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

The secret passage was filled with a pungent, bloody stench mixed with a damp, musty smell, making one want to vomit. Lin Yuhang and the others carried torches and continued forward in the dim light. The path beneath their feet was rugged and uneven, with protruding rocks from time to time, and they walked cautiously.

As they walked, they suddenly heard faint voices ahead. Lin Yuhang raised his hand to signal everyone to stop. He crouched down and tiptoed forward, pressing his ear against the wall, trying to hear what the other person was saying. The others followed his example, holding their breath and waiting nervously.

"I heard the imperial court is looking for us everywhere, we'd better be careful," a hoarse voice said.

"What's there to be afraid of? This secret passage is intricate and complex; they won't be able to find it here," another voice replied nonchalantly.

Lin Yuhang's eyes lit up, and he turned to Zhao Yishi and the others in a low voice, "It seems we've found the right place. They're just ahead." His eyes flashed with excitement and vigilance as he gripped his sword hilt tightly, the veins on the back of his hand bulging slightly.

The group continued onward, and after rounding a bend, a spacious cave came into view. Several campfires burned inside, and a dozen or so men dressed in black sat around them, some cleaning their weapons, others conversing in hushed tones.

"It's them!" Li San couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, his face showing anger as he gripped the short knife tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Lin Yuhang took a deep breath to calm himself, and then shouted, "You traitors, today is your doomsday!" With that, he charged in first, like a black lightning bolt, his sword flashing with cold light.

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the men in black rose to their feet to fight. Chaos erupted instantly within the cave, a cacophony of shouts and clashing weapons. Lin Yuhang moved with agility, weaving through the enemy ranks with ease, each sword strike carrying a sharp, menacing force that drove his foe into retreat.

Zhao Yishi, Wang Er, and Li San were not to be outdone. They each found their opponents and engaged in fierce combat. Zhao Yishi wielded his short knife with swift and deadly movements; although Wang Er was somewhat clumsy, his fierce determination made him a force to be reckoned with; Li San used the terrain of the cave to skillfully evade enemy attacks and look for opportunities to counterattack.

Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Study, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed almost palpable. Hongli sat on the dragon throne, his brow furrowed, his fingers tapping incessantly on the armrest. Xiao Yanzi stood beside him, her eyes filled with worry, glancing at Hongli from time to time.

"Your Majesty, General Li has already led men to escort Lord Zhang on his journey. I hope they will be safe and sound," a minister stepped forward and said cautiously, bowing slightly with a hint of apprehension in his eyes.

Hongli nodded slightly without speaking. At this moment, another minister rushed in, looking flustered, and knelt down to report: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! News has come from Jiangnan that the floodwaters have breached the dikes, many places have been flooded, and people have been displaced. The situation is extremely critical!" The minister's voice trembled, his forehead was covered with sweat, and his face was full of anxiety.

"What?" Hongli stood up abruptly, his hands clenched into fists, his face showing shock and anger. "What is the Minister of Works doing? Why couldn't he control the situation in time?"

The minister replied tremblingly, "Your Majesty, the Minister of Works is doing everything in his power to organize rescue efforts, but the flood came too suddenly, there are too many people, and supplies are somewhat scarce..."

Xiao Yanzi was extremely anxious and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, we must find a way to gather more supplies and manpower. We must save those people!" Her eyes were red, her hands unconsciously clutching the hem of her skirt, and her voice was choked with sobs.

Hongli paced back and forth, pondered for a moment, and then decisively said, "Issue my decree to urgently allocate funds, grain, and disaster relief supplies from neighboring provinces and transport them to Jiangnan at full speed. Also, dispatch an elite army to assist the Minister of Works in flood control and disaster relief, and to appease the people." His eyes were firm, his tone carried an unquestionable authority, and he waved his hands forcefully in the air.

The ministers received their orders and left. Hongli sat back wearily on the dragon throne, rubbing his temples. Xiao Yanzi stepped forward and gently massaged his shoulders, saying softly, "Your Majesty, don't worry too much, everything will be alright." Her eyes were full of concern and encouragement, trying to comfort Hongli.

Inside the secret passage of the Taihang Mountains, the battle reached its climax. Lin Yuhang seized an opening and thrust his sword at the leader of the men in black. Unable to dodge in time, the leader was stabbed in the shoulder, screaming as he collapsed to the ground. Seeing their leader wounded, the other men in black immediately lost their composure.

"You have nowhere to run, surrender!" Lin Yuhang shouted, his voice echoing through the cave, full of intimidation. The men in black hesitated for a moment, then dropped their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy.

Lin Yuhang stepped forward, looked at the injured leader, and said coldly, "Speak, what exactly is your plan with the neighboring country?" A struggle flashed in the leader's eyes, but under Lin Yuhang's imposing gaze, he finally lowered his head and told him about their conspiracy in detail.

It turned out that the neighboring country planned to ambush and assassinate Lord Zhang during his mission, thereby provoking war between the two nations. Simultaneously, they also intended to utilize this Jianghu (martial arts world) force to create chaos in the rear, disrupting the imperial court's plans. Upon hearing this, Lin Yuhang's expression turned grave. He knew he had to send this news back to the palace as soon as possible so the court could prepare.

Meanwhile, the people in the palace were still busy dealing with the crises on the frontier and in Jiangnan. They were unaware that Lin Yuhang had uncovered a major secret that would have a huge impact on the entire situation. An even more intense contest might have just begun.