"I understand. I do. Of course, I understand what you mean." Nolan He responded calmly, his expression unchanged.

"Shangguan Chong, our three great families are now positioned at the forefront. Initially, we should have faced the enemy together with shared animosity. Isn’t your statement a bit extreme?"

Nolan Emperor couldn’t help it. Being used like dogs by the South Heavenly Gate was something he hoped would be less widely known. After all, it wasn’t good for their reputation. But Shangguan Chong just had to bring it up.

"No, no! Nolan Emperor, you’re mistaken. This isn’t just my opinion; it’s everyone’s opinion. If you don’t believe me, ask Ouyang Tian. Ouyang Tian, do you share my thoughts?" Shangguan Chong squinted as he turned his head, glancing at Ouyang Tian.

"Hehe, that’s right. Nolan Emperor, after all, the fact that your Nolan Family is working for the South Heavenly Gate has already spread. It’s not something to be ashamed of, and since everyone is questioning your Nolan Family, why not clear up this suspicion today?"

"Haha~ Fine! Aren’t you troubled by suspicions? Alright, then my Nolan Emperor will surely give you a perfect answer." Saying this, Nolan He grabbed his son’s arm. The father and son didn’t reveal any more words, just lowering their heads and remaining silent.

This scene made Shangguan Chong and Ouyang Tian exchange glances like old foxes and then laugh.

After all, they were assigned to lead the charge. Who wouldn’t want to be safer? So in the face of absolute interests involving life and death, any talk of alliance is pure nonsense. As long as one can survive, that’s all that matters...

Very soon...

The Heavenly Punishment Alliance, numbering in the thousands, with several dozen forces, all advanced toward the Wolong Mountain Range.

Meanwhile, the tense atmosphere at the South Heavenly Gate headquarters, which had lasted several days and nights, had even Jia Zhenjing on edge, fearing that the South Heavenly Gate would be destroyed in their hands...

"How is it? Any news of Huahua and Tangtang?"

Nangong Bing, with her pregnant belly, stood up anxiously as she saw her father arrive to inquire.

"Not yet, but don’t worry. They should be fine." Nangong Shui shook his head, comforting her, "Don’t worry. You’re different now from before. Even if you’re not considering the big picture, you should consider your little one, right? Don’t burden yourself with all the worries. It won’t do anyone any good."

"Heh! Things have come to this state. How can I not worry? Everything happened too quickly, too quickly to react. Even I didn’t foresee this outcome." Nangong Bing’s lips curled into a bitter smile.

Since entering Yanjing, the world has been less than peaceful. The South Heavenly Gate has faced constant turmoil. She’s worried about Lin Zifeng’s safety, as well as those around her.

As a woman, it’s truly exhausting~

"Sigh, yes, it happened too fast. Even I didn’t anticipate this outcome."

Nangong Shui is also at a loss. It’s known that this predicament at the South Heavenly Gate happened so suddenly. In just over a week, almost everything changed...

It seems like a long-planned conspiracy... It appears that the saying "the bigger the tree, the more it catches the wind; fame invites trouble" holds true. Rising too fast inevitably leads to a faster fall...

"Father, has the Heavenly Punishment Alliance already entered Wolong Mountain?"

Nangong Bing’s gaze turned cold, reverting to a frosty demeanor reminiscent of when Lin Zifeng first saw her.

Now that the South Heavenly Gate has fallen into such a state, and her man is missing, she must become stronger.

"Yes, but none of this concerns you. Your primary task now is to take care of your health. Everything else is irrelevant to you." This situation is not much less intense than the battle against the Blazing Angel in the Greece Wilderness back in the day.

The exhaustion from these past days made Nangong Shui look much older and more haggard.

"Alright~" Nangong Bing nodded thoughtfully but didn’t speak further. What’s happened has happened, and escaping seems impossible now.

However, she had another plan in mind... After Nangong Shui left, she paced her room alone.

Gazing at the long, dark, and cold underground passageway, she muttered to herself, "I, Nangong Bing, will not become a burden to everyone. Since the South Heavenly Gate is facing a huge crisis, I am willing to live and die with it!"

......

At the foot of the Wolong Mountain Range, the three great families had already invaded the outskirts of the South Heavenly Gate headquarters. Another advance would definitely reach the headquarters’ range.

Jia Zhenjing led Hidden Kill and Ming Zhan, blocking the mountain pass of the Wolong Mountain Range.

Facing the three great families of Shangguan, Nolan, and Ouyang head-on. With the Nolan Family taking the lead, when they encountered people from the South Heavenly Gate, Nolan He’s face could hardly be maintained.

After all, the two families had once collaborated, now turning against each other, with the Nolan Family being the first to betray. It was known that the South Heavenly Gate had been using them before, but meeting now, the Nolan Family still felt somewhat guilty.

"Hehe, Nolan He, Nolan Emperor, it’s only been a few days. What now? A betrayal? Did joining the Heavenly Punishment Alliance give you the courage to disregard our collaboration between families?"

Black Hawk jumped out from the crowd, continually ridiculing Nolan Emperor as he looked at his somewhat unstable face.

"It’s understandable for people to have affairs in love, which is at most infidelity. Why? Has the Nolan Family not only been unfaithful but also unjust? And now you wear the ’dog’s servant’ hat?" Bu Chen stepped out of the crowd, mocking.

"Enough nonsense! Don’t you understand the law of the jungle? Even if our Nolan Family doesn’t provoke the South Heavenly Gate this time, if they rise powerful, can you guarantee you won’t become our adversary?" Nolan Emperor, confident of his reasons.

"Ha, the treacherous still boasts before us? Ridiculous!"

Black Hawk laughed mockingly, drawing a chilling War Blade to point straight at Nolan Emperor’s nose, shouting, "Nolan dogs, come on! Let’s see what the so-called Nolan Family is really capable of!"

"Bastard! Insult our Nolan Family one more time, and don’t blame me for being unreasonable!" Nolan Emperor was so angry that even his nose was crooked.

"Alright then. Nolan Emperor, dare for a one-on-one duel?" The old man chuckled, parting the crowd and stepping forward, challenging Nolan Emperor to a one-on-one fight.

"Hmph! Why wouldn’t I dare? Old fool, the Blazing Angel might have been intimidating years ago. Now that the Holy War is over, I want to see what you’re made of!"

Whoosh~

Nolan Emperor took the initiative, transforming into a cold wind. His father Nolan He was about to stop him, but it was too late.

He knew they were stalling for time, but the Nolan Family had become the cannon fodder. Delaying might have some benefit, but if the Nolan Family and the South Heavenly Gate became entangled, casualties would be immense. Both sides would suffer heavy losses, benefiting only others.