Chapter 109

A dozen rifles all pointed at the roof, their black muzzles glinting coldly in the torchlight. Deputy Director Dai stood in the courtyard, stroking his handlebar mustache proudly: "Two Yanzi, tonight let's see where you fly!"

Li Ping'an and Li San stood back to back, the night wind fluttering their robes.

Brother, Li San whispered, it looks like we'll be performing 'Two Swallows Break the Net' tonight.

Li Ping'an chuckled lightly: Just to my liking.

Suddenly, Li San pulled out several pellets from his pocket and threw them to the ground with a pop; thick smoke instantly filled the courtyard.

Be careful! Don't let them escape!" Deputy Director Dai shouted amid the smoke.

In that flash, Li Ping'an moved. He lunged at the nearest officer like a leopard, his waist dagger flashing out—a glint of cold light, and he had already wrested the rifle from the opponent.

Next! He threw the rifle to Li San and lunged at the next target.

Li San caught the rifle, laughing loudly: 'Nice moves! Watch mine!' He flicked his wrist, spinning the rifle in his hand and wielding it like a baton.

You bunch of idiots! Fire!" Deputy Director Dai shouted in frustration.

But the officers couldn't see the target through the smoke and fired wildly. Bullets whizzed past Li Ping'an's ears, striking the opposite eaves and spraying sparks.

Li Ping'an darted through the smoke like a fish, his dagger flashing. He aimed for wrists and knees, incapacitating without killing.

What a merciful heart!" Li San laughed at the sight, yet showed no mercy himself, swinging the rifle with vigor and aiming specifically at the officers' buttocks.

Ow! My butt!

The courtyard instantly filled with wails. Seeing the situation turn bad, Deputy Director Dai slipped quietly toward the gate.

Trying to leave? Li Ping'an appeared before him like a ghost. 'Deputy Director Dai, weren't you supposed to catch the Yanzi? Why are you fleeing first?'

Deputy Director Dai's face went pale with fright as he suddenly drew his handgun from his waist—but before he could pull the trigger, Li San struck his wrist precisely with the rifle.

With a crack, the handgun clattered to the ground. Deputy Director Dai clutched his wrist and screamed in pain.

Li Ping'an picked up the handgun and said calmly, 'Deputy Director Dai, it looks like you'll be spending the night elsewhere.'

At that moment, the outside officers heard the commotion and poured into the courtyard. Li Ping'an and Li San exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

Li San shouted, planted the rifle on the ground for leverage, and leapt onto the roof.

Li Ping'an grabbed Deputy Director Dai and hoisted him up like a chick, following his leap. Poor Dai screamed in terror, all his former bravado gone.

The two raced across the roof, gunfire erupting behind them but missing every shot.

In a secluded alley, Li Ping'an threw Deputy Director Dai to the ground. Dai went limp like mud, begging repeatedly: 'Spare me, hero! I'll pay any amount!'

Li San lifted Dai's chin with the rifle: 'Speak! Why set this trap?'

Dai trembled, 'It... it's orders from above. They said to net the Yanzi Li San and that impostor...'

'Who's above?' Li Ping'an asked coldly.

'It... it's the Special Envoy from Nanjing...' Deputy Director Dai realized he'd slipped up and hastily shut his mouth.

Li San snorted coldly: 'If you won't talk, I'll throw you off this roof!'

I'll talk! I'll talk!" Deputy Director Dai cried, "The Special Envoy said... said he wanted to capture you and then blame the Communists...

Li Ping'an's heart sank. What a vicious plot!

Suddenly, sirens wailed in the distance. Li San frowned: 'Looks like reinforcements have arrived.'

Li Ping'an thought, then said to Deputy Director Dai: 'I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Lead us to the Special Envoy.'

Deputy Director Dai's face turned ashen: 'If... if this is discovered...'

Then you'll be dead now." Li San nudged the rifle forward.

I'll lead the way! I'll lead the way!" Deputy Director Dai hurriedly agreed.

The three moved silently through the night. Deputy Director Dai pointed to a heavily guarded manor: 'It... it's right there...'

Li Ping'an observed carefully and discovered that secret sentries surrounded the manor, its defenses even tighter than the police station.

You watch him here." Li Ping'an told Li San, "I'll go in and have a look.

Li San nodded: 'Be careful.'

Li Ping'an drifted into the manor courtyard like a falling leaf, evading all sentries. He came to the lit study outside, and through the window saw a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit talking on the phone.

... Having laid a net of heaven and earth, tonight we'll surely capture those two swallows... The middle-aged man said into the phone, 'Rest assured, when the time comes we'll say it was the Communists' doing...'

Li Ping'an's heart burned with anger, about to act, when suddenly he heard a noise behind him. He hastily darted aside and hid behind the fake mountain.

Two black-clad men carried a large box in from the rear courtyard, the box emitting a faint thudding sound. Li Ping'an narrowed his eyes, feeling the box was very familiar.

After the black-clad men entered, he quietly followed. He saw the box being carried into the basement, where it was astonishingly filled with antique paintings and calligraphy!

It turned out the Special Envoy was the biggest antiquities trafficker!

While Li Ping'an was pondering, he suddenly heard a commotion outside. He hurriedly hid in the shadows, only to see Li San escorting Deputy Director Dai inside as well.

"Brother, the situation is wrong," Li San whispered, "outside many troops have come, surrounding this place completely watertight."

Li Ping'an's heart sank: "We've been tricked! This is an even bigger trap!"

Just then, the study door opened. The Special Envoy walked out smiling: "Welcome, two little Yanzi."

Suddenly, countless lights blazed up all around, leaving them nowhere to hide. Behind the Special Envoy, a row of soldiers raised their guns and took aim.

"Deputy Director Dai, you acted well," the Special Envoy applauded. "Now, please escort these two honored guests into the cage."

Deputy Director Dai suddenly broke free from Li San, ran to the Special Envoy's side, and wore a fawning smile: "Special Envoy, the mission is complete."

Li San exploded in anger: "Damn you, Dai Yama! How dare you play us!"

The Special Envoy laughed heartily: "Otherwise? Did you really think I'd believe this waste could catch you?"

He paced forward slowly: "I know you're investigating the antiquities matter. How about this—help me out, get these things out of the city, and I'll spare your lives."

Li Ping'an sneered: "Help you continue selling out the country?"

"Don't put it so harshly," the Special Envoy laughed. "This is called... cultural exchange."

Suddenly, Li Ping'an moved. He lunged at the Special Envoy like lightning, his short knife pointing straight at the opponent's throat.

But just as the blade was about to reach its target, the Special Envoy suddenly raised a hand to block. With a sound, the short knife was deflected.

Li Ping'an's heart jolted: this Special Envoy is actually also a master!

The Special Envoy took off his coat, revealing a sturdy physique: Looks like I'll have to personally teach you how to obey.

He assumed a strange starting stance, and Li Ping'an's pupils contracted: This is a Japanese aikido move!

Are you Japanese? Li Ping'an asked in a low voice.

The Special Envoy laughed: You only noticed now? Too late!

The two clashed instantly, the sound of fists and feet striking never ceasing. Li San also wanted to step forward to help, but was held at gunpoint by the soldiers.

Li Ping'an grew more alarmed as they fought. This fake Special Envoy's martial arts were extraordinarily strange, bearing traces of Chinese martial arts mixed with the ruthlessness of Japanese ninjutsu.

Brother, watch the blade! Li Ping'an suddenly changed his move, unleashing Wind-Cleaving Eight Blades. The blade light was like snow, swift as lightning.

The Special Envoy's face changed slightly, he retreated rapidly, then suddenly pulled out a whistle from his waist and blew it.

The piercing whistle sounded, the basement door suddenly opened, and more black-clad figures poured out. Their skills were clearly a notch above the soldiers.

Ninjas, seize them! the Special Envoy shouted in Japanese.

Li Ping'an and Li San stood back to back, facing layers of encirclement.

Brother, it looks like we'll have to fight for our lives tonight. Li San gave a wry smile.

Li Ping'an gripped his short sword, eyes firm: Let them see what a true Wind-Cleaving Eight Blades is!

Blade light flashed, cold energy pierced the air. A fierce battle unfolded in the basement.