Chapter Twelve: The Army Presses In, Formidable Foes Invade

Without a word, Xiao Fei drew his Browning, loaded a bullet, pulled the trigger, and with a swift turn, was at the side of the stretcher. “Don’t move! You beasts!” he shouted.

Everyone was stunned, especially Zhen Sanjiang. He had always trusted Xiao Fei the most, never imagining that Xiao Fei had concealed himself so deeply.

“Chief, I told you, didn’t I? This kid is no good!” Zhao Erkui, who had predicted trouble, finally had his say.

“Xiao Fei, so you’re one of those government lackeys! And to think I trusted you!” the Fourth Chief said, furious.

“Bah! You bandits who rob and pillage, who seize innocent women—have you any shame to accuse me?” Xiao Fei retorted angrily. He had only two bullets left, while there were still seven bandits on the other side. If shooting started, he would not have the advantage. But to save Cheng Hongyu, he was determined to take the risk.

Zhen Sanjiang pushed aside the two brothers shielding him and struggled to his feet. “Brother Xiao, by my judgment, you are no villain. Then why are you working for those lackeys?” He was a seasoned man of the world and felt certain Xiao Fei wasn’t one of the government troops. Besides, the pistol in Xiao Fei’s hand—a British-imported Browning, if he was not mistaken—was something even the highest-ranking adjutants of that so-called Commander Hu could not hope to possess.

“Bah! In my judgment, you’re no good men!” Xiao Fei replied bluntly.

“You! How dare you speak so to my big brother!” The Fourth Chief, effeminate in manner, drew his pistol angrily.

“Don’t move! If you don’t want to die right now, behave yourselves! I have only one demand—let the young lady go at once, and I might consider sparing your miserable lives!” Xiao Fei said, his tone fierce and threatening.

“Hmph! What did Hu Baiwan promise you, for you to worm your way in among us just to snatch Xiangyi away?” the Fourth Chief shouted.

“I’ll say it again—I am not one of Hu Baiwan’s men! I am simply upholding justice!” Xiao Fei declared passionately. He had caught the phrase “sister Xiangyi,” but thought little of it.

“Upholding justice, is it! Do you even know what you’re doing? Do you know why we risked our lives to save this young woman?” Zhen Sanjiang asked gravely.

His words only deepened Xiao Fei’s confusion. “You clearly kidnapped the girl, and killed her father before my very eyes—how can you deny it?”

But now it was Zhen Sanjiang and his men who looked at each other, utterly perplexed.

“Brother Xiao, are you mistaken? When did we ever kill the girl’s father, or kidnap her?” Zhen Sanjiang couldn’t help asking.

“Zhen Sanjiang, I’ll tell you the truth—I know this girl. Her name is Cheng Hongyu. Didn’t you want to take her up the mountain as your forced bride?” Xiao Fei demanded.

Zhen Sanjiang burst into laughter. “Brother Xiao, I knew this must be a misunderstanding. When have I ever taken women by force? Besides, this girl isn’t named Cheng Hongyu, as you claim—she is Chen Xiangyi, daughter of the anti-Japanese hero Chen Yongjie.”

Xiao Fei was utterly at a loss.

At that moment, faint moans were heard. The girl on the stretcher slowly sat up, her eyes still clouded from sleep.

Zhen Sanjiang and the others, worried the girl would be frightened or harmed, had instructed Zheng Xiaoyan to give her an injection, putting her into a deep sleep. After all the commotion—gunshots and shouting—the drug’s effects faded, and she awoke.

The Fourth Chief strode over and gave Xiao Fei a hard jab with his elbow. “Hmph! Just a brat trying to act the hero—overestimating yourself!”

“You—!” Xiao Fei’s eyes rolled in frustration, but he had nothing to say. He was beginning to realize he might have acted rashly.

“Brother Tianbao, where am I?” the girl asked the effeminate Fourth Chief.

“Xiangyi, don’t be afraid. We’re not far from my home on Qinglong Mountain. We’ll be safe soon,” he reassured her.

Xiao Fei could tell that the girl did not know him at all. Earlier, she had been covered with coarse cloth, but now, as the cloth was pulled aside, her upper body was revealed. She wore a pink blouse with a butterfly bow popular in that era at her neck, and a string of pearls—real or fake, he couldn’t tell. But in any case, her style was nothing like Cheng Hongyu’s.

Her skin, too, was fair with a rosy blush, unlike Cheng Hongyu’s slightly dusky complexion. What was going on? Xiao Fei was more bewildered than ever.

Still, he was unwilling to give up. He asked softly, “Yuer, it’s me—Brother Xiao Fei. Don’t you recognize me?”

Seeing this unfamiliar youth, the girl quickly stomped her foot and turned to the effeminate Fourth Chief. “Brother Tianbao, who is he?”

“He’s a lunatic! Hmph!” the Fourth Chief said with disdain.

“You sissy!” Xiao Fei could no longer hold back.

“Who are you calling a sissy!” the Fourth Chief shot up, furious, ready to hit Xiao Fei, but Xiao Fei caught his hand just in time.

But just then, Xiao Fei’s foot was scratched fiercely, leaving several red marks.

“Don’t you bully my Brother Tianbao! If you don’t let go, I’ll bite you!” Chen Xiangyi threatened, baring her teeth as if to bite Xiao Fei’s leg.

Xiao Fei was at a loss. He had plenty of ways to deal with the effeminate Fourth Chief, but none for a girl like Chen Xiangyi. He could only let go of the sissy’s hand.

Moreover, Xiao Fei could see that Chen Xiangyi was clearly fond of the Fourth Chief. He couldn’t help but wonder—were all the men here dead, for such a beautiful girl to take a liking to a sissy?

“Haha, it’s all a misunderstanding! Brother Xiao, surely you believe us now. If there’s nothing else, come up the mountain with us,” Zhen Sanjiang said, trying to smooth things over.

“I’m not going!” Xiao Fei said petulantly, but immediately regretted it. Zhen Sanjiang was so magnanimous, why should he be so petty, especially since he was the one in the wrong?

“What’s this, Brother Xiao—still upset?” Zhen Sanjiang asked.

“Oh, no, not at all. I’m not that narrow-minded. Why would I take offense at a sissy?” Xiao Fei said, taking a few steps forward, wary that the sissy and Chen Xiangyi might join forces against him.

“You!” The Fourth Chief’s face flushed red with anger.

“And who might you be, brother?” someone asked.

“Oh, I need to borrow some clothes, and bring someone along. Please, wait a moment,” Xiao Fei said, dashing ahead, stripping several government soldiers of their uniforms and heading into a nearby cave.

Zhen Sanjiang and the others were baffled, not knowing what Xiao Fei was up to.

“Chief, why don’t we take him out while he’s not looking?” the Second Chief whispered, but Zhen Sanjiang paid him no heed.

Soon, a man and a woman in military uniforms emerged from the cave. The man was Xiao Fei; the woman, none of them recognized.

“Chief, he’s got an accomplice,” the Second Chief said.

“Allow me to introduce you all—this is my sister-in-law, Liu Susu. We happened to pass by and took shelter in the cave. Sister-in-law, these are the heroes of Qinglong Mountain—and a sissy,” Xiao Fei said deliberately, making the Fourth Chief roll his eyes yet again.

“Gentlemen, I am Liu of the Xiao family. My humble greetings to you all. My sister-in-law and I fell on hard times and are grateful for your rescue. I am deeply indebted to your kindness,” Liu Susu said, bowing, though she felt awkward in men’s clothes.

“Sister-in-law, you have it wrong—I rescued them,” Xiao Fei whispered, nudging her.

“Chief, Chief…” Noticing Zhen Sanjiang staring speechless at the woman, the Second Chief nudged him several times.

“Oh… Good… good.” Zhen Sanjiang was utterly captivated by Liu Susu’s beauty—such beauty he had never seen before.

Liu Susu, uncomfortable under his gaze, stepped behind Xiao Fei. But Xiao Fei, still caught up in his squabble with the Fourth Chief, failed to notice Zhen Sanjiang’s odd expression.

Time was pressing. The group hurried back toward Qinglong Mountain, talking as they went. Zhen Sanjiang and the others had many questions—why were the “siblings-in-law” hiding in the cave without clothes? How did Xiao Fei come by a Browning?

But Xiao Fei deftly dodged all their queries.

Xiao Fei, too, had many doubts, chief among them the true story of Chen Xiangyi. Only after Zhen Sanjiang’s explanation did he understand.

It turned out that Chen Xiangyi’s father, Chen Yongjie, had been sent to Japan as a student by the Qing government. After learning advanced skills there, he returned to serve his country. The Japanese, however, tried every enticement—money, power, even women—but nothing could sway Chen Yongjie’s resolve. Failing to keep him, they plotted to kill him, attempting to blow up the oil tanker bringing him home.

But fate intervened, and Chen Yongjie survived. Once back in China, he put his talents to use, contributing greatly to military construction and scientific research, and introducing advanced ideas in education. He established both a military academy and a medical school in Jiangning.

The Japanese hated Chen Yongjie and made him their number one assassination target in Jiangning. Some patriotic organizations and churches spirited him away and protected him, but his family was left vulnerable.

The Fourth Chief of Qinglong Mountain, Qin Tianbao, learned that the warlord faction secretly allied with the Japanese, led by Hu Baiwan, was planning to target Chen Yongjie’s family. He insisted on leading a rescue mission. Though Zhen Sanjiang feared crossing the warlords and the Japanese, he agreed to help, given the Fourth Chief’s determination.

A score of brothers from Qinglong Mountain sneaked into Jiangning and, after a desperate struggle, rescued Chen Yongjie’s daughter, Chen Xiangyi, though her mother perished in the chaos.

After hearing all this, Xiao Fei felt even greater respect for Zhen Sanjiang and especially for the effeminate Fourth Chief.

Still, one great mystery remained: the connection between Cheng Hongyu and Chen Xiangyi. Two people so alike must surely be twins—but whether this was the case would have to be determined in time.

As they talked, the group reached the foot of Qinglong Mountain. In the distance, the sounds of gunfire and the smoke of battle could be heard.

“This is bad! Our Qinglong Mountain is under siege!” Zhen Sanjiang’s worst fears had come true.

Looking out, Xiao Fei saw the slopes swarming with government troops, each wielding Mauser pistols far superior to the bandits’ old muskets, and several mortars as well.

An army at their doorstep, a formidable enemy approaching—this was the grandest and most brutal battle Xiao Fei had ever witnessed since arriving in the Republic.