Chapter 1 THE Encounter At Tea Tavern
Somewhere within the sprawling imperial city lived a ruthless, wicked government official: Lu Jue. As the Jinyiwei Zhihui Shi-the commander of the emperor's secret police and investigations-he was a man of terrifying notoriety.
Yet, despite his iron grip on the city, there remained one man who refused to fear him. For that defiance, Lu Jue has sworn a blood oath to make both the man and his entire family pay. Anyone who stands in his way must be destroyed.
The air inside the tea house grew stiflingly still the moment Lu Jue stepped across the threshold. The standard chatter of merchants and patrons died instantly; eyes darted toward the floor as the distinctive silk robes of the Jinyiwei brushed against the wooden chairs. He did not look at them. His gaze was locked entirely on the solitary figure sitting by the window, calmly pouring a cup of roasted oolong.
Lu Jue approached the table, the heavy ring on his thumb tapping rhythmically against the hilt of his blade. He pulled out the chair opposite the man and sat down uninvited.
"You did not flee the city," Lu Jue said, his voice a low, gravelly purr that carried an implicit threat.
The man did not flinch. He set the teapot down with a steady hand, finally looking up to meet the Commander's notorious, piercing glare. "An innocent man has no reason to run, Commander Lu."
A slow, humorless smile spread across Lu Jue's face as he leaned forward, bringing his face into the dim light. "Innocence is a luxury you cannot afford. By tomorrow, your name will mean nothing in this city-and your family will pay the price for your arrogance."
The heavy aroma of roasted oolong swirled between them, a fragile shield against the suffocating, lethal aura of the Jinyiwei.
