bayedsolid Chapter 361 Xie Linchuan's identity is accidentally exposed
Chapter 361 Xie Linchuan's identity is accidentally exposed
The sun hung high in the sky, and the air around them was filled with a parched heat, as if the earth itself were gathering strength for the coming storm. Ye Wan stood on the highest point of the camp, gazing out at the vast array of imperial troops, her heart sinking slightly. Ever since the imperial court issued its ultimatum, this once tranquil valley seemed to be engulfed in an endless storm. Today might be the moment that decided everything.
However, fate did not seem to let her get away with it easily. Just as she was thinking carefully, a voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Oh! Xie Linchuan?!"
The sound was abrupt, almost like a cannonball exploding in the air, instantly shattering the atmosphere. For a moment, everyone's attention was focused on the source of the sound, especially Ye Wan. She frowned and turned to see a simple-dressed attendant, his eyes filled with shock and terror.
"You, you are Xie Linchuan?" The follower's voice trembled unconsciously, as if he had encountered some extremely terrifying existence.
Ye Wan's heart skipped a beat, and her expression instantly grew serious. She knew that today's situation was no longer so simple. Xie Linchuan, standing beside her, had a slightly changed expression, but quickly regained his composure. He didn't react in any way, simply staring coldly at the attendant, as if assessing whether this person was worth wasting any emotion on.
"You, know me?" Xie Linchuan's voice was low, with a hint of indifference in his tone.
The attendant's eyes widened, as if he suddenly realized he had let something slip, and he swallowed in panic. "I... I've seen you a few times in the capital. Aren't you... aren't you the orphan of the Xie family? The once-famous Xie Linchuan?!"
As soon as the words fell, the people around them fell silent, as if struck by lightning. Ye Wan's eyes widened slightly. She had not expected Xie Linchuan's identity to be revealed at this critical moment. Everyone looked at each other, no one dared to speak. The atmosphere suddenly became extremely awkward and tense.
"Oh, did you recognize the wrong person? This is my friend, Mr. Xie." Ye Wan gritted her teeth and tried to smooth things over, pretending not to hear the follower's words clearly, trying to relieve the inexplicable pressure.
However, the attendant clearly had no intention of taking his words back. His eyes widened, and he pointed at Xie Linchuan's face, almost in a state of frantic disbelief. "Impossible! You're him! Xie Linchuan! I've seen you several times. Why are you here? How did you end up hanging out with these people? Didn't you die a long time ago?!"
"Bang!" With the sound of heavy footsteps, several of the camp's toughest warriors gathered around and instantly surrounded the entourage. Ye Wan's heart skipped a beat; she knew this turmoil could not be quelled.
Xie Linchuan's expression grew colder, like a stone sculpture drenched in chill. He slowly turned and stared at the follower, his gaze frozen with frost. "I'm not dead. You can tell your master behind you that no one in the Xie family will die. It's only those who die an untimely death who are forever buried in the dust of history."
The attendant was frightened by his gaze and quickly lowered his head, unconsciously uttering a weak sound: "Yes, yes... I said the wrong thing. I... I didn't expect... I didn't expect you to be alive."
At that moment, a tall figure slowly approached from the distant military camp. It was the leading general, Li Haoran. His sharp eyes swept over, quickly capturing the shift in the atmosphere. His gaze flicked back and forth several times between Xie Linchuan and his entourage, as if he were lost in thought.
"Xie Linchuan..." The general nodded slightly, his voice a little low, "It's you. I didn't expect to see you here today."
Ye Wan's heart tightened, her scalp drenched in cold sweat, and she suddenly felt an unprecedented pressure. The general's attitude subtly changed in an instant. He had once been full of hostility, but now he seemed to have become somewhat gentle, but this gentleness revealed a threat that could not be ignored.
"Do you know him?" Ye Wan couldn't help but ask, with a hint of temptation in her voice.
"Of course I know him." Li Haoran chuckled, a complex light in his eyes. "The Xie family is not a simple family. He has been a legendary figure since he was a child, not only because of his own talent, but also because of the prominent family behind him. Rumor has it that he is one of the only heirs to the court. He has been missing for many years. I thought he died in a coup, but I didn't expect to see him today."
Every word Li Haoran said was like a hammer hitting Ye Wan's heart, and her face turned pale. Xie Linchuan's identity turned out to be more than just a simple matter. This man who had fought alongside her actually carried such a huge secret.
"You never told me you were from the Xie family?" Ye Wan turned her head, her eyes flickering with complex emotions. She knew that Xie Linchuan was not just an orphan, but a figure everyone considered a threat.
Xie Linchuan's expression remained stern, as if these topics had nothing to do with him. He looked at Li Haoran calmly, his lips curled up slightly. "Yes, I am from the Xie family, but now I no longer belong to that family. I am no longer the center of that power struggle. I am just an ordinary person, someone who is willing to protect their homeland together with these people."
His words were like a sedative, easing the tense atmosphere slightly. Ye Wan took a deep breath and ultimately decided not to question Xie Linchuan about his past. After all, he had chosen her, the team here, and their shared future.
But the current situation was far from simple. After Xie Linchuan's identity was exposed, Li Haoran's attitude became complicated, and a subtle atmosphere seemed to permeate the air. The imperial court would obviously not miss any opportunity, and the Xie family, as a powerful family, was obviously a huge variable due to the existence of its orphan.
"Since you have shown up, the relationship between us may need to be re-examined." Li Haoran's tone was sneering, as if he was waiting for Xie Linchuan's response.
"How do you want me to respond?" Xie Linchuan asked back. There was no fear in his eyes, but instead an inexplicable calmness.
"I originally thought you were just a nameless nobody, but now it seems your identity might bring us some unexpected trouble." Li Haoran's smile gradually faded, replaced by a sense of oppression. "I hope you understand that you cannot refuse the court's request."
"In that case, we have no choice but to stand on opposite sides." Xie Linchuan responded calmly, without any intention of giving in in his tone.
At this moment, the air around them seemed to freeze, and Ye Wan felt a heavier presence approaching. She knew that this confrontation was far from as simple as she had imagined. And her and Xie Linchuan's fate was doomed to be entangled with the imperial court.
"Get ready for the storm," she said softly, a determined glint in her eyes.
She knew that from this moment on, every choice they made would determine their future fate, and Xie Linchuan's identity was destined to become the most complex and unpredictable variable in this battle.