“Almost there Niiya.”
Aising sat across from Niiya watching him twitch every now and then.
“Once your grasp your heart, breathe normally and let those blood and oxygen circulate through your entire body… Good. Now let the blood flow carry out the impurities and direct them into your stomach.”
“Urgh…”
Niiya made a face like he just ate something extremely bitter.
“Hold it… Now expel it!” (Mao)
At that moment, Niiya vomit out black bile caused by impurities. Coughing, Niiya wiped his mouth with his fore arms and made a face.
“Good boy.” (Aising)
Aising smiled. Having to cultivate both mental and physical strength is difficult enough, but having an inner eye takes mental concertation to the next level and pairing that with physical training is just the worse.
“Well done, you two. Now I hope you two remember these techniques, Impurities Expulsion also expels poison within your body, so keep these techniques in mind and to yourselves.
“Yes master.” (Aising and Niiya)
“Good. Off you go, have a safe trip home you two.”
“Thank you master.”
Both Aising and Niiya bowed to their master before departing. Walking across the bridge and down the stairs, Niiya wobble a bit before being supported by Aising.
“How are you feeling?”
“A lot better, but still tired.”
“We’re taking a bath when we get back home.”
They were in need of a bath.
“Kay~”
As they stroll along the village path, the sun was setting past the far off mountains. At this time most villagers would retreat to their house as it was the ‘Dusk of Night’. Although Aising and Niiya did not fear the supernatural, they would rather not be associated with them in public due to their already suspicious nature.
Hurrying home, Aising and Niiya ran towards the Nightshade’s Mansion that was nested on top of a wide hill. Surrounded by bars of steel that had decorated tips at the top to prevent people from jumping over the tall fence, along with a uniquely built mansion. It’s a foreign design in the Tian Empire due to Aising’s father personal living preference.
Passing their gates, Aising and Niiya use their Handprints on the mansion’s door stone allowing them access. Of course there is also the key to opening the door, but they have no need of it with this type of entry.
“Mom, Dad, we’re home!”
Aising hollered out to her parents.
“Oh? Aising darling, how was today’s training?”
Aising’s mother, Sayo Nightshade is from the Taiyang Isles, an island full of warriors and violence. Naturally, even Aising’s kind loving mother can be vicious like a mother bear. Aising inherited her mother’s silky black hair and small nose. She is consider pretty.
“Tough, doing shadow boxing with weights on your arms and legs is hell.”
Aising love her parents, they were the only one who cared for her back when Niiya wasn’t around.
“We also know how to expel impurities from our bodies.”
Niiya chimed in while talking towards the kitchen looking for a small snack. Aising’s mother reached out and wrap an arm around Niiya.
“Dinner is about to be ready. You two look like you could use a bath. When you’re done, come down and eat dinner.”
“Okay…”
Even though Niiya looks like a twin brother of Aising, he is not related to the Nightshade’s by blood. Instead he was picked up by Aising in a nearby village when she ran away from home. Having found him with his decapitated head of his parents, Aising attacked Niiya out of fear causing the scar on his eyes.
After finding out that he was mentally and emotionally abused, Aising took Niiya back to her home where her parents treated him like a son.
…
Aising and Niiya was bathing in their large bathtub that was next to their room, a convenient location when they need to use the bathroom at night.
“What’s it like having a third eye Niiya?”
The two were enjoying the bath bare, skins touching each other. They didn’t mind as they had taken countless of bath together since they first met.
“It’s like having a layer of the world discarded and revealing things behind the scenes. Things that keeps the world in motion… It’s kinda hard to explain you know.”
Passively, Niiya can rely on his third eye to navigate like any normal person. But because it is suspicious that a blind looking person can walk around like any normal person, Niiya acts like he is blind. Allowing Aising to guide him in public.
“When you said that the head elder died from lead poisoning by his own cup, how did it look like? If that’s even a word to describe it.”
“Hmm… Best way I can say… It’s like countless of fireflies taking shape of a person and reenacting the scene. It’s hard to explain! Aising please!”
Niiya was giving her puppy eyes. Aising could already grasp the gist of what Niiya described, so she decided to spare Niiya’s inability to describe things.
“Alright, I’ll stop, but… Not before I get to nibble on your neck!”
Aising lunge at Niiya causing him to cry out.
“No! Please don’t! It tickles!”
Nibbling on Niiya’s tender neck, neither Aising nor Niiya have any kind of fetish. It was merely a way Aising use to show her affection. Outside their bathroom, the two teenagers heard Aising’s mother shout.
“Aising! Niiya! You two better not be taking a bath together!”
Aising and Niiya looked at each other.
“Crap.”
Niiya then ran out of the bathtub toward the towels.
…
Sayo glared at the two huddle figures in the dining room, while Alois ignored the commotion.
“Dinner is served.”
Sayo said with a cold tone, but quickly sighed and let go her cold facial expression. All Aising could do is look away from her mother’s gaze. Niiya on the other hand look like he is daydreaming with a blank expression.
“Let’s eat you two.”
Alois motion at the food laid out on the table, beginning to cut the meat of a common timber wolf. The Nightshade can afford high quality meat and even rare meat from a low ranking Zealous Beast! But despite the benefits of eating Zealous Beast meat, Alois never really liked the concept of gaining power just by eating. Therefore they restore to hunting down the wolves who are frequently seen prowling around the forest for prey.
Of course, they include vegetables along with rice since it is the most basic and common diet in the Tian Empire.
“Alois-kun, what seems to be the problem?”
Sayo notice the expression that Alois is making. Somewhat anxious.
“Ah, tomorrow noon someone from the Song Clan will be visiting in request to create a weapon for one of the Song Clan’s young master.”
“Why us?”
Aising’s mother frown. The reason why the Royal Family make requests for weapons from the Nightshades is because Alois have countless of experience when it comes to producing high quality and experimental weapons. Being able to make use of his blacksmith knowledge from many different culture allowed him to apply their concept and foundations to his weapons.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Something that other blacksmiths cannot match due to their isolation within the Tian Empire.
“The Song Clan’s young master required a new weapon, but his choice of weapon is limited. In short, he needs a weapon that best suits him and does not provide him inconvenience when used. The Song Clan is a noble family and is close with the Royal Family, so the Royal Family recommended us for constructing a new weapon for him.”
“I see, shall we prepare for their arrival tonight?”
“Yes, I will see to it.”
“We will help!”
Aising stood up, having finish her dinner and willing to help her father on an important matter. The Song Clan is a huge clan with a powerful influence, while Aising hoped that they won’t be arrogant and dismissive of her parents work. Aising certainly want them to have a good view of their family and not some foreign stain in the Tian Empire.
“Oh no, you two will be resting. I heard what you guys did through training, you need some serious rest.”
“But…”
“You can help tomorrow. No worries, just take it easy. Okay?”
“Yes daddy.”
Aising picked up her dishes and deposit them at the sink followed by Niiya who stand on his toes and lean on her to whisper something.
“Are we going to the Assassination Market tonight? We can compete a few requests and grab good materials to help your mother and father for tomorrow.”
“It’s going to be tiring, but I think we can take it easy if we pick an easier request…”
Playfully shoving Niiya, the two teenagers left the room for upstairs to practice on their cultivation technique that their master taught them.
…
In the middle of the night, two figure arose from the king size bed. Aising and Niiya prepared to depart to the Assassination Market.
“Ready?” (Aising)
“Ready.” (Niiya)
The two pulled out their dark blue clothing and mask from their transparent storage ring. Storage rings are extremely rare in this time of age. Before the Great Spiritual War that was about two hundred years ago, the knowledge of creating storage rings was common among craftsman who specializes in creating these kind of things.
Now, the knowledge of creating storage rings are forgotten. Well… Not entirely… The transparent storage rings are nearly unnoticeable and created by Aising and Niiya with the aid of their master who provided them a special, small clear crystal. Taking only three weeks to create a bubble dimension to infuse into the crystal before breaking it down into a ring.
According to their master, in the Mad God’s Realm; a ruined land that used to be a knowledgeable kingdom, there are remnants of secrets containing many things including the method of creating storage rings. However, the method is partly destroyed and therefore the capacity of the storage ring is greatly reduced. Nonetheless, their storage ring is big enough to contain their assassination gear.
Dark blue thick clothes with a hood and several variant of masks. Their assassination gear includes boots gloves and utility belts, along with a handful of small daggers and wires.
Dressed up, the two left their household by a window in Aising’s room. Landing softy on the grass below, they quickly run towards the bushes and head towards the North of the Long Tian Village, where the numbers of large buildings and underground rooms make the northern village a small town.
Along the way, the two assassins stopped on one of the large stone lit by a normal flame. Aising motion Niiya towards the ground near the lamppost. With swift movement Niiya sink one of his daggers into the ground, while Aising pry at one of the cracks on the lamppost causing it to slide and reveal a secret compartment.
Inside the compartment lays several weapons and navigation tools.
“Since we’ll be taking it easy tonight, we can take those bandits subjugation requests.”
Taking out a weapon call a kukri, the odd looking sword was actually modify near the tip to act as a mixture of axe and sword. A perfect tool for cutting through someone’s spine and even beheading them.
Niiya chose a Jian sword from their armory and signal that this is all that he need.
“This is all that I need for now, if things comes down I can use my trench knife.”
Niiya’s trench knife, a vicious looking yet simple weapon that is a series of brass knuckles and knife combine together. With a semi-rounded spike at the other end of the brass knuckles that can dent armor. The knife looked like a spiny creature with all those pointy parts on the brass knuckles itself.
Aising would hate to be the receiving end of Niiya’s trench knife.
“Let’s go.”
…
In a dark alley way, an unlit doorway on the side of a tavern that leads to one of the Assassination Marketplace is open. Aising and Niiya walked down the wide stairway, descending into the dark. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs and making a left turn, they finally spotted slightly closed door with a dim light.
Pushing the door open, the two assassin are greeted by an enormous lit room. Despite the tavern above being many times smaller than this, the room is like underground palace.
There are multiple tunnels on both side of the underground room leading to nearby villages and towns.
Near the back of the room past all the tables and chairs is the Assassination Official Servicer. Standing behind a pub like table, the servicer is a man in his fifties with short black hair. Wearing a gray uniform, the most noticeable part of his uniform is a glowing badge with a dagger symbol pointed down. The mark of an Assassination Official Servicer.
Making their way to the servicer, the man took notice of the two familiar cloth figures and composed himself as the stood in front of him.
“Your Association Badge please.”
In order to take request in the Assassination Market, one must prove themselves in one of the three trials in order to obtain an Association Badge. Once they pass and have receive permission to operate in the Assassination Market the assassins are issued badges and recorded in their database.
Once they are registered, the individuals can create guilds or groups after several distinguishable service. Creating a group can yield many rewards and allows the group to participate in requests that are not normally allow for your average assassin.
The main reason behind the creation of the Assassination Market is purely economic reasons, as such; the market place is somewhat confusing for veteran assassins just entering the Assassination Market. They often question the logic of restricting certain requests.
“Shikiru and Shedo from the Abyssal Tribulation. Welcome back. How may I be of service?”
After checking their badge and confirming their identities, the servicer bow to the two mysteriously mask figures. The Abyssal Tribulation is a group that is infamous for its illusionary deception and mysterious abilities, allowing them to fight and kill all sorts of opponents.
“Subjugation of bandits in the northern region is all that we will be doing today.”
The tall one, Shikiru speaks with a neutral and genderless tone. Cold and blunt, this assassin is famously well known for its speed and agility.
“Very well. Pardon my interruption, but there is a special request for the death of Bandit Lord Moyi. The bounty is quite decent: 20 gold and 45 silver.”
“… Bandit Lord Moyi… We accept the request. Please calculate the total earnings if we were to successfully eliminate the bandits under Bandit Lord Moyi command.” (Aising/Shikiru)
The servicer took at several pieces of request paper and begins to write down the bounty reward in quick succession.
“The total earning you would receive upon fulfilling the request of assassinating Bandit Lord Moyi and fulfilling the minimum requirements of bandits’ subjugation is around 21 gold and 5 silvers. More or less.”
1 gold is equal to 100 silvers, 1 silver is equal to 100 bronze. The average family makes about 8 gold a month. Because the Tian Empire is financially well, the citizens living style has also increase drastically.
One bandit is around 5 silver, from 20 gold and 45 silver to 21 gold and 5 silver means that one must kill around 12 bandits. Which is also the minimum when it comes to taking these requests. Any lower will not result in any reward, but the assassin can still keep the request until he reaches the minimum, then they can receive their reward.
An average Bandit Lord is often around 85 silver. For a Bandit Lord to accumulate a bounty of 20 gold is like saying a carp becoming a dragon!
“May we ask, why is the bounty on this Bandit Lord high?” (Niiya/Shedo)
The short one, Shedo is well known to be a silent individual who would only ask questions and always address himself as ‘we’ instead of ‘I’.
“Yes, this Bandit Lord has practice and strive in martial arts. Cultivating his level to the mid stages in the Noble Meridian Stage.”
In the eastern continent where martial arts holds huge significant till the point where the ability to wield Qi becomes blur with people with magical powers. Because of this, some martial art union or something created a Meridian Common Ranking System with 12 power stages:
1. Elementary Meridian Stage
2. Neophyte Meridian Stage
3. Medial Meridian Stage
4. Pundit Meridian Stage
5. Noble Meridian Stage
6. Regal Meridian Stage
7. Earthly Meridian Stage
8. Sky Meridian Stage
9. Spiritual Meridian Stage
10. Ancestral Meridian Stage
11. True Meridian Stage
12. Divine Meridian Stage
Inside each stage is a subcategory that shows a practitioner’s strength in that stage. These levels, realms or stages are split into three levels. Once the practitioner surpasses the third level, the practitioner will then move up a stage and repeat the cycle again.
“Mid stages in the Noble Meridian Stage. Hmm, that is not much, but impressive for a bandit…” (Aising/Shikiru)
The servicer mouth “Not much?” in shock. A Bandit Lord who is constantly in danger of being killed by other bandits manage to cultivate and train to the first level of Noble Meridian Stage!
Common and above average bandits are able to train to the peak of a Neophyte Meridian Stage. Any bandit above that like a Medial Meridian Stage is consider a Village Destroyer, any level higher than that is consider a WatchGuard Bane!
Aising and Niiya themselves are in the prime realm of the Regal Meridian Stage. If this was publicly known, they would be consider geniuses and talented as countless of practitioners at their age at most could reach the peak of Noble Meridian Stage or low level in the Regal Meridian Stage.
But what sets those two apart from others is that they could easily kill those who are three stages above them without issues thanks to their stealth techniques!
As for the reason to why the servicer brought up Bandit Lord Moyi’s bounty; it’s simply because the servicer believe that with Shikiru famous speed; Shikiru can kill Moyi before he could even react. But the servicer never expected that Shikiru would be actually stronger than Moyi!
Clearing his mind, the servicer resume his professional look and clear his throat.
“Currently, we do not have any intel on where Bandit Lord Moyi is. But we suspect that he is currently hiding in the northern region where the former bandit group Forest Raider use to reside. If you do not encounter him, then please let us know.”
“Very well. We will take our leave.”
Shikiru turned around with Shedo behind.
“Good luck you two.”
…
“Is this the Forest Raider’s stronghold?”
Aising asked Niiya via Qi Transmission, a simple technique where nobody would be able to hear what they are saying unless it is directed to them. Niiya nodded having check with his inner eye.
“Bandit Lord Moyi is here… In the middle floor of their stronghold.” (Niiya)
The Forest Raider’s stronghold is a large religious building that was converted to a bandit’s stronghold. The stronghold use to belong to the Forest Raiders, but according to rumors. Bandit Lord Moyi massacre all of the raiders and took their stronghold as a secondary base.
“How many bandits?”
“… Around 73 bandits including Moyi.”
“Hmm… 73 multiply by 5 is… 365 silver… Makes it around 3 gold and 65 silver? Plus Moyi’s bounty… Ugh, hard to do calculation without paper…”
“It doesn’t matter, the servicers will somehow know the real amount we kill.”
“True…”
An odd and unsettling abilities of the Assassination Official Servicers is their ability to know who you kill and their bounty. Rumors circulate that the servicers undertake a painful ritual to have a linked mind with some mystic archive that allows them to determine who you kill and the amount just by looking at you.
Aising on the other hand suspect it had something to do with the servicers’ glowing badge.
“Time for something exciting…”
Killing bandits is like breaking twigs to Aising and Niiya.