CHAPTER 62 :The Man Who Smiled Too Carefully
1019 Words
Snow continued falling over Valin Fortress through the afternoon.
The stronghold remained disciplined as always, yet beneath the orderly movements of soldiers and officers, tension quietly spread through every corridor.
The imperial inspectors were approaching.
And somewhere within the fortress—
a traitor was listening.
Inside the main command courtyard, soldiers prepared for the inspectors’ arrival while officers organized reports and military records.
Everything appeared calm on the surface.
But Shen Yue could feel it clearly now.
People were watching each other.
Conversations shortened whenever someone approached.
Movements became more careful.
Even laughter disappeared.
Suspicion had entered Valin.
And suspicion was far more dangerous than enemy arrows.
From the upper balcony outside the strategy hall, Shen Yue quietly observed the fortress below.
Cold wind brushed against her cloak, carrying the scent of snow and steel.
Behind her, footsteps approached steadily.
She did not need to turn around.
“Your wound reopened again?”
Chu Wenzhe stopped beside her.
“Only slightly.”
“That means yes.”
His gaze shifted toward the training grounds below where soldiers moved through drills despite the freezing weather.
“You notice too much.”
Shen Yue folded her arms.
“And you ignore too much.”
For a brief second—
the corner of his mouth almost moved.
Almost.
Then the expression disappeared again beneath his usual calm.
Silence settled comfortably between them afterward.
Strangely comfortably.
That itself felt dangerous.
Because Shen Yue realized she no longer felt cautious around him constantly.
Her instincts still remained alert—
but not guarded.
Not defensive.
And for someone like her, that was rare.
Very rare.
Chu Wenzhe suddenly spoke.
“You were staring at Commander Liu earlier.”
Straight to the point.
As always.
Shen Yue glanced at him briefly.
“You noticed.”
“I notice everyone.”
True.
That was precisely why he remained alive.
She looked back toward the courtyard below.
“The logistics commander.”
“Liu Cheng,” Chu Wenzhe said calmly.
Shen Yue nodded slightly.
“When General Wei Lian’s name was mentioned earlier… his reaction was delayed.”
“A delayed reaction proves little.”
“It proves awareness.”
Chu Wenzhe remained silent.
So she continued.
“Most officers reacted emotionally. Anger. Disgust. Irritation.”
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
“But Commander Liu reacted carefully.”
A pause.
“As though he needed time to choose the correct response.”
The northern wind swept heavily between them.
Then Chu Wenzhe quietly asked:
“You think he’s the leak.”
“Not yet.”
Shen Yue rarely jumped to conclusions.
That was how people died in political warfare.
Instead, she observed patterns.
And Commander Liu’s behavior had disturbed her instincts.
She continued calmly:
“Ordinary traitors fear exposure.”
“But intelligent traitors fear standing out.”
Chu Wenzhe’s dark eyes shifted toward her slowly.
“And?”
“And overly controlled people often reveal themselves exactly because they try too hard.”
Silence.
Then unexpectedly—
Chu Wenzhe said:
“You would survive well in war.”
The statement caught her slightly off guard.
Not because of the words themselves.
But because of how sincere they sounded.
No mockery.
No teasing.
Only honest acknowledgment.
Shen Yue looked at him carefully.
Then said quietly:
“That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”
“For people like us,” he replied calmly, “it is.”
People like us.
The words lingered strangely.
Because somehow—
without discussing it openly—
they both understood something now.
They were similar.
Not in personality.
Not in background.
But in survival.
Neither trusted easily.
Neither allowed weakness to show.
Neither expected kindness from the world.
And perhaps most dangerous of all—
they understood each other too naturally.
Before the silence could deepen further, footsteps approached rapidly from below.
A soldier knelt immediately.
“My Lord.”
“What is it?”
“The imperial inspectors have arrived.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Chu Wenzhe’s expression cooled again.
Complete control returning in a single breath.
“Bring them to the eastern hall.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
The soldier departed quickly.
Shen Yue looked toward the fortress gates below.
Several imperial carriages rolled slowly through the snow-covered entrance surrounded by guards bearing the Emperor’s insignia.
And at the center—
one man rode calmly on horseback beside them.
General Wei Lian.
Even from a distance, Shen Yue understood immediately why the Valin officers despised him.
He smiled too much.
Not openly.
Not warmly.
But carefully.
Like a man constantly pretending confidence he did not truly possess.
His robes and armor were immaculate despite the long journey north.
Unlike Valin soldiers covered in snow and battle scars—
Wei Lian looked untouched by hardship.
A court general.
Not a battlefield one.
Then—
as if sensing observation—
Wei Lian suddenly lifted his head toward the balcony.
His gaze landed directly on Shen Yue.
And paused.
Interesting.
His expression changed faintly.
Recognition first.
Then surprise.
Then something else.
Calculation.
He looked from Shen Yue to Chu Wenzhe standing beside her.
And slowly—
his smile deepened.
Not pleasantly.
Shen Yue immediately disliked him.
Meanwhile below, several Valin officers had already stiffened visibly upon seeing the man enter the fortress.
One muttered coldly under his breath:
“The rats finally arrived.”
Wei Lian dismounted elegantly before handing his reins away.
Then he bowed politely toward Chu Wenzhe above.
“My Lord of Valin.”
His voice carried smoothly through the courtyard.
“It has been many years.”
Chu Wenzhe looked down at him without expression.
“Yes.”
Nothing more.
The difference between them became obvious instantly.
Wei Lian performed authority.
Chu Wenzhe embodied it effortlessly.
Even standing silently on the balcony—
the Lord of Valin still dominated the entire courtyard without trying.
Wei Lian clearly noticed it too.
Because beneath the polite smile—
something darker flickered briefly in his eyes.
Resentment.
Deep resentment.
And Shen Yue realized immediately—
this man had not come north merely to inspect the frontier.
He came hoping to see Chu Wenzhe fall.
- Writer
