"The general has shown him immense kindness; how could anything change?"

However.

These words did not reassure Thirteen.

He squinted and glanced at General Zhou, who stood tall at the front, before continuing to Eleven: "A few days ago, the general suddenly summoned us to escort the young master away from the capital, and now he has suddenly volunteered to go to the border."

"This trip is likely to be fraught with danger, and the general may have already learned some inside information."

"It's very possible... Are we just going to watch the general make mistakes, end up bearing the infamy, and embark on a path of no return?"

The more Shiyi listened, the more something seemed off. What did it mean to keep going wrong?

These dozen or so subordinates were all orphans who had survived the Xiongnu's massacre of border civilians. If they hadn't been taken in by General Zhou, they probably would have starved to death long ago.

The power struggle has nothing to do with them!

Eleven knew that their lives belonged to General Zhou!

Even if he were to do something disloyal and unfilial, he would do it willingly. He would just let those idiots talk about loyalty and righteousness. He only recognizes his savior!

"Thirteen, you've been acting strange lately." Eleven frowned, advising with a disapproving look, "These are not things for me to consider. The general will take care of the situation."

"But you..."

"Why have you been saying such discouraging things to us these past few days? Every word you say is implying that the general wants to rebel. Even if the general were to do it, what does it have to do with us?"

"I don't care who sits on the throne anyway..."

"So, even if the general rebels, you'll support him, right? Even if it means colluding with those people." Thirteen lowered his eyes, gripping the long sword tightly in his hand, his eyes filled with struggle, pain, and an inexplicable hatred.

"nature......."

"Pfft—!"

Eleven, who was speaking with such certainty, suddenly narrowed his eyes and looked at his companion opposite him in shock.

A violent attack struck his abdomen, and blood instantly stained his clothes. He stared in disbelief at Thirteen, who was holding a long sword and had stabbed him, before he could even open his mouth to ask why.

In an instant.

A deafening roar of battle cries echoed from the surrounding mountains.

The moment he fell, he saw three hundred bandits, their bodies radiating murderous intent, charging towards General Zhou, who was walking at the very front.

Thirteen, who had stabbed himself, had already pulled back his sword. His eyes revealed a hint of struggle and guilt. In the end, he actually stabbed directly into General Zhou's back: "I'm sorry, General."

I'm sorry...

Back then, you took me in when I was an orphan at the border, and I regarded you as my second parents.

But just a year ago, the royal family found me and said that I was no longer satisfied with being a great general and wanted to betray the country. They said that I had secretly colluded with the Xiongnu to rebel and that I had joined forces with the enemies who killed my parents!

I didn't believe it at first.

But, but just a few days ago you actually made me send the young master away, you're paving the way for the Zhou family...

With such conclusive evidence, how could I not believe it!

Thirteen hated the Xiongnu people more than anything in his life. He could never forget the scene of his father, mother and sister dying tragically under the Xiongnu's sword. He could no longer be loyal to General Zhou!

"General!!"

"Zither!" The sound of longswords clashing echoed all around.