Danhua City.
Most of the shops along the road had their doors tightly shut.
Now and then, a few hurried pedestrians passed through the street corners, all with fear written on their faces.
Wang Canglan made his way east through the city.
In the distance, he spotted an enormous estate.
The red silk still hung from the vermilion gates, though the wind had twisted it askew, leaving it draped halfway over the doorframe.
The stone lions guarding the entrance still wore big red flowers.
After several days of wind and rain, however, the flowers had wilted and drooped, as if someone had beaten them up.
And beside the vermilion gates, the two deer demons who had once greeted visitors were naturally nowhere to be seen.
In their place stood several tense-looking Ma Clan retainers.
They watched every passerby on the street with wary eyes.
Whenever anyone came closer, the retainers tightened their grips on their sword hilts.
Only after confirming the person was merely passing by did they relax slightly.
Wang Canglan took it all in.
Their air of facing a formidable enemy matched what the people in the teahouse had said.
He did not hurry to approach.
First, he found a shady corner in an empty alley across the street, sat cross-legged, and circulated his energy to suppress the Pure Yang flames churning within him.
Once the heat had eased a little,
he straightened his robes, put on a warm, modest smile, and walked toward the main gate of the Ma Mansion.
"Stop."
He had not yet come within fifteen yards of the entrance when a sharp bark halted him.
Three retainers stepped out with their blades drawn, blocking his way.
The one in front was a sallow-faced middle-aged man with a hoarse voice.
"What do you want?"
Wang