pdf-ebookys Page 192
Page 192
Chapter 225 What Happened?
Everyone immediately gathered around. Leon stepped forward and asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"
The messenger, still catching his breath, flashed a look of fear in his eyes: "The forces of darkness are amassing a large army and are marching towards the capital. Zhao De and his troops are holding them off at the front, but the situation is critical, and they urgently need reinforcements. If the capital falls, the entire continent will be plunged into despair."
The group exchanged glances, and after a moment of silence, Leon's gaze swept over each of them before he finally declared firmly, "Our path has been chosen. Whatever awaits us ahead, we must stand up and fight for the light."
"Yes, fight for the light!" the crowd shouted in unison, the firelight illuminating their resolute faces.
The following morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the thin mist and illuminated the team of warriors from diverse backgrounds, they were already fully prepared and embarked on their journey to the royal city.
Along the roadside, several villagers who were busy repairing the fence stopped their work and watched the brave men's figures disappear into the distance.
“Look, they are like legendary warriors, marching toward an impossible victory,” an old woman murmured, her eyes filled with admiration.
“Yes,” the young man beside him chimed in, his voice trembling with excitement, “I heard that even Zhao De is waiting for their aid. What a magnificent legend it would be if they could truly turn the tide of the battle.”
As the group marched, they passed through a desolate plain, where the sun blazed and dust swirled.
The caravans and refugees along the way looked at them with a mixture of curiosity, expectation, and, most of all, hope.
"Look, those people are going to the royal city, right? I heard that many warriors have gathered there, preparing for a decisive battle against the forces of darkness," the uncle leading the caravan said to the child beside him, a barely perceptible glint in his eyes.
The child blinked his big eyes and asked excitedly, "Daddy, will they win? Are Lord Zhao and Mr. Leon as powerful as the heroes in the story?"
The uncle smiled and patted the child's head: "Of course, as long as there is light in your heart, even the darkest night can be lit. They are our light."
As the sun set, the group lodged in a small town. The town's inns were crowded and noisy, and the conversation revolved around the upcoming decisive battle. Leon and his party's arrival instantly made them the center of attention.
"Look over there, they must be going to help Zhao De's soldiers!" a drinker pointed at them and whispered.
"Sigh, I really wish I could be like them, stepping onto the battlefield and doing something for my homeland," sighed a young man at another table, his words filled with longing.
Leon noticed the whispers and a slight smile played on his lips. He knew that this expectation was both a driving force and a pressure, but they had no choice but to forge ahead.
Late at night, Leon and his companions sat in a corner of the inn, discussing their plans for the next day. Suddenly, the door was gently pushed open, and a ragged old man shuffled in, his eyes searching for something in the crowd before finally settling on Leon.
"Young man, there is something I must tell you." The old man's voice was low and urgent, and those around him listened intently.
Leon gestured for the old man to sit down and patiently asked, "What news do you have? Please tell me."
The old man lowered his voice: "There's a traitor in the capital. He's planning to betray us at a crucial moment, giving the dark forces an opportunity. I learned this secret by chance, and now, we can only rely on you."
Chapter 226 Finding This Person
Chapter 226 Finding This Person
These words caused an immediate silence; everyone seemed to hold their breath. The presence of a traitor undoubtedly worsened the already difficult situation.
"We must find this person before the great battle," Zhao De said firmly, his eyes piercing. "Time is of the essence. Eileen, can you use magic to send a message to our friends in the royal city so they can investigate secretly?"
Eileen nodded, her expression grave: "I will do my best, but it will take time and is extremely risky."
Zhao De clenched his fist, a resolute glint in his eyes: "We have no time to hesitate. The rest of you, we'll set off first thing tomorrow morning and must reach the capital as quickly as possible, making thorough preparations. Perhaps we can find some clues along the way."
Everyone agreed, and although the atmosphere was heavy, a burning fighting spirit ignited in everyone's hearts. As night deepened, in a corner of the hotel, Zhao De and his companions were like an inextinguishable flame, illuminating the path ahead.
The following morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the thin mist, Leon and his entourage were already prepared to depart. The townspeople came out to see them off, their eyes filled with admiration and blessings.
"Look, those are the warriors heading to the royal city! They are so handsome!" A little girl with pigtails tugged at her mother's clothes and said excitedly.
The mother smiled and replied, "Yes, my dear, they are the hope of all of us. In the future, you must also become such a brave person."
The group moved slowly forward, and along the way, passersby constantly joined them, offering supplies or words of encouragement. These small acts of kindness combined to create a powerful force, propelling Leon and his companions forward.
"Warriors, I heard you are going to fight against the forces of darkness. Is there anything I can do for you?" An old blacksmith with a weathered face stopped the group, holding several finely crafted weapons in his hands.
Zhao De gratefully accepted the weapons, saying, "We will remember your kindness. These weapons will be invaluable assets in our battles."
As the group grew, rumors of an internal traitor began to circulate, sparking further discussion and unease. During the journey, whenever the group stopped to rest, whispers could be heard all around.
"Who do you think that traitor could be? The capital is full of elites..."
"Alas, people's hearts are unpredictable. It is precisely in times like these that we must be more careful and vigilant."
Zhao De heard all of these conversations, and his worries grew heavier. But he knew he couldn't show it at all, because he was everyone's pillar and had to remain unyielding.
As the sun set, the group arrived at an abandoned castle and decided to spend the night there. In the castle's main hall, Zhao De and the core members sat in a circle, discussing strategies for finding the traitor within the royal city.
“We can’t alert them. The best approach is to look for clues in the words and actions of our own people,” Eileen suggested. Her eyes were sharp, and she seemed to already have a preliminary plan.
“Yes, we can take advantage of the banquet.” Zhao De’s eyes lit up. “It is said that the royal city will soon hold a banquet to celebrate the arrival of the warriors, and all the important figures will be in attendance. That will be the best opportunity to observe them.”
With the plan finalized, everyone began to divide the tasks and prepare.
In the stillness of the night, Zhao De stood alone on the high wall of the castle, gazing at the starry sky, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, bringing an unexpected visitor.
Chapter 227 Somewhat Worried
Chapter 227 Somewhat worried.
"Lord Zhao De, may I speak with you?" A gentle and mysterious voice rang out in the night. It was Eileen who had silently appeared beside him.
Zhao De turned around, his gaze gentle: "Eileen, it's so late, is there anything I can help you with?"
Eileen hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "I...I'm a little worried. What if we find the traitor but are powerless to stop him? What if the dark forces succeed because of this..."
Zhao De gently patted Eileen's shoulder and comforted her, "We've come this far not because we foresaw victory, but because we never gave up, even in the face of unknown fears. No matter the outcome, we will stand together until the very last moment."
Eileen nodded, her eyes glistening with tears, but also revealing her determination: "You're right, Lord Zhao. I will be strong, for our shared beliefs."
The night breeze seemed to carry away some of their worries.
Just as Zhao De was about to continue their conversation, a rapid sound of hooves came from outside the castle, accompanied by urgent shouts.
"Open the door quickly! Open the door quickly! I am a messenger from the capital, and I have urgent intelligence to deliver to Lord Zhao De!"
Zhao De and Eileen exchanged a glance, then ran together toward the castle gate. The moment the gate opened, a messenger, covered in dust and panting, stumbled in, his hands trembling as he handed over a sealed letter.
"Lord Zhao De, this is an urgent confidential letter from the Royal City's Supreme Council. It concerns your safety and the safety of everyone else. Please read it immediately!"
Zhao De quickly tore open the envelope, and the contents of the letter made his expression change drastically. Eileen leaned closer to take a look and saw several large characters written on it: "The traitor is about to take action. Target—Zhao De and his group."
“We must leave here immediately and proceed according to the original plan, but we must be even more vigilant against anything unusual.” Zhao De’s voice was firm and calm as he made the decision quickly.
At this moment, the villagers outside the castle were also drawn by the commotion. Seeing Zhao De and his group hurriedly packing their belongings, they all cast concerned glances at them.
"Warriors, what has happened?" an old man asked anxiously.
"It's alright, it's just that the plans have changed, and we have to leave earlier than scheduled," Zhao De said with a smile, reassuring everyone, though his own heart was also in turmoil.
"Be careful, our future depends on you!" A vendor clenched his fists tightly, his eyes welling up with tears.
The team set off again, but this time, every step seemed heavier and more cautious.
Along the way, Zhao De's conversations with his companions almost entirely revolved around how to protect themselves from unknown threats while not giving up on their mission to expose the traitor.
“We can’t just defend; we must take the initiative,” Eileen suggested in a low voice. “Let’s use our advantages to set a trap and lure the enemy out.”
“Agreed,” Zhao De nodded. “Eileen, you and a few other magicians are responsible for setting up illusions to create the illusion that I am acting alone. The rest of you should spread out and surround me as soon as the traitor appears.”
The plan was devised and executed swiftly. At midnight the following day, in a quiet forest, Eileen's magic caused Zhao De's shadow to appear and disappear in different locations, while the real Zhao De remained hidden in the shadows, maintaining contact with his companions.
"They're here..." Zhao De alerted everyone through telepathy, his heart pounding involuntarily as a familiar figure quietly approached the trap they had set.
Chapter 228 Taking the Bait
Chapter 228 Taking the Bait
"Lord Zhao De, I didn't expect you to take the bait so easily." The man's voice was full of sarcasm; he was a highly respected general in the royal city. This scene shocked Leon and the others who were hiding in the shadows.
"Why?" Zhao De asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
The general sneered: "Power, the forces of darkness promised me even greater power, and eternal life. In this world, only the strong survive, isn't that right?"
Just as the general was feeling triumphant, several figures suddenly emerged from the shadows and surrounded him.
“You are wrong,” Zhao De stepped out from the shadows, his eyes like an eagle’s. “True power comes from the light and unity in people’s hearts.”
By this point in the conversation, Zhao De and his partners had completely brought the situation under control.
However, behind this brief victory, even more arduous tasks and unknown challenges await them.
"Alright, the traitor has been caught, but we don't have much time left." Zhao De looked towards the east, where the sky was gradually turning white.
"The banquet in the royal city is about to begin. It will be the key battle for us to unravel all the mysteries and stop the forces of darkness."
The procession set off again, leaving behind only the general's silhouette as he was escorted back to the capital, and the stunned and whispering passersby along the way.
"This...how is this possible? That general was actually a traitor!"
"Lord Zhao De and his men are truly amazing, they're practically legends!"
"Hey, have you heard? That righteous general is actually a traitor!" A street vendor put down his goods and exclaimed to the crowd around him.
A murmur of discussion erupted from the crowd, a mixture of surprise and anger, but mostly awe for Zhao De and his group. "In this world, you can never truly know a person's heart, even if they can just look at their face. But then again, Lord Zhao De truly lives up to his legendary reputation; he managed to see through such a scheme."
Leon walked at the head of the procession, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips, but his heart was in turmoil. He turned slightly to Zhao De beside him and said, "My lord, the public's reaction seems to be even more enthusiastic than we expected."
Zhao De nodded, his gaze profound: "People's hearts are fickle, but they are also most easily moved by sincerity. Our actions are not only for ourselves, but also to awaken the light of justice in everyone's heart."