Dangerous peaks, steep mountains, towering clouds obscuring the sun. Due to the miasma in the mountains and its bizarre poisons, many who were poisoned would have their eyes rot and die, hence called “eye-blocking”.
“A message from Chang Ying arrived. They are in a dilapidated temple at the mountaintop,” Wang Dian looked at the nearly vertical cliff before him. “The only path up the mountain was blown up by Bian Feng. Ordinary soldiers and horses cannot possibly ascend, and behind the temple lies a thousand-zhang deep abyss.”
As he spoke, Li Mu had already led several hundred secret guards up the ropes, swiftly heading toward the mountain peak.
“Stay at the bottom for support,” Liang Ye furrowed his brow while glancing at the cliff. “Do not get too close.”
“I will go with you,” Wang Dian tested the climbing rope in his hand.
Liang Ye looked at him, “Stop being ridiculous. Those who can climb up are not ordinary people. You have no internal energy at all. How could you ascend?”
Although Wang Dian’s request sounded somewhat unreasonable, Liang Ye still patiently explained.
Wang Dian laughed casually, “You’re still going up even with a hole, so why can’t I go up?”
“Zhen cannot spare the energy to watch over you—Wang Dian!” As Liang Ye spoke, Wang Dian had already walked to the cliff’s base, flicking his wrist to firmly hook a mountain stone.
Wang Dian tied a loop in the rope around his waist, lifting his hem and securing it, looked up to the cliff’s end, “Rest assured, this is easier than rock climbing I’ve done by hand.”
Liang Ye watched him climb skillfully. Although he wasn’t using internal energy, his movements were extraordinarily technical, appearing more agile than the secret guards. He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, took the rope, and flew up, following behind him.
Wang Dian indeed had not boasted. His climbing speed was even faster than many secret guards, and he even had the spare energy to pull an acrophobic secret guard up. After arriving, he brushed dust from his hands and bent to pull Liang Ye up.
Liang Ye looked at him with some surprise, “Not bad.”
“When I was young and foolish, I loved seeking thrills,” Wang Dian said calmly.
Liang Ye looked quite interested. After all, Wang Dian rarely mentioned his life in another world. In his estimation, Wang Dian was probably a steady and cunning wealthy merchant who acted with exceptional caution.
Wang Dian recalled his rebellious life when he was seventeen or eighteen, feeling somewhat reluctant to reminisce. He briefly explained, “I used to like some…extreme sports.”
Liang Ye looked bewildered.
“Skydiving, wingsuit flying, freediving, rock climbing, occasionally speeding in wild cars…and such,” Wang Dian explained, awkwardly touching his nose. It was miraculous he hadn’t killed himself during those wild times. “It was a long time ago.”
Fortunately, Liang Ye understood nothing.
He watched Liang Ye nod half-understanding and said confidently, “Actually, I mainly just liked exercising.”
Liang Ye narrowed his eyes, “Zhen thought you only liked playing with stones.”
“Ah, it was okay.” Wang Dian, who had been crazy about jade for a while, nodded. “My hobbies were usually quite economical.”
After all, among the miscellaneous items in his sleeves, the stones Liang Ye had picked up from various nooks and crannies were the most numerous. He was indeed very easy to raise.
Liang Ye nodded very approvingly.
Though they were talking, their pace did not slow, and they quickly approached the mountaintop.
“Chang Ying didn’t bring many people to the mountaintop and cannot drag this out for long,” Wang Dian looked at the vaguely revealed dilapidated temple, where sounds of fighting came from. “We’re still a step behind Bian Feng.”
At the temple entrance, Yang Wujiu quickly cut the rope hanging with a head, wrapping the head in a long cloth on his back, muttering, “Big brother, please don’t blame me. I was entrusted by Big Brother Chang Ying to rescue you. Forgive my offense, for Big Brother Chang Ying’s sake, I must protect you—”
A cold arrow brushed past his back. Yang Wujiu couldn’t even tell where he was, crawling and running forward. Someone behind raised a sword to strike down, but was firmly wrapped around the neck by a rope.
Chang Ying gripped the rope tightly with one hand, allowing Yang Wujiu to escape, while he himself knelt on the ground, supporting his body with a long knife. Even so, no one dared to approach him. His gaze passed over the people surrounding him, coldly looking at Bian Feng standing at the entrance.
His life-taking rope was not as good as Chang Li’s, unable to instantly kill people. Except for the initial successful ambush, he could not get close to Bian Feng at all.
He was skilled in assassination and surprise attacks. Chang Li was the one best at group combat. If Chang Li were still here……
“Your people are all dead. Why persist?” Bian Feng seemed impatient, waving his hand. Countless swords and knives instantly struck towards Chang Ying’s head.
Chang Ying gritted his teeth and pulled out the knife on the ground, fiercely blocking above his head. However, the force of the blades pressed him to his knees, his tiger’s mouth splitting open from excessive force. He clearly heard his knife breaking, his strength finally exhausted.
He still couldn’t hold on until the young master arrived——
Whoosh!
Thin as cicada wings, knife fragments connected with fine silver threads, ghostlike and scattered. The knife fragments deeply embedded into the surrounding pillars, while those threads wrapped around the necks of those attacking. A thread so fine it was nearly invisible extended from the temple entrance, flashing with a cold light in the sunlight.
Accompanied by the sound of heads sliding from necks, the knife fragments shot out, clanging as they collided, quickly bouncing back and shattering the half-closed temple door.
Chang Ying reacted quickly, his long rope retracting and extending, wrapping around the pillar at the temple entrance as he flew away.
“Big Brother Chang Ying!” Yang Wujiu shouted excitedly, rushing forward to support him.
“Finally here?” Bian Feng looked at the gradually revealed figure at the entrance, his eyes growing more excited. “Liang Ye.”
Liang Ye was headachedly gathering the tangled soul threads and willow leaf knives, completely ignoring him. He complained to Wang Dian, “This thing is really hard to use.”
“If it’s not good to use, why did you use it? Didn’t you say something before going up the mountain?” Wang Dian bit his back molar.
Liang Ye pointed at Chang Ying, “He’s so useless. If I didn’t save lives, you’d be angry again.”
The suddenly targeted Chang Ying: “???”
Wang Dian supported him, “Wujiu, take Chang Ying down to treat his wounds.”
“Yes.” Yang Wujiu hurriedly supported Chang Ying.
The ignored Bian Feng coldly laughed, “Your Majesty and the Prince are in quite a leisurely mood. When you can barely save yourselves, you still have energy to care about others.”
Wang Dian’s cold gaze fell on his face, “The one who can barely save himself now is you.”
Bian Feng laughed, “I know you came prepared. But this mountaintop is right above a cliff. It won’t take more than a few bundles of explosives to completely collapse this small area. I wonder if Your Majesty’s life will remain as tough?”
“Bian Feng, this is all you’re capable of,” Wang Dian stepped forward with his hands behind his back. “Never mind Your Majesty’s life, you’ve significantly disrupted Bian Cang’s plan. Even if you survive, he won’t let you off. Don’t you understand by now? Your actions at Sipan Mountain have already made you a discarded piece. Your desperate appearance is truly laughable.”
Bian Feng’s face suddenly darkened, “How clever. Without me, what could Bian Cang use to fight Liang Ye!”
This was an interesting statement. Just as Wang Dian was about to probe further, Bian Feng suddenly reacted and angrily said, “What qualifications do you have to negotiate with me? Have Liang Ye speak!”
“General Bian is truly forgetful. At Sipan Mountain, I told you that Liang Ye is mine,” Wang Dian smiled slightly. “Unlike you, compared to joint burial, I prefer living people. How interesting it is to be the regent, under one person and above ten thousand people. Looks like I beat you to it.”
Bian Feng was completely provoked, “Liang Ye! Aren’t you impressive? Will you just watch Wang Dian win?”
Liang Ye, having finally sorted out the broken soul threads, and impatiently said, “Zhen is pleased.”
Disappointment, shock, and contempt crossed Bian Feng’s face. He shook his head, “Liang Ye, you’ve truly disappointed me. You’re not worthy of being my opponent.”
“Interesting,” Wang Dian stared at him. “What makes you think you’re qualified to be Liang Ye’s opponent? Surely you don’t also have royal blood?”
A sharp look flashed in Bian Feng’s eyes.
Wang Dian turned to Liang Ye, teasing, “Your father was quite prolific. Didn’t you kill them all when you ascended the throne?”
Liang Ye made a tutting sound.
On the cliff, Li Mu, lying on the mountain wall, looked down at the thousand-zhang deep abyss, his legs slightly weak. He raised his hand to signal the person beside him.
Several bamboo tubes were quietly inserted into the back wall of the dilapidated temple. Thin white smoke slowly seeped through the broken windows into the room. The temple’s statue looked down, silently observing the absurd human affairs.
Tan Yishuang, in the corner, glanced at the subtle smoke and gripped the dagger in her hand. A moment later, she suddenly shouted, “Young Master Bian!”
Before her words fell, Li Mu had already led people to break through the window. Hundreds of secret guards appeared on the temple walls, cold arrows simultaneously aiming at everyone about to fight.
Bian Feng suddenly turned around. His people in the hall had already mixed into a fierce battle with the ambushing secret guards, their movements slowed by the misty fog. It was clear they were losing ground.
Liang Ye and Wang Dian had come prepared. The dispersed anti-fog smoke mixed with the surrounding subtle miasma, making even the skilled fighters struggle. Blood quickly stained the courtyard’s stones.
Wang Dian stepped through the blood, walking into the spacious temple hall. He looked at Bian Feng, who was protected in the corner, and said, “Young General, no need to wait. The explosives you hastily buried were thrown off the cliff long ago. Using the same trick twice makes you a fool.”
He even felt this person was just someone Bian Cang raised to cause trouble. If he hadn’t exposed himself in advance, even if they returned to the palace, they might not have guessed Bian Cang’s involvement.
Surprisingly, he had fallen into the biggest trap on this most stupid young man. He had almost cost Liang Ye his life. Even thinking about it made Wang Dian feel frustrated.
Bian Feng dragged the dying Chong Heng from the water cage, placing a knife at his neck and coldly said, “So what! You still cannot kill me!”
Liang Ye’s gaze fell on Chong Heng’s face. His expression darkened as he slowly stroked the willow leaf knife in his hand.
“Why can’t we kill you?” Wang Dian glanced at the nearly dispersed smoke and made a gesture behind his back.
Li Mu understood. The wall behind Bian Feng suddenly collapsed, and the fierce mountain wind rushed in. Just ten steps back would lead to a bottomless abyss.
“I do not care about Chong Heng’s life or death,” Wang Dian looked at Bian Feng, walking forward without changing his expression. As he drew closer, the guards protecting Bian Feng fell one after another.
The enormous psychological pressure made Bian Feng’s face grow increasingly ugly. Wang Dian’s smiling face came closer, and fear gradually spread from the depths of his heart. Bian Feng roared, “Stop! Or I’ll jump down with him!”
Wang Dian raised his hand, saying casually, “Go ahead.”
Bian Feng turned to look at Liang Ye, gritting his teeth, “Liang Ye! I know you’re all in this together, stop pretending! If you want Chong Heng to live, let me leave!”
The smile on Wang Dian’s face gradually widened, “Aren’t you fond of mutual destruction? Why do you want to leave now? Don’t go, your death would make everyone happy.”
Bian Feng dragged Chong Heng back a few steps, like a beast cornered, instinctively pointing his knife at Wang Dian, “You—Ah!”
Three slender willow leaf knives directly pierced through his knife-holding hand. Iron chains on the ground rose up, binding his arms and wrists, violently pulling back. Li Mu led his people in a leap, thoroughly restraining him with iron chains.
Wang Dian stepped forward two paces, supporting the kneeling Chong Heng, anxiously checking his breath, shouting, “Li Mu!”
Li Mu immediately took Chong Heng, stuffing a pill into his mouth.
Liang Ye then slowly walked to Bian Feng.
Though they had saved someone, there was nothing to be happy about. The setup at Sipan Mountain had been dramatically disrupted by Bian Feng’s accidental actions. Discovering this person was just a brainless fool was even more infuriating than encountering a truly troublesome opponent.
Wang Dian’s mood was also terrible. All the complex plans they had prepared on the boat made him and Liang Ye seem like complete idiots.
Damn it, even five-year-old Liang Huan could have handled this guy with ease.
The bound Bian Feng glared at Liang Ye, angrily saying, “You’re nothing but despicable people! You’ve even used low tricks like fog! What hypocrisy!”
Liang Ye leisurely wiped the blood on the knife blade, looking at Bian Feng expressionlessly, “Zhen has raised people but never beaten them like this. Where do you get the courage?”
As soon as the words fell, the just-cleaned willow leaf knife was again stained with new blood. A bloody piece of flesh was cut from Bian Feng’s hand, exposing white bone, causing him to cry out in pain.
Liang Ye sighed, “Zhen learned the art of flaying from the people in the imperial prison. Zhen could keep someone alive for three days and nights. Though Zhen is out of practice, Zhen will manage…bear with it. Zhen will leave a head for Bian Cang.”
“No…no! Liang Ye, you cannot kill me!” Before Bian Feng could finish, a hand was peeled to expose only bone, bloody flesh hanging from it, horrifyingly gruesome.
Wang Dian turned his back, the anti-fog and miasma prevention pill rolling under his tongue. The sound of Bian Feng’s miserable wailing echoed in his ears as he lowered his eyes to watch Li Mu treating Chong Heng.
“My—My mother is Bian Rufeng! My father is Liang Hua! I am your own biological brother! You cannot treat me like this!” Bian Feng screamed while enduring the pain.
Liang Ye’s blood-covered hand paused slightly. Wang Dian suddenly turned around.
“What did you say?” Liang Ye slowly raised his head, revealing a terrifying, blood-splattered smile.
