Zhan was in his study when he felt some movement in his house, he came out to see what was going on, but found no one.

His soldier instincts kicked in when he didn't see any servants around. He moved a little more forward only to see very tiny almost invisible patches of blood.

And that was enough for him to know that something was wrong but as soon as he was turned around he was attacked by two intruders, Zhan took out his dagger and blocked one's attack while dodging the others.

But he did receive a wound on his forearm.

He kicked the one whose attack he was blocking before using his dagger to slice off the neck of the other and while he fought with the previous ones he was attacked by two others and this time he was late to react before he could turn around to fight the others two, he had to finish the one he was fighting.

He kicked him before turning around and throwing his dagger at one of the other two that dagger went right through his heart while the other charged at him Zhan dodged his attack and grabbed his hand before using him as a shield because the first attacker tried to stab him but instead stabbed his companion Zhan used this chance to push him back and pick a sword and stabbing the previous one. All of this with a speed of light, earning the few splashes of blood on his face.

He moved forward and grabbed his dagger that was in the intruders chest, he wiped his face of the blood that was splashed on his face.

He heard a few footsteps and was ready to turn attack, he turned back, and when the intruder came neared and used his dagger but his dagger was blocked by another dagger.

Zhan whose eyes were that of a merciless beast showed some emotion, "Zhehan?"

Zhehan lowered his dagger, "We have to leave general the queen found out about the rebellion."

Zhan's eyes widened, "what? what about the princess."

"Master is at the palace she is most probably already captured. We have to leave now general but where is the duke?"

Zhan's face was covered with tension, "Simon, Yibo. What about Cheng and sister"

Zhehan replied, "I have already asked Miles to go to them and then meet in the temple of Nirvana."

He said and ran towards the exit, but he saw more guards coming in. So they ran to the other side, and took out their swords to fight, they did came across more guards and killed them but as they moved forward they saw smoke coming in before they heard explosion making them flinch, they took the other route and from the window, they saw that the mansion was set on fire and the garden was destroyed the servants were dead and so were the guards.

Zhehan grabbed his hand, "We can jump from here it looks clear."

Zhan also thought that it was great but he stopped suddenly Zhehan looked at him, "What's wrong?"

Zhan suddenly remembered what Simon had said before leaving, 

'Taking care of my book.'

Zhan took a step back, "I need to get that book."

He said and Zhehan frowned before he ran to Simon's room and Zhehan although he was shocked followed him.

Zhan, as usual, came across the guards and ran to them like a ruthlessly beast he summoned his sword and sliced them all to pieces, and Zhehan who was right behind him helped him behead the others.

But they did get injured in the process, especially Zhan. But that did not stop him from running to Simon's room. That was not at the end of the corridor engulfed with fire.

"General no."

Zhehan tried to stop him but Zhan ran through the fire and kicked open Simon's room door and looked for the book he went to the desk and found the book in the drawer he also found Simon's blood stored in small bottles at least twenty of them so he took them stuffed them in his bag but what he didn't notice was that the gigantic bookshelf behind him was falling down.

But before it can fall on Zhan someone grabbed him and pushed him to the side.

Making them both fall on the hot ground.

"Foolish child why are you here?" Zhan asked when he saw Zhehan.

"I can't really let you die. Duke and Lord Simon will get mad at me."

Zhan sighed, "Let's get out."

"But how everything is blocked from out and..."

Zhan smiled, "We are always prepared for this."

Zhan said and stood up before he walked towards the fallen bookshelf and picked up a book and took a key from it before he walked towards the desk and inserted the key in an untouched drawer and the wall against which the bookshelf once stood vanished revealing the secret passage, "Let's go."

Zhan took the key and walked in and Zhehan followed him since Zhan was inside the passage he closed it with the key again.

Before the two walked out from there, "We need to save Yibo."

Zhan spoke.

Zhehan nodded, "What about lord Simon?"

Zhan'sface hardened and he clenched his fist his hold o the book tightened, "If Simon is already deep inside the temple then I am afraid we will have to work hard."

Zhehan said nothing but he was worried too.

~~~~~

Meanwhile, in the Xiao residence, the same thing was going on.

The fire was spread and dead bodies decorated the floor and blood was sprayed like a red carpet.

As Cheng and Yanli along with Miles tried to escape, "Wait!"

"What now?" Yanli asked.

"My animal..." Cheng said before he ran towards his back garden and Yanli followed him without hesitation and Miles also went after them.

Cheng kicked open the door, "Sister there is another exit here, you know it opens it."

Yanli remembered what he meant and so she opened the exits, "Mile help me untie all of them."

He said and Miles helped him and Yanli joined as well, they freed the horses and dogs and cattle and but the birds that were in cages were still in cages, and the ones who weren't fly away.

Before they ran outside with the animals as they managed to escape.

~~~~~~~

Simon was quite confident as he reached the temple and was welcomed by Rufus.

Rufus welcomed him with a smile, "Simon, my blessing enter, enter."

Simon came in with a smile, the two hugged before they went inside the temple.

Aurelia was there as well and she bowed to Rufus who gave her a firm nod.

"Everything is prepared for the ceremony..."  Rufus explained to Simon as they walked deep inside the temple towards the ritual room. Aurelia and other disciples were there as well.

The room had the two statues of goddess Duat and Ankh.

Rufus stood straight and with him were the other two people named Aurelia and her father Austin.

All three of them smile and Simon greeted them, Rufus spoke, "We should begin the ritual."

Rufus said and a small bowl was kept on the round table and four people stood around it in a circle.

Rufus poured some holy water into the bowl before he cut his hand and pour his own blood into it.

Aurelia and Austin stood on Rufus's side. Rufus soon started to chant some mantras. The four corners of the room were lit with lanterns 

And asked Simon to pour his blood as well Simon took the dagger that Rufus gave him and cut his hand as he placed it above the bowl letting his blood drip in it. For this ritual, the favored one has to willingly give his blood, because if he wished to lift the curse then his wish will be the goddess's wish. 

Rufus spoke, "OH GODDESS ANKH, THE RULER OF LIGHT THE BRINGER OF PEACE THE NATURE ITSELF THE KINDEST BEING... GRANT THIS WORSHIPPER OF YOURS FREEDOM, GRANT THIS CHILD OF YOURS YOUR BLESSING, AND FREE HIM OF HIS SINS!!!"

He said before he picked up the bowl that now had red liquid in it and slowly bought it to his mouth, Aurelia and Austin were eagerly looking at him.

The golden lines appeared on Rufus's hands as he connected the bowl with his lips and took the first sip.

And as soon as the liquid went down his throat, the golden lines slowly vanished.

Aurelia and her father rejoiced, Aurelia because she was raised for this task to give birth to the one who can free Rufus from this curse and now her purpose was fulfilled.

Austin was happy because he finally paid off the debt that he owed to Rufus for saving his life back in the day when he was injured by robbers.

Simon was smiling as well but his smile hid the sinisterness in his eyes.

His smile widened when, Rufus kept the bowl down and rejoiced, the golden lines were gone, and observed his body before exclaiming, "Yes!, YeS! finally I am free after years of practice I am free..." But before he can complete he stopped and felt immense pain so much pain that he fell to the ground and vomit blood.

Aurelia and Austin watched with shock while Simon smirked.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH" Rufus screamed he felt like all his organs were twisting and he writhed in pain and agony before blood leaked from his eyes, nose, and ears and he looked at Simon who had a gentle smile on his face.

"Y...ou..." Rufus spoke and Simon didn't move he just winked at him and his body exploded and blood splattered in the room.

The pieced of his organs flew across the room and were splashed on Aurelia and Austin's faces on the floor and on the walls.

Aurelia and Austin were shocked to see what had happened, before she Aurelia slowly raised her hand that seemed as heavy as a boulder her body stiff and frozen. She touched her face with her hovering hands and looked at her fingers to see a piece of tissue on her hand.

She bought her other hand on the face and felt the trace of something red a tissue before she screamed at the top of her lungs, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

She fell to the ground in hysteria and crawled back.

Simon, however, smiled sinisterly, "You are not needed anymore Rufus." he said in a cold and husky voice.

He then looked at Aurelia and then at Austin who was dumbfounded as well.

However, his smile and efforts did not last long as the door burst open, when Simon turned around to see who it was he saw Cassandra with a dagger, and without any hesitation, she threw the dagger at him and it pierced his chest thankfully not the heart.

Simon felt dizzy, he took out the dagger from his chest it was poisoned but he could heel he looked at Cassandra who smirked, but before Simon could do anything he heard Aurelia say...

"Father, what are you doing?" 

Simon turned around only to be hit by something on his head, he fell to the ground bleeding from his head, he tried to stay awake but couldn't the last thing he remembered was Cassandra's wicked smile before he lost consciousness.

"Fuck."