During the Ming Dynasty, the Emperor of China possessed one weapon greater than all others, the Jinyiwei, an elite force of assassins recruited from street orphans. Trained in clandestine combat from childhood, the Jinyiwei were masters of the 14 Blades, eight being for torture, five for killing, and the last blade being reserved for suicide when a mission failed. Above the law, with a license to kill, the Jinyiwei devoted their lives and lethal prowess to the service of the Emperor alone.