Chapter 7 — Fire Race

That's it! I immediately looked up the address. Located in a small alley near Quan Tien street. Even though the sky is already dark. I grabbed my bag —— rushed out of the hotel. The rain is still falling. Falling on the paved road, splashing tiny water droplets. The alley is old and deep. On both sides are white walls with black tiles, mottled with moss. I followed the directions, turning left and right. Finally found an ancient shop hidden deep in an alley. On the sign hanging in front of the door, three words were written: 【Luc Ly Trai】 The shop was half-closed. Inside
The pale yellow light shines out, warm and vague. I pushed the door and walked in. An elegant scent rushed in, rushing straight into my nose. It is the familiar smell of "Tinh Tam Tram" in the brocade bag. In the shop there was only an old man with white hair and a long beard. Wearing a Chinese-style ao dai, she was bowing her head and arranging spices behind the counter. Seeing me enter, he raised his head to look. His eyes were as calm as the water of an ancient well. “Miss, do you want to buy incense?” His voice was very gentle. “Mr. Sir.” I stepped forward. Take out the brocade bag from your bag, gently
put on the counter. “I didn't come to buy incense.” “But I came... to find 'Tinh Tam'.” The old man's eyes stopped on the brocade bag. The pupils shrank slightly. He picked up the brocade bag and brought it close to his nose to smell it. Carefully look at the pattern embroidered on the outside. Then he raised his head and looked deeply at me. Those eyes seemed to want to see right into my soul. “What are you… to A Vien?” A Vien! He knew my grandfather! “He is…” I hesitated a bit. “It's my grandfather.” The old man was silent for a few seconds. A complex expression appeared on his face.
There is surprise, nostalgia, and… even understanding. “The item… did you bring it?” he asked. Objects? Are you talking about that lotus-shaped jade pendant? I nodded. Take the jade pendant out of the brocade bag and give it to him. The old man took it and carefully caressed it with his fingers. “That's it.” He muttered. “As expected… he still decided to give this last clue to you.” “Old sir.” “Who exactly are you?” “Do you know what ‘Calm Mind’ really means?” “Me?” The old man put down the jade pendant and looked at me. “I am Luc Ly.”
“The owner of this incense shop.” “Also… one of your grandfather's old 'liaisons'.” Liaison? “So… ‘Calm Mind’?” “‘Tinh Tam’ is not a place, nor is it a person.” Mr. Luc Ly spoke slowly. “It is… a plan.” “A backup plan that your grandfather prepared, after the mission ended – for himself and his relatives.” “Backup plan?” "That's right." Mr. Luc Ly nodded. “That year, her grandfather understood clearly that even if the mission was completed, the danger would not end.”
“They won't let him go.” “Not even letting go of the people he cares about the most.” “That's why he created the 'Calming Mind Plan'.” “The main purpose is… to completely ‘disappear’.” “At the same time protecting what is most important to him.” “Is that a ‘talisman’?” I blurted out. Mr. Luc Ly glanced at me. “You know the ‘talisman’?” “My father… my brother told me.” “Is it Lam Kien Quoc?” Mr. Luc Ly sighed. “He… also had to bear a lot.” “So what is that ‘talisman’ after all
What?" I asked impatiently. “It…” Mr. Luc Ly's expression became extremely serious. “It is not mere evidence.” “It's not even money.” “It is… a key.” “One… could open Pandora's box.” “Involving a secret… enough to upset the fate of many people.” Pandora's box? The secret that can reverse destiny? What is it? “What specific shape does that key… have?” “Where is it?” "I do not know." Mr. Luc Ly shook his head. “A Vien works extremely carefully.”
“He broke the whole plan down into parts.” “Assigned to different ‘liaisons’.” “Each person only holds one link in it.” “And I... am only responsible for keeping the 'trust' to open the next step." “It is this lotus-shaped jade pendant.” “And a corresponding ‘key’.” He pointed to the brocade bag in my hand. “With a saying to pass on.” “What is a saying?” “Look for ‘The Court Man’.” Mandarin people? Another code name? “What do you mean?” “I don't know either.” Mr. Luc Ly shook again
head. “That is the original text of what A Vien left behind.” “He said, when you came to find me with the jade pendant.” “I just need to give you that sentence again.” “Tell you to go find ‘The Mandarin’.” “And who is the Mandarin and where is he…” “I need you to find it yourself.” Missed the clue again? Are not. I have to say, I just entered the next round. “So… can you suggest something?” “For example, where might ‘The Court Man’ appear?” Mr. Luc Ly pondered for a moment. “The last time A Vien contacted me…” “It was in the summer of 1995.”
“At that time… he seemed to be operating in the southeast coastal area.” “I don't know exactly where.” “Just remember he once said… the sea breeze can keep people awake.” Southeast Coast? Sea breeze? "The Mandarin"... is it not the same person? Which is… a place? A place related to tide watching? For example… Tien Tang high tide? “Thank you, Mr. Luc Ly.” I carefully put back the jade pendant and brocade bag. “The information you provided… is very important.” “No need to be polite.” He waved his hand.
“This is my promise to A Vien.” He looked at me, his eyes filled with many layers of emotions. “The child.” “The road ahead will be even more dangerous.” “The enemy your grandfather faced was much more terrifying than you imagined.” “They can get into every corner.” “You have to prepare yourself.” "I know." I nodded. “No matter what, I won't give up.” Leaving Luc Ly Trai, it was completely dark. The rain has also stopped. The water-slick stone road reflects warm yellow light. But my heart is no longer heavy
as heavy as when it arrived. Even though the front is still dark. At least I have a new direction. “The Mandarin Dynasty”. Southeast Sea. I took out my phone, intending to text Chu Hao to say he was safe. But his phone... still can't be reached. An uneasy premonition once again grabbed my heart. “Ouroboros”… What did they… exactly do to Chu Hao? I can't wait any longer. I must quickly find "The Mandarin". Find the next clue. Even... found that "amulet". That could be hope
The only way to save Chu Hao. It is also a way to protect Lam Kien Quoc. And… find my grandfather again. I immediately booked a plane ticket to Hangzhou. Former Tang Jiang. Holy place to watch the tide. If "Mandarin Dynasty" is really a place name. That place is the most suspicious spot. Just landed in Hangzhou. I was in no hurry to go to the riverbank. But first, find a private place to stay. At the same time, change to a new phone, new number, cannot be located. Chu Hao's loss of contact made me realize— My whereabouts may have been lost
highway. I have to be more careful. In the hotel room. I began to organize all the existing clues... My grandfather was an undercover hero who disappeared because he was being chased. Before disappearing, he left behind the "Tinh Tam Plan" as a way of retreat. That plan is divided into several rounds, held by different liaisons. Luc Ly Trai is the first round, the token is a jade pendant. The next round leads to “The Court Man”. Before his disappearance, he worked in the Southeast coastal region. A dangerous organization
A dangerous man named “Ouroboros” (Tail-Swallowing Snake) is searching for a rare gene (most likely related to me). They may have captured Chu Hao, and may very well have something to do with his grandfather's old enemies. “Talisman” — essentially a key, opening a secret that is powerful enough to change the destiny of many people. I, Lam Van, am my grandfather's biological daughter, possessing an extremely rare type of mitochondrial DNA. All of this is like a giant net. And I - step by step step into the center of that net. “The Mandarin
What exactly is "tide"? Can I find the answer on the banks of the Qiantang River? The next day. I went to the banks of Qiantang. It was the season without high tides. There were few passersby. The river was vast, the water flowed calmly. There was no sign of the terrifying roaring waves that are common during the flood season. I walked along the dike, aimlessly. My eyes constantly scanned everywhere. Hoping to detect some special sign. But - nothing. Could it be that "Mandarin Dynasty" is not a place?
point? Or am I looking in the wrong place? Or… Does it refer to a specific time of year? For example… Full moon day of the eighth lunar month — Famous Quan Trieu Festival? But right now it's only the beginning of autumn. There's still more than a month until that day. I can't wait that long. Just as I was about to leave in frustration... Out of the corner of my eye I suddenly glanced at the bottom of the dike, close to the water's edge. There seems to be a small engraved mark on the stone. It was difficult to see, almost half hidden by mud. My heart trembled slightly.