Chapter Fifteen: The General in Peril

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Duan Jing struggled to sit up. Though his body remained weak, his eyes regained their former clarity. He glanced around the room, taking in the chaotic scene, his brows furrowing tightly. “What happened just now? Where is Li Yuan?”

Yang Bin stepped forward and briefly recounted the events. After listening, Duan Jing gave a bitter smile. “I truly owe Miss Jiang my thanks. Counting this time, she’s saved me three times now.”

Jiang Bai sighed. “Strategist Duan, now is not the time to dwell on that. We cannot afford to delay. I have a feeling this matter is far from over.”

Duan Jing nodded and forced himself to stand. “You’re right. We must not waste time. Yang Bin, arrange for additional guards around the camp. Miss Jiang, please come with me to interrogate Li Yuan.”

Jiang Bai looked at Duan Jing struggling to rise, concern creasing her brow. “Strategist Duan, you’ve sustained serious internal injuries, and a broken rib besides. You’d better rest now.”

Duan Jing shook his head. “This is no time for rest. I sense there are many unresolved questions regarding Li Yuan. I must question him personally.”

Hearing this, Jiang Bai ceased her objections and reached out to steady Duan Jing as he slowly made his way toward where Li Yuan lay. Li Yuan was still unconscious, though his chest wound had been simply bandaged and the bleeding stopped. Jiang Bai crouched down, drew a silver needle from her sleeve, and gently inserted it into an acupoint on Li Yuan.

“Ah—!” Li Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and let out a pained scream. Seeing Jiang Bai and Strategist Duan, a flicker of terror crossed his gaze. “You… what do you want?”

Jiang Bai smiled coldly. “Li Yuan, you betrayed the general and harmed your comrades. Still pretending to be innocent?”

Li Yuan’s face turned pale in an instant, but he quickly regained composure and sneered. “Betrayal? Ha! You fools are too loyal to see the general’s true nature!”

Yang Bin frowned deeply and asked in a low voice, “Li Yuan, what do you mean by that? The general treated you well. Why would you betray him?”

Grinding his teeth, Li Yuan replied, “Treated me well? Ha! He’s nothing but a hypocrite! For his own ambitions, he’s willing to sacrifice brothers like us! I may not be a good man, but I would never serve someone like him!”

Duan Jing cut him off coldly. “Li Yuan, stop spouting nonsense. We know the general’s character well. Your betrayal must have been instigated by someone else. Tell us—who’s behind you?”

Li Yuan’s eyes flickered with hesitation. Seeing this, Jiang Bai pressed the silver needle deeper, and Li Yuan screamed again. “Ah—! I’ll talk, I’ll talk! It’s… it’s—”

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“Who?!” The voice trailing off like a whisper. Duan Jing strained to hear and asked again.

A strange smile crept across Li Yuan’s face. “Ha ha ha, it’s already late afternoon. Ha ha ha. My men have already killed the general by now; it’s all too late.”

“What?!” Duan Jing’s face turned ashen, a dreadful premonition flooding his heart. He grabbed Li Yuan’s collar fiercely. “What did you say you did?!”

Li Yuan laughed wildly, a mixture of pride and mockery in his tone. “Ha ha ha, Strategist Duan, no matter how anxious you are, it’s useless. The men I sent are my most capable subordinates. They’re already inside the general’s tent. Now, I’m afraid the general has—ha ha ha!”

Duan Jing’s heart sank sharply, and his grip tightened. “Li Yuan, you bastard! The general treated you well, and you commit such treachery!”

Li Yuan’s laughter abruptly ceased, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes. “Treated me well? Duan Jing, your talent for talking nonsense grows daily. If it weren’t for his own power, why would he attack Ping City? To seize it, he’s willing to sacrifice us brothers, even his own trusted men! I may not be a good man, but I would never serve someone like him!”

Duan Jing’s brow furrowed, suspicion deepening within him. “What exactly are you saying?”

Li Yuan sneered but gave no further explanation, closing his eyes as if indifferent to consequences.

Jiang Bai spoke coldly, “Strategist Duan, now is not the time to waste words with him. We should hurry and check. It’s been too long without any sign; they may have already succeeded.”

Duan Jing nodded and released Li Yuan’s collar, standing. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

Turning to Yang Bin, he ordered, “Yang Bin, take men and follow me. Anyone who obstructs us is to be dealt with without mercy!”

Yang Bin saluted. “Yes, Strategist! I’ll arrange it immediately.”

Duan Jing then looked at Jiang Bai. “Miss Jiang, please come with me to the general’s tent.”

Jiang Bai nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”

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They quickly departed, running toward the general’s tent. Duan Jing’s heart was heavy with anxiety and unease. Though Li Yuan’s words were filled with provocation and mockery, they contained a kernel of truth. His elder brother had only recently regained consciousness, and no one knew if he could withstand the impending attack.

Arriving at the general’s tent, Duan Jing and Jiang Bai found it eerily quiet. Suspecting a trap, they prepared to storm inside when someone emerged.

“Big Hammer! What are you doing here?” Duan Jing exclaimed in shock.

“Huh? Shouldn’t I be here?” Big Hammer replied, puzzled.

Duan Jing, sensing something amiss with the simple-minded Big Hammer, ignored the guards lying in ambush nearby, pushed past him, and rushed inside. There, he found Duan Yue comfortably reclining on the bed, with Stone feeding him fruit.

“Brother, you’re alright?” Duan Jing asked, bewildered. Weren’t they supposed to be assassinating the general? What was going on?

“Me? What’s wrong with me?” Duan Yue replied, equally confused.

Jiang Bai and the others followed closely, also entering the tent to witness this peaceful scene. No assassination in sight—everyone was perplexed.

Jiang Bai felt something was off and instinctively activated her supernatural ability. She discovered that someone was rummaging through the general’s former tent. Had they not realized the general had moved? She turned to Duan Jing. “Strategist Duan, doesn’t Li Yuan know the general changed tents?”

Duan Jing was momentarily stunned, then recalled that to prevent rough handling from others, he had instructed the experienced Stone and Big Hammer to move Duan Yue to the current tent. Aside from those present at the time, even Wang Da and Doctor Liu who had left earlier were unaware of the general’s new location. It seemed he truly hadn’t informed others in time.

“So you mean they don’t know the general is here?”