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

Previous Chapter Recap: Shen Jinglong swiftly and decisively suppressed the counterattack of the underground forces in Cangcheng and decided to issue new regulations the next day to completely rebuild the city's order.

The bloodstains on the street were quickly washed away by the rain.

Those thugs whose limbs had been broken were dragged away like dead dogs by the soldiers of the Military Command who had rushed over overnight.

After a brief but bloody riot, Cangcheng fell back into the silence of the night.

But everyone knows that after dawn, the city will be truly reborn, or perhaps undergo a more thorough cleansing.

The Dragon General's Mansion.

The terrifying killing intent emanating from Shen Jinglong had been completely concealed.

He gently pushed open a door, his footsteps extremely light.

In the room, his daughter Sisi and younger sister Yishi slept on the same bed, breathing evenly.

Perhaps sensing the presence of her family, Sisi smacked her lips in her dream, turned over, and placed her little hand on her aunt's arm.

Looking at the sleeping, innocent face in front of him, Shen Jinglong was touched in the softest part of his heart.

Wasn't everything he did just to protect this peace?

Whether guarding the northern border or stirring up bloodshed here.

He gently tucked the blankets around them, placed a silent kiss on his daughter's forehead, and then turned and left the room.

When he returned to the study, Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird were already waiting, their expressions solemn.

"Is everything cleaned up?" Shen Jinglong asked.

"Reporting to Commander Long, Sima Nantian has already led his men to seal off the entire city. As you instructed, the new regulations will be posted tomorrow morning," Qinglong reported.

Shen Jinglong nodded, preparing to issue the next instructions regarding the "Shadow Tower".

Just then.

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

A sudden, alarming alarm sounded from an encrypted communicator in the corner of the study!

That communicator was directly connected to the highest command center in the North.

At this moment, what was flashing on the screen was a glaring blood red!

—Level S! Highest alert!

The expressions on Qinglong and Zhuque's faces changed instantly!

"What's going on!" Qinglong rushed over in a flash. "This level of alert is only activated when the Northern Territory faces a crisis of full-scale war!"

The projection of Xuanwu appeared on the screen instantly, and his face, which had been frozen for thousands of years, was now full of solemnity and anxiety.

"Commander Long! Urgent report from the Northern Territory! A 'Rank S' encrypted blood letter from the White Tiger!"

Before the words were even finished, a file that had been encrypted multiple times was transmitted over.

Qinglong deciphered it at top speed, and when he saw the contents, even his tall body swayed slightly.

"Commander Long..."

Qinglong's voice trembled.

Shen Jinglong took the thin telegram, his gaze sharp as lightning.

There weren't many words on it, but each one looked as if it had been carved with a knife, carrying the scent of blood and fire.

"To Commander Long: The Heavenly Wolf Kingdom is in turmoil. Three hundred thousand troops are stationed on the border, a dark cloud hanging over the city. The army is running out of food, and three supply lines have been destroyed. Rumors are rampant within the army, including forged orders intended to sow discord. This is a vicious scheme of collusion between internal and external forces, aimed at undermining the very foundation of our northern border. I, Baihu, am incompetent and implore Commander Long to return immediately to stabilize the situation! The northern border cannot be without a commander for even a day!"

The signature was Baihu's bloody fingerprint.

"Bang!"

Shen Jinglong slammed his fist on the table, and the hard pear wood tabletop was instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks.

"What a clever Prince Anle! What a brilliant move to undermine his cause!"

A cold glint flashed in Shen Jinglong's eyes!

That's incredibly ruthless!

He's using the safety of a million soldiers in the north and the people on the border to force me to leave Cangcheng and give up my revenge!

"Commander Long! We must go back immediately!"

Qinglong said urgently, "The Northern Border is our root! Once the Northern Border falls into chaos, we will become rootless duckweed!"

"Yes, Commander Long," Zhuque said, her face also filled with murderous intent, "that old dog is too cunning! He knows that what you care about most are the brothers in the Northern Border! Let's go back and stabilize the situation first. We'll take that old dog Anle's life later!"

In the study, only the ticking of the clock could be heard, as if time had stood still.

go back?

Once they return, it will be difficult to launch a swift and decisive southward campaign. Prince Anle will lay a trap, and the deeply entrenched factions within the court will also be drawn into action.

Not going back?

Baihu's letter was so grave, indicating that the situation had reached a critical juncture. That was the land he had protected with his life for seven years, the peace he had won with the blood of countless brothers!

This is a dead end!

King Anle, you old dog. You think you can force me to submit like this?

You don't want to transfer me back to the North; you're afraid that if I stay in the South, I'll uncover more evidence of your crimes!

After his initial outburst of rage, Shen Jinglong's eyes quickly turned calm, even cold.

He looked up at the anxious Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird.

"I'm not going back."

He slowly uttered those four words.

"What?"

Both the Azure Dragon and the Vermilion Bird were stunned.

I said, I'm not going back.

Shen Jinglong's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable resolve.

"Since the Prince of Anle has set up this trap, he wants to see me lose my composure. If I go back now, it will play right into his hands."

"But Commander Long, what about the northern border..."

"Baihu is a soldier I personally trained."

Shen Jinglong interrupted Qinglong, his eyes gleaming with absolute trust. "I believe in him. Even without me, he can protect the nation's borders!"

He walked to the communicator and looked at the projection of Xuanwu on the screen.

"Xuanwu, heed my command!"

"exist!"

"Report back to White Tiger: Tactical contraction, transition to full defense. Activate 'Lone Wolf' Operation, and skin those rats out of the army one by one!"

"in addition!"

Shen Jinglong's voice suddenly rose, filled with a frenzied killing intent!

"Find the location of the 'Shadow Tower'! One day! I'm only giving you one day! After one day, I want this Cangcheng to be free of the 'Shadow Tower'!"

"Since he wants to play, I'll play the big game with him!"

"I'd like to see whether his northern border falls into chaos first, or whether my sword is held to his throat first!"