Chapter 145: At a Dead End

Wei Ke Na still leads the Dark Night Elf sisters away from He Rui Peak, Li Bucai and the others escorted them down to the foot of the peak, watching them disappear into the valley.

After days of fighting, everyone was weary; Young Marshal yawned a long yawn and said, "It's still early, should we go back or stay here."

"If Young Marshal intends to return to Zhuo Wang Jian, we'll send people to escort you back."

"Actually, I think this place is fine; are you planning to make He Rui Peak your castle?"

"Exactly. There are so many stone houses and so many sleeping caves, all ready-made. From now on, this is the main city of Huachi."

"Aren't you worried about the other side of the mountain?"

"If anything happens, they will light the beacon at once. Now, it's more important to get a good grasp of the surrounding situation."

"Speaking of it, the Tree Elf army suddenly descended like divine troops from the Dark Night Elf valley. How did they appear so suddenly? Could there be a secret passage?"

"I've already sent people to investigate; news will come shortly. In this battle, without Young Marshal's help, we wouldn't know how long it would drag on. Li Bucai thanks Young Marshal for the strong support."

Young Marshal is no stranger to praise; he has become numb to flattery, yet when he spoke, a light, floating feeling emerged, and the pride he had long suppressed resurfaced on his face.

"There's no need to thank me; after all, I also need to train troops, and wars are inevitable. Consider it training while I impart some experience to you."

Li Bucai laughed, "So, does Young Marshal plan to return to Zhuo Wang Jian to rest, or stay here?"

"Help people to the end; anyway, there's nothing to do when we go back."

Li Bucai smiled and invited her back to Wangyueku.

Wangyueku sits on the two levels near the Life Spring, encircling the spring. There are twenty‑four sizable sleeping caves, each as large as a small hall, with a main hall, bedrooms, and a living room. At present, the Tree Elves have decorated it with flora like an Eden. The bedroom area exceeds one hundred square meters; unlike the upper sleeping caves, there is no separate bedroom chamber, only a large bed in the center. Originally, these twelve rooms served as the residences of the Undead King, with one chosen at random each day to prevent assassination.

Around that large bed, vines as dense as rainwater grew. When a person approached, the vines would flash open a doorway. The bed was covered with soft herbs, which the Tree Elves use in place of bedding.

Yue Ji and the others thoroughly inspected the sleeping caves and secret passages. Just after emerging from a secret passage, they saw Li Bucai return, his face alight with joy at reclaiming the Life Spring; even the usually solemn Yue Ji couldn't hide a faint smile.

In unison they said, "We thank the Sovereign and the clan chief on behalf of our ancestors for helping us reclaim the Life Spring."

"Why speak as two families? As your clan chief, I ought to do so."

"The Sovereign has been campaigning for days and must be exhausted; please take care of your health. Leave everything here to us."

Li Bucai nodded, "Bai Guang, any news? Also, release the Qingwolf Beasts kept in the cave."

Yue Ji replied, "We've already sent other Qingwolf Beasts to search; they should return soon." She ordered the servants to release the Qingwolf Beast cubs locked in the secret passage.

Li Bucai was still a bit worried. As he spoke, a voice came from the cave entrance, "They're back, they're back."

Head Wolf Bai Guang clutched a Qingwolf Beast corpse in his mouth and dragged it down the plank road. At that moment, over five hundred Qingwolf Beast cubs were released, crawling out of the sleeping caves. Upon seeing Bai Guang holding their Head Wolf, they let out low growls in intimidation.

A pack of young wolves dared to disrespect the wolf king Bai Guang; it flicked its head, sending a massive Qingwolf Beast corpse soaring with a "splash" into a distant pack. It let out a sky‑piercing howl that echoed through Wangyueku, deafening. The startled cubs involuntarily stepped back, then realized the thrown corpse was their Head Wolf. In the pack, the victor is king; now the Head Wolf was dead, the cubs lowered their forepaws and pressed their heads against it, showing submission.

Bai Guang nodded, strode down with authority; the pack automatically cleared a path. As Bai Guang passed, they followed behind, descending to the cave floor.

"This lot of Qingwolf Beast scum even dared to hide beneath the Goblin. Now, I've beheaded them; from now on, all Qingwolf Beasts here obey me and will be dealt with as the master wishes."

Li Bucai said, "Since the leader has been killed by you, the rest are just unruly youngsters; let them stay here."

Bai Guang nodded, performed a bow, and said, "I thank the benevolent master on behalf of these disobedient youngsters."

Li Bucai nodded and assigned the Qingwolf Beasts to be kept outside the cave, with dedicated staff to tend their food and other needs.

After a long ordeal, more than half a day passed. Seeing Bai Guang return, Li Bucai felt a weight lift from his heart; drowsiness rose, he stretched lazily and prepared to return to his room to rest.

……

It is said that Wei Ke Na led the Dark Night Elf group on the road to Moon God Cave; they did not know how the tribe's settlement had been damaged by the Tree Elves, but considering Moon God Cave's numerous and extremely sturdy mechanisms, it wouldn't be utterly ruined. As long as Moon God Cave remains, even with only about two hundred people, it can still be maintained.

After half a day of forced march, they finally reached the end of the valley, a towering cliff reaching the clouds. The entrance to Moon God Cave lay in a hidden spot at the foot of the cliff. When they arrived, the entrance was still intact, and they let out a long sigh of relief. As they entered the cave and proceeded a hundred meters, many longbows of Tree Elves were thrown ahead; they had fallen into a trap set by the cave's mechanisms.

In fact, the Tree Elves numbered over ten thousand; when attacking Moon God Cave, the myriad mechanisms caused them to lose half their forces.

The road ahead was blocked by fallen rubble from the cave ceiling, as if a massive earthquake had just occurred. Wei Ke Na knocked on the broken stones; the blockage was very solid, with many stones as large as houses.

"Wei Ke Na, the entrance over there is also blocked."

"That side as well."

As the few who split off to search for passages returned, Wei Ke Na felt a tightening in her heart, a foreboding feeling: "Could the gunpowder have come from the goblins?"

Then, more fragments of stone fell from the ceiling, producing a crackling sound; the whole cavern trembled as if about to collapse.

"Not good, it's collapsing, get out quickly."

The group hurried out of the cave; as the last person emerged, the interior was littered with rubble. Then a massive stone, shaped like a knife‑sharpened cliff, rolled down, and with a "Boom" it sealed the entrance completely.

The people burst into tears, "What do we do? We can't return to Moon God Cave. Without it, there are still so many Tree Elves we haven't slain; how can we survive?"