Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Golden Mansion Ablaze

Temu Sanqing had just finished issuing orders when he suddenly remembered: he had cut off this subordinate’s tongue, so how was he supposed to relay the message? Left with no choice, he summoned another subordinate and repeated his instructions. Trusting his instincts, he believed that the unremarkable, backgroundless Xiao Fei was likely the mastermind behind Hu Baiwan.

Temu Sanqing loved his daughter dearly and would never permit anyone to speak ill of her. So he didn’t hesitate to sever a subordinate’s hand or cut out a tongue. Ruthless by nature, whether in China or Japan, he was famed for his brutality, never showing mercy in his dealings. Yet, when it came to his daughter, his heart was the sole exception.

Before long, Li Shishi slowly regained consciousness, her head still foggy and heavy. She struggled to sit up in bed, opened her eyes, and glanced around, only to see the one face she most dreaded.

“It’s you, Temu Sanqing! I’ll kill you!” Li Shishi cried, attempting to attack him, but her body was utterly weak.

“Hey, hey, daughter, don’t move. Rest for now,” Temu Sanqing said.

Hearing this hateful man call her “daughter,” Li Shishi was startled. “What did you call me?” she asked, bewildered.

“Daughter, I am your biological father. Your original name is Temu Qianmo. I will explain everything to you in time,” Temu Sanqing replied.

“You’re lying! You killed my master. I will have my revenge!” Li Shishi refused to believe a word he said.

“Daughter, trust your father. You truly are my child, and Li Sue is not your master, but your real mother,” Temu Sanqing continued.

“No, no, that’s not true! You’re deceiving me!” Li Shishi screamed, her frail body overwhelmed by emotion. She fainted once more.

“Sigh, daughter, I hope you can forgive your father,” Temu Sanqing murmured as he left the room. He had important matters to attend to.

He had been dispatched here on a secret mission. The Japanese army had suffered such a devastating blow that withdrawal was impossible. Reliable sources reported that forty thousand Japanese troops had been wiped out by Hu Baiwan’s forces, and Hu Baiwan himself had perished in the battle. Yet, from years of acquaintance, Temu Sanqing knew Hu Baiwan to be pro-Japanese, a bumbling mediocrity incapable of leading such a decisive campaign within days, let alone defeating the mighty Japanese navy—ranked among the world’s top three—on the Yellow Sea. China’s naval forces, from the Qing Dynasty’s Dongting Fleet to Yuan Shikai’s Beiyang Fleet, lagged far behind. How could Hu Baiwan have triumphed? The only explanation was that someone extraordinary had aided him from the shadows, likely the obscure youth named Xiao Fei.

Thus, Temu Sanqing dared not be careless. For years, his covert presence in China had yielded little merit. Now was the perfect opportunity to make his mark, so he resolved to thoroughly investigate Xiao Fei’s background.

At the same time, Temu Sanqing remained vigilant toward any suspicious figures, such as Jin Shaohua, who was staunchly anti-Japanese. Jin’s abilities far surpassed Hu Baiwan’s; though he couldn’t single-handedly oppose the formidable Japanese navy, since taking office he had persistently undermined Japan’s interests, and now personally led troops to the Shandong battlefield—grounds enough for him to deserve death a thousand times over.

As a shrewd spy, Temu Sanqing had studied China’s political landscape in depth. He discerned that Yuan Shikai’s appointment of Jin Shaohua as Commander of Jiangning City was in response to various pressures. In truth, Yuan would gladly rid himself of this thorn in his side. Even if Jin Shaohua were assassinated in secret, the Beiyang government would not intervene—perhaps even feel grateful.

Patriotic generals from the late Qing, like Lin Zexu and Deng Shichang, were much the same: upright, loyal, and honest, their integrity not only harmed Japan’s interests but also those of the inept Qing government and its privileged classes. Thus, when Temu Sanqing eliminated their families or descendants, the Qing government not only refrained from interference but applauded him in secret.

With this in mind, Temu Sanqing devised a vicious plan: to set fire to the Jin Mansion.

Without delay, he ordered his subordinates to guard Li Shishi, then led twenty disciples, equipped with various tools, swiftly to one of Jiangning City’s most opulent villas—the Jin Mansion. Temu Sanqing knew that sentries, both overt and hidden, must be stationed around the mansion. Disabling them was the key to success.

As Temu Sanqing pondered outside the Jin Mansion, Jin Shaohua, accompanied by several guards, returned. Temu Sanqing thought to himself: Heaven is truly aiding me.

Jin Shaohua had just returned from visiting Xiao Fei. Li Shishi claimed she was going to the Yihong Courtyard to gather her belongings, but the entire day had passed without a word. Xiao Fei hurried to her room at Yihong Courtyard and found clear traces of a struggle. He knew Li Shishi was in trouble and enlisted Jin Shaohua’s help to search the city, but no clues emerged.

Xiao Fei and his companions continued their search, while Jin Shaohua, having spent most of the night toiling, obeyed Xiao Fei’s instructions and returned home. As Commander of Jiangning City, he still had many official duties to attend to.

Back home, Jin Shaohua paced anxiously, worried for Li Shishi. Though their paths rarely crossed, he cared because she was Xiao Fei’s beloved. Unbeknownst to him, his own life was in imminent danger.

“Someone come here, quickly!” Jin Shaohua called from his chair.

“Commander Jin, what are your orders?” The captain of the guards, Jin Dekai, entered.

“Gather all the soldiers and guards around the Jin Mansion. Lead them to the Chunlai Inn and report to Young Hero Xiao Fei. Await his instructions,” Jin Shaohua commanded.

“But, Commander, how can we do that? Our duty is to protect your safety. If we move the entire guard, who will ensure your security?” Jin Dekai protested.

“Don’t worry. No one would dare harm me. All these years, the Jin Mansion has stood like a fortress, never a single incident. Go at once,” Jin Shaohua ordered.

Yet Jin Dekai remained uneasy. Though he admired Xiao Fei’s abilities, Jin Shaohua was his superior, and protecting him was his duty. How could he leave?

“Commander, pardon my boldness, but if you wish to help Young Hero Xiao Fei, we could dispatch personnel from the city garrison. Surely we shouldn’t mobilize your personal guards,” Jin Dekai insisted.

“Why so many words? If we mobilize the garrison, it would alarm the citizens, and if some schemer reports me to Yuan Shikai, officials would make trouble for me. Just do as I say. Remember, Xiao Fei’s matter is more important than mine. Besides, he’s practically family—my future beloved son-in-law!” Jin Shaohua laughed, unable to contain his joy at the thought of his daughter and Xiao Fei’s mutual affection.

Jin Dekai dared not object further. He obeyed, assembled all the guards, and hurried to the Chunlai Inn to await Xiao Fei’s orders.

Meanwhile, Temu Sanqing, racking his brains for a way to distract the guards around the Jin Mansion, suddenly saw a large contingent of guards file out at a brisk pace. Fearing he’d been discovered, he sent someone to investigate and found that all the guards had indeed left, leaving only Jin Shaohua inside.

Though Temu Sanqing wasn’t sure what was going on, he knew he couldn’t let this opportunity slip by.

Without hesitation, he gave the order: all his men surged toward the Jin Mansion, blocking every entrance—even the dog holes weren’t overlooked. Some hurled explosives, others set fires.

In an instant, the vast Jin Mansion was engulfed in flames, swallowed by a roaring inferno…