Siwang Tuan (Death Squad)

Chapter 3: Beneath the Golden Lotus

In the intricate tapestry of unfolding events, the narrative delicately threads through the labyrinthine departure of Yingjian and Tiefeng from the sheltered enclave of Jianying Yuan. The air within the haven crackles with anticipation as Longwang's watchful henchmen, like shadows elongated by the looming night, prowl the outskirts with a relentless determination. Their mission: to apprehend those Long Sha Shou venturing towards the festival, rendering every step of Yingjian and Tiefeng's clandestine journey a perilous dance on the edge of discovery.

The departure unfolds as a clandestine ballet, choreographed in whispers and the muted rustle of concealed movements. With meticulous precision, the two warriors navigate the intricate web of customs within Jianying Yuan, each gesture a sacred rite that binds them not only to the legacy of their familial lineage but also to the greater tapestry of Long Sha Shou. The weight of tradition, an invisible cloak wrapped around their shoulders, becomes both a shield and a silent witness to their journey into the unknown.

Amidst the hallowed halls of Jianying Yuan, farewells are exchanged in a poignant symphony of emotion. The air is thick with a mingling of pride and apprehension, the emotions of relatives mirroring the complexities of the task undertaken by Yingjian and Tiefeng. The ancestral echoes linger in the air as the two warriors bid farewell to the familiar faces that have witnessed their growth and now gaze upon them with a mixture of trepidation and familial love.

As the final customs are observed, the sacred rituals that tether them to tradition are completed with a solemnity befitting the weight of their journey. It is a departure that transcends the physical realm, resonating with the spiritual undertones of their ancestral legacy. The haven that once nurtured them becomes the launching pad for an odyssey that holds both promise and peril.

In the veiled recesses of the night, the departure takes shape as a delicate dance of secrecy. Guided by the enigmatic presence of Huying, whose name, Tiger Shadow, whispers of a stealthy prowess akin to the feline predator, Yingjian and Tiefeng move with the grace of phantoms. Huying becomes the silent orchestrator of their clandestine exit, navigating the shadows with a skill that mirrors the covert nature of their escape.

The night, a canvas painted with the hues of secrecy, bears witness to their departure. The moon, a silent accomplice, illuminates the path ahead as Yingjian and Tiefeng embark on their clandestine journey. The echoes of ancestral whispers, the weight of familial expectations, and the uncertainty of the road ahead converge in this delicate ballet of departure, a prelude to the challenges and revelations that await them in the unfolding chapters of their saga.

In the intricate weave of the unfolding narrative, the spotlight now shifts to the perspective of Longwang's discerning right-hand man, Longzhi Shi-the Dragon Wisdom Master. As the pages turn, his astute gaze becomes a lens through which the audience peers into the clandestine corridors of intrigue. The narrative unfolds as Longzhi Shi makes his calculated entrance, a figure of authority and sagacity, into a realm bathed in the enticing glow of the night-a brothel draped in shadows, owned by the captivating dancer Jinlian, known as the Golden Lotus.

The brothel itself, a microcosm of secrets and allure, becomes a stage where the drama of the plot takes a riveting turn. The establishment, cloaked in the fragrant whispers of perfumes and the soft melodies of seduction, sets the scene for a subplot as mysterious as the depths of the night. The brothel's ambiance, painted with hues of temptation and secrecy, contrasts sharply with the sober purpose of Longzhi Shi's visit.

Longzhi Shi's mission emerges as the keystone of this subplot-to unravel the enigma surrounding the untimely demise of Zamar Waike, a foreign dignitary of paramount significance to Longwang. Zamar Waike's presence in the brothel, not merely as a patron but as a figure intricately entwined with Longwang's interests, elevates the stakes of the investigation. His death, shrouded in mystery and surrounded by the intoxicating aura of the Golden Lotus' domain, becomes a puzzle that Longzhi Shi must solve.