A hulking figure stepped forward from the mercenaries' ranks, broad-shouldered, scarred, a tiger-striped cloak billowing behind him.
"You must be Chen Mo!" Mad Tiger, leader of the Black Snake Mercenaries, boomed with a mocking grin.
"If you know what's good for you, I advise you to kneel and grovel at my feet! Or I'll butcher you and feed your carcass to the dogs!"
Mo Tianye, the ever-smiling young man with snow-white hair, stepped forward.
For the first time, the perpetual curve of amusement vanished from his lips. His expression turned cold, eyes narrowing with genuine annoyance.
"How dare you disrespect the one above the heavens?" he asked softly.
"Shut up while I'm talking. I'm trying to edu—"
Mad Tiger's words died mid-sentence.
His head was suddenly held aloft by the hair in Mo Tianye's slender hand.
The rest of his body stood for a frozen heartbeat, then collapsed into a heap of precisely sliced meat, thousands of clean cuts blooming red across armor and flesh.
