Chapter One Hundred Eleven: The Traitor Revealed

Zhang He continued, “I have another piece of evidence that can prove it.”

This time, before Fourth Miss could respond, Chen Guangxi eagerly interrupted, “Go ahead and say it.”

Zhang He said, “After receiving the scroll hidden inside the roast goose’s neck, I followed the route marked on the drawing to the Peach Grove Cottage. The drawing’s only purpose was to make me remember the bride’s appearance. So, the next day before leaving, I specifically paid attention to the bride. It was you who personally helped the bride down the stairs and helped her onto the carriage. This alone couldn’t have been hidden from everyone. But the bride was wearing a phoenix coronet and a red veil, hiding her name, and the entire process from descending the stairs to boarding the carriage took less than twenty seconds. You successfully pulled off the switch. So...”

He smiled bitterly. “I admire you, truly. Because at that moment, the bride was no longer Third Miss, but had long been replaced by Zhong Shuman.”

Chen Guangxi couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “You go through so much trouble to kill someone, impressive. I respect you all.”

Zhang He stared at Fourth Miss. “I observed carefully. When I analyzed the event just now, your expression was enough to prove that even if you didn’t kill Third Miss, you are definitely involved. Do you still have anything to say?”

At that moment, Fourth Miss had lost the usual alluring charm that chilled to the bone. She sighed deeply, “I’m just puzzled by one thing.”

Zhang He asked, “Puzzled?”

She murmured, “I’ve never met anyone like you before. Your strength isn’t high, your equipment isn’t outstanding, and I heard you’re only at the first breakthrough, yet nothing escapes your eyes. Actually, I noticed it yesterday at Tianxiang Tower — you’re not an ordinary person.”

“Why?”

Fourth Miss said, “I want to say that even if Qi Siqi sat in front of Boss Jin, he wouldn’t be as calm and collected, neither arrogant nor impatient like you.”

Zhang He said, “If you can see that, then what puzzles you?”

Her gaze was somewhat vacant. “I just wonder, someone like you, why would you willingly serve Qi Siqi? Do you even understand the kind of person he is?”

Zhang He said coldly, “That question doesn’t seem much related to this matter, does it?”

Chen Guangxi gritted his teeth, “Fourth Miss, you treacherous woman, after all the kindness Cuihua has shown you, you still want to harm her? I’ll destroy you.”

After speaking, he raised his palm, seemingly about to strike, but his feet wouldn’t move forward, because at that moment, both his and Zhang He’s faces changed.

From the depths of the forest came footsteps—not fast, but each step heavy enough to cause the ground to tremble slightly. Clearly, someone was approaching, and the martial skill of the newcomer seemed formidable.

But they arrived much faster than expected. As soon as Zhang He and Chen Guangxi sensed something was wrong, a flash of fire appeared in the forest. Yan Jiu suddenly appeared before them, the flickering light of the fire brand casting his sinister face like a ghost from the underworld.

Zhang He was not panicked; he thought Yan Jiu’s arrival might be beneficial, allowing the Sword of Fame Manor to identify the internal traitor.

However, Yan Jiu’s first words made Zhang He uneasy: “Fourth, you still fell for that brat’s trap.”

Fourth Miss replied coldly, “It’s not so easy to hide things from him.”

Yan Jiu nodded slowly, turning around with a rare serious expression. “Brother Wu, I hope you don’t mind me addressing you this way. I think you deserve it. I admire you for seeing through so many details. You truly are a capable person.”

“Thank you,” Zhang He said, though inwardly he was quietly gathering his inner power, ready for any attack.

But Yan Jiu still held up the fire brand, showing no intention to strike. “Brother Wu, I want to ask you some questions. I hope you’ll listen. We’re all reasonable people here.”

Zhang He responded in a low voice, “Please go ahead.”

Yan Jiu said, “If your deduction is correct—that the bride was already switched when she boarded the carriage—then why could the heroine Zhong still lead the horse and accompany you to the manor gate to bid Fourth Miss farewell?”

Zhang He was stunned. He suddenly realized that although his theory seemed logical and coherent, this loophole was impossible to explain.

Indeed, is it possible that Zhong Shuman boarded the carriage, then in broad daylight jumped down to bid farewell to Fourth Miss with him, parted ways on the small bridge, and finally returned to the carriage disguised as the bride?

That was utterly impossible.

Yan Jiu continued, “Brother Wu, think carefully. At 10:30 last night, when I brought you the late-night meal, the roast goose’s neck on that plate had a problem. Could I not have noticed? Could it have been so easy to get it to you?”

Cold sweat suddenly broke out on Zhang He’s hand. He finally understood: Yan Jiu and Fourth Miss were working together. The steward of Sword of Fame Manor was also a traitor.

“There’s one more thing. Brother Wu, you’re wrong about this as well. Fourth Miss admires Miss He — the one they call ‘Return of the Day’ — so she went through so much trouble to keep that peach blossom staff. But the scroll in the roast goose’s neck yesterday bore the unique peach blossom mark from Miss He’s days wandering the martial world. Isn’t that an obvious clue revealing Fourth Miss’s identity?”

Zhang He clenched his fists. He still hadn’t uncovered the truth. The reality was becoming ever more perplexing.

Yan Jiu sighed, “Brother Wu, I asked so many questions just to tell you this: your guess might not be accurate.”

Zhang He was silent for a moment, then said, “You told me all this because you’re afraid of one thing—you don’t want the Beggars’ Sect to get involved. But aren’t you afraid that Boss Jin and your people might have problems?”

Yan Jiu smiled that sinister smile again. “Do you think if you revealed all this, the people of Sword of Fame Manor would believe you? Don’t forget, you chopped off Ximen Jian’s head. You’re an enemy of our manor.”

Zhang He’s pupils contracted sharply. Only now did he truly grasp the power of the “mysterious mastermind.” This person had never appeared in person, never moved a single soldier or spent a penny, yet the assassination plot succeeded. Best of all, no one knew who the killer was after the fact, the traitor was exposed but nobody spoke, the blame fell on Sword of Fame Manor, yet Qi Siqi sent a message by pigeon, proudly declaring that chopping off the bride’s head was truly satisfying.

Zhang He had never admired anyone before, but this “mysterious behind-the-scenes manipulator” earned his full respect.

Perhaps many of these were coincidences or unforeseen changes, but now Yan Jiu sighed, “Brother Wu, I really admire you. But I’m very close to Ximen Jian. Whoever chopped off his head, I won’t spare them. You should understand that.”

Of course Zhang He understood, because he had seen Fourth Miss nearly recovered, her soft sword back in her hand with a flick of her toes. Now, with Chen Guangxi and her teaming up for a two-on-two, the odds of winning were slim.

It couldn’t be said otherwise — the two-on-two might end in mutual destruction. Teacher Guangxi might survive thanks to the Beggars’ Sect martial arts, but Zhang He, a first-breakthrough youngster, would surely perish. The scale of this fight was beyond his reach, and even if he joined, survival was impossible.

Zhang He remained silent for a long while, then suddenly smiled, a light and joyful expression on his face.

Yan Jiu glared coldly. “You’re laughing?”

Zhang He smiled and said, “I’m laughing at you.”

Fourth Miss sneered, “Laugh all you want. If you dare mock me, I’ll cripple a few of your martial arts today. Let’s see if you can still laugh then.”

Zhang He smiled, “I advise you not to act rashly. If I explode, you’ll regret it.”

“Spreading lies and refusing to admit defeat at death’s door?” Fourth Miss raised her soft sword. “Since it’s come to this, I don’t care anymore. Whoever dares tease me, I’ll kill.”

As she was about to strike, Yan Jiu grabbed her, expressionless. “Wait, let’s see if he still has something to say.”

Zhang He said, “No, even if you want to send me back to the city, you ought to hear my final words.”

Fourth Miss said, “Fine, let’s hear your final words. What nonsense do you have?”

Zhang He pondered and said, “I have a few questions for Steward Yan.”

Yan Jiu narrowed his eyes. “Brother Wu, I’m eager to hear your questions.”

Zhang He said, “Many self-established sects have a steward position. The logistics, daily expenses, and disciple rewards of Sword of Fame Manor—are these all managed by Steward Yan?”

Before Yan Jiu could answer, Fourth Miss interrupted, “What nonsense are you asking?”

“This is not nonsense,” Zhang He said word by word. “At noon today, at the entrance of Happy Forest, that carriage must have been thoroughly inspected by your senior brother Baili Feng, right? Could it be that there were secret compartments orI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.