My enemies became my companions

Chapter 646 Dream Gamble (Bonus Chapter 4 Combined)

She spent the whole morning playing with Qin Yue, but didn't see Zhu E. She usually cared most about Yue'er and couldn't bear to let her sleep with the nanny.

He asked a maid, but she was vague and gave no answer. She only said that the princess usually forbade them to ask questions, so she obviously didn't know much about it. Chen Yi suddenly realized that Zhu E must have gone to handle official business.

Since Qin Qinglu inherited the title of Prince of Annam more than ten years ago, she has been in charge of all military and national affairs. However, there are always some matters in the shadows that are not convenient for her to decide, and people's energy is also limited. Therefore, she has entrusted almost everything to Zhu E.

It's not quite accurate to say that the task was entrusted to Zhu E. In matters such as intelligence gathering, Zhu E had been Qin Qingluo's right-hand woman and held great power since her sister, Qin Qingluo's mother, was still alive. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to help Qin Qingluo rise to power.

As far as the princess is concerned, Zhu E is a rare and virtuous wife.

Leaving the courtyard, he strolled to the study where Zhu E handled official business. Zhu E was flipping through books and writing furiously at her desk, her brows furrowed with worry. When she saw Chen Yi enter, she put down her pen and rubbed her temples.

"My lord has arrived?" Zhu E's voice sounded weary.

"You must have been busy until very late."

"I didn't sleep all night..."

Zhu Wo gave a bitter smile, then picked up a spy report:

"Right now... the assassination attempt at the ancestral temple has stirred up a storm throughout the city. Government offices, noble residences, and powerful clans are all in a state of panic, with everyone fearing that they might be implicated and have their families wiped out if they are not careful. This time, Your Highness has gone a bit too far."

Chen Yi calmly asked, "Has it reached the point where everyone can clearly see that Qing Luo is using this as a pretext to eliminate dissidents?"

I nodded slightly.

"Aunt Zhu is very worried that the case is getting bigger and bigger, to the point of hitting rock bottom and rebounding, forcing everyone to the opposite side of the Prince's Mansion, at which point it will be out of control."

There's no need to pretend in front of Zhu E. The princess prefers him to be a little smarter, though she would still like him even if he weren't.

Zhu E looked up at Chen Yi, her eyes filled with worry: "Such ruthless methods are indeed likely to provoke public outrage. I'm worried... things will inevitably turn out the opposite of what they seem."

"But if it is not done on a large scale, it will be difficult to eradicate the roots of the chieftain clans and clean up the bureaucracy."

Zhu E smiled, though her smile was somewhat strained. “That makes sense, but it’s hard to find the right balance. It’s easy to say, but extremely troublesome to deal with. After all, the Prince’s Mansion has been established in Nanwei for three hundred years, and there are many accumulated problems.”

Not just a lot...

Tusi (local chieftains), corrupt officials, religious sects, heretics, and the imperial guards approached the border of Nanwei.

With a large influx of migrants, the population of the prefectures and counties surged, and a large amount of land was reclaimed. It seemed that in just a few years, the entire region would enjoy a bumper harvest and flourish once again.

Flowers in full bloom?
I'm afraid it's like cooking oil over a raging fire...

Chen Yi walked to the window, gazing at the desolate scenery in the courtyard, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the cold window frame.

He didn't offer any words of comfort regarding Zhu E's concerns, only giving a faint "hmm," as if listening to something trivial that had nothing to do with him.

In the afternoon, he changed into inconspicuous clothes and quietly left the palace again.

………………

Xiemaping Casino, that familiar quiet room.

The aroma of tea filled the air, mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible smell of smoke.

The person sitting opposite him was no longer the three menacing masked men, but a contact who was also wearing a mask, but whose aura was more restrained and as calm as a withered tree.

“Commander Chen.” The other person’s voice was flat and emotionless. “The Emperor said: Your actions, though cruel, are aimed at the King of Annam, and you and we share the same goal. For now, we can… trust you.”

The word "trust" was spoken extremely softly, carrying a strong sense of probing and reservation.

Chen Yi didn't care at all. He casually leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingertips on the table, and asked, "May I ask what position you hold in the sect?"

"The chief envoy is above me; he is the supreme saint."

"Second only to one person, above ten thousand?"

"One can understand it this way: 'a thousand households'."

Next, Chen Yi probed and exchanged ideas with them. He did not ask about the inheritance of the World-Holding Envoy, nor did he inquire about the core secrets of this group of heretics. He simply exchanged some unimportant information about the royal palace's movements and the unusual activities of the chieftains in the southern border region.

The contact, who claimed to be the chief envoy, spoke cautiously and without revealing a single detail.

However, Chen Yi was certain of one thing: the "Supreme Saint" he spoke of was not the previous Pure Saintess, but the current leader of the heresy, who claimed to be the chief disciple of the previous Pure Saintess.

Half an hour later, the conversation had almost ended.

Having gained the other party's initial trust, Chen Yi was fairly satisfied.

Moreover, to integrate into a heretical group, one always needs to go through several steps of contact.

Chen Yi nodded: "Then I will await good news."

"Before I take my leave, may I ask one more question?" The chief envoy's gaze seemed to pierce through the holes in Chen Yi's mask, as if trying to see through his disguise, "Is the hatred between the commander and the King of Annam truly irreconcilable?"

A cold glint flashed in Chen Yi's eyes: "It's a fight to the death."

"That's good. The Annam Prince's Palace is an accomplice of the false believers, and we are sworn enemies with them."

As they parted, Chen Yi picked up the tea that had somehow gone cold from the table, took a sip, and looked sharply at the other person: "My whereabouts end here. If anyone from your sect leaks even the slightest word..."

The contact was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Don't worry, Commander, this matter is top secret."

…………

The next day at noon,
Chen Yi was drinking alone in an inconspicuous tavern in Dragon Tail City, secretly practicing his drinking capacity.

The atmosphere in the tavern was oppressive. The customers at the neighboring tables were talking in hushed tones, their eyes darting around warily.

The shadow of the assassination attempt at the ancestral temple loomed over the entire Nanwei Prefecture, and discussions on the streets and alleys were filled with fear and suspicion.

The hushed chatter of several street-smart men at the next table reached his ears.

"Have you heard? That ruthless star... Chen Yi, the commander of the Western Depot! He's right here in Nanwei!"

"What?! Really? That Commander Chen, who's wanted throughout the country?"

"It's absolutely true! The news came from the religious sect in southern Sichuan! They say the Prince of Annam's residence is harboring this wanted criminal! Those people from the religious sect... hey, they're pushing him into the Prince's palace's fire pit, forcing him to his death!"

"Hiss... Is the Prince's residence really harboring a wanted criminal?! What if the imperial court finds out...?"

"Who cares? There's probably someone stirring things up behind the scenes, trying to incite a fight so they can reap the benefits. Even if a fight doesn't break out, they can still force people into a corner! That kind of ruthless person is likely to be used as a tool. Caught between two forces, how can he possibly survive?!"

Chen Yi held the wine glass steadily, his face expressionless, as if he were listening to someone else's story. He even slowly picked up a small dish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, chewing it carefully.

that night,

"This villain is infamous and known throughout the world. He has harmed my royal family and the Qin family's three-hundred-year-old dynasty."

"This humble official humbly requests Your Highness to exert all your efforts to apprehend the infamous Western Depot commander, Chen Yi!"

………………

The martial arts training ground of the Annan Prince's Palace in the western suburbs of Longwei City.

Dust billowed and battle cries shook the heavens as hundreds of elite soldiers from the Prince's Palace practiced a combined attack formation. Their blades flashed like snow, their spears gleamed like a forest, and their movements were perfectly synchronized, exuding a chilling aura.

On the high platform, the King of Annam, dressed in heavy armor and covered with a plain robe, stood tall and straight like a javelin, intently watching the changes in the formation, occasionally whispering a few words of instruction to the general in charge of training beside him.

Suddenly, the rapid sound of galloping hooves grew louder as a knight disguised as a royal spy disregarded protocol, spurring his horse straight down from the platform. He knelt on one knee, his voice trembling with barely suppressed urgency:

"Report! Your Highness! Urgent report!"

The King of Annam frowned slightly, raised his hand to stop the guards beside him who were about to reprimand him, and said in a deep voice, "Speak."

The spy looked up and said in a low but clear voice, "Rumors are spreading throughout Dragon Tail City! They say... that Chen Yi, the Western Depot commander wanted by the imperial court, has appeared in Nanwei, and... and that he is being hidden by the Prince's Mansion!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire training ground seemed to pause. The officers and guards who had been resting on and off the platform turned around and held their breath. The entire training ground was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the restless snorting of the warhorses.

"Good, good thief, daring to trespass into my southern border," the King of Annam raised his hand, with an unquestionable air of authority, "Issue my decree: from this day forward, martial law shall be imposed throughout the entire territory of Nanwei. All prefectures, counties, passes, and docks shall strictly investigate all passersby. Anyone whose behavior is suspicious shall be detained and await trial."

"Quickly draft the arrest warrant for the imperial criminal Chen Yihai, affix the official seal of the Prince's Palace, and reward the person who takes his head with one thousand taels of gold; reward the person who provides accurate information about his whereabouts with one hundred taels of gold. This reward shall be added to the imperial reward and proclaimed throughout the entire territory. Anyone who harbors him, fails to report him, or provides information shall be treated as a bandit, and we vow to bring this man to justice in Nanwei."

That night.

Dragontail City seemed to have been suddenly choked.

The streets and alleys, which were usually bustling after nightfall, were now eerily silent.

All the shops closed and locked early, and not a ray of light shone through the cracks in the windows. There were several times more armored soldiers and yamen runners patrolling the city than usual. The heavy footsteps and the clanging of armor echoed in the empty streets, particularly clear and jarring. The light of torches danced on the bluestone pavement, reflecting the cold and vigilant faces of the soldiers.

The city gates were tightly shut, and the massive bolts slammed down with a dull thud. The city walls were brightly lit, with many figures moving about, bows and crossbows nocked, and the city under heavy guard.

The grim atmosphere of martial law not only enveloped Dragon Tail City, but also spread rapidly to half of Nanwei's territory via fast horses and carrier pigeons.

The entire Dragon Tail City, and even half of the Southern Frontier, could not find peace.

...............

The southern border, the imperial guards' main camp.

Inside the central command tent, Yang Chongwei, the Imperial Guard's adjutant, was stroking a secret letter bearing several chieftain seals, a playful smile on his rugged face.

"These barbarians have suffered so much lately," he remarked in amazement.

"My lord, the chieftains have jointly requested assistance? I heard that the Annam Prince's Palace used the assassination attempt as an excuse to hunt down refugees, causing great suffering to the chieftains. It seems that what they said is true." His deputy said.

Yang Chongwei placed the letter in his hand. "Tell me, will you help or not?"

The deputy read it over and said slowly, "The letter is indeed sincere, and the seal is genuine, but... I'm afraid they want to use us as pawns. They're trying to use us against each other, hoping to force the Prince's Mansion to back down by leveraging the power of our Imperial Guards."

"Using one tiger to devour another?" Yang Chongwei scoffed, snatching the secret letter and tossing it onto the table. "They underestimate me, Yang, far too much. Trying to use me as a bargaining chip? Heh heh..."

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes: "Since they've delivered themselves to my doorstep, don't blame me for being heartless! They want to use me against them? Fine! I'll go with the flow and finish them off..."

He paused, seemingly considering his words.

The deputy tentatively interjected, "Forced into a corner?"

“Yes! Forced to…” Yang Chongwei was about to say it when he suddenly realized something was wrong. He waved his hand and laughed heartily, “No! What do you mean by forced to join the Liangshan bandits! I call this… surrender! Understand? Surrender!”

The deputy's lips twitched slightly, and he could only nod: "Your Excellency is wise."

"Pass on the order!" Yang Chongwei stood up abruptly, his face beaming with excitement. "Select two elite cavalry squads and send them out tonight to conduct some raids. Find a few prefectures, counties, and towns that are close to the Tusi's territory but far from the Annam Prince's power... Remember, be discreet and act like bandits. Loot! Loot as much as you can! Make a big scene! Let those Tusi lords see!"

"Your subordinate obeys." The deputy took the order and left.

That night, along the dozens of miles of border, several villages and towns suddenly burst into flames, and cries tore through the night sky.

…………

Two days later, at dawn, outside the gate of the Imperial Guard camp.

"Report——!"

A guard rushed into the central command tent and knelt on one knee: "Reporting to the adjutant, An... An... outside the gate... the Prince of Annam requests an audience!"

Yang Chongwei, who was holding a teacup, suddenly stopped, and the tea almost spilled.

"Who?!" He thought he had misheard. "The Prince of Annam! Qin Qingluo! He's with a personal guard, right outside the gate!"

Yang Chongwei's expression changed several times in an instant, and finally he narrowed his eyes and his expression turned solemn. "What audacity... to dare to come to the Imperial Guard in person? Welcome him in."

He put down his teacup, straightened his armor, and his eyes were filled with a deep and heavy expression. After the Imperial Guards entered Guiyang, they took over the various garrisons and controlled the vital passage from the southern border to the heart of the Central Plains. They confronted the Prince of Annam and could be said to have come to weaken the princes. He originally thought that no matter what, it would be all bark and no bite, and that they would eventually live in peace.

Unexpectedly, the King of Annam personally came to the army today.

Before long, the gate of the camp was opened wide.

A figure clad in a black python robe, tall and straight as a pine tree, strode into the military camp in the morning light. The Prince of Annam had a stern face, imposing eyes, and an aura of authority.

Half a step behind her was a young man dressed in the uniform of a royal guard.

Yang Chongwei's gaze swept over the King of Annam, intending to examine this vassal king closely. However, a figure then squeezed into the tent. Yang Chongwei glanced at him, and when he saw the other person's face, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his hand gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist tightened involuntarily.

This person... was none other than the expert from the Prince's mansion who had met him briefly that day while escorting the refugees...

Yang Chongwei's gaze deepened.

He actually served at the side of the King of Annam...

It was a great loss that we didn't kill him that day.

Yang Chongwei suppressed his emotions, quickly put on a polite smile, clasped his hands and said, "This humble general Yang Chongwei greets Your Highness, the Prince of Annam. I was unaware of Your Highness's presence and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me!"

The King of Annam nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the tent like cold stars. His voice was authoritative, cutting straight to the point: "General Yang, there's no need for formalities. I'm not here for mere pleasantries. The Imperial Guards are stationed in the southern border by imperial decree, and together with the Royal Palace, they protect the Great Yu state. We are essentially one entity."

She paused, then her tone suddenly turned serious, carrying an undeniable pressure:
"However, I have heard that yesterday, several prefectures, counties and towns along the border were suddenly plundered by bandits, causing great suffering and widespread resentment among the people."

Such heinous acts not only trample on the laws of the imperial court, but also shake the very foundation of the people's hearts in the southern border region!
"General Yang, your army commands strategic passes and patrols all directions. What explanation do you have for this?"

Yang Chongwei's heart skipped a beat, and his face was filled with shock and anger as he said, "How could this happen? It was my oversight! Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will investigate thoroughly! I will definitely find these audacious bandits and punish them severely!"

"The bandits come and go like the wind. When will General Yang be able to find out the truth?"

"...It will just take some time."

"There's no need for more time, let's do it now. The people of the southern border are restless, and the royal court is uneasy. This is not a long-term solution. To appease the people and stabilize the state, I have a proposal." The King of Annam looked directly at Yang Chongwei, his voice imposing without anger. "I request that General Yang immediately issue orders to restrain his troops, eliminate bandits, and curb any disturbances to the local area."

At the same time, I will dispatch one-third of your troops to relocate to the main camp in the suburbs of Longwei City, to coordinate with the Prince's Guard in defense, and jointly maintain the peace of the prefecture. In this way, we can both deter villains and stabilize public sentiment, and demonstrate the court's and the Prince's Palace's unity in resisting foreign aggression. What does General Yang think?

The air inside the tent seemed to freeze for a few minutes.

Upon hearing this, the officers behind Yang Chongwei's expressions changed drastically. Bandit raids were merely minor skirmishes; even if exposed, an apology would suffice. But now, they wanted to divide their forces and garrison Longwei City? This was tantamount to placing a portion of their troops under the very noses of the Prince's mansion, or even on the brink of death…

Yang Chongwei's smile froze, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

He remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his options, before finally clasping his hands in a deep voice and saying, "Your Highness is concerned for the nation and cares for the people. This humble general obeys! Immediately issue orders to all departments to strictly enforce discipline."

As for dividing troops to garrison Dragontail City...

"Your Highness, I am deeply moved by Your Majesty's noble sentiments. To reassure the people and jointly resist foreign aggression, I am willing to personally lead an elite force to garrison Dragon Tail City and await Your Majesty's command. This is my duty!"

Upon hearing this, not only did Chen Yi, standing behind the King of Annam, show a strange look in his eyes, but even Yang Chongwei's own deputy looked up in astonishment.

"Oh?" The King of Annam seemed somewhat surprised that Yang Chongwei agreed so readily, but he remained calm on the surface. "General Yang is a man of great principle and a blessing to the nation. Then I will trouble you."

"I dare not, it is my duty as a subordinate general."

Yang Chongwei bowed and accepted the order.

…………

After seeing off the Annamite King and his entourage, the atmosphere in the central command tent became extremely oppressive.

"My lord!" the deputy could no longer contain himself and cried out urgently, "He's trying to hold our men hostage in Dragontail City! Sending in a third of our men is like putting our lives on the line! How could you..."

"Shut up!" The submissive look on Yang Chongwei's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sinister smile. "What do you know? This Prince of Annam wants to use righteousness and pretexts to trap me and make me a coward? Then let's turn the tables on him."

The deputy was about to argue when he suddenly realized, "You mean... the Demonic Sect..."

Yang Chongwei paced back and forth, then replied, "Isn't she trying to calm the people and jointly resist foreign aggression? Fine! I'll go along with her! The demonic sect and its evil people are causing chaos in the world and are hated by the court and the righteous path of the world."

After I take over Dragon Tail City, I will openly and legitimately conduct a large-scale manhunt for the remnants of the Demonic Cult in Dragon Tail City and the surrounding prefectures and counties! Then, I can investigate wherever I want, arrest whomever I want! Investigate the Prince's Mansion? Investigate the chieftains? Investigate those nobles who flirt with the Prince's Mansion? Hmph! Who dares to stop me? Anyone who stops me is colluding with the Demonic Cult! Doesn't the Prince's Mansion want stability? Doesn't it want the stability of the nation? They can only watch helplessly, not daring to utter a single word! ...Like a mute eating bitter melon, they have no way to express their suffering.”

"I see, Your Excellency is wise."

Yang Chongwei snorted smugly, then lowered his voice and ordered, "Also, that guard who's with the Prince of Annam, I'm sure you can tell that's the expert who escorted the refugees before. Send our best spies to keep a close eye on his movements. I have a feeling that this man has a close relationship with the Prince of Annam, so keeping an eye on his movements is keeping an eye on the Prince's movements."

"Understood, I will make the arrangements immediately." The deputy accepted the order and hurriedly left.

…………

That night, Chen Yi returned to the Prince's villa.

The days of running around, scheming, and bloodshed had already put his mind under immense strain. In addition, for some reason, he felt a deficiency of Yang energy lately, which made him feel a deep sense of fatigue.

After a quick wash, he lay down on the couch and fell asleep almost immediately.

Perhaps because he had been gambling too much lately, he had a dream in which he returned to that noisy and filthy gambling den. The dice spun wildly in the bowl, the dominoes flew and collided with a piercing sound, and the chips piled up like mountains and then collapsed in an instant.

A series of twisted, greedy faces flickered in the smoke: Yan Kan's fawning smile, the heretic's cold metal mask, Yang Chongwei's cunning eyes, Gongsun Guan's rambling, Qin Qingluo's icy phoenix eyes, Zhu E's weary, worried expression… Finally, the image settled on Donggong Ruoshu's innocent yet stubborn face. She was under the table, breathing in his yang energy, hissing…

The betting continues.

The giant roulette wheel was spinning, the cards were pushed and shuffled, and he seemed to be both the gambler and a chip at the center of the gambling table...

He suddenly wondered, if this were a gambling game, who would be the dealer?

.....................

Officials from all sides conducted a thorough search throughout the night and a full-day investigation. The entire city of Dragon Tail was in a state of panic. Not only during the curfew, but even during the day, there were far fewer pedestrians, all fearing that they would be implicated.

On one side, the imperial envoy from the Prince's Palace was searching for the commander of the Western Depot, while on the other side, the soldiers of the Imperial Guards were arresting members of the Demonic Cult. Whispers were suppressed in the streets and alleys, and Longwei City was almost on the verge of a storm.

Chen Yi, clutching a secret letter, turned a street corner and went through an alley. He wasn't wearing official robes; dressed simply, he went straight into a tavern and went upstairs to the room number indicated in the letter.

It was a private room facing the street.

Outside the window lay the oppressive streets of Dragontail City, where the footsteps of the patrolling soldiers could be clearly heard.

Chen Yi pushed open the door and entered. Inside the private room sat only the chief envoy, whose aura was as withered as a dead tree.

He was about to speak.

However, the moment he stood up, an incomparably sharp sword aura suddenly swept out, aiming straight for the chief envoy's throat.

The chief envoy's pupils contracted sharply, his body leaned back in an extremely bizarre posture, and at the same time, his hands crossed rapidly in front of his chest, instantly creating a visible protective aura with dark gold runes.

The sword energy collided with the qi, producing a muffled thud.

The envoy groaned, sliding back several feet along with his chair before crashing into the wall and coming to a stop. A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth beneath his mask. Though he had barely managed to block it, he was already in a sorry state.

"Commander, hold your hand!" the chief envoy's voice was urgent. "Misunderstanding! This is a misunderstanding!"

Chen Yi did not pursue, but stood still, his sword aura still lingering, locking onto the chief envoy and saying, "Misunderstanding? You just promised to keep it a top secret, and the next day you exposed my identity to the whole world, causing the Prince's Palace and the Imperial Guards to hunt me down like mad dogs! Is this your top secret? Is this your trust?"

The chief envoy took a deep breath, suppressing his surging blood and qi. "Commander, please calm down! This was not my intention, nor was it ordered by the Emperor. It was actually because someone in the main camp... suspected your identity, and feared it was a trap set by the Prince's Mansion. The reason for spreading the word was twofold: first, to test the Prince's Mansion's reaction, and second, to... force you to sever any possible ties with the Prince's Mansion. This was... a last resort!"

"What a desperate measure!" Chen Yi sneered. "Your sect's actions are truly chilling!"

He did not retract his sword finger, as if he was about to continue attacking.

Just then, several figures emerged from behind the screen inside the private room.

These were the same three masked men I had seen in the private room of the gambling den. They stood silently behind the chief envoy, their auras heavy, clearly in a guarding posture.

Immediately afterwards, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the screen.

This person also wore a mask, but the material was neither gold nor iron; it resembled some kind of warm, lustrous jade, carved with intricate and ancient patterns of flames and stars.

He was not tall, and was even somewhat slender. He wore a plain black robe with dark gold patterns embroidered on the hem.

His aura was even more restrained than that of the chief envoy, like a deep pool or ancient well, without the slightest ripple, yet giving people a feeling of unfathomable depth.

"Commander Chen." A calm, even slightly gentle voice rang out, indistinguishable in gender, piercing through the mask and clearly reaching Chen Yi's ears. "The chief envoy's words are all true. Such a test was not what I desired, but was done by the stubborn and conservative members of the sect. On behalf of the Divine Sect, I apologize to Commander Chen."

Chen Yi's gaze swept over the five people present, finally landing on the person who had spoken, who was none other than the Supreme Saint mentioned by the outsiders.

"His Majesty's personal visit surely isn't just to offer an apology, is it?"

“The commander is a man of few words.” The Emperor’s voice remained calm. “We have taken the liberty of inviting you today because we have a request.”

"explain."

“Our sect’s guardian elder, Wu Meng,” the Supreme Saint’s voice carried a hint of heaviness, “was captured by the Prince’s henchmen last time and suffered all kinds of torture. He is now being secretly imprisoned deep in the Prince’s dungeon. This elder is of vital importance to our sect’s inheritance and knows many secrets. We… earnestly request the Commander to take action and help us rescue Elder Wu Meng.”

While the most important aspect of this heretical cult's demands is undoubtedly saving people, it is also a pledge of allegiance, something Chen Yi clearly understood.

Because the news of Wu Meng's capture was deliberately released by him.

Chen Yi remained silent for a moment, his gaze shifting between the Supreme Emperor and the Chief Envoy, before finally nodding slightly.

"The dungeon of the Prince's mansion is a den of dragons and tigers," Chen Yi said slowly.

"Precisely because it is a den of dragons and tigers, it cannot be broken without the ability of a thousand-household commander. We will cooperate fully, and after the matter is accomplished, the thousand-household commander will be an honored guest of our divine religion, working together to achieve great things."

"I'll do my best," Chen Yi said. "If there's nothing else, I won't stay any longer."

"We will be taking action in the next two days. I will be counting on the commander then." The chief envoy stepped forward and bowed, saying, "The current situation is extremely favorable to us. The imperial guards and the Prince of Annam's mansion are hindering each other, and rescuing Wumeng is just a step further."

"I see."

Chen Yi walked out of the tavern, his figure blending into the sparse afternoon crowds of Dragon Tail City. He walked leisurely, as if he were just taking a stroll after a meal, and deliberately slowed down his pace.

Before turning the corner, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a cook resting against the old banyan tree across from the tavern, casually getting up and heading in another direction.

He turned down several streets, finally entering a narrow back alley, and slipped into a low-rise house to report: "That royal guard stayed in the tavern for a few quarters of an hour today. I don't know who he met, but it feels like... he's colluding with the cult."

"I will report to the adjutant immediately."

………………

That night, Chen Yi had another dream.

He dreamed of the gambling den again.

He remained seated in the center of the gambling table, the scene of the gambling den distorted even more, the noisy voices stretched and deformed, the dice tumbling in mid-air but not falling, the dominoes hovering like tombstones.

Turning around, another new face appeared at the gambling table; it was the heretical Supreme Saint.

As the noise and commotion continued, the atmosphere grew increasingly heated, and everyone's chips piled higher and higher.

but…

Winner takes all.

(End of this chapter)