Are We the Villains?

A cool wind slipped through the branches and leaves, quietly enveloping the entire camp.

Hyoga returned alone, his expression grave, and strode quickly over to Tsukasa.

He reported everything he had seen to Tsukasa.

After he finished recounting what had happened, the air in the forest seemed to grow colder.

Tsukasa Shishio stood motionless, an oppressive aura hanging around him. After a long silence, a faint smile slowly curled his thin lips.

"So... Senku really is alive."

And that woman who calculated every move had undoubtedly played a part in this plan.

Tsukasa's gaze darkened, a fierce possessiveness flashing in his eyes as he murmured.

"Li Xiang."

"I really can't let you go, Li Xiang."

That woman was far harder to deal with than Senku. She never played by the rules, always turning desperate situations around, breaking through one obstacle after another, and repeatedly throwing all his plans into disarray.

If he did not eliminate her soon, she would undoubtedly become his greatest rival.

A thousand miles away at the village camp, Li Xiang, who was leisurely enjoying the show, suddenly let out a loud sneeze.

She rubbed her nose sharply and looked around in confusion.

"Who's bad-mouthing me behind my back?"

She shrugged casually, thought nothing of it, and continued watching Homura, who was still unconscious against the post, looking utterly relaxed.

Before long, Senku strolled over, his gaze falling on Homura, who was trussed up and securely bound to the wooden post.

The slender girl was tightly wrapped in hemp rope, making her look rather pitiful.

Senku immediately put on a sincere, harmless, gentlemanly expression, furrowing his brows slightly as he spoke with just the right touch of helplessness.

"How could you tie up a girl? Isn't that a little heartless?"

Anyone who did not know better would have taken one look at his gentle, upright expression and thought him kind and considerate.

Watching his masterful performance, Li Xiang rolled her eyes dramatically, silently roasting him.

What an actor.

He's the most devious person here, and now he's playing the nice guy, pretending to be a gentle gentleman.

Li Xiang saw through the act but could not be bothered to call him out.

Senku cleared his throat, wiped the amusement from his face, and walked slowly up to Homura, asking in a calm, deliberately polite tone.

"Miss, may I ask whether you're a spy sent by Tsukasa?"

By then, Homura had slowly regained consciousness. Her head was still a little fuzzy, and the hemp ropes around her body left her unable to move.

Even as a captive, she remained defiant, her eyes stubborn and her lips pressed together.

"I won't tell you anything."

As Hyoga's subordinate, she was fiercely loyal. She would rather die than reveal a scrap of information and looked ready to hold out to the bitter end.

Seeing her stubborn refusal to budge, Li Xiang could not help chuckling, amusement flickering in her eyes.

"I've seen plenty of this whole 'death before surrender' act."

Won't respond to kindness or threats? Not afraid of torture? That's fine. I've got plenty of ways to make people talk.

The next moment, a bright, wicked smile spread across her lips, and she spoke airily.

"If you won't talk nicely, we'll just have to torture you."

"What?!"

Chrome froze on the spot, instantly growing nervous. Assuming she meant some brutal punishment, he broke into a cold sweat.

Everyone present braced themselves to witness a harsh interrogation, and the atmosphere immediately grew tense.

But no one had expected what Li Xiang meant by "torture."

She walked slowly up to Homura and, under everyone's astonished gazes, gently took off her shoes.

Her pale, delicate soles were exposed to the air, utterly defenseless.

Then, holding a soft, slender feather between her fingertips, Li Xiang flicked her wrist and lightly brushed it against Homura's soles, slowly stroking and sweeping it back and forth.

She was actually-tickling her feet!!!

It might have looked useless... but it was unbelievably ticklish.

(I deliberately tried it before writing this, and I nearly laughed until my stomach cramped... if you're ticklish, don't try it lightly...)

At first, Homura gritted her teeth and endured it, clinging to her pride. As the feather tickled her, she kept her body rigid, refusing to show any weakness and intending to hold out until the end.

But she had underestimated how devastating this gentle torture could be-and underestimated Li Xiang's crafty technique even more.

With just a few probing strokes, Li Xiang pinpointed the most ticklish spot on her soles.

She pressed lightly against it with her fingertips while sweeping the feather back and forth, applying just the right amount of pressure to strike her weakness.

"Hahaha... let go... let me go!"

The overwhelming tickling shot from the nerves in her soles straight to her head. It was an utterly irresistible physical reflex, more torturous than pain.

Homura could no longer maintain her cold, stubborn facade. Her defenses crumbled instantly, and she laughed until her whole body shook, tears streaming down her face as she nearly choked.

Her earlier resolve to face death without flinching shattered completely.

"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!!"

She laughed until her body went limp and her breathing turned ragged. Unable to withstand this maddeningly gentle torture any longer, she begged frantically for mercy.

"Yes! Tsukasa sent me! I came to gather information and watch your movements! I'll tell you everything! Please stop tickling me!"

Only after seeing her completely break down and surrender did Li Xiang withdraw her hand, looking perfectly calm.

"If you'd confessed nicely from the start, you wouldn't have had to suffer."

Chrome, Gen, Kohaku, and the others, who had watched the whole thing, were speechless.

"Ginro, Kinro."

Li Xiang turned to the two brothers.

"She's in your hands. Keep a close eye on her, and don't let her find a chance to escape."

The two acknowledged her orders and kept constant watch over the prisoner.

Once that small matter was settled, the mood in the camp grew heavy, with none of its earlier ease remaining.

Li Xiang let the amusement fade from her face and turned to Senku beside her, speaking solemnly.

"Starting today, we're officially at war."

"Tsukasa now knows all our arrangements and what we have up our sleeves. There's no room left for either side to back down."

Senku's gaze sharpened slightly, and he nodded. "Right. There's no avoiding it now."

"With our current strength, equipment, and numbers, we won't be able to withstand a head-on assault if Tsukasa mobilizes everyone. Our chances of winning are too low."

In a direct clash, they were no match for Tsukasa Shishio's fighting force.

"So we have to strike first," Li Xiang said firmly.

Passive defense would leave them constrained at every turn. Only by taking action could they seize control of the battlefield.

Senku turned to look at her, curiosity in his eyes. "What plan have you come up with this time?"

Li Xiang considered it for two seconds, then clearly laid out her entire plan.

"There are two things we need to prioritize right now. First, cure Ruri completely."

"Second, plant a mole and win people over to our side, undermining Tsukasa's camp from within."

"I believe Taiju and Yuzuriha can handle it, but it's still not guaranteed, so we need to make other plans too."

"Hehe..." Li Xiang had thought of a good idea.

If we can't beat them head-on, we'll play dirty.

Senku slowly nodded at her words. "Yeah, you're right. We need to get both of those things moving."