"Liu Baigu, military official of the fifth rank, holder of the highest military guan for bravery displayed in the battle near the Lake of Sincere Joy. The guan granted to him sounds like 'General Who Crushes Enemy Schemes.' Under his command are more than five thousand warriors, including the 'Hundred Giants'—cutthroats who are fearless in battle and ready to die for their commander. Three hundred cavalrymen who use qi-charged arrows at long range and lance charges up close. Nearly a thousand crossbowmen with new crossbows that allow them to shoot farther, more accurately, and reload faster. Formally he reports to the Imperial Court and chancellery, but in reality... in reality his men don't let officials with papers from the Imperial Court pass, don't obey them, and there are suspicions they kill those who insist," Lu Jizhen provides the information and brings a cup of hot tea to his lips. He carefully sips and places the cup on the table. He looks around. From the height of the terrace of Madam Shin's establishment, a wonderful view opens up, he thinks. If only there weren't this necessity to meet in person... he couldn't stand personal meetings. What's wrong with everyone that they can't just exchange scrolls? After all, no one will ever crack his cipher. A cunning invention of his grandfather, a hereditary Hidden One. Such are born once in ten thousand years, and the current Hidden Ones aren't fit to carry the shoes of their predecessors... what can you say.
"Suspicions?" raises an eyebrow the head of the Imperial Silent Cries division in Chanyuen County, known to the world as Bai Yong. "Only suspicions?"
"Yes. Such officials simply disappeared without a trace in his domains. I believe they were killed. Liu Baigu forced the neighboring county to cooperate, effectively captured the city of Lanyin, and now he's spreading his influence to Chanyuen as well. Nothing special so far, but in the city and on the roads you can increasingly see people who talk about how there are no taxes in the neighboring county and you can hide from justice. If before, vile people fled to the forests or mountains, to bandits, now they move to the neighbors, to Lanyin."
"Who is the second participant in this secret meeting?"
"The younger heir of the North Star clan, Tong Langzi. High nobility, included in the Imperial registry of 'One Hundred Families.' The heir himself passed the first stage of the Emperor's Examinations, received a mark of distinction, and also reached the fifth level of cultivation, the so-called Earthly Step. A genius of the clan, winner of the strategic game on Luoyang field. Granted the guan 'He Who Stays One Step Ahead of the Enemy,' a civilian guan, though it relates to the battlefield. He was a fourth-class civil administration official, but left service for family reasons. Nothing more is known about him. However!" Lu Jizhen raises his finger upward. "There are thoughts."
"Thoughts later. For now, let's have facts. Liu Baigu, the general and troublemaker, and Tong Langzi are holding a secret meeting in the brothel 'Spring's Freshness' on the border of the counties?"
"There's another participant in this meeting," Lu Jizhen covers his face with a fan, knowing that right now a smile is playing on his face. No, he could refrain from smiling—he knows how to control his facial muscles perfectly—but right now he can't deny himself the pleasure of teasing this pompous Bai Yong. The Hidden Ones always felt some rivalry with the Silent Cries; they are natural enemies, one side spies, the other counterintelligence. And though their interests don't intersect for now, pulling the tiger's whiskers has always been a pleasant and refreshing occupation. So he thought, and therefore covered his face with a fan and smiled behind it, so that his eyes would give away the smile.
"Who else... who is the third participant in the secret meeting?" Bai Yong asks dryly, betraying none of his irritation.
"The third participant is one Wang Mi Baoshu, Head of the Wang Mi family. A landowner. A very wealthy man. They say his family owns almost a third of the county, trading rights for salt and spices, toll-free passage on roads, and of course any cultivation secrets that can be bought with money. Alas, but Master Baoshu is not an official, he wasn't granted a guan, he didn't take the Imperial examination... but does anyone doubt that he's an influential man?"
"Hmm. Military force from Liu Baigu, Heaven's Will from the North Star clan, and money from the Wang Mi family," says Bai Yong and closes his eyes. He's irritated by the necessity of dealing with the Hidden Ones, he's irritated by this effeminate Lu Jizhen in his expensive robes with a jade hairpin in his hair, he's irritated that he can't eat or drink anything in the presence of a Hidden One... better to be careful. Therefore, on his way to Madam Shin's establishment, he drank a cup of soup at a roadside tavern so as not to feel tempted. And this peacock Lu Jizhen deliberately set the table with his favorite dishes and sweets. Another way to say "I know everything about you, Bai Yong, even that you love sweet rice balls and fried beef in thick sauce so much, and here's your favorite wine—I know this too."
"What else?" asks Bai Yong, pushing away his teacup. Rude, yes. But when dealing with someone like Lu Jizhen, it's a necessary precaution. The favorite weapon of Hidden Ones is poison. For him to put anything in his mouth while sitting at the same table with this smooth-talking bastard—he'd rather throw himself straight down from the tea terrace, death would be faster and simpler.
"You're being unfair, honorable Bai Yong," his companion shakes his head. "When will you get to try such tea again? I can swear that nothing on this table is poisoned. Although... your choice. What else? There's a lot of news, respected Bai Yong. A caravan with valuable cargo disappeared on the mountain trail—those little bandits from Tian Mountain are acting up again. In the ancestral lands of the Azure Phoenixes, located near Chanyuen, a peasant community rebelled. Their little heir has been in the habit of visiting peasant weddings and raping brides, confirming the right of first night. Well, and whoever among the men objected—he killed, of course. So the people rebelled. Lady Crimson Lotus from the 'Spring's Freshness' house was bought out of the brothel and married, so the Silent Cries lost another informant. By the way, I heard that the money for the bride's ransom was lent by one Wang Mi Baoshu... apparently he was so moved by the sincere love of these two. Oh yes, last night they stabbed some vagrant near the same brothel... and the incident doesn't seem very interesting, except they found a Silent Cries tattoo under his armpit."
"That doesn't interest me," says Bai Yong, maintaining a stone face. Inside he just cursed. Crimson Lotus is married. The network of agents in the 'Spring's Freshness' brothels is crying, and it took such effort to recruit this willful girl—nothing helped, neither money nor threats. Had to find her old mother, then she broke, when they brought her a severed finger... and now she's free and even married. As for old Guangji, tested for decades—he knew. And was very saddened by this death. If Crimson Lotus was a pawn, albeit an important one, but a pawn on the xiangqi board, then old Guangji, the Ghost of Silent Cries, was a queen. Damn! A cursed game that none of them can quit anymore. Dangerous games sometimes end just like this—with a knife under the ribs and in some ditch.
"What else?" this unbearable Lu Jizhen raises his gaze upward and carelessly scratches his head. "Oh yes! A new genius appeared in the North Star clan. Already third rank of cultivation in just five years. They say the North Star pleased the gods somehow, so they get talents on a silver platter. If it continues like this, our political landscape will change very dramatically."
"What did they talk about at the meeting?" Bai Yong asks the most important question. He must know exactly what the Hidden One knows. On this will depend whether he leaves here peacefully, or whether he, Commander of the Imperial Silent Cries unit, Bai Yong, will still have to kill this Lu Jizhen. The Hidden One has undoubtedly prepared for the meeting, but in direct combat he's no match for him. Bai Yong is a fourth-rank cultivator, his guan is "Executioner of the Iron Fist," he can tear apart this weakling with bare hands in an instant. And he will do so—if it turns out this Lu Jizhen knows too much.
"What did they talk about? Let me think," Lu Jizhen again raises his gaze upward. "What can three men talk about over a bottle of plum wine? Surely they discussed the charms of the girls at 'Spring's Freshness,' even a pity that Crimson Lotus left. However, I hear rumors that Shy Little Ice and Dazzling Star are no less beautiful and refined than she was. Though there are rising talents there too, I think one should visit this glorious house with lovely girls—right after I get my money from Master Bai Yong."
"There's not much information here," Bai Yong replies, relaxing slightly. "I knew about the meeting myself. And you knew I knew—you yourself mentioned that beggar who was stabbed. So I know about the fact of the meeting. Which means your goods are spoiled. Taking money for three men talking about fallen women? If this money is even enough for you, it'll be for the oldest, ugliest, and sickest whore you can find in the cheapest brothel in Chanyuen. Sorry, but I think I'll go. Just wasted time." He gets up and demonstratively brushes off his clothes. From the sharp movement, his head spins slightly.
"Well then. Fair enough," Lu Jizhen sighs, widening his eyes and pretending to be upset. "Indeed. However, besides discussing the charms of respected Shy Little Ice and charming Star, they also talked about how to destroy a certain Azure Phoenix clan."
"Is that so?" Bai Yong sits back down. Perhaps he'll still have to kill this Hidden One. There will be problems with his comrades, but this can be resolved. After all, behind him stands not only the title of Commander of Silent Cries, but something else as well.
"Oh yes. They spoke about how this clan's influence is too great and they seriously offended Liu Baigu somehow, and he's not the kind of person to tolerate such treatment. Besides, if you remove the Azure Phoenixes from the board, then Chanyuen will fall into General Liu's hands like an overripe fruit. The North Star clan has been feuding with the Azure ones for three centuries now, they hate each other so much they won't even sit near each other at the Emperor's reception. And let's not forget about the forced marriage of the Wang Mi family's adopted daughter to the heir of the Azure Phoenix clan, that same Xian Fenghuang, whose third wife has already died. Under mysterious circumstances. The Azure Phoenixes simply bent this Wang Mi over their knee to make him bow... everyone understands that this wife will also disappear under mysterious circumstances. Everyone knows what heir Xian is capable of, everyone remembers how he punishes his erring servants. And even though the daughter is adopted, it's still unpleasant that they'll flay her skin there and then pickle her in salt solution. Like a slap in the face. So these three at 'Spring's Freshness' are united not by love for feminine charms, but by hatred for the Azure Phoenixes. Which will soon lead to war between them and the Phoenixes."
"What else did you hear?" asks Bai Yong, realizing there's no turning back. This Lu Jizhen knows too much. And he won't leave the tea room with the terrace from which there's such a beautiful view. A bit awkward before Madam Shin, he'll have to do everything quickly, without destruction, without noise. Just kick this table straight at the Hidden One, and then, when he bends from surprise—smash his skull with the Iron Fist. Or pierce his chest—if he doesn't bend. He won't have time to escape, acceleration is already applied, perception heightened, his hands have already become deadly weapons. But first he needs to find out how much he managed to learn.
"Liu Baigu is preparing his army for campaign. The North Star clan will provide their fighters, high-level cultivators—the clan can field up to a hundred fighters with body enhancement and skin and bone strengthening, and some above fourth level of cultivation. As for old Baoshu from the Wang Mi family... he managed to surprise me. He will send poisoned bait to the Phoenix clan. His adopted daughter is a vessel for a qi bomb, for the 'Flash of Ten Thousand Suns.' As soon as she arrives at the Phoenixes and good heir Xian spreads her on his rack to flay her skin, or whatever that sick bastard does—after the first touch of the torture instrument to her skin, the spell-bomb will be released. Everyone knows about the qi shield, the famous 'Dome of Four Beasts' that protects the Phoenix stronghold... well, this 'Flash of Ten Thousand Suns' is designed to destroy the amulets bearing the shield. And of course—kill whoever it can, though I doubt it will manage to kill many, after all the heir will most likely lock himself with her somewhere in the basement. However, no one expects that one such spell will be enough, but Liu Baigu's troops and the North Star clan warriors will be waiting for this flash, and as soon as the shields fall—they'll immediately attack the Azure Phoenix stronghold. That's the plan. It will only cost old Baoshu one adopted daughter. However, I suppose no one asked the girl anything."
"You learned unexpectedly much," Bai Yong admits, clenching his fist and pumping it with qi energy. "This is amazing."
"That's not all yet," his companion smiles with his irritating smile.
"Not all yet? You continue to amaze me, Lu Jizhen. To expose a conspiracy against the Azure Phoenix clan, effectively representatives of the Emperor's power on these lands, help the investigation punish these criminals... and that's not all? Today you truly earned your money. And a bonus. Apparently the beauties from 'Spring's Freshness' will indeed have a meeting with you..." says Bai Yong, thinking that he feels a bit sorry for this Lu Jizhen. He simply learned too much. But the plan doesn't tolerate failures, can't depend on chance. The death of one Hidden One is an acceptable price for the plan's execution. Even if there were a hundred of them.
"Yes, that's not all yet. I must confess I was surprised that the Commander of the Imperial Silent Cries Unit knows nothing about such things. Because Liu Baigu's troops aren't exactly hiding much. How do you hide five thousand armed men? And the meeting at 'Spring's Freshness' should have been visible to someone like respected Bai Yong. Yes, Crimson Lotus quit and got married, but she should have known about the meeting... just about who was coming. Not about the content, of course. As for the beggar found with a knife wound, well, if anyone, the Ghost of Silent Cries, Master Guangji, couldn't be discovered so easily, much less killed so simply. At minimum, the person who killed him had to be better than he was. And excuse me, sinner that I am, but there aren't many such people in our city. One of them is sitting across from me." Lu Jizhen hides his face behind the fan.
"You're good, Hidden One," escapes from Bai Yong as he stands and clenches his right hand into a fist. "I hope you won't try to run away or beg for your life."
"Oh no. I know that running from Master Bai Yong is useless. At least not with my level of development... and besides, I was never particularly good at martial arts. I'm afraid I'll just get tired. I would simply like to know, Master Bai Yong—why?"
"I think there will be no harm if I tell you," says Bai Yong, grabbing Lu Jizhen by the collar of his silk robe with his left hand, drawing his right back and pumping his fist with qi energy. "You're going to die now anyway. You understand this, don't you?"
"I understand. I sincerely ask Master Bai Yong to burn paper money on my grave on the day of remembrance, for I have no heirs."
"You're amusing. You ask why? Because the Emperor is far away and his power has long been gone. There are only us, the Silent Cries. The Azure Phoenixes crossed the line, managing everything here as if they were the Imperial clan. Their people oppress the people, commit atrocities and violate Heaven's Will on our lands! The Emperor can do nothing about this, but we—we can! Therefore I decided to help these three noble men cleanse our lands of the filth that is the Azure Phoenix clan!" With these words, Bai Yong struck forcefully directly at this Lu Jizhen's head, squinting slightly in advance, expecting blood spatters in all directions when the Hidden One's head would burst like an overripe melon.
"What's this?!" His fist didn't splatter his opponent's head—it was stopped by a hand! A hand!
"The qi in your body won't obey?" the Hidden One asked gently. "Sticky taste in your mouth? Head not spinning? It's harmful to move so quickly in such a condition."
"What?" Bai Yong steps back. The qi indeed refuses to obey, pumps into the meridians but won't release with the strike. And... his head is spinning?
"But... I didn't eat or drink anything..." strength leaves him and he sits on the floor, clutches his chest, tearing his clothes. "How?"
"I swore to you that everything on this table is not poisoned," Lu Jizhen replies, sitting down beside him. "But I said nothing about the soup in that tavern you visited before this."
"Ah you... you work for the Phoenixes, bastard?!" Bai Yong forces out the words. "They betrayed Heaven's Will! I wanted to bring people freedom and peace!"
"But of course," his companion shook his head. "Of course. And the fact that the Wang Mi family gave you a bribe of ten thousand gold ingots and also promised a share in trade—that doesn't matter. You're an honest man and do everything in the name of Heaven's Will. And I'm a mercenary and serve those who pay more. That's all."
"Be damned... may you..."
"Shhh... it's all over, all over, all over. Everything is already finished. Close your eyes, Master Bai Yong. You know, if you hadn't decided to kill me—we could have come to an agreement. After all, I have no attachment to either side. After all, I'm a mercenary."