The Heist Within the Serpent’s Den

The grand hall of the Golden Serpent Pavilion buzzed with whispers and laughter, a world of deception hidden beneath silk and gold. Yue Rin, Liang Wei, and Zhen Xiu moved through the crowd like shadows, their every step calculated. Minister Zhao was already suspicious, but they had no choice—they needed the records proving his smuggling operations before the night ended.

Zhen Xiu led them toward a hallway near the back of the auction house. Two guards stood stationed at a heavily adorned golden door, their expressions impassive but their hands resting on the hilts of their swords. That door led to the private chambers where Zhao's most valuable secrets were hidden.

"We need a distraction," Liang Wei murmured, his eyes scanning the room.

Yue Rin's lips curled into a smirk. "Leave that to me."

She turned gracefully and made her way back into the main auction hall, her hips swaying with confidence. Slipping through the clusters of masked nobles, she grabbed a glass of wine from a passing servant, her mind already forming a plan.

At the center of the hall, an auctioneer stood on a raised platform, presenting a rare jade dragon figurine. The crowd murmured in admiration as the price climbed higher and higher.

Perfect.

Yue Rin stepped forward, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. "A mere trinket," she said loudly, tilting her head. The nobles turned, their curiosity piqued. "Is this the best the Pavilion has to offer?"

The auctioneer hesitated before clearing his throat. "My lady, this piece is an imperial treasure—"

"Imperial treasure?" Yue Rin scoffed, taking a deliberate sip of her wine. "I have seen better craftsmanship sold by street merchants in the slums of Xianjing."

A hush fell over the hall. The insult was bold—perhaps even reckless—but it had the intended effect. Gasps and murmurs filled the space as wealthy nobles exchanged amused or scandalized glances. Some were already whispering about a wager, eager to see how this unfolded.

Minister Zhao, who had been watching her from the far end of the room, narrowed his eyes but did not intervene. Instead, he leaned back, intrigued.

The auctioneer, flustered, glanced toward Zhao for guidance. Zhao gave the smallest nod, allowing the scene to unfold.

Good. He's watching me, not the hallway.

Meanwhile, Liang Wei and Zhen Xiu took advantage of the distraction, slipping past the guards as they turned their attention toward the commotion.

Inside the Private ChambersThe golden door clicked shut behind them, sealing them in the dimly lit chamber. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with scrolls, ledgers, and coded messages wrapped in silk. At the center of the room stood a heavy oak desk, and behind it, a locked cabinet.

"This is it," Liang Wei whispered.

Zhen Xiu stepped forward, scanning the documents on the table. "We need to find proof of Zhao's smuggling operations before—"

The sound of approaching footsteps sent a chill through the room. Someone was coming.

"Damn it," Liang Wei hissed.

Without hesitation, Zhen Xiu grabbed a dagger and moved toward the door. Liang Wei, meanwhile, yanked open a cabinet drawer and began rifling through papers.

"There!" He pulled out a ledger, flipping through the pages. Rows of transactions, names of buyers, and dates of smuggled artifacts—all recorded in Zhao's personal script.

Footsteps drew closer.

"Time's up," Zhen Xiu muttered.

Liang Wei shoved the ledger into his robe. "We need another way out."

Zhen Xiu scanned the room and spotted a narrow window near the ceiling. "There."

Liang Wei groaned. "You expect me to fit through that?"

"You want to argue, or do you want to live?" Zhen Xiu shot back.

Liang Wei growled but climbed onto the desk. With effort, he squeezed through the window, disappearing into the darkness outside. Zhen Xiu followed, his movements quick and precise.

Just as Zhen Xiu vanished through the window, the door burst open, and a guard stormed in. His eyes swept the room, taking in the open cabinets and scattered scrolls. His hand went for his sword—

But there was no one left to catch.

Escape Into the NightYue Rin could feel the tension in the air as the auction continued. Minister Zhao had not taken his eyes off her, and she knew she had pushed her luck.

It was time to leave.

With a final smirk, she placed her untouched wine glass on the auctioneer's podium and turned on her heel, disappearing into the shadows. She moved quickly, slipping through the crowd and into the side corridor where Liang Wei and Zhen Xiu were waiting.

"You got it?" she asked, breathless.

Liang Wei nodded, patting his robe. "We have everything we need."

"Then let's go."

Together, they moved through the city streets, vanishing into the night.

Behind them, the Golden Serpent Pavilion buzzed with tension, the first cracks forming in Minister Zhao's empire.

But Yue Rin knew this was just the beginning.

Zhao wouldn't let this slight go unanswered.

And the real battle had only just begun.