Chapter 28: The Runaway Princess (Part I)

Startled by Zhang Tiejun’s sudden question, Sakurai Akira hesitated, her tone tinged with nervousness and unease. "It’s nothing, really. I’m just heading to Feiniaodu to meet a friend."

"Meet a friend?" Zhang Tiejun found that hard to believe.

Clearly, Sakurai was not a skilled liar; her eyes darted around, flickering with evasion.

"Though the war has ended, the red flag still flies in my heart."

Having undergone patriotic education during his time in the army, Zhang Tiejun did not dismiss her when he sensed something amiss. In his mind, the belief that one should never forget the fate of the nation, regardless of one's humble station, was no empty platitude.

"Feiniaodu is still over thirty miles of mountain trails away," Zhang Tiejun said, lowering his voice deliberately. "Besides, wild boars are incredibly vengeful. Those shots earlier didn’t kill it; it’s likely to retaliate. Most importantly, here in the Guandong Mountains, wild beasts won't spare you just because you have a pretty face."

After a mix of coaxing and intimidation, Sakurai immediately grew quiet. She knew he wasn't exaggerating—if it hadn't been for...

Knowing that he had to use leverage to uncover what the Japanese girl was hiding, Zhang Tiejun began to play a game of cat and mouse. He stood up, swaying slightly. "I saved your life, and now you’ve helped me in return, so we’re even. Go that way, climb over those two ridges, and you’ll be there."

"Wait!"

Seeing that Zhang Tiejun had no intention of looking back, Sakurai, still shaken, called out to him immediately.

"I can pay you."

Zhang Tiejun feigned mystery. "Money? This is the Guandong Mountains. Money can’t buy back a life. Besides, how much money could a poor student like you possibly have?"

Sakurai began frantically searching her clothes, only to realize she was penniless.

Zhang Tiejun offered a playful smile. "It seems you have no reason for me to stay."

Feeling her lifeline slipping away, Sakurai pleaded, "Mr. Zhang, please! My friend is very wealthy; he will give you plenty of money."

Sensing the fire was stoked and the final push was needed, Zhang Tiejun acted with a hint of flippancy. "I’m not really interested in money. I’m quite interested in you, though. Would you consider that?"

"Ah!" Sakurai retreated two steps, clutching her collar tightly. At that moment, her fear of Zhang Tiejun was even more intense than her fear of the wild boar.

As Zhang Tiejun stepped closer, Sakurai kept backing away. "Don’t come any closer, or I’ll scream!"

"This is the Guandong Mountains; no one will come to save you," Zhang Tiejun suddenly felt a whim and blurted out a classic movie line: "Even if you scream until your throat breaks, no one will come to your rescue."

Due to her overwhelming fear, Sakurai didn't look behind her and was immediately tripped by a vine.

Landing hard on her backside, she scrambled backward until she hit a giant boulder, then grabbed a pistol from the ground and pointed it at Zhang Tiejun with trembling hands.

"If you come any closer, I’ll shoot!"

Zhang Tiejun offered a friendly reminder: "You haven't disengaged the safety on that gun, and you haven't changed the magazine."

As his sturdy frame drew closer, Sakurai closed her eyes, resigned to her fate.

"Alright, get up."

Zhang Tiejun’s magnetic voice echoed, and Sakurai widened her eyes, looking at him in disbelief.

"I was just joking with you. I’ll take you to Feiniaodu for one 'Da Tuanjie' (ten-yuan note)." Zhang Tiejun laid out his standard fee.

Having survived the ordeal, Sakurai stared blankly at the righteous-looking young man, unsure how to respond.

"If you're not going, I should warn you: once it gets dark, there will be wolves here."

Spooked by this threat, Sakurai sprang to her feet. Though she didn't know what kind of person Zhang Tiejun truly was, it was better than being alone.

"Where are we going?" Sakurai asked in a low voice.

"To my safe house. We must get a fire going before it gets completely dark."

The safe house Zhang Tiejun referred to was the cave he had found when he first entered the Guandong Mountains. With pine branches covering the entrance, the cave had remained undisturbed by beasts.

Soon, a campfire was crackling under Zhang Tiejun’s care.

Taking this opportunity, Sakurai took a good look at the cave. The roe deer meat, dried by the wind for several days, had already lost its moisture.

"Eat something."

Zhang Tiejun cut a piece of the meat with his dagger and handed it to her.

Sakurai initially wanted to refuse, but her growling stomach and the savory aroma of the meat proved too much to resist. She took the piece and began to eat ravenously.

"This is delicious. Even better than sashimi."

"Sashimi is best when it's fresh; this is quite different."

Sakurai put down the meat and looked at Zhang Tiejun with an expression of disbelief.

"Mr. Zhang, you understand Japanese?"

"I know a few simple phrases."

"That’s truly remarkable. Mr. Kawakawa says that the Chinese are the most resilient people when it comes to learning and enduring hardship. Now that I see it, it is indeed extraordinary—a mountain dweller who knows so much."

Zhang Tiejun didn't take the flattery to heart. He asked, "You were looking for a friend; why did you come to the Guandong Mountains?"

Sakurai hesitated, biting her lip. "I came with my friend, but we got separated."

"Was it that Mr. Kawakawa?"

Sakurai looked at Zhang Tiejun in alarm, wondering if she had let something slip. "How did you know?"

"Observation. I’ve seen high school girls; to keep their things organized for class, they keep everything in a shoulder bag. You don’t have one. We are over 150 miles from Hunchun. Judging by your appearance, you must be from a wealthy family. You couldn't have walked here alone. Most importantly, when you mentioned Mr. Kawakawa just now, your tone was very certain. He must be important to you—is he your lover?"

"No, he is my butler," Sakurai said with admiration. "Mr. Zhang, if not for your clothes, I wouldn't believe you were a hunter. Mr. Kawakawa and I got separated."

"Then why aren't you going to find him?" Zhang Tiejun countered.

"He told me not to look for him, but we agreed to meet at Feiniaodu," Sakurai said, bowing her head.

"Feiniaodu has been abandoned for a long time. If that’s where you agreed to meet, it means whatever you are doing cannot be discovered by the government. There is an official road from Hunchun to Feiniaodu, but you didn't take it; you took the Guandong Mountains, which means your mission is highly covert," Zhang Tiejun continued his analysis. "Are you sure there is nothing else you want to tell me?"