Chapter 84: The First Withered Lotus Acquired

The closer they drew to the far northern regions, the colder it became. Fortunately, they had taken care to learn about these conditions in advance. Li Su and Gu Xinyu stood at the front of the group, facing the biting wind; even they couldn’t help but pull their garments tighter against the chill. Their subordinates were no exception.

Not far ahead, a team arranged by Ji Muyu was visible. They too, evidently unaccustomed to such bitter cold, had lost their initial speed and agility. Yet there was still a long way between everyone and the fabled Withering Lotus. It seemed clear that some would have to stay behind; those who pressed on would otherwise become a burden, for not everyone could endure such a climate without fear.

Up ahead, a circle had formed. Lie and his younger brother Lin stood at its center, preparing to issue new orders.

“The ten among you best able to withstand the cold, step forward! The rest, return the way we came and settle at the nearest place with normal temperatures. Be wary of ambushes along the way! Remember to leave clear markers so we can find you on our return!” Lie surveyed the group’s state and finally made his decision. He could not risk bringing everyone further—such would only be wasteful.

“Yes!” came the unanimous reply, and in that instant, a heavy mist seemed to cloud every eye.

As the group split in two—one pressing forward, the other turning back—Li Su and Gu Xinyu exchanged a glance, as if silently conferring. At last, they nodded in agreement.

They signaled their men; everyone understood. When Ji Muyu’s team passed their current position, they would shadow them quietly. This time, they would lay in wait like hunters beside the tree, ready for their prey to come.

Following Ji Muyu’s party, they halted only when they reached a place where the temperature was tolerable. There, they began to set up camp, determined to rest well.

Watching his men prepare the tents, Li Su shook his head with a smile—why do it themselves when everything was ready-made? Gu Xinyu understood as well, and called several subordinates skilled in stealth to confer with Li Su on the details of their plan.

When all the tents ahead were ready and the men inside prepared to rest, Li Su nodded to Gu Xinyu. Each led a squad in opposite directions, slipping away without a sound.

Li Su slipped up behind a sentry, covered the man’s mouth with a swift hand. The muffled cries were fortunately too soft to attract attention. With a sharp twist, the man fell lifeless. All of Li Su’s men moved into action.

Gu Xinyu’s side was no exception. This squad had left no formidable guards, suggesting that Lin and Lie had both gone into the heart of the snow mountain. All the better—it would be easier to deal with them this way.

When all was done, Gu Xinyu and Li Su exchanged a distant signal—every enemy had been dealt with. A whistle summoned the rest of their brothers, who came grinning. The squad leaders quickly divided up the tents according to number, reserving one each for Li Su and Gu Xinyu.

With sentries posted, the rest settled down to rest. Yet all were light sleepers; any rustle outside, and someone would immediately be alert.

Meanwhile, the Silver and Bronze Shadow Guards who had been tailing Lie’s party gathered not far from the snow mountain. Li Su and Gu Xinyu hadn’t pursued Lie’s group because they knew the Shadow Guards would take over the chase—and in these mountains, their skills would not be hampered by the harshness of the terrain.

“Bronze Guards, remain at the foot of the mountain and prepare an ambush. The task of stopping their movements falls to me and the Silver Guards,” declared the acting captain of the Silver Guards, the silver script on his arm faintly gleaming in the snow.

“Yes!” The acting captain of the Bronze Guards nodded in assent.

With that, the Silver Guard captain led his brothers up the mountain. The higher they climbed, the colder it grew. All began to circulate their inner energy for warmth. At the summit, they found to their surprise a pond at the peak, its center adorned by a bloom of snow-white lotus.

Lie studied the surroundings carefully, unwilling to overlook any detail. Satisfied that the only threat was the cold, he ordered his men to surround the pond. With a leap, he headed straight for the Withering Lotus.

A hidden dart shot through the air, aimed at Lie’s right hand as he reached for the lotus. With a swift twist, he dodged it and swiftly plucked the flower. His men grew tense, scanning the surroundings for further threats.

At a command from the Silver Guard captain, twenty-four men swept in, surrounding Lie’s twelve. It was two to one. Weapons clashed; neither side yielded ground. Lie, understanding the lotus’s importance, silently signaled Lin, and the two seized the chaos to dash down the mountain.

The Silver Guards finished off the remaining ten, but did not give immediate chase—they knew a trap awaited below.

As Lin and Lie hurried down the slope, the Bronze Guard captain gave a subtle signal. From behind, a barrage of snowballs flew, targeting the fleeing brothers.

Caught off guard, Lin quickly fended off most of the snowballs. When the volley ended, nearly thirty men emerged, each wielding their weapon, closing in on Lin and Lie.

Lie realized—it was a trap within a trap! He suddenly feared for the team he had left behind. Had they already been wiped out?

The thought chilled him further. At this moment, Lie knew he had underestimated his opponents, and that their actions were deliberate. The Bronze Guards were formidable, though not as strong as Lin and Lie together. Their aim was simply to exhaust the brothers’ strength, not kill them outright. Both sides were well aware of the gap in power.

At last, breaking free from pursuit, Lin and Lie stood panting in the endless snow. They both understood that more ambushes awaited, but the most crucial thing was to bring the Withering Lotus back to the palace, to deliver it to their lord intact.

Resolute, Lin turned to his brother and spoke softly, “Brother, I’ll draw their attention. You seize the chance to escape. Don’t refuse—we both know you have the better chance, and our master values you even more.”

Lie was silent. Lin was his brother; he knew that this decision was a matter of life and death. Lin must have steeled himself to make such a choice. Lie did not want to lose his only family, but he could not betray his lord’s expectations.

Lie was trapped in anguish.

Sensing his brother’s indecision, Lin smiled gently. His brother’s heart was not so cold and ruthless as it appeared—how fortunate.

Having made up his mind, Lin would not let his brother suffer. He gazed at him deeply, wanting to etch his features into memory, then dashed away.

Lie reacted at once, but for a moment he did not know which way to go. He followed Lin—hoping he would never regret it.

Spotting his brother’s mark, Lin felt a surge of hope, but also caution. No longer reckless, he slowly approached the encampment. He saw their tent but no one else. Entering, he was suddenly surrounded by canvas—trapped.

At that moment, two men emerged, applauding, followed by a group Lin recognized—the men of Lingyu Pavilion and Liyin Sect. So, he had fallen into a snare. He could only hope his brother would complete the mission.

Turning toward the applause, he saw Li Su and Gu Xinyu. With a hearty laugh, he drew his sword and charged.

Watching Lin’s fearless charge, Gu Xinyu and Li Su remained unmoved, their eyes cold as their men engaged him. Lin, utterly spent, was no match for so many foes. Gradually, his resistance weakened.

Lie, arriving just in time to witness the scene, felt a rare sting in his eyes and his face twisted in pain. He hesitated—should he reveal himself? Would it save Lin, or ensure the lotus’s safety?

A roar snapped Lie from his thoughts. Lin, covered in blood, shouted in defiance, but his assailants moved as one, swords thrusting toward him.

“No!”

Lie burst forth, arms spread wide, an overwhelming force blasting Lin’s attackers aside. At that moment, Li Su and Gu Xinyu exchanged knowing smiles—this was what they had awaited. With Lie revealed, the lotus would soon be theirs.

Li Su’s jade fan became a weapon, and Gu Xinyu drew his sword. They closed in, blocking Lie from reaching Lin. Red-eyed, Lie glared coldly at the pair.

“Well done, Gu Xinyu! Well done, Li Su!” Lie threw back his head in laughter. The next instant, he moved so fast that even Gu Xinyu and Li Su could barely follow. They exchanged a glance; Gu Xinyu seized Lin, sword at his throat.

Lie halted, eyes fixed on Lin. Only now did he realize how deeply he cherished this bond of blood. In the past, he had sacrificed his brother for their lord’s sake—now, he could not bear to abandon him.

Lin slowly raised his head, shaking it at Lie. “Brother, don’t worry about me. Go now!”

“No! I will bring you back!” Lie’s shout was a vow.

Lin saw his brother’s heart, smiled, and with sudden resolve, pressed himself against the blade.

Blood flowed. Lin bowed his head.

“Ah!” Lie watched his brother die before his eyes. Roaring in anguish, he charged Li Su and Gu Xinyu like a wounded beast. But he was no match for the two together. Against one, he might have managed.

Li Su searched him and retrieved the Withering Lotus, nodding to Gu Xinyu. “You should go back. As for your brother—my condolences.”

When all had left, only Lie remained, kneeling in the snow, cradling Lin’s corpse in silent tears. A man’s tears are hard to shed—until the depth of his sorrow is reached.

Now, Lie was wholly shrouded in despair.