Tres patos mandarines y un par y medio

Capítulo 2

Chapter Four: Encounters 1

"I'm so bored. I'm all alone. What should I do?" Bai Qianqian stood on another hilltop and saw a large contingent of government troops carrying torches heading towards them in the distance. "It seems Xiao Ke's notification was quite effective; they're arriving quickly." Before the plan began, Bai Qianqian had instructed Xiao Ke to definitely notify the government to handle the aftermath. However, these were chaotic times, and there were many corrupt officials who bullied the weak and oppressed the strong, exploiting the local people. She wondered what methods Xiao Ke had used.

Taking a miniature telescope out of the compression bag, Bai Qianqian saw a "pig's head" alighting from the official's sedan chair. "Wow! You scared me! So it's a case of fighting violence with violence, huh?" Seeing the official with a bruised and swollen face, Bai Qianqian sincerely felt that the intelligent robot created by her father was truly first-rate in its ability to get things done.

Having seen enough, and with it nearly midnight, Bai Qianqian took a compressed tent out of the compression bag, opened it, and went inside to eat and sleep. (The compressed tent contained various daily necessities and appliances, similar to the magical tent in Harry Potter, but with a more modern design.)

The next day, before dawn, Bai Qianqian got up. Perhaps due to the excitement of arriving in ancient times, she hadn't slept well. After packing up the compressed tent, she took out a supersonic airship from the compressed bag. (A supersonic airship: flying at speeds that can travel faster than sound, capable of carrying six people, equipped with bathroom facilities and essential travel items, generally used for sightseeing, and possessing cloaking capabilities.)

Activating her stealth mode and reducing her speed to the lowest setting, Bai Qianqian planned to enjoy the sights. After about half an hour, just as dawn was breaking, a fine drizzle began to fall. Bai Qianqian loved this kind of weather; she loved the ticklish, cool feeling of the fine rain on her face. So, she found a clearing in the woods and parked her supersonic airship. Just as she stowed the airship away, her sharp ears picked up the sound of clashing swords in the distance.

"Wow! An ancient battle! Don't miss it!" Bai Qianqian perked up immediately and ran towards the direction of the sound.

"Flying Eagle, your death is near. This is the consequence of betraying the Hall of Death. Prepare to die!" A man in black shouted, tapping his foot with his long sword, which pointed directly at the seemingly seriously injured, cold-faced man not far away.

"If you want me dead, you'll have to take your life first!" With a sudden burst of strength, the cold-faced man retreated several steps, dodging the sword's edge. Then, with a leap and a spin, he thrust downwards, piercing the black-clad man's body with his sword—a swift and fluid movement. "You…" The black-clad man stared wide-eyed, dying with unresolved grievances.

"Hmph, Flying Eagle, still so tough even on the verge of death. No wonder you're ranked number one assassin in the Hall of Fame, haha. Too bad today is your death day, and there will be no more Flying Eagle, hahahaha!" Another of the remaining two men in black spoke up, "Flying Eagle, you really are strong. An ordinary person would have collapsed in less than half an hour after touching this poisoned sword. How come you're still so good at fighting? You've even killed quite a few of our brothers. But I don't think you'll last much longer, hahahahaha." As assassins, they showed no emotion whatsoever; even the death of their brothers left them with no regrets.

"This is where I've spent 25 years..." Flying Eagle's eyes were cold, and his heart was even colder. He had served his master wholeheartedly, without a single disloyalty. Yet, his title as the number one assassin of the Death Hall had aroused the jealousy of his fellow disciples. They used a woman to bewitch him, and after he fell deeply in love, they plotted against him. The betrayal of his beloved woman, the framing by his fellow disciples, but none of these were as chilling as the kill order issued by the master he served. Flying Eagle suddenly felt the tragedy and absurdity of his life.

His heart skipped a beat, and a bloodthirsty smile crept onto his lips. "If you want my life so badly, then come and get it!" With a determined look, he gripped the sharp sword in his hand and charged towards the two like a lightning bolt.

"Die!" Flying Eagle slashed at the man in black on the right. "You underestimate me!" The man in black on the right quickly retreated several steps, raising his sword to his chest. At the same time, the man in black on the left seized the opportunity to slash at Flying Eagle's back with his knife...

"Watch out!" Bai Qianqian couldn't help but shout when she saw this.

But then, Flying Eagle turned around and plunged his sword into the black-clad man's heart. "Ah!" The black-clad man cried out and collapsed.

With a "thud," a sword plunged into Flying Eagle's back. "Hmph, Flying Eagle, I really shouldn't underestimate you." Clearly, the man in black was furious at the loss of another comrade. "However, you've ultimately died by my hand, hehe."

"Ah!" Before he could finish gloating, Flying Eagle drew his sword and pierced through the body of the man in black behind him with a backhand.

"Let's go to hell together..." As soon as the words were spoken, the two of them collapsed.

Flying Eagle raised his eyelids to look at the blue sky, the past 25 years flashing before his eyes. From being selected to train in the Hall of Death at the age of five, the daily grind, the fear after his first kill, to the numbness in his heart. Then he met her—Qiu'er. He thought he had found the dawn, but it was a harbinger of darkness. It was all over. Watching the rising sun, so radiant, so beautiful, it was the first time he had felt it so truly, and perhaps the last. His gaze began to unfocus. Though there was some resentment in his heart, there was also a sense of liberation. A relieved smile appeared on his lips. Let him leave like this…

Chapter 5 Encounters 2

"No way, it's over so quickly?" Driven by intense curiosity, Bai Qianqian endured the strong smell of blood and quickly walked towards the two people who had just fallen to the ground.

"Wow, you're quite handsome, aren't you? And you're fearless, plus you're a good fighter. Not bad." Looking at the unconscious Flying Eagle, Bai Qianqian noticed his thick, sword-like eyebrows, his long, slightly curled eyelashes (longer than mine! I'm so jealous!), his high nose, his sharply defined lips, his resolute and cold face, and his lean, slender physique. Bai Qianqian couldn't help but fantasize, "Hmm, if I had a subordinate like that, that would be amazing! I'll save your life for now; from now on, you're mine!"

Bai Qianqian went to great lengths to put the flying eagle into the healing coffin. Inside, he underwent detoxification and automatic wound closure. All of this took only half a day. Opening the coffin, Bai Qianqian carefully examined the person lying inside, still unconscious.

"The effects of the anesthetic should be wearing off soon, and he should wake up in a little while. Hmm, I need to think about how to tell him." Bai Qianqian started talking to herself...

"It's so noisy... Someone's here!" Flying Eagle suddenly sat up, one hand already gripping Bai Qianqian's slender neck. "And who sent you!"

"Uh, I... I wasn't sent by anyone. I'm your savior! How could you treat me like this? Let go!" Bai Qianqian was startled at first, but then she became defiant. But come to think of it, his eyes are really beautiful, so deep, as if they could draw your gaze in...

The thought of having such a unique and charming subordinate who could attract a whole bunch of beautiful women filled Bai Qianqian with genuine pride. Hahaha... (Self-absorbed, oops!)

"What are you thinking?" Flying Eagle's face was cold as he looked at the woman before him, clearly a woman disguised as a man. He would never forget how that woman had first charmed him with her allure, then transformed into a wanton figure, throwing herself into another man's arms, and then mocking, humiliating, and betraying him. He now deeply loathed women! And from that moment on, he would never trust anyone again!

"No, it's nothing. I was just thinking... Now that I've saved your life, I wonder how you plan to repay me?" Bai Qianqian shamelessly asked with a fawning smile, looking at Fei Ying expectantly.

That focused gaze puzzled Flying Eagle. "What do you want?" he blurted out unconsciously.

"I just heard that you seem to be an assassin? So, would you be willing to serve me?" His eyes still held that expectant look, but now tinged with a hint of confidence.

"Reason?" It was strange that the woman before him had healed him in such a short time; it was simply unbelievable. Who exactly was she, and what were her intentions?

“You’ve already died once. This life is a gift from me, so you must serve me. What do you think of that reason?” Bai Qianqian still took it for granted.

"Hmph, I can kill you. What do you think?" Flying Eagle said dismissively.

"Let's experience a different life together. I think you hate your previous life, don't you? Those senseless assassinations, did you like them?" Seeing the look of relief in his eyes before he lost consciousness, Bai Qianqian felt a slight tremor.

"Hmph, you won't make me kill someone?" After that incident, his heart had become isolated from the world, filled with suspicion and distrust of people, especially women.

"Well, maybe, but I'll respect your wishes. If you don't want to, I won't force you." Bai Qianqian was very sincere at this moment.

Recalling his dark past, Flying Eagle felt a pang of sadness. So be it; if it weren't for her, he'd be dead already. Since she had saved his life, he might as well let it be.

"What should I call you?" Having made his decision, Flying Eagle decisively surrendered his future. So what if he was a walking corpse again? He only needed to keep his life to deal with those who had betrayed and framed him! He still didn't trust anyone.

"Hmm, do you think 'Xiaoyao Palace' sounds good?" Bai Qianqian's eyes shone with a 100,000-volt light; she had put a lot of effort and thought into coming up with this idea.

What kind of question is this? Is this woman out of her mind? Despite being full of questions, she still coldly replied, "Hmm, not bad." (She hadn't given it any serious thought; it was just a perfunctory response.)

"Really? Yay! Okay, it's decided! From now on, we're all from the Free and Unfettered Palace. I'll be the Palace Master, and as for you... you can be my first guard for now. We'll assign you other guards later. Hmm, that's settled then. But we don't have enough manpower right now, so let's put the title of Palace Master aside for now. Just call me Master for now." Bai Qianqian announced triumphantly.

Flying Eagle frowned deeply, but he always valued his promises and would never go back on his word. "Yes, Master!" came the cold and firm words.

"Good, very good. Your name is Flying Eagle, right? Here, this is a token of our Free and Unfettered Palace. Keep it safe." Bai Qianqian exuded the air of a palace master, her expression confident and arrogant. She was completely unlike the "idiot" she had been just moments before.

Master...is this your true face? What exactly are you plotting? Flying Eagle stared coldly at his new master, his face expressionless.

On the other hand, Xiao Ke escorted the woman to the most powerful manor in the world, Leng Yue Manor. The woman was none other than the wife of the manor's lord. Unfortunately, the manor's lord, Leng Mei, had died suddenly a few days prior. He was now succeeded by Leng Mei's eldest son, Leng Haotian. At only 23 years old, Leng Haotian was not only exceptionally handsome but also calm and capable. Whether in business, martial arts, or poetry, he was a first-rate talent, truly deserving of the title of manor lord of Leng Yue Manor. He and Bai Ke (Xiao Ke) hit it off immediately, and Xiao Ke invited him to stay at the manor. They often exchanged poems and enjoyed pleasant conversations in their leisure time. (After all, Xiao Ke was a super robot, so of course he was knowledgeable in everything. Moreover, since separating from Bai Qianqian, he had been programmed to be cold and aloof. Even the worldly-wise Leng Haotian couldn't see that he was actually devoid of emotion, thinking his gaze was merely indifferent.)

Chapter Six: Encountering a Bully

"Alright, let's head to Yingtian Prefecture now! I'll take you to meet my other capable assistant." Bai Qianqian put away the healing coffin and excitedly pulled Fei Ying along as they set off.

Flying Eagle only saw a flash of white light, and the unusual bed he had just been lying on suddenly vanished. Even with his exceptional self-control and quick thinking, he couldn't help but be shocked. "What...what happened?" He never believed in supernatural phenomena, but how could he explain everything before him?

"Well, hehe, you don't need to know. You just need to know that you'll protect me with your life and swear your loyalty to me to the death. Also, know that your master isn't an ordinary person. But he's a normal person nonetheless." It's better for a master to maintain a bit of mystery. Qianqian exuded a seductive and arrogant aura. (Wow, a top-tier actress!)

"Yes." Suppressing his doubts, Flying Eagle responded softly. She... really is a strange woman.

"By the way, where is this place? How far is it from Yingtian Prefecture?" I arrived here in a supersonic boat this morning, but I have no idea how far it is from there.

"Nanjing Yingtianfu? This is Xiangzhou in Hebei. It takes more than a month to get there by fast horse." Flying Eagle said with his expressionless face.

"Oh, how long will it take us to stroll over there?" Bai Qianqian didn't want to rush. Tangying Yonghe Township in Xiangzhou, Hebei, seemed to be Yue Fei's hometown, hehe. "What year is it now?" She didn't know the exact time because a small airflow might have affected their time travel.

"It's the first year of the Jingkang era." This woman didn't know? Flying Eagle was somewhat surprised, but he didn't show it. This woman had already made him lose control once; he absolutely didn't want to make a mistake again. No matter what strange things happened in the future, he had to remain calm. However, it was almost impossible for him to remain calm when he was with Bai Qianqian.

The first year of the Jingkang era—it's a bit early. Yue Fei was probably just about to join the army to fight against the Jin. Ugh… it's too early. But… well, troubled times produce heroes. It'll be easier for me to start a sect here. Thinking this, Bai Qianqian's previously mournful face broke into a smug grin.

"..." Flying Eagle was stunned by her ever-changing expressions. "Such a fickle woman..."

Seven days later, on the way to Xiangyang...

Over the past few days, Bai Qianqian realized she had truly recruited an excellent subordinate. He wasn't talkative—almost never—and always wore a cool, handsome face. However, he was an extremely responsible subordinate: whatever she asked for, he would do without hesitation. For example, if she wanted to see him practice martial arts, he would practice until she was satisfied. If she wanted to see a beautiful little bird (extinct in the 32nd century) up close, he would use his light-footed skills to fly and catch it for her to admire up close. If she wanted roast chicken, he would immediately catch a pheasant, roast it fragrant, and hand it to her. Heh, Bai Qianqian would give him a 95 out of 100. She'd deduct 5 points for his taciturn nature; after all, no one is perfect.

"Flying Eagle, I want to eat candied hawthorns." Bored, Bai Qianqian wanted to eat candied hawthorns.

"Would you like to eat in half an hour, Master?" It would take about this long to travel to and from Xiangyang using light footwork.

"That long? Well... never mind." Half an hour alone is too boring.

An hour later, inside Xiangyang City.

"Wow, what handsome young men!" "Those two young men are so distinctive! One looks so gentle and dashing, even more beautiful than a woman; the other is so handsome and strong, but unfortunately, he's a bit cold..." Along the street, some women were loudly gossiping, while other girls were either flirting or smiling shyly. There were also envious or jealous glances from the men of the city. In short, Bai Qianqian and Fei Ying, dressed as men, had become the focus of everyone's attention.

"Hehe..." Bai Qianqian felt a little smug hearing the women's comments. She glanced at Fei Ying, who still had a cold, expressionless face.

"Hey Flying Eagle, they're praising you, at least show some appreciation. Give me a smile!" Bai Qianqian looked at Flying Eagle expectantly. She was tired of seeing Flying Eagle's poker face these past few days.

"That's their business; I'm afraid I can't help you with that." Flying Eagle still wore that number one expression.

"Well... never mind." A boss who makes things difficult for his subordinates isn't a good boss, and besides, assassins rarely show much emotion. Oh well, what can I do? I'm the good boss, after all. Bai Qianqian praised herself inwardly again. (What a narcissist!)

"Hey, whose young lady is this? I don't think I've seen you before," a very unpleasant voice came from not far away.

Bai Qianqian knew immediately that some scoundrel was harassing a woman. She frowned and said coldly, "Hmph, you have the nerve to show your face with this appearance? Why don't you restrain yourself? Don't be so ostentatious when you're embarrassing yourself."

"Which bastard dares to mess with me!" Hearing Bai Qianqian's words, the man forgot all about harassing women; saving face was paramount, and he immediately turned his anger towards Bai Qianqian.

"Excuse me, it was me who made the noise just now." The man walked with a limp, looking like a modern-day thug, with seven or eight burly men following behind him. Bai Qianqian disliked him from the bottom of her heart.

"Boy, do you have a death wish? Don't you even know whose territory this Xiangyang City is? Everyone here knows me, Lin Bao. Even the Xiangyang government gives me some face. Who do you think you are? You'd better kowtow and apologize to me right now!" Lin Bao's uncle was a high-ranking official in the court, so the Xiangyang government turned a blind eye to his behavior. He was incredibly arrogant, and no one dared to talk back to him. Anyone who did was either dead or crippled. The people of the city both hated and feared him because no one in the city could stand up to him. Now, seeing the handsome young man confront the bully Lin Bao, they couldn't help but feel a chill for him.

"I'm sorry, I can't admit my mistake!" Bai Qianqian first put on a humble and submissive expression, but then immediately changed to an arrogant and confident one, leaving everyone around her stunned.

"You! I'm not going to waste my breath on you anymore. Kid, you won't take a toast, so you'll have to drink the penalty cup. Go, beat him to death!" Lin Bao took a step back and waved to summon the burly man behind him.

Before Bai Qianqian could react, she was already protected behind him. Flying Eagle "floated" up and started fighting with the burly men. Don't be fooled by their tall, strong, and fierce appearance. When they met Flying Eagle, they all became spineless. Seven or eight men were easily dealt with by Flying Eagle in a few moves, lying on the ground groaning in pain.

"You! Who are you?" Seeing how powerful Flying Eagle was, Lin Bao felt a little scared, while also pondering something. "Hmph, watch out, don't let me see you again, or you'll regret it!" Lin Bao forced out these harsh words and turned to run away, but a sinister smile appeared on his lips.

Chapter Seven: Rescuing a Woman Who Fell into the Water

"A typical scoundrel..." Bai Qianqian said casually. "Let's find an inn first. We'll teach him a lesson next time we run into him."

I went to several nearby guesthouses, but was told they were full. They were clearly afraid of getting into trouble; why were there empty rooms when everyone else was going in?

Helpless, Bai Qianqian didn't want to force them, so she had to reluctantly look for another inn. However, after being rejected by four or five inns, Bai Qianqian was really furious. "Are you kidding me! That bastard Lin Bao, if I run into him again, I'll settle this score with him!"

As they crossed a river, they saw a large crowd gathered around the bridge and on the riverbank, and they could faintly hear people crying and shouting.

"It sounds like someone jumped into the river?" Bai Qianqian frowned. She hadn't planned to get involved, but hearing the woman crying out, she recognized the name Mei'er—the same name as her friend Du Rumei—giving her a long-lost sense of familiarity. "Flying Eagle, save her!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a thud was heard.

"Someone has gone to rescue her!" "Mei'er's mother is saved!" The people on the shore became excited.

"What, can't they all swim?" Bai Qianqian found their inaction in the face of death very strange.

When Bai Qianqian arrived at the riverbank, Feiying had already rescued the person and placed them on the shore.

"How is she?" Bai Qianqian asked, looking at the girl who had fallen into the water. She was worried because her eyes were closed and her chest was not rising and falling.

"His breath is intermittent and very weak, extremely dangerous," Flying Eagle reported truthfully.

"Help her up first, pat her back to get the water out!" Bai Qianqian said decisively. After patting her back, Bai Qianqian pressed on her abdomen to force her to vomit. Then she pressed on her heart and performed artificial respiration. The onlookers gasped repeatedly. How could this young man touch and kiss that girl like that? Wasn't he ruining her reputation? Actually, Bai Qianqian was just acting recklessly. She used to skip classes to practice Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) and shooting, so she lacked knowledge of first aid for accidents like drowning. She only had a vague impression and wasn't very confident.

"Cough cough!" The girl coughed and slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the worried look in the eyes of the handsome young man (Bai Qianqian).

"Are you alright? Are you dizzy? Where does it hurt?" Bai Qianqian asked several questions in a row, and seeing that the girl was shyly shaking her head, she figured she was probably fine.