Chapter 115: Betrayal

"What's wrong, Junior Brother?" Seeing everyone else walk inside, Qin Luo and Yue Qi remained at the very back. Noticing Yue Qi lost in deep thought, and clearly having no intention of following the others, she asked.

"Nothing..." Yue Qi glanced ahead, realizing that everyone else had already entered and they were the only ones left outside. He then added, "Do you get the feeling that this man named Han Zhi is a bit off?"

"Off?" Qin Luo frowned. "I just felt he didn't seem very fond of us, but I assumed that was just because we were outsiders..."

Yue Qi shook his head and continued, "Previously, Han Zhi claimed they were ordered by Xue Hong's father to wait for her. But have you considered that even if Xue Hong returned, she would go to see her father first? More importantly, why would her father send so many people just to welcome her? It looked as if they were afraid she might run away..."

"When you put it that way, it does seem a bit strange..." Qin Luo nodded. She hadn't considered that before, but now it did seem suspicious. However, Xue Hong hadn't noticed anything and had already followed them inside.

"Brother Yue, Qin Luo, hurry up and catch up! There are many forks in this tunnel, and if you take the wrong path, your life could be in danger..." Suddenly, Xue Hong emerged from the tunnel, still accompanied by two men.

"As I thought!" Yue Qi’s gaze turned cold. He nodded and said, "Fine, we’re coming in now!" With that, he gave Qin Luo a look, silently telling her that they would discuss everything once they were inside the city.

The tunnel was indeed very long and lit by many torches. Yue Qi could sense through his spiritual perception that there were many traps and mechanisms along the side paths, likely intended to keep zombies from wandering in.

After walking for a long time, they finally saw a patch of light—they had reached the city. At the tunnel exit, several people were standing guard. Yue Qi clearly saw Han Zhi, who was leading the group, say something to the two guards before turning to Xue Hong. "Miss, please come with us to the council chamber first. As for the two behind you, I will have them arranged with a place to stay..." Han Zhi’s suggestion was reasonable, and Xue Hong nodded without a second thought.

Once Yue Qi and Qin Luo caught up, Xue Hong told them, "Brother Yue, I’ve asked someone to take you to look around and find a place to stay. I need to go see my father first, then I’ll come find you..."

"Very well!" Yue Qi nodded, thinking that if Han Zhi really intended to harm Xue Hong, he wouldn't kill her immediately. Since they wanted to isolate him, he would see exactly what they planned to do to him.

Xue Hong nodded at Qin Luo and then left under Han Zhi’s guidance.

"The two of you, follow me," the man said to Yue Qi with a fake smile. His eyes, however, were indifferent, as if he were looking at two dead people. "There are many empty houses in Fengzhou City. Since you are the Miss’s saviors, feel free to choose whichever you like!"

"Then thank you on my behalf," Yue Qi replied with a faint smile. He didn't hold these worldly martial artists in high regard; even if they tried to kill him, he was confident he could dispose of them with one hand.

Although it was supposedly a house tour, under the man's guidance, Yue Qi clearly felt them heading toward an increasingly desolate area, seemingly reaching the very edge of Fengzhou City.

"Can't hold back anymore?" They passed many fine houses, and while Yue Qi had no intention of provoking the man, he watched as he and Qin Luo were led further and further away until there was hardly anyone else in sight. Yue Qi knew the man's intentions. It seemed they were planning to move against him, but to act without even figuring out his true strength—he wondered if this was confidence or something else.

As expected, the man in the lead suddenly stopped and retreated a few steps. At that moment, several men armed with weapons appeared behind him, glaring at Yue Qi and Qin Luo with malicious intent.

"Oh, finally showing your true colors..." Yue Qi had long anticipated this. He had been worried they might have some hidden backup, but seeing only these few men, he felt at ease.

"Oh? Could it be that you discovered our plans long ago?" The leader looked surprised, glancing at Yue Qi.

"Heh, do you really think you were hiding that well? I followed you for so long just to see what you were up to. Sigh, I must say, I am truly disappointed." Yue Qi sighed, looking as if he were lamenting their incompetence.

"Hmph! Arrogant!" The leader snorted, ignoring Yue Qi and turning to his men. "Attack together! This guy was able to deal with two mutated zombies; his strength is not to be underestimated!"

"So Han Zhi told you everything about me!" Yue Qi scoffed, unbothered, and signaled for Qin Luo to step aside.

Han Zhi was cautious indeed, but he could never have imagined that Yue Qi’s strength went far beyond just dealing with two mutated zombies! If given the chance to set up an array, he wouldn't even blink at twenty or thirty zombies.

"You're courting death, brat!" Provoked by Yue Qi’s dismissive look, the men were enraged. A bearded man charged at Yue Qi with a large blade, his aura so fierce that a cowardly person might have been terrified into wetting themselves.

Yue Qi didn't speak; he simply swung his sword forward.

A streak of light flashed. The man stopped dead in his tracks, but the next moment, blood began to pour from his waist.

"What's happening?!" The man looked down in shock, and as he did, his upper body slid completely apart from his lower body!

"I..." The man tried to speak, but that word was his final utterance. Blood gushed like a fountain as he was sliced in two.

"This, this..." The others who hadn't yet attacked were stunned. The man who had led Yue Qi there was the first to snap out of it, shouting, "Attack! This brat is dangerous, kill him now!"

But the others, now terrified, had no heart left to fight. Forced by their orders, they rushed forward, but their speed and coordination were significantly worse than before.

"Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?" Seeing them still trying to throw their lives away, a cold light flashed in Yue Qi’s eyes, and he charged toward them!

"Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft!" Several sounds of blades entering flesh rang out. Yue Qi’s speed was blinding; in just two breaths, he reached the man who had brought him there.

"You?! You cowards! He’s right there! Kill him!" The man collapsed to the ground, unable to stand, terrorized by the killing intent hidden in Yue Qi’s calm gaze. He could only scream at the others.

But then, an even more bizarre scene unfolded. The heads of everyone who had rushed to attack Yue Qi suddenly flew into the air, their faces and eyes filled with disbelief. But it was too late; blood splattered everywhere.

"You, you... this is Sword Qi! You’ve reached the realm of projecting Sword Qi!" The man, who had practiced martial arts since childhood, realized what this legendary technique was. Of course, he was mistaken—Yue Qi was using spiritual energy, and this was only possible due to his unique artifact.

Yue Qi said nothing. He pointed his sword at the man and stood there, looking down at him coldly.

"Don't, don't kill me! I was wrong, Senior! I was blind and had eyes but couldn't recognize a master!" The man was scared out of his wits. Even with their frequent experience fighting zombies, they had never seen such a gruesome sight—a human being split cleanly in two.

"Tell me what you know, and I’ll leave you a whole corpse!" Yue Qi sheathed his sword and looked at him with disgust. Thinking it safer, he added, "Of course, if you lie to me, there are plenty of zombies outside who haven't seen fresh meat in a long time. Perhaps you can satisfy their hunger..."

"I'll tell you! I'll tell you!" Hearing that he might be fed to the zombies, the man dared not hold anything back. He knelt and kowtowed frantically. "It was the Han brothers, Han Zhi and Han Lü! They said they were cultivators, and if we followed them, they would guarantee our safety when their sect came down to save people!"

"Cultivators?" Yue Qi frowned. "Do you know which sect they belong to?"

"I don't know that, but the Han brothers promised that if we helped them rebel, they would give us many unimaginable benefits!" Seeing Yue Qi look dissatisfied, the man bowed his head in terror.

"What kind of benefits?" With so many people in Fengzhou City, it was impossible for everyone to be swayed. He figured those loyal to Xue Hong's father had likely been imprisoned or killed.

"They said if we helped them... they would... they would let us have the Young Miss for a night!"

"Animals!" Qin Luo stepped out from behind and kicked the man in the shoulder. Although she didn't practice martial arts or cultivation, her strength was great, and the man coughed up a mouthful of blood!

"Lady, no, no—Grandmother! It’s all the Han brothers' fault! It has nothing to do with me; if I didn't obey, they would have killed me!" The man kowtowed repeatedly.

"Pfft!" Yue Qi swung his sword once, and the man’s head flew off, landing on the ground.

Blood was everywhere, but Yue Qi didn't care. "I think Xue Hong is in danger. Let's go save her!"

"Mm!" Qin Luo nodded. She let out a whistle, and the two pets that usually followed her suddenly darted out from somewhere nearby.