Chapter 25 - Yifei is One Tough Lady

Chapter 25: Yifei is One Tough Lady

Old Hu spotted a crow lurking in the distance—larger than the others, its feathers not black but a deep blood-red. Though subtle, the color was noticeable under sunlight.

This crow had been hiding behind the flock, directing the attack, but the chaos from the exploding liquor had scattered the swarm, exposing it. Seizing the opportunity, Old Hu raised his pistol and took aim.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed as the crow began to fall. Everyone sighed in relief—until Hu Yifei suddenly shoved past them, sword in hand, charging forward.

They quickly realized the crow hadn’t actually fallen. Instead, it was diving toward them at terrifying speed—a final, desperate attack. Even injured, its fury was unmistakable.

Hu Yifei and the crow hurtled toward each other, neither backing down. Victory would be decided in a single strike.

“A-ta!”

“Caw—!”

Hu Yifei let out a fierce cry, followed by the crow’s shriek. When the others turned, they saw her holding a wooden block in her free hand—the crow’s beak had lodged deep into it, stuck fast.

She smirked at the struggling bird. “What’s wrong? Weren’t you having fun ganging up on me earlier? Where’s all that arrogance now? At the end of the day, you’re just a little sparrow.”

With a kick, she knocked the crow unconscious, then glared at the remaining swarm. The crows let out panicked cries—”Caw! Caw!”—and within seconds, the sky was clear.

Old Hu and the others stared at Hu Yifei, standing there like a battlefield general. It was hard to connect this fierce warrior with the cheerful girl they’d been traveling with.

“Yifei… uh… is one tough lady,” the fat man finally managed, struggling to reconcile the adorable girl from before with the woman who’d just dominated a murder of crows. Were they even the same person?

“Hmph. Useless, the lot of you.” Hu Yifei tossed the crow-impaled block at their feet. “Can’t even recognize a feint? Pathetic. I’d trust a sparrow’s brains over yours.”

“Sorry… we let you down,” the three men muttered, thoroughly chastised. If she hadn’t acted, someone would’ve been hurt. Better to swallow their pride now.

Yifei strode off to reorganize their breakfast supplies. “Good. As long as you admit your mistakes. This queen is exhausted now—Xiao Zezi!”

Chen Yuze scurried over like an obedient servant, arms outstretched, bending at the waist. “Your Majesty wishes to command this lowly one?”

“Mm.” She gave a delicate, weary sigh. “All this excitement has worked up an appetite. Serve the meal.”

“At once!” Chen Yuze straightened up, affecting a high-pitched eunuch’s tone. “The meal shall be served! Little Fatty, Little Beard—why the delay?”

The fat man and Old Hu shuddered, goosebumps rising. “Bro, what kind of imperial court drama are you two acting out?” the fat man groaned. “Are we in ‘The Reign of Empress Dowager’ now?”

Chen Yuze himself winced. “If I said this was our way of apologizing, you wouldn’t believe me. Hell, I don’t believe me. Just come eat.”

“At once!” the other two echoed mockingly before scrambling over, eager for food.

“Xiao Zezi, serve this queen her meal,” Yifei ordered, handing Chen Yuze her bowl.

“Cut the act. You’re not actually the Empress Dowager.” He rolled his eyes but still ladled noodles into her bowl. “Eat up. After this, we’ll scout for that old tomb raiders’ tunnel. The main entrance is a no-go.”

Between bites, Yifei eyed him. “What, did you get the location wrong? Weren’t you three so confident earlier? Or did you just slack off to avoid cooking? Confess now—leniency for cooperation, severity for resistance.”

Chen Yuze chewed on some wild greens. “It’s a high-security tomb. No way in from the top. We’ll have to find a side route. And we’d better stay sharp—there could be more traps inside.”

“Oh? Did you run into a security door?” she teased. “How modern.”

He snorted. “A security door? That’s nothing compared to ancient anti-tomb-raiding measures. Our ancestors’ ingenuity is beyond your imagination.”

“Sounds exciting. I’m coming with you.” Her eyes gleamed with interest.

Old Hu and the fat man exchanged uneasy glances. This woman had just faced down a murder of crows without flinching, and now she was excited to explore a booby-trapped tomb? Was she even human?

“Fine. Five men going in improves our odds,” Chen Yuze said dryly.

The fat man frowned, counting on his fingers. “One, two, three… Yifei. Yifei, one, two, three. Where’s the fifth man? Are you calling me bad at math? It’s three men and one woman.”

“Let me explain: I’m one, Old Hu’s one, you’re one, and Yifei counts as two. That’s five. Any issues?”

Old Hu thought back to her earlier display. “None. Definitely five.”

Author’s Note:

Some say I’m aloof, never replying to comments. Wrong! I’m more wronged than Dou E!*

I read every comment and often draft replies, only to discover a major problem: I don’t have commenting permissions.

Not even on my own book. Fine. No big deal.

But I do read them all! Suggestions welcome, especially regarding female leads.

Currently, only one is set, others are undecided. Feel free to debate!

(Dou E: A famously wronged woman in Chinese tragedy.)