Yecao Cao stretched his sore limps with a yawn that made his toes curl. He has no idea how long he has waited on this damn ship for the trap to spring. Though it was a magnificent ship, the quarters were just as uncomfortable as all the other ships. The crew had made it quite a spectacle to watch Yecao Cao sleeping-while-standing technique that came into good use as he wanted to avoid the nasty beds in this ship.

Maybe he has become too spoiled by the nice bed in the Palace of Heavenly Grace. He missed those fine silken cloths and the nice tea. Turns out that Dongzhou’s tea was mediocre at best.

“Young Zhiji, I come with offerings,” Shue said as he entered into Yecao Cao’s view with plenty of fruits. Yecao Cao was not shy and took shamelessly several of them to put in his mouth. Shue chuckled at the sight. “I think you have become our most valued customer.”

“If you still have to think about it then I haven’t eaten enough,” Yecao Cao said and savored the sweet taste of the fruit. “Has anything happened in the city?”

“My… colleagues say they have spotted several wandering merchants entering the town but no obvious incidents can be reported,” Shue said and looked out over the colorful city with a grim expression.

“Afraid that nothing will happen? It would make it hard for you to get that degree.”

“Very astute of you, Zhiji. Yes, that is my fear.”

“I have laid out several very profitable baits. One of them will most likely be too tempting to avoid.”

Shue suddenly frowned and peered at Yecao Cao. “That is curious. The Wang only mentioned the newly arrived supplies as bait. Are there others?”

“I might have laid out some of my own baits to lure the thieves out,” Yecao Cao admitted.

“Something the Wang doesn’t know?”

“No, I doubt that he would have agreed.”

“Will this strike back at us?”

“Not if you deny knowing about it.”

“Knowing about what?”

Yecao Cao laughed at Shue’s innocent face but he understood his reluctance to be a part of this. It was a gamble Yecao Cao did not like to take but he wanted this to work. Yecao Cao might be lazy but he has never failed a job. Even if this one was a tad bigger than his previous ones.

“Well, in the best case scenario they will go after the Wang’s bait. I’m just not as sure about the thieves being willing to take that risk for mere supplies. Not so soon after their first heist. Putting something more prized in front of them on the other hand…”

“But the more value, the higher the risk.”

“Sure, I’m only taking a gamble on their courage being high after a successful heist. Arrogance is common after such a feat and ambition is hard to control.” Yecao Cao smiled at Shue. “Though I guess it all comes down to how clever their leader is. We still have no information about these thieves. They seem organized but…”

“They might still just be a common rabble who had a struck of fortune,” said Shue.

“Exactly.”

“Let’s pray for the success of-“

A deafening explosion at the far end of the city echoed through the streets all the way down to the harbor. Yecao Cao’s eyes narrowed as he watched the city slowly rising into chaos. The explosion had been far off from the harbor…

Shue’s eyes turned to the sea but frowned as he saw no mist like last time.

“You are looking in the wrong direction,” Yecao Cao said and pointed at the harbor which was filled with mist. It did not take long before the ship was filled with thick fog making it hard to even see the person beside you.

“The mist is coming from the harbor? That did not happen last time,” Shue muttered and pulled out a strangely shaped sword. It looked far heavier than the light sword of Tiandi but was carved with strange symbols that glowed.

“Are those runes?” asked Yecao Cao eagerly and leaned in to get a better look at the strange glowing symbols piercing even the mist.

Shue chuckled at Yecao Cao’s childish delight. “Yes, the titans might have created the runes but their descendant’s also know how to use them and we are allies with the dwarves,” Shue eyes did not leave the fog though as he spoke. “They often gift us with enchanted weapons.”

“What can it do?”

“Kill.”

Yecao Cao pouted at Shue’s obvious deflection but had no time to ask again as he could suddenly hear shouts from the fog. Harrowing shouts set Yecao Cao’s heart ablaze as he peered to see what was going on but he saw nothing that calmed his inner tumult.

Shue shouted into the suddenly silent mist in a foreign language but received no reply. Suddenly, Yecao Cao let out a gasp when he saw a ray of glittering blue light shoot past him. It hit a close-by barrel. The barrel was suddenly covered in icy frost that spread along the floor.

Shue cursed under his breath and shouted angrily out into the fog. “Get behind m-“

A dark shadow suddenly flashed past Shue and grabbed onto Yecao Cao who in a flash vanished into the fog along with the kidnapper.

“Damnit!” Shue cursed and ran into the fog to find his missing guest. This better not be his plan!

*****

Wang Yu Jían frowned at the burning building. It was too close to the supplies they have used for the bait. If the thieves followed the same pattern as last time, then they would set the explosion as far away from their target as possible. While others are distracted by the explosions, they grabbed onto their target. This was…

“Wang! The mist has appeared,” a soldier said.

“Has the Vans set out to handle the mist on the sea?”

“No, Wang!”

“Damn those foreigners! I knew they couldn’t be trusted,” Shu Qiang exclaimed.

“The mist isn’t on the water.”

“What?”

“It’s on the mainland. In the harbor. The ships are submerged in fog!”

Wang Yu Jían felt a chill rush through him as he rushed to a higher platform.

“Wang!”

He ignored the calls from his people and soon saw what he feared. The harbor was covered in thick mist. An explosion away from their target…

“Damnit! They are targeting the harbor, send soldiers there immediately. Hurry!” Wang Yu Jían rushed off in a hurry to the horses along with Shu Qiang. His eyes barely left the sight of the mist-covered harbor.

“What could they possibly be after in the harbor. There is nothing of value there!” Shu Qiang said as they both rode with haste through the chaotic city.

Wang Yu Jían felt his head spin as thoughts rushed through him. Something more valuable than the supplies they had imported…

“The Zhiji… They are after Xiao Cao!” ¨

“Why would they be after that fool!”

“That fool is the beloved of the Emperor, he is the most valuable person in this city,” Wang Yu Jían seethed grimly.

Shu Qiang did not dare to say another word to Wang Yu Jían who clearly was in no mood for his bickering at the moment. “How did they know that the Zhiji was in the city? Who had let it leak out? The Vans? They had too much to lose? Not to mention that they might be held responsible.” Wang Yu Jían’s thoughts wandered to another possibility. “The Shu family would have everything to gain. The Zhiji would be gone and the Vans who they had refused to give face to would be blamed…”

Wang Yu Jían grimaced. He would turn this city upside down if he found out that Xiao Cao was gone. How could he even live with himself if the little fool was kidnapped? What should he say to his brother?

They soon arrived at the harbor to see the Vans running around like headless chickens. His worst fear had come true. Xiao Cao was gone. Taken by the thieves.

An unknown man closed in on them and bowed.

“The Zhiji?” Wang Yu Jían asked with a cold face.

“Gone. Shue ran after them. We haven’t heard anything yet,” the man said without letting his emotions show on his face. Wang Yu Jían felt that this man was not simple. He was dressed as a sailor but carried himself like royalty. This man was most likely of higher birth.

“Incompetent! What have you been doing?” Shu Qiang huffed and stood there with his hands on his hips leaving the Wang feeling like he wanted to hit him.

“Apparently, more than you,” the man said without blinking. “To fall into the same trap twice… I am not impressed.”

“Why would we care if you-“

“Quiet!” Wang Yu Jían hissed and rubbed his temples. This was a disaster. Not only did they fail to capture the thieves but they also lost the Zhiji. If the Emperor did not take his head, then Yecao Ji certainly will.

“Search the area! See if you can catch their trail,” Wang Yu Jían ordered his soldiers who had arrived at the scene. They all were quick to obey but Wang Yu Jían feared that the trail had gone cold.

All they could do was wait for Shue to return, hopefully with good news.

The night slowly crept up on the city who had laid itself to rest. Only a few windows were lit and some streets were still moving with life as the more shameful part of the nightly activities took place on these streets. A few of the women of the night moved closer to the harbor to snare some sailors but none caught Wang Yu Jían’s attention.

He stood like a statue at the ship. Unmoving both in body and spirit, waiting for news to arrive. The soldiers had been sent off to rest but had been ordered to be alert for as soon as there was news they would depart to rescue the Zhiji.

“Honored Wang, you will need to rest. Return with me to our estate,” Shu Qiang said with a bow. His face was unnervingly casual and Wang Yu Jían suspicion of the Shu family rose. They would not be so audacious that they cooperated with the thieves to kidnap Xiao Cao, would they?

“No, I will wait here for news,” Wang Yu Jían said without budging from his position. The Van who had met them earlier had not left their side and watched Shu Qiang with narrowed eyes. When Shu Qiang had left them alone he spoke up.

“That boy has cold eyes. Filled with ambition. Does he not care for the Zhiji?”

“They were rivals back when the Zhiji was a mere Ling. Then he became Zhiji and Shu Qiang is still only a Ling.”

“Ah, so it is jealousy then?”

“Perhaps. Or they might just dislike each other. Shu Qiang is from one of the three great families of Tian while the Zhiji rose from a mere Tóng family to become first a Yin with the position of Ling. Then a Zhiji. The heavens favor one of them and it isn’t the one from a prominent family.”

The man nodded, “He is hoping for the death of the Zhiji.”

There was no hesitation in the man’s eyes and Wang Yu Jían feared that he was right. Shu Qiang was cruel enough to wish such a thing but not daring enough to actually be the cause of his rival’s death. He was smart enough to know that such an act was too bold.

“Wuya, the leader has returned,” one of the sailors said to the man who nodded and turned to Wang Yu Jían.

“Let’s see if we can get some answers to this dilemma.”