Otherworldly Merchant
Chapter 568: Invitation From the Ministry of State Security

It was said that in every trade, a master would appear. However, I had never expected that a humble otherworldly merchant like me would be noticed and favored by our motherland one day.

Oneafternoon, I was having some small dishes in my antique shop as usual. Sitting by the door, I enjoyed sippingfrom atumbler of wine while watching the snowflakes flutteroutside. The pride of a knight in ancienttimesarose in my heart.

Suddenly, fromthe otherend of the antique street, an off-road vehicle rumbled toward my shop!

I took a glanceat theoff-road vehicle’s number plate. I caught a glimpse of the red word,“Military.” I was amazed!

Why would a military car appear in a place like this? Did some fool stealanational treasure?

With that thought, I scurried around my shop to put away some counterfeit items on the shelves.Ifthey were suddenlyinthe mood to visit my shop, those toys shouldn’t be in sight…

Antique businesses werea mixofgenuine and fake.If some of thethings stocked in your shopweren’t fake, you were a good businessman already. Only a fool would sellonlyreal antiques.

The joy of collecting antiqueslaidin the skillofdistinguishing between the real and the fake antiques.

Having said that, it would be better tostaylow-key. Who knew what those military men had in their bags?

After putting away all the counterfeits, Iwas in agood mood. Feeling so excited, I put onathick puffer jacket and was about to leave my shop tocheck outthe fun. Unexpectedly, that off-road vehicle didn’t seem to stop by any shop along the way. It directlydroveto my shop.

“Ohshoot...”When I had finally confirmed that theyhad comefor me, I shuddered. I had collected the Sky Piercer, which was anationaltreasure. If they had investigated me andchargedme, I would be jailed for a few years.

Indeed, the off-road vehicle pulled to a full stop in front ofmy antique shop. The door opened, and two middle-aged men in straight military uniforms got out of the car.

One of them wore thick, gold-rimmed glasses, while the other was holding something that looked like a document. As soon as they got out of the car, they smiled at me.

It didn’t seemtheyhadcome to look for something illegal. Ilet out a sigh,thensaidgingerly, “Good afternoon. Are you looking for me?”

The bespectacled man nodded.“Mr. Zhang,let’sgo inside to talk.”He calmlywalked into myshopand took my seat. From his posture,it seemed he was abigshotof the military force.

He smiledand gaveme an assessing look. The other middle-aged man, whoheldthe document,spokefirst. “May Iintroduce you tothe Team Leader of the Special Operation Team from the Ministry of State Security, Jiang Shan. I’m his secretary, Xiao Quan.”

I was bewildered. I had never thought thatanofficial at the ministry level would come to find me one day. I wondered if it was an opportunity or acalamity.

Secretary Xiao Quan started to read from the document in his hand. “Zhang Jiulin, a citizen of Wuhan. Works in the antique business. Throughout five years, he has helped the Police Bureau solve many otherworldly itemcases. From a hidden branch of the Zhang family in Jiangbei. Not a long time ago, he married Yin Xinyue, an actress. For his grudge, he beheaded Xiang Zuanzhen, a consecrator-levelelderof the Longquan Villa…”

Before Xiao Quan had finished his reading, Iwasalready sweating.Hewasreading my profile ingreat detail!

Those people from the State Security Bureau had investigated me meticulously. They even knew that I had decapitated Xiang Zuanzhen in an act of revenge for the little Daoist boy.

It seemed theyhad studied me for quite a long time. If itwasabout my antique business, I could reject them.However,I did commit a murder crime. Once they made it a case, I couldn’tcome cleaneven if I jumped into the Yellow River…

I couldn’t stay calm anymore. In a trembling voice, I asked,“What do you want,after all?”

“In our State Security Ministry, we have twosetsof laws. One iscallednational law, and the other is called human relations.”Xiao Quan closed his document. “We knew you killed a man, but we didn’t do anything to you because we care about human relations. If you don’t know human relations, then tomorrow, this document will be submitted to the Police Bureau.”

“Phew……”I exhaled. It turned out they didn’t want to capture me. They just needed my help. Still, they wanted to scare me first!

Xiao Quan had successfully scared me. I had a strong personality, but I didn’t want to go against the state departments.I helplesslylooked at Jiang Shan. Xiao Quan was just a trivial secretary. The one with the real power was Jiang Shan.

Jiang Shan pushedhisgold-rimmed glasses up his nose. His countenanceturnedcomplicated. “Mr. Zhang, I lead the best Special Operation Team in this country.This time, we’ve encountered somethingbeyond our estimation. I would like to ask you to help us.”

“Please do tell.” I nodded politely, but I wascursing theeighteen generations of his family.Do I even have the right to reject him?

“Good. Our country needs good citizens like you.” As he got my consent, Jiang Shan smiled and torethedocument. Then, he got into the car and left. Secretary Xiao Quan stayed to explain the case to me.

“It happened just recently. Many national researchers were killed, and their deaths were horrible. Somewerebeheadedwhile others werechopped off at the waist. Somewere evenchopped into eight pieces. Whentheir bodieswere found, their blood and flesh were scatteredall overthe floor. Since they weremore or lessall involved in weaponresearch anditsdevelopment, the effect of these cases is really bad.The Police Bureau didn’t dare to investigate this case, so it’s beentransferred to the Special Operation Team of the Ministry of State Security.After we started an in-depth investigation, we found that most of the researchers were killed after midnight. From the forensic reports, we know they were cut sharply and resolutely byacold weapon. Except for that, the Special Operation Team hasn’tfoundany other clues. Therewerenofingerprintsorfootprintsat the crime scenes. Even the cameras didn’t show any suspectgoing close tothem.”

He continued,“The members of our Special Operation Team have experienced many strange and mysterious events, so they soon connected these cases to a paranormal case. They assume that those researchers were killed by an evil spirit. After all, they were killed before they could even make a sound to call for help. What kind of human being has such power?”

“Your superior believes in this sort of paranormalactivity?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Haha...”Xiao Quan understood my worries. He smiledand comfortedme. “Don’t worry. As we have come to you, it means our country needs talented peoplelike you. Don’t be afraid. Just do what you need to do!”Itdidn’t look like he was lying to me. Moreover, I didn’thave any otherchoice. I had to agree with him.

Xiao Quan urged me to pack up. I didn’t know what plan they had for me, so I didn’t ask Li Mazi to go with me. I sent him and Yin Xinyue a text messageand toldthem I had to go on a business trip for a few days. They shouldn’t be worried about me.

Atnight, Xiao Quan’s teamtraveledfast.Alongthe way, more and more off-road cars joined our formation.They graduallyformed a small convoy like a proper unified military operation. I had unknowingly enjoyed thesame treatment as those importantpeople. I felt somewhat proud.

We arrived in Haidian District inBeijing thenext morning. Jiang Shan’s Special Operation Team was stationed on Qinghe street. Soldiers were patrolling everywhere. It was the first time Ihad accessto a highly secured area. I felt a little nervous.

Jiang Shan took me to the cafeteria first. He seemed to realize my thoughtand nodded with a smile.“The capital always has strict guards. You’ll get used to it.”

After weatea simple breakfast, Jiang Shan left, leavingXiao Quanbehindtohelpmewith thiscase. I then learned that the Special Operation Teamalso had other cases tosolve for the time being. Jiang Shan was able to come to my shop yesterday, but it was justtomeetme.

Xiao Quan took out the profiles of the deceased and gavethem to meto read. After reading, I was shocked. Most of them were the inventors who had greatly contributed to our country’s military weapons, devices, and equipment.

“Are you surethis isthe work ofan evilspirit?” I asked skeptically. People who worked as weapon researchers and developers were similar to the blacksmiths in ancient times. They naturallyhad thickYang energies. Little ghosts and evil spirits didn’t dare togoclose to them.Speaking of this situation, even if therewasa super bold spirit, why would it only kill the weapon researchers?