A Prophet - Chapter 11 (Part 7)

Chapter 7 - There is a Mole Within

Grandpa Zu had originally intended to gather some intelligence through Wuzi, but unexpectedly Wuzi had been eliminated by the opposing side. Following the execution of this setup by Master Xuanzi, his reputation soared to new heights, and even government officials began to put their faith in him. The situation grew increasingly grave, and the "Jiang-Xiang Guild" faced an unprecedented crisis of survival in the Jianghuai region!

Grandpa Zu discussed several secret codes to be used for contacting informants with Third Boss Ba, and then dismissed him to get some rest.

Grandpa Zu brewed a pot of tea, sipping it slowly while deep in thought. Too many things had gone wrong over the past few months, especially the words spoken by Zuo Yongchan that fateful night; the mere thought of them sent a lingering chill down his spine. In that period laden with mystery and devoid of clear direction, Grandpa Zu felt profoundly weary.

Early the next morning, the housekeeper came to report that Huang Farong was requesting an audience. Grandpa Zu nodded his consent, and Huang Farong stepped inside.

"Is Grandpa Zu feeling somewhat better?"

"Nothing is the matter, nothing at all." Grandpa Zu looked up and saw that Huang Farong's face was streaked with tears. Wondering what could have happened, he hurriedly asked, "What is the matter?"

Huang Farong said in a low voice, "An argument."

Grandpa Zu smiled faintly. "Ha-ha, spousal arguments—what's bickered at the head of the bed is made up at the tail of the bed. What was it about?"

Huang Farong lowered her head and said, "Ever since he returned from the river yesterday, he hasn't said a single word. He declared that until he breaks the opponent's setup, he won't touch any food. I made him a bowl of noodle soup, but he knocked it straight to the floor..."

Grandpa Zu let out a sigh. "Zizhan is a fiercely proud boy. You see, understanding his temperament, I didn't dare push him too hard either. Master Xuanzi has experts advising him from behind the scenes, and such a grand setup even startled the government authorities. If it could be broken so casually, wouldn't that be absurd? Go back and have a good talk with Zizhan, and tell him that Grandpa Zu does not blame him."

Huang Farong wiped away her tears and continued, "That's not the most important part. The crucial thing is that I told him I knew the method of deciphering/breaking it. I told it to him and asked him to come with me to tell Grandpa Zu, but to my surprise, not only was he not happy, instead he berated himself for lacking talent, beat his chest in despair, and cried that a proper man standing seven chi tall was actually inferior to a woman! He felt even more ashamed to come and face Grandpa Zu!"

"Wait a moment..." Hearing this, Grandpa Zu hurriedly interrupted Huang Farong. "Did you say you know how to break it?"

"Mm-hmm." Huang Farong glanced sideways at Grandpa Zu and broke into a tearful smile.

Grandpa Zu fixed his eyes on her, signaling her to speak quickly.

Huang Farong pursed her lips and squeezed out two words: "Stinky balls."

Grandpa Zu was stunned. "What stinky balls?"

Huang Farong went on to explain, "That wall definitely had stinky balls smeared all over it!"

"Speak properly!" Grandpa Zu was completely bewildered.

Huang Farong blinked, only then realizing that Grandpa Zu did not understand her dialect. "Stinky balls" was Shandong slang, and she hurriedly explained, "I mean mothballs. When I was little and bored, I used to catch bugs with stinky balls. I'd draw a circle and put a bug inside, and the bug would spin around in a frantic panic..."

Grandpa Zu was practically dying of anxiety; this girl was rambling on and still hadn't reached the point. Yet, recalling that he was the one who had arranged this match, and knowing that Zhang Zizhan had a difficult temper which left this girl to suffer endless grievances, he could only listen patiently.

Huang Farong finally reached the core of the matter: "One time, when both my father and mother went out to work in the fields, I was at home looking after my two-year-old sister. To coax my sister, who wouldn't stop crying, I used a mothball to draw a lantern on our family's adobe wall. After finishing the drawing, I used a match to light it. I originally just wanted to trick my sister into a smile, but I never expected that lantern would actually light up! When Master Xuanzi's wall was built, they must have mixed mothball powder into it. They prepared a sketch in advance, traced the shape of lanterns onto the wall, gouged out the white plaster, filled the grooves with mothball powder, and then manually smoothed the surface. As for the lanterns flickering brightly and dimly, that was simply a matter of the mixing proportions. Zizhan initially considered that the opponent might have used white phosphorus, but immediately dismissed it because white phosphorus ignites upon contact and could never sustain itself for that long. As for the Kongming lanterns rising from the river surface, someone must have been underwater. At the time, everyone's attention was focused on the ritual altar, the night was dark, and the river was wide, so no one noticed the movement in the water..." Huang Farong finished.

Grandpa Zu let out a long breath, leaned back against his chair in profound relief, and then stated, "This matter must be kept strictly confidential. Go back and tell Zizhan that once he has thoroughly researched the method, he is to record it into the Secret Manual of Flying Arts."

Huang Farong walked around behind Grandpa Zu, picked up the teapot, filled a cup for him, and said, "Grandpa Zu has been working hard recently and hasn't been feeling well. Back when Fifth Granny (Qiao Wumei) was still alive, she taught me traditional Chinese medicine massage techniques. I know the twelve meridians, and I'm well-versed in pressing, pushing, rubbing, and pecking techniques. Whenever Fifth Granny was exhausted in the past, I would always massage him. May I give you a few presses as well?"

Grandpa Zu paused for a moment, turned his head, and said, "There's no need. You may withdraw."

Huang Farong offered a gentle smile and said, "Understood. Grandpa Zu should rest earlier; no matter how many issues there are, they must be handled one by one. If Grandpa Zu collapses from exhaustion, Farong's heart will ache."

With that, she swayed her figure and slowly retreated.

Grandpa Zu watched her departing figure, once again sinking into deep thought. Just as Huang Farong was about to step out of the courtyard, Grandpa Zu suddenly called out, "Farong, come back!"

Huang Farong paused in surprise, smiled secretly to herself, and walked briskly back.

Grandpa Zu pointed to the chair opposite his desk. "Sit down and talk."

Huang Farong sat down gently, her large eyes blinking as she looked at Grandpa Zu.

Grandpa Zu pondered for a moment before saying, "I want you to help me root out the mole!"

Upon hearing this, Huang Farong's body gave a slight start.

"Grandpa Zu, why do you trust Farong alone?"

Grandpa Zu asked, "Are you the mole?"

Huang Farong replied immediately, "Of course not!"

Grandpa Zu asked, "Then who else in the guild do you think can be trusted?"

Huang Farong said, "Zizhan, and also, um... and also..."

Grandpa Zu's thoughts were exceptionally clear. Huang Farong hailed from Southern Yue and had no deep roots in the Jianghuai region; it was impossible for her to have been recruited as an operative by the enemy in such a short span of time. Aside from her, no one else could be considered reliable. In underworld guilds, loyalty and treachery were hard to distinguish, and the closer a person was, the more likely they were to stab one in the back—Zhang Dancheng served as a prime precedent. Grandpa Zu had countless sworn brothers under his command, yet in times of crisis, he could only place his trust in a woman. The tragedy of being a leader was evident enough.

Grandpa Zu said, "What if Zizhan is also the mole?"

Huang Farong turned red all over with anxiety. "This... is impossible..."

Grandpa Zu smiled and said, "I know it's impossible too, but having you cooperate with me in this setup is for the best. As a rule, all moles desperately try to conceal themselves, treading carefully everywhere and acting with utmost caution. Tomorrow, I plan to issue a sudden summons for a 'food-tribute' banquet, using the pretext of rewarding you for your meritorious service in breaking the 'Little Ghost General' setup to have all the boss leaders come and dine. During the meal, you are to toast them as much as possible—the more, the better. Anyone who declines to drink or drinks without getting drunk will inevitably harbor suspicion!"

Huang Farong was stunned. "How does Grandpa Zu know the mole is among the boss leaders? Could it not be among us foot-runners? Although a matter like 'the dark-haired coffin must not be bound' superficially appears to be something only boss leaders are qualified to know, who can guarantee that the boss leaders haven't spoken of it to their own trusted confidants?"

Grandpa Zu said, "Not long ago, Zuo Yongchan of the Tiansheng Dao came to visit and laid out everything regarding the dark-haired coffin, while hinting that the mole was among the boss leaders."

Huang Farong asked, "How does Grandpa Zu know that Zuo Yongchan isn't playing a game of killing with a borrowed knife?"

Grandpa Zu increasingly felt that this girl was formidable; everything he had thought of, she had already anticipated. Grandpa Zu smiled and said, "Just act strictly according to my instructions."

Huang Farong added, "Why would Zuo Yongchan be so kind as to tell Grandpa Zu these things? How did he even come to know about them?"

Grandpa Zu smiled without answering.

Huang Farong pouted her lips. "Grandpa Zu still doesn't trust me. But I can't hold my liquor; what should I do if others haven't fallen yet, but I go down first?"

Grandpa Zu burst into hearty laughter, turned around, and took a packet of medicinal powder from the drawer. "Take this medicine a quarter of an hour before dinner tomorrow, and you will remain sober through a thousand cups!"

Huang Farong took it, opened it, and saw a yellowish powder. Frowning slightly, she said, "This won't harm my body, will it? Farong still needs to carry on the ancestral line for 'Plum Blossom Lotus'!"

Grandpa Zu shook his head. "Of course not. Whenever I encounter a major dining setup, I always consume this medicine myself; otherwise, how could I possibly deal with those Kuomintang political dignitaries and underworld figures? This medicine was obtained by Master Zhang Dancheng from the hands of a Manchu prince—it's a court secret formula concocted with kudzu flowers to protect the liver and counteract alcohol!"

Huang Farong blinked her large eyes. "Could this be the legendary 'Thousand-Cup Sobriety Powder' of the jianghu underworld?"

Grandpa Zu nodded.

Huang Farong smiled. Suddenly, she said to Grandpa Zu, "Grandpa Zu's setup is brilliant, but it's still not entirely secure. I have a stratagem that will make it foolproof!"

Grandpa Zu was taken aback for a moment, then leaned in sideways as Huang Farong moved close to whisper her detailed explanation, causing Grandpa Zu to nod continuously.