The siblings looked down from the dais. The small group assembled below them were standing in disciplined formation. Seven young men, their very own human weapons, all specially trained since they were little boys. Mostly orphans. Blood brothers, bound together by a blood ceremony when they were ‘adopted’ into the family. They belonged to the brother and sister before them.

The man smiled and nodded to his sister signalling for her to start. The woman opened her arms wide in a gesture to welcome them.

“Welcome back, all of you.”

Immediately, as one, the group below them raised their hands in a palm fist salute of respect.

“Thank you Master. Thank you Mistress!” they chorused.

“It has been some time since all of you have gathered here. Most of you have returned from long and dangerous assignments.”

She smiled proudly at the boy in front, the eldest, “Li has just returned this morning. He was successful in completing his task.”

Li nodded in acknowledgement and bowed slightly. The Mistress’s eyes flickered at the back of the group for a moment, noting the youngest still in his dusty travelling clothes. He looked tired but alert. He had managed to make it back alive. Dismissing her thoughts, she continued addressing the group.

“Enjoy yourselves tonight, relax, new assignments will be announced tomorrow morning. Dismissed.”

The couple smiled and exited together leaving the young men.

They relaxed, moving towards their eldest brother who had managed to survive and return home.

“Hey Li, congratulations!”

“Welcome home brother.”

They gathered round, clapping him on the back, congratulating him on completing his assigned task. He winced. “Ouch, not so hard.”

“Oh, sorry. You’re wounded. Is it bad?”

“It’s healing nicely. I‘ll be fine.”

“It’s been three months. You look terrible.”

“You too brother, you look terrible too, same as always,” he laughed at Qian, brother number three.

“Let’s go eat! I’m famished.”

“You are always thinking of food, Jin. How come you’re not fat?”

Jin laughed good-naturedly. His love for good food was well known. The group of young men went to enjoy the spread prepared for them.

Li went to the youngest and patted him on the back. “Welcome home little brother, I heard you just got back too.”

Xuelei smiled, “Yes, less than an hour ago.”

Shen, fifth brother cut in, “Were you successful? The Mistress didn’t say.”

“Of course he was successful! He is home isn’t he? No one comes home if he hasn’t completed the Kill.”

“Kill or be killed. Failure is not an option,” everyone sang out the Sect’s motto and burst into laughter.

“Don’t take it to heart that the Mistress didn’t mention you. You know how she is. She is in one of her moods.”

“Of course,” Xuelei replied automatically, guardedly. His stoic façade was in place as usual.

“We are all the same, taken in by Master and Mistress. Why does she treat you differently? Sometimes she dotes on you and at other times she acts like she hates you. It’s a mystery.”

“Don’t start, Qian,” Ren warned his brother. “Some things are not to be mentioned around here. If Mistress hears you…”

“We should be glad that they took us in, gave us food and shelter. We would all not be alive if not for them. We owe them our lives.”

“I know, but the mystery still bugs me.” Qian looked over to the Xuelei, who shrugged and went over to the food.

“You know his story, Mistress had to pry him away from his mother’s dead body when she found him. He was only two or three then. He would have died of starvation or burned alive if she didn’t save him,” Dao said. “Whereas I was sold by my relatives for a few coins, once my parents died. Less mouths to feed, you know.”

“She took me in when she found me fending myself with a stick against some bigger boys who were trying to steal my stale piece of bread,” Li said in remembrance. “I was only eight then.”

“I know, we all have similar stories but he is different.” Qian shook his head, “I wonder …”

“Don’t wonder too much or the food will be gone!” Jin laughed. “C’mon, no worries tonight. We are all back safe and sound.”

The boys ranged from 16 years to 25 years of age. Although they all had the long dark hair characteristic of their people, they all had different features and skills. The blood brothers were all proficient in swordsmanship and knife skills but they each had their own special weapons.

Li, twenty-five, the eldest was a master swordsman. A broadsword hung at his hip. He had broad shoulders and was fierce looking. Ren was lean and swift, blades and knives were hidden all over his body. Qian was unrivalled when it came to using the whip, his special weapon. The sabre was deadly in Dao’s hands, his motions swift and decisive.

Brother Shen with his nimble hands had mastered the art of poison and antidotes. He had even concocted some brews of his own. Jin, brother number six, was the most handsome of the lot. At twenty years old, he was the most talkative and easy-going. His love for good food and fun made him the favourite of his brothers. He could talk his way out of most situations, failing which his bow and arrow did the job.

The youngest, Xuelei was only sixteen and considered the baby. Lean and fit, speed was his primary weapon and he practiced diligently with as many weapons as possible. How could he not? His elder brothers saw to that, they had a wicked sense of wanting him to specialise in their speciality. It was an unofficial on-going bet among them, which weapon he would eventually specialise in. Right now Dao was winning, Xuelei had recently taken on the sabre with a passion.

Just then, a petite young girl flounced into the dining room and squealed. She rushed to Li and grabbed his arm.

“Li, you’re back at last! I’ve missed you so much. Three whole months!”

Li laughed and kissed her on her forehead. “My little Mei Ling, as beautiful as ever. I’ve missed you.”

“What did you bring me this time?”

“I thought you missed me, not the gifts I bring back.”

She pouted, “No gifts?”

Jin laughed from across the room at their little sister. “You already have too many presents Mei Ling. You make us bring you presents every time we come back from our missions. Soon, you won’t have enough storage place for all of them.”

“I do too. I still have lots of room.”

A bright smile lit up her face when Li brought out a jade hair pin and handed it to her.

“Oh. It’s beautiful. Did you buy it? Put it in my hair quick!” she instructed Li. He obliged willingly much to the amusement of the others.

“Does it look good?”

“Aren’t you going to ask Xuelei what he brought back for you? Don’t tell me you didn’t notice him? He just got back too,” Jin teased.

Everyone knew she had a soft spot for Xuelei. They were the closest in age, she was thirteen whilst he was sixteen. Although she loved all her step-brothers dearly, and they all doted on her, they all knew of her not-so secret crush for their youngest brother and loved to tease her.

“Oooo, Xuelei is back too! I get two presents today!”

Mei Ling immediately released Li’s arm, abandoning him and went over to Xuelei. He was quietly eating, but put down his plate when she approached hm. Before she could say a word, he took out a small pouch and wordlessly handed it to her.

“What is it?”

Mei Ling opened the pouch and emptied three seeds onto her hand. She frowned disappointed, ”You brought me seeds?”

“Plant it. It will grow into a cherry blossom tree.”

“A cherry blossom tree?”

“It is from a special cherry blossom tree, the one I buried a victim of my last target. She was innocent and deserved a decent burial. She was as young and beautiful as you.”

“Oh! So thoughtful, so romantic.” Mei Ling’s hand fluttered to her heart. “Thank you Xuelei! I will definitely plant it!” She tiptoed and kissed him lightly on the cheek before rushing out.

“Nice save,” Shen grinned. “Is it true?”

Xuelei nodded.

Ren made a noise of disapproval. “You shouldn’t waste time burying people. People die, killing is part of the job. You can’t waste time like that or you will get caught.”

“She was innocent,” Xuelei repeated stubbornly and returned to his meal.