The storeroom, filled with the scent of herbs, felt like a forgotten corner of the world.

Chen Ji pondered silently: The position of Superintendent of the Military Intelligence Bureau was highly classified. For his uncle to instruct the Superintendent to look after him, he must be a significant figure in the intelligence network.

But why did his mother marry into the Chen clan of Ning? And why was he left behind in Ning?

Seeing his silence, the Superintendent seemed to misunderstand. “You still seem to harbor resentment towards your uncle,” he said.

Chen Ji lowered his gaze and asked, his voice ambiguous, “Does my uncle still remember me?”

The Superintendent brushed dust from his clothes and said casually, “Don’t say such things out of spite. Back then, he was in a position where he had to consider everything. There was naturally a reason why he didn’t bring you back to Jing. Perhaps if he had, you might have been harmed by unscrupulous individuals.”

“Is that so? Is my uncle in a difficult situation?”

After the Hundred Deer Pavilion proprietor left, the Superintendent seemed to become more talkative. He then stated calmly, “Currently, your uncle has been framed by unscrupulous individuals, demoted, and removed from office.”

So his uncle had already been removed from office?

Chen Ji asked, “When can I return to Jing?” He felt no sense of belonging to either Jing or Ning, but no matter where he went, it would be better than walking a tightrope here.

However, the Superintendent said sternly, “You cannot leave now. Since you have already approached Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit, you must naturally make good use of this identity.” The Superintendent’s tone left no room for doubt.

Chen Ji was silent for a long time. “Then I will follow your arrangements, Superintendent,” he said. “I will strive to earn the trust of Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit.”

At this point, the Superintendent changed the subject abruptly. “Wait… the method of conveying information on your intelligence line is Zhou Chengyi’s misspelling method. The Military Intelligence Bureau never taught you the *fanqie* method. Where did you learn about the *fanqie* method? And why did you discover the *Jinsi Lu*?”

For a moment, Chen Ji didn’t know how to answer. He couldn’t explain to the people of this world that he had wanted to become a diplomatic attaché since childhood, and thus had read extensively from popular science, intelligence, and mystery books. He couldn’t explain to the people of this world that, seven months ago, he had been admitted with top scores in both the written exam and interview to the Army Foreign Language Institute. And that school, soon to be renamed ‘Army Strategic Support Information Engineering University,’ was never merely a place for foreign language instruction. The written exams and interviews for the special recruitment batch did not test foreign languages either.

The Superintendent narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, “Why aren’t you speaking? Who taught you?”

As the Superintendent spoke, an invisible pressure suddenly closed in. Chen Ji clearly saw the other man’s hand reach for the dagger in his sleeve again. He quickly weighed the information in his mind and replied, “My mother taught me.”

“Oh?” The Superintendent’s tone remained tense. “I didn’t expect your mother to teach you such things when you were so young… What else did she teach you? It couldn’t have been just the *fanqie* method, that would be too much of a coincidence.”

Chen Ji ‘recalled’: “My mother also told me that using only the *fanqie* method to hide information could easily expose it if one encountered someone who also understood *fanqie*. So, she created a new method to hide intelligence, building upon the *fanqie* method.”

“Oh?” The Superintendent’s interest was piqued. “What method?”

Chen Ji replied, “My mother called it a cipher book.”

“A cipher book?”

Chen Ji found a jar of medicinal wine in the storeroom. Dipping his finger in the wine, he wrote on the floor: “Willow seeks low breath, waves contend with sun’s time. Orioles’ chirping brings joy, striking palms for you to know.”

The Superintendent said gravely, “What is this poem for?”

Chen Ji didn’t answer, but continued writing on his own: “Spring flowers fragrant, autumn mountains open, honored guests sing happily needing golden cups, lonely lamp’s brilliance burns silver lantern. To the eastern suburbs, across the western bridge, rooster’s crow urges first heaven, strange plum crookedly covers the ditch.”

Chen Ji explained: “The first poem has twenty characters in total, and each character has a different initial consonant. The second poem has thirty-six characters in total, and each character has a different final rime. These two poems can be used as the cipher book, with the characters numbered sequentially. The twenty characters of the first poem are numbered one to twenty, and similarly for the second, numbered one to thirty-six.”

The Superintendent was a little puzzled. “How is it used?”

Chen Ji said, “With this cipher book, if you want to convey the word ‘continue’ (繼續), you would simply write ‘nineteen, twenty-seven, fifteen, eleven’. Anyone who knows the cipher book can immediately translate the information upon seeing the numbers, but those who don’t know the cipher book will never be able to decipher it. Assuming the *Jinsi Lu* transmits messages this way, even if the enemy intercepts it, they won’t understand it.”

The Superintendent exclaimed, “Quite interesting.”

Multi-layered encryption techniques like cipher books existed in ancient times, and were further developed during World War I and World War II. They are not foolproof, but in intelligence work, being one step ahead always ensures victory over your opponent.

At this, the Superintendent finally softened his tone, choosing to believe Chen Ji. “Your mother taught you well, and you learned well,” he said. “When your mother came to Jing to infiltrate, it only took her three years to become a renowned talented woman in Jinling. I didn’t expect her to not only be skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but also to have thoroughly researched the uses of the *fanqie* method. I will report this cipher book and the matter of the *Jinsi Lu* to the Bureau Chief to recommend you for a commendation. You are currently a ‘Sparrow’ level spy, correct? This achievement is enough to promote you to ‘Pheasant’ level.”

Chen Ji let out a silent sigh of relief. He had gambled correctly. According to his guess, both his mother and uncle were from Jing. Yet his mother had strangely married into the Chen clan of Ning. The only logical explanation was that his mother was also a spy! Years ago, his mother and uncle had come to Ning together. His uncle had single-handedly established the Military Intelligence Bureau’s southern intelligence network, while his mother, to gather information, married into the Chen manor.

Chen Ji changed the subject. “Superintendent,” he said, “my main task now is to get close to Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit. Can you tell me more about them?”

The Superintendent nodded. “When dealing with Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit, never trust a single word they say,” he advised. “These two rose through the ranks entirely by stepping over the corpses of their colleagues. They might use you today and discard you tomorrow.”

Chen Ji was puzzled. “Won’t their actions provoke outrage among their colleagues?” he asked.

“No,” replied the Superintendent, after a moment’s thought. “The Secret Intelligence Bureau is a place that values only merit, not personal connections. They are ruthless to their own people, and even more so to us. Of course, given their relationship with the Poisonous Prime Minister, other colleagues might also be too afraid to speak out.”

“Hmm?”

“Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit are both orphans adopted by the Poisonous Prime Minister, trained over more than ten years to become the assassins they are today,” the Superintendent explained. “Perhaps their abilities are not superior to others, but they show no mercy when killing for the Poisonous Prime Minister.”

Chen Ji suddenly recalled that on the night Zhou Chengyi died, Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit had each sworn by their parents…

Just as they were speaking, Proprietor Yuan pushed the door open and entered. “Superintendent,” he said, “it’s arranged. Long Whale will be at…”

The Superintendent said coldly, “Slap yourself.”

Proprietor Yuan froze for a moment, but ultimately gritted his teeth and slapped himself ten times.

The Superintendent’s muffled voice came from behind his mask. “Each intelligence line is forbidden from informing the others about their information,” he stated. “You’ve forgotten this basic principle, and you still want to replace Zhou Chengyi as Luocheng’s Sea Eagle?”

Proprietor Yuan lowered his head. “This subordinate was reckless,” he admitted.

Suddenly, Chen Ji spoke from the side. “Superintendent,” he said, “I will do my best to get close to Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit, but I have one request.”

“Speak,” said the Superintendent.

Chen Ji stared at Proprietor Yuan and said, “I require the Military Intelligence Bureau to recall everyone who knows my spy identity back to Jing, and they must never return to Ning. Otherwise, if I painstakingly get close to the Twelve Zodiacs, and someone else is captured and reveals my identity, all my efforts will be in vain.”

The Superintendent looked thoughtful.

Proprietor Yuan’s face changed drastically. “Superintendent,” he cried, “he’s taking personal revenge!”

Chen Ji shook his head. “It’s not personal revenge,” he said. “You already know my identity. If you are captured, you will certainly reveal me.”

“No!” Proprietor Yuan exclaimed frantically. “Superintendent, I have managed Luocheng for six years. No one is more suitable for this place than I am.”

The Superintendent pondered for a moment, then walked directly to a medicine chest. He pulled open the chest, took out a sheet of oil paper used for preserving herbs, and calmly spread it on the floor. Seeing this, Proprietor Yuan turned to flee the storeroom. But no sooner had he turned than the Superintendent had already moved behind him, and with just one hand, lifted the corpulent man, carrying him onto the oil paper.

The next moment, the Superintendent kicked Proprietor Yuan’s knee, forcing him to kneel. He drew a dagger from his sleeve and looked at Chen Ji. “My questioning you today was out of necessity. Do not harbor resentment,” he said. “If today’s events become a thorn in your heart, I will remove it for you now. From now on, you can confidently approach Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit. Aside from myself, the Bureau Chief, and your uncle, no one else will know your spy identity.”

As he spoke, the Superintendent gripped Proprietor Yuan’s jaw and plunged the knife into his heart. “Yuan Ming,” he stated, “you used your position to embezzle eight thousand three hundred and twenty-seven taels of silver from the Hundred Deer Pavilion over six years. This Hundred Deer Pavilion was originally established to fund the Military Intelligence Bureau, yet it became a place for you to line your own pockets. You are disloyal.”

Proprietor Yuan gasped for air, unable to utter a single word.

The Superintendent twisted the dagger, shredding Proprietor Yuan’s heart, while lifting his green-faced, fanged mask to look at Chen Ji. “If there is no absolute loyalty, then there is absolute disloyalty, Chen Ji,” he said. “Remember this saying.”

Chen Ji watched this scene in silence. He knew that from now on, he would be walking alongside these wolves and tigers.