Outside the forest of North Mountain.
Starting at eight o’clock yesterday morning, the Mo family gathered every member they could and sealed all the entrances to North Mountain tightly.
Even more terrifying, the Mo family not only gathered manpower but also moved in every heavy weapon they could mobilize.
With GPS‑guided shell programming, the operator at this moment precisely targeted the main peak of North Mountain.
By now it was already four in the afternoon, and those waiting for orders were taking turns to eat in waves.
Mo Xiao glanced at his wristwatch. After waiting the whole day without anyone coming out, he figured it was about time.
If night fell and still no one came out, it was likely those people had all perished in the mountain.
North Mountain's reputation as a human‑forbidden zone is no exaggeration.
Those who enter cannot come out alive, and that is no rumor.
Mo Xiao yawned. If those people could really die in the mountain, there would have been no need for such a grand mobilization.
Young Master, how much longer must we wait? One of his men stepped forward.
Mo Xiao replied, wait two more days.
The subordinate could only nod in obedience; it was an order from above, and no matter what, he could not refute it.
It had already been a full two days of waiting, and all the gathered manpower was training on the open ground at the edge of North Mountain according to Mo Xianjun’s orders.
This place had originally been used by Black Forest Hall's people as their outdoor training ground.
Never before had it been this strict—this time they even brought artillery shells.
Li Zhui, hiding with his men in the shadows, after seeing clearly the Mo family’s maneuvers, turned and led them out of North Mountain's bounds.
“Young Master, what exactly is the Mo family trying to do?” Li Zhui’s aide spoke up.
Suddenly deciding to train, they summoned all manpower to North Mountain's side—this whole sequence of moves is baffling.
“Two days ago Fu Yuxiu entered North Mountain, and for several days there’s been no trace or news. What do you think he’s trying to do?” Li Zhui asked.
After pondering for a long while, the aide finally spoke: “Are they planning to make a move against Fu Yuxiu?”
“If Fu Yuxiu manages to come out of North Mountain alive, he’ll likely be killed the moment he steps out. If he doesn’t make it out, that’s exactly the outcome they’re hoping for.”
The aide’s eyes lit up as he listened. “Should we lend a hand?”
No matter how deep the divisions or hostility between the Li and Mo families, when it came to Fu Yuxiu they shared only one thought: that he should die in North Mountain.
For the Li family, Fu Yuxiu’s death would mean that their long‑supported Fu Yuheng could take the clan leader’s seat—this was the best outcome.
“Mo Xiao won’t let him come out alive. Why should I interfere? We’ll just wait until they finish fighting, then reap the fisherman’s profit.”
Fu Yuheng’s original promise was that if he could successfully take the Fu clan’s master seat, then from that day forward all of North City would belong to the Li family, with no place left for the Mo family.
This is a promise.
It was also the condition under which the Li family agreed to support him.
“Let them fight.” Li Zhui closed the car window.
Li Langhua also sensed something was wrong with the Mo clan. These past few days, the whole family has been anxiously waiting for Li Li’s return.
Ever since the day Li Langhua went to meet Mo Xianjun, the Mo clan has stationed people around the villa.
Sneaky and furtive, with a clear intent to spy.
Inside North Mountain it’s a race against death, and outside it’s hardly a calm or peaceful scene.
Li Langhua drew the curtains shut, and by now the men transferred from the Imperial Capital were already guarding outside the villa.
The two groups faced each other openly, as if ready to draw guns for a showdown at any moment.
“Tell me, what’s going on out there? What are the Mo and Li families trying to do?” Ruiqiu asked anxiously.
Li Langhua gazed out the window, draining the lemon water in her hand to the last drop.
“The Mo and Li clans already know the young master went into North Mountain. They’ve only made a token show of sending a few groups in to search, but the Mo clan quickly moved to surround the entrance. Can’t you see what that means?”
Ruiqiu suddenly understood—this was rebellion from the Mo clan.
This is laying all intentions bare in the open.
“Could it be that both families already harbor thoughts of rebellion?” Li Ruobing stepped forward.
Far away in the Imperial Capital, Li Yuanzhi already knew of the situation here, and in accordance with the old matriarch’s orders, he has reported it to the Fu clan.
But three whole days have passed, and not a single word of news has come.
According to Li Yuanzhi, the patriarch personally received him, but only spoke a single faint line.
If a child of the Fu clan can’t manage even this, they’re unworthy of the name.
Moreover, rumors long swirled about the Fu clan: some time ago, the patriarch had already entrusted the northern affairs to Fu Yuxiu.
With the tense standoff outside, it’s clear the Mo clan has already schemed to include them too.
“Grandmother, what should we do now?” Li Ruobing stepped forward to ask.
So many days have passed, yet no one inside has come out—Li Li and Wen Li’s fate remains unknown.
Her heart grew more and more uncertain.
“Wait.” Li Langhua spoke.
Things have come to this point—whatever ending awaits, they must accept it.
..........
After walking a full day and night in the snow, Xiao Yan’s burden—once unconscious from anesthesia—had now awakened.
Li Li listened to the crunch of snow beneath their steps, gazing drowsily at the one carrying her back.
“Are we almost out?” Her voice was so light, like drifting fluff.
“Yes—two more hours of walking, and we’ll be out of North Mountain.”
Xiao Yan spoke, his steps steady, adjusting her arm upward with support.
“Rest for a while.” Li Li raised her hand and gently touched his forehead.
The stitches on the elbow throbbed painfully once the anesthesia wore off.
Hearing her faint groans, Xiao Yan halted and carefully lowered her from his back.
“Take the medicine,” Xiao Yan said, offering her the painkillers Wen Li had provided.
Her face pale, Li Li looked off into the distance and murmured, “I wonder how Wen Li is faring.”
She saw it clearly—the monster with a gaping bloody maw and a hideous face. This was not something human strength could overcome.
“Take the medicine first.”
Xiao Yan put the medicine bottle away. Wen Li’s willingness to let them leave meant she had a way to escape that monster’s grasp.
Her calm composure was unlike Li Li and the others’ forced bravery—hers was true confidence, utterly fearless.
“If we keep walking ahead, will we run into those people again?”
Those with malice would never allow them to leave this forest alive.
In North Mountain, the greatest fear is freezing to death, failing to survive, and being torn apart by beasts.
But once they leave North Mountain, what awaits outside is a storm of blood and carnage.
Li Li wasn’t a fool. On the road from the imperial capital to North City, she had listened to her grandmother explain the current state of the Mo and Li families.
If turmoil truly breaks out in North City, none of them will escape.
Besides, Jiang Yunhao was clearly allied with the Mo family, and Xiao Yan was his subordinate.
If they discovered Xiao Yan had helped her, he probably wouldn’t survive.
“When we go further, you should separate from me. They mustn’t see you.” Li Li spoke.
Xiao Yan glanced at the wound on his chest and let out a faint smile—the blade outside the forest had been meant for his heart.
It was only because his heart was slightly different from ordinary people’s—grown a little off‑center—that he managed to survive.
“You don’t worry about what you should, and you think I’d risk my life as well?”
As Xiao Yan spoke, he finished packing his things.
She took a painkiller, and the pain slowly eased.
Wen Li was, after all, the Medicine God. Naturally, the medicine she used was far more effective—already the pain was gone.
“I can walk on my own now. You’re injured—there’s no need to carry me.”
Li Li spoke as she stood up, but after these days of hardship, her body had reached its limit.
“I’ve been carrying you all this time; a little longer won’t make a difference.”
As Xiao Yan spoke, he bent down and lifted her onto his back.
After walking a few meters, they suddenly ran into the men sent by the Mo family—those who had been searching the snowy ground for a whole day and night.
Seeing the two appear made the men instantly excited—like a wolf pack that had found prey.
They charged forward with guns in hand; Xiao Yan set her down and raised his own weapon.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!!!”
Gunfire sounded behind Xiao Yan. The two turned and saw Xia Chen and Fei Ran catching up.
The two fought with impressive strength; every shot hit its mark, and they quickly took down the group.
“Why are you two here? Where’s Wen Li?” Li Li struggled to look back.
But Wen Li’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
“The boss still has matters to handle. She sent us ahead to prepare for their arrival.”
Xia Chen holstered his weapon and brought out a control panel.
Once they left the central zone, the positioning system finally began to function.
“Let’s go. We need to figure out how to get you out of here first.”
They were already near the very edge of the forest; stepping out would mean leaving North Mountain.
Fei Ran pressed the comms device at his ear, instantly connecting with the people on the other side.
“You finally connected after all this time—I thought something had happened to you.”
On the other end, Hong Yun was clearly overwhelmed with emotion.
“We just got out. How are things on your side?” Fei Ran pressed the earpiece.
“Everyone has reached the designated location, awaiting the boss’s orders.”
On the other end, Hong Yun spoke: their Dark Palace had waited this long, silently encircling the entire North City.
And they held back from striking, waiting only for the boss’s command.
“You may strike now. Pass on the boss’s order: spare only the Mo father and son—everyone else is to be killed without mercy, no survivors.”
“Understood.”
Those who dare scheme against their boss must bear the consequences.
“Let’s head out first.”
Just as they were about to step out of the forest, a noise came from behind.
As they turned back, Fei Ran and Xia Chen’s faces changed drastically—the snow on the central peak was cascading down in layers.
“Avalanche!”
The young master and Miss Wen Li are still over at the main peak.
“Hurry and dispatch manpower! An avalanche has struck!!” Fei Ran barked into the headset.
Such a massive avalanche means the situation is truly dire…
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