The Joyous Harmony sect had never been known for its warriors.

  In its entire history, the number of disciples who managed to reach Core Formation could be counted on a single hand. Currently, the highest realm they had was of late stage Foundation Establishment.

  Being a dual cultivation sect, they were lacking in combat abilities. Their strength was inferior to an average cultivator. Against the five demonic cultivators, they all knew that they stood no chance.

  Other than the bandaged leader, who had reached the realm of Core Formation, others possessed late stage Foundation Establishment strength. The killing intent emanating from him alone was suffocating all of them.

  No one dared to act. The elders and disciples, all waited with bated breath for the bandaged leader to make the first move. Their lives were hanging on his whims.

  He turned to his left and said, "You two, guard the perimeter outside. Alert me of any strange movements. And also, though I don't think you will, feel free to kill any rat who manages to escape."

  They both nodded and slowly melted into the darkness.

  "Crimson Ogre, I want you to turn this place into a pile of rubble. When you are done, I don't want to see a single brick stacked upon another."

  The hulking brute on his right smiled viciously in response. Hearing such ominous words, Chen Xiyue couldn't take it anymore. Gathering all of her courage, she forced herself forward. She knelt before him, her forehead pressed to the cold stone.

  "Exalted senior, what happened to your brother is my fault. Everyone was against it but I alone insisted. I am extremely sorry for my mistake and am willing to take any punishment Senior deems fit."

  A long, oppressive silence followed.

  "Oh, so this foolish woman recognises her mistake. But... did you cry?"

  With narrowed eyes, the bandaged leader glared down at her.

  "I had gone into seclusion to prepare for Core Formation. When I finally completed my breakthrough a week ago, it should have been the happiest day of my life. I was looking to celebrate with my comrades when I got the news of my brother's death."

  Here his voice cracked a little. Everyone present could hear the undisguised pain in his words.

  "Could you even imagine my pain? My little brother, killed by those dogs of the Demon Destroying Pavilion! I spent the entire day mourning before I made my resolve. Everyone responsible for his death will pay. And you dare to give me this shallow apology?"

  The bandages on his face parted open, showing a twisted, cold smile. "If you are really sorry, mourn for my brother as you die. Tears of the Devil."

  Black smoke rose from his mouth and exploded outwards, instantly spreading to all present.

  "Aaaah!"

  A disciple shrieked loudly as blood started flowing from her eyes. She tried to close her eyes, but then from her ears and finally her nose, the flow of the blood got uncontrollable.

  Not only her, but everyone was affected as the courtyard erupted in a cacophony of painful cries echoing off the stone walls

  "Everyone run!"

  Chen Xiyue stood up amongst the chaos. There was no point in talking anymore, the demonic cultivators were going to massacre everyone. With blood streaming down her face, she issued her final orders.

  "Senior disciples, take the others and hide. Elders, we have no choice but to fight. Try to stall them as much as possible."

  Ying'er, please be safe.

  She took a final look at her daughter before joining the elders as they made their last stand against the demonic cultivators.

  BOOM

  A huge crimson fist struck a wall, shattering it into pieces. Uncaring that to the elders were coming to attack him, Crimson Ogre had begun his work.

  "You were groveling just a moment ago, now you dare to fight." The bandaged man smirked at Chen Xiyue.

  "Sword Demon, don't let anyone escape. Leave all the elders to me. I want you to hack them into pieces."

  "I'm not fond of killing weaklings running away, but it's for our little brother."

  The tall man unsheathed his sword, looking in the direction of the escaping disciples. A crimson aura began to emanate from it, and -shwoosh- the sword light flew across the courtyard, slicing everyone along its path.

  "AAAHHHH!!"

  "MY ARM! MY ARM IS GONE!"

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  Everyone, I'm so sorry. It is all my fault. How can I face my predecessors in the after life? If only had I not done anything...

  Watching the destruction of her beloved sect happen right before her eyes, her heart shattered like glass. Tears started to leak from her eyes, mixing with the flowing blood.

  "WAKE UP SENIOR BROTHER! DON'T LEAVE ME!"

  Now is not the time to dwell on regrets. Right now, I have to do everything I can.

  "Don't you dare hurt my sect, you demon!"

  Chen Xiyue led the elders to deal with the Sword Demon but the bandaged man landed in front of them, blocking their path.

  "How can I leave all the fun to my subordinates? I will kill my brother's murderers with my own hands."

  He raised his arm as the bandages started to uncover, unveiling a pale skin covered in strange glyphs.

  "Tomorrow, the world will know what happens when you cross the Crimson Hand."

  ***

  "Let me go!"

  Chen Yinying tried to shake free as senior sister Feng dragged her against her will.

  "Young miss, you heard the sect master's orders. I can't let you die."

  "No, you don't understand! Mother will die!"

  All the disciples were running like headless chickens, scattering in every direction away from the courtyard.

  BOOM-

  Another shockwave rocked the floor. The explosions kept happening in rapid succession. From the corner of her eye, she watched the giant crimson fist demolish the medicine hall. The hulking figure leapt from there and landed on the garden.

  "No..."

  It was the same garden where she had spent countless hours with her mother, learning the zither, playing, laughing. The memories flashed behind her eyes as the crimson fist descended from the sky, turning it into a crater.

  BOOM

  The shockwave from the impact was so great that many disciples lost their balance and fell on the floor.

  "Young miss, are you all right?"

  Chen Yinying blinked her eyes and saw a boy standing beside her, offering his hand for support. She grabbed it and got up when all of a sudden, a crimson streak flew past her.

  "AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

  A primal scream erupted from the depths of her shattering heart. The boy had vanished in the blink of an eye. Only his severed arm remained in her hand. She could feel the lingering warmth rapidly fading, as a shower of blood fell on her, drenching her from head to toe.

  "AAAAHH!"

  A multitude of screams echoed in unison around her.

  "Young miss, run for your life!"

  She could hear senior sister Feng calling for her in the distance.

  Run.... but where can we run?

  Loud explosions and dying cries surrounded her. Every few seconds, a crimson flash would pass by her eyes accompanied by pained screams and fountains of blood. Everywhere she laid her eyes, she was met with fallen debris and severed limbs.

  If this is how it's going to end, I want to see mother before I die.

  Ignoring the destruction around her, she started walking back towards the courtyard. Stepping on the blood of her family and friends, she slowly made her way.

  Along the path, she came across the Crimson Ogre. He took one look at the hollow expression on her face and simply smirked.

  "Killing you all is the Sword Demon's job. I wouldn't want to spoil his fun. Cry louder, show some struggle- it would make things much more enjoyable."

  With a loud laugh, he leapt across the sect, his fists ready to reduce the remaining walls into rubble.

  The courtyard had turned into a graveyard. Piles of corpses littered the ground. She averted her eyes and looked forward, not wanting to recognise the face of someone she knew.

  "Mother!"

  At the centre was her mother, suspended in the air by a single hand of the bandaged man. Hearing the voice, both eyes fell on her.

  Xiyue's heart clenched at the sight of her daughter covered in blood. She tried to warn her but the strong grip on her neck prevented the words from coming out.

  Why are you here? Run away!

  "Oh! So she's your daughter. Why don't you go and greet her?"

  With a cruel smirk, the bandaged man sent her flying towards Yinying. Her limp body crashed on the ground, tumbled forward before stopping by her daughter's feet.

  "Mother! Please don't die."

  Holding back her sobs, she hugged her mother, burying her face in her embrace. Though she was covered with wounds, her mother was still breathing. As long as she could hear the heartbeat, everything is fine.

  "Ying'er..."

  Her mother slowly opened her eyes. Struggling to maintain her rapidly falling consciousness, Xiyue lightly stroked her daughter's hair before lifting her chin. Both mother and daughter clung to each other, crying tears of blood.

  "I'm sorry, Ying'er."

  "What are you saying, mother? You don't need-"

  Strange glyphs blazed across her mother's face momentarily before disappearing. Then her skin started to rot rapidly and right in front of her eyes, Yinying watched as her mother started crumbling into dust.

  "AAAAHHH! Stop it! Someone, anyone, please save my mother!"

  Her pleas and prayers went unheard as her mother disappeared, leaving her tightly clutching a pile of bones in her embrace. Before she could even begin to process her mother's death, she felt a strong pull from above and came face to face with the bandaged man.

  "Returning to accompany her mother in her final moments, such a filial daughter you are!"

  His sinister laugh echoed in the courtyard. "You foolish mother paid for her mistake but it's still not enough. A good daughter like you should repay the debts of your mother."

  Bandages started to unwrap as malice gleamed in his eyes.

  ***

  "We were fortunate that help soon arrived from the Demon Destroying Pavilion. The demonic cultivators quickly fled leaving only a handful of survivors."

  She paused to wipe a stray tear from her eye. All this time, Ling Yun had been silently listening to this tale of tragedy. He could barely imagine how much she must have suffered. Losing your home, friends and family in a single night, the Heavens had been far too cruel to Chen Yinying.

  "Senior sister Feng gathered all remaining and we left for the Blue Moon city. It was safer here and we had a place to live. The sect had long owned a mansion here, which we turned into the Thousand Fragrance Palace.

  "You don't know how lost I was after the death of my mother. I locked myself in my room, only playing the zither the whole time I was awake. Senior sister Feng had to force-feed me to keep me alive. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here today."

  Her sad expression tugged at his heartstrings. He wanted to comfort her but lacked the words for it.

  What can I do? Anything I say will sound insincere- no, I've got it all wrong.

  He stretched his hand across and placed it over her trembling palm. She met his gaze in slight surprise before her eyes widened in realisation. Her lips curved into a small smile. She slipped her fingers between his, tightening her grip as if drawing strength from him.

  There was never any need for words. Just having someone stay by your side is enough.

  "Months passed and finally Senior sister Feng had enough of me wallowing in despair. She gave me a pretty stern scolding, reminding me of my responsibilities.

  "With mother dead, I became the sect master. I can't afford to continue acting selfishly like before. The remaining members are counting on me. The future of the Joyous Harmony sect lies on my shoulders.

  "Her words finally reignited my spirit. Now, I only live for a single purpose- to reestablish the Joyous Harmony sect back to its former glory.

  "And for that, I need your help, Ling Yun."