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

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness." Lin Feng memorized the jade pendant and the address.

"Take care, General." Princess Pingyang covered her face with her veil again, walked to the door, glanced back at Lin Feng, and said, "This capital city may seem like an impregnable fortress, but beneath the surface, turbulent currents surge. General, your sword is already drawn; there's no turning back. Either you cut through all obstacles, or... you'll be utterly defeated. I hope we are the former."

As soon as she finished speaking, she vanished without a trace, disappearing into the darkness outside the door like a wisp of smoke.

Inside the study, the candlelight flickered.

Bai Xiaohe stepped forward: "Commander, what the princess said..."

"Half true, half false, but the intention to cooperate is undoubtedly genuine," Lin Feng pondered. "The information she revealed about 'Crimson Abyss' and Prince Lin matches our investigation, and even goes deeper. The Emperor wants to use me to check Prince Lin and test Crimson Abyss; the Princess wants to use my power to get more deeply involved, and may even want to control the secrets of 'Dragonfall Valley.' And we…"

His eyes gleamed with a chilling light.

"We need to utilize their information and channels to uncover concrete evidence of Lin Wang's treason and find the weaknesses of 'Chi Yuan.' Ultimately, whether it's Lin Wang or that charlatan 'Chi Yuan,' anyone who dares to invade the border and disrupt the country will become a victim of my Duan Yue Blade!"

He put away the token and jade pendant.

"The Ghost Market appointment in three days remains unchanged. Issue the order that, starting tonight, all undercover agents in the city should be on high alert, with a focus on monitoring the Lin Prince's Mansion, businesses connected to the Northern Lands, and... all religious sites and secret societies that may be related to 'Red Abyss' and the Red Feather Clan."

The next day, before dawn, an ordinary-looking old farmer carrying fresh vegetables knocked on the side door of the inn. After checking the "Listening to the Wind Pendant," he was quietly led to Lin Feng. The old farmer removed his disguise, revealing a shrewd and capable face, with sharp eyes and decisive movements, clearly a skilled person from the army or the Imperial Guard.

"This humble servant, Zhao Qi, is at Lord Lin's behest." He knelt on one knee, his voice extremely low. "His Highness instructed that if you need anything inquired about or relayed, you may instruct me. Furthermore, His Highness asked me to tell you that after you left the palace last night, His Majesty summoned Prince Lin to the palace for a private conversation that lasted nearly an hour. When Prince Lin left the palace, his face was gloomy, but there was nothing unusual about him. The imperial guards reported that after returning to his residence, he did not urgently summon his staff, but his study was brightly lit until late at night."

"Understood." Lin Feng nodded. It seemed that the emperor was giving Lin Wang a warning, and Lin Wang was trying to remain calm, or rather, waiting for "Chi Yuan's" reaction.

"Zhao Qi, I need you to do three things."

"Please give your orders, sir."

"First, use all means to investigate all the merchants and guilds in the capital that are involved in large-scale transactions of minerals, furs, and medicinal herbs from the north, especially those with unusual capital flows or personnel exchanges in the past six months. Make a detailed list and find out who their owners are, who they are associated with in the court, and which tribes in the north they do business with."

"yes!"

"Second, keep a close eye on the Prince Lin's residence. I need to know the detailed records of people entering and leaving his residence every day, especially unfamiliar faces. I also need to find out the location and security of his hidden villas and properties as much as possible."

"This... sir, the Lin Prince's mansion is heavily guarded with many hidden sentries. Investigating too deeply might be risky and could alert the enemy." Zhao Qi hesitated.

"No need to infiltrate, just keep records from the outside. Use unfamiliar faces, use street urchins, such as peddlers, night watchmen, and beggars. What I need are patterns, anomalies," Lin Feng said. "In addition, pay close attention to his household purchases, carriages, and channels of communication with the outside world."

Zhao Qi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement.

"Third, and most importantly," Lin Feng's gaze sharpened, "use the palace's secret archives and the old records of the inner guards to investigate all records related to 'Crimson Abyss,' 'Dragon's Fall Valley,' and 'the ancient legends of the Crimson Feather Tribe,' even the smallest fragments or absurd rumors must be recorded. At the same time, secretly investigate whether there are any private shrines or underground altars in the capital that are neither Buddhist nor Taoist and have strange appearances, or whether anyone is secretly collecting artifacts or documents related to the ancient rituals and totems of the North."

Zhao Qi's expression hardened, clearly understanding the weight of the words "Crimson Abyss." "I understand! I will do my utmost!"

"Go ahead and be careful. Unless it's urgent, use this place as a contact point every day at 9:00 AM."

Zhao Qi accepted the order, disguised himself as an old farmer again, and quietly left.

Lin Feng walked to the window, the morning light filtering through the paper window to illuminate his calm face. "Chi Yuan"... With Doctor Hu's hidden mole removed, they will surely be shaken. How will they react?

Passive waiting has never been Lin Feng's style.

"Xiao He," he called.

"exist."

"Have our people, under the guise of the 'Northern Border Pacification Commissioner's Office' checking border trade, formally visit several of the largest and most powerful northern merchants. Don't ask too many questions; simply identify yourselves, check the accounts, and inquire about recent trade with the northern regions, especially with tribes like the Akabane clan. Maintain a strictly official attitude."

"Yes, to scare the tiger by striking the mountain." Bai Xiaohe understood.

"In addition, in my name, I will send a letter to Prime Minister Li, saying that I am very interested in the customs and products of the North and have heard that the Prime Minister's residence has a rich collection of books, especially some geographical records from previous dynasties. I wonder if I may borrow a few?" Lin Feng continued.

"I will take care of it immediately."

After arranging these things, Lin Feng was alone in his room, once again unfolding the tattered sheepskin map and comparing it with the most rudimentary map of the northern border available in the capital. The terrain on the tattered map partially overlapped with the traditional activity area of ​​the Chiyu tribe, but it was more oriented northwest, deep into the mountains. That area was almost entirely blank on official maps, marked as "a land of miasma, rarely visited by humans."

"Dragonfall Valley..." Lin Feng murmured the name. If the "Crimson Abyss" had truly guarded (or occupied) this place for generations, what exactly was hidden within?

Power? Wealth? Or... something else?

He recalled the princess's words about "changing the world and reversing fate," and sneered inwardly. In this world, only the human heart and weapons can reverse fate; why would one need to borrow some ethereal "divine power"? If there truly is something magical, it must be used and controlled by people.