Crown Prince of the Empire, I quit!

There was a cold light in his eyes, like a sword drawn from its sheath, locking onto its prey.

On a morning in Shuofang City, the air was thick with the distinctive dryness and dust of the Gobi Desert. Qin Ming, dressed in a dark suit and a brocade cloak worn by ordinary merchants, stood at the second-floor window of the posthouse, gazing at the increasingly bustling border market outside. His days of incognito investigations had given him a more vivid sense of the undercurrents in the Western Regions.

"Your Majesty," Zhao Huaijin appeared silently behind him and whispered, "After the Cheshi Deputy Envoy met with the Kucha merchants last night, five camel caravans loaded with spices left the market this morning and headed west. Judging from the direction, it seems to be heading to Qiemo State."

"Qiemo..." Qin Ming tapped his fingertips lightly on the window frame. Qiemo was a small country in the Western Regions, strategically located, yet traditionally submissive. If this smuggling route used this as a hub, the forces behind it were likely significant.

"General Meng Zhi, following your instructions, has dispatched additional tax collectors to conduct a thorough inspection of the merchant caravans belonging to Prince Zuo Guli. As expected, they have uncovered several shipments of smuggled pig iron and sulfur, and have detained both the cargo and the people," Zhao Huaijin continued. "The Black Khan reacted strongly, sending envoys to protest, but General Meng retorted, 'We're following the law.'"

Qin Ming's lips curled up slightly, a hint of coldness flashing across his eyes. Protest? The more he jumped up and down, the more it showed that he had hit the weak spot.

"Prepare the horses," he turned, "let's go to the market today to see what's going on."

By the end of the morning hour, the market was already bustling with activity. Merchants of all races gathered, camels and horses neighed, and the sounds of bargaining in various languages ​​mingled. Qin Ming, accompanied by Ying Qi and Zhao Huaijin, strolled seemingly casually, their gaze scanning every corner with keen eyes.

Qin Ming paused before a stall selling Arab carpets, pretending to browse, but his ears caught a conversation at the spice stall next door. A Kucha merchant was whispering with a man dressed in Qiemo clothing, mentioning "old prices" and "old routes" and agreeing on the time and place for the next delivery.

At this moment, a sudden burst of rapid horse hooves and a clamorous noise came from the east gate of the market! A group of about twenty knights galloped in, all wearing black robes and masks, with scimitars hanging from their saddles. They were so imposing that they rushed straight towards the customs office of the Maritime Customs!

"Are they horse bandits?!" The surrounding vendors were suddenly panicked and in chaos.

Qin Ming's eyes glared. In broad daylight, in a strategic border area, how could these bandits dare to attack government offices?

The team of black-robed knights rushed to the customs office, but did not attack the guards. Instead, one of them shouted in stiff official language: "The Daqian tax officials are greedy and oppress merchants! Today we are here to seek justice!" Before he finished speaking, they took out several pottery jars from their horseback and smashed them hard at the customs gate and the warehouse next to it!

The pottery jar shattered, and the pungent smell of kerosene instantly filled the air! Then, a rocket roared and hit the kerosene-spattered cargo!

Boom! Flames shot up into the sky!

"Fight the fire!"

"Run!"

The market was in complete chaos! The crowd screamed and fled, the camels and horses were frightened and rushed and trampled on each other, and the situation was instantly out of control.

"Protect His Majesty!" Ying Qi shouted softly, and he and Zhao Huaijin protected Qin Ming on the left and right, and quickly retreated to a relatively sturdy adobe house on the side.

Qin Ming's face was as gloomy as water, his gaze fixed on the black-robed knights who, after setting the fire, had not hurried to flee, but instead, in the chaos, hacked and killed several Maritime Customs officials who tried to put out the fire. Their movements were ruthless and precise, clearly well-trained assassins, no ordinary bandits!

"Ying Qi," Qin Ming said in a cold voice, "Catch him alive."

"Here!" Ying Qi's figure flashed, and he blended into the chaotic crowd like a ghost, quietly approaching a lone black-robed knight.

At this moment, another change occurred!

A cold arrow shot out from nowhere, aiming directly at Qin Ming! Zhao Huaijin was quick-witted and drew his sword to block it. With a clang, the arrow was knocked away, but his palm was also numb from the shock.

"There's an ambush!" Zhao Huaijin shouted sternly, looking around vigilantly with his sword in hand.

In the chaos, more unidentified men in black emerged from every corner, holding sharp blades, and surrounded Qin Ming's position with a clear goal! They coordinated well and attacked fiercely, obviously intending to take advantage of the chaos to assassinate him!

"Your Majesty, we cannot stay here for long! Please follow me to break out!" Zhao Huaijin said anxiously.

Qin Ming stood still, his eyes gleaming with coldness. Arson to attract attention, hidden arrows to assassinate, and a siege by assassins... This was clearly a carefully planned assassination! The target was him, the "imperial envoy"! Not only did the enemy know his whereabouts, but they were so audacious as to strike in this crucial border area!

"Want to kill me?" Qin Ming sneered, "Then let's see if you have the ability to do so!"

Instead of retreating, he drew a soft sword from his waist—a personal weapon he usually kept hidden in his robe. The sword's gleam was like autumn water, illuminating his icy face.

"Zhao Huaijin, go help Yingqi and capture the arson mastermind! I want to see who is behind this!"

"Your Majesty! Your safety..."

"Follow the order!" Qin Ming said in a firm tone.

Zhao Huaijin gritted his teeth, turned around and rushed towards Ying Qi.

Qin Ming, sword in hand, met the attacking assassins. His swordsmanship wasn't the wild, open, and swift of battlefield combat, but rather cunning and fierce, lightning-fast, each strike aimed squarely at the vital points! Despite being outnumbered, he remained undeterred. Instead, with his exquisite agility and swordsmanship, he managed to put the assassins in a state of panic.

The chaos continued around them, flames shot up into the sky, cries of pain and the clashing of weapons filled the air. However, in the center of this chaos, Qin Ming's fight with the assassins was eerily silent and efficient.

A assassin seized the opportunity and slashed at the back of Qin Ming's neck with his blade! Qin Ming seemed to have eyes on his back. He dodged sideways and stabbed out with his soft sword like a venomous snake, accurately piercing the opponent's throat!

Blood splatters!

Seeing this, the other assassins intensified their attack. But Qin Ming's footwork was nimble, his sword moving with him. He spun and twisted in the narrow space, his sword light weaving a web of death. In a blink of an eye, two more assassins fell to the ground.

At this moment, Meng Zhi's thunderous roar and the heavy clatter of the Black Armor Army's horses could be heard from afar! Reinforcements have arrived!

Seeing that the situation was not good, the besieging soldiers whistled and quickly dispersed in different directions, trying to blend into the chaotic crowd and escape.

"Want to run?" Qin Ming's eyes sharpened, and his soft sword flew out of his hand, entwining the ankle of a last-runner like a silver thread, tripping him. Ying Qi rushed over like a shadow, stepping on his vest, the sharp blade pressed against the back of his neck.

The battle soon subsided. Meng Zhi led the Black Armor Army to control the situation, put out the fire, appease the merchants and travelers, and hunt down the remaining assassins.

Qin Ming stood before the shattered customs office, his dark suit stained with blood, yet his aura remained steady. He stared at the pale-faced captives Ying Qi had brought before him, then raised his gaze, deep and profound, into the vast and mysterious distances of the Western Regions.