Martial arts have become extinct worldwide, yet I am forced to have a large family.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated.

The group stopped in a place hidden by dense bushes.

"According to Captain Gao's directions, this should be the place."

Yang Xian looked around to confirm the location's seclusion.

He found a relatively flat rock and sat down casually.

Beside him, Li Bing stood with a tense expression.

Zhou Xiyan and Ye Huairou stood on either side of him, while the two wolf cubs lay quietly at his feet.

Gao Nianwen's arrangement was very "thoughtful," directly grouping them into a team.

According to the plan, Gao Nianwen would lead the main force in a feint attack from the front to attract the attention of most of the monsters on the mountain.

When the time is right, they will launch a signal flare.

At that time, Yang Xian's group will take the opportunity to sneak in from the other side of the mountain through a relatively hidden path, meet up with Jiang Yu who went ahead, and head straight for the "Nine-Turn Life-Sustaining Lotus" at the top of the mountain.

At this moment, everything is ready, except for the final push.

Yang Xian patted the spot next to him and said to Li Bing, who was standing ramrod straight, "Brother Li Bing, don't be so nervous. Sit down and rest for a bit. Conserve your energy. We might have a tough battle to fight later."

Li Bing, however, remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the mountaintop shrouded in mist.

"It's alright... Comrade Yang, I can stand... For everyone's safety, I must remain vigilant at all times..."

His voice was somewhat hoarse, as if he was suppressing something.

------

On the other side of the mountain, deafening roars of beasts mingled with angry shouts from humans.

"roar!"

A polar bear suddenly pounced, causing the martial artist to stagger backward.

"Hold on! Everyone, hold on!"

Gao Nianwen cleaved a charging fourth-realm white bear in two with a single stroke, then roared at the crowd behind him, "Create an opportunity for Brother Jiang Yu and the others!"

The battle had been going on for some time, and the monsters' attacks were becoming increasingly fierce.

More and more monsters were attracted to the area.

"Jiang Yu! That's enough! Take your men and charge!" Gao Nianwen seized a lull in the fighting and shouted to Jiang Yu, who was not far away.

"Wait a minute! Young friend Jiang Yu!"

Sun Zheng pulled a small porcelain bottle from his pocket and reluctantly handed it over: "This is a poison I spent all night preparing. It has some effect on fifth-realm demonic beasts. Applying it to your weapons should help!"

Jiang Yu reached out and took the porcelain bottle, nodding slightly to the person as a way of thanking them.

Not long after, someone shouted something from the crowd.

"Captain Gao! It seems like several people are missing?"

"Where's that kid with the two contracted beasts? He's nowhere to be seen!"

Another person immediately chimed in, "Yeah! If he doesn't put in the effort at a time like this, is he deserting?"

Upon hearing this, several martial artists who were engaged in fierce battles around them cast puzzled glances at him.

"Shut up!" Gao Nianwen shouted sharply, cutting off their conversation; his voice drowned out the beast's roar.

"They've gone to carry out an even more important mission! Everyone, get your spirits up!"

Upon hearing this, the two martial artists did not ask any further questions.

"Fight and retreat simultaneously; our goal is to hold off the monsters, not to fight to the death!"

Gao Nianwen forced the demonic beast in front of him back with a single slash, and subconsciously glanced in the direction where Yang Xian and the others were.

He knew they weren't coming...

I'm sorry, Comrade Yang Xi'an.

An order is an order.

Some burdens must be borne by someone.

Some sacrifices are destined to be unavoidable.

But that person won't be you...

Please live well, carrying our hopes with you...

------

Time passed by, second by second.

But despite Yang Xian and his companions waiting for so long, the agreed-upon signal flare still hadn't taken off.

Unlike the fierce battle on the mountaintop, this place was unusually quiet.

"What happened?"

Ye Huairou had long since lost her patience, pacing back and forth like an impatient cat: "Where are the signal flares? Have they all been fired over there? If we don't go now, it'll be too late!"

"Yang Xian, something's not right." Zhou Xiyan walked to Yang Xian's side, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Yang Xian did not answer.

He stood up from the rock and walked straight up to Li Bing.

"Li Bing." Yang Xian's voice was calm.

"Has something happened to Captain Gao?"

Li Bing visibly stiffened for a moment, forcing a smile, but he dared not meet Yang Xian's gaze.

"Comrade Yang, don't worry, Captain Gao is always reliable. If he says there's a signal, there definitely will be."

"Let's wait a bit longer... maybe the time isn't right yet."

His voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

It's clear that Li Bing isn't good at lying.

"Wait a little longer?" Yang Xian took a step closer, but his voice turned cold:

"Everyone's almost dead, what are you waiting for?"

Or perhaps...

"From the very beginning, there was never any signal flare at all?"

"How could that be!" Li Bing's voice suddenly rose, and he hurriedly explained:

"Comrade Yang, don't make wild guesses!"

"The captain's orders are for us to wait here for the signal!"

The more agitated he became, the more his inner panic was revealed.

Yang Xian looked at him quietly, then suddenly smiled.

"An order? Is his order for you to 'wait' here, or for you to 'watch me' here?"

Upon hearing these words, Li Bing's face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Yang Xian knew he had guessed correctly.

Gao Nianwen knew that force wouldn't work, so he pretended to agree to my participation in the operation.

They even went so far as to call it assigning me the most important task.

They say my "spatial power" is extremely useful, that I'm a "surprise weapon"...

In retrospect, all of this was just a hoax.

Yang Xian stared at Li Bing, whose face was ashen, and roared:

"Li Bing, did your captain never intend for me to participate in this lotus-stealing operation from the very beginning?"

"The so-called 'cooperation' and the so-called 'signal flares' were all lies to me."

"His real purpose was to send you here to keep me occupied and make me a complete outsider!"

"Whether we succeed or fail in the end..."

"After everything has finally settled down, you plan to take me away like this?"