Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 242 The Traitor is Him...

In the dead of night, Vermilion Bird and Xiao Chen finally reached the base of the cliff using the precarious ladder that had been hastily constructed.

Xiao Chen saw the campfire in the cave, as well as Zhan Lan lying on top of Mu Yan’s legs.

Since Zhan Lan’s disappearance, he had not closed his eyes, his whole gaze red with bloodshot veins.

Vermilion Bird glanced at the cave and immediately said, "A three-day journey, and my Family Head has arrived here in just two days and two nights. Your Master has fought a day’s battle as well. Let them sleep awhile!"

Xiao Chen nodded reluctantly, and the two prepared to stay with the Hidden Guards not far from the cave.

Slap!

Walking behind Xiao Chen, Vermilion Bird suddenly slapped Xiao Chen’s buttocks. Xiao Chen, already unhappy, turned red-faced with anger and looked at him, "What are you doing?"

"There was a mosquito!" Vermilion Bird said with an embarrassed smile and shook his hand, which had spots of red mosquito blood.

Xiao Chen held back his anger and the two of them sat down against a large tree.

Soon, the incessant sound of slapping mosquitoes echoed non-stop.

As the sky began to brighten, Zhan Lan groggily opened her eyes and saw Mu Yan’s bloodshot eyes.

She sat up and said, "You haven’t slept all night."

Mu Yan saw the mosquito bites on his own hand while she had not felt itchy at all—Mu Yan had been swatting mosquitoes off her.

"It’s alright, I’m still fine," Mu Yan rubbed the mosquito bites gently as he said.

"The unwell ones are outside." He looked up towards the direction where Vermilion Bird and Xiao Chen were.

Stepping out of the cave, Zhan Lan saw Xiao Chen and Vermilion Bird, both looked as if their souls had been drained, leaning listlessly against a tree, in utter despair.

There were also a few wolf corpses lying beside them.

When Xiao Chen and Vermilion Bird saw the two Masters emerge from the cave, they immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Master."

"What happened to you two?" Zhan Lan asked as she looked at them.

Their necks and hands were dotted with red mosquito bites, and there were also traces of blood.

Vermilion Bird explained, "Last night, we worked together to fight wolves... and mosquitoes."

Mu Yan looked at the two of them, and curving his lips, said, "Hmm, you two have great synergy."

Vermilion Bird: "..."

Xiao Chen: "..."

Before the break of dawn, Zhan Lan led people out of the valley and returned to the army camp.

She summoned all five Deputy Generals into the Main General’s tent.

Zhan Lan’s piercing gaze swept over each of the five, calling out their names, "Xue Lang, Chen Zi, Xie Yu, Liu Chuang, Xiao Chen!"

"At your service!"

"This battle, both us and Beiyue have suffered losses, resulting in a draw. In my absence, the five of you have contributed to pushing back the enemy."

The faces of the five men were complex, and after a moment, Liu Chuang was the first to speak, "Main General, it’s said... you were ambushed at Hutou Cliff?"

Zhan Lan chuckled lightly, "No worries; just some internal injuries, I’ll be fine after some time."

"Main General, you should rest more. I will find out who these people are!" Xue Lang, a man with a square face and short stature, bellowed with a voice as loud as a bell.

Zhan Lan nodded, "No need, I already know who it is!"

Everyone turned to look at Zhan Lan, who fixed her gaze on one of them and said, "Don’t you have something to say to me?"

Xie Yu, bewildered under Zhan Lan’s sharp look, said, "Main General, I don’t understand what you mean?"

Liu Chuang was puzzled, "Main General, Xie Yu is a good person, how could he possibly harm you!"

Chen Zi also spoke up, "Main General, could there be some misunderstanding in this matter?"

Zhan Lan rose slowly with a hand behind her back and looked at Xie Yu, "Who directs you from behind the scenes? Why do you want to kill me?"

Seeing Zhan Lan’s confrontational gaze, Xie Yu suddenly burst into laughter, "Main General, please don’t joke."

"Xie Yu, are you eyeing the position of Main General, or has someone made you a promise?" Zhan Lan walked around the redwood table, advancing a step.

Xie Yu fell silent, and Zhan Lan commanded to the outside of the tent, "Bring the people in!"

"Yes!"

Four soldiers marched in with two tightly bound individuals.

Xie Yu’s pupils trembled upon seeing the two.

He asked with difficulty, "How did you find out?"

Zhan Lan slightly curved her lips and spoke, "Each month you visit Luoshui City. You always go to a tavern, yet the wine there is too bad to drink and business is miserable, unless that place was merely a meeting spot."

Xie Yu’s face paled as he continued to listen to Zhan Lan.

"Moreover, you gave everyone the false impression that you were fond of me, but the fruit you sent to me privately always contained some rotten ones. If you truly liked someone, at the very least, you would pick out the rotten fruit first, unless your approach was purposeful."

From Mu Yan, Zhan Lan learned that when you like someone, you take great care.

Even the smallest thing will be selected with consideration of whether the other person would like it, in anticipation of their reaction upon receiving it.

But Xie Yu was clearly disingenuous. His intentions were strong, just aiming to confuse her.

"You’ve disguised yourself for over two years, fooling everyone, making them believe you’re fond of me and would not harm me. But some things cannot deceive people!"

Zhan Lan’s voice bore a pressuring force that made Xie Yu hang his head low.

The Deputy Generals exchanged glances, shocked to find Xie Yu such a person.

Suddenly, Xie Yu’s eyes dimmed, then he sharply raised his gaze and flicked a sharp dagger from his sleeve, stabbing towards Zhan Lan.

Zhan Lan was already prepared. She wore Soft Hedgehog Armor and her sleeves shot out flying needles.

At the critical moment, a man lunged forward and stood in front of Zhan Lan.

The dagger and the flying needles both struck the man’s body.

Xiao Chen kicked the assaulting Xie Yu away, and Xue Lang with Chen Zi subdued him.

Zhan Lan turned to Liu Chuang on the ground, a dagger stuck in his arm, sweat-drenched as he struggled to rise, only to collapse again due to numbness in his body.

Soldiers immediately helped him up.

"Army medic!" At Zhan Lan’s command, the medic arrived in the tent.

After the dagger was extracted from his arm, Zhan Lan looked at Liu Chuang with mixed feelings, "You and I have always been at odds, why did you take a stab for me today?"

Liu Chuang looked awkwardly at Zhan Lan and blurted, "I respect you!"

Zhan Lan smiled, "You’re not upset about that kick I gave you?"

Liu Chuang looked sheepishly and said, "That’s all in the past, let’s not bring it up... besides, with my foul mouth and vulgarity, I had it coming!"

Zhan Lan nodded and gave him an appreciative look, "General Liu, rest well!"

Liu Chuang, seeing the look in Zhan Lan’s eyes, immediately broke into a smile, excitedly said, "Hey!"

Zhan Lan approached the tightly bound Xie Yu, her Main General dignity bearing down, with sharp and cold eyes she spoke, "Confess now, you should be well aware of my style when interrogating prisoners!"