Negotiation and the Rising Flames

Following several rounds of negotiation between the Seven Mysteries Sect and the Wild Wolf Gang, a border area called "Falling Sands Slope" was agreed upon by both sides as the venue for talks.

As for the participants, the Wild Wolf Gang insisted quite forcefully that a senior leader from each side must be present to demonstrate mutual sincerity. Otherwise, there was simply no point in holding the meeting.

When this condition was put forward, it caused no disturbance on the Seven Mysteries Sect's side—it was a perfectly normal negotiating requirement.

Of course, the true top leader would never place themselves in such danger. The Seven Mysteries Sect would at most send a Deputy Sect Leader, and the opposing side would send a comparable Deputy Gang Leader to save face. So the condition posed no issue.

Thus, both sides agreed on a specific date for the talks. On that day, each would dispatch a contingent of over a hundred men to attend the meeting.

Fearing that the enemy might set an ambush during the negotiations, the Seven Mysteries Sect made extremely thorough arrangements for the participating personnel and contingency plans.

Not only was the negotiating team led by Deputy Sect Leader Wu, the sect's second-highest martial expert, but nearly all of the hundred-plus members were first-rate masters within the sect. These were mostly Protectors, Honored Elders, and other core personnel, with several Elders and Hall Masters joining to bolster the ranks. It was a truly formidable lineup.

With so many experts assembled, even if the Wild Wolf Gang committed all their elite forces, they likely could not stop this group. The entire Seven Mysteries Sect was brimming with confidence.

Thus, should any danger arise, the negotiators could rely on their martial skill to fight their way out and retreat to their own territory, where several squads of elite Blood Blade Hall disciples stood ready to secure their escape route.

Li Feiyu had volunteered to join as well. To someone like him, whose life was nearly spent, the more dangerous a place was, the more he yearned to go.

And so, this group—comprising nearly half of the Seven Mysteries Sect's top experts—finally departed from the mountain as the negotiation date approached. The round trip would take at least half a month. What a long stretch of time that was!

Han Li was not particularly concerned about any of this. To him, whether the talks succeeded or failed made no difference. He was about to leave this place and venture out into the wider world. What did the rise or fall of the Seven Mysteries Sect have to do with him?

As long as it did not involve him personally, he could not be bothered with such matters.

So in the days following the departure of the negotiating team, he continued unhurriedly cultivating the medicinal herbs he needed and began collecting seeds of rare plants for future use.

Han Li had already decided: once the negotiating team returned to the mountain, he would formally tender his resignation to the sect leaders. If they were foolish enough to refuse, he had no objection to revealing his true strength in front of them, just to make them give up any ideas.

In truth, sneaking away without anyone knowing would be the simplest approach. But Han Li worried that if they could not find him, they might trouble his family. So it was necessary to resign openly and demonstrate enough power to intimidate them.

As for an excuse to leave, Han Li had already thought of one: he would say he missed Doctor Mo and wished to go search for his master. Whether they believed him or not, Han Li did not care in the slightest. With absolute strength backing him, why should he fear their second thoughts?

Whenever he thought of this, a faint, cold smile would curl at the corner of his mouth. At this point, if he wanted to take the lives of the sect leaders, it would be trivially easy.

Of course, he only entertained the thought. He would not actually do such a thing.

But what Han Li never expected was that on the fourth night after the negotiating team's departure, a ragged, dust-covered figure with disheveled hair suddenly burst into his room. Staring with bloodshot eyes and speaking through cracked, peeling lips, the man rasped out a single sentence:

"The negotiating team is finished. Deputy Sect Leader Wu is dead. The Protectors are dead. The Honored Elders are dead. Several Elders are dead too. Almost everyone is dead."

Han Li was stunned by these words. Before he could even ask a question—

"Whooo..."

Suddenly, a sharp alarm whistle sounded from somewhere on the mountain.

"Bang... bang..."

Immediately after, the muffled sound of wooden clappers rang out.

"Clang... clang..."

"Ding ding..."

"Boom... boom..."

One after another, every kind of warning signal rose at once. Then countless battle cries erupted, echoing across the mountain in overlapping waves. The clash of weapons could faintly be heard. In that instant, it was as if the entire Colorful Cloud Mountain Range had turned into a vast killing field.

Han Li's expression shifted. Forgetting to listen to the man before him, he moved, and in a flicker, he was already outside his room. He scanned his surroundings, spotted the tallest building, lightly stamped his foot, and landed on its roof. From there, he gazed out beyond the valley.

His expression darkened visibly. For as far as his eyes could see, there was nothing but blazing firelight, shifting shadows, and the ceaseless glint of blade and sword. Everywhere, the sounds of slaughter, alarm, and angry shouts mingled into chaotic uproar.

Hearing the sound of wind behind him, Han Li asked without turning his head: "Li Feiyu, is it the Wild Wolf Gang?"

"Yes. I never expected them to plan so thoroughly. They nearly annihilated our negotiating team, then immediately followed the survivors and charged up the mountain." The one who had brought the news was none other than Li Feiyu, who had left four days earlier. His voice was now filled with fury and bitter unwillingness.