"The Lady with Three Daggers"

"This is it," Dai Fu said, stepping down from the driver's seat.

I hesitated, glancing between him and the alley. "Are you sure?"

He nodded, brushing rainwater from his sleeves. "Well, this is the Dragon Alley she wrote in the letter," He said, pointing towards a damp, deteriorated wooden board, nailed to one of the walls.

I squinted at it through the rain. The faded characters etched into the wood were barely legible, but there it was—Dragon Alley. 

Sure enough, The first thought that came to my mind was that the alley was nothing like its name suggested. The narrow passage before us seemed more suited for stray cats and forgotten things than a place to meet someone.

"This is a very peculiar place to meet someone, don't you think, Dai Fu?" I sighed, noticing that there was not a single sign of anyone down that alley. 

"The Capital has its ways, Young Master. Not everything important happens in the open." Dai Fu said, opening the carriage door. 

I sighed, pulling my cloak tighter around me as the rain continued to fall. "Let's not keep Lady Zhao waiting, then," I said, stepping cautiously into the alley.

The space seemed to close in on me immediately, the damp walls narrowing as though the alley itself was reluctant to let us through. The ground was uneven, with cracks in the stone that filled with water from the rain, forming shallow puddles that splashed underfoot. The faint smell of mildew mingled with the rain-soaked air.

"Stay close, Young Master," Dai Fu said, his voice low as he followed behind me.

The further we went, the quieter the world seemed to grow. The distant hum of the city faded, replaced by the steady drip of water from rooftops and the occasional creak of wood as the wind nudged an old shutter or door.

Ahead of us, the alley bent sharply to the left, disappearing from view. Dai Fu stepped ahead of me, his hand seeming to instinctively rest on the hilt of his blade as we approached the turn.

Watching him, I was immediately reminded that I carried nothing on me except the letter and my clothes. No weapon, and no means to defend myself if this meeting turned out to be something sinister.

The thought of asking Dai Fu for his blade briefly crossed my mind, but I dismissed it. I knew well that He was sure more adept at handling it than I would ever be. Besides, I trusted him—at least, I had to trust that he would protect me.

Still, as we rounded the corner and stepped into the courtyard, the absence of even a small dagger at my side weighed heavily on my mind.

When we rounded the corner, I stopped short. The alley ended in a small, open courtyard. It was dimly lit by a single red lantern hanging from a post in the centre, its glow casting long, flickering shadows on the uneven ground.

The courtyard was empty, save for an old well at its centre and a figure standing beside it. Clad in a long, dark cloak, the figure's hood was pulled low, obscuring the face. Immediately, I noticed the light from the lantern caught the edge of something metallic—a sword, perhaps, or an ornament on their belt.

The figure turned its head slightly, as though acknowledging our presence, but said nothing. The silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the rain.

I glanced at Dai Fu, who gave me a subtle nod before stepping forward. "We're here to meet Lady Zhao," he said, his firm voice breaking the ambience.

The light of the hanging lantern happened to fall on the figure, and the face of an old man, maybe in his late sixties, appeared in the mildly dark and damp alley.

He raised a hand, motioning for us to stop. Then, with deliberate slowness, reached into his cloak and withdrew a small object. Holding it out, He let it catch the light of the lantern. It was a jade pendant, carved with the intricate design of a dragon coiled around a lotus.

Dai Fu inhaled sharply. "That's her seal," he whispered, his grip on his blade relaxing.

The Old man lowered the pendant and finally spoke, his voice low and smooth, with an edge of authority. "Lady Zhao sent me to escort you. Follow me."

Without waiting for a reply, He turned and disappeared through a narrow passage on the other side of the courtyard.

I looked at Dai Fu, who nodded again, his expression almost reflecting mine. "Let's go then," he said, motioning for me to follow. I swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped after the cloaked figure. Whatever lay ahead, there was no turning back now.

The old man led us through the narrow passage, our footsteps muffled by the rain-soaked ground. The walls pressed close on either side, to an open street where a lone carriage stood waiting. Its exterior was plain, almost nondescript, save for the polished wood that gleamed faintly in the dim lantern light. Unlike the carriage I was in, I noticed this carriage had no windows, the window openings deliberately packed with wooden panes. 

"This is where we part ways,"- The old man stopped abruptly and said, turning towards us. His gaze shifted to Dai Fu. "You will remain here."

Dai Fu frowned, his hand instinctively tightening on the hilt of his blade. "The Young Master does not travel unaccompanied," he said sharply.

The old man held up the jade pendant again, his expression unyielding. "Lady Zhao's orders are absolute. You will wait here."

I glanced at Dai Fu, feeling a knot tighten in my chest. His jaw clenched, his eyes locking with mine in silent communication. I could see the conflict in his expression—his duty to protect me clashing with his inability to defy the situation. The Old man had such authority in his voice that none of us dared to disobey him.

"I'll be fine, Dai Fu," I said softly, trying to force some calm into my voice and the situation. "Stay here. I'll see you soon."

I saw Dai Fu's lips pressing into a thin line, but he ultimately gave a reluctant nod. "Be careful, Young Master."

I took a deep breath and stepped toward the carriage. The old man opened the door for me, his face impassive as I climbed inside. The interior was dimly lit by a small lantern hanging from the ceiling, that casted a warm glow over the polished wood and embroidered cushions.

The moment I was seated, I felt the door shut with a decisive thud behind me. And before I could even realise what was happening, the carriage lurched forward. My stomach twisted as the motion jolted me. I glanced back at the alley through the gaps in the door, catching a glimpse of Dai Fu standing in the rain, watching me go.

Horror prickled at the edges of my thoughts, but I somehow forced myself to remain calm. Panic would achieve nothing. I adjusted my cloak, feigning composure as the wheels creaked beneath me.

It was then that I noticed I was not alone.

Sitting across from me was a woman, her presence so quiet I hadn't noticed it until now. She wore a dark, fitted robe, the fabric sleek and unadorned except for faint silver patterns that glinted in the lantern light. Her face was partially obscured by a fine lock of hair that rested flirtatiously on her forehead. As my eyes oriented with the surroundings, I was not late to notice that her eyes were sharp, studying me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

My gaze flicked downward, and that was when I saw them—three daggers strapped to her thighs, their polished blades gleaming like predators' eyes. Each was housed in a sleek sheath, the handles wrapped in dark leather, very cleverly positioned for quick access.

I inhaled sharply, the realization struck me like a sudden gust of wind. This wasn't just anyone. This was Lady Zhao.