The morning sun casted long shadows across the courtyard. Hong Quan laid a weathered map on the stone table whilst Susu stood beside him. Her arms were crossed as the purple mist sect sat around the stone table, eyes fixed on the map.

“I trust that everyone here understands what we’ll be doing?”

“Yes,” Luan answered, “a bounty has been placed on the The Phantom Fox Brigade…they’ve been terrorizing merchants along the Tea Horse Road, specifically the stretch leading into Sichuan.”

“Correct,” Hong Quan said calmly, tapping a segment on the map. He circled a specific spot where the path narrowed between two peaks. “They’re clever - they strike here, where the canyon walls force caravans to travel single file.”

“How many members do they have?” Susu asked, as she studied the terrain.

“Reports vary as most of the survivors are found delirious. Some say fifteen, some say twenty. We can’t account for their true numbers.”

“So, it’s best to assume, they have more people under them…forty at least.”

“Yes, that’s what I was considering, hence my invitation for you to join me. I can handle fifteen at a time, but forty is too much for me…especially when we don’t the strengths of their leader.”

“I figured as much…”

“Right…the lack of not knowing their numbers isn’t what makes them dangerous though.” Hong Quan said cautiously. He pulled out a small yellow cloth-wrapped bundle, he unfolded it, a sickly-sweet smell filled the air. A broken arrow tip, its surface coated with a dark, oily substance.

“Poison?” Luan asked, leaning forward.

“Yes. They’ve been coating their weapons with something our physicians haven’t seen before. Three merchants died last week - not from their wounds, but from the fever that followed.”

“That…changes everything, I don’t like handling poison cases without Brother Ying’s assistance,” Susu said walking towards Li’er, she scooped her up and sat in her seat whilst resting her on her lap.

The little girl was still wearing her conical hat, oversized hanfu and veil. Susu had noticed how regular Hong Quan and Wei Long were trying to catch a glimpse of her face, which made her very wary.

“If poison is involved, I don’t know if I can proceed, my daughter will not leave my side…I will be very honest,” Susu said firmly, “I am not willing to bring you lot along.”

“Master!” Luan protested.

Susu raised her hand, stopping his protest. “Let me finish Luan.”

“Yes Master,”

“Li’er is six years old, you know what she means to me and you know why I am unwilling to let her out of my sight.” She said, looking at each one of them individually.

“I understand,” Luan answered.

“So do I,”

“Me as well Master Susu,”

“I too, understand Master Susu,”

“Then you all understand I am not willing to proceed any further. This is a four-star bounty, you are all inexperienced.”

“Master Susu, we have trained for this. We won’t fail especially if we have two masters such as yourself and Master Quan. Please trust us, we will follow your orders to the letter!” Luan pleaded.

“If we’re proceeding, how will things workout?” Susu asked.

“Lei…” Luan called out.

“Yes, senior brother,”

“Do you think you can analyse the poison?”

“I can analyse it, but I would need to understand the local fauna, if they have a toxicology specialist, it might be hard to pinpoint where they are getting their ingredients, because they would find the ingredients themselves, unless a foreign agent is needed to enhance the poison.”

“Ming Lei” Susu said firmly, “You will stay behind and investigate,”

“Yes Master Susu,”

“Luan, continue…how we should proceed?” Hong Quan asked, rubbing his stubble of a goatee, clearly intrigued by the young warrior’s insight...

“Yes Master Quan, what are the pattern of attacks? Is there specificity in their raids, like what time?”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“They attack at dawn or dusk,” Hong Quan answered, “when visibility is poor. They’re too organised, the possibility of them having scouts is high as well.”

“To learn their targets patterns…”

“M-Mister Quan,” Wei Long said softly.

A wry smile flashed across Hong Quan’s face and he turned to him, “hmm, yes?”

The boy in rags pointed at the map, and Susu squinted gently adjusting Li’er on her lap. “Wei Long, what do you see?”

The boy in rags, who had been quietly observing from the corner, stepped forward hesitantly. “The canyon has three natural bottlenecks. If they’re using them for ambushes, they must have escape routes we can’t see on the map.”

A hearty echoed throughout the courtyard as Hong Quan shook his head. “Always have an escape route, eh boy?”

The boy nodded sombrely and went back to his corner, which made Susu suspicious. “Mister Quan? He is not your personal apprentice?”

“No no, I found him…I’m taking him back to the sect for training, he has potential.”

Susu grunted, as if annoyed by this new information. “You can trust him Scorpion Maiden, and he’s right. There has to be hidden paths throughout the canyon. That’s why no one has been able to find them. Long’er, do you think you can find these hidden pathways?”

He nodded.

“Good,” Quan said with a primly smile.

“Master Quan…by chance do you know the characteristics of the poison?”

“Yes, it has several. It starts with numbness where the poison enters, then fever brews within hours. The victim’s meridian pathways begin to constrict. Then on the second day, their meridians start to collapse. Death follows shortly after.”

“They’ve been using the poison to extort merchants," Susu said in disgust.

“Precisely,” Hong Quan confirmed. “They demand triple the usual toll for safe passage. Those who refuse...”

“Die…” Luan finished. “What’s our approach?”

Susu traced the canyon's outline. “We have to control the high ground. The three main choke points are where they’ll probably attack. Hong Quan, how do you feel about being bait?”

“Not highly…but I understand, you’re not willing to risk your daughter. I’ll be the bait, but Luan, you mind accompanying me?”

“I guess, but only two people in carriages doesn’t look good.”

“Don’t worry about that, we can get empty barrels and make straw men to make it seem as though they are more people here than they are.”

“Understood…”

Hong Quan turned to Susu, folding his hands and propping up against the stone table, a smug smile blossomed across his face and he licked his lips, “Scorpion Maiden Susu, are you satisfied.”

“I am…”

“Then shall we proceed?”

“Yes, I’ll take Wei Zhen and Liu Fang, you will come with me. Mei Ling, stay behind and gather as much information as you need regarding the poison. Luan you will go with Master Quan.”

“Yes Master!”

“Wei Long, you’ll go with Master Susu.”

“No!” Susu snapped.

Hong Quan sighed and for the first time, he showed frustration, but he should know who he was dealing with.

Susu the Parsonian.

“…right, Wei Long can help with finding the tunnels, that’s why its best he goes with you.”

Susu pushed out her lips, clearly annoyed, but with the revelation of Wei Long being able to assist in finding the escape route…she had no choice but to follow through.

All the lads from the purple mist sect, were farmers by birth, they weren’t into subterfuge like a runt like this Wei Long.

“Fine, but he must follow my orders…”

“Aye,” Wei Long complied.

“Good…then let us begin.” Hong Quan said.

“Not yet,” Susu said calmly, “purple mist sect disciples let me have a word with you all before we start.”

----------------------------------------

The afternoon sun beat down on the marketplace. Hong Quan and Luan made their way through the crowds. Merchants called out their wares, the smell of spices and street food wafting through the air. They stopped at a farmer's stall piled high with fresh straw.

“We’ll need enough for at least six men,” Hong Quan said, running the golden stalks through his fingers. “Make them look substantial.”

The farmer nodded eagerly, already gathering bundles. “Fresh from this morning's harvest, Master. Strong stalks, won't collapse easily.”

As they waited for the farmer to prepare their order, Hong Quan cast a sidelong glance at Luan. “Your Master Susu... she’s quite protective of her daughter.”

Luan carefully measured out copper coins, his expression neutral. “Master Susu is fiercely protective of Xiao Li, Master Quan…I’m sure you would be too, if you had a daughter.”

“That’s true. However, there’s caution, and then there’s...” Hong Quan said before pausing, as if he were choosing his words wisely. “Well, I’ve never seen someone so adamant about keeping a child close during a mission. Even the most devoted parents in our sect arrange care when duty calls.”

“Master Susu only recently returned to the sect,” Luan replied diplomatically, helping the farmer tie the bundles together. “She appeared one morning, daughter in tow. None of us questioned it.”

“Just appeared, did she?” Hong Quan stroked his goatee thoughtfully. “And the child... always wearing that veil and conical hat. Rather unusual, wouldn’t you say?”

Luan straightened, meeting Hong Quan’s gaze directly. “Master Quan, forgive my directness, but we of the Purple Mist Sect don’t gossip about our master's affairs. She’s has helped us in the short while we’ve known her.”

Hong Quan raised his hands in mock surrender, though his eyes remained shrewd. “No offense meant, young man. Professional curiosity, nothing more. Come, help me with these bundles.”

They gathered the straw and made their way to a quiet courtyard behind an inn. As they worked to shape the crude figures, Hong Quan hummed thoughtfully. “Your loyalty does you credit, Luan. Though I wonder... does it not strike you as odd that such a renowned fighter would suddenly become so... domestic?”

“Master Quan,” Luan said as he deftly wove straw into a torso shape, “Master Susu…is nothing close to being domestic, she’s just protective of Xiao Li!”

“And the girl’s father?”

“She’s never mentioned him, not even in passing.” Luan answered curtly, tying off another bundle with perhaps more force than necessary.

“I see,” Hong Quan replied, nodding slowly. “Well, good to know, thank you Luan, for entertaining my curiosity for a bit.”

“Not a worry Master Quan.”

The two worked in silence for a while, the straw figures slowly taking shape. Each was carefully posed, draped in spare robes to give the impression of sleeping merchants.

Hong Quan occasionally adjusted their positions, ensuring they would appear natural in the dim light of dawn or dusk.

“There,” he said finally, stepping back to survey their work. “Six convincing merchants, sleeping peacefully. Add a few strategic coughs and shuffling sounds from us, and our brigands won't know the difference until it's too late.”

Luan finished up his own straw man, then turned to Hong Quan.

“Alright…let’s discuss how we’ll position ourselves when our friends make their move...”