At the Warrior’s Hall.
Nishimura Koishi stood up and bowed respectfully to the middle-aged man seated at the head of the table: “The matter regarding Ye Qingyi was my oversight. Please punish me, Leader.”
Sato I rubbed his temples and waved for him to sit back down: “Nishimura, this isn’t your fault. She’s Ye Qingyu’s sister after all—cunning and slippery in ways ordinary people can’t match. I’d have ended up with the same result in your shoes.”
Nishimura Koishi spoke with deep regret: “I’ve failed your expectations, Leader. I’ve been restless day and night, hoping to redeem myself by making up for my mistake. Unfortunately, I haven’t gathered much.”
He handed over a spatial crystal to Sato I. The latter took a look at it, and his expression showed he was somewhat taken aback.
“Though we didn’t find Ame-no-Murakumo, you’ve obtained the shrine’s treasury instead. That’s still a blessing.”
Uesugi Fumikazu couldn’t sit still any longer. He immediately rose and said: “Ye Qingyi posed as Chiba Masaka. The Chiba family may very well be complicit with her. I’ve already sent people to arrest them, pending your judgment, Leader.”
Sato I didn’t even spare him a glance. His voice was cold: “If Ye Qingyi could impersonate Chiba Masaka, that means the real Chiba Masaka is already dead. And this is how you treat the family of a hero?”
Uesugi Fumikazu felt a chill run down his spine. He was about to make excuses when Nishimura Koishi spoke up: “Rest assured, Leader. I anticipated that someone might move against them, so I had Sakurai Mi assigned to protect them personally. They should be safe.”
Sato I nodded with satisfaction: “Uesugi, you could learn a thing or two from Nishimura. Some matters can’t be judged by appearances alone. I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself—go to the Chiba residence personally, award them the title of Hero Family, and have the media cover it.”
Uesugi Fumikazu hurriedly accepted the order and left without a moment’s delay.
Nishimura Koishi frowned slightly, about to say something more, but before he could open his mouth, Sato I cut him off:
“I know you have your issues with Uesugi. Sometimes he does act without restraint and makes grave mistakes. But he’s still one of my right-hand men, just like you. Even if his merits are few, his efforts are many. Let’s let this one slide—hopefully, there won’t be a next time.”
Nishimura Koishi knew the Leader was using this opportunity to subtly remind him as well. He quickly unleashed his silver tongue and launched into a flurry of reassurances.
Only after leaving the meeting hall did he let out a sigh.
On the way home, Nishimura No muttered in confusion: “Father, Uesugi Fumikazu is all brawn and no brains. How come he’s so firmly seated as Vice-Leader?”
Nishimura Koishi placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, looking thoughtful: “Because the people who work for the Leader need to be not only clever, but also obedient. And it’s best if that obedient one has plenty of muscle but a simple mind.”
Nishimura No suddenly understood: “This is to keep you in check!”
Nishimura Koishi gave him a light smack on the back of the head and said irritably: “Your surname is Nishimura, not Uesugi. You need to know what to say and what not to say.”
Nishimura No winced at the sting and grimaced: “Got it, Father…”
Seeing that his son had admitted his mistake with a decent attitude, Nishimura Koishi smiled: “Of course, you’re still young. Some things will become clearer as you grow older.”
“Yes.”
“By the way, I heard you had a decent relationship with Su Mo back at the Prodigy Camp.” Nishimura Koishi asked suddenly.
Nishimura No jolted in surprise and quickly explained: “We just fought a few times. We’re not that close.”
“What you young people do is none of my business. Making friends isn’t a big deal.”
“You’re allowing me to be friends with him?” Nishimura No asked tentatively.
“Not just allowing it—I want you to be good brothers with him.”
“Huh?”
His father had always been cold and ruthless, so hearing this left Nishimura No baffled. Nishimura Koishi didn’t blame him for missing the deeper meaning and explained himself: “Unless there’s no other choice, befriending the strong rather than becoming their enemy is the wisest move.”
Nishimura No’s eyes gradually cleared with understanding.
——–
Ye Qingyu found a relatively flat rock and sat down to gaze at the distant mountain scenery. Not far from her, a hot spring had been enclosed, steam rising in thick veils.
Shrouded by the mist, a young man and woman were holding each other tightly, not a single thread between their bodies.
He was handsome, she was beautiful—like the male and female leads of a novel come to life.
Their faces, necks, shoulders—everywhere—were beaded with fine droplets, some sweat, some condensation. It looked rather… appetizing.
Suddenly, both bodies trembled at once, and their eyes slowly opened.
Clearly, the soul transfer had failed. Su Mo still hadn’t managed to reclaim his male body. But since they’d mentally prepared for this outcome, they weren’t overly disappointed.
As the saying goes: the less you expect, the less you’re let down.
Perhaps because they were too close, the tips of their noses brushed against each other. Warm breath puffed onto each other’s faces, making both their cheeks burn hot.
Su Mo, in his feminine voice, playfully complained: “Let go of me already. Stop hugging. Any longer and you might lose control… (ahem, there’s a knife at my neck so I can’t say more—use your imagination, folks)”
“Oh.” Ye Qingyi obediently pulled her arms back from around his waist and even took a step backward. All that boldness she usually had when ‘teasing’ Su Mo had seemingly vanished.
Neither spoke for a while. Only after they’d both gotten dressed did Su Mo tease her: “Ooh~ you’re usually so tough with your words, aren’t you? Always saying you’re going to do this and that to me, even daring to put your hands on me. Now that I’ve stripped myself clean and delivered myself to your doorstep, you don’t even dare to open your mouth?”
He was acting incredibly smug, swaying his hips as he ‘seduced’ her relentlessly. The expression, the movements—Ye Qingyi was completely dumbfounded.
She’d once read a saying online: when a man decides to act flirtatious, women have nothing on him.
Back then, she hadn’t believed it.
Until she met Su Mo…
With the cheat code of a woman’s body as his physical buff, he wasn’t just alluring—he was enchanting. The kind of enchantment that could topple nations. The kind that would leave any man dizzy just looking at him.
Ye Qingyi was grinding her teeth in frustration. She sat down on a rock by the hot spring, fuming.
Su Mo wasn’t about to let any opportunity for payback slip by. He was determined to turn the tables once and for all.
“Oh? Why are you sitting? Why aren’t you standing up?” Su Mo widened his eyes like an inquisitive little kid, then instantly switched to an expression of dawning realization: “Ah~ I see. You can’t stand up, can you?”
“Why can’t you stand up? Let me guess… wait, wait, wait—how can you be so rough and have no mercy? Ahhh—”
Heaven’s punishments can be forgiven; self-inflicted ones cannot.
Su Mo’s delicate, slender frame was hoisted up by Ye Qingyi in one swift motion. She tucked him under her armpit and gave him a thorough spanking. The crisp slaps echoed far and wide. By the time he broke free, his backside was burning with pain.
The last time he’d received such punishment was when he was a child, driven by curiosity to pull out the oxygen tube of the elderly neighbor next door…
That memory was already hazy. All he remembered was a mountain of paternal love collapsing, leaving two clear handprints on his round little hill.
One on the left, one on the right. Perfectly symmetrical.
