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

The night at the Zhou residence was so quiet that one could hear the patter of raindrops sliding off the banana leaves in the courtyard. Yet this tranquility was like a thin layer of ice covering the surface of a lake with surging undercurrents.

Lin Feng was not fast asleep. Years of living a life of constant danger had instilled in him a habit of remaining vigilant even in the safest of environments.

That Zhou Wenyuan, on the surface, was gentle and refined, courteous to scholars, but the occasional glint of shrewdness in his eyes and his calm and composed demeanor in the face of adversity were far beyond those of an ordinary civil official. His ability to hold onto the position of Prefect of Qingzhou must have been due to his exceptional qualities and complex background.

Was his taking in Chen tide out of old friendship with Chen Miao, or did he have ulterior motives?

In particular, the understated yet powerful tone when mentioning "old acquaintances in the military" made Lin Feng think deeply.

And then there's Chen tide. The secrets this woman carries are probably more complex than simply seeking refuge with an old friend. The way Zhou Wenyuan looked at her, besides the concern of an elder, seemed to also carry a hint of…reverence? Or perhaps some kind of entrustment?

He gently pushed open the door and walked to the porch. The night rain had stopped, the clouds had dispersed, revealing a pale crescent moon and a few scattered stars.

The Zhou family mansion's courtyard was exquisitely designed, with artificial hills, ponds, and winding corridors, possessing a unique tranquil beauty under the moonlight. However, Lin Feng's gaze lingered more on the shadowy corners and walls—a professional habit, and also a survival instinct.

"Brother Lin, can't you sleep either?" A gentle voice came from behind.

Lin Feng turned around and saw that Chen tide had also come out at some point. She was wearing a plain-colored cloak, her long hair was unbound and hung over her shoulders. In the moonlight, her skin looked like jade and her eyes were like stars. After washing away the dust and disguise, she regained her original beautiful appearance. Although she was wearing a simple cloth dress, she could not hide the nobility and scholarly air that came from her bones.

"Miss Chen," Lin Feng nodded slightly, "your injuries haven't healed, and you're in a new environment, so it's understandable that you're a bit more wary."

Chen tide walked to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder with him, gazing at the moonlit lotus pond in the courtyard.

After a moment of silence, he said in a low voice, "Brother Lin, thank you so much for this journey."

"It's my duty, young lady, you don't need to worry about it."

"No," Chen tide shook her head gently, her voice tinged with weariness yet unusually firm, "It's not just about duty. I can see that you didn't have to get involved so deeply, didn't have to take risks time and time again. That arrow at Blackwater Ridge... if you hadn't acted in time, we probably..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

Lin Feng said calmly, "As I said, I will be loyal to the person who entrusted me with this task. Since Mr. Chen has entrusted you to me, I will do my best."

"Just... was it done on someone's behalf?" Chen tide turned her head, her clear eyes looking at Lin Feng, as if trying to see something from his face.

Lin Feng met her gaze and said frankly, "At least... initially."

Chen tide pursed her lips slightly, turned her head, and watched as the moon's reflection in the pond was shattered by the breeze. She said softly, "I know I'm in trouble, big trouble. My grandfather sent me to the prefecture to seek refuge with Uncle Zhou, hoping it would be safe for now. But... if the root of this trouble isn't removed, it will remain a hidden danger. I don't want to implicate Uncle Zhou, and I especially don't want..."

She paused, then added, "I don't want to always hide under someone else's wing."

Lin Feng glanced at her with some surprise. This seemingly frail woman, who had endured a life of hardship and displacement, possessed such strong will and resilience.

"What are your plans, Miss Chen?"

"I don't know," Chen tide admitted frankly, a hint of confusion in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

"But I can't just sit here and wait to die. What my grandfather entrusted to me is very important. So important that... it might attract the covetous eyes of many, including those Di Rong people and the 'Yinshan Ghost Fiends.' I think Uncle Zhou might know something, but he might not tell me everything. I need to figure out for myself what I'm involved in and what my grandfather is planning."

Lin Feng's heart stirred.

Chen tide's intuition was accurate; Zhou Wenyuan clearly knew more inside information, but for protection or other reasons, he might not reveal everything. Chen tide's willingness to actively investigate was commendable, but it also meant taking risks.

"This matter should not be rushed."

Lin Feng cautioned, "Since Prefect Zhou has taken you in, you are safe for the time being. The most important thing now is to familiarize yourself with the environment, recover your health, and observe the situation discreetly. The power dynamics in the prefecture are complex and intertwined; acting rashly might alert the enemy."

"I see."

Chen tide nodded. "So, Brother Lin, I'd like to ask you for help."

"Help you?"

"Hmm." Chen tide's gaze became clear and focused again.

"Brother Lin, you are highly skilled and experienced, with a perception of danger far exceeding that of ordinary people. In this prefecture, I... I need a trustworthy and reliable partner to help me keep an eye on the surroundings and analyze the situation. Of course, I won't let you help me for nothing."

She seemed to have made up her mind, and lowered her voice even further, "Besides that thing, my grandfather left me some... scattered notes and speculations about the northern border defenses and the movements of the Di people. I know you care about border affairs, Brother Lin, perhaps... those might be useful to you."

Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

Chen Miao's notes and speculations were of extraordinary value! This was indeed the bargaining chip that swayed him.

More importantly, Chen Xi was very honest and did not use gratitude or money to blackmail him, but instead proposed a mutually beneficial cooperation.

He didn't agree immediately, but instead asked, "Does Miss Chen trust me? Aren't you afraid I have ulterior motives?"

Chen tide smiled softly.

Under the moonlight, her smile held a hint of girlish slyness, yet also a wisdom beyond her years: "Along this journey, if Brother Lin had harbored ill intentions, we would have had countless opportunities to fall into utter ruin. You may seem indifferent, but you are a man of your word; you may seem only concerned with your own safety, but you have never abandoned your companions in times of crisis. Sister Yue, Sister Shi Xiu, and the others all trust you, and so do I."

She paused, then added, "Besides, my gut feeling tells me that you're different from those people."

Lin Feng remained silent for a moment.

He finally nodded: "Alright. I'll keep an eye out for you while I'm in the prefecture. If it's convenient, I can borrow those notes to take a look later."

He agreed, partly because he was genuinely interested in Chen Miao's notes, and partly because protecting Chen tide was part of his commitment; cooperating with her would allow him to more proactively deal with potential threats.

Chen tide visibly breathed a sigh of relief, her face showing genuine joy: "Thank you, Brother Lin."

Just then, the door to the side room on the other side of the courtyard creaked open, and A-Yue came out rubbing her eyes. She was taken aback when she saw Lin Feng and Chen Xi under the eaves, then smiled and said, "Young Master, you're still awake?"

"Sister Yue," Chen tide greeted.

"I couldn't sleep, so I came out for some fresh air," Lin Feng said. "Did I wake you?"

"No, I just woke up too." A-Yue walked over and naturally stood a little behind Lin Feng, her gaze sweeping across the courtyard with her habitual wariness.

"This house is so big and so quiet, it's a little...uncomfortable."

As they were talking, the faint sound of a night watchman's drum came from afar—it was the third watch of the night.

"It's late, everyone should go back and rest."

Lin Feng said, "We need to discuss this further tomorrow."

Many people are destined to be sleepless this night.

Four streets away from the Zhou residence lies a relatively chaotic area, filled with inns, warehouses, porters, and some less respectable brothels. Even late at night, some corners are still dimly lit, with shadowy figures moving about, and the air is thick with the smells of cheap liquor, sweat, and cosmetics.

In the backyard of a mid-range inn called "Yuelai," in a secluded superior room, the candlelight was dim.

Three people stood inside the room. The one in the center, with his back to the door, was of medium build and wore an inconspicuous gray cloak, seemingly blending into the shadows. Two others stood bowing before him, one of whom was none other than the "Yinshan Ghost Fiend" assassin who had narrowly escaped from the Blackwater Ridge Canyon during the day and then went to inform the mysterious person! Bloodstained bandages were wrapped around his arms, his face was pale, and his breath was weak.

The other was a short, stout middle-aged man with a friendly, business-like demeanor. He wore a silk robe and a large jade thumb ring on his finger, looking like an ordinary merchant. But upon closer inspection, the occasional glint of shrewdness in his eyes revealed a depth far beyond that of an ordinary merchant.

"So, the target entered Zhou Wenyuan's residence?" the man in the gray cloak asked, his voice hoarse and low, like sandpaper being rubbed, making it impossible to tell his age.

"Yes...yes, Your Excellency." The wounded assassin bowed his head, his voice filled with fear and weakness.

"Among the escorting party was a highly skilled archer, extremely adept, whose arrows never missed. We...we lost several of our best men, and the Di Rong people also suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat. My subordinates fought their way out and witnessed them enter the Zhou residence."

"A master archer..." the gray-cloaked figure murmured, then paused for a moment, "Have you seen his face?"

"The distance was too far, and it was raining, so I couldn't see his exact appearance. But judging from his figure and movements, he was a young man with extremely agile skills, like... someone from the military, or a top hunter who had been traveling the world for many years."

"Military background..." The man in the gray cloak paused, seemingly pondering, "Any movement from Zhou Wenyuan's side?"

The short, stout merchant-looking man quickly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Excellency, the Zhou residence did indeed receive a group of people this evening. They included the elderly, women, and children, and drove a dilapidated mule cart. They said they were distant relatives who had encountered trouble and came to seek refuge. Zhou Fu, who was guarding the gate, personally welcomed them in, and Zhou Wenyuan later met with them in person, arranged for them to stay in the guest courtyard, and invited a doctor. On the surface, there was nothing unusual."

"Nothing unusual?" The man in the gray cloak sneered. "That old fox Zhou Wenyuan is best at putting on a show."

The short, stout merchant, sweat beading on his forehead, said, "Yes, yes, yes, I'm rather slow-witted. I've already arranged for people to keep an eye on the front and back gates of the Zhou residence, and I've also bribed a servant in charge of purchasing. He'll report immediately if there's any sign of trouble."

"Hmm." The man in the gray cloak seemed satisfied. "Have you made contact with 'Ghost Hand' yet?"

"We made contact, but he asked for a high price and wanted to confirm whether the 'thing' on the target was worth the money."

"Tell him the 'item' is definitely on the target. The price can be increased by another 30%. But it must be done cleanly and efficiently, without alerting Zhou Wenyuan, and without leaving any trace pointing to us." The gray-cloaked man's voice was icy. "Zhou Wenyuan is deeply entrenched in Qingzhou and is an official appointed by the imperial court. We cannot confront him directly unless absolutely necessary."

"Yes, I understand," the short, stout merchant replied.

"You," the gray-cloaked figure turned to the wounded assassin, "the mission failed, with heavy losses. According to the rules, what should be done?"

The assassin trembled, then knelt on the ground with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Excellency, spare my life! Your Excellency, spare my life! That archer was simply too skilled; we could not have done our utmost! Please, Your Excellency, give us another chance to atone for our sins!"

The man in the gray cloak remained silent, an invisible pressure making the air in the room seem to freeze. After a long while, he slowly said, "Considering you risked your life to bring back the news, I'll spare your life for now. Go to the 'Poison Doctor' and get a dose of 'Bone-Corroding Powder.' If you can survive for three days, you'll be allowed to atone for your crimes."

"Corrosion... Bone-Corroding Powder..." The assassin's face instantly turned deathly pale. It was an extremely insidious control method, causing excruciating pain when it took effect, and without an antidote, death was certain. But he dared not disobey in the slightest, and could only kowtow in gratitude: "Thank... thank you for sparing my life, Venerable One!"

"Get lost."

The wounded assassin scrambled back.

Only the man in the gray cloak and the short, stout merchant remained inside.

"Your Excellency, the Di Rong people... seem to be looking for that thing as well. They've suffered considerable losses at Blackwater Ridge, and I'm afraid they won't let this go easily," the short, stout merchant said cautiously.

"The Di Rong people..." the gray-cloaked man snorted. "A bunch of barbarians, more trouble than they're worth. But the more they cause trouble, the better for us. Let them draw Zhou Wenyuan and the government's attention. Tell the people below to keep a low profile and not provoke trouble. Until 'Ghost Hand' makes his move, hold back."

"Yes."

"Furthermore," the gray-cloaked man turned around, the candlelight illuminating half of his face—an extremely ordinary, unremarkable middle-aged face, except for a pair of eyes, deep in their sockets, gleaming with a cold light, "investigate that young man who wields a bow and arrow. I need to know his background and what his relationship is with Zhou Wenyuan."

"Yes, ma'am."

The candlelight flickered, and the figure in the gray cloak seemed to sway with the light and shadow before returning to stillness. He walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and gazed at the deep night outside the prefecture.

The night breeze carried the faint sounds of distant drums and the lingering clamor of the marketplace, but it could not dispel the conspiracy and murderous intent permeating this small room.

At the other end of the prefectural capital, near the foot of the city wall, a cluster of simple barracks was brightly lit and bustling with activity.

This is a garrison camp of the Qingzhou State Army. Although it was late at night, soldiers were still drilling on the drill ground, with shouts and the clash of weapons ringing out. Deep inside the barracks, in a room lit by an oil lamp, several officers were gathered around a simple map, discussing something in hushed tones.

"...The news from Blackwater Ridge has been confirmed. There was indeed a Di Rong scout team active there. They encountered one of our patrol teams and a conflict ensued. The other side had about twenty riders, well-equipped, and their movements were methodical, unlike ordinary cavalry." A dark-skinned captain with a scar on his cheek said in a deep voice.

"What are the losses?" The one who asked the question was a general in his forties with a stern face, dressed in the uniform of a captain. He was Zhao Tieying, the deputy captain of the Qingzhou army in charge of city defense and security.

"The patrol suffered seven dead and five wounded. The enemy left behind eight corpses and retreated. But judging from the corpses and the traces at the scene, the enemy doesn't seem to be... their main force. It seems they were on some kind of mission and were discovered by us along the way," Scarface Captain analyzed.

"Mission?" Zhao Tieying frowned. "Blackwater Ridge is close to the official road, but it's not a strategic location. What are the Di Rong spies planning to do by infiltrating so deep?" He tapped his fingers on the map. "Also, on the same day, several incidents of robbery and murder of travelers and merchants occurred on the official road near Blackwater Ridge. The methods were ruthless, unlike those of ordinary mountain bandits."

"Does the captain mean... that these two things are related?" another younger officer asked.

"The timing and location are so close that it's hard not to suspect something."

Zhao Tieying stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the soldiers training outside. "The Di Rong people are becoming increasingly restless. While the north is constantly engulfed in war, their small elite units are frequently infiltrating the heart of Qingzhou… Issue orders to strengthen vigilance at all checkpoints and outposts, and to rigorously check all travelers, especially those carrying women or acting suspiciously. Furthermore, send additional scouts to conduct detailed reconnaissance within a thirty-mile radius of Heishui Ridge. I need to know exactly what those Di Rong bastards are looking for!"

"Yes, sir!" the officers responded in unison.

"Also," Zhao Tieying added, "notify the prefectural government to get them moving as well, to check if any suspicious people have been coming and going in the prefectural capital recently, especially unfamiliar faces. I have a feeling that although the prefectural capital seems calm on the surface, things are probably starting to stir underneath."

The order was quickly relayed. The atmosphere in the camp grew even more tense.

As night deepened, the vast city of the prefecture breathed slowly in the darkness. Some slept soundly, while others tossed and turned, some plotting and scheming, others preparing for battle. Various forces, like beasts lurking in the night, silently gathered their claws, waiting for their prey to reveal a weakness, or perhaps, waiting for that darkest hour before dawn to launch a fatal blow.