The night wind carried the smell of freshly spilled blood. The horse's footsteps hit the ground with pressure, dust flying along with the fear that enveloped the village.
Qin Zeyu stood straight, his hair rising slowly in the wind. While Zhi Mei stood beside him, starting to draw her sword.
"Step over my corpse," Qin Zeyu said while spitting on the ground.
The masked leader stared coldly.
"Then, you'll be the first to die."
In an instant, four masked men shot forward quickly, agilely, and deadly. While some of them scattered to search for Luo Yian.
Qin Zeyu showed his spear, turned his body, and slashed at two people at once. Braaak! Sparks appeared as their weapons clashed.
Zhi Mei moved like a shadow, kicking one enemy in the stomach so that he bounced against the wall. But before he could catch his breath, another enemy came from behind him.
"Zhi Mei!" Qin Zeyu shouted, but Zhi Mei had already turned her body and parried with her short blade.
The fight broke out.
--
In the midst of battle
The masked men seemed well-trained. They did not attack randomly. Their movements were compact, indicating one thing, they were formed by a large organization.
One of them threw a thin blade poison weapon that shot towards Zhi Mei's chest. Qin Zeyu jumped, blocking it with his injured left hand. Blood flowed.
"Crazy... Zhi Mei be careful, their weapons are poisoned." he muttered while panting.
Suddenly...
The ground behind them cracked. A figure emerged from the darkness. His eyes were red. A black aura began to swirl around him.
"You want me?" he said softly, "Then let me greet you."
Zhi Mei turned around, "Yian, no your energy is not stable yet!"
But Yian had already stepped forward.
His hand grasped empty air... then from the dark vortex in his body, a shadow sword formed.
The enemy who had attacked Zeyu stopped for a moment.
"That... that's a forbidden technique! You can't possibly—"
Instantly Yian shot up. In one slash, the wind seemed to be split. Two masked men were thrown away, instantly unconscious.
"You... are truly the devil," one of the enemies muttered as he retreated.
"And you are not a threat," Luo Yian replied coldly.
---
Meanwhile...
Wei Qiren hid behind an old building. His hands were shaking. Tears were streaming down his face, he could not deny the death of his parents.
"Why am I afraid..." he whispered.
"They killed my parents."
Instantly, Qiren gripped his robe. Shadows of the past flashed, his parents were slaughtered, he was abandoned.
"I've run away enough!"
The energy inside his body flared. He jumped out of the shadows.
"A LIFE FOR A LIFE!"
Wei Qiren jumped and flew in the air, he headed towards where his friends were. Seeing that they were facing each other, Wei Qiren immediately threw his ice sword. Seeing Wei Qiren coming, Luo Yian immediately treated Qin Zeyu who was poisoned.
Instantly several masked people froze.
Wei Qiren came, looking into their eyes.
"Do you know me?" he asked with a small smile.
"Who are you?!"
"An 8 year old child, whose parents you killed. In Guazhou." Wei Qiren whispered making them silent.
A moment later Wei Qiren slashed his sword destroying the ice. He let his enemy fight him.
"You must die in my hands, bastard!" Wei Qiren shouted emotionally, he continued to swing his sword.
Drawing his sword without guilt, presenting a death that should have been created long ago.
The ice sword, turned red, the blood of those Qiren killed sprayed onto his face. The man was breathless.
Wei Qiren left one of them. "Tell me, who told you to kill my parents."
"Hahahah, you should ask your parents in hell!" shouted the man, but Wei Qiren could not hold back his patience, he pointed his sword at the man's neck and immediately beheaded him.
Zhi Mei and An Jua immediately closed their eyes in fear. They did not expect Wei Qiren to be that cruel.
"You kill him, you won't get any information." Luo Yian replied.
"I, I can't stand it. I will put his head on the gate of Moyan city. And go back to find out who the main mastermind is."
"Revenge this to the last drop of blood."
"What is our next destination?" asked Zhi Mei.
"Slowly towards Moyan, as for Qin Zeyu, he will get better in two days." said Luo Yian.
They returned to their original destination, each of them wearing a head covering.
A few miles from here...
"Emperor"
"Hm? How is the situation in Moyan?"
"Reporting to the Emperor, there was a fight in Qianxi Village. They are still hunting the demon, I quickly returned to give more important news." Huo Linghai lowered his head to give the information.
"Tell me."
"While I was on the way, I heard that Elder Wangyuan was seriously injured by Luo Yian. And, there are those who want to cooperate with you." Huo Linghai said softly.
"Who?"
"She said her name is Lian Yue, from Dongcheng."
"What are her plans and abilities."
Huo Linghai smiled and approached the emperor. "She can create illusions with spirits, she has the same goal as the emperor, to kill Luo Yian."
The emperor smiled with satisfaction. "Invite her here tomorrow!"
"Okay, I listen to your orders," Huo Linghai said and immediately walked away.
He returned to the largest flower house in Tianpan to meet someone.
"The emperor asked you to meet him tomorrow."
The man smiled, no one could see his face. He always wore a head covering and a black robe with two pairs of swords on his back.
"You go, I want to enjoy today," the man said, driving away Eunuch Huo Linghai.
Tianpan — The Magnificent Imperial City
Tianpan stands majestically in the south, surrounded by tall stone fortresses that tower like guards sky. This city is not only the center of the imperial government, but also a symbol of power and intoxicating luxury.
As soon as you enter its main gate, the Golden Dragon Gate, visitors are greeted by a large road that stretches straight to the palace, decorated with red lanterns and guards armed with gleaming spears. The road is known as the Emperor's Road, only allowed to be passed by nobles and imperial envoys.
On the left and right sides of the city, rows of vast markets are never quiet from the hustle and bustle of traders and people. There is the Sky Market that sells goods from all corners of the land, silk from the north, spices from the east, and spirit artifacts from the western mountains. However, not all corners of Tianpan are as beautiful as the palace.
Behind the tall towers and palace gardens full of blooming flowers, hides the Tianpan Flower District, a place of nightlife for the nobles. It is there that informants, assassins, and traitors disguise themselves behind beautiful masks and the sound of lutes. Not infrequently, the kingdom's great secrets begin with small whispers in a room of incense-smoked perfume.
Tianpan also has a secret district, the Ghost Corridor, which does not appear on any map. Only a handful of elite assassins, followers of forbidden sects, or imperial spies know the place this.
At its center stands the Jing Heavenly Palace, where the Emperor resides. Its five-tiered roof is covered in golden tiles that glisten in the sunlight. From there the Emperor controls the world, and also plots the destruction of those who dare to oppose him.
Although it looks beautiful, Tianpan is not only a city of power, but also a city of betrayal and blood hidden behind the red curtain.