Chapter 301 - Mole (1/2)

A group of people were resting in the dense forest, while Long Xingyun, Xie Tianshang, Chu Qingcheng and Zhuo Fan inspected a map.

Long Xingyun was the first to speak, “Brother Zhuo, do you see something wrong with the map to call it a fake?”

“None whatsoever. Be it the captives or the map, they are both beyond reproach.” Zhuo Fan shook his head and his gaze hardened, “But there’s no way I’d take it for granted when something so good just comes and falls into my lap. It goes double for something we need the most.”

Silence pervaded for a while, then Chu Qingcheng ventured, “Maybe… we do not need this map. We could go opposite-“

“Who says we don’t need it?”

Zhuo Fan butted in with a smile, “If it’s real, that turns it into a trap. This makes it worth using it. Since they went out of their way to plan against us, we’ll just beat them to the punch!”

The others didn’t know where he was going with this so Zhuo Fan held out the three sending jades. He left a message on them then left one to each of them with a crafty smile, “Wait for five days then read it.”

Zhuo Fan jumped to his feet and barked, “Listen up. We’re moving out. Form three divisions around the three houses and split up for the three exits!”

“Split up?”

Why make them weaker than they already were? Zhuo Fan handed over the exit keys and said, “Yes, split up! With our size, it’s very easy to be spotted. Smaller teams will allow us to move unnoticed. In the case of an enemy encounter it would also be simple to flee and hide among the thick trees. “

While others nodded, Chu Qingcheng pulled Zhuo Fan to the side, “What if the map is fake and the exits hold nothing but traps?”

“We won’t know unless we try. We finally got an exit route as well. Even if we clash a few more times in the Beast King Mountain it will be easy to escape while whittling down their Bone Tempering experts number. It will end with them being reduced to nothing. This is our best bet.”

Zhuo Fan put on a smile and turned to the rest, “Each team will send out three Profound Heaven experts to scout thirty miles ahead, reporting back on the hour.”

“Understood!” They all replied and Zhuo Fan said to Chu Qingcheng, “Even if they meet a trap, they can get an early notice.”

Glaring at him, Chu Qingcheng shook her head, [You’re full of tricks.]

As they all got ready to set off, Luo Yunhai’s team followed behind Drifting Flowers Edifices just as Long Xingyun brought the two prisoners, “What do we do with them?”

“Let them go.” Zhuo Fan spoke coldly.

The others whipped their heads around in shock. Long Xingyun was the most affected, “They’ll betray our plan if they’re found.”

“It will happen regardless. Recall what happened in Killing Blood Marsh? We have a mole among us. These two’s situation has already been reported back. Letting them go or not won’t make a difference.” Zhuo Fan sighed.

What a shocker!

[How could we forget? We still have a spy unaccounted for.] Everyone looked around suspiciously.

Zhuo Fan said, “This isn’t the time to draw him out. We’ll do that once we get back to the safety of Dragon Cloud City.”

“But a spy implies great danger.” Xie Tianshang’s face hardened.

Zhuo Fan sneered, “What danger? He’ll only rat out our movements. As long as we’re fast enough, any information will be worthless and they won’t be able to act on it. On the contrary, if we suspect each other all the time, it will be a disaster only they will profit from. So get a move on. Reach the three exits on the double!”

The people were startled for a second then their opinion of him grew. They never knew you could deal with a spy like that.

Ignoring him yet moving faster than he could report would be the same as turning him useless.

The way Zhuo Fan boldly did things got even the army-experienced Luo Yunhai in a daze.

Not even Dugu Zhantian led his army with such valor.

[Big brother Zhuo is a true man of ambition to have so many great figures set their eyes on him.]

“Set off! Let’s see each other in Dragon Cloud City in five days!” Zhuo Fan shouted and the other replied in high spirits as well.

Only Chu Qingcheng and her two allies knew his true meaning.

The nearest exit was a week away, while the farthest was ten days. He was speaking for their own benefit, to check the sending jade five days later.

The three noticed Zhuo Fan’s slight nod and smile.

The group thus split into three divisions according to Zhuo Fan’s orders. They moved swiftly, curious to see if they or the spy’s leaks were faster.