“Anyone discovered outside the Phantom Capital, including court officials and this king himself, shall all be judged as fake and killed without question!”

The ministers hurriedly accepted the edict with trepidation, knowing their lives were at stake and not daring to take it lightly. They all decided not to even step out their front doors for the next few days.

Some people, hearing these words, suddenly felt stirred, thinking that today’s Great King seemed quite different from usual. Could it be possible that fake had become real, and real had become fake?

However, this suspicion was quickly dispelled, because after issuing the edicts, the ministers took turns submitting reports—matters like the Ministry of Revenue transferring grain, the Ministry of Personnel assigning officials, and the Ministry of Justice deciding major crimes. Gong Yin’s gaze was sharp as a torch, instantly seeing through the irregularities in the complex grain transfer accounts, the inappropriate personnel appointments, and the oversights in criminal sentencing. He judged all governmental matters, large and small, with precision and skill. Erroneous memorial scrolls flew down like snowflakes, hitting the responsible ministers on their heads one by one. The ministers apologized while picking up scrolls, willingly accepting the scolding, their last doubts completely dispelled—the Great King could be impersonated, but a Great King proficient in governmental affairs could not be faked. If just any assassin could impersonate the Great King and handle state affairs, then that assassin wouldn’t need to be an assassin anymore.

Finally, with a single “Court dismissed,” all ministers were driven from the hall. When the ministers tremblingly withdrew from the great hall that still reeked of blood and breathed fresh air again, feeling warm sunlight, they all experienced the joy of surviving a catastrophe.

Some careful people felt something was wrong when they came out, thinking for a long time before remembering—the intermittent cackling laughter of the “face verifiers” in the ceiling was gone.

Gone was gone; no one thought much about it. They hurried off to their assignments or vacations.

The white marble square in front of the great hall was soon empty. The Grand Chancellor, whose family was held hostage, conscientiously directed the changing of guards as waves of soldiers withdrew from the square and palace, replaced by new personnel.

In Ningde Palace in the rear palace, the Empress Dowager slowly awoke on her bed. Opening her eyes, she couldn’t figure out what had happened for a long while, only instinctively feeling something was very wrong. She hurriedly patted the bed board to summon someone, but called for a long time with no response. After a while, a woman in gorgeous palace attire gracefully emerged from behind the curtains, smiling: “Empress Dowager, your palace servants have all been transferred. From now on, let this humble concubine serve you instead?”

The Empress Dowager found those luxurious clothes glaring, and seeing it was actually Consort Li, she immediately flew into a rage, pointing at her: “You wicked servant dare harm me…”

“Slap!” A crisp slap sent the noble Empress Dowager crashing onto the bed, cutting off her angry curses. The Empress Dowager touched her face, looking in disbelief at the consort who was usually submissive to her.

“You… you dare…”

“The heavens are about to change—what’s there to dare or not dare?” Consort Li replied harshly, then turned to show a flower-like smile to someone behind her: “Leave this old woman to me, don’t worry.”

The person approaching was Jing Hengbo. She smiled and waved, then entered the inner chamber herself, rummaging through boxes and drawers in a grand looting spree.

Having suffered enough aggravation in Yi Kingdom, she now kicked over cabinets and emptied drawers, thoroughly ransacking the Yi Kingdom royal palace.

Outside, the Empress Dowager could no longer protest because Consort Li had her by the throat, with intermittent conversation drifting over.

“Order all consorts… to gather in Ningde Palace to accompany you in chanting sutras…”

“Otherwise, I’ll increase your dosage and make you pounce on any eunuch you see. Try being an Empress Dowager who disgraces her chastity—won’t the Great King immediately execute you? Even if he doesn’t kill you, you’ll die of shame!”

“…Am I afraid? What do I have to fear? I’ve been groveling to you for so long, and you still want to kill me? Might as well kill you first.”

“The future? You need to be alive to have a future!”

…

Jing Hengbo smiled and quickened her movements.

After being oppressed too long, there was bound to be a backlash. Even small people had the ability to overturn the world.

She found many good things in the bedchamber, satisfied. Misers always loved hoarding treasures, and the old woman had stuffed even under her bed full, which conveniently allowed Jing Hengbo to sweep everything up in one net.

Yi Kingdom’s beauty products had unique qualities. She planned to use this batch as the flagship products for her women’s marketplace.

Outside, Consort Li would handle the Empress Dowager. As the saying goes, in for a penny, in for a pound—Consort Li had already offended the Empress Dowager to death, so all she could do was continue offending her. This was also a clever woman who had noticed something wrong with the Great King and sensed the changing of guards in the palace, feeling there might be a change in power. At this point, backing down wasn’t an option; she could only grit her teeth and gamble.

The palace consorts were summoned and concentrated in Ningde Palace’s small Buddhist hall to chant, under special guard, forbidden to leave without the Empress Dowager’s decree.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager was tightly controlled by Consort Li, unable to leave her own bedchamber.

Jing Hengbo controlled the rear palace. The purpose was to prevent some consorts from noticing something wrong with the Great King and secretly contacting their natal families to report, which could affect the entire overall plan with one small move.

After looting the good things, she also went to the Buddhist hall to set up tables for mahjong. With over a dozen consorts, they filled three tables. Before long, Yelu Qi also arrived at the palace. After learning about Yelu Inquru’s situation, he said nothing and, like Jing Hengbo, chose to respect his sister’s choice.

So he also sat down to play mahjong, helping Jing Hengbo guard this court.

Mahjong tiles clattered loudly day and night. During this time, pigeons had flown into Ningde Palace, discovered and shot down by Jing Hengbo and Yelu Qi in various ways—steamed, braised, roasted—all ending up in their stomachs.

Inside the palace, they focused on roasting pigeons and playing mahjong—wind couldn’t blow in, water couldn’t splash in.

Outside the palace, they focused on moving troops, changing guards, driving people away, and luring enemies to their deaths.

…

“I received the rotation order, instructing me to rotate toward Yi River. Ashan, have you made your decision?”

“Zhuohong, what do you plan to do?”

“This order came suspiciously. They say the Great King left the Phantom Capital heading toward Yi River, and I received orders to rotate toward Yi River. This is like meeting a pillow when sleepy, having someone hand you a knife handle when you want to kill! If heaven gives and you don’t take, you’ll suffer the consequences! I must seize this opportunity! Even if I can’t kill Yi Yiyi, at least I can leave my Yi Mountain garrison and head toward the royal capital. I can send troops to march through the night before reaching Yi River, approaching the royal capital directly from Pointed Horn Mountain, or after reaching Yi River, directly raise the rebel flag, cross Yi River by night, enter the Phantom Capital, and storm the royal palace!”

“How will you open the palace gates that are definitely closed at night? Storm them?”

“Princess Yicheng will open the palace gates for me.”

“You and she…”

“She thinks I’m one of her lovers, coming for a secret nighttime meeting, not knowing I’m her brother, hahaha… wait, whose letter is this?”

“No markings, look at it first.”

“…Ah! The letter says the Great King is really at Yi River!”

“Wait, that’s not right! Isn’t the Great King in the Phantom Capital? He just issued a bunch of edicts.”

“Ah… could he also have been replaced?”

“…Do you believe it or not?”

“…There are no such coincidences in the world. Regardless, we ultimately have to go to Yi River, might as well try!”

…

In a dark chamber, a black cloak hung quietly.

A voice came from within the cloak, sounding especially heavy and deep.

“Something seems wrong with Yi Kingdom’s situation.” The cloaked figure gazed toward Yi Kingdom’s direction. “Tiangang First Star didn’t perform this mission very well.”

“We’ve already confirmed,” someone in the room said, “Tiangang First Star accepted Yi Kingdom’s ruler’s private request and handed over the captured Jing Hengbo to Yi Kingdom’s ruler, but Yi Kingdom’s ruler never received Jing Hengbo. Instead, he left the city at a crucial moment and disappeared.”

“Too much personal interest,” the cloaked figure tapped the air with a finger. “All too much personal interest!”

The subordinates in the room lowered their heads, not daring to respond.

“Tiangang First Star failed this mission. Order him to make amends through service, intensify surveillance of Yi Kingdom’s Great King’s whereabouts, and act according to circumstances. If he can’t handle it well, don’t bother coming back to see me.”

“Yes. Then regarding Jing Hengbo…”

“The best opportunity has been lost.” The cloaked figure said indifferently. “Tiangang First Star and Yi Kingdom’s Great King working together came up with the most wonderful method and made the most coordinated arrangements, yet things still turned out this way. Now Jing Hengbo’s backup has arrived, she won’t fall for the same trick again. Do you think there’s still a chance to strike?”

The subordinates lowered their heads even more.

“Now, the urgent priority is to keep Yi Kingdom stable. Keeping Yi Kingdom means keeping Yi Mountain, otherwise we can only abandon that base.” The cloaked figure said. “If Yi Yiyi can be preserved, preserve him. If not, abandon him and do it ourselves. No matter who Yi Kingdom is entrusted to in the future, it’s not as secure as being in our own hands. Tell them not to make any more mistakes this time, otherwise, go practice in Yi Mountain’s swamp!”

The subordinates shivered and bowed their heads together.

“Yes!”

…

Yi Yiyi reined in his horse in the wilderness outside Yi River City, looking around. The city was not far ahead, and behind him was the famous Yi River that ran through Yi Kingdom. Listening to the rushing sound of the river water, he felt a surge of irritation.

He had chased people all the way to Yi River, then those people disappeared into the mountains behind Yi River. He had already ordered people to outflank them—by all accounts, those people couldn’t escape.

But he still felt inexplicably uneasy because the commander he had sent back to deliver messages had vanished like a stone dropped in the ocean, with no further reports. His carrier pigeons to the palace also disappeared without response.

This was really not a good omen. He decided that tonight he would definitely resolve these bastards at Yi River, then immediately return!

The guards he brought were already searching the mountains. Suddenly signal flags waved on the mountaintop, and all the searchers across the mountain rushed in that direction.

Yi Yiyi waited at the necessary path below the mountain, watching his guards flow like water toward the mountaintop. That bad feeling in his heart grew even stronger.

The mountaintop suddenly erupted in cheers, as if they had finally caught someone. His heart leaped with joy, and he had just spurred his horse forward a few steps when suddenly came another round of alarmed screams, followed by a thunderous sound as a cloud of smoke rolled up—something had happened on the mountain.

He was greatly alarmed but didn’t immediately go up the mountain to investigate. If there was a trap on the mountain, how could he walk into it himself?

He quickly ordered a retreat, when he suddenly saw torch light approaching on the road ahead. At the front, a large flag with the character “Lü” fluttered in the wind. Yi Yiyi was delighted, then alarmed again—Lü Zhuohong was the Yi Mountain general, how could he appear at Yi River?

With a long neigh, a rider galloped over, a fiery red cloak billowing behind him like rising flames.

Seeing Yi Yiyi clearly in the torchlight, the man exclaimed: “Great King! How are you here!”

Yi Yiyi also exclaimed: “Lü Zhuohong! Instead of defending Yi Mountain, how did you get to Yi River?”

“I came to rotate to Yi River on Your Majesty’s orders.” Lü Zhuohong looked puzzled, holding up a yellow silk edict.

Yi Yiyi’s expression changed drastically—there really was an impostor!

Without time to figure out how the impostor could have deceived his entire court, without time to investigate Lü Zhuohong’s unauthorized abandonment of his post due to false orders, even without time to summon the guards who hadn’t yet come down the mountain, he immediately turned his horse around.

“Great King, where are you going!” Lü Zhuohong called from behind.

His heart stirred, and he turned back, shouting: “General Lü, no need to rotate to Yi River! This king has new royal orders—you will immediately accompany this king back to the Phantom Capital. Complete this task well, and this king will promote you two more ranks!”

“This general thanks Your Majesty for your grace!” Lü Zhuohong replied loudly from horseback, but didn’t dismount or summon his subordinates. He and the cavalry beside him remained mounted, quietly staring at Yi Yiyi.

“What’s this?” Yi Yiyi’s expression changed dramatically. “Why aren’t you moving? Do you dare disobey orders?”

“This general dare not!” Lü Zhuohong smiled, suddenly reaching into his robes to produce another yellow silk edict, smiling: “This general has another edict here. Please listen to it first, Great King!”

“You dare read an edict to me—”

“Order all regional garrisons and border troops: anyone who discovers any court official in a foreign location, including the Great King himself, shall be judged as fake and killed without question!”

“That’s fake!” Yi Yiyi roared in extreme anger.

Lü Zhuohong sneered: “You’re the fake one!” With a wave of his hand, the army surged forward.

Yi Yiyi quickly began retreating, his guards forming a tight protective circle around him.

“Lü Zhuohong, you dare rebel and create chaos!”

“How do I not dare?” Lü Zhuohong laughed with clear satisfaction. “Isn’t this exactly what I’ve always wanted to do? The one you chased out of the Phantom Capital all this way—wasn’t that me? Too bad you chased a fake, only to be surrounded by the real one in the end.” He finished with hearty laughter, his voice delighted.

Yi Yiyi’s expression had changed many times tonight, and his voice no longer sounded surprised: “You’re the royal remnant! You’re the one who should have died but didn’t!”

“You’re the one who should have died but didn’t!” Lü Zhuohong’s expression changed, saying coldly: “Patricide and fratricide, usurping the throne—what right does such an unforgivable villain have to sit securely on the throne? Your throne was usurped, so why can’t others usurp yours?”

“Good, good.” Yi Yiyi sneered. “So you’re capable—you actually escaped that bloodbath back then. And could make a comeback, lurking by my side for years as my border general. I just wonder which brother you are—older or younger?”

“Look, you tyrant killed so many relatives you can’t even tell who’s who, right?” Lü Zhuohong mocked. “Even if I revealed my true face, would you remember which one I am? So forget it—when you’re dead, I’ll tell you at your grave!” He grinned viciously and waved his hand: “Attack!”

Yi Yiyi retreated rapidly, shouting: “Even if you kill me and seize the throne, it’s still illegitimate! After I die, I’ll destroy all royal seals and insignia. You’re just Lü Zhuohong—even if you restore your identity, you’re still a dead man. Who will believe you? Who will support your ascension?”

“Speaking of legitimacy, you’ve reminded me.” Lü Zhuohong laughed triumphantly, reaching into his robes to produce something and wave it: “I have this, which actually makes me more legitimate than you!”

“The Yi Seal!” Yi Yiyi was so shocked his pupils dilated, looking at the seal several times before his gaze swept over the crowd behind Lü Zhuohong and suddenly paused.

Then he turned his head, staring at the thin man beside Lü Zhuohong who had remained silent.

“Ashan!” he said. “It’s you, it’s you!”

The thin man remained silent, an ordinary face showing no expression in the firelight. He was obviously wearing a mask too.

Yi Yiyi seemed extremely agitated, reaching out with both hands toward him: “Ashan! I’ve been looking for you all these years, why didn’t you appear! Why did you collude with traitors to oppose me? You gave him the jade seal, didn’t you? Why?”

The firelight danced, but Ashan’s face remained calm, still like that quiet, honest disguise expert Ashan from beside the State Preceptor, saying flatly: “You know best why you were looking for me. Yiyi, the usual fate of undercover agents is death, and I don’t want to die.”

“How could I let you die? How could I bear to let you die?” Yi Yiyi became even more agitated, actually extending both hands and spurring his horse through the crowd toward Ashan, forgetting himself: “Look at me, look at me, I’m Yiyi, we grew up together, when we were little you always played the bride and I played the groom…”

“I’ve forgotten about childhood.” Yi Shan still spoke in that numb tone.

Lü Zhuohong watched him approach with a sinister smile, his eyes slanted.

“But I haven’t forgotten!” Yi Yiyi was completely lost in emotion, spreading his arms and rushing forward: “Ashan, I’ve thought of you obsessively for so many years, searching bitterly—why are you treating me this way—”

“Seeking death!” Lü Zhuohong roared, his golden spear flashing as it shot fiercely toward Yi Yiyi’s heart.

Deep sinister curves were carved at the corners of his lips.

Years of persecution, ten years of living under a false identity, four years of recognizing a thief as father, half a lifetime of painstaking endurance—today, he could finally see the end.

After the bloodshed would come dawn!

The golden spear was like an angry dragon, ready to devour his heart.

Yi Yiyi was extremely close and couldn’t dodge at all.

His lips suddenly also showed a smile.

A sinister smile!

Years of ruthless killing, ten years of troubled dreams, years of bitter searching, half a lifetime of unresolved heartache—today, he could finally see the end!

After one spear came another!

“Thud.” The sound of spear point entering flesh was subtle but shocking. A spray of blood burst forth, splashing Ashan’s face.

“Puh.” Another mouthful of fresh blood sprayed Yi Yiyi’s face. He didn’t even wipe it, smiling happily as he looked at Lü Zhuohong across from him.

Lü Zhuohong was looking down at himself. His eyes turned sluggishly, as if he couldn’t quite understand why there was now a spear point protruding from his chest.

He slowly turned to look back at Ashan behind him, but this turn was never completed.

He would never be able to turn around again.

“Bang.” He maintained that rigid half-turned posture and fell from his horse. Yi Yiyi immediately spurred his horse with a sinister smile, his hooves heavily trampling Lü Zhuohong’s face.

Since he wouldn’t reveal his true face, let him never reveal it!

Darkness descended with crushing sounds. In his final moment of life, Lü Zhuohong had only one thought in his mind:

“Ashan became an undercover agent again…”

The wind seemed to suddenly still, the scent of blood spreading thickly. Lü Zhuohong’s army had spread out slightly before, but now discovering their commander was killed, they all surrounded them.

“Stop!” Yi Yiyi swept up the jade seal from Lü Zhuohong’s hand and produced his own “Qixiang Master” seal from his robes, holding it up to the firelight: “Lü Zhuohong rebelled and created chaos, and has been executed on the spot by the Imperial Uncle. Considering your ignorant blind following, you won’t be pursued. But if there’s the slightest rash movement, you’ll be charged with high treason and your nine generations exterminated!”

The raised horse hooves all paused, then fell raising dust. The soldiers’ gazes were confused, not knowing whom to believe or obey, but their advancing movements had stopped.

Yi Yiyi relaxed slightly, exhaled a long breath, and called gently to Yi Shan: “Ashan!”

Yi Shan seemed to tremble, only then withdrawing his long spear and sighing softly.

A satisfied smile curved Yi Yiyi’s lips as he glanced at a black shadow in the crowd that was silently retreating into the darkness.

This was his contact with a certain force.

He didn’t know who or what this force was either. They had provided him with many good things, only requesting to conduct some secret experiments in Yi Mountain, guaranteeing the experiments wouldn’t have any impact on Yi Kingdom. He had agreed.

Tiangang First Star was an assassin from this force, and the one now retreating was another. It was these people who had given him hints just now, telling him that although Ashan seemed to be colluding with Lü Zhuohong, he was actually under their control all along.

That’s why he dared to boldly approach, giving Lü Zhuohong a chance to attack him, then giving Ashan a chance to attack Lü Zhuohong.

At this moment his mood was excellent—this trip hadn’t been in vain after all. He had resolved years of heartache, eliminated a lurking opponent, and recovered the jade seal.

Therefore he smiled happily, gently beckoning to his undercover hero Ashan: “Ashan, it’s been many years since we met. I’ve missed you very much. Come quickly and let me look at you.”

Ashan sheathed his golden spear and slowly approached, head lowered, expression gentle and compliant. Though he had just killed someone without batting an eye, even his gesture of sheathing the spear was still gentle. This person had a kind of gentle cruelty, cold sweetness in every movement.

Yi Yiyi was filled with joy. He loved Ashan’s appearance, and even more loved how this seemingly gentle and compliant Ashan became like a fierce tiger in bed. It was precisely this personality display so different from usual that had made him unable to forget for years. Special people were always remembered more deeply.

Ashan walked to his side. He pulled him into an embrace, drawing him onto his horse and holding his waist: “After years apart, you’re still helping me, you’ve always been helping me. It’s been hard on you…”

The silent Ashan suddenly said: “Yes, very hard.”

He was startled, suddenly feeling somewhat guilty and melancholy. He half-turned to stroke Ashan’s hair, saying softly: “Just this once. I’ll never make you go undercover again. From now on you’ll stay by my side, and I’ll make it up to you properly…”

“Then let’s start now,” Yi Shan said.

Yi Yiyi smiled, halfway through saying “Mm” when it suddenly became “Ah!”

His body suddenly jerked upward with such force it nearly startled the horse.

Ashan reached out and calmly pressed him down.

His hand was somehow covered in fresh blood, and a transparent dagger slipped from his sleeve.

That blood was naturally Yi Yiyi’s.

“Ashan, you… you…” Yi Yiyi fell from the peak of happiness into hell. The feeling of disbelief exceeded even the pain. He turned to stare at Ashan, his voice hoarse: “You… why… why…”

Clearly everything was over, clearly they could be together, clearly he would truly treat him well in the future—why be so decisive in killing him?

“Why?” Ashan still spoke in that emotionless tone, but tears suddenly appeared in his eyes: “You asking this question proves I didn’t kill you wrongly.”

Yi Yiyi stared at him, his gaze seeming to understand, the light in his eyes gradually dimming.

“After being undercover for so many years, when you finally acted, you left me no way out,” Ashan gently caressed his face, his movements tender but his gaze cold. “My wife and children—you promised to take good care of them, but while I was undercover for you, you allowed those people to kill them all. I was exiled to the ends of the earth while you were busy competing for the throne. When I was being pursued by your brothers’ remaining followers while leaving the country, losing half my martial power, you were busy competing for the throne. I lived under others’ roofs all these years while you never looked for me, still busy competing for the throne or consolidating your royal position, until I spread word that the jade seal was in my hands—only then did you start looking for me. Yi Yiyi, your feelings and your heart always came last. With the throne you seemed like a person, with the throne you were even less like a person. Don’t fucking mention the word ‘undercover’ to me again—do you know I want to vomit when I hear those two words?”

His calm expletive shocked Yi Yiyi into stunned silence. He stared at Yi Shan with a pale face, finally saying softly after a long while: “Maybe I neglected you… but I loved you… I loved you so I killed your wife and children…”

Yi Shan suddenly reached out and pushed him off the horse. Yi Yiyi tumbled down head first. His startled horse shifted its hooves and was about to step on his face when someone flashed out, grabbed the horse’s reins, and said: “Don’t ruin his face—it’ll be very useful.” He then dug the jade seal and private seal out of Yi Yiyi’s hands.

The light in Yi Yiyi’s eyes gradually faded, but his hands refused to let go. The man pried several times without success, finally stepping on his wrist to extract the jade seal and private seal, using such force that Yi Yiyi’s wrist bone snapped with a clear crack.

“Still won’t let go even near death! Truly power-mad!” The man cursed, handing the jade seal and private seal to Yi Shan with a smile: “Now Yi Kingdom’s royal family is truly extinct. It’s up to the Imperial Uncle now.”

Yi Shan silently accepted the items, gripping them tightly in his palm.

Crystalline light shone in his eyes, reflecting years of wandering and hardship.

In those years he had been displaced and destitute, with nothing. At first he was sustained by emotion, always waiting for the day when suffering would end and sweetness would come. Only years later, when he was still alone facing lamplight, did he realize how foolish he had been then.

Love could sacrifice everything except for power, because power would always change love.

At this moment the situation had changed and changed again, shocking everyone. Yi Yiyi’s guards and the Yi Mountain garrison all stood bewildered, once again not knowing where to go. Yi Shan slowly raised his hand, the jade seal and “Qixiang Master” seal glittering in the firelight.

His voice was also deep and solemn: “I am Yi Shan, youngest son of King Yide, brother of King Shuncheng, the last and only male of Yi Kingdom’s royal bloodline. Our royal ancestors decreed that whoever holds the Yi Seal is the heaven-ordained ruler of our Yi Kingdom. No subject of Yi Kingdom may defy this, or be considered treasonous.”

Someone in the crowd said: “The royal family has withered, heaven’s mandate has shifted. We should properly follow Your Majesty’s will. Why don’t we quickly kneel to welcome our sovereign!”

With someone leading, the others also dismounted and paid homage, calling “Our sovereign.” Yi Shan stood in the center of the crowd, his gaze surveying all around.

Beside him, a black-clothed half-masked man suddenly approached and said quietly with a smile: “Shortly, you can lead the Yi Mountain army back to the Phantom Capital and rule over Yi Kingdom. Please don’t forget my master’s assistance.”

“Naturally I dare not forget,” Yi Shan replied flatly.

“Indeed.” The man smiled cunningly. “Even if you forget, the drug catalyst in your body will remind you. When you’re officially enthroned, my master will contact you at any time to help you remove the catalyst. Of course, the prerequisite is that you and my master cooperate pleasantly. Just provide appropriate protection for the affairs at Yi Mountain.”

“I think,” Yi Shan said slowly, “it will be pleasant.”

“Let’s hope so.” The man smiled, spurring his horse to leave.

“For instance,” Yi Shan continued behind him, “killing you would make me very happy.”

Hearing this, the man’s shoulders stiffened. Before he could turn to look at Yi Shan, he suddenly let out a sharp whistle, and companions hidden among the troops and surrounding crowd all leaped skyward.

Too late to attack Yi Shan, they only planned to escape quickly.

But it was already too late. Yi Shan waved his hand, and crossbows exploded from the army and mountain bushes, whooshing through the darkness with flashing lights and bursting blood flowers.

All those people were within range. In an instant many were shot through, some lucky ones staggered out, but many figures suddenly darted from the mountain bushes below, intercepting the escapees. These were members of the “fake prince” team that Yi Yiyi had been pursuing earlier—these dark elite with spider web or bee sting markings intercepted those people in another round of swift slaughter.

Finally only one person staggered out of the encirclement, fleeing into the dark depths. Immediately someone gave chase, a fight to the death.

That last escapee, holding a bloody long sword, still pointed it at Yi Shan from afar, his eyes full of killing intent and hatred.

He wanted to kill this triple agent who kept switching sides and could never be figured out, hating this culprit who had made him fail at the crucial moment and would henceforth be abandoned and hunted by the organization.

Yi Shan gazed back at him from afar, a slightly cold smile crossing his lips.

It was this person who had given him news that Yi Kingdom’s Great King was searching for him. For this reason he had sent the State Preceptor a mask bearing his own mark, hoping to divert Yi Kingdom’s spies’ attention. Later this person had found him and somehow drugged him, forcing him to leave Dige and come to Yi Kingdom to participate in this silent struggle for royal power.

This person should belong to some organization that had connections with both Lü Zhuohong and Yi Yiyi. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been lurking in Lü Zhuohong’s forces, but at the same time he also had connections with Yi Yiyi. At key moments, he had switched sides again and again, using Yi Kingdom’s Great King to kill Lü Zhuohong, then using his hand to kill Yi Kingdom’s Great King and push him to power.

Who would they use next to kill whom?

But it didn’t matter anymore, because when the mantis stalks the cicada, the sparrow is behind, and behind that are hands that overturn clouds and rain. People had switched sides again and again, all thinking their turn was the final one, not knowing that the one who laughed last wasn’t Lü Zhuohong, wasn’t Yi Kingdom’s Great King, wasn’t this mysterious organization, and wasn’t even him.

Light footsteps sounded behind him. He immediately turned and bowed respectfully and reverently.

“Master.”

Everyone looked up, as if seeing light born from darkness, or snow from high mountains descending to the mortal world.