Chapter 9: What are Another's Thoughts?
{disclaimer: this is not historical in anyway, a made up world, with some random names similar to real one}
The plaque was enough to shut all the grumblers up, and the servants were quick to carry out his order.
No no one knew the true identity of the owner of the Black market, and even Wu Yang had been shocked when he found the plaque in Bo Longwei's robe. Who would believe the owner of the most powerful organization in the world was still afraid of getting forced into marriage by his mum?
He leapt back up to the balcony that he was eating at. The girl that had been surrounded by soldiers just moments ago, had somehow disappeared into thin air.
Sitting down at his own table like he hadn't just asked to eat two guests moments before and messed up the entire room just moments prior, Wu Yang poured a new cup of tea.
The man sitting across from, set his chin down on his hand, swirling his own tea. "I didn't realize the Danqing Killer now owns the black market."
Everyone around, who wasn't a mob boss or marital artist, hearing his words, gasped at this reveal. Wu yang just sniffed. "Hardly, it was just lent to me for a while."
The sleek man was curious about this news. "Are you working with him now?"
Wu Yang shook his head. "No, I'm still looking for a place that could use my services."
He laughed. "Alright, I get it. Tell me about what happened below, and I'll let you know if I can help."
Wu Yang smiled, leaning over the table, to place his hand on his chin. "The Lord of the Golden Turtle is more curious than I thought."
The Merchant across from him smiled, "Determining character is fair dealing in a trade."
Wu Yang finished his tea, pouring another cup. "Alright, fair is fair, allow me to paint you a good picture:" He gestured below toward the now empty seats.
"Bulin, Lord of Qin manor, name, Qin Zuanzo. his brother, Qin Molin. both great figures to the world, Bulin, a great strategist, his brother, a great general, both very treasured by the emperor. However, behind the scenes, it is well known what they have done, caught in a scandal with young girls in the past, and treatment of their servants is definitely not clean. This is not why they are dead today, but how they are dead.
"The two Qin brothers are well known as two of the emperor's pillars. His power stood strong, with his three pillars, made of the Qin and Li Aiguo. His biggest opposition, the prime minister, and Tu and Xu families, who support the crown prince. With the death of Xu Zilong in his hometown however, the balance was broken, and the emperor once more had hold of the court. For those pulling the strings, this is not what they need. Therefore, it was only a matter of time for Qin to be targeted."
"This is all well-known, please, you are playing with me."
Wu Yang smiled. "Even you could guess that tonight is good night for killing, but by whom, and why I stepped in?"
Wu Yang tipped his glass to him.
"Rather than that, I wish to ask you, how were the dancers just now? Without the little strength she showed, how can she disappear in a crowd of people so quickly? Who can give martial prowess to such weak-looking ladies?"
Lord of the golden turtle merchants gasped. "This...It can't be, how would Hua Palace benefit?"
Wu Yang scoffed. "They don't, someone else does. If Qin falls, it only harms the emperor, who does the emperor not benefit? He has allowed Daoists to roam freely, even unorthodox can set up themselves at will, but to them...Not to mention the great treasure the imperial house holds."
The treasure of blood. Who didn't know of it? A treasure made by the sacrifice of many Taoists, who died to smelt it. It was a direct menace to any demonic cultivator, an ultimatum, that those of the demonic way could never take down. The Demons had to live in the dark, slinking around in fear, merely because of its presence, standing currently as a heritage of the empire.
"Why would the Hua Palace be interested in working with the Dark arts?"
Wu Yang shrugged. "I don't know much, however, although it's a well-kept secret, recent there was a very precious thing stolen from the Wudang."
The Lord of Golden Turtle, Mo Lilin, rubbed his chin in thought.
"As for why I stepped in, you see now?"
"Yes...But did you chose to eat them to show the Black market doesn't support the emperor?"
Wu Yang Laughed at this. He'd stepped in just now, because down below, everyone but the Qin Family men were able assassins, both demonic and Hua. A trained eye like him could tell it easily, especially with how they reacted just now. The girls, much more talented than they let on, playing pig to catch the tiger. No one would believe Wu Yang stepped in to save the lives of the Qin family's younger sons, as well as all the servants that were there at the time, plus most of the costumers in the hall. If he hadn't killed Qin Molin, the assassination wouldn't have ended, and all forces in the room would've attacked him, another bloodbath would be created. If he had stayed without interfering, the entire restaurant would've become a blood bath, as the assassins took out everyone related to Qin, and every one who had witnessed the assassination. He had been riding a thin line, hoping they wouldn't insist on doing more once the main objective was over, luckily he had the plaque, and no one could go against the might of the black market once the guards were mobilized, not while in the black market, due to the suppressive magic here. Also, by showing a well known skill of the danqing assassin, he'd shown of a fearsome strength to get rid of any other useless thoughts of killing him before the guards arrived. Thus, they scampered out of there, leaving the restaurant with only two deaths.
{i hate explaining mc's reasoning, many characters in this novel will just decide mc is evil, not understanding al the strings lying beneath, all the calculations that he goes through to make any decision}
Wu Yang laughed, as his meal arrived. "No, I just have a craving for heart tonight." Plus, it was dead and gonna get burned anyway, why not benefit a bit?
Mo Lilin laughed as well, toasted his wine to Wu Yang. "Alright, this merchant, he'll take you."
Wu yang accepted his toast. "It will be a pleasure working with you."
Thus they discussed plans, before heading out to admire the market. Mo Lilin's mask, black, gilded with sleek gold lines, shined prettily off the lights of the dark market and although you couldn't see his face, the craftsmanship was more than enough pleasure to the eye, and, once reaching an agreement and signing on it, Wu Yang felt it a shame not to get to know his new employer a little better.
They'd already made it to a small under ground river, that couples could rent a boat on, and sail out to enjoy the lights of the market from a distance, or treasure seekers could take to search for luminescent pearls that grew in the deepest part of the water, or cave mushrooms, or blood bats.
"Can I have the pleasure of buying you a ride?" Asked Wu Yang, gesturing toward the water.
Mo Lilin smiled, and acquiesced. "It would be a pleasure, allow me to bring some wine."
Wu Yang nodded, and after getting the boat, awaited until Mo Lilin was on, before they set off.
The cave had a very unique pool, and many plant beneath the surface grew of the spiritual vein below, and would glow soft blues and greens, shining through the crystalline water, making it a very pleasant and romantic place to to talk.
"Shall I pour you some?" asked Mo Lilin.
Wu Yang shook his head. "I'm not in the mood, please enjoy."
Mo Lilin looked disappointed, probably because he'd poisoned the wine with something, but got to drinking it anyway, leaning back, as he made small talk. "So, what gave you a craving for human heart?"
Many people looked down on others for cabalism, even in the black market. Wu Yang didn't mind. "I once lived on a battlefield, the supplies were short, so the foot soldiers had to make do with what they had. There were no animals or fruits to scavenge from, just the bodies of their enemies. I joined in on it and got a taste for heart. Rather good, actually, but the chance to taste it is rare, i hadn't had one in years, so it only felt right to take the opportunity."
Mo Lilin laughed. "You take it like a delicacy!"
"A dish of what has been considered priceless when alive, how can it not be a delicacy when dead?"
"I must ask, what cruel battle field did you speak of?"
Wu Yang smiled, looking over the quiet waters. "One from before this peaceful time..."
Rather, since this man had tested his character, ought he not to do the same? He took out a flute, it was a pale white, thin and slender. The materials it was made out of, a mystery.
As they continued to follow the current, down to the deepest parts of the cave, he began to play. Soft and still, a lovely toon made its way over the water, and as he played, all the lights around him, seemed to lean in to listen. from the seaweed plants, to luminescent mushrooms, to even the glint of light off the surface of the water. His lute was breathtaking. And Wu Yang knew it, watching how Mu Lilin reacted.
He seemed to be listening, but didn't interrupt, rather, he looked across the water, as if distracted by something, like he couldn't see Wu Yang anymore. Wu Yang smiled. This man, had a disposition like himself. He loved himself more than than others, and did not compare himself to others. He would always choose himself over others, but his standard would only ever be his own. Both the strongest and the weakest man. This was good, but it was time to test something more. Wu Yang's playing suddenly became discordant, a horrible trill began to interrupt the wholesome beats, everything was a half beat off, the course sound seemed to hollow out the ears in a strange way. It was all in tune, it was all on beat, but it was somehow so discordant, that it made you want to cover your ears at the dissonance.
Mo Lilin looked at him in annoyance at disturbing his peace, when suddenly he noticed something strange. All around them, the weeds started to bend away, the mushroom seemed to sink into the ground the rocks and water grew dimmer. And then, the water's stillness began to shake, the boat rocking back and forth, the rocks above them began to rumble. There wasn't any shoreline int eh water, just straight rock wall, and the boat was creaking from the battering, sloshing back and forth, ready to tip, Mo Lilin's wine had already fallen into the water. He leapt to his feet to keep balance, moving his body with the waves miserably, he still held a wine bowl in his hand, despite barely keeping himself up.
Water sprayed, wetting his robe, and he frowned at it, and yet, he hadn't said a word to tell Wu Yang to stope. Wu Yang put down his flute, and turned to took at him around. "Why don't you speak?"
Mo Lilin smiled, finishing his wine, ad throwing the bowl into the water, before walking up behind Wu Yang. "You're rather vicious, aren't you, taking me on this romantic boat ride, and then threatening to throw me in. But you misunderstand something, I'm a clever man, and I only pursue profits. I don't do things that will be worthless."
Wu Yang turned around. He smiled. "Alright, I like you, but don't claim to be clever, if you don't have half an idea of what's going on." Wu yang suddenly lifted his blade behind Mo Lilin's head, as out of the waves, a head burst, striking straight at the back of Mo Lilin's neck. Wu yang gripped Mo Lilin's waist, blocking the blow of the beast, as they flew backward, using his qinggong to walk across the water backwards.
"Only fools think that after the big fright, the danger is over."
Mo Lilin had passed this test. If he hadn't, he'd be dead. Wu Yang, how can anyone ever see what he's truly thinking?
***
Everyone stared in shock at what was in Chongxiu's hands. it was a small furnace, but the furnace wasn't what had everyone's attention. Rather, it was the small Li Flame burning within it. It looked like a mere little tongue of a candle, only, there was no fuel beneath it, it burned on nothing, but continued to burn, completely blue in color.
"I got it for you mom? aren't you impressed?"
***
Zhong Xianlin Bowed before the sect leader. "I failed, sect leader, please punish me." the two shadows bowed behind him.
"You had helpers." Spoke the Wudang sect leader.
Zhong Xianlin shook his head, bowing lower. "They did well, and captured the target. I interfered and unintentionally let Hua Chongxiu escape."
"What is this!" The sect leader smashed his hand against the arm rest of his chair, shattering it to pieces.
Zhong Xianlin continued to bow.
"Punished to sit in isolation on the outskirts of the hallow path for three months!"
"Yes master." Zhong Xianlin bowed and exited, the shadows also excited, but to the side.
Everyone around gasped.
An elder from the side immediately interjected. "Sect master, although he made a mistake this time, how could you be so cruel to your only son?"
"It's because he's my son that i punish him this way. and what was lost isn't a small thing, and to regain it, much blood would have to be spilt. In this case, we should leave it be, since news brings it that Hua Chongxiu has already returned to his sect." he sighed. "This time, it couldn't have just been Hua palace in this, our treasure had formations that the Hua palace can't be capable of opening, there is someone else one this, and the Hua palace just took the blame. Well need to continue to look into this and prepare for the worse."
{since this is a fantasy world, i'll just set up currency like this: 1 copper = 2 USD, 1000 copper = 1 silver tael, 16 silver tael = 1 gold tael, so when he was being hired, he was being super exorbitant at first, but being hired for the rest of your life at only $100 for a 24 hr shift, isn't very good}