In the early morning mist, Minho was up and practicing her punches in the clearing of their cave, her small fists striking out with determination. Standing nearby, Gu watched her intently, arms crossed as he assessed her form. Minho glanced over at him, a little breathless but grinning.
“I thought nobody wanted me to learn how to fight?” she asked, a spark of mischief in her eyes.
Gu smiled, nodding approvingly. “That was before,” he replied. “Now that the brotherhood is gone, and it’s just the four of us, it’s time you learned a few skills for yourself. Besides,” he added with a chuckle, “it’s better to teach you some martial arts than to worry about you getting hurt.”
Minho’s eyes lit up as she resumed her practice with renewed vigor. “I’ve always wanted to learn! Don’t worry, Brother Gu—I won’t run away from a fight!”
Gu watched her stance and grinned. “Good attitude, Minho. But remember, before you can fight, you have to learn to stand your ground.”
Meanwhile, at the mouth of the tunnel, Shun was making preparations for his trip back to Hisu Town. He checked the supplies strapped to his back and adjusted his pack, glancing over at Tao, who was there to see him off.
With a confident smile, he lit his torch and waved. “Well, I’m off again, Sister Tao. Keep an eye on things here, yeah?”
“Stay safe, Shun!” Tao called back, watching him disappear into the tunnel. Alongside purchasing their supplies, Shun had another important task in town today—he planned to see if he could sell the batch of sugar and iron that Minho had so ingeniously made. After a good hour’s hike through the winding tunnels, he finally emerged on the other side, breathing in the fresh air as he looked out over the trail leading uphill to Hisu Town.
Once he reached the town, Shun made his way directly to Blacksmith Liang’s workshop. His first priority was to confirm that the iron Minho had produced was indeed genuine and to see if a deal could be struck with Liang. If things went well, it could be the start of a much-needed income stream for their small group.
As he entered the blacksmith’s shop, Liang looked up from his workbench, his face lighting up with recognition. “Back again, lad? ” he chuckled.
Shun returned the smile, glancing around the shop. The place was as empty as it had been during his last visit. “Looks like business is still slow, huh?” he remarked.
Liang gave a resigned sigh, gesturing to his deserted workspace. “Hardly any customers these days,” he said, shaking his head. “No iron means no orders, and no orders mean no coin. But—” he paused, a curious look crossing his face, “there’s someone I know who’s been wanting to speak with you.”
Shun raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled. “That can wait, Liang. First, I might have a solution to that iron shortage of yours.” With a hint of anticipation, he reached into his pack and pulled out the solid iron piece that Minho had crafted. “Care to test it? If it’s good iron, there’s more where it came from.”
Liang took the piece, studying it with the practiced eye of a seasoned blacksmith. After a moment, he gave a low whistle. “Oh, this is iron alright—high quality, too. I’d know that feel and weight anywhere,” he said, nodding appreciatively.
Shun allowed himself a satisfied smile. “So, what do you say? Interested in striking up a deal with our brotherhood?”
Liang nodded, but his expression held a hint of hesitation. “Oh, I’m interested,” he replied. “But like I mentioned, there’s someone else who might want to hear about this deal, too.”
Shun’s smile faltered slightly. “Who, exactly? I’d think any blacksmith short on iron would be thrilled to make a deal like this.”
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Liang’s face remained unreadable as he motioned toward the back of the shop. “Trust me, lad. It’ll be worth your time to talk to this person. And besides,” he added with a sly grin, “I don’t have any other business today, so why not go right now?”
Shun hesitated, a flicker of wariness in his eyes, but he gave a nod of agreement. “Alright, Liang. Lead the way.”
As they made their way through the winding streets of Hisu Town, Shun’s curiosity deepened. When they finally reached the grand mansion of the governor, Shun felt a surge of unease. The mansion was quieter than he’d anticipated, a result of the Greenwood Brotherhood’s tightening grip on the region. With trade between the mainland and the Jing Mountains severely disrupted, the town’s economy had suffered. Many of the governor’s staff had been laid off to save funds for essential town functions, leaving the mansion with an almost hollow, abandoned air.
But this wasn’t Shun’s primary concern. He found himself seated directly before the governor himself, Governor Ming—the young man he’d seen in passing, last time mistaking him for a young master due to his youth and the practiced ease with which he wielded a sword in the training yard. Shun had thought the person he’d meet today would be a merchant or perhaps a high-ranking town official, not the governor himself.
Governor Ming offered a friendly smile. “Please, there’s no need to be nervous, Mister Xing. I didn’t invite you here to betray your group to the Greenwood Brotherhood.”
Shun tried to steady himself, giving a polite nod. “Then, may I ask what business the governor of Hisu Town might have with someone like me?”
Ming leaned forward, his smile remaining steady but his eyes sharp with intent. “It troubles me to see the Greenwood Brotherhood devouring the smaller groups in the Jing Mountains. Your brotherhood, what remains of it, could be the key to restoring balance here. I intend to support your brotherhood.”
Shun’s eyes widened in surprise. “Support us?”
“Yes,” Ming confirmed. “Hisu Town would like to assist your brotherhood, to ensure you keep a foothold in the Jing Mountains.”
A heavy silence fell as Shun processed what he was hearing. Then he narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice cautious. “You want us to oppose the Greenwood Brotherhood, don’t you?”
Ming’s smile widened. “You’re quick, Mister Xing. Yes, our hope is that, with some support, your brotherhood could become a strong enough force to counter Greenwood’s influence.”
“But you’re not just giving us support for free,” Shun replied, catching on. “You need us as a buffer. You’d rather they turn their sights on us instead of Hisu Town. Are you trying to avoid direct confrontation because of some… legal restriction?”
Ming nodded thoughtfully. “Correct. The Greenwood Brotherhood has positioned itself as a ‘security company’ authorized to maintain peace in the Jing Mountains under an imperial decree. This arrangement allows them to operate with impunity, free from interference by both the imperial patrol and the Justice Ministry.”
Shun felt a surge of disbelief. “That’s absurd! They’re terrorizing everyone in the mountains under the guise of ‘maintaining peace.’ How can the imperial government allow that?”
Ming’s gaze darkened. “It’s politics, I’m afraid. Greenwood has cleverly exploited a loophole by presenting themselves as a lawful entity, which has forced the imperial troops to withdraw from the area. That’s why they’ve become bolder and expanded so aggressively.”
Shun leaned back, his mind racing as he pieced together the situation. He and others had thought it was only a matter of time before the imperial forces would come in and dismantle the Greenwood Brotherhood. Now, he realized this was nothing more than a fragile hope.
“So, by backing us,” Shun said slowly, “you’re finding a way to indirectly oppose Greenwood Bandits, sidestepping the imperial decree. If we fight them, you avoid having Hisu Town branded as rebellious for directly challenging a ‘security company’ under imperial decree”
Ming nodded approvingly. “Precisely. Supporting your group allows us to stay within the boundaries of the law while ensuring Greenwood’s expansion doesn’t go unchecked. And don’t think we’re merely using you as disposable allies. If we go through with this plan, I’ll have some of our young men trained in professional martial arts to join your ranks.”
Shun’s expression remained skeptical. “But the fact remains—you want us to be the ones drawing their attention, not Hisu Town.”
Ming’s face softened slightly. “I won’t pretend it’s a perfect arrangement. But I believe this is the only viable path forward. By lending you support, Hisu Town can indirectly counter Greenwood’s influence without sparking a direct confrontation that could lead to severe repercussions.”
Shun looked down, absorbing the weight of the choice he faced. If he accepted, his brotherhood would have resources and manpower they desperately needed. But it would also mean taking on Greenwood directly, with all the risks that entailed.
As he thought it over, a realization struck him: Governor Ming seemed to believe that their group was far larger than it truly was. He was under the impression that Shun’s brotherhood still had enough members to mount a significant resistance.
Shun knew that if Ming were aware of their limited numbers, this offer might vanish in an instant.
But he had no intention of correcting the governor’s misconception. This was a rare opportunity for his brotherhood, a lifeline they could use to rebuild and strengthen their ranks. Masking his true thoughts, Shun straightened, nodding respectfully.
“I appreciate your generous offer, Governor Ming,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “But I’m merely one member of our group, not a senior leader. To proceed with such a crucial alliance, I’ll need to bring this proposal to our senior brothers and seek their approval.”
Ming’s face softened, clearly satisfied with Shun’s response. “Of course, Mister Xing,” he replied warmly. “That’s only to be expected. I understand that a decision of this magnitude requires the input of your leaders.”
He paused, his gaze lingering on Shun with a hint of curiosity. “Do let them know that Hisu Town stands ready to offer full support. We’re more than willing to provide what you need—so long as the Greenwood Brotherhood has a formidable counterweight in the Jing Mountains.”
Shun forced a confident smile, though his mind raced with the implications. “Thank you, Governor Ming. I’ll deliver your message faithfully and return with their answer as soon as I’m able.”