Chapter 77

“But how did they break through the outer sentries? When we fled back up the mountain, we clearly ordered all the guards along the way to increase their vigilance.” Li Feiyu muttered, puzzled.

“There’s nothing strange about it. The Wild Wolf Gang must have planned this large-scale attack for a long time. Planting a few traitors among the outer sentries would be easy. With these inside agents guiding them, it’s only natural that the outposts were silently overrun.”

“But the Wild Wolf Gang can’t possibly hope to easily seize all the branch halls. I suspect they intend to surround all the peaks where each hall is located without attacking, while concentrating their top experts to focus solely on storming the Sunset Peak—the location of our main hall. Once they capture or kill our leadership, the rest of the halls will collapse on their own.”

“Then what should we do now? Should we go to Sunset Peak?” Li Feiyu asked anxiously.

Han Li fell silent for a long moment, then suddenly turned to Li Feiyu and said in a low, firm voice:

“You haven’t told me yet—how could so many experts in your negotiation party have been wiped out? Logically, the Wild Wolf Gang couldn’t possibly have such strength.”

At these words, Li Feiyu’s facial muscles twitched. He involuntarily licked his dry lips and gave a bitter smile.

“They deployed a large number of linked crossbows—military-grade reinforced models.”

“Military-linked crossbows?”

“Yes.”

“Two days after we left the mountain, we were crossing a grassland. Since we were still within our own territory, everyone was relaxed. Suddenly, countless Wild Wolf Gang members erupted from beneath the ground, each wielding a hard crossbow. A torrent of bolts rained down upon us—so dense that every disciple with even slightly weak cultivation was cut down on the spot. Only a few with extremely high cultivation or sheer luck managed to survive the barrage, but even they were all wounded, their strength severely diminished. I was one of the lucky ones—if not, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Even as he spoke, Li Feiyu still trembled with lingering fear; a trace of dread flickered in his eyes. The horror of that mass crossbow volley had left a deep mark on him.

“After the bolts were spent, their experts moved in. We were thrown into brutal combat. To increase our chances of survival, the survivors split up and tried to break out individually.”

“I was lucky. In their eyes, I wasn’t a high-priority target, so few pursued me, and those who did weren’t particularly strong. I actually managed to fight my way out. But when I turned back, I discovered that every outpost along the way—once ours—had been seized by the Wild Wolf Gang. They’d replaced our people with their own, lying in wait for survivors like me to walk into their trap. After falling for their ruse once or twice, I stopped seeking help altogether.”

“To find out what happened to the others, I finally made up my mind and ambushed one of the Wild Wolf Gang’s blue-robed enforcers. From him, I learned that Master Wu and several Elders had been overwhelmed by their elite forces and killed. Only a few of us—like me—who weren’t considered important targets but still had decent cultivation managed to escape.”

“Once I heard that news, I didn’t dare waste another moment—I raced back toward the mountain. On the way, I accidentally met two other attendants who had also escaped. We fled together for a day and night, finally reaching the mountain.”

“As soon as we returned, those two attendants went straight to Sunset Peak to report that the negotiation party had been annihilated. I made up an excuse about needing to recover from injuries and slipped over here first to discuss a strategy with you.”

“Think about it—Master Wu and so many others died in the ambush, yet only a handful of us—people neither high nor low in status—survived. To shift blame, who knows if the higher-ups might turn their fury on us and make us scapegoats?”

“Now, before I’ve even explained this to you, the Wild Wolf Gang has already stormed the mountain. What do we do now?”

Li Feiyu had spoken all this in one breath; his expression had turned weary and helpless.

Han Li frowned slightly, tilting his head to think.

The cries of battle on the mountain had grown fiercer; occasional piercing screams of the dying echoed through the air, sending chills down the spine.

“Do you still have any subordinates on the mountain?” Han Li’s voice had grown very low.

“Yes. I still have over twenty men, stationed in several houses near Master Li’s residence. I’d planned to take them off the mountain after the negotiation returned.”

“Good. Let’s head to Master Li’s residence first. Gather your men there, then meet up with Miss Zhang Xiuer and Master Li. We’ll decide our next move only after we understand the full situation.” Han Li spoke calmly, utterly composed.

“Alright. I’ll follow your lead.”

“It’s so chaotic outside—I’m really worried about Xiuer!” Li Feiyu sounded tense.

Han Li glanced at Li Feiyu, wondering how the man could be so contradictory: deeply anxious and devoted to Zhang Xiuer on one hand, yet knowingly courting her despite knowing his own life was short—clearly intending to leave her a widow!

“What a contradictory bastard,” Han Li silently judged his friend.

Han Li leapt lightly down from the roof. Li Feiyu followed right after.

“I’ll gather my things. Then we leave immediately.”

“Hurry. I’m terrified for Xiuer’s safety.”

Han Li said nothing at that.

Li Feiyu kept saying “Xiuer” in that cloying tone—it made Han Li feel both disdain and a flicker of envy.

Han Li ignored Li Feiyu’s sudden transformation into a lovesick fool and returned inside, swiftly gathering a few essential items.

web