In Gaotian City, Kang Luo heard Wei Jian's report out and his face went still and heavy.

The Great Xuan's horsemen had turned around and pulled back a mile and a half short of the city.

It was very hard not to suspect a spy at his elbow who had been carrying word to Ning Chen the whole time.

"Wei Jian. Who else did you tell about the ambush?"

Wei Jian said quickly, "This officer took the order and led his men out of the city. He told nobody."

"You're certain?"

Wei Jian nodded.

Kang Luo's brows drew tight. That was strange, then. Could it be one of the officers under Wei Jian?

Wei Jian's whole face filled with alarm. He was afraid Kang Luo suspected him, and dropped to his knees with a thud. "This officer is loyal to the bone to the Fourth Prince and would never sell the Fourth Prince out."

Kang Luo waved a hand. "Get up. I know it wasn't you!"

He could still trust Wei Jian. The man had gone through life and death at his side and his loyalty had never wavered.

Just then somebody outside the door asked to be admitted.

"Come in!"

An officer in full armor came in at a quick step, his face frightened.

Kang Luo saw the man's face was wrong and got a bad feeling. "What is it?"

"Reporting to the Fourth Prince. Word has just come in. Yuebei City and Yuezhong City have fallen, one after the other."

There was a buzzing in Kang Luo's head and his face went white.

Wei Jian was no less shocked.

It was a long time before Kang Luo came back to himself. He suspected he had misheard. "Say that again?"

"Fourth Prince. Yuebei City and Yuezhong City have fallen one after the other. They have been broken open by the Great Xuan."

The news went off beside Kang Luo's ear like a thunderclap. Everything went black in front of him and his body swayed.

Wei Jian put a hand out quickly to hold him up, his whole face full…