The doctor said, "As far as I know, he has a special forces unit of about three hundred men, divided into three detachments of a hundred each. These three detachments are categorized into three tiers: the first tier consists of elite assassins, the second tier of senior assassins, and the third detachment of regular assassins. They specialize in sneak attacks and assassinations. I suspect that only regular assassins were sent to your location, which is why you were able to escape danger each time. If they had sent elite assassins directly, your losses might have been much greater."
I replied, "Your explanation makes things clear. Wang Dong's cousin likely belonged to the third detachment, and I encountered another assassin who might have been from the second detachment. I probably haven't met anyone from the first detachment yet. However, even those who have reached a certain level are quite formidable, causing us to be constantly on edge, unable to defend against all threats."
The doctor stated, "His first detachment is tasked with special missions, primarily assassinating key figures. When they undertake a mission, it's either success or martyrdom. This detachment is not deployed unless absolutely necessary."
I asked, "The assassination attempts I faced a few days ago were by people of this caliber, could they have been from the first detachment?"
The doctor exclaimed, "Ah! I didn't expect you to receive such high-level treatment, with elite assassins sent after you. How did you escape? Did you manage to subdue the assassin in the end? And did he commit suicide?"
I explained, "I didn't escape; I subdued the individual. Fortunately, I knew he might attempt suicide and had someone watch him, thus preventing him from succeeding. Later, he seemed to have a change of heart and no longer intended to commit suicide."
The doctor remarked, "It's incredibly difficult to persuade them to change their minds. They've been brainwashed since childhood, with only their missions in mind. Making him abandon his suicidal thoughts is almost an impossible feat."
I responded, "It took a great deal of effort and thought to achieve this outcome. Now that they are in my custody, they serve as a bargaining chip for me."
We chatted for a while longer before retiring for the night, and the night passed without incident.
A rainstorm with lightning and thunder occurred just before dawn, startling me awake.
The doctor, however, seemed completely unfazed, not even stirring in his sleep, his breathing remaining steady.
Perhaps he was accustomed to the wilderness and the surrounding noises, finding this disturbance insufficient to wake him.
I decided to get up, put on my clothes, and step outside. The rain had stopped, and the thunder rumbled distantly. The air was filled with the scent of grass and earth. The pre-dawn sky was already lightening, the dark clouds having long since dissipated with the thunder. A few sparse stars still hung in the sky.
There was no sign of people moving outside, nor any patrolling sentries.
In such a tranquil environment, it was hard to imagine that this was one of the world's largest drug cultivation and export locations.
Behind the drug trade, how many people risked their lives, shedding blood or even losing their lives for it? And how many were ruined financially, or disabled and even killed, due to drug addiction?
And all of this was inextricably linked to this place.
Yet, at the very source of this sin, it appeared so peaceful and serene, like an ordinary village where people worked from sunrise to sunset and lived simple lives.
However, this was merely an illusion. Whether shrouded in the twilight of night or bathed in the bright light of day, this place was like an opened Pandora's Box, continuously releasing the black demons carrying disaster. These demons were packaged, loaded, and transported to all corners of the world.
The post-rain morning light did not bring me warmth; instead, it filled me with an immense sense of cold and dread.
Another day filled with the unknown lay ahead. I couldn't see whether it led to life or death. I couldn't tell if Wang Dong was paving the way for me or digging a pit. However, I should have realized that Wu Guodong must have had someone from Chen Liben's side planted near him, and that person was most likely Wang Dong.
The reader might ask: if you suspected Wang Dong was a spy, why would you still take such a risk? Indeed, I was taking a risk. No, I was playing a risky gambit, a gambit that had to be played to pierce this membrane separating us, to uncover the truth, and find the source.
I heard a stir from the room; the doctor was waking up.
I returned to my room, and he said, "After much consideration, I suspect Wang Dong is setting a trap, possibly a snare for you to fall into."
I replied, "Why not play along with his plan and expose him? I suspect Wang Dong has already been bought by Chen Liben and is a bomb planted beside Wu Guodong."
The doctor added, "It was only after thinking along these lines that I felt your going there was a trap, the same tactic as the poppy field incident last time."
I said, "Senior, I trusted him once, but I will never trust him a second time. Rest assured, I'll be back within two hours."
The doctor nodded, his expression grave. "Alright, since you've made up your mind, I feel relieved."
I continued, "After serving the general his medicine this morning, I need to spend a few minutes alone with him. You'll have to excuse yourselves for a while then. During my two-hour absence, please stay by the general's side and ensure his safety."
The doctor nodded, his expression grave.
Seeing that the doctor had finished his ablutions, we went for breakfast together.
On the way back, Wang Dong stood by the roadside. He leaned in and told me that the funds had arrived and that someone would contact me shortly to accompany me out.
I acknowledged him with a nod and didn't engage in further conversation. The doctor and I proceeded to the villa.
As we entered, Wu Guodong had already woken up and was moving around in his room.
He greeted us cheerfully. I returned his greeting and asked the guards to bring out today's medicinal soup so I could prepare it in the operation room.
There was a door between the operation room and the living room. This door was usually kept closed and locked, with the key held by the guards. I needed a guard to unlock it before I could enter.
I pushed the door first; it was still locked. Only then did I ask the guard to open it.
The guard unlocked it but did not come in. I took the cup containing the medicine to the counter. I placed the cup down and looked around. Everything appeared as it was, with no indication of anyone having entered. I suddenly remembered the mark I had made yesterday. I didn't immediately turn on the heating device. Instead, I gently flipped open the cabinet's latch to see if the piece of paper had moved.
Strangely, the piece of paper was gone!
After placing the paper there yesterday, I had carefully closed the cabinet, certain that the paper was inside. Now, it was empty, with nothing there.
My first thought was that someone had opened the cabinet door. If so, there was only one truth: something had been done to the cup inside.
The decocted Chinese medicine was kept safe by the guards responsible for daily living. Only these empty cups could have been tampered with.
I looked at the four cups placed there. Since someone had opened it, the cups were likely manipulated.
I closed and latched them back as they were before turning on the heat and beginning to warm the medicine in a small simmering pot.
This simmering pot was kept with the medicine and collected by the guards, so there was no reason to suspect the pot itself.
If my guess was correct, they had already made their move.