Strategy

By the time Fang Qi and the others made their way to her home, Shi Yen and Yuan Shun had already changed into sensible and movable fighting gear.

Both of their legs were strapped with combat knives. Shi Yen's gleaming sword strapped to her back, sheathed in a golden scabbard. She wore a golden crown, the tips sharp and red, like bloody thorns over her raven-black hair. It was ornamental, and purely for show. 

But the crown had told her friends what they already suspected. Most of them already knew, given that she had called most of them recently, calling in the favour. Others weren't surprised, as if some part of them knew without really knowing the truth.