Chapter 409: Entering the Ridge (2/2)

”Alright, I accept.” With his evenly delivered announcement, Guan Qingheng could hardly believe his own ears.

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”What? He accepted?” Shi Mingbei laughed coldly. Her face was unnaturally pale, and her shoulder was wrapped up in thick layers of bandages. Her voice was filled with deep hatred as she said, ”What a stupid idiot, let's see you escape this!”

The Shi Family's head watched Shi Mingbei with an aching heart, and consoled her, ”Don't worry, he'll die for sure. No one can travel the route themselves and survive. There is no person alive on this world that has of that kind of strength.”

Just then, someone stumbled in panickedly and said, ”Bad news! Bad news! My Lord, the Hua Family is here for trouble!”

The head of the Shi Family's lifted a single brow with deliberate indifference, and asked, ”How dare the old fools come to challenge us! How many are there?”

”Only - only one of them!” The person stuttered, obviously shakened.

”Humph, for shame! It's just one person, and already you're panicking, a disgrace to the Shi Family!” Shi Wuwei felt humiliated by his subordinate's lack of composure, and scolded him out loud. He turned to Shi Mingbei and said gently, ”Rest here for now, I'll go and take a look.” Shi Mingbei nodded meedly.

Hua Yan stood before the door of the Shi Family's house calmly. Already there were five people lying unconscious by the door. Hua Yan was in his typical rigid self, but his lone form was like a towering figure in the eyes of the Shi Family. Everyone in the Shi Family looked at him with deep respect and fear.

”Is this what the Shi Family's capable of?” Hua Yan asked coldly, with a killing intent radiating off him. The Ridge Council had never been against challenges between families, but in fact encouraged them. That was why challenges like these were common.

This was a time of turmoil for May's Night Ridge. This was the day the long forgotten member of the Ridge, the elite of the younger generation of his time, Hua Yan, challenged the Shi Family by himself, defeated nine of his opponents and left with ease!

The Ridge was in an uproar! Hua Yan's former glory was restored once again. The Hua Family's fame rose because of the incident. This incident also marked the beginning of the war between the old and new factions in the Ridge.

After many years of peace, May's Night Ridge was once again troubled by challenges between families and tribes. The Ridge was plunged into disorder. Despite the escalating situation, the Ridge Council remained silent on the matter. The most peaceful families were the Hua Family and Guan Family. The Hua Family, with the Grandmaster level Hua Yan as their protector, was unchallenged. The Guan Family was also left in peace, since Hua Yan had warned against any hostility towards the Guan Family.

Unlike the Hua and Guan Families, the other 12 families were all involved in the mess that followed. As the situation worsened, Guan Zhengyuan was also affected. He knew that the peace at the Guan Family was only temporary. If things continue as they were, sooner or later someone would come and break the peace. In the end, Hua Yan was of the Hua Family, and the Hua Family had their own status to protect.

Guan Zhengyuan understood his situation clearly. The time for a reshuffling of the Ridge's power hierarchy was upon them. Unfortunately, the Guan Family was the weakest of all the contenders.

Ye Chong knew nothing of the situation in the Ridge. However, even if he was aware, he would have been unmoved by it all.

Guan Qingheng led Ye Chong to the route that would bring him to the Ridge's entrance. Along the way, Guan Qingheng continued to impress upon Ye Chong a rough overview of the route, about where the traps were and ways to avoid them. He even drew a sketch of the place for Ye Chong. However, he knew that despite his efforts, the traps were well designed, and one who had never travelled the route would find it hard to imagine the treacherous place.

”So I just need to make my way there?” Ye Chong pointed at the destination marked on the Guan Qingheng's sketch.

Guan Qingheng nodded. ”Yes, once you reach that point, you'll be safe. There will be someone waiting for you there. Aside from the territories of each family residing in the Ridge, there are no other traps within. If you can travel this route and survive, the other traps will not be a problem for you.”

After a good round of warnings, Guan Qingheng took a last, worried glance at Ye Chong and took his leave.

On this very day, the Ridge was unusually silent. No challenges were issued anywhere in the Ridge. Everyone was focused on the event that was Ye Chong's attempt to enter the Ridge. The reason for Hua Yan's challenge against the Shi Family was well known. Almost everyone believed that the young man would never survive the journey. What worried them was Hua Yan's response once the young man died along the route to the Ridge.

To them, the young man was already dead the moment the Council made its decision!

Ye Chong looked at the time, and sat down, doing nothing else.

He sat, and waited for five hours straight. Night came, and the route towards the Ridge was enveloped in darkness. Soon, the place was pitch black, impenetrable to sight.

In the darkness, Ye Chong stood up, his eyes shining as bright as the stars. Before him, Moon King stood silently , with its half lidded bionic eyes looking into the distance. The two crescent blades on its wrists gleamed coldly in the night.