Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

Lu Yang walked to the counter and knocked on it lightly.

"Old man, staying in the hotel." His tone was calm and natural, as if he was just an ordinary traveler.

The old man opened his eyes, looked at Lu Yang dazedly, and then drooped his eyelids again. "Stay in the hotel... pay." His voice was hoarse, like the sound of sand rubbing against each other, and it was unpleasant to listen to.

Lu Yang fished a few bills from his pocket and placed them on the counter. "Two days." He knew that in this chaotic world, only money could settle everything. All the rules here had long since collapsed, and the only thing that remained was the exchange of interests.

The old man opened his eyes and fingered the crumpled bills with his withered fingers, a greedy smile on his face. "Sure, stay for a few days. I need everything except a room." He picked up a worn register, so thick with dust that not even a pen could be seen.

Lu Yang casually grabbed the registration book and pen and began filling out his information, using a pseudonym. He wrote carefully, each stroke brimming with patience.

They requested a standard room in the backyard of the inn. It was spartan, with only a wooden bed, a broken table, and a few old chairs. The bedding was black and yellow, and had a pungent smell. But for them, it was more than enough.

Entering the room, they all breathed a sigh of relief. After a brief silence, the room suddenly filled with the smell of gunpowder. Next, they would begin to implement the next step of their plan.

"The contact person mentioned Zhang Daya," Lu Yang took out the note he got from the contact person and carefully identified the contents written on it, "We must remove this nail as soon as possible, otherwise nothing we do in Fengtian will go smoothly, and we will be surrounded and suppressed by the Japanese at any time." His face became serious, and there was a dangerous light in his eyes.

Ye Wanru looked around the room and said, "The environment of this hotel is simple and it is easy to hide our whereabouts. But we can't live here for a long time. This is not a long-term solution. And we have to be more careful with this old man." She touched her chin, and she intuitively felt that this old man was not simple.

"How about I go to the street and ask about this Zhang Daya," Qinglan suggested, "His house should be easy to find. He is also a well-known figure in Fengtian, so it should be easy to get information about him." She was eager to try and had long wanted to go out into the world to find out.

Lu Yang shook his head, "No, it's too dangerous. We are unfamiliar with Fengtian and cannot act rashly. Besides, they have just received the Japanese's secret operation order, and there may be many Japanese spies on the streets now." He rejected Qinglan's suggestion, "Let me do it. I have lived in Fengtian before and I am more familiar with it than you. Even if we are targeted, I can handle it. You just stay in the hotel and remain unchanged in the face of changes." His tone was firm and resolute, and he had taken all the risks of this operation on himself.

There was no hesitation or excuse in his tone, showing his demeanor and responsibility as an elder brother. Ye Wanru and Qinglan naturally would not refute him.

The night was as dark as ink, a vast black net enveloping the city of Fengtian. The day's bustle had long since died down, broken only by the occasional chirping of nightingales and the distant footsteps of patrolling Japanese troops. Lu Yang lay on the hard wooden bed in the hotel, unable to sleep. He stared at the rooftop with open eyes, his thoughts churning like waves.

Everything he had seen and heard today in Fengtian replayed in his mind like a revolving lantern. The numb people, the dilapidated streets, the oppressive atmosphere, all felt like invisible shackles, tightening around his heart. He thought back to his childhood in Fengtian: the sky was blue, the wind was gentle, and children ran and played in the alleys, their faces filled with innocent smiles. But now, everything had been shattered by the invading Japanese artillery fire. Those beautiful memories were like a shattered crystal ball, drifting away in the wind, never to be put back together again.

He knew in his heart that he had returned to Fengtian to fight, to change everything. He would make the Japanese invaders and traitors pay, he would restore the city to life, and he would avenge his fallen comrades. He knew it was a road fraught with danger and hardship, but it was a path that must be taken, for it carried the hope of national rejuvenation.

Beside her, Qinglan tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. The current situation in Fengtian she had witnessed during the day had filled her heart with anxiety and anger. She couldn't help but sigh. She didn't understand why there was so much suffering, so much injustice, and so much evil in the world. She thought of her parents back home, their loving faces and expectant eyes. She prayed silently in her heart, hoping that this war would end soon, so that everything could return to peace. She also hoped that she could return to her parents alive, hold their hands again, and say, "My child is back."

Ye Wanru lay quietly in bed, her eyes closed, like a cold statue. Though seemingly calm during the day, she harbored a constant stream of worry. Her mind raced with the next step of her operation, from infiltrating the enemy stronghold and mapping it, to covertly transferring key personnel and disrupting enemy communications. Every step was clear and precise. To ensure the smooth progress of her plan, she mentally rehearsed every possible scenario and considered various response plans. She would not allow herself any negligence, and would not allow her teammates to be put in danger because of her own mistakes.

Lu Yang turned sideways, looking at the shadow on the wall. It was like a twisted monster, constantly shaking. His mind was churning, uncontrollable, like a wild horse running wild. He remembered the information his contact had given him about the traitor Zhang Daya before he left. The contact had been very reserved, seemingly unwilling to talk about Zhang Daya. He knew there must be something behind it, and the more it was kept secret, the darker it must be.

A hideous face flashed through his mind: buck teeth, a hooked nose, a face thick with disgusting fat, dressed in a silken robe, and a massive gold ring on his wrist. This person must be incredibly greedy to have committed so many inhumane acts. This scourge must be eradicated as soon as possible to stabilize the current situation in Fengtian. He sighed deeply, his heart filled with resentment and sadness. In this chaotic world, tragic stories were everywhere, and even the air was filled with the smoke and stench of decay, making it hard to breathe.

"Can't sleep?" Ye Wanru suddenly spoke, her voice still cold, yet with a hint of tenderness, like a ray of sunshine on a winter's day, warming the heart. She knew that Lu Yang had too many things on his mind, so it was normal for him to be unable to sleep.

"Yeah, I thought of some past events and felt a little depressed." Lu Yang nodded, feeling somewhat helpless. He wanted to grasp some past events that could comfort him in the darkness, but he seemed powerless.

"Everything will be fine. We must believe in the organization and in ourselves." Ye Wanru's tone was soft, but full of power, like a powerful force pushing him forward. She turned over and said to him, "You should get some sleep now. You have a tough battle tomorrow."

"I understand." Lu Yang nodded to Ye Wanru, rested his head on the pillow, and gently closed his eyes. He felt exhausted, not only physically but also mentally. Today's experiences had left him physically and mentally exhausted. At this moment, he just wanted to fall asleep as soon as possible and put aside all his worries and sorrows.

Qinglan slowly closed her eyes, hoping to forget the war and suffering in her dreams. Her mind was heavy with worry. The shattered buildings and the innocent civilians who had died kept coming to mind. Those heartbreaking faces pierced her heart like needles, making it difficult to fall asleep. She tossed and turned, searching for a comfortable position, but still couldn't find peace. She wished she could fly, so she could carry all the pain and suffering away from the world, and never let anyone experience such misfortune again.

The next morning, Lu Yang rose early. He opened the door and was greeted by a gust of cool air, instantly refreshing him. He quickly washed up, changed into clean clothes, and left the hotel. His destination was a place called "Yue Lai Tea House" in the heart of Fengtian City. It was said to be a gathering place for all kinds of people in Fengtian City, where one could get all kinds of information, but of course, the risks were also high.

The morning in Fengtian was still a bit chilly, and the streets were sparsely populated, mostly by early-birds. Vendors were setting up their stalls, busy with their daily chores. Lu Yang walked among them, his steps slow and powerful, his face perpetually calm. He looked like an ordinary passerby, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle's, constantly monitoring his surroundings, never daring to relax.

He quickly found the "Yue Lai Teahouse." Located in a quiet alley, the teahouse looked old, with a faded sign at the door that read "Yue Lai Teahouse." It wasn't very noticeable in the depths of the alley. Despite this, Lu Yang could still see several pairs of obscure eyes lurking around the teahouse, like cheetahs lurking in the darkness.

He walked to the entrance of the teahouse, glanced up at the sign, and then walked in. The furnishings inside were simple, with only a few worn wooden tables and some wooden chairs. From the window, one could see the crowded crowd outside. There were not many customers, but they sat at the tables in groups of three or four, chatting, drinking tea, or smoking. No one spoke loudly, but instead, there was an indescribable sense of heaviness in the place.

Lu Yang found a random table and sat down, ordering a pot of tea and a few plates of dim sum. As he sipped his tea, he listened to the conversations of the guests around him. He carefully captured valuable information from the trivial chatter, hoping to find news about Zhang Daya and confirm the whereabouts of this so-called old Japanese man from Panasonic.