Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

Why is he here?! Could it be that he is in cahoots with Matsumoto Shio?

Lu Yang's mind was filled with doubts. He decided to find an opportunity to get close to the mysterious old man and find out his background.

Just then, Matsumoto Sakurako walked towards him with a wine glass.

"Mr. Shanzuo, it's so boring to drink alone. Can I have a drink with you?" She had a charming smile on her face, but a hint of imperceptible nervousness flashed in the depths of her eyes.

Lu Yang looked at her, and suddenly a bad feeling came over him. I'm afraid tonight's cocktail party won't be that simple.

He raised his glass and clinked it lightly with Matsumoto Sakurako's. "It is Yamazu's honor to drink with Miss Sakurako."

The two of them drank and chatted, the atmosphere seemed relaxed, but in fact there were undercurrents.

Suddenly, Matsumoto Sakurako stumbled and the wine glass in her hand fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. She screamed and fell to the side.

Lu Yang was quick to reach out and support her.

Just as he supported Matsumoto Sakurako, he suddenly felt a slight tingling on the back of his neck!

not good! Fell into a trap!

Lu Yang was horrified. He pushed Matsumoto Sakurako away and tried to fight back. But it was too late. A strong numbness instantly spread throughout his body. His body went limp and he collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.

Just before he lost consciousness, he saw Matsumoto Sakurako standing before him, a look of guilt and helplessness on her face. Meanwhile, the mysterious old man in a black kimono slowly walked towards him, a sinister smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

The night was as dark as ink, thick and indissoluble. Lu Yang's consciousness drifted in the darkness, as if drawn into an endless vortex. He tried hard to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt heavy as lead. A faint sound of conversation drifted by, as if from far away.

"He's awake." A cold female voice sounded.

Lu Yang finally struggled to open his eyes, but the glaring light forced him to squint. As his vision gradually cleared, he found himself tied to an iron chair, his hands bound tightly with rough hemp rope. Standing before him was Matsumoto Sakurako, dressed in a dark green military uniform. She wore a delicate dagger at her waist, her eyes sharp as a knife.

"Ms. Sakurako, is this how you treat guests?" Lu Yang tried to move his wrist, but the rope didn't move at all.

Matsumoto Sakurako didn't answer, but slowly walked around behind him. Lu Yang could feel her cold fingers gently brushing against the back of his neck, where the sting of the anesthetic needle still lingered.

"Mr. Shan Zuo, or should I call you Lu Yang?" Her voice was a little playful. "The ace agent of the Military Control Commission actually fell into the hands of a woman."

Lu Yang's heart tightened, but he remained calm: "I don't understand what you are talking about."

"It's no fun to act stupid." Matsumoto Sakurako suddenly pulled his hair hard, forcing him to look up. Lu Yang then noticed that the mysterious old man was still standing in the corner of the room, slowly polishing a samurai sword.

"What do you want?" Lu Yang asked in a deep voice.

Matsumoto Sakurako released her hand, walked up to him, and looked down at him condescendingly: "It's very simple. Tell me the whereabouts of the 'Bashu Order'."

Lu Yang sneered: "I don't even know what that is."

"You're being stubborn." Matsumoto Sakurako suddenly pulled out a short knife from her waist. The sharp blade gleamed coldly under the light. She gently lifted Lu Yang's chin with the tip of the knife. "I have many ways to make you talk."

The coolness of the knife tip spread along his skin, and Lu Yang could feel his pulse beating under the blade. He looked directly into Matsumoto Sakurako's eyes and found that her eyes, which were usually gentle as water, were now as cold as ice.

"Ms. Yingzi, you are more cruel than I thought." Lu Yang deliberately showed a frivolous smile, "But you are even more charming like this."

A flicker of emotion flashed across Matsumoto Sakurako's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She retracted her dagger, turned to the old man, and said, "Teacher, it seems I need your help."

The old man walked forward slowly, the samurai sword in his hand making a slight humming sound. Lu Yang noticed that his walking posture was strange, as if he had been seriously injured.

"Young man, don't waste our time." The old man's voice was as hoarse as sandpaper. "Tell me where the 'Bashu Order' is, and I can make your death quicker."

Lu Yang suddenly noticed that the old man's left pinky finger was missing a section, and this detail shocked him. He remembered that the Military Control Commission archives recorded a legendary agent in the Japanese Special High Section nicknamed "Severed Finger" who had lost a finger in an operation ten years ago.

“It turned out to be you.” Lu Yang suddenly laughed, “‘Severed Finger’ Yamamoto Ichiro, I didn’t expect you to be alive.”

The old man's pupils suddenly contracted, and the samurai sword was instantly pressed against Lu Yang's throat: "Do you know me?"

The blade cut through his skin, and a trickle of blood flowed down his neck. Lu Yang remained calm: "The Military Control Commission's files contain very detailed information about you.

During the Shanghai Operation in 1940, you killed your partner with your own hands because she knew too much.

Matsumoto Sakurako's face suddenly changed when she heard this, and she looked at the old man in disbelief: "Teacher, is this true?"

Yamamoto Ichiro's hand trembled slightly, and the tip of the knife left a small wound on Lu Yang's neck. Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Lu Yang suddenly threw himself backward with all his might, crashing the iron chair to the ground. He rolled violently, his legs sweeping fiercely towards Yamamoto Ichiro's ankles.

The old man was caught off guard and stumbled back a few steps. Matsumoto Sakurako quickly drew her pistol, but Lu Yang had already rolled to the corner and used the wall to rub the rope around his wrists.

"Catch him!" Yamamoto Ichiro roared.

Lu Yang nimbly dodged the bullet fired by Matsumoto Sakurako and rushed to the window. Amid the sound of shattering glass, his figure disappeared into the night.

Matsumoto Sakurako rushed to the window, only to see Lu Yang's figure quickly disappearing in the moonlight. She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.

"He can't get far," Yamamoto Ichiro said grimly. "Search the whole city for him. We must find him alive or dead."

Matsumoto Sakurako didn't answer. Her eyes fell on a drop of blood on the windowsill. It was left by Lu Yang, and it shone strangely in the moonlight.

A police siren blared in the distance. Matsumoto Sakurako slowly turned around, her military boots making a crisp sound as they stepped on the broken glass on the ground. An elusive smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

Despite heavy losses in the Battle of Wolf's Lair, it was a temporary victory. Liu Ruyan was rushed to a secret medical facility for treatment. Fortunately, although her injuries were serious, they were not life-threatening, which gave Lu Yang some peace of mind.

He carefully studied the pamphlet that Liu Ruyan had risked her life to bring back, and the information within was shocking. The extent of Zero's infiltration into the mountain city far exceeded his imagination, involving not only the military, government, and business circles, but even cultural figures and prominent figures in society.

Their next plan is even more vicious. They actually try to use a carefully planned plague to create panic and completely paralyze the mountain city!

"This 'Zero' is so cruel!" Lu Yang slammed his fist on the table, his eyes blazing with anger.

He immediately reported the information to Boss Dai and began to make arrangements to eradicate the influence of the "Zero" organization in the mountain city.

However, just when he was busy and overwhelmed, an unexpected person came to him.

"Mr. Yamazu, how are you?" Matsumoto Sakurako, dressed in a simple dress, appeared at the entrance of the photo studio with two attendants. She still had a gentle smile on her face, but there seemed to be a hint of elusive meaning in the depths of her eyes.

Lu Yang's heart moved, but his expression remained calm. He immediately put on the ronin's demeanor of "Yamasa Shichiro" and went to greet her. "Oh, it's Miss Sakurako! What brings you here? Come in, come in!" He greeted her warmly and invited Matsumoto Sakurako into the reception room of the photo studio.

"Mr. Yamazuo, you're so polite." Matsumoto Sakurako sat down gracefully, her eyes scanning the room as if she were casually observing something. "I came here today to ask Mr. Yamazuo if there's been any progress regarding the 'Bashu Order' matter."

Lu Yang sneered inwardly. It seemed that Matsumoto Shixiong and the mysterious old man couldn't wait any longer. He sighed in mock resignation, "Alas, Miss Sakurako, you don't know that Shan Zuo has had a bad year lately. He had a conflict with someone outside a few days ago and almost lost his life. How could he have the energy to inquire about the 'Bashu Order'?" He was deliberately showing weakness, and at the same time, he was also testing Matsumoto Sakurako's reaction.

Sure enough, a trace of concern flashed in Matsumoto Sakurako's eyes. "Oh? Mr. Yamazu is injured? Is it serious? Do you need my help?"

"Thank you for your concern, Miss. It's just some minor injuries, nothing serious." Lu Yang waved his hand and changed the subject, "However, speaking of this 'Bashu Order', Shan Zuo has heard some rumors."

"Oh? What's that sound?" Matsumoto Sakurako asked immediately, leaning forward slightly.

"I heard that a group of mysterious people came to the mountain city recently and are also looking for the whereabouts of the 'Bashu Order'. Moreover, they are generous and seem to be determined to get it." Lu Yang said half-truthfully, revealing part of the existence of the "Zero" organization.

Matsumoto Sakurako's expression changed slightly, but she quickly returned to normal. "Mysterious people? I wonder if Mr. Yamazu knows their origins?"

"I'm not sure about Yamazu." Lu Yang shook his head. "However, judging from their behavior, they are probably not good people. Miss Sakurako, if you go out, you must be more careful." He was testing in reverse to see if Matsumoto Sakurako knew about the "Zero" organization.

A complex emotion flashed in Matsumoto Sakurako's eyes. She was silent for a moment before she slowly spoke: "Thank you Mr. Yamazu for the reminder. I will be careful." She paused, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately stopped herself.

Lu Yang took in her reaction and became more certain that Matsumoto Sakurako must know something but was just not in a position to say it out loud.

"Ms. Yingzi," Lu Yang suddenly put on a loving expression, looking at her with burning eyes, "To be honest, Shan Zuo has been thinking about you ever since we parted at Wangjiang Tower. You are talented and elegant, with extraordinary insights, and are different from any woman Shan Zuo has met before. I wonder if Shan Zuo would be so honored to invite you to dinner?"

He decided to take a more proactive approach, using emotional appeals to narrow the distance between him and Matsumoto Sakurako, thereby obtaining more information.

Matsumoto Sakurako obviously didn't expect Lu Yang to say such a thing. Her cheeks flushed instantly and her eyes became a little flustered. "This... this is probably not very convenient..."

"Could it be that Miss Yingzi despises Shan Zuo for his low status and thinks he is not worthy of having dinner with you?" Lu Yang said in a pretended disappointed tone, with just the right amount of hurt in his tone.

"No... no..." Matsumoto Sakurako quickly waved her hands to explain, "It's just... my brother is very strict, so I rarely eat out with others..."

"I see," Lu Yang suddenly realized. "That's such a shame." A look of disappointment crossed his face, but a sly glint flickered in his eyes. He knew that playing hard to get was the best way to whet the other party's appetite.

Sure enough, Matsumoto Sakurako felt a little sorry for Lu Yang's disappointment. She hesitated for a moment, then finally said, "But... if it's Mr. Lu... Shan Zuo who invites you, I don't think my brother would object. I might need to arrange the time."

"Really? That's great!" Lu Yang was immediately "overjoyed." "Then Shan Zuo will wait for good news!"

After seeing Matsumoto Sakurako off, the smile on Lu Yang's face instantly vanished, replaced by an icy coldness. He knew he was playing an extremely dangerous game. Using emotions to gain intelligence was a double-edged sword; if he wasn't careful, he could hurt both himself and others.

But he had no choice. In order to find "Zero" as soon as possible and stop the terrible plague plan, he had to do whatever it took.

A few days later, Lu Yang received an invitation from Matsumoto Sakurako to have dinner at a high-end Western restaurant.

Lu Yang dressed up carefully and arrived at the appointment on time.

The lights in the western restaurant were soft, the music was soothing, and the atmosphere was romantic and ambiguous. Matsumoto Sakurako looked even more noble and charming in her elegant black evening gown.

The two sat opposite each other, savoring delicious Western food while continuing the unfinished conversation. Lu Yang used his excellent eloquence and profound knowledge to chat and laugh, making witty remarks, constantly teasing Matsumoto Sakurako.

Matsumoto Sakurako seemed to be attracted by Lu Yang's wit and talent. The smile on her face became more and more genuine, and there was a hint of girlish shyness and admiration in her eyes.

However, Lu Yang remained vigilant. He knew that the more beautiful the appearance, the deeper the trap. While flirting with Matsumoto Sakurako, he quietly tested her, trying to extract some useful information from her words.

"Ms. Sakurako, why would a beautiful and talented woman like you choose to come to a mountain city like this, a place ravaged by war?" Lu Yang asked seemingly unintentionally.

Matsumoto Sakurako picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and looked out the window with a confused look. "Perhaps... it's because there is something I want to pursue here."

"Oh? What is it that can fascinate Miss Sakurako so much?" Lu Yang asked.

Matsumoto Sakurako turned her head and looked at Lu Yang, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. "It's a feeling of... freedom. In Japan, I'm just the daughter of the Matsumoto family, my older brother's sister, and everyone tells me what I should and shouldn't do. But here, I can temporarily forget who I am and do what I want to do."

There was a hint of sadness and longing in her tone.

Lu Yang's heart moved. Could it be that this Matsumoto Sakurako was really just a rebellious girl who longed for freedom?

"Freedom..." Lu Yang repeated the word thoughtfully, "Indeed, freedom is what everyone desires. But in these troubled times, freedom is not easy to come by."

"Yes." Matsumoto Sakurako sighed softly, "Perhaps, we are all just pawns of fate, with no control over our own destiny."

This sentence touched Lu Yang's heartstrings. He looked at the beautiful yet sad Japanese woman in front of him, and a complex emotion suddenly surged in his heart. He didn't know whether she was speaking the truth or just acting.

At this moment, the door of the restaurant was suddenly pushed open, and several men in black suits and with tough looks walked in and walked straight towards their table.

Lu Yang's heart trembled and he immediately became alert.

The leading man walked to the table and bowed respectfully to Matsumoto Sakurako. "Miss, it's getting late. The military attaché has asked me to take you back."

Matsumoto Sakurako's expression changed slightly, and she seemed a little reluctant, but she finally nodded. "I understand."

She stood up and smiled apologetically at Lu Yang. "Mr. Shan Zuo, I'm so sorry. I should go back now."

"It's okay. It's Shan Zuo's honor to spend a pleasant evening with Miss Sakurako." Lu Yang also stood up and said politely.

Matsumoto Sakurako looked at Lu Yang deeply, her eyes seemed to contain many complicated emotions, then turned around and followed the men in black out of the restaurant.

Lu Yang watched her departing figure, his heart filled with doubts. Those men in black were clearly sent by Matsumoto Shixiong to monitor Matsumoto Sakurako. It seemed that Matsumoto Shixiong didn't completely trust his sister either.

And what does Matsumoto Sakurako's hesitant expression and the complexity in her eyes mean?

Lu Yang felt that the relationship between him and Matsumoto Sakurako was becoming increasingly subtle and dangerous. He was like dancing on a tightrope, with every step full of unknowns and variables.

But he knows he can't stop. He must continue this dangerous game until all the mysteries are revealed and he finds the "Zero" hiding behind the scenes. And Matsumoto Sakurako, the cherry blossom blooming on the edge of the cliff, may be the key to his ultimate victory, but she may also drag him into an abyss of no return.