Chapter 230: Fated Coincidental Encounter

The legless Yellow Level fighter convulsed, then, seeing Ye Mo decapitate Li Mingqiang, he plunged a knife into his own heart. Ye Mo ignored him, his gaze cold as he slowly approached Song Hai.

Terror blanketed Song Hai's face. Regret gnawed at him—regret for coming with Dongfang Xi, regret for not dissuading their leader from antagonizing Ye Mo. It was too late. Ye Mo wasn't human; he was a demon. The bloody scene overwhelmed him. How many people has he killed? he wondered.

"Don't kill me! I'll tell you everything!" Song Hai's voice was choked with terror. He'd rather abandon the Song family and flee than face Ye Mo again.

"No need," Ye Mo replied, tapping Song Hai's forehead. Song Hai's expression went blank. "Tell me everything about the Song family's plan," Ye Mo commanded coldly.

"Yes…" Song Hai responded without resistance.

…

The taxi reached the lower slopes of Wuliang Mountain, but despite Tang Beiwei's pleas, the driver refused to go further. It was night, and he was understandably frightened. Luckily, it was only a half-hour walk. Tang Beiwei, without forcing the issue, alighted and headed into the mountains.

The driver, bewildered by the girl's late-night excursion into the desolate Wuliang Mountains, sped away.

Forty minutes later, Tang Beiwei emerged from the mountain paths, breathless. Entering the forest, the night's silence unnerved her. The cries of feral cats and nocturnal birds heightened her fear. She quickened her pace, but lacking Ye Mo's agility, she stumbled repeatedly.

A branch snapped. Tang Beiwei froze. In the faint moonlight, a dark shadow moved. A black shadow in the forest at night? Her skin prickled. The shadow stopped five or six meters away, revealing a gaunt, goateed figure, seemingly frail.

Someone here, this late? Seeing a shadow on the ground confirmed it wasn't a ghost. Tang Beiwei, slightly calmer, observed the figure silently.

Dongfang Xi, nearing the mountain path, spotted the girl. He was startled, but recognized Tang Beiwei. Relief washed over him; Ye Mo had nearly killed him, but he'd survived. He could salvage something from this. Even if Tang Beiwei was a formidable woman, he wouldn't underestimate her. Without hesitation, he drew his gun and fired twice. He didn't want to kill her outright; he'd torture her to death, letting Ye Mo know what happened.

Tang Beiwei breathed a sigh of relief, assuming it wasn't a ghost. Confused by this late-night encounter, she was suddenly shot at. She saw a faint yellow barrier rise before her, then shatter, followed by another, and another—five or six before the bullets fell harmlessly.

Only then did she realize she was under fire. Without considering why the bullets missed, she grabbed a rock and threw it.

Dongfang Xi, confident he had Tang Beiwei at his mercy, was surprised by his missed shots. Tang Beiwei's rock struck him squarely in the face. He heard his nose break, his vision blurred as he fired again, shielding his face.

The third shot missed. Tang Beiwei noticed the glow emanating from her necklace had dimmed. It was duller than when Ye Mo had given it to her.

Enraged, she hurled two more rocks, forgetting her fireball charms entirely. This man had ruined her necklace! One rock hit his forehead; the other his arm.

Dongfang Xi yelled, blood flowing freely. His gun hand was incapacitated, sending his weapon skittering to the ground. Tang Beiwei kicked him, sending him sprawling. She picked up the gun, remembering her fireball charms, but shook her head. He was already beaten, so she conserved one, continuing her assault.

She touched her necklace, her heart aching. Her brother's gift was ruined. The necklace had saved her; otherwise… she shuddered at the thought of those two bullets.

This man had to pay. She didn't know him, and he'd tried to kill her. She aimed the pistol, ready to fire.

Despite never having fired a gun, she knew the basics. She pulled the trigger, but missed.

Dongfang Xi, recovering, saw the gun in her hands. Terror filled his eyes. "Girl, don't shoot! I didn't see clearly! It was a misunderstanding!"

Tang Beiwei frowned. Did he really not see her?

Seeing her hesitate, Dongfang Xi pressed his advantage. "It's a misunderstanding! I'm lost. Could you tell me how to get out?"

Tang Beiwei looked into his eyes—calm, almost too calm. She remembered this path led to a canyon. Had her brother missed someone?

She scrutinized his eyes again. Too calm. Wasn't he afraid of the gun? His eyes should show some fear, but there was none. She noticed his hands, moving slowly as if to support himself. She’d already decided he was connected to her brother. She stepped closer, aiming at his hand, and fired.

A knife clattered to the ground. She was right. This man was dangerous.

Dongfang Xi's face paled. He hadn't expected another shot. He'd planned to stab her when she helped him up. This girl was ruthless. He hadn't expected such ferocity from someone so pretty.

"Don't shoot! I was telling the truth!" His eyes betrayed his lie.

"Okay," Tang Beiwei said, stepping closer.

Dongfang Xi felt relief, planning to grab the gun. But when she was two meters away, she fired again, hitting his knee.

"Arghhhhh! You stupid bitch!" Dongfang Xi roared, enraged.

Tang Beiwei ignored him, firing again, thinking the gun was remarkably easy to use. The trigger clicked uselessly; she was out of bullets.

She pocketed the gun, withdrawing a fireball charm, then stepped back.