The Mistress's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure of this information?" She drummed her slim fingers on the table.

"Yes Mistress. Several girls were kidnapped at the edge of the city but the favourite place they strike most are the routes through the Silent Forest. It serves as a shortcut linking several destinations."

Qian and Jin exchanged looks. Jin spoke up, "Master, the last girl was taken yesterday evening in the forest."

"That makes the total of fourteen girls in the last three months. The kidnappers are getting very bold," Qian said.

"What about the Minister's daughter? Any news?"

"She was the eleventh girl taken. She was kidnapped on her way to her cousin's birthday celebration. She took a route through the forest instead of staying on the travelling paths as instructed."

"We are running out of time. Rumours have it that the kidnappers usually round up about twenty girls before disappearing for a few months. Then they reappear and start all over again."

"That is the time where they probably go somewhere else to sell the girls. The girls are never seen again."

"If that happens, all would be lost."

The Master nodded his head thoughtfully, "We need to infiltrate the kidnappers and find out where they are holding the victims prisoners before they are sold."

"The Minister has grown desperate enough to contract us. He wants his daughter back and all the kidnappers killed except the leader. The leader is to be brought back alive for punishment, if possible."

"Let us discuss this first. Qian, Jin, you are dismissed. Good job."

The two brothers bowed, "Thank you Master, Mistress." They turned to leave the room, having concluded their report.

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The Mistress smiled, "What do you think brother? The rewards for this contract should we accept it is lucrative."

"The Minister must be really desperate to actually contact us. His guards and soldiers were ineffective in protecting and getting his daughter back. They have no idea where to find the kidnappers. His wife is distraught, the girl is their only daughter and she is the youngest."

"We can accept the contract but add a stipulation, that his government officials will no longer subject our establishment and people to their scrutiny and random searches. Whenever he does that, business suffers. If the law enforcers leave us alone, business will flourish even more."

"Shao Ling, we have no girls to act as bait. I will not use Mei Ling, she is my daughter, my flesh and blood. She is all I have of my wife before she died."

The Mistress took a sip of her fragrant tea before replying. "Perhaps one of the maids?"

"No, that is not a good idea. If a maid was really kidnapped, she might panic and blow her cover. Also, she might not be able to leave a trail for us to follow, Qian said those kidnappers are rough."

"Then ... one of the boys? Jin or Xuelei, they are both young and good-looking. With a bit of make-up and acting, they can pass off as a pretty girl. They are both highly trained, they will be able to get the job done."

The Master sighed deeply. "You don't have to play with words, I know what you are up to."

"I am just thinking about business, brother, nothing more."

"One day, you really will kill him. He is not his father."

"I will let fate decide that."

"Even fate will give in if you keep pushing Xuelei towards it."

The Mistress had the grace to lower her gaze but squared her shoulders stubbornly the next instant.

"It's settled then. I will go draw up the contract with our extra stipulation. Once the Minister confirms acceptance, I will give the boys their mission."

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They did not have to wait long. The Minister's acceptance came back the next day.

The three young men, Li, Jin and Xuelei were summoned. They entered the room and bowed respectfully.

"Li, Jin, Xuelei ... your mission is to discover where Minister Lay's daughter is being held. Save all the girls, some of the others have rewards too, capture their leader alive. He will be handed over to the Minister for punishment."

"Kill everyone else."

"Li and Jin will escort Xuelei through the Silent Forest. You will probably be attacked there. Li and Jin, put up a fight, then pretend to run away. Xuelei, you will allow yourself to be captured. Leave a trail for your brothers to follow. They will find the kidnapper's hideout and complete the mission. Return the girls, collect the rewards and return home."

"Your priority is Minister Lay's daughter. The others are just a bonus."

"Any questions?"

The three assassins exchanged doubtful looks.

"What is it?" the Master asked.

Jin raised his eyes, "Master, they kidnap young girls to sell. Xuelei is young and cute but he is definitely a man so ..." he trailed off.

"He will dress as a girl to act as bait," the Mistress replied calmly.

Li immediately snorted with laughter and Jin sniggered.

"What! B-but Mistress!" Xuelei protested indignantly.

"Xuelei!" she silenced him with her sharp tone. "This mission is lucrative and it will help protect our business in the future."

The youth looked pleadingly at his Master.

"Now, now, Xuelei, it is just a disguise. You have don many faces and have impersonated many personalities in your previous jobs." The Master persuaded the young depressed assassin as his brothers looked on in amusement. 

"This is just another one. Your acting skills are good, I have no doubt you will be able to stay in character and infiltrate the group. Your part is crucial. You must not only fool your captors in believing yourself a helpless damsel but you must also leave a trail for your brothers to follow."

"The others are too old and are not suitable. You are well trained, with your youthful features, only you will be able to pull it off."

Defeated, Xuelei lowered his head, "Yes Master."

Li and Jin grinned at their brother's fate.

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Xuelei sat glumly at the vanity, staring at the huge mirror. A beautiful pale face stared back at him. His delicate features were framed by long silky hair, styled simply but elegantly by Jin (the ladies' man) so that it fell artfully in soft wisps past his shoulders. The rest was held back by braids and hairpins. Twin slim purple ribbons fluttered down his back. It matched the pastel purple robes he was wearing.

He frowned. Seriously, this was ridiculous.

"Stop frowning, you'll get wrinkles," Jin said absent-mindedly as he worked on his brother.

Jin adjusted Xuelei's flowing robes and stepped back to view his handiwork. "Wow, I'm awesome. I honestly didn't expect you to be so beautiful. I think I'm in love."

"Shut up."

"What do you think Li, think he can pass off as a girl?"

Li got up and went nearer. He grinned.

"What?"

"I didn't think it was possible but you are even more beautiful than Mei Ling. You did a great job Jin."

"Get up and walk around. Let's see how you move."

Xuelei rolled his eyes in disgust, then he took a moment to get into character. He took a calming breath and stilled himself. After a moment, his expression softened and his posture changed subtly as he prepared himself mentally.

He stood up gracefully and walked around the room, the soft material of his purple robes seemed to float about him as he swayed his hips. He glided to the table in the centre of the room, where he set out two cups and daintily poured some hot fragrant tea.

"Come, brothers. Have some tea," Xuelei invited in a soft dulcet voice pitched higher than his normal voice. He only sat after they had taken their seats. He kept his gaze lowered shyly as his brothers sat down at the table.

Li and Jin stared open-mouthed at Xuelei. The youth kept in character, keeping his gaze downcast demurely as a well-bred young lady would behave.

They had worked with Xuelei before and had seen him in several of his 'disguises' but before this it had all been various male characters. He had always taken his assignments seriously. This performance was so believable, for a moment they forgot it was their younger brother before them.

Silence.

Xuelei peeked up through his thickened lashes at his brothers. They were both drooling, lost in their thoughts, rendered speechless.

That did it.

He got up abruptly. In one swift motion, he lifted up his robes high and kicked the stools from under them. Li and Jin fell heavily onto the floor at the unexpected move, jerked back rudely from their daydreams.

When they had recovered, the 'lady' that they had been mooning over just a few moments ago was smirking at them from a safe distance.