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

Previously on: "This game of chess has only just begun."

"General Long, a letter has arrived from Prince Anle."

Zhuque's voice was somewhat deep as she strode into the back room. In her hand, she held a letter with gold lettering, the wax seal on the envelope intact.

Shen Jinglong had just finished feeding Sisi her medicine and watched his daughter fall into a deep sleep before gently tucking her in and turning to take the letter.

King Anle, have you finally lost your composure?

He opened the letter and glanced at it briefly.

The words in the letter were extremely earnest.

King Anle claimed that after an all-night investigation, he had caught the real culprit who had harmed Qin Xuerong and Sisi at the hospital. To show his sincerity, he invited Shen Jinglong to personally go to the abandoned mine on the outskirts of the city to deal with the murderer in person and give him an explanation.

"Commander Long, this is clearly a trap!" Zhuque exclaimed immediately. "We just wiped out Bloodflame Tower; they're desperate! You absolutely cannot go!!"

"I know it's a trap." Shen Jinglong's voice was calm, but his eyes were as cold as ice. "But the letter mentioned Xue Rong and Si Si. I can't gamble their safety on something that might happen."

"But..."

"No buts." Shen Jinglong crumpled the letter into a ball, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I have to go."

He turned to look at Xuanwu, who had also appeared at the door at some point, looking worried.

"Xuanwu, you stay here and protect Sisi and Xuerong. Not a single fly is allowed to enter Baicaotang."

"Vermilion Bird," he paused, a chilling killing intent flashing in his eyes, "issue my order: seal off the four gates of Cang City, and have my men take control of the military headquarters. No one is to enter or leave before I return. If I am not back by dawn... then let Prince Anle and all his men be buried with Cang City."

Sisi and Xuerong's safety is more important than my own life. You want to see me die? Then I'll show you who the real Grim Reaper is.

"Yes, ma'am!!"

Zhuque and Xuanwu exchanged a glance and stopped trying to persuade him. They knew that once the Dragon Commander made a decision, no one could change it.

~~~

The night was deep, and in an inconspicuous courtyard in the south of the city, the lights were on, but the atmosphere was terribly oppressive.

"Bang!!"

A valuable antique vase was smashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.

King Anle was so angry that his face turned green, and his chest heaved violently.

"Useless! All of you are utterly useless!!" He pointed at the people kneeling below and cursed, "The Bloodflame Tower, built up over many years, has been uprooted like this! The people I sent to the Northern Border to deliver evidence of your crimes have also vanished without a trace! Is this how you serve me?"

Shen Jinglong, you ruined my grand plan and killed my men! This time, I've mobilized all my forces; you won't be able to escape even if you grow wings!!

A staff member raised his head tremblingly: "Your Highness, please calm down... We... we have already laid a trap in the abandoned mine as you instructed. All our men from the Military Command are in position, plus the three hundred elite soldiers you have trained over the years... even if Shen Jinglong is made of iron, he will be turned to molten iron!!!"

"Hmph!" King Anle's madness subsided slightly, replaced by a sinister smugness on his face. "Fine!! I'll go myself! I want to see him die in despair before my very eyes! Let's see how arrogant he'll be when he dies!!"

...

An abandoned mine on the outskirts of the city at dusk.

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the sky an eerie crimson.

The entire mine was brightly lit by torches, making it as bright as day.

The high ground surrounding the mine was filled with archers from the military corps, their powerful crossbows gleaming coldly, all their arrows aimed at the only entrance in the center of the mine.

Inside the mine, three hundred black-clad assassins, armed with sharp blades, formed an impenetrable killing formation, their murderous aura soaring into the sky.

A horse-drawn carriage slowly approached and came to a lonely stop at the mine entrance.

The car door opened, and Shen Jinglong, dressed in black, slowly stepped out.

He looked around at the densely packed archers and axemen, showing no fear whatsoever, as if he were just attending an ordinary banquet.

"Shen Jinglong, you've finally arrived! I admire your courage!!"

Surrounded by a group of loyal warriors, King Anle walked out of the formation with a beaming smile, looking as if victory was in his grasp.

Shen Jinglong didn't even look at him, simply asking, "Where is he?"

"Hehe, no rush." ​​Prince Anle smiled like a smug fox. "Commander Shen, rest assured, Miss Qin and your daughter are both safe and sound. As long as you cooperate, I guarantee they will be unharmed."

He stepped forward, spreading his hands as if to demonstrate his benevolence: "It's simple. Now cripple yourself and kneel before me. I will immediately release them, and from now on, we'll keep to ourselves. How about it?"

"Shut up!"

Shen Jinglong's roar was like thunder, instantly exploding across the entire mine.

The smile on King Anle's face froze.

"If you want to kill me, why resort to such a despicable excuse?" Shen Jinglong's eyes were filled with disdain and coldness, as if he were looking at a clown jumping around. "Prince Anle, you've spouted too much nonsense."

"You!" King Anle's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red with rage, completely enraged.

He had originally wanted to enjoy the thrill of playing cat and mouse, but he was humiliated by the other party.

"Fine! Very well! You still dare to be stubborn even when you're about to die!" King Anle's face was contorted with rage. He swung his hand violently and roared hoarsely, "Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish! Fire the arrows!! Turn him into a pincushion!!"

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh--!"

At the command, the archers, who were already prepared, instantly released their bowstrings.

In an instant, arrows rained down on Shen Jinglong like a storm, their sharp whistling cutting through the air.

However, amidst the rain of arrows, Shen Jinglong's figure suddenly vanished.

He moved as fast as a ghost, weaving through the dense barrage of arrows, all of which landed on the open ground behind him.

Just as Prince Anle stared in astonishment, Shen Jinglong, like a cannonball, charged straight into the killing formation formed by the three hundred elite warriors!

You think you can trap me with your bunch of ants?

"puff!"

He didn't use any weapon, just a simple straight punch.

The three assassins at the forefront had their chests collapse instantly, and their bodies flew backward like kites with broken strings. While still in mid-air, they were already spitting out large amounts of blood.

A great battle erupted instantly!!

Shen Jinglong was like a tiger among sheep.

Every punch and every kick unleashed tremendous power.

Those fearless assassins had their heads smashed by his fist before their knives could even strike. Someone tried to sneak up on him from behind, but he kicked them so hard their spine was broken.

This is not a battle; it is a one-sided massacre.

In one corner, a young soldier from the military corps looked at the scene before him, his legs went weak with fear, and he could no longer hold his bow.

"Damn it, what...what kind of monster is this? How can we possibly beat it?!" he cried, muttering to his companion beside him, "Grandpa, have mercy! I have an eighty-year-old mother and a child born in 08. I don't want to die young, am I going to be killed off like this?"

The smugness on King Anle's face had vanished, replaced by shock and disbelief.

How is this possible...? Is he even human?! How can he be so strong?!

Those were his elite troops, whom he had painstakingly trained! Yet, in front of Shen Jinglong, they were as fragile as paper!

No... my plan is flawless, he must die here today!!

Seeing his men fall one by one, Prince Anle went mad, pointing at the unstoppable black figure in the center of the field and screaming shrilly:

"Kill him!! All of you, charge!! Kill him at all costs!!!"