Saber and sword collided fiercely, sending sparks flying in every direction.
The longsword in Naito Hayato's hand trembled and rang, almost slipping from his grasp. Shock flashed across his face, and he stumbled backward with a muffled grunt.
Hong Yuan had already turned around, saber in hand. "Again!" he said casually.
Naito Hayato quickly swept his eyes around the hall.
The thick stench of blood assaulted his nose. His brows twitched wildly at the severed limbs strewn across the floor. In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen core members of the Harmony Association had been slaughtered until he alone remained intact.
Commandery Princess Yu and An Shengying lay sprawled on the ground, screaming miserably.
Though Chiyu Xiao had lost an arm and his face was white with pain, he stubbornly held back every sound. Rolling across the floor, he picked up a pistol with his left hand and aimed it at Hong Yuan.
Hong Yuan glanced at him. Chiyu Xiao felt as though lightning had struck him, his mind inexplicably going blank. The pistol fell to the ground, and his knees buckled beneath him.
Naito Hayato had no time to concern himself with his prized disciple. He drew a deep breath. "Your Excellency-"
He barely got the words out before the rest caught in his throat. A brilliant saber gleam slowly unfurled from the young man's hand.
The saber descended through the air, its motion gentle and unhurried, as though its wielder wanted him to see every detail.
Cold light instantly filled Naito Hayato's vision. He shook his wrist, and his sword howled, unleashing streaks of dazzling brilliance to meet the attack.
For an instant, the light of saber and sword washed the Secret Hall white. Then they collided violently.
Crash!
Under the bombardment of force, the