Chapter 17 Mark

The two enigmatic figures, representing a striking contrast—one youthful, the other weathered by time—presented countenances that bore the weight of gravity, devoid of even a hint of a smile. 

Their very presence seemed to cast a chill, an aura of solemnity and authority that commanded attention. 

Landing amidst the gathering with an eerie silence, they surveyed the bustling crowd, which fidgeted in anticipation of their arrival.

"Welcome, honored guests of the Mystic Lotus Sect! Your presence here is a profound honor," announced a venerable man, bowing respectfully. He was the city lord of this place. 

Despite his efforts, he struggled to recall any prior encounters with these envoys. 

Yet, the intensity exuding from the two women was unmistakable, an indescribable strength that seemed to emanate from the core of their being. 

'Are they Nascent Soul Realm powerhouses?' The city lord mused but could not open his mouth to question. Instead, he shivered in place because of the oppressive aura that these two were giving off. 

The atmosphere crackled with an unspoken tension, as though the air itself hung heavy with unspoken expectations. 

It was clear that these emissaries were not mere representatives; they were formidable embodiments of the Mystic Lotus Sect's power and influence, commanding respect without needing to utter a word.

The aged city lord, a man seasoned by years of leadership, extended his hospitable gesture to the distinguished guests. 

"Please, honored guests, come inside. I shall host a feast before this hour's end," he offered graciously, hoping to alleviate the solemnity that pervaded their arrival.

In response, the elder of the two women, an embodiment of authority and command within the Mystic Lotus Sect, spoke with a poised demeanor that bespoke her leadership. 

"Delay any joyful gathering. Take us to see the victims," she directed, her words resonating with an aura of unwavering certainty. Her enunciation was precise, each syllable measured, carrying a weight that commanded attention.

The city lord, attuned to the nuances of power and cultivation, acknowledged their request deferentially. 

"Please, follow me, Senior," he responded, attempting to gauge the depth of their cultivation. 

His estimation placed them firmly within the realms beyond the Nascent Soul Realm, realms that remained an enigma to him, veiled by an unreachable horizon.

Their procession through the grand corridors of the mansion was swift, a testament to both the urgency of their mission and the city lord's foresight. 

The bodies of the departed had been assembled hours prior, a gesture of foresight that underscored the city lord's ability and readiness.

"Leave us," commanded the elder woman from the Mystic Lotus Sect the moment they stepped into the chamber where the lifeless figures lay in silent repose.

"If I may, Senior?" The city lord spoke tentatively, a trace of uncertainty in his voice.

"Speak," replied the elder woman, her tone steady and unwavering, inviting him to voice his concerns.

"All of these people, they were all suspected to be evil doers. They are men of dark heart," the city lord disclosed, attempting to justify the presence of the deceased.

"And yet, you did not do anything about it. You let someone else clean up your mess. Or were these vermins too inconvenient for you to get rid of?" retorted the old woman from the Mystic Lotus Sect, her words laced with a subtle venom that contrasted sharply with her composed demeanor. 

Her voice retained its steady cadence, belying the acrimony hidden within her words.

"Please forgive my incompetence, Senior," the city lord humbly pleaded, bowing as a gesture of contrition before departing with his retinue. 

They made their exit discreetly, ensuring that the sanctity of the chamber, where the departed souls lay, remained undisturbed.

As the heavy doors closed with a reverberating thud, a profound stillness descended, encapsulating the elder woman in an isolated moment amidst the silent company of the deceased. 

The air within the chamber seemed laden with a somber weight, almost echoing the gravity of her words and the implications they carried.

Alone in this sepulchral silence, she conducted her inspection, her demeanor a juxtaposition against the lifelessness that surrounded her. 

Each glance, each movement carried a gravity that seemed to bridge the worlds of the living and the departed, a testament to the responsibility she bore as a representative of the Mystic Lotus Sect. 

The air itself seemed to hold its breath in deference to her solemn task, a poignant reminder of the weight of her duty in seeking truth amidst the stillness of death.

"What kind of animal could do this crime?" gasped the younger woman, her voice trembling with a mixture of shock and horror. 

She had witnessed her fair share of massacres, but this scene surpassed anything she'd encountered before. 

The victims lay broken and mangled, some forced into grotesque acts of self-mutilation by their tormentor. 

It was evident that the perpetrator reveled in the agony of these individuals, relishing their suffering in their final moments.

"It does not take an animal to create such evil. We humans are more than capable of such atrocities," remarked the old woman, her tone carrying the weight of experience. 

As she continued to survey the carnage, examining the destruction wrought upon flesh and bone, she addressed her young companion. 

"You should acclimate yourself to these grim scenes if you are to assume my position, Kiara."

"I will do my best, Master," Kiara responded, though inwardly, she struggled to discern anything beyond the brutality of death itself. 

To her, these were simply the remains of unfortunate souls who met a gruesome end.

"Should we really pursue the perpetrator, Master? Were these people not the evildoers the city lord claimed?" Kiara queried, grappling with the ethical complexities of the situation.

"You possess great talent, Kiara, but you're yet to understand the gravity of this matter," the old woman replied, ceasing her inspection momentarily to meet her disciple's gaze. 

"If we disregard an atrocity like this, it signals weakness to those around us. It invites further challenges, threats from opportunistic forces seeking to test our resolve."

Recalling the scars of past conflicts, the old woman sighed, her desire to avoid further bloodshed evident. 

With a swift motion, she retrieved a circular object from her palm and collected a blood sample from a nearby corpse. 

As the object's arrows whirled frantically before coming to a sudden stop, she discerned a direction.

"We go east," she declared, a determined edge in her voice, indicating the path they must pursue to confront the source of such despicable brutality.