Starting that afternoon, torrential rain swept through the provinces south of the Divine Splendor River, one after another.
By the time Xiao Hongchen, Commandant of the Heavenly Yamen Embroidery Guard, reached the Water and Heaven Society's headquarters, the savage raindrops had battered the place beyond recognition.
Standing in the courtyard, Xiao Hongchen surveyed the ruins, broken tiles, and corpses strewn across the ground, his expression as grim as iron.
There was no need to inspect the scene. The perpetrators had neither destroyed the bodies nor concealed their traces.
-Limitless Saber Lord Chu Xisheng had led his people here and done this.
The killers were the Protectors and guest retainers under Chu Xisheng's command.
"What happened?" With his hands behind his back, Xiao Hongchen questioned his many subordinates. "You heard nothing beforehand?"
"Reporting to you, my lord."
A Ten-Thousand-Household Commander of the Heavenly Yamen Embroidery Guard present gave a bitter smile. "We received no warning whatsoever before or during the incident. They also transported themselves here using the Heavenly Dipper Art, 'Star Shift and Object Exchange.' It was extremely sudden."
The commander looked hesitant. "Your subordinate believes someone must have leaked the news beforehand. There may also be something wrong with those guest retainers of the Iron Banner Gang."
Although no one inside the Water and Heaven Society's headquarters had survived the massacre, many servants on its outer perimeter had escaped.
Their accounts had allowed the guards to reconstruct some of what had happened.
The presence of two Heavenly Ranking experts, Changsun Ruolan and Luo Hanzong, at Chu Xisheng's side had been somewhat unexpected.
But that should not have been reason enough for those Protectors and guest retainers to kill without sending word.
"Not necessarily. Chu Xisheng is no fool. Quite the opposite—he's very clever. Having learned of the upheaval at