The night was as dark as ink. Su Xin, Leng Jian and the others were weaving through the winding alleys. Moonlight occasionally shone through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating their path.

They followed the cryptic signals left by the guards and came to a remote place. They confirmed that it was Xu Wen's whereabouts and were about to move forward.

Xu Wen and others suddenly heard footsteps approaching outside, and immediately grasped their swords and prepared for battle.

Su Xin took the lead and stepped forward. "Xu Wen, I'm Su Xin."

Xu Wen and the others heaved a sigh of relief when they heard that it was their sworn brothers. "You're here just as we discovered the enemy's tracks."

"Go in and talk."

Everyone entered the room. Xu Wen looked serious and told the shadow guard in detail about the various situations in Yunmen Mountain, including traps and hidden weapons.

After hearing this, the shadow guard's face was full of thought. There must be a big secret in Yunmen Mountain, otherwise the mountain would not be full of traps and secret sentries, or the troops from Xiping Mountain might have been transferred here.

Leng Jian said with a firm look, "The situation in Yunmen Mountain is complicated. We will enter Yunmen Mountain late at night and infiltrate the enemy. After confirming the information, we will return to report to His Royal Highness Prince Mu and ask him to send troops for support."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

In the dead of night, Xu Wen and his shadow guards, dressed in black night clothes, sneaked into the depths of Yunmen Mountain again.

The silence in the mountains and forests is eerie, with only the occasional chirping of insects breaking the tranquility.

Everyone soon discovered the sentry hidden in the shadows. Leng Jian signaled the shadow guard beside him to go and deal with the sentry. The shadow guard received the order and approached the sentry quietly.

The two men quickly covered the sentry's mouth, and with a flash of cold light, they stabbed the sentry's vitals with precision. The sentry didn't even have time to scream for help before he collapsed.

They were skilled and efficient in their work, without any delay. After dealing with the secret sentry, they quickly changed their clothes and stood in place waiting for the change of shift.

Xu Wen led the shadow guards to eliminate traps and hidden weapons and continued to move forward.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, and there was a faint sense of danger in the air.

They encountered several secret sentries on the way, and the shadow guards quickly and efficiently dealt with them one by one before the sentries noticed.

Afterwards, the shadow guards quickly changed into enemy clothes and dispersed everywhere, perfectly disguised as secret sentries.

Xu Wen and the shadow guard lurked in the shadows, quietly waiting for the other sentries to arrive to relieve them. Time passed slowly in the tense atmosphere, and finally, a dark shadow approached them.

When they got closer, the shadow guard attacked again, his movements clean and neat, without making a sound.

After dealing with the sentries who were changing shifts, Leng Jian said to the other shadow guards and Xu Wen, "Meet here tomorrow night. We'll pass on the information we've gathered. We'll discuss countermeasures then."

Xu Wen said with concern: "Be careful."

"I understand, you guys go back!"

"it is good."

The shadow guards changed into enemy clothes and came to the entrance of the deepest cave under the cover of night. The guards saw that they were "one of their own" and walked into the cave without saying anything.

The cave is extremely spacious, and the darkness is filled with a mysterious atmosphere. The faint light of the torches sways on the cave walls, outlining strange outlines.

Leng Jian's eyes were stern as he scanned the crowd. He whispered, "We will split up and make sure to find out the details of the cave. Meet at the agreed place tomorrow night at this time."

The shadow guards quickly split into several teams and sneaked towards different forks in the road.

At midnight the next day, Xu Wen and his shadow guards came to the depths of Yunmen Mountain again, eliminated the secret sentries, and replaced them with their own people.

At this time, they arrived at the place where they had agreed to meet last night. Leng Jian and two shadow guards were hiding in the dark wearing enemy clothes and saw Xu Wen and the others coming.

"You are here."

"How's the investigation going?"

"There are over ten thousand people in the cave, and they are well-armed."

Xu Wen frowned, "Tens of thousands of people? That's not a small number. It seems Shangguan Jue is plotting something big. We must catch them all in one fell swoop this time."

Everyone was shocked and decided that this matter must be reported to His Royal Highness Prince Mu as soon as possible.

Xu Wen pondered for a moment and said, "There is no time to lose. Su Xin, go back and report to the master and ask him to send troops for support."

"it is good."

Leng Jian looked at Xu Wen again and said, "Xu Wen, while His Majesty Prince Mu's troops haven't arrived yet, you should bring your shadow guards here every night and investigate the traps and hidden weapons in the mountains. The forty-five of us shadow guards will all infiltrate the enemy. Once the troops arrive, you and your guards will destroy the traps and hidden weapons. Together, we will wipe out the forces within the mountains in one fell swoop."

"I will send someone to wait here late every night. If you have any other news, please send someone to inform me."

"it is good."

Xu Wen and the remaining shadow guards left Yunmen Mountain, while Leng Jian and his men returned to the enemy's interior to gather information.

After leaving Yunmen Mountain, Su Xin rushed to Jia County without stopping and reported the situation of Yunmen Mountain to Shangguan Yunting. Shangguan Yunting was shocked when he learned the situation. Knowing the importance of the matter, he quickly mobilized 10,000 soldiers led by Su Xin to Yunmen Mountain.

He was worried that the terrain in the mountains was complicated and that Su Xin and the others would not be able to handle it. "Song Hua, take this king's token and go to the Qingzhou military camp to mobilize another 10,000 troops to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Song Hua said worriedly, "Master, if we all leave, you're still injured. What will you do if the enemy comes?"

"Aren't Zhang Qiao, Liu Qi, and Wang Jian still here? Besides, there are still several thousand soldiers in Jia County. I will be fine, but the matter of Yunmen Mountain is of great importance. We must wipe out the enemy to avoid leaving any hidden dangers.

"I obey my orders."

When Xue Fan learned about the situation, he was worried about the safety of Qing Jue and tens of thousands of people. These people were the result of his years of hard work, and he did not yet have enough ability to confront the court army head-on.

If anything happens to them, all my years of hard work will be wasted.

While pacing back and forth in the room, he thought of creating trouble to lure Shangguan Yunting back his troops.

He sent people to spread rumors in Jia County that a mysterious force was stockpiling food and fodder at the junction of Pingzhou and Yingzhou, which seemed to be a rebellion.

He also ordered He Feng to immediately notify Qing Jue and others to find ways to quietly transfer the troops.

Upon hearing the news, Liu Qi quickly rushed over to report: "Master, I have heard that someone at the border of Pingzhou and Yingzhou is hoarding food and fodder in an attempt to rebel."

Shangguan Yunting frowned, with doubts in his mind, but he knew that the matter of Yunmen Mountain could not be delayed.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Wang Jian, take your men to investigate and confirm the truth of this matter. Return and report immediately."

"I obey my orders."

On the other side, Su Xin led 10,000 soldiers and rushed to Yunmen Mountain at full speed.

Song Hua also arrived at the Qingzhou military camp smoothly, and with the token, he dispatched 10,000 soldiers to rush to Yunmen Mountain.

Xue Fan anxiously waited for Shangguan Yunting's reaction in the mansion, but things did not go as he wished.

Shangguan Yunting did not redeploy troops to Pingzhou and Yingzhou on a large scale. He gnashed his teeth in anger, his eyes fierce, "Since you are relentless in pursuing me and refusing to let me go, then I will not let you go either."

"He Feng, send fifty assassins to kill Shangguan Yunting. This time, we will not give him a chance to live."

He Feng said worriedly: "Master, if we assassinate Prince Mu now and expose our whereabouts, you will be in danger too."

"He wants to destroy all my years of hard work. I absolutely cannot let him leave Pingzhou alive. If the truth is revealed, we will leave Pingzhou completely with the human skin masks, return to the capital, recognize the Fourth Prince in advance, and then make long-term plans."

"Master, have you made up your mind?"

"I made this decision after careful consideration."

"Since this is your decision, I will follow you till death."

Xue Fan patted He Feng's shoulder gently and said solemnly, "He Feng, thank you for following me on the run for so many years without any complaints. We are not subordinates, but brothers."

He Feng quickly knelt down and clasped his hands in greeting. "Young Master, if you hadn't saved me back then, the grass on my grave would have been half a man tall. I will always remember your lifesaving grace."

"Good brother, get up. If there is an afterlife, we will still be brothers."

"It is a blessing for me to be brothers with the eldest master."

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