Chapter 3: The Mission

[Quan Mo Ran]

A high-ranking feudal official started on his way home late one night. He had been busy the whole day and had to stay late to finish reporting criminal cases. Having realized how late he would stay at the Ya Men, he ordered his right-hand man to return home without him.

The official walked down the cobblestone road and whistled as he enjoyed the quietness of the night. By now, the streets were empty and void of life. The wind picked up as he passed dark, silent shops. The red lanterns that hung from the shops swayed back and forth unsteadily. The feudal official pulled his robe tighter around him as the wind became stronger. Tonight, the moon was shining brightly with no signs of clouds. He felt his neck hairs stand up, and he stiffened.

Someone was watching him.

Trying to act nonchalant, he kept walking. He glanced to the side and saw a shadow following him a couple paces back.

Pushing down his nervousness, he asked, "Why are you following me?"

There was no answer.

The feudal official slowly turned around. He came face to face with a cold, black mask shaped like cat eyes. Except for the man's menacing black eyes and his mouth, his facial features were entirely covered.

"W-who are you?" The official stuttered.

The man's lips cracked into a malicious smile. "I'm one of the innocent souls you killed! I've come for revenge!" With that, the man stabbed the official in the stomach. Blood spurted on the walls.

*************************************************************

A shadow walked through the empty cobble streets of Yong Ping City, his black cape fluttering behind him. The figure weaved around the city and made his way to the biggest pleasure house.

Two stories high with red columns on both sides supporting the porch, it had a big sign that read, 楼花楼Lotus Tower. At the doorway, there were many women who waved him in and reached their hands toward him. He ignored all of them and pushed their hands away.

Inside the building, there were round tables where men sat and women entertained and served them. In the middle of the room, a group of women who had their faces covered and thin clothes hanging on their arms were dancing. Men came here to have fun and become drunk. On the surface, Lian Hua Lou appeared to be just an ordinary brothel, but that was just a cover for something more sinister: a black market.

The owner of the pleasure house came to greet him. The mysterious figure strode toward the counter while the owner trailed behind him. Once they had arrived, the man went behind the counter. "What can I do for you?"

The figure barely glanced at the owner as he pulled out a golden metal card with a black character '王'on it. The man's eyes flew open in surprise but he quickly recovered. "This way please." He lifted his arm in front of him to his left side so as to show the figure the way.

"Stay there," the figure ordered. "No need to walk me there. I know my way."

"As you wish," the owner bowed.

The dark figure walked to the back of the building where a room was prepared. The room was set apart for people who wanted to do black business. The figure entered a room that had a marble table and chairs made of deep colored wood. On the table was a pot of tea and some small round cups placed on a tray. Behind the table sat a man who had an unkempt, long brown beard with different colored beads woven into it. His hair, likewise, was woven into many braids with beads in them and tied into one high ponytail at the back of his head. He wore a strip of animal fur from his right shoulder to his left thigh. The man was surrounded by a group dressed much like he was.

Throwing a round object wrapped in cloth on the table in front of the group, the object landed with a thump. "There's the human head you wanted," the figure said as he pointed at it. The man at the table immediately opened the cloth bag and there, soaked in blood, was a head. He smiled as he closed up the cloth bag. "I've heard of your reputation. Today I can attest that your name is well deserved! It is no wonder that you are hailed as Lian Hua Lou's best assassin!"

"If there is nothing else you want me to do, give me my money and I'll take my leave," the figure said bluntly.

The man at the table leaned forward on his elbows as he observed the figure. Finally, he nodded to the man on his right, "Nian Sang, hand him the money."

"Yes," Nian Sang said as he dutifully took the bag of coins from his pocket and carried it to the figure. The figure picked up the bag of coins, tossed it into the air and caught it. The bag of coins jingled as they landed in his hand. The figure smirked and walked away.

The man at the table called, "Nice doing business with you, Yang Hao Ran. Hou huì  y�'u qī." I hope we meet again. Yang Hao Ran merely walked away and started on his way home.

Outside, it was just as empty as it had been when he first came. In the east, rays of sunlight were peaking over the horizon as the sky turned from a dark blue color to a bright pink. Dawn was coming and he had better hurry home before Quan Rui Ming woke up. To her, he was just Quan Mo Ran, her older brother, but to the rest of the world, he was Yang Hao Ran, the cruelest and coldest killer in Jiang Hu. If she knew where and whom he had visited, she would be worried. The last thing he needed was for his younger sister to worry about him.

Heading northwest of the city, Quan Mo Ran walked down a couple small alleys and weaved through the maze-like city until he stood in an alley. Facing the thick wall which was built around the city that protected the people from invasion, he felt the rough wall for the mechanism. If he had a choice, he would not have chosen to go this way out of the city and would have rather left through the big gates located in the south eastern side of the city. But he wasn't able to. At this time, the gates were still closed which ensured that no one could get in or out. The route he was currently taking was a common route that only people associated with the black market would know. This hidden doorway allowed people to go in and out of the city unhindered or detected and was useful when dealing with black business. After feeling for the mechanism for a minute, he finally felt the slight bump in the wall. It was so slight that an onlooker would not have noticed it. Pushing the bump in the wall, he took a step back. Through the dimness, he saw a black object swing open and reveal a narrow path on which both sides grew wild grass. After stepping through, the gate closed behind him. He was left in the wilderness.

He started his journey home and had been walking for a bit when the sun's soft golden rays started to dye everything around him in a golden light. He was in a beautiful lush forest and was just enjoying the bird sounds and the moist smell of the forest, when his ears twitched. Instinctively, he leaped into the air.

An arrow whizzed through the spot he was standing just a moment ago. He landed on the ground softly and spun around just in time to see a cloaked figure fly at him, palm outstretched. He met the figure's open palm with his own and an invisible force emitted from their hands. Quickly, he turned his hand in a clockwise position and simultaneously swung his other arm underneath the opponent's wrist, catching the foe off guard. The opponent started to fall backwards. Yang Hao Ran whipped out his dagger and used his qinggong to quickly appear by the opponent's side. Grabbing the enemy, he brought the dagger to the enemy's throat and held it there. He released the man and took a few steps back.

He knelt down, brought his hands to his chest with one hand holding the other in a fist, and bowed his head. " Cān jiàn Yi Fu,"Greetings adoptive father.

"Please rise," the voice commanded.

"Thank you, Yi Fu," Quan Mo Ran obediently straightened himself.

"Your martial arts skills have improved," Yi Fu observed.

"Yi Fu," Quan Mo Ran bowed slightly to show his respect, "Thank you for the compliment. If you have something for me to do, just say so." Quan Mo Ran straightened.

"Quan Mo Ran, why do you assume I have something for you to do?"

"Could it be that you came here to chat?"

"Humph. That's how you view me? Yě bà. Forget it. You are probably worried about your sister. Since you want me to get down to business, then I will. Have you ever heard of the Wu Bian Wu Ji?" Yi Fu said as he walked toward Quan Mo Ran.

"Yes. It's just a childish legend," Quan Mo Ran replied.

"Oh? What makes you so sure?"

Mo Ran didn't answer. He swallowed hard and his fist tightened around his dagger.

"Look at this," Yi Fu took out a bamboo book from his long sleeve. It was titled, 卦八阵七. Quan Mo Ran held out his hand to receive it.

Mo Ran took one look at it and was about to return it.

"Aren't you curious what this book is about?"

"No," Mo Ran replied. "If there is nothing else. I must get going." Mo Ran held the book out to Yi Fu. However, he didn't take it and Mo Ran released it, allowing it to fall to the ground. "If there is nothing else, I must get going." He turned to leave and started walking away.

"Don't you want to get back everything you lost?"

Mo Ran stopped and swallowed hard. Sweat was breaking out on his forehead and he felt heat spread all over his body. He clenched his jaw.

"This is a chance for you to take back what is rightfully yours. Aren't you tired of being subjected to humiliation?"

Mo Ran forced himself to relax and unclenched his jaw and started to walk again.

"Do you think you can always protect your sister with the lifestyle you have?" Yi Fu called.

Mo Ran ignored him.

"You can protect her for a time, but you can't protect her forever!"

Mo Ran stopped and slowly turned around. "What do you mean?"

"You can protect her for now, but do you know what will happen in the future? If you do nothing now, sooner or later, you will end up hurting your sister. Besides, your family used to be the emperor. Aren't you tired of being forced to hide like rats and treated like servants?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, but you do. You know your family was wrongfully murdered and your people are mistreated."

"So what?"

"Don't you want to get revenge for your family?"

Blood everywhere. Servants and his family members lay dead on the ground. His house was burning. He shook the image out of his head. Revenge? He felt anger rise up in him. They did not deserve to die.

His fists turned white from clenching the hilt of the dagger.

"You want to avenge them. Don't you? But you don't know how."

"So what if I did?"

Yi Fu chuckled. "Well, that's where I can help you."

"How will you help?"

"It's easy. You do as I tell you and naturally, everything will work out."

Mo Ran hesitated a bit longer.

"If you wish to win the game, you must strike first. Think about your people. Think about the misery they are in. But most of all, think about your sister. You probably wish the best for your sister right?"

Mo Ran stayed silent.

"Your family was framed and murdered. Your sister is the only relative left. If you hesitate today, she might die tomorrow."

Heat spread on Mo Ran's face. He pulled out his dagger and pointed it at Yi Fu's neck. "What do you mean? Don't you dare hurt my sister. She has nothing to do with this."

Yi Fu used the tip of his finger to push the dagger away and chuckling he said, "Don't worry. If you work with me, I will make sure she stays safe. It's your decision."

Mo Ran sheathed his sword and replied, "As long as you don't hurt my sister, I will do anything."

"Now we are reasoning," Yi Fu chuckled.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Easy," he held out the book to Mo Ran who took it.

"I am giving it to you because to open the Wu Bian Wu Ji, you must first break a formation."

"Formation?"

"Yes, the formation that needs to be broken in order to open the Wu Bian Wu Ji."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"In Jiang Hu, there is a prophecy that goes like this,

天下太平需四宝，春夏秋冬各一�"。

如思�"�宝开�"�"，需权家为国�"�路。

兵权能力握百年，谁知�-�代被�'��-？

满�-�抄斩灭九�-�，国家大事必有福。

(Peace in the world requires four treasures, one each for spring, summer, autumn and winter.

If you want to use treasure to open a warehouse, you need the Quan family to pave the way for the country.

Military power can last for a hundred years, but who would have thought that the times would be deceived?

If the whole family is wiped out and the nine tribes are wiped out, national affairs will be blessed.)"

He paused to get a reaction but upon seeing he got none, continued. "But actually, a couple sentences were taken out and the whole poem should go something like this:

天下太平需四宝，春夏秋冬各一�"。

如思�"�宝开�"�"，需权家为国�"�路。

兵权能力握百年，谁知�-�代被�'��-？

满�-�抄斩灭九�-�，但愿等�-�才可入。

谁能为他们伸冤？只望后�"�-公�"。

若为各�'愿牺�™，国家大事必有福。

(Peace in the world requires four treasures, one each for spring, summer, autumn and winter.

If you want to use treasure to open a warehouse, you need the Quan family to pave the way for the country.

Military power can last for a hundred years, but who would have thought that the times would be deceived?

The whole family was wiped out and the nine tribes were wiped out. One can only enter if they wait for the right time.

Who can avenge them? Their only hope is that their descendants will get justice.

If the Quan family are willing to sacrifice for all the people, national affairs will be blessed.) The addition of two sentences changes the whole meaning. Since the Quan family wasn't willing to sacrifice, the emperor was not able to get the treasure."

"So what?"

"Since he carelessly killed all of the Quan family, he was not able to open the treasure. However, since we have you, all we need are the four pieces of treasure."

"And?"

"If you want to get back what you once had, you just need to find all four pieces. All I want you to do now is to find the Dan Wen. From legends, the Dan Wen is said to be a piece of yellow jade that curved slightly inward at both ends with characters engraved on it."

Mo Ran nodded. "Anything else?"

Yi Fu nodded. "There is disturbing news that the emperor has discovered we exist."

Mo Ran waited for him to continue.

"There are rumors going around that we have Yan Gu. To my knowledge, the only place where our organization is mentioned is in Guo Zi Jian."

"Why there?"

"Well, one of their students was investigating us. Although we killed him successfully, we didn't manage to get the manuscript."

Mo Ran nodded. "So what?"

"Aside from finding the Dan Wen, I also want you to find that manuscript before the authorities find it or even realize they have it."

Mo Ran nodded and after a pause, asked, "What of the other pieces?"

"What about them?"

"More information."

"The things you shouldn't ask about, don't ask about."

"I am one of the most important people to bring about a new dynasty. I should be allowed to know more," Mo Ran said.

"Don't question me," Yi Fu warned. "All you need to know is that there were four pieces that were given to the four biggest sects. These sects were located in the north, south, east and west with each sect controlling a different season. First, steal the manuscript from the Guo Zi Jian and then find the missing piece. I will tell you how to find the Dan Wen. It originally belonged to the summer sect, however, 18 years ago, it suddenly disappeared. The last time it was seen was when the former empress, Shi Yue Yang, jumped off a cliff. After you complete the mission, meet me at the Wu Bian Wu Ji. I want to  meet you in the heart of the land. Complete the mission or else..."

"I understand," Quan Mo Ran bent his head and brought his arms to his chest and half-bowed.

"Very good. You may take your leave," he said with a flick of his hand, and dismissed Quan Mo Ran who straightened and left.

By the time Quan Mo Ran reached his house, the early morning sun was shining brightly.

The house had a thatched roof supported by wooden poles and gray stones made up the walls of the rectangular house. Though small, Quan Mo Ran was proud of this little place he called home. He walked over to the well that sat at the center of the clearing and picked up a bucket. Lowering the bucket until he heard a splash, he drew water from the well and placed it in two basins: one for Quan Rui Ming and one for himself.

He then gingerly carried one basin into the house. Upon entering, he trudged over to the wooden table that sat in the middle of the room and set the basin down. He got a fresh piece of cloth from one of the cupboards and placed it beside the basin. He then tiptoed across the room and peaked into a second, sparsely furnished room.

There were two beds in the room: one was on his left side and another to his right. The bed frames were made of wood with stuffed straws as the mattresses. At the foot of the right bed, was a closet they both shared. Quan Mo Ran's bed was to his right, and on top of it, lay his folded blanket. Quan Mo Ran now glanced to his left. His Mei Mei was fast asleep. He smiled to himself. I will come back after I collect the dry seeds that were sunning outside.

He exited the house and walked across the yard to a place where pumpkin seeds were drying in flat woven baskets. He bent down to pick up one and had straightened when he heard screaming emit from the house.