As the sun rose in the north, so the birds took to the sky. The winds of the north swept across Faizou, filling the city with its stifling air, but thankfully the sands of the Barren Lands didn’t penetrate the walls of the city.
The sun crept into Wei Xiaofang’s window, striking her in the eye , waking her instantly.
She smacked her lips as she rose, blocking the sun’s light from blinding her. A jolt of cold energy shot up her leg the moment she placed her feet on the ground, reminding her that she was now awake.
As Xiaofang pushed herself from bed, she lethargically took herself to her bath tub and rinsed herself. Once she was finished, she slid on her undergarments, then her robes.
She took a long look in the mirror, realising wrinkles were creeping across the sides of her mouth. “I’m getting old,” She whispered, feeling her heart skip a beat.
As she stared herself in the mirror, memories began flooding through her mind. The thoughts of how she found herself in Faizou made her feel meek, but she held a hint of pride in her work.
“Another day,” She said, then made her way through the door and onto the streets.
“You’re up early Sister Wei!” Butcher Bin bellowed, startling her.
She turned to him, watching as he carried two carcasses across his shoulder whilst he made his way to his shop, smiling ruefully as he eyed her.
“It’s as they say Mr. Bin, sleeping and dreaming is filled with beauty only to wake and find life is a duty.”
He looked at her quizzically, confused by her words, something she always did to stop meaningless chatter. Butcher Bin shook his head, knowing full well that the woman was a bit too pompous, so he simply smiled back, “You have a good day, and I pray that duty will slowly provide you with some manners.” He said, turning into alley.
She stiffened her jaw and pursed lips. There was a rebuttal to be had, but instead she silenced herself and calmed her ego. “You enjoy your day as well Mr. Bin!” She said firmly, only for him to grunt a response, still shaking his head.
As Xiaofang made her way through the bustling streets of Faizou. Her gaze to note of her fellow early risers. The Tongs were out steaming buns for the morning crowd leaving a sweet aroma around the streets whilst the Chens whose cart was always opposite to theirs were sorting their assortment of vegetables for the day. “Humph and these nobles think everyone is lazy, compared to them!”
Xiaofang was a woman of few words, but her sharp eyes missed nothing. She continued down the streets, making various turns when needed, avoiding carts, people and dogs.
She passed a group of beggars huddled in a corner, faces pinched with hunger. Her heart went out to them, She knew what it was like to be hungry, but as a woman that was a rare case…especially in the city.
Wei Xiaofang made her way over to the beggars. She could feel their eyes on her as she approached, but she didn’t let it deter her. “Good Morning,” She said, her voice soft but firm.
“Morning Sister, care to share?” The raggediest beggar said waving a bowl in front of her.
“Always big brother, but is this enough to sooth your friend’s hunger?”
“My friends always have ways of feeding themselves, even if I can’t help,”
“I see, good to know.”
Xiaofang slide her in her pocket sleeve, pulling a coins free. She tossed it the bowl and used sleight-of-hand to collect a piece of paper within the bowl. “I hope that’ll be enough to sate your hunger.”
“If it doesn’t then we’ll do what we do best.”
She gave the beggar a nod and smile and began to walk in the opposite direction.
Wei Paifang made her to destination, standing up outside watching as her sign rocked back and forth.
‘Letters’
It didn’t take much for her to get the business up and running. She just needed a location, but also the will to start, but as this was selected for her, she hadn’t much complaints.
She pulled her keys from her sleeve pocket, then slid into the lock of her shop. After hearing the lock click open. A loud creak groaned out as she pushed the door open.
The dry scent of old paper and wood frolicked into her nose, making her smile. She couldn’t help it, because paper made her feel that way, now only if she could open a bottle of ink. Then her day would be complete, before it even started.
“Good Morning,” A firm female voice said behind her.
Wei Xiaofang pursed her lips in annoyance, then settled a smile on her face and turned. She was about to snap a response but the lady in front of her was dressed to elegant for her to recieve her rudely.
The woman wore a yellow and black hanfu. The inner robes were white, whilst the hanfu itself was embroidered perfectly around the edges. She wore a veiled conical hat, with matching colours, covering her face, but sparking interest in Wei Xiaofang’s mind. “Good Morning My Lady, I’m the purveyor of this establishment, is there something I can assist with?”
“Are you open for business?”
“I’m afraid not my lady, I have to clean up first before opening,”
“How long?”
“A half an hour should be fine.”
“I’ll be back in hour,” The woman said, turning without thought.
She kicked off of the ground and floated in the air, leaving her robes trailing behind her like mist in the morning dew.
“Tch, martial artist always in need of someone to write a letter for them,” Wei Xaiofang said. “Instead of practicing martial arts, picking up a book and learning to characters would help them, no doubt.”
She turned back once the veiled woman floated from her sight and entered her shop.
Wei Xiaofang sighed and closed the door behind her, locking it securely.
She made her way to the back of the shop, where she kept her supplies, and started to tidy up.
She dusted off the shelves and organized the stacks of paper neatly, making sure everything was in order.
As Xiaofang cleaned up, her mind wandered to the veiled woman who had just visited her. She had an air of elegance and power about her, and Wei Xiaofang couldn't help but be curious about her.
A half an hour passed, Wei Xiaofang opened her shop. She cracked open a bottle of water and poured onto her inkstone.
She pulled the draw on her right open, and pulled a inkstick free placing it on the inkstone.
Her brushes were on the shelf to her left, but she didn’t feel the need to reach for them as customers usually flocked in during the mid day.
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Xiaofang pulled her left draw and began reading a book she was meant to be copying, as she waited for the veiled woman to return.
As the day went on, people came in and out of her shop, asking her to write letters.
She did as asked, she also transcribed books for merchants within Faizou who needed their their books copied.
Unknown to most, that was where majority of her earnings came from, transcription.
The merchant accounting books are usually between thirty to forty pages long. And needed at least three to sometimes a week to be fully transcribed. She dreaded those jobs, but those were the ones that fed her.
The day flew by faster than Wei Xiaofang expected. She looked through her door, watching as the the sun setting. “It seems she never really wanted my help,” She said aloud.
She pushed herself out of her chair and began stretching, feeling her knees, arms and back crack from sitting to long.
The ink spots on her hand made her purse her lips in annoyance.
A cold sensation shot up her hands as she dipped her hands in a basin of water. She began rubbing them together washing off the ink from the inkstick.
“Are you still open?” A firm female voice grunted to her left.
“No…I’m closing soon,” Wei Xiaofang said coyly, turning to face the voice.
Her eyes gapped in surprised, not expecting the veiled woman.
“Good evening, my lady. How may I assist you?” Wei Xiaofang said, trying to keep her voice neutral.
“Are you closing soon?”
“Yes, but I can keep the store open for you.”
“There no need.”
“That’s no—“
The veiled woman tossed coin in the air, startling Wei Xiaofang, she slid the knife from her sleeve pocket and raised it in defence. “Are you here to kill me?” Wei Xiaofang hissed, “You won’t get to far…if you realise who I am, then you know the Golden Bowl Sect doesn’t take kindly to people killing Branch Leaders.”
A thud echoed from the desk behind Wei Xiaofang. A harrowing silence followed which made her hair stand on her neck. “Look at your desk, before you do something you’d regret,”
A black aura begin emanating from the veiled woman. It felt like death incarnate. The Qi began swirling slowly around the veiled woman and then shot towards Wei Xiaofang in the form of mist. “Qi Perception Realm,” She whispered, frightened. “If I have offended you in someway My lady, please tell me so I can correct my mistake!”
“Your stupidity offends me! I told you to look at your desk table.” The veiled woman snapped.
Xiaofang used all of her courage to turn her head, she couldn’t help it. She was in a presence of a master. She wasn’t one to be misinformed regarding the matters of the Wulin or Jianghu, but this woman she wasn’t familiar with.
They’re only four women who’d ascended to the Qi Perception Realm. Yan Fan, the Golden Bowl Sect’s, Zhang Min of the Heavy Sword Sect and Wang Xiu of he Kun Lun Sect and Chen Yue of the Verdant Gate Sect.
All four who were part of the orthodox sects. I have to find out who this woman is! Or the Wulin might face another catastrophe similar to Union of Three Demonic Unorthodox Sects once more!
Her courage finally allowed her eyes to rest on the table and something she didn’t expect to see was there sitting perfectly on her table.
A loud boom followed, sending a wave of Qi throughout the room. Xiaofang jumped up, but before she could realise it, the veiled woman was standing next to her.
She reached for the knife at her waist, but the woman pressed her finger on her hand, keeping the knife sheathed.
The woman turned, stomped the ground and in that millisecond of frozen time. Xiaofang saw her tables jumped into the sky.
The tea she’d pour began to spill, midair, but the veiled woman grabbed the teapot, then pressed down on Xiaofang’s shoulder, forcing her to sit down.
She then grabbed a plaque from her waist, placing in front of her, right next to the teapot she grabbed, midair.
The tables crashed in the ground with subtle thuds, but none of them broke, showing her skill. She’s a master, Xiaofang mused, she could’ve killed me in an instant.
“Take a look,” The veiled woman said calmly, looking down at the plaque.
Xiaofan looked down, seeing the plaque. Her eyes widened from suprised. Only Branch Leaders and Elders within the Golden Bowl Sect would know what this plaque signifies.
‘Friend’
Those were the words that the plaque read. This can’t be, She thought, in disbelief. These plaques aren’t easily passed around.
The black aura swirling around the veiled woman dissipated from around her. She snapped her head right looking at the veiled woman. “Where did you get that from?” Xiafang asked, concerned.
The veiled woman flared her Qi once more, slamming the doors shut behind her, then took one step forward. She appeared behind Wei Xiaofang in a flash and laughed, scaring the life out of her.
Xiaofang dropped to the ground, “forgive me for my insolence,”
“Is this how low Branch Leaders the Golden Bowl Sect are now?” The veiled woman scoffed, removing her conical hat.
Xiaofang covered her mouth in shock, she tried to form words by nothing came out. The woman picked up the miniature bowl and slid back into her black sleeve pocket, showing disdain as she did so.
“Susu the Scorpion Maiden,” Xiaofang finally whispered, “You disappeared, we’ve looking for you,”
“No you haven’t.” Susu snapped, “Yan Fan is the one whose been looking for me!,” Susu said with a smile, “Chief Yan Fan,”
“Yes, that’s correct, our Sect Chief has been looking for you, this is great news, I can let her k--“
“You will not let her know of me!” Susu snapped.
“But Lady Susu…”
“I do not care for Yan Fan’s company,” She hissed, “Not yet. I have things to do…once those things are partially completed I will let Yan Fan know of me!”
“Bu--”
A soothing jingling sound fluttered beneath Wei Xiaofang. She looked down, seeing copper and silver coins sparkling in a pouch beneath her feet. “Is that enough for your silence?”
“It’s not about the coin Lady Susu, but the Martial Art Alliance needs to know the presence of another Qi Perception Realm Master!”
“Have I ever been a threat to the Martial Arts Alliance?”
“No my lady bu—“
“Then let me live in seclusion in peace,” She snapped.
Xiaofang tried to say another word, but the stern eyes of Ban Susu kept her in check. She didn’t know what to do, but felt as though she had to do something.
Yan Fan, the Chief of the Golden Bowl Sect had made it essential that if any news of Ban Susu arrived that she be made to know. But now that she came to Xiaofang she was unsure on how to proceed without offending both.
“Have you even read the message from your men?” Susu asked.
Xiaofang’s face went red instantly, full of shame. I forgot, She noted, but how does she know.
“Do not ask foolish questions. I’ve shown you my token. Yet, you still doubt what this means,” Susu said raising the miniature bowl.
“I do not doubt it Lady Susu, bu--“
“Then what about this,” Susu snapped, turning around waving the doors open. She turned left and appeared within the door way in a second, dragging a man with a sack over his head.
The man flailed on the ground, hitting the ground with a huge thud. Xiaofang clenched her teeth feeling as her fury boil to its peak.
“What are you doing, Are you trying to let everyone know this is a Golden Bowl Sect Branch!?”
“No one saw me!” Susu hissed, “but tell me Branch Leader…”
“Wei, Wei Xiaofang”
“Wei…have you read intelligence note?”
Wei Xiaofang ground her teeth and looked at Susu defiantly. What does that have to do with you?! She thought sourly, no…how does she even know, has she been monitoring us?
“That’s none of your concern,”
“Who do you think this man is?” Susu said firmly.
Shame. That’s how Xiaofang felt, she forgot about the note itself. How could she? That was her duty as Branch Leader of the Faizou’s Golden Bowl Sect. Sect work always comes first, She thought remembering her tutors instruction, I’ve only been here for three months, I can’t make such foolish mistakes!
Xiaofang pulled the intelligence note for her sleeve pocket. She unfolded it and began to read the message.
Branch Leader,
We have a lead on Yun ‘Teeth’ Song, He’s been specifically attacking rice wagons that leave the west and east gates of the city. We believe that he has two captains running two crews simultaneously.
“Yun ‘Teeth’ Song? We’ve been after him for a year. We can’t find him.”
“You can’t find him because he’s not in some cave.” Susu said calmly.
Susu knelt down and yanked the sack off Yun ‘Teeth’ Song. Wei Xiaofang didn’t realise his attire, but he was wearing a red and white hanfu with skin as smooth as jade. “He’s…”
“A warehouse clerk, he’s been giving his men the routes and reselling the rice to everyone around.”
Wei Xiaofang bend down and opened his mouth. She ground her teeth in frustration, looking up at Susu. “He has teeth, this is—“
“Yun Teeth Song doesn’t exist, Wei Xiaofang.”
“How do you know that?!” She snapped.
“Because I defeated all the bandits on the east gate.”
“How!?”
Wei Xiaofang watched as Susu shake her head, but that only frustrated her more. “Are you new?” Susu asked.
“Yes,” She answer through her teeth.
“Then make a decision, you take this man to the magistrate, or I will take him myself and recieve the bounty.”
“Why didn’t you take him then?”
“Because I need two things from you, I don’t care for the reward.” Susu said cooly.
“…and what is it you need from me?”
“Silence.” Susu said firmly.
“I understand Lady Susu, you do not want Chief Yan Fan to know where you are. But I will only ask one more time. Are you certain that this man is Yun ‘Teeth’ Song?”
“I am certain, your fellow members will verify when they bring in the other bandits.” Susu said calmly.
Wei Xiaofang realised the hidden anger behind her voice, it was like she was trying her best to not get agitated with her, something she wanted to avoid. “I apologise Lady Susu,” She said, “but I am new and I do not want to make any mistakes. I am youngest Branch Leader within the Sect, something the Elders were against. But my mentor assured them that I can get the job done.”
Susu stared back her unperturbed by her words. Wei Xiaofang bit her lip, feeling ashamed for showing weakness.
She’d heard of Susu, and how no-nonsense she was, even the Chief. She never imagined she would’ve met the woman, nor did she understand how intimidating she would be. “What is your second request?”
“I am looking for my brother Zhao Xing,”
“Zhao Xing, Sect Master of the Purple Mist Sect?”
“What?” Susu asked confused.
“Zhao Xing, first martial student of Master Chaoxiang?”
“Yes, that is he.”
“Zhao Xing registered a Sect two years ago with the Martial Arts Alliance, The Purple Mist Sect.”
“HE DID WHAT!?”