“No! Please, spare me!”“Kill them!”Cries and screams rose above the chaos that engulfed the Sacred Dragon Sect. The sharp swish of blades, followed by the sickening sound of flesh being torn and the low groans of the dying, pierced the night air. The stench of blood hung heavy, choking every breath beneath the shroud of darkness.“Do not let them escape!” a man’s command thundered, driving the dark sect warriors into an even greater frenzy. They pursued the fleeing villagers with ruthless ferocity.“Hahaha! Where do you think you’re going?” A booming laugh echoed as a man, with his wife and child cornered, trembled in despair.“Please, do not kill us! We will give you all of our wealth!” the man begged, his voice broken, as he fell to his knees at the feet of one of the dark sect swordsmen. His body was battered, bruised, and carved with wounds.“Rest easy, I shall claim all of your wealth myself. You need not trouble yourself to hand it over. Now… die in peace!” sneered the swordsm

The masked man was being driven back. His blade, locked against that of his foe, had been forced to his throat. A thin red line blossomed where steel kissed flesh, and fresh blood traced a slow descent down his neck.'I cannot hold on any longer,' he thought, breath ragged. His arms trembled, strength waning against the bald man’s merciless pressure.At last, a guttural cry tore from his throat, followed by the grisly sound of flesh rending.“Arghhh—!”*A few moments earlierThe figure upon the rooftop had not fled. Instead, he had leapt down into the square, his footsteps deliberate as he approached the one who had called him an intruder. His eyes burned crimson, gleaming with fury sharpened to a lethal edge. The air around him seethed with killing intent, so thick it seemed to choke the night itself.The bald man’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling around the hilt of his sheathed sword until his knuckles whitened. His voice bellowed like thunder, dripping with venom.“Insolent cur!

Li Min’s shout startled Xiu Zhangjian. The boy immediately sprang to his feet, whirling around. His aged brown eyes caught sight of a man with hair entirely turned white.“Uncle Feng!” Without hesitation, Zhangjian rushed forward and threw his arms around the middle-aged man who stood frozen in place.This was Feng Yin, leader of the White Tiger Sect and the closest companion of Xiu Jian. Every morning since the bloody night at Boushan, Feng Yin had returned to the village to mourn his fallen brother-in-arms. Never had he imagined he would see Xiu Jian’s son and beloved disciple alive before him.Feng Yin dropped to his knees so he could hold Zhangjian at eye level. He embraced the small body tightly, as though he would never let go again.“Y-you’re alive…” he whispered, his trembling hand stroking Zhangjian’s hair.Seeing this, Li Min released a heavy breath, his shoulders sinking slightly. He stepped closer and bowed deeply.“I pay my respects, Master Feng.”“Li Min… how did you sur

Inside the chamber, silence was broken by the sound of fingernails tapping against a table. A man with a crown upon his head sat glaring at the table, where a sword lay, its hilt and scabbard adorned with golden dragon carvings."Your Maj—"Before the words could be finished, the man with a murderous gaze and suffocating aura raised his left hand."Eunuch Bao," he called, making the man he had cut off swallow hard."Y-yes, Emperor Huang…" Eunuch Bao lowered his head even more, realizing the Emperor’s mood was foul."Tell me, what should I do with this sword? Should I burn it?" Huang Fu asked while reaching for the weapon before him."Answering Your Majesty… as far as I know, the Emperor greatly desired this sword. Moreover, Your Majesty obtained it with much difficulty. So…" Eunuch Bao dared not finish his sentence. He did not know what the Emperor truly wanted, whether to keep the sword or to destroy it. What he did know was that his head could easily roll if Huang Fu disliked his an

“What is it, Elder Feng?”“I offended the Gongliao Alliance’s envoy. Leader Li, give that list to Zhangjian!”“Very well, Elder!” Leader Li replied, drawing the worn scroll from his sleeve and handing it to Xiu Zhangjian. “Quickly, gather them here!”Xiu Zhangjian unrolled the paper hastily. Ten names were written upon it: ten young members of the White Tiger Sect. His heart hammered as he sprinted from the hall.Truthfully, Zhangjian did not yet understand what was unfolding. The world gave him no time to ask.Moments later he returned with the ten named youths pressed closely behind him. Confusion was written on every face; like Zhangjian, they asked nothing aloud and simply met one another’s eyes. The furrowed brows of Leader Li and Elder Feng made clear the gravity of the situation.“Elder Ho, take them as far away as possible, do not return until you receive written orders,” Feng Yin ordered, and several mouths fell open at the command.“Yes, Elder!” Elder Ho answered without que