They came faster than I expected.
That meant two things.
One—they were close.
Two—they were desperate.
Iron Lake City sealed its gates by dusk.
Officially for "security."
Unofficially so they wouldn't be blamed.
The first hunters didn't announce themselves.
Didn't need to.
Their presence scraped against the city's atmosphere like dull blades.
Seven of them.
Three sect banners.
One temporary alliance.
The Crimson Peak Sect led.
Heavy blood Qi. Brutal refinement. Famous for killing geniuses before they matured.
Behind them—the White Thread Pavilion, all restraint and hidden needles.
And observing from the rear, the most dangerous:
A lone elder of the Silent River Sect.
Neutral.
Patient.
Watching everything.
Xueyi sensed them first.
"Three killing intents," she said quietly.
"One measuring intent."
I smiled. "Good instincts."
They confronted us in the abandoned dueling ground outside the city.
How considerate.
A Crimson Peak disciple stepped forward.
Young.
Overconfident.
"Li Shen," he announced loudly.
"By Heavenly Decree—"
I moved.
No technique.
No step.
Just presence.
The disciple's sword rang once—
Then shattered.
Not broken.
Refused.
His arm followed.
Blood sprayed.
He didn't even scream.
Shock robbed him of it.
The other hunters froze.
The Silent River elder's eyes sharpened.
"Interesting," he murmured.
"Lesson one," I said calmly.
"Don't recite mandates mid-swing."
The White Thread Pavilion moved next.
Threads invisible.
Poisoned.
Precise.
Xueyi stepped in.
Her blade sang.
Not loud.
Clean.
Threads fell.
So did bodies.
The Crimson Peak elder roared and unleashed his art.
A blood avatar erupted behind him, roaring with borrowed lives.
I watched.
Tilted my head.
Adjusted my grip.
"Too slow," I said.
One slash.
Diagonal.
Casual.
The avatar split.
So did the elder.
Blood Qi dispersed like a bad idea.
Silence fell.
Only one remained.
The Silent River elder.
He bowed.
Deeply.
"No hostility," he said.
"I was sent to observe."
I nodded. "Then observe this."
I sheathed my sword.
Turned my back.
Walked away.
Behind me, the elder whispered:
"He doesn't fight techniques…
He edits them."
That night, Heaven recorded its first loss.