Pink Armor

"Lass, it's not appropriate for a young miss to shake her rear like that. If you were one of my descendants, you're face would've been imprinted on my Heavenly Punishing Wall already," said Zhao Jia.

Ling Fan immediately froze on the spot remembering an important detail about the Heavenly Punishing Wall.

Strongest Boss, wasn't her face imprinted on the wall over 300 times?

Straightening her robes, Ling Fan said, "Boss, Ling Fan will remember your teachings. Er may this one ask how old Matriarch Zhao was when her face graced the wall."

Looking off in the distance and reminiscing, Zhao Jia replied, "Wen'er? She was feisty early on. If this seat remembers correctly, she was at the bone age of three."

Ling Fan started sweating bullets.

Stone Cold Killer Granny!

"Lass Qin shall be our go between. For our code names you will be the Wine Master and this seat the Duchess. Heh, this seat always wanted a royal title. Now then let's learn the status of the interrogation."

Ling Fan with the Wang Sisters and Qin Rong, followed Zhao Jia to the main room.

Looking to Elder Bing, Zhao Jia asked, "Lass, did he reveal all his secrets."

Cupping her hands, Elder Bing replied, "Yes Senior. Thanks to our supreme torture tool, the Death Knight Ax, he spoke faster than a chirping bird."

"Supreme Torture Tool?"

Ling Fan leaned over and whispered, "Boss it's like this..?"

Upon hearing her words, Zhao Jia shot a look at Yueng He-ping.

"Keep that poor, poor fellow away from this seat," said Zhao Jia. Waving with her hand, she continued, "Show me the record,"

Elder Bing quickly ran forward and presented a scroll.

Taking it, Zhao Jia spent several breaths reading the information. "Excellent, you have all done extremely well. Now, this seat will detail an extremely important thing."

Walking about, she said this place is now officially my wine cellar. Absolutely, under any conditions, you are no allowed to drink any of my precious beverages. Humph! If you lose your reason and dare, this seat will melt you."

POOF!

Arrrrraggggggggghhhhh!!

Di Feng shrieked horribly as he burst into flame. To everyone's horror he visibly melted into a pool of liquid flesh and in turn that same pool turned into a pile of ash.

Yueng He-ping at this point was thanking his wisdom in accepting Ling Fan as his Master. Right now he was thinking of innumerable ways to prove is loyalty.

Qin Rong fell to her knees and fanatically said, "Old Matriarch is mighty."

"You all loyally follow your leader. Wine Master, raise your group well. Let's meet again soon."

Swoosh!

Zhao Jia left, leaving nothing but silence in the hideout.

Waving her hand, Elder Bing commanded, "You men clean this mess. Be sure to get rid of any evidence."

To her surprise, they were rather efficient at this task. This Yueng He-ping was able to teach them things.

Yueng He-ping looked at the professionalism of his men. That One-Eye Lu did have some organizing skills.

Why, why did you have to be a fool?

One of them found a scroll on the floor. Excited he would prove his use so soon, the man presented the scroll to Elder Bing. "Leader Fierce Arrow, this one found this scroll on the floor."

"Go ahead read it."

This?

"Er, this one can't read."

"Eh! In fact none of us can...Er only the former Chief can read."

"Then how do you guys know things?"

Scratching his head, the man said, "We know the pictures on the signs and go by that."

Yueng He-ping shuddered with realization. One-Eye, he probably couldn't properly read the warning posters about the Failed Alchemist. He sighed deeply. Wasn't this also why he could never get straight numbers on their earnings from his men?

Elder Bing glanced at Yueng He-ping. "Fierce Captain, apparently your old Death Ax Gang was fated for failure from the beginning. Not only did you unknowingly use a Death Knight's weapon as your own...Humph! Your whole gang is illiterate."

Ling Fan clapped her hands. "Everyone listen up. Today forward, we are now an official hidden force for the Zhao Clan. Now we must agree on the name of our organization."

A man raised his hand, "Fierce Leader, how about we call ourselves The Zhao Clan Hidden Force?"

Qin Rong went over and smack his head.

Yueng He-ping pointed at his men. "You-You guys stop embarrassing this King."

Almost immediately afterwards, Yueng He-ping regretted his words. The men were actually looking below his waist with disdain.

Next to Yueng He-ping, Alchemist Liu chuckled. "Looks we really need to get that fixed for you."

Yueng He-ping's face blackened.

Ling Fan groaned, "We'll determine the name later."

Elder Bing read the scroll and quickly went over to Ling Fan. Handing it over, she said, "It's a map, it looks to be a secret location in the forest."

Ling Fan nodded, "We'll need to investigate later. Fierce Alchemist, let's talk."

Liu Qianlian hurried over and cupped her hands. "Fierce Leader, thank you for saving my life."

"What are your plans?"

"Those bastards burned down my courtyard. Not only did I loose my refining room, but also my herb garden and personal things. This alchemist was planning on finding a room at tavern temporarily."

Ling Fan's ears twitched. "Did you say herb garden? By any chance are you good at growing things..specifically trees?"

"Trees? Yes this Alchemist is considered an expert. In fact it's the only practical exam that I ace."

This?

Brother Zhao Ding, Ling Hua may have found your tree expert!

Looking at Alchemist Liu like she was some lost relative, Ling Fan said, "You-Your coming home with me."

It was close to sundown when Ling Fan and the Fierce Fairies returned to Ling Clan Manor. Ling Ming apparently had been pacing before the gates all day long. Ling Wenyan long ago had left to search the city for Ling Fan.

Upon seeing his daughter, Ling Ming rushed out and grabbed her into his arms. "Fan'er you're alive! Are you hurt?"

Ling Fan patted her father's cheek. "Father, Daughter was un-filial for not returning sooner. My guards were able to protect me well. When everything started happening, we found a hidden place and stayed there until things ended."

"Good Good, Father is greatly relieved." Pausing, he turned to the Fierce Fairies and said, "You all will be rewarded for performing well. This Father thanks you for protecting his daughter."

The Fairies shot him strange looks.

Fierce Leader needs protecting? Humph! Just now she orchestrated the annihilation of the Di Clan secret force and took over the Death Ax Gang. Not only that, she just received the backing of the Blue Flame Empyrean. She's protecting you!

"Father, Daughter has to ask, what's with all those bodies over at the Zhao Clan? Did anyone get hurt?"

Zhao Ding are you safe?

Ling Ming stiffened. "That? A group of fools thought Zhao Clan was easy pickings. Apparently, they assumed Zhao Clan had no hidden trumps...they sorely were wrong. All those fools died, and those are their remains."

Ling Fan and the Fierce Fairies hissed.

To a woman, they all nodded thanking the Divinities they were now a Zhao Clan hidden force.

"Ming'er! Father has searched all over the city to no avail....You have to prepare yourself. Granddaughter she-she may already be dead. We should go to the morgue and search for her body," said Ling Wenyan striding through the gate with Chief Li and a group of guards.

"Father look! Our Fan'er is alive and well!"

"Haahahahaa...Haahaaaa! Granddaughter, you are truly filial for returning home alive," chortled Ling Wenyan.

Her grandfather zipped over and patted her head. Silently, tears streaming down his cheeks.

The fairies shook their heads.

Isn't she Ling Clan's controller?

"Father, Daughter is tired. May she rest a bit and visit with you later?"

"By all means! Someone quickly take her to her abode. Heed my command, anyone disturbs her rest, 100 lashings!"

Upon returning to her courtyard, it appeared like nothing had changed. That is for Junjie at least.

"Little Junjie, this only a 3/4 sit-up. This Queen knows you can do 100 percent. In fact you must if you want to become a Heavenly Lord," said the Divine Pig.

Zhu Shensheng was now resting her fat rump on the ugly little boar. To the side, the servants were actively cheering.

"Lord, your might knows no bounds."

"With you around, Ling Clan is the safest manor in the City."

"Lord, this servant just came from the main gate. Earlier, many a sow appeared to beg marriage."

To the other side, a musician was gently and intricately plucking at a zither. "Lord, this one composed a new song. Inspired by you, it is titled 'One True Hero'.

Gritting her teeth, Ling Fan said, "Master, Disciple has returned."

Shensheng was about to respond when Junjie squealed a final breath and became unconscious.

"Junjie, if you can't do 100 percent tomorrow, this Queen will have to revise your training program." Glaring down hard as though her eyes were piercing through the boar's skull, she said, "This Queen's revised training program has a 100 percent failure rate."

Alchemist Liu said, "Young Miss, this? Many a odd and peculiar potion this Alchemist has accidentally refined...however none compare to the sight of a pig sitting on another. By the Divinities, what is it doing?"

Wang Chuntao pulled Alchemist Liu away. "Sister, it's like this..."

Tang Xifeng eyes were red. Apparently, she had spent a large amount of time trying to wash out the image of Xueng He-ping's nakedness. Face originally with dejection, she chortled gleefully as she remembered she had two jars of Thousand Flour Wine waiting for her. Quickly she disappeared to bring a jar out.

Qin Rong called out, "Young Miss, what's this?"

Looking up, Ling Fan found her by the courtyard wall, scrutinizing something.

Heading over, Ling Fan asked, "What is it?"

"It's armor. To be exact it's pink armor. This Master also believes, it's just your size."

"Pink Armor? Wa...it's so pretty!"

Suddenly, Ling Fan's heart wrenched. Wasn't that the spot where she would meet Brother Zhao Ding? Was this a gift from him!? Did-Did he perhaps like her!??