Indeed, it was illogical, unless Guo Wei Xiang had also turned traitor like Tang Hao. But that possibility was as unlikely as Zhou Rong suddenly falling in love with Yan Hao, or Yan Hao suddenly falling in love with General Zheng – the probability was so small it wasn’t worth discussing.
The river curved, and Chun Cao waved to Si Nan, leading the way into the bushes.
“Tang Hao might have his own plans. Regardless, it’s best to avoid him before meeting Brother Rong,” Chun Cao said, cutting through dense vines with her curved knife. “All his talk about getting separated during our escape is fake, and those cloth markers and signposts are fabricated…”
“I know.”
“?” Chun Cao turned back. “How do you know?”
Si Nan waded through knee-deep grass, a hint of sad humor in his eyes: “He said they got separated because it was a matter of life and death, and no one could care for anyone else. But I know you wouldn’t leave anyone behind unless you confirmed someone was dead. This has nothing to do with life-or-death situations or capabilities, purely because… because it’s you guys.”
Chun Cao’s movements momentarily froze, her gaze flickering with emotion: “Si Xiao Nan…”
Si Nan removed the blood-stained dog tag from his chest and held it out: “I found this.”
Chun Cao was stunned: “Ah? How did you—”
She wanted to ask why he’d hang it around his neck, how dirty it was, but Si Nan suddenly interrupted her, as if avoiding any external questions: “I need some time.
Chun Cao: “?”
“I might need a long time to accept Yan Hao’s departure. Could you let me keep this in the meantime?”
Chun Cao: “Ah?!”
Chun Cao was bewildered.
Si Nan: “…What?”
They stared at each other. Chun Cao quickly covered her face, squeezing out a painful sound: “O-okay, keep it if you want… but where did you find this damn… dog tag?”
“At the camp. There were many bodies. I brought everyone’s tags.”
Chun Cao: “Oh, I see… Are you grieving for Yan Hao?”
Si Nan hung the tag back around his neck, speaking hoarsely: “I just want to know how he died.”
