In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Escaping the somber and oppressive atmosphere of his grandfather's house, Yang Guangming, carrying a bamboo basket, walked along the gradually bustling street.

The morning chill had not completely dissipated, but the sunlight had already become somewhat dazzling, shining on the hurried passersby.

He didn't plan to take the main road he usually took out of town today; instead, he chose a more secluded and shorter side road.

These crisscrossing, maze-like alleyways are the capillaries of this ancient city. Some are so narrow that only one person can pass through at a time, and even old Beijing residents may not be able to fully understand them.

Having lived here since childhood, he knows the terrain of the southern part of the city like the back of his hand; he could walk several roads with his eyes closed.

Turning into a narrow alley, the surroundings instantly became quiet.

This alley seemed to be in a different world from the hustle and bustle of the main street outside. Only his own footsteps echoed clearly between the walls on both sides, occasionally startling a stray cat on the wall, which would glance at him warily and then nimbly leap away.

He was lost in thought when, just as he rounded a sharp, almost 90-degree bend and entered a narrower alley, a person suddenly rushed out from a side intersection!

The man was wearing a worn-out gray cloth robe with some dust on the hem, and he was tightly clutching a small blue cloth bag in his hand.

He looked panicked, his face was pale from running, his forehead was covered in sweat, he was breathing rapidly, and his steps were even a little unsteady. He was running with almost all his strength.

He moved with incredible speed, creating a gust of wind as he swept past Yang Guangming in an instant, leaving only a hurried, swaying silhouette and slightly disordered footsteps.

Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, only a side profile, Yang Guangming's heart skipped a beat, as if struck by a heavy hammer!
He recognized that face! And he had a deep impression of it!

That was his Chinese teacher in high school, Mr. Zhu Mingxuan!

Mr. Zhu is not yet forty years old. He is well-known at the school for his excellent scholarship, kind manner, and ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms. He is also extremely patient with his students.

Yang Guangming excelled in his studies, especially literature. His essays were often used as model essays by Mr. Zhu for critique. In private, Mr. Zhu would often lend him books on improvement, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of his writing, and his words were always full of concern and encouragement.

Six months ago, he was forced to drop out of school. When Mr. Zhu learned of this, he specially chose an evening and brought two bags of snacks to his home for a home visit.

Seeing his impoverished state, Mr. Zhu remained silent for a long time, his eyes, which always held a gentle smile, filled with regret and helplessness.

He didn't spout those empty platitudes about "going back to school," but simply sighed heavily, patted Yang Guangming's then somewhat thin shoulder forcefully, and left with the following words:
Life is difficult, but knowledge is always useful. If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to me.

To Yang Guangming's surprise, a few days later, Mr. Zhu came to his door again. This time, he not only brought him his high school graduation certificate—he was still half a year away from officially graduating at that time—but also a heavy load of ten kilograms of cornmeal.

Yang Guangming knew that Mr. Zhu's family was just an ordinary family, his wife's health had always been poor, and there were three growing children in the family, so they were struggling to make ends meet.

In those days when grain was more expensive than gold, ten pounds of cornmeal might have been the only food that Mr. Zhu's family could save from the smallest of their lives!
This act of kindness in times of need is too profound.

The gratitude was so profound that Yang Ming, who was still young at the time, didn't know how to express his thanks. He could only bury this kindness deep in his heart and never dare to forget it.

He had planned that once he settled into his new home, he would visit Mr. Zhu on a Sunday, bringing some decent fish and food. His purpose was twofold: to express his gratitude to his teacher and to see if the Mr. Zhu needed any help. If he could secretly offer some assistance, it would be a small token of his appreciation.

But he never expected that he would be reunited with his teacher under these circumstances!
Moreover, the teacher's demeanor was clearly off!
The way he was running in such a panic clearly indicated that he had encountered great trouble and was being chased!
This is completely different from his usual gentle and composed image!
The thought of Yang Guangming flashed through his mind, and his body reacted instinctively.

He stopped and leaned casually against the mottled, damp, moss-covered wall, as if he were just taking a break because he was tired. But his gaze swept toward the alley from which Teacher Zhu had rushed out, and his ears strained to catch any sounds behind him.

Sure enough, just a moment later, a series of heavy footsteps came from that alley.

Immediately afterwards, two young men dressed in plain black short jackets, with wiry builds and fierce expressions, rushed out one after the other!
The two men moved nimbly, their eyes scanning the alley ahead like hawks searching for prey, each holding a gleaming black Mauser pistol!
Yang Guangming's pupils suddenly contracted.

He really is a spy!
In this era, those who carry handguns and act so blatantly and disregard the consequences are mostly shrewd and ruthless secret service agents.

They are like venomous snakes in the dark; whoever they target is likely to meet a terrible fate.

The two men immediately spotted Teacher Zhu's retreating figure running ahead. The slightly taller one immediately raised his gun and shouted, "Stop! Stop right now! If you don't stop, I'll shoot!"

The other man also sped up, threatening as he ran, "Listen up, you guys in front, stop immediately for inspection! Otherwise, you'll be killed on sight!"

Their voices sounded particularly harsh and menacing in the narrow alley, carrying an undeniable ferocity and murderous intent that shattered the alley's deathly silence.

Yang Guangming was standing near the entrance of the alley at that moment, almost brushing past the two spies.

The two were focused on catching up with their target and only glanced at Yang Guangming out of the corner of their eyes. They saw him looking terrified and clinging tightly to the wall, but didn't pay him much attention.

The two of them took two steps at a time and rushed ahead of Yang Guangming, leaving him behind. Their attention was completely focused on the gray-robed figure running ahead.

The situation is extremely critical!
Yang Guangming didn't know if the two men would actually fire their guns, nor did he know what important thing Teacher Zhu was carrying that would prompt the secret agents to chase him so recklessly down the street.

But he absolutely could not stand by and watch his teacher, to whom he had been so kind, fall into danger and die on the spot!
He dared not hesitate for a moment, his brain instantly calculating all the possibilities.

The only way is to ambush them! Subdue them instantly! Don't give them any chance to react or fire!

His gaze swept quickly across the ground, and in the overgrown weeds at the base of the wall, he spotted several pebbles the size of eggs.

He bent down, quickly picked up two stones of suitable weight, and held them tightly in his hands.

But he knew in his heart that it was extremely risky to subdue two agents who were armed with pistols and were obviously not weak in physical fitness with just two stones!
If they fail, or if they cannot completely incapacitate the enemy instantly, as long as one of them still has a chance to pull the trigger, both he and Teacher Zhu will be in dire straits!

Fortunately, he still has a sure-kill move.

His thoughts instantly sank into the refrigerator space deep in his mind, locked onto the ice cubes in the freezer compartment, and with a slight thought, two diamond-shaped ice cubes were quietly "taken out".

At this moment, the two agents raised their guns again and aimed, their fingers seemingly already on the triggers, about to pull them!

A cold glint flashed in his bright eyes, and he no longer hesitated!
He swung his arm sharply, using the throwing technique he had learned in his later years in his previous life to train his mind. The two pebbles, with a sharp whooshing sound, shot towards the back of the heads of the two spies with perfect accuracy, like arrows released from a bow!

That's a vulnerable spot where the skull bones connect.

At the same time, under his precise mental control, the two thin ice shards instantly pierced the core brainstem of the two agents almost the instant before the stone hit its target!
"Pfft! Pfft!"

Yang Guangming heard two dull thuds, the sound of pebbles striking his skull. The force was enough to knock an ordinary person unconscious instantly.

Almost at the same instant, the two agents who were preparing to fire suddenly froze, their forward momentum coming to an abrupt halt.

The fierce expressions on their faces froze instantly, their eyes became empty and lifeless, as if all their vitality and consciousness had been sucked away in an instant, without even a trace of pain or shock appearing.

There were no screams, no struggles, not even a single extra twitch. The two of them, like two wooden stakes that had suddenly lost all support, slumped forward and crashed heavily onto the dusty and gravelly bluestone road with a dull thud.

The guns in their hands slipped from their grasp and fell to the side, making a crisp metallic clanging sound as they hit the ground.

It all happened so fast; from the moment Yang Guangming threw the stone to the two men falling to their deaths, only a second or two passed. In the blink of an eye, life and death were decided.

Just as Teacher Zhu was about to rush out of the alley, Yang Guangming called out from behind, "Teacher, Teacher!"

Upon hearing the familiar shout, Teacher Zhu, who was ahead, did not stop but continued to run forward with all her might. Her thin back carried a sense of resolute panic as she was about to rush out of the alley.

Seeing that the teacher didn't stop or even turn around, Yang Guangming felt a little relieved. He didn't immediately chase after them, but quickly crouched down, first glancing warily at the alley the spy had rushed out of, and only after confirming that no one else was there did he quickly check the two people on the ground.

Breathing had completely stopped, the carotid pulse had disappeared, and the pupils were dilated and unfocused.

It's confirmed without a doubt, he's dead!
The camphor melted rapidly in the brainstem, taking away all vital signs without leaving any external injury marks. On the surface, it looked like a sudden fainting or death.

He moved swiftly, quickly searching the two men.

Besides the two Mauser pistols loaded with bullets, four spare magazines, totaling dozens of bright yellow bullets, were also taken from their inner pockets.

In addition, there were some brand-new gold yuan notes, which at first glance had a total face value of one hundred and twenty or thirty yuan.

Besides that, there was nothing else of value.

He didn't have time to count them carefully, and put the two men's pistols and bullets into the basket on his back. He also quickly stuffed about a hundred yuan into his inner pocket.

After doing all this, he immediately got up, no longer looking at the corpse on the ground, and quickly chased after the alley where Teacher Zhu had disappeared.

Although Yang Guangming's basket was empty, it contained a landing net and an empty fish basket, so he wasn't running very fast.

After rushing out of the alley, Teacher Zhu did not immediately flee.

Hearing the familiar call, he was filled with doubt and unease. After turning the corner, he immediately crouched down and, using the corner of the wall for cover, cautiously peeked out half his head to look back the way he had come.

He witnessed something unbelievable.

The two relentless, menacing agents suddenly collapsed to the ground, motionless, like two puddles of mud.

A boy carrying a basket on his back was squatting down next to the two of them, quickly searching for something.

When the boy finished searching, looked up, glanced around warily, and then ran quickly toward him, Mr. Zhu finally recognized the boy's familiar face by the light!
"How could it be him?" Mr. Zhu exclaimed in a low voice.

He never imagined that at this critical moment, the person who appeared like a divine soldier and defeated the pursuers would be his former student, Yang Guangming, who dropped out of school due to poverty!

Teacher Zhu stood up, leaned out, and waved to Yang Guangming, who then sped up his running.

Yang Guangming chased after him to the corner and saw that the teacher showed no signs of injury. He felt a great weight lifted from his heart, quickened his pace, and ran to Mr. Zhu's side.

Without exchanging pleasantries with Yang Guangming, Teacher Zhu quickly said, "Keep running, don't stop. It's not safe here. Let's get out of here first. Follow me!"

Mr. Zhu was a man who had weathered many storms and possessed a resilient spirit; his first thought was that this place was not a safe place to stay.

The spies have fallen to the ground. Whether they are dead or alive, their accomplices will soon notice something is wrong and give chase. The most urgent thing is to get out of here as soon as possible.

Teacher Zhu seemed to be very familiar with the area. Instead of running along the seemingly safe main road, he led Yang Guangming into another, narrower alley.

Yang Guangming followed closely behind, his basket filled with something, making a slight rattling sound as he ran.

But he couldn't worry about that now; he could only try to hold onto the basket with his hands to minimize the noise. The two of them walked quickly through the maze-like alleyways, one in front of the other.

Mr. Zhu was clearly very experienced in how to evade pursuit. He deliberately chose secluded and deserted paths, sometimes walking quickly and sometimes slowly, pretending to be an ordinary passerby. He would occasionally use turns and corners as cover to look back and observe the situation behind him, his eyes alert and sharp.

Fortunately, no one chased them after they left the alley where the incident occurred.

Perhaps these two spies were acting alone, or perhaps their accomplices hadn't realized what was happening yet, or perhaps they were held up by other things.

After running for about fifteen minutes, navigating through seven or eight intricate alleyways, the two arrived at the edge of a relatively open small square.

This place might have originally been a small market or temple fair, with the ground paved with large bluestones. Now it is deserted, with only a few ragged old people sitting under the wall in the distance, squinting and listlessly basking in the sun, indifferent to the two people who hurriedly passed by.

Mr. Zhu stopped and leaned against the trunk of an old locust tree with gnarled branches at the edge of the square, breathing slightly heavily, wiping the sweat from his forehead and neck with a handkerchief.

He cautiously looked around, especially at the direction he had come from and the various intersections leading to the square. After confirming that no suspicious persons were following him, he turned his gaze back to Yang Guangming, who was slightly out of breath, with a complex expression in his eyes.

"Guangming... what just happened?" Mr. Zhu's voice was still hoarse from running, but more so filled with disbelief and a lingering fear of surviving a close call. "How are those two people? How did you..."

Yang Guangming calmed his breathing, looked around, especially at the elderly people sunbathing, and made sure they were far enough away that they couldn't have heard the conversation. Then, he lowered his voice and explained:

“I saw them chasing you with guns, and they were about to shoot. In my panic, I didn’t think about anything and picked up a stone from the wall and hit them on the back of the head. They seemed to have passed out.”

The two spies collapsed to the ground. Whether they were beaten to death or knocked unconscious, Teacher Zhu didn't know. Yang Guangming felt that knocking them unconscious was a more reasonable explanation.

Attributing all the credit and the apparent success to those two powerful pebbles may sound surprising, but the fact that they only knocked the two men unconscious is still acceptable.

“I was afraid they would wake up soon and chase after me again, or that their accomplices would come and see, so… I mustered up my courage and searched them for their guns and money.”

As he spoke, he gestured to his heavy basket on his back, his face revealing a hint of nervousness and trepidation typical of a young man after doing something daring.

After hearing this, Mr. Zhu's expression of shock deepened.

Knocking out two armed agents with a stone? That sounds like a legendary tale from a folk story!
But upon careful reflection, he realized that there seemed to be no more reasonable explanation than this one.

Could it be that Guangming is truly gifted, or that he unleashed astonishing power and accuracy in a moment of desperation?
His gaze towards Yang Guangming suddenly became incredibly complex. There was heartfelt relief at escaping danger, deep gratitude for the students who stepped forward in times of crisis, and a strong sense of awe and admiration.

This student, who usually appears quiet and reserved, actually displayed such courage, decisiveness, and... skill at a crucial moment!
"You child...you're incredibly bold! It's simply..."

Mr. Zhu said with lingering fear, his tone revealing both undisguised admiration and lingering apprehension, "Those were ruthless spies who killed without blinking an eye! They had guns!"

What if... what if you miss, or they react quickly and turn around to shoot you?
How am I supposed to explain this to your family?!

His voice trembled as he finished speaking, clearly having considered the terrible consequences.

Yang Guangming could sense the genuine concern in the teacher's words. He cooperated by showing a hint of lingering fear, subconsciously touching his chest, and whispering:

"I didn't think too much at the time. I just saw them about to shoot at you, teacher. My mind went blank, and I just... just threw it out."

Thinking back now, I was a little scared; my legs even felt weak.

He was only half telling the truth; his fear was fake, but the mental stress he felt due to the critical situation was real.

He paused, then asked, "Teacher Zhu, how did you get involved with these people? Why were they chasing you? And why did they use guns?"

This is something he must ask, both to show reasonable concern and to lay the groundwork for possible future contact.

Mr. Zhu remained silent for a moment, a subtle hint of seriousness and worry flashing across his face.

He looked into Yang Guangming's clear and concerned eyes, and then, remembering how the child had risked his life to save him, he hesitated for a moment. He felt that some things were inconvenient to explain in detail, but he couldn't completely hide them either, so he said in a low voice:

"Today I went to visit an old friend in the south of the city. On my way back, I passed by the main street ahead, but I didn't expect it to be suddenly blocked off by military police and plainclothes officers. They said they were going to search for some important contraband, and the search was very strict."

He instinctively gripped the blue cloth bag in his hand, lowering his voice even further:
"I have something on me that a friend asked me to pass on. It's very important and I can't afford to lose it."

Seeing the way they were checking me, I panicked, afraid of being harassed and wasting my time. I even... tried to go around through a side alley, but I didn't expect to be spotted by these two sharp-eyed spies. They thought I was up to something and kept chasing me..."

He sighed, his face showing exhaustion and helplessness: "This is truly an undeserved disaster, an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. Fortunately... fortunately I met you, Guangming, otherwise I... I'm afraid I would have been doomed today."

His eyes were filled with gratitude as he looked at Yang Guangming; this life-saving grace was heavier than Mount Tai.

Sunshine Ming understood perfectly.

Mr. Zhu's words were still rather vague, avoiding the important points, but based on his knowledge of the historical background, Mr. Zhu's usual behavior and the sensitivity of that "important thing", he had roughly guessed the teacher's identity and the nature of the contents of the bag.

He didn't press for details, but solemnly said, "I'm so glad you're alright, teacher. I'm so happy to have been able to help you." These words came from the bottom of his heart.

Mr. Zhu looked at him, his gaze softening considerably, filled with the appreciation and gratitude of an elder for a younger generation.

He recalled what Yang Guangming had just said, and his expression turned serious again, carrying the earnest admonition of a teacher:
"Guangming, the things you found, especially the guns, are extremely sensitive items!"

You must hide it well and never let anyone find it, including your parents and family!

If these things are exposed, and your neighbors discover and report them, it will bring utter disaster to you and your family! Do you understand?

His tone was more severe than ever before.

"I know, teacher. Don't worry, I'll handle it well and will never implicate my family." Yang Guangming nodded earnestly, his eyes resolute. He possessed a spatial ability, making it easy for him to hide these things.

"besides."

Mr. Zhu continued to instruct, showing great consideration, "Don't mention what happened today to anyone when you get back. Just pretend it never happened and forget about it completely!"
For the time being, try to avoid going near that alley to avoid being recognized by any informants or residents.

"You should change out of those clothes when you get back, and don't wear them for a while to avoid being recognized by your clothing."

The teacher's consideration was indeed thoughtful, and Yang Guangming wrote down all these details: "I've remembered, teacher. I will be careful."

Yang Guangming remembered the two guns in the basket on his back. He had an idea and said, "Teacher, I'll keep one gun for self-defense. Having more is useless and will only increase the risk."

Here's another one, with half a bullet left. You can take it.

You...you're always out there working so hard, having this with you might...may make you a little safer."

He knew his words were somewhat presumptuous, but he was genuinely worried about his teacher's safety. In these dark times, every extra weapon meant an extra layer of protection.

Without saying another word, he was about to take off his basket and find a secluded spot to distribute the goods.

Mr. Zhu was stunned for a moment. Looking into Yang Guangming's sincere and persistent eyes, a complex warmth welled up in his heart.

In this era of pervasive white terror and fear for everyone, having an extra gun could indeed be an extra lifeline for those comrades who walked on the edge of a knife and worked underground, and an extra force to protect important documents and the safety of their comrades.

This is not just a weapon, but a weighty trust and support.

He didn't make a show of refusing, knowing this wasn't the time for politeness. He simply patted Yang Guangming's shoulder heavily, his voice low and hoarse, filled with emotion:
"Okay! Guangming... Teacher... Thank you! I'll remember this kindness!"

The two quickly left the small square and found a more secluded corner, hidden by several large trees and a pile of abandoned bricks and stones.

Yang Guangming took a relatively new Mauser pistol and several magazines from his basket and handed them to Mr. Zhu.

Mr. Zhu accepted it, and it felt heavy in his hand, not only because of the weight of the weapon, but also because of the sentiment and responsibility behind it.

He skillfully inspected the firearm, pulled back the bolt to confirm that the mechanism was working smoothly and without malfunction, and then quickly concealed it in a specially made pocket inside his robe, carefully putting away the bullets as well.

After doing all this, Mr. Zhu visibly breathed a sigh of relief, but the worry between his brows did not completely disappear.

He glanced at the sky, estimated the time, and said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, I have urgent business to attend to today and can't stay long. You must also be very careful and get home as soon as possible, without any delays on the way."

Yang Guangming guessed that his teacher must have important tasks to attend to and couldn't delay, so he said, "Teacher, please take care. Be careful on your journey. I... I'd like to visit you and your wife at home tomorrow at noon. Would that be convenient for you?"

He still wanted to personally check if his teacher was alright and if his family was facing any difficulties.

Looking into Yang Guangming's sincere eyes, Mr. Zhu felt a warmth in his heart.

He knew that this student genuinely cared about his safety.

He thought for a moment, and figured he would be home by noon tomorrow if nothing unexpected happened, so he nodded and said:

“That’s convenient. Your teacher’s wife was talking about you the other day, saying she didn’t know how things were going at home. Come over tomorrow at noon, and I’ll have your teacher’s wife cook some home-cooked dishes so we can have a good chat and have a meal together.”

"Okay! I'll definitely be there by noon tomorrow." Yang Guangming smiled sincerely. He was happy to have a meal with his teacher and catch up on his recent situation.

"Yes, please be very careful on the road. When you get back, remember what I told you."

Mr. Zhu gave another earnest instruction before turning around and walking briskly yet calmly toward another street connected to the small square. He quickly blended into the sparse crowd and disappeared from sight.

Yang Guangming stood there, watching his teacher's departing figure until the gray robe completely disappeared from sight, before slowly turning his gaze away.

He weighed the basket on his back; inside were a pistol and two magazines.

Today's unexpected encounter, though fraught with danger and indirectly costing two more lives, made Yang Guangming feel at peace knowing that he was able to help his teacher, Mr. Zhu, who had been so kind to him, and avert his life-or-death crisis.

This debt of gratitude can finally be partially repaid.

At the same time, this also made him more aware of the cruelty and complexity of this era, the insignificance of individual power, and... the necessity and convenience of having unconventional means.

He composed himself, put the pistol and bullets from his basket into the refrigerator, then determined his direction and steadily walked towards the river outside the city. (End of Chapter)