I walked to his side and picked up the military order he had signed, examining it closely.
My brow furrowed slightly, and I turned to call Lin Er over for a quiet discussion.
Then, with a face full of worry, I said to Gan Ye.
"Gan Ye, your handwriting is rather problematic."
He looked up, full of confusion.
"What is problematic about it?"
"The elders recently intercepted intelligence sent to the enemy by an inside informant. The handwriting is identical to yours."
"Does the Ghost King suspect me?"
He grew flustered and quickly retorted.
"Not exactly, it's just that Liu Shinian found a night-traveling suit, some sleeping incense, and a pile of paper and brushes in your room."
But he refused to admit it.
"I merely enjoy playing with ink and brushes. The night-traveling suit and sleeping incense were used when I fought with petty thieves."
Seeing his denial, I called out to Liu Shinian.
"Shinian, come explain this."
Liu Shinian emerged from the crowd, carrying a large bag. He walked up to Gan Ye and dumped the offending items before him.
The crowd, curious, gathered around to look. They saw the very things I had mentioned.
At this moment, disbelief rippled through the crowd, yet some still refused to believe.
"We have lived with General Gan and his soldiers in Black Mountain for a hundred years. We know what kind of person he is. He is definitely not that kind of person."
Seeing their disbelief, Liu Shinian smiled slightly and then said.
"I didn't believe it either, until that day.
I was wandering around Black Mountain as usual when I suddenly saw a shadowy figure stealthily climbing up from the back mountain.
I found it strange, recalling that the last person to do so was Xia Ke Yue Jiu Cong.
However, Yue Jiu Cong, despite his considerable abilities, was almost killed by the miasma.
But this cloaked figure was light on his feet, moving with incredible speed, showing no signs of poisoning.
I pursued the cloaked figure to a side chamber and saw him dart into a room, then emerge wearing different clothes.
I saw clearly at the time that the person was Gan Ye, but I was puzzled and didn't know why he went to the back mountain.
Although I had some suspicions, I was also worried about wrongly accusing someone.
So, after he left, I secretly sneaked into his room and found these things."
Gan Ye finally realized that this was not a delegation meeting at all, but a trial to incriminate him.
Even so, what did it matter? As long as he denied it, the matter would not fall upon him.
He gritted his teeth and argued.
"Anyone could have those things. Isn't it normal for me to have them? Besides, I don't know what you intend to do with these items.
With the enemy at our gates, are you trying to create internal strife and cause us to fall into disarray, allowing others to take advantage?"
Unexpectedly, he tried to counter-attack. However, in the face of irrefutable evidence, all struggles were in vain.
Liu Shinian couldn't help but burst into laughter and pointed at him.
"You're truly something else. Even now, you're trying to twist the truth. If there were no evidence, I fear you would have truly deceived us.
However, do I really need to reveal it? Your true identity."
His heart grew increasingly anxious, but at this point, he could only brace himself and continue.
"Identity? What identity do I have?"
"Heh heh, you are truly facing death and refusing to confess. Very well, I don't need to consider your feelings anymore.
You! You are the mole who sold Black Mountain's intelligence to Southern Sea City!"
"Mole!"
The exclamation caused a stir in the audience. Everyone looked at Gan Ye in disbelief. Gan Ye immediately became nervous and exclaimed.
"On what grounds do you call me a mole!"
"On the grounds that your night-traveling suit carries a scent unique to the Azure Pavilion of Southern Sea City, and it's from only two days ago."
"I, I, you are slandering me!"
Perhaps out of guilt, his speech became faltering.
Lin Er couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hahaha, I presume, General, the person you met was Southern Sea City's general, Zuo Yulang."
He remained defiant, putting on a sullen face and continuing his stubborn denial.
"I have not met anyone."
Hei Feng finally remembered that three days prior, Gan Ye had inexplicably asked him for a miasma antidote pill, claiming he was going to check if there were any enemies climbing the back mountain.
At the time, he had felt suspicious but, out of trust, hadn't thought much of it.
Now, looking back, it all aligned perfectly with their accusations: Gan Ye was a traitor!
Hei Feng felt a pang of pain. He thought of how these brothers had followed him for years, having weathered countless storms.
Yet, there had never been a traitor among them. And now, it was the one he valued most who had committed such an unforgivable act.
Gan Ye still tried to distort the truth, but Hei Feng berated him.
"What did I tell you! While we may not be good people, we would never be traitors.
A true man lives in this world with integrity and courage, daring to act and daring to take responsibility.
Today, in front of your brothers, with irrefutable evidence, what more do you have to argue?
We have been brothers for years, facing life and death together, never fearing. How have you become so afraid of death?"
Hearing Hei Feng's words, Gan Ye's guilt intensified, and he could no longer hold his head up. He could only kneel down in remorse and say.
"Young Master!"
Hei Feng, disappointed that he had failed to live up to expectations, immediately knelt down and pleaded with me.
"Ghost King, I apologize. I spoke of you in such a way before, only to realize it was one of our own who harmed us. I have harmed my brothers. I can only atone with my death today."
With that, he quickly drew Gan Ye's saber, intending to end his own life.
Liu Shinian, quick as lightning, kicked the saber away and said indignantly.
"What are you doing! It is not you who should die! The traitor is still alive, and you are about to die!"
Gan Ye, knowing he could not escape death and not wanting to implicate anyone else, voluntarily requested.
"Ghost King, this matter has nothing to do with our Young Master. After I die, I hope you will not trouble him."
Saying this, he raised his hand to strike himself, but Hei Feng stopped him in time. Hei Feng's heart was ultimately soft, and he pleaded.
"Ghost King, Gan Ye has followed me for many years. I am willing to exchange my life for his.
I only beg the Ghost King to spare his life. I know him; he is not a person beyond redemption."
"Young Master!"
Hearing Hei Feng plead for him again, Gan Ye couldn't help but weep, filled with remorse.
Seeing their deep master-servant bond, my heart wavered.
Moreover, Gan Ye was not entirely to blame for this incident. Even without him, the four cities would have still been able to breach the pass and take the four mountains.
"Alas!"
I sighed deeply, and finally waved my hand.
"Enough, enough. I will spare your life. However, you can no longer stay in Black Mountain. Leave."
"Thank you, Ghost King."
Hearing my concession, Hei Feng was filled with emotion. He pulled Gan Ye up and escorted him away from Black Mountain.
I still couldn't understand why such a loyal and righteous person would suddenly betray Black Mountain.
Perhaps Lin Er would know.
"Elder, why did he betray us?"
Lin Er replied faintly.
"Probably for Hei Feng."
"For Hei Feng?"
Ultimately, it was their deep master-servant bond. It seemed Hei Feng treated them as brothers.
Thinking of it that way, it couldn't really be called a betrayal.
However, with the enemy at our gates, and the matter of the traitor resolved, I would dwell on it no longer. I faced the crowd and said.
"Everyone, you may all return. I have matters to discuss with the elders."
"Yes."
Then, the crowd dispersed, and I, along with several elders, convened in a secret chamber to discuss methods of repelling the enemy.
Elder Wangu analyzed.
"It is rumored that ancient humans were skilled in warfare and had many strategies for repelling enemies.
However, I have only lived for twelve hundred years and my experience is still shallow. I have heard that the Ghost King is a legendary figure and should have some knowledge."
His reminder immediately brought to mind a military treatise called "The Art of War."
I hadn't studied "The Art of War" in detail, but I remembered a passage in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" about Zhuge Liang's "Empty Fort Strategy," which might be helpful.
"I've got it!"
"Got what?"
"The Empty Fort Strategy."
"The Empty Fort Strategy?"
Everyone looked puzzled, not knowing what kind of strategy it was.
I said.
"I believe with this, we can save Black Mountain."
Afterward, I discussed the strategy in detail with everyone. After much deliberation, a conclusion was reached.
One day later.
The allied forces of the four cities had arrived at the foot of Black Mountain, led by General Xu Zhifeng of Beishen.
He looked up at the mist-shrouded mountain peak and saw a layer of gray, dark energy obscuring the clear blue sky.
Such dense dark energy could not be emitted by just anyone, so he was certain that this dark energy was proof of the Myriad Ghost King's presence in Black Mountain.
Thus, he said.
"The Myriad Ghost King must be on Black Mountain. He cannot escape."
Zuo Yulang frowned. Although he had not clashed with the Myriad Ghost King, he had heard of her prowess and was somewhat concerned.
"I've heard that the current Myriad Ghost King is a legendary human, exceptionally intelligent and a difficult opponent. We should proceed with caution."
"General Zuo's concerns are not unfounded. Let us first send a troop to scout the situation."
"That would be wise."
He turned around and said to his subordinate.
"You, take a troop up to scout the situation."
"Yes."
The young general hastily accepted the order and led a troop up the celestial stairs, heading towards Black Mountain.
The main force remained at the foot of the mountain, setting up camp and awaiting their report.
As night fell, and they still hadn't returned, Zuo Yulang felt uneasy, his large eyes fixed anxiously on the endless steps.
Just then, he saw a few scattered figures descending the mountain.
Then, the young general recounted what he had seen to Xu Zhifeng.
"Reporting, General. After I led the small team up Black Mountain, I saw a group of people arguing incessantly at the mountain gate, seemingly discussing whether to flee or resist the enemy."
"And the Myriad Ghost King?"
Gong Ruye asked urgently.
"She was among them, but she said not a word. She looked troubled, as if she hadn't come up with a solution yet."
"What are the generals' opinions?"
Xu Zhifeng asked somewhat smugly.
Xu Zhifeng waved his hand, and the young general discreetly withdrew from the main tent and hid in a corner to eavesdrop on the conversation inside.
Xu Zhifeng, the main attacker, spoke first.
"We have already breached Black Mountain's four peaks and annihilated most of their forces. They are now struggling for survival, making it an opportune moment to attack."
Gong Ruye had a different opinion and cautiously said.
"Those who are struggling for survival bite the hardest. We should still proceed with caution."
Li Xuanshi, seeing them arguing and unable to make a decision, took out a map and spread it on the ground, pointing to Black Mountain and analyzing.
"Black Mountain is an isolated peak. To the south are sheer cliffs, and below the cliffs lies a swamp.
This swamp is no ordinary one. Legend has it that it is a burial ground for the countless bodies of warriors from ancient tribal conflicts.
Due to the excessive number of bodies buried there, a strange corpse qi has gradually developed.
Anyone who passes through it will inevitably succumb to the qi and die, making it extremely dangerous."
Hearing Li Xuanshi speak, Gong Ruye seemed to have an idea.
"If that's the case, they only have one path down the mountain. No matter how well they can fly or run, we will catch them."
"Precisely."
"If that's the case, if we attack the mountain now, we can capture them all."
"Indeed."
"Then, let us raise the troops immediately and attack Black Mountain to take the Myriad Ghost King's head."
After careful deliberation, they decided to attack Black Mountain before dawn and kill the Myriad Ghost King.
The next morning, as the sun rose.
Xu Zhifeng loudly rallied the troops before the army.
"In the past, the Myriad Ghost King wreaked havoc in the region but was fortunately slain by skilled individuals at the foot of Myriad Ghost Mountain.
Now, a thousand years later, he has returned.
Today, we shall repeat the feat of a thousand years ago, slay the Myriad Ghost King once more, and become heroes revered for generations."
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
He smiled with satisfaction at the enthusiastic soldiers and then led the army forward.
The army, like wild horses that had broken free, surged towards Black Mountain, directly towards Bright Moon Palace.
In front of Bright Moon Palace, the four-city army, filled with killing intent, suddenly halted.
The Myriad Ghost King was seen sitting calmly before the mountain gate, playing a qin. Her expression was serene, and the strings of her instrument flowed like high mountains and flowing water, creating a beautiful melody.
However, strangely, no one present could discern what tune she was playing. Perhaps only she knew that this piece was called.
"Lotus Pond Moonlight."
Behind her stood five people side by side. Four of them were well-known, and one was a newly emerged elder of the Ghost魅族, known to the world through propaganda.
From left to right were Hei Feng, Lin Er, Liu Shinian, Xue Gucheng, and Yan Wushuang.
They all appeared composed, confident, and in control.
Gong Ruye couldn't help but feel puzzled, unable to guess what they were doing. He turned to ask Li Xuanshi.
"I've heard that Master Xuan is very knowledgeable. Can you tell me what they are doing?"
Although Li Xuanshi was knowledgeable, he was not familiar with worldly matters. He could only say helplessly.
"General, you flatter me too much. I have been in seclusion for a long time and only recently emerged from the mountains.
Speaking of which, I have experienced hundreds of battles, large and small, but I have never seen them like this.
I've heard that the Myriad Ghost King is possessed by a human woman. That human woman is so resourceful that even my senior brother, Master Zhang, regards her with great respect. We should wait and see."
The two sides remained in a silent standoff for over an hour, until noon, when the sun shone brightly.
On Xu Fengzhi and Li Xuanshi's side, due to the large number of people crowded on a single path, everyone was uncomfortably hot.
However, the Myriad Ghost King's side was completely different. Everyone was at ease, with parasols, fans, and cool water to quench their thirst.
The opposite side's soldiers drooled with envy, completely forgetting their adversarial relationship.