As night descended, the forest came alive with the howls, roars, and shrieks of unseen creatures. Without further commotion, the convoy finally emerged from the Demon Forest. A few hours later, it came to a stop, and the formation shifted—formal carriages circling around the guest and important carriages for protection.
Kanoru jumped down and walked to the carriage door, opening it to check inside. His gaze first landed on the still-unconscious woman before shifting to Asuna and Mika.
"Are you two coming down?" he asked.
Mika and Asuna exchanged glances. Mika nodded, and Asuna replied, "Yes, my legs are stiff."
Careful not to disturb the injured woman, Kanoru helped them out of the carriage.
A few hours later, after finishing their dinner, Wang Hui approached with Old Liu, the physician. Peering inside, they found the woman still unconscious. Apologizing for the inconvenience, they asked if Kanoru and his group would be willing to sleep in a tent for the night.
Asuna, knowing there was little choice and unwilling to disturb the injured woman—especially after learning she belonged to the powerful Evergreen Sect, the unofficial rulers of Ren County—agreed.
Grateful, Wang Hui thanked them profusely and even offered to return half of their payment. However, Kanoru declined, knowing that a favor from the Evergreen Sect was far more valuable than a few gold coins.
Wang Hui then offered them tents, but Kanoru refused, as they already had their own. Retrieving a large tent and bedding from beneath the carriage seats, they prepared for the night.
Kanoru set up the tent while Asuna and Mika arranged the bedding inside. Once everything was ready, they settled in, with Asuna lying between Kanoru and Mika.
As they talked, they discussed their journey—if nothing unexpected happened, they would reach Qinhua City in two weeks, take a boat to Bilu City, and from there, ride on horseback for a week to reach the capital.
Eventually, their conversation faded, and sleep took them.
---
Elsewhere, under the moonlight, a valley lay in serene stillness. At its center stood a massive tree, its towering form surrounded by buildings that made the place seem peaceful and tranquil.
Tonight, however, danger lurked in the shadows.
A guard patrolling the perimeter squinted at a vague figure in the darkness. "Wait!" he whispered.
His partner turned to him. "What?"
"I think I saw someone," the guard murmured.
His partner scanned the area carefully, his eyes sweeping over the shadowed landscape. Finding nothing, he sighed. "Probably just a beast."
The guard hesitated, then exhaled. "Yeah… let's keep moving."
They turned away, resuming their patrol—unaware of the figures perched in the trees just above the shadow they had inspected. Four figures, cloaked in black, moved with silent precision. The moment the guards turned their backs, they raised their hands in unison, forming intricate incantations.
A swarm of golden needles materialized in the air and shot toward the unsuspecting guards.
Reacting instantly, the guards raised vine-like shields, blocking the deadly projectiles. However, their focus on defense left them vulnerable.
Two more assassins, hidden in the darkness, crept up behind them. In perfect synchronization, they plunged daggers into the soft flesh of the guards' necks, muffling their final breaths.
Lowering the lifeless bodies to the ground, the six assassins pressed forward, slipping deeper into the valley.
This silent slaughter unfolded across the perimeter, with every sentry meeting the same fate.
Then, the killings moved inward. The intruders infiltrated the first building, eliminating its inhabitants with ruthless efficiency.
For fifteen minutes, silence reigned.
Then, a cry pierced the night.
The alarm had been raised.
Suddenly, the valley erupted into chaos—fireballs roared through the air, serpentine streams of water lashed out, stone walls rose to block attacks, golden needles and blades clashed, and trees and plants sprang to life as the defenders fought back.
The battle raged into the dawn.
As the morning light bathed the valley, devastation lay in its wake. Some buildings had been reduced to rubble, while others stood damaged, flames still licking at their charred remains. The ground was strewn with bodies—both of the masked attackers clad in black and the defenders dressed in black, white, and light green robes, each adorned with dark green markings and the insignia of the great tree at the valley's center.
The masked figures, their faces devoid of features, moved methodically through the carnage. They searched the dead, looted valuables, and ransacked buildings for anything of worth. From one structure, a steady stream of books and crates of various sizes was hauled out and loaded onto the many carriages gathered nearby.
At the valley's heart, beneath the towering tree, a man in dark green robes lay lifeless—a hole where his heart had once been.
Nearby, several masked figures stood behind three kneeling men and two women, all dressed in light green and white robes. Before them stood a figure clad in an immaculate white robe, a mask obscuring his face. Calmly, he wiped his bloodied sword clean.
His voice, cold and emotionless, cut through the silence.
"Whoever gives me the 100 Herb Pill… will be spared."
The five kneeling men and women exchanged glances. Among them, an older man with white hair and a beard, dressed in light green robes, spoke firmly.
"The whereabouts of the 100 Herb Pill were known only to the sect leader. Even if we knew, we would never tell you."
The masked man tilted his head slightly. "Really?"
With a simple hand gesture, the executioner behind the old man swung his blade. The elder's head rolled to the ground, his lifeless eyes staring up at his remaining companions.
"Now," the masked man continued, "who can tell me where to find the pill?"
A woman among the captives broke into quiet sobs. "We don't know… Only the sect leader knew."
Another man, his face resolute, spat, "Kill us. Even if we knew, we wouldn't tell you."
The masked man let out a quiet sigh. "Kill them."
The last kneeling man trembled. "Wait!" he gasped. "I know where the 100 Herb Pill is."
The others had no time to glare in betrayal before their deaths were sealed. The masked man gave another signal, and the remaining three captives were swiftly beheaded.
The traitor's voice was weak, laced with fear. "I don't know exactly where it is… but I know someone who does."
The masked man's eyes narrowed. "You lied to me."
Without hesitation, he drove his sword through the man's arm, twisting it. A scream tore through the air.
"Talk," the masked man ordered.
Through ragged breaths, the traitor gasped, "The sect leader's daughter—Bai Yue. She must know where the pill is."
The masked man turned to one of the black-clad figures nearby.
"We didn't find her in the valley," the figure reported.
The kneeling man, still trembling, spoke quickly. "She left for the Demon Forest to gather Blood Grass. I can help you find her!"
The masked man replied coldly, "We don't need your help to find her."
Desperate, the kneeling man continued, "You think you've killed everyone, but you're wrong. Many escaped through the underground tunnel in the library. The massacre of the Evergreen Sect has already spread across Ren County. Bai Yue will hear of it and won't return—she'll head to Yunshui County instead."
The masked man's gaze sharpened. "Why?"
"Because her mother is from the Shui family," the man answered.
The masked man's posture stiffened. "Shui family?"
"Yes," the kneeling man nodded. "The same Shui family with Great Warlock Shui Xueling. And Shui Xueling is Bai Yue's mother."
For the first time, the masked man hesitated. After a moment, he gave a curt order. "Take him. Burn the valley. Erase all traces."
His mind was already calculating the next move. If they found Bai Yue, they couldn't torture her—she was the daughter of a Great Warlock. The wrath of such a powerful figure wasn't worth any employer's gold. Perhaps it was wiser to turn the traitor over, collect the reward, and disappear for a while.
With that thought, he mounted his horse and rode away.
---
In the convoy, under the morning sun, Kanoru leaned against his carriage, sipping tea from his cup.
A faint groan came from inside. He heard stirring.
"She's awake," he thought.
Opening the carriage door, he found himself face-to-face with the injured woman, now sitting up.
"I am Kanoru," he said.
Surprised, she replied, "I am Bai Yue."