Chapter 72: An Older Sister Like This—I Truly Adore

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If she could, she truly wanted to silence Xiaobi right here and now, she thought bitterly.

“All right, all right,” Chunhua, always the peacemaker, interjected. “Look at this little fellow—his face has gone completely pale.”

Hearing this, Kaiming instinctively glanced at Xiaobi. Sure enough, he was holding his breath, and his usually dark face was turning ghostly white. When Xiaobi noticed Kaiming looking at him, he glared back fiercely, lips moving as if to hurl curses.

Kaiming felt a measure of vindication and was about to let go, but seeing that expression, she only tightened her grip.

Suddenly, she felt a faint, unusual sensation in her palm, as if something soft had gently brushed against her, making her start in surprise.

Xiaobi, still trying to curse from within her grasp, suddenly touched the center of her palm and immediately sensed her reaction. For a moment, he was just as flustered and quickly shut his mouth, not daring to move.

Kaiming recoiled as if burned, hurriedly letting go, and stared at Xiaobi, wide-eyed.

“What’s the matter?” Chunhua looked at them, amused. “Why are you two making faces like that?”

“It’s nothing, nothing,” Kaiming quickly waved her hand, hiding her embarrassment by leaning over to gulp down a mouthful of wine—only to choke and cough uncontrollably.

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Xiaobi’s face as well.

Chunhua, usually so straightforward, was now grinning with an unmistakably teasing look.

“So, how is Qiaoqiao doing?” Kaiming hastily changed the topic, rolling her eyes to show her displeasure at Chunhua’s sly smile. “Still at the training camp?”

“She’s doing just fine. She’s a proper young lady—plenty to eat and drink, and that military officer is giving her special attention,” Chunhua replied lazily.

“The military officer?” Xiaobi repeated the title, then burst out laughing. Looking at Kaiming, he asked, “Is that the one from last time…?”

“Ouch!” Someone stepped on his foot, and for a moment there was a flurry of cries and laughter.

“Xiaobi,” Kaiming turned her eyes to him, a mischievous smile on her lips.

“Sister Ming,” he replied, his round eyes curving like crescent moons, dimples deepening on his cheeks, making him look both innocent and adorable.

“There’s something I’d like your help with,” Kaiming said, itching to pinch his face to see if he could stay so calm. “Do you remember that gold token?”

“The gold token?” Xiaobi’s bright eyes darted about as he smiled slyly. “What do you need, sister?”

“What a clever little imp,” she said, patting his head approvingly.

Xiaobi nimbly dodged her hand, complaining, “How many times have I told you, don’t call me a little imp! I’m not that young anymore! If you keep it up, I won’t do anything for you!”

She quickly placed her hand back on the table, grinning, “You said before that you’d agree to any condition except murder and arson, right?”

Impatiently, she tapped her fingers on the table. “Out with it—how much do you want?”

Chunhua stared in astonishment. “Kaiming, are you trying to extort this kid?” Her eyes flicked toward Xiaobi with pity, sympathizing with his scrawny frame about to be taken advantage of.

“It’s not about money!” Kaiming struggled to suppress her urge to smack him, glaring, “Do I look that petty to you?”

Xiaobi chuckled, his eyes saying everything that needed to be said.

“Isn’t there a Purple Bamboo Village and a Golden Light Temple in the Eastern Palace?” she leaned in, lowering her voice. The matter of the old monk was urgent; everything else could wait.

Xiaobi’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at her. Only then did she recall that he had never revealed his identity to her before—no wonder he was surprised.

“How do you know about that?” His expression suddenly turned cold and unfamiliar, a chill emanating from him.

She knew being suspected as a foreign spy was no small matter—if caught by the Central Palace soldiers, she’d be thrown in jail. She quickly waved her hands to dispel his worries. “Don’t be nervous. The officer told me when we first met you. He meant you no harm…”

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“No wonder we were attacked by Central Palace soldiers on the way down the mountain that day. Was that your officer’s doing?” Xiaobi asked coldly.

“Of course not! Those who attacked you were under Dai Yuheng,” she replied, watching his brow furrow in thought and hurried on, “Honestly, I don’t care about palaces or politics—this is purely personal. But it’s great that you’re from the Eastern Palace!”

Xiaobi looked puzzled.

“I just happened to be looking for that village and temple, and what a coincidence to run into you! Isn’t this fate? So, will you help your sister out and find that village and temple for me?” she grinned.

Xiaobi’s stiff expression gradually softened as he fluttered his lashes. “You’re not lying to me?”

“Why would I?”

“To lure me to the Eastern Palace and spy for the Central Palace,” he stared at her, trying to read her face.

“I already told you, no!” She couldn’t help but give him a light smack—why was this kid so dense? “Just find out for me. If it exists, I’ll come myself!”

Xiaobi smiled slightly. “That’s easy—I can do that for you.”

She mouthed a silent thank you, making a fist and bowing to him, her face aglow with gratitude.

“But I have to ask, what do you want with that village and temple? Going to offer incense? You don’t have to travel that far for that,” Xiaobi said, curious.

“I told you, it’s personal,” she responded vaguely. “You don’t need to ask more—just help me out.”

“All right!” Xiaobi agreed readily and didn’t press further.

Chunhua watched them whispering to each other, their expressions shifting between surprise and relief, utterly baffled, so she sat to one side, rolling her eyes and drinking in silence.

Kaiming, in high spirits, patted her chest and assured Chunhua, “I’ll be sure to ask Ji for you—when the time comes, you’ll be living the high life with me!”

Chunhua’s eyes sparkled with excitement, but Xiaobi could only laugh, unable to bear hearing more.

The two friends, hearing talk of future fortune, stopped eating and raised their cups to Kaiming. “We’re all in this together—when you make it, take us with you!”

Kaiming just agreed absentmindedly.

After a few bowls of wine, Chunhua glanced toward the door and happened to see a group of furious men storming into the shop. She was facing the entrance, with her two friends opposite her, while Kaiming and Xiaobi had their backs to the door.

Chunhua’s gaze slid from the weapons in the men’s hands up to their faces, and recognized several of the servants and bystanders who had been roughed up earlier. At the front stood the man whose table she’d stolen and who had fled. Cursing inwardly, she shot her friends a look: “Trouble!”

“What’s going on?” The two stared blankly.

Chunhua jerked her chin toward the door. The two friends turned and immediately saw the men blocking the entrance. Realizing the danger, they quickly turned back, whispering nervously, “What do we do?”

“What is it?” Kaiming and Xiaobi were still confused.

“The situation’s bad! Time to run!” Chunhua said in code, jumping up and dashing for the back door. Her friends took the hint and retreated in time.

Their sudden movement drew attention, and a sharp-eyed enemy cried out, “There they are!”

“Get them! Beat them! Kill them!” The shouts echoed.

Kaiming still had no idea what was happening. Seeing Chunhua and the others running, and then hearing the shouts, she turned to see a mob charging toward them, murderous intent on their faces.

She broke out in a cold sweat, cursing Chunhua for bringing so much trouble and then fleeing, leaving her to clean up the mess.

Damn it, she thought, some people will share your triumphs, but never your troubles!

She cursed inwardly, but her feet didn’t fail her. Grabbing Xiaobi’s hand, she cried, “Run!”

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“Run? Why?” Xiaobi replied, completely at ease, glancing at her with amusement.

“Are you stupid? With this many people, they’ll beat you to a pulp in no time! Let’s go!” she stamped her foot in frustration.

“They’re not after us. Why should we run?” he answered unhurriedly.

“We’re accomplices! Accomplices, you know? Even if you’re innocent, you’ll still get thrown in jail!” she yelled.

Clearly, her voice was too loud—the group chasing Chunhua paused and immediately turned to charge at her. “The accomplices are over here!”

“Damn it!” she cursed, dragging him along.

Xiaobi let her pull him up, sighing, “I’ve never seen such a foolish woman—exposing our position herself.”

“It’s your fault!” she fumed, reaching out to smack him.

Xiaobi caught her hand and smiled, “Let’s go.”

His readiness caught her off guard for a moment.

True to his word, Xiaobi ignored the perfectly good back door, fixed his eyes on a small window inside the shop, dodged swinging clubs with Kaiming in tow, leapt onto a table by the window, and kicked the frame wide open, escaping through it.

Such violence.

Kaiming sighed inwardly, glancing back at the ruined table of food and drink, feeling a pang of regret for the wasted meal.

Once they landed outside, Xiaobi quickly surveyed their surroundings. The rushing crowd provided excellent cover. As people burst in and out of the shop, he curled his lips, shoved aside a few startled passersby, and vanished into the throng.

Kaiming, panting and clutching her skirts, was dragged along behind him. Only once he was sure they weren’t being followed did he let go.

“I can’t do this… even army drills aren’t this exhausting,” she slumped onto a roadside stone, waving him off. “Nothing good ever comes from being with those women.”

“What army drills?” Xiaobi laughed, sitting down beside her. “Women should just stay home and raise families.”

“You don’t understand,” she said, waving him off and pressing a hand to her chest to catch her breath.

Xiaobi said no more, gazing at the scenery in silence.

Kaiming sat up straight, looking around at the sparse crowd and desolate surroundings, and asked in confusion, “Where are we? I need to get back to the general’s residence.”

Xiaobi glanced at her. “You’re from the Central Palace and don’t even know your own city? And why are you living in the general’s residence? Are you really a lady?”

“Do I look like a lady to you?” she laughed, hiking up her skirt to show her bare feet, looking every bit the rascal.

Xiaobi looked her over, lips twitching. “Not a lady—more like a female hooligan.”

Kaiming gave a dry laugh. “If I’m a female hooligan, you’re my little brother—the little hooligan. Insulting me is just insulting yourself.”

Xiaobi grinned, “Though I always call you sister, it’s just a polite way of speaking. Don’t flatter yourself. The way you act, you’re hardly sisterly at all.” He shook his head in mock regret.

“You’re no better, brat!” she glared.

Xiaobi snorted, “No manners at the table or when sitting, and always speaking coarsely—but I like this straightforward Kaiming sister. You’re fun.” He beamed at her.

His words started with jibes but ended in praise, leaving Kaiming’s face flushed and confused, unsure how to respond.

(To be continued.)