Chapter 87 - 84: Crisis Strikes Again

Chapter 87: Chapter 84: Crisis Strikes AgainNight enveloped Snake Head Mountain. Indeed, the shape of Snake Head Mountain resembled a ferocious serpent’s head. At an elevation of roughly three to four hundred feet, it undeniably took on an even more malevolent air in the night. The Ye family’s camp was stationed atop the mountain. After hearing about Ye Xuan’s misfortune in the trial, Ye Tianxiong had hurried over with his people, only to be ambushed as soon as they entered the mountain, suffering a bloody strike from the Jun family’s ancestor—with heavy casualties. In the camp, cries of pain from the wounded echoed from time to time. It was clear there were many injured, but since the Jun family’s ancestor hadn’t intended to carry out a massacre, there were few fatalities—most were merely wounded. Although the attackers had not revealed themselves, their strength alone was a tell. With Ye Tianxiong’s ability as a Martial Sect Master, there were few in the Great Xia Kingdom who could defeat and grievously injure him. And who would actually do so? Thus, the assailants could only be from the Jun or Xie families, and most likely their ancestors. "Father." Inside a tent, a figure entered—it was Ye Zhan, approaching the black-haired elder seated cross-legged on a cushion. "Any news of Xuan’er yet?" The black-haired elder opened his eyes, his complexion somewhat pale and his breath slightly weak, obviously his injuries had not yet healed. "Not yet, but you needn’t worry, father. The Jun and Xie families are still openly searching for Ye Xuan’s whereabouts, which means they haven’t found him. Ye Xuan should still be safe," Ye Zhan said with concern as he looked at the elder in front of him. "Sigh, his actions are just like his father’s, too impulsive. This time, he has inadvertently cornered himself into a dead end..." Ye Tianxiong sighed. On this occasion, Ye Xuan had thrown the Hundred Families’ trial into complete chaos. Not only had he killed the Jun family’s Princely Heir cleanly, but he also killed the Xie family’s Princely Heir, making deadly enemies of both prominent families. Such actions were truly too reckless. Hearing this, Ye Zhan too fell silent. While Ye Xuan had indeed killed Jun Wuming and others, wiping out the younger generation of the Jun family—a deed many found gratifying—it had also brought upon him an enormous calamity. The current situation teetered on the brink of life and death. Escaping with his life would be an incredible stroke of luck amidst this misfortune. Just then, a flurry of footsteps sounded outside the tent, and a Ye family guard burst in, his face alight with joy. "What’s the matter, all this panic?" Ye Zhan looked displeased at the guard who had entered without any prior announcement. "Sorry, Family Head, Fourth Master," The guard knew he had been remiss and quickly apologized, yet the joy did not fade from his face. "Outside, Young Master Ye Xuan has returned." "What did you say?" Ye Tianxiong and Ye Zhan’s expressions changed simultaneously, as if struck by lightning, their faces etched with disbelief. "Young Master Ye Xuan has returned. He’s outside right now." The guard repeated himself out of necessity. "Grandfather, Uncle Four." As the two still wrestled with disbelief, a voice came through, and then a figure clad in ordinary Soldier armor entered the tent. "Xuan’er? Is it really you?" As Ye Xuan removed his helmet to reveal his true face, Ye Tianxiong and the others were so shocked they were rendered speechless. At such a crucial moment, for him to dare to come here was incredibly audacious. "The most dangerous place is the safest place. The people from the Jun and Xie families would never expect me to return. You don’t need to worry." Ye Xuan had already disguised himself among the soldiers by the time he arrived. In the cover of night, the movements of an ordinary soldier would surely go unnoticed. Besides, he wouldn’t stay long. By the time the Jun and Xie families realized, some time would have passed, and by then he would have long since departed. "It’s a relief that you’re unharmed. Now that the entire Great Xia Kingdom is searching for you, if you wish to return safely, we must plan carefully," said Ye Tianxiong, breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing Ye Xuan without a scratch and then continued. However, Ye Xuan shook his head at these words, "I can’t return to the Great Xia Kingdom. You might avoid trouble on the first day, but it will catch up to you by the fifteenth. Even if I went back, I would have to live in hiding. It’s better to cross the Panlong Mountain Range and seek temporary refuge in the Great Hua Country. Once there, even the Jun and Xie families wouldn’t be able to reach me, let alone cause me any harm." "Cross the Panlong Mountain Range?" Ye Tianxiong and Ye Zhan’s expressions changed at the mention of the Panlong Mountain Range. Deep within it lurked threats even for Martial Sect Masters, with legends of Third Rank Demon Beasts, akin to the Demon King, inhabiting it. The thought of crossing it was no easy feat. Yet their expressions quickly returned to normal, and once again they sighed. For Ye Xuan to truly escape the current peril and leave the Great Xia Kingdom, it might indeed be the better - and the only - choice. "Grandfather, uncle, don’t worry. With my talent, in at most two years, I will return to avenge the humiliations of this day and ensure that both the Jun and Xie families are completely wiped from the Great Xia Kingdom. Until then, you must preserve the continuity of the Ye family’s lineage." A glint of determination appeared in Ye Xuan’s eyes. Two years, he believed that he would definitely reach the Martial Sect Master Realm within two years; then, the likes of Jun Zhantian and Xie Guangbo would be no more significant than chickens and dogs in his eyes, incapable of stopping him from taking his revenge. At this very moment, while they were gathering within the tent on the mountaintop, at the foot of Snake Head Mountain, a large group of experts had already assembled, led none other than by Jun Bufan himself. "Brother Jun, we’ve sealed off all passages around Snake Head Mountain. Now, not even a bird can escape. We just have to wait for the Family Head of the Jun family and the Xie family to arrive, and then we can issue the order to storm the mountain. Afterwards, we’ll slaughter that little beast in vengeance for my son and exterminate all of the Ye family to release the fury in my heart," said the Family Head of the Wei family, his voice sinister. "Why wait for our fathers to arrive? That little beast is full of tricks. We finally found his whereabouts, and any delay could lead to changes. Why not go up the mountain now and carry out a grand massacre, killing that little beast?" Jun Bufan was seething with murderous intent. "Now? But Ye Tianxiong is still a First Grade Martial Sect... and Ye Xuan’s methods are unpredictable. Shouldn’t we wait a bit more?" frowned the Family Head of the Wei family. "Ye Tianxiong has already sustained severe injuries and poses no threat. As for that Ye Xuan, do you mean to say that we two Half-step Martial Sect Masters cannot take down that boy? Wei Tong, our sons were both killed by that little beast Ye Xuan. Don’t you long for personal vengeance for your son?" Jun Bufan said sharply. Hearing this, a hint of hatred surfaced in Wei Tong’s eyes. While he had several sons, Wei Dongliu was the most promising amongst them, a prodigy set to bring glory to the Wei family. Yet, he met his untimely death at Ye Xuan’s hands; how could Wei Tong not harbor resentment? "You’re right. We cannot give that little beast another chance to escape." Two Half-step Martial Sect Masters acting together would easily seal Ye Xuan’s fate. As for the severely injured Ye Tianxiong, if he dared to make a move, he would be seeking his own death. "In that case, follow me up the mountain! Show no mercy to any member of the Ye family you encounter!" Jun Bufan’s voice echoed at the base of the mountain, followed quickly by a swift deployment of the experts as they dashed up the mountain, with him and Wei Tong leading the charge towards the summit. An astonishing storm was furiously sweeping through. At the top of the mountain, inside the tent, final farewells were still being made. "Take good care of yourself on this journey. As for the Ye family, I will ensure its safety, so there’s no need to worry," said Ye Tianxiong, knowing that Ye Xuan had already made plans and thus not prolonging the conversation. In his view, as long as Ye Xuan was alive, there was hope for everything. The day Ye Xuan returns will be the day to stir up a bloody storm and annihilate the Jun and Xie families! As for the Ye family, surviving was what mattered most, current power and influence notwithstanding. "Okay. If the family really faces a crisis, you can seek out the Third Elder of the Royal Family, Xia Yanzeng. He will spare no effort to help the Ye family." As Ye Xuan prepared to leave, he thought of Xia Yanzeng. Although he alone was taking on the responsibility for the killing, if the Jun and Xie families sought to settle scores with the Ye family after failing to kill him, it wasn’t entirely impossible, and he needed to leave behind some contingency measures. "I’m leaving now. Grandfather, uncle, take care," said Ye Xuan, as he clasped his hands in a fist salute and turned to descend the mountain. But just at that moment, from the direction of the mountain’s base, two figures suddenly burst forth, and a murderous voice resounded at the mountaintop. "Leaving? You little beast! Where do you think you’re going? You and everyone from the Ye family will die here tonight!"