Chapter 148: Besieged

As soon as Yaoye entered the valley, he saw Ali running over and grabbing his arm.
"Clan Leader Brother, you must be the judge! Why can the other clansmen go and help you, but I can only stay here? This isn't fair!"
"Ali, once recent matters are settled, I will personally come and take you out. How does that sound?"
Ali looked at Yaoye in surprise, her clear eyes staring straight at him.
"Really? Clan Leader Brother, you must not lie to me!"
Yaoye smiled helplessly and shook his head. "I am not lying to you. Come on, take me to your grandfather first."
"Mm!"
Yaoye and Ali walked deeper into the valley and arrived at Yaoshan's courtyard. Ali skipped and shouted happily.
"Grandfather, come out quickly! Clan Leader Brother has come to see you!"
Hearing the commotion, Yaoshan hurried out of the house, rushed anxiously in front of Yaoye, and fell to his knees in obeisance.
"This old man Yaoshan greets the Clan Leader!"
Yaoye quickly reached out to help Yaoshan up. "Grandfather Yaoshan, haven't I told you before? There is no need for such grand formalities in the future."
"Clan Leader, rules are the foundation of our existence and cannot be discarded!"
Knowing that it was impossible to change Yaoshan's old-fashioned mindset overnight, Yaoye simply stopped dwelling on it.
"Grandfather Yaoshan, I have come this time to entrust you with a task."
"Please give your orders, Clan Leader. This old man will certainly do his utmost!"
"Help me build a three-story stone tower in the center of the settlement. Remember, this tower must be built entirely out of stone!"
"Rest assured, Clan Leader. This old man will engrave it upon his heart!"
"Good! Then I won't linger any longer. There is still a mountain of matters outside waiting for me to handle!"
With that, Yaoye turned and walked toward the exit. Ali hurriedly ran over, looking at him with lingering reluctance.
"Clan Leader Brother, you must come and pick me up soon!"
"Alright, but you must also cultivate diligently; otherwise, I won't take you out. Well then, Ali, Brother will come to see you next time."

Watching Yaoye's departing figure, Ali pouted slightly. Yaoye, whose mind was constantly preoccupied with Peng Yu and the others, rushed toward the mines the moment he left the valley.
Limou looked at Wan Xin before him with utter disgust. "Speak. What on earth is going on?"
Wan Xin scurried over to Limou with a flattering expression. "Elder Li, we discovered a mine near Carefree City. Sect Master Ling and I reached an agreement, with Elder Chu and the Young Sect Master helping me eliminate formidable enemies."
Limou glared coldly at Wan Xin. "If you dare to spout any more nonsense, I wouldn't mind killing you right now!"
"Yes, yes, yes! The Young Sect Master was killed by the leader of a newly emerged faction in Carefree City. This person is extremely mysterious and possesses profound cultivation."
"What is his name? Do you know his background?"
"This person's name is Ye Yao. As soon as he established his faction, he opposed us at every turn. I always felt that this person wasn't targeting my Wan family, but rather the Skysong Sect."
Limou straightened his posture. "What makes you say that?"
"Think about it, Elder Li. He single-handedly swept through all the factions in Carefree City, yet Carefree City holds nothing worthy of his attention. Why else would he kill the Young Sect Master?"
Limou nodded, walked out of the house, and led his disciples along with hundreds of Skysong Sect members straight toward Carefree City.
The people of Carefree City watched curiously as the large group of people flew across the sky. Limou let out a cold snort, releasing an overwhelming pressure that forced the onlookers to their knees in terror.
Limou nodded in satisfaction and led the crowd straight to the Heavenly Mansion's encampment. Finding the courtyard completely empty, his expression turned gloomy. He grabbed Wan Xin by the throat and said with vicious intent,
"I will give you one day. If you cannot find their whereabouts, I will have no choice but to kill you!"
Limou flung Wan Xin out of the courtyard. Wan Xin scrambled to his feet and ran off without a second word.
By evening, Wan Xin had returned to the courtyard. Entering the main hall, he saw Limou calmly sipping tea and quickly hurried forward.
"Elder Li, I have already tracked down Ye Yao's whereabouts."
Limou said indifferently, "Speak!"
"Yesterday, someone saw the Heavenly Mansion's forces heading toward the mines. No doubt that Ye Yao is there as well."
Limou set down his teacup and stood up. "Lead the way."
Leading his disciples, Limou followed Wan Xin imposingly toward the mines. As they approached the vicinity of the mine, Yaoye's spiritual sense detected them.
"Everyone, stop! Follow this cave entrance straight ahead. There is a natural cavern inside. Remember, no matter what sounds you hear, do not come out! Peng Yu, you bring up the rear and destroy this entrance for me!"
"Then what about you, Big Brother?"
"Don't worry about me. Just do as I say. Those petty villains cannot do anything to me. Remember to hide yourselves well. I will come back to find you!"
With those words, Yaoye turned and dashed toward the cave entrance. Peng Yu raised his hand as if to call out to Yaoye, but his mouth opened without a sound escaping.
"Big Brother, take care!"
Peng Yu turned around and said softly, "Three members of the guard unit stay behind; the rest, head deeper into the cave."
Just as Limou's group reached the mine entrance, Yaoye rushed out brandishing the Blood-Weeping Sword. Because Limou and his men were unprepared, they were instantly caught off guard by Yaoye's assault.
Limou hurriedly stepped forward to exchange blows with Yaoye. The two separated and stood apart as the Skysong Sect disciples quickly surrounded Yaoye, watching him with wary vigilance.
"You must be Ye Yao?"
Yaoye let out a cold snort and made no reply. Catching sight of Wan Xin standing nearby, a scheme formed in his mind, and he smiled malevolently.
Wan Xin stepped forward, emboldened by the backing of others. "Ye Yao, you murdered the Young Sect Master of the Skysong Sect. Why don't you surrender immediately?"
Yaoye pointed his Blood-Weeping Sword straight at Wan Xin. "Ah, you despicable villain! It was you who coerced me into killing the Young Sect Master. Now I understand—what a brilliant plot to kill two birds with one stone!"
Limou glared at Wan Xin with murderous intent. Wan Xin waved his hands frantically. "Elder Li, you must believe me! Ye Yao is framing me! Elder Li, you have to believe me!"
Limou stepped forward and crushed Wan Xin's windpipe with a single grip. Wan Xin's eyes bulged wide, his neck slumped to the side, and he breathed his last. Limou viciously tossed Wan Xin's corpse to the ground.
"Even if it wasn't your fault, you no longer have any value."
Limou kicked Wan Xin's corpse away, pointed his sword at Yaoye, and declared, "Anyone who offends my Skysong Sect meets only death. Now it's your turn!"
Yaoye glanced briefly toward the depths of the cave before shooting rapidly into the air. Taking advantage of the brief moment of astonishment among the crowd, he sprinted into the forest.
"Where do you think you're running, little thief!"
Limou gave chase right behind Yaoye, and the Skysong Sect disciples quickly followed suit. Keeping tabs on everyone with his spiritual sense, Yaoye felt a sense of relief when he saw that all of them had taken the bait.
Reaching the outer perimeter of the forest, Yaoye stopped in his tracks. Limou and the Skysong Sect disciples surrounded him once again, and Yaoye's fighting spirit instantly surged to its peak.