SDT 70

Chapter 70 These Past Two Years

Former police officer Yu Xiaowen had been living quite comfortably in his single room, enjoying pleasant chats with his “old friends” next door. But ever since Ms. Chen had come to tell him those things, he’d been suffering from insomnia. Even when he did manage to fall asleep, he was plagued by nightmares.

In his dreams, Lu Kongyun would either suddenly fall off a cliff or get shot out of nowhere. Or he’d reach out to grab him, only to find an abyss behind him, and he’d push Lu Kongyun down.

Then he’d jolt upright in bed, grabbing his soaked clothes. Even during the toughest times in M Country these past two years, he hadn’t felt this terrified. Now it was worse than ever.

With the return of suspect Yu Xiaowen, the case was reopened for joint interrogation by military interrogators and the municipal police criminal investigation team.

The case had been under the jurisdiction of Lu Qifeng from the Ministry of National Security’s Intelligence Department, but he remained overseas handling matters on Azalea Island and had not yet returned to the country. Consequently, the military headquarters dispatched additional interrogators to handle the questioning. The military headquarters also specially authorized Ding Kai from the Ding family to serve as an assistant interrogator.

Before the interrogation, Ding Kai first reviewed the military’s interrogation records and audio recordings from two years prior, when Ding Qi and his group fell off a cliff in Shijia Valley.

Back then, due to the “Transnational Bio-Chemical Product Trafficking Case” involving collusion between S Country’s military and civilian factions, an internal investigation team was formed jointly by the police, military, and national security department to determine responsibility. Their primary focus was investigating the identities of the missing officers and the medical kit incident.

Lu Qifeng of the Intelligence Department was invited to provide collaborative oversight. However, Lu Qifeng was unable to attend due to circumstances requiring his absence overseas.

Lu Kongyun, Director of the Second Research Laboratory at the Institute of Life Sciences, participated in the interrogation as an observer.

…It’s that Lu Kongyun again.

Ding Kai narrowed his eyes. This man was the Ding family’s sworn enemy, the one who had relentlessly sought to pin Ding Qi’s crimes, causing the case to remain unsolved to this day. Because of him, the Ding family had been left in disgrace, unable to hold their heads high.

Relying on the Lu family’s status, he’d always acted arbitrarily, wielding absolute power. Damn that bastard.

He continued listening.

Defendant: xxx.

Ding Qi’s personal bodyguard. One of only two survivors among the military headquarters personnel involved in the incident, suspected of disposing of the body of police undercover agent Yu Xiaowen.

He skimmed over the unimportant parts.

……

Military Interrogator: “According to your previous testimony, Ding Qi injected that undercover officer with numerous unidentified substances?”

Suspect: “Yes.”

Military Interrogator: “Describe the scene again.”

Suspect: “Our boss… Ding Qi… wanted to take out Ex before the police got him. So after getting the tip, we rushed from Manjing to Shijia overnight and found Ex’s hideout. When we went in, Ding Qi shot Ex first, then killed his men. That’s when we saw Ex and his crew were torturing a police informant.”

Military Interrogator: “How did you know that man was a police undercover agent?”

Suspect: “He seemed to have dealt with Ding Qi before, like they knew each other. I’m not entirely sure, but I heard that cop humiliated Ding Qi during an operation, so Ding Qi wanted revenge, to make sure he didn’t die easily.”

Military Interrogator: “Describe the appearance of the police undercover agent you mentioned.”

Suspect: “Gray-streaked hair, very dark skin. But Ding Qi said he’d altered his appearance, so I couldn’t tell for sure. I only saw him beaten bloody, ribs and arms broken, face swollen beyond recognition… Oh, that was Ding Qi’s doing later. I said he wouldn’t survive anyway, so stop torturing him. Ding Qi disagreed and grabbed the medical kit to inject him again.”

Military Interrogator: “Did you and the other survivor who disposed of the body witness this scene with your own eyes?”

Suspect shook his head: “No. We both stayed outside the doorway. It was too brutal, we couldn’t bear to watch.”

Military interrogator: “So you didn’t actually see Ding Qi inject him with the drug. Is that correct?”

Suspect continued: “I didn’t see it, but I heard the sounds. That man was in immense agony, yet he endured it without crying out. It was even more terrifying to hear. I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life. That Omega was an undercover agent, not a bad person. I’m a soldier, I couldn’t stand it. We only went in after the brothers inside said he’d already been finished off.”

Military Interrogator: “So none of this was witnessed firsthand by you. If this person was actually–say–acting alongside Ding Qi, or deceived Ding Qi before silencing him, you couldn’t verify the truth of either scenario. Correct?”

Suspect, startled: “But… that body… it really was dead.”

Military interrogator: “Then can we be certain the body you disposed of was that police officer?”

The interrogator slid a photograph across the table.

The suspect glanced at it, studied it carefully, and answered honestly: “I can’t recognize him. His appearance been altered. I don’t know what he looks like, and he was too badly injured.”

Interrogator: “Then when you carried the body away, did you see the case?”

Suspect: “Of course. It was in Ding Qi’s hands.”

Interrogator: “So you took away an unknown body, but the case wasn’t removed from the workshop. And you can’t be certain the body was that police officer, correct?”

The suspect thought for a moment and said, “Yes.”

Party: Xu Jie.

Member of the Third Squad, Major Crimes Unit, Municipal Bureau; former partner of undercover officer Yu Xiaowen.

……

Xu Jie: “There’s blood in the workshop. It’s been confirmed as my master Yu Xiaowen’s blood. A massive amount of it. Doesn’t that prove my master suffered severe injuries there? What the hell are you even asking for?”

Military Interrogator: “Colleague, we’re questioning you about the disappearance of the officer and the case, not targeting anyone personally. Please cooperate.”

Xu Jie: .

.

Military Interrogator: “You previously stated that you saw two suspects throw Yu Xiaowen’s body off the cliff. You ran over and witnessed Yu Xiaowen’s body falling into the valley.”

Xu Jie: “Yes.”

Military Interrogator: “But your previous testimony only stated that ‘you saw an arm slide into the valley.’ How could you identify him as Officer Yu Xiaowen based solely on an arm? Did the officer have any distinctive physical markings, such as birthmarks or tattoos?”

Xu Jie: “…No.”

Military Interrogator: “Then how did you recognize Officer Yu Xiaowen from just a glimpse of an arm in the pouring rain late at night? Could your personal bias have influenced your judgment?”

Xu Jie: “…I recognized him. Of course I recognized him. I see him every single day!”

Military Interrogator: “Did you harbor a subjective bias against acknowledging his possible guilt due to your special feelings for Yu Xiaowen?”

Xu Jie: “I’m certain the body is my mentor. I wish it weren’t, but it is. I don’t want it to be… but he’s dead. He risked his life for another cop’s wedding, sacrificed himself to avoid alerting the enemy so we could learn who Ex was and delay Ding Qi. What did you do? How dare you slander my master? He wouldn’t even tell us he was sick. He died so horribly for the mission, and now you want to smear his name?”

Interrogator: “Officer Xu Jie, your composure makes your testimony more credible. I’m merely collecting evidence. This statement will be reviewed and decided by superiors. Your behavior…”

Xu Jie: “My mentor Yu Xiaowen is dead! I saw his body fall into the abyss and get swept away by the river! May my whole family die if I’m lying! Screw your superiors’ review!”

Xu Jie: “Second Young Master Lu.”

Xu Jie (as a police officer assisting the investigation, he was not restrained. Thus, the officer violated protocol midway, rushing over to kneel at Colonel Lu’s feet and tugging at his leg): “Is this how you military bullies people? Is this how you bully people… you…”

Chen Zihan (Head of the Major Crimes Unit, rushing from the monitoring room into the interrogation room to pull Xu Jie): “Damn it! Don’t embarrass yourself, Xu Jie! You have no shame, but the Municipal Bureau still needs you!”

Xu Jie: “My master is dead! He fell alone from that pitch-black cliff, drifting out to sea! We searched for so long and never found his body intact. Does that make him a traitor? He gave his life for his beliefs, are you stripping him of even the right to believe? They tortured him until his arms turned black… I’ll never forget… You’re not human…”

Li Ming (Municipal Bureau Chief, bursting from the monitoring room into the interrogation room to pull Xu Jie): “Xu Jie, shut your mouth this instant! What does this have to do with Director Lu? The man hasn’t even recovered yet! He can barely see straight! And you expect him to work? Stop dragging him into this! What kind of spectacle do you think this is? Get out of here!”

Interrogator Zhang: “Their police bureau has made such elementary mistakes in narcotics enforcement before, leading to an officer’s death from leaked information. With their lax discipline, the betrayal resulting in this outcome clearly falls more on their shoulders.”

Interrogator Wang: “The main issue is that this individual is nowhere to be found. They can say whatever they want…”

Lu Kongyun: “So you’ve already determined the officer’s traitorous status and identified the party responsible for the incident, correct?”

Interrogator Wang: “Huh? Report, Colonel Lu. I was merely hypothesizing…”

Lu Kongyun: “Hypothesizing? ‘I’m merely an evidence collector; this testimony will be reviewed and decided by superiors.’ Those were your words just now. Now, during a public interrogation, disregarding consequences and irresponsibly speculating about outcomes not yet reviewed by superiors, does that constitute overstepping your authority and contempt for military law? What is your name?”

Interrogator Wang: “Colonel Lu, I’m not! I didn’t…”

Lu Kongyun (ripping the interrogator’s name tag from his uniform and stuffing it into his pocket): “I’ll notify your immediate unit to report this to the Ministry of National Security. Until the outcome is determined, you are relieved of all duties. See you in military court.”

Interrogator Zhang: “Colonel Lu, but this isn’t just the opinion of the two of us.”

Lu Kongyun: “So whose opinion is it then? Old Ding’s?”

Interrogator Zhang: (No response.)

Lu Kongyun: “So you’re admitting that the root of your error lies in collusion among military headquarters personnel, leading to a preconceived ‘consensus’ on the case?”

Interrogator Wang: (No response.)

Xu Jie: “Colonel Lu, you’re absolutely right! They’re trying to pin this on my master! Just because Ding Qi is from the Ding family, while Yu Xiaowen is just a lowly cop! What if it was you, Lu family’s second young master, who was abandoned in Shijia Valley? What if it was you who was beaten to a bloody pulp and left to die? Then your Lu family would…”

Li Ming (Municipal Bureau Chief): “Damn it, Xu Jie! Shut your mouth right now!”

Chen Zihan (Head of Major Crimes Unit. Dragging Xu Jie out of the interrogation room): “You’re fucking insane! Do you even want to keep your job?!”

……

Case Status: Pending.

After casually observing the chaotic interrogation disrupted by Lu Kongyun, Ding Kai coldly laughed and slammed the case files from two years ago onto the table.

Ding Qi was dead and could not testify, but Yu Xiaowen had returned alive. The evidence was irrefutable. Today, he would send this Yu Xiaowen to prison, preferably to be executed. He would clear the Ding family’s name.

This outcome should also be most welcome to the military headquarters.

After a while, the interrogator summoned the subject, Xu Jie, first.

If he couldn’t explain himself coherently, he would face charges of perjury. Yet Xu Jie appeared quite cheerful, his face beaming with joy, seemingly unaware that he was being accused of violating regulations.

Military Interrogator: “According to your previous testimony, you stated with absolute certainty that Ding Qi’s guards disposed of the body of Officer Yu Xiaowen. Now, how do you explain the fact that the body is alive?”

Xu Jie: “I guarantee that the body thrown down was indeed my master. As for why he’s alive… I can only say that good deeds are rewarded!”

“Good deeds are rewarded?” Ding Kai sneered. “Is this how you usually handle cases, Officer Xu? The safety of our citizens’ lives and property in Manjing City is truly concerning.”

Xu Jie: “…I don’t know about this matter. But since my master has returned, he will certainly give you an explanation. All I can say is that I haven’t lied, and I trust my master.”

All nonsense.

Based on the intelligence provided earlier regarding Ye Yisan, we also interrogated Dai Jingxi, the chief representative of Dai Pharmaceutical.

Dai Jingxi voluntarily came forward to assist with the investigation. Dai Jingxi confirmed that Ye Yisan, an M Country citizen using the alias Ruan Dazhi, had business dealings with him. He admitted to having helped Ruan Dazhi bring another injured person to the Dai family residence for recuperation at that time, but he claimed no knowledge of the case details or the box’s secrets. Based on his interactions, he believed Ruan and Yu did not appear to know each other beforehand, though he could not confirm whether they were concealing any conspiracy from him.

Dai Jingxi assured that his actions were solely motivated by medical ethics to save lives and that he had not knowingly violated any laws. Dai’s Medical Group was open to investigation.

By that afternoon, military interrogators began focusing their questioning on Yu Xiaowen, formerly a police officer with the Manjing City Bureau and now a suspect in a treason case.

Yu Xiaowen recounted a bizarre story with a calm and candid demeanor.

The suspect claimed this black case was stolen from M Country by Ding Qi in collusion with a transnational illegal drug syndicate, containing medical secrets belonging to M Country. Thus, Ye Yisan needed to return the box to M Country. While searching for the box, Ye Yisan coincidentally saved himself from the brink of death. To maintain secrecy and further test the efficacy of the drugs within the black box, Yu Xiaowen must continue living as a citizen of M Country and undergo treatment.

The military interrogator asked, “So you’re saying Ding Qi’s death wasn’t your doing, nor was it an accident. It was Ye Yisan’s doing, correct?”

Yu Xiaowen thought for a moment before answering truthfully, “Ye Yisan claimed he did it. But perhaps it was to intimidate me, to make me obey him and keep the secret. Whether it’s true or not, only he knows.”

The interrogator pressed further, “So where is this Ye Yisan now?”

Yu Xiaowen replied, “Ye Yisan is dead. He died in Wuxiang City on Azalea Island. Because he saved me, he ended up on Mr. Ye’s blacklist and was ‘disposed of’ by assassins.”

“Putting all the blame on a dead man,” Ding Kai snorted, gritting his teeth. “No one to contradict you, right? You’re quite the schemer. You planned this all along, waiting for him to die before coming back, didn’t you?”

Yu Xiaowen admitted calmly, “Yes. He’s dead. That’s why I came back. Because I couldn’t restore my identity while he was still alive.”

Ding Kai abruptly stood up, strode before him, and sneered coldly: “Yu Xiaowen, I know you’re exceptionally cunning, skilled at lying and manipulating people. Unless I teach you a lesson, you’ll never learn your place.”

Yu Xiaowen looked up at him. “Regarding the facts of this case, everything I said was the truth. I left without closing the case to save my own life. Whatever sentence you give me, I’ll accept it. But two years ago, I was indeed an honest officer who served the country and myself with integrity. Ding Qi, on the other hand, is a traitorous smuggler, a disgrace to the military. Are you telling me the entire Ding family really knows nothing about this?”

Ding Kai’s eyes widened as he choked on his words for a few seconds, the muscles in his jawline tensing violently. Suddenly, he raised his hand. Yu Xiaowen instinctively closed his eyes.

The door creaked open, yet Ding Kai’s hand never came down.

Lu Kongyun approached. “What are you doing?”

Ding Kai froze for a moment before replying, “Nothing much.”

Lu Kongyun: “You hit him.”

Ding Kai: “…Not yet.”

Lu Kongyun stated flatly: “You want to hit him.”

Ding Kai dropped his raised arm with a snarl. “Fuck, there are plenty of people I want to beat the shit out of. My brother’s dead! Lu Kongyun, don’t push your luck!”

This muscular Marine Corps lieutenant colonel seemed inexplicably intimidated by Lu Kongyun. Yu Xiaowen glanced at him, then at Lu Kongyun.

Lu Kongyun stared at Ding Kai for a moment, as if he had much to say and much to do.

But in the end, he only said, “Go back and sit down.”

Then he sat down across from him, watching Yu Xiaowen.

After a moment, both the interrogator and Ding Kai seemed to be looking at Colonel Lu.

After another pause, Lu Kongyun asked, “How have you been sleeping these past few days?”

“It’s been okay,” Yu Xiaowen replied. “Everyone’s been taking great care of me. Old friends keep dropping by next door, so I get to chat when I’m free.”

Yu Xiaowen asked, “What’s the latest on the evidence?”

Lu Kongyun paused before replying, “That USB drive was waterproof-sealed, but insects chewed through the packaging, letting water seep in. It was submerged too long and sustained some damage. You know that, right?”

Yu Xiaowen replied, “Yeah, I know.”

Lu Kongyun: “I just got back from my friend at the Information Center. He said he’s working on a solution for me. You might need to wait here a little longer.”

“Mhm.” Yu Xiaowen swayed her body back and forth with ease. “Perfect timing to fill in the information gap from these past two years. This place is practically an intelligence hub, my crash course in returning to Manjing!”

“Thank you for your hard work, Colonel Lu,” Yu Xiaowen added.

“Colonel Lu,” Lu Kongyun repeated the title. “Is this the designated form of address in the interrogation room?”

Yu Xiaowen remained silent for over ten seconds, saying nothing.

The atmosphere suddenly grew a bit awkward.

The interrogator beside him picked up the materials from the table to review them.

Ding Kai watched Lu Kongyun with a cold smile, secretly delighted by the news of the evidence being compromised.

After a moment, Lu Kongyun said to Yu Xiaowen, “Do you blame me for bringing you back? You were living comfortably in M Country and didn’t want to return.”

Yu Xiaowen looked genuinely surprised. “Why would you think that? Just the other day I told you how grateful I am you brought me home. Being myself again feels solid, really. You know I had some special reasons for not coming back before. Of course I want to be myself again! I can even see… see, you know, so many familiar faces. It’s really great. Honestly, since coming back, I feel like even if I end up in prison, I’d still be happy.”

“I didn’t bring you back to put you in jail,” Lu Kongyun frowned. “I want the truth.”

Yu Xiaowen immediately replied, “Of course I know! I mean, I’m already incredibly fortunate to be alive and still Yu Xiaowen. I’m really satisfied. You don’t have to… I mean, well, I’ve already caused you so much trouble. Hey, how’s your injury? Does it still hurt?”

Lu Kongyun ignored his worry and persisted with the previous topic.

“You may be satisfied, but I cannot. Since I brought you back, I must see it through.”

“You…” Yu Xiaowen’s smile felt strained, his face paler, his body still instinctively hunching. “You don’t have to do this. You have more important things to do. You’re a high-level intellectual with research projects waiting for you. Don’t waste too much energy on me.”

Lu Kongyun: “Wasting energy.”

Lu Kongyun seemed to chuckle softly.

“Do you know why I mistook you for Yu Xiaowen’s twin when we first met?” he said.

Yu Xiaowen sat up straighter, shook his head, and looked at Lu Kongyun intently, waiting for his answer.

Lu Kongyun: “Perhaps you don’t understand. I don’t need to see your face to recognize you.”

Most people might not notice this remark. But for two individuals with a certain shared history, it was clear that his definition of him was rooted in his familiarity with his”other” aspects.

Yu Xiaowen glanced toward the two-way mirror, where numerous colleagues from the municipal bureau were likely observing the interrogation room. Of course, he couldn’t see anything.

Lu Kongyun: “But I can’t assume you’re still alive. Because I feel that if I can’t fully trust you, it would be like me and those outsiders in the military headquarters, betraying your sacrifice and beliefs. Yu Xiaowen’s brief life wouldn’t have been worth it. So I’d rather believe in quantum mechanics.”

“I’m still a doctor. Am I that stupid?”

Yu Xiaowen’s eyes flashed with crystalline light as his hands clenched before him. His face drained of color as he opened his mouth to speak, but in the end, no sound emerged.

Lu Kongyun paused before continuing, “Two years ago, I speculated countless times about why you drew near me. But when I learned the truth, you were already dead. To think that the last thing this man clung to in life was unrequited love, to think you endured illness and inhuman torment, sacrificed your life in the line of duty, yet never received vindication. Physical breakdowns are inevitable; psychological ones are unavoidable. During treatment, I struggled to control myself. It was the goal of clearing your name that kept me going.”

Lu Kongyun: “These past two years, I’ve exhausted every conceivable method to find your remains. You have no idea what I’ve endured, you have no right to casually say ‘don’t waste your energy.’ Spending two years searching like a fool for something that doesn’t exist… I need closure for myself. I’ll stop at nothing. All you need to do is cooperate.”

Yu Xiaowen: “…Lu Kongyun.”

The suspect’s breathing became rapid, and his body movements were beyond his control.

Lu Kongyun stared at him for a moment, then abruptly stood up and walked over. He crouched down and raised his hand to place it on the man’s forehead.

Lu Kongyun met his gaze with some surprise, then placed his hand on his face. “…You’re burning up. Why didn’t you say anything?”

The suspect clutched his hand with burning claws, teeth chattering: “Lu Kongyun, I… I’m just a despicable, foul-smelling blackmailer who preys on others. Why are you so kind to me? You should forget me. Why care if I’m innocent? Because you think I’m pitiful with nothing?”

“…”

“Please don’t pity me… What am I supposed to do now? How can I ever make it up to you? I should have chosen to die cleanly from illness two years ago… Then you could have been fine…”

“…” Lu Kongyun suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to take the hand resting on Yu Xiaowen’s face and force it down onto his throat, to properly deal with this nemesis of his fate. To make him understand what words Lu Kongyun could tolerate, and what words he must never utter carelessly.

But he restrained himself.

Lu Kongyun stood up, drew in a breath, and let it out again.

“That’s all for today. He’s feeling unwell. Take him back to the detention cell first.”