77: Mo Li, who has been missing for a long time

Ai Yue didn't stay to see if what they found was the black stone; instead, she left the cave decisively.

Watching Ai Yue's back disappear, Gu Xitian curled her lip. "Hmph, she's not much to look at, but she's got quite a temper."

A dark glint flashed in Cheng Siyu's eyes, yet her voice remained gentle with a hint of coolness. "Alright, don't speak ill of that girl in front of your brother. After all, she saved him. Don't make things difficult for him."

"Hmph, you're certainly generous. Can't you tell my brother treats her differently?"

"How could I not? However, that young lady is a proud person; she wouldn't stoop to stealing someone else's man. It mostly depends on what your brother thinks."

Cheng Siyu paused before continuing, "Alright, let's hurry and see what the energy stone looks like."

Hearing this, Gu Xitian stopped worrying about Ai Yue. "Oh right, let's hurry then." She ran over quite eagerly.

Cheng Siyu walked over unhurriedly, clutching her injured arm.

Gu Xiheng and the others were gathered around a pitch-black stone, sizing it up.

"Young General, is this the energy stone?" Yan Li asked, still in disbelief.

When he had touched the stone with the bag of gold and silver, the stone had emitted a golden light. The crossbody bag in his hand had lightened as the gold and silver inside suddenly vanished, after which the black stone returned to its original state.

If he hadn't witnessed the entire process with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed such a fantastical thing could happen.

Hearing Yan Li's words, Gu Xiheng nodded slightly. "Mm, it's more likely than not. Based on what you said, this should be the energy stone."

"There are so many rocks here, there might be more. Old Zhang, pour out all the gold you're carrying and distribute some to everyone. We'll all search."

"Yes," Old Zhang replied steadily.

Gu Xiheng looked up and saw Gu Xitian and the other girl walking over. Not seeing Ai Yue, his brow furrowed as he asked, "Where is Ai Yue?"

Gu Xitian pouted and was about to speak, but Cheng Siyu behind her spoke first. "Miss Ai said she had things to do and left first. She should be nearly out by now."

Gu Xiheng felt a bit irritable, but he didn't show it on his face as he nodded. "Siyu, you're injured. Stay here and rest. The others, take the gold and look for energy stones."

"I'm fine, I can help search too," Cheng Siyu said firmly.

"No, be good!" Gu Xiheng said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Cheng Siyu's heart softened. "Alright then."

Gu Xiheng then kicked the tied-up Fifth Brother and said, "Watch this man. If he makes any move, kill him instantly."

Cheng Siyu gave Gu Xiheng an affectionate look. "Don't worry!"

Gu Xiheng nodded and dispersed with the others to continue searching for energy stones.

Cheng Siyu's eyes were filled with tenderness as she kept her gaze on Gu Xiheng.

"Tch, what? You like him? But from the looks of it, he doesn't seem to like you." Fifth Brother, tied up on the ground, sneered as he watched the ice beauty's lovesick expression.

Coming back to her senses, Cheng Siyu was not so gentle with others. She reined in all her emotions, drew a dagger from her boot, and stared at Fifth Brother with icy eyes as if looking at a dead man.

Seeing this stance, Fifth Brother immediately chickened out. "Cough, I'll shut up, I'll shut up."

Cheng Siyu felt a pang in her heart. How could she not know? Gu Xiheng's feelings for her were like those for an older sister; there was no romantic attraction between them.

But she didn't care. She believed in her own beauty. Seeing such a peerless beauty every day, no man would remain unmoved by her.

Gu Xiheng was just a late bloomer and hadn't realized it yet. One day, he would understand.

Cheng Siyu clenched her fist, a look of determination in her eyes.

Ai Yue followed the passage and walked for a full hour before emerging.

Seeing the sunlight outside, Ai Yue was in a great mood. She leisurely walked down the mountain and went to a secluded spot, flashing back into her space to check on Da Wang. Finding that it was still in a deep sleep, she didn't disturb it.

After coming out, she took out the kaibaihe battle shield and drove off alone, continuing her journey westward.

While passing a road, Ai Yue discovered a group of people ahead—at least twenty or thirty of them—surrounding and attacking a car.

Seeing this, she didn't intend to meddle in others' business and was about to reverse and leave.

Unexpectedly, the group smashed the car's windows and roughly dragged out a man and a woman.

"Haha, we're in luck tonight! It's actually such a pretty chick." Someone snatched off the woman's mask and hat, shouting excitedly.

The others followed suit with excited roars.

From a distance, Ai Yue saw the two of them putting up a struggle, but the man seemed to be injured and was easily subdued.

Because the opponents were numerous, the woman was pinned to the ground. A lecherous hand reached out to touch her face, a look of lust on the man's face.

The man pinned to the ground shouted in pain, "Don't touch her! Get your filthy hands off her!"

He was met with a barrage of curses and kicks.

Ai Yue watched this scene, her teeth clenched in anger. She knew that if she didn't intervene and simply drove away, the woman's fate would be tragic.

With a grim face, Ai Yue floored the accelerator, and the car sped toward the group.

Seeing the massive vehicle rushing toward them without slowing down, the group was terrified. Forgetting the two people pinned to the ground, they scattered to get out of the way.

The car reached Extreme Speed and slammed on the brakes, stopping right in front of the two people who had closed their eyes in expectation of death.

Seeing the car stop, the group surrounded it once again.

Ai Yue drew her long-unused military knife, calmly opened the door, and jumped down.

"Hey, another beauty. Today is truly a rare bumper harvest."

"Hehe..." Some looked at the car and then at Ai Yue, baring yellow-black teeth and chuckling.

"Ai Yue?" the man on the ground shouted in surprise.

Ai Yue looked down—well, well, it was an old acquaintance.

The man looked at Ai Yue with a pale, shocked face, his lips trembling.

As for the woman, from the moment Ai Yue jumped out of the car, she began to weep, her face full of excitement.

Ai Yue was a bit baffled. She could find some logical reason for Mo Li—who had been missing ever since her family saved Gu Xiheng before going to the Safety Tower—to be uncontrollably excited upon seeing her.

But why was that woman so excited to see her too? Did she think Ai Yue could rescue her?

Well, she had good taste!

"I say, Mo Li, how did you end up like this?" Ai Yue wasn't in a hurry to strike; instead, she mocked this Mo Li who had once swindled her out of money.

Mo Li gave a bitter smile, suppressing his excitement. "I didn't expect to end up in such a state either. You won't just stand by and watch me die, will you?"

"Heh, I'm not that close to you. Why should I save you? Because of the five million you scammed from me?" Ai Yue gave a disdainful smile.

Mo Li grinned helplessly. "I knew you still held a grudge over that. But I didn't really do anything to you; I let you leave safely back then."

"So what!"