The bronze toll of the Neurotoxin Alarm had barely ceased echoing across Mount Apex. Just then, the sky turned a rainbow-bright emerald green.
Dozens of high-sky flying palanquins carved from bitter pine-resin wood and silver jade dropped through the greasy black rain, landing around the outer edge of the guest courtyard.
Emerging from the lead carriage was an imposing delegation clad in deep emerald robes with white-gold filigree.
On the left was Grand Physician Qi, Chief of the Continental Physician Guild, his waist hung with twelve silver acupuncture needles the size of dress swords. On the right was Grand Poison Master Xie, Sovereign Arbiter of the Poison Guild, wearing black leather gauntlets and a bronze plague mask shaped like a coiled viper.
Between them stood Elder Gu, his scarlet mantle billowing as he led the two grand arbiters directly toward Frank’s tea table.
“Arrest him!” Elder Gu roared, his finger stabbing through the damp air toward the bubbling zinc-coated pail. “Grand Arbiters, see the crime! This unlisted mortal handyman has deployed forbidden demonic bio-weapons inside the Sages’ Sanctum! He pulled out nether-rot and packed it in that crude metal cooking pot to murder our students!”
Grand Poison Master Xie adjusted his bronze viper mask, his green-tinted eyes narrowing as he analyzed the billowing yellow vapor.
