638: The Bloody Stars

The Bloody Stars

But of course, they weren't the only ones to have found out about this. Having learned of the destruction and death, it was only suitable to find out what exactly happened.  0

However, those involved, especially Ming Yue did not want them to find out. No one knew she was there, none of them knew that she was alive except for a select few. Then again, such information could only stay hidden for so long. 

But so long as she had that advantage, she had to make full use of it. 

Under the cover of the night, the empty field where Redmist Sanctuary once was seemed strangely quiet. Shadows appeared, materializing from the darkness of the valley. There was a group of them, covered from head to toe in black clothing, trained for stealth. 

Standing there, they looked around, gazing at the remnants.

"So this is what's left of the place... nothing", one of them said. 

"Seems like it, but we'll have to look anyways. Even if we don't find much, we must determine if it truly was some sort of Heavenly Tribulation or some beast or even a monstrous expert that did this", said another.

And then, their leader stepped up and turned around to face them. 

"Right, let's split up. Be on the lookout for anyone coming near. If we are even found, our honor as members of the Azure Wind Intelligence Guild is tarnished. Got it?"

They all nodded silently and began to spread out in different directions. Unbeknownst to them, there was a pair of eyes on them already. The silvery eyes of an owl as it circled around them.

"Those people, did they say that they were from the Azure Wind Kingdom?"

Hidden within the trees on the outskirts of the empty field was Ming Yue, watching them make their investigation. She had been there the entire time, even before they came. After all, this was the perfect bait to lure all those wanting to investigate. 

"Hmm, the scouts of the Azure Wind Kindom... their leader is at the Sky Realm while the rest are at the Earth Realm. To think that they'd be the first ones to come. It seems like the Azure Wind Kingdom's reputation is true, they do specialize in information and scouting. Then that means that their assassination skills must be good.  Should I kill them or not?" 

She thought carefully. 

After all, the Azure Wind Kingdom is one of the six great kingdoms. While it did not boast the most strength or wealth like the Raging Sun or the Golden Treasure Kingdom, information is power in of itself. 

Little is known about them but that is the way that they like it, their intelligence network is much more expansive compared to the rest. And while warriors don't flock to their doors, assassins and the like were more than welcome. 

"Killing them would invite more trouble and they're not here to kill, only to investigate. Though... maybe I can use this to my advantage. Maybe they can help control the way that this news is spread."

On top of that, there was one other reason as to why she wanted to be friendly with them. 

"The Azure Wind Kingdom, they're just as difficult if not more difficult to enter than the Dark Water Kingdom.  And so little is known about them, I wonder what it's like." 

Making her mind up, Ming Yue prepared to move but stopped herself as she felt something. 

"Others are coming... Members of the Redmist Sanctuary!" 

Her eyes sharpened as she put her hand on Blood Moon. Sensing their presence, she recognized the aura, it was a dirty feeling so to speak, a feeling that would arouse disgust. Different from that of other cultivators and being in the Sky Realm, she had become much more acute to these aspects. 

After all, it's one thing if someone kills dozens or even hundreds in battle, it's another if they did it for pleasure. The kind of pleasure that is found in relishing in one's pain and suffering. 

"There's a dozen of them including one of the Evils and there's... three Sky Realm Experts? They're coming quick, those agents from Azure Wind aren't going to escape in time."

The moment she realized this one of them quickly stopped and looked out into the valley. 

"Others are coming! Three Sky Realm Experts even! They must be of the Fourteen Evils!" he called out. 

Everyone stopped in their tracks and quickly moved to make their escape. But as they did, a spear shot through the air, stabbing the ground at their feet!

"Where do you think you're going?" 

The gravelly voice of a woman echoed out as they were suddenly surrounded. Among them, someone gently landed beside the spear, picking it up before looking at the investigators. 

It was a young man with spiked hair and a somewhat wild look on his face. He didn't wear much, just trousers and a belt made from fur. 

"Looks like we have a few rats sneaking around our territory!" he said, grinning while pointing his spear at them. 

Walking up beside him was a rugged-looking woman, wearing torn clothes that had been damaged in battle. She shared a similar expression though there was more arrogance in her eyes. On top of that was a scar that ran from the top of her head down the side of her cheek. It was single horizontal line. 

"It would seem so! I wonder if they have anything interesting to show us?"

Resting a giant twin-blade axe over her shoulder, she lowered it towards the ground. Her grip loosened, letting the axe go down until she gripped it by the end. 

"Just because one branch is gone doesn't mean that we can be treated lightly. I believe that some sort of demonstration is at hand."

Both of them grinned at each other before looking at them. Their followers even revealed their weapons causing the scouts from the Azure Wind Kingdom to back away several steps. Their clothes may have covered their faces but the fear wasn't hard to notice. 

All of them reached for their weapons, pulling them out to face the evil cultivators. 

But then everyone heard coughing as another walked forward, taking their sweet time. 

"Wait a moment, don't kill them just yet."

It was the same gravelly voice from before and the one that came forward was an older woman. Not quite an elderly woman but certainly older than the other two. Just like them, she was dressed more roughly, wearing animal pelts and walking with a wooden staff. Her hands were hidden within long draping sleeves and her face was obscured by a thin piece of cloth. 

One thing was for certain, she was no beauty. 

The leader of the scouts widened his eyes as he recognized them. 

"Among the Fourteen Evils, there are some that choose to ally with one another, protecting and aiding each other for their own personal gain. One of those alliances involves a spearman who has a penchant for stabbing his victims in the heart and burning them from the inside, a brutish woman that can cut a dozen men in half with one axe swing, and another whose face is covered but uses the evilest of poisons to make her victims scream. But one thing is unique to their alliance, they leave behind a mark to make sure that they are known, a star painted in blood. Because of this, they are known as the Three Bloody Stars."

He couldn't help but say it out loud and the spearman pulled his weapon back, resting it on his shoulder. 

"Well look at that, someone recognizes us", he said. 

"That's a good thing, they know what to expect from us. If they surrender that'd be for the best, I'd rather not have to dirty my clothes for something like this", said the older woman. 

However, the scouts all took their stances as the leader pointed his sword at them. 

"You will never take us alive. Even if we were to all die, one of you will join us in our demise. That much is certain", he warned. 

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