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

The conflict at Wangjiang Tower swept through every corner of Cangcheng like a gust of wind.

Everyone thought that Shen Jinglong's next fire would be aimed directly at the gates of the Zhou and Zheng families.

But to everyone's surprise.

Shen Jinglong didn't move.

Neither the Zhou nor the Zheng families made a move.

Even Princess Huimin, who was slapped in public, remained unusually quiet after returning to the military headquarters and did not make any further moves.

Cangcheng was plunged into an eerie calm before the storm.

Inside the Military Affairs Office.

Princess Huimin was wiping her beloved phoenix-patterned longbow while listening to her subordinates' report.

"Princess, the Zhou and Zheng families have already started selling off their assets; it seems they're trying to raise money."

"In addition, our people found out that after the Shen family was wiped out seven years ago, most of their businesses were swallowed up by the Wu and Wang families. The Zhou and Zheng families only got a small share, but they all participated in the hunt down of the remaining members of the Shen family."

"Oh."

Princess Huimin sneered.

"A bunch of idiots."

She knew, of course, that Shen Jinglong's three-day deadline was just a ruse, and that the Zhou and Zheng families were making a last-ditch effort.

But she doesn't care.

"Continue the investigation."

Her voice was cool and aloof, with a hint of amusement.

"Dig out every single dirty thing they did seven years ago, without missing a single one. This princess wants to see just how fast Shen Jinglong's blade really is."

"Hired assassins? How utterly stupid. Fine, let these idiots investigate Shen Jinglong's trump cards for me. I want to see just how many secrets he has."

She's determined to stir up the muddy waters of Cangcheng.

. . .

The Zhou family residence.

The atmosphere in the sealed room was so oppressive it was almost palpable.

Zhou Wanshan and Zheng Qian, the clan elder of the Zheng family, both had bloodshot eyes, looking like gamblers who had lost all their wealth.

"A three-day deadline... that's not a deadline, that's a death sentence!!!" Zheng Qian's voice trembled.

"We're finished... We're all going to die!!!"

"Shut up!!!"

Zhou Wanshan slammed his hand on the table, his face contorted in a ferocious growl: "It's not the final step yet, what are you crying about?!"

He slammed several land deeds and house deeds onto the table.

"This is all the wealth our two families have left!!!"

"I've already contacted Shadow Tower. As long as the money's right, they'll send their top assassins to bring me Shen Jinglong's head before he can make a move!!!"

Shadow Tower!!!

The most mysterious and terrifying underground assassin organization in Cangcheng!

They claim they'd kill even gods if you paid them!

"Shadow Tower, we've used up our last reserves... We must succeed!!! As long as Shen Jinglong is dead, we still have a chance! We still have a chance!!!"

Upon hearing this name, a glimmer of hope finally shone in Zheng Qian's cloudy eyes, a light that was both frantic and morbid.

. . .

Zheng Family Courtyard.

Shen Jinglong is teaching his daughter Sisi to write.

He held his daughter's small hand, writing each stroke with utmost care.

Qin Xuerong watched from the side, her eyes slightly red.

She had imagined this heartwarming scene countless times.

"Commander Long".

The Vermilion Bird appeared silently at the doorway.

"The Zhou and Zheng families have exhausted their entire fortunes and issued a kill order at Shadow Tower; your target is you."

Zhuque's tone was calm, but those who knew her well knew how intense the murderous intent flashed in her eyes when she uttered the words "Shadow Tower".

"Oh?"

Shen Jinglong paused, holding his daughter's hand.

"Shadow Tower?"

A cold smile crept across his lips.

"Very well, a bunch of rats who colluded with enemy countries in the North and specialized in killing my Dragon Kingdom's generals have actually extended their claws to Cangcheng. Perfect, saves me the trouble of going after you later."

"Place."

He uttered two words.

"West of the city, Yingchun Tavern."

"Keep an eye on them."

Shen Jinglong put down his brush, got up, and walked outside.

The Yingchun Tavern was bustling with activity under the cover of night.

It's a melting pot of all sorts of people, from all walks of life.

The patrons played drinking games, their faces flushed, unaware that this seemingly ordinary tavern was actually the stronghold of Cangcheng's most terrifying assassin organization.

Shen Jinglong, dressed in ordinary black clothes, like the most ordinary drinker, pushed open the door and entered.

The noisy air and pungent smell of alcohol in the tavern made him frown slightly.

He didn't look for a seat, but calmly walked to the counter.

The shopkeeper behind the counter was a shrewd-looking middle-aged man. He glanced up at Shen Jinglong and casually asked, "Sir, what would you like to drink?"

Shen Jinglong did not answer.

He extended two fingers and tapped them three times lightly on the greasy countertop.

"Thump."

"Knock knock".

One slow, two fast.

This is one of the top-secret codes used by the Northern Army to identify enemy spies.

The shopkeeper's smile froze instantly.

His seemingly ordinary eyes suddenly sharpened.

He was the head of the Cangcheng branch of Shadow Tower. He had only seen this code once before, seven years ago, from a messenger of a major client in the capital!

"Who...is this man?"

"Please come to the private room upstairs."

The shopkeeper's expression changed several times, and finally he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.

He quietly made a hand gesture to the waiter next to him.

The waiter understood and quietly retreated into the back room.

Shen Jinglong followed the shopkeeper upstairs to the second floor.

The second floor was completely different from the noisy first floor; it was eerily quiet.

A long corridor with closed doors on both sides.

The shopkeeper led Shen Jinglong to the innermost room and pushed open the door.

"Please, sir."

The room was very empty, with only a table and two chairs.

Shen Jinglong went inside.

The moment he stepped into the room.

The shopkeeper's expression hardened, and he slammed the door shut!

At the same time!!!

All the doors on both sides of the corridor were kicked open at the same time!

"kill!!!"

A dozen assassins dressed in black and wielding sharp blades pounced on Shen Jinglong from all angles, like sharks that had smelled blood, their killing intent palpable!

The shopkeeper stood at the door, a cruel grin on his face.

"Whoever you are, once you enter the inescapable net of my Shadow Tower, don't expect to leave alive!"

But the next second, his smile froze on his face.

Faced with this deadly attack, Shen Jinglong didn't even turn his head.

He simply lifted his foot and lightly stomped on the wall in front of him.

"boom!!!"

A loud bang!

The entire restaurant shook violently!

The thick wall made of blue bricks was shattered on the spot by his stomping!

A huge hole appeared in the wall!

Shen Jinglong's figure had already passed through the wall and appeared in the next room!

The attacks of more than a dozen assassins all missed their target, and some even bumped into each other because they couldn't stop in time.

"Oh no! We've fallen for their trap!"

The shopkeeper knew something was wrong and turned to run away.

But as soon as he turned around, he felt a chill on his neck.

A cold hand, like an iron clamp, gripped his neck tightly and lifted him up.

It's Shen Jinglong!

He didn't know when, but he had already sneaked up behind him without anyone noticing!

"Uh...uh..."

The shopkeeper struggled frantically, his face turning a deep liver color.

The assassins who rushed into the room stopped in shock when they saw their leader being subdued, and dared not go any further.

"A bunch of useless trash."

Shen Jinglong glanced at them without a trace of emotion.

His other hand quickly groped the shopkeeper's body.

Soon, he pulled out a palm-sized black booklet made of special animal hide.

Secret account!!!

"Who...who are you?!"

The shopkeeper managed to squeeze out a few words with difficulty.

"Who I am is none of your business."

Shen Jinglong opened the secret book.

The text is filled with bizarre symbols that record bloody transactions.

He quickly located the sum owed to the Zhou and Zheng families.

But he didn't stop; he continued scrolling down.

When he turned to the last page, his gaze froze.

It was a long-term order from seven years ago, an order of unimaginable size.

The order was to monitor and, when the opportunity arose, eliminate all survivors associated with the Shen family of Cangcheng.

At the end of this order, where the employer should sign, there was no name.

There was only one small code name branded with blood.

Blood Flame!!!

"The capital... Bloodflame... it really was you!!! It's time to settle the score, principal and interest, seven years in the making!!!"

boom!!!

A terrifying killing intent, almost enough to overturn the entire restaurant, suddenly erupted from Shen Jinglong's body!

Faced with this murderous aura, all the assassins present could not even stand still. Their legs trembled, and they all knelt down with a thud.

Tell me everything about Bloodflame.

Shen Jinglong stared intently at the shopkeeper, his voice seeming to come from the deepest hell.

"I...I don't know..."

The shopkeeper was so frightened he almost fainted, but he still gritted his teeth.

"The rules of Shadow Tower: Anyone who leaks their employer's information shall die!"

"Yeah?"

Shen Jinglong was getting impatient.

He grabbed the shopkeeper by the neck with one hand and grabbed his arm with the other.

Then, in front of all the assassins.

They ripped that arm off the shoulder, inch by inch, with brutal force!

"ah--!!!"

Heart-wrenching screams echoed throughout the entire restaurant!

Blood and bits of flesh splattered all over Shen Jinglong.

He didn't care at all, threw the severed arm on the ground, and asked again.

"Now, do you want to say it?"

"He...he's not human! He's a devil! No matter how much money they offered for that job in the capital, it wasn't enough to buy my life!!! If I had known my opponent was this kind of monster, I would never have taken the job in Cangcheng!!!"

The shopkeeper's psychological defenses completely collapsed under extreme pain and fear.

"I'll talk! I'll talk!!!"

He screamed, tears streaming down his face, "All I know is that Bloodflame is a big shot in the capital! It was his messenger who gave the order seven years ago! I really don't know anything else!!!"

"The capital city... a big shot..."

Shen Jinglong repeated these words in a low voice, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

He casually tossed the shopkeeper's body onto the ground.

Then, looking at the group of assassins kneeling on the ground, already terrified and soiling themselves, he slowly spoke.

"You all deserve to die."

. . .

Half an incense stick later.

Shen Jinglong walked out of the tavern carrying the secret book that recorded the earth-shattering secret.

Behind him, towering flames turned half the night sky blood red.

There was no one left alive inside.

He looked at the thin booklet in his hand, his gaze seemingly piercing through the endless night, looking towards the distant capital.

"With this, let's see how long you can hide. That big shot in the capital, you'd better get ready!"