The feast seemed to go on even though it's already late at night while reacting in a seemingly drunk stupor despite the fact that they didn't even have drunk any alcohol at all, being merry and happy toward each other.
It was weird watching the bunch of muscle man which has been serious and steady from before to this kind of playful appearance right now.
Although they are still smart enough to always be on their guard and haven't allowed themselves to drink alcohol in this kind of situation and environment before Shao Cheng gazes at the hot tea that was placed on his table once more before taking a sip with graceful movement.
Before watching the way his older brother interacts in a friendly manner on his subordinates with a laugh and bright smile on his face which Shao Cheng has acknowledged as a good leadership trait to have, just as long as Shao Yan remains decisive in the most important part base on his position.
A commanding officer, especially a person who will able to become the grand marshal in the military army couldn't be a soft-hearted fool with a bleeding heart because showing mercy and hesitancy isn't allowed to happen, a taboo for a person that is commanding the soldiers.
Although Shao Cheng doesn't have any experience in the military area because of being more focus into the politic and has become a high civil rank official than a military one in the previous life, nevertheless, he has seen how the military work, on how to command a proper one, and it was all because of the war operations that Ren Yuan has experience on the war of another Empire.
Besides that, Shao Cheng attention has returned into a certain item on his hands before slowly moving his gaze around the place and instantly meeting the gazes of the person that has been glancing his way the entire time which has quickly shown a quick smile and a nod of his head before getting back to listening to a group of people that was performing storytelling.
Soon, as time passes by, with Shao Cheng remaining seated on the chair with a cup of tea on his hands when suddenly the people that has been walking and standing around the place have abruptly stopped moving, their body tensing and relaxing up before promptly collapsing hard in the ground.
"W-What?"
Something was wrong or more importantly… this isn't supposed to happen yet, at least not in this way, because as everyone becomes alert and guarded, Shao Cheng has glance to the person that has stood up suddenly that showed a real surprise expression along with a wide panic and flustered eyes.
Then Shao Cheng has gazed at the item still on his hands that have been intentionally dropped in secret from before on his side in which it contains a potent body paralysis and sealing internal energy for a martial arts people.
And from what he has been able to study so far, it was not a poisonous drug… which was understandable because despite a poison being the most common use to dealing with the people around in this world, but finding a colorless, tasteless and odorless lethal poison that can kill a martial arts person filled with internal energies without giving away is hard to get and find.
Even in the black market, it rarely appears because in this world those who are proficient in poison keep their own poison medicines to themselves, after all, they don't want another person who is proficient in their filled of expertise to figure out the components on how to create it and if they were to secretly sell it, a fortune is needed to even get one.
But for now though as the people before him continue to collapse in the ground while his older brother that has instantly figured out that something was wrong, has immediately tried to run on his side in which Shao Yan can only fail halfway as he too has collapsed quickly but still desperately trying to move toward him.
Shao Cheng saw the way his older brother's dark blue eyes widen in fear, which was fear for Shao Cheng safety rather than his own life, worrying about him first than considering what will happen to his own life when he was unable to move and in a vulnerable situation.
Feeling touch deep down, Shao Cheng still knows about what to do as his body also slumped over on his chair while his gaze has glanced over at the cup of tea that was still hot which was something that he was given a moment ago.
It was obvious about why he was still drugged out despite having the medicine on his hands by the supposed traitor that he has long figured out.
Meaning that there was another traitor on his brother group of people, someone that was bought over… unlike the main one that has chosen to betray Shao Yan that seemingly being forced or threatened to do it… something to be expected though… the enemies can't only have one traitor right?
If he was the one planning it, Shao Cheng will not choose a single person to use, threatened or forcing that person doesn't matter at all, because when scheming a person's downfall, one needed to be shameless, wicked and ruthless when doing it.
At least, that is how Shao Cheng has done it in the past, he just couldn't show any mercy, and no bottom line is needed if he wanted to win and survive a battle that can spell his own downfall if he were to lost the fight.
He has to gamble and use everything he has in order to remove and eradicate his entire enemies.
And soon only two-people were left standing normally among the people around, in which everyone that can move their head and open their mouth to speak has finally determined that they have been betrayed by their own people.
"GAO! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS! HOW CAN YOU BETRAY YAN!"
Gao that has been standing in a dumbfounded manner, unable to comprehend about how this has happened, especially when he suddenly found a chance to maybe help him deal with the problem he was facing, at least, saving Shao Yan and Yu Qin life amidst all this disaster that he finds himself tangled with, couldn't stop himself from flinching at the loud furious and betrayed howl of Yu Qin.
"No… I…" I was looking for an opportunity to at least save the two of you from all of these...
Suddenly the other person that was standing, which was just among the normal people in the rank of Shao Yan subordinates has just rolled his eyes while shaking his head in pity although there was a smirk on his face the entire time.
"Well, if it makes you feel better, Captain Gao was forced to do it since his pretty little sister was taken away and threatened with her life. He just really needed to choose if he cares more about her life than yours."
"You…"
"Gao…"
Yu Qin that has been furious the entire time couldn't help but pale at what he just heard while his lip quiver with conflicted emotion when he knows fully well about how much Gao has adored and loved his remaining family left, while Shao Yan eyes just flash a certain emotion before it quickly returned into a calm and cold gaze which has caused the person that has been smirking to darkened on his expression.
"Leader... don't blame me… they offered me a better deal and a high-rank status, no matter how long I stay in your side, I will never raise up in rank. Besides what I could not accept is the fact that while I'm from a noble family and them just being a commoner in status, why did you choose them over me?"
"I choose people with talent and skill…. I already have spoken about it before I picked you up in my group to join Gong Lam."
Hearing Shao Yan's words, Gong Lam that has a dark expression the entire time while his eyes were shooting malicious emotions has suddenly shown a wicked smile.
"Do you know why I made the move and Captain Gao didn't? Because he tried to give you guys a way out, at least give you some clue about what is truly happening! I have been secretly watching his every move the entire time. And do you know which person did he choose of all people to figure it out? It's your precious Little Brother Leader."
With wide surprised eyes, Shao Yan that heard his brother being mention has caused his heart to thump harder before his mouth open up to speak in a threatening manner, his calm and cold attitude has quickly change into a frenzy expression, while Shao Cheng that was mention remained indifferent about the whole ordeal.
"Don't you dare touch him!"
While Gao that has been frozen still, with conflicting emotions has snapped his head over before rushing ahead to stop the other traitor that has been ordered to spy his every movement without him knowing it.
"Gong Lam stop it! He doesn't have anything to do with it! I am the one at fault here!"
However, before he can even get close to the other man, Gao felt his body has suddenly become numb over before plunging down hard in the ground, while Gong Lam just shoots a smug look at what happened to the mere commoner that dares to become powerful than him.
"Your drugs are a late effect. Don't worry though, I need to keep you alive, after all, that person hated being betrayed and people failing to meet his expectation."
"Urgh…"
Gao can only lay there undefeated with a hopeless expression on his face, while Shao Yan face has turned red from a fit of rage while his entire body continues to emit a terrifying murderous intention the more that Gong Lam get closer to his third brother.
"Stop this instant or I'll make sure to punish you with everything I got when I survive all of this! I will not leave your entire family alone if you dare to touch even a single hair of Cheng!"
Hearing such an overwhelming vengeful and unforgiving threatening voice of Shao Yan for the first time ever, Gong Lam couldn't help but stop a few distances away from the silent young man while his entire body shudders from how dark his Leader's voice was.
However, his hesitation disappeared in an instant when he met the cold and indifferent sapphire eyes of the person before him, in which it seemed to scream about how insignificant a person Gong Lam that has caused him to swiftly grabbed the young man hair roughly and pulling the person off from the chair that he has been sitting with before making a loud harsh sound when the small body met the ground in a rough manner.
With dark eyes, full of envy and jealousy, while feeling how unfair the world is, Gong Lam darkly gaze at the person that remained quiet and without making a single sound despite falling hard on the ground and causing him to cruelly pulled the black hair on his hands once more forcefully, which was hard enough to make a person scream from pain, only to feel frustration when no single sound has come out from the young man lip.
"I loathe people like you. Acting so high and mighty, when all along, you are just nothing more than people who were lucky enough to be born into a more powerful family."
"Cheng!"
A scream filled with a heartbreaking and painful sound echoed out, causing Shao Cheng that has remained unaffected about the proceeding actions has easily caused his heart to twist in pain from his older brother's saddening reaction.
"Now, now… don't handle such beauty so roughly and violently like that."
Suddenly, a group of people has appeared, causing Shao Cheng's eyes to narrowed down a bit while a glint of emotion emerged within it which has disappeared quickly.
He has been waiting for their appearance the whole time…