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

Cangcheng, the Altar of Heaven.

In the darkest hour before dawn, the sky is like a tattered cloth soaked in ink.

The smell of blood mixed with the earthy odor after the rain filled everyone's nostrils.

Thousands of torches illuminated this hellish scene as bright as day.

The Northern Iron Cavalry and Black Dragon Guard warriors were silently and efficiently clearing the battlefield, their movements as precise as machines, without making a single unnecessary sound.

Only the sounds of armor plates clashing and the dull thud of blades slicing through corpses could be heard.

Shen Jinglong stood on the edge of the platform, his hands behind his back.

His gaze pierced through the endless darkness, looking towards the distant north.

That place is the capital.

The heart of power in the Dragon Kingdom is also the ultimate source of his deep-seated hatred.

"Dragon Lord".

Qinglong strode over. His severed arm had been splinted and fixed with the best medicine. Although his face was pale, his eyes were unusually firm.

"Everything is settled, and we are ready to depart at any time."

Shen Jinglong did not turn around.

"Tell the brothers."

His voice was soft, yet it struck everyone's heart like a hammer.

"Going to the capital is a perilous journey with a slim chance of survival."

"Those with families, write your wills and hand them to the accompanying quartermaster."

"Those who are afraid of dying can quit now."

"I don't blame him."

Qinglong was silent for a moment, then straightened his chest and spoke in a booming voice.

"There are no cowardly soldiers in the North!"

"I am willing to follow the Dragon Lord and raze the imperial capital to the ground!"

Behind him, five thousand iron cavalry and thousands of Black Dragon Guards knelt on one knee in unison, letting out a roar as loud as a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down.

"I am willing to follow the Dragon Lord and raze the imperial capital to the ground!"

The sound, carrying the scent of blood and fire, soared straight into the sky.

,,,

at the same time.

Thousands of miles away, in the capital of the Dragon Kingdom.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

The residence of Zhuge Tianming, the imperial tutor of the current dynasty, remained as tranquil as ever.

This powerful and influential elder statesman, hailed as a "literary saint," was sitting in the warm pavilion of the back garden, leisurely savoring the first batch of spring tea that had just been harvested this year.

On the chessboard in front of him, black and white pieces were locked in a fierce battle.

The black stone symbolizing "King Anle" has decimated the white stones representing "Cangcheng," leaving them with only a sliver of life.

"hehe."

Zhuge Tianming picked up a black piece, gently placed it down, and captured the last "big dragon" of white pieces.

"it's over."

He picked up his teacup, blew on the steam, and a confident smile appeared on his face.

King Anle was a dog he kept.

Shen Jinglong was a pawn in his eyes.

Use the dog to bite the disobedient chess piece to death, and incidentally, it can also give the increasingly restless student on the dragon throne a warning.

He was very satisfied with his performance in this game.

"Report—!!"

Just then, a series of stumbling footsteps and shrill shouts shattered the tranquility.

A trusted secret agent dressed in black rushed into the warm chamber as if he had seen a ghost and collapsed to the ground.

He was soaking wet, his face was covered in mud, and his lips were trembling so much that he could barely speak.

"Prime Minister...Prime Minister! No...Imperial Tutor!"

"Defeat...defeat! Utter defeat!"

Zhuge Tianming's handsome brows furrowed slightly.

He hates it when people make a fuss while he's enjoying his tea.

"What's the panic? Even if that good-for-nothing Prince Anle can't defeat Shen Jinglong, he can still protect himself."

"No, Your Excellency, Imperial Tutor!"

The spy cried out, his voice trembling with sobs, "Prince Anle... his three thousand private troops have been completely wiped out!"

"The divine messengers and bio-soldiers sent by the Temple of the Sun... not a single one survived!"

"King Anle himself... was captured alive by Shen Jinglong, hung on the sacrificial altar, and publicly executed!"

"What did you say?!"

"Snapped!"

The precious purple clay teacup in Zhuge Tianming's hand was instantly crushed to pieces!

The scalding hot tea splashed all over his hand, but he didn't even notice.

He suddenly stood up, took a step in front of the spy, grabbed him by the collar, and for the first time, a ferocious look appeared on his usually calm face.

"Three thousand private soldiers! Three hundred bio-engineered troops! And two divine envoys overseeing the operation!"

"How could we possibly lose to someone like Shen Jinglong?!"

"Is Shen Jinglong some kind of god?!"

The spy was so terrified by the fierce look in his eyes that he almost lost his mind, and trembling, he blurted out even more horrifying news.

"It's...it's the Northern Iron Cavalry!"

"Shen Jinglong... he somehow... secretly mobilized at least five thousand Northern Border Iron Cavalry! He's completely surrounded Cangcheng!"

"King Anle... he... he's been lured into a trap!"

"Northern...border...iron...cavalry?"

Upon hearing these four words, Zhuge Tianming felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

He let go, staggered back a few steps, and bumped his butt against the bookshelf behind him.

"Splash—"

Rare and ancient books were scattered all over the floor.

His refined face was now filled with disbelief and...fear!

He felt fear for the first time!

Unauthorized transfer of border troops!

Shen Jinglong is a madman! How dare he!

He understood instantly.

Shen Jinglong wasn't retaliating; he was declaring war!

This is the most direct and arrogant declaration of war against him, the mastermind behind it all!

"Hahaha,,,"

After extreme fear came extreme cold.

Zhuge Tianming suddenly chuckled softly, a laugh as sharp as a venomous snake's tongue, sending chills down one's spine.

He leaned on the bookshelf and slowly straightened up.

The panic in his eyes quickly faded, replaced by a venomous calm and ruthlessness.

"Good...good little beast."

I underestimated you.

"Do you think that by defeating Cangcheng, you've defeated me?"

He walked to the chessboard, looked at the white piece representing "Shen Jinglong," and gave a chilling smile.

"Since you dare to come to the capital, then I'll show you just how deep these muddy waters really are!"

He turned around and immediately issued a series of commands to the air behind him, his voice cold and clear.

"First! Immediately forge 'ironclad evidence' that King Anle is colluding with the Northern Bear Kingdom and plotting a rebellion! Send it to my study before dawn! I want to personally submit a memorial to 'expose' this traitor!"

"Second! Contact our people in the northern border and have them submit a petition of ten thousand words, citing the reason that 'the borders cannot be without a commander for a day,' claiming that the Northern Bear Kingdom has made unusual moves and imploring the Dragon Lord to return to defend it! I want to put him in a dilemma halfway there!"

"third!"

A glint of malice flashed in Zhuge Tianming's eyes.

"Send a message to the 'Bishop' of the Sun Temple in the capital. Tell him that 'The Key' and Shen Jinglong, who ruined their plans, are about to enter the city."

"This is their last chance to avenge themselves and take everything back!"

,,,

After issuing all the orders, the entire underground world of the capital city went into overdrive because of his words.

Zhuge Tianming straightened his robes, which were soaked with tea, and his expression returned to its usual calm.

It was as if the person who had just lost his composure was not him.

He walked to a landscape painting at the deepest part of the study and gently pressed his hand on a certain spot on the painting.

"Creak—"

The wall slid open silently, revealing a deeper, darker secret passage behind it.

He went inside and stopped in front of a black iron door at the end of the secret passage.

He bowed deeply in respect.

His attitude was extremely respectful, a stark contrast to his previous domineering and life-or-death demeanor.

He spoke softly, almost humbly, to the leader inside the dark doorway:

"My lord."

m

"The plan has changed. That little fish, Shen Jinglong, is more troublesome than we thought."

"He is leading the Northern cavalry to the capital."

"Do you think... we should activate 'that plan'?"

in the dark.

A desolate scene.

a long time.

An old, dignified voice, seemingly devoid of any human emotion, slowly rang out.

The voice seemed to come from the heavens above, or from the depths of hell.

"It's alright."

"Let him come."

"I am also very curious about how much trouble this so-called Northern Dragon Lord can stir up under the emperor's nose."

"Pass the word down."

"Get ready... to welcome our 'hero of the nation'!"