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

He gritted his teeth suddenly! Lin Feng sensed something was wrong and immediately pinched his jaw, but a trickle of black blood still seeped from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes quickly became unfocused.

Another suicide by poisoning! And the poison was extremely potent!

Lin Feng released his grip, and the old doctor's body slumped to the ground. His brow furrowed. "Crimson Abyss"? More ancient and mysterious than the Crimson Feather Clan? Guarding the secrets of the North?

The amount of information is enormous, but it also makes things more confusing.

"Retreat!" Lin Feng decided immediately. This place was not safe to stay any longer.

The two quickly climbed out of the back window.

After walking several streets away from Jishantang and confirming that no one was following them, the two stopped in a secluded corner.

"Defend, this 'Crimson Abyss'..." Bai Xiaohe looked worried.

"It seems we've stirred up a hornet's nest." Lin Feng showed no fear, but rather excitement. "Behind the Crimson Feather Tribe, there are even deeper forces. King Lin is colluding with this 'Crimson Abyss,' and he doesn't seem to hold a high position. This explains why he's so obsessed with certain secrets of the North, even going so far as to collude with barbarians and assassinate court officials."

He touched the token and the tattered sheepskin map in his pocket.

"This token is a 'Crimson Abyss' token. It was a transaction handled by 'Ghost Hand.' The buyer is another 'noble person,' and the seller's identity is unknown. What they want is the mineral resources in the northern region and a trade route to the Crimson Feather Tribe... All of this seems to point to the 'Valley Miracle' mentioned by that princess deep in the northern lands."

"Could the princess know about 'Red Abyss'?" Bai Xiaohe asked.

"Very likely. Perhaps her approach to us, revealing information about the Crimson Feather Tribe and the valley, is also related to this 'Crimson Abyss.'" Lin Feng pondered. "Prime Minister Li hinted that the princess could be contacted, and the Emperor tacitly approved… Does the Emperor also know of the 'Crimson Abyss'? Is his support of me in dealing with Prince Lin also intended to use me to touch this 'Crimson Abyss' hidden even deeper within?"

The clues, like scattered beads, seem to be able to be connected because of the name "Red Abyss".

"What do we do now? Go to Ci'en Temple to find the princess?" Bai Xiaohe asked.

"No, going now would be too deliberate and could easily drag her into deeper danger." Lin Feng shook his head. "Let's go back to the inn first. The matter of Jishan Hall can't be kept secret for long. Prince Lin and 'Chiyuan' will soon find out that the people they sent to make contact and silence us have been killed by us. Next, they will either retaliate fiercely or change their strategy."

A calculating glint flashed in his eyes.

"But this is also our opportunity. The greater the pressure, the more flaws we reveal. 'Ghost Hand' had us deliver something with ill intentions, wanting to use us to kill someone or test our strength. Now, 'Knife' has turned the tables and injured his people. The appointment in three days... If he dares to show up again, what we might get is more than just news."

"What if he doesn't show up?"

"Then let's go find him." Lin Feng's tone was decisive and left no room for doubt. "Although the Ghost Market is huge and 'Ghost Hand' is slippery, as long as he's still in the capital and still doing this matchmaking business, there will always be traces. What's more, we now have the keyword 'Crimson Abyss' in our hands."

He looked toward the palace, or perhaps toward the vast, desolate mountains of the north.

"This trip to the capital was worthwhile. I thought it was just about power struggles in the court, but I never expected that there were such amazing secrets hidden underneath."

"Since we've run into each other, let's see what this so-called 'Crimson Abyss' is all about, and what role it plays in this grand game of the world."

The massacre at Jishantang was like a boulder thrown into a deep pool; the ripples spread before sunset.

When Lin Feng and Bai Xiaohe returned to the inn, the city patrol had once again completely surrounded it. This time, however, the commander's face was ten times more grim than the night before. He had personally witnessed Lin Feng and Bai Xiaohe's safe return, but preliminary news had arrived from the clinic that they had been "robbed by bandits, and the resident doctor and several staff members had tragically perished." It would be unbelievable that these two events were unrelated.

"Lord Lin... Lord Lin," the general said, forcing himself to step forward, his voice hoarse, "about the Jishan Hall in the West City..."

"Oh? What happened to Jishan Hall?" Lin Feng stopped, his face full of "concern." "Has something happened? Do you need my help?"

Help? The general's lips twitched; he wished he could turn around and leave immediately. "Uh...nothing for now...nothing serious for now. However, the capital has been rather unsettled lately, sir, you must be extra careful..."

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness." Lin Feng nodded, said no more, and went straight inside, leaving the general bewildered in the cold wind.

Inside the inn, the atmosphere was completely different from the tense and restless atmosphere outside. The Duan Yue Guard had finished handling the logistics of last night's assassination and brought back new intelligence.

"Commander," a member of the Duan Yue Guard reported in a low voice, "as you instructed, we have leaked information through several clandestine channels about Prince Lin's possible collusion with 'Shadow Owl' and mysterious forces in the North. Several censors who are at odds with Prince Lin are currently investigating in secret. One of them, Censor Zhang, seems to be particularly concerned about affairs in the North, having submitted memorials on border troubles on several occasions, and also occasionally interacting with Prime Minister Li. In addition, news has spread from the palace that after hearing about the assassination attempt at the post station last night and the events at Jishan Hall today, His Majesty sat alone in the Imperial Study for a long time and did not eat dinner."

"Understood." Lin Feng changed his clothes. "Continue to keep an eye on the movements of the Prince Lin's residence and those censors. Also, send more people to keep a close watch on several business establishments and guilds in the capital that may have connections with the North, especially those whose businesses involve minerals, furs, and medicinal herbs."

"yes!"

Night fell again.

Lin Feng did not rest. In his study, he meticulously reviewed the fragmented sheepskin map, the black ghost-head token, and the name "Crimson Abyss" gleaned from the old doctor's few words earlier that day. The clues gradually became clearer, pointing to the mysterious valley in the north and the even more insidious forces behind it. Prince Lin was the enemy in the open, while "Crimson Abyss" remained hidden in a deeper, darker place.

"Knock, knock, knock." The door was gently knocked on with a peculiar rhythm.

It's Bai Xiaohe. "Guards, Her Highness the Princess has arrived."

"Please come in."

The door slid open silently, and a slender, agile figure flashed in. The newcomer was dressed in night clothes, with a delicate frame and eyes that, in the candlelight, were clear and bright, carrying a familiar smile. It was Princess Pingyang.

Princess Pingyang walked directly to the chair next to the desk and sat down, her movements as natural as if she were in her own palace. "General Lin, won't you invite me for a cup of tea? Although the tea at this inn is coarse, it has its own unique flavor."

Lin Feng personally poured a cup of warm tea and pushed it in front of the princess. "Your Highness's late-night visit must not be for tea."

"Of course not." Princess Pingyang picked up her teacup but didn't drink. She simply rubbed the rim of the cup with her fingertips, her gaze falling on Lin Feng's face. Her smile faded slightly. "General, you have quite the nerve. Jishan Hall... that place, and you just barged in, killed people, and came back so brazenly."

"Your Highness is well-informed." Lin Feng remained noncommittal. "Eliminating harm for the people is the duty of a subject. Your Highness is surely aware that the Jishan Hall is a den of iniquity."

"Whether I know or not is unimportant." Princess Pingyang put down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, and lowered her voice. "What is important is whether the General knows whose property the old doctor you killed, and the 'Jishantang' behind him, are, and for whom they work?"

Lin Feng's gaze sharpened: "I'd like to hear the details."