Chapter 31: Damn, This Is a Trap

At first, Wang Dongpo paid little heed to the situation before him. Although there were quite a few martial artists guarding the periphery, this time, they were all experts summoned from various places. With so many people joining forces, if they still couldn’t handle Ye Aotian, wouldn’t that be a laughingstock if word got out? For this reason, those around him were all brimming with energy, no longer weighing risks and benefits as they once had.

But just as Wang Dongpo had taken a few steps forward, he suddenly realized that Lin Li, who had always been at his side, had somehow slipped to the back of the crowd. Initially, he didn’t think much of it, but when he recalled the strange events just moments before, coupled with Lin Li’s change in behavior, Wang Dongpo—no fool himself—immediately sensed that things might not be as he had imagined. He even slowed his movements, growing cautious.

“Could it be that there’s some unexpected variable in our operation this time?” he wondered. “Why else would this fellow suddenly stop moving for no reason?” The thought flickered through his mind, sending cold sweat down his spine. Still, Wang Dongpo kept it to himself. After all, everyone else was too swept up in the moment to think about much else.

Lin Li, in turn, noticed Wang Dongpo’s change in demeanor.

…

“How are things outside?” Ye Aotian glanced at Chen Along, who stood at his side.

“Master, rest assured,” Chen Along replied confidently. “Everything is under our control. Should any of them dare approach, we’ll wipe them out completely.” Though the situation remained murky, his assured gaze suggested there was little cause for concern, and Ye Aotian nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, only those closest to oneself could be truly trusted.

“Qin Guosheng, that old fox, thinks he can kill us here, but he doesn’t know we’ve been waiting for him all along. This time, we’ll annihilate his entire fighting force.” Ye Aotian had received word that Qin Guosheng would use this opportunity to launch a surprise attack, so he had made ample preparations. When Qin Guosheng’s assault came, Ye Aotian intended to shatter his forces completely, delivering a devastating blow to his enemy. Afterward, taking control of the Qin family would be a simple matter.

Just then, someone burst in from outside.

“Master, bad news!” he cried.

“A large number of martial artists have suddenly broken in. Each of them is formidable. We’ve already tried to negotiate, telling them to hold their attack and cease hostilities for now, but they have no intention of talking. They came straight for the kill.” At these words, Ye Aotian’s face darkened.

“I didn’t expect Qin Guosheng to have such tricks up his sleeve,” he muttered. “No matter. Since it’s martial artists we’re up against, it’s our turn to act.” Ye Aotian and Chen Along rushed out, bringing several other experts with them. The impact their group could make together was nothing short of terrifying.

Yet, none present realized just what calamity was about to befall them.

Elsewhere, Wang Dongpo and Lin Li had already fallen behind. Wang Dongpo had wanted to find out what Lin Li was up to, but unexpectedly, he had become Lin Li’s captive instead. When Lin Li moved against him, Wang Dongpo prepared to resist, only to discover that Lin Li’s strength far surpassed his own. In a few swift moves, Lin Li had subdued him. Wang Dongpo could only count his unlucky stars.

He had assumed Lin Li must’ve been tricked by Qin Guosheng and was now trying to escape—so naturally, he himself didn’t see the need to follow the others to their deaths. But Lin Li’s overwhelming strength left him with no thought of resistance.

“Didn’t I make it clear?” Lin Li said, eyes narrowing as he looked at Wang Dongpo, who was now half-kneeling on the ground. “Your target is inside the manor. What are you trying to do now?”

Wang Dongpo’s earlier confidence had vanished entirely. In his brief clash with Lin Li, he’d been subdued with a single move, unable even to gauge the true extent of Lin Li’s strength. The shock of it left him reeling.

“Brother Lin, I know things must be different for you now. No matter what you intend, I’m willing to follow your lead,” Wang Dongpo said pitiably, looking as if he was about to prostrate himself on the ground. Lin Li merely frowned at this display.

“I already told you: your task is to storm the manor, fight those people, and, if possible, take Ye Aotian out. That’s your mission. Why are you still watching me?”

Wang Dongpo forced a sheepish smile. Just then, the sounds of battle erupted from within the manor as a chorus of shouts and cries rang out. The fighting had truly begun in earnest.

At first, they’d all brimmed with confidence—each one a martial arts master, convinced the operation would be an easy victory. None had considered the possibility of real danger, believing the task would be completed with little effort. Yet, once the battle was truly joined, they realized just how naïve they had been. If things were as straightforward as they’d imagined, the fight would not have dragged on so long.

At first, few sensed the gravity of the situation. But as time passed, they gradually realized their predicament was far from ideal. Now, even knowing the truth was of little use. They had been discovered by Ye Aotian, who would never let any of them escape. Ultimately, they had been swept into a conflict from which there was no return.

Listening to the cacophony of battle, Wang Dongpo glanced awkwardly at Lin Li. Clearly, it was far too late to return. At that moment, from the direction of the battlefield, a furious voice howled, “Damn it, we’ve been tricked! It’s a trap!”

Now there was no way Wang Dongpo could go back. Lin Li responded with a cold laugh.

“What do you think I should do with you?” he said. “All the others are fighting at the front, while you’ve retreated. How am I supposed to explain that to them?”

Wang Dongpo’s feelings were a tangled mess. He never expected things would turn out to be so complicated. He had thought his group held all the cards; in the end, it seemed they were the ones about to be dealt with.