Chapter Seven: The Early Warning Function

Before long, Liang Deyou arrived with his men, his expression confirming they'd found nothing. Seeing the questioning looks from the two, he forced a smile and said, "We didn't find the man, but we did discover a hidden panel under Fu Cheng's bed, containing a radio transmitter. However, there's no codebook."

Shi Hong reported Ning Zhiheng's analysis to Liang Deyou, who was visibly relieved. "So, he's still within our control and hasn't escaped!"

"It's likely," Ning Zhiheng replied, "but we're treating a dying horse as if it were alive—it's the only option left. We must be thorough in our work and not let our target find any opportunity."

He paused, then added, "I suggest immediately mobilizing more police from nearby stations, and searching every household in this alley. That way, we can prevent the suspect from taking advantage of any gaps in our operation and ensure the search concludes swiftly. After all, we're in Nanjing—making too much noise or taking too long would be to our disadvantage."

Liang Deyou nodded. He agreed that Ning Zhiheng, though younger, had sharp insight and practical suggestions. Frankly, the scale of the operation had already disrupted the normal lives of residents in the entire area.

This was, after all, Nanjing—the capital of the Republic. Prolonged martial law was impossible. Even though the Military Intelligence Service wielded special power, they couldn't act without restraint here.

He called over the chief of the patrol officers on duty, instructing him to bring in more men. The chief wore a miserable expression and meekly replied, "Sir, our patrolmen are good for street duty and keeping order, but facing armed criminals directly, we won't be of much help."

Shi Hong glared, his face fierce, and scolded, "We're giving you a chance to redeem yourselves, and you dare complain? Your jurisdiction has produced these vicious criminals—you should bear the primary responsibility. We're giving you a chance to make amends. Believe me, I can strip you of your uniform and send you back home to till the fields if I wish."

After all, the Military Intelligence Service's operations required secrecy. While mobilizing patrol officers, Shi Hong did not reveal that they were hunting Japanese spies, only that several desperate criminals were hiding near Beihua Street. The Service had the authority to requisition military and police personnel in emergencies.

The chief cursed inwardly, but did not dare show any disrespect. Shi Hong was right; stripping him of his uniform would be a mere word. Even if he were detained, no one would risk confronting the notorious Military Intelligence Service for the sake of a lowly patrol officer. He'd be lucky to escape unscathed.

"Go report directly to your superior, and tell him the Military Intelligence Service demands full cooperation from your station. He knows what to do," Liang Deyou said impatiently. The Service's authority was vast—unrivaled even in the military, let alone a small police station. He had no time for minor figures.

The chief dared not say another word and hurried off to summon reinforcements. The operation team simultaneously redeployed personnel, sealing every entrance and exit tightly.

Ning Zhiheng reminded them, "Captain, send some men onto the rooftops to keep watch. Don't let him escape by climbing over walls!"

Liang Deyou, caught up in the chaos, had overlooked this. Upon hearing Ning Zhiheng's suggestion, he immediately ordered men to occupy the high points on the roofs for surveillance.

In truth, Ning Zhiheng could have directed the operation team himself, but he understood the importance of not overshadowing his superiors. Even with his own background, he needn't curry favor with Liang Deyou. Offering timely advice to fill gaps would ensure Liang Deyou appreciated his thoughtfulness in retrospect.

Soon, the chief returned with about thirty men. Liang Deyou wasted no words, instructing them to focus first on searching the households in the alleys containing the two targeted houses, expanding the range if nothing was found.

Led by police officers familiar with the residents, doors were battered open and identities checked. Any suspicious persons were immediately apprehended. Ning Zhiheng and other officers led teams to search; the two alleys contained over fifty households. Ning Zhiheng concentrated on the alley he had just exited.

Following Fu Cheng's escape route, he surmised Fu Cheng had fled from the second house straight to the mouth of the alley, only to find it blocked and hastily hid in one of the homes nearby.

The alley was inhabited by ordinary families—wealthy and influential people lived in Western-style houses or grand mansions, not in these cramped lanes. The commotion outside had long since alarmed the residents, but cautious and timid, they locked their doors and hid indoors.

The police knocked and smashed at doors until residents reluctantly opened them. Some homes belonged to single families; others housed several. The population was chaotic, but local police had household registration records and could quickly distinguish the residents.

The entire alley was thrown into pandemonium—chickens squawking, dogs barking, people shouting. The search was completed swiftly, but Fu Cheng was nowhere to be found. They did, however, uncover several residents lacking registration, newcomers seeking relatives in Nanjing, who were released after verification.

Ning Zhiheng felt disheartened, his efforts wasted. Liang Deyou's expression darkened as he prepared to order a wider search in the surrounding area.

At that moment, a commotion erupted—a cacophony of shouts and cries. Ning Zhiheng hurried towards it. In a small courtyard, several policemen were swinging their batons, violently beating a man and a woman, their screams heart-wrenching.

Nearby, two operatives stood guard over a little girl, no more than six or seven years old. Tear-streaked and trembling, she sobbed pitifully.

"What is going on?" Ning Zhiheng demanded, his face stern. Was the police bullying this family? Everyone was in a foul mood, but if these officers were acting out of line, he would not hesitate to teach them a severe lesson.

An operative stepped forward. "Captain Ning, these two are child traffickers. When we searched their home, we found the child locked in a small room, without any household registration. When questioned, they claimed she was a distant relative's child, locked up for disobedience. But the child says she doesn't know them, woke up in this house a few days ago, and has been beaten repeatedly—there are injuries all over her body!"

Ning Zhiheng was furious. If there was a kind of person he hated most—apart from traitors—it was child traffickers. Their crimes seemed less violent than murder or arson, but the consequences were even more devastating.

Every child stolen meant a ruined family. Bereaved parents spent their lives searching, waiting, blaming themselves, often paying a horrendous price. Child traffickers were more harmful to society than murderers, and in later times their condemnation would only grow louder and more intense.

Ning Zhiheng glared fiercely at the two criminals and ordered, "No need to hold back—but don't kill them. Keep them alive long enough to find out where this child came from and if there are others."

The two police officers, who had been about to stop, now intensified their blows at the young officer's command. Their truncheons crashed down on the pair, who soon bled profusely, their pleas for mercy fading into silence.

Ning Zhiheng stepped forward to halt them, lest they truly beat the couple to death. But suddenly, a wave of inexplicable terror swept over him—a premonition of imminent, grave danger.

Ever since the Bodhi tree's green leaves had enhanced his constitution, Ning Zhiheng's senses were far keener than ordinary people.

He did not know why he felt this way—it was pure intuition, or perhaps more than intuition, a mysterious force guiding and warning him.

Since experiencing that indescribable transformation, Ning Zhiheng's understanding of the world had been utterly overturned. Where once he held a scientific, atheistic worldview, now he was a devout Buddhist.

He was certain that the world contained mysteries beyond mortal comprehension, and the Bodhi tree in his mind was proof enough.

So when the chilling warning surged through his mind, he did not hesitate. He darted out of the courtyard with astonishing speed, leaving those inside stunned—Captain Ning, perfectly fine a moment ago, suddenly leaping out as if bitten by a snake or shocked by electricity. All were left gaping in astonishment.

As soon as Ning Zhiheng exited the courtyard, the sense of danger vanished as if it had never existed.

He sighed in relief, cold sweat trickling down his back. Unexpectedly, the Bodhi tree possessed the ability to warn of danger.

He was certain there was some unknown peril lurking in the courtyard. He was no novice, foolishly charging into danger knowingly.

The old saying goes, "Failure is the mother of success," but his experience had taught him that some mistakes can never be made even once, for there is no remedy.

He decided not to re-enter the courtyard, but instead shouted orders to those inside, "Everyone, evacuate the courtyard immediately!"

He quickly directed the surrounding operatives to encircle the courtyard, confident that his target, Fu Cheng, was most likely hiding within this unassuming little house.