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

The wind still howled across the wilderness. The horse's hooves pounded in a dull rhythm, kicking up clouds of dust. Qin Shuang held the Wolf King's severed head, her brow furrowed. Her fingers trembled slightly on the wrapped white cloth, leaving dark red bloodstains at the corners.

Zhou Yang looked down at his wound. The knife wound still gleamed faintly blue on his chest, and the blood was quickly congealing inside him. The lifespan consumption system's value flashed, indicating its recent depletion. There was no pity in his young eyes, only calculation.

"Let's go back to the capital first," Zhou Yang said calmly.

Qin Shuang nodded. She handed the severed head to the groom and gestured for it to be placed in a special wooden box. The box was engraved with subtle patterns that only the Embroidered Uniform Guards could recognize.

Along the way, the caravan was intercepted by several lurking remnants of the Gray Wolves. Blades flashed, tracing cold, white arcs in the twilight. Zhou Yang mounted his horse, his longsword slicing through the air like frost. Each thrust was accompanied by a faint red glow from the Lifespan System. Flesh was cut, and the remaining members fell into the roadside grass.

A wounded archer lay dead in front of his horse, his fingers gripping the bowstring tightly, his voice hoarse: "You are..." A look of terror flashed in his eyes before he closed them.

Qin Shuang did not stop. She gently stroked the archer's shoulder, her voice cold: "This is not your battlefield." The archer's breath turned into white mist in the cold wind and eventually dissipated.

The pursuers were completely wiped out. The cavalry continued onward, the distant mountains gradually becoming silhouettes in the twilight.

Two days later, the city gates of the capital slowly opened in the morning mist. The iron guards at the gate looked up and saw two guards in brocade robes, nodding slightly. Qin Shuang led the carriage, and the head was carried into a secret chamber inside the city. She had her men lock the wooden box, then turned to look at Zhou Yang.

"Go to the Censorate first," she said. "Report this matter first."

Zhou Yang nodded. His steps were steady, even though his wounds were still throbbing. The two entered the gates of the Censorate, where the lights were dim and officials were talking in hushed tones.

Imperial Censor Shen Qingyun stood up, her brows slightly raised. She held a scroll in her hand, quickly flipping through it. The scroll recorded the news of the Wolf King's death, the origin of his head, and the remaining forces in the Northern Territory.

Shen Qingyun looked up at Qin Shuang: "If this matter is not handled according to the law, it may cause more trouble."

Qin Shuang smiled faintly: "I just want to put this matter to rest."

Shen Qingyun nodded, turned to the officials and instructed them, "Prepare to report to the Emperor immediately." Then she turned her gaze to Zhou Yang.

"Brother Zhou, how are your injuries?" Shen Qingyun asked gently, but with a hint of inquiry.

Zhou Yang raised his hand and patted his chest lightly: "It's nothing." He turned to look out the window, where the streets of the capital city had returned to calm in the morning light.

At that moment, a series of urgent knocks came from outside the Censorate. An envoy dressed in black robes stumbled in, clutching a thin letter tightly in his hand.

"Someone has brought information about the Heavenly Principle Sect." The messenger's voice trembled, clearly indicating that the journey had been arduous.

Shen Qingyun took the letter and read it carefully. The letter mentioned that several high-ranking officials within the Heavenly Principle Sect in the capital were secretly cooperating in preparing to launch a bloody incident in the near future, with the aim of covering up a major operation within the sect.

Her brows furrowed, and her gaze swept between Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang.

"This matter," Shen Qingyun said softly, "must be investigated thoroughly first."

Qin Shuang leaned against the pillar, her fingers lightly tapping the edge of the wooden box. Her eyes were calm, without the slightest hesitation.

"I can investigate." Zhou Yang stood up, his sleeves fluttering slightly in the wind.

Shen Qingyun shook his head: "This matter involves too many people. You should rest and recuperate at the Imperial Censorate first."

Zhou Yang smiled faintly: "I'm here, so I can help too."

Shen Qingyun nodded: "Take care of the wound first. Afterwards, I will send someone to follow up on the clues in that letter."

Qin Shuang looked at Zhou Yang and gently patted his shoulder: "Rest first, and go back on stage after you've recovered."

Zhou Yang nodded, sat on the stone bench, and closed his eyes. The lingering warmth of the Blood Dragon's descent reverberated within him, and the light spots of his lifespan system flickered slightly, as if reminding him of the price he still owed.

As night fell, the lights in the Imperial Censorate shone even brighter. Zhou Yang's thoughts churned with memories of blood and fire. He remembered Fang Tian's dying smile, the runes of the Heavenly Principle Sect, and the blood-stained inscription.

Not far away, Qin Shuang stood by the window, gazing at the night sky beyond the city walls. A fire burned within her, not of hatred, but of anticipation for the future. She knew the road ahead would be arduous, but as long as the principle of equivalent exchange remained, she could continue onward.

The following morning, new instructions arrived from the Censorate. Shen Qingyun summoned several trusted confidants and arranged a covert investigation. Zhou Yang was appointed as an advisor to the investigation team, responsible for providing intelligence analysis.

Inside the investigation team's makeshift room, Zhou Yang spread out an old map. Several hiding places of the Heavenly Principle Sect were marked on the map. Each location corresponded to a bloodstain, and there were even a few dark red pebbles.

"These stones," Zhou Yang pointed to one, "may be the symbol of the Heavenly Principle Sect, and also their energy source."

Qin Shuang approached and asked in a low voice, "How should we break it apart?"

Zhou Yang pondered for a moment, then answered softly, "First find the source of the supply, then destroy them by consuming the lifespan system."

He placed his hand on the map, his fingertips tracing its surface lightly. The map's paper warmed slightly, as if responding to his thoughts.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. A young man dressed in brocade robes rushed in, clutching a slender dagger tightly in his hand.

"Brother Zhou, I brought something back from the mountain pass in the north," the boy said in a low voice, his eyes filled with awe.

He handed over a small metal fragment, its surface engraved with ancient patterns and emitting a faint blue light.

Qin Shuang's eyes lit up as she examined the fragment closely. She said softly, "This is one of the fragments we've been looking for."

Zhou Yang placed the fragment into his sleeve, and the lifespan system's light points flickered rapidly. The fragment's energy resonated with the system, displaying the available lifespan value.

"Perhaps consuming a little of my lifespan can activate its potential," Zhou Yang muttered to himself.

He looked up at the boy: "How did you get it?"

The boy gripped the dagger tightly, his voice trembling: "I was being chased by a group of assassins from the Heavenly Principle Sect. I hid in a cave, where there was an ancient stone tablet, and this fragment was buried under the tablet."

Qin Shuang nodded: "We need to find out the location of this stone tablet first."

Zhou Yang stood up and packed his gear. Qin Shuang then handed him a short knife and whispered, "Don't forget to bring your self-defense tools."

The two left the Censorate and embarked on the road leading to the northern mountains. The sound of hooves echoed in the quiet morning, and the dust kicked up by the hooves seemed to foreshadow a new storm.

The journey was not smooth. Along the way, several groups of Heavenly Principle Sect guards quietly appeared, attempting to cut off their progress. Zhou Yang remained calm, quickly taking out a small silver token and tossing it gently. The token drew a blue arc in the air before instantly transforming into a blinding flash of light.

The light blurred the guards' vision, and Zhou Yang seized the opportunity to rush forward. Qin Shuang followed closely behind, her blade flashing coldly as she sliced ​​through the approaching enemies.

After the battle, bloodstains spread across the ground, and the air reeked of metal. Zhou Yang raised his hand to touch his chest; the lifespan system's indicator flashed again, reminding him that he had already consumed a significant portion of his lifespan.

Qin Shuang leaned back on her horse, her expression calm, but she was silently calculating in her heart. She knew that the cost of the equivalent exchange had begun to accumulate and would be even heavier in the future.

They stopped at a small town at the foot of the mountain, where the lights of a tavern flickered in the night. The boy sat in a corner and quietly told them the location of the stone tablet. The tablet was on an ancient altar at the mountain peak, engraved with runes of the Heavenly Principle Sect.

Zhou Yang nodded, a resolute glint in his eyes: "We'll go up the mountain tomorrow morning."

As night deepened, Qin Shuang stood by the window, gazing at the distant mountain peaks. Starlight shone on her shoulder armor, casting a soft glow. She murmured to herself, "The Heavenly Principle Sect's conspiracy lies on this mountain."

Zhou Yang sat on the bed, his fingers gently tapping the wound on his chest. The blood had begun to congeal in his body, and his lifespan was slowly decreasing in the system. He closed his eyes, and Fang Tian's laughter echoed in his mind.

"It's better to live a good life than to live a long one," he muttered to himself, a cold smile playing on his lips.

The first rays of dawn pierced through the thin mist, illuminating the town's cobblestone streets. The two donned their battle robes and stepped onto the mountain path. The wind whistled past their ears, as if reminding them of the perilous road ahead.

They climbed the steep cliff, their footsteps making a soft sound on the moss. Finally, behind a boulder, a stone altar, eroded by time, came into view. A dark red gemstone was embedded in the center of the altar, radiating a faint warmth.

Zhou Yang reached out and touched the gem, which was instantly absorbed by his lifespan system, causing the light spots to flicker violently. Qin Shuang observed from the side and discovered that there was a flowing crimson liquid inside the gem, like some kind of ancient bloodline.

"This is the core energy source of the Heavenly Principle Sect," Zhou Yang said in a low voice, his voice filled with excitement.

Qin Shuang nodded: "We'll take it back and give it to Shen Qingyun."

Just then, the rock wall behind the stone altar suddenly cracked open, and several priests dressed in black robes rushed out, holding magical artifacts burning with ghostly blue flames.

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Yang's eyes. He swiftly raised his sword, a streak of light slicing through the air, aimed directly at the priest's chest. The priest fell, the flames instantly extinguished.

Qin Shuang rushed forward, her blade flashing in the lamplight, and decapitated two priests in quick succession. Blood splattered on the stone altar, reflecting a dazzling light.

Seeing this, the remaining priests hurriedly retreated, shouting, "Send word!"

Ignoring the shouts, Qin Shuang rushed towards the stone altar and grabbed the dark red gemstone. Her fingers were stained with blood, but she didn't care.

Zhou Yang stood on high ground, observing the surrounding movements. His lifespan system emitted a red warning again, indicating that its consumption was nearing its limit.

"Run!" he shouted.

Qin Shuang looked up and nodded, and the two ran down the cliff. The priests gave chase, their swords flashing. With each strike Zhou Yang made, his lifespan seemed to slip away; his breathing became rapid, yet he remained calm.

They rushed out of the valley and back to the carriage in town. Qin Shuang put the gemstone into the wooden box and locked it. The coachman had already prepared the horses and quickly pulled the wheels.

As they left the valley, the priests in the distance raised their lanterns and lit the torches on the cliff, creating a red wall of light that seemed to block their way home.

But the sound of hooves had already broken through the wall of fire, raising clouds of dust. Qin Shuang patted the horse's back, her laughter echoing in the wind: "As long as there's a road, the Heavenly Principle Sect's conspiracy can't be stopped."

Zhou Yang glanced sideways at the valley behind him, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "They will come back."

Back in the capital, the gates of the Imperial Censorate opened again. Shen Qingyun stood at the entrance, his gaze trembling slightly when he saw the dark red gemstone.

"You brought it back?" Her voice was low, but filled with suppressed excitement.

Qin Shuang handed her the wooden box, which emitted a slight hum. Shen Qingyun opened the lid, and the light of the dark red gemstone instantly filled the entire room.

"This is the core of the Heavenly Principle Sect," Shen Qingyun said in a low voice. "We must seal it away completely."

Zhou Yang stood to the side, the sword in his hand still trembling slightly. He knew that the price of the seal would be a greater loss of lifespan, but this was the rule of equivalent exchange.

Shen Qingyun turned to Zhou Yang: "How much are you willing to sacrifice for this?"

Zhou Yang looked up, a determined light shining in his eyes: "As long as we can suppress the Heavenly Principle Sect, I am willing to burn everything."

Shen Qingyun nodded, signaling the alchemists of the Imperial Censorate to prepare for the ceremony. A deep bell tolled throughout the palace, and a dark red light began to swirl in the air, like a giant blood bird circling overhead.

Qin Shuang stood to the side, a short knife in her hand, alert to any movement around her. Her eyes held no fear, only anticipation for the future.

As the ceremony reached its crucial moment, Zhou Yang received another red notification from the system on his chest. He took a deep breath, his fingertips touching the gem, the flowing light of life intertwining with the gem's crimson glow.

A sudden burst of light illuminated the entire roof of the Imperial Censorate, making it appear as if it were ablaze. Then, a deep rumble resounded, and the brilliance of the dark red gemstone was forcibly suppressed, transforming it into a dull gray pebble that lay quietly on the ground.

Shen Qingyun put away the pebbles, his brows relaxing: "The core of the Heavenly Principle Sect has been sealed."

Qin Shuang breathed a sigh of relief and whispered to Zhou Yang, "We succeeded."

Zhou Yang smiled, reaching out to touch the wound on his chest; the bloodstains faded in the setting sun. "There are bigger things waiting for us."

The two exchanged a smile, and the carriage started moving again, leaving the Censorate. The streets of the capital came alive in the dawn's light, pedestrians hurried by, and the city was bustling with noise.

On the distant city wall, the banner of the Heavenly Principle Sect fluttered in the wind, but was no longer flown high. Zhou Yang thought to himself, this game of equivalent exchange has only just begun.

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, and the winds of the grassland swept across once more, bringing with it new bloodshed and glory.