Echoing from the floors below came the sounds of fight, a raucousness of screams and shouts, the clang of swords, the tumble of tables and of shattered cups and plates.
Soon enough several of customers scrambled up to the top floor shouting and shoving. The uproar was confusing; no one seemed to know what was really going on or where to run to.
"The militia!" A voice boomed over the pushing. "And the Royal Guard!"
Mercenaries, arms dealers, assassins, well anyone who dealt in shady activities, especially anti-royalists flocked to Fùchun Teahouse. Since the failed attempt of an assassination against the King, the Royal Family had their guards up. Afraid of an uprising, if even a whisper of someone looking for arms or slandering the king passed through his ears, he would execute anyone he believed a threat to start a rebellion. Hence the magistrate's and the King's men had barged into the teahouse. They must have had absolute certainty that anti-royalists were gathered here today, or else...
...'could it be?' The prince's palms started to sweat.
The black powder wasn't publicly traded. It solely belonged to the Royal Family and was stored into the Royal armoury. Thus, it was very rare to procure and only for a hefty some of money. Did Big Pie Chu steal it from the King and the King's spies had finally succeeded in tracking him? Could he himself also be endangered?
It was common knowledge that the elusive Big Pie Chu was the mastermind behind the failed uprising which happened two years ago. The King was an absolute despot who declared a thing right or wrong from no inherent reason but by his arbitrary decrees based on his daily moods.
It seemed that he would not be meeting with Big Pie Chu today and if the latter were to be caught this could destroy his plans.
No one knew the true name and the face of Big Pie Chu except for his closest men. Hence many kinds of conjecture about his identity were made. And the legend that most of the people favoured was as followed…
The King had a cat he loved so dearly that he bestowed upon him the rank of Duke, and he was more devoted to his cat than he was to his spouse and children, and his people also.
Sadly, a bad harvest meant that the people were starving. And the cries and supplications of the people for the taxes to be reduced and the rice storehouses to be opened were completely ignored by the King.
On the day of his cat's birthday, the King ordered a feast, and the breakfast table was overflowing with all kinds of juicy meats and fishes.
"How vulgar! What a waste of food!" scolded one of the servants who witnessed the cat leisurely winding between the dishes. At that, in his anger the servant had grabbed the cat and thrown him in the courtyard whereupon the King's daughter's dog started chasing the terrified cat who had never left the palace.
The King summoned his men and ordered the servant and the dog to be arrested. Owing to the reasons that, firstly, his beloved cat had not been hurt, and secondly, the unceasing tears of his daughter; the king granted the servant and the dog leniency. Hence, instead of being executed he punished them with a good beating and banished them.
Many believed that Big Pie Chu used to be in fact that servant. May it be a legend or a true story, let's refocus attention on our main characters…
Kiyomi and Emika caught up with a knot of people also trying to escape the commotion from the floors below. And the staircase was now clogged with those customers fleeing upstairs and with the nobles pushing their way downstairs.
With his left arm Kiyomi fought against all those around him and he managed to swat away arms and heads blocking his way all the while his right hand kept Emika close to his side; but the press being far too great it pulled Emika's hand out of his grip.
Hauled away she stumbled and twisted her ankle. The next instant, a hand put pressure on her waist, lifting the young woman off her feet Kiyomi descended the remaining steps leading to the second floor.
A quick glance at her hugging herself and his heart regretted to have brought her here.
Suddenly, someone punched him hard in the back and he went down, face first, but Kiyomi managed to pull himself back to his feet before landing on the floor. As he turned around, Emika caught a look of alarm on his face. Before she could react, she felt someone behind her snatched her body. At the same time something cold pressed firmly against her neck.
Never could Kiyomi have anticipated that the reckless ruffian they had met earlier was one to hold a grudge over such a petty squabble. The chubby man held a serrated knife on her delicate skin and gave Kiyomi a smug smile.
Emika willed her shaky legs to remain steady. Her heart hammering so fast in her chest that she was gasping for air.
The customers were a chaotic jumble dangerously pushing past the chubby man and his hostage. Kiyomi feared that the knife would accidentally draw blood. His voice soared above the throng:
"What do you want!"
"Well, aren't you so lofty now. No, no, no, don't you come any closer. I will hurt her… unless."
He let his glare linger a moment longer on Kiyomi then back to the knife, a silent threat that he was hardly bluffing.
Kiyomi stepped back. He fought down the hot rush to run and punched him. "Unless what? Is it money you want?"
"Here again insulting me with your silver coins! You nobles are all the same! Noblemen by birth but not gentlemen. Insulting us, looking down on us and trampling down our basic rights! Unless you show me some respect and apologise for both yours and your woman's rudeness I won't let her go. On your knees!"
Kiyomi was flabbergasted. 'What? Is he threatening us because of an existential tantrum?' He was failing to understand how the current situation came to be.
"Are you the one called Big Pie Chu?"
Kiyomi had a goal he must achieved and the man in front of him was the only one who could help him achieve it. He was in great need in sealing the deal and obtaining the black powder. He could already feel the satisfaction of killing his enemies, however this deal was now at risk of being terminated.
How unfortunate that the situation had turned out this way! And all of this happened because of her! Because of this stranger who tossed him into a wild emotion he could not get a handle on. This uncontrollable urge of being with her was undeniably a poor decision.
'And now it has bitten me in the--' He broke through his inner turmoil, and his face starting to show hints of impatience.
"Let us cut this nonsense and talk about business. I will double the price agreed upon."
"I said—on your knees!"
And someone violently kicked his legs from behind and his knees stamped the floor. He winced at the pain. His gaze went up fast, in time to see a foot above him launching a sneaky attack. Kiyomi dived out of the way throwing his arm into the aggressor's abdomen, then with a punch he tossed the man aside. The fool who had dared to attack him was squirming on the floor with a broken nose.
Kiyomi glanced back at the young woman. At that instant, his eyes noticed a movement and they glimmered with something that the chubby man couldn't comprehend.