Chapter 159: Borrowing a Knife to Kill

Treason?

This response felt somewhat perplexing.

Shen Yinglong said, "This Northern Bear has stayed at the Two-World Mountain all year round. That mountain happens to stand right between the territories of Great Qian and Northern Yan, and the northern slopes belong to the people of Northern Yan. It is precisely because of this unique location that it provided him with the convenience to collude with the enemy and betray his country."

"In name, the Bear is a hunter, but in reality, he secretly passed intelligence about our Great Qian's northern frontier to Northern Yan. Through our investigation and verification, it was precisely because they obtained sufficient intelligence before launching their invasion this time that Northern Yan decided to start a war against our Great Qian."

"He truly deserves to die a thousand deaths."

At this point, a surge of patriotic fervor welled up within Shen Yinglong, and his hatred for this so-called traitor who betrayed Great Qian made him grind his teeth in resentment.

Yet, so what?

Jiang Chen felt that this was probably yet another fabricated charge forcefully imposed upon someone, because this Northern Bear did not look like the cunning and insidious type.

If this man had committed crimes of arson, plunder, and slaughter, it would have been eighty to ninety percent believable, as he looked savage, violent, and bloodthirsty. However, to say that he colluded with the enemy and committed treason felt somewhat out of place.

A hunter who had lived deep in the secluded mountains for years—what reason would he have to betray Great Qian?

Was it for wealth?

Or was it in pursuit of fame, fortune, and a life of luxury?

Could such things truly hold any temptation for someone content with a life in the wilderness?

Jiang Chen already understood the situation in his heart. As he continued to walk forward with Shen Yinglong, he casually kicked a block of wood on the ground, which happened to slide right to the feet of the Northern Bear.

"Brother Jiang, please don't mind this. This is the interrogation cell for prisoners; it might look quite terrifying, but there is no need to worry. Just rest assured and write down the full course of events here. When the time comes, I will naturally clear your name and lift any suspicions against you."

This cell was only a third of the size of a regular prison cell, furnished with a desk and a stool. Sitting inside gave one the feeling of being a lamb awaiting slaughter.

This was because on the three walls of the small cell hung numerous and varied instruments of torture. They looked rusty, and many still bore glaring bloodstains, yet at the same time, they seemed to constantly emit a piercing, bone-chilling glare that struck fear into the heart.

"Brother Jiang, take your time writing. It would be best to include every single detail, the more thorough the better. I will go and prepare some fine wine and delicious food for us, and we can continue our conversation and drinking later."

Shen Yinglong smiled as he stepped out of the cell. His footsteps gradually quickened from a slow and leisurely pace, eventually vanishing beyond the range of Jiang Chen's perception.

Before him now lay a sheet of white paper, along with a brush and an inkstone. But should he really write as Shen Yinglong had instructed?

What Jiang Chen found strange was that Shen Yinglong had not revealed any objective thus far; he genuinely appeared as though he intended to clear Jiang Chen of suspicion.

No, why would Shen Yinglong go to such great lengths to orchestrate all these events?

First feigning flattery, then secretly framing him, and now putting on a hypocritical act of offering to help clear his name—there had to be an absolute, inescapable motive that linked all three events together.

Just as Jiang Chen was racking his brains in deep thought, a strange noise suddenly echoed from outside.

The sound resembled the impact of some iron implement dropping to the ground, and following right after, such noises echoed one after another. The atmosphere within the prison instantly grew inexplicably tense.

Only then did Jiang Chen notice that the cell he was in had no door, while chaotic footsteps began to sound down the corridor, heading directly toward his location.

"Are they planning to silence me?"

Jiang Chen suddenly figured it out. The reason Shen Yinglong had tricked him into coming here was to kill him.

Of course, Shen Yinglong could have done it himself, but what he wanted was to use someone else's hands to kill Jiang Chen, and in this prison, he could easily find people willing to do just that.

"Was it really you who killed our general?"

Soon, the first person appeared before Jiang Chen. He looked over with a gaze of disdain, his expression mingled with disappointment and anger.

Behind this person, numerous other figures quickly crowded around. It was impossible to tell how many people had gathered in the corridor outside; they were all prisoners locked up here, though it remained unknown whose hands had flung all their cell doors wide open.

Jiang Chen now had reason to be grateful for this cramped little cell, because the narrow doorway could only allow one person to pass through at a time, effectively blocking the vast horde of prisoners outside and ensuring Jiang Chen would not be attacked from both front and rear by a massive mob.

At the same time, however, he was completely trapped inside. Trying to escape safely from this place seemed like nothing more than an idle dream.

"Was it really you who killed General Xiao?" someone asked the same question once again.

Without exception, these people were extremely eager to know the answer. From the title they used, it was not hard to figure out that they were all Northern Yan prisoners of war.

Now Jiang Chen began to understand why Shen Yinglong had brought him here. Being locked up together with these Northern Yan prisoners of war was indeed an exquisite method of using a borrowed knife to kill.

Facing these menacing prisoners, Jiang Chen calmly replied, "Xiao Tong did indeed die at my hands, and I even chopped off his head and sent it to the Northern Yan military camp. Right now, the Northern Yan army has retreated to Liaocheng and has not dared to come out and stir up trouble again."

"This is the answer you wanted to know, and I have now told you."

The man standing at the very front glanced at Jiang Chen once more. The doubt in his heart was simple: how could this fair-faced, weak scholar standing before them possibly kill General Xiao, who had been invincible in their eyes?

This time, when they followed Xiao Tong to attack Great Qian, they had been victorious and unstoppable all the way, eventually forcing Great Qian to retreat step by step and humiliatingly beg for peace. How could things have turned into this current state?

"Just based on you, you dare claim you killed General Xiao? Do you know what you are saying?"

"I am Jiang Chen, and I will take responsibility for the words I have spoken."

Though in grave danger, Jiang Chen remained calm and unfazed, knowing that fear was useless at this point and that any lingering wishful thinking would only make him weak. A surge of proud and heroic spirit welled up within him.

Upon hearing the name Jiang Chen, one of the prisoners immediately spoke up, "That's right, the person who killed General Xiao is indeed named Jiang Chen. Trusting him can't be wrong!"

This person had been locked in recently and thus knew something about the current situation outside. With his testimony to corroborate the fact, the prisoners' hatred toward Jiang Chen instantly multiplied tenfold.

The revered General Xiao had actually been slain by this person, so the very next thing they had to do was naturally to avenge him!

The people of Northern Yan had always been quick to exact revenge for any grievance, let alone such a deep and irreconcilable blood feud. The leading man was the first to launch an attack on Jiang Chen, and as the others behind him finally found an opportunity to charge in, the scene instantly descended into extreme chaos.

"You scoundrel, forfeit your life!"