Chapter 18
The Blackguards
One of the twelve original elite spies and assassins, the blackguards live in dark caves, underground rivers, and lakes, in a very laid-back spy camp controlled by the Batuja family. Their last known action was during the reign of the previous Wei Emperor, the father of the current Shen Jin Emperor of the Great Summer Dynasty.
They are the original dark assassins of the Western Empire, tasked with completing missions bypassing the state's court justice, without investigation.
Their purpose is to either purge a state or suppress powers dominating the Wei state using the force of shadows. It is said that the blackguards overshadowed the Eyes of God, which represents the torch of light for the Wei Empire.
Legend claims that once the Shen Jin Emperor deploys a black seal, the Eyes of God, torch of light, is extinguished, and darkness engulfs the land. One of their successful missions was the long-term destruction of Yanbei.
But it seems Yanbei is not fully destroyed, and the sleeping dragon, a remnant, is gaining more power than ever before.
A blackguard servant received a paper snow containing a black seal, attached to a black arrow made from a raven's black feather. The servant wears a pitch-black V-neck, sleeveless fighting costume, a belt made of black rope, and crisscross rope-like ties on both hands and feet.
Their head is covered with a black cloth, and a black mask hides their face, exposing only their dark eyes and a sliver of their cheeks. Heavy black eyeliner darkens their eyes, and bloody red streaks mark their cheeks.
"Princess Zama, we have tested its authenticity. The seal contains the blood of the present Shen Jin Emperor."
They test authenticity by dipping the black seal in a gold liquid. If it's genuine, the blood on the paper snow turns blue. A second test involves burning the paper snow; genuine royal blood, once dipped in gold liquid, will not burn. If the blood is not from a pure descendant of the Emperor, it will brown and burn.
In this case, Princess Zama knows the seal is authentic. When burned, the part with the black seal turns blue, confirming the Emperor's blood. Hence the saying: "Blueblood", royal blood, the blood of nobles and heroes.
"Shida, bring me to the Hall of Doom," said Zama as her servants dressed her in a pitch-black gown to summon the dark assassins of the Wei Empire.
The princess is finally ready, with the last piece being her head-dress, which covers half of her face, from her left eye down to her left cheek. The headdress, made of black lace, makes her look fierce and horrifying in her pitch-black tight-fitting dress, with a light black iron breastplate and tight pants. Knee-high black boots complete the outfit. Her eyes, heavily lined, and her blood-red lips give her a look as if she's been to hell.
Her dress is not just a garment but a lethal weapon, containing hidden poison needles, fantasy star darts, tiny daggers, and other deadly objects, all made of lightweight materials.
Unlike the afterlife camp, where they wear wooden backpacks that act like Pandora's box, activated when needed, the blackguards' attire allows them to kill tens or even fifties from a three-meter distance using their weapons and skills.
Princess Zama, escorted by Shida, entered the Hall of Doom, a series of underground rooms filled with highly skilled spies, each practicing day and night. These dark arts, long unseen, are about to be unearthed for a special task.
Zama walked into one room and saw the cobra spy, whose talent is her cobra-like movements, working with a live cobra. In a flash, she appeared at Zama's face. A single bite from her could poison an entire village as the venom spreads through the air.
The cobra spy met Zama's eyes and nodded, then, in an instant, was back in her black hood, hissing like a snake as she followed Zama.
In the next room, Zama met the flying spy, dressed in flowing garments that allowed her to soar through the air. The flying spy's specialty is strangulation; she uses her fabric tails to ensnare her targets. She reached for Zama's wrist, but Zama quickly cut them. The flying spy swiftly flew after her.
One sweep from the flying spy could kill dozens.
Zama then entered the blind spy's room. A man in dirty clothes, with a thousand-mile stare, sat in the center. He deceives enemies by appearing weak and blind, then blinds his foes with powder before destroying them.
Sensing Zama, the blind spy tossed his blinding powder into the air, but Zama and her group covered their eyes with their hoods, rendering the attack useless.
He whispered to Zama, "You are fortunate souls, for you see things covered by darkness," before following behind her.
Zama proceeded to another room and instructed her group to place earplugs. She knocked and told the slumber spy to turn off the cicadas. The slumber spy induces sleep by summoning the hibernating sounds of cicadas, causing entire armies or villages to fall asleep, allowing other objectives to be achieved.
The slumber spy hid her cicadas in a small wooden box, then followed Zama.
Finally, Zama reached the room of the honey spy. The most beautiful of the blackguards, her room was filled with fragrant scents, but her beauty hid deadly weapons. She specializes in honey traps, once you touch or kiss her, you are as good as dead.
The honey spy followed Zama after her call. (It is believed Yuwen Huai used her once to lure Yuwen Yue, but he saw through her trap.)
Zama and her followers arrived at the Hall of Doom, a dim room filled with candles, a long table, and a map. It's where spies receive briefings on their missions.
"We are here today because of a black seal," Zama said, showing the seal. "It is a short but difficult task aimed at eradicating the union of two states."
The spies nodded in agreement.
"Shida, take this paper snow and black seal to the Eyes of God," Zama ordered, ensuring the Eyes of God would be turned off so the blackguards could move unnoticed.
Shida set off on horseback along the secret northwest pathway, where he unexpectedly encountered the 13th Prince of Wei, Yuan Song, accompanied by two men. Yuan Song drew his Cheng Ying sword.
Recognizing the prince, Shida bowed his head.
"Your Royal Highness, what can I do for you?" Shida asked.
Yuan Song replied with a cryptic smile. "What can you do for me? That is a good question."
At that moment, a cloaked figure behind Shida spoke: "What brings the Royal Highness here tonight?"
Yuan Song had been waiting for this encounter, following the imperial messenger to uncover the mystery of the black seal.
"Princess Zama," Yuan Song said, "I believe what you hold concerns my future."
Zama responded coldly, "The black seal is not the business of the 13th Prince of Wei."
"It is now," Yuan Song retorted, growing formal.
Shida prepared to flee, but an arrow struck near his horse's hoof, halting his escape.
"You cannot leave without handing over the black seal," Yuan Song declared.
Zama warned the prince: "If the black seal is not delivered to the Green Hills courtyard tonight, the protocol will be broken, and by morning, our heads will be on the Emperor's chopping block."
Yuan Song offered a solution: "I will personally deliver it. Shida will stay as your witness."
Left with no choice, Zama allowed Shida to accompany Yuan Song while she disappeared into the shadows.
Meanwhile, at the Green Hills courtyard, Yuwen Gao received the black seal, but with an unexpected visitor: the 13th Prince of Wei. Upon seeing him, Yuwen Gao seemed shocked, bowing deeply.
Yuan Song, removing his hood, smiled and said, "I have been receiving paper snows but do not know how to read them. So this is the result."
Apologetically, Yuwen Gao responded, "Forgive me, Your Highness. I did not know you had not been taught."
"Your Highness, pardon me. I did not know the palace had not instructed you on how to read paper snows," Yuwen Gao said apologetically.
"Not to mention the black seal my father gave to the blackguards? Governed by the Batuja family?"
"Yes, Your Highness. They are the shadow counterpart to the Eyes of God."
"Then I have much to learn, not only from the Eyes of God but also from the Blackguards. Is this what the black seal means, like turning the lights on and off?"
"The blackguards act as shadows once the light is extinguished. They will carry out whatever is contained in the Emperor's black seal."
"I must see this for myself," Yuan Song said, about to end their private conversation.
"Effective today, the Eyes of God are shut off, and the blackguard spies will surround the entire Empire. At the same time, these spies will target and complete their mission."
"What does that mean?" Yuan Song asked, still unsure of what was to come.
"For the time being, civil justice is suspended. No amnesty will be granted until the mission is fulfilled."
Goosebumps rose on Yuan Song's skin. He now began to grasp the gravity of the situation, recalling what he had read in the empire's histories.
"History repeats itself," Yuan Song whispered, narrowing his eyes. He pulled his hood back over his head, turned away from Yuwen Gao, and left.
At the Old Batu mansion: "Princess Zama, you returned so soon," General Bali remarked, looking over her shoulder. "Where is Shida?"
"We were followed by the 13th Prince of Wei. Shida was taken by him. He will return before dawn."
"I see. I heard Yan Xun is advancing his armies near the Meilin border, and Yuan Che will counter with the Xiaoqi Armies," said General Bali.
The Meilin border is a foothold of Wei and the Western gate of Yanbei. It is where the 13th Prince of Wei, Yuan Song, together with Yuwen Yue and the afterlife camp spy leader Meng Feng, cooperated to frame Cheng Yuan. Yuwen Yue let him go for reasons unknown. Princess Zama dismounted her horse, removed her gloves, and entered the palace. General Bali stood by, lost in thought about the afterlife camp spies.
"What do you know of the alliance between the afterlife camp and the Eyes of God?" he asked.
"There is no inside information on the matter," Zama replied. "But my guess is that they were disowned by their Nirvana leader and followed Yuwen Yue after their encounter, making him their master. Now that their master is dead, their whereabouts are unknown."
"So, the ex-afterlife campers were not official spies of the Yuwen household?"
"Not at all. I believe they were employed privately by Yuwen Yue and later endorsed by him to the 13th Prince of Wei as personal guards when the Emperor declared Prince Yuan Song Duke of Yanbei. Since then, they've stayed at the Meilin border."
"I'm concerned that these ex-afterlife campers are being used by Prince Yuan Song, especially since he was able to navigate our secret passages to the palace. Only a spy could manage that. If this is true, we are exposed."
"No need to worry, Uncle General. We will cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, our focus is the black seal task. Yanbei is our target, not the ex-afterlife campers."
"Alright, I'll see you in the morning. Let's hope Shida returns with his head still attached to his neck."
"I'm sure he will," Zama said, smiling at General Bali.
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