Chapter 180: Panic, and It’s All Exposed

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Panic, and It’s All Exposed

Cheng Nian didn’t answer.

She stood at the tent’s entrance with her head down, wringing her hands. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know how to begin.

Seeing her conflicted expression, a suspicion began to form in Yun Sheng’s mind.

’Qi Yao must have said something to her, or given her some kind of order.’

’An order that put her in a difficult position, one she didn’t know how to bring up.’

Yun Sheng and Li Wen exchanged a look.

Li Wen immediately understood. She got up, walked over, and pulled Cheng Nian by the hand, guiding her to sit on the edge of a cot.

"Sit down first. Don’t just stand there." Li Wen’s voice softened as she gently patted Cheng Nian’s back, not pressing her for an answer.

The tent fell silent.

Zhou Ying, lying on her own bed, rolled over to face the tent wall, as if she were asleep.

Cheng Nian sat there with her head down, her fingers still twisting the hem of her clothes.

Li Wen sat beside her, occasionally patting her shoulder and pouring her a glass of water.

No one rushed her.

Yun Sheng leaned against the head of her bed, watching Cheng Nian, the tension inside her winding tighter and tighter.

’What in the world did Qi Yao say to her? To make her so tormented!’

The silence in the tent stretched on for a long time.

"Yun Sheng."

Cheng Nian finally spoke, her voice soft and hoarse.

Yun Sheng looked at her and acknowledged her with a sound, waiting silently for her to continue without any prompting.

Cheng Nian lifted her head. Her eyes were red, and her lips were pressed into a tight line.

She looked at Yun Sheng, her eyes swirling with a complex mix of emotions: conflict, guilt, and a hint of unconcealable grievance.

"Major General Qi asked me... back in the canyon, when the White Tiger Officer took you out, how long you two were gone."

Yun Sheng’s heart sank a little.

"I told him the truth. Then he asked what state the White Tiger Officer was in when he left, and what state you were in when you came back alone.

I told him everything exactly as it happened. I didn’t make anything up. I just... I just told him what I saw. I answered whatever he asked. I don’t know what he’s trying to investigate, I..."

"I know," Yun Sheng cut her off, her voice soft but steady. "You did the right thing."

Cheng Nian froze for a moment.

Yun Sheng looked at her and said earnestly, "When Major General Qi questions you, you just have to tell the truth. There’s nothing wrong with that."

"But..." Cheng Nian choked out, "he ended up asking if there was something... between you and the White Tiger Officer. He kept pressing, and I... I wasn’t thinking straight. In the heat of the moment, I just said that the White Tiger Officer is especially good to you.

He saved you a few times before, and he was so worried when the vines dragged you away, so I... I said the White Tiger Officer must like you."

She looked up, her eyes red, guilt practically spilling from them.

"Yun Sheng, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It was all just my own speculation, I..."

Yun Sheng watched her without saying a word.

Cheng Nian grew more frantic as she spoke. "I wasn’t thinking much of it at the time. I just answered what he asked. But the more I thought about it after I got back, the more wrong it felt. It’s like he’s suspicious of the White Tiger Officer or something. His questions were all so strange..."

She paused, her voice trembling. "Did I get you into trouble? I... if only I hadn’t said those things..."

"It’s fine. Don’t overthink it."

Yun Sheng offered a comforting word, but her heart sank further still.

"Also..." Cheng Nian bit her lip, her voice growing even quieter. "Major General Qi said one last thing to me. He said that the White Tiger has a special status, and getting involved with him might not be a good thing for you. He told me to report to him immediately if I see you contacting the White Tiger.

Yun Sheng, my mind went blank. I just left without saying anything. But I didn’t agree to it. I really didn’t..."

Yun Sheng reached out and gently took her cold hand.

"I know. It’s okay. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself."

Hearing her words, tears welled up in Cheng Nian’s eyes.

"But I caused you trouble..."

"No." Yun Sheng squeezed her hand, saying word by word, "You didn’t cause me any trouble. You did nothing wrong."

Cheng Nian opened her mouth, wanting to say more, but Yun Sheng gently stopped her.

"Trust me." Yun Sheng looked into her eyes. "I’ll handle this. You don’t need to do anything. Just act as you normally would."

Cheng Nian stared at her blankly for a long moment before nodding forcefully.

"Okay." Her voice was still choked with tears. "I’ll listen to you."

Yun Sheng let go and patted the back of her hand, forcing a reassuring smile.

Cheng Nian sniffled, finally stopping her tears.

The tent grew quiet once more.

Yun Sheng leaned back against her headboard, her gaze fixed on the ceiling of the tent, but her mind was racing.

’Qi Yao told Cheng Nian to watch me.’

’Is this because he doesn’t trust me, or is he testing me?’

’Or has he already figured something out and just needs concrete proof?’

She let out a soft breath.

’No matter what Qi Yao is planning, I can’t panic.’

’The moment I panic, I’ll give everything away.’

...

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Ma Yu came to call them for assembly. The squad had a new mission.

Yun Sheng ran with the others to the open space in the center of the camp and was surprised to find Qi Yao there as well.

He was dressed in combat fatigues with a knife at his waist. Behind him stood several fully-armed Sentinels, clearly an elite unit.

Guo Kai stepped forward, snapped to attention, and saluted. "Major General Qi, Third Squad is assembled."

Qi Yao nodded, his gaze sweeping over the group before pausing on Yun Sheng for a fraction of a second, then quickly moving on.

"Your squad’s mission today is to proceed to the abandoned mine area, clear out any remaining contaminants, and investigate the source of the abnormal energy fluctuations.

I will be leading this mission personally. All personnel will follow my command and are not to act on their own."

’The abandoned mine?’

Yun Sheng’s heart skipped a beat.

’Isn’t that... isn’t that the place where Si Jin stayed after he lost control?’

’Qi Yao is deliberately joining our squad’s mission. What does he want? Wasn’t ordering Cheng Nian to watch me enough? Now he has to watch me himself?!’

She showed no outward reaction, merely lowering her eyes and waiting with the rest of the squad for the order to depart.

The team set out quickly.

Qi Yao walked at the very front, with the elite Sentinels spread out on the flanks. Guo Kai and Ma Yu guarded the group from the front and rear.

Yun Sheng and the others were sandwiched in the middle, advancing along a narrow path at the edge of the dense forest toward the abandoned mine.

The morning forest was thick with fog, visibility was low, and the path underfoot was uneven and full of potholes.

The team moved silently through the dense woods, the only sounds being the RUSTLE of boots on dry leaves and the occasional chirp of insects.

Yun Sheng followed behind Cheng Nian, her mind still preoccupied with Qi Yao’s strange behavior, her feet moving forward mechanically.

After about half an hour of walking, the fog began to thin, and the trees ahead grew sparser.

Qi Yao suddenly stopped and raised a hand, signaling for the team to halt.

Everyone’s nerves instantly tensed.

"There’s movement ahead," he said, his voice low, his sharp gaze scanning the area in front of them.

Yun Sheng held her breath, tilting her head to listen.

At first, she heard nothing.

But soon, a faint rustling sound came from up ahead, like something crawling over dry leaves.

The sound was so faint that it would have been unnoticeable if the team hadn’t fallen completely silent.

Guo Kai’s hand was already on the hilt of his knife. Ma Yu also turned slightly, positioning himself in front of the Preparatory Guides.

In the fog, a black shadow suddenly flashed past, so fast its outline was nearly impossible to see.

Yun Sheng’s pupils contracted. Before she could even react, the black shadow abruptly changed direction and lunged straight for her!