Vindicator’s Wrath - Chapter 2

Anyone willing to pay attention would notice there was something different about this man. Most who crossed the threshold into the courtyard would immediately leer at the women lounging in chairs enjoying tea and fruits, trying to find their pick. This man did not give any of the women a single glance.

Hong Wu was carrying a plate of grapes over to one of the other girls when she noticed him. The man was dressed in a black, close-fitting robe and walked ramrod straight. He had a stern face and cold eyes that made Hong Wu shiver. Before she could look away their gazes locked. Hong Wu felt frozen in place, helpless as the man approached her. “Go fetch the Madam of this household.”

Hong Wu was startled that someone outside of the brothel had addressed her but quickly recovered from the shock. “Yes sir, may I ask who I should say is looking for her?”

“You may not. Just tell her it is time to offer the tribute, now go quickly.”

Hong Wu hurried to Madam Ji’s room. She had learned to always knock before entering long ago. “Who’s there? Buzz off!”

Hong Wu was at a loss. Madam always said to never ignore a customer, but she did not want to invite another whipping. After a moment of deliberation she bit her lip and knocked again. Hong Wu heard furious footsteps coming towards the door from inside the room. “I thought I told you to leave! What audacious-? You!”

As the Madam raised her hand over the shrinking Hong Wu, the young girl managed to blurt out, “A man is asking for you in the courtyard.”

“A man? What did you do? You better not of upset any of the customers or I’ll-”

Before Madam Ji could finish bringing down the strike intended for Hong Wu’s cheek, Hong Wu continued, “He said it was time for the tribute.”

Madam froze. This was the first time anything Hong Wu said stopped Madam Ji from hitting her. Hong Wu braved a quick glance up from the floor and saw a look of fear on Madam Ji’s face. “You’re sure that is what he said? If you are lying to me; you think you look ugly now? Just wait until I am finished with you.”

Rage resurfaced on Madam Ji. “I swear, that is what he said.”

Madam took a moment to calm down. Hong Wu saw a look of concentration about Madam, as if she was wondering how to handle the situation.

“Close shop for today. Have all the girls sent back to their rooms. Kick everyone else out and go prepare tea for our guest. Refund the men if you must. I will receive him in my room. Quickly now!”

Hong Wu was shocked. Madam Ji had rarely closed the doors before two in the morning, but it was only five in the afternoon, and she never gave refunds. Her shock, however, did not stop her from speedily completing her duties.

She told a few of the girls to spread the word and let loose their Johns. Many of the men were indignant, but they knew who the Madam paid protection to and fear won out over anger; they left without much complaint. The girls put on masks of regret, and asked the men to visit them again tomorrow.

While the men were being cleared out, Hong Wo prepared tea and refreshments for the guest. ‘I wonder why Madam Ji is acting so differently, just who is this man?’

Hong Wu trepidly entered Madam Ji’s room carrying a plate of tea and a smorgasbord of fruits.

On the left sat Madam Ji, appearing graceful and alluring. She wore brightly colored blue robes that seductively clung to the curves of her body, obviously proud of her appearance. As old as she was, Madam Ji did not allow her looks to wane. One could not help but notice the beginnings of wrinkles near the eyes, but this did not detract from her over all beauty, but rather gave her the appearance of a woman wise to the world. She wore a practiced, elegant, demure smile and sat comfortably, as if to invite her guest to do the same. Looking at her now nobody would ever expect her to be capable of such cruelty she had shown Hong Wu.

On the right sat the mysterious man, his mood indiscernible from his cool expression. As Hong Wu opened the door she immediately drew his attention. His piercing gaze frightened Hong Wu, but she would not show it. Showing fear rarely made the situation better.

Hong Wu briskly placed the plate onto the table between the two and poured tea for the both of them. After handing the cups to these two Hong Wu swiftly moved to her Madam’s side to await further orders.

“Good tea,” the man started after taking his first sip.

“I am glad you like it, I had to pay Master Cang three whole taels of silver for one kilo of these leaves. He assured me they were harvested at the foot of Heishan and even have some spiritual properties.”

“Madam is too kind, this one does not deserve such hospitality.”

“Not at all Sir Mu, we here at the Red Veil Pleasure House would not be able to operate with such confidence without your organizations backing.”

Alarms in Hong Wu’s mind immediately went off after hearing these words. Hong Wu knew that Madam Ji was only allowed to run her business due to the support of the Thousand Shadows Guild. Hong Wu had been in-charge of the bookkeeping for quite some time now and knew where the money went. A quarter of the brothel’s entire revenue went to paying the guild’s protection fees. This man must be a representative of the guild.

The Thousand Shadows Guild had their hands in every part of Heishan City. Every business that wanted to set up shop within the walls of the city had to first gain approval of the guild. The Red Light District was practically owned the Thousand Shadows. The were rumors that even city hall had to give face to the guild’s management and had to get approval before making any significant decisions.

“Shall we discuss the business at hand?”

“Of course Sir Mu, of course.”

Sir Mu continued to sip his tea while glancing off to the side at Hong Wu. Madam Ji took notice and shooed Hong Wu away. “What are you still doing here? Off with you. Stand outside the door. If we have need of you I will call for you.”

Hong Wu compiled and left the room. Curious about what they were discussing, Hong Wu pressed her ear to the door, but the intricate designs carved onto the door muffled their voices and she could not make out any of what they were saying. Resigned to waiting, Hong Wu stood by the door for half an hour. Just as she was ready to rest her legs and sit on the ground, she heard footsteps coming towards the door.

As the door slid open Madam Ji warmly bade Sir Mu farewell. “Are you sure you must leave now? You are welcome to stay. Should you like, I can arrange for any of my girls to keep you company tonight.”

“That will not be necessary Madam,” Sir Mu casually replied. “You should receive payment by the end of the week.”

“Very well. Please feel free to come back any time Sir Mu, you are always welcome.”

Madam Ji then turned to Hong Wu, “You will be in Sir Mu’s care from now on. Obey his commands as you would my own. Do you understand?”

Blindsided by what Madam Ji said, Hong Wu was unable to even react. When she noticed Madam Ji’s quickly growing displeasure, Hong Wu snapped back to reality. “I will do as Madam commands.”

“Good. Do not let me hear that you have tarnished my name in any way. Sir Mu, she is your’s now, do with her what you will.”

“Thank you Madam, I am glad we could reach an agreement so quickly.”

Sir Mu headed towards the exit without sparing a single glance at Hong Wu. Dazed by what had just happened, Hong Wu staggered behind the man out the door and into the street.

Sir Mu said nothing and walked swiftly out of the red light district and onto the main road through the crowd, not giving Hong Wu a second thought. Even the unusually agile Hong Wu had trouble keeping up with this strange man. Turning off from the busy marketplace, Sir Mu entered an inconspicuous alleyway and followed the path to a dead end.

Before Hong Wu had time to catch her breath and inquire as to what was going on, Sir Mu firmly pressed upon a chipped brick in the wall revealing a hidden doorway to a foreboding and unlit passageway. “Inside,” Sir Mu curtly ordered.

Fear gripped Hong Wu’s heart, but disobeying this man seemed to be even more dangerous than disobeying Madam Ji. Without an alternative, Hong Wu gathered what courage she could and crossed the threshold into the dark underbelly of Heishan City.

I just made the names up as I went. Hong Wu was deliberate, though I am sure it sounds awkward to a Chinese speaker. One of my Chinese friends told me that Ji is slang for a prostitute, so Madam Ji’s name was unconsciously very fitting.