Chapter 135: All-Out War (Part II)

The boulder crashed heavily onto the Strange One’s back. He clearly heard his spine snap, and the agony tore a scream from his throat.

Footsteps approached from behind. Delis gave a low, mocking laugh and leaped down from the mountainside. Glancing at Ye Ran, who had arrived with his rifle slung across his back, she grinned. “Not bad, brat.”

“Wait until we get through this before praising me.”

Ye Ran glanced toward the end of the mountain path, where several figures were rapidly drawing near. He strode forward and pressed the tip of his rifle against the Strange One’s throat.

The tension Delis had only just released instantly tightened again.

There were only three figures ahead, yet the pressure they radiated was immense. Even breathing felt difficult.

Gradually, the three figures came closer. A brown-clad figure appeared on the mountain path first.

He wore a brown leather coat and a belt slung diagonally across his waist. Gold-rimmed glasses rested on his face, and he approached with his hands behind his back.

Two Blue Demons followed behind him.

He had the same face as the Strange One and a similar bearing, but a closer comparison revealed that the Strange One’s apparent calm and intelligence were merely a disguise. They were nowhere near the same level as those of this young man.

This was the real Bei Yuming—the Twin Star whom the Great Prophet Mambal held in the highest regard. It was the first time Ye Ran had seen him.

“Stop.”

Ye Ran pushed the muzzle of his rifle closer.

“I don’t believe you dare kill him.”

The threat had no effect. Bei Yuming’s footsteps did not falter in the slightest.

Ye Ran sneered. “Do you think bringing these two with you is enough to threaten me?”

Ye Ran was no longer the hotheaded youth he had once been. Both his strength and his judgment had improved tremendously.

He admitted that he was no match for the two Blue Demons, but it would be equally difficult for them to keep him and Delis here.

Bei Yuming shook his head. “They are not what threatens you. The danger lies in one factor you overlooked.”

“Ye Ran, a person who is skilled at planning, possesses accurate information, thinks carefully, notices the smallest details, and takes everything into consideration may be called a ‘wise man.’ A true strategy must contain both a killing blow and a way out. Every possible change within the situation must be calculated, along with a means of dealing with it.”

“You thought the plan you devised against Luo Ning and me was flawless. In reality, it was riddled with holes.”

How could Ye Ran be frightened by a few words? He merely sneered. “Is that so?”

Bei Yuming chuckled softly. “Take the Minotaur settlement, for example. If I used the method you employed against Luo Ning on you, could you bear the consequences?”

With that seemingly casual remark, Ye Ran’s expression changed dramatically.

He naturally understood what Bei Yuming meant. At present, all of Ye Ran’s forces were deployed at the Hunter Pit and Luo Ning’s iron mine. The Minotaur settlement was his weak point.

The settlement’s defenses were currently feeble. Two Blue Demons alone would be enough to pose a tremendous threat to them. Fruya, Sinclair, Meng Qi, Banner, and the others would all be in danger.

Cold sweat broke out across Ye Ran’s forehead at the thought.

He was capable of seeing the broader picture, but laying out a strategy was not his strength.

Ye Ran said coldly, “I couldn’t bear it. But would Grusburg, which colluded with the God Hunters over the matter of the divine artifact, be able to bear the consequences?”

Both sides had their weaknesses. Ye Ran was not someone to be trifled with.

Bei Yuming, however, remained completely unperturbed. “There is no evidence and no witnesses. Who would believe you? Would the Temple really turn against Grusburg because of a baseless accusation from you or Qianlong?”

He lowered his head and glanced at the silver watch on his wrist. “You should make your decision. You do not have much time left. Whatever I can think of, Luo Ning can think of as well.”

“Hmph. Let’s go.”

Ye Ran kicked the boulder off the Strange One and vanished rapidly into the distance.

“You don’t need to bring the Black Snake and White Snake back. They can find their own way to Grusburg,” Bei Yuming said, his tone sounding half mocking and half amused.

The Strange One struggled to rise from the ground. He lowered his head and remained silent.

Bei Yuming merely gave him a cool glance before turning and walking out of the mountain path.

The Strange One gritted his teeth and followed behind him. They had identical faces, yet at that moment one stood high above the other, while the other was humble to the very bone.

“Xiaoming, do you want to replace me?”

Xiaoming was the Strange One’s name. Bei Yuming had called him that for more than a decade.

The gentle words sounded like thunder in the Strange One’s ears.

His body trembled, and he stammered, “I wouldn’t dare. I wouldn’t dare.”

Bei Yuming nodded. “Yes. You want to, but you don’t dare.”

“No, no, I don’t want to...”

“Why don’t you want to? Do you want to live in my shadow for the rest of your life? Who doesn’t want to command the winds and clouds? Who doesn’t want to stand above everyone else?” Bei Yuming sneered. “But why do you imitate my ambition without considering what I possess that allows me to pursue it? Why don’t you ask yourself how Luo Ning and I managed to secure a place in Grusburg and on a place like Slaughter Island?”

Xiaoming’s body trembled violently. He dared not utter a word.

Bei Yuming glanced back at him. “You still have much to learn. If you have the ability, you can become an unexpected variable in Grusburg.”

“Just like Ye Ran.”

***

Ye Ran and Delis hurried back to the Minotaur settlement.

Bei Yuming had been right. Whatever he could think of, Luo Ning could think of as well. With the settlement’s current defenses, there was no way it could withstand the White Masks of Slaughter Island.

From far away, Ye Ran saw the settlement’s connected thatched huts. Several auras emanated from within. Then, an invisible force suddenly surged outward and transformed into a wall of pressure. Several white figures were instantly forced back. In a flash, they flew past Ye Ran toward the east.

Telekinesis.

Ye Ran was startled at first, then overjoyed.

“Shali! Shali!”

With his rifle on his back, he ran inside. Sure enough, there were signs of fighting throughout the settlement.

Shali yawned and walked out of one of the huts. Seeing Ye Ran rushing toward her, she folded her arms and smiled. “What is it, boy? Did you come back early because you were worried about our safety?”

“Your injury... Your telekinesis has recovered?”

“Of course. The Catwoman has come here so many times. I’m not an idiot.”

To Ye Ran, this was a tremendous surprise. With Shali recovered, he no longer had anything to worry about at his back.

Fruya also poked her little head out from the hut.

Ye Ran waved to her, then turned to Shali. “Shali, I’ll leave this place to you. I’ll come back after I deal with Luo Ning.”

“Hey, Ye Ran!”

***

The iron mine east of Yibo had already descended into chaos as well.

After Ivy took the White Masks to the Hunter Pit, Jelan Dun, Grey Wolf, and Lois came knocking.

Only Luo Ning, Huben, Alicia, and a small number of White Masks remained in the shed outside the iron mine.

A surge of battle energy flared. A red-haired young man stood with his arms folded in front of the White Masks. Even the combined battle energy of six White Masks was firmly suppressed before him.

His features seemed carved by knife and axe. His figure was tall and slender, and his long blue coat did not move even in the wind. Though he was not particularly large, merely standing there placed an immense pressure on everyone around him.

Frostfall City. The Golden Lion Family. The Blood Lion, Du Ma.