Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

It's Ye Qingli's secret code! And it means "urgent"!

Lin Feng's eyes narrowed, and he quickly pushed open the window. In the shadow of the courtyard wall, a slender black figure made a gesture to him, then pointed towards the back door of the "three-sided courtyard," and then disappeared like a ghost.

It's urgent! Ye Qingli has come in person, and in such a secret and urgent manner!

Without further hesitation, Lin Feng slipped out of the "courtyard" silently through the back door and disappeared into the deep night.

Following the subtle traces left by Ye Qingli, Lin Feng wandered through the intricate alleys of "Muddy Hollow" and finally arrived at the depths of a long-abandoned brick kiln filled with rotten wood and garbage.

Ye Qingli was already waiting there.

She was still dressed in black and her face was covered, but her eyes looked particularly serious in the darkness, even carrying a hint of...uncommon anxiety?

"Miss Ye, what's the matter that's so urgent?" Lin Feng asked in a low voice, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

The matter that could cause Ye Qingli to lose her composure like this must be no small thing.

Without wasting words, Ye Qingli handed over a folded piece of paper, her voice low and chilling: "I just received a message by carrier pigeon from the north. Take a look."

Lin Feng took the note and unfolded it in the extremely faint starlight. It contained only a few words, written in hasty handwriting, clearly written in a great hurry:

"A sudden change has occurred in the Northern Frontier! The Di Rong Left Wise King's forces have made unusual movements, suspected to be related to Qingzhou. The border troops have received a secret report that the Di Rong have dispatched 'Shadow Hawks' to infiltrate Qingzhou. Their target may be the 'Legacy Treasure,' or... someone possessing a token from the previous dynasty. The Shadow Hawks are skilled in disguise and assassination, extremely dangerous. Be careful! — North Wind."

Northern barbarians?! Shadow Hawks?! Their target might be someone possessing "heirlooms" or a token from a previous dynasty?!

Lin Feng's hand holding the note tensed instantly! The edges of the note were deeply creased from his grip.

Di Rong! A formidable enemy from the north! Why would they interfere in Qingzhou's affairs? And why are they involved with the "Jingnan Relics"? Could it be that the "Xuanlin Guard" is colluding with Di Rong? Or... have Di Rong also heard rumors about the "relics" and want a share? Or perhaps, their target is Chen tide, who possesses the Golden Dragon Token?!

"Shadowhawks" are the most mysterious and elite assassins and spies in the Di Rong royal court, skilled in disguise and infiltration, and have never failed in their assassinations. If their target really is Chen tide, or even themselves (because they believe the other half of the Golden Dragon Token might be with them), then...

A chilling coldness instantly shot from Lin Feng's feet to the top of his head! A killing intent even more chilling than when he faced Zhou Wenyuan, Prince Qi, or even the "Mysterious Scale Guards" suddenly descended!

"Is the information reliable?" Lin Feng's voice was dry, a quality he himself was unaware of.

"The messenger was my most trusted informant, who has been operating in the Northern Territory for many years and has never made a mistake," Ye Qingli said in a heavy tone.

"Moreover, the timing matches up. The Di Rong Left Wise King's tribe has indeed been making frequent mobilizations recently, ostensibly for the autumn hunt, but on a scale far exceeding previous ones. The imperial court has also become alert and strengthened the defenses of the northern border. Unexpectedly, their target might be Qingzhou, or perhaps... the 'treasure'."

Looking at Lin Feng's face, which had instantly turned incredibly cold, she added, "Captain Lin, I know how much Miss Chen means to you. If Di Rong's 'Shadow Hawk's' target is indeed her, or if it's related to the token from the previous dynasty in your possession, then Black Wind Valley, and even the prefecture, are no longer safe. 'Shadow Hawk' is omnipresent and impossible to defend against. We must take action immediately!"

Lin Feng closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind—Chen tide's safety, the secret of the Golden Dragon Token, the secret records of the "Mysterious Scale Guards," Feng Zhen's arrival, the threats from Zhou Wenyuan and the Prince of Qi, the entanglement with the Canal Gang, and now, Di Rong's "Shadow Hawk"...

The unprecedented pressure was like a mountain pressing down on him. But he couldn't afford to panic, much less collapse!

He slowly opened his eyes, and what he saw was a frozen lake, unfathomable yet burning with cold flames.

"Miss Ye, thank you for the news." Lin Feng's voice returned to calm, yet carried a metallic quality. "How much longer can Black Wind Valley hold out?"

"I've tripled the manpower, all elites, and activated all the defensive mechanisms within the valley. Unless a large army launches a direct assault, we should be able to hold out for ten days to half a month. But the 'Shadow Hawks' are skilled in unorthodox tactics, so the longer it goes on, the greater the risk," Ye Qingli said.

"Ten days..." Lin Feng pondered, a sharp glint in his eyes. "That's enough. Miss Ye, please have your people hold out for another ten days! Within ten days, I will resolve the troubles in the prefecture, and then I will personally go to Black Wind Valley to bring Chen tide and the others away! To a place that is absolutely safe!"

"What are you planning to do?" Ye Qingli asked.

"Feng Zhen is both a variable and an opportunity," Lin Feng said slowly. "The Di Rong's 'Shadow Hawk' infiltration concerns the safety of the border. As the imperial envoy, Feng Zhen cannot ignore this. I will find a way to let him know about this, at least to give him a clearer understanding of the situation in Qingzhou. At the same time, I must crush the Canal Gang within ten days, keeping Zhou Wenyuan and Prince Qi preoccupied! Only by clearing the obstacles in the prefecture can we fully address the Di Rong threat!"

He paused, then looked at Ye Qingli, his gaze intense: "Miss Ye, I need your help. Two things. First, the evidence regarding Di Rong's 'Shadow Hawk' infiltration—the more detailed the better, ideally including their possible disguises, hideouts, and contact methods. Second, I need an absolutely safe place, one that even the 'Mysterious Scale Guards' and Di Rong can't find, to house Chen tide and the others. Do you have a way?"

Ye Qingli met his gaze and saw an undeniable determination and deep worry in his eyes.

She paused for a moment, then nodded:

"I will do my best to investigate the clues about Di Rong's 'Shadow Hawk,' and I will let you know as soon as I have any news. As for a safe place..." A complex light flashed in her eyes, "I have a place that might be possible. But that place... is no small matter. I need time to make arrangements, and I also need your absolute trust."

"I believe you." Lin Feng said without hesitation. At this moment, he had no other choice but to believe Ye Qingli.

His intuition told him that Ye Qingli seemed to have some deeper connection with the "Jingnan Relics" and Chen tide's background.

"Alright." Ye Qingli said no more. "Ten days from now, at midnight, still here. I will tell you the location and how to make contact. For these ten days, Qingzhou depends on you. Lin Feng," she called him by his name for the first time, her tone solemn, "Take care. Miss Chen's safety rests on your shoulders. The situation in Qingzhou also rests on your shoulders. Don't let me down."

"I won't." Lin Feng said firmly.

Ye Qingli gave him a deep look, said nothing more, and with a flicker, disappeared like wisps of smoke merging into the night.

Lin Feng stood alone in the abandoned brick kiln, the slip of paper in his hand containing Di Rong's secret report unconsciously crumpled into a ball.

A cold night wind blew by, carrying the desolation of late autumn.

Di Rong's "Shadow Hawk"... This sudden, deadly threat from the North was like the last straw, breaking the already fragile balance and leaving him with no way out.

Within ten days, clear away obstacles in the prefecture, intimidate Zhou Wenyuan and Prince Qi, defeat the canal gang, gain Feng Zhen's trust or at least neutrality, then welcome Chen tide and deal with the Di Rong assassins...

This is almost an impossible task.

But he had to finish it.

For Chen tide, for the brothers of "Sanhe", and for... to carve out a path to survival in this chaotic world!

He turned around and strode towards the "courtyard house".

His back stood tall and straight in the night, like a spear, exuding a resolute and indomitable spirit.

The storm has arrived.