Chapter 3 Sneaking and Goodbyes

That night, in a camp full of rough looking men, stationed not too far from Eagle city, lies a large tent. In the tent was a rather handsome man but due to the lust he indulges in the man's looks were waned and gave a nasty feeling instead. In front of the man there was also two large men standing side by side and seem to be reporting the happenings of the day to their boss.

"Boss, that old man selling the girls got caught and now imprisoned in Eagle city. Do we rescue him?" One of the rough men reported. "In addition to getting caught, all of the girls were lost as well. They seemed to have returned back to their homes." He added and fell back into silence to wait for his boss's order.

The man called boss, was silent with his eyes closed and seemed to be thinking. He remembers going to check up on the girls that were going to be sold once and that in the group was a rather pretty looking girl as well. She had a white face and round eyes with a straight small nose. Remembering how fresh looking the girl was, he regretted not taking her for the night.

"Find the girls. Especially the one in tatters. She was rather fine looking." He said with a vicious look.

"Yes boss!" Both replied and one of the other men continued to report. "Also, we caught two girls not too long ago as well. Would you like to see them?"

"No. Just make sure they don't run. We will sell them tomorrow." Their boss replied and waves his hand at them to leave. The two large man obeyed and walked out.

At the other side of camp, in a smaller tent, lies two people all tied up. Both of them were beautiful. One of them had a rather soft and delicate touch, the other had a cold disposition and although beautiful, one cannot get close. At this time, the cold beauty had a pale face with scrunched up brows and seem to be in much suffering.

"Master, please punish me. Because of my incompetence, those bastards were able to find you in your weakened state." The delicate one said with a face full of remorse and a rather manly voice.

"Ye it's fine. I exposed my whereabouts by accident anyways. With these gangsters hiding us to sell, at least those assassins won't find me for the time being." The one called master replied coldly. 'If I find any of those assassins and whomever that sent them. They won't be spared any longer. I've tolerated those people far long enough for my imperial father.' he thought, and a flicker of killing intent flashed through his eyes.

"Master, those gangsters seem to think that we are girls. Master is this…" Ye said with an awkward look in his eyes. "Let them think so and take us out. I need time to recuperate my strength to be able to head back to the capital city." His master interrupted and Ye closed his mouth to nod in obedience.

The next day at the Li family home, from the time when the first rooster crowed, a small figure in blue training robes could be seen stretching and jumping around. "Mistress, I was told by Master to come and make sure you complete your punishment." an old man said with his head bowed.

"Old Go it's okay. I won't run away. I promise." Rouqi says and smiles cheekily. Old Go has been with the Li family since her grandpa's young days and has yet to pass. Everyone in the Li family treated Old Go with respect. Master Li even saw him as another second father and the rest of her older brothers also treated him with respect too. When Old Go saw Rouqi's cheeky smile, he knew she was up to her little tricks to get out of punishment to play. But since he dotes on her too like one would on the granddaughter, he could only be a little more lenient on her. Sighing at how soft hearted he is for this girl he complies to her tricks, "Fine, I'll trust you. My old bones can't keep waking up so early so I'll rest and leisurely watch you train."

"Thanks, Old Go!" Rouqi says and resumes her training regimen. After stretching and jumping around to warm her muscles up she starts by going over the Li family basic martial arts. With short and curt moves in each stance, her movements are flexible but at the same time shows power. The threat from each punch and kick shows just how much an individual would get hurt if they were ever strike by one move.

After training till two hours before sunset, Rouqi looks at Old Go. He was sleeping and snoring away on the stone table under the trees. Laughing to herself at how Old Go was being really trusting and lenient on her, she slipped away to find Daisy. Sneaking past maids and servants and rushing through the corridors, she arrives at the room closest to hers and slips in without knocking.

Walking past the living area, she goes straight into the bedroom and found Daisy to be immersed in her embroidery. "Nice embroidery! Already practicing for the future?" Rouqi asks with a teasing tone. Daisy, knowing who it was by the voice avoids the question by asking another question, "Is mistress already done with punishment?"

Guilty as charged Rouqi tries to give herself excuses, "The day is over, and evening is coming. Technically I already finished my punishment. So, let's go play at the red-light district! I have to see Lily since I already promised her!"

"Mistress you will be punished by master again if you go." Daisy refused and Rouqi pouts at her. "No. I can't break my promise. I have to go see her. Anyways I'll be back before dinner like usual and no one will notice."

"Fine, but you have to promise me that this we will be the last time that you go to the red-light district and to be back before dinner" Daisy compromises and Rouqi nods quickly. "Okay, I promise this will be the last time. Let's get dress! Hurry!"

At the entrance of the red-light district, one of the most famous brothel shops were calling out to men and women for customers. This just happen to be when Rouqi and Daisy both come up to the front of the shop as well. "Young master, would you like to come into our Flower House? I promise you a good time and wine!" One of the girls in a flamboyant dress said.

"No need. We are here to look for Lily. Is she available for the night?" Rouqi asked in a polite manner. The flamboyant girl smiled sweetly and started to walk away with a swing in her hips in each step; "Right this way sir. I believe you must be the gentleman who made her all giddy waiting for you."

Following up two flights of stairs leading into the same private room, Lily can be seen sitting at the table in a daze looking out towards the red-light district gate. The girl opens the room and lets Rouqi and Daisy in before closing the door and leaving herself.

"Lily, I'm here to fulfill my promise!" Rouqi says and sits right at the table. As if hearing someone mumbling by her ears, Lily only responds with an 'Mmmn.'

"Turns out Lily don't miss me anymore. This is my last visit for you and you're not even paying attention to me." Rouqi pouts and pokes a finger at Lily. As if disrupting her from a beautiful dream, Lily turns her head abruptly to yell at the person, but upon seeing who it was she stops. Her mouth gaped open at the young man she sees before her. "I thought you weren't going to come visit till later at night?" She finally responds.

"What kind of person breaks a promise with their good friend?" Rouqi asks with a raised eyebrow and Lily only smiles in response. She looks over to the gentleman's side and sees another pretty young man with pretty eyes and fair skin. So delicate and feminine, Lily thought.

"Young master is not going to visit me anymore?" Lily asks after collecting her thoughts to herself.

"Unfortunately, my business here is done after tonight. I won't be able to come see you anymore and I am only here to fulfill my promise and to thank you for last night." Rouqi smiles and beckons Daisy over to give the gift she had prepared for Lily.

"Miss, if you ever need any help. You may run to the gate guards and show them this token. Whatever help you may need, they will help you with for that time just as they would their own master." Daisy explains while handing the token over.

Shocked at how valuable the token in her hand was, she stood up quickly and tries to refuse the token, as it was too valuable for her. But when Rouqi saw that she was refusing the gift, she frowned.

"Just take the gift. I don't want to take back what I have already given out." She states and also gets up to calm Lily down. After Lily calmed down and sat again, she accepts the gift readily this time. Seeing that she had accepted the gift, Rouqi sighed in relief and starts to say her goodbyes.

"I have to go now. It was a pleasure to be in your service for these two nights. Goodbye and goodnight." Lily only smiles bitterly that one of her best customers were leaving and said her goodbyes as well. "Goodbye and goodnight to you two as well. I won't be seeing you two out."

Walking out of the room, Rouqi looks to Daisy and nods her head and proceeds to head out home to keep her promise. However, before she even gets to second floor a ruckus of fighting could be heard.