Betrayal

In front, the white-clothed youth walking at the very front, Senior Brother Mo, suddenly stopped.

The two girls behind him immediately halted as well, looking around vigilantly.

The youth didn't turn his head.

He simply stood in place and spoke calmly to the empty darkness behind him.

"You've been observing us since the inn during the day, and trailing us all night. May I ask your purpose?"

Shen Che's figure appeared in the dim moonlight.

He ignored the scrutiny in the white-clothed youth's words, standing there calmly.

"Demon Suppression Division, Shen Che."

He took out a black iron token from his huai (bosom), its ferocious beast head carving gleaming coldly in the night.

"I'm here on orders to investigate the disappearance of a Demon Queller Envoy in Huafeng County."

The tense atmosphere in the air dissipated significantly once he revealed his identity.

The name of the Demon Suppression Division carried enough weight within the Great Jing Dynasty.

"So, you're from the Demon Suppression Division."

Tu Rong, the green-clothed girl who hadn't spoken, bowed to Shen Che.

"We are disciples of Heavenly Snow Mountain. We're here to investigate a missing person case ourselves, and we have no intention of being enemies with you, sir."

Beside her, Xue Xi, the red-clothed girl, looked Shen Che up and down with her large, curious eyes.

"Demon Suppression Division? You don't look that old, and you're already a formal Demon Queller Envoy?"

Shen Che put away his token, not answering her question.

"Since we're both here to investigate missing persons, why don't we travel together?"

Tu Rong, the green-clothed girl, suggested proactively.

"This place is strange. Having an extra person means an extra layer of support."

Mo Feng, the white-clothed youth leading them, glanced at Shen Che and didn't object.

"Alright."

The four formed a temporary team and continued walking towards the depths of the wilderness.

Along the way, through Xue Xi's chirpy introductions, Shen Che learned about the three's backgrounds.

They were all from a top martial arts sect in the northern territory, Heavenly Snow Mountain.

The white-clothed youth was named Mo Feng, their senior disciple brother, and a genius ranked eighty-ninth on the "Hidden Dragon Ranking."

"Eighty-ninth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, what does that mean?" Xue Xi's tone was full of admiration. "It means that among the younger generation under thirty in the entire Great Jing Dynasty, my senior brother's strength ranks in the top one hundred! That's amazing!"

The green-clothed girl was named Tu Rong, and she was a bit more reserved.

They had descended the mountain this time to investigate a fellow disciple who had gone missing.

The last known location of that disciple was a desolate village outside Huafeng County.

A Heavenly Snow Mountain disciple missing.

A Demon Suppression Division Demon Queller Envoy missing.

Both located near Huafeng County.

Shen Che connected the two leads, and the picture became much clearer.

Most likely, it was the same group responsible.

Well, this was great. One mission, double the KPI.

After walking for about half an hour, the outline of a village appeared in a mountain hollow in the distance.

Black Mountain Village.

But the closer they got, the more something felt off to Shen Che.

It was too quiet.

A village at night, even if everyone was asleep, should have some dog barks or insect chirps.

But here, there was utter silence.

Even the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves seemed exceptionally jarring.

A faint, fishy smell wafted in the air, mixed with the fragrance of the earth, barely perceptible.

"This village... is so strange."

Xue Xi also stopped her lively chatter and muttered softly.

"Look, only the inn in the center of the village still has lights on. All the other houses are dark."

Tu Rong gripped the hilt of the sword behind her back. This was her first time out on a trial, and encountering this scene made her a little nervous.

Mo Feng walked at the very front. He stopped and gazed at the only light source.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Without any further words, he took the lead and walked towards the village.

The four of them entered Black Mountain Village.

The dirt path underfoot was clean. The doors and windows of the houses along the road were all shut tight, showing no signs of anything unusual.

Yet, the faint, elusive scent of fish grew stronger.

Soon, they arrived in front of the brightly lit inn in the center of the village.

"Black Mountain Inn."

The characters on the plaque were a bit old.

The inn was bustling with noise, a stark contrast to the dead silence of the village.

Mo Feng pushed the door open and entered.

The lobby was filled with people, some dressed as traveling merchants, others looking like martial artists, all clinking cups and feasting, creating a lively scene.

A portly innkeeper, upon seeing Mo Feng, immediately broke into a smile.

"You've finally arrived."

Mo Feng nodded at the innkeeper.

"I have not failed my mission."

This exchange left Tu Rong and Xue Xi, who were following behind, stunned.

How did their senior brother know an innkeeper in this desolate village?

"Senior Brother, this..." Tu Rong began, confused.

"Sit down and we'll talk."

Mo Feng found an empty table and sat down, gesturing for them to do the same.

Shen Che took a seat at another table by himself. Ever since he entered, he felt that the way the inn's staff and the "customers" were looking at people was very wrong.

It wasn't the gaze one would give a living person.

It was more like a butcher sizing up livestock ready for slaughter.

"My two junior sisters, I have completed my mission this time."

Mo Feng picked up his teacup and blew on the steam.

"I'm planning to leave Great Jing and see what's overseas. Do you want to come with me?"

Tu Rong and Xue Xi exchanged glances, completely bewildered.

"Leave Great Jing? Senior Brother, what do you mean? The sect's mission..."

"Hahaha!"

The plump innkeeper beside them burst into laughter, interrupting Tu Rong.

"Little girl, your senior brother isn't here to do any sect mission."

The innkeeper walked over to Mo Feng, patted his shoulder, acting extremely familiar.

"He's here to pledge allegiance."

"Young Master Mo has stolen your Heavenly Snow Mountain's sect-preserving ultimate art, the Ice Soul Divine Art, and has come here specifically to present it to the 'King' as a token of his loyalty to our clan."

The fat innkeeper's jowls quivered.

"As for the two of you..."

His gaze swept back and forth over Tu Rong and Xue Xi, filled with undisguised greed.

"Women with such exceptional aptitude and stunning beauty are prime provisions. The King will surely like them very much."

The innkeeper's words struck Tu Rong and Xue Xi like a bolt from the blue, exploding in their minds.

Pledge allegiance?

Stolen sect ultimate art?

Provisions?

Tu Rong and Xue Xi's faces turned as pale as paper.

Their minds went blank, unable to process what was happening before them.

Their respected and admired genius senior brother, the prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, had betrayed their sect.

And he was going to offer them, as "provisions," to some "King"?

"Senior Brother, you..." Xue Xi's voice trembled, on the verge of tears, "You're joking, right?"