5 The Underworld

"Master! The traitor has been apprehended!"Before entering the bathhouse, a brawny man dressed in black proclaimed as he bowed.

"Take him to the main hall." From behind the white curtains, came a blustering, gruff voice.

A figure walked out of the big Stone Pool, which was filled with milk and rose petals and encircled by curtains from all four directions, while he knotted the knot of his black satin robe.

As he walked out, one couldn't help but notice his long silky obsidian hair falling down to his waist, as well as his massive pectoral muscles. He was stunningly attractive!

His wicked eyes lingered on the man bending in front of him, who stood five meters away. That man took a step back and exited the bathhouse as he waved his hand.

"Tomorrow is the day. Wait for your downfall!" He curled his lips into a commanding grin, forming a seductive dimple beneath his monolid dishy eyes.

***

"The Master has arrived!" announced the two guards stationed on either sides of the main door.

When he entered the main hall and moved forward, he was hailed and bowed by his troops, who stood on both sides of the corridor.

His rugged macho physique covered in a dark black swordsman attire perfectly revealed his daredevil steely nature. He looked unnaturally gorgeous with those sculpted jawlines defined in shape. This man was none other than Shuo Jin, the fearsome Master of 'THE UNDERWORLD'.

He then proceeded down those three stairwells and sat down regally. As he waved his hand, two of the men with broad shoulders dragged the traitor into the hall commanding him to kneel in front of the man whom they regarded their master.

"Master! Master! I am innocent." cried the traitor Qizhen, dropping his head.

"Haoran! Have we really done him wrong?" Shuo Jin inquired calmly, his gaze steadily going towards his assistant, who stood next to him.

"My master, not so. We caught him in the act of selling our knowledge to a member of the kingdom we were intending to attack." Haoran, his aide, said before him. He was hesitant to respond at first, but the truth must be told.

"See! He is a witness for me." Before standing up, Shuo Jin patted Haoran's shoulder. He then moved quickly towards Qizhen, who was kneeling in front of him.

"This man has been in Master's service for five years. I'm not allowed to do something so wicked against you, master. Look beyond the curtains if you can." Qizhen cried as he caught the Master's feet indirectly begging for compassion.

Shuo Jin, on the other hand, lowered his head low and stared at the helpless guy under him. Looking at him, he couldn't help but sigh deeply and smile smugly.

"Bring him." Shuo Jin instructed one of his men to bring the person to whom Qizhen had disclosed their secrets.

When the second man was brought, he was kneeled down in the same manner as Qizhen.

"Perhaps, Qizhen, do you know who he is?" Shuo Jin inquired, his attention falling on the individual who had been brought merely by his guy.

Qizhen slowly shifted his gaze to his right. That person was covered in injuries, and even though Qizhen recognized him, he lied to defend himself.

"Please forgive me, master! But this is the first time I've seen his appearance." he exclaimed.

"Ohh!! Is that correct?" Shuo Jin giggled, his lips forming a grin. "Then let me ask your partner." He moved to his right and stared at the individual.

"Are you also unfamiliar with him?" Shuo Jin was curious.

He said, nervously, with his eyes dropped, unwilling to face the master standing before him. "He had come to me that night. He... he... revealed your true identity. He also said that you will be attacking us tomorrow." Qizhen was taken aback when he heard him confess since he understood what his condition would be afterwards.

"Master, I've told you all you wanted to know. Please don't take my life." he knelt down and wailed for mercy.

"Take him to the dungeon and offer him the fairest treatment one could ever have." As he flashed a wicked grin, the corner of his mouth twisted upward.

"Make him stand on his feet." he said, shifting his bloody boiling gaze towards Qizhen.

His two guys carried out the orders given to them.

"Master! I.....I...." As he stood in front of the hideous assassin, Qizhen swallowed his dread.

"Speak." Shuo Jin gave the order while fiddling with a tiny dagger he had just removed from his waistband.

"Master! They're attempting to frame me by creating bogus allegations. Trust my loyalty." Qizhen kept making pledges.

Disgusted by Qizhen's looks, Qizhen's falsehoods and misleading claims were grating on his nerves.

Without an ounce of hesitation, Shuo Jin pulled the sword from the sheather of one of his men and decapitated Qizhen at once.

'SWASH'

The red scarlet squirted, contaminating Shuo Jin's pretty face.

Qizhen's head rolled down through the floor and his body completely severed from his head, the blood was spurting everywhere. No one seemed surprised to see such a dreadful scenario as if they were habituated to it.

"Anyone who attempts to deceive me will end up like Qizhen." Shuo Jin wickedly warned, pointing the sword towards Qizhen's dead body.

"Feed his head and body to the vultures." he ordered, throwing the sword dripped in the blood that clattered in the ground. "And, yes, Haoran, prepare the horses. Tomorrow, we're going somewhere wonderful." Shuo Jin gave a nasty smirk as he looked sideways.

Everyone in the hall hailed, "Long live our master!" when Shuo Jin walked his way.

This is a daily occurrence in Kualong Pavilion, a domicile for the Gua Empire's most powerful assassins, popularly known as 'THE UNDERWORLD.'

These assassins were well trained physically and mentally, possessing combat abilities and furtive skills to trick their enemies, fight back as well as ruthlessly kill anyone they deemed deserving of death.

Shuo Jin, a nasty stone-hearted man who despises betrayal and is quick to discern his foe, is among them. Having said that, he harbors personal grievances against the royal family and sees the emperor, who is also his biological father, as his number one enemy.

These assassins have come close to attacking the palace three times, but each time they have failed. This doesn't imply that they are weak!

However, the princes have not been successful in apprehending any of the men, thus no one in the empire knows where these assassins are.

Folks say there is a huge conspiracy on why they continue to attack the Royal family despite numerous failures. Some predict there will be massacre in the palace while others speculate that there is a spy in the palace, assisting the assassins and discreetly revealing the royal affairs.

These may be the future's spoiler which shall slowly unfold with one step at a time.