* Baishu Sect, Meeting Hall *
The atmosphere in the meeting hall was quiet and tense. A heavy silence hung in the air.
A middle-aged man in his 60's sat across a wooden table on the raised platform of the hall. His expression was stern. He is the current leader of the Baishu sect, Zhu Wancheng. He was the one behind Wang Xiaoyu's misfortune. After convincing the other senior members of the sect back then to join him in his evil act, promising to give them a better position once he succeeds.
After he murdered Wang Xiaoyu's father, he convinced Mo Tianran into using his daughter Mo Qinglan, Wang Xiaoyu's fiancee, to poison him, and promised to make him his second in command after he becomes the sect leader.
Who wouldn't want such an offer? Baishu sect was the number one sect in the martial art world, and not only that, Baishu sect is independent from the royal court, and they operate on their own. They investigate cases, arrest criminals, and pass verdict without the interference of the royal court. Baishu sect was the dream of every young people wishing to become part of the martial art world.
After the royal family, Baishu sect was the second in power in the entire Shuanghe Capital.
Mo Tianran, being blinded by his greed, deceived his daughter into poisoning Wang Xiaoyu.
Zhu Wancheng sat calmly on his chair, his face wasn't looking good for some reason, so were others seating in the hall with him. Each and every one of them has an unpleasant look on their faces. On his table, there was a piece of paper and a mask.
There were a total of five people seating at the down part of the hall. Three sat at his left side: Yu Qingxiao, Zhao Lingxu, and Shen Wuyou. On the right side were only two people: Lan Ruyan and Mo Tianran. These were the elders and the senior members of Baishu sect.
"Everyone," Zhu Wancheng began, his voice low, "this is the third time something like this is happening, and this time the Royal court have sent a letter demanding we give them a reasonable response regarding the Chief magistrate's death.
We have to put an end to this madness." Zhu Wancheng said as he picked up the mask on his table. This mask was found on the body of Zhang Qian, a symbol of the Mask Pavilion....."I don't believe that someone will come and go as he pleases under the nose of Baishu sect," he continued, "No matter how mysterious these people are, we have to put an end to this...." he said as he stared at the plain white mask in his hand.
"That's really weird, Sect Leader. I suspect that someone is hiding them... otherwise, it doesn't make sense that we haven't found any trace of them all this while," Lan Ruyan said thoughtfully. As she tapped her finger on the armrest of her seat. Among the people sitting in the hall, Lan Ruyan was the only female in their midst, and she is the one in charge of the investigation department. "Sect Leader, I suggest we send more people to investigate."
The four others nodded in support.
"Elder Mo," Zhu Wancheng suddenly called. His eyes fixed on Mo Tianran.
"Sect Leader," Mo Tianran responded.
"Find a good painter and paint their portraits and post it on the public notice board in the city... anyone who finds them or their hideout will be rewarded awesomely."
"Elder Yu," Zhu Wancheng called once again.
"Sect Leader," Yu Qingxiao responded instantly.
"You take your team around the capital. Anyone found to be suspicious should be arrested immediately," Zhu Wancheng ordered. His tone was firm. Everyone nodded in agreement. Without wasting time, everyone sprang into action as they began to make their way out of the hall.
In an unkept courtyard, that looked like it has been abandoned for years, a young man was seen strolling down the path... with a sorrowful expression on his face.... This was Tang Xuan, the senior disciple of Baishu sect and Wang Xiaoyu's best friend. Ever since Wang Xiaoyu died, Tang Xuan has been visiting his residence everyday. He usually comes with two drinks; he keeps one for Wang Xiaoyu and drinks the second one as he talked to his portrait hanging on the wall.
He approached The main building in the courtyard as he raised his head and looked at the name plaque hanging in front of the building....and it said:
"WANG"
Tang Xuan closed his eyes in pain as he shook his head before walking into the hall. This was where Wang Xiaoyu and his father Wang Cheng's Memorial Tablets were kept.
As he went further, he saw a figure standing in front of one of the portraits hanging on the wall. He paused.
He walked further with suspicion in his eyes, but he soon recognized the figure and slowed down his pace as he calmly approached the figure....this was Wang Xiaoyu's fiancee....Mo Qinglan. She was staring at a portrait on the wall with tears streaming down her face. This is a portrait of a young man posed heroically while holding a sharp-looking sword behind his back...with a red ribbon from the hilt of the sword coiling around him gracefully....this was Wang Xiaoyu's portrait.
"What are you doing here?" Tang Xuan asked with a cold voice.
Mo Qinglan was startled a bit, but she soon composed herself and wiped off the tears from her eyes and raised her head to look at Tang Xuan. Her eyes were red and swollen.
"Senior..." she said with a slight bow, her voice barely audible.
"Senior!?" Tang Xuan asked with a doubtful gaze. "I am not your senior, and I don't have a junior like you...." Tang Xuan continued, stepping forward to face her. "The day Xiaoyu died, that was the day our relationship ended."
"Why....why.... did you have to kill him? Xiaoyu loved you with all his heart...." Tang Xuan said with emotions taking over him, and his eyes began to moisture and his voice trembled.
"He treated you so well," Tang Xuan continued, his voice rising. "After he defeated Li Yuan back then, you tied a red ribbon on the hilt of his Wú Chén sword. From that day on, Xiaoyu never removed it. He even got a painter to paint his portrait with it, because he cherished every single thing you gave him, even if it's just a pieces of clothe..." Tang Xuan said as his voice continued to rise in the hall.
Mo Qinglan's head hung low as tears continued to spill out of her eyes uncontrollably, and a faint sob began to resound in the hall.
"He has already asked for the sect leader's (his father) permission to propose to you officially, and the sect leader has agreed to it.....Let me tell you, he have already sewn a wedding dress ahead of time.... hahaha..... hahaha..." Tang Xuan let out a painful laugher. He shook his head sadly. "Xiaoyu, you are really a fool..." Tang Xuan said as he shook his head.
"Sorry for overstepping my boundaries Tang Xuan suddenly said. After all, you will soon become the daughter-in-law of the Zhu family and the future wife of the sect leader of Baishu sect..." Tang Xuan said before turning and walking off from the hall.
Immediately Tang Xuan left the hall, a miserable cry echoed in the hall as Mo Qinglan collapsed on her butt on the floor. She had been holding herself back all this while.
"I am sorry Xiaoyu...." she said, her voice filled with crying. Tears streamed down her face. "I didn't know...I really didn't know...." Mo Qinglan said in between her cries as tears continued to stream down her face.
* Qīng Zhú Gambling House *
This place was usually too noisy, with the angry yell and laughter of drunkards and gamblers...and today was no different. Loud shouts and boisterous laughter filled the air. A young woman was sitting on the gambling table as she crossed her legs seductively. She wore a slender robe that reveals her beautiful thighs and cleavage. She was surrounded by the crowd as she skillfully twisted her wrist in the air and manipulated the dice in a wooden cup.....and finally placed it back on the table with the cup facing down and covering the dice from the eye of the audience.
Soon, many began to throw in their money as they began to bid.
"Big!" one shouted.
"Small!" his opponent followed suit.
The young woman who was the game mistress..... let out a short laugh before calmly lifting the wooden cup slowly with teasing smile on her lips.
As soon as the two dice were revealed....the crowd went into frenzy as they screamed in excitement, while some people shook their head in disappointment. The two dice has six numbers on each side that was revealed... obviously, the man who have chosen the big number earlier was screaming his guts out as he dived on the table and grabbed the money he has won.
The game continued with one winning and the other losing.
Soon, three young men dressed in white and blue robes stepped into the gambling house. Their clean attire stood out. Their eyes penetrating each and every corner of the place. They scanned the place thoroughly with a sharp gaze before heading towards a table at the center and taking their seats.