V

Admiration

I dashed past Grey who wrestled with a pair of city guards. Another two lay unmoving on the floor, yet more came rushing down the staircase. I took note of the situation, weighing my options. The twins were safe, hiding behind the couch. I was glad to see they hadn't gotten overconfident for no reason. Grey could be trusted to take care of the guards in the room, so I headed for the staircase. It wasn't wide enough for more than one person to pass through at once. Perfect.

"Rin!" I shouted and she threw me the staff in her hands.

It'd been a while, but it'd have to do. In the corner of my eyes, I noticed a despondent-looking Ren, holding onto two swords. Rin stuck out her tongue at him. They could be cute, at times.

I whirled the staff around me, drawing a sphere in the air. A moment to grow familiar with its length as I parried an incoming sword strike. Since it'd been intended for Rin, I had it shortened. I couldn't wield it properly as one should against a sword, relying on its longer range. I'd have to make up for that somehow.

I struck fast, the wood bending like a snake around my opponent's hasty guard. His sword couldn't keep up. Knocking his head from side to side with both ends of my weapon, I finished him off with one last hit, sending him to sleep with bells ringing inside his helmet. First one down, but I couldn't afford to relax.

The next guard came crashing down from above, more prepared than the earlier one. Using the difference in height to his advantage, he pressed against me, trying to open up the space on the floor. If I allowed him that, I'd soon be surrounded by the rest, so I stood my ground.

Kissing softly with my staff, I guided his sword away to my sides. The wood wouldn't endure too much of the abuse if I wasn't careful. Each strike had to be meticulously slid off its surface like a barber controlling his razor, leaving no room for error. A flurry of exchanges later, he joined his partner on the ground when he mistook a strike of mine for a feint. Another took his place in a breath.

The occasional bundle of clothing thrown at the guards' faces by Rin and Ren, fortunately, confused them more than it did me, giving me more time to adjust my form. By the time I mowed down the fourth guard with some trouble, I'd gotten used to the shortened staff. I'd switch my grip mid-swing, when there was no contact, using wider steps to make up for its length. Overreaching at times, but not carelessly so. The balance isn't right to wield it that way, but if I use my momentum like this... Slowly the forms came to life in my mind, and my movements began flowing more smoothly. There was still a long line of guards left to refine my new techniques.

***

My last strike became an extension of my entire body as I pushed off the staff at one end towards my victim, gripping it on its tip at the other end. He shot backwards, crumbling against the remaining guard who needed barely a moment to turn his tail, fleeing from the scene. I silently thanked him for this wise decision, sinking to the ground out of breath. My arms hung to my sides, sore, and my hands were blistered. If any of the elders were present, they would've no doubt chided me for getting out of shape, and sent another round with twice as many opponents.

Behind me, the twins jumped around in cheers. Rin hurried over to grab back her staff, holding it with newfound reverence. Rael no longer hid the longing in his eyes as he looked at me. His desire emanated off of him almost palpable. I'd seen that kind of hunger many times in others. Grey was silent as usual. He had taken care of the remaining guards who lay unconscious on the ground without their helmets. Thick bulges grew on their heads like mushrooms. We were about to discuss what had happened when more footsteps fell down the staircase. I grunted, sighing as I stumbled to my feet, preparing for another onslaught.

"Guys, quick, we've got to-!" I recognized Nysha's voice. "Oh."

Her steps slowed down as she entered the room, releasing a sigh of relief whereas the rest of us held our breath. Nysha wore an outfit I had never seen her in before, and based on the others' reactions, neither had them. It was revealing in all the right places; or the wrong ones. The side of her dress was cut open up to her chest, barely held together by thin laces. The fine, ruby cloth danced around her legs, teasing at the imagination, and a faint breeze carried her rosy fragrance. Her chest heaved from her frenzied running, further accentuating her already revealing neckline. The sleeveless dress revealed her slender, tanned arms, casting a shadow over the local girls with their comparably pale facades.

"Wow, how pretty!" Rin was mesmerized by her appearance, her hands clasped dreamily; the embroideries of rosy vines wrapping around Nysha's body reflecting in her eyes. Not good. It was a fair guess to assume she looked up to Nysha, but this was...

Ren's face was flushed cherry-red. Maybe he was older than we believed. Grey was silent compared to Rael and me who were more conspicuous. It took Nysha a few coughs for us to find ourselves again. She still didn't notice Ren. That lucky-

"Grey, please take care of the bodies," she gestured at the heap of them. Her arms returned to lingering around her revealing parts. "Shin, help him. We'll talk once you're done."

Her figure was graceful as she walked into the other room, until she stumbled over herself in her suppressed haste.

***

"They thought we were rebels?"

We sat in a round on the various furniture that had made it through the assault unscathed. Nysha had changed into her usual attire, Rin sitting in her lap. Ren was across from them, next to me, still looking like he didn't understand how the world worked anymore. It was the first time I'd seen the twins divided like that.

"Someone tipped them off to divert their attention. We weren't the only bait either. I've already warned Boss Jin," Nysha said, hesitating before surrendering to our inquisitive staring. "I heard about it during my work shift at the Fragrant Rose. No point in hiding it now." The name didn't tell me anything, but Rael seemed to have lost his entire sack of marbles.

"H-How did you manage to get in that?" He stammered. "That's the largest establishment for nobles in the city! They say even their waitresses descent from noble and named families!"

"I have a convincing smile," she gave us one and didn't elaborate further. "Onto more important matters. Things are looking grim. I know it's sudden, but I think we should leave Zhanhai."

"Is it that bad?" I frowned. The unrest had left a bad taste in my mouth. I tended to ignore what I could, but I didn't feel that unrelated to the escalating tensions.

"Worse," she hung her head. "I've heard the name Khan Sen one too many times to stay comfortable around here."

"Khan Sen?" That wasn't my first time hearing about him either. "Who exactly is he?"

"I don't know," she said. "A leader of some sort. What's important is that he's a cultivator, and a strong one apparently. He appeared out of nowhere a month ago. His existence is a rumour, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. If cultivators are starting to get involved, I don't want to be anywhere near that. I'm not a great believer in Emperor Wang Jen's Third Decree, you know? Anyways, Shin, there's something else you should know. We need more pellets than you might imagine."

"He already knows," Rael chimed in and he turned to me. "We have different reasons, but I'm not the only one who has stuck around for longer than the regular quota."

"That makes things faster," Nysha took over again, "I plan on making this our last job, so it's a big one. No more thinking about what might happen afterwards, because we'll be gone by then."

"...Will it be enough?" Rael asked concerned.

"For most of us," she bit her lip. "Sorry, Rael."

"Don't be, I'll figure something out," he smiled away his uncertainty. "I'm sure I'll get close enough."

Nysha didn't take his words well, but she kept going. "Grey, you and Rael will sell everything you can and take care of our pellets. Rin, Ren, you'll help them. Clean this place out and take some gold with you. We'll meet in two days at midnight, west outside the city. Be as fast as you can, you hear? That means you, Rael, don't haggle too much. Shin, you're coming with me."

We left for the adjacent room while the rest went to work.

"What are you planning to do?" I asked, leaning against the wall. "Is it just going to be the two of us on this heist of yours?"

"Where are those damn things?" Nysha had stuck her head in a box, rummaging through its content. "What did you say? You'll find the details in there," she pointed at the card placed on the desk.

It was a framed invitation. "The Lady Longfei and her Lord Huan are hereby cordially invited to...! Heavens, Nysha, you've got to be joking!"

"It's not Nysha, but Longfei, my dear husband."

"Again with that?" I put a hand over my eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing," I shook off the memory. "This isn't going to work, Nysha. Your looks aside, the duke knows me!"

"My looks? Am I too ugly to be playing a noble?"

"Anything but," her dress fluttered in my mind. No, focus. "Look, you know what I mean."

"Don't worry, Longfei is my name. To some people."

"And this Huan?"

"Who am I talking to right now if not the Lord advisor of Lord the Lord of Lords... You know what? Think of something. Aha!" She sprung up, her hands holding onto a comb and a pair of scissors. "Now sit down in front of that mirror so I can take care of that sorry excuse you call your hair. My hands have been itching to do this for a long time."

Nysha forced me down into the chair while I was still astounded by the situation I'd found myself in.

"Nysha-!"

"Nah-uh, don't you turn unless you want me to cut off one of your ears by accident? And it's Longfei from now on."

So I kept still. Wronged, but still.

"You'd mind if I cut it short?" A long strain of hair fell down in front of my eyes, and with it my opinion, "I know it's not common around here, but that's just bad taste. Your men all look like women to me with their long hair bound and all those damn trinkets. Especially those snobs. Are you trying to pretend to be a noble with that hair of yours? I mean, seriously, it's almost as long as mine. And hairpins? You're asking to be ridiculed."

"Rael and the twins were your victims then, I presume?"

"Victims?" The sound of scissors sounded awfully loud this once, "I have you know, my mother was one of the best stylists in Karza. I learned everything from her."

"It seems that everyone around here is the son or daughter of the best of anything."

"Did you say something?" Another cut too close to comfort.

"Nothing. It looks great."

In the mirror, a stranger was staring at me. My hair just about reached my forehead. Nysha didn't do anything extravagant to it either. It was a far cry from the lavish stylists the Fang Family employed who lived their entire life solely for the craft. But I liked it - it was different. It was just some hair, but I was elated to see it changed. A young master from a great sect wouldn't be caught dead with it cut and styled like this. She kept my hair free; feral without trapping it in expensive hairbands, pins, or other accessories. I kept the thoughts to myself this time for my own safety.

"Rael had his short hair before I met him," she said, "I trim it for him, now and then. He's cut it himself before that apparently. It looked dreadful. As for the rascals..." she hesitated, falling silent.

"What about them?"

"You're not going to believe me even if I tell you."

"Try me."

"...Fine," she sighed. "Both of them used to have hair this long," she gestured past her shoulders. "I really couldn't stand seeing Ren like that, so I decided to cut his hair. When I was done with him, I found Rin in the other room napping with her hair now as short as Ren's. I thought she was sick with her hair falling out like that before I realized it looked exactly the same as Ren's... Sounds ridiculous, right?"

"I believe you," she raised an eyebrow. "Twins are connected, some more so than others. A phenomenon like you described is quite rare, but not unheard of. I'm surprised, actually, I didn't expect their bond to be that strong. They might have a bright future ahead of them."

"Really?" She exhaled; some tension in her shoulders fading. " I either thought them cursed or me insane, but if you say so, then I'm relieved. You know a lot of things, don't you?"

"Depends on your meaning of 'a lot.'"

"Humble as ever," she hummed. "You don't have to be so polite with us all the time. Before Rael left, he told me that you rejected the pellets. You should scold Ren properly if you don't want him to call you Eldest Brother."

"It was only proper, and about Ren..." I didn't comment on my issue with that. She hummed again.

"Anyways," I said," you think a haircut will be enough to hide me from the duke?"

"I'll put some makeup on you later," her smile was as wide as her face, "you can look forward to it because I sure do."