The Traitor

The thick stench of urine in the room was nauseating.

In such an environment, Yang Heng could not sleep at all. He decided to go outside for some air and return after the smell had dispersed.

After putting on his clothes and shoes, Yang Heng walked out the door.

Outside was pitch-black and silent. The moon had already disappeared. If not for the few stars still glittering in the sky, an ordinary person would not have been able to see their own hand before their face, let alone the road.

Yang Heng was a Blood Brave Disciple, and his body had been tempered by the Marrow Cleansing Pearl. His eyesight had greatly improved, granting him the ability to see in the dark.

Within three zhang, he could see everything clearly, no different from daytime.

Going out for air had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, and he had no destination in mind. After thinking for a moment, Yang Heng decided to take a stroll by the river.

Under the silent night sky, listening to the murmuring waters had its own unique charm.

Before long, Yang Heng arrived at the riverbank.

Large rocks stood scattered along the bank, with silt and sand piled between them. Under the starlight, the sand and stones gleamed in scattered, irregular points of light, lacking any pattern, like the stars in the heavens—some bright, some dim.

The stream beneath the night sky presented an even more breathtaking sight.

Looking into the distance, he saw the stream flowing slowly along its winding riverbed like a pristine white jade ribbon, rising and falling as waves rolled onward, reflecting a cold, clear radiance.

The sound of the flowing water was like beautiful notes played beneath slender jade fingers—pleasant to the ear and stirring to the soul, making one forget all troubles and immerse oneself within it.

Yang Heng lay beneath a large boulder over a zhang high, his eyes tightly shut as he quietly listened to those notes flowing into the depths of his soul. He was utterly intoxicated. His body and mind relaxed, and the nerves that had been taut for so long loosened considerably.

At that moment, the murmuring water sounded like the most powerful lullaby in the world.

Listening to it, Yang Heng's brow smoothed out and his expression became tranquil, as though he had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Yet most things in this world, eight or nine times out of ten, failed to satisfy people. Just when success was at hand, obstacles would suddenly appear.

And Yang Heng now encountered exactly such a situation.

Just as Yang Heng sank completely into sleep, a burst of voices suddenly reached his ears and startled him awake. In an instant, all sleepiness vanished.

Yang Heng turned over and peered through a gap between the rocks toward the source of the voices. Not far away, around seven or eight meters off, two figures stood facing each other, their lips moving as they spoke quietly. One of them wore a respectful expression and kept his head lowered. Of the two, he was clearly the lower-ranking one.

Yang Heng recognized both of them: Wang Ming and Master Zhang!

But the one bowing and scraping was actually Master Zhang!

Wang Ming was merely a lowly apprentice at the pharmacy. What ability or standing did he possess that could make Master Zhang, a pharmacy master, lower himself and grovel before him? Yang Heng found it extremely interesting. Perhaps it concealed some earth-shattering secret.

He decided to keep listening.

The spot where he was hiding was extremely concealed. Large rocks surrounded him, scattered in an orderly array, and the enormous boulder before him completely hid his body. Unless someone came right up close, they would never discover that a person was hidden there.

Yang Heng held his breath and listened carefully.

"Master Zhang, you need to find out the next time the pharmacy will transport medicinal herbs to Qinghe City, as well as the route. The mountain needs to make preparations early."

Wang Ming stared intently at Master Zhang. His brows carried an air of dominance as he spoke in a tone that brooked no doubt.

"This..."

Master Zhang revealed a troubled expression, his words hesitant and halting.

"What? Is there a problem?"

A cold glint flashed through Wang Ming's eyes as he demanded sharply.

"Young Master, you do not know this. When the medicinal herbs were robbed the time before last, Shopkeeper Chen and Lei Xiong concluded that there was a traitor in the pharmacy. They investigated for a while and even focused their suspicions on us masters, questioning us.

If I had not secretly stirred things up and incited everyone to resist together, the matter would not have been dropped. The consequences would have been unimaginable."

"If the medicinal herbs are robbed again within such a short time, I fear I will not be able to clear myself of suspicion. When that happens, my life will be forfeit."

Master Zhang's face was full of sorrow as he spoke bitterly.

"Haha, so that is what you are worried about." Wang Ming smiled and continued, "You need not worry about your safety. Once you finish this job, your task will be complete. You can return to the stronghold and reunite with your son."

"Your son has performed quite well at the stronghold. Together with the merits you have earned, the Stronghold Chief thinks highly of him. I heard he is preparing to promote him soon."

Upon hearing this, Master Zhang's bitter expression vanished, and his face lit up with excitement. "Really?"

"Of course it is true. Could my words be false, given my status?" Wang Ming looked displeased.

"Of course not, of course not." Master Zhang wore a fawning smile and repeatedly shook his head.

"Young Master is the Stronghold Chief's most valued disciple. The stronghold's foundations will be placed in your hands in the future. Your words are equivalent to the Stronghold Chief's words. Naturally, I believe you."

Master Zhang beamed as he flattered him.

The two exchanged a few more words before Wang Ming said, "It is getting late. If I return too late, it may arouse suspicion. If there is nothing else, I will leave first. Wait here for a while before you go."

With that, Wang Ming turned and prepared to leave.

At that moment, Master Zhang spoke up.

"Wait."

Wang Ming turned to look at Master Zhang, only to see him wearing an embarrassed expression. Wang Ming asked doubtfully, "What else is it?"

"Young Master, last time you told me that you would have my son promoted to... promoted to Deputy Leader?"

Master Zhang made a lifting gesture with his hand and said with a fawning grin.

"Deputy Leader?"

"Great Leader!"

"Great Leader?" Master Zhang froze, then grinned so broadly that his mouth could not close. "Young Master, you have truly given me a tremendous surprise today. I... my son and I will certainly obey your commands. We will climb mountains of blades and plunge into seas of fire without hesitation."

Wang Ming nodded and smiled. Without saying anything further, he turned and left.

After another while, Master Zhang also departed with joy written all over his face.

Only after Master Zhang's figure had disappeared far into the darkness did Yang Heng emerge from behind the boulder.

Because of an accident, he had been forced to come out for a stroll, only to overhear such a secret by chance. This trip had truly not been in vain.

Yang Heng secretly rejoiced.

Yang Heng could understand Wang Ming being a traitor.

But he had never expected that even Master Zhang, a high-ranking figure in the pharmacy, was a traitor. This greatly exceeded Yang Heng's expectations.

Hundred Herbs Pharmacy was leaking like a sieve.

Yang Heng sneered.

Recalling the stronghold the two had mentioned, Yang Heng guessed that it might be Black Wind Stronghold.

Wang Ming, Master Zhang, and the black-clothed man who had appeared at Wang Gui's home were all in the same group.

If that was the case, Wang Ming's true identity should be that of the Black Wind Stronghold Chief's disciple. He had joined the pharmacy with another purpose in mind.

As for why Master Zhang had betrayed them, it was likely connected to his son being a bandit at the stronghold.

Master Zhang, Master Zhang, it was time for you to repay the suffering you had inflicted upon the former owner of this body.

Yang Heng sneered, a flash of cold light flickering in his eyes.

He did not intend to tell the pharmacy about this matter.

First, he had no evidence. Empty words carried no weight. The pharmacy would not believe a mere apprentice like him and investigate a pharmacy master of relatively high status.

Second, he had never held any favorable feelings toward the pharmacy. He remained here only to obtain proof that would allow him to join the Medicine King Gang. Otherwise, he would have fled far away long ago.

Yang Heng wished for trouble to befall the pharmacy.

If he had not obtained the Martial Arts Manual and achieved success in martial cultivation, he might have ended up like Zhao Er and the apprentice surnamed Zhang.

Dead—or worse than dead.