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

Princess Pingyang didn't delve into the matter further, but simply sighed softly and casually handed the peach blossom to Lin Feng: "The border is bitterly cold, and General, you must be working hard guarding the frontier. This peach blossom is from an old tree in the temple, imbued with a touch of Buddhist nature. I present it to you, General, wishing you all things going smoothly in the capital."

She paused, a depth beyond her years flashing in her eyes: "This capital city may seem like a tapestry of flowers, but it's actually fraught with thorns. General, you wield a sharp blade, so you must watch your step carefully, lest you be blinded by the blossoms, nor... tripped up by the thorns lurking in the shadows. Sometimes, having one more friend is better than having one more enemy. What do you think, General?"

After saying this, without waiting for Lin Feng's reply, she gracefully turned around and, with her maid and the old nun, walked towards another path, leaving behind a faint fragrance and her meaningful words echoing in the bamboo forest.

Lin Feng held the peach blossom still glistening with dew, watching the princess's departing figure, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Is she recruiting, or warning us?" Bai Xiaohe whispered.

"Both." Lin Feng brought the peach blossom close to his nose; its cool fragrance invigorated him. "She demonstrated her intelligence capabilities, hinted at her intention to cooperate, and also reminded me of the dangers in the capital. This princess is indeed extraordinary. She may even know more than Prime Minister Li, about the Crimson Feather Tribe, about that valley... and about Prince Lin."

He carefully put the peach blossoms away.

"She mentioned 'friends' and 'enemies.' It seems she is well aware of the Emperor's intention to establish contact with me, and may even be quite proactive in doing so. This could be an opportunity for us, but it could also be a new vortex."

"Then we..."

"Let's wait and see, but we also need to be prepared." Lin Feng's gaze sharpened.

"The princess mentioned the radiant glow of the valley on the night of the full moon... This might be a clue. Send a message back to Cangyun Pass, instructing Su Xuanji and the Ling Shuang sisters to use all means to secretly investigate the Chiyu tribe, especially whether there is such a valley within their territory, and the specific details of the deal between King Lin and them."

"yes!"

"As for the capital," Lin Feng gazed in the direction the princess had disappeared, as if he could see through the bamboo forest to the hidden observers further away, "Prince Lin's men should have already seen my 'chance encounter' with the princess. Next, they will either attack me even more fiercely or adjust their strategy. We should remain calm and observe their next move. Also, investigate the background of that 'Abbess Jing'an' beside the princess. To earn such respect from the princess, she is no ordinary nun."

As Lin Feng left Ci'en Temple, the sun was already setting. He glanced back at the ancient temple bathed in the golden afterglow, and the rising smoke seemed to take on an eerie quality in his eyes.

In the days following his return from Ci'en Temple, the capital city appeared calm on the surface, as if the "chance encounter" and the cryptic conversation of that day had never happened.

But Lin Feng could clearly sense that there were more "eyes" around the inn, and the density and concealment of surveillance had increased to a new level.

On the emperor's side, aside from the routine rewards and a few perfunctory "concerned" pronouncements, there was no further news. Prime Minister Li also secluded himself, refusing visitors, as if his previous hints were merely casual conversation. Princess Pingyang remained reclusive, with no further updates.

The calm before the storm is always exceptionally quiet.

That night, the moon was dim and the stars were few, with dark clouds hanging low. Lin Feng did not sleep, but sat cross-legged in his room, the Broken Mountain Blade resting on his lap.

Bai Xiaohe lay fully clothed in the outer room, her sword never leaving her hand. Inside and outside the inn, the elite Duan Yue Guards, secretly deployed by Lin Feng and brought from Cangyun Pass, were also on guard. They had arrived in batches before and after Lin Feng's departure for the capital, as instructed by Lin Feng, to avoid attracting attention.

Just past midnight, all was quiet.

Almost simultaneously, several dark figures, like ghosts, leaped out from the walls and treetops in different directions! They were agile, coordinated, and ruthless, striking silently and directly at the main house where Lin Feng was!

Another person held a finely crafted crossbow, its bolts a deep blue that gleamed with a deadly venomous light in the dim moonlight, aimed directly at the window!

One of them, wielding a long sword, broke through the window and thrust his sword straight at Lin Feng, who was meditating.

However, they were fast, but someone was even faster!

Lin Feng suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes, a sharp light flashing in the darkness! He didn't get up; the Broken Mountain Blade slashed at the assassin like a bolt of dark lightning!

The dark figure, about to pounce, screamed and fell to the ground.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the courtyard, the Duan Yue Guards, disguised as ordinary servants and laborers, suddenly launched their attack! There were no shouts, only brief clashes of weapons and muffled thuds of bones breaking. The assassins' coordinated attack was instantly torn apart by the well-prepared defense and even more ruthless close combat.

The assassin wielding the poisoned crossbow was terrified. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, he felt a chill on his wrist, and his entire hand holding the crossbow was severed at the wrist! He didn't even see where the attack came from. He only saw a ghostly indigo figure appear beside him at some point, with an ancient-looking longsword in its hand, dripping with blood.

It's Lin Feng! When did he leave the room?!

Lin Feng swung his blade backhand, the back of the blade striking the assassin's temple with tremendous force. The assassin didn't even utter a sound before collapsing to the ground.

The battle began quickly and ended even faster. In just a dozen breaths, eight corpses lay in the courtyard, with three survivors whose jaws had been dislocated and whose limbs had been broken. Several members of the Duan Yue Guard were also wounded, but none died.

A night breeze swept by, carrying with it a strong stench of blood.

"Search them, find out their origins. Interrogate them separately, use some methods, I need to know who sent them and where their hideout is." Lin Feng's voice was icy cold.

"Yes!" Duan Yuewei accepted the order and immediately sprang into action.

Bai Xiaohe walked to Lin Feng's side and whispered, "The garrison commander is from 'Shadow Owl.' The most notorious assassin organization in the martial arts world, they do things for money, they don't ask about the target, they only look at the price. To be able to mobilize so many 'Shadow Owl' elites at once, the price must be exorbitant, and they must need a middleman to make the connection. Prince Lin is the most suspicious."

"Not just suspicion, it's certain." Lin Feng used the tip of his knife to pry open the collar of a corpse, revealing a very faint, bird-beak-like blue mark below the collarbone. "This is the mark of the core assassins of 'Shadow Owl.' There are only a few in the capital who can mobilize them and accurately pinpoint our defensive vulnerabilities. Prime Minister Li won't, the Emperor won't for now, only the desperate Prince Lin will."

His gaze swept over the three captured prisoners. One of them, with a venomous look in his eyes, suddenly gritted his teeth!

"Stop him!" Bai Xiaohe shouted urgently.