A Secret Meeting (Li Ying)

[Jia Lin]

    Xing Cai knew what she needed to do. She rode out of Xinye at the same time that Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei headed off to Hanzhong, to convince Zhang Lu to let the Shu forces stay there. Things were going perfectly so far, and Xing Cai thought that she would get a break before heading over to Hanzhong, she was wrong. Before he left, Zhuge Liang told Xing Cai of a part of his plan, and Cai knew just the person who could help her. So Cai asked to help with the mission, and he agreed. She would go to Jian Ye. She wore a long, deep green cloak, the hood up and over her face, hiding her features. Her sword on her hip, her shield on her back.

    She bought passage on a boat down to Jian Ye, she kept to herself the entire ride, eating when she needed to, but not saying a word to the others. She wasn't too happy that Shu needed the services of her new sister, but they needed to do what was necessary for the future of the country. A few days passed as she arrived in the harbor of Jian Ye. She was the first person off the boat, and she made her way into the city.

    The city was beautiful, people littered the streets, kids ran around playing tag. Soldiers of Wu patrolled the streets, luckily none of the Wu forces, besides Li Ying, knew what Xing Cai looked like, so she pulled her hood off, to be able to look around easier. She knew nothing about this city, and she had no idea where Li Ying was. This was going to take a while. With a smile of determination on her face, she started her search. "Where are you, Li Ying?"

[Li Ying]

Todays Dress

+ A Secret Meeting

Li Ying Jia Lin OPEN
Words : "The deadliest blade is the one that goes unseen."

Lady Li Ying was the blossoming flower of the courts  at Jian Ye. A beautiful flower in the eyes of some but in the streets of Jian Ye, to those who walked the dock areas where her father held influence she had another name....Black Rose.

Lord Li Yang had more than just need to murder his political rivals. He also held power of the gangs and criminal elements in the city. Thus he had the need to keep that control tightly held in his hand. He had on more than once occasion sent out his little blade to end rival gangs as they sprouted up. Her presence in the night and coming and going dressed in black left a trailed of corpses in her wake. Entire gangs dead as they drank poisoned wine or found a new spice in their bread. Once she used her knives and left a rival gang leader to bleed out in the street, the poison keeping his heart beating far longer than the man may have wished. For these deeds and more she had earned the alias, even though few connected it too the pretty young lady she attended the court of Sun Quan.

On this day the black rose had turned a lovely shade of pink in a new dress her father had bought for her. She was carried around in a small carriage with a couple guardsmen as she rode threw the lower city. She was heading for a familiar place to her, a flower shop where many of his fathers agent covertly worked their spy craft.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Jia Lin]

    Xing Cai wandered the streets of Jian Ye for a while, unable to find Li Ying. Cai was looking for anything that had Wu guards escorting it. While it may be some other Wu officer, there was still a chance that it would be Li Ying. An hour or so passed, and Cai could not find her. She saw a place to sit down so she decided to rest for a few minutes. A man walked by, and offered her a free, fresh drink of water. With a smile on her face, Xing Cai took the drink, taking small sips out of the cup. She looked around the city. 

    There were men across the street carrying planks on wood into a building that was currently under construction. Right beside her, at the table closest to her, women gathered, fans in their hands as they giggled to each other, probably gossiping about anything they could talk about.  Little kids ran past Xing Cai, kicking a ball back and forth to each other, smiles on their faces. She thought about the last time she had so much fun. With a smile, she remembered, it was when she first met Li Ying. That was when she saw a carriage down the street, a few Wu soldiers around the carriage. She had to check it out, so Xing Cai finished her drink, walked up to the man who gave her the water and gave him a few coins. She quickly went to follow the carriage, waiting for someone to get out of it.
    

[Li Ying]

+ A Secret Meeting

Li Ying Jia Lin
Words : "The deadliest blade is the one that goes unseen."

The carriage that Xing Cai has spotted belonged to an elderly lord of Wu called Xu Mao, a fat gentleman who was far too fond of ladies...of dubious reputation. He was here visiting an establishment owned by Li Yang, a placed called the maidens voyage. It was very fancy and well decorated but a whore house by any name is still well a...brothel. The fat man got out cumbersomely from his carriage and was helped into the establishment, where he could enjoy his pleasures away from the praying eyes on the street. This place made good money for Li Yang but more importantly it was a place that was perfect for gathering information. Of course his daughter Li Ying would never be seen dead inside of the place.

Her carriage was a little further down the street from the whorehouse, having stopped just outside of a flower shop. One of her fathers retainers threw open the door and offered his hand to help her down. Her pink and purple dress catching the rays of the bright summer sun. She smiled as she looked around and spotted a familiar face just down the road....could that possible be her sister? What was she doing in the Wu capital? It was a mystery but her appearance here was a welcome surprise. She had invited Xing Cai to come visit her after all.

"Sister...is that you." She called out from down the street. Her guardsmen stepped back knowing better than to get in the way of what their lady wanted. It wasn't worth getting a dose a poison in their wine even she did something her father would not approve of.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[/div]

[Jia Lin]

    Xing Cai sighed as she saw the large man walk out of the carriage she was following. Unless Li Ying put on a lot of weight, Cai knew that was not her. She wondered just how long it would take before Cai would find her, she knew she had some time to complete this mission, but she wanted to finish this quickly, well, not entirely. She wouldn't want to say goodbye to Li Ying again, it was bad enough the first time. Luckily though, Cai noticed a carriage a little further down the street. She walked closer towards it, and saw Ying walk out of the carriage. She was surprised how easily she found her, luck was on her side today, and Cai wasn't going to complain.

    Cai smiled as Li Ying noticed her, and started walking closer towards her. She called out to Li Ying, "Sister, I found you! I was afraid I was going to be lost in this city forever." She embraced her sister, enjoying the nice, sentimental moment. She had some time to talk to her sister before she needed to get to business, and Cai knew she would have to be careful with what she said. Li Ying was her sister, but Cai wanted Wu to know nothing about why she was here, though Cai didn't doubt that her guards would tell someone of her being here. She let go after embracing her sister, and took a good look at her. "As adorable as ever I see." She winked slightly at Li Ying.
    

[Li Ying]

+ A Secret Meeting

Li Ying Jia Lin
Words : "The deadliest blade is the one that goes unseen."

The day suddenly seemed a little brighter and more positive with Xing Cai around. Having her here helped Li Ying to be more...well herself. When she was with her sister she was a person...rather than just a weapon of his father's. Not that she didn't enjoy the excitement that came with being the black rose...but it felt like a role she was forced to play for her family. The glory of the Li clan...which had become her fathers obsession.

Warmly she hugged Xing Cai to her, not caring if she got her dress crumpled. She wasn't going to court anyway, at least not today. She took appearance fairly seriously but around her sister nothing seemed quite as important. She still remembered fondly the time they had at Wu Ling. She was eager to experience that fun again. She was quite careful where she hugged her though, not everything on her person was exactly safe to touch. The hair needles keeping her up where certainly better avoided if one wanted to keep breathing. "Your quite the pretty sight yourself sister. I wish i had known you were coming, i could have prepared a royal welcome for you." She said not knowing yet that Xing Cai was here on more secretive business than normal. It occurred to her that since they were right outside of the flower shop she could get her sister a gift at least, to welcome her to Jian Ye. It sounded like she had been walking around for hours looking for her, so it was the least she could do. She lead her over to the small place so she could look inside.

"Its so good to see you again, oh um...welcome to my home." She said making a small curtsey, some times it was fun to play the noble lady, even if that was as much her mask as the one she wore at night. Very few people knew what she really was but her sister was one of those who had seen her other side and was still alive.

 

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Jia Lin]

    Xing Cai laughed, wondering what kind of royal welcome her sister could whip up. She shook her head, "I am not the best when put on the spot. I have come here to talk to you." Cai looked over towards the shop, it happened to be a flower shop. Cai herself was never into flowers, being busy with other things, but she still thought they were beautiful. She saw in the front of the store beautiful purple flowers and she walked over, and knelt down, sniffing them. A serene smell entered her nose, as she smiled. She turned back to Li Ying.

    "Thank you, Jian Ye is a beautiful sight to behold. So big and crowded, so full of life. It must be a blessing to be able to call such a place home...it is good to see you again Ying. Where were you heading off to?" She was stalling, not wanting to get down to business immediately, because that would bring her closer to leaving this place, this place that she was very interested in. 

[Li Ying]

+ A Secret Meeting

Li Ying Jia Lin
Words : "The deadliest blade is the one that goes unseen."

"Whatever the reason sister, im glad you came." Li Ying said leaning down to pick a few flowers, which she placed delicately in her hair. Being careful to avoid touching her own hair pins. Her father owned the shop, so she was free to do as she liked. Although not all the flowers on display were exactly safe...She nodded to the man at the front and he went around the back. Coming back moments later with a plant covered in blue hanging flowers. He was very careful only to touch the pot it was planted in.

"I came here to collect this." Li Ying said lovingly stroking the plants flowers, she was wearing thick purple gloves, which was the only reason it was safe for her to do this. "This plant is called aconite, its very rare. Just touching the leaves or flowers is poisonous. Its deadly but its also very pretty." Li Ying said taking the plant. She would bring it with her and later break down the flowers and leaves in order to make poisons. It was from a mixture of this plant she made the contact poisons she used. The shop owner said nothing and walked away to leave them to speak alone. He was on her fathers pay and would say nothing of this to anyone else.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Jia Lin]

    It looked like Li Ying was here on business as well, collecting ingredients for her craft. Maybe this would be a blessing for Xing Cai, to give her an opening. She smiled at her sister, "Would it be possible for me to watch you...you know, work your craft?" She didn't know how to word it, but she knew that this would probably get her alone with Li Ying, so nobody else would hear what Cai needed to say to her sister. "It would also allow us some more privacy to talk." As she said this, she took a look at the guards nearby them. These men in red seemed more competent than the guards Li Ying had with her when they first met. She moved a piece of her hair out of the way and looked towards Li Ying, waiting for a response. But right behind Li Ying, something happened.


    Xing Cai saw a man walk past a woman, sneakily cutting away her coin purse, and the woman did not notice at all. She balled her fist up, and sprinted towards the man with blinding speed. The man barely looked in her direction as Xing Cai tackled the man onto the ground. The man laid on the ground in a heap, groaning in pain. Xing Cai picked up the coin purse, and walked over to the woman. With a smile, Xing Cai handed her the purse, "I believe this belongs to you. I would be more watchful of my belongings if I were you." A smile still on her face, she turned and walked back over to Li Ying, chuckling slightly when she finally got back to where she stood originally.

[Li Ying]

+ A Secret Meeting

Li Ying Jia Lin
Words : "The deadliest blade is the one that goes unseen."

Li Ying was quite pleased at the idea, so very few were interested in her art...as she liked to think of it. For unlike the crass nature of battle, poison was delicate was exact and so very deadly. Compared with running a man threw with a blade, it could only be considered the real artistry of death. So the idea that she might have a chance to show off just a little was comforting to her. For she generally received no acknowledgement for her skills beyond the occasional happy nod from her father. Secrecy was important but she was jealous of her elder brother and the fame he got for fighting for Wu, while no one even knew her name. "Really, of course you can come. My father recently set up a private laboratory for me. He didnt want me mixing such dangerous things at home i think. I will take you with me, we will be quite alone so we can catch up a little." Ying smiled as they turned to leave the shop.

Her sister ever eagle eyes however had spotted a pick pocket and floored the man. Ironically he was probably in the employ of her father, not that a thief in his station would be aware of it. Lord Li Yang controlled almost all crime in the region threw his own alias and some trusted crime lords under his pay. Li Ying didn't judge her father for this however. Things like crime, drugs and prostration were inevitable as long as human's were as depraved as they always had been, it was in their very nature and could not be changed. Yet by controlling it her father was able to keep out the worst elements like murder and rape. Well beyond the few murders he had his daughter carry out in his name. In a strange way it was a kindness by her father, even as he benefited from the crime itself. Perhaps it was easier to say that lord Li Yang could simply...be worse than he was. "Guards, take this man away." Li Ying ordered her attendants. They would give him a beating for getting caught then probably turn his lose again.

"If you want to see my place, just follow me its very close." Li Ying said heading down the street before turning down a side alley. She heading for the courtyard around the back of the brothel. Where a small unmarked door hid the entrance to the laboratory her father had prepared for her. "Over here." She whispered to her sister. Making sure none of the quests leaving the brothel itself saw them enter.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Jia Lin]

    Xing Cai smiled as the guards walked over to the criminal and took him away. She knew that justice would be done, so she was happy. It worked to counteract the not so honorable task she has come here for. Taking a deep breath, she shook away any doubt, she needed to be focused on her mission, she needed to succeed, for the sake of the land that Liu Bei wanted to create. They needed to keep Liu Bei's hands clean. She nodded towards Li Ying, "I would love to see you do what you do best." With a smile, she followed her sister. 

    They went into a side alley, and Cai already became a little nervous. But she knew she could defend herself, and she had her sister with her. She would be fine. As they passed the brothel, Cai could hear a slight moan, shaking her head she continued to follow Li Ying. They went into a courtyard and up to an unmarked door. This was obviously where they were headed. Cai followed Li Ying inside, "This is an interesting place..."

[Li Ying]

+ A Secret Meeting

Li Ying Jia Lin
Words : "The deadliest blade is the one that goes unseen."

"This is a special place, no one outside of my clan knows what is inside. So please keep this a secret sister. If Sun Quan were too find out it might raise, awkward questions you understand." She asked her sister while discreetly unlocking the door. The whore house above caught the eye of everyone nearby, so covertly she opened the door and slipped inside. A burning torch revealed the interior, it was a small stone room with steps leading down into the darkness below. The smell inside was strange, a mix of rare flower scents and the musk of animals. Li Ying took the torch and led the way down the stairs. Several rooms branched off in other directions but she kept going down until she reached the basement at the end of the stairway. This was blocked by an iron door. The stairway was build it such a way no one could swing a battering ram in here. Making the door impossible to break down or access without the right key.


Ying reached inside her robes for the key before pushing the door open with an ominous creek. Stepping inside she dropped the torch into a central brazier that suddenly brought light to the room. It revealed the strangeness of their surroundings. To one side lay at least 2 dozen rare plants preserved in alcohol in ceramic jars. While a mortar and pessil nearby were covered in a purple mixture of crushed flowers. The smell was sweet even if the taste would be instant death. In cages around the room were spiders, toads and snakes all kept with small bags of food to keep them alive. In another corner were rare glass jars used to boil and distil the toxins into more lethal varieties when she combined them. While at the side of the room stood a weapons rack. It contains crossbows, horse bows, blow guns, darts, throwing needles, knives, wires, grappling hooks, black eggs, poisoned spikes to name a few of her deadly toys. It stood next to the wardrobe that housed her outfits. All in black was a large variety of black leggings, skirts, tunics and gloves. As well as spiked gauntlets and special boots for claiming the sides of walls and roofs of houses. These were mostly stuffed with cloth to reduce any noise made while moving at night. Atop this sat her black mask with the symbol of a black rose marked in silver across it. In the middle of the room sat a target doll in the shape of a man, two throwing needles stuck out of both his eyes. "Welcome to my home." She said grandly to her sister.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Jia Lin]

    Xing Cai followed Li Ying into the room. Stairs leading downwards laid before them, a weird smell that Cai couldn't quite figure out. As they went down the stairs, Cai carefully watched her step as they went down. "Whatever happens down here, stays down here." Cai had no reason to tell anyone in Wu about this place, she did not want to betray her beautiful sisters trust. She was lead down the stairs right to a door, Cai thought she heard something, but she just shook her head. Taking out a key, Ying opened the door. And she lit the room, Cai's eyes had to re-adjust to the light.



    She saw plants all over the room, probably all poisonous, so she made a note to stay away from them. Then she heard it, and with a shriek she saw the snakes that were in cages. She almost jumped out of her clothes and took a few steps closer to Li Ying, and grabbed her hand. A nervous laugh escaped Cai, "I...um, hate snakes..." Letting go, Cai took a deep breath, and just pretended that the snakes were not even there. She smiled towards her sister, "It is quite the place! Are you able to talk while you work?"

[Li Ying]

+ A Secret Meeting

Li Ying Jia Lin
Words : "The deadliest blade is the one that goes unseen."

"Iv'e seen you face down armed men sister, how can these little pretty's scare you." Li Ying asked as she walked over to the snake cage. Delicately she reached threw the bars, petting one of the snakes. She had raised these ones from babies so they were quite tame, well around her they were. Anyone else they would most likely kill if they got anywhere near this close. She often milked them for their venom, it was one of the most fact acting poisons in the land. It shut down a man or women's nervous system leaving them hardly able to move before their blood clotted and they died. It was in almost all cases fatal. She let her pets go back to their own activates and stepped toward her mixing table. "Of course sister, its been so long ive been dying to talk with you again." She agreed wondering still what had brought her sister all the way over here...so covertly. This did not seem quite like a social visit.

As she waited for her sister to speak she began crafting a new poison. Taking the leaves and stem of the aconite plant she had brought she began to crush them with the mortar and pessil. She was wearing her thick gloves so she was in no danger. She had almost killed herself twice before learning to take the proper precautions. As a poisoner you either learned how to survive your own craft or you died very young. She then drew out a small ceramic jar, it was filled with the venom she had milked from the cobra. She began to mix this in with the aconite. She breathed in the smell deeply, to her it not the smell of death but of her art.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Jia Lin]

    Xing Cai shrugged, not remembering what caused her fear, it probably happening when she was really young. "I would much rather face a thousand soldiers than one snake. Put it away already sister!" She sighed heavily in relief when Li Ying put the snake away. When it came to fighting, she had no fear what so ever, but when it came to snakes, she could barely move a muscle. She couldn't understand it, but it just happens, one day she would have to get over her fear, but today was not the day to do so. She was her on business, it was time to get started on that business.

    She followed Li Ying to the table, but gave her enough room to work and she watched her do what she does best. As she watched she finally spoke up, "As you can probably tell, I am not here to just talk about my fear of snakes...I came to acquire a certain kind of poison from you. You were the only person I trusted to make it properly. And I know you won't tell a soul about it. I have more than enough money on me to pay for any and all expenses." She stopped talking and waited to see her sisters reaction to Cai's true reason for being there.

[Li Ying]

+ A Secret Meeting

Li Ying Jia Lin
Words : "The deadliest blade is the one that goes unseen."

She looked up surprised, her sister wanted her to create some...art for her own use. Last time they had meet she had gotten the feeling her sister did not approve her style, because of lacked the honour of real combat. Mainly in that it didnt really give your opponent any chance. So why had she changed this mind? Was this perhaps a favour for someone else, her sister was an officer of Shu. So that had to mean this was for lord Liu Bei. The irony...the lord of virtue and benevolence needed too poison some body. She smiled ruthlessly, really this just gave dignity to her own fathers position. He was a scheming politician out for the good of his own family and no one else. Yet it seemed Liu Bei was no better...after all fighting to save that Han was just that, saving just his own clan the Liu. All this talk of virtue and benevolence was just that she realized talk, in the end everyone did what they had too to win and everyone had their own idea what was best for the so called people. Not that she cared, it was a favour his sister was asking so their was no doubt she would do it. Only that a little spark of naivety had been burned from her being today.

She only wished she could tell her elder brother about this, it was something he might find rather amusing. He idolised men like Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, to here that Liu Bei was just the same as those men would have comforted him some what. Still she needed to give her answer. "I really didnt expect you to ask me for something like that sister. I will help you of course, its all i can do for my friends and family. Specifically what do you need this poison to do?" She asked the details were after all everything. She could mix a poison that would kill in moments, or one that would seem invisible then kill its target a few weeks later if that was what was required. These were often the safer options for her, she could go miles away and so have the perfect alibi when her target did collapse. It all depended what her sister wanted?

"Of course i usually deliver the poison myself. Getting it into your target is usually more difficult than mixing the ingredients, i assume you have thought about that already?" She asked. Her eyes wondered over to the weapon case, which was stacked with a huge number of tools quite capable of doing the deed. Although dropping a dose into her victims wine or food was always easier and safer, when it was possible.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Jia Lin]

    Xing Cai closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath. She wished she didn't need to do this, she wished there was another way, but this was their best option to keep Liu Bei's hands as clean as possible. She was willing to stoop as low as she needed for her lord. She would not let anyone down, nor would she shirk from her duty. Taking one more deep breath, she opened her eyes, and wiped away any emotion from her face. She was all business now as she looked at Li Ying. "I need a poison that dissolves quickly, and has no smell nor taste when eaten. It needs to be slow acting. And I need to return with the poison. We shall deal with the rest."

    She untied a bag off of her belt, and put it down onto the table in front of them. "This should be more than enough money. I put in a few extra for you sister, for both my appreciation, and for your silence. This will benefit both Wu and Shu when this is over, do not forget that. I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep Liu Bei's hands as clean as possible. I believe in the world that he wishes to create." Cai put her hands on her hips, a proud smile on her face, as she waited for Li Ying's response.