Jing and Hui Ming climbed upstairs, where more than a hundred thugs were waiting. Most were muscular men, with women scattered here and there. As hardened veterans of the underbelly of society, many had killed and all of them would if told.

They all looked to Jing. She was their master, the new ruler of the black market. Everything about her suggested her rightful place as the Queen. Her beauty. Her graceful movements. Her light gestures. Her dismissive speech. Her powerful followers. In their eyes, she would soon take over all of the black market.

Despite these qualities, she would come down and listen to them. She smiled at their jokes!

“They’re gone. We’ll worry about them later.” She didn’t say any more. She continued walking up the stairs until she reached her room again. She shut the door.

Jing tilted herself back and fell into Hui Ming’s arms. Hui Ming took an abrupt breath and stiffened. She put a hand on each of Jing’s shoulders, preventing her from hitting the ground. The back of Jing’s head landed on her chest. Jing tilted her head all the way back, looking into her holder’s eyes. “Wh- wha?” Hui Ming stammered.

“Why is this so haaaard?,” Jing moaned. “I only wanted to help my father and make some money. Now I’m dealing with sixteen competing cartels, and now the Dao organization? Come on big sis, you gotta help me out.”

Hui Ming pushed her off and set her on a chair. “How do you do that?”

“Huh? Do what?” Jing asked.

“Don’t try to trick me. You can’t take control of an entire district in two days. How did you do it,” she said.

“Oops, I forgot you weren’t there for the first day. I gave myself a tour of the place and got to know the mean looking guys. It took some time, but I figured out their personalities. Almost all of them were people looking for somewhere they could succeed. I showed them how I could help them along. I brought them together with other people they would get along with.”

“Why?”

“To create a sense of family! Wouldn’t it be nice to have one big happy family of drug traffickers?”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You seduced them, didn’t you,” said Hui Ming.

“I wouldn’t do that. I was wearing a full face mask and a cloak. It’s true. You saw me with that cloak and mask, they’re those two over there,” she pointed at a mask and large cloak sitting on top of a stack of boxes. “Anyway, you and father are my only true family.”

Hui Ming waited for a few seconds, examining her for any trace of a lie. “That’s impossible.”

But it was possible. Jing had done it. She brought hundreds under her banner without using her plants or beauty.

After gathering her following, she pleaded Hui Ming to help her destroy a local cartel’s base. Hui Ming had stuck by her side ever since. She witnessed Jing employ offensive diplomacy. She threatened local cartels, bribed others, and enlisted help from the rest.

She made a huge splash, destabilizing the local underground markets. During the tiny window of time before it restabilzed, she engaged in a quick land grab. She took a bit of territory from sixteen local cartels. The land she “took” happened to center around her father’s home, as if in a protective circle.

Hui Ming had been by her side as she executed her plan, but she thought Jing was just messing around. She began having suspicions when Jing fended off all sixteen cartels while losing hardly any land.

Then she saw Jing turn into a completely different person in front of Dao. The change in personality was unnatural, to say the least. She didn’t flinch once while talking to him and resolved the situation without a fight. After reviewing what she had seen Jing do, she decided Jing wasn’t lying.

Hui Ming thought through everything Jing said. Jing noticed her faraway expression and seized the chance. She jumped out of her chair and tackled Hui Ming with a hug. “You don’t need to get jealous.”

“I’m not jealous!”

She prodded Hui Ming in the cheek, “Sure you aren’t.” She wrapped her arms around her. She shoved her face into her shoulder. “You’re soh warm.”

Hui Ming let her stay without pushing her away. She didn’t stiffen either. She reached up and caught Jing by the ear. “You act so different in front of me.”

“Keeping an image of a strong leader is important. Father said we’re all family. You’re my only family out here.” She grinned. “You’re big sis.”

“Weren’t you creating a family of your own?” Hui Ming asked.

“They only kinda count. I’m trying to make a super loyal group. Family and friendship looked like the best way to do that. I like them too, but not nearly as much as you or father.” Jing’s hug tightened. She buried her face in her big sister’s shoulder. “and many of them are going to die. Father is invincible. You’re strong enough to protect yourself as well.”

“But will you be able to protect yourself? Dao gives me a bad feeling. I think he could’ve beat us if he decided to attack back there.”

“He’s a problem, but I can figure out a way to get around him… I hope,” Jing grimaced.

Hui Ming began stroking Jing’s hair. “It’ll be fine.”

Jing perked up. “Does that mean you’re going to help me?”

“Sure, whatever.”

Jing whooped and rubbed her forehead against her sister’s. “You’re the best!”

Hui Ming blushed, “You’re pretty good too.”