The sky was clear and azure, the world serene and beautiful.
The warm morning sunlight bathed the city of Guangzhou in its golden glow.
The storm that had raged through the night had vanished without a trace.
Yet though the winds had faded, the aftermath of the tempest remained scattered leaves, broken branches, fallen trees, and debris littered every street in Guangzhou. The city bore the unmistakable scars of nature's fury.
The residents of Guangzhou were busy clearing the wreckage, their movements hurried and restless.
The Mansion of the City Lord.
Even within the City Lord's estate, the chaos of the storm had left its mark. Guards and servants worked tirelessly to clear the courtyard of fallen trees and shattered branches.
The mansion itself was a fortress, encircled by towering stone walls. Behind those walls stood a grand, imposing structure the City Lord's residence.
Inside a private chamber, a group of men sat in tense silence. Among them, some seethed with barely restrained anger, their expressions dark and unreadable.
This group consisted of Wan Jun, the City Lord's son, clad in pristine white robes; the bearded Ku Wei; the Four Crimson Crows; and the Twin Blades.
Though the eight men shared the same table, the air between them was thick with hostility. Plates of food and jars of wine lay untouched before them. The atmosphere was suffocating.
Wan Jun's cold gaze swept over them before he suddenly slammed his palm onto the table.
Thud!
"You lot are utterly useless!" he spat. "Even with superior numbers, you couldn't complete a simple task!"
His sharp eyes fixed on the Twin Blades.
"And that's not all. You even turned on your own allies. Explain yourselves why did you kill the Four Middle Brothers?"
One of the Twin Blades spoke up, his voice edged with defiance.
"We admit we acted rashly. But those four were not blameless. They attacked us without even understanding the situation!"
Wan Jun cut him off.
"What situation?"
The Twin Blade continued, "In the first incident, it's true that my blade severed Fourth Brother's arm. But it was that man in black who tied him up and shoved him into my strike. It happened too fast I couldn't retract my blade in time."
Wan Jun's lips curled into a sneer.
"A convenient excuse. Then what about Third Brother? Was his death also an accident?"
The other Twin Blade answered, his tone unyielding.
"Wan Jun, if you want to interrogate us, do it properly. No need for these mocking jabs. Yes, I killed Third Brother. But my blade was meant as a warning for First Brother to shut his insolent mouth. At that distance, dodging should've been effortless. But that damned man in black deflected my blade with a pebble, sending it straight into Third Brother's throat. It was too sudden he had no time to react."
Wan Jun's glare sharpened.
"And instead of explaining, you slaughtered the remaining two. Why?"
The Twin Blade scoffed.
"We were furious. Those four were nothing but rabid dogs biting at everything in sight without reason!"
Just then—
"Hahahaha!"
A booming laugh echoed through the chamber, so close it seemed to whisper directly into their ears.
"Who dares call my disciples useless, rabid dogs?"
Before anyone could react, two towering figures strode into the room.
They were massive built like red-furred giants, each easily sixty years of age. Their hair, beards, and even their eyebrows burned a fiery red. Their faces were thick with coarse hair, and their eyes glowed like smoldering embers.
Clad in red sleeveless tunics and trousers, their exposed arms rippled with muscle, covered in dense crimson fur. At a glance, they resembled monstrous scarlet apes.
Wan Jun immediately rose, his demeanor shifting to one of forced warmth.
"Ah! Masters, you've arrived! What an honor! Forgive me for not greeting you personally I was... preoccupied."
The two red-haired giants waved him off, their voices thunderous.
"Enough pleasantries! We come and go as we please no need for ceremony!"
"Hahahaha! Exactly! No need to stop us when we leave either!"
Wan Jun bowed deeply.
"Of course, of course! Such magnanimity! Please, honored masters, take your seats!"
Wan Jun gestured toward two empty seats closest to him, offering them to the newly arrived masters. Then, with a flourish, he introduced them to the room.
"These two esteemed masters are none other than the legendary Flaming Twin Brothers renowned throughout the martial world. They were also the teachers of the Four Middle Brothers."
At the mention of the Flaming Twin Brothers, the atmosphere in the room turned frigid. A decade ago, these two had been infamous for their brutality, striking fear into the hearts of all who crossed them.
Their Flaming Palm Technique was both unique and devastating. Countless smaller sects had been reduced to ashes under their hands. While the younger brother was known for his viciousness, the elder was cunning far more dangerous.
Many had tried to eliminate them, yet none succeeded. Then, for reasons unknown, they vanished from the martial world. Now, after ten years of silence, they had returned.
Following martial arts etiquette, the fighters in the room bowed respectfully to the two masters.
The Flaming Twin Brothers took their seats. The younger brother, Flaming Inferno, swept his gaze across the room, his eyes burning like embers.
"So," he growled, "who was it that called my disciples useless?"
Before anyone could answer, the elder brother, Flaming Serpent, raised a hand.
"Patience, little brother. Let's eat and drink first."
Flaming Inferno grunted but obeyed, grabbing a jar of wine and downing it in one gulp. He wiped his mouth and grinned.
"Ah! Good wine. Is this the famous Crimson Mist from Guangzhou?"
Wan Jun bowed obsequiously.
"Indeed, Master. Specially prepared for you both. Heh heh."
Flaming Serpent studied Wan Jun's overly eager face before speaking in a deceptively calm tone.
"By the way… I don't see my disciples anywhere."
Wan Jun's throat tightened. He tried to speak, but no words came out.
Flaming Serpent's eyes darkened.
"What's wrong? Did they… die?"
"W-Well… Number Four is still alive, but… the situation is—"
Flaming Serpent cut him off with a wave, and Wan Jun immediately fell silent. Defying these two was not an option.
The elder brother placed both palms flat on the table, leaned back, and closed his eyes. After a long exhale, he murmured:
"Hmph… So my four foolish disciples died too soon. What can one expect? Those who live by the sword die by the sword. The only difference is whether death comes swiftly or slowly."
As he spoke, faint wisps of smoke rose from his palms.
Moments later, he lifted his hands revealing two charred, brown handprints seared into the stone table.
Gasps filled the room.
This was the terrifying power of the Flaming Palm Technique, far beyond ordinary internal energy. Had the table been wood, it would have burst into flames.
Flaming Serpent smiled pleasantly at the stunned faces around him.
"Still… there's one thing to consider." His voice was smooth, almost gentle. "If a man dies doing as he pleases, there's no regret. But if he dies without fulfilling his desires… well, that's a tragedy. And since I was their master… it falls upon me to finish what they started."
His gaze sharpened.
"Some call this vengeance. We do not. We see it as… a master's duty. A true master ensures his disciples' wills are carried out. Wouldn't you agree, young Wan Jun?"
The room turned deathly silent. Every man present understood the threat beneath his words.
Wan Jun could only nod hastily.
"Y-Yes, Master. Of course."
Flaming Serpent's smile widened.
"Good. Then, if anyone here knows my disciples' final wishes… speak now. After all, their comrades should know best."
His tone was light, but the meaning was clear: Blood would be repaid in blood.
The Twin Blades broke into a cold sweat.
The room held its breath.
The Twin Blades rose to their feet, their expressions unyielding. Unlike Flaming Serpent, they wasted no words on deception.
"We killed the Four Middle Brothers."
Flaming Inferno lurched forward, but his elder brother yanked him back down with a single hand.
"Little brother, always so impatient."
Flaming Serpent turned his gaze to the Twin Blades.
"And I suppose you were also the ones who called my disciples… useless?"
The Twin Blades knew there was no escaping this confrontation. With nothing left to lose, they sneered.
"That's right. What of it? They were useless."
Flaming Serpent burst into laughter, his voice dripping with amusement.
"Hahaha! Well said! If they were useless, then their deaths were inevitable!" He clapped his hands. "Ah, but where are my manners? I don't even know your names."
The Twin Blades bristled. They knew Flaming Serpent was toying with them.
"Enough games, Flaming Twins!" one snapped. "If you want revenge, take it. But don't think your reputation alone will intimidate us. We are the Twin Blades. We live by the sword and we're not afraid to die by it."
Flaming Serpent's grin widened.
"Ah, the Twin Blades! What a fitting name!" He turned to his brother. "Have you heard of them, little brother?"
"Never," Flaming Inferno grunted.
"Hmm… A shame. But if they could kill our disciples, they must be skilled indeed."
Flaming Serpent's eyes gleamed.
"Wouldn't you like to… test them?"
Flaming Inferno cracked his knuckles.
"I've been itching for a fight."
"Then let's take this outside."
Flaming Serpent gestured toward the door.
"Twin Blades, after you."
The group moved to the mansion's training hall a vast space lined with weapons of every kind.
Flaming Serpent addressed the Twin Blades with mock courtesy.
"As senior martial artists, we won't fight two against one. But since you're mercenaries… feel free to attack together."
The Twin Blades exchanged glances. This was better than expected. If they could gang up on Flaming Inferno first, they might stand a chance.
Flaming Inferno strode to the center of the room, his movements unnervingly calm despite his usual temper.
The Twin Blades circled him like wolves, their twin sabers glinting.
A gong sounded.
"Begin!"
A Dance of Blades and Flame.
The Twin Blades struck first their sabers a blur of silver.
"Swish! Swish!"
"Shing! Shing!"
Their attacks were ruthless, precise, and utterly lethal. Every slash aimed for a killing blow.
Flaming Inferno dodged with eerie grace, his massive frame moving like a phantom.
"Not bad," he mused, sidestepping another deadly arc. "One at the Master Stage… the other at Circulation Stage. Both worthy opponents."
"You talk too much!" snarled one of the Twin Blades, launching a flurry of strikes.
Flaming Inferno grinned.
"Hmph. But against me…"
His body blurred—
"Fwoosh!"
and suddenly, he was behind them.
The Twin Blades barely had time to react before twin palms, glowing red-hot, slammed into their backs.
"AGHH!"
The smell of burning flesh filled the air.
Flaming Inferno stepped back, examining his work. The Twin Blades writhed on the ground, their robes scorched, their skin seared.
"You're strong,"he admitted. "But not strong enough."
Flaming Serpent clapped slowly from the sidelines.
"A fine lesson, little brother. Now… shall we finish this?"
Throughout their bloody careers, the Twin Blades had slain martial artists far stronger than themselves. Fear was a luxury they could not afford.
Yet now, facing the legendary Flaming Palm Technique head-on, they understood true power was not just about assassination.
Mercenaries thrived in ambushes, striking from shadows. But the Twin Blades were different. Unlike other hired killers, they specialized in twin saber combat, excelling even in direct confrontations. That was why they had earned their fearsome reputation.
An Circulation Stage and a Master Stage fighting in tandem their coordination was seamless.
"Shiing! Shiing!"
"Hwoosh! Hwoosh!"
Their blades became a whirlwind of death. The Twin Blades tightened their assault, their movements accelerating to inhuman speeds. They poured every ounce of their inner energy into their final gambit—
"Net of Blades!"
This was their ultimate technique, a killing web of intersecting saber strokes. None who faced it had ever survived.
"Haa—!"
"Shriiing—!"
The air itself seemed to split as their sabers wove a luminous net of steel, ensnaring Flaming Inferno within its deadly embrace. A single misstep would reduce a man to ribbons.
"Tch."
Flaming Inferno finally stopped playing around.
A deep, guttural roar erupted from his core as crimson enternal energy erupted from his palms. The Flaming Palm Technique forbidden, devastating now met the Net of Blades head-on.
"BOOM! BOOM!"
End of Chapter 14