Traitors

the strongest among those Ki fought were made quick work of as she approached them when they were alone or in a group.

Her superior combat skills and mastery over her techniques had put her at a major advantage over each of them.

Not a single blade or fist was able to get close enough to her body to do it any harm but even if they did, it would have been difficult for them to harm her unless they had a very good and rare weapon that could pierce her skin.

Her body had been toughened so much by the Blood Buddha Qi Art and the many baths she had taken as she soaked in a body tempering solution so ordinary blades would be unable to break past her skin and muscles unless it was a much higher grade.

Another possibility was that in order to harm her, the person attacking her needed to be at the Unrestrained Realm or above to be able to make any kind of damage appear on her body.

Those beneath her could not do all that much to her so she had overpowered and outclassed them completely.

Even their leaders had exchanged two attacks with her before they found that she had stabbed them or slashed them resulting in the following events that unfolded.

Ki wanted to go over her progress and see where she could improve for the time she met someone on her own realm of power but she was quickly brought back to the present as her gaze passed over one of the dead bodies.

The face was familiar despite there being some changes from the effects of the poison in their body.

She remembered who he was after recalling where she found them familiar from then she knit her brows showing a serious look on her face. "It is him."

It was one of the people from the capital who was participating in the sledding who had tried to go against her from the beginning.

The person was who had challenged her and tried to cut her off as they passed in front of her during the first part of the race.

There obstruction made it difficult to pass and move around in other directions so it was likely that an unskilled person would have had to follow behind at a safe distance while entering the same route behind them.

The problem lied in the fact that Ki may have went in behind where she would have been lead into rhetorical trap right away.

The person behind it could have played it off as if they were the victim who was being attacked by the attackers so she would work together with them.

It would have presented them a chance that they thought could be used to capture or kill her when she had her guard down against him resulting in less resistance from the beginning of the plan they were carrying out.

It still would not have worked out as they had planned since Ki would still have been able to escape unharmed and was naturally vigilante enough to not trust in those she did not know well.

She would never leave her back to a stranger especially when it was someone who annoyed her previously.

Ki never anticipated there being traitors from the capital being a part of it but after thinking about it, it made enough sense that some forces would be colluding with others to shake up the capital and make a grab for power.

Many peoples interests were involved in what the future of the Northern Lands would turn out like.

Some just wanted to fight among themselves and cause chaos while others had bigger plans to establish a better future for everyone and others simply wanted a great war to take place so that they could take advantage of it.

The various factions were readying themselves for whatever they had planned and some had already made their move with a great show of force.

The whole event could not allow so many outsiders to go undetected unless there were people who were involved with the event itself that were colluding with them.

Ki looked around the remains of the camp only to see that what remained of any prisoners had been laying in a beaten or injured state.

Most had been killed off during the initial confrontation but some were able to live on despite their injuries.

Unfortunately if they did not receive treatment soon, they would soon die.

Ki contemplated saving them and helping them out but then decided against it. 'Even in their state, they may have witnessed all that has happened. They may just be playing weak and unconscious as they await an opportunity to recover and escape.."

It was something she would consider doing if she ended up in a bad situation.

The best option available when captured or when getting involved in something that she was not supposed to see, she would act weak or in a way that would let the enemy overlook her.

Once an opportunity presented itself, she would drop all pretences and would seize the chance given to escape or take revenge.

She weighed the options available to her but it was much too risky to bring them along while it was too risky to let them wander around.

Instead of freeing them or killing them, she walked over towards the dogs and began cutting through the flimsy chains freeing them before giving them some guidance to get close to the survivors. 'The warmth should at least buy them some time.'

She did not have any herbs available besides what could be picked on the mountain so she did not have much available to treat them so she began removing pieces of clothing from the bodies of the dead before ripping them up or throwing them over those still breathing.