Iron horses rang as they came into Half Moon Manor like a flood, the force of them filling the sky.

At their head was a man in purple... Geng Jing.

Geng Jing did not see Ning Chen.

Nor did he look. His face was ice, and he said harshly, "Kill them. Leave nobody alive."

Good God, not one wasted word.

From the highest of the Ghost-Shadow Sect to the lowest, their faces went white with fear and their hands and feet shook.

In front of that great host of armored horsemen they were as small as ants.

Tao Xiuwu and the others all looked at Ning Chen.

If there was one thread of life left to them now, it lay with Ning Chen.

Nor did Ning Chen disappoint them. He said with a smile, "Lord Geng. It has been a long time."

The familiar voice made Geng Jing turn his head sharply.

The instant he saw Ning Chen, he froze where he stood.

He threw a hand up sharply and stopped the armored horsemen who were ready to charge.

"Ning Chen, what are you doing here?"

Geng Jing's expression was surprise.

That great host of armored horsemen all looked at Ning Chen with curiosity on every face.

Ning Chen?

Was that not the Great Xuan's Idle Marquis?

Nobody in the army had seen Ning Chen, but they had all heard of the Great Xuan's boy hero.

Ning Chen came forward at a walk, somewhat surprised himself. "By the sound of it, you did not come here looking for me?"

Geng Jing shook his head. "I did not know you were here."

"Then what has Geng the Purple Coat come here to do?"

Geng Jing said in a low voice, "By His Majesty's edict. Of the Ghost-Shadow Sect not a man or a beast is to be left, not a blade of grass is to stand, and the ground it sits on is to be burned to bare earth."

Ning Chen was greatly startled.

Burned to bare earth meant that not so much as an ant was to be left living.