Chapter 50

Cao Meng's forces faced the sudden attack, not only not panicking but quickly organizing an effective defense.

At the same time, an elite unit actually burst out from the flank, heading straight for Long Er's troops.

"What's going on? How could Cao Meng's forces have an ambush?"

Jiang Xiaomu's heart jolted, an ominous premonition welling up.

Even more shocking, Cao Meng personally led a crack cavalry unit, thrusting straight into Jiang Xiaomu's central forces.

"Oh no! We've fallen into a trap!"

Jiang Xiaomu finally realized that all his plans had been seen through by Cao Meng.

"Protect the leader!"

Bai Shen let out a loud shout, leading the personal guards to surround Jiang Xiaomu, fighting desperately to block Cao Meng's assault.

"Jiang Xiaomu, do you think you can defeat me with just these petty tricks?"

"You're too naive!"

Cao Meng's voice echoed in the valley.

"I had long anticipated you'd set an ambush here, so I turned the tables."

"I've laid a net of heaven and earth, just waiting for you to walk into it!"

Jiang Xiaomu's face turned ashen; he knew he'd been defeated this time, but he had no intention of surrendering.

"Retreat! All of you, fall back to Tieniu Stronghold!"

Jiang Xiaomu roared, his voice hoarse from exhaustion.

His bloodshot eyes scanned the surroundings, while Nan Shan guarded him desperately, his body covered in blood.

"Damn Cao Meng! He actually schemed against him!"

The retreat horn blew, and Long Er's fire-attack unit was scattered by Cao Meng's elite cavalry.

Lei Bao's ambush also became useless, as the sky-full arrow rain was blocked by Cao Meng's shield bearers, turning them into living targets.

Jiang Xiaomu fled with his defeated remnants, this loss total—not only suffering heavy casualties but also exposing all his plans.

Even more baffling to him was how Cao Meng had learned of his deployment.

Could there be a traitor among his own?

Upon returning to Tieniu Stronghold, Jiang Xiaomu immediately summoned all the commanders.

In the council hall, Bai Shen, Long Er, Lei Bao, Nan Shan, and Huang Quan all hung their heads, each bearing wounds.

"Speak! What exactly happened?!"

Jiang Xiaomu roared in anger, slamming his palm on the table and shattering the teacup on it.

"Leader, we don't know either!"

"Cao Meng's forces acted as if they'd known our plans in advance, guarding against us everywhere."

Long Er's face full of grievance, his fire-attack unit nearly wiped out.

"Yes, leader, Cao Meng's ambush caught us off guard, with heavy casualties among the brothers."

Lei Bao also agreed, saying his archers had lost more than half.

Everyone chattered, yet no one could explain the reason.

Jiang Xiaomu felt vexed and uneasy; this defeat was too strange.

Only a few confidants knew this battle plan; could there really be a traitor among them?

Just then, a "ding" sounded, and the system notification rang in Jiang Xiaomu's mind.

【Host detected facing major crisis, emergency warning mechanism activated.】

【Warning: There is a traitor inside Tieniu Stronghold who leaked the battle plan.】

Jiang Xiaomu's heart jolted—indeed! There really is a traitor!

But the system only indicated the existence of a traitor, without specifying who.

"Get out, all of you!"

Jiang Xiaomu roared angrily, driving everyone out.

He needed to calm down and think it over.

Who is the traitor?

Could it be Long Er? Lei Bao? Nan Shan? Huang Quan? Or... Bai Shen?

The leaders of the Ghost-Face Army, though ruthless killers, are utterly loyal to him, having shared life and death.

It's absolutely impossible for them to be the traitor!

Jiang Xiaomu paced alone back and forth in the council hall, brows furrowed.

He must quickly find the traitor, otherwise Tieniu Stronghold will sooner or later be annexed by Cao Meng.

The system sounded again:

【Host can expend 200 Heavenly Fate Points to exchange for the "Loyalty Detection" function, which can check the loyalty of a designated target.】

Jiang Xiaomu hesitated for a moment.

Although 200 Heavenly Fate Points are precious, uncovering the traitor now is the top priority.

"Bai Shen!"

Jiang Xiaomu shouted toward the doorway.

Bai Shen immediately pushed the door open and knelt on one knee:

"Leader, what are your orders?"

"Come here."

Jiang Xiaomu gestured for Bai Shen to approach.

Bai Shen removed his mask, a long scar extending from his forehead to the corner of his mouth, Jiang Xiaomu reached out and pressed his hand on his forehead, activating the "Loyalty Detection" function.

The system notification sounded.

【Target Loyalty: 95%】

95%? Jiang Xiaomu wondered in his heart; this value, Bai Shen obviously could not betray him.

Could the system be wrong?

To verify the system's accuracy, Jiang Xiaomu then tested Long Er, Lei Bao, Nan Shan, and Huang Quan individually.

"Long Er, Loyalty: 91%."

"Lei Bao, Loyalty: 92%."

"Nan Shan, Loyalty: 95%."

"Huang Quan, Loyalty: 93%."

The loyalty of these few people is almost the same.

Could the traitor be someone else?

Just then, the stronghold gate opened with a "creak".

"Leader, the brothers have basically been arranged; how about this battle..."

Li Tieniu's voice cut off abruptly; he saw the ground littered with shards of pottery, and Jiang Xiaomu's grim expression.

"Don't mention it!"

Jiang Xiaomu irritably waved his hand,

"Utter defeat! We've fallen into Cao Meng's ambush!"

Li Tieniu's expression changed:

"How is that possible? Our plan was so meticulous..."

"Yeah, the plan was meticulous!"

Jiang Xiaomu suddenly lifted his head, staring at Li Tieniu,

"So, I suspect there's a traitor among us!"

Li Tieniu froze, then flew into a rage:

"Who? Who dares to betray the Tieniu Stronghold! I'll hack him to pieces!"

Jiang Xiaomu took a deep breath, striving to calm himself:

"Tieniu, don't get agitated first."

"I want to ask you, when we discussed the battle plan that day, besides us few, who else knew?"

Li Tieniu scratched his head:

"After the meeting dispersed that day, I returned to my room and carefully studied the strategic deployment on the map again."

"I confirmed the attack and retreat routes of each unit."

"During that time, only my deputy general, Wang Ma Zi, came in."

"Wang Ma Zi?"

Jiang Xiaomu's mind conjured the image of a lean and capable man.

"Wang Ma Zi is Li Tieniu's confidant; could it be him?"

Jiang Xiaomu's heart sank. If the traitor really is Wang Ma Zi, that would be troublesome.

Wang Ma Zi knows the terrain of the Tieniu Stronghold like the back of his hand and is very familiar with their fighting style; if he really defected to Cao Meng, it would be a devastating blow to the Tieniu Stronghold.

"Tieniu, are you sure only Wang Ma Zi knows?"

Jiang Xiaomu confirmed again.

Li Tieniu patted his chest to guarantee:

"Absolutely only him! I repeatedly warned him back then."

"This matter concerns the life and death of the Tieniu Stronghold; absolutely no word must be leaked!"

Jiang Xiaomu closed his eyes, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

The system indicated there was a traitor, and Li Tieniu said only Wang Ma Zi had the chance to access the plan; combining these two pieces of information, the answer is already apparent.

"System, perform Loyalty Detection on Wang Ma Zi!"

Jiang Xiaomu silently chanted in his mind.

【Target: Wang Ma Zi, Loyalty: 5%】