Confrontation on Fuyu Mountain

After hesitating for a moment, Yan Yi gradually calmed down.

A moment ago, her blood had rushed to her head and she had nearly made a huge mistake.

If she revealed everything to Wen Xiuran, given her current standing in his heart, the great villain would never trust her.

Better observe a little longer, she thought.

She could not lose the bigger picture because of a small impulse.

“No.”

She brushed it off and said, “Your Excellency has been busy running around lately.

You should return to your room and rest early.”

Wen Xiuran stared at her with narrowed eyes but did not respond.

He only felt that the mortal doctor seemed hesitant to speak, which made her very suspicious.

The study fell into silence.

After a long while, Yan Yi pointed toward the door and said gently, “Your Excellency, I’ll take my leave first.

I haven’t seen Xiao Li for a long time.

Perhaps the explosion frightened her.

I’ll go look for her.”

Wen Xiuran nodded, which counted as permission.

Yan Yi secretly let out a breath of relief.

She turned around and walked out slowly, afraid that moving too hastily would reveal the turmoil in her heart.

She truly had not seen Xiao Li for quite some time.

The sudden appearance of the human bombs had thrown her into panic.

Afraid that the villain would treat her as an accomplice, she had been completely disoriented.

Now that her mind had calmed, many suspicious points suddenly came to mind.

Back then, when Wen Feng encountered the demon clan on Fuyu Mountain, she had thought Xiao Li had simply wandered there by accident.

But after what happened today, Yan Yi could not help suspecting that Xiao Li’s trip to Fuyu Mountain had not been a whim.

Nor merely for play.

Perhaps it had gone there to verify something.

At that time, she had taken Xiao Li up the mountain to gather herbs.

By chance they witnessed a strange blood-colored mist rising from the center of Taihu Lake.

Soon after, the mist chased them away and nearly killed them.

Both Xiao Li and she had been targeted only because they had accidentally uncovered someone else’s conspiracy.

Thinking of this made Yan Yi’s anxiety grow stronger.

If Xiao Li had encountered Wen Feng on Fuyu Mountain because it had discovered his hidden scheme—

After leaving Wen Xiuran’s study, Yan Yi did not head toward her residence.

Instead, she turned at the courtyard gate and walked straight toward Fuyu Mountain.

The mountain wind was cool as it brushed across her face.

Yan Yi was anxious and restless, yet she had broken out into a thin layer of sweat.

She followed the same mountain path she had taken before when gathering herbs.

While walking, she carefully observed every corner and crevice, refusing to overlook any hidden place.

At the same time, she raised her voice and called Xiao Li’s name.

The only reply was the surging waves of Taihu Lake and the occasional cry of birds.

Looking around, mountains rose one after another and trees grew thick with branches and leaves.

Yet there was no sign of the tabby cat.

Eventually she reached the mountaintop where she had rested before while gathering herbs.

From there she could clearly see the sparkling surface of the lake.

Just as she stood there staring at the center of Taihu Lake, a somewhat familiar voice suddenly sounded beside her.

“Miss Yan, what are you looking for?”

Her heartbeat froze for a moment.

Yan Yi turned around.

Wen Feng stood there with his hands behind his back, holding a black cloth sack.

“Brother Wen?”

She forced herself to appear calm and replied casually, “I was feeling homesick, so I came out for some fresh air.”

Wen Feng seemed unconcerned.

He lifted the sack in front of him and said in a calm, almost cold tone, “Are you looking for her?”

Then he released his hand.

A fuzzy, indistinct object fell out of the sack.

“Meow—”

A weak cat’s cry sounded, almost too faint to hear.

“Xiao Li!”

Yan Yi instinctively ran forward.

But when she reached Wen Feng, she suddenly stopped.

“Brother Wen, what happened to Xiao Li?”

She had keenly noticed something strange about Wen Feng today.

Afraid of angering him, Yan Yi did not dare directly ask what he had done to the cat.

“Won’t die,” Wen Feng said.

Yan Yi immediately felt relieved.

At least he had not been cruel enough to kill a cat.

Without giving her time to think further, Wen Feng suddenly said, “Miss Yan, wouldn’t it be better for you to stay obediently in the residence?

Why insist on wandering around?”

Yan Yi’s heart tightened.

She did not even dare breathe too loudly.

Wen Feng seemed to be talking to himself.

After saying this, he ignored her and stared at the center of Taihu Lake with a grave expression.

The gentle mountain wind had stopped at some point.

The lake surface was as still as a mirror, occasionally flashing faint light.

Yan Yi stared at his back with vigilance while desperately thinking of a way out.

When reading the novel, she must have skipped a key plot point.

She had no memory at all of Wen Feng betraying Wen Xiuran.

She only remembered that he had been an orphan adopted by the old Demon Lord.

He and the villain had grown up together like brothers.

Now that she had discovered Wen Feng’s conspiracy, he would never foolishly let her live and give her the chance to report him to the villain.

Yan Yi sadly realized that today she would certainly die.

“Brother Wen, what are you talking about?

I don’t understand,” she said, pretending to be confused.

At least this way she would not die quite so quickly.

Wen Feng still faced away from her.

“Back on the Ice Continent, you clearly saw that I didn’t want to save you.

Why didn’t you report it to His Excellency?”

Then he turned and looked at her.

His gaze was dark and cold.

It was an expression Yan Yi had never seen on his face before.

It looked as if he could devour her alive in the next second.

“I—”

Yan Yi carefully chose her words.

“Your Excellency and you grew up together like brothers.

I didn’t want a single accident to affect your relationship.”

“Relationship?”

Wen Feng sneered.

“Between His Excellency and me, there is no relationship left.”

Hearing this, Yan Yi felt that perhaps there was still room for negotiation.

So she tried desperately to move him.

“Brother Wen, I have never spoken ill of you before His Excellency.

What happened on the Ice Continent was only an accident.

Besides, you did save my life, didn’t you?”

Wen Feng did not respond.

Yan Yi felt uncertain, but she continued speaking with all the persuasion she could muster.

“Brother Wen, you value loyalty and gratitude.

Because you remember the old Demon Lord’s kindness in raising you, you were forced to act against His Excellency.

But before things become irreversible, there is still time.

His Excellency is someone who values bonds.

He will surely understand your difficulties.

You two—”

“Too late.”

Wen Feng suddenly interrupted her.

Then he stepped forward slowly toward her.

The mountain wind suddenly rose again.

His dark robe fluttered loudly in the wind like a poisonous snake stalking its prey.

As he advanced step by step, Yan Yi instinctively retreated.

Her gaze swept behind him.

Xiao Li lay flat on the ground, its furry body rising and falling weakly.

She could not retreat any further.

Behind her was a thousand-foot cliff leading straight down into Taihu Lake.

“Meow—”

A faint cry sounded.

Yan Yi turned her head.

Xiao Li trembled as it struggled to stand.

It tried to walk toward her but collapsed again after only two steps.

It had been badly injured.

Its fur was soaked with blood.

Wen Feng glanced at the dying cat and suddenly chuckled softly.

“Miss Yan is quite capable.

You actually keep a demon at your side.”

Yan Yi’s heart skipped a beat.

“Brother Wen… what do you mean?”

Wen Feng did not answer directly.

“Only you mortals would keep a demon as a pet.”

“Brother Wen—”

Yan Yi tried once more to salvage the situation.

If she died before completing the harvesting mission, death would simply mean death.

She would not return to the real world.

She would never be able to go home again.

Wen Feng suddenly became impatient.

With a flick of his sleeve he cut her off.

“Miss Yan, the waters of Taihu Lake are calm and peaceful.

It is a fine place for burial.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he attacked.

He darted forward and pushed her shoulder with a single arm.

Only then did Yan Yi truly realize how weak and helpless she was.

If Wen Feng wanted to kill her, it really would be as easy as crushing an ant.

As death approached, Yan Yi felt as if iron claws had seized her throat.

She could not make a sound.

In her mind echoed the teasing voice of the system.

Harvest the greatest villain of the book.

Complete the task and return to the real world.

She truly was the unluckiest transmigrated heroine.

At least she had never read a transmigration story where the heroine failed her mission.

Clinging to her last hope, Yan Yi shouted in her mind, “System, save me!”

If someone in the story tried to kill the transmigrator, perhaps the system would intervene and punish them—

Wen Feng’s hand was about to touch her shoulder.

But the system never appeared.

Yan Yi’s mind went blank.

Something brushed across her face like soft hair.

Warm and fluffy.

The freezing lake water she expected never came.

Instead she heard a familiar cat’s cry—sharp and angry.

Yan Yi suddenly opened her eyes.

Standing in front of her was a thin girl around seventeen or eighteen years old.

Her long dark-brown hair hung messily over her shoulders.

The girl’s body was tense in a battle stance.

She let out furious growls as if ready to tear Wen Feng apart at any moment.

Wen Feng showed no fear.

He wiped the blood scratched by cat claws from the corner of his mouth and walked straight toward her.

With a single punch, the girl was knocked to the ground.

She turned her face toward Yan Yi.

It was a stranger’s face, yet those rare heterochromatic eyes were extremely familiar.

It was Xiao Li in human form.

Her face was round and adorable, her large eyes bright and tearful.

She looked at Yan Yi pitifully.

Perhaps it was the instinct to survive.

Or perhaps Xiao Li’s courage gave her strength.

Yan Yi forced herself not to scream and flee.

Instead she charged straight toward Wen Feng.

Her head slammed into his chest.

Stars exploded in her vision as if fireworks had burst before her eyes.

Taking advantage of his brief distraction, Xiao Li leapt up despite the pain.

She climbed onto Wen Feng’s shoulder and instantly transformed back into a cat, biting into his neck.

Yan Yi finally caught her breath.

She hurriedly pulled out a small incense box from her robe and smashed it straight into Wen Feng’s face.

Wen Feng shattered the box with one strike.

Fine fragrant powder spread across his face.

Yan Yi stood still and silently counted to three in her heart.

Right before her eyes, Wen Feng’s tall body collapsed to the ground like a falling mountain.

She rushed forward, picked Xiao Li up, and ran toward the Demon Lord’s residence.

In her panic she tripped over Wen Feng’s body and fell hard.

Her knee struck a sharp rock, sending pain shooting through her leg.

Without checking the wound, she forced herself to stand and keep running.

Just as she reached the mountain path downward, the cool wind hit her face and suddenly cleared her mind.

How would she explain this to the villain?

The powder she used was only a sleeping incense.

If Wen Feng woke up and accused her first, everything would be ruined.

Thinking this, Yan Yi turned around and limped back to where Wen Feng lay.

She removed her outer robe and tied up his hands and feet.

After a moment of silence, she pulled a hairpin from her hair and aimed it at the wound on Wen Feng’s neck.

But her hands trembled violently.

She could not bring herself to stab.

Xiao Li curled weakly beside her and let out a faint cry.

“What are you doing?”

A familiar voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Yan Yi felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

She quickly hid the hairpin in her sleeve, collapsed onto the ground, and looked up at Wen Xiuran.

Her eyes turned red as tears poured down uncontrollably.

“Your Excellency… why did you come so late?”

She burst into tears.

“Brother Wen—he tried to kill me!”

In this situation, it looked exactly like a villain accusing someone first.

Wen Xiuran quickly walked over and checked Wen Feng’s breathing.

Seeing that he was still alive, he finally relaxed.

Then he turned and helped Yan Yi up.

“Where are you hurt?”

Yan Yi choked with tears.

“My whole body hurts.

My knee is injured.

It hurts badly.”

Wen Xiuran helped her sit on a nearby rock.

“Endure it for now.”

Yan Yi pouted and tried to explain.

“Your Excellency, Brother Wen—”

Before she could finish, Wen Feng suddenly groaned and slowly woke up.

Wen Xiuran was about to approach him, but Yan Yi grabbed his sleeve.

She shook her head.

“Your Excellency, it’s dangerous!”

“Who is dangerous is for me to judge.”

Wen Xiuran removed her hand and walked over, channeling power to heal Wen Feng.

“Your Excellency, you’ve arrived.”

Wen Feng smiled faintly.

Yan Yi immediately became alert.

She feared Wen Feng might attack the villain.

After all, that was her mission target.

If he died before she harvested him, everything would be meaningless.

“Your Excellency,” Wen Feng said, “Miss Yan hides a needle within silk.

This subordinate underestimated her.”

Wen Xiuran ignored the accusation.

“You have been poisoned.

Do not speak yet.”

Wen Feng’s expression froze for a moment.

He turned his head and coughed, assuming the powder was poison.

“Miss Yan, we have no grievances between us.

Why did you poison me?”

He was clearly twisting the truth.

Yan Yi felt struck by lightning.

“Your Excellency, I didn’t—”

Wen Xiuran glanced at her but said nothing.

The villain still did not trust her.

Yan Yi felt something stuck in her throat.

She gripped the hairpin tightly until her knuckles turned white.

“Your Excellency,” Wen Feng continued, “when I was young, the old Demon Lord saved me.

Growing up with you was my blessing.”

“Why bring up these old matters?”

Wen Xiuran tried to help him stand.

But Wen Feng remained on the ground.

“That is why… I had no choice!”

Suddenly he lunged toward Wen Xiuran and opened his mouth to bite his neck.

Yan Yi screamed and ran forward.

The hairpin in her hand pierced straight through Wen Feng’s exposed neck.

Blood splattered everywhere, covering her face and clothes.

Wen Feng collapsed to the ground.

Only hoarse gasps came from his throat.

“The parasite inside you was planted by Wen Zhengming.

Why go this far?”

Wen Xiuran stood up slowly.

Pain and disappointment filled his eyes as he revealed the truth.

Wen Feng froze for a moment.

His hands fell limp to the ground.

When he closed his eyes, a bitter smile lingered on his lips.

When he was young, the old Demon Lord had rescued him from evil cultivators who intended to use him as a cultivation furnace.

But that rescue had only been for the purpose of using him against Wen Xiuran.

He had never been treated as family.

Evening gradually fell.

Mist spread across Fuyu Mountain, carrying a damp chill.

Yan Yi still held the bloodstained hairpin.

She collapsed backward onto the ground and murmured softly.

“Your Excellency… I want you to live.”

Wen Xiuran froze.

The attendant who had grown up with him betrayed him.

The father who gave him life treated him only as a means of cultivation.

Yet a mortal doctor he had known for less than a month risked her life to save him.

And said she wanted him to live.

Something in his heart slowly melted.

His vision blurred.

Wen Xiuran turned his head away from her burning gaze.

After a while, he burned Wen Feng’s body.

Then he returned to Yan Yi and extended his hand.

“Can you walk?”

Yan Yi grabbed his hand and stood up.

Her injured knee made her grimace in pain.

“No,” she said softly, shaking her head.

Wen Xiuran did not reply.

He simply lifted her into his arms and walked down the mountain.

The evening sky glowed red with sunset clouds.

Cool mountain wind brushed against their faces.

Yan Yi shifted slightly and sniffed near his chest.

“Your Excellency, what are you carrying in your robes?”

The scent was very familiar.

She reached out and felt a hard object.

Wen Xiuran stopped walking and tried to stop her.

“Don’t move around.”

Yan Yi ignored him and mischievously felt around his chest until she pulled something out.

It was a fragrance pouch.

The golden filigree flower sachet she had given the villain earlier.

Wen Xiuran stood still.

Yan Yi held the sachet and looked at him curiously.

“Your Excellency, why did you stop walking?”

Her calf accidentally brushed against something hot and hard.

Yan Yi instantly realized what had happened.

She leaned close to his ear and whispered softly.

“Your Excellency… you’re hard again.”