Courtyard House: A Start with Black Gold Swallowing 100,000 Silver Dollars

His mouth moved faster than his brain, blurting out, "Do people often drift on Mount Akina where you live?"

"Huh? Drifting? Never heard of that, nobody does that in the mountains."

Nanako looked completely bewildered. Mount Akina exists, but racing? She'd never even heard of it. Who would dare risk their life on a mountain road like that?

"Cough, it's alright, it'll happen sooner or later."

They chatted about some trivial matters afterward. The more Nanako talked, the more she felt something was off: this person knew Japanese maps and cities like the back of his hand, but when it came to local customs, festivals, and street rules, he became clueless—his answers were stiff, as if he had just memorized something after looking it up.

She thought to herself: He must have studied abroad in his early years, or he must be a naturalized overseas Chinese.

Seeing that it was almost time, she put on her clothes and said softly, "Um... I have some things to do for the next few days, could I come back in a few days?"

"Oh? What's up?"

Li Wenguo pressed for details, showing no politeness whatsoever—he never bothered with formalities with this woman who kept a small notebook.

Nanako's ears turned red, and after stammering for a long time, she finally managed to squeeze out two words: "I...line..."

Ovulation period.

Li Wenguo took over the call decisively.

This is the time when conception is most likely.

He touched his back teeth with the tip of his tongue, and smiled meaningfully.

"OK!"

"Ah... thank you for understanding, thank you so much!"

Nanako felt a sense of relief—she certainly didn't want to be carrying his child.

After all, she was a married woman; if she were to get pregnant, it would have to be her husband's child.

It's been three years, and my belly is still flat. I wonder if it's just my body that's letting me down...

"Look at these."

Li Wenguo pulled a stack of photos from the bedside table and stuffed them into her hand.

Nanako's face flushed after just one glance—they were all intimate photos of the two of them naked and embracing.

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion.

I'll send these to your house tomorrow.

"ah???"

Nanako froze on the spot.

Completely baffled—why did this suddenly happen?

"No, please don't send it! Please!"

She instinctively grabbed his right hand, her voice trembling with pleading.

If she sends it home and the neighbors see it, or her husband finds it... her life will be ruined!

Besides, she has always been obedient and followed his instructions without ever disobeying him—why should she suddenly turn on him and threaten him?

"Beg me?"

Li Wenguo grinned, his smile both roguish and smug.

"I beg you... don't send the photos back."

She lowered her eyes, her voice barely audible.

"So—are you still coming these next few days?"

Li Wenguo shook the photo, the edge of the paper gently brushing against her cheek.

Ah!

So that's how it is!

Nanako's mind went blank for a moment, and she finally understood why the other person was holding onto her so tightly.

But... but she absolutely did not want to have a child with a man other than her husband.

Then another thought struck her: after three years of infertility, she feared there was something wrong with her body—maybe she was infertile at all, in which case the other party's threat would be nothing more than an empty threat.

"Okay, okay! I'm coming! I'm coming right now!"

Her voice was strained as she hurriedly agreed.

"Listen carefully."

Li Wenguo was facing her, his fingertips first brushing against her porcelain-like face, then sliding down her neck, his thumb pressing against her delicate Adam's apple, as if pinching but not pinching, just pressing with his warm palm, like pressing down on a startled sparrow.

"Let me tell you this—I'll only say it once. You have no right to struggle in front of me. If I say east, you're not allowed to go west; dare to negotiate or reason with me? That photo will be plastered all over Xisi Archway tomorrow, and you'll never be able to hold your head up high again."

"I...I understand! Please don't send it out! I'll do whatever you ask!"

Nanako's throat was dry, her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to break her ribs, and she nodded hurriedly, her fingers clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Li Wenguo withdrew his hand, casually tidying a few stray strands of black hair behind her ear. His tone softened, but became even more serious: "Good that you understand. I cherish obedient women the most—as long as you keep your mouth shut, keep your hands steady, and keep your legs weak, that photo will be locked away in my drawer forever, never to see the light of day."

"Uh-huh!!!"

"I promise I will be good! I promise!"

Her eyes were downcast, her nails digging into her palms, as if she could already see herself being dragged into a bottomless dark alley, never to see the light again.

Night had just fallen.

Mikuryuu dispatched six military police squads, nearly seventy men, fully armed, in one go.

Not a single traitor was brought along—partly out of fear that there might be anti-Japanese spies among them who might launch sneak attacks, and also out of fear that even a fraction of the credit would be taken away.

He was the kind of person who was greedy for life and afraid of death, and who hoarded all the credit for his victory.

Before long, Mikuruma led his large team, guided by a Japanese spy who was keeping watch, and after a long and winding journey of fifteen minutes, they finally arrived near the anti-Japanese stronghold.

The alley was so narrow that only two people could pass each other. Withered vines climbed all over the cracks in the blue brick walls. Even local old Beijingers could easily get lost. When this group of short Japanese devils came in, it was as if they had wandered into a maze.

"Well hidden well!"

Yu Kongdi grinned, his eyes gleaming with the light of prey entering a cage.

The more well hidden it is, the more likely it is that a tough nut is lurking inside.

"What's going on inside? Has anyone come out?" he asked the agent, turning his head.

The intelligence agency was only hastily set up last week. The Special Higher Police and the Black Dragon Society had been completely eradicated by Li Wenguo before the fall of Beiping, leaving only two or three survivors. It wasn't until General Nobuda personally slammed his fist on the table and urged them to come that a few "elite" officers were hastily transferred from the Kwantung Army.

"Reporting to Captain Yu Kong! No one was seen going in or out. However, around dusk, an Anti-Japanese Daily employee wearing a blue cloth jacket carried in two large food boxes—enough for ten people, and there were at least ten people huddled inside!"

The agent straightened his chest and answered.

"Alright! Perfect timing to wipe them all out, leave no one alive!"

Yu Kong chuckled maliciously and nodded heavily.

He then gave his adjutant a wink.

The adjutant waved his hand, and the five squads immediately dispersed: one guarded Yu Kongdejian's side; two supported the battering ram and rushed towards the main gate; another two set up bamboo ladders and scaled the left and right courtyard walls; the last squad crouched down and circled around to the back window, prying open the window latch with a dagger.

Everything is ready.

Unbeknownst to anyone, on a rooftop a hundred paces away, Kong Wu was crouching between the tiles, peering through a telescope with one eye, coldly watching the throng of people below.

"You damn Japanese devils, today you'll come in sideways and leave upright!"

He slowly pulled out a grenade, its metal casing gleaming with a cold, bluish-gray light under the moonlight.

"Do it!!!"

As he soared through the air, his throat tightened, and he let out a low growl.

The adjutant, wearing a white glove, slashed down suddenly—

The battering ram slammed into the wooden door with a deafening roar. After three strikes, the bolt snapped, and two small teams surged in like a black tide.

In the same instant, figures leaped over the walls on both sides and through the back window, the sounds of boots crushing bricks, heavy breathing, and the clicking of gun bolts mingling together.

The courtyard was empty. The military police pointed their guns at the door, their breaths catching in their throats. A small squad kicked the door open and rushed in—the house was cold, the stove was out, the lights were off, and there was no one there.

The soldiers looked at each other, but still gritted their teeth and gripped their guns tightly, searching inch by inch into the inner room.

All four teams went inside.

Unbeknownst to them, just three feet below the ground, a narrow tunnel lay winding and twisting. Old Pan, Zhou Zheng, Wang Youli, Binzi, and Dayan huddled in the darkness, even suppressing their coughs.

"Have those little Japanese devils gotten in yet?"

Big Eyes couldn't hold back any longer and asked in a low voice.

"Soon."

Old Pan's temples were throbbing with veins, and beads of sweat trickled down his temples.

It was my first time doing this job, and my palms were sticky and sweaty, and my heart was pounding against my ribs—I was both scared and burning.

Not only was he panting heavily, but the tunnel was already narrow, and most of the ventilation openings were blocked, trapping all the heat inside, making him feel like he was being sweltering in a steamer.

"Stay calm. As soon as Xiaobenzi steps across the threshold, Kong Wu will give the signal."

Binzi squatted in front of the detonator, his finger resting on the button, without even lifting his eyelids.

"Kong Wu? That ruthless criminal investigation captain who catches the worst thieves?"

Old Pan was taken aback and blurted out the question.

"It's him, he's one of us."

Big Eyes nodded, his tone flat and indifferent.

Old Pan, Zhou Zheng, and Wang Youli exchanged a quick glance, their Adam's apples bobbing in unison—Niu Dali, Sha Qiang, Kong Wu… Could it be that Master Li had already uprooted the police station and replaced it with his own spies? Little did they know that Tie Dan, the patrol captain guarding the eastern gate of the capital, had already polished his badge and handed it to Li Wenguo.

The entire police station had practically become Li Ye's backyard. If anyone knew this, they would probably be shocked.

Outside the courtyard, Kong Wu lay prone behind the broken wall, his binoculars reflecting the shadows of people moving under the eaves. The military police swarmed into the house, and he pulled back the safety pins on two grenades, swung his arm, and threw them in like cannonballs.

Fearing it wasn't strong enough, he took out a third one and held it in his hand.

Inside the room, a military policeman noticed a white cloth covering the corner of the table, with a bulging bulge underneath. He casually lifted it up—it had been covered like this in several places before, probably containing some miscellaneous items.

As soon as the cloth was lifted, his pupils constricted sharply: underneath lay neatly bundled explosives, their fuses dangling and still swaying slightly!

"eight--"

The word "ga" was stuck in his throat when a sharp explosion rang out outside the courtyard!

He abruptly turned his head to look outside, then swiftly turned back to stare intently at the explosives—

We've fallen for their trap!

The five people underground were deafened by the deafening roar. Old Pan screamed, "Attack!!!"

Haozi slammed his palms down like hammers onto the detonator!

At the same moment, Yu Kongdejian, who was in the teahouse diagonally opposite the courtyard, stiffened and his eyelids twitched wildly.

Something's not right!

"Where did the explosion come from?"

"Was it thrown by the Anti-Japanese Daily? But why didn't we hear any gunshots?"

"ah--!"

He suddenly turned his head and glared at his adjutant, his eyes like knives.

The adjutant trembled under the intense gaze, and just as he opened his mouth, he uttered, "Xing..."

Before the words were finished—

"boom!!!"

"boom!!!"

"boom!!!"

Crimson fireballs exploded at the four corners of the courtyard, the shockwaves overturned the tiles, and flames shot straight into the sky!

Even the explosion of Kong Wu's replacement grenade was completely swallowed up.

Five military police squads were buried in bricks and the smell of burning.

"Baka yarou!!!"

"trap!!!"

"That son of a bitch, he's a complete swindler!!!"

Soaring through the air, it roared to the sky, its teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.

"Ah—Cheng Shuxing!!! I swear I won't be human until I skin you alive!!!"

Sixty lives, burned to ashes in the blink of an eye!

Someone has to bear this blood debt—whether he was truly tricked or feigned defection, Cheng Shuxing must die!

At this moment, Cheng Shuxing was sprawled on the soft couch in Yihong Courtyard, fast asleep with a girl with rosy cheeks in his arms. His snores were even and long, and even the deafening explosion couldn't lift a single eyelid from his eyes.