Chapter 86 - 83: Schemes and Calculations

Chapter 86: Chapter 83: Schemes and CalculationsPanlong Mountain Range spanned thousands of miles with no end in sight. To cross it was akin to scaling a precipitous peak, an immensely challenging feat. A night passed, and by the next day, the number of experts who had entered Panlong Mountain Range had increased. Leading this batch were the forces of the Jun and Xie families, as well as masters mobilized from all corners and even some skilled soldiers from the army, all pursuing Ye Xuan. High in the sky, agile hawks soared and circled from time to time. These were no ordinary birds but reconnaissance eagles raised by the army, possessing a keen ability for aerial surveillance. Utilizing their view from high above, there was a good chance they would spot Ye Xuan if he showed himself. At this moment, Ye Xuan sat quietly in a cave beneath a cliff, taking out a piece of dried meat from his Qiankun Ring and starting to gnaw on it. Outside, they were probably scouring the land for him. At a time like this, laying low was undoubtedly the wise choice. Not to mention the vast expanse of the entire Panlong Mountain Range, even this trial site alone spanned seven or eight hundred miles. Considering the mix of family masters and the army contingent, there were barely a thousand people; the chances they had to find his hiding place in such a vast area were slim. After all, even if ordinary soldiers entered the mountain, they would be of little use. The poisonous insects and fierce beasts alone would inflict heavy casualties upon them. But that also meant his movements were restricted. At least for now, he couldn’t continue on his way. It was just the beginning of spring, and the branches and leaves in the woods had not yet grown. A moment of inattention, and he could very well be spotted by the reconnaissance eagles overhead. Once discovered, it would be difficult to escape. At such a critical juncture, Jun Zhantian and Xie Guangbo were probably also in the mountains. If he were to run into those two, he’d have no chance of escaping. The exits leading from the base of Panlong Mountain to Great Xia Kingdom had all been sealed off. If Ye Xuan wanted to escape, he could only head towards the side of the mountain that bordered Great Hua Country. But this would require him to cross over the deepest parts of Panlong Mountain Range, a considerably lengthy distance. For now, he could only move from place to place occasionally to avoid detection. During the day, it was almost impossible to travel, making for extremely low efficiency. Night, however, was not only the best time to move but also prime for conducting assassinations; thus, Ye Xuan rested during the day and only began to act after nightfall. The more pressing the situation, the less one could afford to rush. If he focused solely on fleeing, he would only make it easier to be discovered. Because in times like this, it was more of a test of patience; he believed that whoever lost their composure first would definitely not be him. ... About a hundred miles from where Ye Xuan was hiding, there was a rather large encampment, the temporary base for the masters from various major families. Inside a large tent. "Father, last night twenty more were killed by stones, half of them from our Jun family," Jun Bufan reported to Jun Zhantian in the main seat, his expression somewhat grim. Over the past few days, their relentless pursuit had yielded little success. Not only had they failed to even catch a glimpse of Ye Xuan, but they had also suffered significant losses. "This brat really knows how to hold his breath... Hiding during the day and striking at night. Despite the throngs of people boldly searching in the mountains, after several days, we haven’t even seen a shadow of that brat..." A cold light flashed in Jun Zhantian’s eyes, "If this brat were to grow up, he might be even more difficult to handle than his father, Ye Xiao, back in the day..." Hearing the name Ye Xiao, Jun Bufan’s pupils also contracted slightly. Ye Xiao was indeed a figure who had caused their Jun family many headaches; countless Martial Sect masters had besieged him, and the resulting casualties were extraordinarily heavy. Even their ancestor had lost an eye in that fight. If Ye Xuan turned out to be even more formidable than Ye Xiao, and if they failed to kill him, wouldn’t that leave them with a massive problem? No, this brat must die! A ruthless glint flashed through Jun Bufan’s eyes. "You need not be too anxious. Even if Ye Xuan is monstrous, he is but a fledgling eagle that has yet to grow. We’re not entirely without means to deal with him." Seeing Jun Bufan’s anxious demeanor, Jun Zhantian waved his hand, signaling him to calm down. Then, a sharp look appeared in his eyes, "The ancestor has just sent word; he has entered the mountains. However, before coming here, he has another place to visit to take care of some business." "What place?" Jun Bufan couldn’t help asking. What could be more important than hunting down Ye Xuan? "You should have received the news; the Ye family’s forces led by Ye Tianxiong also entered the mountain today. They are encamped on Snake Head Mountain, two hundred miles away from us. That old fellow thinks that by breaking through to Martial Sect Master Realm, he can really save that brat. Little does he know, this provides us with an opportunity. Our ancestor is going to pay them a good visit," Jun Zhantian said with a hint of cruel pleasure at the corner of his mouth. "Is the ancestor planning to kill Ye Tianxiong and annihilate the Ye family?" Upon hearing this, Jun Bufan’s eyes suddenly lit up. Their family’s ancestor was at a Second Grade Martial Sect Realm, and striking down someone who had just entered the Martial Sect Master Realm was not too difficult. "No, killing Ye Tianxiong serves no purpose. The menace that is Ye Xuan poses a threat ten times greater than Ye Tianxiong and must be eliminated to prevent any future disaster. The ancestor’s trip is only to gravely wound Ye Tianxiong, and then he will simply deal a few blows to inflict heavy casualties upon the Ye family," Jun Zhantian explained. "Why is that?" Jun Bufan was somewhat puzzled. "It’s simple," pondered Ye Tianxiong, "just think about it. If the Ye family’s team were to be thrown into upheaval right now, suffering heavy casualties and even Ye Tianxiong himself sustaining serious injuries, wouldn’t Ye Xuan, that boy, want to return and take a look upon hearing such dire news?" A sinister smile crept onto Jun Zhantian’s face, "Now that all the mountain exits have been sealed, Ye Xuan can only escape through the deep parts of Panlong Mountain to reach the territory of the Great Hua Country because he knows that he no longer has a place to stay in the Great Xia Kingdom. If he really manages to flee to the Great Hua Country, even my Jun family would be helpless to pursue him further." "But he has concerns. He would fear that in our madness, we might slaughter all of the Ye family. Thus, he would surely visit the Ye family’s camp, ensuring Ye Tianxiong leaves Panlong Mountain. Only then could he escape without worry." "I understand. The venerable ancestor wants to use the people of the Ye family as bait, to ensnare Ye Xuan?" Jun Bufan finally got it, but still harbored some doubts, "Given the current situation, that little beast would probably struggle just to hide. Could he really make such a bold move? He could completely ignore the lives and deaths of the Ye family. After all, his own life is surely more important, right?" "This kid is extremely arrogant," said Jun Zhantian, with certainty lighting his eyes. "Relying on his ability to conceal and hide, he has never taken us seriously. Besides, judging by his recent actions, he never plays by the rules and is audacious beyond measure. He still feels some attachment to the Ye family, so I am seventy percent sure that he will return at that time." Jun Zhantian’s eyes revealed a trace of cunning calculation, as if the net had already been spread, just waiting for Ye Xuan to fall into the trap. "Now that we are tracking him closely, he only has the chance to move at night. I’m certain that he must still be nearby, unable to have fled far. Give the order right away to spread the news among all our people. The information that Ye Tianxiong has led his men into the mountain, and that they have been seriously injured, must be communicated to Ye Xuan’s ears as quickly as possible," Jun Zhantian commanded with a chilling glint in his narrowed eyes. "Yes." Jun Bufan did not dare delay. Jun Zhantian had always been adept at plotting and strategizing, and if this plan was successful, Ye Xuan was undoubtedly doomed to die without a chance of survival! ... "Second, you take your men to the east. The rest of you, follow me." "Be careful. That kid’s sneak attacks are lethal; one miss and you’re dead." In the dead of night, a group of soldiers holding torches slowly spread out to search. "I heard that the people from the Ye family also entered the mountain today, probably trying to help that criminal Ye Xuan escape. Little did they know that as soon as they arrived, they were attacked by a mysterious master, suffering heavy casualties. I heard that even the Family Head of the Ye family, Ye Tianxiong, was seriously injured and barely clinging to life." "Serves them right. Whoever lets out such a scourge from their family to cause such a disaster, it would not be surprising if the Ye family is exterminated." "Yeah, Ye Tianxiong is lucky to be alive." The three soldiers chatted among themselves. Whoosh! Whoosh! Right then, two pebbles shot through the night, accurately piercing the foreheads of three men, splattering white brain matter. Without a chance to cry out, their bodies collapsed with a thud. The remaining soldier was about to call for help when a hand clamped around his neck, preventing any sound from escaping. "Where is the Ye family currently stationed? Speak, or I’ll twist your neck," a cold voice emerged from the darkness. "I’ll tell you, they’re just over two hundred miles away at Snake Head Mountain." Terrified out of his wits, the soldier hastily spilled the truth. Snap! However, as soon as he finished speaking, his neck was still twisted and broken. A lean face emerged from the shadows— it was Ye Xuan. "My grandfather had already advanced to the First Grade Martial Sect; those capable of injuring him must at least be of the Second Grade Martial Sect. Who could it be?" Ye Xuan furrowed his brow. At this moment, he almost wished the Ye family wouldn’t show up. If the Jun and Xie families, unable to find him, killed all the Ye family out of rage, it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. "I need to find a way to meet my grandfather. They must return to Tianyang County." A glint of resolve flickered in his eyes. Ye Xuan could not ignore the news just revealed; the Ye family needed to leave this dangerous place, or the entire clan’s experts might perish here. Stripping the armor off the soldier on the ground and donning it, he lowered the helmet and smeared some dust on his face before finally starting off, vanishing into the night.