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

Recap:

"Commander Long, this is clearly a deadly trap set for Miss Qin!"

Before Zhuque could finish speaking, Shen Jinglong's composure snapped.

An unprecedentedly violent aura, like a nuclear bomb detonating inside him, shot into the sky!

"King Anle—!"

A roar that sounded inhuman shook the entire command center, causing dust to fall from the walls.

Shen Jinglong made no unnecessary movements; he didn't even reach for any weapons.

The next second, he transformed into a black lightning bolt, smashing through the floor-to-ceiling window of the command center and leaping from a height of 100 meters!

"Commander Long!"

Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird cried out in alarm and rushed to the broken window, only to see a long trail of afterimages stretching across the darkness, hurtling madly toward Ghost's Sorrow Canyon in the west of the city at a speed beyond human limits.

The wind whistled in his ears.

The air was shattered by his impact.

He had only one thought in his mind.

Xue Rong!

You can't get hurt!

,,,

Ghost's Sorrow Canyon.

Just as its name suggests, this place is full of jagged rocks, howling winds, and never sees the sun.

Deep in the canyon, Qin Xuerong leaned against a cold rock, breathing heavily.

She had very few silver needles left, and the plain-colored dress she had changed into for gathering herbs was now torn in countless places, stained with blood, and she looked utterly disheveled.

Seven or eight black-clad assassins surrounded her in a fan shape.

Leading the group was a gaunt-faced middle-aged man with unusually long arms; he was none other than Zhang San, the top assassin commander under the command of King Anle, also known as "Ghost Hand."

"Miss Qin, why bother?"

Zhang San's smile was as cold as a venomous snake. "Our prince only wanted to invite you as a guest to cooperate with the investigation. Why are you doing this?"

"mean!"

Qin Xuerong gritted her teeth and used the rocks to stand up. Her chest heaved; she had exhausted all her strength in trying to break through the encirclement and had even suffered serious internal injuries.

"His Highness also said that as long as you cooperate obediently and hand over the Shen family's secrets, you will not only enjoy endless wealth and honor, but you may even be able to be rewarded with the so-called 'Nine Nether Ice Lotus' to save your daughter's life," Zhang San said unhurriedly, as if he were toying with prey that had already fallen into a trap.

"What Nine Nether Ice Lotus..." Qin Xuerong felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this. "Could it be... that such a medicine doesn't even exist?"

"Hahaha!" Zhang San laughed as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world. "Miss Qin is so naive. That was just something the Prince made up on the spot to lure you in. After all, you're Shen Jinglong's only weakness!"

These words, like a poisoned dagger, pierced Qin Xuerong's heart.

She is not afraid of death.

What she feared was that her momentary impulsiveness and naiveté would bring Shen Jinglong enormous trouble.

"Brothers, take her down!" Zhang San lost his patience and waved his hand. "Remember, keep her alive!"

Several black-clad assassins grinned maliciously and pounced on them simultaneously.

A resolute glint flashed in Qin Xuerong's eyes.

She would rather die than be humiliated, and she would never become a bargaining chip to blackmail Shen Jinglong!

She raised the last silver needle in her hand and aimed it at her heart.

But just then...

A chilling killing intent, cold enough to freeze the soul, swept in from the entrance of the canyon!

"Those whom I, Shen Jinglong, choose to protect, even the King of Hell himself would kneel before me!"

The voice, though not loud, was like a judgment from the deepest hell, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

All the assassins froze in their tracks.

They turned around in horror.

At the entrance of the canyon, a tall, slender figure walked step by step against the moonlight.

His steps were not fast, but each step felt like it was stepping on everyone's hearts, making it hard to breathe.

His handsome face was expressionless, except for his eyes, which were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

"Shen... Shen Jinglong!"

Zhang San's pupils contracted sharply, and the smugness on his face instantly turned into terror.

How could he have arrived so quickly?

Didn't the intelligence report say that morale in the Northern army was low and that he was already bogged down in the city?

Shen Jinglong's gaze passed over the assassins and landed on Qin Xuerong, who was covered in blood.

When he saw the blood at the corner of her mouth and those eyes that held a hint of stubbornness amidst despair, his murderous aura surged violently!

"very good."

He uttered two words.

"You all deserve to die."

Before he finished speaking, he vanished.

Zhang San felt a blur before his eyes, and an indescribable sense of crisis made his soul tremble!

"Do it! Kill him!" he screamed shrilly.

But it was too late.

A black afterimage, like a gust of wind, swept into the group of assassins.

There was no sound of weapons clashing.

There was only the cracking sound of bones breaking and the muffled thud of flesh being torn apart.

Just as one assassin raised his knife, his throat was crushed by a large hand, and he was lifted up and used as a weapon to smash his comrades.

Another assassin attacked from behind, but before he could even thrust his dagger, Shen Jinglong grabbed his head and slammed it against the rock wall, splattering his brains.

"Sir, spare my life! I have an eighty-year-old mother to support, and children to raise..." A young assassin who had just joined the gang was terrified and knelt on the ground, crying and begging for mercy.

His answer was a foot moving at incredible speed, which crushed his chest.

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

Shen Jinglong transforms into the most terrifying killing machine, reaping lives in the most primitive and cruel way.

In just over ten seconds, all the assassins except for "Ghost Hand" Zhang San were reduced to mutilated corpses.

The smell of blood was so strong it made one want to vomit.

Zhang San was completely terrified. He watched as Shen Jinglong, who looked like a demon god, walked towards him step by step. His legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, a foul stench emanating from his crotch.

"No...don't come any closer..."

Shen Jinglong walked up to him and looked down at him.

He stretched out his foot and slowly stepped on Zhang San's hand, which he used to eat, and then crushed it forcefully.

"Click...click..."

The sound of bones breaking was clearly audible.

"ah--!"

Zhang San let out a bloodcurdling scream that sounded inhuman.

"Speak," Shen Jinglong said emotionlessly, "Where is Prince Anle?"

"I...I don't know..." Zhang San convulsed in pain.

Shen Jinglong moved his foot to his other hand.

"I'll ask you one more time, where is he?"

"I'll talk! I'll talk!" Zhang San completely broke down. "The Prince... he's at the largest teahouse in Cangcheng, Tianyue Teahouse... he's there enjoying tea... waiting for my good news..."

"very good."

Shen Jinglong raised his foot and, just as Zhang San thought he was about to survive, stomped down hard.

"Bang!"

Zhang San's head exploded like a watermelon.

After defeating the last enemy, Shen Jinglong's overwhelming killing intent slowly subsided.

He walked quickly to Qin Xuerong, and looking at her pale face, his heart ached.

"I'm sorry I'm late." He took off his trench coat, gently draped it over her shoulders, and then picked her up in his arms.

Qin Xuerong leaned against his warm embrace, her tense nerves finally relaxing. Unable to hold on any longer, her head lolled to the side and she fainted.

Shen Jinglong held her in his arms, looking at the severed limbs scattered on the ground, his eyes cold and devoid of any warmth.

He found a black token on Zhang San's headless corpse, with a large character "安" (peace) engraved on it.

The Shadow Guard Commander of the Prince of Anle's Mansion.

Just then, Suzaku's anxious voice came through the miniature communicator in his ear.

"Commander Long... we've found out! The assassin disguised as an ally is actually the Shadow Guard Commander, the most trusted advisor to Prince Anle! This trap was orchestrated by Prince Anle from beginning to end!"

Zhuque's voice paused, then became more urgent and angry.

"He's currently... enjoying tea at Tianyue Teahouse, the largest teahouse in Cangcheng, seemingly waiting for your 'good news'!"

Shen Jinglong held Qin Xuerong in his arms, slowly raised his head, and looked through the night towards the direction of Cangcheng.

A cruel smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Want to try some tea?"

"King Anle, I've come... to invite you to have a cup of fine tea."