Free Web NovelChapter 99: Chapter 97: Waking Up to a Fallen Sky
Tian Huan ran into the room in a panic. "Someone broke into the forbidden grounds behind the mountain."
Xuan Shuang’s brow furrowed slightly. "Did you find them?" she asked coldly. "Is anything missing?"
"The tribe’s defense map was stolen!"
"What?" Xuan Shuang’s brow tightened. "What were those guards doing?!"
"They were all knocked out by a drug. The enemy’s knockout powder is very potent."
"Do you have any idea what you’re saying? The guards I had stationed there are Fifth and Sixth Rank Beastmen! They couldn’t even resist a simple knockout powder?"
Tian Huan frowned. "It is unbelievable, but it’s the truth. They... they don’t even know what happened."
Hearing this, even the usually calm Xuan Wei couldn’t sit still. "They didn’t even get a clear look at the perpetrator’s face? Does that mean the enemy never confronted them directly? They took our defense map so easily, without a single fight?"
Tian Huan just frowned, saying nothing.
Silence fell over the study for a moment. After all, the theft of the defense map, and the incredible ease with which it was done, was no small matter.
Xuan Qing spoke up. "This isn’t the time for that. Immediately summon the tribe’s generals to adjust our defenses. Also, we need to arrange for an immediate investigation of all suspicious individuals from today."
Tian Huan’s brow furrowed. "If we’re investigating, we should start with Miss Su and her fiancés. Our defense map has always been under tight security. How is it that it goes missing right after they arrive? Besides, our men smelled the scent of one of her fiancés near the forbidden grounds. This is all too much of a coincidence!"
Just as he was speaking, Bai Chi arrived at the study with the tribe’s generals, his expression grim.
Bai Chi looked at Xuan Shuang and said in a grave tone, "Second Miss, a suspicious army is approaching the tribe’s border! Right now, the most urgent task might not be adjusting our defenses, but preparing to repel an external enemy!"
Xuan Wei frowned. "It seems they came prepared!"
Tian Huan said angrily, "I bet Su Mo and her group are in league with Jin Tong! The last time was just an act for our benefit, all so they could infiltrate our ranks and steal the defense map! That Su Mo’s skill with poison is even greater than Jin Tong’s. A simple knockout powder would be a piece of cake for her!"
Bai Chi frowned, wanting to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.
’He hoped Miss Su and her fiancés had nothing to do with this.’
Xuan Shuang’s expression was heavy, her heart suddenly filled with a thicket of doubts.
She was the one who had insisted on inviting them. If the theft of the map was truly connected to Su Mo and her group, she could not escape responsibility.
Xuan Qing was silent for a moment before speaking. "Let’s not jump to conclusions before the matter is fully investigated. The most important thing right now is to find a way to resolve the current crisis."
Xuan Shuang discussed strategies to counter the enemy with generals Bai Chi and Tian Huan. Soon after, Bai Chi and Tian Huan left with their men to deploy their forces.
Inside the study, Xuan Shuang asked Xuan Qing, "What are your thoughts?"
Xuan Qing replied calmly, "If they were truly after the defense map, there would be no need for such a grand and obvious display. In my opinion, neither Miss Su nor her fiancés are foolish enough to act this way."
Xuan Wei glanced at Xuan Shuang. "Before the banquet, I took Miss Su’s pulse. She’s been afflicted with a peculiar poison. I’m afraid she came here with another purpose in mind."
"She’s been poisoned? With her skills, who could possibly poison her?"
Xuan Wei shook her head. "That I do not know. But no one I know can cure this poison. Her constitution is different from ordinary people; it’s a miracle she’s even alive. She must have been suffering a backlash recently. During the banquet, I noticed all of her fiancés looked worried. They were probably agonizing over how to detoxify her."
Xuan Shuang frowned. "Does our tribe have the antidote they’re looking for?"
"In my opinion, this poison has no cure. However, they likely came for the ’Beauty Smile’."
Hearing this, Xuan Shuang frowned and gave a cold laugh. "They really are audacious. Even if I were willing to give it to her, we’ll have to see if she dares to take it!"
With that, she flicked her sleeves and strode out. The urgent matter at hand was to deal with the approaching enemy.
Either way, Su Mo and her group were here in the Tiger Clan Tribe. If they were truly responsible for the stolen map, she had ways to ensure they wouldn’t escape, even if they grew wings.
—
Su Mo didn’t know how long she had slept. She only knew that when she woke up, Yue Ying, Fei Yan, Mo Xiao, and Cang Lan were all standing in her room.
Seeing her awake, Mo Xiao, who was standing closest, helped her up and handed her a glass of water.
Su Mo drank the water. "Why didn’t any of you wake me up?"
Oversleeping at home was one thing, but doing it here, while they were guests, felt a little inappropriate.
Fei Yan’s brow furrowed slightly. "We won’t be able to leave for a while anyway. We thought it better to let our wife get some more rest."
Su Mo was confused. "We’re not going back?"
Yue Ying frowned and explained, "We probably can’t go back for now. Something happened in the Tiger Clan Tribe. We’re suspects, so we can’t leave yet."
"What?" Her confused gaze landed on Mo Xiao, who was beside her.
Mo Xiao nodded. "A fight has broken out outside. We’re under heavy guard and can’t get out for the time being."
Su Mo found it incredible. She’d only been asleep for a little while, how had the sky fallen again?!
’If I’d known, I never would have come to this dinner! My freedom is being restricted again? There’s nothing I hate more in this life than having my freedom restricted!!!’
’Let them fight their own battles. What’s the big idea, trapping us here?’
Mo Xiao explained again, "The Tiger Clan’s defense map was stolen. They must suspect we’re coordinating with the people outside. And because we did accidentally wander into their forbidden grounds, I’m afraid it won’t be easy to clear our names anytime soon."
Su Mo asked, "Why did we wander into their forbidden grounds?"
Fei Yan explained, "The Sea Doctor once said that the Tiger Clan might have a medicinal herb that could cure our wife’s poison. So we came today hoping to investigate. We never expected something like this to happen."
Su Mo frowned and said nothing. It was too late for words. From the Tiger Clan’s perspective, they were indeed suspects.
’Couldn’t they have lost their stupid map at a better time... I’m being unfairly scapegoated here!’
She put a hand to her forehead and asked, "How is the battle outside?"
"The enemy’s attack is ferocious. I’m afraid this will be a tough fight for the Tiger Clan. The attackers clearly came prepared; they’re familiar with the clan’s tactics."
Just as Mo Xiao finished speaking, another wave of wounded soldiers was dragged in from outside.
Their injuries were extremely severe. They were also poisoned, and their faces were contorted in agony.
Xuan Wei was leading people to clean their wounds and brew medicinal herbs, but with more and more wounded arriving, she was already completely overwhelmed.
Su Mo furrowed her brow in thought.
’The mastermind behind this is quite cunning. They stole the defense map while we were visiting the Tiger Clan, then launched a powerful attack. The next step is probably to make us and the remaining Tiger Clan members kill each other. A slick plan to kill two birds with one stone!’
Yue Ying glanced out the window and asked, "Wife, should we go out and help now?"
Su Mo glanced at the situation outside but didn’t speak right away.
Mo Xiao said calmly, "Let’s wait a little longer."
If they went out now, the people of the Tiger Clan would only think they were trying to cause trouble and wouldn’t believe them at all.
Not only would they be unable to change the situation, but they might even make it worse.
Su Mo remained silent, clearly agreeing with Mo Xiao’s point.
’Even if we’re going to help, there’s no rush to do it this very second.’
’Dammit, I just want to be quiet cannon fodder, but these people insist on dragging me into their high-stakes games? Fine, then let’s just flip the whole table. If this lady can’t live a peaceful life, then nobody gets to have a good time!!!’
