Yama Reborn

At two o'clock in the afternoon, right on schedule, the loudspeaker at No. 8 Middle School started playing the "March of the Athletes." Yes, that's the one they played every morning before calisthenics.

As the music played, the students of both the junior and senior high sections lined up, grade by grade, class by class, marching out from their classrooms to the sports field, where they arranged themselves into the same formations as for their daily morning exercises.

On the stage, a standing microphone stand was set up. The old principal of the school, Assistant Principal Fang, Old Sun, and other school leaders were present. A few seats were arranged beside them. Also present were General Manager Zhao from the education group and several corporate leaders... Worker Liu was also there, though sitting on a chair at the very edge.

The old principal spoke first, as usual, about some of the school's matriculation rates and school discipline, as well as the importance attached to the studies of the graduating senior class, followed by some grandiose words—all meant for the officials from the Education Bureau who were in attendance.

Then a certain director from the Education Bureau gave a speech: a shower of official jargon.

By the end of May, the day had gotten a bit hot, and two in the afternoon was when the sun was at its peak. The students below were being roasted to the point of drowsiness.

In the ranks, Luo Qing couldn't stop yawning.

Finally, the director finished speaking.

General Manager Zhao from the education group took the stage. This Mr. Zhao was not an official but a businessman, which made his speech much more interesting. It was a mix of melodrama and pep talk, astonishingly spirited, and he even promised a few "pies in the sky" at the end: talk about improving teachers' welfare, experimenting with competency-based education, expanding the school's academic buildings and faculty dormitories, renovating the cafeteria, and building a library... All in all, he said quite a lot. In the end, they even handed out a pile of materials. Distributed along the rows, each student received a "Letter to Parents" to take home for their parents to read. It basically informed the students' parents of some grand plans following the school's restructuring.

Hmm... Actually, these things would be repeated again at the parent-teacher conference.

After General Manager Zhao finished, the students below applauded enthusiastically; even the director from the Education Bureau on stage was all smiles. If it could really be achieved... this restructuring would add a sizeable and attractive mark to his own achievements!

After Zhao finished, he turned around, covering the microphone with his hand to mute the sound, but turned to a person seated in the row of chairs, smiling obsequiously, "Would you like to say a few words?"

In that row of seats, in the middle, sat a woman. Upon hearing this, she just smiled slightly and waved her hand gently at General Manager Zhao.

The woman wore a large pair of sunglasses, obscuring her features, but one could see that her lipstick was very bright. She was dressed in a striped, checkered short trench coat that wrapped her body snugly, yet one could tell the material was light and form-fitting. Below the hem of the coat, a small portion of her lower leg was revealed, clad in black stockings, with high heels on her feet.

This outfit was different from those of the school leaders on the stage and those grease-slicked old men from the education company. It had an air of Western sophistication—even though it was just a seemingly inconspicuous checkered coat.

Within the ranks, Luo Qing whispered, "Keke, look at that woman."

"Huh?" Sun Keke was somewhat distracted.

"That woman might be a big shot," Luo Qing whispered. "Look at her clothes."

"What about them? That checkered coat?"

"That's Burberry. Just that one trench coat costs over ten thousand, close to twenty thousand."

Sun Keke's eyes widened. Over ten thousand, close to twenty thousand? She remembered two years ago, during the housing reform, when her family bought their house—purchasing that apartment from the school's faculty housing—she overheard her parents talking at the dinner table that it cost just under thirty thousand. Over ten thousand for an article of clothing? That's like wearing half an apartment!

The young girl couldn't help but stare at the woman in the seats to the side of the stage, taking a few more glances.

"What kind of clothes could be so expensive?"

"It's a world-renowned luxury brand." Luo Qing, after all, was a child from a wealthy family and had seen the world. She whispered, "It's the brand used by the British royal family; of course it's expensive."

In 2001, Burberry had not yet made a significant move into the Huaxia market, and few people recognized it.

Zhang Linsheng, standing in the lineup for the senior three students, also noticed the woman on the stage. But he always felt... That woman was wearing sunglasses... but Brother Haonan always felt there was a hidden gaze, sweeping back and forth among the student ranks...

After the speeches concluded, the assembly was dismissed on the spot, and the students lined up to return to their classrooms.

After the event, the school leaders, the director from the Education Bureau, and the people from the education company all stood up and exchanged a few pleasantries. Old Sun was among them; as No. 8 Middle School's most outstanding talent in education and a prominent figure in the district's education system for the past few months, he was engaged in quite a bit of conversation.

General Manager Zhao, both implicitly and explicitly, wanted to introduce Old Sun to the woman wearing the Burberry. But the woman left straight away as soon as the event ended.

Forget it, next time, Zhao thought.

He pulled Old Sun over. "Old Sun, you've got to do a good job! Our No. 8 Middle School has great prospects! Next term, the school will appoint two principals. The main principal will be assigned by the company and will handle only administrative matters, nothing else. The other vice principal will be you, and you'll have the final say in all academic affairs!"

Old Sun felt a surge of ambition in his heart and nodded.

Just as he finished speaking, he saw Old Jiang walk in from the school gate. Old Jiang made his way to the podium, pulled Old Sun aside, and whispered, "Old Sun, do me a favor. I need to take a few days off."

"Ah?" Old Sun was startled and pulled Old Jiang aside. "Another family matter? Old Song's illness..."

"Um, I won't go into details. It's just for four or five days. Please find someone to cover my classes. Anyway, they are mostly review and practice problems, so changing the teacher won't have much impact."

"Alright, you take care of your family issues first… If you run into any trouble, come to me directly, don't be shy."

Old Jiang was indeed in a difficult position. He had planned to take a few years off after finishing his last job. But even though his family had some money now, it would dwindle if they just sat around spending it. When Old Jiang took on jobs, he had one important rule: he only took local jobs, no out-of-town gigs, because he dared not stray far from his wife. With such a restriction, the number of jobs he could accept was actually very limited. Now that a rare opportunity had come up, he had to earn it!

Jiang Yingzi steeled herself to accompany her daughter near General's Mountain. General's Mountain was located in JN District, with a developed green lawn at its foot. Every evening, many people came here to fly kites, walk dogs, and so on. She had heard that several villa complexes would be developed nearby soon, and this area would become the wealthy neighborhood of the district. The location was indeed a prime one, but at the moment, it wasn't very lively.

Jiang Yingzi had no idea what possessed her daughter to insist on coming here to play. They had already spent more than an hour on the lawn, and Li Yingwan seemed to have little interest in flying kites or anything similar; she just sat on the lawn, texting. In that case, why couldn't she just text at home?

Jiang Yingzi sighed, a vague suspicion forming in her heart. After the last car accident, Jiang Yingzi's regard for Chen Nuo had risen to an incredibly high level.

Concerning her recent brush with danger, Jiang Yingzi had tried to investigate, but to no avail. In South Korea, she hired a private investigator to look into some business competitors but found no valuable leads or information. However, Jiang Yingzi had not been completely idle. Aside from her secretary, she had changed her driver to someone brought over from her home country, a retired soldier. Officially a driver, he could also serve as a bodyguard in disguise.

As the sun was setting, Li Yingwan sent another text message and then turned to Jiang Yingzi, "Let's go eat. I know a really good place."

Jiang Yingzi didn't speak and simply nodded.

After the mother and daughter got into the car, a Hwamei flew down from the treetops. The Hwamei hopped around a bit and then took flight.

Chen Nuo sat in a cold drink shop on the opposite side of the street. He put down the soda in his hand, put on a baseball cap, and stood up to leave.

Dinner was at a night market near Dongshan Street in the district, also close to the hotel where Jiang Yingzi was staying. Alongside the square, there were rows of open-air stalls under awnings, where tables and chairs were set up. The storefronts facing the street served as kitchens.

The sign read "Dongshan Old Goose." This dish was a famous local delicacy.

A large iron pot was brought directly to the table, filled with bubbling red broth. The goose meat was chopped into pieces, bones and all, and was stewed to extreme tenderness—it was nearly disintegrating.

Pick up a piece and bite into it. The once tough goose meat had been stewed until it was incredibly tender and soft. It was salty, savory, and had a bit of a kick. With one bite, the meat could slide right off the bone. The magic of Dongshan Old Goose lay in the cooking time. It must be stewed to this extreme tenderness to be considered truly flavorful. The pot also contained large chunks of potato, stewed until perfectly soft. When bitten into, they were mealy and flavorful, thoroughly infused with the red broth.

Although Jiang Yingzi and Li Yingwan both had troubles on their minds, they each ate several bites of such delicious food.

The food plaza had only recently been set up and wasn't too popular yet, but this Old Goose stall was doing good business.

Children were playing on the square. In the distance, elderly men and women were dancing—in this era, it wasn't yet called square dancing.

Old Jiang was actually sitting on the greenbelt at the edge of the square. He wore an old-fashioned flat cap on his head and a nondescript gray jacket. In the distance, over the stall where Jiang Yingzi and her daughter were dining, Old Jiang's Hwamei was perching.

Old Jiang's expression wasn't very relaxed; his eyes kept sweeping back and forth across the square.

Chen Nuo, on the other hand, was much more at ease. In a row of houses diagonally across from where Jiang Yingzi and her daughter were eating, Chen Nuo found a spot in a visual blind spot, in a room of a shabby little inn. The room was on the second floor, and sitting by the street-facing window, he could see the square outside.

In front of Chen Nuo was a bowl of spicy crayfish he had bought on the way. His laptop was on the desk, screen lit up, next to a pile of crayfish shells. By the end of May, crayfish were already on the market. Chen Nuo peeled the crayfish while sipping on chilled beer. He intermittently glanced at the long-legged girl, then at Old Jiang in the distance.

Hmm... Five people. I should be able to collect five USB drives this time, he thought.

The dinner lasted until after eight o'clock. There were hardly any people left in the square. The old men and women had all gone home for dinner. The elderly went to bed early. In those days, square dancing wasn't yet a craze, and older people didn't have the stamina of later generations to stay up late just to dance. The timing was just right: past dinner time, but before the late-night snack crowd arrived. The square had become much quieter.

Jiang Yingzi had actually eaten her fill. But since her daughter hadn't said they should leave, she couldn't leave either. She had understood... her daughter was essentially acting on Chen Nuo's remote commands.

So... this time, someone is going to come and make trouble for me again?

Old Jiang held a sesame pancake in his hands, wrapped in a plastic bag, half-eaten. The Hwamei had returned once in the meantime, and Old Jiang scattered some food for it. It was unclear what skill he possessed, but while whistling, he seemed to be able to communicate with the bird. He then let the Hwamei fly back to the square.

After finishing the pancake, Old Jiang picked up the thermos he always carried, opened it, blew away the tea leaves floating on top, and took a couple of sips.

Ah, it's not easy for a middle-aged man to make a living, Old Jiang felt a bit sorry for himself.

...

Suddenly, Old Jiang put down his teacup and sprang to his feet in an instant! The feigned cloudiness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a gaze as sharp as lightning that shot into the distance!

There, not far from where the mother and daughter had eaten, a figure stood quietly in the square and then held out a hand...

Old Jiang's Hwamei actually perched on that outstretched hand! It stayed still, not moving at all. The person seemed to be smiling gently, lightly stroking the feathers on the Hwamei with their other hand.

Old Jiang was stunned! He could control his own bird with special methods. But he knew very well that his bird would only be close to him! Never mind strangers; even at home, it wouldn't eat food fed by Song Qiaoyun!

And now, a stranger had the Hwamei under their control, right in the palm of their hand! Moreover, the bird didn't fly, call out, or flee!

"Aiya, very interesting, very interesting. It's been a long time since I encountered a Special Ability that allows communication with avian animals."

A pair of bright red lips curved into a curious smile. The woman on the square was tall with a striking silhouette. Her every curve drew the stares of passing men, their eyes glued to her. Her hair, slightly wavy, cascaded freely over her shoulders.

Such a woman often possesses a certain quality. It's the kind of person who, when they stand before you, makes you forget their specific features, even what clothes they're wearing... You're left with just one feeling: thrilling! This type of woman, with her every gesture, every move, every frown and smile—every subtle detail seemed to invisibly stoke the fire in a man's heart! If she were in ancient times, she would be a femme fatale capable of toppling nations!

CLICK. CLACK. CLICK, CLACK, CLICK, CLACK...

The sound of high heels on the square's paving stones.

This woman originally seemed to be facing Jiang Yingzi and her daughter, but after glancing at the Hwamei in her hand, she gave a gentle shake, released it, and the Hwamei flew towards Old Jiang.

And the woman, turning her head, walked towards Old Jiang!

Across a distance of some twenty meters, she approached step by step in her high heels, her pace unhurried.

Old Jiang didn't move! He felt all the hairs on his body stand on end! It was like the instinctive reaction of a feline encountering danger! The oppressive aura of a creature facing its natural predator!

Being stared at by that woman, Old Jiang even felt his breathing become somewhat labored!

There was only one thought in Old Jiang's mind: So strong!

The woman was now standing in front of Old Jiang. She seemed to sigh lightly.

"So, this is what you look like..." the woman squinted.

Huh? A thought struck Old Jiang. What does she mean?

"Normally, I should have taken out the target first. But since I've run into you... I obviously had to prioritize finding you! Do you have any idea? I just picked up a last-minute mission today. But I didn't expect... that you would also be part of this. Do you know how happy that makes me?"

Old Jiang was utterly confused.

The woman laughed heartily, pointing at Old Jiang. "It's destiny! It's simply destiny! I took a mission on a whim, and to think you took it too! Hahahahaha!"

The woman spoke, the corners of her mouth curled with a deep smile, then she bared her white teeth and enunciated each word, "Calling me an 'old lady' again and again, you really enjoyed that, didn't you, Mr. Arsonist of Maiden Hearts!!!"

Chen Nuo had been eating crayfish by the second-floor window when he happened to glance up...

PFFT!!

A mouthful of beer sprayed from Chen Yanluo's mouth right onto the window glass! The crayfish in his hand dropped onto the table with a clatter.

Holy shit!!!

Sweat beads formed on Chen Yanluo's forehead and began to fall. How could this woman appear here? And she's going straight for Old Jiang?! Where are the five assassins???

He subconsciously glanced at the task interface on the Octopus Monster website on his computer screen... The codenames were:

Sunrise in the East.

Strangers, Keep Out.

Emptiness is Form.

Daydream.

Kings and Generals.

Wait a minute! Chen Yanluo suddenly realized.

'Sun' from 'Sunrise in the East'... 'Life' from 'Strangers, Keep Out'... combine those, and you get 'Star'!

'Sky' or 'Void' from 'Emptiness is Form'...

'White' from 'Daydream'... 'King' from 'Kings and Generals'... combine those, and you get 'Empress'!

Damn it!!! Star Sky Empress!!

The old lady, so shameless!! She actually opened five alternate accounts!!!!

Chen Nuo leaped to his feet and dashed downstairs. At the same time, he pulled out his phone and rapidly texted, "Run!"