Chapter 8: The Trials of Leadership

The Midnight Market

The Midnight Market was unlike anything David had seen before. Hidden beneath the shadowed bridges of Ping Shui City, it thrived in the darkness, an underground gathering where merchants, thieves, informants, and mercenaries exchanged goods, services, and secrets.

Lily led him through the winding alleys, her steps confident. "This place doesn't operate under Wu's control," she whispered. "It survives because everyone has something to lose if it falls."

David took in his surroundings. The flickering torchlight cast strange shadows over makeshift stalls, where cloaked figures bartered everything from rare spices to stolen imperial documents. Armed men lingered near the entrances, watching for trouble.

It was a place built on desperation, greed, and quiet rebellion.

Exactly what he needed.

At the far end of the market, Jiang was waiting for them.

"You came," Jiang said, motioning for them to follow. He led them into a dimly lit chamber beneath a collapsed warehouse. The air smelled of damp stone and burning oil.

David quickly assessed the room—a group of about a dozen individuals sat or stood in small clusters. Some looked like seasoned fighters, others like thieves or former soldiers. These were not organized rebels. They were survivors, outcasts—people with nowhere else to go.

Jiang turned to David. "You said you wanted men. Let's see if you can convince them."

---

A Leader is Forged

David stepped forward, every eye in the room now on him.

He didn't waste time with pleasantries. He knew men like these respected strength and purpose, not words meant to flatter.

"You all know why you're here," David began, his voice even. "You hate Wu. You hate his enforcers, his taxes, the way he takes everything while giving nothing back."

A few murmured in agreement, but there was also skepticism. These were men who had heard promises before.

A burly man with a scarred face—Gao, judging by the way the others glanced at him for approval—crossed his arms. "And what makes you any different?"

David met his gaze without hesitation. "Because I don't plan on making empty threats."

He walked across the room, his movements measured. He needed them to see not just a man, but a leader.

"Wu rules because the people are afraid. Fear keeps them weak. But fear can be turned against him. That's what I'm offering—a way to break him piece by piece."

Gao snorted. "Big talk. But how do you plan on doing that?"

David smiled faintly. "By playing the game smarter than him."

He turned to Jiang. "Wu's wealth moves through trade routes, right? Silver, supplies, weapons—all of it comes in and out through specific roads."

Jiang nodded. "That's right."

David looked back at the group. "We cut those routes off. We strike where he's weakest. And we make sure his own men start doubting him. If we do it right, we won't just be attacking him—we'll be making him destroy himself."

A tense silence followed.

Then, one by one, nods of agreement.

Even Gao grinned. "Alright, noble boy. Let's see if you can back up those words."

---

The First Strike

The plan was simple but effective.

Wu's tax shipments moved on strict schedules, guarded by enforcers who expected unorganized bandits, not well-planned ambushes.

David and his new allies studied the routes carefully, learning when and where the shipments passed.

The first attack had to be perfect—a statement.

When the night came, David, Lily, and six others took position along a forested road outside Ping Shui. The shipment, carrying gold and supplies, was lightly guarded—only six men, riding alongside the wooden carts.

David signaled the group to wait. Patience was key.

As the carts rolled into the clearing, they struck.

One of the smugglers, a wiry man named Ren, shot an arrow into the first guard's leg. The man screamed, falling from his horse. Before the others could react, David and Gao rushed in from opposite sides.

David grabbed the nearest guard, twisting his sword arm before driving him into the dirt. Gao, meanwhile, took down another with a swift axe blow.

Lily darted behind the carts, using the cover to knock another guard unconscious with a well-placed strike from a club.

Within minutes, it was over.

Five guards lay groaning in the dirt. The last had fled.

David let him go. Fear was a weapon, and Wu needed to hear what had happened.

They took the gold, redistributed supplies among the villages, and sent a clear message—Lord Wu was no longer untouchable.

---

Wu's Response

Back in Ping Shui, Lord Wu was furious.

David had expected retaliation—but not this quickly.

The very next evening, a squad of twenty enforcers stormed the Midnight Market, demanding names, dragging out anyone they suspected.

Jiang barely escaped, finding David in their hidden meeting place.

"They're looking for you," he said breathlessly. "Wu isn't playing anymore. He's offering a bounty for the one who led the attack."

David expected as much.

"We'll strike again," David said. "But smarter this time. If Wu wants to hunt us down, we'll make sure he's chasing shadows."

Lily looked concerned. "This is getting dangerous."

David turned to her. "It was always dangerous. But now? Now, we're making them afraid."

Jiang grinned. "I like the way you think."

And with that, the rebellion truly began.