“Yes!” Over two thousand voices answered as one.

That sound reverberated through the valley, thunderous enough to shake the ears.

Two brothers had vanished without cause. The men guarding outside the mountain pass were her own — if an outsider had entered, they would have known. Therefore, at this moment, Feng Jiu’er was certain the two had been seized by people inside the fort.

Whether the matter had anything to do with the Fort Master or not, she could not leave her brothers trapped in desperate straits for too long.

The two thousand inside had barely responded when the several thousand outside also called out “yes” together.

The two sides echoed each other, and every brother stood tall with chest out, ready for battle.

Even if only two people were missing, even without evidence that the Southern Barbarian Fort’s people were responsible, Feng Jiu’er did not want to wait any longer.

Not a single one of her people could be missing.

“Miss Feng.” The Nanmen Captain saw the display of force and grew deeply anxious.

The other squad captains came rushing up from behind, leading their respective men.

The Southern Barbarian Fort had not seen such commotion in a long while.

More than that — the fighting and killing had always occurred beyond the fort’s walls, yet this time it was unfolding within.

Even those among the fort’s people who had taken shelter in the stone forest — the elderly, the weak, women, and children — could not help but break into a cold sweat.

“Miss Feng, can you give us just a little more time? The Fort Master has…”

“The Fort Master arrives!” came the voice of a man in the distance.

The Nanmen Captain turned at once and looked back.

The ranks of brothers parted to open a path, and the Fort Master was walking through the middle toward this side, with several men following close behind.

The Nanmen Captain took in the scene and finally let out a breath of relief.

He turned to face Feng Jiu’er and said softly: “Miss Feng, the people have been found — the Fort Master has brought them back to you. They are truly found.”

The moment Feng Jiu’er heard this, she stepped forward alone, heedless of the danger.

“Jiu’er.” Qiao Mu saw this and immediately followed.

Even Zhao Yusheng and Jian Yi fell into step behind her at once, while the others who wished to follow could only halt in their tracks.

Seeing that her two brothers were able to walk on their own, Feng Jiu’er let out a faint breath of relief.

“Da Zhao, Xiao Zhao — how are you?” She continued forward, undaunted by the over a thousand men ahead.

“Miss Jiu’er, we are fine.” The brother saw his own people and strode forward in great steps.

The other brother also hurried along behind.

Perhaps even they had not imagined that leaving for a short while would result in so many coming out to receive them.

Most of all, Miss Jiu’er herself — the moment she saw them emerge, without a word, she had stepped forward in great strides.

This side was entirely Southern Barbarian Fort men, and their numbers were considerable too, yet Miss Jiu’er had disregarded all of them entirely.

“Miss Jiu’er, I am fine as well.” The brother walking behind also caught up.

The two men met up with Feng Jiu’er between the two ranks, and only then did everyone stop.

Feng Jiu’er wasted no time and picked up one brother’s hand, pressing her long fingers to his pulse point.

“What exactly happened? Can you still remember?”

The brother looked at her, was briefly stunned, then shook his head. “There was a moment of unconsciousness just now — I cannot recall the details.”

The other brother also shook his head. “Miss Jiu’er, I am sorry for causing you worry. I, too, do not know what happened.”

“It seems that on our way back, we caught a whiff of a strange fragrance and then lost consciousness.”

“When I came to, the Fort Master had already brought us out. That is all I can remember.”

The small group stood between the two ranks of men, not far from either side.

Feng Jiu’er and her brothers spoke in voices that were not loud, yet Feng Jiu’er cared not at all whether the other side could hear.

Right now, she only needed to confirm that her people were unharmed.

“Miss Jiu’er, same for me,” said the brother whose pulse Feng Jiu’er was still checking, in a low voice. “I only remember a strange fragrance and nothing after.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er inclined her head, released the first brother’s hand, and picked up the other’s.

After a moment, she set the second brother’s hand down as well.

“Jiu’er, how is it?” Qiao Mu, standing nearby, was just as anxious.

“Take them back to rest. Tonight, everyone leaves this place — not a single person needs to stay behind.” Feng Jiu’er commanded in a low, measured tone.

Qiao Mu frowned and glanced back.

Seeing no objection from Long Feiyan, she nodded. “Very well. I will go make the arrangements.”

“Miss Feng, this matter stems from my poor oversight. I said I would give you an accounting.” The Fort Master stepped forward.

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to meet the Fort Master’s gaze, her look sharp and piercing.

“Very well then, Fort Master — should you not explain exactly what happened here?”

“It was one of my fort’s Elders who acted on his own initiative and moved against your people. Miss Feng, if you require any compensation, say it plainly.” The Fort Master spoke quietly.

“Fort Master, you must not!” From nearby, an elderly man came striding forward with a crowd of people in a forceful manner.

This was the Elder the Fort Master had just spoken of — his hair streaked with white, clearly well along in years.

“Our Southern Barbarian Fort is no breed that cowers in fear!” The Elder reached the Fort Master’s side and turned his fury on Feng Jiu’er.

“If you will not state your purpose in coming, do not think of advancing one more step!”

“Grand Elder, what are you…” The Fort Master looked at the arriving man and furrowed his brow.

“Fort Master!” The Grand Elder turned his head toward him, brow tightly furrowed. “I know that everything you do is for the safety of the fort’s old and young.”

“But — just because they can break through one of our stone forest arrays, can they break through all of them?”

“Fort Master, please set your mind at ease. I have already rearranged all the other stone forest arrays, and I have settled all the clansmen through the night. If it is war you want, then war it shall be.”

“We cannot lose our authority before the younger generation. Brothers, do you not agree?”

“Yes!” The moment the Grand Elder’s words fell, the brothers who had come with him cried out in unanimous voice.

The Grand Elder drew a deep breath, met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze, and furrowed his brow lightly.

“You still have a chance to leave now. If you still wish to press forward, I will see to it that you enter but never leave!”

“Zhao Yusheng.” Feng Jiu’er called out in a low voice.

“Here.” Zhao Yusheng looked at Feng Jiu’er and inclined his head in acknowledgment.

“Go and look after the brothers — make certain they leave safely!” Feng Jiu’er did not turn her head, her gaze still locked with the Grand Elder’s.

Zhao Yusheng hesitated for only an instant before inclining his head. “Yes.”

The words had barely fallen when Zhao Yusheng turned and left.

While no one yet understood what Feng Jiu’er intended to do, she gave a slight frown, then suddenly, with the speed of lightning before thunder can follow, shot forward and seized the Grand Elder by the throat.

Her speed was so swift that not a single person present — not even the Fort Master — had any capacity to stop her.

“Miss Feng, what are you doing?” The Fort Master fixed his gaze on Feng Jiu’er, his voice stern.

In an instant, every person in the Southern Barbarian Fort tensed — yet none of them dared to make a reckless move.

“What did you do to my people? Speak!” Feng Jiu’er’s slender brows pressed tight together, her voice carrying the cold of a glacial peak.

“I…” The Grand Elder could not react in time.

He had likely never imagined that with so many brothers surrounding them, he himself would fall into the other side’s hands.