Ding Wu refused to have such a brother-in-law!
Although when fighting Japanese pirates in Xinghua City, Ding Wu had seen Wang Daxia in even more alluring and flirtatious forms, and even admired Wang Daxia’s spirit of willingly sacrificing his appearance to eliminate the White Lotus Sect and Japanese pirates, thinking him too dedicated to his work.
But at that time, Banxia and Wang Daxia had no formal relationship, and Ding Wu never thought of treating him as a brother-in-law. When it doesn’t concern oneself, when the knife doesn’t cut one’s own flesh, one doesn’t feel the pain. Now with Wang Daxia calling him “big brother-in-law” at every turn, Ding Wu felt uncomfortable all over, thinking he wasn’t worthy of his own sister.
Ding Wu asked, “You’ve already married my sister Banxia. As a husband, you should stand tall and upright—why are you dressed like this again?”
Wang Daxia sighed softly, with a helpless expression like “forcing a good person into prostitution.” “I don’t want to be like this either, but Lu Ying said Sect Leader Zhao Quan has seen my face. If I’m recognized, you’d be in danger. If I disguise myself as a woman, even if I walked right up to Zhao Quan, he wouldn’t know who I am—it’s less likely to arouse suspicion.”
Hearing it was Lu Ying’s request, Ding Wu had no objections and asked, “Where is my sister?”
Ding Wu was a principled man, and his principle was Lu Ying. Lu Ying’s judgment was never wrong—Wang Daxia should indeed disguise himself as a woman.
Wang Daxia also missed his newlywed wife. Having been forcibly deprived of his honeymoon and compelled to accept a new mission, he said, “She wanted to come to Fengcheng to open a medicine shop. I strongly opposed it—this is enemy territory after all, too dangerous. So I convinced her to temporarily stay with General Qi as a military physician. When you and I arrange a time, she’ll be escorted by Lu Ying, disguised as a merchant selling rouge and powder, to meet you at the medicine shop in Fengcheng.”
General Qi was Qi Jiguang, who had already been urgently transferred to guard the northern frontier.
Hearing this, Ding Wu felt somewhat comforted. “You did well. This is indeed a place of trouble. Though I very much want to see her, it’s better to have her come here less often.”
Wang Daxia raised his orchid finger and swept aside the loose hair at his temples. “Naturally—a man cherishes his own wife.” Wang Daxia always protested verbally, but his heart had long entered the role, every frown and smile full of charm.
Ding Wu pretended to be blind and didn’t see, saying, “Since I’ve come out, I must buy some things to take back. Help me choose a few to give to Third Madam.”
Wang Daxia recalled Jin Ying’s appearance—eyebrows like distant mountains, skin like highland snow, lips pale and light like early spring cherry blossoms. He took from the counter deep gray Qingque eyebrow powder, almond cream for moisturizing, whitening, and brightening the skin—made from almond oil mixed with four o’clock flower powder, finely ground mica flakes, clam powder, borneol, and other ingredients—a box of hibiscus powder decorated with gold and silver leaf, and two bottles of hand lotion.
Ding Wu didn’t understand makeup. He pointed at the most expensive spiral shell eyebrow powder in the counter. “This should be the best, right? Why give the second-grade Qingque eyebrow powder instead? That’s the well-traveled Third Madam we’re talking about.”
Wang Daxia refused to change the goods. “Spiral shell eyebrow powder is too black—suitable for Banxia but not for Third Madam. This Qingque eyebrow powder has a grayish color, more suitable for her features. Also, this almond cream already contains powder—it keeps skin moist while adding rosy brightness to the complexion. After applying this, don’t use additional powder. This hibiscus powder shouldn’t be applied to the whole face—just sweep it on the cheeks like rouge for the best complexion.”
In his memory, Jin Ying always wore a cold expression, looking somewhat pale.
Hearing Wang Daxia speak so expertly, Ding Wu felt increasingly uncomfortable: How could my sister fall for him! He consoled himself: “It seems you’ve learned quite a lot in preparation for infiltrating Fengcheng in this trade.”
Wang Daxia said, “Over the years I’ve gained some benefits from disguising myself, often dressing as a woman, gradually figuring out some insights. These past three years, I’ve often done Banxia’s hair and makeup. I can style even the most complex hair arrangements, and everyone says the makeup I do for Banxia looks beautiful. When the brothers need disguises for missions, they all come to me for help. Everyone has different skin foundations, so they need different rouge and powder. That’s why I opened a rouge shop—besides fighting, this is all I know how to do.”
Wang Daxia deliberately showed off his skills to his brother-in-law. “This business is quite profitable. I calculated it makes more money than opening a medicine shop. In the future, if I don’t work for the Embroidered Uniform Guard anymore, I can support my family with this skill. The more skills you have, the more paths you have. Banxia married me and will never worry about food and clothing for the rest of her life.”
Ding Wu was speechless for a moment, trying to think positively: Fine, consider this your advantage. Who told my sister to like you specifically? Since they’re already married, I can only accept you as my brother-in-law and can’t create trouble for Banxia, making her caught in the middle.
Wang Daxia skillfully cut matching silk fabrics and wrapped each cosmetic item properly, handing them to Ding Wu.
Ding Wu asked, “How was business today?”
Wang Daxia was honest: “Counting your order, big brother-in-law, this is the grand opening.”
And he talks about supporting the family! This is drinking the northwest wind!
Ding Wu couldn’t help but give some advice: “Stop cracking sunflower seeds at the door with improper posture—anyone can see you’re not from a respectable family. What proper woman would buy things from your shop?”
Wang Daxia had an epiphany. “So that’s it! I was wondering why my recent big customers were all girls from the street corner coming in groups, plus several men with bad intentions asking roundabout questions about where I used to do business. Turns out the business they’re referring to isn’t my current rouge and powder business, but flesh trade.”
Ding Wu asked him, “How did you respond?”
Wang Daxia said, “I just said ‘Don’t ask where this slave returns to’—only talk business, nothing else.”
Well then, Wang Daxia had inadvertently basically confirmed that his previous trade wasn’t anything respectable.
Seeing Ding Wu’s ugly expression, Wang Daxia quickly swore to heaven, “I’ll never greet customers like that again—I’ll obediently stand behind the counter waiting for business. Big brother-in-law must believe me, I’ve always kept myself pure as jade for Banxia.”
Ding Wu said, “You spend all day rolling around in cosmetics and powder. I hope you don’t fool around. You should know my sister’s methods best. If you dare harm her, I won’t speak for you.”
From the Chen Qianhu father-and-son double murder case to the clever assassination of Yan Shifan with dancing mushrooms on Mount Wudang, Wei Caiwei had maintained a perfect killing record. Dare to cuckold my sister, and your head won’t be safe.
Facing his brother-in-law’s threat, Wang Daxia quickly swore to heaven to show his loyalty: “I will definitely uphold the way of a husband—though I pass through flowers, not a single leaf touches my body.”
Ding Wu arranged with Wang Daxia to meet Banxia the day after tomorrow, then took his gifts to the Khan’s court.
Lu Ying escorted Banxia to Fengcheng. Passing through Bansheng territory, they saw the farmland cultivated by fifty thousand White Lotus Sect followers, deep wells dug and irrigation channels built to mitigate drought damage to crops, as well as heavily fortified earthen fort villages. Witnessing the White Lotus Sect’s strength in Fengcheng firsthand, they realized how heavy Ding Wu’s vow “won’t return until the White Lotus is destroyed” truly was.
This was truly too difficult!
Without seeing it personally, they couldn’t feel the nearly desperate pressure Ding Wu faced daily in enemy territory. The journey was eye-opening and deeply shocking, especially for Wei Caiwei. After meeting, she couldn’t suppress her worry: “Big Brother Ding, the White Lotus Sect’s power here is deeply rooted—not something achieved overnight. When will you be able to return?”
Would Big Brother Ding have to spend his entire life here?
Seeing Ding Wu living so hard, Wei Caiwei didn’t even notice Wang Daxia’s little movements under the table: he had taken off his embroidered shoes and was using his feet to hook and entwine her legs—a technique he’d learned from his rouge shop’s big customers, the girls. Wang Daxia was still in his newlywed passion, and after being separated for several days, he was hungry for his wife.
Wang Daxia’s heart was with Wei Caiwei, Wei Caiwei was concerned about Ding Wu, and Ding Wu’s gaze fell on the faint scar on Lu Ying’s face as he said:
“You’ve also seen those sect members working in the fields—mostly farmers who lost their land in the Central Plains, deceived by the White Lotus Sect into coming here to open wasteland for survival. They’re all just trying to survive, honestly farming, self-sufficient, not stealing or robbing—they’re not bad people. Those like Sect Leader Zhao Quan who’ve done endless evil deeds, leading Tartar armies to invade their own homeland, are after all a minority. Not everyone in the White Lotus Sect is bad.”
Lu Ying’s face was full of killing intent as he said, “Then we’ll only execute the chief culprits—eliminate those bad people who act as guides, and the remaining ordinary sect members won’t be a threat. You make a list, and we Embroidered Uniform Guards will take action. Remove these sources of trouble, and there’ll be no one to guide them. When Tartar armies invade the border again, it won’t be so easy.”
That was… also a method. Though the Tartar armies were brave and skilled in battle, Qi Jiguang, responsible for border defense, was a legendary general, but he was new to the post without his familiar Qi Family Army. Reorganizing and training troops would all take time.
Ding Wu had been infiltrating the White Lotus Sect for seven years and knew the evil people and deeds within the sect like the back of his hand. He took up his brush to write the list, using up a stack of paper, binding it into a volume.
Lu Ying roughly counted—there were over a hundred people! These people had betrayed their country and hometown folks—their crimes deserved death.
Wang Daxia stretched his neck and fingers, making crackling sounds. “Finally, no more mixing cosmetics and powder—there’s real work to do. Let’s eliminate these traitors together.”
Lu Ying said, “Let’s call it Operation Locust—exterminate these pests that harm the country and people.”
Wei Caiwei said, “Count me in. I brought many ‘good things’ this time. The sooner we eliminate these locusts, the sooner Big Brother Ding can come home.”
She couldn’t just focus on her own happiness with Wang Daxia. Looking at Ding Wu made Wei Caiwei’s heart ache. In the previous life at this time, the Ding family had already been vindicated, with official status and family property returned. Ding Wu had returned to the capital from his exile in Tieling, reunited with his father Ding Rukui who was released from the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison, restored to his status as an official’s son. He was finally free, traveling everywhere from then on, carefree and at ease.
In this reborn life, Ding Wu had taken on the responsibility of destroying the White Lotus Sect, his body in purgatory, his heart toward the human world. Wei Caiwei decided that this time she must rescue Ding Wu from purgatory. In this life, we must all be happy—not one left behind.
Ding Wu held the list, explaining in detail each locust’s position and residence within the White Lotus Sect. Hearing someone pounding on the main door, Wang Daxia said, “There’s a customer buying things. I’ll go see and send them away.”
Wang Daxia walked to the main hall and said through the door, “Sorry, the shop is taking inventory today. Come back tomorrow.”
The person outside said viciously, “Open the door quickly! Searching for Daming spies!”