Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

After returning to Shanghai, Lu Yang did not go directly back to the safe house, but went to a cafe in the French Concession.

The rich aroma of coffee filled the air, but it couldn't dispel the doubts in his heart. He needed a quiet place to think, to sort out the clues about "Zero" and the hidden meaning of Sakura's words.

"The real 'Zero' is still there, and I might know him..." He muttered to himself, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously, making a rhythmic sound.

Zero's plan is so meticulous, step by step, with feints to the east and attacks to the west, and the ability to lure the enemy away from the mountain, that it is beyond the reach of ordinary agents. What is his true purpose? Is the "Spark" project just the beginning, or is it the ultimate goal?

"The list..." Lu Yang thought of the list. The names on it were all high-ranking officials of the Wang Puppet Government and the Japanese Army. If this list were exposed, it would surely cause an uproar. What did "Zero" want to do with the list? Control? Blackmail? Or was there something else going on?

"Yinghua..." Lu Yang's eyes fell on the coffee cup, reflecting the complex expression in Yinghua's eyes. "She must know something, but she won't say it..." He took a deep breath. He knew he couldn't force her. He could only bide his time, waiting for the moment when she was willing to speak.

At this time, a man wearing a brown windbreaker and sunglasses walked in. Although the man deliberately kept a low profile, Lu Yang recognized him at a glance - Dai Yunong.

Dai Yunong walked straight to Lu Yang and sat down, took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of shrewd eyes.

"Major General Lu, long time no see."

Lu Yang's heart was in turmoil. Why did Dai Yunong appear in the French Concession? And why did he come to him on his own initiative? He tried to remain calm and whispered, "Boss Dai?"

"Don't be nervous, it's safe here." Dai Yunong smiled faintly, "I came here to talk to you about 'Zero'."

Lu Yang was even more confused, "Boss Dai knows about 'Zero'?"

"I know a little." Dai Yunong nodded. "Zero's true identity is far more complicated than you think."

"Who is it?" Lu Yang asked anxiously. He couldn't wait to know the answer.

Dai Yunong did not answer directly, but took out a photo from his pocket and gently pushed it in front of Lu Yang.

The photo showed a man in military uniform, with a handsome face and deep eyes. Lu Yang recognized him immediately; it was him!

"He is..." Lu Yang looked at the photo, his heart trembled, and an ominous premonition came to his mind.

"He is you." Dai Yunong whispered, "Or rather, another you."

Lu Yang suddenly looked up and looked at Dai Yunong in disbelief, "What do you mean?"

"'Zero' is you from another time and space," Dai Yunong explained. "Like you, he possesses the memories and skills of the future, but he chose a different path."

"Another me?" Lu Yang muttered to himself, his mind in a mess. He couldn't understand why his other self would become an enemy?

"His purpose in coming here was not to fight against the Japanese, but to..." Dai Yunong paused, his tone becoming heavy, "to overthrow this era."

Lu Yang fell silent. He knew what this meant. Two future selves, one fighting to protect history, the other attempting to rewrite it, their confrontation had only just begun. As history rolled on, no one knew where the future would lead.

"I need your help." Dai Yunong's voice broke the silence, "Only you can stop him."

Lu Yang looked at Dai Yunong with a firm look in his eyes, "I will." For the sake of the country, for the sake of the nation, and for the right track of history, he must stop his other self.

He stood up and left the café, his figure disappearing into the Shanghai morning mist. He knew a greater storm was approaching, a storm that would determine the fate of history. He faced not only the Japanese army and the Wang Puppet regime, but also another version of himself, a ghost from the future. This battle was destined to be a brutal, fateful showdown.

Lu Yang left the café and wandered aimlessly through the streets of the French Concession. In the early morning hours of Shanghai, the air was thick with dampness, and the rustling of the plane trees along the roadside seemed to speak of the city's antiquity and vicissitudes. Dai Yunong's words echoed in his mind. This other self, a self attempting to subvert the times... left him feeling immensely confused and uneasy.

He returned to the safe house, where the team members were packing their equipment and preparing to head to the next mission location. Seeing Lu Yang coming back, Qing Lan came up to him and said, "Brother Lu, are you okay? You don't look well."

Lu Yang forced a smile: "It's okay, I just didn't sleep well." He didn't want to make his teammates worry, so he buried the doubts and uneasiness in his heart deep down.

"How's the situation in Nanjing?" He changed the subject and asked about the follow-up of the previous mission to destroy the Japanese laboratory.

"The Japanese army blocked the news and claimed it was an accidental fire," Qinglan replied, "but our intelligence agents planted within the Japanese army reported back that the Japanese high-ranking officials were furious and are fully investigating the matter."

"It seems that Zero's action has dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army," Lu Yang said, his tone cold. He knew that this was just the beginning, and the real battle was yet to come.

He walked into the room, closed the door, and took out the photo from his pocket. The man in the photo looked exactly like him, but had completely different eyes, a look full of ambition and madness.

"What exactly do you want?" Lu Yang whispered to the photo, as if questioning another self.

He knew that he had to find out Zero's plan and the forces behind him as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

At this moment, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in."

Yinghua walked in, holding a telegram. "A call from Chongqing."

Lu Yang took the telegram and quickly read it. The content of the telegram was short and urgent: Return to Chongqing as soon as possible, there is something important to discuss.

"It seems that Boss Dai... has already taken action." Lu Yang handed the telegram to Yinghua, "Get ready, we're going back to Chongqing."

Sakura nodded and turned to leave the room.

Lu Yang looked at the photo again, his eyes becoming firm and resolute. He knew that this battle was no longer just about resisting the Japanese, but also about stopping another self and protecting the right path of history.

He put the photo away, took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked towards his teammates.

"Get ready to go, destination: Chongqing!"

When Lu Yang arrived in the foggy city of Chongqing, the mountain city was shrouded in a damp mist, the air thick with the faint scent of coal smoke. He took a deep breath, taking in the familiar atmosphere, but a strange sense of nervousness welled up within him. This trip back to Chongqing not only involved discussing important matters with Boss Dai but also involved dealing with emotional entanglements with two women, which was giving him a headache.

He first went to the headquarters of the Military Intelligence Bureau, where Dai Yunong had been waiting in the office for a long time.

"You're back." Dai Yunong said with a hint of relief when he saw Lu Yang, "I've made a new discovery about 'Zero'."

Lu Yang didn't say anything, waiting quietly for Dai Yunong's next words.

"Zero's goal isn't just to overturn this era. He wants something else—the Pangu Project." Dai Yunong's tone grew serious. "This is a top-secret project that concerns the future of China."

"'Pangu Project'?" Lu Yang frowned. He had never heard of this plan.

"I can't tell you the details yet," Dai Yunong said, "but I'm sure Zero has already started to act. You must find him as soon as possible and prevent him from obtaining the Pangu Project."

Lu Yang nodded, he knew the seriousness of the matter.

After leaving the Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters, Lu Yang immediately rushed to Chen Yijun's residence. After months of separation, he was filled with longing and worry. The moment he opened the door, he saw Chen Yijun standing by the window, dressed in a light blue cheongsam that outlined her graceful figure. At the sound of the door opening, she turned around, a surprised smile on her face.

"Lu Yang! You're back!"

Lu Yang quickly stepped forward and hugged her tightly in his arms. The joy of reunion after a long separation made him forget all his troubles and worries.

"Yijun, are you healed?" he asked with concern.

"I'm already healed." Chen Yijun smiled gently. "How about you? Have you been okay recently?"

Lu Yang briefly recounted his experiences during this period, deliberately concealing the confrontation with "Zero" and the existence of his other self. He didn't want her to worry.

The two hugged each other tightly and talked to each other from the bottom of their hearts, as if time had stopped.

At this moment, a clear voice broke the warm atmosphere: "Boss! You're finally back!"

Lu Yang and Chen Yijun turned around at the same time and saw Ye Wanru standing at the door. She was wearing a red cheongsam, looking particularly charming and attractive. She was holding a food box in her hand, and her face was filled with a bright smile.

Seeing Ye Wanru, Chen Yijun's expression changed slightly, and a complicated look flashed in her eyes. Lu Yang also felt a little embarrassed. He didn't expect Ye Wanru to appear at this time.

"Wanru, why are you here?" he asked.

"I'm here to bring you some food!" Ye Wanru walked up to Lu Yang and placed the food box on the table. "Knowing you'd be back, I specially made your favorite braised pork."

Lu Yang smiled, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. He looked at the two women in front of him, one was his fiancée, the other was his confidante. They both loved him deeply, and he, in turn, loved them deeply.

He knew that he had to deal with this complicated relationship as soon as possible and not let them worry and feel sad about him anymore.

He walked up to Chen Yijun and Ye Wanru, looked at them affectionately, and said, "Thank you, thank you for always being by my side."

At this moment, time seemed to freeze, and the emotional entanglement between the three people seemed even more confusing in the mist of Chongqing.

The three of them were in a small room, and the atmosphere was tense. Lu Yang sighed inwardly, knowing that this matter could not be glossed over. He pulled a stool and asked Ye Wanru to sit down first. "Wanru, you've come all this way. Thank you for your hard work. I will definitely try the braised pork later." He turned to Chen Yijun and said, "Yijun, Wanru is also very kind. Don't stand. Sit down too."

Although Chen Yijun's expression had softened somewhat, it still held a hint of indifference. She murmured softly, "Hmm," and sat down by the window, her gaze drifting elsewhere, intentionally or unintentionally. Ye Wanru, however, didn't have so many reservations. She sat down with a smile, opened the lunch box, and the aroma of braised pork immediately filled the room.

"Boss, this is my secret recipe. I guarantee you'll want to eat more after you try it." Ye Wanru said as she skillfully picked up a piece and put it in Lu Yang's bowl.

Lu Yang took it with a smile and took a bite. It was fat but not greasy, and melted in the mouth. It was indeed delicious. "Well, your cooking skills are excellent, just like."

Chen Yijun looked at the intimate interaction between the two and felt uncomfortable. She couldn't help but ask, "Lu Yang, how long do you plan to stay this time?"

Lu Yang put down his chopsticks and looked at Chen Yijun seriously. "I came back this time for the Pangu Project."

Chen Yijun and Ye Wanru were stunned when they heard the words "Pangu Project." They both knew it was a top secret of the Military Control Commission, and the fact that Lu Yang had brought it up showed how urgent the situation was.

"Is it serious?" Chen Yijun asked.

Lu Yang nodded and briefly told him what Dai Yunong had told him. Of course, he still chose to conceal the true identity of "Zero".

After listening to Lu Yang's narration, Chen Yijun's expression turned serious. "The 'Pangu Project' is of great importance. I will do my best to assist you in your investigation."

Ye Wanru also said, "Boss, if there's anything you need me to do, just let me know."

Lu Yang looked at them, his heart filled with gratitude. He knew that these two women loved him sincerely and were willing to give everything for him.

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore." Lu Yang smiled and eased the atmosphere. "Everyone should try the braised pork that Wanru brought."

As the group began to eat, the atmosphere gradually relaxed. Although it was still a little awkward, it was at least no longer as tense.

The next day, Lu Yang went to the Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters and reported the situation to Dai Yunong.

"What exactly is the 'Pangu Project'?" Lu Yang asked.

Dai Yunong shook his head. "I can only tell you that this is related to China's future industrial development and technological progress. It must not fall into the hands of Zero."

"We need more information," Lu Yang said. "'Zero' must have taken action. We must find the 'Pangu Project' before he does."

Dai Yunong pondered for a moment and said, "I'll assign you a person who's in charge of the security of the Pangu Project. He might be able to provide some clues."

"Who is it?" Lu Yang asked.

"Li Weimin from the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics." Dai Yunong said.

"Li Weimin?" Lu Yang frowned. The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Military Bureau of Investigation had always been at odds. He was somewhat surprised that Dai Yunong actually took the initiative to arrange for him to cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation.

"I know you have some issues with the Central Bureau of Investigation," Dai Yunong said, "but these are extraordinary times. We need to unite all the forces we can. Li Weimin, while a bit rigid, is quite capable."

Lu Yang nodded to show his understanding.

After leaving the Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters, Lu Yang found Li Weimin's office according to the address provided by Dai Yunong.