The cavern was silent, save for the crackle of the chandeliers.
The Blood-Iron Syndicate had ceased to exist.
Commander Mo and the shadow guards were standing in a loose perimeter, their swords drawn, securing the area.
The freed captives were hastily grabbing cloaks and provisions from the fallen bandits before fleeing up the ramp toward the surface.
In the center of the cavern, standing amidst the horrific, bloody aftermath of his Azure Severing Threads, was Xiao Yichen.
He was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling beneath the ruined, blood-soaked peach silk.
The massacre was complete, and his vengeance had been exacted.
He slowly turned his head as Ji'an and Xuan approached.
His dark eyes found Ji'an's. The manic, terrifying bloodlust that had fueled his slaughter slowly began to recede, replaced once again by that heavy, suffocating, entirely ambiguous longing.
