"But how did they manage to break through the outer outposts on the mountain? When we retreated back up the mountain, we had clearly instructed the sentries along the route to strengthen their vigilance," Li Feiyu murmured, puzzled. "That's not at all surprising. The Wild Wolf Clan must have planned this large-scale offensive for a long time. Sending a few spies to the outer posts would have been easy. With these insiders guiding them, the outposts were quietly captured—quite ordinary, really," Han Li said calmly. "However, the Wild Wolf Clan won't be able to easily take down all the branch halls. I suspect their strategy is to encircle each hall's mountain peak without immediately attacking it, and then concentrate their stronger fighters to launch a focused assault on the main hall located at the Sunset Peak. As long as they can capture or eliminate our key leaders, the other branch halls will fall without resistance." "Then what should we do now? Should we head for the Sunset Peak?" Li Feiyu asked, growing increasingly urgent. Han Li remained silent, and only after a while did he suddenly turn around to face Li Feiyu, speaking in a solemn tone: "You haven't told me yet—how did so many elite members of your negotiation team all perish? According to my judgment, the Wild Wolf Clan simply doesn't possess such strength." Upon hearing this, Li Feiyu's facial muscles twitched slightly. Without conscious effort, he ran his tongue over his dry, cracked lips, revealing a faint wry smile and said: "They deployed large numbers of crossbows—indeed, all reinforced military-grade models." "Reinforced military crossbows?" "Exactly." "At that time, we had only been away from the mountain for two days, and we were still traversing a meadow within our own territory, so everyone was relaxed and at ease. Suddenly, countless members of the Wild Wolf Clan emerged from the ground all around us, each armed with a sturdy crossbow. The barrage of arrows that poured forth was so dense that even those with lesser martial skills were struck down instantly, right there in the chaos." Only a few individuals with exceptionally high martial skills or fortunate luck managed to evade this assault, though even they emerged with injuries and their abilities significantly weakened. I am one of those fortunate ones; otherwise, I would not have made it back. Li Feiyu still feels shaken when recalling this, his eyes subtly reflecting a sense of fear—clearly, the sight of the coordinated barrage of crossbow arrows left a profound impression on him. After the crossbow arrows were discharged, the opposing elite fighters advanced, and we were plunged into a prolonged struggle. To increase our chances of survival, the remaining members decided to operate independently and break through on their own. My own fortune also played a role—since I wasn't considered a top priority for elimination by the enemy, fewer pursuers followed me, and their combat prowess wasn't particularly strong. Remarkably, I managed to break free and emerge victorious. But when I rushed back, I realized that the outposts we had established along the way had all been systematically dismantled by the other side, replaced by the wild wolf faction, who now held them in anticipation of us—the surviving fish—falling into their nets. After being tricked twice, I simply stopped seeking help. "As soon as I returned here, the two priests went to the Sunset Peak to deliver the news that the Wang Master's negotiation team had been completely wiped out. I fabricated an excuse about recovering from injuries and came here secretly, to discuss our next moves." "After all, with the Master Wang and so many others perishing in the ambush, only we—these individuals of moderate status, neither particularly high nor low—have managed to survive. To avoid blame, who knows if the higher-ups might direct all their anger at us, making us the scapegoats?" "Now, even before I had the chance to explain this situation, the wild wolf clan's forces have already launched their attack. What are we to do now?" Li Feiyu spoke in a rush, his expression growing increasingly helpless. After listening carefully, Han Li furrowed his brows and tilted his head, thinking deeply. The sounds of battle on the mountain grew even more intense, with occasional cries of the dying rising sharply, sending a shiver down one's spine. "Do you still have subordinates on the mountain now?" Han Li's voice had become notably low. "Yes, I have over twenty of my men stationed in several houses near Li Changlao's residence. Originally, I planned to bring them out of the mountain once the negotiations were concluded." "Very well. Let's first go to Li Changlao's home, gather everyone there, and then meet with Zhang Xiu'er and Li Changlao as well. As for what comes next, we'll make our decisions once we have a clearer understanding of the situation." Han Li spoke calmly, displaying remarkable composure and rationality. "Agreed, I'll follow your lead." "Right now, with things so chaotic outside, I'm genuinely worried about Xiu'er!" Li Feiyu seemed visibly anxious. Han Li glanced at Li Feiyu, genuinely puzzled—how could this man be so contradictory? On one hand, he was deeply concerned and anxious about Zhang Xiu'er; on the other, despite knowing his own life was drawing to a close, he insisted on marrying her, effectively setting her up to become a widow. "A truly contradictory individual!" Han Li quietly offered a less-than-flattering assessment of his friend. He lightly leapt down from the roof first, followed by Li Feiyu. "I'll go pack a few things and then we'll leave right away." "Good, you'd better hurry—I'm genuinely worried about Xiu'er's safety." Han Li could only remain silent upon hearing this. The other person's constant reference to "Xiu'er" sounded so sweet and affectionate, which not only made Han Li feel a bit disdainful but also stirred a sense of jealousy. Ignoring Li Feiyu, who had suddenly transformed into a romantic, Han Li returned to the room and began efficiently gathering a few essential items.