Sowing seeds

Yinyue was having one of its slowest mornings. The usual hum of patrons milling about was absent, leaving the teahouse eerily quiet. But Mo Yan didn't mind. She had a story to tell, one that would spark the curiosity of everyone within earshot. All she had to do was wait for her favorite nuisance to show up.

And as if on cue, Chen Luwei arrived, striding into the room with her usual confidence. She was led to her usual spot—the seat closest to the stage. Behind her, like a shadow, followed Chen Xiao. Mo Yan's eyes sparked. This development was even better than she'd hoped. What was his purpose? She didn't care. The more Chens, the better.

Without hesitation, Mo Yan ascended the stage, donning her familiar male guise. She took her seat at the table set up for her and sipped the tea that had already been poured, savoring its warmth. Then, she unfurled her fan and adjusted it just so.

"Ta!" 

She slammed her wooden block, drawing attention to the stage. When all eyes and ears were on her, she began. 

"I know I promised to share more about Yin Lian Pavilion, but have you heard of Yin Jin Meng?"

The room fell into a murmur of confusion, patrons exchanging looks, whispers flooding the air each one inquiring of their neighbor about this mysterious organization. Yet no one seemed to know anything about it. 

 Mo Yan leaned forward, drawing them in even further.

"Ta!" 

Mo Yan struck the table with her block again. The murmurs died down, and all attention was once again on her. 

"Yin Jin Meng—The Hidden Gold Alliance." Mo Yan let the words hang in the air. "From the name, you might think it's some kind of wealthy consortium, right? A secret alliance of the rich, perhaps? Well… not exactly. But there's one story, one persistent rumor, that paints them as something else entirely." She paused, letting the silence stretch.

"They appear in places where the land has been ravaged by disaster, poverty, or hardship. Some say they are benefactors, using their wealth to help the needy. Others, though, think they're something darker—wealthy criminals laundering their dirty money."

She let her gaze sweep over the crowd, the tension thickening.

"Now, I know what you're thinking. 'Mo Yan, weren't you supposed to be telling us about the famous Yin Lian Pavilion?'"

She took another slow sip of her tea, flipping her fan open with a flick. The crowd was on edge, hanging on every word.

"What if I told you that there's another rumor—one that suggests Yin Lian Pavilion is behind this mysterious Hidden Gold Alliance?" 

Gasps rippled through the room. Eyes widened. Everyone now listening even more intently. Mo Yan could feel the stir of curiosity building.

"You might ask how I can say such a thing. But listen closely, and you'll see why the two might be connected. Let's start with how one might go about contacting Yin Lian Pavilion."

She leaned forward, her voice lowering as if sharing a secret.

"Have you ever tried to contact the Yin Lian Pavilion?" she asked, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "It's not as easy as sending a letter, or asking around. No, it's far more... delicate."

She shifted in her seat, her voice turning more mysterious.

"First, you need a black incense stick. But not just any incense. This one is laced with silver dust. You burn it in an isolated place— perhaps a temple, an abandoned inn—somewhere untouched by the outside world. It must be done at the third watch of the night—midnight. You light the incense and watch the smoke rise, carrying with it a trace of silver. It's barely visible, but to the Pavilion, it's a signal."

Mo Yan's tone was almost hypnotic now, the crowd listening intently.

"The smoke, thick and curling, leaves behind a faint silver residue, something so subtle, you might miss it if you weren't looking closely. And that's the key. It signals to those watching, hidden in the shadows. No one knows how they track these signals. Some say birds, some say scouts, others whisper of spirits in the dark."

She paused, savoring the growing tension.

"Within three nights, if your signal has been accepted, you'll find a single black lotus petal waiting for you. It could be in your doorstep, in your wine cup, or tucked into your sleeve by an unseen hand. But if you don't find that petal..."

She paused taking a sip of her tea before continuing

"Then perhaps you weren't deemed worthy—or maybe your signal was intercepted by someone else."

The room was silent now, the patrons' eyes glued to Mo Yan as if she were a sorceress weaving a spell.

She leaned forward closing her fan, dropping her voice to a near whisper.

"But that's just the beginning. The next part? The real challenge."

The room hung on her every word.

"Once the petal appears, you must send your request—but you cannot do so in any normal way. No writing. No speaking. No simple messages. No. Instead, you must write in code. Not with ordinary ink, mind you, but with a special concoction—a mixture of nightshade extract, crushed pearls, and river mist dew. It disappears completely before sunrise, leaving no trace."

The audience exchanged looks, stunned.

"The message must be written on gold leaf paper, a symbol of your wealth. And once it's done, it's sealed inside a hollow bamboo stick. Where do you leave it, you ask? That depends. Some say you leave it at a well high in the mountains, or perhaps you hand it to a blind beggar you pass on the street. Others claim you float it down a river on a lantern. The key? It must be placed where no one can see. No one ever knows who retrieves it."

She paused for dramatic effect, letting her words settle in.

"Some say phantom messengers come to take it. Others believe it's only retrieved when the petitioner has vanished, unseen by anyone. There's no confirmation, no acknowledgment, no words to assure you. The Pavilion doesn't need to give you an answer. You must carry on, as if they've ignored you. And if they've accepted your request—if—things will unfold as if by fate. You'll know, but you won't understand. The only sign that your request has been received is the appearance of a single golden coin."

She leaned back in her seat, the room hanging on her every breath.

"Perfectly round, with a hollow center, and no inscription. You'll find it under your pillow, or tucked in your coat pocket. Maybe in the ashes of your incense burner. No one knows who leaves it. Not even the most guarded rooms are safe from this coin's appearance."

Mo Yan's smile widened.

"And once the deed is done," Mo Yan's voice softened, "the price for their services vanishes. Gone. Whether it's gold, a rare scroll, or even an estate—it simply disappears, leaving behind no trace."

She flicked her fan open once more.

"Here's the catch. Once it's all over, you can't speak of it. No one would believe you, anyway. The job is done, the payment is taken, and the Pavilion… continues on, as a legend in the shadows of the Jianghu." 

Mo Yan paused and let the words sink in, her eyes scanning the rapt faces before her.

"Now, you may be wondering—what does all this have to do with the Hidden Gold Alliance?" she asked, her smile widening just a bit.

"The name. The Yin . That's one link. But of course, that alone doesn't mean they are connected. There's a courtesan house just down the street with a similar name to Yin Lian, and that doesn't mean they are the same, right? I hear you. But what about their appearances? Think about it."

She paused, giving her audience a moment to absorb her words.

"You may not know this, but the Hidden Gold Alliance often knows when to show up. Usually after disasters. Disasters just like destruction caused by the dealings of Yin Lian Pavilion..."

She paused before leaning forward

"Many of you must have witnessed the devastation from yesterday, when the clash of the two masters caused quite the destruction and that snowstorm that followed wasn't that caused by Yin Lian's Grandmaster? So..."

Moyan was fluttering her fan now

"Expect the Hidden Gold Alliance to show up soon. Of course, this is all speculation… but you never know."

She let the words linger in the air as the crowd murmured, their curiosity piqued, their imaginations racing.

"Now," Mo Yan said with a smile that was almost too sweet, "let's talk about the Hidden Gold Alliance itself. What they do, and how they operate? As previously stated, they usually appear after natural disasters. They are not contacted—or at least, not in the usual sense. They simply show up, do their work, and disappear. Once in a while, they carry out these 'games' meant to determine who deserves their help the most."

Mo Yan's voice dropped, almost conspiratorial.

"It is said that they are not affiliated with the Yin Lian Pavilion and only use the name for protection. But personally? I don't think so. Some of you might ask how do you know if they are around?" 

Moyan let out a wide grin

"You'll definitely know."