Chapter 167: Stripping Off the Alias

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Stripping Off the Alias

Bai Ye raised his eyes, meeting Qi Yao’s gaze.

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, the oppressive aura of an SSS-level Sentinel slowly emanated from him.

"Major General Qi," he began, his voice so calm that it betrayed no emotion. "Are you questioning my judgment?"

Qi Yao’s gaze faltered for a moment.

"I wouldn’t dare," he said, lowering his head, his tone growing more respectful. "This subordinate was merely concerned about your health..."

"Unnecessary," Bai Ye cut him off, his tone cold and allowing no room for doubt. "It’s just a minor injury. I’m fine. I know my limits."

Qi Yao fell silent for a moment.

He looked up, wanting to say more, but was met with Bai Ye’s eyes, as tranquil as still water.

There was no anger in that gaze, no intimidation—just a placid stare.

But it was precisely this placidness that made the words catch in his throat.

"...Yes." Qi Yao finally nodded.

Bai Ye turned and walked toward the canyon exit.

After a few steps, he paused.

"I’m leaving this to you. I have another mission."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished into the night.

Qi Yao remained where he was, staring after the disappearing silhouette, his brow slightly furrowed.

He recalled the abnormal fluctuation of spiritual power he had sensed just now, as well as Bai Ye’s curt refusal and his haste to leave...

It was as if... he was hiding something.

"Major General Qi?" a Sentinel beside him asked tentatively. "Is something wrong?"

Qi Yao retracted his gaze and shook his head.

"It’s nothing. Go into the canyon and assist the others."

The Sentinel acknowledged the order and left.

Qi Yao remained standing there, glancing once more in the direction Bai Ye had gone.

The night wind blew past, lifting the corner of his uniform.

He said nothing, but the look of inquiry in his eyes never faded.

Then, Qi Yao led the other reinforcing Sentinels into the canyon.

When Guo Kai saw them approach, he immediately went to greet them. "Major General Qi!"

Qi Yao nodded, his gaze sweeping quickly over everyone present: Cheng Nian, Li Wen, He Yi, Ma Yu, Zhao Qian, Zhou Ying, and finally, Yun Sheng, who was sitting on a rock in the corner.

"Is everyone all right?" he asked.

Guo Kai replied seriously, "We just have minor injuries, which have already been treated. Thank you for your concern, Major General Qi."

Qi Yao breathed a sigh of relief and patted Guo Kai’s shoulder. "Good work."

Guo Kai nodded, then glanced unconsciously toward the canyon entrance and asked, "Major General Qi, White Tiger... didn’t he come in with you?"

Qi Yao froze. "Who?"

"White Tiger," Guo Kai explained. "The Sentinel who accompanied us on this mission, the one who was always wearing a mask. He was outside holding off the pollutants. We thought he might have run into you..."

Qi Yao’s brow furrowed.

When he led his men in just now, he had only seen Bai Ye. There was no masked Sentinel at all.

He looked at the few Sentinels by his side, and they all shook their heads too.

"No," Qi Yao said in a low voice. "Only the White War God was outside clearing pollutants. We didn’t see the White Tiger you mentioned."

Guo Kai was stunned.

Cheng Nian, Li Wen, and the others exchanged bewildered glances.

The White War God?

’What’s he doing here?!’

Guo Kai opened his mouth, wanting to say something but not knowing what.

Qi Yao’s gaze swept across their faces, finally landing on the slender figure in the corner.

Yun Sheng sat there with her head lowered, her expression unreadable.

"This White Tiger," Qi Yao began slowly, his gaze somewhat scrutinizing, "was he with you the whole time? And was he the only one outside the canyon?"

Guo Kai nodded. "Yes, White Tiger was with us the whole time. As for what happened outside the canyon..."

He glanced instinctively toward Yun Sheng, choosing his words carefully. "When the pollutants first erupted, White Tiger took Yun Sheng outside for a while. I’m not exactly sure what happened."

Qi Yao’s gaze lingered on Guo Kai’s face for a moment before slowly shifting to Yun Sheng in the corner.

"Took her outside? To do what?"

Guo Kai was at a loss, instinctively glancing at Yun Sheng again.

He knew White Tiger must have had a reason for taking Yun Sheng out, but he truly didn’t know what it was.

Yun Sheng stood up from the rock, dusted off her clothes, and met Qi Yao’s gaze.

"White Tiger Officer was in bad shape at the time, but he didn’t want the others to see, in case it made everyone more nervous. He asked me to help him outside to find a place to recover."

Qi Yao raised an eyebrow. "Just to help him out?"

Yun Sheng nodded. "He had almost no strength left then; he had to lean on me to walk. But White Tiger Officer must be a High-level Sentinel, his recovery power is astonishing. Not long after we left the canyon, he’d already recovered quite a bit."

"And then?" Qi Yao asked.

"After that, the pollutants somehow went berserk and started tearing at each other." Yun Sheng spoke naturally, as if recalling the scene. "White Tiger Officer took that opportunity to erect a barrier with his spiritual power and stood watch outside the canyon, observing the situation while continuing to recover."

Qi Yao’s gaze sharpened.

’The pollutants suddenly went berserk and attacked each other?’

He recalled the corpses littered all over the ground outside. Indeed, many of the low-level pollutants had died in strange ways, as if they had been attacked by their own kind.

’But this is far too coincidental!’

"And you stayed outside the whole time?" he asked.

Yun Sheng shook her head. "No, I stayed with White Tiger Officer for a little while. Later, some pollutants charged toward the canyon, and White Tiger Officer said it was too dangerous, so he told me to go back inside. After that, he kept watch outside and never came back in."

Qi Yao watched her, silent for a few seconds.

Her face showed no panic, no evasion; she seemed to be merely stating a fact.

Yet, something about it all felt wrong to him.

"Major General Qi," Guo Kai ventured from the side, "White Tiger... do you think something happened to him?"

Qi Yao snapped back to reality and shook his head. "We found no other Sentinel bodies outside. He should still be alive."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group.

"Let’s return to camp first. We’ll discuss the rest when we get back."

Everyone nodded, quickly gathered their belongings, and prepared to head back to the temporary camp.

Qi Yao turned to walk out of the canyon, but halfway there, he paused again.

He turned his head, his gaze falling on Yun Sheng.

"Miss Yun."

Yun Sheng looked up, meeting his slightly scrutinizing gaze.

"After sunrise, once you’ve rested, come to the command tent. There are a few details I’d like to ask you about."

Yun Sheng’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression didn’t change. She simply nodded. "Yes, sir."

Qi Yao withdrew his gaze and strode out of the canyon.

Yun Sheng stood where she was, watching his retreating back, her fingertips curling slightly.

’It seems a vague story like that wasn’t enough to dispel Qi Yao’s suspicions.’

’I just wonder what else he’ll ask.’

’This next part... is going to be tough!’