**Chapter 5: Layers of Mist**

Yan Xiu sat on the couch in his apartment, the USB drive Night Cat had given him and a copy of the list spread out on the coffee table in front of him. The morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

He had been staring at these materials all night, trying to find connections. Each name on the list was like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

Suddenly, his gaze landed on a familiar name: "Li Jianguo." He knew this name all too well—the CEO of Huatian Tech and the superior of the victim in the previous case.

"Ding dong—" The doorbell interrupted his thoughts.

Yan Xiu cautiously approached the door and peered through the peephole to see Lin Xia standing outside. She looked exhausted, with faint dark circles under her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" he asked as he opened the door.

Lin Xia held up a bag of breakfast food. "Brought you something to eat. Judging by how you looked last night, I figured you hadn't slept."

Yan Xiu stepped aside to let her in. "Perfect timing. I have some findings to share."

They sat at the dining table, and as Lin Xia unpacked the breakfast, Yan Xiu began explaining his discoveries.

"So," she said, taking a bite of her sandwich, "you think Li Jianguo might be a member of this underground organization?"

Yan Xiu nodded. "And I suspect he might know something about my father."

Lin Xia looked thoughtful. "But getting close to him won't be easy. Huatian Tech's security system is notoriously tight."

Just then, Yan Xiu's phone vibrated. It was a text from an unknown number: "Want to know the truth? Meet me at the old docks tonight at 8. Come alone. —Night Cat."

Lin Xia noticed the change in Yan Xiu's expression. "What is it?"

Yan Xiu handed her the phone. "Night Cat wants to meet."

Lin Xia frowned. "That's too dangerous. We know nothing about her background."

"But it's the only lead we have right now," Yan Xiu said. "And I think she might know something important."

Lin Xia was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Then I'm coming with you."

"No," Yan Xiu shook his head. "She said to come alone."

"I can provide backup," Lin Xia insisted. "It's my job."

As night fell, Yan Xiu arrived alone at the old docks. The abandoned warehouses cast long shadows in the moonlight, and the sea breeze carried a salty, briny scent. His heart raced, and his palms were slightly sweaty.

"You're punctual," Night Cat's voice came from the shadows.

She was dressed in a black bodysuit today, her purple eyes even more mysterious under the moonlight.

"Why did you ask me here?" Yan Xiu asked.

Night Cat didn't answer directly. Instead, she handed him a file folder. "These are your father's final research notes."

Yan Xiu's hands trembled slightly. "How do you have these?"

"Because my father," Night Cat said softly, "was once your father's colleague."

Yan Xiu stared at her in shock. "You mean..."

Night Cat nodded. "Our fathers were working on the same project—the ultimate algorithm for quantum computing. But then your father discovered another use for the algorithm..."

Before she could finish, a gunshot rang out. Night Cat's body jerked, and blood seeped from her shoulder.

"Run!" she pushed Yan Xiu away.

Several dark figures emerged from the shadows, guns in hand. Yan Xiu helped the injured Night Cat hide behind a shipping container.

"Who are they?" Yan Xiu whispered.

Night Cat gritted her teeth. "The organization. They've been watching me."

Just then, police sirens blared outside. Lin Xia's voice came through a loudspeaker: "Everyone inside, you're surrounded!"

Night Cat grabbed Yan Xiu's hand. "Listen, this USB drive has crucial clues. But be careful—the organization has infiltrated the police..."

Her voice grew weaker, and she finally passed out.

Yan Xiu clenched the USB drive, a chill running down his spine. He realized he was caught in a game far more dangerous than he had imagined.

The chaos at the docks escalated as police swarmed the area. Yan Xiu crouched behind the container, his mind racing. Night Cat was unconscious, bleeding from her shoulder, and the armed assailants were closing in. He had to make a decision—fast.

"Yan Xiu!" Lin Xia's voice called out again. "Come out with your hands up!"

Yan Xiu hesitated. If the organization had indeed infiltrated the police, he couldn't trust anyone. But he also couldn't leave Night Cat behind.

Taking a deep breath, he carefully peeked out from behind the container. The scene outside was chaotic—police officers had taken cover behind their vehicles, exchanging fire with the shadowy figures. Yan Xiu spotted Lin Xia among them, her face tense as she shouted orders.

"Lin Xia!" Yan Xiu called out, risking exposure. "Over here!"

Lin Xia's eyes widened when she saw him. She motioned for her team to provide cover fire and sprinted toward the container.

"What the hell is going on?" she demanded as she reached him. Her gaze fell on Night Cat. "Who's this?"

"No time to explain," Yan Xiu said urgently. "We need to get her to safety. She's been shot."

Lin Xia hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Alright. Let's move."

With Lin Xia's help, they carried Night Cat to a police van. As they drove away from the docks, Yan Xiu kept glancing back, his mind a whirlwind of questions.

At the hospital, Night Cat was rushed into surgery. Yan Xiu and Lin Xia waited in the hallway, the tension between them palpable.

"Start talking," Lin Xia said, crossing her arms. "Who is she? And what were you doing at the docks?"

Yan Xiu sighed. "Her name is Night Cat. She's... a hacker. She claims to know something about my father's death and this organization we're up against."

Lin Xia's eyes narrowed. "And you just believed her?"

"She had my father's research notes," Yan Xiu said. "Things no one else could have access to. And she said her father worked with mine on the quantum computing project."

Lin Xia frowned. "This is getting too big, Yan Xiu. If what she's saying is true, we're dealing with something far beyond a simple conspiracy."

Yan Xiu nodded. "I know. But we can't stop now. Not when we're this close."

Just then, a doctor emerged from the operating room. "She's stable," he said. "But she lost a lot of blood. She needs rest."

Yan Xiu and Lin Xia exchanged a glance. "Can we see her?" Yan Xiu asked.

The doctor hesitated. "Briefly. But don't agitate her."

Night Cat looked pale and fragile in the hospital bed, but her purple eyes still held a sharp intensity. She turned her head slightly as Yan Xiu and Lin Xia entered.

"You came," she said weakly.

Yan Xiu stepped closer. "We need answers. Who were those people? And what do you know about my father?"

Night Cat took a deep breath, wincing at the pain. "The organization... they call themselves 'The Architects.' They've been manipulating the city for years, using the quantum algorithm to control everything from the stock market to the police force."

Lin Xia's eyes widened. "That's impossible. No algorithm could have that kind of power."

Night Cat shook her head. "You don't understand. This isn't just any algorithm. It's a self-learning, self-evolving system. Once it's activated, it can predict and manipulate human behavior on a massive scale."

Yan Xiu's heart sank. "And my father?"

Night Cat's expression softened. "Your father discovered what they were doing. He tried to stop them, but they framed him for treason. He... he didn't kill himself, Yan Xiu. They made it look that way."

Yan Xiu clenched his fists, a mix of anger and grief surging through him. "Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because you're the only one who can stop them," Night Cat said. "Your father left clues—hidden in his research. If anyone can crack the algorithm and shut it down, it's you."

Lin Xia stepped forward. "And what's your role in all this? Why should we trust you?"

Night Cat met her gaze. "Because my father was killed for the same reason. I've been working from the shadows, trying to expose them. But I can't do it alone."

Yan Xiu looked at Lin Xia. "We need to bring this to the authorities. The real authorities."

Lin Xia nodded. "Agreed. But we have to be careful. If what she's saying is true, we can't trust anyone in the system."

Over the next few days, Yan Xiu and Lin Xia worked tirelessly to verify Night Cat's claims. They analyzed the USB drive, cross-referenced the list of names, and dug into the backgrounds of key figures in the organization.

What they found was chilling. The Architects had infiltrated every level of government and industry, using the quantum algorithm to manipulate events to their advantage. The algorithm could predict everything from stock market fluctuations to election outcomes, giving them unparalleled control.

But there was a catch. The algorithm required constant updates and maintenance. Without the original research notes—the ones Yan Xiu's father had hidden—it would eventually degrade and collapse.

"That's why they're after you," Lin Xia said as they pored over the data. "You're the only one who can complete the algorithm—or destroy it."

Yan Xiu nodded. "And if we destroy it, we take away their power."

"But it won't be easy," Lin Xia warned. "They'll do anything to stop us."

Their investigation led them to an abandoned research facility on the outskirts of the city. According to Night Cat, this was where the algorithm had been developed—and where the final piece of the puzzle was hidden.

As they approached the facility, Yan Xiu couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu. The building looked eerily similar to the one in his father's old photos.

"This is it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lin Xia checked her weapon. "Let's move."

Inside, the facility was a maze of darkened hallways and empty labs. The air was thick with dust, and the only sound was the faint hum of dormant machinery.

Yan Xiu led the way, following the clues from his father's notes. They finally reached a secure server room, its door sealed with a biometric lock.

"This is it," Yan Xiu said. "The heart of the algorithm."

Lin Xia frowned. "How do we get in?"

Yan Xiu hesitated, then placed his hand on the scanner. To his surprise, the light turned green, and the door slid open.

"Your father must have programmed it to recognize you," Lin Xia said.

Inside, the room was filled with rows of servers, their lights blinking rhythmically. At the center was a terminal, its screen displaying a single line of text: "Welcome, Yan Xiu."

Yan Xiu approached the terminal, his heart pounding. As he began typing, the screen came to life, displaying lines of code that seemed to shift and change on their own.

"This is it," he said. "The algorithm."

Lin Xia watched over his shoulder. "Can you shut it down?"

Yan Xiu's fingers flew across the keyboard. "I think so. But it's not just about shutting it down. We need to expose everything—the names, the connections, the crimes."

As he worked, the lights in the room flickered. A deep, mechanical voice echoed through the speakers: "Warning. Unauthorized access detected. Initiating self-destruct sequence."

Lin Xia's eyes widened. "What the hell?"

Yan Xiu's face paled. "They've rigged the system. If we try to shut it down, it'll destroy all the evidence."

Lin Xia grabbed his arm. "We need to get out of here!"

But Yan Xiu shook his head. "No. This is our only chance. I can stop it—I just need time."

The countdown began: 10 minutes.

As Yan Xiu worked furiously, Lin Xia stood guard, her weapon drawn. The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.

"They're coming," she said.

Yan Xiu didn't look up. "Buy me five minutes."

Lin Xia nodded and stepped into the hallway, ready to face whatever came their way.

The next few minutes were a blur of gunfire and shouting. Lin Xia held her ground, taking down several armed assailants. But they kept coming, their numbers overwhelming.

Back in the server room, Yan Xiu's fingers moved faster than ever. The algorithm was fighting back, its code shifting and changing in real-time. But Yan Xiu was relentless, his mind working at peak capacity.

Finally, with just seconds left on the countdown, he entered the final command. The screen flashed red, then went dark.

The self-destruct sequence stopped.

The facility fell silent. Yan Xiu slumped in his chair, exhausted but triumphant. Lin Xia appeared in the doorway, bloodied but alive.

"We did it," she said, her voice filled with relief.

Yan Xiu nodded. "It's over."

But as they left the facility, Yan Xiu couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The Architects might have been exposed, but their influence ran deep. The fight for the truth—and for the city's future—was far from over.

As they drove back to the city, the first light of dawn breaking over the horizon, Yan Xiu knew one thing for certain: he would never stop searching for the truth. No matter how many layers of mist obscured it.