Wu Yifei (4)

The ridicule was evident, some held them in contempt while the rest just shook their head in understanding. The group was after all young enough to be their younger relatives.

"Why are you bidding?" This time Yifei smacked him in the head, "You don't even have money to pay it."

"Ouch, Young Chief!" Fu Bai rubbed his head, aggrieved. "I was helping you bidding for the wine."

Another smack, "I never said I'll buy that stuff."

"But-" Song Lin voiced her objection.

"It's enough. Let's go." Yifei showed an apologetic smile, "Sorry to interrupt. We won't bid, he's a little excited."

Min nodded, "I see, thank you Young Lady to clarify. We will continue our auction then."

Baobao mumbled, "But the commander and instructors will like it."

"Young Chief, we really won't bid for the Ginger Blood?" Fu Xin fidgeting.

Yifei was never questioned for a decision as much as tonight, she took back her words about visiting here was a good idea. "You kids keep calling me Young Chief, but none of your actions show me any respect. We got enough food and wine, let's leave."

The ducklings hung their heads, they had nothing to refute. The Young Chief's nonchalant attitude made them forget her rank.

"Young Lady, please wait!"

A man in black robe descended from the second floor. An imminent oppressive aura was spread with every step he took. He had brown, wavy hair pulled back to reveal a thin, wild face. A conspicuous scar reaching from the top of the left cheek, running towards his left nostril, and ending on his upper lip.

"Can I help you?" If not for the scimitar on his hand she wouldn't give him a second look. The large and curved scabbard made of finest wood, the sword's handle was especially designed for the owner's grip. She could feel the amount of dedication poured into it by the master blacksmith.

"Do you want that wine?"

The hall silenced, some quick witted audience coughing inexplicably, their ears redden while casting meaningful glances to both figures. The lady in white was young, although couldn't be classified as beautiful she wasn't ugly. She had a delicate feature and mysterious aura which made people want to conquer. Yet her slender figure was packed on her short body. This contradiction could arouse some male instinct.

"If the Lady wants it, I'll pay it for you."

Yifei got an epiphany after carefully judging the tavern's audience's strange behaviour. Was it the legendary 'financial benefactor' Huli told her about?

Yifei's unsmiling face turned rigid, "I must refuse the offer because I don't want it," she met Min's gaze, and put a money pouch to the table. "Hostess, it is my negligence for my brother's behaviour today. This is my apology. Now excuse me, we got an errand to do."

"I can buy you something else too." The man blocked their retreat, "I just want your bow and arrow."

"This is a tavern, not an auction house. Besides, I'm not selling my bow and arrow." She tried to bypass him but was grabbed by him. It was the second time someone irritated her tonight, Yifei really got an urge to beat up someone. "Let go."

"I just want to have a look, you tell me what you want and I'll give it to you."

Yifei casted him a threatening gaze, "Let go before I chop your hand."

Min could feel the dangerous aura between them, "Dear customers, how about changing the place to talk? We still have to continue the wine auction and these esteemed guests seem to have something to discuss. How about private room number one?"

Yifei had nothing to talk with him, since he turned deaf to rejection then she only had one way out. Her right hand took a dagger from the lower part of her arrow scabbard, resolutely stabbed the man's hand.

"Aaaargh…!!!" A shrill scream followed by a pungent smell of blood stunned everyone.

With the same decisive attitude she pulled the stucken dagger from his flesh. She wiped the bloodied single edged blade to her trouser, the lower part from the dagger was hollow, carved in the shape of snowflakes and prickly vines. Its palm size hid its immense destructive force. Anyone in close proximity could see some chunk of meat.

"Since you come to a tavern to buy wine, then just be honest."

She was swaggering out, leaving the man in pain while the clienteles were in cold sweat.

Bao Ren's eyes sparkling in worship, "Young Chief, you are so cool."

"Yes! Your hand movement is so fast like the wind, swish.. Swish! So amazing." Song Lin nodded in agreement.

"You guys get back to the camp. I have something else I need to do."

The ducklings dumbfounded but the Young Chief was long gone, her red trouser was fluttering like a comet.

***

Wu Residence

Jo Kang was a middle aged Magika, he had a round face and thin body. He had worked here for twenty five years and had been the steward ever since the young miss took over the family's business.

"Heiress." He bowed, his trained sense could feel the blood smell on her. "I will tell the servant to prepare for your bath. The kitchen already prepares your porridge and soymilk. Do you want me to send it to your study or in the dining hall?"

"I have no appetite. Just send some fruits to the study later."

"I understand, Heiress."

Yifei halted, carefully studying her subordinate. "Steward Jo?"

"Yes, Heiress?"

"Do you have a male relative with a round face and crooked nose? His left eyes are slightly bigger than his right and there is a mole on his chin."

Jo Kang listened carefully, his brain tried to match the characteristics with his family. A vague face with a familiar name appeared, "Answering the Heiress. It is the son of my grandfather's cousin. We are only a distant relative."

"How distant?"

"Our genealogy is already separated since my father's era, Heiress." Jo Kang was sweating, his boss was not a talker and unfriendly but she always rewarded the loyal and capable people. His family back home was flourishing and it was all thanks to her.

"It is good if he isn't your relative. That guy is not only unpleasant to the eyes, but also the snake's people. Since he is not your direct cousin then it means I can kill him as I please."

"Yes, Heiress."

Jo Kang's eyebrow twitched, their family's young miss was really one of a kind. She never took any insult laying down, no matter how small the grievances she would pay it back in a hundred fold. Adding the Yuan family into the conflict was like a cherry on top. The hatred between the Wu and the Yuan was a well known fact in the entire Black Temple.

The Wu family was one of the major forces since the founding of this nation alongside the Yuan family, Rong Family, Son family, and the Alo Tribe. They were the backbone of the Yongs' solid governance.

Yifei's grandfather - Wu Seja was a general of the sea fleet, due to his lifetime merit, he was granted the title of Black Warrior - a title reserved for successor's of the sword outside the royal bloodline. Arousing so much resentment and jealousy from the others.

About seventy years ago, due to the imperial struggle between the Yongs the bloodline was cut off and left the country without an heir. Following the ancestral rule of succession Yifei's grandfather was the first Wu to take on the sword and became the Chief of Black Temple - an equivalent rank to Emperor.

On his first official working day, he reformed the Imperial Court system, got rid of the corrupt leeches from their positions of power, and promoted officials of humble birth.

The new Chief appointed men to officialdom not based on birth or family background, but on ability. This won greater and louder cheers from the people. Anyone with the ability to accumulate merit would have a great prospect because of this reformation.

He was recorded in history as The Great Chief Wu Seja.

Of course this reformation greatly reduced the power of those families, they demanded a clear distinction between the royal power and resulting in the new law of succession. Starting from the children of Chief Wu Seja, the only people regarded as royal blood were only the first born regardless of their gender. It meant only the eldest child had the right to succeed the title of 'Chief' while the other can only keep their name but not recorded in the royal family's genealogy. This also meant those children didn't have any privilege regarding anything.

Article two of the new succession law stated, if there was a circumstances of unavailability of heir then the councils - formed by both military and civil officers, had the right to recommending up to three candidates for the people of Black Temple to choose. Those candidates must meet these following conditions, 1. Can only maximum differ in two generations from the previous Chief, 2. A skilled Magika or Warrior (proved by a test made by the council), and 3. Have enough contribution to society from the perspective of the people.

The Second Article of Succession Law was the doom of Yifei's life.