A Sharp Edge Emerges From The Mist Chapter 11

Counter-Tracking

At 6:03 AM, before the sky had fully brightened, the city was shrouded in a layer of bluish-gray mist.

Shen Qingwu was now completely awake. The dizziness and weakness from the drug residue had faded, replaced by an icy calm and a smoldering anger deep within her eyes. She sat at the slightly old but clean dining table in Lin Jianfeng’s parents’ home, a standard-configuration laptop he had found for her spread out in front of her.

Lin Jianfeng stood not far behind her, leaning against the kitchen doorframe with his arms crossed. Holding a cup of freshly brewed instant coffee, he quietly watched her operate the computer. He didn’t disturb her, only occasionally glancing out the window at the brightening sky, keeping an eye on the activity in the neighborhood below.

Shen Qingwu didn’t use the computer to access any sensitive networks. Instead, she pulled up several seemingly ordinary business information search interfaces and entered a series of complex filters and keyword combinations, her movements a dizzying blur. Streams of data scrolled across the screen, reflected in her focused eyes.

“Last night’s banquet, Grand Hyatt Hotel,” she said in a low voice while working. Her voice had regained its usual clarity, though it remained slightly raspy. “The host was the New City Project Investment Promotion Office, but the execution was outsourced to a company called ‘Yuexiang Exhibition.’ This company has been registered for less than two years. The legal representative is a puppet, and the actual controller is untraceable. However, its main shareholder is ‘Minghui Investment,’ and ‘Minghui’s’…” She paused, pulling up another equity structure map, “…third-largest shareholder is a construction materials company controlled by the cousin of the spouse of the chairman of Changhe Trading.”

Lin Jianfeng’s gaze sharpened. After several twists and turns, it ultimately pointed back to Changhe Trading.

“The hotel provided the beverage service, but some of the temporary waiters were personnel seconded from Yuexiang Exhibition,” Shen Qingwu continued, her fingers sliding quickly across the touchpad. “I remembered the badge number of the waiter who served me the champagne. The hotel’s HR system shows him as a temporary worker with fake registration info. But by using his facial image, I performed a fuzzy match against several non-public security personnel databases…”

A blurry profile photo popped up on the screen, bearing a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to the waiter from the previous night, though the person in the photo was wearing a specific uniform.

“Tiedun Security.” Lin Jianfeng recognized the uniform and spoke the name in a low voice. Shen Qingwu had previously marked this security company as having close ties to Xincheng Construction.

“Correct.” Shen Qingwu closed the image and pulled up an encrypted internal communication software interface, quickly typing in commands. “Tiedun Security’s ‘Special Services Department’ specializes in handling ‘dirty work’ that isn’t convenient to discuss openly. That waiter from last night was likely temporarily transferred from this department.”

After sending the command, she leaned back against the chair and rubbed her brow, showing a hint of fatigue, though her eyes remained as sharp as ever. “The drugging was ordered by Changhe Trading and executed by Tiedun Security. As for the purpose… besides a warning and creating leverage, they likely wanted to extract information about the company’s internal investigation progress or the extent of my cooperation with the police while I was incoherent. They found the miniature recording device in my handbag, but the battery was dead, so they probably thought it was just a decoration.”

She spoke flatly, as if discussing something that had nothing to do with her. But Lin Jianfeng could hear the suppressed chill beneath that calm.

“The fact that they used Tiedun’s special department means their wariness and the level of importance they place on you has escalated,” Lin Jianfeng said, putting down his coffee cup and walking to the table. “It also means there might be internal friction or pressure within their ranks, and they need to resolve you, the ‘variable,’ as quickly as possible.”

Shen Qingwu gave a cold laugh. “Anhe is not a monolith. The interests involved in the New City Project are too great, and the distribution is uneven. Combined with the pressure from the police investigation, someone inside can’t sit still. They want to use these underhanded methods to force me to submit, or simply get rid of me.” She looked up at Lin Jianfeng. “Last night you took me away, which broke their plan. Their next step will likely be more direct.”

“Targeting you, or targeting me?”

“Both,” Shen Qingwu said with certainty. “Targeting me is to clear an obstacle. Targeting you is to cut off the ‘hand’ the police have extended. Furthermore, they will use the relationship between us to make a move. For example, creating a scandal, slandering you and me for having improper benefit transfers, or… something even more malicious.”

Lin Jianfeng fell silent for a few seconds. “What about Qin Mo?” she asked suddenly. “You’re conducting an internal investigation at the company and she’s your assistant. Will they try to get to her?”

At the mention of Qin Mo, a tiny crack appeared in Shen Qingwu’s expression. She was one of the few people Shen Qingwu truly cared about.

“I’ve already had her take a ‘vacation’ to go abroad for a short-term course she signed up for a long time ago,” Shen Qingwu’s voice lowered. “She took a flight this morning. She won’t be back until things are clear.”

Lin Jianfeng nodded. This was a necessary protective measure.

“So, our next move…”

Her words were interrupted by an encrypted alarm window that suddenly popped up on her computer. The window flashed violently, displaying a red exclamation mark.

Shen Qingwu’s expression froze. She immediately sat up straight, her fingers tapping out a string of commands on the keyboard. The screen switched to a dark-themed surveillance interface, showing real-time footage of several key locations in her high-end downtown apartment: the entrance, the living room, and the study.

Everything looked normal; the place was empty.

However, the source of the alarm was another independent, more deeply hidden dynamic sensing system—it had detected extremely faint, unauthorized wireless signal scans and traces of a physical intrusion attempt just ten minutes ago.

“Someone tried to remotely probe my apartment’s security system after I left, and they likely used physical means to try and pick the lock, but they were blocked by my backup countermeasures and failed to enter,” Shen Qingwu’s voice was as cold as ice. “They were fast and professional, not ordinary thieves. The signature of the remote scanning signal… looks familiar.”

She pulled up the log records and compared a string of complex signal signatures against an internal database. A few seconds later, the results popped up.

Lin Jianfeng saw the comparison results on the screen, and his pupils constricted slightly.

That signal signature had a high degree of similarity to the residual signal from an encrypted communication device used by an underground casino involved in the “thug’s death” case in the neighboring city three months ago. That case had been handled poorly, ending abruptly, and the thug’s death remained shrouded in suspicion.

And now, a similar signal had appeared in the scan attempting to invade Shen Qingwu’s residence.

“It’s them again…” Lin Jianfeng whispered. This had gone far beyond a commercial dispute or a warning; this was a blatant threat and intrusion with a criminal nature.

“It’s more than that.” Shen Qingwu closed the alarm window, her face grim. “I’ve also seen this signal signature in an old file. Ten years ago, a month before the accident at my parents’ company, their competitor’s secretary received an anonymous threatening letter. Inside the envelope was a miniature signal transmitter used for tracking and monitoring. Technology was limited back then, so the signal couldn’t be fully parsed, but the core encoding pattern… has a 30% match with this one.”

Thirty percent, in a professional field—especially regarding customized, iteratively updated illegal monitoring equipment—was enough to constitute a strong connection. This meant that the methods used against Shen Qingwu’s parents ten years ago and the methods used against her now likely came from the same group of people, or at least inherited the same “technology” and “style.”

The tentacles of Anhe reached further and were older than she had imagined.

Shen Qingwu leaned back against the chair, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, only a nearly cold-blooded resolve remained.

“Lin Jianfeng,” she said, her voice terrifyingly calm, “I need you to do something for me.”

“Tell me.”

“Using the police investigation into the Xinlong Underground Bank and the discovery that it may be involved in illegal monitoring, personal threats, and other criminal activities as a reason, apply for a public, formal forensic investigation and technical sweep of my apartment and several other properties under my name that might be targeted.” Shen Qingwu turned her head to look at him. “The bigger the commotion, the better. It would be best if the media ‘happened’ to capture footage of police cars and investigators going in and out.”

Lin Jianfeng instantly understood her intention. “You want to startle the snake? Let them know you’ve reported it to the police and that they are officially involved? At the same time, you’ll use the public investigation to openly check for any monitoring or eavesdropping devices that might have been planted in your home?”

“Yes.” Shen Qingwu nodded. “They are good at hiding in the shadows. So, I will bring everything into the light. Public police involvement will make them restrain themselves for a while, or at least they won’t dare to use such low-level physical intrusion methods so easily. Moreover, I need official, irrefutable evidence that I have become a target of criminals. This will provide a legal basis for some of my subsequent… self-protection actions.”

She paused and added, “During the investigation, I will cooperate with you and point out several places I suspect might have been tampered with. But the truly core security data and hidden equipment will be handled by me in advance; they won’t be exposed.”

This was a risky move, but also a brilliant one. Placing herself under public police protection served as a shield, but it could also make her a target for drawing fire. However, Shen Qingwu had clearly weighed the options; this was currently the best way to break the enemy’s hidden encroachment and force them to change their strategy.

“I can do that.” Lin Jianfeng did not hesitate. “I’ll file the report immediately. But I need you to formally report the crime as a victim and a provider of leads.”

“No problem.” Shen Qingwu stood up and walked to the window, looking down at the neighborhood as it gradually woke up. “I’ll prepare the report materials, including the details of being drugged last night, the information on the suspicious waiter, and the records of the intrusion alarm just now. As for the connection between the signal signature and the old case…” She looked back at Lin Jianfeng. “That can serve as a reference for our internal investigation, but don’t include it in the official report for now.”

“I understand.” Lin Jianfeng knew the boundaries. The connection to the old case was too sensitive; it shouldn’t be made public without solid evidence.

Shen Qingwu gazed out the window. The morning light had finally completely dispersed the mist, and golden sunlight spilled over the old concrete road. She narrowed her eyes slightly.

“Also,” she said suddenly, “help me check someone.”

“Who?”

“The boss of Tiedun Security, Zhou Tieshan. I want all his itineraries for the past six months, both public and non-public. Especially any records of meetings with Wang Youcai of Changhe Trading or Liu Dayong of Xincheng Construction, in any form. Also, see if there is a person around him nicknamed ‘Viper.’ He’s about forty years old, missing a small piece of his left ear, and is an expert in lockpicking and electronic intrusion.”

Lin Jianfeng noted the information. “Viper? Is he the one who tried to break into your apartment?”

“It’s highly likely.” Shen Qingwu’s gaze was frigid. “The miniature transmitter ten years ago was reportedly delivered to the secretary through a very sophisticated method disguised as a gift. Back then, it was rumored in certain circles that there was a middleman called ‘Viper’ who specialized in such things. If it really is the same person… then this line is truly connected.”

It connected the tragedy of her parents ten years ago to the threat she faced now.

Lin Jianfeng looked at Shen Qingwu’s silhouette standing in the morning light. She was slender yet stood straight as a ramrod, like a frost-covered sword about to be unsheathed.

Counter-tracking was no longer just a defense.

It was turning into an offensive, following the bloody traces of the past to strike back at the heart of the darkness.

“Alright,” Lin Jianfeng promised, his voice steady and powerful. “Viper, Zhou Tieshan, and everyone behind them. We’ll drag them out, one by one.”