Brothers on all sides were busy dismantling the tents and moving supplies, bustling about with great urgency. It appeared that this location was not suitable for defense.

“Jiu’er, is there anything I can do to help?” Tuoba Keyan looked at Feng Jiu’er and asked in a low voice.

“I’ve already given out all the instructions. Just go and assist Qiao Mu.” Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze. “It looks like she’s found a more suitable location.”

“Understood.” Tuoba Keyan dipped his head, clasped his hands toward Long Feiyan and Xue Gu in greeting, then turned and left.

Not far off, Xing Zizhou came striding over in long steps. “Jiu’er, everything you need is here — not a single name missing.”

Tuoba Keyan merely paused his step briefly before continuing forward.

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and took the list from Xing Zizhou’s hands. “My mother and I are heading inside the fort shortly. How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine.” Xing Zizhou shook his head. “Whatever needs to be done, just give the order.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded again. “Take a team of brothers and lie in ambush within the mountain gorge. Wait there in readiness.”

“Roughly how many men will you need?” Xing Zizhou asked quietly.

“Two hundred elites.” Feng Jiu’er replied.

“Understood — I’ll go prepare at once.” Xing Zizhou dipped his head and turned to leave.

“Miss Jiu’er.” Feng Yan Dong came stepping forward to meet her.

“Yan Dong, have someone prepare my breakfast. You will all accompany me inside shortly.” Feng Jiu’er waved a hand.

“Yes.” Feng Yan Dong nodded and went to carry out the order.

Feng Jiu’er turned and glanced at Jian Yi, then made her way toward the tent.

Jian Yi, who had been standing guard to one side, stepped forward.

Without waiting for Feng Jiu’er to give any command, once she had gone inside, Jian Yi naturally lifted the curtain and followed her in.

“What is it? Suspicious that I’m the mole?” Jian Yi asked mildly as he entered.

“Have you had breakfast yet?” Feng Jiu’er took out a map and spread it on the table.

Jian Yi looked at the girl’s slender back and furrowed his brow slightly, then stepped closer.

Feng Jiu’er spread the map flat, bent over it, and began studying it carefully. “Come and look — find the best route for us to get inside.”

Jian Yi came to stand beside Feng Jiu’er. The tension in his manner eased somewhat — he did not want to be suspected.

Feng Jiu’er pointed to one spot on the map, shook her head, found another, and shook her head again.

“Those first two mountain gorges won’t work — the two mountains alongside them are unsuitable as well. No, we’ll have to bring Zhao Yusheng along after all.” Feng Jiu’er murmured to herself.

“We can’t rely on this map alone right now. The fort master knows I’m determined to get inside — the defenses in all these areas will certainly have been rearranged.”

“This place could be worth considering.” Suddenly, Jian Yi pointed to a spot on the map.

“Here?” Feng Jiu’er looked at where his long finger had landed and furrowed her brow. “That’s the stone forest maze — the second-most fortified point after the main gate we came through.”

“You don’t want to alert the fort master when you go in, do you?” Jian Yi turned his head to look at Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes and gave him a flat look. “Obviously. If we startle the people inside, this battle will have no choice but to break out.”

“For the time being, I have no intention of starting a fight. Peace brings prosperity, Jian Yi — wasn’t the whole reason we came to Black Gorge for riches?”

“Entering from here, you climb over one tall mountain, then pass through a fairly large stone forest beyond it. I believe the defenses there are comparatively thin.” Jian Yi’s voice continued.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at him, then looked back at the map.

In the end, she gave a single nod.

“All right — that place it is. Since we have to make the trip regardless, there is no point in delaying any further.”

The moment Feng Jiu’er finished speaking, Feng Yan Dong’s voice drifted in from outside.

“Miss Jiu’er.”

“Come in.” Feng Jiu’er rolled up the map from the table.

She watched as Feng Yan Dong lifted the curtain and carried the breakfast tray inside, and moved to meet him, taking the tray.

“Go and find Zhao Yusheng. We set out in a quarter-hour.”

“Yes.” Feng Yan Dong turned and left.

Feng Jiu’er set the tray down on the table and waved a hand. “Come and eat with me. If you happen to have the time, help me figure out who the mole is — I’m worked half to death already.”

Jian Yi casually pulled a chair over and sat down beside Feng Jiu’er.

“You don’t suspect me?”

“Do you want me to suspect you?” Feng Jiu’er looked at the person beside her and half-narrowed her eyes. “If it truly were you, I would make sure you don’t live to see your next birthday.”

“I wouldn’t dare!” Jian Yi reached out, picked up a steamed bun, then looked at Feng Jiu’er again. “Do you have anyone you suspect?”

“No!” Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “With so much happening, where would I even find the time to doubt my own brothers?”

She took a sip of porridge and exhaled softly.

The matter of Dan Yi Dao was still vivid in her mind — was it possible that in the not-too-distant future, history would repeat itself again?

Damn it all. Why did traitors like this even exist in the world?

Jian Yi lifted the steamed bun he had picked up and held it out before Feng Jiu’er.

“You eat it.”

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes and glanced at him, then set down the bowl in her hands and took the bun, biting off nearly half of it in one go.

“Since this is in all likelihood the reality, no matter how unhappy you feel, you still have to face it.” Jian Yi said gently by way of comfort.

Feng Jiu’er swallowed the rest of the bun in a few quick bites and looked up at him.

“In your heart — is there anyone you suspect?”

Jian Yi composed his expression and shook his head. “Apart from you, I am not close with anyone here.”

Feng Jiu’er fixed her gaze on him and half-narrowed her eyes. “You had better hope Qiao Mu and Xiao Yingtao didn’t hear that. Everyone cares about you, and you act as if it means nothing.”

“Xiao Yingtao and Xing Zizhou have been at my side since our days at the Imperial Academy. I’ve tested them before — there were no problems.”

“Qiao Mu is someone I lured out of a mountain stronghold. She’s straightforward and righteous by nature — I can’t think of any reason she would betray me.”

“As for Zhao Yusheng’s situation — you know it as well. His mind isn’t a great deal sharper than yours. If it were him…”

“What exactly is that supposed to mean?” Jian Yi cut Feng Jiu’er off.

Feng Jiu’er gave him a flat look. “Exactly what it sounds like.”

She looked away and picked up another steamed bun. “If it’s one of the other brothers, then who would it be?”

“Is Tuoba Keyan completely above suspicion? He is not from Bei Mu after all.” Jian Yi added.

Feng Jiu’er looked up at Jian Yi, brow faintly creasing. “Keyan may not be from Bei Mu, but he…”

“Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what the connection is between him and my mother. Still, it should be fine — and besides, Keyan lost his memories. He doesn’t remember anything from before.”

“But what if he does remember?” Jian Yi picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup.

Feng Jiu’er stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words.

After pouring the tea, Jian Yi met her gaze. His thick brows drew together slightly. “What is it — was he some kind of heinous villain in the past?”

Feng Jiu’er blinked and nodded. “That description is not the least bit exaggerated.”

“Back when Keyan was still the First Prince of Rouhe, he was an extraordinarily brutal man. Then he lost his memories, and his entire person changed.”

“Xue Gu said that much of his cruelty stemmed from what happened to his mother.”

“His birth mother was killed at the hands of Bei Mu’s people. He once harbored a deep hatred for every single person from Bei Mu.”