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

He turned around and put the token into his pocket.

"The assassination attempt failed, and we've only gotten ourselves into trouble. Prince Lin is probably more anxious than we are right now. And those who are anxious are most prone to making mistakes. We just need to wait patiently for him to reveal a bigger flaw. As for the power behind this token..."

"Perhaps we should find another opportunity to listen to Abbess Jing'an's sermons. That 'Miss Li' might have different insights on some issues."

As the moon set and the sun rose, the murderous intent did not dissipate with the darkness; instead, it became even more perplexing with the appearance of this mysterious token. The real contest had only just begun.

As dawn broke, the stench of blood in the post station had been carefully cleaned up, but the invisible chill of death still lingered.

The Duan Yue Guards were extremely efficient; they had compiled the scattered information about the "Ghost Hand" and the black token into a booklet and placed it in front of Lin Feng.

"'Ghost Hand,' one of the biggest underground brokers in the capital, is elusive and his true face is said to be never seen. He appears in different guises all year round. He specializes in connecting various forces, buying and selling information, stolen goods, and even lives. His hideout is elusive, but his most frequent location is the 'Nameless Pawnshop' deepest part of the 'Ghost Market' in the East City."

Bai Xiaohe read the intelligence report aloud, her brows furrowing slightly. "This person's background is a mystery. He seems to be involved with various forces in the court, yet remains detached from them. It's not surprising that Prince Lin could hire 'Shadow Owl' through him. But to have this token pass through his hands as well..."

"This suggests that the matter involving this token is likely more complex than a simple murder-for-hire scheme. Even Prince Lin himself doesn't dare to get involved directly, needing an intermediary like 'Ghost Hand' to act as a buffer. It's even possible that 'Ghost Hand' has established connections with the forces behind the token." Lin Feng toyed with the cold black token, the feather patterns in the ghost head's mouth gleaming with a dark luster in the morning light. "This 'Ghost Hand' seems to be a key big fish, but also a slippery eel."

"The Ghost Market is a den of iniquity, and the Nameless Pawnshop is rumored to be a dangerous place. Should we reconsider our defenses?" Bai Xiaohe asked with some concern. The capital is not like the northern border. Lin Feng's identity is sensitive, and venturing into such a dangerous place would involve too many variables.

"Should we plan this carefully?" Lin Feng stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the growing crowd on the street. "Prince Lin's knife is already at our throats; we don't have much time. This token is bait, and also a clue. If we don't bite the bait, how will we know who's fishing? If we don't go to the ghost market, how will we know what demons and monsters are lurking beneath this turbulent water?"

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes: "Moreover, I have a feeling that this token is intricately connected to the Crimson Feather Tribe and the 'Valley Miracle' the princess spoke of. To find out how much the princess still knows, and to find out what Prince Lin is up to, the 'Ghost Hand' might be a breakthrough."

"Then I will make preparations immediately and bring more men," Bai Xiaohe said.

"No," Lin Feng shook his head, "Too many people will only make things worse. The Ghost Market has its own rules. Just the two of us, let's change our clothes. Since 'Ghost Hand' often appears in different guises, let's do as the Romans do."

An hour later, in the East City, in Coffin Lane.

This is a corner of the capital city where the sun never shines. Deep in a slum filled with sewage, an inconspicuous stone staircase leads down to the entrance of the "Ghost Market."

Lin Feng and Bai Xiaohe had changed their clothes. Lin Feng wore a slightly worn dark blue outfit with a hooded cloak over it. His face was made up, his cheekbones were slightly prominent, and his complexion was dark. He wore an ordinary steel waist knife at his waist, making him look like a cold-faced, menacing martial arts master. Bai Xiaohe, on the other hand, dressed as a follower, keeping her head down and silently following behind.

The two descended the damp stone steps. The light suddenly dimmed, the air became murky, filled with the smells of mustiness, cheap tobacco, and an indescribable fishy odor. At the end of the steps, the space opened up, yet felt even more oppressive.

This is a vast underground space combining natural caves and man-made excavations. Holes carved into the rock walls serve as shops, adorned with pale or dim yellow lanterns. The ground is uneven and filled with shadowy figures, yet eerily quiet.

Transactions take place in silence or hushed whispers, eyes darting about, a palpable sense of wariness and cunning. Here, you'll find prohibited crossbows and poisons, antiques of dubious origin, and black market shops with signs that proclaim "Information for sale, life or death at stake."

Lin Feng kept his eyes straight ahead, leading Bai Xiaohe directly into the depths. He seemed quite familiar with this place, his steps steady, ignoring the various gazes cast upon him from the shadows.

After winding and turning, we arrived at a most secluded corner. There was only a low, dark cave entrance on the rock wall, without even a lantern hanging there. Above the entrance, three characters, almost covered by moss, were crookedly carved – Wumingdang (Nameless Pawnshop).

The entrance was extremely small, allowing only one person to bend down and enter. Inside, it was pitch black and completely silent, like the mouth of a giant beast.

Lin Feng paused briefly at the cave entrance, then bent down and crawled inside without hesitation. Bai Xiaohe followed closely behind.

The cave was narrow; after only a few steps, there was a rough stone wall, seemingly the end of the cave. Lin Feng reached out and tapped three times on an inconspicuous protrusion on the wall, then paused and tapped twice more.

With a soft creak, the stone wall slid open slightly, just wide enough for one person to pass through sideways. A dim light shone from behind the door.

A hoarse, dry voice, like the scraping of metal, came from the shadows inside the door: "What do you want to pawn?"

Lin Feng took out the black ghost-head token from his pocket, said nothing, and simply handed the token through the crack in the door.

There was a moment of silence inside. Then, the hoarse voice rang out again, seemingly closer: "This item... is not commonly seen. Would you like to pawn it, or redeem it?"

"No redemption, no compensation." Lin Feng spoke, his voice deliberately low and hoarse. "Looking for someone."

"Whom are you looking for?"

"Ghost hands."

Silence fell again inside the door, lasting for a while. Then the voice said, "On the left, the third fork in the road. Go to the end and knock three times long and two times short. A reminder to guests: the Ghost Market has its rules. Asking for directions requires a toll, and finding someone… the price is even higher."