After several rounds of negotiations between the Seven Mysteries Sect and the Wild Wolf Gang, a border area called “Luosha Slope” was mutually agreed upon as the venue for the talks.
Regarding the participants, the Wild Wolf Gang firmly insisted that only by having a leader from each side attend could both parties demonstrate their sincerity. Otherwise, there would be no point in holding the discussions.
This condition did not cause any unrest within the Seven Mysteries Sect, as it was a standard demand in such negotiations.
Naturally, the actual top leaders would never put themselves in danger. The Seven Mysteries Sect would, at most, send a deputy sect leader, while the other side would also send a deputy gang leader to maintain appearances. Thus, this condition was not an issue.
Both sides agreed on a specific date for the negotiations, and on that day, each would send a team of over a hundred members to attend the meeting.
Fearing that the other side might set up an ambush during the talks, the Seven Mysteries Sect made meticulous arrangements for both the negotiation team and their backup support.
Not only was the negotiation team led by Deputy Sect Leader Wu, the second most powerful expert in the sect, but nearly all of its hundred members were top-tier masters. Most of them were core members of the sect, such as guardians and honored retainers. Several elders and hall masters also joined to bolster the lineup, making it an exceptionally formidable force.
With so many experts in the team, even if the Wild Wolf Gang deployed all its elites, it would likely be unable to stop them. The entire Seven Mysteries Sect was brimming with confidence.
In case of any trouble, the negotiation team could rely on their martial prowess to break through any encirclement and retreat to their territory, where several teams of elite Blood Blade Hall disciples were stationed to ensure their safe return.
Li Feiyu volunteered to join the team. For someone with little time left to live, the more dangerous the place, the more he longed to be there.
Thus, this team, which comprised nearly half of the Seven Mysteries Sect’s top experts, set out from the mountain as the negotiation date approached. The round trip would take at least half a month—a considerable length of time.
Han Li, however, was not particularly concerned. Whether the negotiations succeeded or failed mattered little to him. He was about to leave this place and venture into the wider world. The rise and fall of the Seven Mysteries Sect had little to do with him.
As long as it did not affect him personally, he could not be bothered with such matters.
In the days following the negotiation team’s departure, he calmly continued nurturing the medicinal herbs he needed and began collecting seeds of rare plants for future use.
Han Li had already decided that once the negotiation team returned to the mountain, he would formally bid farewell to the sect leaders. If the higher-ups refused to let him leave, he would not hesitate to reveal his true strength to make them abandon any thoughts of stopping him.
Sneaking away unnoticed would have been the easiest option, but Han Li worried that if the sect could not find him, they might trouble his family. Thus, it was necessary to bid farewell openly and display his power to deter them.
As for an excuse to leave, Han Li had already thought of one: he would say he missed Physician Mo and intended to search for his master. Whether the sect believed him or not mattered little. With his absolute strength as backing, why would he fear their suspicions?
Whenever Han Li thought of this, a faint cold smile would appear at the corner of his mouth. At this point, taking the lives of the sect leaders would be as easy as turning his hand. Of course, he only entertained the thought and had no intention of actually doing it.
But Han Li never expected that on the fourth night after the negotiation team’s departure, a disheveled, dust-covered figure with wild hair would burst into his room. The man’s eyes were bloodshot, his lips dry and cracked with white flakes, and he hoarsely uttered: “The negotiation team is finished. Deputy Sect Leader Wu is dead. The guardians and envoys are dead. Several elders are dead. Almost all of them are dead.”
Hearing this, Han Li was stunned. Before he could even ask for details, a sharp alarm whistle sounded from somewhere on the mountain.
*Thump… thump…*
A series of dull wooden clapper sounds followed.
*Clang… clang…*
*Ding… ding…*
*Bang… bang…*
All kinds of alarm signals rang out simultaneously, followed by countless shouts and cries of killing that erupted across the mountain, rising and falling in waves. The clashing of weapons could faintly be heard, as if, in that instant, the entire Caixia Mountain had become a massive battlefield.
Han Li’s expression darkened. Without waiting to hear more from the man before him, he darted outside. Glancing around, he spotted the tallest building nearby, lightly stomped his foot, and leaped onto its roof to survey the valley beyond.
His face grew even grimmer. Not far in the distance, he saw flames soaring into the sky, shadowy figures moving about, and the glint of blades and swords flashing everywhere. The sounds of fighting, alarms, and angry shouts merged into a chaotic uproar.
Hearing the rustle of wind behind him, he asked without turning his head:
“Li Feiyu, is it the Wild Wolf Gang?”
“Yes. I never expected them to plan so meticulously. They almost completely annihilated our negotiation team and then immediately followed us survivors to attack the mountain.” The messenger was indeed Li Feiyu, who had left four days earlier. His voice was now filled with fury and resentment.
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