At high noon, the sky was as clear as if freshly washed.
The warm sun struggled to pierce the lead-gray clouds, its light spilling onto the bluestone courtyard.
The snow in the courtyard had long been shoveled clean, revealing the bluestone-paved ground.
An inch of white snow still capped the surrounding walls, glinting like fine silver in the sunlight.
A cold wind carrying flurries of snow slipped over the courtyard walls. It landed on Chu Fan's bare forearms but left not even a hint of a chill.
Chu Fan pinched a vermilion, blood-red pill between his fingers and slowly brought it to his mouth.
The pill's surface shimmered with fine, luminous patterns. It was a Blood Refining Pill, a gift from Master Cao, meant to help a Martial Artist temper their qi and blood.
Three days had passed since he killed the Huang Family's steward and guard instructor...
This was the fifth Blood Refining Pill he had taken.
