Luoyang , without warning , pulled up his left sleeve to scratch his arm , and revealed the ouroboros tattoo on the back of his forearm . He flashed the two of them a look of questioning confirmation . They nodded slowly .
“ Come .” He said comfortingly . “ He is on the second floor . He has prepared tea for you two .” Behind them , the guards closed the door .
They walked up the wooden stairs , the steps creaking slightly . Upon reaching the second floor , they walked around the atrium . They stopped before the eighth room .
Luoyang knocked . No response . “ Ah , forgive me .” Luoyang said . “ He must be very busy at the moment . Just enter quietly .” Mushang gestured for him to open the door . Zhengli shrugged and pulled out one of his metal orbs . He entered the room .
What he did not expect to see was a hanging scroll with black ink crudely spelling out the word “ idiot ” and something sharp embedding itself in his nape through his shirt , right in the center of his tattoo .
Zhengli yelped and tried to pull out the dart , but a cold , static numbness spread to his arms . The metal ball fell uselessly to the floor .
‘ Wh … what is this ?!’ He thought . So , with his remaining strength , he slowly turned his numbing legs to see who did it . Luoyang lowered a blowpipe from his lips . Mushang had a victorious smirk on her face . “ That hemlock and opium essence was ... more effective than I had thought it to be .” Luoyang said . “ See ? I told you that it would work .” Mushang said , smug . “ Now , pay up .”
The numbness flowed even lower down his legs , causing Zhengli to fall backwards , tearing the scroll down with him . When he landed , the floor pushed the dart deeper into Zhengli ’ s nape . But he couldn ' t feel it . He started getting very drowsy all of a sudden .
“ I fulfill my promises .” Luoyang sighed . He took out a pouch and dropped it into Mushang ’ s waiting hand , the coins inside clinking against each other . “ Can I remove the tattoo now ? It is getting irritating on my skin .”
Zhengli tried to speak , but his voice failed him . This wasn ' t according to plan , no , not at all . His drowsy mind fought to keep conscious .
“ Leave us for a while , Luoyang .” Mushang said . “ Get the cart ready .”
Luoyang bowed and promptly left , leaving the two alone . Mushang dragged Zhengli into the room and closed the door .
Mushang dropped to the floor , crossing her legs . She sat in silence for a while .
“ To ease your concerns , the poison applied to the dart isn ' t enough to kill you .” Mushang started . “ Your poor , pretty little head must be so full of questions now . I think an explanation is due .”
As if Zhengli had a choice . And as if that would ease the tension and sudden sleepiness .
“ Hmm ... What is the most effective way to dismantle a powerful , ruthless and secret organization that handles questionable activities as business ?” Mushang asked . “ Well , what better way to do that ... from inside out ?”
“ After all the years the Syndicate had been active underground , you ' d think that your greed for money and power over Old Shanghai would go unnoticed and therefore go unpunished .” She continued . “ Well . I wonder what they would think if they saw you like this ; immobile . Helpless . Or ... unprofitable , as your syndicate would say .”
Zhengli was too sleepy . His eyelids began closing involuntarily .
“ Well , after I give you over to the righteous government , where I come from , punishment will come swiftly .” Mushang said . “ And maybe , just maybe , they will consider adding you to the forces , if you ' re lucky enough to survive .”
Mushang took out a cuboid object from his clothes and showed it to Zhengli . The bottom bore a familiar image . An ouroboros .