Morning struck the city of Heiyan Gou. The residents were already off to work, a whole month having passed after being taken over by one man.
They were still humiliated and utterly terrified of the cloaked man who called himself Wanmei.
A child walked around the streets at noon, his clothes tattered and coated with coal, holding a hammer in his calloused hands. His short black hair was coated with white ash from working in a forge.
"I hope Lord Wanmei will lower the work load on us..."
He paused, feeling a tap on his shoulder as he turned around. His eyes widened with surprise and fear before he immediately bowed towards the man behind him.
Wanmei stood before him, his eyes still glowing under the hood but he had changed clothes. He was now wearing a jade green hanfu with the character Huang across the back.
He wore black leggings and a golden cloak that covered his face in shadows, along with that, he wore a faceless, white porcelain mask with the shape of a deep red diamond drawn onto it.
"What kind of work load. Child." He said in a deep voice, his sounding like he was not asking but ordering the boy to answer.
The boy froze in place, the air itself felt like daggers going down his throat. Even the birds far above the city, and the rats and animals changed their course, avoiding the street in which Wanmei stood.
"L-L-Lord! I- The Demonic Sect. They are ordering.. They are ordering a large amount of weapons.... Some people like us can't handle a lot of... Projects... Why hasn't it reached you? I mean.... Lord Xie Han should have told you."
Wanmei paused, looking down at the child intensely before nodding. Taking a step towards the boy and ruffling his hair before disappearing in a gust of wind, like he wasn't even there.
The child looked at the spot where Wanmei stood, still feeling the man's large, heavy hands on the top of his head.
"I.. I almost peed..." the boy muttered under his breath, still shaken up by Wanmei.
Wanmei was now in front of a modest house made of steel and iron, which seemed to be the theme that Heiyan Gou followed. He walked up to the main gate, tearing it apart with ease and throwing it away.
"Xie. Han. Come on out."
He did not need to raise his voice for it was already immensely firm and authoritative but nonetheless. It was soft.
"Coming Lord!"
A young man came out, wearing large, round glasses and a normal brown robe with some smudges of ink on it, he was rather tall and thin. Very much so. But despite that he was still handsome and seemed strong.
He had long, messy brown hair that reached his shoulders, round, innocent eyes filled with wonder and intelligence.
"Yes Lord?"
Xie Han asked in a curious tone, adjusting his glasses. He smiled fearlessly at Wanmei, not afraid of the man who would slaughter him in a heartbeat.
"The Demonic Sect, if we stopped business with them. Would we face losses in money?"
Wanmei asked in a simple and concise tone, not wanting to waste time with anything.
"Um.. Well.. Not really, we do exclusive business with the Demonic Sect but uh.. I think we might be able to get like. Three other sects to take its place. We're in pretty high demand."
Wanmei looked at Xie Han, his eyes glowing a bit more intensely for a moment before he nodded slowly.
"Then stop business with the Demonic Sect immediately."
Xie Han nodded immediately, smiling widely at Wanmei before he gestured for the latter to come into his house with his finger.
Wanmei confidently strut past Xie Han, walking into his home, or at least a shy excuse for one.
"Its nothing except papers."
Wanmei said in an almost impressed tone before he looked around the house once more. Xie Han chuckled sitting down on the ground before speaking, his tone nonchalant and calm.
"Well... You did kill the other officials my lord. I'm the one doing the paperwork now."
Wanmei just shrugged before sitting down on a small pile of papers across from Xie han in a relaxed manner, leaning back against the papers. His glowing eyes narrowing slightly.
"Well, good. Now, write me a letter that'll make it official. That we're ending business with everyone except, The Swordsong Clan and any individual person who pays the price."
Xie Han looked at Wanmei silently for a moment before shrugging indifferently. He picked up his brush, giving it a small dip in dark black ink before he started writing on a fresh sheet.
"Sure my lord. How about something like 'The City Haiyen Gou will cease any further trade with the Demonic Sect due to the immense amount of workload'?"
Wanmei nodded silently, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction for a moment before he immediately looked away emotionlessly, looking out the window Xie Han's house.
Xie Han continued writing in complete silence, still having a childlike smile on his face before he eventually stopped.
"All done. I'll send it to the Demonic Sect's base. But what about the other thing you said my Lord. About people buying the weapons?"
Wanmei didn't respond immediately, instead he stood up, taking the paper from Xie Han's hands before giving it a once over. He nodded slowly in approval before giving it back.
"I've noticed that there aren't any shops, markets or any auctions of sorts. I'll be taking advantage of that. This city is my oyster to open."
Xie Han slowly nodded before standing up, straightening up his robe and hair before smiling.
"Alright, understood. If you need help with anything. I'm the one you can rely on my Lord."
A few days had passed, and the letter had finally arrived to the Demonic Sect.
The Grand Marshall was sitting on his throne, still as regal and powerful as ever. Wearing a black robe that sparkled with silver embroidery in the dim light of the hall.
"Elder Wei."
He began, clutching the letter in his hand so tightly that it began to burn just from the heat of his hand and the Demonic Qi he emitted.
"I suppose you know of this?"
He asked his voice as calm as ever, but despite that it was still immensely dangerous.
Elder Wei, who was still sporting an unnerving smirk on his face while wearing his usual purple robe, shook his head, his eyes narrowing softly.
"Unfortunately no. What I do know is that they are now only trading with the Swordsong clan and except that. The new king, Wanmei has opened up a new system of auctions and shops, The Smog. He calls it."
The Grand Marshall nodded slightly, the letter igniting in flames as the ashes fell to the ground.
"Alright then. For now we have enough equipment, but we shall open a new forge in the mountain range."
Elder Wei nodded in understanding, bowing in a disgustingly obedient manner, one that would be expected of a dog.
"You're wish is my purpose."
He muttered to The Grand Marshall before he slowly backed off while facing him before he walked out completely. Closing the gate behind him.
"This Wanmei... If he does anything more proactive I should send over Ruoxue, or maybe even Jinhai. They should be able to contest his rule."
The Grand Marshall said before standing up from his throne, kicking away the ashes that had piled onto the ground. He walked towards the gate as well but he noticed a small mirror on the ground and when he picked it up he saw a faint shadow figure behind him.
He remained calm, turning around to face the shadow. It wasn't one that was hiding inside the shadows, instead it seemed to be made of the shadows themselves.
"Who are you. Three breaths. Answer."
The Grand Marshall said simply, bright red light erupting from his body and eyes as the figure jumped away a few steps.
"Death, or enlightenment. It depends on you" Said a hoarse voice in a taunting voice.
The Grand Marshall frowned before lunging at the figure, grabbing it by the neck but before he could snap its neck. It disappeared into nothing.
The Grand Marshall frowned slightly before sighing softly out of slight frustration,
"Death or enlightenment huh? If I could, I would much rather have your mother in my arms."
The Grand Marshall muttered under his breath in a sarcastic tone.
Far outside of both the Demonic Sect and Heiyan Gou was a small camp of people, sitting around large fire's. Some cultivating while some were eating.
Among these peoples was none other than Yanwei who seemed even more exhausted now, wearing the same clothes as he did when he officially announced the Ègùn.
He was looking at his sword, now worn out and chipped at the edges. Its blade now starting to get rusty.
A member sitting a bit away from him noticed the old sword and stopped eating for a moment, swallowing his food before speaking.
"Master. Heiyan Gou, has just opened up an auction and a few shops, we've been doing a few tasks and stuff to earn money."
He said before pulling out a small, brown leather bag.
"We should be able to afford what we need. You want to go?"
Yanwei looked at his sword for a moment and all the memories attached to it. But he just scoffed, mentally slapping himself before sighing and standing up.
"Alright everyone. Next morning. We head for Heiyan Gou!"