Anxi Town.
The town guards patrol the narrow streets beneath a sky heavy with low clouds. A light rain falls steadily, tapping against rooftops and pooling along uneven stone roads. The night is quiet, the rhythm of boots and the faint clatter of armour blending with the soft drizzle.
When the rain finally stops, the clouds part.
Moonlight spills down in pale silver.
It reveals something else.
From different corners of the town, thin streams of smoke begin to rise.
At first, it seems harmless, perhaps cooking fires rekindled after the rain.
But the smoke does not rise vertically.
It spreads.
It drifts low across the streets, hugging the ground like creeping mist.
A guard pauses mid-step.
"I am… sleepy," he mutters.
His partner blinks heavily.
"Me too."
Their words echo from other patrols nearby.
One guard tries to straighten.
His vision blurs.
His grip loosens on his spear.
They recognise something is wrong, but recognition comes too late.
One by one, they sway.
Armour clinks dully as bodies collapse onto wet stone.
Within moments, the streets fall silent.
Across the rooftops, birds cry sharply.
The sound carries through the town like a signal.
Around the Shen Estate, dark figures emerge from shadows.
Black cloaks.
Masked faces.
They move in perfect unison.
From different alleys, rooftops, and adjacent buildings, they converge toward the high walls of the estate.
Each group halts at a designated section.
One member from each team produces a talisman from within their cloak.
The talismans glow faintly.
They press them against the estate walls.
Spiritual refiners within the teams channel qi into the paper.
The talismans flare briefly, then dissolve into the stone.
Inside the Shen Estate, no alarm sounds.
The protective array that would normally detect intrusion,
Stops functioning.
Silently.
The masked figures scale the walls simultaneously, moving like shadows climbing toward the moonlight.
They land inside without a sound.
Above them, birds circle in measured patterns.
They are not ordinary birds.
They are extraordinary beasts capable of suppressing and disguising their spiritual aura, appearing no different from common night birds.
They circle above guard posts.
The attackers follow the birds' paths.
Each group advances toward positions beneath the circling shadows.
Inside the estate, guards remain unaware.
The first kill is silent.
A blade across the throat.
A hand clamped over a mouth.
Another guard turns too late.
A dagger slips between ribs.
Bodies fall into flowerbeds and beside lantern posts.
The birds shift to new positions.
The groups follow.
Courtyard after courtyard is breached.
Servants are cut down swiftly.
Those who resist are killed.
Those who attempt to flee are intercepted at gatehouses already secured.
The attackers operate with precise coordination.
No shouting.
No confusion.
Only execution.
The Shen Family members are dragged from their chambers and gathered into the central hall.
Elders.
Middle-aged relatives.
Younger generation.
Panic spreads among them.
Some shout accusations.
Some beg.
The masked figures remain unmoved.
The older generation is separated.
Interrogation begins immediately.
Questions are direct.
Short.
Precise.
The masked interrogators seek one thing,
Information about the organisation backing the Shen Family.
Names.
Locations.
Contacts.
Resources.
Some elders resist.
They are dealt with accordingly.
Others speak under pressure.
When no further information can be extracted, judgment is carried out.
Everyone above five years old is executed.
The method is efficient.
No unnecessary spectacle.
No torture beyond necessity.
Children under five are spared.
They are taken away.
They will be trained.
Raised to serve.
The Shen Estate grows quiet again before dawn.
Blood mixes with rainwater in the courtyards.
The birds disperse into the darkening sky.
By morning, the massacre is discovered.
Within hours, news spreads across Anxi Town.
Before midday, the capital learns of it.
Di Yuanheng receives the report without delay.
The Shen Family has suddenly become critically important. The court had already begun considering an investigation due to their suspected ties to an unknown organisation.
Yet someone acted first.
And with terrifying efficiency.
Di Yuanheng wastes no time.
He heads directly toward the palace.
Passing through the gates of the palace complex, he moves quickly through familiar corridors.
He is informed that the King is at breakfast.
Entering the dining hall, he finds the King seated at a long table.
Beside him sits Consort Shu.
Across from them is the First Princess.
An elder from the Purple Lotus Sect is also present, seated with composed dignity.
The atmosphere inside the pavilion is calm.
Sunlight filters through carved wooden panels, falling across a low table set with delicate porcelain dishes. Steam rises from fresh tea. The faint scent of incense lingers in the air.
Yuanheng enters without obstruction. The guards recognise him and step aside.
Inside, the King laughs softly at something Consort Shu has just said. The elder from the Purple Lotus Sect smiles faintly, composed and dignified.
Yuanheng stops a respectful distance away and bows.
"Your Majesty."
The King turns, his expression relaxed.
"Yuanheng, you are here. Take a seat."
Consort Shu inclines her head gracefully.
"Lord Di."
The First Princess, Song Xingli, bright-eyed and poised, smiles warmly.
"Uncle Yuan, how are you?"
"I am well," Yuanheng replies.
Then his expression grows serious.
"Your Majesty, I have an important matter to report."
The King waves a hand dismissively.
"Yuanheng, what could be more important than food? Sit."
Consort Shu adds gently, "Lord Di, please join us. It has been a long time since we have dined together."
Yuanheng glances at the King.
He sighs inwardly.
If the King wishes to eat first, then let us eat.
He has not eaten yet anyway. The kingdom belongs to the Song Family, not to him.
He takes a seat.
Servants refill his cup and place dishes before him. He eats quietly at first, then joins the casual conversation as if nothing weighs on his mind.
After some time, Consort Shu smiles at Xingli.
"Xingli, do you know your father has prepared a gift for you?"
Xingli looks toward the King, curious.
"Really, Father?"
The King nods.
"I have arranged your marriage."
Xingli freezes.
Her face slowly loses its brightness.
"Father… with whom?"
"The Marquis of the Duan Family."
The words fall like a stone.
Xingli stands abruptly.
"Father, I will not marry Marquis Duan. I heard he is already married."
Consort Shu's tone remains gentle.
"Xingli, have you not heard? Lady Duan met misfortune during the Blood Deer Hunt. She is still missing. She may even be dead."
The King speaks calmly.
"Do not worry. You will be the main wife."
Xingli's hands clench.
"It does not matter, Father. I will not marry him. I have already promised Shi Yang that I will become his Dao Partner when I return to the sect. I came this time to inform you and seek your blessing."
The King looks directly into her eyes.
"I have already spoken with Sect Master Shi. We came to the same conclusion. You will marry Marquis Duan."
The words strike her like lightning.
She turns sharply to the elder seated nearby.
"Elder Mu… Father is lying, isn't he?"
Elder Mu sits in a purple robe, her black eyes deep and calm like polished gemstones.
She exhales softly.
"Today is Shi Yang's Dao Partner ceremony," she says evenly. "With the second daughter of the Yi Clan—Yi Miran."
Xingli stares at her.
Disbelief floods her face.
"That is impossible… Elder, you are lying."
Her breathing becomes unsteady.
She turns and runs.
Elder Mu moves.
In a single smooth motion, she appears behind Xingli before the princess can react.
A light strike at the back of Xingli's head.
The princess collapses.
Elder Mu catches her effortlessly.
She turns back toward the King.
"Your Majesty, it would be best if the marriage takes place as soon as possible."
The King nods.
"Marquis Duan is in Wein Province. He cannot return on time. It would be better if you take Xingli to him."
Elder Mu inclines her head.
"Then prepare everything. We will depart tomorrow."
She carries the unconscious princess away.
Consort Shu rises gracefully.
"I will arrange the wedding preparations."
She leaves the pavilion.
The King watches until she disappears from sight.
Then he speaks.
"Yixu."
A eunuch steps forward from the shadows.
"Your Majesty."
"Send the marriage decree to the Duan Estate. Inform Prince Shi to proceed to Gatewatch Peak Town and deliver the decree to Marquis Merin personally. Begin preparations immediately."
"The slave obeys."
Yixu withdraws.
The King looks toward Commander Di.
He sighs.
"Yuanheng, come with me to my study."
The King stands.
Commander Di rises as well.
Without another word, the two men leave the pavilion together.