Little Pink Starfish

Do You Know What a Secret Mission Is?

Yu Xiaoxiao tossed aside the head guard she had been holding and, in a blur, landed in front of the second-in-command. Eyeing the chubby girl in his arms, she asked, “You brought a woman back too?”

The second-in-command choked. Who else brought a woman back?!

The chubby girl got a good look at Yu Xiaoxiao and suddenly let out a bloodcurdling scream.

The second-in-command rushed to comfort her. “Don’t, don’t scream—we’re the good guys!”

When Yu Xiaoxiao ran over, she had put her face covering back on. But in the girl’s mind, only bad guys covered their faces. Good people did things in broad daylight—what were they hiding from?

The louder she screamed, the more cold sweat poured from the second-in-command’s brow. She was fine just a second ago! What happened?

Yu Xiaoxiao, ever decisive, saw the girl wouldn’t stop screaming. So she raised her hand and knocked her out with a single slap.

“I…” The second-in-command had been about to explain he was a good man, but seeing the princess knock the girl out without a second thought, he shut up.

Just then, the guards from Huixin Bank caught up.

The second-in-command, still holding the unconscious girl, ducked behind Yu Xiaoxiao.

Some of the guards had seen Yu Xiaoxiao’s terrifying strength firsthand. These big burly men immediately regretted chasing her. Are our bones stronger than stone?

“How did you get spotted?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked the second-in-command.

Could he admit he’d been abandoned by his own brothers?

“Covert operation,” Yu Xiaoxiao said seriously. “Do you know what a covert operation is?”

The second-in-command shook his head. “Princess, I’m only used to plain old robbery.”

“You can’t run home during a mission,” Yu Xiaoxiao instructed. “This is when you’re supposed to plant false evidence.”

The second-in-command blinked. “So… who should I frame?”

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Whoever we have beef with.”

“Oh…” He thought for a moment. “Prime Minister Zhao?”

Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. “He’ll do.”

“So… are we going to the Zhao estate now?”

Yu Xiaoxiao gave it a moment’s thought. Yes, this plan was solid. She reached out and grabbed him. “Let’s go.”

“Oh my God!” The second-in-command screamed as he found himself flying through the air. He clutched the chubby girl tightly, terrified she’d fall to her death.

Seeing the two take off again, most of the Huixin guards slowed down deliberately—aside from the few who had seen Yu Xiaoxiao’s strength, no one wanted to be the first to die.

The rest who had witnessed her power just stood there, dazed. We can’t beat her. Why even try?

A short while later, Gu Xinglang arrived with a team of Gu family guards. Without waiting for orders, they charged forward and surrounded the remaining bank guards.

“We’re not the bad guys!” one guard shouted.

Two others lifted Gu Xinglang forward on his lounge chair so he could better see the group.

“Middle of the night,” Gu Xinglang said coldly, “walking around with torches and weapons—what are you up to?”

The guards quickly shouted back, saying Huixin Bank had been robbed and they were chasing the criminals.

Gu Xinglang frowned. “Nonsense. My estate is on this street. How come I didn’t see these supposed criminals?”

A tall guard pointed in the direction Yu Xiaoxiao and the second-in-command had fled. “They ran that way!”

Gu Xinglang looked in that direction and held back a sigh. What’s my wife up to now?

“You’re the prince consort?” one guard had sharp eyes. With all the noble houses in this area, the only man being carried like royalty must be the Gu family’s prince consort.

“Beat them,” Gu Xinglang ordered flatly.

The Gu guards surged forward, fists flying. The Huixin guards shouted in protest, but no one cared.

Gu Xinglang then led another squad toward the direction the tall guard had pointed.

By the time Yu Xiaoxiao and the second-in-command reached the Zhao estate, they first stashed the unconscious chubby girl on a nearby rooftop, then walked boldly to the front gate.

Everyone in Fengjing knew the Zhao estate. The guards from Huixin Bank saw the mansion from afar—and froze.

The second-in-command whispered, “Princess… those guys stopped chasing.”

“Why?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked. She was right here, just waiting to be caught. Why weren’t they charging forward?

“They’re probably scared of Prime Minister Zhao,” the second-in-command said.

Yu Xiaoxiao turned to look at him.

He nodded. “Princess, lots of people are afraid of him.”

“Cowards,” Yu Xiaoxiao muttered, glaring at the frozen guards. “Bunch of cowards!”

“Right? No guts like us,” the second-in-command agreed. (Though let’s be honest, would you be standing here if the princess wasn’t? ==)

“So, what do we do?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked him.

He looked at the Zhao estate beside them. What do they do now? Set the place on fire too?

“No,” Yu Xiaoxiao said, lifting him by the collar. “We’re going in.”

“In-in the Zhao estate?” the second-in-command stammered.

“If we don’t go in,” Yu Xiaoxiao reasoned, “how do we plant evidence?”

He thought for a second. Fair point. If we don’t go in, how will those Huixin guards believe we’re from Zhao’s side? Of course, wasn’t the princess mortal enemies with Zhao?

“We can’t do things halfway,” Yu Xiaoxiao praised herself, dragging him toward the gates.

The second-in-command raised his hand to knock.

“No need,” Yu Xiaoxiao said.

With a single push, she snapped the giant iron-reinforced wooden bar—thick as a man’s thigh—in two. CRACK!

The Huixin guards in the distance watched the pair stride into the Zhao estate like it was their backyard. Wait… are you telling me Prime Minister Zhao robbed the bank? What is happening anymore?!

As expected, the massive noise alerted the estate guards. Seeing two masked figures stroll in through the broken main gate, the Zhao guards were stunned. Sure, the Prime Minister’s luck has been bad lately, but come on—even robbers are targeting him now?!

The second-in-command muttered to Yu Xiaoxiao, “Looks like we’re gonna have to fight.”

“You are—”

One of Zhao’s guards stepped forward to demand their identities, but Yu Xiaoxiao appeared in front of him in a blur and slapped him straight into the ground.

Don’t ruin the fun with shouting, okay?