"Let's go. If he wants to march to his death, then so be it!"
A trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes as he turned and disappeared into the night.
Leng Qingzhu looked on silently, recalling all the times Senior Brother Qin Ming had been kind to her, and her feelings grew even more complicated. But she was never the indecisive type. Worried it might affect the plan, she immediately composed herself and followed Liu Lanyi back up the mountain.
Everything was calm, as if nothing had happened.
But what had happened could never be undone.
…
"Junior Sister Song, here."
Liu Xingzhi handed Song Wanníng a piece of roasted meat, slicing off another for himself and eating it slowly.
Song Wanníng took the meat casually, tossing it into her mouth while her mind stayed focused on their plan.
She already knew from the sect master that Martial Uncle Qin Ming had left the sect and was probably heading toward the Beast Realm. Now all they had to do was wait for him to step into the trap.
The night air grew colder as winter set in, sending chills through the surroundings. Shadows of trees swayed with the breeze, and She Yi and Mei Huan appeared nearby, looking anxious.
"Master, we're here!"
She Yi's face was pale with fear, as if they'd encountered something terrifying.
Mei Huan looked equally pale and restless, visibly on edge.
"What's wrong?" Song Wanníng's expression remained calm as her divine sense quickly spread out, finding no immediate danger.
"It's… the Snake Clan! They're under attack!
The beast factions teamed up and surrounded them, claiming they wanted the Snake Clan to hand over Gong Ye.
The Snake Clan patriarch insisted Gong Ye had long abandoned the Snake Clan, and it had nothing to do with them. But the evil cultivators didn't care—they just attacked anyway. We barely escaped ourselves!"
She Yi's face showed lingering terror. If not for Song Wanníng giving him a talisman, he would've ended up as cannon fodder in the battle.
"Master, the Snake Clan is probably done for this time!" Mei Huan wiped sweat from her brow, grateful they'd fled quickly.
"Hah, these factions are smart, climbing the ladder as soon as it's offered." Song Wanníng gave a cold laugh, unsurprised.
The Snake Clan must be fuming. Gong Ye hadn't gained a shred of glory, but they were taking all the heat. Now they were facing potential extinction. But the Cultivation Realm was always like this—everything came down to interests, especially with beast cultivators involved…
She glanced at Liu Xingzhi, who seemed utterly uninterested in the chaos, sitting in the shadows with cold detachment.
She Yi and Mei Huan finally noticed Liu Xingzhi and instinctively shrank back, moving behind Song Wanníng.
"The Snake Clan shouldn't stay here. You two should return to your previous cave," Song Wanníng instructed. "I have matters to handle. You following will only hold us back."
"Yes, understood."
They didn't linger, retreating to the hidden cave as ordered.
Once they left, Song Wanníng fell silent again. She closed her eyes to cultivate and waited for Qin Ming's arrival.
…
Seven or eight days passed in the blink of an eye. Song Wanníng and Liu Xingzhi swept through monsters, hunting nests while waiting for Qin Ming.
They planned to capture him alive to trace the mastermind, so luring him into the formation was critical, leaving no room for escape.
Yet as time dragged on, Qin Ming never appeared. Instead, a new wave of monsters arrived. This wave was different from before, seemingly trying to lure them elsewhere.
Sensing something was wrong, Song Wanníng and Liu Xingzhi moved back-to-back, quickly strategizing.
"Looks like they expected us to be prepared," Liu Xingzhi said grimly. If Qin Ming didn't bite, waiting here would be pointless. But if they followed, unimaginable danger could await.
"Do we go?" He asked coldly, though he already knew the answer.
A strand of hair brushed Song Wanníng's face, accentuating her sharp, cold expression.
"Yes!"
She said firmly. "If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain!"
"Good, let's move!"
Liu Xingzhi didn't argue. Their attacks grew sharper and more ruthless as they followed the monsters' trail toward an unknown destination.
Meanwhile, Luo Hantian, Liu Lanyi, and Leng Qingzhu were en route as well. To mislead the mastermind, they had waited several days at the sect before leaving. Now, finally, they had a reason to head out at full speed.
They worried for Song Wanníng and Liu Xingzhi's safety, but also wanted to handle this quietly.
After all, Guhan Sect couldn't shoulder this crime, nor could they risk it.
…
"Chirp—"
Boom—
A loud explosion shattered monsters into pieces.
A sword light streaked through, scattering the creatures.
Song Wanníng and Liu Xingzhi paused mid-chase, hovering in the air and cautiously scanning their surroundings.
Suddenly, the chirping resumed.
Looking up, they saw countless monsters surging in from all directions.
A formation rose around them, trapping them inside.
They could enter, but couldn't leave.
Monsters swarmed like a living wave, eyes glowing red and mad with frenzy.
Song Wanníng's sword flashed, her battle intent burning. She knew the most critical moment had arrived.
"Chirp—"
The piercing cries shattered the sky, monsters blotting out the sun.
All other beasts had fled, unwilling to linger.
The shrill noise filled their ears.
Boom—
"Chirp—"
The battle erupted again, swords and blades flashing, thunder crashing down. Explosions claimed countless lives of the monsters. But there were too many, far too many. Before they could finish one wave, another surged, leaving no room to breathe.
Song Wanníng's eyes narrowed as she shouted into the void, "You cowards, hiding behind monsters! Is that all you've got?
People like you actually dream of uniting the spirit world?
What a joke!"
Her voice rang like a bell, deep and resonant, carrying to every corner, dripping with mockery.
Since the mastermind had deliberately lured them here, it seemed there was no intention to hide anymore.
Sure enough, as soon as she spoke, a figure emerged from the shadows, falling behind the monster horde!
"It's you?!!!"