Hanging the Corpse at the City Gates

The atmosphere in the hall was strange, with most people confused about what was happening.

The ones who should have collapsed didn't, while those who shouldn't have all fell.

Li Chengxiao's expression changed from shock to surprise, then to anger as he glared at Luo Yu:

"You're the one behind this!"

"I think you're the real devil here."

Luo Yu sneered, slowly stepping out of the crowd:

"During the last battle at Heigou Fort, I found a letter of surrender on Qiang centurion Walige's body. The writer had agreed with the Qiang to open the gates on New Year's Eve and eliminate other military leaders in the city.

After returning to Yunyang Pass, I've been looking for this traitor for days without any leads.

General Li, you've been hiding deep."

"Damn it, you little brat, you really found out."

Li Chengxiao's face turned green with anger: "But why did you suspect me? The letter wasn't written in my handwriting. There are so many generals in Yunyang Pass, you shouldn't have suspected me."

He couldn't understand how Luo Yu had figured it out despite his careful concealment.

"No, no, no, I never knew for sure who it was, just had suspicions about you."

Luo Yu explained calmly:

"Back when you tried to recruit me, you mentioned Walige's name in passing. That was my first suspicion, but one sentence wasn't enough.

Then I thought, if the traitor wanted to control the city's troops before betraying, they would need to gather all the officers to eliminate them at once.

To do this, they needed an opportunity, a suitable setting, like today's gathering.

When I received the invitation, I suspected General Jun."

Jun Yi was stunned - had his banquet been mistaken for a traitor's plot?

Luo Yu continued:

"Today is a banquet, everyone's guard is down. If someone really wanted to kill us, the best method would be to drug the food and drink, poisoning everyone at once. So while you were drinking, I went to the kitchen to check if there were any problems with today's food and drink.

I didn't find anything unusual, but coincidentally saw your deputy. The moment I saw him, I knew the traitor was you!

He had bribed the tavern staff to drug us with knockout powder.

As for why your men collapsed, it's simple. I held a knife to the staff member's throat and forced him to put the knockout powder in Li family's wine.

You thought we drank the poison, but actually, the real poison was in your men's cups!

I didn't poison you to make you confess."

The truth was finally revealed - Li Chengxiao was the traitor! Everyone looked around for the deputy, who was lying unconscious on the ground, probably never expecting to be drugged himself.

"It was you, you ruined my plans!"

Li Chengxiao's eyes bulged: "I should have killed you when I had the chance, not let you live!"

"Alright, Li Chengxiao, our show is over."

Kong Xian sneered:

"Surrender! Don't struggle in vain."

"Surrender? Ha!"

Li Chengxiao's eyes were filled with malice:

"Who said I lost? I've hidden fifty elite troops in the tavern just in case. None of you will escape!"

Everyone panicked again. They hadn't expected Li Chengxiao to not only prepare drugged wine but also ambush with assassins. Clearly, he had prepared everything for today.

"Smash!"

Li Chengxiao threw his wine cup, which shattered into pieces, and shouted:

"Men, kill them!"

"That brat, I told you I'd tear you apart!"

Li Chengxiao had already thought of eighteen ways to kill Luo Yu, feeling oddly satisfied at his own cleverness for having a backup plan.

The situation became tense again. Some people were already grabbing chairs and table corners, preparing to fight to the death.

But the hall outside remained quiet, with no soldiers appearing.

Li Chengxiao's expression went through another cycle of ferocity, shock, and panic.

"Creak~"

The heavy wooden door finally opened, and Dong Chuan and Xiao Shaoyou's deputy centurion Pang Fei walked in, each holding a bloody curved sword. They saluted:

"We've eliminated all of Li family's ambushers. Please rest assured!"

Luo Yu looked at them with disdain, as if they were idiots:

"I already knew something would happen at today's banquet. How could I not be prepared? General Li, you underestimated me."

In fact, while Luo Yu and Xiao Shaoyou attended the banquet, their elite troops had surrounded the tavern. No matter if today's traitor was Jun Yi or Li Chengxiao, no one would succeed.

"Thud."

Li Chengxiao stumbled backward, hands gripping the chair back until his knuckles turned white:

"I had the perfect plan, it was all because of you, you damn brat!"

He hated it, all his careful planning had been ruined by a new recruit.

"Ha ha ha!"

Unlike Li Chengxiao's despair, Kong Xian burst out laughing:

"Li Chengxiao, Li Chengxiao, you brought this upon yourself! This is what you deserve!"

In his despair, Li Chengxiao went mad, lunging at Luo Yu:

"You ruined my plans, brat, I'll kill you!"

Being a general, he had good fighting skills. Grabbing a curved sword, he leaped onto the table and slashed at Luo Yu, such a fierce attack that everyone around scattered in terror.

Luo Yu, well-prepared, wasn't afraid at all. He even charged forward, with the short dagger Dawn already in his hand.

"Roar!"

Li Chengxiao's eyes bulged, a desperate attack:

"Die!"

"Thrust!"

As they crossed paths, the airborne Luo Yu twisted his waist, the blade sliding past his chest. Dawn rose upward, piercing Li Chengxiao's throat.

"Thud."

The corpse fell from mid-air, Li Chengxiao convulsing violently before dying, his eyes full of regret in death.

Luo Yu looked coldly at the body, showing no mercy. Such a traitor deserved death!

Everyone's eyes changed when they looked at Luo Yu. Though he was the lowest-ranking officer, just a centurion, his series of plans and the decisive killing blow showed his remarkable strategic thinking.

Without Luo Yu, everyone here would have died today.

Kong Xian's authoritative voice echoed through the room:

"Li Chengxiao conspired with the Qiang enemy and deserves death. He has been executed. Hang his corpse outside the city gates to warn others. Also, to ensure Yunyang Pass's safety, all his troops will be reorganized, with new commanders appointed by me."

"Understood!"

Amid the chorus of responses, Jun Yi frowned. Kong Xian was using this opportunity to absorb Li family's troops. But since Li Chengxiao had brought this upon himself, he couldn't object.

"Learn from this!"

Kong Xian warned:

"Yunyang Pass is crucial to Que Prefecture's safety. Anyone who dares to follow Li Chengxiao's example and collude with the enemy will be executed without mercy!"