The sky grew hazily bright.
Yesterday the sky was cloudless, but by morning snow was falling thick and swirling. Li Langhua, always a light sleeper, woke up very early.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, watching the snow whirl outside, Li Langhua lifted the quilt and got up. Ruiqiu pushed the door open and handed over the prepared honey water.
How did you sleep?
Back in the capital, the old lady never slept well, tossing and turning every night. It’s uncertain how she’ll fare here.
Would a quieter environment help the old lady sleep better?
Where are the children? Li Langhua finished the water in her cup.
The eldest young lady has woken up—it seems she went next door. I haven’t seen the second young lady either, Ruiqiu said.
To avoid suspicion, Li Langhua arranged for Yun Xiao to stay in the villa next door.
It was only a wall apart—the two villas shared connected courtyards, and the residences were close.
"It’s snowing outside, and it looks quite heavy. The second young lady probably can’t go skiing." Ruiqiu said with a laugh as she looked out the window.
Li Langhua threw off the quilt, rose, and wrapped herself in a dark red cashmere robe before heading into the bathroom to wash up.
Ruiqiu went downstairs to the dining room and watched the servants prepare breakfast. The old lady, mindful of health, always had a particularly abundant morning meal, while Li Ruobing preferred something light—plain rice porridge was enough for her.
Li Li, spoiled as she was, had grown rather picky with food. If the dishes on the table didn’t suit her taste, she wouldn’t even touch half a bite.
And so the breakfast dishes ended up being more varied.
Rachel took the freshly baked waffles out of the oven and turned to glance at the doorway.
The two young girls still haven’t come back.
Li Ruobing stayed with the doctor to examine Yun Xiao’s injury. The anesthesia still hadn’t worn off, and Yun Xiao lay in bed unable to move.
Standing at the doorway, Li Ruobing was a little dazed, wondering how she would tell Grandma later.
This is very important.
If she doesn’t tell Li Langhua, and something really happens to Li Li, she won’t be able to explain herself.
But if Li Langhua is told, her health hasn’t been good lately—if her blood pressure suddenly spikes out of control, it could be serious.
The people she sent later went to the back mountain, but even after dawn they still found nothing.
“Young Miss, what are you doing?”
The servant returning with ingredients from the doorway looked at Li Ruobing, who was pacing there, unable to move forward.
“It’s nothing.”
Startled like that, Li Ruobing could only summon her courage and step into the living room.
The central heating kept the house at a constant temperature—though outside was an icy world of snow, inside it was warm as spring.
Only after setting the breakfast on the table did Ruiqiu notice Li Ruobing coming in.
Her smile faded, and Li Ruobing was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday; she looked utterly worn out.
She looked as if she hadn’t slept all night.
“What’s the matter with you?” Ruiqiu walked over, looking at Li Ruobing with concern.
Up close, Li Ruobing’s complexion looked even worse.
“Ah!” Ruiqiu clutched the hem of Li Ruobing’s clothes. “Is this blood?”
What has this child been up to, and why is there blood on her clothes?
The words Li Ruobing had prepared suddenly failed her, and she clutched Ruiqiu's hand.
“Aunt Qiu, something’s happened to Li Li…”
Ruiqiu first arranged for Li Ruobing to bathe and change clothes, then pressed her for the details.
In short, the Second Young Miss accidentally trespassed into the Mo family’s grounds and was trapped by them in the back mountain.
This matter is easy enough to resolve: the old matriarch can go directly to the Mo family to demand her, and if the Li family head himself comes to the door, surely the Mo family won’t refuse them that much respect.
Besides, the one trapped is the Li family’s eldest young miss—this is no laughing matter.
Ruiqiu hesitated at the doorway; just now the eldest young miss had said that Wen Li had already gone to rescue the Second Miss—something Ruiqiu had never imagined.
An entire night had passed with no movement, and Ruiqiu finally persuaded herself to open the door and step inside.
Li Langhua had already changed into fresh clothes, applied exquisite makeup, and adorned herself with jewelry and perfume without missing a single detail.
Even when resting at home for a day, the old matriarch would never allow herself to appear disheveled before the children.
“Madam.” Ruiqiu stood at the bathroom door.
Li Langhua saw, in the wall mirror before her, the person hesitating to speak; she lifted the perfume in her hand and sprayed it onto her neck.
“What’s wrong?”
Li Langhua calmly adjusted her attire, then raised her hand to straighten the jeweled earrings.
“The Second Miss is missing…”
Li Langhua dismissed it lightly: “Where has she run off to this time?”
This little girl has never given anyone peace of mind—every time she goes out, it’s sneaking off, and more than once she’s ignored them completely.
Li Langhua had long grown accustomed to her granddaughter’s unruly, unpredictable ways.
“No, this time the Second Miss has run into danger! She’s gone missing in the back mountain!”
As soon as Rachel finished speaking, the perfume bottle in Li Langhua’s hand smashed to the floor.
The strong fragrance filled the entire room as Li Langhua turned, her expression calm and unruffled.
“What did you say?”
Ruiqiu said anxiously, “The Eldest Miss said that last night the Second Miss ran into danger after going up the mountain. I heard the Mo family was chasing a traitor, surrounding the entire back mountain. They say there was even a gunfight, and up to now the Second Miss still hasn’t made a sound.”
At the words “gunfight,” Li Langhua’s vision went dark; she steadied herself by gripping the washstand.
“I don’t know the details clearly, only that Young Master Yunxiao came back badly wounded. Just now the Eldest Miss’s clothes were stained with blood. Madam, you must hold yourself together—no matter what, you have to go to the Mo family and make them hand over the Second Miss!”
At this moment, no one going over would be as useful as Li Langhua.
.........
The Black Forest Hall
Since morning, Mo Xianjun had felt a chill of unease, though he couldn’t tell why. After forcing down a couple of bites, he decided to head toward the holiday villa.
After all, that was the Fu family’s young master, not to be neglected easily.
As Mo Xiao returned with his men, Mo Xianjun was just about to leave. Seeing his son who hadn’t come home all night, Mo Xianjun’s face darkened.
“You’ve been out all night—did you go chasing women again?”
When it came to his son’s conduct, Mo Xianjun was utterly uneasy.
“Listen to yourself—I already said I was handling proper business. Why don’t you believe me?” Mo Xiao dropped into the nearby nanmu chair.
Mo Xianjun raised his hand to dismiss the attendants and sat down opposite his son.
“How are things going?”
“The coordination with them is complete, and our people have successfully entered Beishan.”
As long as it goes smoothly, there’s nothing to fear.
Once those people come out of North Mountain, Purgatory will send men over—so long as the Li family is driven out completely.
In the future, not just all of North City—even the whole of Country G might bow beneath the Mo family’s feet.
“Next, we’ll take Fu Yuxiu into the mountains. Didn’t he want to see the scenery at Beishan? Fine—let him stay there forever, never to return!”
As Mo Xianjun spoke, a faint gleam lit his eyes.
This is the most crucial proof of the Mo family’s break from the Fu's. A pity it wasn’t Fu Yuheng who came—but it’s enough.
Fu Yuxiu’s death was enough to cause quite a stir in the Fu family.
“I’ve suffered under the Fu family’s oppression for years—this time I can finally rise up.”
At that thought, Mo Xianjun felt utterly at ease, body and mind alike.
The man tasked with watching Fu Yuxiu rushed in from the doorway. “Master!”
Mo Xianjun straightened his posture. “Whatever it is, speak slowly—why the rush?”
“The young master is gone.” The man panted, head lowered.
Mo Xiao sprang up from his chair. “Where is he? Weren’t you supposed to be watching him?”
The person had already reached the Mo family’s domain, yet still managed to go missing?
What an unprecedented joke.
“The young master isn’t at the villa, and all his attendants are gone too.”
Mo Xiao kicked the man before him flying. “What kind of nonsense is this? Hurry up and find him!”
Over at Snow Valley, everything was already set—he’d even decided to keep the woman by Fu Yuxiu’s side.
And then overnight, they reported he was gone.
“Useless trash.” Mo Xianjun cursed harshly.
That brat was utterly useless—like a cooked duck that still managed to fly off. Mo Xianjun was nearly furious to death.
“Scolding me won’t help now—what matters is finding him!” Mo Xiao said, clutching his head.
“Could he be in the back mountain?”
Mo Xianjun suddenly spoke.
That remark jolted Mo Xiao’s memory—last night’s chaos had netted plenty of Li family spies, but he had no idea how many had slipped into the woods.
The checkpoint near the villa was forced open—meaning someone took that path into the back mountain.
Suddenly he recalled the wild rattle of the submachine gun, and Mo Xiao’s back went cold.
Could it be that at that very moment, Fu Yuxiu had already led his men into the northern mountain?
“Could it be… he went into the northern mountain?”
Mo Xianjun spoke the words with some hesitation. Seeing Mo Xiao remain silent, his face turned cold.
“Why would Fu Yuxiu enter the northern mountain—could it be he already knows about our deal with Purgatory?”
The northern mountain must now be full of Purgatory’s men.
Purgatory was able to enter the northern mountain only because the Mo family had handed over the map.
The Li and Mo families have been in North City for generations—surely they’ve always had maps of the northern mountain.
“Send men at once—no matter what, he must not leave the northern mountain alive!” Mo Xianjun ordered.
Mo Xiao brushed back his hair, his eyes firm. “That’s certain.”
Two men hurried in from outside the council hall and whispered something into Mo Xianjun’s ear.
“Come with me outside—it’s strange, everyone seems to be heading north.”
Mo Xiao wondered who his father meant—and soon he saw the person at the doorway.
The elderly lady who stepped down from the black van was full of grandeur—inside she wore a purple velvet qipao, outside draped in a mink coat, her whole bearing spirited and sharp.
The bodyguards fanned out to shield the old lady, one raising an umbrella over Li Langhua’s head to block the falling snow.
Mo Xianjun had of course seen Li Langhua before—countless times at the Fu family’s annual gatherings, this formidable iron lady.
“Li family head, your great arrival has been met with inadequate welcome. Please forgive us.”
Mo Xianjun stepped forward, bowing politely as he shook hands with Li Langhua.
“Master Mo, you’re too polite. It was my sudden arrival—I couldn’t inform you in advance, so please don’t take offense.”
Mo Xianjun, with a forced smile, welcomed her in. “It’s cold outside, Li family head, please come inside.”
Ruiqiu followed the old lady into the council hall, took her place at Li Langhua’s side, and fixed Mo Xianjun with a blank stare.
“You came all this way without telling me—your nephew would have gladly received you himself.” Mo Xianjun personally took the brewed tea from a servant and handed it to Li Langhua.
Li Langhua lifted her gaze slightly, sweeping over Mo Xiao who stood behind Mo Xianjun.
“Master Mo, spare the courtesies—I’ve come to demand answers.” Li Langhua was blunt, setting her teacup down on the table with a firm, measured thud.
Mo Xianjun smiled faintly. “I don’t quite know what you mean.”
Li Langhua turned to Mo Xiao. “I heard the Mo family was hunting traitors last night at the Snowfield Villa, is that right?”
“Yes, my poor management of the Black Forest Hall led to many internal troubles. Last night, it was my son who devised a plan—using the ski resort’s terrain to deal with several traitors.”
Mo Xianjun paused mid‑speech. “The Black Forest Hall controls half the power in North City—dealing with traitors on our own turf shouldn’t be a problem, should it?”
Simply put, in my own territory I do as I please—what business is it of your Li family in the capital?
“I arrived in North City the day before yesterday and have been staying at the Snowfield Villa since. Last night, a clever girl by my side insisted on climbing the mountain to watch the stars—she never returned. I sent people to look, but now the Mo family’s men are guarding the place, forbidding anyone to enter or leave.” Li Langhua spoke with measured calm.
Mo Xianjun stared at Li Langhua, wondering why the Li family was involved in this matter.
“I heard the young Mo master took quite a few people from the forest. I came to see if my girl was among them.”
Mo Xianjun reacted swiftly, plastering on a conciliatory smile. “I don’t know the details either—seems like a flood washing into the Dragon King’s temple. Xiao, hurry and bring them up so Madam Li can take a look.”
Ruiqiu watched expectantly as more than ten people were dragged out from the back of the hall, their faces already bruised and battered.
But after searching through them all, Li Li was nowhere to be seen—not a single woman among them.
“Take a look—see if your girl is among them.” Mo Xianjun gestured toward the captives.
Li Langhua kept her composure, withdrawing her gaze swiftly. “I reckon that girl is still hiding in the forest. Could I trouble Master Mo to lend a hand—I need to take people into the woods to search.”
Mo Xiao and Mo Xianjun exchanged a glance—what was this sudden appearance of an old matriarch supposed to mean?
“Master Mo, there’s no need to be so wary. I know the rules of the road—I won’t bring trouble to Black Forest Hall.” Li Langhua shifted the lid‑bowl in her hand. “But if you refuse, I may have to take other measures.”
In the end, Mo Xianjun agreed to let Li Langhua take people into the back mountain to search.
Once outside, Rachel offered comfort. “Don’t worry too much—Second Miss is blessed by fortune, she’ll be safe.”
“A whole night in the freezing snow—who knows how much that girl has suffered.” Li Langhua sighed.
Ruiqiu smiled. “Didn’t the eldest miss say so? Miss Wen Li went to rescue her. Perhaps by now she’s already found Second Miss, just waiting for us to fetch them.”
The old lady sighed. “Let’s hope so.”
Though she couldn’t tell what had happened, Li Langhua could sense something was amiss with the Mo family.
Better to bring them back as soon as possible, and leave North City altogether.
..........
When Li Langhua returned to the villa, Yun Xiao had already woken up.
Seeing the old lady enter, Yun Xiao struggled to sit up and offered her a heartfelt apology.
“I’m sorry, Grandma. I failed to take proper care of Li Li—it was my incompetence.”
Seeing Yun Xiao swathed thickly in bandages, Li Langhua felt no anger in her heart.
“Don’t blame yourself—no one ever wants something like this to happen.”
Nor can the blame be laid on Yun Xiao.
“Was Li Li safe when she parted from you?” Li Langhua couldn’t help but ask.
Yun Xiao nodded. “Safe.”
But later, too many things happened, the situation grew chaotic, and Li Li ended up lost.
She wasn’t able to make it back to the villa under his protection.
“No matter what, I should never have parted ways with her.” Yun Xiao said in self‑reproach.
The thought of her fleeing alone in the snow made Yun Xiao’s wounds ache all the more.
“I’ve already sent people into the mountain—there should be news soon.”
Li Langhua spoke as if to comfort herself, forcing her restless emotions and state of mind to settle.
“Rest well, child.”
Li Langhua stepped out of the room to find Li Ruobing already seated in the living room, waiting for her after such a long time in the mountains.
Even after bathing and changing clothes, she still felt her limbs trembling.
“I’m sorry, Grandma,” Li Ruobing said with heartfelt sincerity.
“Do you know where you went wrong?” Li Langhua asked, fixing her gaze on Li Ruobing.
Her head drooped even lower; Grandma was blaming her for not telling her about it right away.
If Li Langhua had negotiated with the Mo family in time, perhaps Li Li could have been brought back sooner.
But instead, she informed Wen Li to go and save them.
“In your heart, has she already outweighed me, the old matriarch? Do you think she has the ability to bring Li Li back?”
Li Langhua suddenly spoke, with a tone that carried the weight of accusation.
Seeing this, Ruiqiu advised softly, “Please don’t be like this—Miss is only thinking of your health.”
Talk of what’s important or not—such words chilled Li Ruobing’s heart.
“Grandma, I only worried you’d be too anxious, so I thought to seek Wen Li. She’s saved Li Li before, and she’s saved me too. Her skills are remarkable—I truly believe she’ll bring Li Li back.”
Li Ruobing spoke with such seriousness and resolve that Li Langhua was taken aback.
“Are you saying Wen Li will save Li Li no matter what? Where does your confidence come from, that she would risk her own safety to rescue Li Li?”
Li Langhua’s tone rose, as though she were trying to confirm something.
Li Ruobing looked at the old lady, and after a pause, she smiled.
“Haven’t you seen it yourself? Wen Li truly entered Northern Mountain, and even after a whole night she hasn’t given up on saving Li Li—isn’t that enough?”
Isn’t that enough?
The words struck Li Langhua like a harsh slap across the face, and her eyes suddenly reddened.
Yes, they’re blood sisters—where could so much scheming come from?
Even if bones are broken, the tendons still connect; though they didn’t grow up together, the bond of blood remains.
“What is it, truly, that she refuses to let go of…?
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