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

Cangcheng, the Wang family is gone.

This news left everyone breathless.

But when this hand crossed thousands of miles and reached the heart of the Dragon Kingdom—the capital—it was no longer just choking it; it completely stirred up the deep waters of the country.

Beneath the pool, turbulent currents surge.

The capital of the Dragon Kingdom, the Zichen Palace.

Late at night, only one lamp was lit in the hall, casting a dim, yellowish light.

The king, dressed in a dragon robe, was staring blankly at an unfinished game of chess.

An old eunuch quietly approached him from behind and respectfully handed him a black dossier sealed with beeswax.

"Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch from Cangcheng, 800 li away."

The king didn't turn around; he held a black chess piece in his hand, not placing it for a long time.

"read."

His voice was calm, making it impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.

The old eunuch carefully removed the wax seal and read the contents of the file word by word in a tone devoid of any emotion.

"...Shen Jinglong, the Dragon Lord of the Northern Territory, swiftly and decisively wiped out the entire Wang family of Cangcheng yesterday. It has been confirmed that the Wang family is connected to the Shen family massacre seven years ago, as well as the plot to murder the Dragon Lord's daughter as a 'medicinal ingredient.' Furthermore, the Dragon Lord engaged in combat with the mysterious black-clad figure who emerged from the Wang family's secret chamber; it is suspected that this figure belongs to some force in the capital..."

The case file was short, but every word carried immense weight.

After the old eunuch finished reading, the entire Zichen Palace fell silent.

A long time passed.

The black piece in the king's hand finally fell.

"Smack."

The chess piece landed on the jade chessboard with a crisp sound.

"Shen Jinglong... your sword is too sharp."

The king finally spoke, his tone complex and difficult to decipher.

"The profit is so good, I can hardly hold onto it."

The old eunuch knelt on the ground, his head bowed even lower, not daring to utter a sound.

He knew that the king was not really angry.

Even if a local tyrant in a border city has some connection with high-ranking officials in the court, he can be easily wiped out.

What the king cared about was Shen Jinglong's attitude.

Ignoring the special envoy, slapping the imperial commissioner in the face, and now directly eliminating the Wang family, who have secret ties to the capital.

This is an outrageous challenge to imperial authority!!!

"Your Majesty, Shen Longzun's achievements are too great and his temper is as fiery as fire. If we don't control him, he may become a major threat." The old eunuch finally couldn't help but say.

"Tube?"

The king laughed, then sneered.

"How should we manage him? Kill him? Then the 300,000 troops in the north will probably turn their guns on him immediately and raze the capital to the ground."

"Appease him? I've already betrothed the princess to him and bestowed upon him the title of Protector of the Nation. Does he even respect me?"

The king stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the pitch-black night.

"He's not a sword, he's a tiger. When a tiger comes down from the mountain, you either let it eat its fill and go back to the mountain on its own, or... while it's eating someone, you shoot it dead."

He remained silent for a while, lost in thought.

"I'm curious how many big fish hidden in the deep sea will be dredged up from the shallow waters of Cangcheng by his commotion."

"Reveal my imperial edict."

"Go to the Prince Anle's residence and ask him if he has improved his health recently, saying that I am concerned about my brother's health."

The old eunuch's heart skipped a beat, but he dared not show the slightest change in expression.

King Anle!

The king's own younger brother!

He instantly understood the king's meaning.

This is meant to send a warning!

"Your servant... obeys the decree."

Unlike the heavy and oppressive atmosphere of the palace, Princess Huimin's residence was bustling with activity.

In the martial arts arena of the back garden, Princess Huimin, dressed in a fiery red outfit, was drawing a bow taller than herself.

Her long hair was tied up high, and she looked dashing and heroic, completely different from the delicate socialites and noble ladies in the capital.

"Princess, news from Cangcheng."

A personal maidservant hurried over and handed over a piece of information.

Princess Huimin didn't answer; her eyes were still fixed on the bullseye in the distance.

"read."

"Yes. Shen Longzun... after refusing the marriage, he didn't return to the Northern Border. He went back to his hometown, Cangcheng, alone to avenge the massacre of his family seven years ago. He has already wiped out the Wu and Wang families, and I heard his methods were exceptionally bloody..."

"He also... found his fiancée Qin Xuerong, who saved him seven years ago, and... his daughter whom he had never met."

"Oh?"

Princess Huimin's hand moved slightly.

"Whoosh!"

The arrow whistled through the air and struck the bullseye of the target a hundred paces away!

She put down her bow, took the towel handed to her by the maid, wiped her sweat, and then lazily spoke.

"I thought it was something serious. It's just killing a few local rich landlords."

The maid was stunned.

"Princess, he... he also attacked the special envoy sent by His Majesty..."

"Well played!"

Princess Huimin suddenly laughed, her laughter as crisp as a bell.

"I've long disliked that weird eunuch, and he's helped me vent my anger."

The maid was completely dumbfounded.

That's His Majesty's person! Princess, you... why are you so happy?

"For the sake of an old flame and a daughter he had never met, he dared to massacre an entire city and defy imperial power."

Princess Huimin's eyes lit up, revealing her appreciation and excitement at having met her match.

"Interesting, very interesting!"

"Compared to those spineless cowards in the capital, full of scheming and unable to walk more than a few steps, Shen Jinglong is a real man!"

She tossed the bow and arrows in her hand to the maid, a mocking smile on her face.

"I have changed my mind."

"Prepare the carriage, this princess is also going to Cangcheng."

"Princess, please reconsider!" the maid exclaimed in alarm. "Cangcheng is a powder keg right now; it's far too dangerous for you to go!"

"Danger?"

Princess Huimin raised an eyebrow.

"This princess wants to see for herself what kind of hero this man who dared to refuse my marriage is."

"I want to see just how big a hole he can tear into Cangcheng, into the very sky!!!"

In the imperial capital, in the imperial court.

The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.

The downfall of the Cangcheng royal family was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing an immediate uproar.

Zhang Cheng, the Imperial Censor who was also related to the Wang family, was the first to stand up and impeach Shen Jinglong, crying and shouting.

"Your Majesty! Shen Jinglong, the Dragon Lord of the Northern Frontier, has disregarded the laws of the land and indiscriminately slaughtered gentry appointed by the imperial court. This kind of behavior must not be tolerated!"

"The Wang family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, making great contributions to the development of Cangcheng, yet now the entire family has been slaughtered! Your Majesty, please unleash your fury and bring this villain back to the capital for public execution, as a warning to others!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Minister of War, an old general who had retired from the northern border, immediately stood up to refute him.

"Lord Zhang, you're mistaken! Why did Shen Longzun return home? Why did he kill? It's because his entire Shen family was wiped out seven years ago, and his only sister was almost buried alive! I ask you, Lord Zhang, could you tolerate such a deep-seated hatred?"

"Nonsense!" Zhang Cheng's beard trembled with anger. "Every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor! He could report this to the imperial court and have the three judicial departments try him. How could he hold court himself and indiscriminately kill innocent people!"

"Indiscriminate killing? Hmph, those four great families have been tyrannical and oppressive in Cangcheng, bullying men and women. Does the imperial court not know? If they hadn't committed so many evil deeds, would Shen Longzun have even bothered to take action!"

"you..."

The two groups were arguing fiercely in the imperial court.

On the dragon throne, the king stared expressionlessly at the arguing ministers below, saying nothing.

He only raised his hand slightly after both sides had argued until they were both hoarse.

The entire court fell silent instantly.

"I am well aware of the situation in Cangcheng."

The king's voice was not loud, but it carried an air of authority that brooked no argument.

"I will send another special envoy to Cangcheng."

"Go and do three things: First, thoroughly investigate this matter. Second, appease the local people. Third, convey my orders to Shen Jinglong."

Everyone was stunned when these words were spoken.

They even sent a special envoy?

The last special envoy's face is still swollen!

This isn't appeasement; it's clearly a new round of fighting!

For a time, the court was in a state of panic, and no one could understand what the emperor was thinking.

And just then...

The capital city, the Prince Anle's Mansion.

Inside a heavily guarded secret room.

The masked man in black who had escaped from the Wang family was kneeling on one knee, his body still trembling slightly.

Before him stood a middle-aged man with delicate and handsome features, dressed in a purple-gold python robe, calmly polishing a dagger.

A blood-red flame was imprinted on the hilt of the dagger.

"So, Wang Xiaolin died, we didn't get the stuff, and you almost got killed there?"

The man's voice was soft, yet it carried a chilling undertone.

"Master...this subordinate is useless!" The man in black slammed his head heavily to the ground. "That Shen Jinglong's strength far exceeds our intelligence! He...he's already a half-step god!"

"Half-step into the divine realm?"

The man paused for a moment as he wiped the dagger.

His eyes darkened.

"It seems I underestimated him."

"In just seven years, they've grown to this extent."

He sheathed his dagger and slowly stood up.

"How much does he know?"

"He...he probably doesn't know your identity yet, but that good-for-nothing Wang Xiaolin has likely already leaked the 'catalyst' and part of your plan..."

"Ha, what use is it for a dead man to know more?" the man sneered. "Since he has alerted the enemy, then I, the king, have no choice but to close the net ahead of time."

He strolled to the window and looked outside, as if admiring the scenery.

"Reveal my royal decree."

"Get the Bloodflame Guards moving."

The man in black jolted violently.

Bloodflame Guard!

That was the most elite and terrifying force of assassins under the prince's command!

"I don't want to see any more accidents."

The man's voice came through in a cold tone.

"Before Father and Huimin's people arrive, wipe away all traces of Cangcheng and Shen Jinglong."

"Leave none of them alive."