Years turn into wind

Chapter 179 The Night Before the Storm

The night at the Marshal's residence was peaceful as usual, but within Cheng Yuwei's heart, a subtle sense of unease gradually grew. She toyed with the letter in her hands, the coded symbols on it seeming to silently mock her powerlessness. Although she believed in Shen Zhaoning's loyalty, the appearance of this letter could not be ignored.

Cheng Yuwei stood up and paced back and forth. She wondered how she could use her knowledge of chemistry to decipher the letter's contents. Perhaps there were important clues hidden within. She ultimately decided to make a copy of the letter and study it herself, while leaving the original to Ling Xiaotian.

Late-night experiment

In the dimly lit study, Cheng Yuwei held a magnifying glass in one hand and gently dripped a chemical onto the copied letter with the other. Under the effect of the chemical, the letter's text began to reveal some of its hidden meaning. This was a form of encryption she had learned, using a special ink that would only reveal its full meaning under certain chemical conditions.

She held her breath, watching the lines of cryptic words gradually emerge:

"The enemy has arrived at the designated location. Lanterns will be used as a signal when the plan is activated."

Cheng Yuwei's heart tightened. This was a clear action order, undoubtedly targeting the Marshal's Mansion.

"Enemy..." She whispered the word, cold sweat oozing from her forehead.

At this moment, the door was gently pushed open and Ling Xiaotian appeared at the door.

"Weiwei, you haven't slept yet?" His tone was a little reproachful, but when he saw the letters and chemicals on the table, his eyes immediately became serious.

Cheng Yuwei raised her head and handed the letter to him: "This is the hidden content of the letter."

Ling Xiaotian quickly took it and glanced at it, his expression becoming even more serious. He said in a deep voice, "The lantern signal... It looks like the operation will take place in the next few days."

"What are you going to do?" Cheng Yuwei asked.

Ling Xiaotian frowned, his tone calm but firm: "Strike first to gain the upper hand. If the enemy has already infiltrated, we must find out where they are hiding."

Cheng Yuwei stood up and walked in front of him: "Ling Xiaotian, I want to help too. I'm already involved in this matter and I can't stay out of it."

Ling Xiaotian looked at her with a complicated expression. He was proud of her bravery, yet also worried about the danger she might face. After a moment's silence, he nodded. "Okay, but you have to promise not to act alone."

The Mist of Shen Mansion

Meanwhile, Shen Zhaoning's residence was remarkably quiet. In his study, candlelight flickered, illuminating his stern face. His adjutant beside him whispered, "The Young Marshal's men have indeed begun monitoring us, but they haven't discovered our core plan."

Shen Zhaoning snorted softly and picked up the teacup: "Very good. The more you stare at me, the less likely you are to detect the real threat."

The adjutant hesitated for a moment and whispered, "However, there's a twist—Miss Cheng seems to be involved in the investigation as well. Her knowledge of chemistry makes her more difficult to deal with than the others."

Shen Zhaoning put down the teacup, his eyes darkening slightly: "Cheng Yuwei?"

He fell into a brief moment of contemplation, then sneered, "It seems Miss Cheng is not just good at mixing chemicals in the lab. In that case, we must give her some 'special care'."

The adjutant nodded and left. Shen Zhaoning sat alone in the study, looking at the night sky outside the window, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Crisis is approaching

The next morning, a full-scale security deployment began within the Marshal's residence. Ling Xiaotian dispatched the most elite members of the Anbu to search the city for any traces of the enemy, while also ordering the soldiers to remain vigilant and closely guard every corner of the residence.

Cheng Yuwei was also busy. In her study, she used experimental equipment to extract the composition of the ink used by the enemy and tried to deduce its source based on these ingredients. These clues might be the key to finding the mastermind behind the incident.

In the evening, when Ling Xiaotian came back, he saw her still busy and couldn't help but sigh: "Weiwei, you really work harder than us soldiers."

Cheng Yuwei raised her head with a tired smile on her face: "Now is a critical moment, I have to do my best."

Ling Xiaotian walked over to her side and gently pulled her up: "But you also need to rest. Come on, go eat something."

Cheng Yuwei smiled and nodded, but the uneasiness in her heart still lingered.

Lanterns in the dark night

Night fell once again. Near a pond in the city, several dark red lanterns floated quietly. Secret signals were transmitted in the darkness, and the long-lurking enemy began to close in on the commander's residence.

Cheng Yuwei stood on the terrace of the Marshal's Mansion, gazing at the dancing lanterns from afar. Her heart tightened, "Ling Xiaotian, they're coming."

Ling Xiaotian was already fully armed. He held her hand and said in a deep voice, "Weiwei, stay in a safe place with the guards. Don't leave."

Cheng Yuwei watched his back disappear into the night, clenching the small bottle in her hand. She knew that this crisis would not pass easily.