Lu Yao, utterly filled with rage, bellowed, “Fire the signal arrows! NOW!!!”

Two signal arrows shot into the sky, one red and one green, blazing bright against the moonless dark. They arced high, calling to the hidden troops he had stationed nearby.

Wu Shaoyi barked a laugh. “Summoning reinforcements? Ha! General Pei has already welcomed them on my behalf!”

Lu Yao’s stomach dropped.

Among the three rebel generals, Pei Xinyong had always been the calm, measured one. If not for his mediation, Lu Yao and Wu Shaoyi would never have agreed to meet at all. At best, they would avoid each other; at worst, they would try to kill each other on sight.

How could Pei Xinyong have swung entirely to Wu Shaoyi’s side in just one night?

Unless… Could they have agreed to take me down together long ago?

If that...