Chapter 346

“Leave?” Xie Wendong almost laughed, a bitter smile on his face. He asked, “Where to?”
“Anywhere, just disappear completely in China to cut off Japan’s pretext,” the old man said slowly, emphasizing each word.
“It seems I’m a person abandoned by the country,” Xie Wendong said with a smile. “It’s a last resort! It’s much better than being handed over to Japan, right?” He laughed and added, “Then I really owe the country my gratitude!” On the surface, he was smiling, but inside, his heart was burning with blood-red flames.
“There’s a special flight to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon. Once you get there, you can decide where to go next,” the old man said. After saying so much, he seemed tired as well. Rubbing his temples, he continued, “You’re still young. In a few years, you’ll still have the chance to return to the country. Remember, the country will surely welcome you then.”
“Understood,” Xie Wendong nodded. The old man spoke politely, but actually left no room for negotiation. Whether he wanted to or not, he had to leave. “I only have one day to prepare.” “That should be enough for you,” the old man said with a wise smile. Xie Wendong stood up, smoothed out his slightly wrinkled clothes, and said softly, “No problem. I’ll be at the airport on time tomorrow afternoon.” Everything that needed to be said and asked had already been said, and the conversation was coming to an end.
The old man also stood up. He was tall, half a head taller than Xie Wendong, with his back straight as if nothing could bend it. In his heart, he admired this young man, Xie Wendong, but sadly, there were some things he couldn’t control. He smiled sincerely and said, “Wish you a smooth journey.”
“Thank you!” Xie Wendong’s mood dropped to rock bottom, but on the surface, he still smiled politely and thanked him.
The old man stretched out his hand and said seriously, “I support half of what you’ve done and oppose the other half. As for the Soul Group matter, I still need to thank you. I hope we’ll have the chance to meet again.” Xie Wendong blinked, his lips curling into a bright, sunny smile as he shook the other man’s hand firmly. “I think there will be such a chance.”
After leaving Diaoyutai and walking far away, Xie Wendong looked back. He was still captivated by its stunning beauty. Not knowing what he was thinking, he let out a sigh.
Dong Fangyi was the one who brought him to Diaoyutai and naturally also the one who escorted him out. He wasn’t present during Xie Wendong’s meeting with the old man, nor did he know what they had discussed or what the outcome was. Hearing his sigh, he asked, “What’s wrong? Is it the result…?”

Xie Wendong stopped him and said, “It’s nothing. I’m just a bit sorry for not getting to properly explore this national-level garden.”
Dong Fangyi laughed upon hearing this and said, “Explore? Do you know how big the Diaoyutai is? It’s hundreds of thousands of square meters—you couldn’t explore it in a day. By the way, what did you all talk about?”
“A lot,” Xie Wendong replied, in a bad mood and unwilling to talk more. Dong Fangyi, however, insisted with determination and asked, “So what was the result?”
Xie Wendong glanced at Dong Fangyi, shook his head helplessly, and said, “I’m taking a flight tomorrow afternoon to Hong Kong.”
“Oh?” Dong Fangyi was stunned and reflexively asked, “They’re letting you go?”
“What’s wrong with that? From the way you speak, it seems like I’m doomed.” “No, no, but it’s really unexpected that they’d just let you go so easily.”
“What has ever been within your expectations?!” Xie Wendong retorted jokingly. Then, he lowered his head thoughtfully, lost his smile, and fell silent.
Seeing him so preoccupied, which was rare, Dong Fangyi might have misunderstood and comforted him seriously, saying, “Forget it. It’s already great that those in charge allowed you to go. This is the mildest approach. In a few years, when things change, you can change your name and return to your country to live freely as before. Consider it a vacation abroad. After all, the money you’ve made will last you a lifetime.”
Hearing this, Xie Wendong forced a smile, nodded indifferently, showing no real reaction, but his thoughts were different from Dong Fangyi’s.
Dong Fangyi knew he was upset. How could someone like Xie Wendong be happy after being forced to leave? He chuckled and said, “I’ve arranged a hotel for you. It’s not fancy, but you can stay there for one night.” Xie Wendong shook his head and said, “No, I’m heading to City T now and won’t be back tonight.”
“Oh?” Dong Fangyi asked, “What are you going to City T for?”
“To meet an elder I must see before leaving.”
Dong Fangyi understood immediately. He knew Xie Wendong’s background very well and knew there was an old man in City T who had helped him become the leader of the North Hongmen.
Beijing to City T was quite close—less than three hours by car.
Jin Peng still lived in his villa in the suburbs, where the environment remained serene and pleasant, with colorful flowers, green grass, and lush shrubs. The air was filled with a soothing tranquility. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, in the deep mountains and forests, life was peaceful and leisurely. The rarest thing in the world is leisure—a life like that of a deity is nothing more than this.

Elder Jin still looked vibrant, with thick, unpale hair and a strong physique. His dark eyes often sparkled with vitality. When Xie Wendong arrived, the elder was sitting in the courtyard, leisurely drinking tea. He seemed not at all surprised to see him, waved him over, raised his face, and said with a smile, “Come and sit.” The elder was facing away from the sun, whose dazzling light shone behind him, creating a brilliant glow that made it hard for Xie Wendong to keep his eyes open. Unwillingly, he stepped forward and bowed respectfully. Xie Wendong said softly, “Elder, I’m here.” “Sit!” Jin Peng waved his hand to indicate it. A long-lost sense of familiarity arose in Xie Wendong’s heart. After sitting down, he observed the elder carefully before saying gently, “Your health is still very good.” Jin Peng waved his hand and smiled, saying, “When one gets old, do you know what’s the most precious thing?” Xie Wendong shook his head; he wasn’t old yet, so he didn’t know. “Wisdom and health.” Wisdom and health. Xie Wendong looked at the elder’s rosy face and sharp eyes and nodded seriously. After a while, he slowly said, “I’m here to bid you farewell.” “Leaving already?” Jin Peng’s expression darkened. “First to Hong Kong, then abroad,” Xie Wendong sighed helplessly. “Now, it seems I have no other choice.” “It’s good to leave,” Jin Peng said, leaning forward and patting his shoulder to comfort him. “Who knows? Leaving might not be the worst choice! In the underworld, the bigger you become, the more like you’re riding on a tiger— it can carry you around with great power, but it can also turn around and swallow you without mercy.” Xie Wendong narrowed his eyes, confused, and asked, “I don’t mind going abroad, nor do I mind falling on hard times. It’s just that I can’t fulfill my aspirations, and I’m unwilling to accept that.” Jin Peng smiled and said, “You already said you have no choice. Since there’s no choice, just accept it.” He picked up the teapot, poured a cup, and placed it in front of Xie Wendong, saying, “Being abroad doesn’t mean you can’t fulfill your wishes. Perhaps abroad, you’ll learn more and gain broader insights. There’s a very convenient communication tool now called the telephone. Don’t you know about it?” “Telephone?” Xie Wendong didn’t understand what the elder meant and murmured. “With it, you can control things remotely. It’s safer and easier to manage than staying in the country.”

“Ah!” Xie Wendong was so smart—he understood everything at once. He let out a long sigh. Yes! Although he had gone abroad, he still had a group of trustworthy brothers back home. Those unfinished tasks would still be carried on by others. The gloom in his heart seemed to vanish suddenly. He picked up his teacup and downed it in one gulp. “I get it now.”
“You’re smart. Figure it out by yourself. Everything has its dark side as well as its bright side—it depends on how you look at it and how you act.”
Xie Wendong talked a lot with Jin Peng. That night, after dinner, the two spent the whole night in conversation. The old man’s open-mindedness greatly relieved Xie Wendong’s depressed mood.
The next day, Xie Wendong hurriedly bid farewell to Jin Peng. There was still so much he wanted to say, but sadly, there wasn’t enough time. The high-ranking officials in the capital wouldn’t wait for him, and he didn’t want to be forced onto a plane. Before leaving, Xie Wendong felt somewhat reluctant. With this parting today, he didn’t know when they would meet again. Jin Peng noticed his thoughts and laughed heartily, “I’m free—unbound. As long as you settle down abroad, I’ll definitely come to see you.”
Xie Wendong also smiled and said bravely, “If I can make a name for myself in China, I can do the same abroad. By then, I’ll send someone to pick you up. Xie Wendong remains the same—unchanged by time or place.” By the time he finished speaking, he was already outside the villa. Though he said those words, he still had some doubts he couldn’t shake. What Dong Fang Yi had said unintentionally might seem trivial to others, but to him, it lingered in his mind, leaving him uneasy. However, he didn’t share his concerns with the old man—first, because he didn’t want to worry him, and second, because he feared his worries might be unfounded.
Back in Beijing, it was already noon. He took a car to the hotel Dong Fang Yi had reserved for him, intending to rest and regain his strength. But at the hotel entrance, he met an acquaintance—a very familiar one: Jiang Sen.

Jiang Sen was dressed casually, wearing a patterned short-sleeved shirt and shorts, with sunglasses that covered half of his face, giving him the appearance of someone who had just returned from a beach vacation. Jiang Sen, who was usually meticulous and serious, looked so different that even those who knew him well found it hard to recognize him at first. However, Xie Wendong had known him for many years and had been by his side almost all the time. To put it bluntly, even if Jiang Sen turned to ashes, Xie Wendong would still be able to recognize him instantly. Seeing Jiang Sen here suddenly, Xie Wendong was greatly surprised. Logically, he should be in Yunnan! Though puzzled, he didn’t show any surprise on his face. He knew that unseen eyes were watching him. Acting as if nothing was wrong, he stood at the door, lit a cigarette, turned his back to Jiang Sen, took a drag, and said softly, “Lao Sen, what brings you here?”
“I’ve brought a friend. Si Yi Yi.” With that, Jiang Sen slowly walked into the hotel.
Xie Wendong finished his cigarette before entering the hotel. Instead of going straight to his room, he sat down in the lobby and observed discreetly. After a while, when he was sure no one was paying attention, he quickly entered the elevator, went up to the fifth floor, walked around the corridor, then went down to the fourth floor via the stairs. He found Si Yi Yi’s room, pushed the door open without knocking, and slipped in.
“Brother Dong!” Jiang Sen had taken off his sunglasses, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. “How did the talks with the Central Committee go?”
Xie Wendong replied, “There’s no choice. We must leave China.”
“Are they forcing us to go?” “No, they’re forcing me to go!” “Oh!” Jiang Sen stared intently for a while, then suddenly remembered something and rushed into the bedroom, pulling out a person. He said seriously, “Brother Dong, I’ve brought a friend!”
Xie Wendong looked up and was shocked. He exclaimed in surprise, “Is it you?”