At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

As dusk settled and the setting sun faded, night slowly enveloped the entire city of Jingzhou.

Inside the study of the government office, the candlelight flickered, illuminating the neat and powerful handwriting on the paper.

Xiao Yunche picked up his brush and began to write. With the last stroke, he finished writing an urgent secret letter with a steady hand.

While he was writing at his desk, he carefully considered every word and sentence, detailing in the letter the frequent spying and opportunistic attacks by the Yan people at Duanyun Pass in Pingzhou, the weakness of the three prefectures' weak military strength and strained defenses, and the urgent need for reinforcements from the imperial court to aid the border defenses.

He put down the wolf-hair brush in his hand, lightly brushed the paper with his fingertips, and waited for the ink to dry slightly before bending down and carefully examining the entire secret letter word by word.

From the details of the border disturbances to the arrangements for the garrison's deployment, to the plea for reinforcements, and even the brief report on the situation in the capital, he checked it twice to ensure that there were no typos, omissions, or oversights. The content was detailed and comprehensive, and the logic was clear and well-organized, enough for his third uncle, Xiao Jingyu, to grasp the full situation on the southwestern border in a timely manner.

After confirming that everything was correct, Xiao Yunche raised his hand, gently folded the secret letter concerning the safety of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in the three prefectures, put it into a sealed brocade bag, and sealed it with his personal princely seal.

He looked up at Shen Luotang, who was standing beside him, his expression solemn and his tone stern:

"Luo Tang, this matter is of utmost importance and extremely urgent."

"You shall immediately select an elite captain who is exceptionally agile, highly skilled in martial arts, and meticulous in his thinking, and order him to set off tonight at top speed to the capital. He shall personally deliver this letter to the Third Prince, Xiao Jingyu, without passing it through a third party, without the slightest delay, and without revealing any of the secrets contained in the letter."

Shen Luotang bowed and stepped forward, solemnly accepting the brocade bag with both hands. He held it tightly in his palms, his expression calm and resolute, without the slightest hesitation.

"I will keep Your Highness's instructions in mind and will certainly handle this matter properly to ensure that the secret letter is safely delivered to the capital."

After speaking, she bowed slightly, turned around nimbly, and hurriedly left the study to immediately select a messenger and arrange the journey, not daring to waste a moment.

……

In the study, Xiao Yunche was left all alone in an instant.

The flickering candlelight illuminated his tall and solitary figure. A gentle evening breeze blew outside the window, causing the curtains to sway softly. As the night deepened, the entire city of Jingzhou gradually shed its daytime hustle and bustle and returned to tranquility.

Xiao Yunche walked slowly to the window, looked up at the deep night, and gazed in the direction where Shen Luotang had left. His brows furrowed slightly, and a deep worry settled in his eyes.

He pondered silently in his heart and made a prayer.

The border is currently turbulent, and the Yan people's wolfish ambitions have been fully exposed, with war likely to break out at any time.

This secret letter is a life-saving document for the three southwestern prefectures. The sooner it reaches the capital, the sooner the imperial court can mobilize troops and generals to aid the border, and the more secure the people of the three prefectures will be.

There must be absolutely no mistakes, and the opportunity must not be missed!

Amidst the turmoil of emotions, countless thoughts rushed to mind.

His mind was filled with images of the mountains and rivers of the three southwestern prefectures and the millions of people living in peace and contentment within their borders.

Fifteen years ago, the Great Battle of Yan and Qian broke out, and the flames of war swept across the entire southwestern border. The iron hooves of soldiers trampled the mountains and rivers, and the smoke of battle filled thousands of miles of land.

That brutal war left Ping, Jing, and Sui prefectures devastated and in ruins. Countless people were displaced, their families were destroyed, children lost their fathers, and the elderly were left destitute. Every household was plunged into misery, enduring the extreme pain of separation from loved ones and death.

The scars left by that war, spanning fifteen years, are still deeply imprinted on this land and its people.

After fifteen years of recuperation, this land, which had suffered so much, has slowly begun to recover.

The people finally escaped the suffering of war and ushered in several years of peace and stability.

But who could have predicted that as time went by, trouble would arise again?

After years of lying low and plotting, the Yan Kingdom kidnapped the emperor, disrupted the court, and probed the borders, pressing forward step by step. The flames of war were once again approaching this land that had finally achieved peace.

Once a full-scale war breaks out between the two countries, the first to suffer and the most casualties will ultimately be the unarmed and innocent civilians.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yunche's heart sank slightly, and a resolute and sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

He stood by the window, the night breeze ruffling his clothes, and silently made a solemn vow in his heart.

He didn't care about the life or death of his cold-hearted, incompetent, and heartless father, nor about the changing of the imperial power, nor about the disputes of honor and disgrace in the court.

But since he was in charge of guarding this area, he had to protect its peace!

If war breaks out, even if it costs him his life, he will defend the southwestern border, protect the land of the three states, and protect the hundreds of thousands of people of Daqian within its borders, so that the human tragedy of fifteen years ago will never be repeated!

After a long while, he suppressed the surging thoughts in his heart, composed himself, turned around, and strolled back to his desk in the study.

The current situation is changing rapidly, and there is no room for complacency.

Only by being familiar with the terrain and having a firm grasp of the overall situation can one remain calm in battle and defend against the enemy with composure.

Xiao Yunche raised his hand and spread out the military and political topographic map of the three states hanging on the table.

The entire map is vast and detailed, with mountains, rivers, passes, military camps, and supply routes all clearly marked.

Pingzhou's Duanyun Pass and Luoxing Pass, Jingzhou's four-sided defenses, and Suizhou's important granary storage area—the advantages and disadvantages of each location, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of offense and defense, are all readily apparent.

He bent down, his gaze focused on the blueprints, his fingertips lightly tapping the various passes, carefully strategizing the deployment tactics, reinforcement routes, and enemy defense strategies. He familiarized himself with the terrain of the entire territory in advance, predicted the Yan army's invasion route, and made full preparations for war to avoid being put in a passive and helpless situation when war broke out.

Just as he was engrossed in analyzing the battle situation...

Outside the quiet study, in the depths of the night, a faint, eerie black shadow suddenly flashed by.

The figure moved with incredible speed and unpredictable movements, landing silently and exuding a chilling aura that enveloped the entire study courtyard.

Ordinary soldiers could not detect it at all, but Xiao Yunche's martial arts cultivation was profound, and his five senses far exceeded those of ordinary people, making him extremely sensitive to killing intent and strange energy.

The moment that cold and eerie aura approached, his mind instantly became alert. His fingertips, which were calculating the battle situation, suddenly stopped, his nerves tightened, and a sharp, cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Someone's coming!

Moreover, their arrival was ill-intentioned and harbored murderous intent!

Xiao Yunche turned his head almost subconsciously, his sharp gaze shooting straight out of the study window.

Just as he turned his head, a cold light flashed through the air, moving as fast as lightning and cutting through the wind silently, heading straight for his face!

The hidden weapon attack was sudden and unexpected, with a tricky angle and fierce force. It was clearly the work of a master, and the blow was intended to be fatal!

At the critical moment, Xiao Yunche displayed his top-notch martial arts skills.

He remained calm and composed, deftly shifting his body slightly to the side to dodge the attack with graceful and agile movements, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow.

"beep!"

A dull, crisp sound suddenly rang out.

The sharp, cold-gleaming dart grazed his shoulder and embedded itself deeply into the solid wooden wall behind him, causing it to tremble violently. This demonstrated the immense force and domineering power of the weapon.

Inside the study, the candlelight flickered violently, casting erratic shadows, and an atmosphere of grimness instantly filled the entire room.

Xiao Yunche's eyes were cold and deep. He stood up steadily, walked slowly to the wall, and steadily took down the hidden weapon.

This is a specially made bone-piercing nail, exquisitely crafted and with a sharp edge. It is not a standard concealed weapon used by the Daqian army, but rather an assassination weapon exclusive to the Yan Kingdom in the northern border region.

At the end of the concealed weapon was a neatly folded plain-colored paper strip, clearly left intentionally by the visitor to deliver a message, not to actually assassinate the target.

He pinched the paper between his fingers and slowly unfolded it.

The handwriting on the paper was messy and sharp, just a few words, but it made Xiao Yunche's eyes suddenly freeze, and he felt surprised.

To find out your father's whereabouts, go alone to the Green Bamboo Garden in the eastern suburbs tonight!

In just a few words, the statement is straightforward, direct, and the intention is clear.

Xiao Yunche scanned the contents of the note repeatedly, his mind racing, instantly clarifying all the details.

The person who infiltrated the government office tonight and used a hidden weapon to deliver a message must be the mastermind behind the kidnapping of the Emperor of Daqian from the Yan Kingdom!

He instantly understood and saw through the hidden danger.

This must be a carefully laid trap!

The other party knew that he was the commander-in-chief of the three southwestern prefectures, the core pillar of the border army, and in control of all military power and defense in the three prefectures.

If we can lure him out of the government office and eliminate him, the three southwestern prefectures will be leaderless, their morale will collapse, their defenses will crumble, and their command will be paralyzed.

At that time, the Yan army will be able to drive straight in, effortlessly flatten the defenses of the three states, and invade the territory of Daqian to the south!

Using his father's whereabouts as bait, the other party precisely grasped his key points and deliberately lured him to the meeting alone, with the aim of eliminating him, the biggest obstacle!

In that moment of clarity, Xiao Yunche's eyes showed no trace of panic or fear, but rather an even calmer and colder demeanor.

He clearly understood the advantages and disadvantages, and also saw through the essence of the situation.

However, Xiao Yunche had no feelings of loyalty or filial piety towards his heartless, incompetent, and foolish father, and life and death were no longer of any concern to him.

If the emperor were to truly die at the hands of the Yan people, it would be a perfect solution, completely severing any ties or hidden dangers within the court.

But what he feared most was that the emperor was still alive and firmly controlled by the Yan people.

With the Emperor of Daqian in hand, the Yan Kingdom can use his name to issue orders at will, spread rumors and mislead the public, disrupt the morale of the army, and completely crush the spirit of the Daqian army, thus subduing the enemy without a fight.

This is the most dangerous and unsolvable dead end!

Therefore, he had to attend this dangerous banquet!

Even knowing it's a trap, I'll still go alone!

He must personally investigate the truth, find out the Yan people's true intentions, ascertain the real whereabouts of his father, and thwart the enemy's plot to use the emperor to create chaos and disrupt the war!

Once his mind was made up, Xiao Yunche had no more hesitation.

He calmly laid the note flat on the desk in his study.

He knew that Shen Luotang would return with the letter and, not seeing him, would check the study. Upon seeing the note, she would instantly understand everything and rush to Cuizhu Garden to provide support.

No need for further instructions or special reports, lest we alert the enemy and ruin the entire plan.

Having made all the arrangements, Xiao Yunche took down the longsword hanging on the wall with a backhand. The sword moved with him. Dressed in a dark, tight-fitting outfit, his posture was solitary and imposing. Alone with his sword, he resolutely turned and stepped out of the study, disappearing into the deep night.

He ventured alone into perilous territory, yet felt no fear in his heart!

……

Cuizhu Garden, on the eastern outskirts of Jingzhou.

Far from the city's hustle and bustle, this place is located in a secluded suburb, surrounded by lush bamboo groves. The forest is deep and quiet, and few people visit it on weekdays. After nightfall, it is even more deserted and quiet, with only the soft rustling of the evening breeze through the bamboo.

Tonight, the sky is clear and the moon hangs high in the sky. The bright and cool moonlight shines on the earth, penetrating through layers of bamboo branches and leaves, and falling on the blue stone path, spreading out a ground of shimmering silver light.

Even without artificial lighting, the scenery in the garden remains clearly visible.

Under the moonlight, Xiao Yunche walked steadily along the bluestone path, passing through layers of lush bamboo forest, and headed straight for the center of the bamboo garden.

The deeper one goes, the more deathly silent the surroundings become. There is no wind or sound, and the stillness is almost eerie, with a hidden sense of impending doom.

As we walked to the center of the bamboo grove, a warm yellow light suddenly appeared in the dark depths ahead.

The faint firelight stood out against the cold night, flickering and dancing, dispelling the surrounding chill and gloom.

Xiao Yunche's gaze narrowed slightly as he followed the firelight and walked slowly forward. After passing through the last bamboo grove, a waterside pavilion suddenly came into view.

On the stone table in the pavilion, a charcoal stove burns gently, boiling water simmers, and the aroma of tea rises gracefully amidst the swirling mist, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere.

A middle-aged man dressed in black, with a calm and stern face, was sitting alone in the pavilion, leisurely brewing tea.

This person exudes a restrained and profound aura, never revealing his sharp edge, yet he possesses a chilling and decisive presence that is far beyond that of ordinary martial arts assassins.

The moment Xiao Yunche stepped out of the bamboo forest, the middle-aged man brewing tea seemed to have sensed his presence. Without raising his eyes, his fingertips continued to calmly arrange the tea set, but a faint smile appeared on his lips. His voice was low and calm as he slowly spoke, piercing the stillness of the night:

"Your Highness, now that you've come to our door, why stand in the shadows and watch?"

"Why don't we sit in the pavilion, have a cup of hot tea, and have a good chat?"