Chapter 2063: Chapter 2100: What Must Come Will Come

Inside the Great Elder Castle, in one of the halls, the upper echelon of the Skeleton Sect was holding a meeting. The Four Great Elders, Deputy Sect Master Zhuge Qing, Sect Master’s Guard Captain Xue Wu, and even Great Elder Wu Ji’s daughter, Wu Qingxia, were all present.

"Sect Master Ye has been gone for two days now, we don’t know how he’s doing. A Hundred-Year Monster appeared at Frostbite Cliff, and the scout cavalry reported back that the battle over there is raging. Quite a few experts from Tong City have gone, and just from the Warring States, there are already four or five flying warships."

The Fourth Elder was reporting the information sent back by the scout cavalry under him: "Also, the Liew Family, which has been eyeing us like a tiger, is taking part in the outer perimeter defense. They intentionally released four Wild Wolf Kings and nearly a thousand wild wolves. Those wild wolves have caused considerable damage to us and the nearby commoners. But later, some experts wiped out the entire wolf pack. And my scout squad captain, Gui Wu, reported that he ran into Sect Master Ye, who said he was heading for Frostbite Cliff and told us to be on guard!"

"Sect Master Ye isn’t planning to run away, is he? After all, the Zhong Family behind the Liew Family is terrifyingly strong. He’s just a young fellow, and originally he didn’t have much to do with our Skeleton Sect." Xue Wu said in a low voice.

"Impossible, Ye Fan isn’t that kind of person. His word is as good as gold—if he said he would come back, then he will definitely come back."

Zhuge Qing had gone through life-and-death situations together with Ye Fan, so he trusted his character completely.

"I also believe Elder Brother Ye wouldn’t abandon us! He’s a hero; he won’t run away."

Wu Qingxia also spoke up. The battle with the Blood Vulture the day before yesterday had given her direct contact with this new sect master. In her heart at this moment, Ye Fan was a heroic existence.

"Hmph, you still have the nerve to talk? If you hadn’t offended Miss Liew, would we be this worried now? When you get down to it, the one who started all of this is you."

Xue Wu said to Wu Qingxia with a face full of contempt. He had heard about this young lady before, and now he was even more dissatisfied with Wu Qingxia.

"Xue Wu! What’s that supposed to mean? You’ve been mocking and sneering at me these past two days. Don’t think that just because you’re a senior you can throw your weight around and bully a junior like me!"

Wu Qingxia flew into a rage and shouted at Xue Wu.

"What? You did something wrong and people aren’t allowed to talk about it?"

Xue Wu didn’t back down either, and shouted back at Wu Qingxia.

"Report... Honored Elders, Deputy Sect Master, Captain Xue, Sect Master Ye has returned, and he’s brought a young lady back with him."

Gui Wu came in to report, abruptly breaking the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere in the room.

"Ah, Sect Master Ye is back? Where is he now?"

Zhuge Qing was overjoyed and asked Gui Wu.

"They’re just about to reach the fortress gate."

"Good. Everyone, come with me to welcome the sect master." Zhuge Qing stood up at once and led the way outside. Now that Ye Fan had finally returned, he once again had a backbone to rely on.

"Gui Wu! You just said he brought back a young lady—what kind of person is she?"

After everyone had gone out, Wu Qingxia asked Gui Wu.

"I don’t know her either, but that girl is a real beauty!" Gui Wu answered honestly.

"Oh? Then... is she prettier, or am I prettier?"

"Ah, of course... of course Miss is prettier. How could there be any girl in this world more beautiful than Miss?"

"Hee hee, you know how to talk. This gold is your reward." Wu Qingxia tossed Gui Wu an ingot of gold, then ran out as well.

At this moment, under Zhuge Qing’s lead, everyone had already reached outside the fortress gate, just as Ye Fan arrived with the young girl, Xia Mengqing.

"Zhuge Qing, together with all disciples of the Skeleton Sect, welcomes the sect master!" Although he was curious about Xia Mengqing’s identity, Zhuge Qing still raised his voice and spoke to Ye Fan.

As soon as his words fell, everyone followed Zhuge Qing and shouted, "Welcome back, Sect Master!"

Xia Mengqing remained calm, as if she were used to such scenes, but the little black dog in her arms opened its eyes to take a glance, then lazily closed them again.

"Sigh! Brothers, we’re all of the same sect. There’s no need to be so formal in the future!" Ye Fan did not like this kind of pomp and ceremony, and spoke to everyone.

"Oh, this was set by the previous sect master. If Sect Master Ye doesn’t like it, we’ll drop it from now on."

Zhuge Qing had never liked this either. Hearing Ye Fan say not to stand on ceremony, he responded at once.

"Sect Master, this young lady is...?" Wu Qingxia’s eyes went wide the moment she saw Xia Mengqing. That damn Gui Wu, what blind flattery—this woman is clearly prettier than me.

"Hehe, you must be Wu Qingxia, Miss Wu, right? My name is Xia Mengqing, I’m Elder Brother Ye’s... younger sister. I’ll call you Sister Qingxia from now on!"

Xia Mengqing, in contrast to her cold attitude along the way, spoke to Wu Qingxia with a smile.

"Alright, alright, Sister Meng Qing. The little dog in your arms is so adorable, can I hold it for a bit?"

Wu Qingxia had been staring at that little beast for a long time. It was just too cute, and all her attention had been drawn to it.

"You mean Sirius? That’s Elder Brother Ye’s pet, not raised by me. As for whether it’ll let you hold it, I have no idea."

As she spoke, Xia Mengqing stretched out the little dog in her hands toward Wu Qingxia, but to her surprise, the little dog barked at Wu Qingxia, then leapt onto Ye Fan’s body and disappeared.

"Hmph, what a big temper. I don’t care anyway. Mengqing, little sister, I’ll take you inside." Wu Qingxia pouted as she spoke to Xia Mengqing.

Ye Fan also walked into the Great Elder Castle with everyone. After a few casual words, they began to talk business.

Although Ye Fan had returned, he brought back bad news. The battle at Frostbite Cliff had already ended; some Flying Chariots and airships were already flying back to Tong City. The Liew Family had not left, so it seemed they were going to make a move against the Skeleton Sect.

Xia Mengqing’s origins were mysterious. Ye Fan didn’t know where she came from, but among the noble families in Tong City there was no one with the surname Xia.

Yesterday, Ye Fan had injured her in the hot springs, and she’d been unable to use True Qi ever since. This made Ye Fan feel very guilty, so he brought her back.

As for why that black little beast was called Sirius, that was indeed a name Ye Fan gave it. Last night, after waking up, Ye Fan had gone into the Hundred Treasure Bag and discovered that the little beast had eaten quite a lot of the Spirit Grass he’d obtained in the Sirius Ancient Tomb. Ye Fan was both angry and exasperated, but there was nothing he could do. However, it seemed to be very fond of Xia Mengqing, so he no longer kept it inside the Hundred Treasure Bag, and instead let it follow Xia Mengqing all the time, even giving it the name Sirius.

Very soon, many subordinate forces of the Liew Family gathered outside the Great Elder Castle. Some of these powers were, like the Liew Family, also Fifth Grade forces. In truth, these forces had all come to aid the Liew Family for the Zhong Family’s sake. The Zhong Family was a Fourth Grade power on this continent; given a chance, of course they wanted to cling to the Zhong Family’s thick thigh.

At some unknown time, rain began to fall outside the castle. The people inside the castle couldn’t sleep, and whenever they heard Chariots and airships flying overhead in the high sky, they’d be terrified for a long while, afraid that experts of the Zhong Family had come to slaughter them.

One night passed and the great battle did not erupt. Inside the castle it was still very calm; the castle’s guards were waiting for that final moment to arrive, like the darkness before dawn, so still that it made people’s hearts tremble.

The sky cleared, and the hostile forces outside the castle did not move. By afternoon, a few more Flying Chariots and airships flew away, roaring as they passed over the castle without the slightest pause.

At dusk, the sky grew dark; it looked like it was going to rain again. The commoners in the castle all returned home early. After hastily eating dinner, they gathered together anxiously to wait.

All the households in the castle shut their doors. Even the little tavern that used to be lively every night had closed its doors. The castle, which had once been bustling even at this hour, sank into dead silence.

On the open ground outside the castle, Martial Artists suddenly surged out one after another. They were all clad in various kinds of Battle Armor, not saying a word as they gathered in a heavy silence.

Five people, ten people, fifty people, eight hundred people...

More and more Martial Artists assembled on the open ground, forming one square formation after another outside the castle. Beneath the black night curtain, they looked like a death army emerging from hell.

These people gathered in silence, without making a sound. Even their footsteps were extremely light. The weapons in their hands gleamed with cold light, killing intent flickering in their eyes. The castle folk hiding in the dark to watch couldn’t help being scared out of their wits.

One thousand, one thousand five hundred, three thousand.

The Martial Artists outside the castle were still gathering; more people were pouring in continuously from afar.

These Martial Artists stood in silence, divided into several square formations. All eyes were fixed on the Great Elder Wu Family’s castle ahead. Tonight this place would become their battlefield. If they won, the Skeleton Sect’s wealth would be theirs; they could plunder Treasure at will and seize any women they wanted.

If they lost... how could they possibly lose? Under such a blow, the Skeleton Sect had no chance of victory.

Fine rain once again drifted down from the sky, pattering on the Battle Armor of more than three thousand people and producing strange sounds. No one moved. They were waiting—waiting for the leaders of each force to come out.

The rain grew heavier. No more Martial Artists came onto the open ground. In total, more than three thousand eight hundred people had arrived, neatly arrayed into six square formations.

Six people walked out from the front. Among these six, two were Elders, the other four were in their prime. The six walked with steady steps, like six wild beasts. Every one of them radiated killing intent, making the hearts of all the Martial Artists throb uncontrollably.

Each of the six walked to stand before a square formation. The Martial Artists in the formations still stood ramrod straight, waiting for the six to issue orders. But the six only gazed toward the rear, quietly waiting for something.

The rain came down harder, soaking everyone’s Battle Armor and drenching the clothes beneath, but no one moved. Everyone remained quietly waiting.

"Whoosh..."

In the distance behind them, a streak of light flared in the darkness, flying straight toward the castle. The six leaders standing before the six formations all lifted their heads, a glint seeming to flash in their eyes—especially the Patriarch of the Liew Family; the light in his eyes was the brightest.

"He’s here. Young Master Zhong of the Zhong Family is here!"

Standing behind the Liew Family’s Martial Artists, Young Master Liew Bin grew excited. If Young Master Zhong didn’t come, tonight’s battle would be impossible to fight, and all the preparations the Liew Family had made would be for nothing.

With Zhong Wushang here, everything was set in stone and could no longer be changed.

"Wu Qingxia! You’re dead! But before you die, I’ll definitely humiliate you properly!"

Liew Bin gnashed his teeth and roared in his heart. Even if Wu Qingxia hadn’t humiliated him back then, the Liew Family would still have attacked the Skeleton Sect. In the Great Python Mountain region of the Northern Wastelands, there could only be one Liew Family; all other powers had to become subordinates. But that line Wu Qingxia had thrown at him back then—"How can a tigress marry a cur?"—had indeed made him hate Wu Qingxia to the bone.

Today, he would let Wu Qingxia see whether he was a cur or not! He would slaughter everyone from the Wu Family and the Skeleton Sect to vent the hatred in his heart. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Whoosh...

The Flying War Chariot finally arrived over the open ground in front of the castle, hovering in the air. There weren’t many people inside the Chariot, only three. The Chariot had no roof, but there was a transparent Protective Barrier, so the rain couldn’t pour into the carriage.

Seated in the Chariot was a young man in black. He had a rather magnanimous demeanor as he sat there, with a beautiful young maiden in his arms. Looking closely, the girl actually bore some resemblance to Liew Bin.

At the front of the Chariot stood a burly man in full Heavy Armor. Even his head was covered by a Heavy Helmet, with only a pair of emotionless eyes exposed.

"Greetings, Young Master Zhong!"