The golden token in the fat man's hand was the personal insignia of the Sect Leader, Wang Men. Whoever held it had temporary command over the disciples below the elders. This man, who was closely related to Wang Men as a trusted relative, was often the one to deliver orders from the Sect Leader. Just recently, he had been entrusted with the task of bringing Elder Li to the mountain for an urgent meeting. After delivering the message, the man, feeling that returning to Sunset Peak immediately would be too tiring, took advantage of his privileged position and insisted on staying at Elder Li's residence for a while to rest before heading back.
Elder Li, with no other choice, allowed the man to stay while he himself hurried to Sunset Peak with Zhang Xue'er and several disciples. However, not long after, chaos broke out on the mountain, and the fat man, being a coward, refused to return alone.
The people in the residence were mostly non-martial family members of the Seven Celestial Sect's disciples, who were completely unaware of what was happening outside. As the shouting and alarm bells rang out, panic ensued, and they didn't know how to respond.
Thankfully, Ma Rong, Elder Li's trusted disciple, took control and quickly organized the non-combatants, making sure they stayed together to prevent any from wandering off and getting caught up in the chaos. The residence was built in a remote valley, and although they could hear the distant sounds of battle, they had no idea what exactly was happening outside.
Once Ma Rong had managed the situation inside, he planned to send someone to scout the outside, but the fat man emerged just then. Not only did he prevent any attempt to gather intelligence, but by brandishing the golden token, he also seized command of the situation and stopped Ma Rong from making any decisions. The fat man intended to stay put and ignore everything, pretending nothing was happening.
Ma Rong knew all too well how critical it was to understand the situation outside, but he was powerless against the fat man's command. Several attempts to argue were futile, as the man continued to hide behind his privileged status, essentially treating Ma Rong as a tool to protect his own life. As Ma Rong paced restlessly around the living room, frustrated and helpless, he longed to do something, but the weight of the Sect's strict laws prevented him from acting on his own initiative.
Meanwhile, Han Li and Li Feiyu, unaware of the turmoil within the residence, were rushing towards it. Along the way, they encountered enemy forces. They did their best to avoid detection, concealing their movements and remaining cautious, but by the time they were within a mile of Elder Li's residence, they were confronted by a group of green-clad men. Unable to hide any longer, they were forced into a direct confrontation.
The group of over ten men, armed with steel knives, surrounded them from all sides. From their movements, it was clear that most of them were lower-ranked disciples of the Broken Water Sect, identifiable by a single white line stitched on their sleeves. Two of them had two white lines, indicating higher martial prowess. The most formidable among them was a man with three white lines and a facial scar—clearly the leader of the group.
The scarred man surveyed the odd group before him, confusion apparent in his eyes. Li Feiyu, disheveled and filthy, looked like a mere servant from the mountain. Han Li appeared disoriented, with dark skin and an expression suggesting he was a simple farmer with no martial skills. The only one who seemed remotely intimidating was the giant, Qu Hun, covered in blood and towering over the others, his presence alone a threat.
The leader, still perplexed, signaled his men with a wary glance. He then called out loudly, "No matter who you are, the Seven Celestial Sect is finished. Surrender now, and we'll spare your lives!"
Han Li smiled faintly and turned to Li Feiyu, saying, "Who will make the first move? You, or Qu Hun?"
Li Feiyu's eyes gleamed with murderous intent. "These men are from the Broken Water Sect, lower-ranked disciples. I've been running from the Wild Wolf Gang for so long—let me take out my anger on them! Their weapons should suit me just fine."
Without another word, Li Feiyu dashed forward like a streak of light, reaching the nearest green-clad man in an instant. The man, shocked, attempted to swing his steel knife but felt the weapon suddenly lighten in his hands. Before he could react, the knife was in Li Feiyu's grip. With a swift motion, a flash of white light appeared, and the man's head separated from his body, his corpse crumpling to the ground.
Li Feiyu's movements were fluid and precise, so fast that the remaining enemies barely had time to react. Within moments, he had killed one, and panic spread among the Broken Water Sect disciples.
The scarred leader, realizing the gravity of the situation, immediately ordered, "Retreat! Everyone, run! Signal for reinforcements!"
At his command, the green-clad men scattered in all directions, some of them reaching into their clothes to retrieve signaling devices.
One of the men, marked with two white lines on his sleeve, was the fastest to flee. He was already several yards away when he thought he had escaped. However, he suddenly felt a chill at the back of his neck. Before he could even cry out, a sword tip pierced his throat, and a flash of white light disappeared into the night. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
As the life drained from his body, the last thing he saw was a shadowy figure flickering behind another fleeing man. A swift motion, and another sword strike. The second man collapsed in the same manner, his throat torn open. The two bodies lay side by side, blood pooling beneath them.
The fleeing man's final thought was one of disbelief. He had run so far, yet death had caught him so swiftly. As his vision blurred and his body went limp, he knew the others wouldn't fare any better. The ghostly figure that had slain him would not spare anyone else.