Chapter 1, Falling into the Cellar

At the age of twenty-five, after serving three years as a special forces soldier, Wang Feng was recognized for his excellent political performance, precise marksmanship, fierce combat skills, and proficiency in multiple foreign languages including English and Japanese. His quick thinking also contributed to his success, as he consecutively won the title of Special Forces King in the individual competitions for three years in a row.

With a loud crash, Wang Feng, who was sitting in a wheelchair, suddenly leaned forward and fell heavily to the ground in his grief. Only the upper half of his body remained, as he knelt before the corpse of his elderly father on the stretcher, crying out in despair as if no one else were around.

Generally speaking, without at least three to five years of experience, it is quite difficult to become an excellent national security investigator, even if one is exceptionally talented.

At this moment, gazing at the old pocket watch resting in the center of his palm, Wang Feng found himself unable to utter a single word, with something moist shimmering in his eyes

Working at the Disabled Persons' Federation is not the life Wang Feng envisioned. Ever since he returned to his hometown, his spirit has been in a state of decline, making him seem like a completely different person compared to his former vibrant self. Although he is meticulous and diligent in his work, he has long lost the inner drive that he once possessed.

After reading the content of this simple yet astonishingly secretive letter, Wang Feng pushed the wheels of the wheelchair with his hands while pondering to himself: My father, who passed away just yesterday at the age of eighty-nine, had such a legendary life. He endured for so many years without demanding an explanation from the organization; there must be unspoken hardships behind it.

Sometimes, driven by curiosity, Wang Feng took the initiative to inquire about the origin of the pocket watch. However, his usually amiable old father suddenly became serious and silent. Over time, feeling increasingly disheartened, Wang Feng ceased to ask his father about the origins of the worn pocket watch.

After receiving the envelope from the healthcare worker whom he referred to as "Doctor," Wang Feng did not hastily open it to check the contents inside. Instead, with the assistance of a staff member from the Disabled Persons' Federation, he sat back down in the wheelchair.

Thank you, doctor, you can leave it to me now. Upon hearing these words, Wang Feng suddenly stopped crying, then raised his head to look at the medical staff beside him (not the doctor) and politely stated with determination.

After a pause, Wang Feng imitated his father's manner and put the worn, mottled iron chain of the old pocket watch around his neck

As for what this unspeakable difficulty truly is, Wang Feng could not ascertain.

He felt as if he himself were no different from the withered yellow leaves blown off the branches by the autumn wind, and his deceased father was like the withered old tree, rendered meaningless and no longer existing

When Wang Feng woke up, he slightly opened his drowsy eyes and, in his hazy subconscious, felt that he was lying on a bed. Moreover, his entire body was tightly wrapped in a thick and soft cotton quilt.

At the same time, his elderly father also mentioned that he had been an underground party member since he was around sixteen or seventeen years old. He worked in the student committee at Yanjing University, recounting his illustrious and glorious historical achievements that are seldom known to others

Father, all fathers are unfilial sons. After returning to your side, I have never shown you a good face and have rarely cared about your health. Even when you fell ill with such a serious disease, I, as your son, was completely unaware. The son deserves to die, the son deserves to die..." Kneeling on the ground, Wang Feng, who already appeared somewhat prematurely aged, now had significantly more white hair. While shaking his head like a rattle drum, he lamented in deep self-reproach, "The son deserves to die, the son deserves to die..." Kneeling on the ground, Wang Feng, who already appeared somewhat prematurely aged, now had significantly more white hair. While shaking his head like a rattle drum, he lamented in deep self-reproach.

After three years of experience, 28-year-old Wang Feng has become the youngest special investigator in the national security system.

Sitting in a wheelchair, Wang Feng circled around the stretcher, then reached out to gently touch the face of his elderly father, who was pale and devoid of color. After being urged by several workers preparing to transport the body to the crematorium, he reluctantly left the hospital's morgue, his eyes glistening with tears.

After returning home, it was already dusk. At this time, it was the season of crisp autumn air, which should have been a time of harvest, yet Wang Feng felt it was a season of desolation. Looking at the few trees planted in his backyard, their yellowing leaves falling in the gusts of autumn wind, he could not help but feel a sense of returning to one's roots.

First and foremost, what catches the eye is the old-fashioned pocket watch, tarnished with paint yet gleaming in golden hues, lying in the palm of Wang Feng's large hand, secured by a rusty steel chain. At first glance, it immediately brightens his spirits. For in his memory, this is an old item that his father carried with him almost every day.

Director Wang, please do not be too saddened. I heard from the doctors and nurses at the hospital that your father passed away peacefully yesterday. If he has a spirit in the heavens, he would not wish to see you like this either. The young staff member from the disabled persons' federation, standing behind the empty wheelchair, rushed forward to comfort his superior, who had disregarded his arrangements and jumped out of the wheelchair, appearing in deep sorrow and crying.

With a loud "clang," Wang Feng and the wheelchair he was sitting in both fell into the cellar...

All of this was witnessed by his elderly father, who lay bedridden and dependent on him, causing deep pain in his heart

Thus, at a time when the national security department was in urgent need of personnel, he was recognized and subsequently transformed from a top special forces soldier into an excellent national security investigator

Upon seeing Wang Feng lying on the bed, slightly opening his eyes, a graceful young lady with a ponytail dressed in a Republic of China student uniform stood elegantly in front of the bed and shouted loudly towards the open door: "Brother Wang Feng has woken up! Uncle Liu, Aunt Wu, come quickly, Brother Wang Feng has woken up!"

Amidst the falling withered yellow leaves, Wang Feng sat alone in his wheelchair, slowly taking out an envelope from the pocket of his coat. At that moment, when the medical staff had handed him the envelope, he felt it was as light as a feather, but now, holding it in his hand, it felt heavy.

National security reconnaissance personnel are unable to continue, so Wang Feng had no choice but to comply with the superior's arrangement, returning to his hometown to transition into a position as a deputy handling officer in the local disabled persons' federation of his small county.

Just as Wang Feng was lost in thought, he completely failed to notice that right in front of him was the uncovered round well in his backyard.

The envelope was unsealed. Wang Feng opened the slightly cracked envelope and tilted it over his outstretched palm. With a "swoosh," everything inside the envelope fell into his broad hand.

When Wang Feng, who arrived late, was pushed by a staff member into the morgue of the county hospital, he looked at the white cloth covering the cold body of his elderly father lying on a stretcher, and gazed at his father's pale yet peaceful face devoid of color. In that moment, he was overwhelmed with grief and could not hold back his tears.

However, what Wang Feng did not know was that in the year his father turned sixty, he was found outside and raised to adulthood by him. Through the militarized management foundation established by his father from a young age, he embarked on the honorable professions of a special forces soldier and a national security investigator

This, this family member, please, do not be too agitated. Although you were unable to see your father off for the last time, fortunately, your father left you a letter, which I have been entrusted to deliver to you. You see, would you like me to give it to you now, or shall I wait a while longer?" The medical staff member standing nearby, witnessing a family member who was only half a body, kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down their face, was also somewhat moved. He fumbled in the pocket of his white coat and tentatively said.

Then, he opened the folded piece of letter paper that lay quietly in his palm. To Wang Feng's great surprise, upon unfolding it, he discovered that his late father had described in the letter that he had been a national security investigator during his lifetime. Due to the principles of confidentiality within the organization, he was unable to disclose this truth to Wang Feng while he was alive

As for why he, an old party member since before the founding of the country, chose to reveal all his secrets to his son only after his death, it is not only difficult for his son Wang Feng, who has read this letter, to understand, but it is likely equally perplexing for most people, akin to a monk who cannot grasp the situation.

However, the reason this veteran underground party member, who had kept his identity hidden for decades, chose to reveal everything about himself to his son Wang Feng after his death, was that he hoped to use his own decades of patience and secrecy as an example to inspire his son, who is now paralyzed from the waist down, to forget the glorious past and confront the harsh reality, living on with optimism and cheerfulness

Wang Feng did not make it in time for the last moment with his elderly father. By the time Wang Feng hurried to the county hospital after finishing his official duties, his father had already been taken to the morgue, awaiting the family’s signature in preparation for transfer to the crematorium

National security investigators are seen by many as a mysterious and sacred profession. The training of a qualified national security investigator requires more manpower, material resources, and financial investment than that of a special forces soldier

However, it is quite regrettable that shortly after Wang Feng was awarded the title of Special Investigator, a major accident occurred during the execution of a task, resulting in his lower limb paralysis. Consequently, he had to bid farewell to a profession that he loved deeply and regarded with immense honor

A few months later, the illness of the bedridden old father worsened, and he was hospitalized. Due to ineffective treatment, he passed away. As the old father lay on the hospital bed in the county hospital, Wang Feng, occupied with official duties, was visiting and comforting disabled elderly individuals in several remote mountain villages at that time