Outside the carriage, a large battle was in full swing. Five guards vying against seven vampires who shared identical silver armor and black cloth. Although their bodies were at full protection from daylight, one can perceive their hideous faces as they mocked the guards.
"Pitiful humans, surrender and save yourself the suffering."
One of the seven vampires, seemingly the leader of the squadron spoke. He stood out from the line with a domineering presence and blood-red aura circulating his body. Before the guards could respond due to their exhaustion, the vampire's body blurred only to appear the next moment.
"UGH-!!..."
Without a warning, he captured two of the Yu Household's guards by their throat, then stood there between the other three as if they're not worth his attention.
With a grin, the blood-red aura evolved into substance before exploding to push the remaining guards in various directions whilst the two he held were losing blood and color at a rate visible to the naked eye...
"..."
In the carriage, Ning'er watched the scene unfold in horror, she had just finished her 'business' thinking the guards will at least buy her enough time to escape, only to see a group of vampires trashing around royal guards as if toys, much less the bloodstream that flooded the ground from the remaining merchants.
By now only two guards remained alive, thus the superior one decided to make a decisive decision!
"Junior brother! Hold them off as I escort the ladies to safety! Their lives are our top priority!"
And before his comrade could reply, the latter found himself abandoned before a group of blood-thirsty monsters. He felt a chill down his spine and cold sweat building up from their mocking smiles...
'Fuck this, I'll murder Lady Yu and sell the young lady, the vampires broke the deal and gone crazy!'
The main guard cried inwardly in desperation. His initial plan was to steal the treasures after the assassination, alas, if he doesn't chase the wind, might as well become a treasure himself.
Ning'er on the other hand saw the robust main guard dashing her way, she couldn't help but panic and retreat to a corner and search for a life-saving treasure in her mother's stash.
'Useless old hag!' Ning'er train of thoughts got cut short as the carriage door abruptly slid open. As expected, the main guard's face experienced a bundle of emotions that settled on excitement before he laughed maniacally.
"HAHAHA, A FAMILY OF GARBAGE INDEED. Never mind, you saved me the trouble of killing her, I'll just sell you now and live worry-free."
The robust guard licked his lip in a vulgar manner as his eyes examined every inch of Yu Ning's body. Alas, before he could move, tremendous killing intent swept like a tide to envelop the entire battlefield.
Not a single soul was spared, the remaining guard and the vampires that tried to sneak up on him, even Ning'er in the carriage, they've all experienced unseen freight. The sensation was akin to invisible shackles holding them down like immovable pillars.
Step...
Step...
Step...
From the rear, Noire entered the battlefield with an overbearing demeanor, stepping in a puddle of blood now and then. It was a moment earlier when he caught something amiss.
For some reason, he couldn't feel the vitality of Lady Yu, given her age, he should discern the vitality of an old lady, but he couldn't. Only one assumption, she was murdered.
Lady Yu was his only card at the moment to gain some sort of background and now she died under his eyelids.
Gulp...
Everyone simultaneously swallows a dose of saliva, although unable to even turn their heads, they could imagine a hideous beast creeping in from behind them. Whilst everyone tried to fabricate the image of an ugly beast, Ning'er was awe-struck by the handsomeness of this 'beast' that sent a chill down her spine.
She was in a trace until she saw how effortlessly he swept a short dull blade around each nape he passed by, he was literally slaughtering everyone, yet it seemed like nothing but an elegant act of art.
'How could murder be so beautiful? She cried inwardly, unbeknownst to herself, she was only mesmerized because deep down, a switch inside her flipped back then when she killed her own mother.
Once out of her thoughts, she saw a tall man clad in black robes and a jade mask standing an arm's length away from her. His stalwart build alone had her entrapped in fantasy as she tried to imagine what his face looked like.
The killing intent, the aroma of blood, his cold gaze, she found an enticing thrill and subconsciously began to droll. She wasn't even aware of Yue by Noire's side as the former had a black veil, yet she was speechless by the reaction Ning'er displayed.
- - - -
"Sigh, what do we do now Master Siyu?"
After hearing the full story from Ning'er in addition to her self-introduction, a lot of variables changed in Noire's plan. There are some gains but the losses over-weight them.
"W-wait! I can help! I have an idea!"
Yu Ning interrupted midway. The trio was now seated inside the carriage to avoid the gore scene outside and plan their next move.
When Ning'er saw Noire's facial features for the first time, she had the same reaction as Yue's, albeit a little worse. Unlike the reserved Yue, Ning'er is a bold woman, and she's been desperately trying to make advancements on Noire in a shameless manner.
Yue couldn't help but sneer in her heart but she kept a gentle smile outside, seeing Noire had remained silent with closed eyes as well, Ning'er began to explain.
"From what I can tell, you two are new to cultivation and your aptitude isn't low, why don't we try and join the Four Seasons Sect? It's the only sect that has connections to all four regions in the continent! With its backing and shelter, we won't need to worry about the background... Temporarily..."
Feeling a little intrigued, Noire raised an eyebrow and asked in a gentle tone, "What's special about it?"
"Hehe," Ning'er couldn't help but giggle for scoring a reaction from Noire, then she cast a provoking smile intentionally or unintentionally towards Yue.
"It's because that's the only sect that can afford to cultivate the four elements of wind, fire, water, and nature simultaneously. Many large families admit their Young Masters to Four Seasons because of that! If you can become a core disciple, that's akin to being the heir of a family with higher influence than my Yu Household."
'This is a large detour, the sect will be flooded with arrogant brats, not to mention I'll need at least half a year to become a core disciple in an ordinary sect let alone a high-class one... Then there is Yue...'
During his contemplation, Noire subconsciously cast a concerned gaze towards Yue. Both Yue and Ning'er noticed that whilst the former blushed lightly with a tingling sensation over-riding her ration, Ning'er gritted her teeth unhappily. She thought Noire will disagree out of concern for Yue, just as she was about to fabricate any lies needed, Noire suddenly interjected.
"Alright, I have some preparations to make and we can follow with your plan."