Prologue

Winter, Year 211 of the Ruen Dynasty.

[1]

For over two hundred years, the country had been under the reign of the Chen imperial family. Although Northern Qiang and the Oirat tribes [2] had periodically attempted to invade the northern border, and the Wokou pirates[3] constantly harassed the coast of the East Sea, the country could still be considered relatively peaceful overall.

***

The imperial capital, the external prime minister’s residence.

Kneeling in the main hall of the external prime minister’s residence was an Imperial Guardian wearing a fish-patterned robe. Head lowered and eyes fixed on the floor, he fearfully said, "Reporting to your Excellency, we have news regarding the massacre at the branch of the Ghostbane Association last night."

Sitting before the Imperial Guardian was a man half-hidden amidst the shadows. After using the lid of a porcelain teacup to push the steeped tea leaves to the edge of the cup while taking a sip. The shadowy figure asked, "Pray tell, who is this assailant capable of wiping out a branch of the largest assassin organization, which is backed by the imperial court, in a single night?"

Not even daring to wipe the cold sweat dripping from his forehead, the kneeling Imperial Guardian half stutteringly replied, "So... So far, we have not yet found the identity of the culprit. According to the investigations done by my subordinates, the number of bodies found that night and the number of people recorded on the roster before the incident do not match. It appears that no fewer than a hundred people were present at the time, including martial experts such as River Fortress and Immortal River. Someone who could kill all of these people in one night is unlikely to be some unknown individual. I believe it won't be too difficult to find them."

The Imperial Guardian then presented a sheet of paper densely filled with a list of names from within his uniform. "Your Excellency, please have a look at this name list of everyone present that night. The names of those whose bodies were not recovered have been marked, I believe the murderer is most likely among these people."

The man took the sheet from the Imperial Guardian. Several names among the densely written roster were circled in red. After only a casual glance, he folded up the roster sheet and used it to wipe the water droplets left on the table from pouring tea. He then ordered, "Find these people. If they are alive, interrogate them. If they are dead, make sure you have their corpses. This matter has even alarmed the emperor; therefore, someone must take responsibility. If no culprit is found... then you, the Imperial Guardians, will shoulder the responsibility."

Despite the winter chill, the kneeling Imperial Guardian's uniform was drenched with sweat, as if he had just been fished out of water.

After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and answered, "Understood, Your Excellency. This subordinate will take his leave now."

The figure sitting in the shadows remained silent, dismissively waving the Imperial Guardian away before picking up his teacup again and gently pushing away the tea leaves for another sip.

1. The character 闰 (rùn) means "leap" ☜

2. Qiang is a historical term for nomadic tribes on the northwestern border of China. Oirat refers to the western groups of Mongols. ☜

3. Pirates who raided the coasts of Korea and China between the 13th-17th centuries. ☜