In this situation, Emily Foster believed she could be of help. Even without her, as long as the manor received the warning, there shouldn’t have been any problems, so she simply left.

She never imagined that The Sullivan Manor would actually be wiped out because of this.

The enemy really hadn’t come in full force—only a handful of experts had arrived—but the quality of these few was terrifying.

Charles Carter stood outside the storeroom, gazing at the raging fire in the manor. In the distance, he could faintly hear the furious and shocked roar of the manor lord: “Elder Griffin? You’re from the Four Symbols Sect, not the Blood God Sect!”

“Oh? How do you know it’s the Blood God Sect?” A seductive, lazy female voice drifted over, “Leader Bennett... care to explain to me?”

There was no reply—maybe it was too far to hear. But Charles Carter could already glean the truth from this brief exchange: the main force that had come was indeed the Blood God Sect, and even their leader was here. But they were just pawns; the real boss was the Four Symbols Sect. Was this woman the Four Symbols Sect’s Venerable?

He didn’t know her strength, but judging from Master Sullivan’s trembling, furious voice, it must be terrifying: “I—I, The Sullivan Family, have never offended your Four Symbols Sect. Elder Griffin is one of the most renowned experts in the world, why...”

“If conflict only arose from offense, how would there be such chaos in the world? Master Sullivan, you’re so naïve.” The woman’s voice seemed to stifle a yawn, and the sounds of clashing energies grew even fiercer. Suddenly, Master Sullivan let out a miserable scream.

Cries of alarm rang out all around: “Demoness, how dare you!”

Immediately after, there was another round of explosive sounds, and the woman’s laughter drifted from afar. It seemed that a group of The Sullivan Family experts were besieging her, but she still managed to injure Master Sullivan in the crowd, handling it with ease.

“What are you all standing around for?” The woman’s lazy voice echoed everywhere, and the sounds of battle began to spread, with firelight flaring in all directions.

Charles Carter turned and ran. This was no time to spectate—these people were here to wipe out the whole family, and they wouldn’t care if you’d just arrived today! He dashed out at full speed, grabbing a single saber from the weapon rack in the courtyard as he ran straight for the outer gate.

He saw David Sullivan also charging over with incredible agility, even faster than he was at opening the door. The two exchanged a glance, instantly understanding each other’s intentions, and rushed out together.

The next moment, both stopped in their tracks, awkwardly retreating.

Ahead, in the glow of the fire, The Sullivan Family’s young master Ethan Sullivan was fleeing in panic with his attendants, chased by several men in black embroidered with blood-red patterns. They sneered, “Little dog of The Sullivan Family, where do you think you’re going?”

Elder Griffin was fighting the The Sullivan Family experts alone, while the Blood God Sect members were responsible for cleaning up the rest of the The Sullivan Family. Ethan Sullivan was clearly one of their main targets...

And now, in his panic, he’d run right toward them, bringing the pursuers along and blocking their escape route.

Damn it, who said this draw was for a safe starting zone? From The Carter Residence to The Sullivan Family, where exactly does it look safe? RNM, give me my money back!

The leading man in black spread his arms like an eagle and swooped toward Ethan Sullivan. In the firelight, his palm glowed crimson, striking straight at Ethan Sullivan’s back—a clearly vicious and deadly technique, one that meant certain death if it landed.

Suddenly, Ethan Sullivan grabbed an attendant beside him and shoved him backward.

With a miserable scream, the attendant’s body went limp, dying an unnatural death.

The Blood God Sect member paused, then chuckled, “What a fine country gentleman.”

Ethan Sullivan had no time to respond, seizing the chance to keep running toward Charles Carter and David Sullivan. The Blood God Sect member flicked his hand, sending a cold flash flying. Ethan Sullivan dodged desperately but couldn’t avoid it, crying out in pain as he clutched his thigh and fell to the ground.

“With skills like that, you broke through three levels of the Profound Gate?” The Blood God Sect member laughed, raising his blade to strike.

Just then, a gentle sword hum suddenly rang out under the moon. At first, it was barely audible, like a murmuring brook, but somehow it swelled into a surging tide, its sound soaring to the heavens, making everyone’s eardrums ache.

The Blood God Sect member looked up in shock. From the sky, a cascade of sword light fell, like moonlight pouring down, like spring water flowing endlessly. Even the raging flames seemed to soften under this sword.

Yet within this tender, lover-like sword intent, the Blood God Sect member was forced to retreat several yards in utter panic, while his subordinates were all slain in an instant, dying with gentle smiles on their faces.

Charles Carter was utterly dazzled.

A woman approached, stepping on moonlight, her robes fluttering as if a fairy from the moon palace had descended to the mortal world.

With the light behind her, her face was unclear, but it was obviously not Emily Foster...

Are all the women in this world this powerful?

“‘Spring Water Sword Technique’—the name’s a bit plain, but it sure is beautiful.” That Elder Griffin also flew over, and from a distance, flicked her hand, sending several dark “hidden weapons” at the woman descending from the sky.

The woman instinctively knocked the “hidden weapons” to the ground, her beautiful eyes narrowing.

They weren’t hidden weapons at all, but several human heads—one of them was Master Sullivan.

Ethan Sullivan, terrified, dragged his injured leg backward, hiding behind the woman.

Elder Griffin landed in the field, giving a lazy chuckle: “I didn’t expect it to be Branch Master Taylor rushing here overnight. So The Sullivan Manor really... heh, too bad you’re late. The old dog of The Sullivan Family is already dead. Branch Master Taylor, why risk your life with us when you’re ill? Why not just go back?”

Charles Carter quietly observed. This Elder Griffin was also a woman in red, but while Emily Foster’s red clothes were a warrior’s outfit, this one’s red robe looked more like ceremonial garb, embroidered with strange patterns.