48. Whispers of Disappearances

(1 Months later, the market of Golden Prosperity City)

Whispers spread like wildfire through the ruins of Golden Prosperity City. At first, it was nothing more than hushed speculation, construction crews working to rebuild the city vanishing without a trace. Some claimed exhaustion and fear of lingering conflict had driven workers to abandon their posts, but as the disappearances continued, unease gripped the populace.

Tales of workers stepping into alleyways and never returning became common, their tools left behind as if they had been plucked from existence. Others spoke of entire teams failing to report back at the end of their shifts, their camps eerily undisturbed, save for cold meals and untouched bedrolls. Those who dared to investigate found nothing, no bodies, no signs of struggle, only an unsettling silence where life should have been.

Rumors twisted into ghost stories. Some swore they saw figures lurking in the shadows, watching from rooftops with eyes that gleamed like hungry beasts. Others whispered of old grudges, that the city's fallen powers had sent assassins to remove those aiding its rebirth. And then there were the most chilling whispers that something unnatural had taken root in the ruins, something that did not wish for the city to rise again.

…

(At night, somewhere in Golden Prosperity City)

The night was thick with mist, curling between the half-built structures and the broken streets of Golden Prosperity City. Fires flickered in scattered braziers as workers huddled together, whispering nervously. Fear had settled over the city like a heavy shroud. Too many had vanished without a trace, and the rumors were becoming harder to ignore.

In the shadows of a crumbling courtyard, a figure moved with practiced silence. A beggar, clad in ragged layers that concealed a lean, hardened frame, slipped through the back alleys until he reached an inconspicuous side door of an old tea house. With a quick glance around, he knocked twice, paused, and then knocked three more times. The door creaked open, and he slipped inside.

The interior was dimly lit, warm but austere. At the center of the room, seated behind a simple wooden table, was Li Xue. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her sharp gaze locked onto the beggar the moment he entered.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," she remarked, her tone dry but expectant.

The beggar took a moment to catch his breath before bowing slightly. "Mistress Li, there's a problem."

She raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"The workers, people are starting to notice," he continued. "They're whispering about disappearances. Some think it's the remnants of the old factions taking revenge. Others… think something worse is lurking in the ruins."

Li Xue exhaled slowly and tapped a finger against the table, considering. Of course, people were going to notice. It had been inevitable. The beggars had been quietly 'recruiting' from the labor forces, spiriting away the strong and useful under the cover of night to work on Mo Tian's plans in the mountains. But the pace had been too quick. Now, the fear of the unknown was threatening to spread beyond their control.

"Has anyone tried to investigate?" she asked.

"Not yet," the beggar admitted, shifting uneasily. "But it's only a matter of time before someone does. And if they dig too deep, they might start connecting the dots."

Li Xue ran a hand through her hair, annoyance flashing across her usually composed features. She had been tasked with keeping order in the city, ensuring that Mo Tian's plans unfolded without interference. But paranoia was a dangerous thing. It could lead to interference from outside forces, and that was something they couldn't afford.

"We need to control the narrative," she said at last, her voice firm. "Let the rumors continue, but twist them. Make it sound like it's just deserters, people fleeing because they fear another war breaking out. If the weak-willed among them want to run, let them. The fewer eyes in the city, the better."

The beggar nodded but hesitated. "And what about those who don't scare so easily? The ones who will start asking real questions?"

Li Xue's lips curled into a faint smirk, though her eyes remained cold. "Then we make an example out of someone. Find one of the loudest voices spreading fear and deal with them. Publicly. If people see what happens to those who stir trouble, they'll think twice about digging deeper."

The beggar swallowed but nodded in understanding. He had been in the underworld long enough to know what 'dealing with someone' meant.

"Good," Li Xue said, standing up. "Keep your ears open. If anyone starts getting too close to the truth, I want to know immediately. Mo Tian is moving forward with his plans. We can't afford distractions."

With a final bow, the beggar slipped back into the shadows, vanishing into the night.

Li Xue remained standing, staring at the flickering candlelight on the table.

For all their efforts, for all the control they thought they had—there was still one thing she knew for certain.

Fear was a weapon.

And she would wield it well.

…

(A month later, in the Jing Family Estate in Ironwood City)

The air inside Jing Manor was heavy with incense, the flickering lanterns casting long shadows over the gathered elders and retainers. A low murmur filled the hall as figures in dark silk robes whispered among themselves, their voices laced with concern. At the head of the room, seated upon a throne of lacquered wood, Jing Wen, the head of the Jing Family, tapped his fingers against the armrest in deep thought.

"The disappearances continue," said Jing Bao, one of the senior retainers. His sharp eyes flickered with unease. "At first, we believed it was the result of lingering chaos. Deserters, scavengers picking apart the ruins, simple lawlessness. But now… it's clear this is something else."

Jing Wen's expression darkened. "Explain."

Jing Bao straightened. "The laborers rebuilding Golden Prosperity City, many have gone missing. Not just vagrants or criminals, but skilled workers, masons, even hired guards. At first, they disappeared one by one. Now, entire crews vanish without a trace."

Across the hall, a younger man scoffed. Jing Hu, Jing Wen's nephew, leaned forward with an incredulous expression. "Superstition is making fools of them. The weak flee because they think spirits haunt the ruins. They fear the dead still lurk among the rubble, taking revenge for the war."

A quiet laugh rippled through the room, but Jing Bai, the family's intelligence officer, shook his head. "If only it were that simple," he said grimly. "The rumors are inconsistent, but they all point to the same truth, these people are not just running away. They're taken."

Jing Wen's gaze hardened. "By whom?"

Jing Bai hesitated before speaking. "That's the mystery. No faction has claimed responsibility. No bodies have been found. No ransom demands have been made. They simply vanish."

Silence fell over the hall.

Jing Wen exhaled slowly, his fingers pressing against his temple. "And the other families? What of the Zheng and Bai?"

Jing Bao shook his head. "The Zheng have withdrawn to their main city. They no longer care for what happens here. The Bai are… watching, but they have not acted. They may have noticed, but they haven't moved yet."

Jing Wen drummed his fingers against the chair. "This is too orderly. Too precise. Someone is behind this. If not a noble family, then…"

His eyes narrowed.

Jing Bai nodded. "It's possible someone is consolidating power in the shadows."

Jing Hu scoffed again. "And you think some beggars could be responsible for this?"

Jing Bai's lips curled into a thin smile. "Have you ever seen a rat's nest, cousin?"

Jing Hu frowned. "What nonsense is this?"

Jing Bai leaned forward. "When you see one rat, it seems harmless. But beneath the surface, hidden in the dark, there are hundreds. Maybe thousands. They move through tunnels you cannot see. They take what they need, breed in secret, and before you know it, they've infested your home."

Jing Wen exhaled sharply. "Enough."

The room fell silent again.

Jing Wen stood, his eyes cold as he surveyed the gathered members of his family. "If someone is working in the shadows, then we will shine a light on them. I want investigations in every district. Watch the movements of the remaining beggars. Follow the workers. Find out where they are disappearing to."

Jing Bai nodded.

Then, Jing Wen's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.

"What do you think we should do about the Jian Family?"

The heavy silence in the hall was broken only by the crackling of incense and the faint rustle of silk robes. Jing Wen remained seated upon his throne-like chair, his fingers tapping idly against the armrest as he weighed the disturbing reports of the vanishing workers. But as unsettling as those rumors were, there was another matter that needed to be addressed, the final death of the Jian Family.

Jing Bao, his trusted retainer, took a step forward. "With their army annihilated, the Jian Family is finished in Golden Prosperity City. Their remnants are scattered, and their influence is all but erased here. However…" He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "their true foundation still stands, their main city."

Jing Wen's fingers stopped tapping. His gaze lifted, sharp and calculating. "You mean to suggest we take their ancestral home?"

A murmur of agreement and uncertainty rippled through the gathered elders.

Jing Hu, ever the hot-headed one, leaned forward with a smirk. "Why hesitate? The Jian Family is broken. This is the perfect moment to wipe them from existence and claim their city for ourselves. They are defenseless, weakened. A decisive strike, and they'll be nothing but history."

Jing Bai, always the voice of caution, folded his arms. "A city is not so easily taken, even if its protectors are weakened. We would have to commit forces, forces that might be better spent securing our own position in Golden Prosperity City."

Jing Hu scoffed. "You always hesitate, Jing Bai. The Jian dogs are licking their wounds. If we strike now, they won't recover. If we wait, some ambitious bastard from the Justice Alliance or a surviving branch of the Jian bloodline might rally what's left of them. And then we'll have another war on our hands."

Jing Wen exhaled, contemplating both sides.

Jing Bao stepped in again, his tone level. "There is merit in both arguments. If we leave the Jian City alone, someone else will take it. But if we claim it for ourselves, we must be prepared for retaliation from any allies they may still have hidden away."

Jing Wen's eyes glinted as he finally spoke. "Then let us be smart about this. We do not send our full forces, nor do we march openly. We probe their defenses first. We send scouts, spies, mercenaries, anyone who can gauge the strength of the Jian remnants."

Jing Hu grinned. "And when we find out how weak they truly are?"

Jing Wen smiled coldly. "Then we crush them."

The room filled with quiet approval, a mixture of satisfaction and anticipation. The Jian Family had survived longer than expected, but not for much longer.

The room was filled with a quiet, simmering tension as the discussion over the Jian Family came to a close. The decision had been made, Jing forces would probe the Jian Family's main city and, if they found weakness, deliver the final blow. Yet, just as some of the elders were preparing to move on, a voice broke through the heavy silence.

Jing Yuan, the older elder who had remained contemplative throughout the conversation, finally spoke. His tone was calm, but the weight of his words pressed upon the room.

"Before we set our sights on the Jian City, there is one issue we have yet to address," he said, his gaze sweeping across the gathered leaders. "The Bai Family."

The air grew still. The flickering lanterns cast long shadows on the walls as the name hung in the room like an unspoken threat.

Jing Wen's fingers stopped tapping. His expression remained impassive, but his eyes sharpened with interest. "What about them?"

Jing Yuan sighed, shifting slightly in his seat. "We have lost many in the war. The siege of Golden Prosperity City, the battle against the Jian and Zheng forces… Our casualties were not light. The Bai Family, however, remains at full strength. They have the largest standing army in the region, backed by deep resources and connections to the Justice Alliance. If we make any major move, it is they who will decide if we are allowed to continue expanding unchecked."

A murmur of unease spread through the elders. Even Jing Hu, who had been eager to attack the Jian Family, now wore a frown. He crossed his arms and scoffed, but his bravado lacked its usual edge.

"Tch. The Bai Family only acted because we had the Zhengs on the verge of collapse," he muttered. "They like to pretend they're righteous, but in the end, they move for their own interests. If we strike the Jian City quietly, they won't interfere."

Jing Bai, ever the cautious one, shook his head. "We cannot be so certain. The Bai Family may not have cared about the Jian Family before, but if they see us absorbing another city into our control, they might step in, not for justice, but to ensure we don't become too powerful. A city is a valuable prize, and if we take it, they might take it as a provocation."

The elders exchanged uneasy glances.

Jing Bao, his voice measured, added, "The Bai Family also has connections to the families who control the granaries and supply routes in the south. If they wished, they could cut off food supplies, impose trade restrictions, or even blockade us entirely. Even if they do not march an army to our gates, they have ways to weaken us before we can even raise a sword."

Jing Wen exhaled slowly, resting his chin against his fingers. He had considered the Bai Family a distant threat, one that could be dealt with later. But now, as his elders laid out the facts, he felt the weight of reality pressing upon him. The war had drained their forces, and while they had gained much, they were not yet at full strength.

"Then what do you propose?" he asked, his tone neutral, but his eyes piercing as he regarded Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a thoughtful expression. "We move carefully. We send scouts to the Jian City, as planned, but we do not rush to claim it immediately. We wait, observe the Bai Family's movements, and ensure they have no reason to act against us. If we expand too quickly, they will see us as a growing threat. But if we let them believe we are still recovering from the war, they may not consider us worth dealing with. For now."

Jing Bai nodded. "Additionally, we should avoid open conflict with them at all costs. A war with the Bai Family would be disastrous in our current state. If we must deal with them, we should do so through diplomacy, sabotage, or proxy forces, rather than direct confrontation."

Jing Hu clicked his tongue in frustration but did not argue. Even he knew that fighting the Bai Family head-on would be suicide at this moment.

Jing Wen leaned back, deep in thought. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

"Very well. We proceed with caution. The Jian City will be scouted, but we will not rush in blindly. As for the Bai Family… we will not provoke them. Not yet. But keep a close watch on them. If they so much as twitch in our direction, I want to know about it immediately."

The elders nodded in agreement. The atmosphere in the hall shifted, while their ambitions remained, the shadow of the Bai Family now loomed over their plans. For now, patience would be their greatest weapon.

Jing Wen closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. His mind was already working through the next steps.

The game was far from over. It had only just begun.