, then said, “Wen Sheng, hurry and recover those documents. Since their loss, the British have already started developing new currency manufacturing techniques, so the original documents aren’t as important anymore. But the fact that they were stolen by a Japanese spy here in the mountain city is a disgrace to the Party and the nation. We must retrieve them quickly to restore face.”

“Uncle, please rest assured—I’ll do everything I can to get them back,” Li Wen Sheng replied, his expression shifting; a hint of hesitation appeared on his face. “About… Uncle, about Shadow…”

“This person can only be interrogated once. And when you do, someone from the Attendant’s Office must be present.”

“Thank you, Uncle. Once is enough. I only want to see if she’ll reveal any clues about the person the Japanese spy was trying to hide.”

His uncle nodded slightly, his voice full of satisfaction. “Wen Sheng, you’ve truly rendered a great service this time. The Central Bureau has been investigating for so long without results, and yet you managed to uncover so much in just a few days.”

“Uncle, the investigation wasn’t difficult. The main reason the Central Bureau couldn’t get anywhere is that they wouldn’t dare interrogate the tax police or the servants at the Sheng Mansion. That’s why I was able to seize the opportunity.”

The smile on his uncle’s face vanished instantly, a flicker of anger in his eyes. Li Wen Sheng’s expression, faintly pleased and somewhat smug, showed the lack of guile of a young man; the officers nearby, after sneaking a look, could not help but marvel silently.

“This youngster is truly impressive—not only is he adept at currying favor, he can control his expression so well.”

The loss of the documents had been handed by his uncle to the Central Bureau, but they refused to question the tax police and the servants at Sheng Mansion—wasn’t that the same as disregarding his uncle’s orders?

His uncle felt a surge of anger, but could not show it in front of Li Wen Sheng. He smiled and changed the subject.

“Wen Sheng, regardless, you’ve proven your ability by uncovering so much in just a few days. By the way, Wen Sheng, I heard you’re not satisfied with the young lady your aunt introduced to you?”

The sudden shift to matchmaking caught Li Wen Sheng off guard; he paused, then replied, “Uncle, she’s very beautiful and speaks well, but I just feel we’re not suited to one another.”

“Wen Sheng, I know young people enjoy lingering in places of entertainment—I was the same when I was young. But you can’t choose a wife as if you’re picking someone to play with. The young lady your aunt introduced you to was carefully selected. Like you, she comes from a scholarly family, works in the Political Department, and would be a perfect match for you. What’s more, your aunt tells me she’s quite pleased with you. Wen Sheng, adjust your attitude—see her more often, get to know her better.”

His uncle had taken up the role of matchmaker—and played it so well that Li Wen Sheng was left unsure how to refuse.

“Yes, yes, Uncle, I’ll change,” he replied.

His uncle nodded with satisfaction. “That’s better. Remember, the women you play with outside and the woman you marry are not the same.”

“Yes, yes.”

After a few more words of advice, Li Wen Sheng took the portrait and interrogation records, and left with the middle-aged man who had been assigned to question Shadow alongside him.

After getting into the car, Li Wen Sheng handed the portrait and interrogation records to Bai Yan, and drove to the Central Bureau. The middle-aged man sat silently, never uttering a word; when they arrived, Li Wen Sheng ordered the interrogation staff to bring the prisoner and begin questioning, but the man still said nothing.

Shadow was stubborn and cunning; as soon as she was brought into the interrogation room, she knelt and pleaded, “Sir, I’m innocent! Please have mercy, let me go!”

Li Wen Sheng said nothing, crouched down, and immediately dislocated her jaw.

He then instructed the staff to inspect her mouth, retrieving a hidden poison concealed among her teeth.

After restoring her jaw, Li Wen Sheng said, “Shadow, Cong Wanyun has already confessed.”

Poison, confession—she could no longer pretend. Shadow’s expression changed abruptly; she closed her eyes in resignation and said nothing.

Li Wen Sheng had the staff serve Shadow a “little appetizer.”

The “appetizer” elicited agonized screams from her.

Yet when Li Wen Sheng approached to question her, she remained silent.

Soon, Shadow’s body was covered with bloody lash marks, but she still refused to speak.

Seeing this, Li Wen Sheng lit a cigarette, inhaled the smoke, and ordered, “Serve the main course!”

The main course consisted of iron spikes driven into her fingers, the removal of nails, hot irons, the tiger bench…

The main course brought forth even more harrowing cries, too chilling for Bai Yan, who had been brought in to record the proceedings; hearing Shadow’s screams, Bai Yan’s hair stood on end, and she dared not look at her.

Few can withstand such torture; though Shadow was stubborn, she couldn’t endure the iron spikes—after only three had been driven in, she cried out in terror, “I’ll talk, I’ll talk!”

Li Wen Sheng, cigarette dangling from his lips, stood before her. “Your name.”

She gasped for breath and replied, “My name is Yumi Hoda; in the mountain city, I go by Fu Donghong.”

“How many years have you been undercover here?”

“Eight years.”

Li Wen Sheng was skeptical—for eight years, the mountain city hadn’t even been notable nationally.

“I want the truth, or I’ll have them fill your body with iron spikes!” Li Wen Sheng barked coldly.

A look of terror crossed Yumi Hoda’s face; she hurriedly replied, “I’m telling the truth. Nine years ago, the Tokko organized a special training class, selecting thirty agents from all its branches. I was one of them. We trained in a rural area that was identical to a Chinese village. There, besides honing our skills, we studied Chinese and worked in the fields—so we could become authentic Chinese. After a year of training, we were assigned to various regions to go undercover; I was sent to the mountain city.”

Li Wen Sheng’s pupils contracted a little—such thorough training, undercover for eight years, their habits must be indistinguishable from ordinary Chinese.

“Ahem, Chief Li, perhaps you should focus on the documents,” the silent man suddenly spoke.

Li Wen Sheng understood—he feared Li Wen Sheng would ask about missions Yumi Hoda had undertaken, possibly involving the Executive Yuan.

“What was your plan with Cong Wanyun?” Li Wen Sheng’s tone softened, and Shadow breathed a sigh of relief.