Chapter 9: Acquiring the Treehouse

“The entire area around Dongming Mountain—east, west, south, and north—is occupied by different factions.”

Because they brought their own tents, the military did not assign them to the collective tent area.

After setting up their tents, they left one person outside to keep watch and gathered inside to discuss the current situation on Dongming Mountain in detail.

Shang Xingbing first shared all the information he had gathered.

The summit of Dongming Mountain is divided into three platforms, each capable of holding tens of thousands of people. If packed tightly, the capacity would be even greater.

The lowest platform is where they currently stayed, fully guarded by the military and government.

Above that are two platforms: the topmost controlled by Ma Qibo, a familiar enemy of Fang Yun, known as Lord Ma.

The middle platform was more complicated. One side was controlled by the Xia family, the second most powerful faction in the coastal city, still led by the original head of the Xia family. The other side was jointly controlled by several noble families from the coastal city, including the Chen and Ji families.

At this, Fang Yun lowered her gaze, hiding the hatred flickering in her eyes.

In her previous life, she was tormented there beyond endurance. Chen Yuanlin, seeking greater profits, heeded Ji Qingwan’s advice and sent her from one faction to another.

Ma Qibo was the first to take interest in her, likely drawn to her rebellious spirit and refusal to submit. He took her away, subjected her to harsh training, and inflicted countless sufferings—she nearly died.

Eventually, he grew tired and tossed her back to Chen Yuanlin, barely alive.

Ironically, Chen Yuanlin had achieved his status by trading her, yet upon seeing her miserable state, he looked at her with nothing but disgust.

Recalling her pitifully foolish past life, Fang Yun couldn’t help but sneer coldly.

Liwang Cheng, who had been speaking, paused and exchanged glances with Shang Xingbing, both turning to look at her.

Fang Yun, now fully composed, met their gaze with a cold expression.

“If you intend to do something, no need to waste effort. I believe I can help you—as repayment for saving us twice in this life.”

“Miss Fang…”

“I know where Ma Qibo’s warehouse is.”

Shang Xingbing was about to speak but was cut off by Fang Yun’s words.

He widened his eyes slightly, then glanced at Liwang Cheng, silently asking if he should trust her.

Of course, his gaze was ignored. Liwang Cheng did not catch his meaning.

“But we can’t take anything from there,” Liwang Cheng said after a long look at her.

Fang Yun felt a surge of frustration choke her chest.

Good grief—she was revealing Ma Qibo’s most vital stronghold out of gratitude for his two rescues, and yet he expected her to figure out how to take everything away?

She thought he seemed so aloof, yet his audacity was astonishing.

“Even if I have a way to help you take it, how can you trust that I won’t betray you?” Fang Yun retorted sharply.

“I trust you,” Liwang Cheng replied unexpectedly.

“Ah?” Fang Yun was momentarily stunned.

The atmosphere in the tent grew strange. Shang Xingbing glanced at both of them, wondering if he should quietly slip out.

After a long moment, Fang Yun regained her composure, forcing herself to ignore the faint warmth on her cheeks and straightened her expression.

“If you truly trust me, then I can help you empty Ma Qibo’s warehouse.”

She was curious to see how Ma Qibo would continue to rule Dongming Mountain once he found his warehouse completely emptied.

Yet, no sooner had she agreed than she found herself troubled.

Firstly, her spatial dimension was already full; she would need to clear space before helping Liwang Cheng move Ma Qibo’s goods.

Secondly, her spatial dimension was too small to carry everything in one trip. Multiple trips would be risky.

Fang Yun’s worries kept her restless; she barely slept that night.

The next morning, as they ate breakfast, Liwang Cheng frowned slightly at the dark circles under her eyes.

“Boss, how long do we intend to stay on this mountaintop?” Shang Xingbing’s sudden question diverted Liwang Cheng’s gaze from Fang Yun.

Fang Yun perked up, listening closely. She knew Liwang Cheng despised staying here—as in the previous life, he had rejected all of Ma Qibo’s generous offers.

Now she was torn between walking away with Liwang Cheng or staying to take revenge first.

“We can’t stay long; wasting time scheming with them isn’t worth it. Better to take what we can and leave quickly,” Liwang Cheng said disdainfully toward the small Dongming Mountain.

Fang Yun hesitated, poking at her bowl.

She felt increasingly troubled, caught in a dilemma.

Just yesterday, she had boasted about Haikou, yet still had no solution, and now a new problem had arisen.

“Miss Fang, if we leave, do you plan to come with us?” Shang Xingbing suddenly addressed her, as if unaware she had been lost in thought.

Liwang Cheng didn’t notice, but upon hearing the question, his gaze instinctively turned to Fang Yun.

“Ah?” Fang Yun raised her head, meeting Liwang Cheng’s eyes in confusion.

His look was no longer the sharpness of their first meeting but deep and somber, as if drawing her into an abyss.

“Please sign in for today!” The system’s mechanical voice suddenly exploded in her mind, snapping Fang Yun out of her daze.

She hastily responded in her thoughts.

“Signing in, signing in, hurry up!”

This was probably the first time Fang Yun was thankful for the system’s timely interruption—otherwise, she might have been lost staring at Liwang Cheng for far too long, which would have been terribly awkward.

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained an SSS-level treehouse.”

Huh? What’s that? A treehouse? What’s it for?

Fang Yun, too distracted for embarrassment, grew intensely curious about this leveled treehouse.

“System, is there an explanation for the treehouse?” she poked the system mentally.

Silence followed.

Fang Yun: ???

Where had her system gone? Offline?

“Miss Fang?” Shang Xingbing’s voice suddenly called out, and Fang Yun realized she hadn’t answered his question. She forced an awkward smile.

“Just call me Fang Yun. About leaving or staying, I’ll need to discuss it with my two companions first.”

There were things she couldn’t decide alone. She had to consult Liao Zhaonan and Feng Li. Though she was certain they would follow her, the memory of their deaths on Dongming Mountain in the previous life weighed heavily on her heart.

Recalling the grim fates of the two, Fang Yun closed her eyes tightly, suppressing the rage swelling inside her.

Shang Xingbing glanced at Liwang Cheng and shrugged, as if saying, “I tried my best.”

But Liwang Cheng ignored his right-hand man, calmly lowering his head to eat breakfast, his thoughts unknown.

“Ah, host, information about the treehouse has been found!” The system reappeared, bringing good news to Fang Yun.

However, when she saw the information the system provided, she felt as if she might shatter apart.