Chapter Twenty-Two: The Appearance of the Ninja

Xiao Fei had already made up his mind. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. His target was Yoshihiko Noda, but he knew nothing about the enemy’s clues. Moreover, this man was a Japanese colonel; clearly, he was no ordinary figure. Even attending Ichiro Fujiwara’s family banquet tonight might not provide an opportunity to strike. From the way Li Shishi interacted with Yoshihiko Noda, it was obvious their relationship was anything but ordinary. Thus, approaching through Li Shishi seemed the best option.

Xiao Fei’s guess was completely accurate. Since her rise to fame, Li Shishi had always been Yoshihiko Noda’s “personal courtesan.” The token she held, which had forced the Japanese officer to retreat earlier, was Noda’s own command token, exclusive to the Japanese military. The fact that Noda entrusted such an important token to Li Shishi spoke volumes of their extraordinary relationship. So, obtaining that token from Li Shishi and using it for his own purposes became the pivotal task.

However, Xiao Fei worried about one thing—he had no connection to Li Shishi. How could he make her willingly hand over that token?

Hmph, if she won’t give it up, then I’ll just steal it!

Having settled on a plan, Xiao Fei instructed Qin Tianxiang to hide in the upstairs side hall and keep watch, while he prepared to slip into Li Shishi’s boudoir himself.

It sounded simple, but was not so easy to execute. Xiao Fei had never learned martial arts, nor did he possess the skill to scale walls and roofs. To sneak into Li Shishi’s room, he found a steel wire and carefully twisted the window latch. As the window gradually opened, Xiao Fei was stunned.

A woman, clad only in a layer of gauzy silk, slowly walked to the bath tub in the room. Her figure was graceful, her form enchanting. The contours and curves of her body, lush and inviting, were revealed in full. Through the sheer fabric, the budding softness of her chest, like spring bamboo after rain or freshly washed grapes, glistened temptingly, making Xiao Fei swallow repeatedly.

“Shishi, you are truly beautiful. Not only do men go mad for you—even women would lose their minds, seeing your face,” said Ru Yan, who stood beside Li Shishi.

“Ru Yan, when did you become so sweet-tongued? You’re the newly crowned courtesan, and yet you’re serving me for my bath? How could I deserve such honor?” Li Shishi gently slipped off her veil, stepped forward with slender legs, and slid into the bath.

“Sister, with my looks, how could I dare claim the title of courtesan before you? Had you not rescued me today, I would surely have suffered a tragic fate. Please wait a moment, I’ll fetch more fragrance.” With that, Ru Yan turned and left.

Watching Ru Yan open the door, Xiao Fei suddenly snapped back to his senses.

Damn it! I’m not here to visit a brothel—I have business to do! He shook his head, hurriedly hid behind a stone pillar, and, once Ru Yan had gone, quietly approached the window again. Yet strangely, Li Shishi was no longer in the bath. He looked around the room—she was nowhere to be seen.

Odd, where had she gone?

As Xiao Fei puzzled over this, laughter suddenly erupted behind him: “Hehe, so it’s just a boy. Instead of studying, you sneak into a brothel to peek at women. Still, I rather like a handsome young man like you.”

Li Shishi threw him a flirtatious glance, beckoning him into the room. Xiao Fei, caught off guard by her seductive gaze, followed as if bewitched.

In the neighboring room, Qin Tianxiang, watching from her hiding place, could bear it no longer. She picked up a pebble and tossed it at Xiao Fei’s backside to remind him not to forget the mission.

But Xiao Fei had not forgotten. Li Shishi, wrapped in a towel, had barely entered the room when something hard pressed against her from behind.

Indeed, what pressed against Li Shishi was Xiao Fei’s pistol. (To clarify, it’s a gun—those thinking otherwise, go reflect in the corner! Haha.)

“Don’t move! I never meant to trouble you, but for the sake of the people and our nation, I must do this.” Xiao Fei pushed the gun harder against Li Shishi’s waist.

Yet Li Shishi was completely unbothered, still smiling as she walked ahead, crossing her legs and sitting on a chair. “Ahaha, not only do you peek at women, little one, but now you play with guns.”

“You! Are you truly oblivious or pretending? My gun could fire at any moment.” Xiao Fei was amazed at her composure.

“Haha, little brother, which gun are you worried might go off?” Li Shishi smiled, lifting one slender leg and gently brushing her delicate toes against Xiao Fei’s lower body.

With that breathtaking lift of her leg, Xiao Fei saw something he shouldn’t have.

“Li Shishi, if you keep fooling around, I really will fire!” Xiao Fei said angrily.

“Go ahead. Who are you scaring with an empty gun?” Li Shishi laughed, raising a clenched hand and slowly opening it. A dozen bullets dropped to the floor like beads from a broken necklace.

“Ah!” Xiao Fei was shocked—when had she taken the bullets from his gun?

Heaven, how could this be? It was beyond belief! Xiao Fei was speechless with astonishment.

After a long moment, Xiao Fei cupped his hands and said, “Today, I’ve truly met a master. Please forgive me.”

Just then, Ru Yan knocked on the door with the fragrance, “Shishi, I’ve brought the scent. May I come in?”

“Oh, come in,” Li Shishi replied, pulling the nervous Xiao Fei behind her and pushing him under the table, covering him with her skirt as she sat, legs together.

Ru Yan entered, surprised to see Li Shishi sitting on a chair instead of soaking in the bath. “Hey, you’re out so soon. Why not stay in a bit longer?”

“It’s the birthday of Ichiro Fujiwara’s mother, the Japanese ambassador to China. I’m expected at the banquet by Colonel Yoshihiko Noda. There isn’t much time, so I can’t linger,” Li Shishi answered lightly.

“Sister, I envy you for knowing so many important people. Since you’re busy, I’ll take my leave.”

“Take care, Ru Yan.”

As Ru Yan turned away, she sniffed the air, as if catching a familiar scent. Though uncertain of its source, she was sure there was someone else in Li Shishi’s room.

Meanwhile, Xiao Fei was drenched in sweat—not from fear, but because he was covered by Li Shishi’s legs, his gaze fixed on her most private, unguarded place. Any man would be nervous in his situation.

When Ru Yan entered, Xiao Fei also caught a familiar fragrance, but his anxiety left him little time to ponder it.

Once Ru Yan had left, Li Shishi quickly stood up. Seeing Xiao Fei’s embarrassed state, her cheeks reddened. In her haste, she’d forgotten she wore nothing under her skirt, and though Xiao Fei was young, he was still a grown man. The thought made Li Shishi even more embarrassed, a feeling unbefitting her status as the famed courtesan of Jiangcheng.

“You little rascal, you’ve seen everything you should and shouldn’t. Are you satisfied now?” Li Shishi said, blushing.

“Uh, sister, I was forced into this,” Xiao Fei muttered. But remembering his true purpose, he straightened up. Clearly, Li Shishi was no ordinary prostitute; trying to coerce her for the token was pointless. He decided to be honest. “Sister, I have a favor to ask, and hope you’ll grant it.”

“Oh? Tell me,” she replied.

Xiao Fei explained his reason for wanting to assassinate the Japanese colonel.

“Ahaha, little brother, do you know whose person I am?” Li Shishi laughed, her laughter enchanting, threatening to steal his soul.

“I know a bit,” Xiao Fei answered.

“Since you know, yet still ask me, aren’t you bold?”

“Heroes are often found among the humble; since ancient times, heroines have emerged from the dust. Though we’ve only just met, I believe you care deeply for our nation and people, and will do something for the revival of China.”

“Ahaha, little brother, you sure know how to flatter me. Very well, I’ll help you—if you have the skill to eliminate these two first.”

As she spoke, Li Shishi flicked a teacup, and two Japanese warriors—a fat one and a thin one—appeared as if from nowhere.

Damn, ninjas! Xiao Fei was startled.

Xiao Fei was not unfamiliar with ninjas, but all his knowledge came from films and novels; this was the first time he’d seen them in real life. He knew they were both warriors and assassins, trained in Japanese ninjutsu—the art of stealth and secret action. Their skills were beyond those of ordinary men.

The fat ninja spoke: “Li Shishi, today is your death day!”

The thin ninja added: “And you, you Chinese pig! Die, both of you!”

[PS: Careful readers may have noticed a hidden clue in this chapter—a key plot point for future developments. If you’ve spotted it, share in the comments and predict where this lead will go. Those who guess correctly will win a prize! Brothers, click, collect, rise up! Let’s strive for first place in the military competition! Roar!!]