The killer was Zhao Changhe!

Had Yue Hongling heard the words "leave neither chicken nor dog alive," she would surely have bitterly regretted sending the young man she had just rescued into a tiger's den.

Yue Hongling had too little information. All she knew was that there would be an "attack." Why they were attacking and what they intended to accomplish, she did not know.

Luo Family Manor was, after all, a powerful local clan with a long heritage, reportedly bound to the Great Xia imperial family by countless threads. Besides its master, the manor had many skilled fighters. The Blood God Cult, on the other hand, was not an especially powerful faction. Its strongest member, the cult master, was said to have reached only the Profound Pass Ninth Level. Though stronger overall than Luo Family Manor, it would have to turn out in full force to wage a war of extermination.

The Blood God Cult did not even operate in this region. As Master Luo had said, they had "never had any dealings." By any reasonable reckoning, it could not march its entire force a thousand miles for this. With such a huge commotion, the Great Xia court could hardly be treated as thin air. Most likely, only a handful of experts would come, intending to assassinate an enemy or steal some weapon or secret manual. Such things were common in the martial world.

In that situation, Yue Hongling believed she could help. Even without her, the manor should have been fine once warned, so she had simply left.

She had never imagined that Luo Family Manor would actually be exterminated over this.

The enemy had indeed not turned out in full force. Only a handful of experts had come. It was just that the caliber of those few experts was rather terrifying.

Standing outside the storeroom, Zhao Changhe gazed toward the great fire engulfing the manor. He could faintly hear its master's furious, startled roar in the distance. "Vermilion Bird Venerable? You're from the Four Symbols Cult, not the Blood God Cult!"

"Oh? How did you know it was the Blood God Cult?" A languid, seductive female voice drifted faintly over. "Cult Master Xue... would you care to explain?"

No explanation could be heard. Perhaps it was simply too far away. Still, Zhao Changhe gleaned the situation from that brief exchange. The main force really was the Blood God Cult; even its master had come. But they were merely pawns. The true boss was the Four Symbols Cult, and this woman was one of its venerables?

He did not know how powerful she was, but judging by the tremor in Master Luo's shocked, furious voice, she must have been terrifying. "M-my Luo family has never offended your Four Symbols Cult. The Vermilion Bird Venerable is one of the foremost experts under heaven. Why...?"

"If conflict only arose from giving offense, how could these troubled times exist? Master Luo, you're surprisingly naive." The woman seemed to yawn. The clashes of force grew more violent, and suddenly Master Luo let out a wretched scream.

Shocked cries rose all around. "You dare, witch!"

Another explosion-like crash followed, and the woman's laughter drifted from afar. Apparently, a group of Luo family experts had surrounded her, yet she had still wounded Master Luo amid the crowd with effortless ease.

"What are you all standing around for?" Her languid voice carried everywhere. Cries of battle began spreading, and flames sprang up on every side.

Zhao Changhe turned and ran. This was no time to watch the show. They had come to wipe everyone out, and they would not care whether he had only arrived today! He darted away like the wind, snatched a saber from the courtyard's weapon rack, and headed straight for the outer gate to escape.

Luo Qi came charging over just as nimbly, opening the gate even faster than he could. They exchanged a glance, each recognizing the other's intent, and rushed out together.

The next instant, both stopped and backed away in dismay.

Amid the flames ahead, the Luo family's young master, Luo Zhenwu, was fleeing blindly toward them with his attendants. Several black-clad men with blood-red embroidery pursued him, sneering. "Where do you think you're running, Luo pup?"

While the Vermilion Bird Venerable fought the Luo family experts alone, the Blood God Cult was responsible for slaughtering everyone else. Luo Zhenwu was clearly a priority target...

And this bastard had blindly fled right toward them, drawing his pursuers over and blocking their escape.

Who the fuck said this gacha draw gave me a safe starting location? From Zhao Cuo to the Luo family, what part of any of this looked safe? Fuck you, give me my money back!

The leading black-clad man swooped toward Luo Zhenwu like a goshawk spreading its wings. In the firelight, his palm shone blood-red as he struck straight at Luo Zhenwu's back. It was clearly an exceedingly vicious evil technique, the sort that killed with a single touch.

Luo Zhenwu suddenly grabbed an attendant beside him and shoved him backward.

With a miserable scream, the attendant went limp and died a violent death.

The Blood God Cult follower paused, then chuckled. "What a fine pillar of the community."

Luo Zhenwu had no time to answer him. Seizing the opening, he kept running toward Zhao Changhe and Luo Qi. The Blood God Cult member flicked his hand, sending a streak of cold light flying. Luo Zhenwu tried to dodge but failed, and fell screaming to the ground, clutching his thigh.

"You managed to break through three levels of the Profound Pass with skills like that?" The Blood God Cult member laughed and raised his saber to cut him down.

Just then, a soft sword-song suddenly sounded beneath the moon. At first it was barely audible, like a murmuring stream, but somehow it swelled into surging tides, ringing through the nine heavens until everyone's eardrums ached.

The Blood God Cult member looked skyward in horror. A swath of sword light descended from the heavens, like spilled moonlight, like an unbroken stretch of spring water. Even the flames soaring into the sky seemed to soften beneath that strike.

Yet within this sword intent, tender and lingering as a lover's caress, the Blood God Cult member scrambled back several yards in utter disarray. Every subordinate beside him died in an instant, their faces wearing gentle smiles even in death.

Zhao Changhe watched, dazzled and entranced.

A figure came treading upon the moonlight, robes and sashes fluttering, like an immortal from the lunar palace descending into the mortal world.

Backlit, the figure's face was indistinct, but it was clearly not Yue Hongling...

Was everyone like this in this world so powerful?

"The name Spring Water Swordsmanship is a little vulgar, but it certainly is pretty." The Vermilion Bird Venerable flew toward them as well. From far away, she flicked her hand, hurling several dark "hidden weapons" at the figure descending through the air.

He instinctively flicked the "hidden weapons" to the ground with his sword, then fixed his beautiful eyes on them.

They were no hidden weapons at all, but severed heads. One belonged to Master Luo.

Terrified, Luo Zhenwu dragged his injured leg backward and hid behind him.

The Vermilion Bird Venerable landed among them and gave a languid chuckle. "To think First Seat Tang would hurry here through the night. It seems Luo Family Manor really was... hehe. Unfortunately, you're too late. The old Luo dog is dead. Why drag your ailing body into a fight to the death with us, First Seat Tang? You might as well go home."

Zhao Changhe quietly studied her. The Vermilion Bird Venerable was also dressed in red, but whereas Yue Hongling wore a warrior's fitted attire, this woman's red clothes resembled ritual robes, embroidered with strange patterns.

A half mask covered her face, concealing her features and age. It was shaped like a fiery bird, its beak covering the tip of her nose and leaving her vivid red lips exposed below, a decidedly sensual sight. The mask could not hide her eyes, which gleamed with unmistakable mockery beneath the night sky.

The man addressed as First Seat Tang stood with his back to Zhao Changhe, bundled in thick sable furs. He covered his mouth and coughed softly, indeed appearing breathless and frail. Only after coughing for quite some time did he slowly say, "This is Great Xia."

Between their exchanges, footsteps sounded as the other Blood God Cult followers gathered around. One burly man in blood-red clothes said gravely, "All the Luo family's kin have been executed. Only Luo Zhenwu remains."

"Thank you for your efforts, Cult Master Xue." Vermilion Bird smiled. "First Seat Tang, we don't know why you came alone, but you have yet to recover from your illness. You cannot protect the cripple behind you single-handedly. It would truly be a pity to throw your own life away here."

First Seat Tang said little. He merely raised his sword to point at her, and a standoff ensued.

Zhao Changhe privately suspected that "First Seat Tang" was probably some official post. For some reason, he had come alone; perhaps a larger force was close behind. Judging by Vermilion Bird's attitude, she was quite wary of him. If he could stall a little longer, officials might actually arrive in time to save Luo Zhenwu.

Looking at Luo Zhenwu sprawled on the ground with his injured leg, Zhao Changhe felt an idea stir. Suddenly, he poked his head out from behind the courtyard gate and shouted, "Who says he's alone? As long as First Seat Tang holds them off, we can carry the young master away!"

Beside him, Luo Qi stared, dumbfounded.

Everyone froze. The Vermilion Bird Venerable and the Blood God Cult members stared at him with icy eyes. Even First Seat Tang glanced back.

Zhao Changhe had no time to dwell on those limpid, autumn-water eyes. He strode forward and helped Luo Zhenwu up. "Young master, I'll carry you!"

"You're staying." The Vermilion Bird Venerable casually sent a streak of red light flying.

With a clang, First Seat Tang silently intercepted it.

Seeing that escape really might be possible, Luo Zhenwu leaned on Zhao Changhe and rose, overjoyed. "Good, good! I always knew you were honest and kind... urk..."

Before he could finish, a saber plunged into his heart.

Luo Zhenwu's eyes widened. He looked down at the blade buried in his heart, then followed it to the hand gripping it, and finally looked at its owner.

In the flickering firelight, Zhao Changhe's eyes held a savagery utterly at odds with "honesty."

So what if you've reached the Third Level of the Profound Pass? It's not as though you're impervious to blades!

Zhao Changhe knew that Luo Zhenwu was, after all, a trained fighter. If he had simply approached with his saber drawn, an alert Luo Zhenwu would certainly have prevented him from making the kill. He had needed to put on an act to lower his guard, and sure enough, one strike had done the job.

Over there, both the Vermilion Bird Venerable and First Seat Tang stopped fighting, looking somewhat stunned.

Breathing hard, Zhao Changhe said quietly, "This is my pledge of loyalty to join the cult... Venerable, you won't let the authorities take me away, will you?"

"Correct." Vermilion Bird's eyes shifted, and she instead darted in front of Zhao Changhe to shield him.

First Seat Tang said coolly, "What use is there in taking in a man who betrays his master?"

"Betrays his master?" Zhao Changhe laughed aloud. "What fucking master is he supposed to be?"

As he spoke, he viciously drove the blade several inches deeper. "When you slaughtered everyone in Zhao Cuo, did you ever imagine this day would come?"

Luo Zhenwu made two rasping sounds. Understanding and regret appeared in his eyes, but he could no longer speak. Soon, he breathed his last.

First Seat Tang quietly watched Zhao Changhe. Recalling the village he had seen on the way, he now understood. He sighed and said softly, "The gravity of this matter is beyond your understanding. You... will regret this."

Zhao Changhe pulled out his saber and answered loudly, "My heart is clear and unburdened. What is there to regret?"

"So be it." First Seat Tang shook his head and asked, "Do you dare leave your name?"

"The killer was Zhao Changhe!"