Moon Tavern was a well known name in the Capital City, if not the entire Jade Empire. Their claim to fame isn’t just the dishes and wine they serve. Rather it is a special type of service that no other catering establishment could offer.
They served as a major social hub and gathering place of all talents and wandering heroes of the great martial arts world.
Many of their visitors, as well as their employees, were all talented martial arts fighters, swordsman and women, spear users, to even those who dabble in either magical or astral spiritual arts.
Moon Tavern had many connections in and out of the martial arts world, even having eyes and ears between the lawful Empire and the chaotic criminal under realm. They take on jobs and request to look into strange matters or bizarre cases within the martial arts community.
Among the staff was someone who was referred to as Martial Yellow Sister.
She had just returned from a sick leave, fully refreshed. What was her sickness, she’ll have to think of it now as she walked into Moon Tavern. All she did was wave a doctor’s slip she forged and it was enough to get her off a week worth of shifts.
No one can call her a criminal. She hasn’t stolen or told any harmful lies. Neither can anyone trust her with even the smallest of secrets. She was the type of person who just liked to have an easy going life – and get paid for it. Many would tease about how selling her body was easier, but even then she was too lazy for that kind of work life.
Besides, she likes to go on little mysteries – as much as her employer, Martial Kim.
“...Oh?” She whispered to herself. He’s not at his station. How odd?”
Martial Yellow Sister would flap the dust out of her many layer of cloth she had hanging off her arms and body. She tapped a fancy looking walking stick against the sides of her leather boots to beat the dust out of her sole. She wore a large straw hat, not of fancy quality but it kept the sun out of her face and avoid bleaching her sunlight yellow hair any further.
The woman would glance around.
It was another busy day, much to her luck after coming from a sick leave to avoid work. In saying that, she would expect to see Martial Kim throwing a joke her way, something about – how was your vacation.
Oh he knew the truth of her sick leave, that’s why she always waved the forged paper to dupe an unknowing martial brother or sister on duty. Makes life easier, she believed.
It was tradition, to her at least, to come back and share a witty comment or two to Martial Kim who was always found at the bar. As it was empty while the tavern was near full house, she found the whole situation feeling a bit off.
So she got a bit serious and took her hat off to rest it on the empty wine counter. She would greet her fellow co-workers, getting some welcome back or ‘you bitch’ sneers, as she explore the tavern. She loved to tap her cane around and pretend she was rich and wealthy, doing a fancy little twirl with it and a heel clicking dance. She stopped doing that when she had trouble finding Martial Kim out in the obvious open.
He works nearly 24/7, rarely gets sick. The tavern’s atmosphere was his vacation and catching any mysteries floating into the halls were his lunch breaks, so it would make sense he would always be present.
As a disciple to Martial Kim in the field of investigations, she used the process of elimination to help to speed her mind to a proper conclusion. If Martial Kim isn’t out in the open, meaning he is hiding. When he does hide, it is usually something big.
An important client? Martial Yellow Sister mused it over. Immediately she knew where to go and it wasn’t far away. Most likely he was using one of the private dining rooms. They were made as an isolated space for small parties of family gatherings to sit down and enjoy each other’s company without the rowdy ambience of the tavern spoiling the mood.
Besides, Martial Kim didn’t like being too formal. He doesn’t bring clients or visitors into an office. Sometimes he would chat with them out in the open, at his wine counter, or just a corner of the tavern. Any serious cases that demands some hush hush, the private dining rooms were casual enough to let all confidential information out.
The rooms were designed to keep sound in and noise out. So it was very difficult to listen what was going on inside by naked ear.
However, Martial Yellow Sister had a little trick up her sleeve to solve that problem.
[Soul Silk Construct Formation]. It was special mana cultivation technique where she can use her spiritual energy to fuse them into cloth and fabric so she could manipulate their movements and density.
Essentially she can turn something like a kitchen towel into a sword in times of emergencies. Hence why she is layered in robes, coats, scarves, even multiple sashes. Her clothing was essentially her ammunition.
She used a skill called
The woman would put it next to her ear to listen through the private door. By the time she heard voices, she pretty much got the gist of what was going on...Oh ho ho, how scandalous.
That was when from behind the door a sound of a loud CLAP caught her off guard.
“AAAAAAAAGH!" Martial Yellow Sister fell over like a stick and rolled around in pain, gripping her one ear.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Everyone around her either stared at her if she was throwing a tantrum, or just sneered at the lazy grasshopper for fooling around.
The door to the private dining room opened, where Martial Kim would poke his head out to say, “That’s what you get for not knocking.”
“GODS DAMN IT, EVERY TIME!” Martial Yellow Sister cursed her lazy attitude in life, she kept forgetting Martial Kim always knew when to blow her ear drums like that.
Martial Kim would kindly ignore his companion before he gestured the visitor to step out first out of courtesy. He said, “I understand your concern, Mr. Golden. Your favour will be well spent. I will do what I can to help you.”
“Yes, please.” Mr. Golden stumble out. He glanced at Martial Yellow Sister rolling around in pain on the floor, before he shook Martial Kim’s hand to add, “I-I am counting on you and Moon Tavern to find her.”
Martial Kim bowed and showed the door to Mr. Golden. Once the visitor was gone, the owner of Moon Tavern would come and stare at Martial Yellow Sister with a grin.
“So.” He spoke up, folding his arms and sleeves of his snow white hanbok. “How was your vacation?”
Martial Yellow Sister hissed and rubbed her eavesdropping ear as she brought herself up on her cane. Once she got her balanced restored, she couldn’t help a chortle. “Whatever do you mean? I was sick with hay fever. Coff coff.”
“Hah. One of these days, Martial Yellow Sister, you’ll really get sick and no one would believe you.” Martial Kim would give a light slap on top of the woman’s head in a teasing manner, “Everyone will have you mop the entire floors while you have a skull breaking fever and there’s nothing to complain about. That’s what you get for crying wolf every week.”
“Ahem. So,” Martial Yellow Sister jeered back while fixing her hair, “This Fae Fae case. I reckon you need my help.”
“Needing help is not the right word.” Martial Kim poked her nose to add, “I need to teach you how to be a better investigator, so I am voluntelling you to come with me. Grab my murder kit while you’re at it, we have much to do young disciple!”
Martial Yellow Sister sighed with content. That is the Martial Kim she knew. Despite being ‘bullied’ she gladly picked up Martial Kim’s personal briefchest – a large wooden box with a well worn strap made of animal hide to hang off the shoulder – and tapped her cane to follow him out the tavern door.
They weather was beautiful, despite the job they had taken on. The city acted as usual, roving about in their day. It’s not like the governor’s daughter was the one who gone missing so there was no need for a state of panic.
Along the way down the street, the two would share their curiosities.
“So, this Mr. Golden,” said Martial Yellow Sister. “I have no doubt he is the one and the same owner of Great Golden Goldsmith company yes? Essentially a super rich man. How did a martial artist from the realm of rough and tumble vigilantes run into such a gold collar?”
“Ah, funny story actually.” Martial Kim adjusted his large wide brim mesh hat with a top cone, making sure the hat ribbons were wound securely under his chin. “There was a case I was stumped on, about a dead man turned into a golden bust. Mr. Golden was the only expert in the field who would give me the time of day. In exchange, I help him sort out some problems related to the martial arts community or pair him with a reliable bodyguard for his long distance trips. We have a very friendly business relationship.”
“Hmm.” Martial Yellow Sister nod before asking, “And this Fae Fae. What is she to him?”
“Mr. Golden is one of Fae Fae’s major patron at the brothel. The, uh, regular type.”
“The man is old enough to be my great grandfather. How is he alive after all those intense night battles with a youth like Fae Fae? I am shocked he hasn’t blown more than an artery.”
Martial Kim blushed a bit and tried to laugh off the awkward atmosphere. “Well as he would put it, men of any age has their need. Courtesan Fae Fae and himself have been seeing each other at Celestial Dreams brothel for quite some time. Practically so smitten with her, Mr. Golden decided to risk his reputation to marry her into his house. I know what you are thinking, but to me it’s very romantic. True love in a house of pleasure.”
“An expensive true love.” Martial Yellow Sister scoffed as she tapped her cane into the stone tiled streets. “Is she REALLY that good?”
“Clearly you don’t know Fae Fae!” The young master in the hanbok laughed. “Fae Fae is one of a kind, a talented performer. Zero martial arts and she could put on a riveting sword dance that would make swordsmen like me conscious. I am a BIG admirer of her sword dances she hosts on top of the Celestial Dreams rooftop. So divine like a heavenly angel!”
“You know,” Martial Yellow Sister giggled. “The more you praise her like that, the more I feel you consider spending a night with her yourself to get more than just her autograph.”
“A-are you kidding?” Martial Kim yelped with more panic than embarrassment. “Do you know how much Fae Fae costs!? One night – just one night – and I have to put the entire tavern on mortgage!”
After that outburst he pinched at his hat to calm down, hiding his face from wary lookers. “Speaking of which, I find it odd it took three days before any inquiry to her disappearance was made. Haven’t even alerted the Constabulary. Makes me wonder if something else is going on in the brothel she serves.”
“Who knows.” Martial Yellow Sister shrugged, “maybe it’s simple rivalry, or she was getting too old.” She would take a moment to play around with her scarf that draped around her neck like a snake, rubbing out the creases with her fingers. “Worse case scenario, It’s a kidnapping. During my trip—I mean sick leave, I heard it’s become very common in other towns to abduct top brand prostitutes and ransom them for money. A despicable get-rich-quick scheme, if I may say.”
“The possibilities are endless.” Martial Kim then said, “That is why we should start from the top at Celestial--”
Suddenly, a horse broke through the streets. It bounded like a mad animal spurring hard.
As Martial Kim and Martial Yellow Sisters were martial artists, they instinctively dodged with their powers. Martial Yellow Sister used her [Soul Silk Construct Formation] to manipulate her scarf to bounced her up high into the air with the power of a giant spring coil.
Martial Kim was a master of an elemental technique known as [White Tiger Flying Snow]. With his internal mana, he can produce snow and blizzards at will in any shape, size, and form. With an explosion of snow, the force sent him flying up higher than most people can jump and allowed him to land to balance on the very top of a balcony railing of a local teahouse.
The mad horse smashed through the cloud of snow Martial Kim used, startling it. After skidding to a slippery halt, the rider on its back slapped the snow off his face. Without even wondering where it came from, he barked.
“Ah-ha! I knew it was you Martial Kim! Great timing, I need your help! Get your ass down here!”
“Inspector Lee?” Martial Kim called out as he recognized the rider.
Inspector Lee was a member of the Imperial Constabulary, Wolf District. A man in a thick blue and silver uniform, black folded hat, and a steadfast moustache and beard as black as fresh coal on his face. He waved both Martial Kim and Martial Yellow Sister down.
Martial Kim hesitated with, “Sorry, my companion and I are in a middle of something important.”
“Well I got something three times as important. No time to explain!” Inspector Lee snapped and turned his horse about, whacking the compacted snow off the horses’ mane. “Something urgent came up, only you can fix it. So come on let’s go, go, go!”