Back in the lodge, Nayi sat comfortably in the hangout room with other members, playing their usual betting games. Nayi paid no mind to them as she sharpened her dagger with a knife.
Being Po's younger sister and second in command of The Lin Quai, there was no one else that Po trusted more than her and she knew it. She also knew that underneath all of her brother's dark demeanor, was an innocent man with blood on his paws. Besides not being the same species as father, Po was nothing like him. Their father was one of the ones responsible for tarnishing the reputation of The Lin Quai. He was evil, spiteful and just-
"Nayi," The voice of one of the wolves interrupted her thoughts. Making her look up at the wolf with anger in her eyes. Heilang. "Where is the boss?" He asked in a demanding tone.
Heilang was…..a character. A wolf she truly wished she could kill without mercy. Did she hate him? Well…hate is a strong word. The right one no less but a strong one. Alas, she could not. He was Po's most trusted wolf in the pack. The two had started off on the wrong paw but after Po took his left eye, well, Heilang saw him in a new…angle.
"Why would you like to know?"
"I need to speak with him. It's important."
"Whatever it is, Heilang" Nayi pointed her dagger at him, swinging it in a circular motion. "Whether you tell me or not, I will learn of it." Heilang was one of the few who did not grow intimidated by her, though there were some times even he didn't wish to make her angry.
"When he returns, inform him that I must speak to him." Heilang scoffed angrily before walking away. Nayi desperately wanted to toss her dagger at his neck. No one would question her anyway. The other wolves could care less about him.
Nayi sighed, leaning against her chair and looking at her dagger. It shined bright against the candle light that illuminated the room. No signs of blood on it anywhere.
Her ears perked up at the sound of footsteps on the floor above, as did the other wolves'. Luckily, whomever that was, stepped in a pattern they recognized.
Heilang quickly rushed to the trap door before a shiny dagger struck his ankle, knocking him to his knees. The other wolves flinched at the imaginary pain they experienced when she pulled the dagger out.
"Bitch." Heilang muttered under his breath.
"Keep speaking like that and next time," she turned to him with a threatening glare. "I won't miss." She snarled. Heilang would have stood if his ankle wasn't bleeding so he only sat on the floor, applying pressure to it. "Someone help this helpless pup." She ordered. "I don't wish to see his face." There was a moment of hesitation, unsure if she was testing their loyalty or not. She wasn't at all surprised at their hesitation and left without knowing if they helped him or not.
Heilang snarled looking at her as she left. Once she was out of sight, some wolves finally helped him.
Po sighed tiredly as he walked into the lodge, Xi Chu trailing behind. The lodge was by no means large by any means, yet it wasn't quite small either. Besides hiding one of China's most dangerous bandits and their leader right below it, on the surface it looked like a quite normal lodge.
Upon entering there were small mismatched wooden chairs with a small table and a furnace to make food and keep it warm. There were two doors, one of which led to a bedroom and another to his main office that held the trapdoor towards the hidden room.
"Boss, may I ask a question?" Xi Chu asked cautiously as they walked to the office.
"I believe you already have." His voice was no longer how he sounded with the constable or the warriors of the palace. He had used a soft spoken tone with the masters without losing the attitude that the Lin Quai were so afraid of. Now, his tone had changed back to its venomous and evil tone he was known for.
"But sir I-" Xi Chu tried to speak again, only to be interrupted.
"That is enough, Xi Chu." Xi Chu whimpered slightly as his boss glared daggers at him or even possibly killed him right there and then. "Go back with the others and not a single word of what you saw out there. Got it?" He stood over him, a dagger now in his paw that Xi Chu hadn't noticed before.
"Yes sir." Xi Chu bowed his head before heading towards the hidden trap door. Before he could open it, the door opened on its own revealing Nayi on the other side. Xi Chu didn't say anything as he walked past her. Nayi only raised a brow, confused, before turning to her older brother.
"Being tough on him already?" Nayi asked, closing the door behind her. Po scoffed, putting his knife away in his pocket and walked over to his bookshelf. "He's just a kid, brother."
"No, he is not." Po shook his head. "He is nearly nineteen years of age and has yet to make a name for himself in this world."
"And you are nearly thirty and yet China doesn't know your name." Nayi grabbed a chair, taking a seat.
"That's because of you." Po rolled his eyes as he walked past her.
"Perhaps, brother." Nayi ceased the opportunity to grab the knife off his pocket. Disappointedly, though, it was not the Wei Li Blade she wanted.
"You really didn't think I would be walking around with the Wei Li in the Valley, did you now?" Po raised a brow at her with a smirk.
"You left it here?" She looked his way. He sat on his chair behind his desk, opening a drawer, he pulled out a red box. She immediately recognized this box, it had been a gift from their mother. He carefully opened it and revealed the dagger to her, it was thankfully cleaned from the blood from the previous finger murder.
"I did go back to the crime scene. Wouldn't be very smart to carry it back to the crime, now would it?"
"What did you learn about the victims?"
"Mr Chen was fifty-six years of age. Suffered multiple stab wounds, likely had a slow death. His granddaughter was sixteen years old. She did not suffer other than her defensive wounds before either Xheng or Kang slit her throat." Po picked up the dagger. "The two are safe for now."
Nayi looked at the dagger in her brother's paw. She always knew blades fascinated her brother, much like they had fascinated their father. This blade was different from any of what their father had owned through his life.
"Father would have given anything for this blade." Po caught her attention from the blade. "Surprised he never got ahold of one."
"How in the world did you know it would be at Mr Chan's?" Nayi raised a brow.
"I have my sources." Po turned the blade towards her. "Would you like to hold it?" He smiled. Nayi smiled before taking the blade carefully by its handle.
Po was right. Their father would have given up absolutely anything to have had any of the Li weapons in his grasp. More specifically the Wei Li dagger she currently held.
"So brother." Nayi looked up at him once again. "Care to enlighten me in your plan here in the valley?" Po smirked before he stood and went over to his shelf that contained some scrolls.
"I've been reading through father's scrolls for the past few years and have fun rather…interesting information." Po picked one from the pile before walking back and sitting in front of her. He opened the scroll to reveal different weapons and artifacts with their locations. "Turns out, centuries ago, the Lin Kuai lost artifacts to the warriors of the Jade Palace and Master Oogway. The Jade Palace also holds the maps to find the remaining Li weapons. If we can get in there and steal what they stole from us, The Lin Kuai will once again be the most powerful assassins in China!"
"But brother, we are the most powerful assassins in China." She raised a brow.
"Not for long." Po shook his head. "Other assassins are getting higher and higher in the wanted list. Even The Crimson Bear is going to be forgotten soon."
"Look, Po, I don't doubt we can't pull this off but, we can't break into the Jade Palace!" Nayi put the dagger on the table. "Many have tried and failed! It's basically impossible to break in! If I just remind you, Father was nearly killed trying to break in." She pointed out.
"That's because he didn't have my plan." Po smirked, making her look confused. "If I can convince one of the Palace Warriors to invite me in for a night, I can sneak a few of you in to steal the scrolls. While I'm at it, I can also steal the Dragon Scroll as an added bonus."
"There is no way that will work brother." Nayi looked at him unbelievably.
"What do you mean?" He looked offended that his sister would say such a thing.
"Gaining the trust of one the warriors? Seriously?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"They are specially trained warriors. They wouldn't fall for a ruse like that."
"They would if you have connections." Po's smirked returned.
"What?" She raised a brow.
"I've kept a close connection to the Constable, who happens to have a close connection to Oogway. I came across them when I went to Mr Z Jen's and I caught Oogway's attention for some reason. If I can convince Oogway to trust me, there is no way the other warriors would not trust me." He smiled.
"I don't know, brother." Nayi looked concerned.
"Just give me a couple of months, Nayi. I promise you it will be worthwhile." Nayi sighed as she looked at her brother.
"Fine." She finally gave in, making Po smile.
"Perfect. In the meantime, I'll be sending a group of the others to Beijing to prepare the hideout out there. We'll be needing a larger storage for the scrolls in artifacts."
"I really hope this plan of yours works brother." Nayi stood. "If it doesn't, who knows what consequences it will bring for us all."
"Don't worry, I got this all planned out." Po assured closing the scroll. "It's foolproof."
"Master Oogway, may I request a favor from you?" Feng asked. The pair had gone back to Feng's office to send a report to the imperial army about what had happened. Zeng had just left the office with the important scroll.
"What is it, friend?" Oogway asked.
"I'm concerned about Po." Feng admitted. "Po does not stick around in the Valley for very long. The longest he has stayed has been five months, but unfortunately that was when his father passed." Feng frowned."I would like it if you could possibly find a reason for him to stay. Perhaps set him up with someone here in the valley? Asking for the matchmaker to find him a match perhaps."
"Feng, you already know my opinion on the matchmaker." Oogway frowned.
"Yes, I am well aware." Feng frowned, taking a seat in his chair. "But I do worry for Po very much. I know he is a busy man but I truly believe he would be safer here in the valley. A man his age has already settled with a wife and children. I'd like him to at least meet someone close to his age and give him a reason to stay." Feng looked at Oogway.
Oogway seemed skeptical of the idea of setting up a panda he barely knew with someone. Still, Oogway could not deny that there was something indeed special about that panda. He seemed a positive yet troubled chi within the panda. Perhaps keeping him in the valley will actually help identify why that was.
"Very well, Feng." Oogway agreed. "I will find a way to keep him in the valley but I will not be speaking to the matchmaker. I have a different idea in mind." He smiled.
I apologize if Oogway seems out of character. I don't think I've written him very much before and now I'm actually including him in important parts. I need to get use to writing him xD