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

The hooting of owls echoed outside the cave. Zhou Yang lit a torch, its orange-red light casting a flickering shadow on the rock face.

The prisoner huddled in a corner; he was a gaunt middle-aged man dressed in the leather armor of the Canglang Kingdom. Zhou Yang found a bronze token on him, engraved with a canglang howling at the sky.

"Tell me, how many of you are there?" Zhou Yang patted the prisoner's face with the back of his knife.

The prisoner shuddered. He had already witnessed the young man's methods firsthand—the headless corpse in the mine tunnel was the best proof.

"Three thousand... vanguard troops." The prisoner swallowed hard. "There are another twenty thousand cavalry following behind, heading south."

"Continue." Zhou Yang's tone was very calm, as if he were talking about today's weather.

The prisoners dared not hide anything and told the whole story.

The Canglang Kingdom is really going to move south.

This was no simple plunder. The prisoners confessed that the Canglang Royal Court had secretly mobilized 200,000 iron cavalry, preparing for a major offensive after the autumn harvest. Their goal was not to loot and run, but to graze their horses across the Central Plains and completely annihilate the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Has the Wolf King gone mad?" Qin Shuang frowned. "How will he supply two hundred thousand cavalry?"

"Someone is helping him." The prisoner hesitated for a moment. "The Heavenly Principle Sect."

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

"The Heavenly Principle Sect has agreed to provide the essence blood of cultivators." The prisoner's voice trailed off, "Three hundred cultivators' essence blood per month, and the Azure Wolf Kingdom will help them control the three northern prefectures."

"Three hundred cultivators..." Qin Shuang's calculation skills were excellent, and she immediately realized what this meant. "How many cultivators does the imperial army stationed in the three northern prefectures have in total?"

"I don't know the specifics," the prisoner shook his head, "but the Heavenly Principle Sect has branches in various places, and they... they regularly send people there."

Zhou Yang thought of Fang Tian.

The strange power within Fang Tian's body, that bloodthirsty craving, and the unusual changes that occurred in his corpse after death—he sensed something was wrong then, but didn't have time to investigate further.

"The Seed of the Azure Wolf," Zhou Yang suddenly spoke, "Is this what's inside Fang Tian's body?"

The prisoner's face changed: "You...how did you know?"

Answer me.

"...Yes." The prisoner lowered his head. "That's a secret technique of the Canglang Kingdom. The Heavenly Principle Sect plants a seed inside a cultivator's body. Once the seed sprouts, that person will become a monster who only obeys the Canglang King. Master Fang Tian...has he already...?"

"He's dead," Zhou Yang said calmly.

The prisoner shivered and fell silent.

The cave fell silent, broken only by the crackling of the torches. Qin Shuang walked to the cave entrance, gazing at the northern night sky with a deep, thoughtful look.

"With the Heavenly Principle Sect and the Canglang Kingdom joining forces, the imperial court is in grave danger." She turned around. "Once they gain power, the entire north will become a living hell."

Zhou Yang didn't speak. He was processing the information he had just received.

The Heavenly Principle Sect has been secretly accumulating power. He previously thought Fang Tian was just an exception, but now it seems that the higher-ups of the Heavenly Principle Sect may have all been infected with the "Seed of the Azure Wolf." This means that the Heavenly Principle Sect is no longer a sect of the Great Qian Dynasty, but a sword hanging over the head of the imperial court.

The 200,000 iron cavalry of the Canglang Kingdom, once they obtain enough cultivator's essence blood, will see their combat power multiply. The border army of the Great Qian Dynasty simply cannot stop them.

【Ding--】

A system notification suddenly sounded in Zhou Yang's mind.

Side Quest: Sabotage the deal between the Heavenly Principle Sect and the Canglang Kingdom

[Mission Description: The two countries are secretly trading the essence of cultivators, attempting to overthrow the Great Qian Dynasty]

[Mission Objective: Destroy the northern trading post and stop the flow of essence blood]

[Mission Reward: Thirty Years of Lifespan]

Zhou Yang's eyes lit up slightly.

Thirty years of lifespan—this is a very good deal. Moreover, since the north is the territory of the Azure Wolf Kingdom, the news of the Dragon Spine fragment is very likely hidden there as well.

"I'll take it," he thought to himself.

The system did not respond, but Zhou Yang knew the mission had been locked.

Qin Shuang noticed the change in Zhou Yang's expression: "What are you thinking about?"

"How do you plan to thwart their conspiracy?" Zhou Yang put away the token. "Since they're trying to cause trouble, let's give them some trouble."

Qin Shuang frowned even more deeply: "The Canglang Kingdom is no safe place. Two hundred thousand iron cavalry, once our identities are exposed, not even bones will be left."

"That's precisely what makes it interesting," Zhou Yang sneered. "The greater the risk, the greater the reward. You understand that principle."

Qin Shuang remained silent.

She knew Zhou Yang was telling the truth. Given their current situation, they either continued their escape or launched a preemptive strike. The likely outcome of their escape was being attacked from both sides by the Canglang Kingdom and the Heavenly Principle Sect, resulting in their demise.

But taking the initiative...

"How confident are you?" she asked.

Zhou Yang thought for a moment and then held up three fingers.

"Thirty percent?"

"No, it's three things." Zhou Yang turned his palm over. "First, break up their deal. Second, get out unscathed. Third, find what I need."

Qin Shuang stared at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "You really never do anything that doesn't make you a profit."

"Same here." Zhou Yang laughed. "Aren't you the same?"

The two exchanged a glance, their understanding unspoken.

Their relationship was based on mutual interests, but after so many events, a tacit understanding had long been formed. Qin Shuang knew Zhou Yang's temperament, and Zhou Yang was also aware of Qin Shuang's abilities.

Cooperation is the best solution.

"Rest for two hours." Zhou Yang turned to the prisoner, ended his life with a single stroke, and then set off.

The prisoner died before he could even finish begging for mercy.

Zhou Yang sheathed the Blood Dragon Short Sword and walked to the cave entrance. The northern sky was pitch black, with hardly any stars visible.

At the edge of the grassland lies both unknown risks and tremendous opportunities.

Zhou Yang gripped the sword hilt tightly, his eyes sharpening.

Heavenly Principle Sect, Canglang Kingdom, since you dare to play such a big game, don't blame me for being impolite.

The night was deep, and the campfire flickered deep in the grassland.

The information Zhou Yang learned from the prisoners made the situation even more complicated. The collusion between the Heavenly Principle Sect and the Canglang Kingdom was deeper than he had anticipated, and the so-called "Canglang King's Head" was the key evidence in the deal between the two sides.

"You mean, you want us to venture deep into the Northern Wilderness Royal Court?" Qin Shuang's voice was soft, yet chilling.

Zhou Yang nodded and tossed aside the bag of dry rations in his hand. His face was still stained with blood from the battle, making him look particularly somber in the firelight.

"There's no other way but this road." He stood up, brushed the grass clippings off his robe, and said, "Since the Heavenly Principle Sect dares to play such a big game, they won't let us leave the grassland alive."

Qin Shuang remained silent. She knew Zhou Yang was right, but she understood better than anyone what venturing deep into the Northern Wilderness Royal Court meant.

That was the heartland of the Canglang people, a forbidden zone that even the most experienced border troops feared. For them to rashly venture in their current state was practically suicide.

"I object." Qin Shuang stood up, looking directly at Zhou Yang. "In our current state, deep behind enemy lines, we are doomed to die."

Zhou Yang seemed to have expected her to say that, and a wry smile appeared on his face.

"Shuang'er, do you think I wanted this?" He pointed to his injuries. "But have you considered that if we don't seize this opportunity, will Heaven let us off the hook? Will the Azure Wolf Kingdom let us off the hook?"

He walked up to Qin Shuang, lowering his voice even further: "Since they dared to attack us, it means they were prepared to wipe us out. Taking a step back means death. Taking a step forward might offer a chance to survive."

A complex emotion flickered in Qin Shuang's beautiful eyes. She knew Zhou Yang was telling the truth, but it was precisely because she knew that she was even more worried.

"You're always like this," she sighed softly, "always pushing yourself to the brink."

Zhou Yang didn't answer, but instead looked up at the northern night sky. There, a star shone exceptionally bright, as if stained with blood.

"Equivalent exchange," he suddenly said.

Qin Shuang was stunned for a moment: "What?"

"This is my principle." Zhou Yang turned his head, his eyes becoming unusually serious. "Risk and reward are always directly proportional. If you want to gain something, you must pay the corresponding price."

He held up three fingers: "Thirty years of life in exchange for a chance to get close to the Northern Wilderness Royal Court. It's a worthwhile trade."

"Thirty years?" Qin Shuang's expression changed drastically. "You want to burn thirty years of your lifespan?"

"Not only that," Zhou Yang smiled, a hint of madness in his smile, "If I can successfully enter the royal court, I have an even bigger plan."

Qin Shuang grabbed his wrist: "Are you crazy! All you have left now is..."

"I know." Zhou Yang gently pulled his hand away from hers, his eyes softening for a moment. "But do you believe me?"

Qin Shuang was stunned. Looking at the young yet weathered face before her, an indescribable emotion welled up within her.

From the moment we met until now, this person has always been like this. Seemingly cynical, he actually works harder than anyone else. He adds money, he trades, he burns his lifespan to enhance his strength, all for just two words—to live.

"I believe you." Qin Shuang finally nodded, her voice soft yet unusually firm, "But you must promise me one thing."

"explain."

"If it's impossible, don't force it." Qin Shuang's gaze was fixed on him. "Coming back alive is more important than anything else."

Zhou Yang felt a warmth in his heart, but he didn't immediately agree. He knew Qin Shuang too well and knew what her words meant.

"Okay, I'll try my best." He ultimately chose a compromise answer.

Qin Shuang knew she couldn't persuade him, so she could only shake her head helplessly.

Just then, a system notification sounded in Zhou Yang's mind:

[Mission Triggered: Deadly Deal]

[Mission Objective: Infiltrate the Northern Wilderness Royal Court and obtain the head of the Wolf King]

[Mission Reward: Fifty Years of Lifespan]

[Failure Penalty: None]

Zhou Yang's pupils contracted, and a surge of wild joy welled up in his heart.

Fifty years!

That's fifty years of life! With those fifty years, there are so many things he can do.

"What's wrong?" Qin Shuang noticed his unusual behavior.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down: "It's nothing, I was just thinking about the next steps."

He quickly calculated in his mind. Fifty years of lifespan—this was a great deal. But he also knew that the higher the reward from the system, the more difficult the task would be.

The Northern Wilderness Royal Court is absolutely a den of dragons and tigers.

"We'll first infiltrate the nearest border town to gather intelligence," Zhou Yang quickly devised a plan. "Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle."

Qin Shuang nodded in agreement. She knew that once Zhou Yang made a decision, he wouldn't easily change it. Rather than trying to stop him, she should try to help him.

"Border town..." Qin Shuang pondered, "The closest one should be Blackwater City, located on the edge of the grassland, which is an important hub for trade between the Canglang people and the Great Zhou."

"Blackwater City." Zhou Yang repeated the name, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "Alright, let's go there."

The two quickly packed their belongings and cleaned up the prisoners' bodies. Although the grasslands were fraught with danger, they couldn't afford to worry about that now.

Just as they were about to leave, Zhou Yang suddenly stopped.

"Wait," he whispered, "someone's coming."

Qin Shuang's expression hardened, and she immediately gripped her long sword tightly. From the darkness in the distance, the faint sound of approaching hooves could be heard.

"They should be pursuers from the Azure Wolf Clan," Zhou Yang judged. "There aren't many of them, probably about ten riders."

"Can you handle it?"

"Give it a try." Zhou Yang gripped the Blood Dragon Short Sword tightly, his eyes sharpening.

A moment later, ten Grey Wolf cavalrymen came into view. They were clad in leather armor, wielded scimitars, and wore cruel smiles on their faces.

"Two humans?" the lead cavalryman said in broken Zhou dialect. "Capture them, and there will be a hefty reward!"

Without wasting any words, Zhou Yang rushed out.

These individual wolf cavalrymen were not particularly strong, at best equivalent to third-rate martial artists of the Great Zhou Dynasty. However, on the grasslands, their mounted archery skills were extremely troublesome.

Zhou Yang decided to act quickly and decisively.

His qi and blood circulated, and his short sword was drawn. A flash of crimson light appeared, and the cavalryman at the forefront was instantly beheaded.

Qin Shuang was not idle either; with a swing of her longsword, two cavalrymen fell to the ground.

The battle ended quickly; the ten Grey Wolf cavalrymen didn't even have a chance to escape before they all became corpses.

"Let's go." Zhou Yang sheathed his short sword without lingering.

The two mounted their horses and disappeared into the vast grassland.

Behind them, the outline of Blackwater City was already faintly visible.

Whether this journey will bring fortune or misfortune is anyone's guess. But Zhou Yang knows that once he has made his choice, there is no turning back.

Risk and reward are always directly proportional.

This is his principle of "equivalent exchange".