Huanzhu Time Travel: Yan Luo's Unbreakable Love in the Yong Dynasty

After a period of intensive manhunt, based on clues found in documents at the abandoned temple, most of the remaining members of the Shadow Cult were captured. The streets and alleys of the capital gradually returned to their former liveliness and tranquility, and smiles returned to the faces of the people.

To reward Xiao Jian, Yongqi, Erkang, and others for their achievements, Emperor Hongli held a grand banquet in the palace. The banquet was filled with singing and dancing, and laughter and joy from the guests.

"Thanks to you all, the capital has been able to return to peace. I toast you all!" Hongli raised his wine cup, his face beaming.

"Your Majesty flatters us. This is what we should do." Xiao Jian, Yong Qi, Er Kang, and the others quickly stood up and responded respectfully.

Little Swallow happily chimed in, "Yes, this was truly gratifying. I hope there won't be any more of these messy things happening in the future."

However, beneath the surface calm, there always seemed to be some unknown undercurrents surging. In a secluded tavern in the capital, several mysterious figures were sitting in a corner, talking in hushed tones.

"The Shadow Cult has suffered heavy losses this time. What should we do?" a man with a gloomy face said.

"Hmph, we can't just let this go. Although the vice-leader is dead, we have other plans." A ruthless glint flashed in the other man's eyes.

“But the imperial court is heavily guarded now, making it difficult for us to find an opportunity to strike,” another person said worriedly.

“Opportunities will always come. We need to lie low and wait for the right moment. Moreover, we can start from within, find some people who are dissatisfied with the court, and win them over to work for us,” said the mysterious leader.

“But finding the right person is not easy. The court has treated the people quite well in recent years, and most people are grateful to the court,” a thin, mysterious man said with a frown.

The mysterious leader sneered, "What's so difficult about that? Those down-on-their-luck scholars dissatisfied with the status quo, those businessmen who have failed, and those who have committed crimes and been punished by the court are all people we can win over. We can give them some benefits, make promises, and get them to work for us."

"But what if they betray us?" someone asked.

"Hmph, then let them know the price of betrayal. We have leverage over them, they won't dare to make a move." A sinister glint flashed in the eyes of the mysterious leader.

Meanwhile, inside the palace, Xiao Jian felt that things weren't so simple. The destruction of the Shadow Cult seemed too smooth, making him vaguely uneasy.

“Yongqi, Erkang, I have a feeling that the Shadow Cult won’t be wiped out so easily. Maybe there’s some bigger conspiracy waiting for us,” Xiao Jian said, frowning.

“I feel the same way. Although we’ve caught a lot of people, I still feel that there are some key figures who haven’t surfaced yet.” Yongqi nodded in agreement.

"Then what should we do? Continue the investigation in secret?" Er Kang asked.

“Yes, we cannot let our guard down. We must continue to deploy people throughout the capital to keep watch, just as before. If any suspicious activity is discovered, we must immediately report it to the Emperor,” Xiao Jian said.

“Not only that, we can also take the initiative.” A thoughtful look flashed in Yongqi’s eyes. “Send people to investigate places that may be connected with the Shadow Cult. Maybe we can find some new clues.”

“That’s a good idea. We can split into several groups and go to different places,” Er Kang agreed.

As they were talking, Qing'er and Xiao Xiao Yanzi walked over.

"What are you talking about? You seem so serious," Qing'er asked curiously.

Yongqi told Qing'er and Xiaoxiaoyanzi about their worries.

“I see. Well, we can’t just sit idly by. Let’s keep an eye out too. Maybe we can find some clues,” Little Swallow said.

“Great! More people mean more strength. Together, we can definitely protect the capital,” Qing’er said.

"I think we can start with some of the outskirts of the capital. Those places have a complex mix of people, and we might be able to find some clues there," Qing'er suggested.

“Hmm, that makes sense. Little Swallow, you’re quite familiar with the streets and alleys of the capital. Why don’t you take a few people and go around those places to see if there’s anything unusual?” Xiao Jian said.

"Okay, I've got it covered!" Little Swallow patted her chest and promised.

Just as everyone was actively preparing for a potential crisis, a mysterious figure was secretly plotting something in a remote town thousands of miles away. This town was called Qingyan Town, located in a remote area with inconvenient transportation, and had long been neglected by the imperial court.

The mysterious man lived in a dilapidated house outside town, a place rarely visited by others. He spent his days meeting with strange people who came and went in a hurry, their expressions mysterious.

"Is everything ready?" The mysterious man sat in the main seat of the hall, his eyes coldly fixed on a man in black below.

"Reporting to Master, everything is ready. We just need some time to plan the next steps," the man in black replied respectfully.

"Time is running out, we need to speed things up. The situation in the capital is getting increasingly tense, we must act quickly and catch them off guard." The mysterious man's tone was low but carried an undeniable air of authority.

“Yes, Master. We will arrange it as soon as possible. However, we still need some inside contacts to pass messages to us within the capital and coordinate with our operations,” the man in black said.

"You don't need to worry about that, I already have someone in mind. Just focus on doing your job well and don't make any mistakes," the mysterious man said.

Who exactly is this mysterious figure? What new crisis will he bring to the capital? What is his connection with the Shadow Cult? Everything is shrouded in mystery, waiting for Xiao Jian and his companions to uncover the truth…

This chapter concludes here. Stay tuned for the next chapter.