Zhao Meilin began her story, but of course she hadn't forgotten that part in which she had to give information on who she was. In order to make the story sound interesting or go smoothly, one should act like they never knew the name of this ex-assassin.
So here it went.
She went by the name of Zhao Meilin, a twenty-one year old assassin working under an organisation known as the 'The League Of Assassins' a big, secret society in shanghai known for its body counts. Approximately over five thousand men and women had been assassinated, while three thousand had joined from young ages, working as powerful assassins under its influence—and so far only twenty percent were still alive.
On the other side was the 'The League Of Mafias' who were present in the city of Hong Kong. One would be confused as to what the story of mafias has with the story of assassin.
But this was very important, as Zhao Meilin revealed to the confused retired street fighter.
The two parties had made a negotiation, working together in order to end the life of the legend herself, Fang Yuheng. The reason was the fact that they had seen how physically powerful the woman was, during her younger days she was able to take down a multitude of gangs, only returning with scars that held stories of each man she tore apart with her bare hands.
Zhao Meilin explained to them that she was the first one to be assigned to finish the job with a group of men from the mafia, she also revealed to them that she was in fact not the only one who was going to come for Fang Yuheng. She may have been defeated easily by the tigress, and that was because she was the weakest of them all.
This meant something—something that was haunting to both Mrs. Yuheng and Jun.
This meant that there were more coming and they would be more physically powerful than Zhao Meilin. They could vary in sizes, strengths, weaknesses and mentality.
—
Jun. who listened closely to the story sighed with a heavy look on his face, "I can see through her," she said with a deep tone, "She tells the truth"
Meilin clenched her fists, feeling the weight of regret and guilt on her shoulders, "I'm sorry things went this way," she said with a shaky tone.
Yuheng exhaled nonchalantly, "So, a bounty is on me now?," she said, a cold look in her eyes but then she couldn't hold it in any longer—she smiled brightly, a form of excitement on her face, "Well this just got fucking interesting"
Jun and Meilin glanced at Yuheng, a flabbergasted look in their eyes as they saw the joy in the old woman's face.
"What?," Jun and Meilin shouted in unison.
Jun then continued, "Mom, didn't you here what she said?," he said, trying to confirm if his mother was on the right track of things, "Your life is in danger as we know it, and we don't know how dangerous your next opponent could be"
Yuheng shrugged, oblivious to the predicament she was in but ready to face its consequences, "So what?," she said with a carefree tone, "I've always longed for a worthy battle there and then. And besides I need a little beatdown, keeps my body warm and fuzzy from the inside"
Jun sighed with a deep frustration while Meilin couldn't help but stare. In her years of serving as an assassin, she had thought that the family she was raised into were mental, heartless killers but Yuheng—if she wasn't a good woman, could fit all the criteria.
Meilin's eyes glinted with an unhinged joy, though the expression on her face was quite different, 'So cool,' she said inwardly. As they admired the old woman's determination, she hadn't taken time to notice her stomach grumbling, until it grumbled for the second time in a row.
The young woman held her stomach, wrapping her arms around her stomach—her cheeks flustered with red, making her fit the criteria of a tomato. The mother and son heard the sounds as Yuheng chuckled loudly.
"Ah, it seems you are hungry," she said with the joyous look still evident in her eyes, she then faced her son, "Jun, my dear, please offer our guest the finest buffet. I'm going to take a walk"
"But mom, what about the dangerous people?," said a worried Fang Jun, "Won't you need assistance when travelling on foot around Hong Kong?"
Yuheng exhaled, a smile on her face. Even though she was happy that her son was defensive, she still had to assure him to stay calm, "Hey?, come on now," she said with a relaxed expression, "I'll be fine on my own, don't you trust your mother again?"
Jun bowed slightly, acknowledging his mother's wishes.
Meilin bowed her head to the ground one more time as Yuheng walked away, "Thank you for your kindness," she said with a shaky tone, "I promise that I will return and pay you back, tenfold"
Yuheng stopped at the door of the living room, slowly glancing back, "Returning?," she said, her facial expression showing she was greatly annoyed by that statement, "Who said anything about you returning?" she asked.
Then she continued, saying the most haunting words, "You're not even leaving here to begin with," she said, striking fear into a confused Zhao Meilin, "You may have thought I forgave you but you have to be batshit crazy to think that. You had come into my bookstore which I had looked after for ten years, and not only that—you threatened me and my son, you're going to repay me for that and that means you're going to stay here and work under me"
Meilin felt her entire body go numb as Jun chuckled softly from behind. The old woman then walked away leaving the two youngsters.
Meilin's eyes darted towards Jun who looked down at her with an expression that showed he was still spiteful of her, "Come sit at the dining table," he said with a deep tone, making his way outside the room.
The young woman followed, standing up from her knees as she followed Jun.
——
As for Fang Yuheng, she had walked down the streets of Hong Kong city greeting the kind people of the streets who knew her—getting flipped off by the local gang members of the street. They knew that they couldn't do anything to the woman as she would overwhelm them, so they saw the curses as a way of redeeming themselves.
After a few steps, Yuheng stopped at her bookstore which was now locked down—the yellow police tape surrounding it. Yuheng sighed exhaustingly as her eyes scanned the area, 'What a day,' she said inwardly.
She turned, walking past the store only to stumble across a robbery taking place at an alleyway right next to her shop. Yuheng spotted a group of men harassing someone, 'What's this now?' she thought, watching them closely and as she looked deeper she noticed that the victim was an old woman, roughly the same age as her.
As she confronted the robbers, back the Fang's household Zhao Meilin sat at the dining table alone stuffing her face with a huge buffet meant for a family and she didn't seem to stop. Dumpling after dumpling, Meilin chowed down the meat-filled snack before turning to the noodles and eggs that had been set aside.
'So delicious,' she screamed in her thoughts.
As she dug in like a pig, the sound of grunting echoing from the courtyard had her attention piqued. Straightening her neck like an alerted gazelle, she cautiously made her way to the door leading outside.
Carefully sliding it enough for her eyes to see through, and she was amazed by the view. Standing defensively, his bare muscular body basking in the glow of the sun was Fang Jun striking at some wooden dummies that he had placed on the courtyard with his bare fists.
Meilin watched with awe, her eyes sparking with amazement as she stared at Jun's physique. As the young man miraculously took down a wooden dummy with ease, he breathed in and out, quickly glancing at her direction as he had taken notice of her—causing her to retreat back, her cheeks flustered as her chest rose and fell.
"I can see you," he said, an angered expression on his face, "You don't need to hide"
Meilin finally gathered the courage and stood on her feet, taking in short breaths as she turned and opened the door and as she did this she was immediately struck by an unseen lightning. Standing before her, drenched in sweat was Jun—a puzzled look in his eyes, "Any problem?," he asked.
Zhao Meilin's mind began to rush as she made eye contact with Fang Jun, her heart beated so fast it was hard for her to keep up. 'What is this feeling?,' she said to herself inwardly, unsure of what was happening to her.
It was like she felt a wave of pleasure and pressure, the same feeling she had during her assassinations. But why on earth was she feeling it now? And why was it at first glance?
'Is she okay?,' Jun thought with a look of concern.
Meilin felt her entire being melting before the young man as she answered the man's question, "It's nothing," she said, looking down as she dropped to her knees.
Jun raised an eyebrow, but then something had finally hit him, "Oh, I almost forgot," he said, "I have a few questions I wish to ask you
Meilin glanced up at the man, the redness on her face disappearing now replaced with curiosity.
——
As for the incident at the alleyway just oposite to the Fang Dynasty Bookstore, Yuheng had just finished dealing with the rest of the robbers as they apologized running off, "Yea, and don't you come back, ya fucking rascals!," she warned.
Turning her attention to the old woman who was cowering in fear, she picked up her bag which was almost stolen by the goons from the ground and lent it to her, "Are you okay?," she asked softly.
The cowering woman slowly took her hands away from her face, cautiously snatching her bag from Fang Yuheng. Brushing this off, Yuheng offered a helping hand which she hesitated, "It's okay, you can trust me," Yuheng assured her.
"Wh... who are you?," the old mysterious woman asked, stuttering fearfully in the process.
Yuheng placed her hand on her chest, "I am Mrs. Fang Yuheng," she replied, giving the old woman a sense of assurance that she wasn't dangerous.
The woman reluctantly but eventually took her hand as Yuheng rose her up on her feet without much effort, dusting the dirt off her clothes—the woman faced Yuheng who was much more taller than her but it was evident that she was older than Yuheng, "Gu Niang," she said with a smile.
Yuheng gave her a puzzled look, "What?," she asked.
"Gu Niang, that is my name. Since you were polite to give me yours," the older lady replied.
Yuheng couldn't help but chuckle as she came into a sudden realization that the old woman was only introducing herself, "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Gu Niang?," she replied politely but was still confused by the name.
Gu Niang in question, chuckled as well as she saw the expression on her face, "My grandkids call me Gu Niang, they think I'm too old-fashioned, you see"
Fang Yuheng nodded, understanding why she addressed herself with that name.
Back at the Fang's home,Fang Jun and Zhao Meilin sat together on the wooden floors of the square home, their legs brushing against the leveled grasses of the courtyard. Fang Jun had simply asked if Zhao Meilin had any information on the members of the League Of Assassins and Mafias and the date they would plan their attack.
"That's a really strange question," said Zhao Meilin with a puzzled look on her face.
"I understand, Miss. Zhao Meilin but this can be very important. And it can aid my mother, at least I can be able to protect her," said Fang Jun.
Zhao Meilin nodded with an understanding expression, "Let me think," she said, stroking her chin as she began to rack her brain.
Then it finally hit her like a dead bulb lighting up.
She began to explain: In the span of seven days, two members are assigned from both parties and of course this means two were taken from the League Of Assassins and from the Mafia.
The time in which they would reveal themselves is still a mystery as any date can be picked, but an assurance of at least seven days still remained. As for the members, they are six top members and the rest are just amatuers—same went for the Mafia as well.
Though she wasn't sure of what top members the mafia had she was sure of the top five from the League Of Assassins because she was one of the top six—being ranked as the lowest.
Zhao Meilin wanted to go on the details of all the members but she wasn't given any information but she knew of a nickname that was given to the oldest member of the top six. She was known to be very callous, she may appear nice in most scenarios but when it came to putting an end to her victim, she made sure she did it without mercy.
Fang Jun inquired about this nickname.
"Gu Niang is her name," said Zhao Meilin, revealing a very shocking secret.
As the old lady, Gu Niang and Fang Yuheng connected as they chuckled affectionately. Inside Gu Niang's bag was a lethal dose of a strange purple liquid which she clenched tightly.