Chapter Twenty-Four: The Trouble Stirred Up by a Tryst in the Wild

Qin Tianxiang was utterly bewildered by the outcome. She had heard the sounds of a struggle from inside Li Shishi’s room earlier and assumed it was Xiao Fei and Li Shishi in a heated fight. But upon entering, she found two dead Japanese ninjas and, even more unexpectedly, discovered that Li Shishi was actually willing to help Xiao Fei. Deep down, her admiration for Xiao Fei grew yet again, but seeing the smoldering, ambiguous glances exchanged between Li Shishi and Xiao Fei, she was inexplicably furious.

“This little sister is truly beautiful, but why disguise herself as a man?” Li Shishi remarked, casting a glance at Qin Tianxiang.

“Hmph. Even dressed as a man, I remain an honorable woman. I’ve never disgraced womankind—in fact, I’ve brought glory to my sisters. Not like some people, who excel only at bewitching men with their charms. Wait—how did you know I was a woman in disguise?” Qin Tianxiang suddenly realized, mid-sentence, that despite her careful concealment, Li Shishi had seen through her so easily, which made her even more indignant.

Li Shishi didn’t answer, but turned to Xiao Fei with a coquettish laugh, “Dong-dear, I smell a strong scent of jealousy here.”

“Please, don’t mind her, sister. Let’s focus on the matter at hand.” Xiao Fei replied, his heart pounding as Li Shishi abandoned the teasing “little brother” and instead called him “Dong-dear”—a term, in Jiangning dialect, that only women used for their beloved. The warmth that word carried made him tremble.

As a native of Jiangning, Qin Tianxiang knew all too well what “Dong-dear” signified and inwardly cursed Li Shishi as a “seductive fox.”

Understanding the seriousness of the situation, Li Shishi ceased her banter and quickly laid out her plans for Xiao Fei.

Li Shishi, it turned out, had been adopted as a child by the famed heroine of the late Qing era, Li Su’e, known to all as the “Thirteenth Sister.” Her master had taught her all her skills and secret techniques. But while traveling through the Central Plains, they encountered Tie Mu Sanqing, a master swordsman and inheritor of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, a prominent Japanese school. Tie Mu was also a fervent Japanese militarist who set up dojos in Beijing, Zhili, and Tianjin, secretly engaging in espionage and aiding the Qing government in suppressing revolutionaries.

Li Su’e, who had joined revolutionary groups in her youth and abhorred the corrupt Qing regime and imperialist powers, risked her life to infiltrate Tie Mu’s dojo in an attempt to assassinate him. The cunning Japanese, however, used chemical gas, turning Li Su’e into a mindless killing machine. Once she regained her senses, unwilling to harm her own people, she chose suicide as her only means of atonement.

At the time, Li Shishi was only eighteen. She swore vengeance for her master, but with limited means, spent the next eight years not only failing to avenge her but also fleeing Japanese assassins.

It wasn’t until last year that Li Shishi, distancing herself from Beijing and Tianjin, came to the southern stronghold of Jiangning. To get close to the powerful, especially the Japanese elite, she entered the world of courtesans, using her wits to extract valuable information from both the Japanese and the newly formed Beiyang government officials.

Through the years, Li Shishi saw for herself the utter incompetence of the Qing government, the Beiyang clique’s betrayal of the nation, and the unbridled wickedness of foreign powers. Her understanding of her master’s sacrifice only deepened, and she secretly recruited fellow disciples, taking control of the Red Delight House as her base of operations.

The two Japanese ninjas recently slain had been sent by the Hokushin Ittō-ryū to spy on Li Shishi. However, they didn’t know she was Li Su’e’s disciple; her close relationship with Colonel Noda Yoshihiko only added to their uncertainty.

Today, Xiao Fei’s unexpected arrival forced Li Shishi to break her cover. Yet she had already forged a letter in the fat ninja’s hand, sent it back with the school’s carrier pigeon, and filled it with information fabricated to preserve her identity. For now, she and her disciples would remain safe in Jiangning.

Today was the birthday of Fujiwara Ichiro’s mother—a day Li Shishi had planned to use to strike back at the Japanese. With Xiao Fei’s involvement, her chances of success seemed even greater.

Noda Yoshihiko had already arranged to personally escort Li Shishi to the banquet. She planned to take Xiao Fei along, using the opportunity to eliminate Noda.

Hearing Li Shishi’s story, even Qin Tianxiang was moved. It seemed Li Shishi was not only a woman with a tragic past but also a true patriot. The old saying, “Since ancient times, heroines have arisen from the dust,” rang true.

“Sister Shishi, I’m sorry,” Qin Tianxiang couldn’t help but say.

“It’s all right. I’m used to being misunderstood. But enough of that; let’s discuss our next move,” Li Shishi replied.

“We’ll do as you say, Sister,” Xiao Fei and Qin Tianxiang said in unison.

“I had intended to accompany Noda Yoshihiko to the banquet and create chaos there. But now that Brother Xiao Fei has joined us, I have a new idea,” Li Shishi said.

The three huddled together, whispering. Xiao Fei was taken aback. “Sister, your plan is ingenious, but will it really work?”

“Heh, don’t you trust me? My marksmanship may not be faster than yours, but when it comes to these unorthodox arts, I’m extremely confident. Time is short—let’s get ready. I’ll show you Noda’s mannerisms and speech now. Pay close attention.”

They rehearsed like actors, speaking and performing. Time passed quickly.

Half an hour later, Li Shishi boarded Noda Yoshihiko’s private car, which, given his high rank, was escorted front and back by two army vehicles.

No sooner had she sat down than Noda, like an eager dog, buried his nose in her hair. “Ah, Miss Shishi, there’s something magical about your scent—one whiff, and all my troubles vanish.”

“You jest, General. Ahaha…” Li Shishi replied, quietly opening the sachet at her wrist. This was a special musk blend her master had brought from the Western Regions, capable of clouding the mind.

The three cars moved slowly through the city, leaving the bustling quarter where the Red Delight House was located and passing through the old city—once known as Stone City in the Song dynasty—on their way to Fujiwara Ichiro’s mansion. Though not especially remote, this area had been devastated by war and repeated flooding from the Qinhuai River, rendering it nearly deserted—a perfect place for a killing.

As the cars entered this desolate stretch, Li Shishi suddenly groaned, blushing and clutching her belly. “Oh…”

“What’s wrong, Shishi?” Noda asked anxiously.

“It’s my own fault, General. I overindulged in watermelon last night and now my stomach aches terribly. I’m afraid I’ll need to step out for a moment.”

“Nature calls, after all. But this place is wild—there might be beasts about. I’ll send someone to accompany you.”

“Thank you for your concern, General, but…” Li Shishi demurely lowered her head.

Noda finally realized that it would be unseemly for his beloved to relieve herself in front of other men. He decided to go himself.

“Well then, let me escort you personally,” he said with a lecherous grin.

“Oh, General, you’re so naughty…” Li Shishi replied coquettishly as she stepped out, Noda trailing behind with a lascivious smile. His guards, guessing the situation, assumed the general was about to have a tryst with Miss Shishi.

Which was precisely what Li Shishi wanted.

She led Noda away from his guards’ sight, then suddenly stumbled to the ground. “Ouch…”

“Shishi, are you alright?”

“My foot hurts. Won’t you rub it for me?” she pouted coyly.

Noda knelt down, hands trembling as he took hold of her delicate foot. As he drew close, an alluring fragrance enveloped him.

The moment his hands touched Li Shishi’s foot, a strange, powerful thrill shot from his fingertips through his entire body.

Li Shishi twisted her waist gracefully and raised her left arm, letting her sleeve slide down to reveal a fair, lotus-like arm. Noda failed to notice the silver bells adorning her wrist. She gently shook her arm, and the bells chimed melodiously.

The clear, sweet sound of the bells reached Noda’s ears, and he grew dizzy. In his mind’s eye, the world shifted—people, buildings, everything disappeared. Before him was a dreamlike girl, with a vast, soft bed behind her.

Li Shishi let her silk robe slip from her shoulders, revealing a crystalline, flawless body—hands like tender shoots, skin like cream, neck slender and fair, teeth neat and white, brows arched, eyes bright, smile enchanting.

As Noda closed his eyes, the warm, fragrant beauty fell into his arms, her scent intoxicating him. His trembling hands slid over her shoulders, savoring the smoothness.

“General, am I beautiful?” Li Shishi’s voice was as soft as spring rain.

“So beautiful…” Noda replied, barely coherent.

“Love me…” Li Shishi’s voice was at once seductive and shy, a single phrase that shattered Noda’s self-control, and he pressed her beneath him.

It was as if the boundaries of heaven and earth had melted away.

But in reality, Li Shishi had already slipped away, signaling Xiao Fei to act.

What Xiao Fei saw was merely an animalistic Noda, lost in his own delusions, never once touching Li Shishi. At her signal, Xiao Fei leapt forward and, with a single slash, severed Noda’s throat.

Thus, the hapless Noda Yoshihiko, lost in his fantasy, was dispatched with clean efficiency. After finishing the job, the three quickly tidied up.

Moments later, Li Shishi appeared before the guards with another “Noda Yoshihiko” in tow, boarded the army vehicle, and headed straight for Fujiwara Ichiro’s mansion.