My father is the main character, but the female leads want to kill me.

Lin Ran had been to this pass a few times before, but when he returned, it was not as bustling as he remembered. There were significantly fewer people in the city, and even more people were leaving than entering, which surprised Lin Ran.

"Has the war already spread here?" Lin Ran wondered to herself.

However, no signs of battle were found in these places. According to the envelope, the main battlefield should have been near Nanshan Pass.

Lin Ran decided to stop here for a while, inquire about the situation, and then continue on her way. She found a hotel that looked quite clean, got off the carriage, and went straight inside.

As soon as she entered, she saw the chubby owner at the counter dozing off, his chubby face propped up by his left hand. Hearing footsteps, he was startled awake, and when he saw Lin Ran, a smile immediately appeared on his face: "Sir, you're looking for a place to stay, right? You've come to the right place. This is the best hotel in Yuxin Pass!"

Lin Ran took off her hood, leaned against the counter, pointed to the street and said, "Boss, I've been to Yuxin Pass before, why are there so few people inside now?"

"Hmm, are you from somewhere else, sir?" the shopkeeper asked in surprise.

"What's wrong? Is it not allowed?" Lin Ran smiled.

"It's not that it's impossible, but the Li Dynasty is about to change hands, and there will be big commotion soon. Everyone is rushing out now. Sir, didn't you notice when you entered Yuxin Pass that there are hardly any guards left? They've all run away!" the innkeeper said.

Lin Ran was suddenly startled. He had just thought that there were few people in the city defenses and that they had been conscripted to other places. He had thought that things would get very bad inside the Li Dynasty, but he never thought that the Li Dynasty was about to perish. What exactly happened?

Lin Ran remained calm, took out some money, placed it in front of the shopkeeper, and whispered, "Sir, could you tell me what has happened in the Li Dynasty?"

The shopkeeper glanced at it, took the money pouch and weighed it in his hand. He immediately beamed with joy. Anyway, he didn't have anything else to do. He had been wanting to talk to someone about the infuriating situation in the Li Dynasty, which was making it difficult for him to earn much money.

"Sir, it all started with that damned war a few years ago..." the shopkeeper began recounting the history of the past.

After a long while, the carriage in front of the inn let out a long whistle and sped off towards the capital, Anling.

Lin Ran, who was on his way, had a gloomy expression. He had learned a lot from his boss, though there might have been some embellishment. But some of the key information prompted Lin Ran to rush to Anling without stopping.

"Li Yuhan, Li Yuhan, why did you have to sacrifice yourself like this? Or is this just a delaying tactic you've devised?" Lin Ran smiled bitterly, helplessly. His little maid had been sending him messages asking for help, but he had only received them too late. He could only hope that he could still make it in time.

……

The capital of the Li dynasty was Anling.

At the entrance of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, Li Yuhan's expression was not good. She looked at the procession of carriages that occupied almost two-thirds of the entire street, on which were placed the betrothal gifts sent by Jin Zhenpeng, the eldest prince of the Jin Dynasty.

Furthermore, dozens of guards firmly guarded the entire street. The powerful killing intent emanating from those guards frightened away all the civilians who wanted to watch the excitement. They pushed them far away, standing on tiptoe, as if their heads were being held up by invisible hands.

Li Yuhan looked at the person at the very front of the group, who was Yuan Fei, the captain of the guard team that was escorting the betrothal gifts and a trusted confidant of Jin Zhenpeng. Yuan Fei was a Spirit Pill Realm cultivator.

Yuan Fei, clad in armor, stood before Li Yuhan with such a massive presence that it felt as if Li Yuhan were facing a small mountain.

Yuan Fei knelt on one knee and called out loudly, "Your Highness, this is the betrothal gift and dowry that the First Prince ordered us to send to you. There is also a wedding dress for your wedding day. If it is not suitable, the First Prince has also brought a group of professional female servants to serve you. Please accept it, Your Highness."

Li Yuhan considered herself to be extremely composed, but hearing these words still made her somewhat annoyed. She sneered, "Your eldest prince is really thoughtful. Send all these things to the warehouse!"

Li Yuhan summoned people from the Jinling Chamber of Commerce to handle the matter, then turned and went inside. Yuan Fei didn't seem to mind; he had his guards accompany the people to deliver the betrothal gifts into the warehouse, and then left with his guard team.

The streets were flooded with people again, but how many informants were mixed in with this crowd?

The Jinling Chamber of Commerce headquarters is now filled with guards and spies by Li Yuhan to prevent outsiders from sneaking in. But even so, Li Yuhan knows that there are spies among her people. The only place she can truly be free is her small study.

Back in her study, Li Yuhan stood by the window looking out at the street. Among those vendors, how many were fake and how many were genuine? Perhaps even Li Yuhan herself didn't know. Now, apart from her mother, she viewed everyone with the utmost hostility and caution.

Using a hedgehog to describe her at this moment is most appropriate.

Because she is now pointing her sharp thorns at all those she considers enemies, while her soft belly is perhaps only extended to those who are close to her.

The events that occurred at the entrance of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce spread to the palace and the other three major families at an extremely fast pace.

At this time, the Jinling Chamber of Commerce can be said to be a focal point attracting the attention of many forces, and any slight movement will be reported back immediately.

Within the Hua family, the eldest elder, Hua Yunlong, and the family head, Hua Feng, who had not appeared for a long time, were both present. Since his desertion at Nanshan Pass, Hua Feng had not left the Hua family and was now in charge of the Hua family's external intelligence work.

After receiving the message from the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, he immediately went to his father, Hua Yunlong, to discuss it. Hua Feng handed Hua Yunlong a note, and after reading it, Hua Yunlong paced around the yard, looking at the flowers and plants.

After a long silence, he said quietly, "Every move we make from now on is extremely dangerous. It's only a matter of time before the Li family falls, but we may not be able to devour this big piece of meat."

The Jin Dynasty is so eager to take over the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. Besides the eldest prince's lustful nature, the main reason is their desire to gradually devour the Li family. Will they then devour us as well?

Hua Feng was startled by his father's words and quickly said, "Then are we going to cooperate with the Li family again?"

"Are you stupid? You want to cooperate with the Li family again? How can you cooperate with the Li family after all this? Don't forget the stupid things you did not long ago!" Hua Yunlong scolded.

Faced with his father's reprimand, Hua Feng lowered his head.

Hua Yunlong waved his hand helplessly and said, "Forget it, I was just out of my mind back then. I thought I could take advantage of the internal strife within the royal family and external forces to wipe out the Li family and change the name of the Li Dynasty."

But for now… let's wait and see. If things don't work out, we'll prepare to leave the Li Dynasty!

"leave?!"

Hua Feng's expression changed drastically, and he anxiously asked, "But our family business is almost entirely in the Li Dynasty!"

"What can we do? The Li Dynasty was swallowed up by those two dynasties. Do you think we can survive? We have the strength to rebel!" Hua Yunlong shouted angrily.

These words struck Hua Feng like a thunderclap, and he had no choice but to accept the outcome and begin preparing to take over the Hua family's assets.

The situation that occurred in the Hua family was being discussed in similar conversations between the other two families of the Li Dynasty, the Zhan family and the Mo family, who all had the idea of ​​abandoning the Li Dynasty.

With no other options, the Yun and Jin dynasties, together with the Demon Artifact Sect, were fighting against the Li dynasty. Originally, they were able to maintain a balance of power, with the Nirvana Realm and Spirit Pill Realm experts of the Li dynasty able to contend with the other side. However, the sudden appearance of several unknown Nirvana Realm experts caused the balance to tip in the other side's favor, which was the real fatal blow to the Li dynasty.

The Li Yuhan incident at Jinling Chamber of Commerce is simply the result of this series of causes.

.....

In Myeongseong, the capital of the Kim Dynasty, in the residence of the eldest prince Kim Jinpeng, there is a study.

The Crown Prince strictly forbade anyone from approaching this study. At this moment, Jin Zhenpeng was in the study, holding a portrait of Li Yuhan painted by a famous artist, nodding repeatedly. He had long coveted Li Yuhan; such a stunning beauty, capable of bringing ruin to the country, should belong to him.

Just as the eldest prince was engrossed in the portrait, a dark red demonic aura suddenly appeared in the center of the study. A figure shrouded in black robes suddenly appeared in the study. Upon seeing this, the eldest prince quickly stood up, knelt down in front of the man in black, and said, "My lord, what are your orders!"

It's hard to believe that Jin Zhenpeng, the eldest prince of the Jin Dynasty, this high and mighty prince, would actually kneel down to someone. It's truly unbelievable.

The man in black spoke in an extremely shrill, hoarse voice, "When...did you bring that...woman?"

"It'll be very soon, the wedding is in a few days. On the wedding night, I will bring that woman to you, sir!" Jin Zhenpeng shouted hurriedly.

"This is not for me, it is dedicated to the great Demon Lord!"

The man in black robes was furious. With a wave of his hand, he shoved Jin Zhenpeng against the wall of the study. Jin Zhenpeng's burly body nearly caved in at the chest. A shadow of malice flashed in his eyes, and he immediately knelt down, slapping himself and shouting, "It's my fault, it's my fault, I deserve to die, I deserve to die..."

"Finish your task quickly, or you know what will happen!"

The man in black uttered those words and, without a second thought, vanished from the spot, leaving Jin Zhenpeng looking like a drowning dog.

……

40. Infiltrate

Tranquility is the main theme of the night.

The evening breeze caused my lungs to rise and fall.

Returning to their long-lost homeland, many people might involuntarily take a deep breath, as if the unique fragrance of their homeland fills their nostrils, enters their ever-flowing, hot blood, and awakens those familiar memories.

Lin Ran couldn't remember how many years it had been since he last left the capital, Anling, but he remembered that when he left, the Li Dynasty was incredibly prosperous and bustling, full of vitality, and the streets were crowded with people.

But when he stepped into the capital of the dynasty at night, he was met with a deathly silence. Many shops had closed early, and apart from the patrolling guards, there were hardly any people on the streets.

Those who still dared to linger outside were hurrying along, probably wanting to go home and hide as soon as possible.

"The capital of the Li Dynasty has become like this!"

Hiding in an alley, Lin Ran looked at the city as it was now and felt a deep sense of emotion.

Lin Ran didn't linger. He changed into a black robe that would make it easier to move at night, blending his figure into the darkness. Following his memory, he made his way towards the headquarters of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce.

When Lin Ran arrived at the outskirts of the street where the Jinling Chamber of Commerce was located, she was surprised to find it unusually lively. Other areas were not as bustling as this. What was going on?

He stopped in his tracks, calling out in his mind, "Flowers, can you conceal my soul power? I want to probe this area ahead without being detected."

“Of course you can. Just activate the core power of the Tassel Palace when you use your soul power!” Fan Hua replied.

Lin Ran's soul power, cloaked in a golden hue, slipped into the seemingly bustling street before him. With his strength and the help of the blooming flowers, unless there was a high-level Dragon Transformation Realm cultivator, no one could detect him. Moreover, the Li Dynasty struggled to even produce Nirvana Realm cultivators, so how could they possibly have a Dragon Transformation Realm cultivator?

Sure enough, beneath the bustling surface lay a group of spies of varying strengths. Lin Ran overheard some conversations. These spies were sent by various factions, all with the same goal: to monitor the Jinling Chamber of Commerce's every move.

"That little maid is really attracting attention!"

Lin Ran shook her head helplessly. She used her soul power to explore the area; there were far too many spies here. Tonight was also a full moon, and the moonlight was particularly generous, bathing the entire Anling region in its glow.

A layer of silver moonlight gauze.

He could only slowly make his way to the entrance of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, and then look for an opportunity to sneak inside.

The artificial liveliness gradually quieted down as night progressed, and many shops closed their doors, but the spies hidden in the shadows never stopped.

As the long night gradually comes to an end and dawn approaches, it is precisely at the time when the sky is darkest and people are most sleepy.

At the entrance of an alley near the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, a figure disappeared into the night, transforming into a gust of wind that swept into the Jinling Chamber of Commerce.

The guard patrolling inside the Jinling Chamber of Commerce couldn't help but yawn. Just then, a cold wind blew past him from behind, making him shiver. He quickly looked around at the flowers and plants, but didn't find anything.

"Looks like I'm really too tired. I'll get a good night's sleep when it's time to hand over the duties!" the guard muttered to himself before rejoining the patrol.

Lin Ran had already entered the interior of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. With the help of the luminous pearls placed in the corridor, Lin Ran could clearly see the situation inside.

"It's still the same... but some parts have been renovated..." Lin Ran thought to herself.

He bypassed the internal guards and headed straight for the top floor of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. He knew the Jinling Chamber of Commerce quite well; the top floor was basically Li Yuhan's living area, where the two of them had done quite a few things.

Upon reaching the only tightly closed, thick mahogany door on the top floor, there were no formations on it; with a little effort, one could easily push the door open.

After entering, Lin Ran also came to the familiar living room. The living room was not large, but the decoration was quite antique. He couldn't help but squat down and touch the thick carpet embroidered with exquisite patterns.

He remembered that everything here was arranged by him and Li Yuhan. He didn't expect it to still be so new even now. He couldn't bear to step on it and get it dirty, so he took off his dusty boots.

He walked toward the bedroom, where everything was discreetly and exquisitely arranged. He could see some paintings and calligraphy hanging on the walls, all of which were highly artistic.

He arrived at the room at the end, and to his surprise, the door was ajar.

Holding his breath, Lin Ran gently pushed open the door and slipped inside without making a sound. He felt a bit like a perverted night raider.

The room was quite spacious, with a soft, large bed under an elegant, luxurious pale purple gauze curtain. A fireplace in the corner of the room was burning charcoal, making the room warm and cozy.

On that soft, large bed, a body lay on its side, wrapped in a thin silk quilt. A cascade of black hair fell down, and the nightgown slipped slightly, revealing fair, fragrant shoulders. The body murmured softly, as if talking in its sleep.

Lin Ran quietly walked to the bedside, slightly lifted the curtain, and bent down. When she looked at Li Yuhan's sleeping profile, she was momentarily lost in thought.

"This little fox spirit, her Heavenly Fox Skill is getting more and more powerful," Lin Ran thought to herself.

Just as he was about to reach out and shake Li Yuhan awake, he heard a soft gasp, and then, looking at Li Yuhan, he uttered a seductive murmur: "Mmm... Damn Lin Ran... you bad guy... you started touching me as soon as you got back... Don't touch me!"