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

Seeing the sacred object destroyed and the enemy reinforcements arriving, "Earthfire" knew that things were hopeless. Moreover, the destruction of the sacrifice was already a foregone conclusion.

"Retreat!" He made a decisive move, parrying Lin Feng's attack with his crescent blade, and hissed at the Crimson Feather Clan Chief, "Go through the secret passage! Preserve our strength!"

Although the Crimson Feather Clan Chief was unwilling, looking at the shattered bronze statue on the ground and the wounds on the divine staff, he knew that the situation was hopeless. He glared at Lin Feng with venomous hatred, swung his staff to force two Duan Yue Guards away, and turned to follow "Earth Fire" towards the hidden passage on the other side of the cave.

With their leader gone, the morale of the remaining Red Feather warriors and "Red Abyss" guards completely collapsed. They had no will to fight anymore. With a shout, they scattered and fled, some following their leader into the secret passage, and others rushing towards other forks in the road.

"Chase!" A bloodthirsty captain of the Duan Yue Guard was about to lead his men into the secret passage.

"Don't pursue a cornered enemy!" Lin Feng shouted, sheathing his sword. "Clean up the battlefield, treat the wounded, collect all enemy items we can carry, and then retreat immediately!"

"yes!"

The surviving members of the Broken Mountain Guard swiftly carried out the orders. Although the battle was fierce, they ultimately won. They destroyed the enemy's sacred artifact and forced back "Earthfire" and the Crimson Feather Clan Chief.

As they emerged from the secret passage back into the forest and breathed in the fresh air, the setting sun had already painted the horizon red.

"Relocate immediately to backup outpost number two, thirty miles away. Return to the capital tomorrow," Lin Feng ordered. "This place has been exposed; we cannot linger. With the Lin King and the 'Earth Fire' ritual destroyed, they will not let this go easily. What follows will likely be the real battle."

When Lin Feng returned to the capital with his remaining troops and the remnants of the captured sacred artifacts, it was already half a month later.

Autumn is deepening in the capital, with golden ginkgo leaves carpeting Zhuque Avenue. Within the imperial court, the undercurrents have shifted.

Lin Feng had barely arrived in the capital, and before he could even return to his inn to freshen up, he was summoned to the palace by an urgent imperial decree.

Inside the Qianyuan Hall, the warmth of the charcoal fire dispelled the autumn chill. The emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, his complexion slightly rosier than before.

Below, besides several high-ranking officials, stood a young woman in a light purple palace dress, her temperament as aloof as frost and snow. This was Princess Pingyang. When she saw Lin Feng's travel-worn yet still upright figure enter, her clear eyes flickered slightly before returning to calm, and she gave him a barely perceptible nod.

"Your subject Lin Feng greets Your Majesty." Lin Feng bowed.

"Rise, my dear minister." The Emperor said with satisfaction, "You must be tired from your journey. I have read your secret report carefully. Excellent! Well done, Lin Feng! To destroy their sacred artifacts amidst ten thousand troops, to break their sacrifices, to drive out their leader, and to uphold the might of Heaven! This is an unparalleled achievement!"

"Your Majesty flatters me. This is the soldiers' duty, and it is my responsibility to fight bravely." Lin Feng said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Duty? Haha, if everyone in the court were as 'duty' as you, my dear minister, why would I worry about border troubles or unrest among villains?" The emperor laughed, then his expression turned serious. "Prince Lin has fled and colluded with sorcerers; his crime deserves death. 'Red Abyss' is wicked and plots rebellion, also a threat. Your Excellency has dealt a heavy blow to its foundations; your contribution is immense. Therefore, Lin Feng is hereby promoted to Grand Protector of the Northern Border, overseeing all military and political affairs of the Northern Border, bestowed with a python robe and jade belt, a reward of ten thousand taels of gold, and a mansion in the capital!"

Grand Protector! His rank is equivalent to that of a military governor, but his real power is even greater; he is truly the king of the North! The rewards bestowed upon him are exceptionally generous.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness! I will certainly devote myself to the cause of protecting our land and ensuring the safety of our people!" Lin Feng bowed again.

He knew that this was the emperor's affirmation of his achievements and a clear signal that he would be pushed further to the front lines against Prince Lin and "Red Abyss".

"As for 'Crimson Abyss' and Prince Lin," the Emperor's eyes flashed coldly, "I have issued a decree stripping Prince Lin of all his titles and ranks, and issuing a nationwide warrant for his arrest. Any members of 'Crimson Abyss's' faction, once verified, will be executed without mercy! All prefectures and counties in the Northern Territory must fully cooperate with Minister Lin in eradicating the remaining forces. This matter must be thoroughly investigated; do not allow it to resurface!"

"I obey your decree!"

……

As Lin Feng left the Qian Yuan Hall, the setting sun shone brightly. He encountered Princess Pingyang, who seemed to have "just happened" to be passing by, in front of the palace gate.

"Congratulations, Lord Lin, on your promotion to Grand Protector." Princess Pingyang's voice was still clear and melodious, but it had lost some of its former distance.

"Princess, thank you for your concern and for Your Highness's previous assistance," Lin Feng replied.

"It's just my duty." Princess Pingyang turned her head slightly, avoiding Lin Feng's gaze. "My lord, you now hold a high position and have made unparalleled contributions. I'm afraid there are countless eyes watching you and countless hearts... concerned for you in the capital. I hope you will take good care of yourself."

Her words were loaded with meaning, carrying a hint of warning, and also a complex emotion that was hard to describe.

"Your Highness's reminder is well-deserved, Lin Feng will keep it in mind." Lin Feng nodded. He naturally knew that he had become the focus of attention in the court and among the people, both a meritorious official and a target.

"Three days later, the Empress Dowager will host a 'Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet' in the Imperial Garden, inviting talented young men and noble ladies from the capital to join in the festivities. The Emperor's intention is that Your Excellency, now a pillar of the nation, should also make more connections with your colleagues in the capital." After Princess Pingyang finished speaking, she turned and gracefully departed, leaving behind a faint fragrance.

A chrysanthemum appreciation banquet? Was it the Empress Dowager's idea? Or the Emperor's idea? This is probably more than just a "visit".

The most urgent tasks are to settle the subordinates, process the spoils, and quickly implement the authority of the Northern Protector-General to consolidate the foundation. As for the banquet and undercurrents in the capital, we will deal with them as they come.

……

The mansion bestowed by the emperor is located in a prestigious area of ​​the eastern city. Originally the residence of a disgraced official, it has been urgently renovated by the Imperial Household Department and is now brand new. With its vermilion gates and high walls, it is magnificent. The gilded characters on the gate plaque, "Imperial Construction of the Northern Border Protectorate," shine brightly in the autumn sun.

After Lin Feng settled into the mansion, the servants were all assigned by the Imperial Household Department and were well-trained. However, Lin Feng knew that the capital was a dangerous place, so he secretly still used the old Duan Yue Guards as the core to control both the inside and outside.

News of the promotion and generous reward spread like wildfire throughout the capital the very next day. In an instant, carriages and horses lined the gates of the Grand Protectorate, and visiting cards arrived like snowflakes. Among them were officials seeking to curry favor with the newly rich, informants looking for news, and members of prominent families with various ulterior motives.

Lin Feng used the excuse of "being busy with military affairs and not in good health" to delegate most of the social engagements to the newly appointed Chief Secretary and Steward, while he himself stayed at home to sort out the military affairs in the northern border.

But he couldn't refuse the "chrysanthemum appreciation banquet" three days later.

……

In the Imperial Garden, chrysanthemums are in full bloom, displaying a vibrant array of colors.

The Empress Dowager hosted a banquet, so the level of the event was naturally extremely high. Almost all the officials of the third rank and above in the capital, nobles with titles, and eligible young men and women from various families—almost everyone of any standing or importance—were present.