North of the city, at the Wine God Residence.
The Wine God Kang Bozong was a renowned brewing grandmaster in the Deathless Kingdom. His "Divine Marrow" was said to be potent enough for a single drop to send a Fifth Realm expert into a drunken stupor. The annual opening of his wine jars was one of Jade Pendant City's grandest occasions.
Wei Qiang sprinted the entire way, overturning countless vendors' wares and leaving cries of alarm and curses in his wake. He reached the Wine God Residence's entrance, where two heavy ironwood doors stood tightly shut. There was not even an attendant outside to greet guests.
He raised his foot and kicked. With a thunderous crash, the ironwood doors split apart, sending splinters flying.
He charged down into the wine cellar as fast as he could.
"Father-!"
A furious roar erupted from within, followed immediately by the savage ring of a saber.
The entire Wine God Residence shook.
Yet, bizarrely, from outside, the Wine God Residence still stood quietly at the end of the street. Its doors and windows were intact, its upturned eaves shone gently in the sunlight, and not even a wisp of saber wind escaped. Pedestrians continued passing along the street. No one even glanced back.
A barrier separated the interior from the outside world, sealing all the killing intent within.
Lu Changfeng and Ji Xian landed almost simultaneously, their expressions shifting slightly.
Ji Xian swept her gaze over the Wine God Residence's outer walls and said gravely, "At least three overlapping barriers."
Lu Changfeng looked at her. "Are we helping?"
Ji Xian considered briefly. This was clearly an assassination targeting the Northern Lord, with someone inside the Northern Lands colluding with outsiders. It even involved a top expert of the Deathless Kingdom like the Wine God!