'Long ago we all didn't used to be bandits. Me and Zheng Jiang grew up in the same village along with our friend called Gai Li. I was the more We grew up and did everything together. I was the more cautious one while Jiang and Li did whatever they could for adventure. They pretty much dragged me everywhere with them. Though Jiang was always dragging us to adventure, there was always something…infectious about Li's enthusiasm. She would just always willingly go with Jiang and not have a care in the world. Always talked about exploring the world with such a positive attitude we'd kinda all got it. I'm pretty sure Zheng Jiang was that way because of her. We'd go swimming in the river when it was calm, we'd go exploring as far as we could. Heh, I remember Shu following us around, making sure his sister was safe and sound. We didn't take too kindly to him interrupting our fun though. Heh Even back then I found him annoying.

I remember Gai Li's grandfather teaching her about the way of archery since he was a retired soldier and thought we'd better learn how to hunt since he knew how much we all enjoyed exploring. Though her parents weren't exactly thrilled once they found out. She wasn't allowed to come out of her house to play with us, Shu though was happy to fill that role…but we just ignored him since he was the one that ratted her out anyway. It was a simpler time, though before long thanks to this famine our village couldn't grow the crops they needed to survive. We couldn't trade for much either. Our village sent envoys to the imperial city for help. Though we heard nothing from them, they never came back. We were starting to go hungry, though our parents did the best they could to try and feed us, sometimes that just wasn't the case.

Eventually though, one of the villagers warned us all about a contingent of yellow turbans coming our way. They all knew what was going to happen but we were just children, we didn't know what was going on. So, when our folks got us on the only two horses we had they told us to ride to the west and ask the imperial army to come over. The panic over everyone's faces as they were running away. We did not know what was going on, but we did what we were told. Our parents embraced us for the final time and we didn't know. It was me, Zheng Jiang on one horse and Li and Shu on the other. And we rode as fast as the horses would allow. We clung on them tightly as we rode away from the village. We didn't know what was going on, again we were only children.

It felt like an eternity had passed before we stumbled upon a patrol of the imperial army when the horses stopped to rest and we dismounted them. We quickly went to them and asked for assistance. We told them where the village was and our parents asked for their help. But they laughed us off, saying they were part of the imperial army. They had better things than to deal with a measly village they told us. Shu understood the situation better than us so he pleaded with them the most and kept bugging them to come along. Eventually one soldier got enough of him and punched him in the face. Heh, that never fails to bring a smile to my face. Though Li wouldn't have found it funny, she quickly rushed to see how her brother fared, aside from a broken nose he was all right. We could only watch as they marched on by. I remember wanting to throw a rock at them or something. But I was too scared, if they could do that to Gai Shu in one punch, heaven knows what they would've done to us. At the time Shu was the one that was in charge, he was the oldest. He said finding another contingent to help us. He thought we should just go back to the village, he must've thought with luck we could get back in time and tell them to flee if they haven't already since help wasn't coming.

So once the horses were rested Shu helped me and Zheng Jiang on one horse while he and Li went on the other. We rode back to the village only to find it destroyed. We never realised how long we were. We quickly dismounted and tried to find our parents. Li and Shu found theirs beneath their burning hut. I- I found my…sorry, I found my dad just… decapitated in the middle of the street and my mother…speared. Sorry its just…I didn't expect this to affect me after all these years.' Lu Zheng stopped for a moment and started to breathe more heavily to compose herself.

'Zheng Jiang couldn't find hers anywhere despite calling for them. She scoured the village anywhere for hers. Though she couldn't find any. We all mourned our losses. Honestly if it weren't for Gai Shu we wouldn't know what was going to happen, he was also upset. But without him getting us together, we would've stayed mourning for longer and who knows what may have happened if stragglers came back and found us. He managed to gather us and helped us get away…even though some of us like her sister didn't want to leave. He has my sympathy there, that can't have been easy. Everything that we had, was gone. Our home, our families just…erased.

Eventually we managed to escape the village, we were all silent during the journey. None of us dared to speak a word. Despite Shu's best efforts, none of us were in the mood to speak. We didn't know where we were going, we didn't know what was going to happen now…but we knew we couldn't stay there.

We were cold, hungry and tired as we rode on far away, we didn't know where we were. Though our hatred for the Han Empire was growing. We couldn't fathom why they wouldn't help us, was that not their job? Jiang recalled her mother telling her that they were trying to help us…yet in our hour of need they just discarded us like waste. I was starting to get delirious though as luck would have it we managed to spot a traders caravan making camp. Li was about to go in and ask for help before Jiang stopped her, saying they could be like the imperial army we encountered. So we managed to get on the back of the cart and hide under the cloak with their supplies. There were plenty of food so naturally we started to eat. The two caravan riders found our horses but luckily for us they just added them to the caravan. Next thing we knew we were moving. We knew we had to keep silent and none of us took another bite. Li couldn't help but giggle at the situation despite how serious it was. We couldn't help but giggle quietly along with her.

We didn't know what was happening until the caravan stopped. We heard many voices all around us, we didn't know what was going on. Shu peeked his head out and saw that we were in a city. We quickly got out and we were in awe. It was our first time in the city, it was so large, so many buildings, so many people. We never saw so many people in one place before. That was before the people that we thought was the traders saw us and shooed us away. So, we ran, trying to find any place we can stay.

We couldn't, so we stayed on the streets where adults would try to shoo us away, not wiling to tolerate our presence so we would always move until we found our own little hideout quite far away. Eventually we started to get accustomed to our new life. Hehe, I remember when we first were started to get accustomed, Li just went up to someone and asked nicely one of the people for some food, She was just rejected on the spot. She started to cry as she walked away, though Jiang managed to steal some when they were pre-occupied and get some for her. Didn't take a lot to cheer her up. Heh, she always was a softie for her.

But eventually we all managed to get accustomed to our new life, we stole whatever we could to survive, like food, water, clothes and the like. We used to distract them with things, Zheng Jiang was the one to instigate this normally. Oh she would be…quite brave and actually anger them as she ran away as fast as she could while the three grabbed just as much as we needed. If we took too much that would be too suspicious. We managed to get by just fine, though eventually we got quite large for our little hideout so we couldn't hide there anymore. which was about the time Shu said he was going to leave to join the imperial army when they were calling for new recruits. He said he wanted to change the way things are from the inside and he promised to send us all anything he can. Naturally Li was really against the idea but he kind of just shrugged her off, saying she was in good hands and wanted us to look after her. That was the last time we heard from him for some time. We consoled Li the best we could.

So we had to find a new hideout while understanding what was going on, more people were getting poor and poor by the tax. They were going hungry. People were begging the guards to help only to be discarded…just as we were. We were powerless to do anything so we did what everyone else did. Kept away and try to find somewhere else to skulk. We could not do anything for them we thought. We were just children, we did what we had to do to survive. Though Jiang didn't like it. Our feelings on the "glorious" empire was quickly deteriorating more and more as it seemed pretty clear the warlord in charge of the castle was starving the city of wealth the people needed. And then…oh and then they did something stupid. Gai Li was caught stealing some fruit and they were taking her forcibly as she wept, fearful for her life. I was standing nxt to Zheng Jiang and she wasn't having any of it so she attempted to stop him taking her away. When he just pushed her away and carried on dragging Li by his hand, she threw a dagger at his skull.

He just fell to the floor. Everyone just looked at the corpse momentarily and then turn to Zheng Jiang before everyone kind of backed away from her as she looked all around her. Li quickly went to her before the guards came round, forcing us to flee the city. Though we were surprised by how dangerous the actual terrain is to get there. When we got enough distance between them it was just us three, unsure of what we can do. I was mad at Li for getting caught as we would have been experts by now. Jiang defended her though saying it doesn't matter and we shouldn't turn on ourselves…she was right but I was still annoyed. It wasn't exactly a stellar life but we were…relatively safe after being abandoned by our supposed companion who didn't bother to help us or keep their promise!

Sorry about that, well anyway we wondered for a while before we were captured by a group of slavers. It was either be taken by them or die…we chose the latter. We were part of a slave convoy to be traded. By whom I don't know, but that was the case. We were tied up in a caravan with several other women torn from their families. Something must've sparked within Zheng Jiang seeing their helplessness as she started to talk about how awful this was and how something needed to change. I saw a fire in her eyes that I never saw before. She started to become fierce and hostile towards our capturers. She would normally get hurt in return. Though she would always keep on a brave face when suffering or trying to reassure us she was ok. Eventually they got tired of her and dragged her outside a couple of days after they captured us. Though they didn't live, I don't know what happened or how she did it but she came back and freed us with her face covered in blood shortly after. We stepped outside the carriage and the two bodies were just lying there on the ground, bleeding.

Jiang spoke about how she wanted to change the world, about how the han empire let us down. How the yellow turban rebellion and our suffering is due to the people above not helping us. I could see in her eyes the hatred she had…which was shared by me but I never thought we could do anything about it. She asked if we wanted to join her on her quest. I wasn't sure if we could do anything about it, though Gai Li immediately said yes. I was hesitant on this, I mean what could we do against all this chaos? Though that fire that Zheng Jiang had in her eyes…they were…captivating in a way. Those feelings of hatred that were harbouring inside me for so many years since that fateful day just came over me…those Han soldiers that ignored us, those nobles that refused to help their people, these slavers…all of them I had hatred for. So I agreed. We swore an oath that day, that we would destroy the very empire and people that made us suffer. We didn't know what we were going to do or how to get to our goal, but we had something we wanted to accomplish for the first time in our lives. One of the former prisoners we helped told us that we were heading to a bandit hideout in the north so we figured that's where we would first go.

We found the bandits after a couple of days of travelling, there weren't that many of them when we arrived. We made our way through the camp before we met with the bandit leader. She struck a deal with him to the surprise of all the occupants of the camp. If she struck him down, all the bandits would follow her. She didn't have any weapon and they all laughed at her. He arrogantly accepted, he brandished his two axes and lunged towards her. She just threw a dagger at his skull. I didn't know how many she stole from the city but he fell just before her feet. Shocked gasps all around before one decided he'd try his luck before the 2nd in command killed him instantly by stabbing him before he moved. He introduced himself as Congqian and served as one of her advisors ever since. He normally sticks to the shadows though so you probably haven't seen him yet. To our surprise the rest of them were compliant with Jiangs ascension. I suppose you could call that the birth of the Tai Dominion.

She wanted more people to join her cause so she visited various villages appealing to their sense of abandonment from the Han. She knew if she wanted things to change it would need to be up to them. I never knew her as such a good speaker, though you could feel her passion and hatred of the Han with every word she uttered. She convinced quite a few villages to join our cause. Eventually, word got out about us and called us renegades and sent a detachment out to combat us. Congqian taught us how to use our environment to our advantage. We lied in wait in the forests before ambushing them and not leaving a single one alive. I didn't think gai li would be proficient in combat like me but she proved to probably be the best one there, using her speed and agility more than anything else. I was never going to go into combat, so I tried to teach more about the art of tactics and strategy more than anything else. So we continued to swell up our numbers, persuading those to join us against the oppressive Han. Though there those that refused did threaten our survival…so we had to raze them to the ground while pillaging their food and belongings if they did not wish to do so peacefully. I asked her if this was the best way to go, she said yes as if we kept them alive they would be used against us. It would be more beneficial for us to eliminate any potential threats to us. From that day she would be referred to as the bandit queen for her ruthlessness of those that rejected us.

We watched the flames engulf the village alive, this was our point of no return for us I thought. Heh, let it all burn I thought to myself. Our families were gone, no hero came to our rescue, no one helped those that were suffering. I thought that anyone would. A few months later we managed to get a fair few people to our cause, we trained in combat and strategy. Knowing when and where to strike was key. We knew we weren't the most numerous or the most well equipped but a precise strike would cripple our enemies. Everytime they would send a patrol out we'd always catch them unguarded and win with minimal casualties. Li and Jiang every now and again had some private training during night time, or so they said. Tch, never invited me out for training if that was what they were doing. As our numbers grew we looked to our city that Jiang was determined to deprive of the nobles. We would just watch as the wealthy flaunted their wealth towards the lesser fortunate in arrogance. She wanted to help the city to ascend their need. Fortunately we managed to get a hold of same trade caravans.

The nobles couldn't handle the prospect of wealth not being theirs, so they quickly opened the gate to us despite some objections from their commander…or so I was told anyway. Once we got in the city, our trap was sprung and they were already dead. They sent too many men away to chase us, I stayed behind for the most part and watched as our men butchered the servants of the nobles. Most people stayed clear of us, fearful of their lives though some were grateful and drew arms with us. It was a quick affair to slaughter those in the palace. Though when we get in, who do we see? That traitor Gai Shu serving as one of the guards. Once Li and Shu re-unite he quickly drops his weapons leaving Zheng Jiang able to deliver the finishing blow on the last noble who grovelled for his life. That's you saw how messy the main palace is, we never bothered to renovate it afterwards. It served us all as a reminder to not be what we hated the most. Gai Shu apologised and explained that apparently they wouldn't let him help us. That it was their fault we thought that was a lie but Li was just happy he was ok. I didn't like it neither did Jiang. Though when Li begged her to not execute him as he pledged his life to her…she couldn't refuse her. So she accepted her within his ranks which…I wasn't pleased by. Ever since I shown my displeasure of him publicly.

But the city was ours and we started to use the wealth to help distribute it to the less fortunate. But our work was far from over. Even though our city was saved there's still a lot of work to be done. Gai Shu became her bodyguard, more than likely wanting to keep an eye on him. I ran the more administrative affairs of the city, making sure things were in order and that we weren't going to have a riot on our hands. Li though was the one that made sure our garrisons and our troops were stocked and trained well. Between all of our efforts we managed to get the city back in working order in a short amount of time with everyone accepting Zheng Jiang as their new ruler. People were a lot happier. We never did anything like have gigantic feasts or hoard any of the wealth for ourselves, we helped our people first and foremost. Though I have to admit, judging by our surroundings I couldn't help myself to a few trinkets. After their acceptance Congqian and I quickly began to send more people to villages for numbers which was when we started to come across the forces of Zhang Yan himself. The black mountain bandits.

The Tai dominion was strong at that point. We split our forces up to confuse them. It went so well that people started to believe there were two bandit queens. Heh I say that me and congqian did our job co-ordinating our attacks well. Though something happened. Before their excursion Li and Jiang had a fight, I don't know what it was but it was loud enough that I could hear in the main hall with her private quarters...a fair bit away. Li stormed off to prepare to ambush a trade caravan heading towards his city of operations. I tried to ask what was wrong but Jiang brushed it off, saying it was nothing to be concerned with. But she had a sad look in her eyes combined with fury. She treated Gai Shu more harshly than usual, but that's not something I was particularly opposed to. Though when she came through the palace doors a week later. Jiang still looked angry at her though when she collapsed, I never saw her ran as fast as she did. She told us that they were more of them than they thought and were lying in wait for them nearby. She had an arrow to the back. She whispered something to Jiang and then she just…passed away in her arms. We were just stunned, we didn't think she would be the first to go. We swore an oath to change the world…Jiang was wracked with grief. She tried to hold her tears back though she couldn't prevent a couple from escaping.

She stood up and ordered our troops to mobilise. We dared not go against her will, we all were grief-stricken, but Jiang was the most affected. So we mobilised and clashed with the black mountain bandits on several occasions. At first it looked like it was going in our favour, we had the momentum however our numbers started dwindling while Zhang Yans forces seemed to remain steady. It took some convincing to Jiang but we eventually retreated our forces back to this castle when we got the chance and made sure no one followed us. Though instead of looking for ways to exploit Zhang Yans weaknesses, she decided to go a bit dormant. Recruiting people on a slower pace and changing to a passive stance rather than being the aggressor. She married Gai Shu shortly after and ever since she played it…a little too safe for her. I asked her why she married him despite anything, she didn't give me any proper answer. That was last year, ever since the Tai Dominion have been weakening. If the bandit queen was herself all the way we would've won by now, however…I think she needs help. That's why I called you here and helped this alliance. Our people demand blood, yet they're not being mobilised.' Lu Zheng concluded her story, looking visibly worried for her sworn sister.

'Why me? What makes you think I could do anything.' Mitsuko questioned, curious of why she thought she would be able to help her.

'You have the same fire about you. When me and Congqian was spying on a contingent moving away from their normal patrol routes we found your camp. With the way you dispatched them and by what you told me, I thought we could use you to help Zheng Jiang reclaim her rightful self. She admitted to me her tasks previously were those of testing you. Though I believe them to show you something.'

'And what would that be?'

'Probably what made her the way she was. Why we became the way we were. She knew that village wouldn't do any business with you. She wanted to see how you react, to show you what you would have to do. I think she was fairly impressed which is why she said those things. She tried to warn you about what could happen on your path to change things…in her own special way.'

'Is this why you met me in the forest without anyone around in that forest? Because you wanted to see what I was like in person?' Lu Zheng smirked in response.

'Indeed. Me and Congqian told her about you, she was curious about you. I managed to persuade her that we could use your forces though my main goal was to try and have this alliance. I can't stand her looking sad all the time, especially when married to HIM of all people. It pains me when she tries to hide her sadness.' Lu Zheng responded. Mitsuko stayed silent for a while, unsure on how to proceed while she processed all this information about Zheng Jiang. She found her snakes slithering in the air in front of her.

'Let's get one thing clear.' She started before one of her right serpent regurgitated out her crescent blade.

'Zhang Yan is a dead man, that's a promise I can deliver. Whether or not I can help the bandit queen on a personal level…I don't know. I'm not sure if I can help her when you can't and you know her more than I do...and my track record for helping people isn't exactly that great.' Mitsuko admitted, drawing her thoughts to Zang Ba and Wu Zi briefly.

'heh, you two are more alike than you both think. Nevertheless, I'm grateful for your co-operation. I will try to organise a feast fairly soon. She never liked hosting these, thinking she would be no better than the people that made us suffer and made us feel the loss that we have. Though I think she may be persuaded to have a small feast with some wine available. If you can just at the very least talk with her, I think she'll open up to you a bit more than me. I just…want'

'I can try but what if her asshole husband wants to ruin everything?'

'Hehe, I'll make sure he's not around mark my words. I'll send a messenger to you on the day of the feast. If you help her, I'll forever be in your debt lady Mitsuko.'

'Well, lets see if I can help her first.'