Enemy at the Gates

Facing the overwhelming enemy forces, the Yunjie Sect was caught completely off guard, plunging the entire sect into chaos.

They had never expected the Fengyun Sect to actually march right to their gates.

After all, their earlier defiance had been nothing more than a bold gamble.

And the outcome didn’t seem favorable.

Even if Bai Mei were to lead them to rise, it would still take time.

Inside the grand hall.

An emergency meeting was being held, led by Guan Ling.

Everyone wore grim expressions as they debated countermeasures.

"If they didn’t have those spirit ships, our combat strength would at least ensure they couldn’t gain an advantage, even if we couldn’t defeat them outright," one elder said gravely. "But as things stand, if a real battle breaks out, they’ll just hole up inside those damned turtle shells. With that kind of defense, we have no way to break through—we’d just be left taking hits. A direct fight is impossible."

"In that case, our only option is to stall," another elder suggested. "If we can hold out until Bai Mei grows stronger, she’ll surely be able to repel them."

"But how do we stall?" another elder retorted. "Even though Bai Mei’s cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds since awakening her Supreme Golden Bone, if we’re relying on her to drive the enemy back, she’d at least need to reach the peak of the Tribulation Realm, right?"

"That kind of progress would take at least a year or more!"

At these words, the faint hope in the room dimmed once more.

Even if they activated their mountain-protecting formation, they could likely hold out for only two or three months at most. If they pinned all their hopes on Bai Mei, it would be far too late—by then, the Yunjie Sect would already be finished.

"Should we just hand her over?" one elder asked reluctantly.

"Handing her over is out of the question," Guan Ling declared firmly. "After finally gaining a Supreme Golden Bone, how could we just surrender her? Besides, even if we did, do you really think the Fengyun Sect would let things end there, given the scale of their forces?"

Silence fell over the group.

At this point, there truly was no turning back.

And it wasn’t just Guan Ling—most of those present were unwilling to hand Bai Mei over.

"For now, we can only activate the mountain-protecting formation and take things one step at a time," Guan Ling sighed. "At least with the formation, we can ensure safety for the next two or three months."

But what would happen after that, none of them knew.

The others nodded in agreement. There was no other choice.

The situation could only be described as extremely grim.

However, just as the atmosphere in the hall grew suffocating, Su Yu'er came skipping in, calling out, "Master, uncles, can you prepare a hundred big tubs for me?"

"What do you need tubs for?" Guan Ling couldn’t help but ask.

"To invite someone to wash their feet, of course!" Su Yu'er replied. "My big brother is coming, and he loves foot baths, so I have to treat him!"

"Nonsense!"

Guan Ling, who normally doted on her, couldn’t help but raise his voice in anger.

"How is this nonsense?"

Su Yu'er pouted, looking aggrieved.

"How is it not nonsense? We’re in the middle of an emergency meeting, and not only do you barge in uninvited, but you start talking about inviting some brother to wash his feet? What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this? Have you lost all sense of priority? Do you even realize the situation we’re in?" Guan Ling fumed.

"What situation?"

Su Yu'er blinked innocently, confused.

Normally, her naive demeanor would have endeared her to Guan Ling, but right now, he found it anything but charming.

"What situation? The Fengyun Sect is at our gates because of Bai Mei! We don’t even know how to resolve this crisis, and here you are, wasting time inviting some random brother for a foot bath? How is that not absurd?" Guan Ling snapped.

"The Fengyun Sect at our gates… what does that have to do with me inviting a friend to wash his feet?" Su Yu'er blinked her big eyes, speaking earnestly.

Guan Ling was practically fuming. He pointed at her and scolded, "Yu'er, Yu'er! I’ve always cherished you, and your innocence was something I adored, but you can’t be this oblivious! You must understand the gravity of the situation!"

"But to me, inviting my brother to wash his feet is the most important thing!"

Su Yu'er said seriously. "As for that Fengyun Sect, aren’t they just a bunch of trash? Why should we even care about them?"

Her words nearly made Guan Ling and the others faint from exasperation.

"A bunch of trash?"

Only someone utterly thoughtless could say such a thing.

Honestly, perhaps due to the tension and the crushing weight of the Fengyun Sect’s siege, most of those present felt a pang of disappointment toward Su Yu'er.

This child was far too ignorant.

"Enough, just leave," Guan Ling said wearily, waving her off.

However.

At that very moment, someone rushed in from outside, kneeling on the ground and stammering in shock, "S-Sect Leader! E-Elders! Th-there’s a giant centipede outside the mountain gates!"