Dim water.

Three great demons walked abreast, and one of them suddenly drew a deep breath and looked back at the crowd of soldiers in their gorgeous fish-scale armor. “There is a cold draft down my back. Better make for the fief as quick as we can.”

The demon beside it, shaped like a lion with hair like serpents, curled its mouth without committing itself either way.

All three were White Jade Capital great demon generals. Perhaps they were the weaker among the eight who had ringed in the Cloud-Empyrean Pavilion, but in strength, in judgment, and in nerve besides, there was no fault to be found in them.

Though that depended on whom one measured them against.

They had heard of Su Hongxiu's dread name long since. But having actually seen her strike — even with the water-kin dodging early and keeping their losses down as far as they could — they still could not forget the keenness of that sword-light all the way back into the water.

It was hard to imagine how many great demon generals could have held it off if the blow had truly landed.

“And they say that is not even her fullest prime.”

The three great demons exchanged a glance, and each saw the fright still in the other's face.

In the days when that woman wore her young shape, even the Young Fourth Lord would likely have found it hard to escape her sword with its life.

The Fifth Prince might have the strength for a fight, but only for a fight… They were South Dragon Palace generals; and even leaning toward Ke Shiliang in their hearts, they found it hard to say the Prince could beat Su Hongxiu outright.

To be cowed by that woman's sword-light was nothing to be ashamed of.

They only felt something faintly wrong about it.

As things looked now, those few immortal sect Dao-sons seemed to be edging past the South Dragon Palace's own younger generation — and even an old-generation dragon son like the Fifth Prince found these prodigies very hard going.

At the White…