Early morning, Canglan Sect's main hall.
Solemnity and the feverish frenzy after battle were strangely intertwined within the hall.
The Canglan Sect Master wore a broad black robe over an exquisitely made double-breasted martial jacket, sitting squarely in the grand chair at the center of the hall with the imposing air of a general astride a horse.
His gaze burned like torches. A tangible Blood Qi pressure shrouded the entire hall as he held the battle report stamped with the military and administrative seal of Nanshan Province, personally reading aloud the grievous losses and achievements from last night's battle at the northern city wall.
Along both sides of the hall sat rows of guests with varying expressions, in addition to the sect's upper ranks and inner disciples.
Canglan Sect's hall grounds happened to be closest to the northern city wall, which had suffered the Red Lotus Sect's savage siege last night.
Thus, the moment dawn broke and the city-defense alarm was lifted, forces from throughout Nanshan Province caught wind of it and came swarming over.
Officially, they had come to offer congratulations on the victory and condolences for the casualties. In truth, they wanted to probe the strength of the defenses at the earliest opportunity and see exactly how much of Canglan Sect's foundation had been lost in that meat grinder of a battle.
Among these guests, each harboring their own schemes, the two seated in grand chairs on the left were the most conspicuous.
One was Shen Tu, deputy hall master of Haohan Hall. He wore a crisp Western suit, but the massive muscles straining against the fabric and his thick knuckles gave away his foundation as a martial artist.
The other was Daoist Kumu, leader of the Yin Mountain Sect. He puffed on a brass tobacco pipe and