The Si Lak Mercenaries!

Imperial Capital, Phoenix Empire

The lively streets of the Imperial Capital bustled with raucous crowds and milling patrol guards. Commerce ran undisturbed and everyone's spirits were high. It was noon, and the bigshots of the Capital were meeting at private teahouses to discuss politics and business.

But something changed.

A long train of all black horses with riders robed in deep purple armour and scarlet belts, several of them flying a black banner with two crossed swords superimposed on a skull; galloped into the capital. All of the riders wore helmets or masks in the shape of grotesque animals. On the banner were two glaring dominating characters stamped in red: Si Lak!

The dense aura emanating from these prodigies doused the entire capital in: awe and dread. The before time bustling city was suddenly extinguished. Mothers snatched their children to their chests. Street hawkers dashed into open shops. Carriages pulled up out of the way. People peeked out at the horde in fear, feeling as if a bloody dripping sword was pressed to their throats. What were the Si Lak Mercenaries doing charging into the Capital in broad daylight?? And a horde of them too, flying their banner?!! Was this the end of the Phoenix Empire?! Was this war? Were the Si Lak Mercenaries interfering in the matters of the world again?

The horde charged through the capital and made straight for the Li Residence. It was another shockwave. The enemies of the Li family raised their wine goblets up in jubilation! Finally! Someone couldn't stand it anymore; perhaps it was the Imperial Family; the Li family would be anihilated! Hurrah, they cheered, starting to make plans on how to seize the Li family's assets once they were murdered in cold blood by the Mercenaries.

Li Zhenming was a puddle of cold sweat as he rushed over from socializing with one of his friends, when he received news that the Si Lak Mercenaries were headed towards his manor! Why, why in the world, why him?! First some damn assassins, and now this?! Who wanted to kill him so badly? To the extent of moving the Si Lak Mercenaries, who had stopped interfering in the matters of the world? What type of treasure had that person used to hire them? And why was that person using a sledgehammer to crush an ant? He, he was actually very easy to kill, ah. Just one charge of treason was enough to end his life, ah. Even, not going that far, a simple mole planted in his manor was enough. So why, why in the world, why the Si Lak Mercenaries?!

Li Zhenming arrived at his manor a moment before the horde pulled up at his gates. He rushed down from his carriage and hastily approached the horde in all meekness and apprehension. Maybe, maybe they are lost, ah. Maybe they're after the Imperial Family. Yes, yes, that was the kind of person the Si Lak Mercenaries could be concerned with. Not him, ah. He was just a simple businessman!

"Erm--" Li Zhenming was at a loss as to how to address these prodigies way way above him in status. Who was he? They were even way above the Emperor!

The leader of the masked mercenaries, stiiting astride a pure white stallion, spoke first.

"Are you Li Zhenming?" Though the voice belonged to a female, it was the most terrifying voice that Li Zhenming had ever heard in his four decades of existence.

"I-- yes-- I am--" Li Zhenming stumbled over his words. Should he have said he was not? Did he just confirm the death toll?

"We have been summoned here by the express order of our Grand Chief. Please show us inside quickly,"

It was like an hammer was slammed on Li Zhenming's skull. Did-- did she just speak to him courteously?

"Hurry!" The sharp tone brought him back to his senses.

"Yes? Ah-- open the gates! Open the gates!" Forget whatever they said. Grand Chief of no grand chief? At least they weren't killing him yet. But still. The Si Lak Mercenaries were known for eating and drinking at their victims place before eventually murdering them.

The gates to the Li Manor were thrown open by the guards who almost cursed their master in their hearts. Was he mad? But they couldn't disobey an express order. Ah, the suffering of servants!

The manor was actually a mini- palace, and not a manor at all. The opulence was just a notch below that of the Imperial Palace, but... That didn't matter to the Si Lak Mercenaries one bit.

The leader jumped down from her horse after riding in. With a swish, the horse vanished into her oasis, the same with all the others with her, leaving the stablemen who were rushing up speechless.

"Shadow Claw," the leader called one of those behind her, and he took off his mask to reveal a handsome boyish face with an angled jaw and deep set eyes.

"Yes, Senior Xi Yun?"

"Bring us to the Grand Chief. I can't sense her aura." The leader said with a hint of worry in her tone, "you-- are you sure she is well?"

"Come with me," Shadow Claw Jun Ru moved and started walking towards the Agate Pavillion, where Li Sihan and her sister resided.

The bells in Li Zhenming's head tolled. His heart raced. What?! Could-- could it be that-- that these people were really after his daughter?!

The Mercenaries marched forward after Shadow Claw Jun Ru without looking back and presently arrived at the Agate Pavillion. Coming to a halt at the entrance, they all went down on one knee and chorused:

"These subordinates salute the Grand Chief! Please punish us!"

The spectators first reaction was to be flabbergasted. And then worry and dread kicked in. Did-- did these people really mean-- mean to to say that--that their Grand-- Grand Chief was here?! Here in the Li Manor? The Grand Chief of the Si Lak Mercenaries! Here?! How?!

Li Zhenming was the one who was shocked the most. Then-- then-- who was it? Who was their Grand Chief?!

A tiny figure stepped out from within the residence of the Agate Pavillion. She was dressed in a short white hanfu, her hair falling free. She carried a fat baby in her arms. Her expressionless face changed slightly when she saw the kneeling people.

"Ah," she muttered, "Little Bun, look. Friends,"

She glanced at the person in front.

"Its been a while, Xi Yun,"

"Grand Chief!" Flaming Spear Xi Yun, the top ranked assassin on the planet, cried out with emotion. It had been a year. They had not seen, or heard from their Grand Chief for a year. Originally, the Grand Chief was supposed to inhabit Xi Yun's body. Xi Yun was loyal enough to willingly give herself up for the Grand Chief to go on living. Their Grand Chief had been in a vegetative state for so long, ah. Xi Yun had been willing to give herself up. Si Lak Mercenaries was not the same without the Grand Chief. And who dared to sit in her place?

"Please punish me, Grand Chief!"

Seeing their Senior said this, the rest took up the chant as well.

"Why are you asking me to punish you?" Li Sihan raised her eyebrows a centimetre.

Flaming Spear Xi Yun lowered her head further. Argh, the Scorpion Hall and the Yan Temple, you'll pay for this!

"We were unable to help the Grand Chief when you needed us the most. And we took so long to find you. Please punish us!" A man kneeling next to Xi Yun spoke on behalf of the rest.

"Hah. Since you want to be punished so much, I really can't object. Fine then. All of you can visit the Boiler for a week,"

The people kneeling on the ground broke out in cold sweat. The Boiler was the most horrifying prison in the Si Lak Mercenaries, condensed from the Grand Chief's dark energy.

"-- Sihan?!" Li Zhenming finally got back his voice. He was pointing at Li Sihan with a shaking finger. In fact, his whole body was shaking.

Li Sihan glanced at him coolly. Then she returned her eyes to the kneeling people.

"Will you stay there forever? Stand up,"

"Thank you, Grand Chief!"

"Little Bun," Li Sihan cradled the baby, "I'll introduce these nice big brothers and sisters to you,"