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The black market
The black market (暗市/黑市) is the second major faction in A Whisper of Fall: Jinyiwei, operating in the shadows of the late Ming Dynasty. The protagonist is forced to work for the black market before infiltrating the Jinyiwei, making it the origin of his double-agent status.
Jianghu connection
In the context of Chinese martial fiction, the black market represents the jianghu (江湖, "rivers and lakes"), the martial underworld that exists outside official power structures. The protagonist, described as a jianghu operative, comes from this world. His infiltration of the Jinyiwei places him inside the imperial system while his roots and loyalties remain in the underworld.
Role in the story
The black market assigns the protagonist secret tasks that run parallel to his official Jinyiwei duties. While carrying out imperial assignments for the Northern Commandery, he must also fulfill the underworld's demands. Creating constant tension between his two masters.
As investigations deepen, the protagonist discovers that the lines between the Jinyiwei and the black market are not as clear as they appear. The conspiracy he uncovers involves both factions, and his position at the intersection makes him uniquely dangerous and uniquely vulnerable.
Main Street presence
The black market maintains a presence in the Main Street hub area alongside the official Jinyiwei channels. Players accept assignments from both factions in the same hub, physically embodying the protagonist's split loyalties.
Player choice
The branching narrative is shaped by how the protagonist navigates his dual allegiances. Some choices favor the Jinyiwei, others the black market. Trade-offs are not purely moral. Different choices yield different resources, experience, and story branches.