Chapter 69 The Traitor
"Release her!" Ye Wanning shouted, thrusting her dagger straight at the shadowy figure's lower back. The figure reacted swiftly, releasing Chun Tao and dodging to the side, then turning to run away. Ye Wanning wasn't about to let him escape, chasing after him out of the tent and engaging him in a fight in the woods outside.
The shadowy figure's strength far exceeded Ye Wanning's expectations. Every strike was aimed at a fatal spot, indicating that he was a suicide soldier sent by the Tianyan Sect, intent on killing them. Ye Wanning used the self-defense techniques her mother had taught her, barely managing to dodge, but after only a few exchanges, her arm was slashed, and blood quickly seeped out.
"Wan Ning!" Pei Zhi's voice came with hurried footsteps. Upon hearing the voice, the shadowy figure's eyes narrowed. He feinted a sword strike to force Ye Wan Ning away, then turned and ran into the woods, disappearing from sight in no time.
Pei Zhi arrived with the Shadow Pavilion men and his expression changed drastically when he saw the cut on Ye Wanning's arm: "What happened? Where are you hurt?"
"It's nothing, just a minor injury," Ye Wanning said, rubbing her arm.
Pei Zhi looked at her with suspicion. Ye Wanning explained, "That shadowy figure wanted to harm Chun Tao, so it must be someone from the Tianyan Sect, afraid that Chun Tao would reveal more secrets."
Chun Tao ran out of the tent, her face ashen: "Miss, I'm so sorry, it's all my fault..."
"It's not your fault." Ye Wanning stopped her. "From now on, you'll sleep with me and stay in my tent at night. Don't do anything on your own."
Pei Zhi squatted down and looked at the footprints on the ground: "The footprints of this dark figure are in the Western Regions style, very similar to the footprints of the Turks who ambushed us before. It seems that the Tianyan Sect and the Turks are still colluding. We need to be more vigilant."
Back in the tent, Ye Wanning asked Chuntao to help bandage her wounds. Pei Zhi sat beside her, his brow furrowed: "Chuntao's words point to Su Zhong, and the shadowy figure came to silence us again. It seems that Su Zhong's matter is very likely true. But we can't convict someone based on mere speculation; we need to find evidence."
"How do we find evidence?" Ye Wanning asked, the pain from her wound making her head clearer.
Pei Zhi thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "We'll write a secret letter from the Tianyan Sect to Su Zhong, and have Chun Tao secretly put it under Su Zhong's pillow. If Su Zhong is the mole, he'll definitely peek at the letter and even try to contact him; if he isn't, he'll hand the letter over to us."
Ye Wanning nodded: "That's right, just write 'After arriving in the capital, take advantage of Ye Wanning's inattention to steal the tiger tally and map, and hand them over to the contact person at Black Wind Mountain.' This way, the wording is consistent with the Tianyan Sect's, and he won't suspect anything."
The next morning, while Su Zhong was delivering medicine to the soldiers, Chun Tao slipped the forged secret letter under Su Zhong's pillow. Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi were watching Su Zhong from a nearby tent through the cracks.
Half an hour later, Su Zhong returned to his tent. He first squatted down to organize his medicine box, then sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his shoulder—the arm he had injured while protecting the map. Ye Wanning's heart clenched; she suddenly regretted doing so.
The next second, Su Zhong's hand touched the secret letter under his pillow. He pulled it out suspiciously, and as soon as he unfolded it, his face changed drastically, and his hands began to tremble involuntarily. He quickly crumpled the letter into a ball and stuffed it into his pocket. After glancing around to make sure no one was around, he quietly left the tent and headed towards the edge of the camp.
Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking – Su Zhong was indeed suspicious. They followed quietly behind, their footsteps extremely light, afraid of disturbing him.
Su Zhong left the camp and, instead of heading to the bustling market, headed towards the nearby desolate mountains. The mountain path was rugged, but he knew it well, suggesting he had been there more than once. Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi followed behind, trying to hide in the nearby bushes, not daring to get too close.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Su Zhong stopped in front of a dilapidated temple. The temple door was ajar, and the interior was dark; the sounds coming from inside indicated it had long been abandoned. Su Zhong pushed open the door and went inside. Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi immediately ran over and peered through the cracks in the window.
Inside the dilapidated temple, there was only one person dressed in black robes, standing with his back to the door in front of the shrine, holding prayer beads in his hand, but he was not chanting, and he exuded an evil aura.
"Elder Su, have you received the secret letter?" the man in black asked, his voice hoarse as if he had been burned.
“Received it.” Su Zhong’s voice was tense. “But Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi are watching too closely, I can’t get close to the Tiger Talisman and the map at all. And…and the children are too dependent on me, I really can’t bear to do anything to them.”
"Can't bear it?" The man in black robes suddenly turned around, his face covered by a bronze mask, revealing only a pair of cold eyes. "Have you forgotten that your wife and children are still in our hands? If you dare to back out, you'll be receiving their fingers tomorrow!"
Su Zhong's face turned deathly pale, and his lips trembled: "I understand, I'll figure something out... I'll follow the plan."
Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi heard everything clearly outside the window and instantly understood—Su Zhong had been blackmailed by the Tianyan Sect by his family, which was why he had become a mole. Pei Zhi was about to rush out when Ye Wanning stopped him—now was not the time; they needed to find out where Su Zhong's family was being hidden.
After finishing their business on Black Wind Mountain, Ye Wanning and Pei Zhicai entered the dilapidated temple. Upon seeing them, Su Zhongyi froze, his face turning from deathly pale to ashen. He knelt down with a thud: "Second Miss, I'm so sorry! I was forced to do this today!"
"Uncle Su, get up first." Ye Wanning stepped forward to help him, but Su Zhong dodged her.
"I dare not!" Su Zhong kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Three months ago, the Tianyan Sect sent people to kidnap my wife and children, saying they would kill them if I didn't help them steal the Tiger Seal and the map. I had no choice but to listen to them... The last time I set the fire, it was because they forced me to. I set it slowly so you would have time to save the map!"
Ye Wanning's heart softened. She remembered the way Su Zhong looked at the children, and the sad look on his face when she was injured, but it turned out that all of that was fake.
"Where are your family members being held?" she asked, her tone softening slightly.
“I don’t know their exact location, I only know they’re in a cave near Black Wind Mountain!” Su Zhong looked up, his face streaked with tears. “Every month they show me keepsakes from my family to prove they’re still alive. Second Miss, please, save them! I’ll do anything to atone for my sins!”
"Get up first," Pei Zhi said. "Now is not the time to cry. Continue to pretend to be the mole and contact the Tianyan Sect. We will take this opportunity to find the place where they are holding your family and their stronghold. As long as you cooperate, we will not only rescue your family, but also help you clear your name as a mole."
"Yes! Yes! This old servant will cooperate fully and have no other intentions!" Su Zhong nodded heavily, tears still flowing, but this time his eyes showed more confidence.
"Get up first," Pei Zhi said again. "Now is not the time to cry. Continue to pretend to be the mole and contact the Tianyan Sect. We will take this opportunity to find the place where they are holding your family and their stronghold. As long as you cooperate, we will not only rescue your family, but also help you clear your name as a mole."
With Su Zhong's matter settled, the army quickened its pace back to the capital. However, just two days after setting out, when they reached a place called "Soul-Severing Valley," boulders suddenly rolled down the slopes on both sides, blocking both the entrances and exits. Immediately afterwards, a rain of arrows descended like a torrential downpour, densely packed and aimed directly at the army!
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