Duan Zhengchun transmigrates to Yin Zhiping

"Who on earth could this be, and why would they attack both you and me at the same time?!"

"What is their purpose?!"

Qiu Chuji frowned slightly and muttered to himself.

"Just focus on recovering from your injuries. Leave the rest to your disciple."

Duan Zhengchun forced a relaxed smile and offered a few words of comfort.

He did not tell Qiu Chuji that the assassins' real target was him, nor did he reveal that the matter was actually related to the Song Emperor.

He didn't want Qiu Chuji to worry about him, but no matter what the other party's purpose was or who was instigating them, he would not let it go easily.

"The world is a dangerous place; you must be careful in everything you do."

Qiu Chuji nodded and looked at Duan Zhengchun earnestly, giving him a word of advice.

Duan Zhengchun agreed, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries, he took his leave and went straight to Lin Zhiyuan's residence.

"Senior brother..."

Upon seeing Duan Zhengchun appear, Lin Zhiyuan, who was also lying in bed recovering from his injuries, was visibly excited and tried to get up to greet him.

"You've suffered such serious injuries, just lie down and rest!"

Duan Zhengchun quickly stepped forward and stopped Lin Zhiyuan, making him lie down again.

Looking at his senior brother whom he hadn't seen for a long time, Lin Zhiyuan had mixed feelings. He was happy to be reunited with his brother, but also felt guilty because he had failed to protect his master and the Quanzhen Sect.

He couldn't help but reflect in his heart that if the chief disciple had been the senior brother in front of him, perhaps the outcome would have been different, and his master would not have been injured.

"I've already heard from Xiao Shiqi that we owe you a lot this time. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Thank you for your hard work."

Duan Zhengchun patted Lin Zhiyuan on the shoulder and said seriously.

He saw the hint of self-reproach deep in Lin Zhiyuan's eyes.

"No, if it weren't for the Blue-Clad Guards' intervention, those assassins wouldn't have left so easily. It's all thanks to you, Senior Brother."

Lin Zhiyuan shook his head and said very seriously that he did not want to take credit for this achievement.

"Between you and me, there's no need for mutual flattery, and you don't need to blame yourself."

"You are the future hope of the Quanzhen Sect. Don't let a little setback get you down! Don't disappoint your master!"

Duan Zhengchun looked at Lin Zhiyuan seriously and continued.

Hearing this, Lin Zhiyuan was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously, his eyes finally becoming firm again.

"Since you and Master are both alright, I will be leaving tomorrow."

"I've found out where those assassins came from, and they'll pay for it."

Duan Zhengchun paused for a moment, then spoke again.

"Who exactly are they?!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiyuan's eyes immediately lit up, and he couldn't help but ask further questions.

"Don't ask anymore. Your task is to protect the Quanzhen Sect and your master. I will handle the rest."

"Ying'er, come in."

Duan Zhengchun gave a word of advice, then looked up and said something to the door.

As the words fell, Little Dragon Girl led her daughter slowly in.

"Ying'er, quickly greet Uncle Lin."

After Xiaolongnu nodded to Lin Zhiyuan in greeting, she lowered her head and whispered something to her daughter.

"Greetings, Uncle-Master Lin."

Ying'er obediently approached and respectfully bowed to Lin Zhiyuan.

"Hey, Ying'er, be good, Ying'er."

Lin Zhiyuan hurriedly raised his hand to signal Ying'er to get up. His eyes were a little red. Looking at the well-behaved and lovely Ying'er and Duan Zhengchun with a kind smile, he couldn't help but feel happy.

"I never expected that after so many years, my senior brother would have such a lovely daughter."

"Senior brother must be very proud, right?"

Lin Zhiyuan looked at Duan Zhengchun and said with a smile, his expression finally relaxing.

"Her name is Duan Liuying. She's small but very clever, and she's quite a handful."

"Speaking of which, if you hadn't been willing to take on the mantle of chief disciple back then, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to return to secular life and get married, and I wouldn't have her."

Duan Zhengchun stroked Ying'er's little head, his face full of satisfaction.

Lin Zhiyuan smiled, the past vivid in his mind as if it were yesterday, and he was genuinely happy for his senior brother.

If it weren't for his senior brother's choice back then, he wouldn't have become the future successor to the sect leader, and he has always been grateful for that.

After a long while, Duan Zhengchun bid farewell to Lin Zhiyuan and left the Quanzhen Sect with Xiaolongnu and his daughter, arriving at Granny Sun's grave.

"Grandma, it's been so long..."

Little Dragon Girl stood before the tomb, looking at the words on the tombstone, unable to contain her emotions.

In the past, she was not good at expressing her emotions, but after following Duan Zhengchun, she gradually changed under the influence of his bold and passionate nature.

Granny Sun had watched her grow up since she was a child. Although Granny Sun was her maid, she never treated Granny Sun as a servant, but as a close relative with whom she depended on each other for survival.

Now that I'm married and have a daughter, I feel I should tell Grandma Sun the news in person.

Seeing the somewhat sorrowful Long'er, Duan Zhengchun slowly reached out and pulled Xiaolongnu into his arms.

"Ying'er, kowtow to your mother-in-law."

Little Dragon Girl turned her head and looked at Duan Zhengchun with deep affection, smiled, and whispered something to her daughter.

Ying'er obediently knelt before Granny Sun's grave and silently kowtowed three times.

A gentle evening breeze rustled through the nearby grass and leaves, as if Grandma Sun was also happy for the family of three.

...

The next morning, Duan Zhengchun sent his Qingyi Guards to escort Xiaolongnu and her daughter away from Zhongnan Mountain and back to Qixia Mountain.

At the same time, he also issued an order, commanding the Green-Clad Guards to quickly dispatch more experts to Zhongnan Mountain to secretly protect the safety of the Quanzhen Sect.

Because he knew that there must be some hidden masters among that group of assassins of unknown origin who had not yet revealed themselves, and the people he killed were not enough to seriously injure Qiu Chuji!

After seeing his wife and children off, Duan Zhengchun once again mounted his white horse and rode alone towards Lin'an.

There are some things he absolutely will not tolerate.

Seven days later, in Lin'an City.

Wearing a bamboo hat, Duan Zhengchun sat on horseback, covered in dust, and slowly walked through the streets of the capital of the Song Dynasty.

Just like when I last visited, Lin'an City was still bustling with activity, and the streets were lively. It seemed that no one cared about the bloody battle in the three border cities.

Perhaps to them, what do the lives or deaths of others matter to them until the enemy's sword is held to their heads?

Spring Breeze Restaurant.

Duan Zhengchun stood by the window of a private room on the third floor, gazing at the capital city he felt no affection for, his brows furrowed with indifference.

He was waiting for the sun to set, waiting to personally enter the palace to settle scores with the Song Emperor.

After a long while, a series of soft, rhythmic knocks sounded, and a woman dressed in flamboyant attire slowly entered the private room, bowing respectfully to Duan Zhengchun, who had his back to her.

Duan Zhengchun did not speak, but remained silently standing by the window, tilting his head back to drink the wine in his cup in one gulp.

In this capital city, apart from the decent wine, there is nothing else worth staying for.

"Sect Master, we have confirmed that in the past two months, someone has indeed been frequently entering and leaving the palace and has met with the Song Emperor in secret on several occasions. It is very mysterious."

The woman bowed respectfully and then reported.

"Did you find their identification codes?!"

Duan Zhengchun narrowed his eyes and pressed for an answer in a cold voice.

"Not yet, but it will be soon."

The woman frowned and hesitated for a moment before answering nervously.

"Then keep investigating! Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we will not let this go!"

Duan Zhengchun gave a stern order, then turned back to the table and poured himself another glass of wine.

"Yes."

The woman nervously agreed, secretly glanced at Duan Zhengchun, and slowly left the private room.

Duan Zhengchun had not been to Lin'an for a long time. The woman had hoped that by dressing up carefully, she could win Duan Zhengchun's favor. However, Duan Zhengchun's mind was now on that group of mysterious assassins, and he had no time to pick up his gun and mount his horse.

...

At the dead of night.

Deep inside the palace.

"Is Your Majesty going back on your word?"

An old man shrouded in black robes stood in the center of the hall and asked a cold question, exuding a sinister aura.

"I did promise you back then, but only on the condition that you kill Lingxiao Sword Demon for me! But what about now?"

"Not only did you not kill him, you also let him go. What will happen if he finds out that this matter is related to the imperial court?!"

The Song Emperor, who had been facing away from the old man, suddenly turned around and looked at him with a stern face, demanding an explanation.

"But we also lost many people. It's not that we didn't want to kill him, it's that his skills were far beyond those of ordinary martial artists!"

"As His Majesty just said, he is the infamous Lingxiao Sword Demon. Killing him won't be so easy!"

The old man in black robes spoke in a cold, self-righteous tone, seemingly unafraid of the Song Emperor's authority.

The commander of the imperial guards standing beside the Song Emperor stared intently at the old man in black robes, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword without daring to relax for a moment...