Master Lin settled into the guest chair at the dining hall, his movements slow but deliberate, as if the weight of his journey had finally caught up with him. Huangshu, his daughter, took the seat beside him, her eyes filled with concern. Across the table sat a young man in his twenties, dressed in the crisp, dark uniform of the imperial guard. His demeanor was sharp, yet there was a softness in his expression when he looked at Huangshu. This was Ming Hao, the young governor of Hisu Town and Huangshu’s fiancé.
“It’s a relief to see you return safely, Master Lin,” Ming said, bowing his head respectfully. Yet even as he spoke, there was a hint of guilt in his eyes. “I still feel that I should have accompanied you,” he added, his voice betraying the frustration he had been harboring. He had insisted on being the one to go, but Master Lin had refused. After the attack on the town, the old man had taken it upon himself to negotiate with the Greenwood Bandits, traveling to their base despite his age. It had stung Ming to send an elderly man—his future father-in-law, no less—in his place, especially when he felt it was his duty to protect the town as its governor.
Master Lin waved off his concerns with a slight, dismissive gesture, though there was a glint of understanding in his eyes. “If you had gone, they wouldn’t have given you the time of day, Governor Ming,” he said, setting his teacup down gently. “Those bandits are less inclined to show respect to someone so young, especially one they know holds authority. I went because they wouldn’t dare play their tricks with this old man. It was the right choice.”
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a neatly folded parchment, placing it on the table and sliding it over to Ming. “Here,” he said, “This is the agreement I managed to negotiate at Yu Ryang’s office. It’s not ideal, but it’s the best we could hope for under the circumstances.”
Ming took the contract, his brow furrowing as he carefully unfolded the paper. Huangshu moved closer, leaning in to read over his shoulder. Both of their expressions darkened as their eyes scanned the contents. The terms were laid out in neat, formal script, but the message was clear—and infuriating.
“A total of 45 gold coins a month for our town’s safety and trade security?” Ming muttered, his voice rising with indignation. “This is nothing but extortion. Ha, of course, I shouldn’t have expected anything else. They’re bandits—extortion is second nature to them.” He gripped the parchment tightly, the paper crinkling slightly under his fingers as he continued to read, his jaw clenched in frustration.
Huangshu placed a gentle hand on his arm, as if to calm him, though she too looked troubled. “Father, this amount… it’s outrageous. How can they demand such a sum?” she asked, her voice softer but no less concerned. “This will bleed the town dry if it continues.”
Ming’s mind was racing as he processed the terms. The contract didn’t just demand gold; it essentially forced the town to pay for the mere privilege of peace, to avoid further bloodshed. “It’s a ransom,” he said finally, his voice hard. “They’ve cornered us, and now they’re making us pay to keep their knives at bay.”
“I know,” Master Lin said, his tone resigned but resolute. “But until we can strengthen our own defenses and find a way to stand on equal footing, this is the best we can do. It buys us time, and time is what we need right now.”
Ming’s expression darkened as he continued reading through the contract, his eyes narrowing at the next clause. "They’re demanding that every young man over the age of twenty be eligible for recruitment by the Greenwood Bandits?" he read aloud, disbelief edging into his voice. "This isn’t a mere agreement—it’s conscription. They’re looking to bolster their ranks by preying on those who can’t afford to refuse."
The more he read, the more absurd and infuriating the terms became. "And here," he continued, voice rising, "they claim the right to enter any home in the town whenever their members ‘require’ it. This is nothing short of legalized extortion. They’re turning our town into their personal playground." He tossed the parchment onto the table, his disgust apparent.
Master Lin merely nodded, his eyes weary. "These demands are harsh, but not unexpected. The Greenwood Brotherhood isn’t just playing the role of local thugs—they’re consolidating power, bit by bit. They know that forcing the townspeople into compliance will weaken any resistance, and by the time we realize it, it might be too late."
Huangshu’s gaze darted between her father and Ming, her heart heavy with concern. She had always admired Ming’s sense of duty, and seeing him struggle against a problem so insidious was painful. “Father, are there truly no other options?” she asked softly, her voice wavering. “Can’t we appeal to the imperial court for assistance? Surely, they can’t ignore what’s happening here.”
Ming glanced at her, then shook his head, frustration evident on his face. “I’ve tried, Huangshu. No matter how many letters I’ve sent to the Imperial Pavilion of Law and Order, there’s been no response. It’s as if we’re being deliberately ignored. And the patrol unit that was stationed here—they vanished overnight, without any explanation. It’s like the entire region has been abandoned.”
Master Lin's eyes hardened as he listened, and he interjected with a grim nod. "This isn’t a simple takeover by bandits. The Greenwood Brotherhood has gained control because they have backing—likely from within the imperial authorities themselves." His voice was calm, but there was a sharpness to his words, each one carefully measured.
A heavy silence settled over the room, the implications sinking in. Ming’s mind was racing, trying to piece together the motives behind this calculated abandonment. He knew that suggesting any form of collusion between the Brotherhood and the imperial authorities was dangerous—it could be seen as an accusation of treason. Yet, he also knew that Master Lin, with his years of experience as a former commander, wouldn’t speak lightly on such matters.
“Someone high up wants this region left to fend for itself, at least for a while," Master Lin continued, his tone matter-of-fact. "In the Central Plains Empire, there’s no agreement that can hand over an entire region to another entity indefinitely, unless it’s a decision made by the Imperial Court itself. But this doesn’t seem to be an official decree. It’s likely an autonomous entity agreement—a temporary arrangement that allows a local authority to manage the region. My guess is that it’s set for five years. That’s the longest duration any high-ranking official can authorize without drawing too much attention from the Emperor or the Crown Prince."
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“But even if it's a temporary agreement," Huangshu said, her brows furrowing, "how could anyone justify giving control of an entire region to a band of criminals without facing backlash from the Imperial Court?”
Master Lin sighed, placing his cup down with a soft clink. "The Jing Mountains are a remote area. They’re difficult to patrol, and maintaining a constant imperial presence here costs a lot of money—money the court would rather spend elsewhere. If a high-ranking official proposed that this region could be managed by a private security force instead, claiming it would save imperial funds, it’s likely the court would approve it without much scrutiny."
Realization dawned on Ming, his earlier suspicions now crystallizing. “So, whoever orchestrated this must have framed it as a cost-saving measure," he said, his voice steady but laced with bitterness. "They presented the Greenwood Brotherhood as a ‘security company’ of sorts, one that would handle local issues in exchange for autonomy. The court saw a way to save money and turned a blind eye to the Brotherhood’s true nature."
Huangshu’s eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. “So, the Greenwood Brotherhood is effectively functioning as a sanctioned security force, with the freedom to do as they please. And because it’s under the guise of an agreement to reduce costs, the court is unlikely to interfere. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Exactly,” Master Lin replied, his tone grave. “The Brotherhood has been given free reign over this area, all under the pretense of maintaining order. And as long as the region remains ‘stable’—as long as there aren’t any major disruptions that force the court’s hand—they’ll continue to tighten their grip. The situation is worse than simple banditry. It’s a quiet takeover, with just enough legal backing to make resistance seem futile.”
The room fell into a tense silence, each person grappling with the reality of their dire situation. It felt as though the walls were closing in around them, suffocating the hope they had left. Ming clenched his fists, his mind churning with frustration, while Huangshu’s eyes darted between her father and her fiancé, searching for any sign of a way out.
Suddenly, Huangshu spoke up, her voice cutting through the oppressive quiet. "But a sect under the Martial Alliance could intervene, right? After all, imperial law and martial law aren’t the same." Her words carried a glimmer of hope, and she looked at Master Lin with a determined expression.
A slow, knowing smile spread across Master Lin's lips as he heard his daughter. "That’s my girl," he said, his voice warming with pride. "Why do you think I didn’t put up much of a fight and accepted their terms? I have a plan."
Ming’s eyes widened, a mixture of curiosity and relief flickering in his gaze. "What do you mean, Master Lin? What plan?"
Master Lin straightened, his posture radiating a quiet strength that belied his age. "Since the Brotherhood’s terms force us to let them recruit men over the age of twenty, we will train every boy and girl in our town from the age of sixteen," he declared. "The young men they recruit will serve as our eyes and ears within the Brotherhood, gathering intelligence. Meanwhile, those who remain will become our town's patrol, a hidden force trained to defend our home. We’ll cultivate martial artists, enough to establish our own sect. And once we do, we will have the strength to push the Greenwood Brotherhood back into whatever hole they crawled out of."
Ming’s breath caught as he absorbed the audacity of the plan. He stood up, a flicker of doubt clouding his expression. "But... Master Lin, won’t that just provoke them further? This could escalate into open conflict."
Master Lin also rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with conviction. "But what, Ming?" he challenged, his voice rising with passion. "Are you suggesting we stand by and let them trample over our home, our people, our history? Are we to simply watch as they crush everything we hold dear under their boots? If they are willing to go to such lengths to make our lives miserable, then we must be prepared to fight back with equal resolve."
There was a fierce energy in the air now, one that seemed to breathe life back into the room. Ming could feel the old commander’s spirit, the unyielding fire that had carried Master Lin through countless battles in his youth. It was as though he was seeing a glimpse of the man who had once led armies, unafraid to defy even the most daunting of foes.
"There is a hidden vault in a hidden cave near the base of the mountains a few meters from our town," Master Lin continued, his voice steady and purposeful. "It’s from the days when the Jing Mountains were a battlefield. Inside, there are weapons and armor—enough to arm the martial artists we will train. With a few horses and the right tools, we can open it and prepare ourselves for the struggle ahead."
Huangshu’s expression shifted, a mix of admiration and worry playing across her face. "Father, even if we manage to start a sect and claim we are within the bounds of martial law, there’s still a risk. The Imperial Court might see it as a rebellion, and that could bring even worse consequences."
But Master Lin was undeterred. He turned to his daughter, his eyes softening for a moment before hardening with resolve. "And what would you have me do, Huangshu? Cower in fear and let these animals do as they please? Allow them to ravage my wife’s beloved town and harass my daughter without consequence?" He took a step forward, his grip tightening on the head of his cane. "No. I would rather see the heavens themselves tremble and the mortal realm shake than allow that to happen. When the time comes, if they dare to lay a finger on this town again, I will make sure their screams echo to the ends of the earth."
His words hung in the air, echoing with a fierce, unyielding defiance. For a moment, it was as if the room had been transported to a battlefield, with Master Lin at the forefront, leading the charge. Ming felt a surge of pride and determination swell within him. He realized that this was more than a mere fight for survival—it was a battle to reclaim their dignity, their right to live without fear.
Master Lin turned, his cane clicking sharply against the floor as he began to make his way toward the door. "We have much to prepare, and little time to waste," he said, his voice calm but resolute. "The Greenwood Brotherhood thinks they can break us, but they’ve underestimated the spirit of Hisu Town. We will not go quietly. Not while there is breath in our lungs and strength in our arms."
As he stepped into the darkened hallway, the flickering light of the lanterns cast his shadow long and imposing against the wall, a figure who, despite his age, refused to be bent or broken. Behind him, Ming and Huangshu exchanged a look, their hearts filled with a newfound sense of purpose. The Greenwood Brotherhood had forced their hand, but they had not counted on the spirit of the people they sought to control.
Hisu Town was not as helpless as it seemed, and soon, the Brotherhood would learn that they had picked a fight with a place ready to stand tall, no matter the odds.