The Northern Territory lies in the far north.
This place is covered in heavy snow all year round; even in the scorching summer, it snows here.
The blizzard grew fiercer, the cold wind like a sharp sword dancing in the night sky, whipping the branches and emitting shrill cries.
Ye Qiu and Ye Wudi pressed forward against the wind and snow.
They crossed the border.
The two advanced cautiously.
Their speed was swift, vanishing in a flash.
Strangely, they encountered no soldiers from the neighbouring country stationed at the border.
About half an hour into their journey, several corpses appeared in the snow.
Ye Qiu carefully examined a few of the bodies; they had all been killed with a single punch to the heart, a fatal strike, identical to the assassins found dead in the cemetery.
“What’s the situation?” Ye Wudi asked.
Ye Qiu said, “They’ve been dead for less than ten hours. It looks like Xiao Jiu’s work.”
Ye Wudi replied, “It seems Deputy Wei was right—Xiao Jiu has entered the neighbouring country.”
Ye Qiu said gravely, “Xiao Jiu, as the Champion Marquis, entering the neighbouring country without permission—something unexpected must have happened.”
“Your analysis makes sense. Xiao Jiu, commanding a million troops in the Northern Territory, is no simple-minded brute,” Ye Wudi said, looking up.
Under the night sky, the snow-covered mountains stretched endlessly, like giant beasts with gaping maws, exuding a dangerous aura.
Oddly, despite the heavy snowfall, a bright moon hung high in the sky, creating a peculiar spectacle.
“Third Uncle, let’s go!” Ye Qiu said.
“Mm.” Ye Wudi’s figure shot forward like an arrow.
He intentionally tested Ye Qiu.
Moments later, Ye Wudi noticed Ye Qiu remained by his side, never falling behind even half a step.
“Hm?”
Ye Wudi was slightly surprised. He pushed his speed to the limit, lightly tapping his toes on the snow, gliding over ten metres.
With a few flashes, he was a hundred metres away.
After covering some distance, Ye Wudi turned to look—Ye Qiu was still right beside him.
His face wasn’t flushed, his breathing steady.
His expression calm.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Ye Wudi asked, “How has your cultivation progressed so quickly?”
Ye Qiu smiled, “I had a bit of a fortunate encounter.”
“What kind of encounter?”
“The monk Kong Jian passed his century’s worth of power to me.”
What?
Ye Wudi’s face was full of shock. “Then Kong Jian, he…”
“The monk has passed away,” Ye Qiu said, recounting the events at Tianlong Temple from a few days ago to Ye Wudi.
Ye Wudi was stunned after hearing it.
Not only had Ye Qiu gained Kong Jian’s century of power, but he had also mastered Tianlong Temple’s ultimate technique, the Six Meridians Divine Sword.
“I never imagined you’d gain so much from a trip to Dali. It’s truly enviable.”
Ye Wudi felt endless emotions.
He, hailed as a martial genius, had trained arduously for decades to reach his current level.
Yet Ye Qiu, barely in his twenties, now possessed a century’s worth of power and had mastered the unparalleled Six Meridians Divine Sword. How could anyone not be envious?
Ye Qiu smiled, “Third Uncle, you don’t know yet, do you? Long Wu has come out of seclusion.”
Ye Wudi paused, his face turning serious. “That old man Long Wu is formidable. His emergence now isn’t good news.”
“Ye Qiu, be careful. That old man might come for you at any moment.”
“Of course, he’s more likely to come for me, since I killed Long Jiu.”
Ye Qiu laughed, “Long Wu won’t come for me, nor for you.”
“Why do you say that?” Ye Wudi looked puzzled.
Ye Qiu grinned, “Because Long Wu has gone to meet the King of Hell.”
“The King of Hell…” Ye Wudi’s eyes widened. “You mean Long Wu is dead?”
Ye Qiu nodded.
“How did he die?” Ye Wudi asked urgently.
Ye Qiu smiled, “I killed him.”
This…
Ye Wudi was utterly shocked.
Ye Qiu said, “A few days ago, Long Wu came to Tianlong Temple to kill me. He was waiting at the base of the Enlightenment Tower. If I had left the tower, I’d have been dead.”
“That’s why Kong Jian passed his century of power to me.”
“In the end, I used the Six Meridians Divine Sword to kill Long Wu.”
Ye Wudi asked, “I heard Long Liu is dead too. Was that you?”
Ye Qiu shook his head. “Long Liu died in the suburbs of the capital.”
“When I got that news, I was still at Tianlong Temple.”
“I thought it was you who killed him, Third Uncle.”
Ye Wudi shook his head. “It wasn’t me. I was abroad with Old Tang at the time and hadn’t returned.”
Ye Qiu asked, “Third Uncle, who do you think killed Long Liu? Could it be Shadow?”
Ye Wudi replied, “I asked Shadow, and he denied it.”
“But it’s obvious.”
“Long Liu was heading to Tianlong Temple to kill you. Whoever killed him either has a grudge against the Forbidden City or was protecting you.”
“I’ve thought it over and have three suspects.”
“The first is you, but you just said you were at Tianlong Temple when Long Liu died, so you’re ruled out.”
“The second suspect is Big Brother.”
“If Big Brother is still alive, with his strength, killing Long Liu would be effortless.”
“But Big Brother has always been upright.”
“If he were alive, he’d have shown himself by now, not secretly killed Long Liu.”
“And since you, his son, haven’t seen him in over twenty years, if he were alive, he’d have sought you out long ago.”
“So it’s unlikely to be Big Brother.”
Ye Qiu asked, “Third Uncle, your third suspect is…”
“A mysterious expert!” Ye Wudi said. “A mysterious expert killed Long Liu.”
Ye Qiu asked, “Who could this mysterious expert be?”
Ye Wudi said, “I don’t know who this mysterious expert is, but from killing Long Liu, it’s clear they’re not our enemy.”
“If we can find this mysterious expert, we could form an alliance to take on the Forbidden City.”
Ye Qiu nodded slightly.
The Forbidden City was too powerful. Having an ally would increase their chances of victory in the final battle.
Ye Wudi said, “Regardless, Long Wu and Long Liu are dead, which is good for us—two fewer enemies.”
“I just hope we can find Xiao Jiu this time.”
“Xiao Jiu is a man of loyalty and righteousness. If we can save him this time, he might join us to face the Forbidden City.”
“Mm.” Ye Qiu nodded, then suddenly asked, “Third Uncle, what do you think about the War God spitting blood?”
Ye Wudi replied, “Didn’t the War God say? It’s just a minor health issue, probably some illness.”
An illness?
Why do I feel like the War God was injured?
Ye Qiu muttered to himself.
“Alright, no time to waste. Let’s keep moving.” Ye Wudi said, rushing forward swiftly.
Another half hour passed.
Suddenly, a thick smell of blood hit their nostrils!
