Chapter 1120: Internal Traitor

Ming Ye, calm and composed, said faintly, "Clearly, you will die faster."

He lightly tapped his finger on the armrest, and a palm-sized formation slowly appeared, emitting a faint glow. Simply by activating this formation, Jiang Fan and the others would be instantly teleported away.

This sudden turn of events caught even Young Master Shan Feng completely off guard. He exclaimed, "Grandpa, what are you doing?" He couldn't believe it. Jiang Fan and his companions were not only their benefactors but also shared a common enemy! Why would Grandpa repay kindness with enmity? What was he trying to achieve?

Ming Ye said indifferently, "Do you think they shouldn't be killed?" Shan Feng replied in a deep voice, "I can't think of a single reason why they should!" Ming Ye spread his hands. "Alright," he said. "I also don't want to earn the bad reputation of repaying kindness with enmity. Let's inform the ten elders and let them make the decision together!"

The village wasn't large. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all ten elders had gathered in front of the main hall.

"This is the situation," Ming Ye said, hands behind his back, his voice hoarse. "The Giant King is lurking outside, coveting us. Only by handing them over can we gain the Giant King's forgiveness. Those who agree to hand them over, stand with me. Those who disagree, stand with the Young Master. Make your decision within ten breaths."

The villagers of Black Cloud Fortress, both old and young, immediately took their positions. The final result brought a look of relief to Shan Feng's face: only one person stood beside Ming Ye.

"Chief, are you out of your mind?" one elder demanded. "In the eyes of the Ancient Giants, we are nothing more than prey. How could handing over these people from the Central Plains possibly make them spare us? It would be much more logical to unite with them and secure a way out for our Black Cloud Fortress!" "Chief, have you gone senile?" Ming Ye received unanimous condemnation from the nine elders.

He helplessly looked at the only elder who supported him and gave a bitter smile. "Elder Defeng," he said, "only you are in favor of handing them over."

Elder Defeng, who was in his forties and in his prime, showed a determined expression. "I believe in the Chief's decision!" he declared. "You must have your own reasons for doing this!"

Ming Ye nodded. "Good," he said. "Though it feels like repaying kindness with enmity, for the sake of Black Cloud Fortress, we should still hand them over. You can handle this unpleasant task."

Without another word, Elder Defeng approached the Chief's armrest and was about to activate the formation without hesitation. However, the next moment, a tearing pain suddenly shot through his chest. He looked down and saw an old hand had pierced through his chest!

Elder Defeng was in too much pain to even scream. He struggled to turn his head and look behind him. The one who had struck him was none other than Chief Ming Ye! "Chief, you... you're mad, aren't you?" He couldn't comprehend why the Chief would kill him.

Ming Ye withdrew his hand, his old face tinged with a grim, dark expression. "Even my grandson knows that these people from the Central Plains cannot be killed," he stated. "Their continued existence is entirely beneficial to our Black Cloud Fortress, with no harm. Yet you, an elder, don't know this?"

Drained of all strength, Elder Defeng weakly collapsed to the ground. "I... I didn't think that far," he mumbled. "I just unconditionally obeyed the Chief's orders. Is that wrong?"

Ming Ye stomped his foot on his chest, making him vomit blood. His eyes flashed with cold severity. "Stop pretending!" he barked. "If you truly cared for Black Cloud Fortress, you would never have thought of harming them! Unless, in your heart, you were doing it for the Ancient Giants! That's why you thought of taking credit from the Giant King outside by handing them over!"

This sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard. Even Shan Feng was stunned. "Grandpa," he stammered, "are you saying Elder Defeng is a spy for the Ancient Giants?"

Ming Ye's old eyes narrowed. "Only I and the ten elders knew about your journey to the Central Plains," he explained. "No one else was aware. But the Nine-Orifice Giants were able to ambush you precisely on the island you had to pass through, which means an inside informant must have notified them in advance! This informant is among me and the ten elders. That's why I set up this scheme to lure him out."

With that, he crouched down and tore open Elder Defeng's robes, revealing his chest. Then he took out a bottle of Ancient Giant's blood and dripped it onto his chest. The blood, reacting to some sensation, immediately came alive and coalesced into the character "石" (stone) on his chest.

The people of Black Cloud Fortress burst into an uproar! "The totem of the Stone Giant tribe!" someone exclaimed. "With this totem, the Ancient Giants will recognize them and not inflict harm." "Only beings who have been granted hunting exemption by the Ancient Giants can bear this totem!" At once, the truth became clear. Elder Defeng, in order to gain immunity from being hunted by the Ancient Giants, had chosen to become their spy.

"Chief, I... I was forced!" Elder Defeng pleaded, his face pale. "I didn't want to betray Black Cloud Fortress, please believe me..."

The next moment, Ming Ye mercilessly stomped through his heart, crushing him to death. "Once you become a dog for the Ancient Giants," he stated, "don't claim to be innocent."

Immediately, he turned and approached Jiang Fan and the others. He released the spatial restraint on them, then cupped his hands in apology. "Friends from the Central Plains, I am truly sorry," he said. "The spy was deeply hidden, and only by inconveniencing you all could I draw him out. I, an old man, was forced to resort to this last resort, and I hope you can bear with me." He apologized repeatedly, his face cordial.

Jiang Fan's expression turned slightly cold. "Acting so rashly without prior discussion," he said. "You should be glad I kept my composure, otherwise, today, your Black Cloud Fortress would have been drenched in blood."

Ming Ye stroked his beard and chuckled. "Oh? Do you still have the strength to resist?" he said, a hint of pride in his methods mixed with a touch of amusement at how easily Jiang Fan and his companions had fallen for his trap.

Jiang Fan calmly replied, "Look up." Ming Ye looked up and was astonished to see a small reddish-brown spirit beast lying on the roof. Its eyes were watery, and in its mouth, it held a small black stone carving. The carving was filled with a terrifying power that made even Ming Ye, a Nine-Orifice Asura, tremble with fear. "A Divinity Transformation strike?" His pupils constricted, and he was inwardly horrified.

Jiang Fan slowly stood up. He gestured, and the little Qilin jumped back onto his shoulder, returning the small stone carving to him. "If you had dared to teleport them just now," Jiang Fan said, "this strike would have been unleashed upon your Black Cloud Fortress."

Gulp! Ming Ye swallowed lightly, and a trickle of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He had truly underestimated the Central Plains youth before him. Not only had Jiang Fan discovered the abnormality of the chair in advance and taken precautions, but he also held a Divinity Transformation strike! If that were detonated, Black Cloud Fortress would likely collapse instantly, with very few able to escape. And among those who escaped, who could possibly avoid the Giant King's deadly grasp? Most likely, the entire clan would be annihilated.

At this thought, his face stiffened slightly, and his voice trembled with lingering fear. "I, an old man, was too hasty," he admitted. "Fortunately, young friend, you are exceptionally astute and discerned my true intentions. Otherwise, the consequences would have been dire."