Si Kong's mind raced with questions. Who was the masked man? What drove his hatred for Chenheng.
Determined to uncover the truth, Si Kong started investigating. He visited the city's underworld, seeking whispers but couldn't find anything that pinned the identity of the mysterious figure
As he left the tarven, Si Kong noticed a follower-Ling, the maid who had showed kindness to Nuan nuan.
"Captain Si Kong, be cautious," Ling warned. "Chenheng's eyes are everywhere."
Si Kong's instinct screamed warning. Was Ling friend or foe?
....
The masked man's eyes reflected a thousand midnights. His name was Li Jin, once a loyal servant to the Pei family.
Li Jin's thoughts drifted to his sister, Mei, who had been Chenheng's concubine. Her brutal death at Chenheng's hands ignited a burning vendetta.
Li Jin's memories transported him to that fateful night:
"Mei, run!" he urged, as Chenheng's guards closed in.
Mei's terrified gaze lingered in his mind. "Jin, I'm sorry..."
Her screams still echoed in his dreams.
Present-day Li Jin stood before a hidden mirror, removing his mask. His scarred face revealed a story of survival.
He recalled Captain Si Kong's hesitation. "Can he be trusted?" Li Jin wondered.
Determined to avenge Mei, Li Jin would stop at nothing. Chenheng's downfall was his sole focus.
Meanwhile, Si Kong struggled with the masked man's proposal. His gut told him to trust Li Jin, but experience cautioned otherwise.