"What?!"
True Person Feng He's expression changed drastically. His seated body snapped rigid, and beneath his sleeve, his right hand quietly formed a hand seal.
Daoist Gou shot to his feet, a sinister look crossing his gaunt face.
"Do you even need to ask? It must be that bastard Mushan! He secretly threw in his lot with the Valley of Seven Emotions long ago and told them everything about our gathering tonight!"
"Damn it!"
Hu Ben slammed a palm onto the low table before him. The rosewood table exploded, sending splinters flying.
Veins bulged on his forehead as demonic energy surged around him. "I told you that bastard Mushan couldn't be trusted! But none of you would listen!"
Tao Yao knitted her slender brows. With a flick of her hand, she swept aside the flying splinters and turned to True Person Feng He.
"What do we do now?"
Before she had finished speaking—
Boom!
A fierce blade strike split the courtyard's vermilion gates. The doors shattered, and splintered wood shot into the room on a tide of violent force.
The splinters shrieked through the air, distorting everything in their path.
Everyone inside went pale.
Madam Xu flicked a finger. An emerald-green jade bracelet flew out and expanded into a shield of light around her.
Daoist Gou gave a low shout and retreated three steps. A pitch-black shield of beast bone appeared before him, the runes carved across it lighting up one after another.
True Person Feng He's sleeves billowed. Seventy-two white feathers appeared around him, each standing upright like a sword and radiating a piercing sharpness.
Tao Yao raised a delicate hand. A pink peach blossom bloomed in her palm, its petals spreading outward in layer upon layer until they enveloped her.
Ji Yuan reacted no slower.
At a thought,