The silence clearly was not meant to last as a series of gong strikes rang out from the northern edge of the arena, which were not celebratory, but sharp and discordant.
People flinched at the sound as a group of city guards in full armor marched onto the field, flanking five approaching figures dressed in the formal robes of sect leadership.
The heads of the Heaven Dew Sect, Iron Banner Hall, Azure Sword Pavilion, Ghost Valley School, and even Zen Sect's publicly recognized representative—none other than Brother Mian himself—walked side by side with grim expressions.
The air turned thick with malice and tension.
Elder Bai Tianmu stepped forward first, voice laced with frost. "We have urgent cause to interrupt this farce of a festival."
The Governor's eyes twitched. "What is the meaning of this, Elder Bai?"
Duan Xing of the Iron Banner Hall raised a scroll high. "This is an official writ from our five sects, unified in suspicion and concern."
