Chapter Eleven: Catching a Turtle in a Jar

Sayyid Ghad gathered a total of six people, preparing countless jars and bottles, all done behind the back of his father, Darius. The flammable materials included not only ointments, but also, to Ding Li’s delight, rock oil water. According to the Tang classic “Youyang Miscellany,” rock oil water is slick, floating on water like lacquer, collected for lubricating carts and fueling lamps, burning with intense brightness—it is what we would call fierce fire oil, an old term for petroleum.

Additionally, Ding Li raised funds among the group to buy some black powder. Although the proportions were problematic and its destructive effect less than ideal, Ding Li was confident it would be enough to deal with the likes of Old Leprosy Five, especially since his aim was rescue, not massacre.

Once everything was ready, Ding Li instructed everyone to split up, agreeing to meet near the docks. Excitement surged as each set out with their assigned supplies, eager for the journey ahead.

As the hour of midnight approached, the city was silent, yet the docks remained brightly lit. The sound of waves against the shore grew clearer, and Ding Li led his companions to the rendezvous point designated by Old Leprosy Five—a two-story wooden house at the dock, its front yard fenced, covering about a hundred square meters, crowded inside and out with over a hundred henchmen.

On the second-floor open wooden balcony, Dogzi, the Wang brothers, and others who had followed Ding Li were bound, hands tied and suspended in midair. Little Li, wounded, fared slightly better, tied to a wooden pillar on the balcony. Yet all had clearly received a warm ‘welcome’; save for the occasional sway of ropes in the sea breeze, they hung their heads, unconscious.

“Damn it! That beast Old Leprosy Five!” Ding Li, seeing this from afar, turned and punched a nearby sack with fury, cursing harshly. He looked at Sayyid Ghad and the others, solemnly reminding them, “Remember—once you hear the explosion, rush out and throw everything you brought in. No matter what happens, wait for my signal at the agreed spot. Do not linger!”

“Don’t worry, Brother Li!” These were Sayyid Ghad’s childhood friends, and they admired Ding Li deeply. The upcoming action made their blood boil; none paused to consider the consequences.

“Let me go with you, Brother Li!” As Ding Li turned to leave, Sayyid Ghad grabbed his arm, eyes full of hope.

“You’re needed here more! I can handle it alone inside.” Ding Li refused without hesitation, freeing himself, and strode toward the two-story wooden house.

“Hey! Brothers, did you hear the news?” Outside the wooden fence, several bored guards leaned on their iron rods and machetes. One waved his blade, voice lowered in gossip, “I heard from the Five Lord’s men that Fist Lord and Leg Lord died horribly! Leg Lord lost a wrist, Fist Lord lost his jaw, and neither made a sound before dying!”

“Really? Lost a jaw? How does that stop him from shouting?” A tall, dark-faced man scoffed at the story, “It’s not like his tongue fell out—he could still scream. Whoever spread this is talking nonsense!”

“Well, but—” The storyteller faltered, realizing the retort had logic but unwilling to concede in front of the others. He stiffened his neck, retorting, “You don’t get it! If the jaw’s gone, the tongue can’t stay either! If he can’t speak, the tongue’s gone too!”

“Ha!” The tall dark-faced man sneered, and the others laughed, clearly unimpressed by the forced argument. One stout guard, however, remained grim, and hearing the banter, coughed and barked, “Quiet down! At a time like this, you dare gossip? What if Five Lord hears and skins you alive?”

This warning worked wonders. In their minds, they cared little for who ruled Lingnan or who sat on the imperial throne, but the name of Old Leprosy Five was more daunting than the King of Hell himself.

“That kid’s here!” The stout guard glanced forward, surprise flickering in his eyes, then quickly ordered, “Go, tell Old Leprosy Five that Ding Li’s here!”

As he spoke, Ding Li strode to the gate, scanning the guards inside and out with contempt, a sneer curling his lips. He barked, “Ding Li is here! Tell Old Leprosy Five to come out and meet his end!”

“Damn you! You dare call Five Lord’s name?” The braggart guard, eager to prove himself, seemed to forget the fearsome tales about Ding Li or perhaps relied on the strength of his brothers. He raised his machete, swaggering toward Ding Li, cursing, “You dog! How dare you be so arrogant at death’s door? Who are you to call Five Lord by name?”

“Seeking death!” Ding Li’s lips moved; a flash of murderous intent gleamed in his eyes. He lunged forward, grabbing the man’s wrist before the guard could react, twisting it with a ruthless, practiced maneuver—a crisp crack pierced the quiet.

“Ah!!”

The guard’s wrist bent at an unnatural angle; his machete dropped. As he instinctively bent to protect his wrist, Ding Li struck again, sidestepping and lifting the man by the jaw, spinning and slamming him to the ground. Ding Li’s right hand gripped the jaw, left fist raining three savage blows onto his face. The cries stopped abruptly; the guard kicked feebly, then ceased moving, eyes rolling back, blood and two white teeth spilling from his mouth.

“Next! Who else?” Ding Li shook the blood from his fist, his fierce gaze making the crowd retreat, clearing a path for him. Yet they pressed forward again, for behind them, Old Leprosy Five himself emerged.

“Ding Li! You dare come?!” Old Leprosy Five was surprised at Ding Li’s arrival—he had made it clear he meant to kill him, expecting Ding Li to abandon his friends. Even after hearing the report, Old Leprosy Five felt a jolt of admiration upon seeing Ding Li in person.

Still, the enmity remained; Ding Li had once infiltrated his mansion for an assassination and sent his left and right hands to the grave. Such a dangerous man could never be allowed to live.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Ding Li’s gaze was unwavering, meeting Old Leprosy Five’s eyes. He glanced at Dogzi and the others hanging from the balcony, unwilling to waste time, and said coldly, “Old Leprosy Five, do your words mean anything? It’s before midnight—I, Ding Li, am here! Shouldn’t you release them first?”

“Hmph! Just a few worthless fish—I’m not bothered by them!” Old Leprosy Five was straightforward, waving at his men on the balcony, “Release them!”

Though Ding Li despised Old Leprosy Five’s bluster, he held his tongue, focused on rescue rather than scoring verbal points.

Old Leprosy Five kept his word, not making things too difficult for Dogzi and the others. Their wounds were mostly superficial and did not impede their movement.

“Dogzi, Wang De, are you alright?” After his friends hobbled over, Ding Li scanned them with concern, then saw Little Li dragged out by two guards, his heart sinking. He whispered urgently to Dogzi, “Take Little Li and leave at once…”

Dogzi, the Wang brothers, and others looked at Ding Li with tearful gratitude. Knowing their presence would only hinder him, they followed his instructions, took Little Li from Old Leprosy Five’s men, and quickly left the courtyard.

“So, won’t you invite me in? Is this how Old Leprosy Five treats his guests?” Once his friends were gone, Ding Li relaxed, scanning the surroundings, especially as he heard the wooden doors close behind him. He smiled, taunting Old Leprosy Five with a grin.

“Hmph!” Old Leprosy Five, unwilling to lose face, snorted, feigning courtesy by gesturing for Ding Li to enter, his leprous face twisting into a devilish grin, “Heh! Brother Li, honored guest, how could I not invite you in?”

“You’re too kind, Old Leprosy Five! I dare not presume!” Ding Li, unruffled, mimicked the gesture and strode into the house.

This two-story wooden building was Old Leprosy Five’s stronghold at the docks. Though packed with sacks and crates, it was spotless inside, surprising Ding Li—he had not expected the leprous villain to be so tidy.

From outside, the true size of the house was not apparent, but inside, Ding Li was astonished—it was a full three hundred square meters, with a staircase to the second floor stretching thirty or forty meters. The entire ground floor was crowded with Old Leprosy Five’s men, as many as outside, lining the stairs and wielding various weapons, all with razor-sharp blades that gleamed coldly in the firelight.

“Brother Li! Let’s get to business!” Old Leprosy Five followed Ding Li inside, keeping a cautious ten-meter distance, flanked by more than a dozen trusted henchmen, as if only this could guarantee his safety.

“Please, Old Leprosy Five, go ahead!” Ding Li nodded casually, but his feet were busy, pacing and observing every corner. Though seemingly careless, he absorbed countless details, piecing together the scene in his mind, rehearsing his next moves and responses again and again.

“Brother Li!” Old Leprosy Five grinned, right hand rubbing the jade ring on his thumb, exuding the air of a seasoned underworld chief as he asked quietly, “Have you ever heard of catching a turtle in a jar?”