The Traitor

"Bang!"

In the dead of night, with silence enveloping everything, Luo Yu gently knocked on Zhang Gui's door.

Jiming Fort had few houses—only Wang Shuang and Zhang Gui had private quarters, while the regular soldiers shared rooms, eight or more crowding into one.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Deputy Leader, Luo Yu."

"Luo Yu?"

Zhang Gui's voice held a note of surprise; he clearly hadn't expected Luo Yu to seek him out at such a late hour.

"Come in."

Luo Yu pushed the door open. The interior of the wooden cabin was similar to Wang Shuang's—a wooden table, a bed, small partitions on either side, and various clutter piled in a corner.

"You're still awake at this hour, Zhang?"

Luo Yu glanced around and saw Zhang Gui polishing a curved blade with a yellowing cloth.

"With the fort besieged, the Qiang might sneak in at night. Isn't someone needed on watch? Wang Shuang is sleeping, so I can't very well sleep myself."

Zhang Gui shot Luo Yu a cold glance:

"Speak. What brings you here?"

"I just wanted to ask, can we consider Wu Mazi's death a closed chapter? I don't wish to be at odds with you, Captain."

"Heh, are you here to apologize?"

Zhang Gui chuckled scornfully: "I already told you, none of us can read. We came to the front lines to fight for military credit. Wu Mazi worked hard to help me out.

If you had come back and confessed the truth, offering your military merits, perhaps I might have shown you some mercy. Now you want to apologize? It's too late!"

Having been humiliated before the entire fort, Zhang Gui now harbored deep animosity toward Luo Yu.

"Well then, there's nothing left to discuss."

Luo Yu suddenly shifted the topic: "Are you the one who sent a secret letter to the Qiang, intending to open the gates for surrender?"

Zhang Gui's hand froze mid-polish, eyes widening:

"What are you talking about?"

Flipping his dagger, Luo Yu murmured:

"I despise traitors who collude with the enemy!"

...

Wang Shuang paced restlessly in his room, hands clasped behind his back, the flickering candlelight illuminating his worried face.

He glanced toward the door repeatedly, each passing moment feeling like torture.

"Creak."

The wooden door opened, and Luo Yu finally appeared, holding a bloodied dagger.

"Well? Did you succeed?"

Wang Shuang asked impatiently: "Is he dead?"

"Still breathing."

Luo Yu spat:

"This guy is surprisingly tough; I had a hard time subduing him and managed to tie him up. Should I call you to take a look?"

"Haha, you didn't disappoint me after all."

Wang Shuang visibly relaxed, waving his hand:

"Let's go see this traitor!"

Wang Shuang's room was on the east side of the fort and Zhang Gui's on the west—close enough. He called for four trusted aides, and the group marched purposefully toward Zhang Gui's quarters.

The soldiers on night watch gazed in confusion at this scene, wondering what was happening in the middle of the night, but didn't dare to question it.

Wang Shuang confidently entered the room, and his gaze quickly fell upon a disheveled Zhang Gui.

The room was in disarray, clearly indicating a struggle had occurred. Zhang Gui had sustained a knife wound on his arm, was covered in blood, and his hands were tied to a chair, looking as if Luo Yu had dealt him a heavy blow, and he was now barely conscious.

Seeing the once imposing Zhang Gui in this pitiful state, Wang Shuang laughed heartily:

"Haha, Zhang Gui, who would have thought you'd end up like this!"

"Wang, Company Leader."

Zhang Gui with great effort raised his head: "May I ask why you sent Luo Yu to capture me? What crime have I committed?"

"Why did I capture you? Don't you know?"

Wang Shuang smirked: "You transmitted a secret letter to the Qiang, planning to open the gates to surrender tomorrow night. You attempted treason, and I uncovered it.

If not you, then who should I arrest?"

"Pah!"

Zhang Gui glared furiously:

"You speak nonsense! When did I ever write a letter to the Qiang? Wang Shuang, I see you are just using this as an excuse to exact vengeance!

You've been targeting me for over a year now—why bother pretending? You're just taking advantage of my downfall to stab me in the back!"

Zhang Gui turned his glare toward Luo Yu: "You fool! With your skills, you've been used by someone!"

"Hahaha, I'm so delighted."

Wang Shuang could no longer contain his laughter, while Luo Yu appeared confused:

"Commander, what's going on? Wasn't the secret letter written by Zhang Gui?"

"What's going on?"

Wang Shuang's eyes suddenly glinted coldly, and his tone turned harsh:

"Seize Luo Yu at once for defying orders and seeking personal revenge on Deputy Leader Zhang Gui! Such a grave offense!"

The four aides had already been poised; they lunged at Luo Yu, quickly overpowering him and binding him with rope.

Outnumbered, Luo Yu struggled in vain, indignantly shouting:

"Commander, what's the meaning of this? You told me Zhang Gui was colluding with the enemy, and to help you punish the traitor! Now, how am I the one being accused of seeking revenge?"

"Oh, you are so naive!"

Wang Shuang laughed so hard he almost doubled over:

"Zhang Gui was right; you truly are foolish! All that power and yet empty-headed."

Zhang Gui gritted his teeth, staring daggers at Wang Shuang: "If I'm not mistaken, you're the one who truly wants to betray the fort, right?"

"Now that we're at this point, no need to hide the truth from you."

Wang Shuang, with a smug smile, began to lay everything bare:

"Indeed, I made agreements with the Qiang, ready to open the gates tomorrow and surrender. However, I always feared you would interfere, possibly ruining everything.

It just so happened that you had a conflict with Luo Yu, so I used his hand to eliminate you as a threat!"

"So it was you! You're the true traitor!"

Luo Yu's expression turned icy: "You traitor!"

"Haha, now you understand."

Wang Shuang's eyes gleamed with contempt:

"The letter was written by me. Did you really think I would just pick anyone to be Deputy Leader?

You are indeed talented, but you don't seem reliable enough to serve me. So, I'll use your hand to kill Zhang Gui and then execute you for your crimes—two birds with one stone. Isn't that splendid?"

Wang Shuang now resembled a completely different person, his face twisted with scheming malevolence. It was clear why he had brought his aides along; he had been prepared to discard Luo Yu after using him.

"Pah!"

Zhang Gui cursed furiously: "As the Company Leader, you betray your comrades! What shame to be associated with a person like you!"

"Shameful to be associated with me? Hmph, I don't care!"

Wang Shuang said sharply:

"In this world, survival is the most vital!

With the fort under siege, supplies running low, and no reinforcements, what's the use of holding on to pride? Surrendering to the Qiang not only saves lives but also promises wealth and position—why not?"

"A coward's excuse!"

"I'm too lazy to debate with you on this matter; if one does not act for oneself, they are doomed!"

Wang Shuang sneered at the two:

"You're both dead men now. It isn't worth my time to argue further."

The feeling of having victory within his grasp made Wang Shuang burst into laughter, delighting in his triumph.

Suddenly, Luo Yu's head lifted coldly, a peculiar smirk crossing his lips:

"Commander, what makes you so sure you've won?"

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several arrows shot forth suddenly from the side compartments, striking through the chests of Wang Shuang's four aides with deadly precision.

Blood sprayed forth, and the four men collapsed, not even able to let out a single scream.

Laughter faded abruptly, replaced by a thick stench of blood enveloping the room.