Chapter 131: You Are My Second Uncle After All

Mu Nanqing lifted his eyes, and when his gaze settled on Eleven, a hint of surprise crossed his face.

"It's you..."

"Old monster." Eleven summoned a kitchen knife, pointed it directly at Mu Nanqing, and said coldly, "The fight from five hundred years ago—we haven't finished it yet."

With that, he slashed downward.

In an instant, a monstrous aura of slaughter erupted, tearing through the oppressive, pitch-black fog that blanketed the sky. Yet, Mu Nanqing remained motionless, relying solely on a transparent barrier before him to withstand Eleven’s earth-shattering strike.

The scene exceeded the bounds of human comprehension. Even Li Yunji drew a sharp, cold breath.

"Can you win?" Li Yunji whispered in Eleven's ear.

"In my prime, it would be hard to say," Eleven replied, his expression relaxed, completely devoid of tension. "But at his current level? It’s a walk in the park."

"Badass!"

"You two carry on; I'm stepping back."

With these words, Li Yunji dashed to the side of the severely wounded Li Yi, grabbed him, and found a cave to hide in.

"Nephew, you know everything now," Li Yi said, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with a cold sneer. "That I conspired with the Crown Prince to raise a private army."

"That is a capital offense."

Li Yunji replied expressionlessly, "I know."

"You saved me—you intend to bring me back to the capital to face judgment, right?" Li Yi struggled to sit upright and let out a scoff. "With Su Ming’s backing, the Emperor will surely reward you handsomely."

"Once that happens, you will be able to take control of Beiling City with full legitimacy."

"Su Ming’s scheme... it is brilliant."

"You’re overthinking it." Li Yunji crouched before Li Yi, interrupting his self-muttering. "You are my Second Uncle."

"I cannot bring myself to do it."

Li Yi was stunned for a long time before he slowly spoke, "You don't hate me?"

"I do," Li Yunji said with calm indifference. "And I don't."

"When you schemed to drive me out of Beiling back then, I truly hated you to the bone."

"But now, I don't hate you that much anymore."

"Why?" Li Yi frowned.

"I don't know," Li Yunji chuckled softly.

If Li Yi had no ambition for Beiling City and had only focused on supporting his predecessor, then his predecessor would have grown up according to plan, taking over the city while surrounded by adulation. For his predecessor, that might have been a good thing. But for himself, it was not necessarily so.

Li Yunji had always preferred freedom; the burden of protecting Beiling was too heavy, and he did not want to shoulder it. Had it not been for the desire to escape Su Ming’s control, Li Yunji would have had no interest in the military power of Beiling whatsoever.

Even though taking over Beiling City was now a certainty, he felt no joy. He often pondered how he could act as a carefree, hedonistic playboy while keeping Su Ming in check, rather than being bound by the identity of the Heir of Beiling.

"Maybe it's because I'm kind," Li Yunji said softly. "Besides, you only drove me out of Beiling."

"All these years, I have still lived as a pampered, well-fed young master."

Li Yi did not speak; he merely looked at Li Yunji quietly, his eyes filled with the tenderness of an elder watching a younger generation who had grown into adulthood and could stand on their own.

"I asked Eleven," Li Yunji paused, then continued, "Whether it was when I was a child or when I returned to Beiling—you never once had the heart to kill me."

Li Yi let out a soft laugh. "You brat."

"I am your Second Uncle—your own flesh and blood. How could I ever kill you?"

Li Yunji smiled brightly as well. In the dim cave, the atmosphere was unexpectedly warm. The two chatted about trivial family matters. Li Yi recounted the absurd antics of Li Yunji’s childhood, knowing them as well as his own palms. Li Yunji, in turn, chided Li Yi for being of such an age yet never having thought to marry and start a family.

As they talked, Li Yi’s tone suddenly grew heavy. "Zichuan, from this day forth, the world is likely to undergo a great upheaval."

"In the past, your Second Uncle had the ability to ensure you a life without worries, but my time is running out. The road ahead... you must walk it on your own."

Li Yi’s voice was weak. Only then did Li Yunji notice that the armor on Li Yi's chest had been pierced.

"I exhausted my inner energy earlier just to barely withstand the pressure of that monster."

"That creature is certainly not something a mortal can deal with."

Li Yunji remained silent, watching Li Yi’s breath grow ever more faint, a myriad of emotions surging in his heart.

"I heard everything you said that day before you were trapped in the 'Moment of Eternity'."

"It was then that I became suspicious of Tuoba Mu."

"I feigned cooperation with him, attempting to investigate in secret."

"Who would have thought he had meddled with my troops..." Li Yi coughed twice and continued, "Thirty thousand brothers' lives, just like that, gone."

"They were all iron-willed men of the Beiling Army."

"I have failed my brothers, and I have failed my eldest brother."

"I shall go now to seek forgiveness from him, and incidentally, tell him that you, little one, have finally made something of yourself."

Two trails of clear tears flowed from his eyes. The moonlight shone upon Li Yi’s pale face, looking quite desolate. Li Yi sat upright, tugged at the corner of Li Yunji’s sleeve, and used his final strength to say:

"Su Ming’s heart is deep and treacherous. In the days to come, be extra careful."

With that, he passed away.

Li Yunji watched Li Yi’s body in silence for a long, long time. Outside the cave, there was a heaven-shaking battle, yet inside, Li Yunji’s heart was strangely still. He slowly crouched down and closed Li Yi's eyes. His gaze landed on the black-gold python robe beneath the armor, and he let out a long sigh.

"Second Uncle, power consumes the mind far more than wine or women."

Having said this, he straightened Li Yi’s clothes. He then walked out of the cave and drew his sword, Qingyuan, to seal the entrance.

As he turned, the sudden appearance of Eleven gave him a start.

"It’s over?" Li Yunji looked around, bewildered.

"Yup!" Eleven nodded confidently and took a bite of the sugarcane in his hand.

"Where did you get that sugarcane?"

"Swiped it when I fought my way to Shuzhou just now," Eleven said nonchalantly.

*Shuzhou?!*

Li Yunji’s heart trembled. Shuzhou was at least a thousand miles away from Mount He. He had made a round trip in such a short time? Although stunned, Li Yunji chose to believe it, recalling the cinematic-level combat he had just witnessed.

He steadied himself and asked, "And Mu Nanqing?"

"Escaped," Eleven said calmly.

Li Yunji frowned. "You didn't kill him?"

Eleven sighed. "He is an ancient demon emperor, as eternal as heaven and earth. He cannot be killed."

"But given his current state, he won't be able to stir up much trouble."

"What do you mean?" Li Yunji pressed.

"I shattered his demon core; he won't be recovering for a while," Eleven replied.

"So you're saying he *will* eventually recover?"

Eleven nodded. "Young Master, do not worry. By then, you should be able to deal with him."

"Are you joking?" Li Yunji nearly shouted. "If you couldn't handle him, how could I?"

Eleven nodded confidently. "Young Master, have you not noticed what has changed in the world around you?"

Li Yunji scanned his surroundings and shook his head.

"Close your eyes and feel it, Young Master."

Li Yunji did as he was told.

"What the hell!"

"What is going on here?!"