Chapter 119: Mo Bian's Heart

To the northeast of Ibo Yaji lies a towering mountain range. Originally, the area was overgrown with weeds and littered with jagged rocks, but for reasons unknown, the site had suddenly become bustling with activity three days ago.

First, someone erected several houses, followed by the arrival of several individuals clad in white. They wore white masks and radiated an aura of chilling coldness. Soon after, a group of elegantly dressed, refined young people appeared, drawing considerable attention. Finally, a crew of laborers, dwarves, and trolls arrived, carrying shovels and picks. Unlike the creatures found in the Green Demon Forest, these dwarves and trolls were docile and industrious, working in an orderly fashion under the direction of Hu Ben and his associates.

This was the scene that met Ye Ran and Meng Qi when they arrived.

The laborers and trolls were drenched in sweat, surveying the land and digging pits, while the dwarves hauled baskets of iron and ore away. Hu Ben, who usually guarded his reputation with great care, was busy overseeing operations under a shed.

Observing this, Ye Ran and Meng Qi were filled with frustration. They had been planning to seize this iron mine, only to find that someone else had beaten them to it.

"If I had known, I should have borrowed men from Brother Banner two days ago," Meng Qi remarked.

Ye Ran shook his head. "Even if the entire Tauren tribe were deployed, they couldn't achieve this level of efficiency. This Ronin woman is quite capable."

Just as Ronin had once given Ye Ran a lukewarm evaluation, in Ye Ran’s own mind, this girl—renowned for being "mysterious and peerless in intelligence"—was merely "quite capable."

He cast a glance at the white-clad figures who had locked their killing intent onto him, then walked straight toward the shed.

Hu Ben spotted them from afar and signaled the white-clad figures, causing the pressure weighing on Ye Ran to vanish instantly.

"Brother Hu, if strangers saw you dressed like this, digging in a mine, who would believe you are the top-ranked martial artist of the Tajin Academy?"

Hu Ben had changed into simple, coarse clothes; having spent the last few days at the construction site, he was covered in dirt.

Hearing the taunt, Hu Ben laughed. "Ye Ran, I can't compare to you now. You’ve become a famous figure in Ibo Yaji."

This was no mere flattery.

Upon his arrival, Ye Ran had slain two orcs, then defeated the Gray Wolf of Linshuang City, rising to fame overnight and surpassing the reputation of Robin of the dwarf tribe to become a brilliant newcomer.

Even more shocking was what followed: just one day after the Battle of the Midnight Tavern, Ye Ran killed the notorious Ivan the Hand of Terror. Ivan was a master of the same caliber as Qian Long, a generation older than Ye Ran, and his defeat left everyone stunned by the young man's power.

The subsequent "Night of the Treasure Hunt" was also widely discussed. Ye Ran had fought his way from the east to the south, defeating a string of masters including Robin, Delis, Gerland, and Lois, before severely wounding the leader of the Blood Gnomes. His momentum was unmatched; even Qian Long spoke of him with high praise.

Ye Ran got straight to the point. "That is only the beginning. Let's set that aside; I am here to find Ronin."

Hu Ben nodded. "I will take you to her."

Walking a few hundred meters east from the sheds brought them to a row of neatly arranged tile-roofed houses. Ye Ran had assumed Ronin would be staying there, but Hu Ben led them further toward the low hills.

It was only when they reached a narrow mountain path that Ye Ran saw the girl sitting cross-legged on a small mound of earth, looking lost in thought.

"Leave it here; I will go up alone," Ye Ran said to Hu Ben before stepping forward. The killing intent of several white-clad figures swept over him.

Footsteps sounded behind him, but Ronin did not turn around.

As Ye Ran stood behind her and looked out, he realized the vantage point was exceptionally broad. The mines below, the distant forests, and the hunter traps were all clearly visible. Looking back, he could vaguely see a grayish expanse—the Forbidden Zone of New Species.

"Ye Ran, long time no see." She did not turn her head.

Ye Ran asked, "Did you anticipate I would come?"

Only then did Ronin look back at him and smile. "You’ve learned to fish for information, have you?" She shook the fan in her hand. "I am clever and know how to analyze and judge situations; not everything can be predicted in advance."

"You are looking for me because you’ve encountered something unpleasant, haven't you?"

Ye Ran did not understand her, but she understood him perfectly. Compared to the complex individuals on the Island of Slaughter, this young man’s mind was easy to read at a glance.

Ye Ran nodded. "Let's keep it brief. I am here regarding the treasure hunt the night before last. The Elves, the Dwarves, the Tauren, and the masters of Linshuang City fought each other to the brink of death, only to find the two treasures were fakes. I suspect someone was manipulating the situation from the shadows."

"You suspect that person is me, which is why you came to find me."

What kind of person was Ronin? How could she miss the implication in his words?

Ye Ran did not deny it. "You were the only one who remained uninvolved that night. It is hard not to suspect you."

Ronin snapped her fan shut. A silence followed, and the atmosphere grew cold and stern.

Meng Qi hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Miss, Brother Ye is direct. Please don't blame him. We came to ask because we mean well. If this matter has nothing to do with you, a few words will resolve it, and we will not disturb you again."

Ronin sneered. "Do you two think that by playing the good cop and the bad cop, you can trick me?"

With their petty scheme exposed, both Meng Qi and Ye Ran couldn't help but smile bitterly. Conversing with her was truly no easy task.

She glanced at Ye Ran and mocked, "Or do you think that the meager intelligence you bought from the Twelve Demons is enough to contend with me?"

Ye Ran’s brows tightened. Although he hadn't heard the name "Twelve Demons" before, even a fool knew it referred to the Cannibal Rat gang.

He had indeed obtained some information about Ronin from Delis, some of which was quite sensitive—such as the Island of Slaughter and the Forbidden Zone of New Species. This was supposed to be his trump card, yet he hadn't expected to be checkmated before he could even use it.

Ronin stood up. "Let me finish the rest for you. The matter of the Blood Clan’s secret treasure was certainly a long-laid scheme. The only people with the ability to orchestrate such a setup who are known to you are myself and Bei Yuming. Even if he was present that night, one cannot rule out the possibility that he is the mastermind. As for whether he or I am the true culprit... that depends on whether you can guess it."

She walked down the mound, fanning herself, her eyes filled with mockery as she looked at Ye Ran in parting.

Fifteen minutes later, as the two left the sheds and passed the tile-roofed houses, Ye Ran caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. However, the person moved with great speed, and Ye Ran could not identify them.

"Brother Ye," Meng Qi called out on the way back.

"Yes?"

"Are Bei Yuming and Ronin on the same level?"

"As far as I know, yes. At least in the eyes of Gao Taiqing, they are equals," Ye Ran replied.

Meng Qi shook his head and laughed. "Then I think we had better avoid provoking them. In terms of intellect and strength, we are simply not on the same level as them."