A FEW days earlier.
Blood had soaked deep into the grounds of the Pei estate.
Bodies lay among the shattered buildings and broken stone, some buried beneath the ruins, others sprawled where they had fallen. The once-busy estate had long since fallen silent, with only the sounds of battle continuing to shake what remained of the clan.
Lord Pei landed heavily on one knee.
His sword struck the ground beside him, barely keeping him upright.
Blood dripped from his chin. His robes were torn and soaked through in several places, exposing wounds that had reopened again and again throughout the past few days. His breathing had grown heavy hours ago, and two fingers on his left hand had gone almost completely numb.
Across the ruined courtyard, Elder Xu Mingyuan stood with his sword lowered at his side.
The old man's robes were stained red from shoulder to waist. His sword hand trembled slightly, though the blade itself remained steady.
