Inside a private room at a tavern in the North Street market of Kaiyan County, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.
Three men and two women knelt on one knee before a middle-aged man seated at the wine table, their hierarchy plainly defined.
The middle-aged man was around forty. His brows were sharp, his eyes as deep as the sea, and his temples streaked with gray. He wore a dark indigo robe of luxurious fabric and a blood-red thumb ring, looking both extravagantly wealthy and awe-inspiringly imposing.
At his hand sat a cup of wine, giving off a heady, rich fragrance. On the other side rested a long sword still sheathed.
The three men and two women before him were all quite young, around their twenties, and dressed differently. Yet they shared one trait: every one of them looked utterly ordinary, inconspicuous, and plain.
They were the sort who, once thrown into a crowd, could not be found the next moment—clearly selected with great care.
"Eunuch Wei has already received reliable intelligence. The source of that renowned mysterious organization in Hebei Province lies within Kaiyan County.
"You five were all talents I personally selected. In martial arts, intellect, and adaptability, every one of you was among the finest.
"Yet after coming here for three months, this is the answer you give me. Do you think that is appropriate?"
The middle-aged man's tone was mild, yet the sharpness in his brows and the stern coldness in his eyes revealed his dissatisfaction in full.
Several years ago, an extremely mysterious organization had emerged in Hebei Province. It had expanded its influence on a scale and at a speed that left people dumbstruck, growing ever larger until it became a colossal force spanning all of Hebei Province.
Where wild geese passed, their cries remained;