Beneath the dark night, more than a dozen gazes fell upon the temple officials standing guard outside the grand Dahua Palace.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
A crisp sound of crossbow bolts cutting through the air came from the shadows. Before the six temple officials could react, a sharp pain struck them. They writhed in agony, clutching their necks as bolts pierced their throats. A group of men in black rushed over. They moved with light-footed speed despite their full sprint—a clear sign of specialized training. Reaching the fallen officials, they drew daggers to finish off any who were still struggling.
Once all the guards were dead, a man who seemed to be the leader gestured with his hand. Two of his subordinates immediately stepped forward and slowly pushed open the palace doors.
Inside the palace, a maidservant heard the noise. Seeing the doors open, she called out softly, "Who's there?"
