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"The story goes that in the beginning of the Sunshot Campaign, Qinghe Nie Sect, Lanling Jin Sect, Gusu Lan Sect and Yunmeng Jiang Sect led a total of 8000 cultivators and marched toward Qishan. They pledged to conquer Guanzhong, purge evil and bring justice to the world."

"However, Qishan Wen Sect was so overpowering that their attempt to topple the Nightless City was akin to an ant trying to shake a giant tree. Therefore, Wen RuoHan described them with 2 words: Unpromising and overconfident."

"In Langya of the Qilu region, Lanling Jin Sect suffered one defeat after another. Jiang WanYin of Yunmeng Jiang Sect only had a small force. Fortunately, after the situation in Jianghuai stabilised, Lan WangJi led a group of cultivators to reinforce Jingchu. While in Hejian, Qinghe Nie Sect won a decisive victory. Nie MingJue beheaded Wen RuoHan's eldest son Wen Xu with his own hands, and displayed it in front of the troops."

"He mocked at Qishan Wen Sect's undeserved reputation, and their certain defeat, greatly boosting the morale of his followers."

———

"Outrageous!" Wen Qing burst out in anger as she slammed the hand holding the piece of paper down onto the table beside her.

"Jiejie." Wen Ning called out meekly. "What does the letter say?"

"Wen RuoHan ordered all branches of Qishan Wen Sect and the affiliated sects to join the war. Anyone who disobeys will be punished without mercy." Wen Qing explained.

Wen Ning gasped. "Then are we...going?"

"No. Although our branch bears the surname Wen, our pursuit has always been the art of healing, not that of killing. Bear in mind that we are healers. We save lives and treat the wounded. Even if we are on the battlefield, we cannot betray our principles." Wen Qing finished sternly.

"I will keep it in mind." Wen Ning replied. "But Wen...Wen Chao."

Wen Qing scoffed. "Wen Chao? I think he too occupied to mess with us. Besides...I'm more worry about Wen RiLuo, out of the three heirs still alive...she is the most dangerous."

———

Meanwhile, over to one of the Wens' Supervisory Office, two figures in white ran atop the roof of the building under the cover of night as they slowed to a stop, eventually coming across a massacre.

Blood, bodies and strange talismans scattered around the ground.

"What in the world?" Lan ChunTao gasped as she covered her mouth in remorse from the bloodied scene before her while her brother stared in silent horror.

There were no signs of life anywhere. Just lifeless corpses left behind.

Jiang Cheng huffed, ruthlessly kicked one of the corpses over. "Looks like our mission tonight has been accomplished by something else."

"Sect Leader, the Wen Cultivators are all dead but in different ways. Their deaths are bizarre! Most were...scared to death!" The Jiang Disciple informed.

"Scared to death?" Jiang Cheng inquired, raising a brow.

Lan WangJi and Lan ChunTao jumped down from the roof to join Jiang Cheng and his disciple as the former wandered over to one of the talismans on the pillar and peeled it off. "What on earth did this?" He muttered lowly under his breath.

"Any leads?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Sect Leader, we didn't find anything." The Jiang disciple replied.

Lan ChunTao furrowed her brows as she continued to survey the area. "This is completely different from the last one we came across. There aren't any sign of sword slashes or cuts left on the bodies. Could there be two people doing this?"

Jiang Cheng huffed, smirking. "It doesn't matter. Since they killed the damned Wens, they must be our allies."

Suddenly, another Jiang disciple came rushing toward them. "Report, Sect Leader! A large group of Wen troops were spotted in the south. They are heading our way."

"Burn all the supplies. Retreat." Jiang Cheng ordered.

"Understood."

———

Meanwhile, not too far away in the small town of Shayang Fort.

"Have you heard? Something happened to the Supervisory Office in Jingling, too!" One of the Wen disciples exclaimed as he and his partner hurriedly changed out of their sect's robes and into civilian ones.

"What?!" His comrade shouted.

"Jiangling, Mianyang, Jingling. They are all cursed!" The first Wen continued. "All the Wen Sect's Supervisory Offices are cursed by feral ghosts!"

"I heard that Lan WangJi's men did it in order to undermine our morale." The second one added.

"Bullshit! You saw the corpses in Mianyang's Supervisory Office, too. Are humans capable of that? We can't stick with Wen Sect anymore. I don't want to die!" The two men were about to escape when they spotted two Wens in front of them.

"Stop right there!"

"I...We-ACK!" One of them stammered before he was cut down from behind. Revealing that standing behind them was Wen RiLuo, her remaining brother Wen Chao with his mistress and bodyguard.

Wen RiLuo nonchalantly swung her sword to the side, flinging away the blood before she handed it to Wen ZhuLiu. She then cast a blank-stare to the remaining deserter.

"You have the nerve to desert?" Wen Chao demanded as he stepped forward and finished the second one without mercy.

Bloods spattered onto the walls.

Wen Chao scoffed. "If anyone else dares to spread rumours and desert against orders, this will be their end!" He then turned his attention to one of the disciples. "Have you found the rebel's hideout?"

"Wen-Gongzi, we haven't located it yet." The disciple answered.

"Then go find it!"

"B-But Wen-Gongzi, Sect Leader ordered us to leave today for the main battlefield of Qinghe."

Out of rage, Wen Chao punched the disciple. "Do I give the orders or you?!" He growled. "Go find it! If you can't find it, then bring me your head!"

"Yes." The Wen disciple whimpered before getting to his feet and rush to do so.

"These scoundrels, all they can do is sneak attack. Wait till I destroy your hideout! Let's see if you can still pull off those freaky acts!" Wen Chao proclaimed.

Wen RiLuo scoffed lightly before she gestured to her group of Wen disciples and began moving.

"Jiejie, where are you going?" Wen Chao asked.

"Father did asked us to leave for Qinghe, so I'll go while you handle finding the rebel's hideout." Wen RiLuo explained, pausing in her tracks when she heard a flutter of wings and looked up. Catching the sight of a single crow perched on the nearby tree branch as it's beady eyes stared down at them.

"A-Chao, make sure you find them because I've grown tired of their little games." Wen RiLiu sighed as she glanced back. "Don't fail like our dearest brother did."

Wen Chao gulped before he saluted nervously. "Y-Yes, Jiejie. I won't fail you and A-Die."

Wen RiLuo smirked darkly. "I hope not. It would be sad to lose my beloved Didi." And with that, she and her group resumed moving into the darkness of night.

Not noticing that single crow was watching the whole thing with glowing crimson eyes as it gave one last caw before going into the air once more.

TRANSLATION NOTE:

— Guanzhong: Qishan Wen Sect's turf, literally "Within the Passes"
— Qilu: Lanling Jin Sect's turf
— Jianghuai: Gusu Lan Sect's turf
— Jingchu: Yunmeng Jiang Sect's turf
— Hejian: a place in Qinghe Nie Sect's turf

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(Please correct my translation if I'm wrong and the GIFs and pictures used in this chapter does not belong to me, but their rightful owners)