Chapter 136: The Traitor

"In that case, I cannot let you live." The young girl’s azure armor shimmered with a chilling light. Clutching a dagger, her gaze—as predatory as a wolf’s—fixed intently upon the youth, as if she were poised to pounce and tear him to shreds.

"Young Master!" At that moment, voices rang out from the distance.

The garrison troops at the pass had detected the disturbance and were now swarming toward the woods in groups.

The youth flashed a mocking smile and dangled the girl’s identification plaque. "Well now, Great General, aren't you leaving? What is it? Do you want the whole world to know that your Chu family is guilty of treason and defying the Emperor?"

The youth’s smile remained charming, yet his words were as grating as ever.

"Give that back to me!" Chu Junhan’s face paled slightly. She took a half-step forward, extending a slender, fair hand with an expression that suggested she would rather be discovered than leave without it.

The youth chuckled and tossed the plaque back to her.

After catching the token, Chu Junhan glanced at the approaching figures, let out a cold snort, flicked her sleeves, and departed.

"Hey! Your sword!" The youth called out to her retreating back, brandishing the weapon he had snatched.

The figure grew smaller in the distance, offering no reply.

"Young Master, she is gone." A dark shadow stood under the veil of night, its form barely discernible.

The youth responded with a hum, rubbing his chin, his eyes as deep as an abyss. He whispered softly, "Phantom, do you find that she resembles someone?"

"She resembles Ruyan," the shadow replied, devoid of any emotion.

The youth smiled faintly, smoothed his robes, and sighed lightly. "She does indeed look much like my foolish little junior sister, Ruyan."

As he spoke, he turned to the shadow with a look of confusion. "Tell me, if my junior sister is truly that foolish, why did our Master ever take her as a disciple?"

The shadow shook its head slightly. "Phantom does not know."

"Hmm, you truly do not know, and I cannot figure it out either." A smile played on the youth’s lips; he shook his head, tucked his hands behind his back, and walked away.

...

Inside the Chu family military camp, Yun Yi paced back and forth, draped in a crimson war cloak. He craned his neck, watching expectantly, his face etched with worry. "Brother Ziyun, why hasn't the beautiful brother returned yet? Should we go and look for him?"

Tang Chen polished his weapon in silence. He was no less anxious about Chu Junhan’s safety, but they knew that all they could do now was wait patiently so as not to cause further trouble for her.

"The General is back!" Before Yun Yi could persuade Tang Chen to join him, he heard the soldiers shout and immediately looked up.

Tang Chen stood up as well.

Under the moonlight, not far from them, a youth approached with a brisk, wind-swept stride. His hair was slightly disheveled, and the sword that usually hung at his waist was nowhere to be seen.

"Junhan, what happened? Are you hurt?" Tang Chen was the first to step forward, reaching out to grasp the youth’s wrist.

Yun Yi hurriedly unfastened his own war cloak and nimbly draped it over the youth, who stood a head taller than him, his face filled with concern.

"It is nothing, just encountered a scoundrel." Chu Junhan waved a hand, feigning indifference, but the moment she spoke, her tone betrayed her; her voice was cold enough to pierce the bone.

Tang Chen’s brow furrowed. "Did you lose your sword during the scuffle, Junhan?"

Chu Junhan nodded, offering no further explanation. She sought out the trunk of a tree, sat down, and closed her eyes to rest.

Yun Yi, young and hot-blooded, heard that his "beautiful brother" had been bullied. He grabbed his wolf-patterned spear, ready to hunt down the culprit. "I will go and drag that rogue here! No one who dares to bully my beautiful brother gets away with it—I, Yun Yi, will never stand for it!"

"Feiyang, stay calm." Tang Chen held back the impulsive youth. Chu Junhan did not want to speak of what had transpired, which meant there was surely some secret she did not wish for them to know.