Chapter 363: A Traitor Exists

Some were making a ruckus, while others were so embarrassed they wished they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Xiao Yuji watched Qin Zhanhong and Shen Youwei's tiger-wolf-like behavior, feeling as if a fire that could burn her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys had ignited all over her body; sweat instantly seeped from her palms and soles, and her face grew so hot it seemed it could be used as a pot.

She had been to Chen Wuji's house several times before, but she never imagined their household atmosphere would be like this.

Everyone just ended up playing and making a fuss like this……

Is this appropriate?

She covered her scorching cheeks, and with her back turned, she slowly shifted her steps.

She needed to leave quickly.

They were having so much fun that perhaps they hadn't even noticed whether she had come out.

Xiao Yuji found the 'covering ears while stealing a bell' trick quite clever, and she thought this plan was very safe; as long as she got inside, she'd be fine.

They definitely wouldn't notice.

But Qin Zhanhong suddenly shouted, pulling her back from her fantasy to reality: 'Little roasted chicken, come help me a bit—this dead girl is so heavy, I can't hold her alone!'

Xiao Yuji:???

Without raising her head, she hurriedly quickened her steps and fled in defeat.

Could she possibly help with something like this?

This woman is really crazy.

Qin Zhanhong pressed his lips, let out a puff of laughter, and leaning close to Chen Wuji's ear asked: 'Husband, do you know whose fifth bellyband this is?'

'Alright, alright, let's go home first.' Chen Wuji pretended not to hear anything, stopping those two troublemakers from continuing their mischief.

The commotion was too big; the neighbors would surely come out to see what was happening.

'Go home first, go home first—what kind of decorum is this?' Huo Sanniang also urged.

Her level of acceptance now could be considered quite good.

But seeing this scene still made her face flush and her ears burn, somewhat unbearable.

Only then did Qin Zhanhong stop, setting Shen Youwei down.

After entering the house, they didn't continue but instead busied themselves hurriedly.

Huo Sanniang and Xue Hongdou heated bathwater for Chen Wuji, while Qin Zhanhong and Shen Youwei prepared food.

In the spacious room, only Chen Wuji and the uneasy Xiao Yuji remained all of a sudden.

After waiting less than a moment, Xiao Yuji really couldn't sit still; she rose somewhat flustered, saying, 'I… I'll go help.'

'Wait a moment.' Chen Wuji suddenly said.

'Ah? What… what should I do?'

She suddenly felt nervous, her hands anxiously twisting together, and she instinctively grabbed the part of her skirt over her lower abdomen.

These were originally just unconscious little gestures, but the place where she put her hands was rather too convenient.

Chen Wuji originally had no thoughts about it, but he inadvertently noticed.

Xiao Yuji noticed where Chen Wuji's gaze had fallen, instantly panicked, and hastily covered with both hands the spot that actually showed nothing.

'What are you looking at?' she asked nervously.

Chen Wuji shook his head. 'Nothing. Have you sent anyone to watch over your manor?'

Compared to her father, who is almost like a research maniac, Xiao Yuji is more like the head of the Xiao family.

Although Chen Bushi had brought everyone to hide in these remote mountains, news from the outside had never been cut off.

The situation at Xiao Jia Ji seemed somewhat off; Chen Wuji harbored some doubts and needed to confirm.

Talking about this with Xiao Zong would be useless.

Xiao Yuji's face darkened a bit; she nodded slightly and said, 'I left some trusted aides at the manor and made backup preparations, but…'

'You didn't expect there to be someone betraying from within?' Chen Wuji asked.

Xiao Yuji was somewhat surprised: 'You already know?'

'Just some guesses; tell me the details.' Chen Wuji said.

The damage inflicted on Xiao Jia Ji differed greatly from the intelligence he had previously received.

It was as if the troops of the Gu Li Xue Three Families were massacring other civilians wantonly, even taking pleasure in slaughter.

But for the densely populated large village of Xiao Jia Ji, they merely gave a light punishment, just a warning.

There could be many reasons for this outcome.

But the greatest possibility is… betrayal.

'My second uncle killed the people I left behind and defected to the Gu family.' Xiao Yuji clenched her fists tightly, her eyes gaining a hint of coldness.

'My father trusted my second uncle immensely; aside from my little business, nearly everything else was handled by him.'

'After my father decided to ally with the Commandant, he sent word to my second uncle on how to later support the Commandant as a surprise force to harass the Gu Li Xue Three Families in all matters. The plan my second uncle sent back was very detailed, thoroughly considering every aspect.'

'At the time I merely added a bit of caution, worried our family might be the first targeted by those three families, so I left a little lizard's-tail survival stratagem, but I never imagined…'

The confirmation of this guess made Chen Wuji unable to feel any happiness: 'So, everyone who died in Xiao Jia Ji were your people?'

'Yes, my own second uncle even left two alive, hoping to catch me off guard and find where I am; fortunately those two were quite clever and shook off those tailing them.' Xiao Yuji curled the corner of her mouth in a slight sneer, her smile bitter.

Chen Wuji rubbed his slightly sore brow.

The Xiao family, after this incident, suffered a thorough depletion of vital energy.

'Do you know where they are now?' he asked.

The Gu Li Xue Three Families now have their troops scattered everywhere, but Yunan County is not small.

Without sufficient intelligence support, if Chen Wuji wanted to launch a tail-chasing raid, merely locking onto their positions would consume enormous effort.

If he could find a breakthrough, he could then ascertain the others' positions accordingly.

Xiao Yuji shook her head: 'They now seize anyone they see; even Zhanhong's subordinates dare not rashly pursue.'

"In troubled times, people's hearts are many; don't be sad, everything... try to let it go." Chen Wuji gave an awkward word of comfort.

He does well at everything else, but he's uniquely bad at comforting people.

This is Chen Wuji's biggest shortcoming.

Xiao Yuji forced a smile, "It's fine, I've been viewing things fairly openly."

"Hmm."

With no topic left, the two fell silent, the atmosphere slightly awkward.

Chen Wuji was thinking about things.

But Xiao Yuji was restless; the irritation that had just faded crept back up like a dark shadow in a corner.

"Um..." Xiao Yuji's voice was like a mosquito's buzz as she suddenly spoke.

Chen Wuji looked up, "What's wrong?"

"The bellyband isn't mine... it's Qin Zhanhong's immodest one that he stole, stole it, don't take it to heart." Her face flushed crimson, her voice grew softer and softer, the usually bold and unrestrained Shopkeeper of See Mountain suddenly turned into a shy little maiden.

Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, "I didn't think much of it either; if you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have known. But, what did you wash your bellyband with? Why does it have a floral scent?"

"Ah?!" Xiao Yuji froze, staring dumbfounded at Chen Wuji, "You... you, you you, smelled..."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly fled in embarrassment.

That was her intimate garment, and he... actually smelled it!