The immense, lustrous moon hung suspended in the inky midnight sky, its cool silver radiance bathing the world below in an ethereal glow.

The haunting cry of the wind carried the celestial orb's imperceptible will as the blustering gale, akin to a wrathful specter, mercilessly lashed against a solitary horse-drawn carriage cutting through the vast, undulating sea of grassland.

Crimson lanterns, swaying precariously from the rocking carriage, cast a warm, flickering orange aura over the gently swaying grass stalks, revealing an unadorned, tightly-sealed wagon - one typically utilized to transport goods rather than human passengers.

A thick, weathered cloth with a coarse, wavy texture fully enshrouded the wagon, yet the focal point remained the four ominous figures perched atop it.

Garbed entirely in flowing black hanfu robes with billowing long sleeves, three of them donned menacing demonic masks - vivid crimson depictions of the infamous Foo Dog, the lion-like guardian statues that vigilantly stood watch over courtyard entrances.

However, the remaining man bore no such mask, instead obscuring his features beneath a wide bamboo hat, its long black veil rendering his face unreadable save for two faintly glowing crimson eyes that watchfully scanned his cohorts under the night's cloak.

This enigmatic figure was none other than Ji Wuye, the carriage currently bound for Tianji Village, still an hour or two's journey ahead. His penetrating gaze briefly settled upon one particular mask-adorned man.

The martial artist with the jian sword sheathed at his waist - 'The Heartless Blade.'

This renowned martial artist, infamously dubbed the Heartless Blade for his cold-blooded, uncompromising swordsmanship that made no distinction between right and wrong, possessed an almost waifish build. His slim, deceptively unimposing frame nearly mirrored the height of Ji Wuye's own Senior Sister Shen Bi.

Had the shopkeeper not provided the crucial tip, Ji Wuye might never have anticipated the legendary Heartless Blade's daunting reputation to be embodied by this unassuming man.

As if sensing the weight of Ji Wuye's scrutiny, the Heartless Blade, face obscured by the fierce snarling visage of the Foo Dog mask, turned his head slightly, meeting Ji Wuye's crimson-eyed gaze for the briefest of instants before resolutely refocusing his attention forwards once more.

'Vengeful Fox and Winding Ghost,' the words formed soundlessly in Ji Wuye's mind as his eyes shifted to linger upon the remaining two mask-adorned figures, both of whom were equally formidable 5th realm martial artists.

Like the Heartless Blade, these lethal combatants primarily operated in the shadows as mercenary killers or unscrupulous swords for hire - unorthodox martial artists.

The reason Ji Wuye had hired these three notorious martial artists? To prevent the untimely demise of his beloved Senior Sisters at the upcoming gathering.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

In the previous timeline, he had caught wind of a vague, unverified rumor that the bloody attack during the Kunlun summit had merely served as an elaborate distraction - the real target had always been the Tianji Village all along.

'More than five famous figures, and many martial artists above the 4th realm, have congregated,' Ji Wuye silently recounted the shopkeeper's words regarding the current volatile situation unfolding within Tianji Village, where an alarming number of unorthodox martial artists had stealthily assembled under the shroud of night.

This clandestine convergence of deadly forces was akin to the powder keg preluding all-out war between rival empires.

'Not to mention the old monsters likely still reveling amidst the chaos in Tianji,' Ji Wuye muttered under his breath, his crimson eyes narrowing imperceptibly.

It was a high-risk situation, which is why he hired these three famous martial artists—not just to kill, but...

...

Finally, as the carriage advanced steadily under the moon's watchful gaze, the coachman abruptly extinguished the swaying red lanterns on either side, allowing the wagon to proceed stealthily, undetected as they neared the outskirts of the seemingly slumbering Tianji Village.

Even from this distance, Ji Wuye's keen eyes could already discern the unusually heavy guard presence at the village's entrance. More than four martial artists maintained a vigilant watch - some patrolling the perimeter with measured strides, others standing deceptively casual as their sharp gazes ceaselessly swept the surroundings, scrutinizing every potential threat.

"We drop here," Ji Wuye's whisper sliced through the tense silence, his low tone barely audible yet commanding the instant obedience of the three formidable 5th realm martial artist. Without a moment's hesitation, they deftly leaped from the still-moving carriage.

Once they witnessed the wagon continue its unhurried advance, the watchful coachman deftly unveiled the thick covering cloth, revealing several large earthen gourds emitting a faintly shimmering white vapor.

The unassuming carriage was then swiftly abandoned amid the gently swaying grasses nearby. Unbeknownst to any watchful eye, a solitary spark abruptly ignited within the hazy white smoke, the insidious flames rapidly spreading outward to hungrily engulf the surrounding grassland, birthing a steadily thickening cloud that began its inexorable descent upon the unsuspecting Tianji Village.

Meanwhile, Ji Wuye and his cohorts silently melted into the shadows nearby.

As the choking, billowing smoke steadily enveloped the village's streets, a frenzied chaos erupted from within. The formerly vigilant martial artists guarding and patrolling the area scrambled in panicked disarray, desperately searching for buckets of water to douse the inexplicable conflagration.

Amidst the confusion of the smoke-shrouded chaos, Ji Wuye and his group deftly slipped through the unguarded village entrance and arrived within the main road of Tianji Village itself.

They swiftly took to the slate-tiled rooftops, lithely bounding from one elevated perch to the next until they found a suitable two-story building from which they could discreetly oversee the village now engulfed in the blinding vapor.

"Once you've finished with the targets, you may do as you please," Ji Wuye's low murmur carried from behind the concealing black veil.

The three masked martial artists offered no response, not even a subtle nod of acknowledgment; they simply vanished from the spot in a series of near-simultaneous blurs, melting into the thickening haze to begin their lethal work.

The diversionary smoke, however, did not retain its obscuring veil for long. Soon, the village streets were once again bustling with activity, the familiar crimson lantern glow illuminating the dissipating clouds as Ji Wuye's crimson-eyed gaze meticulously observed from his elevated vantage point.

Yet it was an abruptly shocking sight that next seized his rapt attention.

'Outer Disciples...' The words formed a voiceless murmur on Ji Wuye's mind as his eyes narrowed fractionally. The familiar white martial robes adorned with aquamarine stripes were indeed being worn - but not by the anticipated youthful young men.

Instead, the ceremonial garb clothed the decidedly middle-aged frames of complete strangers, their unfamiliar faces twisted into rictus sneers of smug arrogance.

The true bodies - or rather, the lifeless corpses - of the original Outer Disciples lay unceremoniously strewn along the road, already being unceremoniously dragged into secluded alleys by furtive figures.

The village streets teemed with people, bustling with merchants and courtesans alike, yet shockingly, not a single soul even batted an eye or betrayed the faintest tremor of alarm at the grotesquely casual manner in which the dead disciples' bodies were being disposed of.

The jarring sight lanced straight through to Ji Wuye's core, causing his heart to stutter momentarily in his chest. Before his mind could fully process the unsettling revelation, his feet were already carrying him into motion, descending from the slate roof of the two-story building to an adjacent roof nearer the village streets below.

He needed to confirm his escalating fears - but... luck or not, all of the scattered corpses belonged to male Outer Disciples alone.