Volume 2 Chapter 5 The Consequence of making a mistake
“That’s a really pretty dagger.”
Meng Shen was surprised for a second, he probably did not expect Shao Qing to take the initiative to speak to him. A bit bashful, he replied: “Someone really important gave it to me.”
“Someone you like? Can I see it?” Shao Qing had an indescribable love towards cold weapons (weapons that use pure physical attacks). She had once bought a specialized cabinet to place short weapons. Inside, she filled it up with a variety of military knives, daggers, etc.
Meng Shen hesitated for a moment then handed the dagger over to Shao Qing. Taking the dagger, Shao Qing looked at the dagger carefully. This dagger was a weapon meant for killing. A typical dagger that was for collecting and looking wouldn’t generally be sharpened and for those privately sold daggers although they would be sharpened, they wouldn’t be up to standard.
The back of the knife and it’s shaft’s gorgeous motifs would easily cause people to misunderstand that this dagger was for admiring; however, from the edge of the blade to the tip, it was all made for the purpose to kill.
Shao Qing loved plum blossom daggers that were sharp on both sides. At the point where you grab the dagger, there was a crescent moon shaft to protect the blade. The model was extremely exquisite. The crucial point was that this plum blossom dagger was most suitable for a woman to use.
The first dagger she obtained was a short dagger that was only sharp on one side. It was a gift from an instructor. At that time, she wasn’t used to using an military thorn. Thus when she went out for missions she would rely on this dagger. Unfortunately, for one mission she had gotten heavily injured and had lost that dagger.
No matter how Shao Qing looked at it, the dagger looked very familiar. It really resembled the dagger she had first lost. Just when she wanted to look at it in detail, Meng Shen softly said: “That... have you finished looking?”
Seeing Meng Shen’s expression that seemed as if she wanted to fight him for his dagger, Shao Qing passed back the dagger. Then she asked: “Where did you get that dagger from? It looks very nice.”
“Someone gave it to me.” Meng Shen hesitated and then replied. Taking back the dagger, he tenderly wiped it and then finally placed it back into its sheath.
“I see.” Shao Qing didn’t say much, she just indifferently said: “Looking at that dagger, I thought it looked very familiar. Something that I saw ages ago.”
Meng Shen’s eyes lit up, then he repeatedly asked: “You’ve seen it? Who was using it? Are you able to find her?”
Shao Qing quickly analyzed what Meng Shen said, then finally probed: “When I saw it at that time, the nickname of the dagger’s owner was someone called Qing.”
“Yes, that’s her!” Meng Shen’s cheek was slowly becoming scarlet and lively. You couldn’t even see his calm appearance from before. “Where is she now? Are you able to find her?”
Shao Qing didn’t answer his question and just asked back: “How did you meet her? How did that dagger end up in your hands....”
Meng Shen was a bit hesitant. After quite a while, he revealed a face as if he had cut off all means of retreat and replied: “Actually, I don’t know her. In fact she was wearing a gas mask at that time. At that time, I was a research worker in charge of pharmaceutical research. We had just studied an anti-cancer medication. However, before we were able to hand over our results a spy had stolen it.”
Thinking back to that, Meng Shen’s expression was a bit icy: “Because of that accident, the research institute was blown up. I was stuck under a rock and it was her.... Qing saved me. That dagger was something she left behind for protection.....”
After finishing, his icy expression in a flash was melted away by his tender feelings. Seeing this, Shao Qing couldn’t help but shudder. Because of those urgent circumstances, Shao Qing simply did not have enough time to send Meng Shen out. At that time she could only contact people for support. After getting rid of the slab of rock on top of Meng Shen, she could only place him where someone could assist him and then go off after the spy.
At that time, she had left the dagger to Meng Shen. Originally she wanted to retrieve it after all these events. However because of that time’s injuries she ended up in the hospital for three months. She had broken three ribs, her leg got a fracture, and the rest of her injuries didn’t even need to be mentioned. After she healed she was discharged from the military.
As a result she never got the chance to take back her dagger.
Shao Qing wasn’t prepared to tell Meng Shen that she was Qing. Those were things of the past and she didn’t want to bring it up. Seeing Meng Shen’s hopeful eyes, Shao Qing who wanted to originally say that Qing died couldn’t bear to say it and changed her words: “She received some injuries. After she recovered her body just wasn’t able to continue to do these strenuous missions so she retired. I heard that she has already returned back home and got married and had kids.”
Meng Shen’s mouth opened wide, but nothing came out. Lowering his head, his face couldn’t conceal his look of disappointment. After a long while did he say: “Knowing that she is living well, I can be at ease now. Originally.... Originally I wanted to return the dagger to her.”
“She doesn’t need it anymore.” Shao Qing stood up. “I’m going to see if food has been made.”
Meng Shen nodded his head and tightly held onto the dagger. There were some things that just can’t be forgotten. Every night when he fell asleep, he would recall that fair hand gently pulling him. Even though smoke filled the air, he could still smell that light fragrance off her body.
Many times, he had tried to ask around for the people who participated in that mission. However, Shao Qing was part of the secret unit. There was simply no information at all. The only thing Meng Shen knew was that she was called Ah Qing.
After so long, when he thought he would never find her and that he wouldn’t find anymore or get anymore news, Shao Qing had told him that the person he has been searching for in his dreams has already retired to go home and had gotten married.
In the end it was a illusory one sided love. Perhaps even when he died, Qing wouldn’t know that there once was a person who fell in love at first sight and couldn’t forget her.
Seeing Shao Qing was soon about to walk up the stairs, Meng Shen couldn’t stop asking one last thing: “Her real name. What is it?”
Shao Qin paused. Shaking her head she continued up the stairs. Yan Hanqing donned an apron when he came out of the kitchen. The apron was supplied by Shao Qing. Small flowers scattered around, it was definitely designed for a maiden in mind.
At the beginning, Yan Hanqing was quite shy. However, now he can indifferently wear that apron and be a cooking husband.
“I’ve made Bao Bao some warm milk. Do I need to add some sugar?” Yan Hanqing asked. Shao Qing thought about it, then thinking about Xiao Baozi’s preferences she said in a loving manner: “Just a spoonful. Anymore and he won’t be able to digest it and he’ll just spit it out.”
Yan Hanqing nodded his head and turned around to add more sugar. His back nice and broad resembled a mountain’s sturdiness, overflowing people with a sense of security.
Seeing him wearing a cream belt, it looked a bit funny. Yet Shao Qing felt warm and at ease. A person who is like her, used to going through fire and water, hovering between life and death, the thing they hope for the most is warmth, a sense of security.
Therefore when Lin Qifan showered her with tenderness, she had fallen so quickly. At that moment she had thought she had finally found that one thing she could count on. She had found that one man who willingly wants to support her.
It was only later did she find out, that some men had a tender outer coat and was used to sweet speech and honeyed words, but have thrown away their conscience to the clouds.
Leaning against the door frame, Shao Qing sighed: “If only the person I met first was you, then everything would be a lot better.”
Yan Hanqing’s hand trembled, spilling half of the spoonful of sugar in. He silently stirred the spoon in the milk, trying to be careful to not spill any. After a bit he stopped the fire and and took the hot milk pan off the fire.
“I’ll go wake up Bao Bao.” Shao Qing didn’t lament on anything and returned to her room. She naturally did not see the tender gaze Yan Hanqing was giving her.
After waking Xiao Baozi up and having him finish the milk, Shao Qing wiped off Xiao Baozi’s milk stache and lifted him up then carried him outside.
The air in the early morning still wasn’t good. It had a gloomy stench to it as if the entire world was in the process of molding.
By the time Xiao Baozi and Shao Qing finished going for a stroll, people just awoke to eat. Shao Qing who originally wanted to check if there were any wild game to catch brought Xiao Baozi back. Once they arrived at the second floor, Shao Qing saw that one of the superhumans were ordering around one of the recently saved women.
He had purposefully ordered the woman to clean up the gruel that had fallen on the ground. As soon as the women stooped down, she would reveal her fair ravines. Moreover since their clothes do not fit properly, there would be a brief flash of her lower back. But whether it was her waist, chest, the numerous tiny scars or the purplish hickeys; all of these overlapping in Shao Qing’s eyes made it a thorn in her eyes.
Reaching out to cop a feel, before he could touch the woman’s butt, Shao Qing had already used her whip to whip his arm. That one move gave the back of his hand a wound that was about two fingers wide and one finger in length. At that time he gave a loud shriek causing the people downstairs including Yan Ruru to come see what happened.
The first thing he did was withdraw back. Feeling a bit guilty, he later noticed that his scar was becoming more inflamed. Lifting up his head in anger, he threw daggers with his eyes towards Shao Qing: “What do you think you’re doing? What did I do to provoke your anger? For what reasons did you make a move against me!”
Not giving Yan Ruru any face, the vine within her hand was ruthlessly brandished. Hearing the sharp sound of the whip breaking the wind allowed everyone to witness how ruthless her attack was.
That man was completely frightened and immediately tried to erect a wind shield. However, the shield couldn’t withstand even a second of the attack and immediately shattered. Following which the vine without showing any mercy at all landed on his face. The man was directly thrown to the side.
Yan Ruru frowned. She hadn’t seen the earlier events, so she was a bit frustrated regarding Shao Qing’s merciless attitude. Extending her hand she said: “Please wait. Captain Shao. Did my brother (not actual) provoke you in some way? Why are you treating him this way?”
Shao Qing calmly replied: “If Captain Yan can’t take care of her subordinates, then I don’t mind helping you out. Please immediately give those women to me. Over on my side, even though they would be required to do some chores, they at least won’t be played with by men.
Yan Ruru was stunned for a moment then frowned: “What are you talking about? What just happened?”
Shao Qing pointed at the woman kneeling on the ground and coldly sneered: “I think you should be asking your ‘good’ brother what he had just done.”
Being whipped on the face, he was completely swollen. Once he opened his mouth, three teeth fell out. Infuriated, he reproached: “Didn’t I just order her to clean up the floor? What’s wrong with that?”
“Does wiping the floor mean having their bums touched?” Shao Qing indifferently replied: “Just now, your good brother attempted to molest her. While five or six of them were just watching from the side for entertainment. I don’t think that these women staying over at your side would receive any protection at all. Instead it would be like leaving the tigers den to enter the wolves mouth. They really deserve to have some pity.”
Seeing Shao Qing’s taunting gaze, Yan Ruru who was originally angry immediately became embarrassed. She had a clear understanding of Shao Qing’s temper. She wasn’t the type to lie, so if Shao Qing had said it in addition to the scene, they were all enough to prove what had happened.
All at once, Yan Ruru’s rage rose up. Pulling out the whip on her waist, she used it to hit the still arguing noisily man on the other side of his face causing it to swell as well. Opening his mouth, another three teeth fell out when he spat out blood.
Giving a chilling sweep all around, she coldly said: “Didn’t I say it before? No one is allowed to touch these women, we have to treat them like our camerades. What are you guys doing?”
The ones looking directly at Yan Ruru immediately lowered their heads, some felt ashamed while others just couldn’t bear with the pressure Yan Ruru was exerting on them. “Captain Shao, I am terribly sorry that something like this occurred within my squad. However, I can make an oath that this kind of thing will never happen again.” Yan Ruru swore.
“Give him to me.” Shao Qing pointed at the man on the ground. Anyone with eyes could tell that she had murderous intentions. Yan Ruru hesitated for a second. She knew that if this man fell into Shao Qing’s hand, he definitely would not have a good ending. He was her subordinate, her brother. Even though he had made a mistake, he didn’t deserve to die for it.
That person was getting a bit panicky. Both sides of his face swollen, all the words that came out of his mouth were unclear, but he was still able to convey his intention clearly: “Boss, you can’t hand me over to her! She’s a demon! She definitely will kill me!”
Shao Qing didn’t care what he said at all. She merely faced Yan Ruru and repeated: “If you have no means of punishing him then hand him over to me. This matter can’t just be forgiven like this.”
Yan Ruru gritted her teeth: “Captain Shao, I know he made a mistake, but.....”
“He just made a mistake?” Shao Qing sneered, then she brandished her whip towards the woman kneeling on the ground. The women got frightened, her jacket torn apart.“All the men close your eyes. Anyone who peaks.... I’ll make sure that they can never open their eyes again.”
Shao Qing’s voice was calm, not sounding threatening at all, yet everyone’s movements were instant. They all turned their heads, none daring to peak.
Yan Ruru then noticed that this woman had only undergarments under her coat. Her body was covered with scars and marks that were all new. This meant that it was only after arriving here that someone had forced something on her.
In that second, Yan Ruru’s eyes became red. With incomparable calmness, Shao Qing asked the woman: “What happened last night? You can tell me. In front of me, no one is capable of threatening you or would dare do anything to you.”
The woman hugged her chest and after a long time did she numbly reply: “Last night, he came into my room and tried to rape me. When I tried to resist, he said that my sisters and I were rescued by him. Being used is only natural. Even if I were to tell anyone, no one would punish him. On the contrary he would retaliate on my sisters and I.”
No matter her voice or expression, they were all numb and emotionless. She had originally just escaped from the tiger’s den and thought she has finally been saved. Yet, she had discovered she had actually fallen into a wolves nest.
Having hope then to be met with disappointment, it would only give way to more despair.
Yan Ruru also became apathetic. Covering her face with shame, after a long while did she step forward to take off her own jacket to cover the woman: “This is my fault. I will leave him for you to deal with.”
The eyes of the man on the side immediately enlarged. “No! Please no! Boss you can’t do this!” He had seen Shao Qing kill before. She was exactly like a demon, fierce and savage.
Yan Ruru didn’t say anything or give him another eye. She was only filled with disappointment and fatigue. She had never thought that someone from her own squad would be capable of such animalistic things.
The vine in Shao Qing’s hand immediately extended forward tying up that man who was attempting to escape and slowly dragged him towards Shao Qing.
That man who had begged Yan Ruru earlier, now seeing that she wasn’t going to change her mind, began cursing at her: “It’s no wonder they said that B*tches are merciless! Now I know! After risking life and limb together for so long, just because of one woman, one woman who had been ridden on by thousands, you are handing me over to the devil! Pah! You’re a f*cking b*tch!”
Yan Ruru’s body trembled with anger. She repeatedly tried to curb her anger, grinding her teeth: “So this is how you think of me....”
She wasn’t angry that he was cursing her, instead it was because in his eyes those women who received so much torture and humiliation had became his pretext and excuse.
Since they have already been toyed with so much, since they have already been raped, because he is a high and mighty superhuman and she is a tiny member of the squad, there isn’t any harm in playing around?
That kind of thinking, that is no worse than a beast!
The thing that made Yan Ruru even more furious was that there was still someone holding her back trying to dissuade her: “He’s our own brother, how could that woman be more important than him? In any case he didn’t murder anyone, he just did it with her once right? Getting beaten up like this should be punishment enough.”
“Do you guys also think like this?” Yan Ruru angrily stared down at those people. Those people couldn’t help but turn away to avoid eye contact.
Shao Qing’s voice fell into her ears: “I told you. Just leave this for me to handle. Aah.... I’ll make sure that everyone will be ‘satisfied’.”