Chapter 27 Argument II

The crowd began talking all at once, and it did not take long for the discussion to descend into a heated argument.

With such enormous profits at stake, no one was willing to give an inch.

The stronger groups demanded more primeval stones and goods, claiming they had contributed the most during the journey.

Meanwhile, the weaker groups insisted on dividing everything equally, refusing to let the stronger forces take the majority.

Soon, they were no longer arguing only over the unclaimed goods.

Even the property left behind by their dead companions became part of the dispute, including the wealth that should have gone to their widows and children.

The argument grew louder and fiercer until it could be heard outside the tent.

Some of the caravan leaders were already glaring at each other, looking as though they might start fighting at any moment.

Hearing the commotion, the Gu Masters outside gradually gathered around the tent, curious to know what had caused the caravan leaders to argue so fiercely.

At this moment, a young girl walked into the tent.

She had an oval face, fair and delicate skin, and her hair was tied in a high bun.

Dressed in a flowing light blue dress with wide sleeves, she carried herself with a graceful air.

The opportunity Tie Yuning had been waiting for had finally arrived.

“Everyone, stop arguing!” Tie Yuning shouted, trying to silence the crowd, but no one paid any attention to her.

The argument continued, and a hint of annoyance appeared on her face.

Hmm?

Tie Yuning?

Seeing her enter the tent, Lin Feng immediately understood what she intended to do.

“Everyone, quiet down!” he shouted, and the entire tent quickly fell silent.

Tie Yuning glanced gratefully at Lin Feng before turning to the crowd.

“Everyone, please be quiet for a moment.

I have something important to announce.

I’ve discovered why our caravan has been attacked by beast hordes again and again.

There’s a traitor among us!”

A traitor?!

Everyone in the tent was shocked by her words.

Jia Jinsheng was even more startled and nearly spat out the tea he had just drunk.

Holy crap!

Have I been discovered?

“Everyone, look.

What is this?” Tie Yuning stretched out her fair and delicate hand, revealing several yellowish-brown lumps that looked like ordinary mud.

Everyone’s expression changed when they saw them.

Jia Hu was the first to step forward.

He picked up one of the lumps, crushed a small piece between his fingers, and examined it carefully.

“This is… beast-attracting powder used by mountain strongholds to lure wild beasts during large-scale hunts?”

Jia Hu’s expression instantly darkened.

“Sure enough, I knew there was nothing wrong with the route I chose!

Someone has been deliberately framing me and harming our caravan!”

“Who is it?!

Which son of a bitch did this?

Show yourself!”

Jia Hu was also a hot-tempered man.

His furious roar did not frighten the others, but it made Jia Jinsheng’s heart tremble.

The people inside the tent looked at one another, their eyes gradually filling with suspicion.

“No wonder!

I always thought I was blessed with good fortune, so how could I possibly suffer such bad luck again and again?

It turns out you were behind everything, Vice Leader Xiao!”

“You’re talking nonsense!

What makes you think I did it?

I think you’re the guilty one, Liu Laosan!

You’re just crying thief to catch the thief!”

“Wait, Leader Su!

I remember seeing you sneaking out of the camp last time.

You must have something to do with this beast-attracting powder!”

“Go to hell, Wang Laowu!

Keep talking nonsense and I’ll twist your head off!”

“I suspect Old Zhao.

He’s been acting suspiciously lately.”

The Vice leaders immediately began arguing among themselves.

Everyone insisted they were innocent while accusing someone else of being the culprit.

In the blink of an eye, almost everyone had become a suspect, yet not a single useful clue had been found.

“Young lady, since you discovered this beast-attracting powder, have you found the culprit behind it?” Seeing that arguing with the others was getting nowhere, Jia Hu stepped forward and asked Tie Yuning directly.

Jia Hu knew Tie Yuning’s true identity.

In fact, not long after she joined the caravan, someone from the Tie clan had secretly contacted him.

They told him to pretend he knew nothing about her identity and not to give her any special treatment.

Therefore, Jia Hu believed that with the Tie clan’s skill in investigating cases, Tie Yuning should have a way to find the culprit.

Tie Yuning shook her head.

“That person was very skilled.

They must have been a long-time member of the caravan and knew how everything worked.

I only discovered the beast-attracting powder by accident.

After that, I couldn’t find any other useful clues.

However, I can be certain of one thing: the culprit is someone within this caravan.”