As soon as I put it on, I met a sickly man

Ding Chen carefully pried open Minister Zhao's clenched fist, but found it empty.

He couldn't help but frown, and a deep sense of uneasiness surged in his heart.

The arrogant laughter and strange look in Minister Zhao's eyes before his death hinted at some unknown secret.

"Search the Zhao Mansion immediately!" Ding Chen gave an order, and Xuanyuan Che led the Royal Guards to quickly blockade the Zhao Mansion and conduct a carpet search.

Xiaoxuan also joins in, hoping to find some clues with her keen observation and rich knowledge of pharmacology.

However, the results of the search were disappointing.

The Zhao Mansion looked ordinary, with no secret rooms or secret passages, nor were there any suspicious letters or items.

Everything seemed so normal, as if Minister Zhao was just an ordinary corrupt official.

"How could this happen?" Xiaoxuan frowned, puzzled. "Could it be that Minister Zhao was just bluffing?"

Ding Chen pondered for a moment and shook his head: "No, I don't think it's that simple. The look in Minister Zhao's eyes before his death clearly hinted at something."

Just when everyone was at a loss, some strange phenomena began to appear in the capital.

First, several low-level officials disappeared inexplicably, and then several wealthy businessmen died suddenly at home in strange circumstances.

For a time, people in the capital were in panic and rumors were spreading.

"The capital has been in turmoil lately," General Lin said gravely. "I'm afraid these events are all related to the so-called 'greater power' behind Minister Zhao."

Censor Su also nodded in agreement: "That's right, we must find out the truth as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous."

Ding Chen felt tremendous pressure, as if an invisible hand was controlling everything and they had no idea where to start.

He clenched his fists, his heart filled with anger and helplessness.

At this moment, a man in black appeared silently in front of Ding Chen, knelt on one knee, and a deep voice rang out in the night: "Sir, Yingfeng has important information to report."

Ying Feng lowered his voice and spoke rapidly, "Sir, I've discovered that the recent strange events in the capital are all connected to a mysterious organization called 'Shadow.' They act cunningly, appearing and disappearing without a trace. Even I've struggled to find a clue." He paused, then continued, "I've discovered a base of 'Shadow' in an abandoned temple on the outskirts of the city."

Ding Chen's eyes flashed, and he gave a decisive order: "Gather the men immediately, and we will go investigate tonight!"

The night is dark and the cold wind is howling.

The abandoned temple is shrouded in darkness, making it even more eerie and terrifying.

Ding Chen, Xuanyuan Che, General Lin, Xiaoxuan and Yingfeng sneaked into the temple under the cover of night.

As soon as I stepped into the temple gate, a fierce murderous aura hit me in the face.

Dozens of men in black rushed out from all directions and surrounded them.

These men in black were all very agile, and the gleaming swords in their hands showed that they had no good intentions.

"There is indeed an ambush!" General Lin roared, drew his sword, and rushed into the enemy camp first.

He was like a fierce tiger, charging left and right among the men in black, his sword flashing and every move deadly.

Ding Chen and others also drew their weapons and engaged in fierce battles with the men in black.

Xuanyuan Che's swordsmanship is sharp and precise, and every move hits the vital points directly; Xiaoxuan uses her superb medical skills to seal the enemy's acupuncture points with silver needles, making it unable to move; Yingfeng's body movements are ghostly, shuttling between the men in black, like a ghost, making it impossible to guard against them.

At the beginning of the battle, Ding Chen and others were a little passive, but they soon stabilized their position.

General Lin led the troops by example and acted extremely bravely, which greatly boosted morale.

The two sides engaged in a fierce fight, with swords flashing and shouts of killing shaking the sky.

Suddenly, Xuanyuan Che's eyes fixed, and he whispered, "...Wait."

Xuanyuan Che's eyes were sharp, and he keenly captured the subtle gaps in the guards' cooperation.

"There's a flaw in their coordination! Attack their connection points!" He gave the order, his voice clear amid the sound of swords clashing.

Ding Chen and others immediately understood and changed their tactics. They no longer fought head-on, but instead shuttled between the guards like snakes, focusing on the weak points in their formation changes.

Xiaoxuan's silver needles flew out like raindrops, accurately sealing the acupuncture points of the guards, making them unable to move.

Yingfeng's figure was like a ghost, erratic and every time he appeared, there was a scream and a guard fell to the ground.

General Lin was like a heavy chariot, unstoppable, and every swing of the sword in his hand brought about a bloody storm.

Cracks began to appear in the guards' originally tight formation, and gradually became chaotic.

They waved their weapons in panic, but were unable to withstand the fierce attack from Ding Chen and others.

Just as they were about to break through the defense line and enter the stronghold, a figure suddenly flashed out from the darkness.

He was dressed in black, his face hidden in the shadows, his appearance could not be seen clearly, but the powerful aura he emanated was chilling.

"One more step forward, and the entire capital will be reduced to ashes!" His voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of unquestionable majesty.

Ding Chen and others immediately became alert, stopped and confronted the man in black.

"Who are you? Why are you stopping us?" Ding Chen asked sternly.

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that you'd better stop right now." The man in black said in a cold tone, with no intention of backing down.

"Otherwise, you will face unbearable consequences."

"We are tracking down the culprit who endangered the capital. How can we give up halfway!" General Lin roared and was about to launch another attack.

"Stupid!" The man in black sneered and suddenly took out a strangely shaped object from his arms.

The object was completely black, with strange runes carved on its surface, emitting a heart-pounding glow.

He slowly raised the object, a sinister glint in his eyes.

"Since you insist on doing this, don't blame me for being rude!" The man in black raised his lips to an evil arc, and the object in his hand shone brightly...