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

Late at night. At an inn.

Zhou Yang sat on the bed, holding a yellowed booklet in his hand.

This was taken from the Blood Shadow Guard captain. To be precise, it was taken from that gradually cooling corpse.

[Shadow Escape].

The two characters for "ink" were written on the cover, the handwriting vigorous and powerful.

He turned to the first page and studied it word by word.

"The art of shadow conceals one's form within light and hides in darkness..."

The cultivation technique wasn't long, only a dozen pages. But the content was obscure, requiring repeated reading and analysis in many places. Zhou Yang wasn't in a hurry. He had plenty of patience.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a silvery glow on the ground.

He placed the booklet on his lap and closed his eyes in deep thought.

Shadow Cloaking differs from ordinary movement techniques. Ordinary movement techniques prioritize speed and change. Shadow Cloaking prioritizes "concealment"—concealing one's form, concealing one's aura, and concealing one's killing intent.

When one cultivates to a high level, even standing in the sunlight, one can appear as a ghost, leaving no trace.

Zhou Yang thought about his own situation.

The waters of the capital are too deep.

On the surface, he was Qin Shuang's man, a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. But in the shadows, countless eyes were watching him.

The Heavenly Principle Sect. The Prime Minister's faction. And that colossal shadow hidden even deeper.

He needs more ways to save his life.

"system."

He meditated in his heart.

【exist. 】

"Extend the Shadow Escape technique to its perfect state."

[Is it confirmed that deducing "Shadow Cloak" requires 12 years of lifespan?]

12 years.

Zhou Yang felt a pang of regret, but quickly made a decision.

"confirm."

As soon as he finished speaking, a flood of information surged into his mind. Those obscure and difficult-to-understand sentences suddenly became crystal clear.

The true meaning of Shadow Cloaking gradually took shape in his mind.

It turns out that the so-called "concealment" does not mean completely hiding one's form. Rather, it means using changes in light and shadow to blur one's presence, causing the enemy to misjudge the situation.

This is a deception.

Deceive the enemy's eyes, deceive the enemy's senses, deceive the enemy's judgment.

Zhou Yang opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them.

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside was a bustling street. It was late at night, and all the shops were closed, with only a few dim lanterns swaying gently in the wind.

He pushed open the window and jumped out.

His figure was like a wisp of smoke, vanishing in an instant.

In the next breath, he appeared on the rooftop ten feet away. He made no sound, like a falling leaf drifting by.

He nodded in satisfaction.

The combination of Shadow Cloak and his light footwork had an unexpectedly good effect.

Previously, his movements focused on speed and unpredictability. Now, with the addition of the Shadow Escape technique, he has become even more elusive.

Even opponents with higher skill levels than him would find it difficult to spot him immediately.

That's his advantage.

He killed without leaving a trace, and then left without a trace.

Zhou Yang sped across the rooftop and returned to the inn a moment later.

He didn't use the door, but slipped in through the window. His movements were as light as a swallow, without making a sound.

He sat back down on the bed and took out the Blood Dragon Short Sword from his bosom.

The fragments shimmered with an eerie luster under the moonlight.

"System, check the current lifespan."

[Remaining lifespan: 87 years]

It took 12 years to deduce "Shadow Escape". The previous accumulation still has 87 years left.

It's fairly plentiful.

But Zhou Yang knew that this was far from enough.

The Dragon Spine Divine Weapon needs repair. My cultivation level needs to be improved. My cultivation technique needs to be developed. Each of these will consume a significant amount of my lifespan.

He must keep killing, keep acquiring rare and precious materials, and keep making himself stronger.

Only in this way can we survive the bigger storm.

"There are still five fragments..."

Zhou Yang muttered to himself.

Five fragments of the Blood Dragon Short Sword remain scattered across various locations. Each fragment requires an immense amount of lifespan to repair.

But he will not back down.

Now that we've embarked on this path, there's no turning back.

He sheathed his short sword and began to meditate and circulate his internal energy.

The body's vital energy circulates like a surging river.

Late stage of True Essence Realm.

This is a somewhat awkward position. Not particularly strong, not particularly weak. They're considered top-tier in the martial arts world, but in the eyes of true masters, they're still not enough.

However, Zhou Yang has his own advantages.

Dragon Devour.

This technique, stolen from the Blood Shadow Guard, can forcibly absorb the internal energy of others and convert it into one's own.

The Blood Shadow Guard captain we killed earlier possessed immense internal energy. A portion of it still remains within his body, like a blocked riverbed, difficult to clear.

With a thought, Zhou Yang activated the Dragon Devouring Heart Technique.

"Devour".

The internal energy suddenly became violent, like a ravenous beast, frantically tearing at the remaining internal force.

Pain. Pain that goes deep into your bones.

But he didn't say a word.

He was already used to this kind of hardship.

The meridians were stretched and forcibly widened. After the pain subsided, there was an indescribable feeling of comfort.

The remaining internal energy was finally completely refined and integrated into his true essence.

The realm has been stabilized.

Zhou Yang exhaled a breath of stale air, feeling his internal energy become more profound and refined.

At the late stage of the True Essence Realm, one's position is as stable as a mountain.

Just then, three soft sounds came from outside the door.

It was Qin Shuang's signal.

Zhou Yang got up and opened the door.

Qin Shuang stood outside, her expression somewhat grave.

Something's happened.

She went into the room and closed the door behind her.

"The Prime Minister's faction has been making frequent moves lately."

Zhou Yang poured her a cup of tea. "Tell me in detail."

"The General has been impeached frequently recently. The reason given is that he is abusing his military power and plotting a rebellion." Qin Shuang took the tea but didn't drink it. "But anyone with eyes can see that this is a trumped-up charge."

"The Grand General holds military power and is an important pawn for the current emperor in balancing the court," Zhou Yang analyzed. "It won't be so simple for the Prime Minister to take him down."

"That's not the problem," Qin Shuang said in a low voice. "I've received word that the Prime Minister has contacted several generals at the border, preparing to manipulate military deployments. If the General cannot respond in time, he could very well be accused of retreating in the face of battle."

"At that time, their families will be wiped out and their entire clan will be exterminated."

Zhou Yang tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought.

The power struggles in the imperial court are indeed more dangerous than the feuds in the martial arts world.

In the martial arts world, at least you can see your opponent's sword; in the imperial court, however, killing is done without bloodshed.

"Qin Shuang, whose side are you on?"

He suddenly asked.

Qin Shuang paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "I had no choice. From the moment I decided to help you, I was already on the opposite side of the General."

"wrong."

Zhou Yang shook his head, "You're helping me, not the General's enemy."

"But the General sees you as a thorn in his side," Qin Shuang said. "You ruined his plans, do you think he'll let you off?"

Zhou Yang remained silent for a moment.

Indeed. The general is no pushover. I've ruined his plans; things won't be peaceful from now on.

But so what?

He is never afraid of trouble.

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it." He stood up, walked to the window, and said, "I've already waded into this quagmire of the imperial court; there's no way I can walk out unscathed."

"It's better to take the initiative than to be passively attacked."

"What do you want to do?"

Qin Shuang asked.

Zhou Yang didn't answer immediately. He was thinking.

The struggle between the Prime Minister and the General may seem like a power struggle within the court, but it is actually a much larger strategic game.

The current emperor is young, the prime minister controls the government, and the general holds military power. These three forces check and balance each other, yet also scheme against each other.

I am now merely a relatively important pawn.

But a chess piece can also become a chess player.

"Prepare some things for me." Zhou Yang turned to Qin Shuang. "I need to infiltrate the General's Mansion."

"Are you crazy?" Qin Shuang's expression changed. "The place is heavily guarded, teeming with experts..."

"That's precisely why we must go," Zhou Yang interrupted her. "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

"I want to see what the General is planning."

Qin Shuang wanted to say something more, but seeing Zhou Yang's determined eyes, she knew she couldn't persuade him otherwise.

"Okay. But you have to promise me one thing."

"explain."

"Come back alive."

Zhou Yang smiled.

"Don't worry, my life is very precious."

He will not die.

At least not now.

Outside the window, the sky was already turning a pale white.

A new day has begun.