On the official road in Luocheng, Yun Yang waited on horseback. The Jie Fan Guards would arrive from Mengjin Camp in just an hour. With Jiao Tu carrying the King’s Command Flag and Token, no one would dare defy the order.

Behind him, more than ten secret agents stood silently on horseback.

Dressed in black, these secret agents resembled sturdy rocks in a river, with the stream of people on the official road parting around them like water.

The notorious reputations of the Secret Service Department and the Chief Justice Department were not something ordinary citizens dared to provoke.

At that moment, the distant sound of hooves, growing louder like thunder, approached rapidly.

Jiao Tu, clad in black, led the charge on horseback, with five hundred Jie Fan Guards following closely behind, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The Jie Fan Guards were cloaked in straw, wearing conical hats, their long sabers slung across their saddles behind their waists, and black cloths tied over their mouths and noses, appearing as formidable as dragons.

“Excellent, excellent, the entire camp has been mobilized!” Yun Yang chuckled, riding forward to greet them, his laughter reflecting the joy of assured victory.

When the two parties converged, Yun Yang’s face darkened.

He frowned, looking at Lin Chaoqing amidst the group. “Commander Lin, why are you here?”

Lin Chaoqing stated gravely, “As the Commander of the Chief Justice Department, I must inquire why you’ve mobilized the Jie Fan Guards without cause. I need to know your intentions. While the King’s Command Flag and Token are potent, their misuse can lead to grave consequences.”

Yun Yang rode his horse to stand two feet in front of Lin Chaoqing, confronting him directly. “This matter has already been reported to the Grand Minister. With the King’s Command Flag and Token in hand, there’s no need to inform you. Moreover, I must be wary of anyone among you colluding with foreign enemies; should information leak, the responsibility would be too great for you to bear.”

Lin Chaoqing scanned his surroundings, his gaze from beneath his conical hat cutting through the secret agents like a knife. “Where is that masked boy? Is this his decision?”

“What do you mean?” Yun Yang frowned. “Why would my Secret Service Department need a mere ‘Harrier’ to make decisions?”

Lin Chaoqing scoffed softly. “If you cause a monumental disaster this time, no one will be able to help you turn the tide. Let’s go; I’ll see what you intend to do.”

“Haha, Lin Chaoqing, when Jiao Tu and I achieve a great功 this time, you’ll be envious!” Yun Yang spurred his horse forward, leading the five hundred cavalry directly towards Mount Beimang.

Along the way, Lin Chaoqing observed their course, growing increasingly alarmed. When he vaguely discerned the distant mausoleum on the mountain, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Are you going to the Liu family’s ancestral tomb?!”

Yun Yang burst into loud laughter. “Jiao Tu and I discovered that Old Master Liu’s tomb contains only an empty coffin. The Liu family recently petitioned His Majesty to posthumously honor Old Master Liu, which now constitutes the crime of deceiving the emperor! From this moment, no one is permitted to leave, or they will be treated as leaking secrets!”

The five hundred cavalry galloped up Mount Beimang. At the Liu family’s ancestral tomb, over a hundred tomb guards blocked their path, with long wooden chevaux de frise positioned at the entrance.

Someone yelled loudly at Yun Yang, “This is our Liu family’s ancestral tomb, where successive Grand Secretaries rest. There are also twelve imperial memorial arches dedicated to loyalty and filial piety. How dare you trespass here?”

Yun Yang completely disregarded them, simply roaring, “Follow me to trample Mount Beimang! Now is the moment to earn great merit! Those who obstruct us will be killed without mercy!”

He charged out first, leaping over the wooden chevaux de frise on horseback.

Among the Liu family’s defenders, one person leaped into the air, swinging his saber to strike.

However, behind Yun Yang, Lin Chaoqing drew his long saber and casually flung its sheath. The sheath flew like a shuttle, like lightning, striking down the Liu family’s martial artist in mid-air.

One by one, the Jie Fan Guards leaped over on horseback, their cavalry repeatedly charging and scattering the Liu family’s defenders.

This defensive line was pierced as easily as paper by the Jie Fan Guards.

In an instant, Yun Yang reached Old Master Liu’s tomb. Pointing at the stone gate, he commanded, “Jie Fan Guards, breach the tomb, open the coffin, and examine the body!”

However, at that very moment, a familiar voice echoed from a distance: “Lord Yun Yang, do you realize the consequences of this action?”

Yun Yang looked and saw Liu Mingxian, still clad in mourning attire, slowly stepping out from the crowd.

Behind him, more than ten people stood glaring, poised to strike and kill at a single command.

Jiao Tu whispered, “They are the Liu family’s private agents.”

“No matter how powerful these private agents are, one person cannot break a military formation, unless those renowned few arrive!” Yun Yang dismissed it. “Liu Mingxian, your Old Master is clearly not dead; you can take off your mourning clothes! Men, breach the tomb!”

Liu Mingxian roared furiously, “I’d like to see who dares?!”

“That’s not for you to decide!”

The Jie Fan Guards, being elite imperial guards, understood only obedience. Whether you were the Luocheng Magistrate or the Capital Magistrate, it held no significance to them.

The next moment, the Jie Fan Guards dismounted, advancing with drawn sabers. They completely scattered the Liu family members and reached the front of Old Master Liu’s tomb!

Jiao Tu snatched a long saber from a nearby Secret Service agent and commanded coldly, “Stand aside!”

The Jie Fan Guard formation seamlessly parted, creating a path for her. She dragged her saber forward to the tomb and brought it down in a powerful strike!

With a thunderous crash.

With a single stroke, the stone tomb split in two and crumbled, revealing the coffin within.

Yun Yang strode forward, standing before the coffin with a sneer. “Liu Mingxian, let’s see how defiant you can be now!”

With that, he forcefully pried open the coffin!

The world fell silent. Everyone engaged in combat froze, staring blankly… The coffin had truly been opened!

It was widely believed that once interred, a body should never again be exposed to the sky or earth, lest the soul wander eternally, never to find peace.

Yet Old Master Liu, who had served as a Grand Secretary for over a decade, now had his coffin lid pried open after his death!

Yun Yang said, “Liu Mingxian, what do you have to say for yourself now?”

Beside him, Jiao Tu peered into the coffin and exclaimed in astonishment, “What’s happening?!”

Yun Yang turned his head to look, instantly stunned. He clearly saw Old Master Liu lying peacefully within the coffin.

Liu Mingxian immediately burst into tears, collapsing to the ground. “Grandfather, your unworthy grandson, who allowed the eunuchs to commit this great transgression! Your unworthy grandson, your grandson should die!”

Yun Yang stared blankly at Jiao Tu. “You said…”

Jiao Tu was also stunned. “When we investigated that day, there was indeed no one inside!”

Yun Yang took a step back.

How could this be?

The coffin should have been empty; Old Master Liu should have been alive. How did he appear inside the coffin?!

How could this be?!

Liu Mingxian, with eyes red from crying, glared at Lin Chaoqing and snarled, “Lin Chaoqing, is this how your Chief Justice Department operates? Do you just allow the Secret Service Department to persecute meritorious officials?!”

Lin Chaoqing’s face was ashen as he looked at Yun Yang and Jiao Tu. “Is this what you intended to do? Guards, seize these two and escort them to the capital to await judgment!”

Yun Yang suddenly raised a hand. “Wait!”

As he spoke, he moved to touch Old Master Liu’s body. But before he could, a person behind Liu Mingxian lunged forward, kicking him away. “Still trying to disturb Old Master’s peace? You’re courting death!”

This person’s strength was surprisingly far greater than previously demonstrated!

Seeing Yun Yang at a disadvantage, Jiao Tu drew her saber and attacked.

Another person from behind Liu Mingxian stepped forward to engage. The two clashed in front of the coffin, separating instantly, and this time, Jiao Tu was sent flying backward, landing heavily on the ground.

When Jiao Tu scrambled to her feet again, she furiously raised her hand, poised to cut her brow and unleash a deadly rampage.

However, Yun Yang cried out, “Jiao Tu, no! Do not reveal your cultivation method!”

Jiao Tu looked coldly at Yun Yang. “We might not be defeated. We can fight our way out and live anonymously.”

“There are five hundred Jie Fan Guards here; we cannot defeat them,” Yun Yang shook his head, dejectedly. “Even if we live anonymously, where would we find refuge? Let’s return to the capital and see the Grand Minister.”

Lin Chaoqing mounted his horse. “Escort these two away!”

Liu Mingxian, with red eyes, gnashed his teeth. “Are they just leaving like this? I demand these two be buried with my grandfather!”

Lin Chaoqing scoffed coldly. “When is it your place to dictate matters for my Directorate of Ceremonial? The Grand Minister will grant you justice, but until he speaks, no one can touch them.”

With that, Lin Chaoqing escorted Yun Yang and Jiao Tu away.

On the mountain road of Mount Beimang, Yun Yang gazed blankly at Luocheng. When they arrived, they were the glorious Zodiac agents of the Secret Service Department, wielding the King’s Command Flag and Token. Now, they departed as prisoners.

The disaster they had caused was immense; perhaps even the Grand Minister would be unable to cover it up.

Yun Yang glanced at the Jie Fan Guards beside him and said impatiently, “You don’t need to keep holding me; I won’t run. Step aside and let us talk.”

The Jie Fan Guards glanced at him, then, deterred by his notorious reputation, silently retreated a few paces, surrounding them as they continued down the mountain.

Seeing this, Jiao Tu leaned close to Yun Yang and whispered, “What exactly happened? Did the Liu family receive advance notice about our plan to open the coffin and examine the body? But Old Master Liu couldn’t just die on cue, could he? Did I misinterpret something that day… Wait, could it be Chen Ji who passed the message to the Liu family?”

Yun Yang suddenly frowned, subconsciously scanning his surroundings, searching for Chen Ji.

He always felt that the young apprentice was watching him from the shadows.

Yun Yang knew he wouldn’t die; the Grand Minister still needed his lethal skills. But if Chen Ji was truly behind this, then upon his return to the Secret Service Department, he might find himself completely overshadowed.

He hesitated slightly. “Chen Ji didn’t know we were going to open the coffin and examine the body today. If he could even predict that, he would be far too formidable.”

“He is indeed very formidable,” Jiao Tu admitted candidly.

Yun Yang was unwilling to admit that he had not only failed to “kill with a borrowed knife,” but had also been tricked by his opponent and thrown into prison. “He should be preoccupied with his own troubles right now. After losing her son and then the nephew she watched grow up, Concubine Jing has become somewhat irrational and will surely seek revenge on him.”

Jiao Tu, under escort, spoke with a more relaxed tone, lowering her voice. “Let’s set aside who leaked the information for now. We need to find someone to locate Chen Ji and have him figure out how to save us! We’ll pay him!”

Yun Yang was silent for a moment. “But we’re under Lin Chaoqing’s watch right now. Where could we find someone?!”

“That’s true…”

Yun Yang suddenly said, “I have an informant within the Liu family. Perhaps I’ll soon discover who delivered the message.”

Once the two were escorted down the mountain by the Jie Fan Guards, Liu Mingxian ceased his crying. He calmly rose from beside the coffin, wiped away his tears, and in a composed voice, asked, “Find out who delivered the message to us.”

“It is said that a letter suddenly appeared inside the room, and the guards didn’t notice who placed it there.”

Liu Mingxian frowned. “Someone managed to silently enter the inner residence? What good are the masters I’ve trained? When will you recruit some truly skilled individuals for me?”

Silence fell over the surroundings; no one dared to respond.

Liu Mingxian took a deep breath. “There’s a Grand Agent hiding in the shadows, unknown to us, and capable of secretly infiltrating my inner residence. Even if it’s difficult to investigate, we must investigate!”

Chen Ji walked leisurely down the long street, staying within the shadows cast by the eaves. The ceaseless flow of people moved past him, yet he seemed unconnected to the world around him.

Autumn leaves fell, covering the street in a desolate scene.

This was not the Luocheng Chen Ji had imagined; it was crueler than he thought. Here, if you didn’t kill, you would be killed.

When he first arrived, he had been meticulously cautious with every action, afraid of making a mistake or saying the wrong thing.

But now, he had learned how to navigate this world.

Although his life was not glamorous, it didn’t matter.

Wuyun poked its furry head out from his embrace. “Chen Ji, there’s roasted chicken over there; buy me one.”

Chen Ji smiled. “Alright, you’ve made a great contribution again today. You can eat whatever you want, and sleeping on my head is perfectly reasonable.”

Just then, playful sounds came from behind them. Chen Ji turned to see dozens of people on tall horses, riding cheerfully out of the sunlight.

Someone shouted, “The Young Master is back! The Young Master and the two princesses have returned from Donglin Academy!”

A young man, clad in a white mink fur coat, rode on horseback. Liang Gou’er, who had once split Lin Chaoqing’s conical hat in the night, now fawningly led his reins, while Liang Mao’er followed behind, cradling the long saber with a miserable expression.

Five or six women rode white horses behind them, whispering and occasionally laughing aloud.

As this group drew closer, Chen Ji suddenly noticed two people riding up from behind the crowd: his two legitimate elder brothers from the Chen family.

The two rode their horses abreast of the Young Master. One of them chuckled and teased, “Young Master, my brother and I returned to Luocheng a few days ago. You left the academy even earlier than us, so why are you only returning today? Where did you go to play?”

The Young Master laughed loudly. “Returning to Luocheng means being under the Old Master’s watchful eye, so of course it’s better to come back later!”

Wuyun quietly asked from his embrace, “Chen Ji, who are they?”

“Not important.”

As they spoke, the group passed by the eaves where he stood; no one gave him a second glance.

The brilliant midday sun illuminated their white horses and brocade robes, a scene of youthful vigor and perfect light.

Meanwhile, Chen Ji stood in the shadows beneath the eaves, where only the boy and the cat remained.

Volume One, Prologue (End)