Chapter 77: Interrogation

The giant man emerged steadily from the woods, holding an unconscious man in blue with one hand, as if he were a small chicken. His green robe was splattered with numerous bloodstains, the scattered crimson spots appearing as vivid and striking as peach blossoms against the green.

Li Feiyu gasped.

The giant took a few steps towards them, then tossed the man in blue onto the ground. Immediately, a pungent scent of blood assailed Li Feiyu.

His expression changed drastically. He instinctively took a half-step back, assuming a defensive stance.

The giant ignored Li Feiyu's subtle reaction. Instead, he took a stride, returning to stand behind Han Li, and remained perfectly still and silent, as if he had never moved.

Only then did Li Feiyu let out a long breath and relax his stance. He looked at the man in blue on the ground, then at the perpetually composed Han Li, and suddenly smiled.

"No wonder you're so calm and collected!" Li Feiyu exclaimed. "So you had such a powerful master hidden by your side all this time! Why didn't you tell me earlier? I was worrying for nothing." While his words sounded lighthearted, he was inwardly muttering, beginning to speculate about Han Li's relationship with the giant in green.

Han Li saw through his thoughts but had no intention of explaining. With a faint, enigmatic smile, he slowly said:

"This enforcer in blue should know a lot. Which of us will interrogate him? I think you, Hall Master Li, are much more experienced than I am in this. The more capable should do more, so I'll leave it to you!"

Li Feiyu noticed Han Li changing the subject and having no intention of introducing the giant. He felt a little unwilling.

However, he was also very interested in interrogating the enforcer, so hearing Han Li's suggestion, he readily agreed.

Li Feiyu picked up the unconscious man in blue, lightly darted into the woods, and began his interrogation. Han Li, meanwhile, settled down on the grass beneath him and relaxed.

A short while later, Li Feiyu emerged from the woods alone, his face gloomy.

"That fast? Any useful information?" Han Li asked directly, raising an eyebrow without standing up.

"Hmph! He's a coward, afraid of death," Li Feiyu said glumly. "I barely had to lift a finger, and he spilled everything. As for the information, there are two pieces: one good, one bad. Which do you want to hear first?"

"Let's hear the good news first! It might cheer me up a bit," Han Li said, clearly indifferent.

"The good news is, you really guessed the Wild Wolf Gang's plan correctly," Li Feiyu stated. "They're indeed just trapping the other peaks without actively attacking them, and have moved their main forces to the base of Sunset Peak, attacking desperately. I hear they've already taken several checkpoints." Li Feiyu spoke these words very calmly, seemingly unconcerned about the safety of the higher-ups.

"If that's the good news, then without asking, the bad news must be absolutely terrible," Han Li muttered to himself, rubbing his nose.

"Your 'crow's mouth' was pretty accurate," Li Feiyu replied. "The bad news is, this time, besides the Wild Wolf Gang, the attackers also include several small and medium-sized gangs like the Iron Spear Society and the Severed Water Sect. It seems our sect is truly facing a great disaster."

Han Li paused in surprise after hearing this; the news seemed to have exceeded his expectations as well.

"Never mind how many attackers there are," Han Li said. "It's crucial to rendezvous with your sweetheart and your subordinates first. While it's chaotic outside, we should leave quickly!" Han Li didn't remain surprised for long, quickly making a judgment.

Li Feiyu quickly nodded in agreement; this suggestion was exactly what he wanted.

"What about that guy? What did you do with him?" Han Li suddenly asked.

"Killed him. Are we supposed to take him with us?" Li Feiyu said nonchalantly.

Han Li gave a slight smile, pushed off the ground with one hand, and effortlessly rose from the grass.

"Let's go!" Han Li said. "Try to avoid the enemies as much as possible. If we absolutely can't avoid them, kill everyone who discovers us. Show no mercy, otherwise their numbers will only grow." Han Li's words were spoken lightly, but their underlying meaning was chillingly murderous and full of bloodlust.

A few miles from Divine Hand Valley, Elder Li's courtyard was now packed with a dense crowd. Among them were men and women, old and young, none of whom seemed to possess any martial arts skill. They were all whispering amongst themselves, and everyone wore a worried expression.

Near the courtyard, over twenty young men in black, armed with swords and knives, were on guard. Compared to the unarmed people within the courtyard, they stood out strikingly.

Inside the mansion's living room, two people were arguing.

"I don't agree with sending people outside," a stout, middle-aged fat man declared, sputtering saliva. "Our defenses here are already weak. Sending more people out would only make them even weaker. No, absolutely not!" He shook his head vigorously like a rattling drum, vehemently opposing the idea.

"But we don't know what's happening outside," argued Ma Rong, Elder Li's beloved disciple. "If we don't send anyone to scout, we'll be completely in the dark, knowing nothing about the situation. That's too passive."

"So what if it's passive?" the fat man retorted, blinking his small eyes. "What happens outside has nothing to do with me. For me, the safety here is paramount. Are you daring to defy orders?" He suddenly pulled a golden waist token from his robe, waved it a few times in front of Ma Rong, and then assumed a smug, arrogant expression.

Ma Rong glanced at the fat man, then at the token, sighed, and bowed with cupped hands. "I wouldn't dare," he said. "I will strictly obey the order."