“There’s something ahead.”
As Ye Wudi spoke, he slowed his pace, his hand reaching back to grip the hilt of his blade.
He carried the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow slung across his back.
Ye Qiu also clenched his fists.
The two advanced cautiously.
The further they went, the stronger the smell of blood became.
About a hundred and fifty metres in, they saw a large amount of blood on the ground.
Due to the freezing cold, the blood had solidified, forming what looked like a startling stream.
They continued forward.
Another hundred metres on.
Their eyes fell upon countless corpses.
These bodies were piled up like a small hill.
Ye Qiu’s heart tightened. He darted forward, searching through the pile of corpses but found no sign of Xiao Jiu.
“Good, Xiao Jiu didn’t die here.”
Ye Qiu let out a sigh of relief.
Ye Wudi’s gaze settled on the corpses, counting softly, “One, two, three… forty-nine!”
There were forty-nine bodies in total.
Each one had been killed with a single slash to the throat.
Ye Qiu closely examined the knife marks on their throats and said, “Xiao Jiu killed them.”
He had met Xiao Jiu once; Xiao Jiu wielded a war blade.
The fatal wounds on these bodies matched those of a war blade.
Ye Qiu said, “Xiao Jiu truly lives up to his title as the top of the Dragon List, with astonishing combat prowess.”
“It’s clear these people were skilled. Ten of them were on par with Dragon List experts, over twenty were comparable to Tiger List masters, and the rest were no weaker than elite special forces soldiers.”
“With so many surrounding Xiao Jiu, I wonder if he’s injured?”
Ye Qiu was somewhat worried.
“Xiao Jiu was too reckless,” Ye Wudi said. “With his skills, if he hadn’t ventured in alone, he could have easily carved a bloody path back to the Northern Territory.”
Ye Qiu agreed. As the top of the Dragon List, few could stop Xiao Jiu if he wanted to break through.
“By the way, Third Uncle, to your knowledge, does the neighbouring country have experts on Xiao Jiu’s level?” Ye Qiu asked.
Ye Wudi nodded. “Yes, at least five who are roughly on par with Xiao Jiu.”
Ye Qiu’s heart sank.
“If those five experts were involved in this ambush, Xiao Jiu’s situation would be extremely dangerous!” Ye Qiu said.
Ye Wudi’s face grew serious. “Years ago, Master Long Eyebrow told me something.”
“He said Xiao Jiu bore a heavy aura of royalty, destined for great wealth and to become a world-renowned hero.”
“But heroes often don’t live long.”
Ye Qiu’s heart jolted. “What did that old man mean by that?”
Ye Wudi replied, “Master Long Eyebrow said Xiao Jiu’s lifespan is short and that he would pass away in his prime.”
Ye Qiu laughed. “That old man Long Eyebrow is always spouting nonsense.”
“His fortune-telling is rarely accurate; nine out of ten predictions are wrong.”
“No need to take it seriously!”
Ye Wudi shook his head. “Ye Qiu, don’t underestimate Long Eyebrow.”
“He may often seem unreliable, but in the art of divination, he has genuine skill.”
“Otherwise, how could he be called the world’s greatest diviner?”
It’s just that old man’s good at fooling people, Ye Qiu thought.
“Third Uncle, let’s keep moving and find Xiao Jiu as soon as possible.”
“Alright.”
The two pressed on.
Along the way, every hundred or two hundred metres, they came across several corpses.
Over a five-kilometre stretch, Ye Qiu and Ye Wudi saw nearly two hundred bodies, all assassins without exception.
Ye Qiu couldn’t help but marvel, “Xiao Jiu is incredible!”
Ye Wudi also said, “Xiao Jiu lives up to his title as the God of War.”
They continued a bit further.
The snow showed signs of intense combat, along with numerous bullet holes.
Some of the bullet casings were stained with blood.
Ye Qiu’s heart sank—Xiao Jiu might be injured!
Ye Wudi realised this too and said, “We need to find Xiao Jiu quickly.”
“Let’s go.” Ye Qiu rushed ahead.
After an unknown amount of time, just as dawn broke, the two reached the heart of the Great Snow Mountain.
Ye Qiu suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Ye Wudi asked, puzzled.
Ye Qiu pointed ahead.
Ye Wudi looked and saw a canyon ahead, thirty metres wide, flanked by towering cliffs that pierced the clouds.
Ye Qiu said, “This canyon is an ideal spot for an ambush. If I were those assassins, I’d choose to strike Xiao Jiu here.”
Ye Wudi instantly understood Ye Qiu’s concern. “You’re worried there’s an ambush in this canyon?”
Ye Qiu nodded slightly.
“Your concern is unnecessary,” Ye Wudi said. “Even if assassins set an ambush here, Xiao Jiu would have already drawn them out.”
Ye Qiu said, “It’s Xiao Jiu I’m worried about. If the assassins set a large ambush here, he’d be in serious trouble.”
“Plus, after killing so many enemies, he might already be injured.”
“If his injuries are severe and a few experts on his level show up, Xiao Jiu’s in grave danger!”
Ye Wudi immediately said, “Let’s check the canyon.”
They entered the canyon, and after just fifty metres, they found more assassins’ bodies on the ground.
These were no longer killed by a single throat slash; some had fatal wounds to the chest, others to the throat, and some had been beaten to death with fists.
Ye Qiu quickly examined the bodies and reached a conclusion.
Xiao Jiu was injured.
And not lightly!
They continued forward.
The bodies on the ground were almost one after another.
Suddenly, a loud shout came from deep within the canyon: “Hmph, you scum dare to touch my brother’s tombstone? None of you will live today!”
It was Xiao Jiu’s voice!
He was just ahead!
Ye Qiu’s heart leapt with joy—this meant Xiao Jiu was still alive!
Ye Qiu and Ye Wudi exchanged a glance and rushed forward at full speed.
After advancing three hundred metres, a man finally appeared in their line of sight.
The man wore a military coat and held a war blade. He appeared to be in his thirties, with strikingly handsome features as if carved by a knife, sharp and distinct.
His piercing, deep gaze exuded an oppressive presence.
He carried an innate aura of a king ruling the world!
This man was none other than Xiao Jiu!
At this moment, Xiao Jiu was down on one knee, clearly heavily injured, his war blade stained red with blood.
Around Xiao Jiu stood dozens of assassins, eyeing him menacingly.
Ye Qiu was about to rush forward to rescue Xiao Jiu, but Ye Wudi pressed him down into the snow.
“Third Uncle, what are you doing?” Ye Qiu looked at Ye Wudi, confused.
Ye Wudi whispered, “You were right. There’s an ambush here, and it’s a top-tier expert.”
Hm?
Ye Qiu’s brow furrowed.
“They’re coming. Stay hidden.”
No sooner had Ye Wudi spoken than an overwhelming wave of killing intent surged forth, enveloping a hundred-metre radius.
