The Secret Hideout

"Mmm!" Mingyu moaned as he devoured a spicy drumstick.

Ever since he ate chicken for the first time, he had been craving for more of it.

Set on the table before him, was a bowl filled with drumsticks, and there was a woman sitting next to him at the table as well, side eying him for eating in a glutinous manner.

Setting aside her grievances for what Mingyu did to her the last time, Li Mei had welcomed Mingyu into her brothel, and even gave him a special room as she now considered him a treasured servant of a wealthy young master.

Who could blame her? Jiang Yichen had paid twice the amount she had paid on Mingyu's head, just for her to release Mingyu to him as his servant. So Mingyu had to be important to Jiang Yichen, right?

"Here are the fireworks you wanted." Li Mei said as she placed a bag next to Mingyu and opened it for him to see it's content. "If you set off these fireworks, people from miles away would be able to see them."

Mingyu simply looked at the fireworks, nodding his head in approval. "Okay." He said, and went right back to business—devouring the drumsticks.

"By the way," Li Mei's voice was now a whisper, a signature tone for gossip. "what does Young Master Jiang want to do with these? Rumors has it that he was punished severely at Jinxing last night. So what is he scheming this time?"

Mingyu placed his index finger on his lips, shushing her. "It is a secret." He said before looking around, as if to make sure no one was listening. "Do not tell anyone about this, okay?"

Li Mei wasn't satisfied with the response she got. She was really itching for some juice, but all she got was iced water.

Mingyu noticed her sour expression, and in order to placate her, he smiled at her, "Beautiful Jie-Jie." He said sweetly, while winking playfully at her.

On hearing Mingyu's complement, a deep reddish hue formed on Li Mei's cheeks, and a small smile formed on her face.

Clicking her tongue to hide her smile, she decided to drop the topic. "He should lie low for now to avoid more trouble."

Mingyu's face suddenly turned serious as though he wasn't the one who was smiling like an angel just seconds ago. He reached into his robe, and brought out an item wrapped in paper. He dropped it on the table, and revealed what was wrapped in it.

Li Mei's eyes widened in shock as she eyed the item. "This is Jinxing's entry plaque! Are you allowed to enter into Jinxing? Wow, your young master must really trust you." She immediately picked it up, checking it out to be sure it was real. "This is such a precious item."

"He wants me to sell it." Mingyu dropped the statement like he hadn't just said something utterly ridiculous.

Li Mei gave him a disbelieving stare. "Why would he want to sell something as precious as this?… Besides, something like this can't be sold easily."

"Is that so?" Mingyu put on an uncaring expression, "He said I would be able to sell it somewhere, but oh well." He held the plaque with a deliberately light touch, pretending to take it from her, and much to his pleasure, Li Mei's grip on the plaque was strong, unwilling to release it.

In one, two, three… Mingyu counted in his head.

At the count of three, Li Mei yanked the plaque away from Mingyu's light grasp. "Fine." She said as she awkwardly coughed to clear her throat. "I just remembered that there's a merchant who purchases black market goods."

Mingyu nodded with a smug smile, while Li Mei continued fawning over the plaque. "You will be getting a huge sum from selling this." She said.

"Can I have more chicken?" Mingyu asked despite not finishing the ones in the bowl.

"Sure." Li Mei replied elatedly, "I'll put it on your young master's tab."

Meanwhile, a courtesan who had intended to speak with Li Mei was standing outside the room, by the door, and she had heard everything. The corner of her lips tugged into a smirk, as she quietly tiptoed away from the door.

….

At the secret hideout, deep within the forest, and far from the bustling city of Huayang, the Yewang stood, still clad with his signature black hood.

Forming a circle around him, were people, who were also dressed in black hoods which hid their faces. In their middle, stood the Yewang, and Mingyu's lifeless body, which had been placed on the floor.

"Mingyu's body may be here, but his soul is still alive in another body." The Yewang spoke, "Just like him, you will also be given new bodies through the Dragon-scale ritual. So do not be afraid to sacrifice yourselves for me."

"Yes, sir!" They all answered in unison.

With that, the Yewang turned around, leaving them behind in the poorly structured building.

As he stepped out, he dropped his hood, revealing his face as he discarded the black cloak he was putting on.

He was wearing a golden robe underneath, a signature color of the Huo sect, a powerful sect which operates directly, under the royal family.

Standing outside the building, were many other men clad in golden robes, as well. They were all Mages from the Huo sect.

A man wearing purple robes, then walked over to the Yewang, and stood beside him, facing the other Mages.

The Yewang nodded at the man, and the man raised his hand. "Fire!" He yelled a command.

The Mages immediately brought forth their bows, and with the use of their spiritual powers, they each conjured arrows with spells, and released them towards the building.

The arrows moved like projectiles, raining down upon the building, and dealing blows to those who were inside.

The hooded people in the building screamed their lungs out in agony, as one by one, they all fell prey to the arrows, and brutally lost their lives.

Even with the screams of the people dying down, the Mages still continued on, firing arrows like they were on a hunting escapade, while the Yewang didn't even bother stopping them, a sly smirk tugging at his lips as he enjoyed the people's pained screams.