Chapter Seven: She Needs a Home

Fan District, the enclave in Guangzhou Prefecture where foreign merchants gathered, was alive with crowds of outsiders: blue-eyed and green-eyed foreigners of every complexion and build roamed the streets in groups. Open-air barbecue stalls lined the roads one after another—there were Persians, Arabs, and even people from the nations stretching across Europe and Africa.

Those who could afford to live here were either wealthy international traders or long-term residents who had settled to seek their fortunes. Most were drawn by the splendor of the Tang Empire, and some families had been rooted in this land for more than a century.

Take Sayyid Gad, for example. Rumored to be of Arab, Persian, and Tang descent, he kept his Tang name unchanged, claiming he could not forget his ancestors. Yet after so many generations in Tang, the memory of his forebears had long since faded.

Ever since Ding Li arrived at his door late at night, carrying Liu Sheng in his arms, Sayyid Gad knew something serious must have happened. He asked no questions, however, and simply made up a room for Liu Sheng and prepared a simple supper before joining Ding Li beneath the banana tree in the humble courtyard.

“Brother Li, just tell me what you need me to do!” Sitting on a worn stone bench, Sayyid Gad cut straight to the point without hesitation. His means were modest, but to ease Ding Li’s mind, he had stolen a small jar of wine from his father’s cherished cellar.

“No need, I can manage myself.” Ding Li still felt a certain unfamiliarity with him. He had come only because Fan District was unique; neither Lai Wu nor Master Liu San, nor any of their backers, could easily reach into this place.

He lifted a luminous cup, imported from overseas, and in the moonlight, the dark wine within gleamed like blood. He took a sip, the bitter taste lingering on his lips like the trace of freshly spilled blood. He licked his lips; the bitterness echoed the unrest within his heart.

“Brother Li, don’t treat me like a stranger! I’ve said it before—my life is yours!” Seeing Ding Li’s reaction, Sayyid Gad grew anxious. He didn’t fear the Ciren or Chaozhou gangs, but he did fear Ding Li venturing alone into danger.

“If you truly think so, then help me take care of Sheng’er.” Ding Li’s gaze was calm as he shook his head, then sighed and explained, “My greatest worry now is Sheng’er. Since Lai Wu and his men have tracked me down, they must already know my background. Sheng’er is my only concern. Only when she is truly safe will I have no worries. And your home is the only place I can trust right now.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Li! My wife will stay here, and no one will find out. Even if my father comes, I won’t say a word!” Sayyid Gad stood up, thumping his chest in assurance. Ding Li responded by standing as well, fixing him with a searching look before solemnly placing a hand on his shoulder and speaking in a low, grave voice, “Brother, I’m entrusting this to you. Nothing can happen to Sheng’er.”

“Leave it to me, Brother Li. As long as I live and my home stands, not even a hair on her head will be harmed!” Sayyid Gad puffed out his chest once more, as if to show Ding Li his resolve. Then, with a sudden start, he pressed, “How many men do you need? I’ll go gather them!”

He turned to leave, but Ding Li stopped him with a gesture and a confident smile. “No need. Do you have any good weapons? Give me two, preferably short daggers—only the best.”

“Weapons? Oh, I have plenty!” Sayyid Gad was momentarily stunned, then nodded eagerly. He started to turn but spun back, fixing Ding Li with a serious gaze. “Brother Li, I’ll give you the weapons and won’t call for others, but you have to take me with you. Otherwise, I can’t help you.”

“You…” Ding Li was taken aback by his stubbornness, but realizing he could use a guide in this unfamiliar city—and seeing Sayyid Gad’s earnest sincerity—he finally nodded his assent.

The weapons were imported, not the finest but certainly excellent Arab blades. Ding Li, accustomed to military daggers, chose a few exquisite short knives from Arabia and grabbed a straight Tang sword, testing its balance with practiced ease.

By the time they left Sayyid Gad’s house, midnight had already passed. Fan District remained lively, but most revelers were too absorbed in their pleasures to notice the two men in tight-fitting garb. Yet before they stepped out, Ding Li’s methodical arming had so astonished Sayyid Gad that he was left speechless.

“Brother Li? Where did you learn that? You look just like the heroes the storytellers describe!” Sayyid Gad, a native of Tang but never farther than Fuxu Port on the South Sea, stared at Ding Li’s outfit. He couldn’t help but recall the tea house tales of silent assassins dressed in black, armed with cold blades.

Ding Li, unsure how to explain, felt a tinge of regret; he missed the times when, as a special forces operative, he had access to the finest gear—one custom dagger alone was worth a commoner’s yearly wages.

He patted the dagger at his waist, flexing his legs as he walked, and finally felt somewhat reassured. Catching Sayyid Gad’s curious look, he only smiled, shook his head mysteriously, and quickened his pace.

Once beyond Fan District, the city streets grew deserted. After walking a short distance, Ding Li glanced around, then pulled Sayyid Gad into a dark alley.

Before setting out, he had already studied the city’s terrain with Sayyid Gad at home and memorized every detail. Now, he needed no reminders; in fact, he led the way through twisting alleys with such confidence that Sayyid Gad, half-dazed, could barely keep up. In less than fifteen minutes, they reached the southern city.

Ding Li’s purpose was clear: vengeance. Lai Wu’s residence was well known in Guangzhou—few in the southern city owned such a grand estate, and the bright red lanterns at the gate burned all night. Even at this hour, servants and guards stood watch inside and out.

He told Sayyid Gad to wait in the depths of an alley while he went alone to reconnoiter.

Half an hour passed. Just as Sayyid Gad grew anxious, a hand clapped his shoulder, startling him into swinging his blade behind him.

“It’s me.” Ding Li appeared like a ghost, deftly catching his wrist. His eyes shone in the darkness.

“Brother Li, you nearly scared me to death!” Sayyid Gad gasped, retrieving his blade and staring at the bundle in Ding Li’s hand. “What’s this?”

“Put it on. Servant’s clothing from the household—so we can blend in.” Only then did Sayyid Gad notice Ding Li had already changed clothes. He eyed him curiously, then slipped away to change.

“I thought we’d just storm in and kill that old fox!” Sayyid Gad grumbled as he tied his belt, trying to mask his nerves. His hands, however, moved quickly, as if all his hope for survival depended on this disguise.

“First, we deal with Northern Leg. I just learned where he is.” Once Sayyid Gad was ready, Ding Li jerked his head in the direction and strode off.

“How did you find out, Brother Li? Did you sneak into Lai Wu’s estate? Are we really going in, just the two of us?” Sayyid Gad’s courage faltered. He had always relied on the support of his fellow foreigners to stand against Lai Wu. Now, with only Ding Li for company, his steps grew hesitant and his tone unsteady; regret was written all over his face.

Ding Li’s lips curled in a sly smile. He lowered his voice, stopped, and turned to Sayyid Gad with grave seriousness. “Yes. Since Lai Wu won’t let me live in peace, I won’t let him either. Tonight, we go in and kill him.”

“Brother Li!” Sayyid Gad grabbed his sleeve, panic-stricken. “No, we can’t! There must be at least a hundred men inside—how can the two of us fight them? It’s not that I’m afraid, but what about Sister Liu Sheng? If something happens to us, what will she do alone?”

“If I don’t deal with Lai Wu, he’ll eventually target Liu Sheng.” Ding Li had intended to tease him, but as he spoke, his heart grew heavy. Murderous intent flashed in his eyes, cold and quiet as ghostly fire in the night.

“We have no home, nowhere to settle. How can I let Liu Sheng live in constant fear beside me?”

With that, Ding Li made his decision—not only to rid the people of a scourge, but more importantly, to protect the only one he could rely on. The only solution was violence against violence, the simplest and most effective method.

“Brother Li, maybe…” Seeing Ding Li lost in thought, Sayyid Gad tried to persuade him gently. “Maybe we should think of another way? Don’t worry about Sister Liu Sheng—she’s safe in my home.”

“No need to think further. My mind is made up.” After a moment’s silence, Ding Li’s eyes regained their steely focus, shining bright in the darkness with resolute determination. “She needs—must have—a home of her own. Even if it’s small and shabby, as long as it shelters us from the wind and rain, and there’s no more fear, that’s enough.”

With that, he pressed on without another word or hesitation. After a few steps, he paused and tossed out a question, his tone light: “Sayyid, have you ever heard of special forces?”