If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

The night was deep, and raindrops pattered softly on the green tiles. Zhou Yang, draped in a black robe, stepped lightly up the stone steps to a secret room in the backyard of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters. He had already cracked the lock beforehand, and the wooden door quietly sprang open, the air filled with the smells of paper, ink, and oil lamps.

The room was dimly lit, with several scrolls laid out beneath the lamps. Qin Shuang was already standing before the table, a short steel knife in her hand, its tip dripping blood. She looked up, her eyes sharp as blades.

"You've come," she said, her voice flat.

Zhou Yang poured the gold and silver he received from the emperor's father-in-law directly onto the table, the gold gleaming in the lamplight. The silver and gold ingots piled up, forming a small mountain.

"These are props for a play," he said casually.

Qin Shuang raised an eyebrow and tapped the back of her knife with her fingertips. She didn't act immediately, but instead let Chen Zhou come in.

Lu Chenzhou stepped into the light, clad in brocade robes, a hint of worry lurking between his brows. The three men's eyes met, and the air seemed to tighten like a bowstring.

"The Dharma King will be refining the Longevity Pill at the Star Gazing Platform in three days," Zhou Yang said first. "If we don't stop him, the entire Northern Desert will be plunged into bloodshed."

Shen Zhou frowned. "How reliable is the information you obtained?"

Zhou Yang chuckled, his finger tracing the mark on his chest, a flash of blood appearing instantly. He said, "I've infiltrated the Dharma King's camp, feigning being bribed. They don't know I have a code."

Qin Shuang asked in a low voice, "What's the code?"

Zhou Yang took out a piece of silk paper from his sleeve, unfolded it, and on the paper was drawn a mountain shape, marking the location of the alchemy furnace. Next to it, there was a four-character incantation written in ink.

"This is the core of the alchemy furnace," he explained. "The incantation can pause the fire when it is activated, and it is only effective under certain stars."

Chen Zhou looked at the paper, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. He remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

"If we want to directly attack the Dharma King, we must first disable the alchemy furnace," Chen Zhou said. "I can mobilize three thousand Left Guards to coordinate with your operation."

Qin Shuang's expression turned slightly cold. "The Dharma King has Heavenly Guardians under his command, whose strength is extraordinary. If we charge in, there will surely be rivers of blood."

Zhou Yang steadied his blade, his voice calm, "We're not charging head-on. The Imperial Guards will handle the assault and draw attention. My mission is to infiltrate the furnace core and disrupt the spell."

Chen Zhou asked in a low voice, "What is the standard for destruction?"

Zhou Yang pointed to the red dot on the map, "The core is a piece of obsidian. If it is broken while burning, the furnace fire will get out of control."

Qin Shuang sighed softly, "This means we must act at the very last moment of the Dharma King's ceremony. Time is of the essence."

Shen Zhou stood up, turned to his flank guards, and gave the order: "Immediately prepare three thousand left guards to assemble in the north of the city tomorrow morning. All bows, crossbows, and oil must be ready."

He turned back, his gaze landing on Zhou Yang. "You must find and destroy the obsidian amidst the chaos. If you fail, you will bear the consequences."

Zhou Yang nodded, a resolute glint in his eyes. "I will ignite an inextinguishable fire in the heart of the furnace and let it collapse on its own."

Qin Shuang walked to the window, drew back the curtain, and looked out at the mountains beyond the city. She whispered, "If this operation succeeds, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will be intimidated like never before. If it fails, I'm afraid we'll pay a bloody price."

She turned around and handed Zhou Yang a pair of tiny silver needles. "These needles can pierce the cracks in the obsidian and help you break it quickly."

Zhou Yang took it, feeling the coldness of the metal on his fingertips. "Thank you."

The three sat together, assigning tasks. Qin Shuang was responsible for setting traps outside the city to intercept the Dharma King's reinforcements. Chen Zhou was in charge of coordinating the frontline troops and maintaining suppression. Zhou Yang's sole task was to infiltrate the observatory, seal the furnace fire with a spell, and then shatter the obsidian with a silver needle.

The night deepened, and the rain gradually ceased. The oil lamp in the secret room began to flicker slightly, casting the shadows of the three people like three crossed blades.

"Tonight, I'm betting everything," Zhou Yang said in a low voice.

Qin Shuang nodded calmly, "I don't want to see any more bloodshed."

Chen Zhou raised his glass, filled it with red wine, and said, "Cheers to this dance on the edge of a knife."

The three glasses of wine clinked together, producing a crisp sound. A drop of wine trickled down the fingertips and landed on the rolled-up paper, the gold and silver shimmering slightly as it was absorbed by the wine stain.

The lights flickered on and off. Zhou Yang stood up, tidied up the scrolls of paper, and gently closed the door. The door clicked softly behind him, like a muffled drumbeat.

He glanced back at Qin Shuang and Chen Zhou, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve, not doubt. Then, he turned and walked away, stepping onto the rain-soaked cobblestone path, the sound of his footsteps fading into the night.

The lights flickered faintly in the distance, like a sleeping beast. The lamps on the observatory were already lit, and blue flames danced on the high tower. In the distance, the horns of iron cavalry echoed through the valley.

Outside the lamplight, rainwater trickled down the city wall. Zhou Yang walked into his dilapidated rented room in the East Alley, pushed open the door, and found only an oil lamp and a worn-out wooden table inside.

A scroll was laid out on the table, marking the structure of the observatory. Zhou Yang gently traced each groove with his fingertips, and the scene of his last infiltration resurfaced in his memory.

"The alchemy furnace is at the bottom of the North Tower," he muttered to himself. "The entrance is hidden behind the stone wall and can only be opened through a secret compartment."

He took out a small iron key, its body engraved with ancient runes. The keyhole matched perfectly with a groove in the stone wall.

Zhou Yang inserted the key and gently turned it, producing a soft buzzing sound. A hidden door appeared behind the wall, and a cool breeze seeped from the crack.

He tucked the key into his sleeve and looked down at the mark on his chest. The blood flashed again, like an alarm bell.

"Each time I burn through my lifespan, I'm nearing the end." He calculated in his mind, the number of his remaining lifespan swirling in his head. Today's actions might consume three days of his lifespan.

He wrote down the price on a piece of paper, folded it into a small paper crane, and put it in his sleeve.

Outside, Qin Shuang's messenger knocked on the door. Her voice was metallic and shrill in the rain.

"The materials for setting the trap have been delivered," the messenger reported, "including chains, fuel oil, and nets."

Qin Shuang nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Let the Dharma King's protectors step into the net during the pursuit, slowing their movements."

She instructed her messengers to distribute the materials and arrange them along the mountain paths surrounding the observatory. Each section of the path was equipped with hidden mechanisms that would emit thick smoke when triggered.

After the messenger left, Qin Shuang stood by the window, gazing at the distant mountain peaks. Her eyes were as cold as a knife, as if she had already planned for every possible variable.

At the Embroidered Uniform Guard camp, Lu Chenzhou summoned the adjutants of the Left Guard. Torches flickered in the tents, illuminating their solemn faces.

"The Dharma King's ceremony will begin in three days," Shen Zhou said. "We must occupy the south gate of the observatory before 7 a.m.

The adjutants nodded, some responding in hushed tones, others gripping their spears tightly.

The shipwreck continues. "Report to me immediately if there are any signals of evacuation. All crossbows must be reloaded before six o'clock."

The adjutants quickly assigned tasks, and the sound of pens and paper turning under the lamplight was constant.

The city markets were long closed, and only a few sparse lamps lit the streets. Women warmed themselves by fires in front of their doors, while children splashed in the muddy water after the rain. The usual hustle and bustle contrasted sharply with the impending bloodshed.

The Dharma King's camp was located halfway up the mountain, and they had already begun setting up their formation. Several protectors clad in black robes stood before the furnace, holding silver staffs in their hands. Flames rolled at the bottom of the furnace, emitting a smell that corroded metal.

Zhou Yang pondered, his fingers lightly tapping the handle of the silver needle. If the obsidian were shattered at the climax of the ritual, the furnace fire would go out of control, causing a violent explosion. In that instant, most of the Dharma King's protectors would be affected.

He examined the tip of the silver needle again, confirming that it was sharp enough to cut through the obsidian. Then, he slipped the needle into his sleeve, like inserting a concealed weapon.

As night deepened, figures began to move along the city wall. Zhou Yang slung the paper crane from his sleeve over his shoulder, quietly left the dilapidated house, and headed north along the mountain path.

The rain had stopped, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth. Starlight shone through the clouds, illuminating the stone steps.

He walked to the outer edge of the observatory and saw the smoke trap Qin Shuang had set up. A faint black mist was already gathering at the lower level.

Zhou Yang murmured to himself, "As long as we don't miss the opportunity, the plan will go smoothly."

He reached his hand towards the hidden door of the observatory, preparing to go inside.

The lights flickered slightly in the distance, like a sleeping wild beast. Zhou Yang's figure cast a long shadow in the moonlight.