Chapter 2980

Chapter 1493 Betrayal

Seeing the warning on the note, Zu An calmly put it away, instead smiling at the maid: “Where is your young lady?”

He was now more curious about who the Fu family’s young lady was; it seemed he knew her.

The maid dared not answer and hurriedly moved aside.

Zu An simply got up and walked towards the back hall, but Fu Wan quickly stood up and asked, “Uncle, where are you going?”

“I’ve heard that the mansion has a tranquil environment and a clever design; I’d like to go in and have a look,” Zu An said with a smile.

Fu Wan looked troubled: “The inside is for women; it’s probably not suitable. Besides, my friends are arriving soon. Uncle, please rest a bit; I’ll personally show you around after you’ve seen them.”

Zu An smiled enigmatically: “Are you waiting for friends or assassins?”

Fu Wan’s expression changed, and he hurriedly retreated, but Zu An was faster; with a casual gesture, a terrifying suction force pulled him back.

Fu Wan tried to resist, but with a slight exertion of force from Zu An, he felt his cultivation about to be released, and dared not move an inch.

At that moment, a clapping sound rang out from the doorway: “As expected of Xuande, receiving Miss Fu’s warning, yet remaining calm in the face of danger.”

Dong Zhuo entered in the center, flanked by Cao Cao and Yuan Shao on either side.

A group of soldiers followed, subtly surrounding Zu An.

Zu An wasn’t surprised that several True Gods had noticed Miss Fu’s warning.

He casually placed a restriction on Fu Wan and tossed him aside. Looking at the three, he couldn’t help but sigh, “You three mortal enemies have actually joined forces; it’s truly an eye-opener.”

Logically, they all knew the course of history and how threatening Dong Zhuo was.

And Yuan Shao and Cao Cao certainly wouldn’t have been as friendly as they were in history; they would have definitely tried to eliminate each other’s greatest threats.

Yet, these three giants had actually banded together.

Cao Cao smiled slightly: “It’s mainly because your actions these past few days have been so astonishing, making you the strongest force in the entire capital. We had no choice but to join forces.”

Zu An sighed: “I never imagined that a mere mortal like myself could force the three of you to join forces. It seems that sometimes doing things too well isn’t necessarily a good thing.”

Now he controlled the strongest military force, unknowingly replacing Dong Zhuo’s historical position and attracting the most hatred.

At this moment, Dong Zhuo spoke: “You don’t seem surprised by this outcome?”

He then looked at Fu Wan beside him: “You knew he was going to betray us all along?”

Zu An smiled: “If I hadn’t gotten involved myself, how could I have lured you out?” He had indeed sensed the aura

of betrayal emanating from Fu Wan long ago.

Now, thinking back, it must have been because they had promised to elevate Miss Fu to the position of Empress.

Fu Wan was at most a general under his command, but if his daughter became empress, she might one day replicate the power of General He Jin, and the family would rise to the top.

Such temptation was irresistible.

Yuan Shao snorted, “Playing coy. This place is already surrounded by our army. You can’t escape today.”

He then waved his hand, and the soldiers charged towards Zu An.

Inside and outside the Fu residence, there was the court’s most elite army, their soldiers radiating a strong aura of military might, enough to suppress any supernatural power.

Zu An, however, remained calm, standing still. Suddenly, countless magical arrows rained down from all directions.

Screams rang out as the soldiers who had charged ahead were pinned to the ground, their military aura dissipating significantly due to the chaos of their formation.

Then, the thunderous sound of hooves filled the air as squads of elite knights broke through the Fu family gates, surrounding Dong Zhuo and his two companions and their soldiers.

Dong Zhuo couldn’t help but exclaim, “The Archery Battalion truly lives up to its reputation; every single one of them is a master archer, capable of

hitting a target from a hundred paces. The Yue Cavalry also deserves to be called the Empire’s most elite cavalry.” It turned out that Zu An had already ordered the Archery Captain Ju Jun to lead troops in ambush all around, and those charging in were the Yue Cavalry Battalion of the Five Northern Army Schools.

Zu An, who had just been surrounded, remained composed, but now, holding the advantage, he frowned slightly. The opponent’s reaction was rather unusual; they seemed completely unconcerned.

A sense of unease welled up within him, and he suddenly glanced at the cavalry commander beside him: “Where is Wu Qiong, the Yueqi Colonel? Why isn’t he here!”

At this moment, another general in colonel’s armor slowly stepped out from the cavalry: “General Wu suddenly fell ill and died. Now, I command the Yueqi Battalion.”

He then bowed to Dong Zhuo beside him: “This humble general, Wang Gui, greets Lord Dong.”

Zu An recognized the man; he was Wang Gui, the deputy commander of the Yueqi Colonel: “So you murdered Wu Qiong and defected to Dong Zhuo.”

Wang Gui coldly replied: “Lord Zu, don’t make false accusations. Many in the army can testify to General Wu’s sudden illness. Now, Lord Dong is loyal to the Emperor, while you are the one plotting to seize the throne. You are truly a traitor!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the cavalrymen pointed their lances at Zu An.

Screams also came from outside. It turned out that the soldiers of the Archer Battalion had not anticipated that the Yueqi Battalion, which was in their own camp, would suddenly turn against them. The archers were overwhelmed by the elite cavalry, and naturally, the enemy fell to one side.

Suddenly, a whistling arrow shot from Zu An’s sleeve, soaring into the sky.

Yuan Shao laughed, “Are you waiting for your Eight Schools of the Western Garden? I’ve also taken control of a portion of them. My troops have already tied them down; they probably won’t be able to get here anytime soon.”

“You really came prepared. I feel like we’re going to lose here today,” Zu An sighed.

Cao Cao spoke up, “Although Xuande says that, it seems you don’t really think so. You’re probably still waiting for the He family’s private soldiers, aren’t you?”

Zu An frowned slightly. In fact, he had felt a strong sense of unease from the beginning, as if he had overlooked something.

“Judging from this, the He family’s private soldiers are probably under your control as well.”

“Aren’t you particularly puzzled? Those people in the He family’s private soldiers are all your confidants; why would they betray you?” Cao Cao smiled and suddenly clapped his hands.

A figure slowly walked in from outside, dressed in white, her entire being delicate and frail, exceptionally pitiful.

It was the only remaining totem of the He family, Lady Yin, or perhaps Bai Rouxue. She looked at Zu An with an unprecedented coldness in her expression.

Zu An was somewhat puzzled: “Because you believe in the Way of Protection, you can’t resist the command of the true god?”

Bai Rouxue sighed slightly: “Brother Zu, you are too confident. You always think that once a woman has physical intimacy with you, she will follow you wholeheartedly.”

“Although I do like you, there are too many women around you. I am just the most insignificant one.”

“Only my child is the most important person in my life, and the reason I joined the path of protection is to protect him. To protect him, I can give up everything, including you.”

Zuan frowned. “Am I not good to him? What does that have to do with me?”

“Have you forgotten that you are his father’s killer? So many years have passed, and the child has grown up. One day he will avenge his father, and I can only stand on his side. I’m sorry.”

Zuan: “…”