How can you rule the world if I'm just a substitute for you?

The letter was just a thin sheet of paper with only these six words, nothing more, no signature, no reason, and no one knew who had reminded them.

The lobby fell silent for a moment.

Lin Xuan held the note tightly, his gaze deep, and read it over and over again.

Su Ling Shuang frowned and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, this is even stranger. On one hand, Qi Yue Pavilion sent clues leading us to Black Wind Mountain, while on the other hand, someone secretly shot an arrow to deliver a message warning of danger at Black Wind Mountain. Who is this messenger? Is he friend or foe?"

Zhang Shitou stood to the side, his thick brows furrowed: "Could it be that someone within the Qin family, feeling guilty, secretly risked their life to come and deliver a message?"

Su Ling Shuang shook her head: "It's hard to say. Could this secret letter also be part of a trap, deliberately using this sentence to confuse us?"

Lin Xuan did not answer immediately. He looked down at the unfolded map of Jiangzhou, his gaze fixed on the continuous forest of Black Wind Mountain.

The mountains are high and the forests are dense, and the mountain roads are rugged. If an ambush is really set up, a large force will be easily surrounded.

Lin Mo's Fierce Shadow Guards have confirmed that there is a stronghold in Black Wind Mountain, but it is still unknown whether Yan Yin is really hiding there.

He slowly began, "Two possibilities."

"This secret letter either makes me wary of the Qin family and prevents me from entering the mountain, or it's a warning that Black Wind Mountain is dangerous. But who warned me is unknown."

Lin Xuan's eyes were cold as he spoke again:

"Send someone to send a message to Lingyue, interrogate the person who was arrested and suspected to be a private soldier of the Qin family again. I suspect that this person was actually a decoy."

Zhang Shitou's heart skipped a beat: "A bait?"

"Yes." Lin Xuan's gaze fell on the three words "Black Wind Mountain" on the map, and his voice was very low. "Someone went to great lengths to lure me into the mountains."

Su Ling Shuang asked anxiously, "Your Highness, what should we do next? Should we deploy troops to surround Black Wind Mountain first, and then slowly investigate?"

Lin Xuan shook his head.

"no……"

Just then, footsteps sounded outside again, and Liu Yunzhou, covered in dust, strode into the study, his face not looking too good.

"Your Highness, I am incompetent. After shooting the letter, the archer immediately ran into the depths of the streets and alleys. The alleys in Jiangzhou City are intricate and complex. I chased him for several streets, but in the end, I still lost him."

Lin Xuan glanced at the panting Liu Yunzhou and said softly:

"It's not your fault, the other side was prepared."

He pondered for a moment, then made up his mind.

"Since I can't figure out the mystery no matter what, I won't think about it anymore. Since someone wants me to go to Black Wind Mountain, then I'll go. I'll find out what Black Wind Mountain is all about once I get there."

He looked up at the people around him and began to issue orders in a deep voice.

"Stone."

Zhang Shitou immediately stepped forward: "Your subordinate is here!"

"You will lead five hundred of the Crown Prince's guards and set off with me straight for Black Wind Mountain."

"yes!"

Lin Xuan then turned to look at Liu Yunzhou.

"Liu Yunzhou, you will take five hundred Crown Prince Guards and lie in ambush on the outskirts of Black Wind Mountain. If anyone in the mountain dares to attack me, you will lead your troops out to fight them."

"Furthermore, a messenger was sent to Xiao Ce, ordering him to lead a thousand imperial guards to Black Wind Mountain immediately."

Liu Yunzhou and Zhang Shitou bowed and accepted the order: "Understood!"

After explaining the surrounding arrangements, Lin Xuan turned to look at Su Ling Shuang, his tone chillingly serious.

"Ling Shuang, the remaining two thousand Crown Prince Guards are all under your command. You must defend Jiangzhou City firmly and keep a close watch on the Qin family. If there is any change in the city or any unusual activity by the Qin family, do not report it. Strike first."

The meaning behind these words couldn't be clearer: if the situation truly spirals out of control, then they can directly take action against the Qin family.

Lin Xuan knew perfectly well that the mastermind behind this whole affair at Black Wind Mountain was most likely the Qin family.

Upon hearing this arrangement, Su Ling Shuang's expression changed drastically, and she quickly stepped forward to dissuade him.

"Your Highness! You are only taking five hundred men to Black Wind Mountain openly. Your forces are far too weak. If a large force is deployed to ambush you in the mountains, the danger is unpredictable! It would be safer for me to lead the troops there while Your Highness stays in Jiangzhou to oversee the rear!"

Lin Xuan waved his hand gently, his eyes resolute, showing no sign of backing down.

"No need. Their target is me. If I don't personally get involved, how can these foxes possibly reveal their true colors?"

He paused, then solemnly gave further instructions.

"Ling Shuang, Jiangzhou City is the most important thing in the whole situation. Defending the city is your responsibility, even heavier than mine. Once the Qin family decides to kill me, the city will inevitably fall into chaos."

Su Ling Shuang felt a heavy weight in her heart. She clasped her hands tightly and bowed deeply, her voice firm and resolute.

"Your Highness, rest assured! This humble general will fight to the death to defend Jiangzhou City!"

Zhang Shitou led five hundred of the Crown Prince's guards, escorting Lin Xuan, as they drove out of Jiangzhou City and sped towards Black Wind Mountain.

Once the Crown Prince's entourage had gone far away, Liu Yunzhou immediately led the five hundred Crown Prince's guards, who had been fully equipped in advance, out of the city through the side gate and headed to the outskirts of Black Wind Mountain to ambush them.

Within Jiangzhou City, undercurrents were fully brewing.

Inside the Qin residence, footsteps were hurried, and clothes fluttered in the wind.

Su Qian looked anxious and rushed into Qin Zheng's courtyard. The moment he saw Qin Zheng, he immediately cupped his hands and reported urgently:

"Young Master Qin, it's done! It's done!"

"The spies I deliberately planted earlier intentionally exposed themselves to the Crown Prince's men. They had already been instructed to give a pre-arranged statement, claiming that the three million taels of stolen silver were all hidden in Black Wind Mountain!"

"Just now, a scout reported that the Crown Prince has already entered the game! He is personally leading five hundred soldiers to Black Wind Mountain! Immediately afterwards, another five hundred guards secretly left the city, making a total of one thousand men, all heading towards Black Wind Mountain!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Zheng's face instantly lit up with wild joy, and the ruthlessness and smugness he had suppressed for many days surged forth.

He abruptly stood up, his eyes filled with ruthlessness: "Excellent! Lin Xuan, you brat, has finally walked into a deadly trap!"

He turned and asked urgently, "Mr. Su, what about Qin Zheng?"

Su Qian calmly cupped his hands and said, "Young Master, rest assured, I have already used the name of the family head Qin Zhongshan to issue a secret order for Qin Zheng to intercept and kill the Crown Prince on the way to Black Wind Mountain."

Upon hearing this, Qin Zheng burst into laughter, his face filled with a sinister and smug expression:

"Great! Excellent!"

"Today, Black Wind Mountain will be Lin Xuan's burial ground! I will make him and that bastard Qin Zheng fight to the death, both suffering devastating losses!"

Su Qian nodded slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Young Master Qin, have you prepared your backup plan?"

A cold glint flashed in Qin Zheng's eyes as he confidently spoke:

"Mr. Su, please rest assured, I have already secretly gathered a thousand elite assassins, who are now assembled in a hidden area outside Jiangzhou City, ready to be deployed at any time."

"Qin Zheng will intercept the Crown Prince head-on. Once they are both severely weakened, my thousand men will arrive and easily clean up the mess! Neither the Crown Prince nor Qin Zheng will survive today!"

Su Qian nodded approvingly, a hint of a triumphant smile flashing in his eyes, and said calmly:

"Without further ado, let's set off for Black Wind Mountain immediately."

Qin Zheng nodded excitedly, "Okay! Let's go!"

Everything was arranged perfectly, with no further mistakes.

A smug, sinister smile quietly bloomed on Su Qian's lips.

The two walked one after the other, hurrying away from the Qin residence and heading straight for Black Wind Mountain.