The snow beneath their feet was stained red as the camp's defenses faltered under the relentless onslaught of the beastmen. The cries of the dying echoed through the air, mixed with the growls and roars of the monstrous attackers. The camp, once a meager refuge against the harshness of the Northern Plains, was now nothing more than a battlefield, torn apart by chaos and bloodshed.
Hui Jian stood at the heart of the camp, watching with sharp eyes as the beastmen broke through. The plan had been to let the camp crumble in the face of this overwhelming force, while he slipped away with the supplies and resources he had carefully stockpiled over the past weeks. But now, the situation had spiraled beyond his control.
The beastmen's leader—a towering brute with savage scars crisscrossing its body—had breached the defenses earlier than anticipated, smashing through barricades with brutal efficiency. His followers, a horde of savage beasts armed with crude weapons, followed him into the heart of the camp. Their numbers far exceeded what the scouts had reported.
For the first time, Hui Jian found himself facing a situation he hadn't fully accounted for. His retreat route was cut off by the sudden charge of beastmen, forcing him to stay in the fray longer than planned. Ren and the other survivors fought desperately, trying to hold the line, but the camp was quickly becoming a slaughterhouse.
Hui Jian's mind raced. If he didn't act now, his escape would be compromised. But he couldn't simply vanish without raising suspicion. He needed an out—a way to make his departure look justified.
Amidst the chaos, Ren fought with fierce determination, his blade flashing as he cut down a beastman with a swift strike. His Frost Armor Gu shimmered around him, forming a protective shell of ice. But even Ren, as strong as he was, wouldn't hold forever.
Hui Jian narrowed his eyes and moved swiftly toward Ren. He had to set the stage for his escape, and the best way to do that was to cement his place as a trusted ally before slipping away. He approached Ren, his expression one of urgency.
"Ren!" Hui Jian called out, his voice barely audible over the sounds of battle.
Ren turned, his face slick with sweat and blood, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Hui Jian, what's the plan? These bastards are tearing us apart!"
Hui Jian stepped closer, his voice low but steady. "Take this." He pulled a Gu from his pouch—a minor but useful Snow Cloak Gu, one that could provide camouflage in the harsh conditions of the Northern Plains. He placed it in Ren's hands, his eyes sharp.
"This will give you a chance to strike from the shadows. Use it wisely. I need to retreat and strategize. We're losing ground fast, and someone has to stay sharp and plan the next move."
Ren hesitated, staring at the Gu in his hand, then back at Hui Jian. The urgency in Hui Jian's voice and the chaos around them left little room for doubt. "You're leaving us in the middle of this?"
Hui Jian placed a hand on Ren's shoulder, his expression grim but resolute. "I'll be back. But if I stay here, we're all dead. Trust me. I need to think, to figure out how we can survive this."
Ren swallowed hard, his jaw clenched, but he nodded. "Go. Do what you need to do."
With a sharp nod, Hui Jian turned and disappeared into the chaos. His heart raced, not from fear, but from the thrill of knowing that everything was falling into place. The battle provided the perfect cover for his escape, and the injury he had sustained earlier—the beastman's blow that had torn at his arm—was a convenient addition to his facade.
The pain was real, but it served a greater purpose.
As Hui Jian moved through the camp, he could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. This was the turning point. His careful manipulation had brought him this far, but now he had to make his escape before the camp fell entirely. He could hear the sounds of the beastmen closing in, the clash of metal on bone, the screams of the dying.
He didn't look back.
Inside his tent, Hui Jian moved swiftly, packing up the essential supplies—primeval stones, rations, the few Gu worms he had hidden away. Every movement was practiced, calculated. He couldn't afford to be slow or careless.
But as he worked, the sounds of battle grew louder. The beastmen were pushing deeper into the camp, and time was running out. His escape had to be perfect, seamless. Every detail had to be accounted for.
Slipping into the shadows, Hui Jian made his way toward the forest, careful to avoid the main paths where the fighting was most intense. He moved silently, his eyes scanning the treeline for signs of any stragglers. The camp was in chaos, and no one was paying attention to his absence.
As he reached the edge of the camp, he paused, listening. There were voices behind him—Ren's voice, calling out orders, rallying the survivors for one last stand. Hui Jian's heart pounded in his chest, but he didn't hesitate. With one final glance back at the burning camp, he disappeared into the forest.
His steps were measured, but his mind raced. He had left behind the Snow Cloak Gu with Ren—a calculated move to ensure his loyalty until the very last moment. It was a sacrifice, but a necessary one. The real prize was his freedom, his escape from this doomed camp.
As the trees closed in around him, the sounds of battle grew distant, replaced by the cold, quiet stillness of the Northern Plains. Hui Jian moved deeper into the forest, his eyes scanning for signs of pursuit, but there were none. He had planned for this moment for weeks, and now it was finally happening.
But even as he moved further away from the camp, a nagging feeling tugged at the back of his mind. Had he been too confident? Too certain of his success?
Back at the camp, Ren was fighting with everything he had, his heart heavy with the weight of their losses. The beastmen were relentless, their numbers overwhelming. But something gnawed at him—something Tao Lin had said just moments ago.
"I don't understand," Tao Lin had murmured, her brow furrowed. "Hui Jian always knew where the attacks were coming from. It's like he was one step ahead… always."
Ren's mind reeled as the pieces began to fall into place. Hui Jian had been so calm, so collected. He had always had a plan, always known exactly what to do. But now, in the heat of battle, something didn't feel right.
The Snow Cloak Gu in Ren's hand suddenly felt heavier.
A sickening realization hit him like a blow to the chest. Hui Jian had played them all. He had used them, manipulated them for his own gain, and now, when they needed him most, he was gone.
Ren's heart raced as he sprinted toward Hui Jian's tent, the desperation in his chest rising with every step. The camp was falling apart around him, but all he could think about was finding Hui Jian. Finding the truth.
He reached the tent, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his body trembling from exhaustion and rage.
The tent was empty.
Ren stood frozen in the entrance, his eyes scanning the abandoned space. The tent flap billowed in the wind, and inside, everything of value was gone. Only a few scattered items remained—broken tools, a discarded piece of cloth. But the supplies, the Gu worms, everything that mattered… it was all gone.
Hui Jian had abandoned them.
A cold, sickening rage filled Ren's chest as he stood there, his fists clenched at his sides. He had trusted Hui Jian. He had believed in him, followed him into battle, even defended his decisions. And now, he was nothing more than another pawn in Hui Jian's game.
The sounds of the camp's collapse grew louder, but Ren's mind was consumed with one thought.
If he survived this… if he made it through this night… he would hunt Hui Jian down. He would make him pay for his betrayal.
And in the dark corners of the Northern Plains, as the fires of the camp flickered and died, Ren swore that he would not rest until Hui Jian was brought to justice.