Chapter 79

While Yumi Kamayama continued searching frantically in the mountains, Dongku arrived near Mishan after nightfall. He spent the night in the forest, and at dawn, he changed into Japanese clothing, altered his skin tone, and entered Mishan with Shanzi and Huzi, who were also dressed as Japanese ronin. They bought train tickets and slowly made their way to Harbin.

By dusk, Dongku had arrived in Harbin without any issues. Since all three of them had Japanese identification documents, their luggage was not inspected, and they smoothly reached their accommodation.

After meeting Liu Rujì, Dongku asked about the locations of the other two hotels. He briefly discussed the matter and decided to continue using Fan Minjiang as the chief architect. Apart from ensuring that the street-facing parts of the other two buildings would have enough space for future road expansions, all the blueprints would remain the same, so he didn't need to review them again.

The next day, he went to Tianjin with Tsuchi and transferred the remaining six million to his account. After returning to Harbin and completing the procedures, he handed over all the funds to Liu Rujì. At this point, he only had a few thousand dollars left, which he had hidden in Heixiagou in Dahuishan. Sun Tao only had about a hundred dollars on him, so Dongku was once again short on money.

Entering the Daisho Bank again, the idea of robbing the bank resurfaced in Dongku's mind, and his lack of money made this thought even stronger.

"Damn it! Once I finish training the new recruits and they can protect themselves and follow orders, I will definitely rob you, and also in Changchun and Shenyang!"

Robbing Japanese banks gave Dongku no moral qualms. The money was all the hard-earned savings of the Chinese people, and he couldn't let the Japanese use it to make guns and cannons to harm the Chinese.

After Liu Rujì and Tsuchi completed the transfer, Dongku went to the Longxiang construction site with Liu Rujì. When he saw that the main structure was nearly completed in just half a month, he couldn't help but give Liu Rujì a thumbs up.

It was then that he learned Liu Rujì had urged him to come to get the funds so that the building could be completed and decorated within half a month, ensuring the hotel could open on time while the other details were being arranged. As for the chef training, Master Liu had already started comprehensive training in Harbin. Even if all three hotels opened simultaneously, there would be no shortage of chefs.

"Truly a capable person. If this were in the future, he might well be the head of a major business conglomerate."

Back at their accommodation, Dongku and Liu Rujì discussed more about the hotel. He sent Liu Rujì to Changchun and Shenyang, and he completely let go of the hotel business, waiting for the opening.

The next day, Dongku arranged for Huzi and Shanzi to immerse themselves in Japanese restaurants to learn Japanese conversation over the next half month. He also had Uncle Tie arrange for a Japanese-speaking waiter from Shanghai to accompany them. With the pass issued by the Kwantung Army headquarters, Dongku went to the archives of the Manchukuo General Affairs Bureau, posing as an advisor to the Longxiang International Hotel, to review all the recorded data in Harbin to determine the hotel's business direction.

In reality, Dongku was looking for the design plans of Harbin's underground pipeline system to prepare for his future plan to rob the Daisho Bank.

Thus, a tall, not fat but sturdy Japanese ronin began to enter and exit the Manchukuo General Affairs Bureau every day. He arrived on time every morning, went straight to the archives, had lunch at a nearby restaurant, continued "working" in the afternoon, and returned to his accommodation after dinner. Anyone who didn't know would think he was a Japanese scholar or a Japanese official in Manchukuo. Even the guards at the gate showed great respect to this Tokyo-accented man, bowing to him every time he entered or left.

For two consecutive days, Dongku found some of the original Russian-designed sewer plans, but they were incomplete. He still needed to find the final Japanese-compiled design plans to complete the set.

It was almost nine o'clock after dinner, and curfew was about to start. Once curfew began, even Dongku, this "Japanese," would be subject to strict checks. So, he left the restaurant in his wooden clogs and walked the two kilometers back to his accommodation.

While he was deep in thought about the underground pipeline routes, his years of training made him acutely aware that he was being followed.

"Who could it be?"

Dongku bent down to adjust his socks and saw a shadow flash and hide in the dark behind him. He wondered who was after him.

Straightening up, he didn't follow the main street but turned into a narrow alley to take a shortcut. This was a route he had taken during the day, but it was darker at night, and he didn't want to be mistaken by patrolling Japanese soldiers, so he avoided this route.

The quiet alley was silent except for the sound of his wooden clogs. The dim streetlights cast shadows everywhere, and no one would dare to go out at this hour.

Dongku, who appeared to be walking calmly, was actually tense, listening intently to the faint footsteps behind him. He had already made a judgment: the person behind him was either a martial arts expert or a ninja, with very skilled footwork.

As he walked, a rustling sound came from behind, and the person pounced at him.

"Good timing!"

Dongku thought, his feet slipping out of his wooden clogs. He spun around, dodging the kick, and grabbed the person's calf with his left hand, trying to throw them to the ground.

Just as his right hand touched the person's knee, he heard a faint metallic sound.

"Trouble!"

Dongku was startled, pushing the person away with both hands and leaning back to avoid a knife aimed at his neck.

"Ah?"

The person lost balance and did a mid-air somersault, landing with a surprised exclamation.

"A woman?"

Dongku straightened up, and this thought flashed through his mind. He then lunged at the figure.

The person didn't expect Dongku to react so quickly. Before they could land, they touched the ground with their left foot and kicked at Dongku's chest with their right foot, like a venomous snake emerging from a hole.

Dongku didn't dodge. His right hand, in the shape of a tiger's claw, grabbed the foot with lightning speed.

At the moment his palm touched the person's toes, he suddenly changed his grip to a pat, lightly touching the toes. Using the shock, he slid down and grabbed the person's ankle, lifting the foot over his head. He then pressed his body against the person's hips, and his left hand flashed, grabbing the person's throat.

"It's you!!"

Just as Dongku was about to grab the person's throat, they exclaimed in surprise.

Dongku ignored the exclamation, holding the person's right foot with one hand and grabbing their throat with the other.

A person who could use the "cloud-piercing kick" and hide a metal object, possibly a blade, in their shoe, was not to be taken lightly. If he were hit by the person's foot, he would likely suffer a broken bone or injury.

In the darkness, Dongku saw that the person was wearing a night suit, with their head covered, and a faint glint of metal in their hand.

"Who are you?"

Dongku pressed the person against the wall and asked in Japanese.

"You know Japanese?"

The woman struggled to say a few words, then continued, "I know you're not Japanese. The tens of thousands of Japanese in Jiamusi were... poisoned... by you..."

"Who are you?!"

Dongku was shocked. As he asked, a beautiful face flashed in his mind. He released the woman's throat and tore off her head covering.

"Shuilinglong!"

The familiar face made Dongku exclaim in surprise.

Shuilinglong panted for a moment, about to speak, when the sound of marching boots came from the street.

Dongku, without a word, covered Shuilinglong's mouth, pressed his body against hers, and pushed her against the wall, hiding them in the darkness.

On the street, a squad of patrolling Japanese soldiers marched past the alley entrance. A flashlight beam flickered in the alley for a moment and then disappeared.

At this moment, their position was awkward, reminiscent of a scene from a Japanese action movie.

Shuilinglong recognized Dongku immediately and abandoned her attack because of the strong and unique aura he emitted. After all, Dongku had carried her for half an hour, and she wouldn't forget that aura. Now, their faces were almost touching, and her leg was raised high, forming a split. The aura that had once made her dizzy now filled her nostrils.

Dongku felt Shuilinglong's leg muscles relax, knowing she had recognized him and was no longer resisting. After the patrol passed, he was about to release her but realized their awkward position. Having never been with a woman, he panicked, his heart racing, and took a step back, releasing her leg.

Shuilinglong was now completely lost in the familiar, intoxicating aura. It made her body weak, and when Dongku released her mouth and put down her leg, she collapsed like a noodle.

"Be careful!"

Dongku, though his face was flushed, remained composed in the darkness. When Shuilinglong swayed and fell forward, he caught her by the shoulders.

Although he caught her shoulders, Shuilinglong didn't fall into him but collapsed to the ground.

"What's wrong with you?"

Dongku was alarmed and, without hesitation, caught Shuilinglong to prevent her from falling.

"I... I... have no strength..."

Shuilinglong struggled to say these words, her head falling into Dongku's chest.

"Are you hurt?"

Dongku was alarmed and, ignoring the pleasant scent, thought Shuilinglong might have been injured before attacking him.

Shuilinglong had no strength to speak, feeling embarrassed and weak, her heart racing. She was almost unconscious but not quite.

"Not... not... hurt..."

Shuilinglong tried to regain her strength but, with her heart racing and head spinning, she couldn't gather her strength. She could only struggle to tell Dongku she wasn't hurt.

Not hurt?

Dongku thought for a moment but couldn't figure it out. However, he couldn't leave Shuilinglong alone, so he said, "Curfew is coming soon. Where do you live? I'll take you back."

As he spoke, he lifted Shuilinglong into his arms, not bothering to pick up his wooden clogs, and stood on the gravel road in his socks.

"Take me... to Master Bai... He wants... to see you..."

"Master Bai? See me?"

Shuilinglong's voice was barely audible, but Dongku heard it clearly.

See me? Who is this Master Bai?

Dongku hesitated. Whether to go or not was crucial for maintaining his cover...