Interlude: Getting the Gang Together

Several Hours before the Raid…

“Recruiting more people from the slums?” The Special Inspector asked, frowning. “It would solve many of our manpower issues, and leave the honourable cultivators much more freedom to conduct their raids, but can they be trusted?”

Dong Chou, also known as Rags to his friends, nodded. All of Rags’ companions were with them, gathered around and planning the raid with the Inspector. “They’re rough around the edges, but they honour their debts. None of them would let the bastards run—if they agree to help, of course. I don’t know if they will.”

And they probably would. A chance to clap the rich bastards in irons? The boys in Underbridge would definitely be interested.

The Special Inspector looked at Rags. Really looked at him, the guy’s eyes piercing in a way that kind of unnerved him, if he was honest. Rags hadn’t felt this uncomfortable since he’d become a cultivator! …Okay, that was a lie. Master Jin and Lady Meiling unnerved the shit out of him at first, but they were super nice once they got to know him.

Master Jin especially. He was a good guy to go fishing with. He would have fit right in, right in with Rags’ crew. He was rather glad the Hidden Master was so nice and personable.

Satisfied by whatever he saw, the Special Inspector nodded. “Then we’ll have to take that chance. I shall come with you. They deserve to know what they’re getting into directly from me.”

Rags didn’t expect a stuffy lawman to be willing to accept help from the slum dwellers. And that he was willing to ask them for help himself, instead of just commanding them? Rags grinned. For the first time, he found himself liking somebody in the government. “Good! A man should be a man, and tell people things straight!”

“We’ll go together.” Xiulan said, as Tigu stepped up beside her. Xianghua and Sergeant Han will go to the Plum Blossom’s Shadow, and see what else they can learn.”

=====================

That was how Rags found himself navigating their little crew through the side alleys. Tigu, Xiulan, Loud Boy, Delun, and the Grey Water Lady had joined in with the Special Inspector. All of them were wearing the wide brimmed hats of the fishermen who plied the Twin Rivers. It was a common enough sight, especially going through these alleys. Nobody would give them a second glance.

It was kinda fun, he had to admit, being on the same side as the law. He was more used to running from guards after he had stolen food from one of the rich inns, or scavenged from some noble’s spice garden. Like that heist he pulled when the Farrow Gang had left the city. They had been eating good for weeks, and he had been able to afford medicine for Granny Na.

He was glad he had left. He hated Grass Sea City, and judging by the looks of his friends, none of them had particularly liked it either.

None of them were really in the mood for chatting or banter though as they wound through the side streets, heading lower into the city. The crowds got thinker, and the buildings shabbier, until they found what they were looking for.

A yawning stone archway filled with people—the main entrance to North Underbridge. It was as tall as three men, and it had, once upon a time, probably been something beautiful. But now any worked stone had been worn away by time. The faded and weathered sign that called it Bei Qiao Xia was covered in graffiti. Lanterns hung down in a mess of strings, bathing the entrance in red light. The tunnel itself was dimly lit, the lanterns continuing all the way through the bridge.

“Welcome to Underbridge. Stick close and watch your coin purses,” Rags warned.

They pushed into the entryway, into his old home, and onto the main ‘street’. The temperature abruptly spiked, from the warm but pleasant city to something just slightly higher than comfortable, especially with how humid it was.

They pushed into the crowd, and Rags felt just a little nostalgic. The dull roar of the city seemed magnified here as the sounds of thousands conducting business and living their lives echoed off stone walls. People hawked their wares, restaurants cooked, and wives argued with each other while standing outside of stone dwellings. The place was full of the smells of spices and cooking, with the undercurrent of stale sweat and candle oil made from the fish that lived in the rivers.

Occasionally, a gust of wind would bring in fresh air, but on bad days? It would start raining. Somebody had once told him it was from the water in men’s breaths, as well as their sweat. Rags believed it.

The main street was obviously wider than Loud Boy and Tigu had been expecting, judging by their noises of interest—and it split off to the side into a multitude of alleys and dead-ends. The bridge was, after all, nearly half a Li across, and a warren of tunnels originally built during the old days, before whatever cataclysm had shaken the province.

Now it was home to the poor and the desperate. The mainstreet was the best part of it, but if one looked into any alley, they would see some sorry soul strung out on the heavens knew what and soon to leave the world.

It was a shitty place, no two ways about it.

“Is the entire place like this?” he heard Tigu whisper from beside him.

He paused and glanced at his friend. She had a frown on her face, but he could see the look of anger that she had. Her eyes were locked onto a skinny kid, one whose ribs were showing through the holes in his ragged shirt.

“Yeah. It's a fair bit worse than Pale Moon Lake City, eh?” he joked. “Grass Sea City is the place of opportunity, they say. So people come in, looking for work. They look to make it big… And all they end up doing is feeding the forges or pumping the bellows.”

Tigu sighed. “I don’t know how to fix this problem.” She actually sounded regretful.

Rags smiled at her. Really, a cultivating cat who had transformed into a young woman cared more about people than the actual leaders of the city. He should have been shocked… but he guessed Tigu was special in that way.

Tigu cared. That was more than most people did. She saw a problem and wanted to fix it.

A couple years ago, Rags would have said this city was unfixable. It was why he had gathered his people and left, after all.

But what would he say now? Here he was, was with a Young Mistress who wanted to make things better, a lawman who had decided to trust the people of Underbridge; all well most of them were on a quest to unite the Sects of the Azure Hills.

Heh. Guess actions spoke louder than words. He was feeling pretty optimistic these days.

“Well, I think you’ll be able to come up with something. We’re already on our way to clean up one big mess, eh?”

Tigu nodded back. They both glanced at the child again, who suddenly brightened up, smiling and waving. Another kid sprinted towards him, similarly grinning. The new boy had a half-full bag of rice in his hands, and was clearly intending to share in his bounty.

Even in a pile of shit, you could find some people who were better than their circumstances.

He just hoped his old friends were still where he remembered they would be.

Rags continued forwards, feeling even more confident than before. They walked through a couple of twisting alleyways, before they arrived at a door that looked no different than any other door.

Save for a familiar marking on it.

Good.

He walked up and knocked on the door. There was the sound of shuffling, then a voice called out.

“Whaddaya want?” a woman asked.

“A brother from the Bridge is lookin’ to meet with the Boss,” he replied.

A slot carved in the door opened, and suspicious eyes peered out… before they widened. “Bastard of Three Fathers!” the voice exclaimed, and the slot slammed shut.

Rags blinked as he felt everybody look at him.

“I thought you said these were your friends,” Loud Boy said, sounding amused.

Rags flushed. “There's some kinda misunderstandin’—” he started, and was vindicated when there was the sound of a jangling lock and the door burst open, revealing a woman with dirty blonde hair in dreadlocks and tied up by a red bandana.

“Chou, you cock!” she shouted, grinning at him. A woman who looked familiar, but the last he saw her she had been a kid, instead of… Well, a woman. She must have grown three feet since he last saw her!

“Little Lao, ‘zat you?!” Rags asked incredulously.

“I ain’t little no more!” She shot back, and Rags raised his hands in surrender.

“I was just surprised, that's all! You’re big now!” he defended. The woman huffed.”it's good to see you again… And the boys,” he said, jerking his head at the two other men, both armed with spears. They nodded at Rags, who nodded back.

“Well it's good to see you. Now, what did you want? You never come around unless there's a problem, and we got some shit in our rice bowls too.”

Rags sighed. “You’re not… completely wrong. I need to see the Boss. My buddies and I need his help.”

Lao frowned. Her eyes were searching, before she sighed. “Alright, mister bigshot cultivator, you and your friends can—” she froze as she looked past him. Her eyes locked on the Special Inspector and her face flushed. “Mister Inspector?! I thought you was dead!”

The man chuckled. “I’m relieved to see you well, Miss Lao, but I’m quite fine—”

He gasped as the woman marched up and hugged him. “You bastard, don't ever do that again!” she scolded.

Rags watched as Xinlai of the Grey Water Sect’s eye twitched.

“I’m guessin there's a story here…” Rags ventured.

Lao brightened up.

=======================

“—O course the boss didn’t want me to help him, he's a lawman, but he was investigating the missin’ folk, well, I had to help. I snuck him into the compound, got some of the letters, and got out, but a guard found him. He told me ta run, and get the info to his compound, no matter what. He cut through three arrows, so I could escape, and the last I saw of him he was facin’ down three guys!” Lao narrated as she walked them through the halls of the hideout, her arm linked through the Special Inspector’s.

Rags listened, bemused at the tale. They had met in the city, after Lao had learned he was snooping around about the disappearances. She said it was to help the people of the city, but Rags knew better. Little Lao had gotten the hots for the Inspector, and had done something spectacularly stupid to impress him—she’d gotten the evidence, but it had led to them being attacked The Special Inspector saved Lao’s life at the cost of getting his arm broken, and she had done her job, delivering all the letters to the mansion.

“And that is when I aided him.” Xinlai declared, frowning at the woman.

Lao looked at her, released the Inspector’s arm, and to Rags’ surprise, bowed to the woman.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely.

Xinlai blinked, having not expected it.

“I didn't do it for you, fool,” she declared, sounding uncomfortable. “Continue to lead on. We must meet with your ‘boss.’”

Lao nodded and continued to walk through the compound. They passed by several people, then some more people with weapons, until they came to another doorway. This one just had a curtain covering it.

“You ready? Most of the boys are in,” Lao asked.

Rags nodded. Lao turned back around and stepped through the curtain. “Boss! I got important guests!”

They came into the room. The last time Rags had been here was years ago. The room was dominated by a large table, and all around the table, there were men. Rough looking men, who wouldn’t look out of place if they were bandits, rather than the real unofficial guard force of Underbridge.

But Rags only had eyes for one man. He was at the head of the table.

A long time ago, he had been just Brother Tanhui. Before the Face Snatchers. Tanhui’s mouth was locked into a scowl as always, and he looked angry. Just like his Sister, Minmin. Rag’s second in command.

“Boss Chou,” Tanhu greeted, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Tanhui was still upset that Rags hadn’t married Minmin, but they weren’t like that. She was like, his sister! It would be weird. That said, any other man who didn’t want to wife up his Sworn Sister was an idiot. She was strong and kind, she could cook, and clean and shank a bastard going for your back in the guts. She was the perfect woman! Sure she had a nasty scar that went up her neck and face from when a ‘snatcher nearly ripped her face off before Rags killed him, but any fool who couldn’t look past that deserved to die alone in a ditch.

He shook off the thought. The men in the room had gone silent. All of them were looking at Rags, and were obviously slightly nervous. They all knew he was a cultivator now, and were wondering what his game was.

“Boss Tanhui,” Rags replied, greeting his fellow Boss by clasping his hands together. “Good to see you again, brother.”

The mood in the room relaxed at his words and the inclination of his head, showing respect to the Boss of Underbridge.

Tanhui’s scowl even got less pronounced. “You dog. You look good!” his old friend shouted, moving around the table so they could clasp forearms. “Now, what do you want? You only ask me for things, you bastard!”

“That's because Boss Tanhui always comes through. If you don’t want me to rely on you, don’t be so good at shit!” Rags shot back.

The room erupted into laughter as Rags gave their boss face. He was buttering up his old friend a bit, but he was going to be asking for a lot.

That, and Tanhui always did come through.

“You fucker…” Tanhui said fondly. “Now speak! We’re in the middle of something! Like how to handle what this idiot did,” he growled, jerking his head at Lao.

The woman looked utterly unrepentant.

“I asked him to arrange this meeting, Boss Tanhui,” the Special Inspector said, stepping forwards. He collapsed his hands and bowed slightly.

Tanhui frowned, but listened, as the Special Inspector outlined his plan.

============================================

“You want us. You, the Special Inspector of the Azure Hills, want my boys to help you to arrest over a hundred nobles and their families?” Tanhui asked the Special Inspector.

“That is correct. By the power invested in me by the Lord Magistrate of Pale Moon Lake City, you would all be formally deputized and a part of the Azure Hills Militia for the duration. Every action you take would be completely legal. You do not have to fight, either. We just need fine, trustworthy men to guard them so they can’t escape while the rest of my companions do the fighting. You won’t be in any danger,” The Special Inspector explained. “I will also, of course, be arranging compensation for your time and the risk to yourselves.”

Tanhui leaned back on the cushion he was sitting on, clearly thinking. He hummed, rocking his head back and forth, before speaking again.

“It's a good deal, Mister inspector, it's a good deal,” Tanhui said, yet while the Special Inspector seemed pleased, Rags grimaced. “But, while we can do this… what happens after you leave?”

The Special Inspector paused, and his eyes widened.

“Let's say we do help you out. We just became the people who spat in the face of the nobles. You go back to Pale Moon Lake City. We’re all stuck here. So tell me, what happens, after your protections fade? When the nobles look at the people who just helped to catch their family and friends?”

There was silence. The men who were leaning against the walls were all grim-faced. Rags cursed internally. He would just fight his way out. Tanhui? Tanhui couldn’t and they couldn’t just sit around in Grass Sea City…

The Special Inspector closed his eyes and then sighed. “You are correct, Boss Tanhui. I can’t say what happens after. I can try my hardest to get more guards and change things… But this plot runs deep. If we fail to capture even one, it would indeed possibly fall upon you.”

“...then we cannot help you. Not directly.” Tanhui said. He sounded apologetic.

Rags, out of the corner of his eye, saw Xinlai glare at Tanhui. He could almost see her screaming “you dare?” at the man for questioning the Inspector, but Xiulan placed a hand on her shoulder. The Blade of Grass had kept her hat down, hiding most of her face. But now, she stepped forwards.

“You fear for your people, Boss Tanhui. I understand,” Xiulan said, speaking up for the first time. “Your concern does you credit. But while the Special Inspector cannot say what will happen next… I can.”

She tipped back her hat, revealing her face. She went from nondescript to some kind of avenging guardian spirit in an instant. Everybody not used to her gasped.

“Demon-Slaying—” Tanhui gasped as Xiulan stepped up beside the Special Inspector and knelt down, like she was treating him.

“The Magistrate of the city will not target you. Neither will the nobles. I shall deal with them, and the members of the Verdant Blade Sect, the Misty Lake Sect, and others will make sure that no noble ever gets any of these ideas in their head,” Xiulan said, her voice soft, and yet every word was utterly captivating. “They have lapsed in their duties. They have preyed upon the people. For that, we shall destroy them. But as we are right now, we cannot be sure. Right now… we have to ask you to lend us your strength.”

And then Xiulan bowed. Like when Master Jin had bowed to him, it seemed to knock something about in Tanhui. A cultivator, the slayer of the Face Snatcher Gang, the Demon-Slaying Orchid, was bowing to him and asking for his help.

Rags knew he had nearly shit himself when Master Jin had done this.

Tanhui swallowed thickly. He licked his lips.

The leader of Underbridge took a deep breath.

“If you can do that… Then, Special Inspector, we will gladly stand with you,” he said.

He stood up and walked towards them. They both stood as well. He and the Special inspector clasped forearms, sealing the deal.

He paused, when he turned to Xiulan, unsure of how to properly address her.

Xiulan held out her hand to a man from the slums—not a martial salute between practitioners. Not a demand for a bow from an inferior.

She held out her hand to clasp forearms as if Tanhui was an equal.

Tanhui reached forwards and took Cai Xiulan’s hand.

Rags knew he was watching the start of another legend as the boys stared with wide eyes.

===================================

Rags stayed behind for a little longer as the rest of the boys went out to get everybody together.

“Is she serious?” Tanhui asked without preamble. He always had been suspicious. Even after he had agreed, he was clearly wondering if he had made the right choice, or if her words had just been something pretty to strong-arm them into it..

“Absolutely. I wouldn’t be following her if she wasn’t,” Rags replied easily.

Tanmhui froze at the words.

“What did she promise you, Chou, to follow her?”

Chou looked up at the ancient ceiling.

“No more Face Snatchers. No more Sun Kens. No more little wars between sects that catch people like us in the crossfire.”

His old friend’s eyes widened. “...and you believe her?”

“Enough to bet my life on it,” Rags replied with a smile.

Chou saw a glimmer of something that had never been in Tanhui’s eyes before.

Hope.

==========================

A few hours later a veritable army boiled up from Underbridge. Men all wearing a blue sash on their arms.

The city heaved, and on the wind, the name the Heroes of the Grass Sea echoed.

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Originally, the Grass sea Arc was supposed to be mostly over, but this part wouldn't get out of my head.

So we have an interlude about Rags and how they got the gang to help them.

Editors: Massgamer, Ayje, Brandon “Philosophysics” Zhang-Leong