Life: A Black and White Film - CH 12 part5

Think anyone will anyone come to Cheng Muyun’s rescue? Anyone get a kick out of Cheng Muyun’s description of Fu Yiming? And lastly, with each read of this story, the last paragraph of this chapter affects me more and more. *sniffles*

The official fell silent for a little while. “Mister Cheng Muyun, you must understand, even though Zhuang Yan was just an ordinary police detective, he should not be casually sacrificed.”

“Of course.” Cheng Muyun gave a composed nod of his head. “I hope as well that you can find out the truth.”

The official turned his eyes on Meng Liangchuan.

Meng Liangchuan shook his head. “I am unclear on this whole matter. Cheng Muyun never spoke anything about a spy in his ranks.”

The official looked at Chen Yuan.<>This is an UNAUTHORIZED copy taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Chen Yuan seemed prepared for countering this defense that Cheng Muyun was giving. Removing the glasses he had all along been wearing, he folded in its arms and held it out. “There is a recording here.”

One of the people with the official stood up and took the glasses from Chen Yuan. Cheng Muyun cast a look at Chen Yuan. No wonder he had been coughing all this time. It was to cover up the action of taking a recording? Cheng Muyun smiled for several seconds because of this inference.<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

The recording was from yesterday, in the second basement level of the hospital.

Along with a very clear coughing sound, the entire altercation between Fu Yiming and Cheng Muyun could be heard.

“He was only nineteen! He’s been with me since he was a kid. Now is everything great? Huh? He’s dead! His death proves that he’s innocent, that he’s not the mole, right? This is your method?!” It was Fu Yiming’s voice.

“You want to kill me?” This was Cheng Muyun’s voice.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

“You really want to kill me?” Still Cheng Muyun’s voice.

……<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

The three people heading the interrogation finished listening to the entire recording.

That official seemed to be waiting for Cheng Muyun’s explanation. In a rather innocent manner, Cheng Muyun carried on drinking his water, until, in front of everyone, he finished the very last drop and set the cup down.

“Mister Cheng Muyun, do you have any other explanations that you would like to provide?” the official finally asked a question.

Cheng Muyun was perplexed. “What do you need me to explain?”

“It was very clear in the recording. Fu Yiming discovered that you were hunting down the mole, and that was why there was this conflict with you.” The official repeated the contents of the recording.

Cheng Muyun looked as if he suddenly comprehended. “Could it be you did not hear that the whole time, it was only Fu Yiming making his own speculations? During that entire development, I only felt terribly pained in my heart that he would actually want to kill me. Officer, you should know very well, Fu Yingming not only has looks like those of a woman, his temperament is like a woman’s, too—is easily angered, is always suspicious, lets himself be blinded by emotions, has a volatile temper, and also is very petty-minded and vindictive. He is angry at me for leaving without saying a word ten years ago and has been resentful of me all this time.”

When Meng Liangchuan finished listening to this series of descriptions that Cheng Muyun gave, he could not refrain from looking out the window and admiring the field of sunflowers in the distance.

“He frequently will, out of the blue, throw temper tantrums and make wild, unfounded conjectures. You can ask the people in Moscow about this particular point. I have long grown accustomed to it.” Cheng Muyun gave a wry smile. “But that does not mean I am tacitly admitting to Fu Yiming’s words, especially if they are to be used as evidence against me.”

There were no holes at all in Cheng Muyun’s response. After all, in the recording, he had practically said nothing. The only other words, spoken from that girl named Wen Han, had nothing to do with anything about a spy, either. The rest was only Fu Yiming, alone, making furious denunciations.

The three interrogators began to fall into silence.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Their questioning had basically come to an end now, and they needed only to wait for Headquarter’s decision on whether they needed to completely take Cheng Muyun away.

This was a very difficult problem.<>Please support the original translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

To put it in simple terms, Cheng Muyun was once on the “bad side,” but then later washed himself clean and became a hero—he was a legend. But now, if you were to say again that he was bad… that was tantamount to overturning everything that had happened ten years ago and was basically a slap to everyone’s face.

Consequently, with this whole matter pertaining to Cheng Muyun, everyone was treading especially prudently.

Moreover, Cheng Muyun had once done a great meritous deed.<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

An endless wait.<>Please support the original translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

It seemed that Headquarters was also very much vacillating over whether or not Cheng Muyun should be temporarily detained. Rather impatiently, the official looked at his watch hands. After forty minutes had passed, Headquarters still had not given an answer.

The official thought for a moment, trying to come up with something to say to lighten the atmosphere.

Should things turn out fine for Cheng Muyun, then the great commotion and mobilization of all these people in order to bring him here would become a little embarrassing.

Polite niceties were about to roll off his lips when knocking was heard at the door.

The official signaled with his eyes to the person beside him to open the door. As the sun of the outdoors shone into the room, the one who Cheng Muyun had accused only just earlier of being suspicious and volatile like a woman—Fu Yiming—also walked in. Narrowing his eyes, he took in the show of pretentiousness in the room, then gave a laugh. “What? You take away one of my people and you don’t even bother letting me know?” His tone was very obviously irked. “And on top of that, the one you took away is the former ops leader. How do you expect me to explain that to all my brothers?”

The official was all business as he answered this commanding officer who was higher-ranked than himself. “I cannot do anything about that. We are just following the rules and carrying out routine practice.”

“Then do you know this? Do you know how hateful it is that, while we are out in front putting our lives on the line, you all stick a spy in our ranks and stab us in our backs?”

His questions left the official feeling slightly shamed.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Fu Yiming carried on, saying, “Each person in the midst of an assignment is not to be restricted in any way. All charges, even questioning, must be put aside and wait until the assignment is concluded. This is the rule that has come from long-established and accepted convention.” Becoming increasingly impatient, Fu Yiming stretched out his hand and stabbed a finger at the official’s chest. “We are hunting down a trafficking ring; we’re in the midst of carrying out a mission. Do you know how many of my men that trafficking ring caused me to lose ten years ago?”

“Regarding this… I am deeply sorry about it as well.” The official grew more and more sullen.

For a moment, the atmosphere dropped to the freezing point.

The most awkward piece was that Fu Yiming, this difficult-to-handle person, had suddenly appeared.

……<>This is an UNAUTHORIZED copy, taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Everyone was silent. What should be done?<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

Eventually, it was Fu Yiming who broke the stillness. “I have already written up a report for Headquarters. It was just now. I am here to vouch that Cheng Muyun has not done any illegal form of investigating, and our ops team does not have any sort of traitor or mole in it, either. Zhuang Yan’s death was an accident from food poisoning. When the autopsy report from Moscow comes back, it will prove everything.”

The three interrogators were once again taken aback.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Fu Yiming had just directly overturned that earlier recording evidence from Chen Yuan.

“Now, may I ask, can we go now?” Fu Yiming brought his head down and looked at that official.

“Wait a moment. I need to confirm with Headquarters.” The official pointed at a chair.

Fu Yiming expressed that he did not need to sit while he waited.

The transcriber sent off the question.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Three minutes later, the answer they were waiting for came: Release him. Continue surveillance.

Letting out a relieved breath, the official extended his arm toward the door. “You may go now. However, I will be monitoring the actions of all of you in India.”

Fu Yiming’s eyes narrowed. “Not a problem. You may send someone to surveil Cheng Muyun, but you have no authority to take him away. Unless I die.” Saying this, he walked up in front of Cheng Muyun. “Let’s go.”

Unperturbedly, Cheng Muyun rose and picked up his jacket that he had laid on the chair, clasping it in his hand. In passing, he even nodded his head and smiled at that person responsible for interpreting for him, saying in Russian, “My thanks to you.”

Prior to leaving, Cheng Muyun did not glance again at Chen Yuan.

Fu Yiming, on the other hand, swept a gaze over the shoulder piece on Chen Yuan’s police uniform. With a smile that was only skin deep, he told Chen Yuan, “Congratulations that your mission is complete and you can now withdraw. Finally, you no longer need to be working undercover in our most dangerous little ops team from hell.”

And then, with everyone’s gazes on them, the two left that interrogation room.

With a snap, the official turned off the lamp that was on the table and had been used for the questioning.

“Chen Yuan, you stay here alone and give a report about your work to your superiors.”

Had Chen Yuan not sent out a message and requested that Cheng Muyun be taken into custody, it would not have been his place to preside over this interrogation.

It is said that Moscow is the place where hot-bloodedness and cold-bloodedness co-exist.

Nobody here wanted to get on the wrong side of that group belonging to Fu Yiming.

“So there’s nothing here for me, then?” Meng Liangchuan stood up and stretched.

“You can go ahead and go.” The official was relaxed now, patting Meng Liangchuan on the shoulder. “Hey, Ol’ Meng, you should hurry on back to Nepal. That group from Moscow is called ‘Hell’s Ops Team.’ Don’t always be with them. Be careful that you might end up getting pulled into this and implicated.”

“I know, I know.” Meng Liangchuan gave a mocking smile. He himself was covered in cold sweat, as well. After all, to protect Cheng Muyun earlier on, he had stated quite a few lies. If they were exposed, he would not have many good days ahead of him, either.

Walking out the doorway of that room, he looked afar.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

It had only been a short while, but all that could be seen were the silhouettes of two especially small backsides.

Meng Liangchuan threw a final look into the room behind him. This Chen Yuan should be the person he most looked down on. Though he knew that Chen Yuan was also carrying out an assignment, Meng Liangchuan imagined that if he were Chen Yuan, he likely would have defected and absolutely would not have reported Cheng Muyun during this time.

Meng Liangchuan gave an inward sigh.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

When he first stared at that group photograph taken in the coffee plantation, he had already made the inference that, amongst those four people, one was a mole and another was an undercover agent sent by the higher-ups to surveil Cheng Muyun.

Now, Chen Yuan had already exposed his own identity as a spy and left the manor estate, and Zhuang Yan was dead.

There remained still Fu Yiming and Cheng Jiayi.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Just how many more things needed to happen, and how many more people needed to die? …<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

Fu Yiming and Cheng Muyun were strolling forward, side by side, beside the sunflower field.

Just as Cheng Muyun had described earlier, Fu Yiming very much held grudges, was very volatile and very easily angered, and very much required effort to regain control of his emotions.

However, with this fuss that had come, he had still put their many years of camaraderie and brotherhood first.

After walking for a little while, Fu Yiming gave a soft sigh of regret. “I told you a long time ago not to go digging up that mole. We are not a triad where we can decide to do a purge and then just go ahead and do it. We need to act according to the law. If this type of illegal conduct that you’re using ends up bringing about a murder case, you will have to pay for it with your life.”

Cheng Muyun glanced at him.<>Please support the original translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

“Do you still suspect me?” Fu Yiming asked him.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

“Hard to say.” Cheng Muyun was very honest.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

“Very good. It’s an either/or choice. Between Cheng Jiayi and me, choose one to kill. Need me to first send off a write-up to my superiors to tell them that, if I die, it absolutely will not have anything to do with you, Cheng Muyun?” Once Fu Yiming finished saying this, he began laughing first.

Amid the sound of his laughter, Cheng Muyun saw Wen Han anxiously waiting in the distance.

“Your woman came rushing into my room and pulled me up to come find you,” Fu Yiming described in a low voice. “Your woman is very smart. She knew that I could help you. Go on. This time, she is the hero and you are the beautiful maiden. When the hero rescues the maiden, the maiden should always offer her own self in repayment.”

Cheng Muyun threw a look at Fu Yiming.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

The latter let out a laugh and jested, “That was the first time I ever felt my physique is not as good as yours. When she pulled me up, I was not wearing a thing on me, but the look in her eyes when she looked at him was no different than if she was staring at a hunk of wood.”

With a light chuckle, Cheng Muyun replied, “You think that the only difference between you and me is your physique?”

Fu Yiming frowned slightly. “Hey, that’s crossing the line. I’m a lonely, old bachelor, and may even die in India in the next few days because you suspect me. In these scarce remaining days, not only have you not gone to find me a beauty so that I can taste a woman, you’re even trying to provoke me like this.”

Cheng Muyun could not even be bothered to pay any more attention to him and continued striding ahead.

Stopping where he was, Fu Yiming looked around in search of that small, rundown electric three-wheeler that had brought himself and Wen Han here. He felt that something would definitely occur in that sunflower field with those two, and if they dallied a little bit, it would be nighttime. He did not want to sit on the side of the field and wait.<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

Sunflower fields beneath the sun’s glow carry a power that causes people’s hearts to turn toward the light.

This was especially so amidst this vast stretch of sky and earth where no bounds could be seen. It was through this strength of nature that Wen Han had settled her heart, and continued settling it as she waited for him. But now, as she watched him appear, she could stay settled no longer. Sprinting forward a few steps, she threw herself against him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

She could truly, tangibly feel his palms, firmly against her thighs, holding her up in front of himself.

Her nose tingled. Too terrifying. This morning, as she watched his backside heading downstairs, she had felt that something was not right. Later, when she witnessed that terrifying scene, witnessed him being taken away by many people carrying guns, she had been stunned. From that rundown building, she had raced all the way to the small, white building. Viciously pounding open Fu Yiming’s door, she had dragged Fu Yiming up from his bed and flung some clothing onto the head of that man who had still been groggy with sleep. “Quick, quick! Cheng Muyun was taken away by a lot of police!”

Then, she had flusteredly rushed out to the main road and grabbed an electric three-wheeler that was still speeding along, shocking the countless splendidly dressed Indian passersby who were waiting for the grand celebration. She vaguely remembered Fu Yiming barking, “Are you trying to kill yourself?!” and, while he was at it, also berating her for thinking of Cheng Muyun as being too fragile. Even if there were mountains of daggers and seas of flames, Cheng Muyun could come out of those alive, let alone from just a dozen or so armed people.

And then, they had followed the clues and messages left by Fu Yiming’s team and tracked down this place.

……<>This copy of the translation was NOT authorized. It was taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

The entire way here, Wen Han had not cried, but as he held her like this, tears flowed from her.

The sound of her weeping was stifled.<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

“Cheng Muyun, can you just not tell me straight out next time when something is wrong?” Wen Han sobbed, her heart aching so terribly that it quaked. “I still haven’t told you, I love you…”

Cheng Muyun did not know whether he should cry or laugh at this.

Truly, he should thank the Heavens, for what kind of woman had they given him?

After he had survived a great adversity, she would actually say something like that. Should it not be something… a little more touching? Why was it so funny?

Bringing her face down, Wen Han bit fiercely into his shoulder. “You still haven’t even heard me say that I love you. Wouldn’t you have regretted it if you died?”

This man had made her fall in love with him, yet every time, he could just up and leave or just be arrested away…

Wen Han’s fingers were still quivering as she encircled his back tightly with her arms.

“Cheng Muyun, I love you. Please don’t make me go back to Moscow alone.” Her voice was scratchy as she beseeched him quietly, “I’m begging you, please don’t make me go back alone.”

She could not even imagine, when she returned to that gray city of Moscow, when each time winter fell upon it, would she be unable to endure the cold, unable to bear the times without him? She could not imagine what the state of her heart and mind would be when she tried to picture where he was and what sufferings and perils he was undergoing.

“My love,” he answered, his hand stroking her back, “you’re making it very difficult for me. Back in Nepal, in that laundry room, do you still remember? I had told you, before you returned to Moscow, we would be together, and then after that we would part.”

Balling her hands tightly into fists, she hammered his back ferociously. “I won’t agree to it.”<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

He felt it really would not be good to let Fu Yiming continue watching the fun. Hence, sweeping her straight up into his arms, he turned to the right and leapt into the sunflower field.

Amongst the stalk after stalk of sunflowers that were taller than a person, Cheng Muyun crouched and set Wen Han down. He gazed directly into her eyes. “On the day that we first met on the Tibetan Plateau, an old lama said one thing to me: ‘Who first awakens from the Great Dream? The life I have led only I myself know.’ He was telling me, all things of this world are unreal illusions. At the time, I did not tell him that in the Diamond Sutra, it also says, ‘All phenomena are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow.[1]’ You see, everyone is saying that everything in this world is illusory, that we should not be so stubbornly unwilling to let go of it. Wen Han, think of me as someone who is not real, an illusory thing. If it should be forgotten, then forget it; if it should be let go of, then let go of it.”

In this entire space, there was only the sound of the breeze rustling the sunflowers.

Wen Han shook her head lightly, wanting to refute him.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

“Darling, I love you, too.” Cheng Muyun brought his face close and touched it against hers. In the softest, most tender voice, a voice that left a person’s heart lingering in and longing for it, he told her, “If I could live my life again, I would absolutely be a diligent railway worker, or some other occupation. I would take home a meager paycheque. Every night on the weekends, I would go drinking in a bar near the railway station until I was dead drunk. I would live a life of worry and anxiousness and also be single the whole time. And then, when I was thirty-five years old, in a little corner of that bar, I would meet a young, conservatively dressed girl of one-quarter Chinese descent. I would bring her home with me, make love to her, marry her, and have a bunch of children with her. I would use reality to tell her, an exciting type of love is not suitable for her. The woman I love should have the right to walk down any street in Moscow with peace of mind, and to complete her entire journey of life peacefully and ordinarily.”<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

[1]《金刚经》, which actually has the full Chinese name of 《金刚般若波罗蜜经》is called the Diamond Sutra in English. The original Chinese line quoted by Cheng Muyun here is 一切有为法，如梦幻泡影. I did not do this particular translation of the line. A search on English translations of the Diamond Sutra brings up many results, and this translation of the line is referenced in many texts and websites. However, I do not know the original source.<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

Come back and read this last paragraph after you’ve read the whole story and know everything about Cheng Muyun, including his motivations. Maybe you’ll blubber like me (or maybe not… LOL).

I’ve argued for Cheng Muyun before that he has a lot more to think about than just love and romance, but that does not mean his feelings for Wen Han are insignificant to him. To Cheng Muyun, the price to pay for being with him is simply too great. Let’s not even talk about being able to protect Wen Han, an ordinary girl, from all the dangers that come with it. Not everyone is Cheng Muyun and can withstand the stress of living a life of uncertainty in which “death is always an imminent risk.” It is not that he does not want to be with her. He regrets that he had not lived a mundane life before, and hence, he now cannot live a mundane life that has her, no matter how much he wants to. I believe, to Cheng Muyun, the greatest things he can give the one he loves are peace and stability.

Completed: 1 of 1 Prologue 37 of 50 Chapter segments 0 of 1 Epilogue