Chapter 249: Betrayal

Chapter 249: Betrayal

Xiong Meng, eyes wide, spat bloody foam as he shouted with his last strength.

"Go... get out of here, big brother!" Then he died, his body trampled by the boots of the soldiers.

All that talk of precious furs, of a rich merchant caravan—it was all bait!

That old Song Yunzhi had pulled out all the stops this time, setting a trap to wipe him out completely.

Fear and his brother’s grisly death drowned out his earlier greed and rage.

What reputation? What being the boss of Yingzhou? It all meant nothing now! Saving his own hide was all that mattered.

"Retreat! Pull back!" Lei Biao roared, his voice hoarse, swinging his battle-axe desperately to fight his way out.

Lei Biao was incredibly strong and brutally brave. In this desperate situation, relying on sheer brute force and survival instinct, he managed to tear a bloody gap in the soldiers’ ring.

Several dozen of his most loyal men shielded him, fighting as they retreated. They fled in panic back along the mountain path they had come, leaving behind a trail of bodies and the despairing wails of their trapped comrades in the mountain pass.

On a high vantage point, Prefect Song Yunzhi stood in his official robes, facing into the wind, looking down at the battlefield below.

A military officer beside him, hand on his sword hilt, urged urgently, "Lord, Lei Biao is getting away! Shall I lead a pursuit? I can take his head!"

Song Yunzhi slowly shook his head, eyes thoughtful and distant. "No need. Don't corner a desperate enemy..."

...

On the other side, within the Loyalty Hall of the stronghold, the atmosphere was tense.

The heavy doors were sealed tight, cutting off the noise outside, leaving only the crackling fire in the hearth.

Second Chief White Brow sat alone by the tiger-skin chair, teacup in hand, eyebrows deeply furrowed.

Cheng Ge, draped in his conspicuous red cloak, slipped silently in through the door, then gently closed the heavy wooden door behind him.

Holding a piece of pastry between his fingers, he strolled leisurely into the middle of the hall. White Brow looked up and shot him a cold, dismissive glance.

"Fourth Brother, shouldn't you be resting in your room? What brings you to the Loyalty Hall?"

Cheng Ge didn't answer. He casually sat down on a nearby chair, picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, took a light sip, and praised, "Excellent tea."

White Brow snorted coldly and set down his cup. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Cheng Ge popped the pastry into his mouth, chewed slowly, and then finally looked up at White Brow, a faint, elusive smile on his lips.

"Second Brother, I'm just curious. A scholar, studying day and night, but instead of taking the imperial exams, he chooses to hide out in this mountain stronghold. What a waste."

White Brow's expression didn't change. "Being a king in the mountains, commanding hundreds, beats groveling in the bureaucracy."

"Oh?" Cheng Ge drawled, half-smiling. Then he suddenly filled his teacup until the water overflowed the brim, and gently pushed it across the table towards White Brow, a wordless taunt. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a low, icy whisper: "Me? I'm here... naturally..." He paused, a hint of innocent, childish mischief flickering in his eyes, "to take Second Brother's life."

White Brow’s eyes narrowed into slits. "You're a government agent?!"

But no sooner had the words left his mouth than a flash of cold steel appeared—a dagger stabbed straight at White Brow's heart.

White Brow was startled but not panicked. He twisted sharply to dodge, simultaneously grabbing the teacup from the table and flinging the hot tea at Cheng Ge.

Cheng Ge, still seeming not fully healed, stumbled back awkwardly, the scalding tea splashing onto the sleeve of his red cloak, leaving a dark water stain.

"Is this all a government dog's got?" White Brow sneered, rising swiftly and shouting towards the door, "Guards!"

But Cheng Ge gave him no chance. He lunged again, dagger slashing in tricky patterns, forcing White Brow to focus his full attention on defense.

The two clashed inside the Loyalty Hall, tables and chairs knocked over and scattered as they fought.

White Brow's martial arts were clearly solid, but Cheng Ge was agile, relying on the short, deadly reach of his dagger to hold his own for the moment.

"Second Brother, we're brothers! Why strike with such intent to kill?" Cheng Ge shouted suddenly, raising his voice while fighting. "Big Brother has fallen into an ambush! Why won't you send anyone to rescue him?!"

White Brow froze, instantly realizing Cheng Ge was putting on an act for anyone who might overhear.

Burning with rage, White Brow attacked even more ferociously, slashing a blade towards Cheng Ge's face.

Cheng Ge scrambled away, rolling on the ground, diving behind a pillar, and kept shouting.

"You colluded with outsiders! You want Big Brother dead so you can take over the stronghold! Even if you kill me, I'll still speak the truth!"

"What nonsense are you talking..." White Brow scowled.

But before he could finish—

*CRASH!*

A loud crash came as the heavy door of the Loyalty Hall was kicked open from outside!

Lei Biao, drenched in blood, stood, leaning on his broken axe, his bloodshot eyes locked on the scene inside. He had heard Cheng Ge's "accusation" and seen White Brow chasing Cheng Ge with his sword!

In that instant, all the pieces clicked into place—the perfect ambush, Xiong Meng's death, White Brow's earlier objections...

"White Brow! You backstabbing dog!!!" Lei Biao's roar shook the very rafters.

White Brow was stunned by the sudden turn of events, and asked instinctively, "Big Brother! Why are you back?"

Why are you back? It was as if he had assumed Lei Biao was doomed to die in the valley! Those words were practically a confession!

Lei Biao stepped forward, eyes burning red, barely containing his fury, about to order White Brow arrested.

Cheng Ge's face lit up with exaggerated relief, and he rushed towards Lei Biao.

"Big Brother! Save me! Second Brother... Second Brother wants to silence me!"

White Brow's heart sank. Seeing Cheng Ge's act and Lei Biao's murderous expression, he knew immediately he had fallen into an insidious trap.

This man Cheng Ge was a master of schemes and lies. If he was allowed to live, both Lei Biao and White Brow would be played for fools and killed!

He had to be killed right away, only then would White Brow have a chance to explain to Lei Biao.

Killing intent surged. White Brow didn't hesitate or wait to explain.

With a flick of his long blade, he struck without mercy—aiming straight at Cheng Ge's back as the man ran towards Lei Biao!

The strike was swift and vicious, clearly intended to end the fight quickly.

"Watch out!" Lei Biao shouted, instinctively moving to yank Cheng Ge aside.

However, to everyone's surprise, Cheng Ge didn't dodge this time!

He seemed resolved to protect Lei Biao even as the blade was about to strike.

With a sudden turn, he thrust his chest directly in front of Lei Biao.

At the same time, he let out a resolute shout: "Protect the Chief!"

The concubines nearby: "………"

"Shunk—!" The sharp blade instantly slashed through the red cloak, and blood spurted out like splashed ink.

Cheng Ge let out a painful groan, his face turning deathly pale.

His body went limp and fell forward, falling straight into Lei Biao's outstretched arms.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Lei Biao, holding the severely injured Cheng Ge, glared furiously at White Brow.

White Brow lowered his head in disbelief, a battle-axe deeply embedded in his chest.

"There's still more stuff on the Yuanzhou map; Cheng Ge needs to work on his career for a while before he can reunite with the male lead, haha."