C12 The Diversion

Under his command, the towering Battle Puppet took heavy strides toward the direction of the city. The ground shook with each step, sending clouds of dust swirling into the air.

The Battle Puppet charged into the enemy's ambush with a forceful presence, immediately drawing the attention of many foes. The clash quickly escalated into a fierce battle.

Shouts and cries of pain filled the air.

Seeing the enemy distracted, Luo Tongtian began preparing for his stealth mission. He pulled out two gray talismans and attached them to his legs, channeling his energy into them. Instantly, his weight seemed to vanish.

He felt as light as a leaf caught in the wind, his entire being infused with a sense of weightlessness.

Luo Tongtian circled around the Battle Puppet's fight, stealthily making his way toward the city from the other side. Under the cover of night, he moved like a ghost through the trees, silent and unseen.

Despite the Battle Puppet drawing the enemy's focus, he still faced numerous challenges.

Hundreds of enemies were hidden in the trenches and underbrush, with rows of archers ready for battle. These were seasoned warriors, battle-hardened and highly skilled. If he were discovered, there would be no escape.

Despite the relentless challenges, fate seemed to favor him. Under the cover of fierce winds, Luo Tongtian finally navigated through the most densely guarded areas, inching closer to his destination, Sunset City.

An hour later, the majestic city stood before him. Just as he was about to celebrate his plan's success, the sight of rows of soldiers at the city gates wiped the smile off his face.

"I didn't expect the city guard to put up such a formidable display. Getting into the city is going to be tougher than I thought. It's a shame the signal devices are with the guards in blue; otherwise, I could call for backup."

Luo Tongtian frowned, frustration etched on his face.

At that moment, a sense of impending danger washed over him. Instinctively, he spun around, sword in hand, only to strike empty air. Instead, a blade as swift and deadly as a viper slashed across him, leaving a bloody wound. The blade vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving no trace.

As he stood there, stunned, several dark trees suddenly came to life, transforming into shadows that lunged at him.

"So, it's the Shadow Squad from the city guard. No wonder they're so elusive!"

Luo Tongtian strained to track their movements, but all he could see were flickering shadows. This reminded him of the stories his foster father once told him about the Shadow Squad.

Faced with their taunts, the elusive shadows remained silent, but their attacks grew more vicious. Sharp gusts of black wind sliced through the air, severing branches and tearing the atmosphere. The dense black streaks formed an invisible net, gradually pushing Luo Tongtian to the brink.

"You sneaky cowards, get out of my way!" Luo Tongtian shouted, feeling powerless against these unseen foes. His Thunder Fist struck repeatedly, but it was like throwing stones into a lake, only causing ripples that quickly vanished.

Frustrated, he grabbed a tree as thick as a man's leg, and with a mighty effort, uprooted it. Swinging the heavy trunk before him, he charged forward with all his might. Yet, the shadows deftly avoided his blows, always circling around him. Their intent was clear: to wait until he was exhausted and then deliver the final, deadly strike.

"You vile creatures, even if I die, I'm taking one of you with me," he muttered, feeling waves of weakness wash over him. A flicker of despair crossed his face as he took a deep breath, a rapidly spinning silver light appearing in his hand. Though small, it seemed to compress endless energy within, shooting toward the swirling shadows at lightning speed.

The silver gleam of the shuttle was a powerful weapon, glowing brilliantly when infused with energy. Its tip emitted a sharp beam about three feet long, resembling a rainbow stretched across the sky.

Despite their skills in stealth, two of the shadowy figures couldn't evade the sudden flash of silver, and they fell to the ground, blood spraying from their bodies. However, this powerful attack drained the last ounce of strength from Luo Tongtian. As he watched the remaining enemies approach with menacing eyes, he gave a bitter smile and collapsed backward.

Yet, the enemies' swords and knives never reached him. A towering, majestic figure clad in purple stood in front of him, blocking all attacks. Luo Tongtian's body didn't hit the ground; instead, he was caught by a gentle arm.

"Did Father really send... the Purple Robe Guards?" Luo Tongtian exclaimed in surprise, leaning against the soft figure.

He knew that the four Purple Robe Guards were the personal protectors of General Luo, only deployed when he was away. Their arrival to rescue him was unexpected.

"Fool, you're part of our General's Mansion. Of course, you'd receive full support in times of danger."

Amidst the gentle breeze, Luo Youyou's stunning face appeared before him.

“Father truly saw something in you. In the face of danger, not only did you not fall, but you also advanced to a Level Three Warrior. If Father knew this, he’d be so proud of you.” Luo Youyou smiled happily at Luo Tongtian, her lips a soft pink.

“I feel so blessed!”

The weakened Luo Tongtian leaned into her embrace, a slow smile spreading across his lips.

“Miss, let’s take Young Master back home.”

At that moment, Du Yidao appeared with a group of people, respectfully addressing Luo Youyou.

“If I let you take me, I’d probably end up as a corpse before we even reach the city.”

Luo Tongtian, summoning his strength, retorted angrily at Du Yidao.

“What do you mean by that?”

Du Yidao, seemingly unaware that his entire scheme had been uncovered, asked coldly.

“You and Qin Yu are both with the City Guard. Does that answer satisfy you?”

Seeing Du Yidao feign ignorance, Luo Tongtian couldn’t help but sneer.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Hearing this, Du Yidao’s eyes narrowed, his expression turning uneasy.

“The City Guard has locked down the entire city, and all the guards at the mansion were stopped. Yet, you and your men managed to leave without a hitch. How do you explain that?”

Seeing Du Yidao trying to deny it, Luo Youyou interrupted him with a question. At her words, Du Yidao and his companions turned pale. Only then did they realize that Miss Luo's permission for them to move freely and search for Luo Tongtian outside the city was just a ruse. Her real goal was to use this test to uncover the traitor hidden among the guards of the General's Mansion.

After receiving secret orders from the city guard, Du Yidao was eager to kill Luo Tongtian and return to claim credit, not realizing he had fallen into Miss Luo's trap. "Since you've seen through us, we have nothing more to say!" he admitted.

"You're already surrounded by us and can't even protect yourselves. How do you plan to kill us?" Luo Youyou retorted as Du Yidao quietly began retreating into the night. "Killing you was always going to be easy for me," she said with a cold snort, raising her hand slowly.

A gentle breeze blew, and a flash of purple light appeared behind Du Yidao and his men. The light burst into a deadly force, sending two heads flying into the air, followed by two stunning columns of blood. Du Yidao's right arm was severed and landed at Luo Tongtian's feet.

"Another Purple Robe Guard?" Luo Tongtian's eyes widened in disbelief.

"More than just two. To root out the traitors in the mansion and save you, our hero, I brought all four of the elite guards with me. Two of them are hidden, keeping the enemies at bay," Luo Youyou said, helping Luo Tongtian to his feet with a hint of pride on her face.

"I see," Luo Tongtian nodded slowly, taking in her words.

As they spoke, the battle nearby had already concluded. The two elite guards had swiftly dealt with the traitors led by Du Yidao, cutting them down with ease. This marked the removal of the hidden threat within the General's Mansion.