313 Confrontation (1/2)
In the dead of night, the group of blood cultivators approached the sentries stationed by the eastern bridge leading to Capital's Lower East District.
The sentries immediately noticed them, but they were not alerted due to the city guard's armor adorned by the blood cultivators. Despite that, they were still puzzled why these city guards were returning to the city at this hour.
”Good evening, brothers. What brings you here at this ungodly hour?” A sentry guard called out, but as the torchlight slowly revealed their upcoming appearances, the sentry guard froze at the unfamiliar faces. ”Who are…”
The sentry guard did not get to finished asking before one of the blood cultivators closed the distance in an instance and drilled his hand through the sentry guard's leather armor and crushed his heart like a piledriver.
”Y-Y-You…”
In a state of shock and disbelief, the sentry guard stuttered with wide eyes while pointing with a trembling hand.
At the same time, the other sentry guard reacted quickly to the situation and turned around to alarm the others.
”Sound the—”
Unfortunately, his words stopped short after another blood cultivator dashed forward and swiped at the two sentry guard's neck with his hand.
Shortly after, their heads slowly rolled to the ground, deader than dead.
”Go for the head. Don't give them a chance to speak, understand?” The person spoke as he wiped his hand clean with a cloth.
”Yes, Sect Master.”
The blood cultivator retracted his hand after draining all the blood from the sentry guard and tossed the headless dried corpse to one side like throwing away trash.
At the same time, the rest of the blood cultivators rushed in with subtle steps and began taking out the rest of the nearby sentries, including the one on the sentry towers with large bells.
”Hm?”
The Sect Master hummed after noticing a slight movement in the shadows of the city on the other side of the eastern bridge and spoke, ”A rat got away.”
”Allow me to finish him off.”
”Do it cleanly.”
The Sect Master nodded after one of the core disciples quickly volunteered and dashed off in pursuit. Shortly after, the core disciple returned with a dried head.
”This must be one of those shadow guards mentioned by Zagan.”
At the mention of Zagan, the Sect Master eyed the said person and snorted with displeasure, before asking, ”How's the transplant?”
”Pretty good, but not as good as the real one. Thanks for asking, Uncle Balthazar.”
”Hmph! That is what you get for acting on your own! If you were not part of my Denholm family, I would have had you killed for your insolent actions.” The Sect Master of the Bloodfiend Sect, Balthazar Denholm, flicked his wrist and proceeded to order a core disciple, ”Go call the others over.”
”Yes, Sect Master.”
”Ignore the others. We head straight for the palace and kill the king first. Others can live, the royal family must die!” Balthazar Denholm spoke.
As they quietly darted across the rooftops and scaled over the upper wall, quickly entering the Upper District and continued straight for the palace, several more shadows shifted in the night.
”There are more rats here. Quickly take them out.”
Four core disciples immediately dashed out in the four directions of the escaping shadow guards, pursuing them like chasing shadows.
The rest of the members continued advancing along with their Sect Master until they suddenly discovered something.
”Wait.” Balthazar Denholm halted everyone with one hand. After crouching towards the edge of the rooftop and gazing at the buildings ahead, he hummed in thought. ”Hmm.”
”There seems to be something important about this place for it to be walled off and guarded by palace guards.” A core disciple whispered softly with narrowed eyes.
While the Bloodfiend Sect quietly inspected the area, the other four core disciples caught up and rejoined their group.
Suddenly, one of the palace guards below shouted, ”Who goes there?!”
The shout caught the Bloodfiend Sect by surprise. They all grabbed the hilt of their swords, ready for battle.
”How did they discover us?” A core disciple said gloomily, but another person quickly said, ”It's not us. Look.”
…
Shortly after the palace guard shouted, the other palace guards rushed over from their post as they surround the approaching figure with all their weapons drawn.
The figure had an indifferent expression as he walked out of the darkness and into the illuminated area surrounding Lost Isle Alley.
”It's me.” The person spoke.