Jun Mo Xie stared, drenched in sweat. Ying Bo Kong’s idea was too audacious; what kind of person was he? He had never realized this fellow possessed such talent!

Now, with war against Tian Fa looming, even an ordinary rat in the Tian Fa Forest could probably relay messages—how could anyone possibly sneak in undetected?

If they actually followed Ying Bo Kong’s suggestion, gathering manpower for a covert infiltration, remaining unseen once inside would certainly be achievable. The problem was they’d be silently surrounded by the enemy’s massive army, followed by a perfectly executed decapitation strike using their superior numbers. This outcome was utterly predictable. The beheading would happen, only it would be their own side being executed.

Jun Mo Xie finally realized that his previous estimation of Ying Bo Kong’s intelligence had been far too conservative; he had overestimated him by so much. It seemed that the man had spent so much time accompanying the Black Eagle on the snowy mountains that his brain had become as sharp as a bird’s, too.

“It hasn't been entirely without gain today!” Jun Wu Yi sighed. “Tian Fa has sent the challenge, setting the final battle three days from now. Currently, we are considering the selection of a commanding general…”

“Speaking of the commander selection, your Third Uncle is the popular choice,” Dongfang Wen Qing snorted coldly, anger evident in her voice. “First, the people of Fengxue Silver City strongly support your Third Uncle as the main commander! They lavished praise on his leadership abilities as the Blood-Robed General. Next, Li Teng Yun, the young master of Blood Soul Manor, also vigorously put him forward.” It was practically settled on the spot. Those bastards! This is clearly assassination by borrowed knife! The popular choice is being sent to death!

Jun Mo Xie’s eyes flickered. “What about Third Uncle’s own opinion?”

Jun Wu Yi’s sword-like brows arched. “We came here precisely to resolve this matter. Even if it is assassination by borrowed knife, so what? The Xuan Beast Tide is a catastrophe for the entire continent; it must be suppressed and resolved. This decisive battle is inevitable! A true man knows what he must and must not do. Even if I don’t go, someone else will. Besides, my demise is hardly guaranteed!”

“En, you mean you accept?” Jun Mo Xie stood up, paced a few steps, and asked gravely.

“Precisely!” Jun Wu Yi said calmly. “Besides me, no one else has even been nominated! If I were to use an excuse to refuse, it would be seen as cowardice! Then, the prestige of our Jun family would suffer a severe blow, dropping to freezing point after today! All the glory earned by your grandfather, your father, your Second Uncle, and your two elder brothers would be utterly erased by my act of fearing death! Therefore, even if I die, I will go without hesitation! As I said, a true man knows what he must and must not do!”

“The only reason they nominated you is because of this—because you have no way to avoid it, nor can you retreat!” Dongfang Wen Qing scoffed. “Knowing full well it’s a trap with a zero percent chance of survival, you still plan to jump in? What kind of brave man is that? That’s pure foolishness!”

“I will die without regret!” Jun Wu Yi’s face was frosted with cold determination. “The reputation of the Jun family is paramount to me! I can give up anything, but I cannot allow the good name of my Jun family to be tarnished!”

“Idiot!” Dongfang Wen Qing sharply rebuked. “If you go, it will be a truly pointless sacrifice!”

“A grown man must bear his responsibilities! And the reputation of the Jun family is my responsibility in this life!”

Jun Wu Yi frowned slightly, his expression resolute. “The Jun family will absolutely not fall. Even if I go to this battle and perish, there is still Father, and there is still Mo Xie! The Jun family will not collapse! But right now, as a member of the Jun family, I must step forward for us! I am not doing this because of their schemes, nor to play the hero. It is simply that the Jun family cannot be allowed to fail! The Jun family will never commit an act of fearing the enemy and showing cowardice!”

Dongfang Wen Qing trembled with anger, stomping her foot hard, and cursed, “I’ve never seen such a stubborn fool! Mo Xie, what do you say!”

“Ten years without a crown, my hair remains for you; every night I gaze toward Tian Xiang, this life I will not turn back!” Jun Mo Xie recited softly, then suddenly looked up, asking in a deep voice, “Third Uncle, you disregard even this? A mere reputation is an external thing; I never cared about it. I believe Grandfather wouldn’t either! To us, your life, Third Uncle, is the most important thing! Don't forget, someone is still waiting for you on the Great Snow Mountain! She has been waiting for you foolishly for ten years and will continue to wait!”

Jun Wu Yi’s body trembled violently, his face momentarily spasming with pain, instantly covered by a cloud of gloom. He tilted his head, letting his cheek disappear into the shadow cast by the candlelight, and said bitterly, “It’s not entirely due to the burden of reputation. Since ancient times, tens of thousands have fallen dead on the battlefield—which one didn't have elderly parents? Which one didn't have a beloved wife and young children? Am I, Jun Wu Yi, so special? So precious? So unable to let go?”

“My mind is made up. Third Brothers, and Mo Xie, stop trying to persuade me! Trust me to lead as commander; it might have some positive effect, at least it will be far better than that bunch of good-for-nothings!” Jun Wu Yi forced a bitter smile.

“Even if you must go to battle, you can’t go alone, can you?”

Jun Mo Xie’s eyes darted around. “If we are to lead the allied forces to meet the enemy, then the major aristocratic families must all contribute personnel! If, in this battle, only the ordinary soldiers you brought, Third Uncle, enter the fray, it will be a senseless sacrifice. We must have high-level experts! At the very least, experts of the Earth Profound or Jade Profound realms! But where can an army find so many masters? So, even if you lead troops out, Fengxue Silver City and Blood Soul Manor, and even the major families, must send people out!”

“En? So you mean?” A sharp light flashed in Jun Wu Yi’s eyes.

“We will play the game of borrowed knife too!”

Jun Mo Xie smiled slightly, revealing a set of snow-white teeth that gleamed under the lamplight like those of a fierce beast ready to devour prey. He brought his hand down in a sharp slash, saying fiercely, “Scheming against others must come with a price. If you want us ruined, fine! But everyone must be ruined together! No one gets to walk away clean! If they dare to plot against my Jun family, how can we let them get away unscathed? If they make us spill a single drop of blood, they must pay with a life!”

“And this is where your advantage lies, Third Uncle, and what you should rely on!” Jun Mo Xie’s eyes slanted upward, radiating palpable killing intent. “Since they are planning to scheme against my Jun family, they must be prepared for mourning! Let’s see who laughs last!”

“If we are to agree to this suicidal mission, then many people must accompany us to the grave. There is no reason why all the Xuan practitioners in the world should face the Xuan Beast Tide while sending only you and a few ordinary soldiers to their deaths! This is our tactic and our condition. If they refuse, then we also refuse them. Because this is naked framing. Why should I die while they don’t? Are their lives more precious than ours? If they agree, hehe, we’ll see who ends up dead.”

Jun Mo Xie laughed chillingly. “Don't worry, Third Uncle, nothing will happen!” He then turned and walked out.

The three people from Dongfang Wen Qing looked at the seated Jun Wu Yi, sighed, and then followed him out.

“Your Third Uncle… his heart is set on death,” Dongfang Wen Qing looked up at the sky, deeply inhaling the forest scent drifting down in the night air, speaking heavily.

“I’ve known that for a long time,” Jun Mo Xie muttered. “His resolve for death isn't just one or two years old. If Grandfather hadn't been old, and if I hadn't been so disappointing in my youth, Third Uncle might have already… It’s a wonder he’s held on for so long; anyone else in his position would have suffered a mental breakdown and committed suicide countless times by now.” And now that you three have appeared, it’s like having found another powerful backer for me, so Third Uncle, he…” he couldn’t take it anymore.

“That's not wrong,” the three sighed in unison. “What happened back then must have been an incalculable blow to any man! Especially your Third Uncle, who was always such a proud and mighty man. Putting ourselves in his shoes, if we three were in the same situation, we would probably have gone mad long ago… It seems your Third Uncle has been enduring torment as if constantly frying on a hot pan for the last ten years…”

“This unbearable torment won’t last much longer,” Jun Mo Xie said quietly after a moment of silence. The three immediately looked up at him, their eyes full of astonishment.

To resolve Jun Wu Yi’s torment, they would have to confront Fengxue Silver City head-on! This was hardly an easy task!

“I’m going to sleep, I’m dead tired!” Jun Mo Xie threw out the phrase and turned to leave.

What? The three uncles were simultaneously stunned. They racked their brains trying to understand. They were discussing such a serious and heavy topic, and this kid was claiming to be sleepy? Dead tired? Didn’t he know the Jun family was standing on a cliff edge right now?

“How can this kid be so heartless!” The three shook their heads simultaneously and turned to leave.

Jun Mo Xie blew out the oil lamp, moved his thoughts, and his entire person vanished from the tent in an instant. Amidst the ethereal void, he sped like a gale, heading straight for the Tian Fa Forest!

In a flash, he left Tian Nan City, and Jun Mo Xie boldly unfurled the Yin-Yang Escape, flying onward with the speed of an invisible, formless shooting star.

Since Third Uncle had clearly decided to participate in this battle, the solution Jun Mo Xie thought of was to quickly find He Chong Xiao and Xiong Kai Shan! If those two scoundrels dared to harm his Third Uncle, wouldn't that be a case of harming one's own people?

Besides, you can play the game of borrowed knife, but couldn’t I? I’m much more skilled at this game than you are!

Naturally, this time he couldn't use his real appearance; the mysterious master in disguise would be much better! Jun Mo Xie felt a surge of delight in his heart. With the master stepping out, wouldn't it be easily achieved? It looked like he was going to put on a grand performance again today…

The moment he entered the range of the Tian Fa Forest, Jun Mo Xie suddenly felt a sense of elation, like a dragon returning to the sea or a tiger entering the deep mountains. In an instant, he plunged fifty li deep!

It was a feeling of extreme indulgence! Extreme ease!

Whether it was his external body or his inner soul, every single cell seemed to feel that boundless relaxation. And this feeling of extreme comfort made him love the Tian Fa Forest immediately!

This place, legendary as the most dangerous and cruel first forbidden land in the entire Xuan Xuan Continent, was, for Jun Mo Xie, the place that made him feel the most comfortable!