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

Outside Qingshan County, there is a secluded and hidden house.

This is the temporary base of Qiyue Pavilion in Qingshan County.

Because three million taels of silver were stolen, and the incident occurred in the vicinity of Qingshan County, Lin Xuan ordered an investigation into the whereabouts of the stolen silver, and Qiyue Pavilion specially chose this place as its temporary residence.

The compound was under heavy security.

A scout from Qiyue Pavilion rushed into the room and bowed urgently to Lingyue, who was sitting at her desk, to report:

"Master! His Highness the Crown Prince has sent an urgent message! He suspects that the Qin family private soldier we captured was a deliberate bait, and has ordered us to immediately re-interrogate him and find out the truth! Furthermore, His Highness has personally led troops to Black Wind Mountain!"

Lingyue was startled by his words and immediately realized something was wrong.

She had previously assumed that the private soldier had confessed early on out of fear of torture, revealing that Yan Yin was hiding in Black Wind Mountain.

But now, looking back, everything seems strange.

The man's arrest was too coincidental; he revealed crucial clues without undergoing torture or interrogation.

It seems like this was a trap from beginning to end!

Lingyue's face darkened, and she abruptly stood up.

"Shen Hu! Go! Re-interrogate that man immediately!"

Shen Hu, who was standing to the side, also realized the seriousness of the situation and dared not delay. He quickly followed Ling Yue out of the room.

The two quickly arrived at the secret cell where the prisoners were held.

Shen Hu pushed open the door.

Inside the house, the captured Qin family private soldier immediately became terrified upon seeing the two enter. He knelt down with a thud and begged for mercy repeatedly.

"My lord! I've confessed everything I had to say! You promised me, when will you let me go?"

Lingyue remained expressionless and said coldly, "Tie him up."

Two assassins from the Qiyue Pavilion immediately stepped forward, took out thick ropes, and tied the man tightly to the wooden chair, rendering him unable to move.

Lingyue took two steps forward, her gaze sharp as a knife, and demanded in a low voice, "Tell me, who exactly are you?"

A flicker of surprise flashed across the private soldier's eyes, but he quickly forced a look of terror onto his face and shook his head repeatedly.

"I am just an ordinary private soldier of the Qin family! I have confessed everything that was required! Why are you still making things difficult for me, sir?"

Ling Yue shouted coldly, "You're lying!"

"This is your last chance. Tell the truth! Otherwise, you'll face severe torture!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two bodyguards stepped forward, ready to begin the torture.

But at that very moment, the fear on the private soldier's face vanished.

Instead, he gave a cold laugh of utter relief.

"Heh... You saw through me so quickly? Too bad, it's too late."

He clenched his teeth as soon as he finished speaking!

A muffled groan.

Blood instantly spilled from the corner of his mouth, his head slumped heavily, his eyes widened, and he was completely lifeless.

Shen Hu hurriedly stepped forward to investigate, and his expression immediately changed drastically.

"He bit off his tongue and committed suicide!"

Lingyue felt a chill run through her body, her heart turning completely cold.

We've fallen for their trap!

From beginning to end, this was an elaborate trap!

She shouted sharply, "Damn it! Quickly send a messenger on horseback to the Crown Prince! Tell His Highness that he must not enter Black Wind Mountain! There is an ambush there."

A member of the Qiyue Pavilion immediately accepted the order and rushed out to deliver the message.

Shen Hu's face turned pale, and his voice was heavy: "It's too late! When the scouts came to report just now, my brother-in-law had already gone to Black Wind Mountain."

After saying that, he turned around and ran wildly outside.

Seeing this, Lingyue grabbed his arm: "Where are you going?"

Shen Hu's eyes were filled with anxiety, and his voice trembled with urgency: "My brother-in-law is in danger! I have to go save him!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he broke free of the arm and galloped wildly toward Black Wind Mountain, not even bothering to lead the horse.

Lingyue watched his reckless, running figure disappear into the distance, and muttered under her breath, "What an idiot."

Instead of riding warhorses, they chose to run on their own two legs.

Without a second thought, she immediately gave the order in a deep voice:

"Pass on my order! The entire Qiyue Pavilion is mobilized! Rush to Black Wind Mountain to rescue His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Dozens of Qiyue Pavilion assassins bowed in unison and went to support Lin Xuan.

Lingyue mounted her horse and quickly caught up with the galloping Shen Hu. She reined in her horse, leaned down, and whispered, "Aren't you going to mount your horse yet!"

Shen Hu was taken aback. He immediately turned around and saw Ling Yue riding her horse to his side. He immediately flipped over and sat steadily on the back of the horse.

"drive!"

Shen Hu raised his hand and slapped the horse's rump.

The horse neighed loudly and instantly leaped off the spot, galloping wildly.

Behind them, dozens of Qiyue Pavilion assassins rode closely behind, and the large group of people rushed towards Black Wind Mountain at full speed.

As dusk settled, Black Wind Mountain was shrouded in darkness and gloom, the entire valley eerily silent.

Deep within the dense forests on both sides of the mountain path, Qin Zheng led two thousand of the Qin family's private soldiers, all lying in ambush.

The woods were completely silent, save for the soft rustling of the wind through the leaves.

No one knew that Su Qian had not actually used Qin Zhongshan's name to issue the order.

Several days earlier, Su Qian had secretly contacted Qin Zheng, and the two had already reached a private cooperation agreement.

Two thousand private soldiers held their breath, nocked their bows and arrows, and stared intently at the mountain path.

suddenly!

A commotion arose in the distant mountains and forests as a flock of crows, startled, flapped their wings and took flight, cawing loudly and breaking the silence of the valley.

Qin Zheng, who was hiding in the shadows, instantly perked up, and his eyes flashed with murderous intent.

"They're here! Everyone get ready!"

At a low command, the two thousand private soldiers tensed up, drew their longbows to their full draw, and aimed their arrows at the center of the mountain path, ready to fire.

A moment later, the sound of neat and steady footsteps grew clearer and clearer as they approached.

As dusk settled, a troop of soldiers clad in fish-scale armor slowly entered the valley, their formation impeccable. It was none other than the five hundred Crown Prince Guards led by Lin Xuan.

Qin Zheng squinted to make out the armor design, then without further hesitation, he shouted sharply:

"Release the arrows!"

In an instant!

A dense barrage of arrows, whistling through the air, rained down like a storm, darkly enveloping the entire mountain path!

Arrows rained down, their force terrifying.

But Lin Xuan was certain that there was an ambush at Black Wind Mountain from the moment he set off. The five hundred prince guards were on high alert the whole time and were well prepared.

"Form a shield formation!"

At Lin Xuan's command, the front-line guards instantly stepped forward, their heavy shields forming an impenetrable shield wall.

Ding ding ding!

Arrows rained down on the shield, sparks flying and a series of sharp cracking sounds.

A few stray arrows struck the soldiers' armor, but were blocked by the fish-scale armor and could not penetrate its defenses.

A barrage of arrows rained down, yet only a handful of the Crown Prince's guards sustained minor injuries.

Qin Zheng frowned as he stood in the mountains, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Before he could think, on the mountain path, Lin Xuan looked around at the dark and dense forest, his eyes cold and piercing.

It was indeed an ambush!

He roared, his voice echoing through the valley:

"All personnel, listen to my command! Form ranks and prepare for battle!"

"kill!"

Zhang Shitou, wielding a long sword, took the lead, and the five hundred prince guards instantly changed formation, their killing intent soaring to the sky.

Seeing this, Qin Zheng no longer hesitated and ordered, "All troops, charge!"

Two thousand Qin family private soldiers roared as they charged out from the dense forest on both sides, crushing towards the five hundred Crown Prince's guards.

Despite a fourfold difference in numbers, seemingly a huge disparity, the difference in skill became immediately apparent the moment the two sides clashed.