Hurt my loved ones? I'm not guarding this country's borders anymore!

The sounds of horses' hooves and armor rubbing together grew louder as they approached.

The atmosphere was somber and oppressive, like the relentless beat of a death knell.

Soon, a group of people appeared at the dilapidated courtyard gate.

Leading the group was the royal envoy, dressed in brocade robes, holding a bright yellow imperial edict in his hands, his face flushed with a sickly pallor and a sense of vengeful pleasure.

Behind him stood two gray-robed elders with profound auras, their eyes gleaming with sharp light, displaying strength far surpassing that of the Zheng family's experts.

Further behind was Sima Nantian, his face grave and eyes full of worry, and a group of golden-armored guards who were trembling with fear.

Where is Commander Long?

The special envoy did not enter the courtyard, but stood at the gate and asked in his high-pitched, duck-like voice, striking a very condescending pose.

Zhuque, holding a sharp sword, stood like a gatekeeper at the entrance, coldly watching him.

"Commander Long is on business; unauthorized personnel are not permitted to enter."

"presumptuous!"

The envoy's face darkened, and he shouted sternly, "I am the King's special envoy, here to deliver an imperial edict. Who dares to obstruct me? Do you want to be implicated in treason along with Shen Jinglong?"

He didn't take the Vermilion Bird seriously at all and strode straight in.

The two court attendants behind him also stepped forward at the same time, their powerful aura locking onto Suzaku.

Zhuque's face turned pale. Under the combined pressure of these two top experts, he felt his breath catch in his throat and his body felt as if it was about to collapse.

But her eyes showed no sign of backing down.

Just then.

"Let him in."

A calm voice came from inside the courtyard.

It's Shen Jinglong.

Upon hearing this, Zhuque sheathed his sword and stepped aside to make way for him.

The special envoy gave a smug snort, straightened his clothes, and then swaggered into the courtyard.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Shen Jinglong standing under the eaves with his back to him, looking up at the sky, as if he had no idea they had arrived.

Being ignored like this made the envoy's face even uglier.

"Shen Jinglong!"

The special envoy, in a shrill voice, shouted, "How dare you! You dare not kneel before me, the special envoy!"

Shen Jinglong still did not turn around.

The special envoy was furious.

He suddenly unfolded the imperial edict in his hand and read it aloud with all his might.

"A royal decree!"

"Shen Jinglong, the Guardian Dragon Lord, defied the imperial decree to refuse a marriage, left the northern border without authorization, disregarded the laws of the land, and wreaked havoc in Cangcheng, causing unrest in the region. His crimes are unforgivable!"

"I remember his past service in protecting the country, and hereby order him to kneel down immediately to receive my decree, and then return to the capital to plead guilty and await further punishment! If he disobeys in the slightest, he will be punished for treason, and his entire family, including his three clans, will be implicated!"

The envoy's voice echoed in the empty courtyard, every word filled with a chilling threat.

My family is struggling for their lives, and you're here lecturing me about rules and laws? How ridiculous.

After the special envoy finished reading, seeing that Shen Jinglong still didn't react, the expression on his face had become distorted.

"Shen Jinglong! Did you hear me! Kneel down and accept the imperial decree to express your gratitude!"

Finally, Shen Jinglong slowly turned around.

His face was expressionless, and his deep eyes were as calm as a stagnant pool, without the slightest ripple.

He just watched the special envoy quietly, as if he were watching a clown jumping around.

"Kneel down?"

Shen Jinglong spoke, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"My sister is critically injured and her life hangs by a thread. You expect me to kneel down?"

"My daughter has been used as a medicinal ingredient since birth and has suffered endless torment. You expect me to kneel down?"

"I guarded the northern border for the country for seven years, only to have my family destroyed and my people killed! Now, you want me to return to the capital to beg for forgiveness?"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word struck the envoy's heart like a heavy hammer.

The surrounding air froze instantly.

"Insolence! Are you questioning the king?"

The envoy felt uneasy under his question and could only shout back, his voice trembling with fear.

"Your family's affairs are to be handled by the law! How dare you indiscriminately kill innocent people here!"

"Someone come here!"

The envoy, too lazy to waste any more words with him, directly gave orders to the retainers behind him.

"Seize this arrogant scoundrel who defies the emperor and acts with impunity! If he dares to resist, kill him on the spot!"

"Yes."

The gray-robed retainer on the left responded and, with a flicker of his body, darted toward Shen Jinglong like a ghost.

He was incredibly fast, his hand forming an eagle claw as he aimed straight for Shen Jinglong's collarbone, clearly intending to cripple his martial arts first.

The ones sent from the capital, is this all the strength they have? It seems they've been living in comfort for too long and have even forgotten the taste of blood.

However, Shen Jinglong didn't even move.

Just as the offering hand was about to touch his body.

A terrifying glint suddenly shot out from Shen Jinglong's eyes!

boom!

An invisible yet terrifying aura, heavy as a mountain, suddenly erupted from his body!

This aura was no longer as restrained as before, but was mixed with the endless murderous aura of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the northern border!

"puff!"

The arrogant courtier seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall, his forward-moving body abruptly halting.

He was struck dumb, his face turned deathly pale, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

His body trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes were filled with disbelief and terror as he looked at Shen Jinglong.

He can't move!

With just a glance and an aura, he pinned this top expert to the spot, unable to move even a finger!

"You dare touch my people?"

Shen Jinglong's icy voice rang out.

The other worshipper was shocked to see this and was about to step forward to help.

"If you move even once more, he will die immediately."

Shen Jinglong's gaze swept over them indifferently.

The worshipper froze instantly, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

He had no doubt that if he dared to move, his companion's head would explode in the next second.

"You...you..."

The special envoy was completely terrified. He pointed at Shen Jinglong, his lips trembling, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time.

Two top court officials were subdued by him in a single encounter.

This... what terrifying power!

"Shen Jinglong! You...you're rebelling! How dare you lay a hand on a court official!"

The envoy snapped out of his daze and let out a hysterical scream.

"Noisy."

Shen Jinglong frowned slightly.

Before he finished speaking, his figure vanished from the spot.

The envoy only felt a blur before his eyes.

"Snapped!"

A crisp, extremely loud slap echoed through the silent courtyard.

The envoy spun around like a top three times, his mouth filled with blood and a few teeth, before being violently whipped away!

He fell heavily to the ground, and half of his cheek swelled up visibly, looking like a purple pig's head.

He's a madman! He's a complete and utter madman! He actually dared to lay a hand on me! When I return to the capital, I'll make sure the Emperor tears him to pieces!

The entire courtyard fell silent.

Sima Nantian and his men were all so shocked that their mouths were agape, unable to believe their eyes.

That was the King's special envoy!

A figure representing the highest honor in the Dragon Kingdom!

Shen Jinglong... he actually dared to hit him!

Shen Jinglong, who was standing still, seemed to have only done a trivial thing.

He looked at the special envoy lying on the ground like a dead dog and said coldly.

"I told you to shut up."

"This slap was for my sister."

"Go back and tell the king that I will not go anywhere until my family affairs are settled."

"No one is allowed to interfere in the affairs of Cangcheng!"

"If I send useless trash like you to bother me again..."

Shen Jinglong's gaze swept over the immobilized worshipper and the other worshipper whose face was ashen.

"Next time, it won't be as simple as a slap."

"roll!"

On a rooftop not far away, a dark figure witnessed everything, trembled with fear, and almost fell off the roof.

He dared not linger any longer, scrambling down from the roof on all fours and disappearing into the night in a panic.

In the courtyard, the still-movable retainer's expression changed repeatedly before he finally went over and helped up the envoy, who was already dazed from the beating.

"Let's go!"

He let out a low growl, not daring to look at Shen Jinglong again, and led the group of equally terrified golden-armored guards, with their tails between their legs, to flee this villa that they would never forget.

Until their figures completely disappeared.

The overwhelming murderous aura emanating from Shen Jinglong slowly subsided.

He turned around, no longer looking at Sima Nantian and the others who were standing there dumbfounded in the courtyard, and went straight into the house.

That dilapidated and shabby room, where even the windows were drafty.

That was his sister's room.

Qin Xuerong and her daughter had already gone to sleep in another room. At this moment, only Shen Yishi, who was still lying on the bed and unconscious, was here.

Shen Jinglong walked to the bedside and sat down gently.

Looking at his sister's bloodless face, all his coldness and murderous intent melted away, leaving only endless tenderness and guilt.

He reached out and tucked the blanket around his sister.

The moment his fingertips touched the blanket.

Shen Yishi's small hand, which was outside the blanket, seemed to have moved very slightly.

A hint of pain seemed to flash across her face.

Shen Jinglong's body jolted violently, his eyes fixed on his sister's fingers, and he even stopped breathing.