Chapter Forty-Five: The Beiming Family

Stone Forest.

Beneath the scorching sun, Mo Yanyu’s graceful back leaned against an oval rock. Her dark brows were slightly furrowed, as if deep in thought.

Beside her stood an unremarkable man, his face pocked with scars—a retainer of the Mo clan. He squinted, lost in his own musings.

Heavy, disordered footsteps gradually echoed from afar.

Mo Yanyu’s long, thick lashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes, casting a cold glance at the rapidly approaching Johnson. She rebuked him sharply, “What are you panicking for?”

“They’ve appeared!” Johnson snarled, “Two women. According to the Dark Star Envoy, they’re the targets!”

A spark lit in Mo Yanyu’s beautiful eyes, and her expression turned icy. “Is that boy with them?”

“Doesn’t seem like it…” Johnson paused, then composed himself. “As long as we seize those two women, we’ll definitely find out where that boy is hiding.”

“Has the news reached Third Uncle?”

“One of the Dark Star Envoys has already gone.”

“Which direction?” Straightening up, Mo Yanyu stretched languidly. “Are they farther from us or from Third Uncle?”

“A bit farther from us. If nothing goes wrong, Third Master and his men should arrive soon,” Johnson replied.

“Oh, then there’s no need to rush.” Mo Yanyu frowned, then turned to the pockmarked retainer. “Uncle Li, should we head over?”

“Our quarry hasn’t shown up yet; there’s no need to hurry,” Li Han shook his head with a smile. “Third Master and the Dark Underworld’s people are watching that side; nothing will go amiss. This checkpoint is just as crucial. We’d best remain on guard. Our real target is that boy—if he slips through here, all our efforts will be for nothing.”

“True.” Mo Yanyu nodded, asking nothing further.

...

A deep, resonant horn suddenly echoed near a rock shaped like a serpent. Mu Yudie raised a silver ox horn and blew into it.

The sound rippled out like waves, reaching far and wide.

From all corners of the stone forest, figures hidden in caves emerged at the horn’s call, swiftly converging on Mu Yudie’s location.

“Sister Lan, don’t worry. Someone will be here soon to help us,” Mu Yudie smiled with relief. “Now that we’re here, we’re truly safe—no more need to fear the Dark Underworld.”

“I hope so.” Diya Lan forced a smile, her heart still heavy with worry for Shiyan. She sighed softly, “I just hope he’s alright…”

Suddenly, several figures darted from the shadows. Leading them was the Underworld’s Moon Envoy, flanked by Mo Chaoge and Barnard, as well as several Mo clan warriors and a Dark Star Envoy.

“Miss Mu, we meet again,” the Moon Envoy’s cold eyes slithered over Mu Yudie like venomous snakes. “You’re resourceful, managing to make it here. Yet in the end, you failed to reach the Trading Union. You’ll still be taken back with me.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Mu Yudie replied calmly, entirely unruffled.

The Moon Envoy frowned, sensing something amiss. Mu Yudie was far too composed—unlike ever before.

“And where is that boy who was with you?” Mo Chaoge strode over, sweeping a cold gaze over the two women. “Tell me where he is, or I’ll kill her first.” He pointed at Diya Lan.

“She’s mine!” Barnard shot Mo Chaoge a fierce glare, then darted like lightning to Diya Lan’s side, rudely reaching for her.

A sharp, metallic chord suddenly rang out—a sound like a blade, slicing straight into the nerves of those present.

Barnard recoiled violently, pain twisting his features. He staggered back, staring at Mu Yudie in horror.

Mu Yudie now sat upon the ground, ancient zither in hand, a chill at her lips as she looked coolly at Barnard. “Care to try again?”

Barnard felt as though steel needles pierced his skull; the pain was excruciating. Hearing her words, his face flickered with uncertainty, but he dared not approach.

“Impossible!” The Moon Envoy’s face changed, panic flashing in his eyes for the first time. “It’s only been a few months; your musical martial soul can’t have recovered so fast!”

After a pause, as though recalling something, the Moon Envoy sneered, “I see. You’re forcibly using broken meridians. You’re courting death!”

“Oh?” Mu Yudie’s expression was cold and distant. “You’re welcome to test me. I know you possess the Hundred Tribulations cultivation, but before entering the Dark Forest, I used my musical martial soul to kill a Moon Envoy of the same rank. I’m sure you remember.”

At these words, not only did the Moon Envoy hesitate, but even Barnard and Mo Chaoge looked at her in disbelief, fear flickering in their eyes.

“Envoy…is this true?” Mo Chaoge’s lips were dry as he edged back, signaling his clan’s warriors to be cautious.

“If her martial soul were at its peak, she could indeed do it… But now, I don’t believe it!” the Moon Envoy snorted.

“Heh, let’s see what you can do, then,” Mo Chaoge retreated further, placing himself among his fellow warriors, plainly unwilling to make the first move.

“Whoever comes first, dies first,” Mu Yudie said coldly. Then she bowed her head, refusing to speak further.

Diya Lan stood at her side, tense and alert.

Stalemate settled over the group.

Though suspicious, the Moon Envoy dared not act rashly.

Barnard and Mo Chaoge, knowing Mu Yudie’s reputation for defeating experts of the Hundred Tribulations, had grown uncharacteristically subdued, each glancing at the Moon Envoy as if urging him to test her true strength.

Then, from the surrounding rocks, more figures emerged.

A tall, refined figure appeared at Mu Yudie’s side in an instant, his voice gentle: “Miss Mu, are you alright?”

Despite the many powerful figures present—including the Moon Envoy, Mo Chaoge, and Barnard—none saw how he appeared by Mu Yudie’s side. He was like a ghost, suddenly there, leaving no trace.

“Teleportation martial soul! From the Beiming family!” Mo Chaoge’s face drained of color as he cried out.

“So that’s who it is—a Mo clansman,” said the handsome young man who had appeared by Mu Yudie. His tone was proud and cold. “What? Do you wish to challenge the Beiming family?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Mo Chaoge drew a deep breath, regaining his composure. He forced a smile at the young man. “So the Third Young Master has arrived. No wonder Miss Mu was so confident. Third Young Master, I didn’t realize she was under your family’s protection. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come. Please forgive me…”

Beiming Ce waved a hand impatiently. “If this matter doesn’t concern your Mo clan, take your people and leave. I’m about to deal with the Underworld; don’t get involved.”

As he spoke, Beiming warriors in their distinctive garb began to appear one after another.

Two elderly men, one fat and one thin, quietly took position at his side, their cold eyes fixed on Mo Chaoge and the Moon Envoy.

“Very well, I’ll go now.” Mo Chaoge put on a pleasant smile and, without another word, turned to leave.

The Mo clan warriors, recognizing Beiming Ce, instantly grew docile and followed him away, heads bowed.

Barnard, seeing Mo Chaoge depart, dared not linger. He slipped back, intent on vanishing into the rocks.

“Third Young Master, please kill him for me,” Mu Yudie plucked her zither strings softly.

A metallic chord rang out once more.

Barnard’s body shuddered violently; he stumbled and nearly fell, then hastily darted behind a rock, fleeing for his life.

“Old Yin, if you please,” Beiming Ce murmured.

The thin old man behind him shot away like a phantom, vanishing in an instant.

Three seconds later, a blood-curdling scream echoed from the stone forest.

Five seconds later, Old Yin flitted back like a shadow, resuming his place behind Beiming Ce without a word.

...

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