In the Great Qin Dynasty, I, the Unruly Commander, begin by dual-cultivating with Yan Ling Ji.

The tightly closed doors and windows of the study suddenly rang out with a dull thud, as if they had been violently slammed open by an invisible force.

In an instant, dozens of dark figures, like ghosts, surged in with lightning speed.

Zhao Kuo reacted very quickly, and he swiftly reached out and grabbed the bronze sword that was placed on the table.

A flash of cold light disappeared in an instant, followed by a spurt of blood. An assassin clutched his throat and collapsed to the ground in agony.

However, before Zhao Kuo could catch his breath, he immediately realized that the situation was not good.

These assassins were far more agile and nimble than ordinary assassins could achieve.

Their moves were not only incredibly ruthless, but also exceptionally precise, with each attack aimed directly at the opponent's vital points, giving them no chance to breathe.

"Oh no! These are actually the palace guards!" a minister exclaimed in alarm.

Before he could finish speaking, a muffled thud was heard, and a sharp blade pierced his chest in an instant.

Crimson blood splattered like a fountain, much of it splashing directly onto Zhao Kuo's face.

Only then did Zhao Kuo realize with astonishment that the assassins' robes were all embroidered with dark gold dragon patterns.

In the blink of an eye, the entire study had descended into a chaotic melee.

Zhao Kuo, wielding a bronze sword, fought fiercely, retreating as he went. Although his swordsmanship was not weak, he was ultimately outnumbered. Facing enemies several times his size, he could only barely protect himself.

Meanwhile, the screams of agony from the ministers echoed in his ears.

Each scream was like a heavy iron hammer, striking Zhao Kuo's heart and causing him excruciating pain.

Just at this critical moment, the loyal old steward suddenly rushed out from a hidden door.

Without hesitation, he used all his strength to shove Zhao Kuo forcefully. Zhao Kuo staggered and involuntarily fell towards the hidden door.

However, just as Zhao Kuo rushed into the hidden door, three gleaming blades pierced through the old steward's frail body almost simultaneously.

Zhao Kuo gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger, and turned to run wildly into the depths of the secret door without looking back...

He heard the sound of assassins' footsteps behind him. Daring not to stop, he ran wildly through the intricate secret passages. Only when he was sure he had shaken off his pursuers did he slowly slide down to the ground against the cold stone wall.

Moonlight streamed through the cracks in the secret passage's ceiling, illuminating his blood-stained robes. Zhao Kuo clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

He knew that from this moment on, there was no room for maneuver between him and the King of Zhao.

Apart from Zhao Kuo, the remaining few ministers felt the same way.

Meanwhile, in the border camp,

Li Bo was escorted by two men in black armor to the commander-in-chief's central tent.

"Go in."

The thugs escorted him inside. Li Bo staggered to his feet and looked up to meet a pair of deep, unfathomable eyes.

Ying Ziqing stood with his hands behind his back, his dark brocade robe embroidered with dark gold dragon patterns. His face was covered by scarlet armor, leaving only a pair of pale gold eyes, eyes that seemed to have seen through the vicissitudes of the world.

Looking at the scarlet armor, Li Bo felt a chill run down his spine. He knew how terrifying the owner of the scarlet armor must be.

“Lord Li,” Ying Ziqing’s voice was very soft, yet it sent a chill down Li Bo’s spine.

"What do you think the future holds for the people of Zhao?"

Li Boqiang calmly declared: "The people of Zhao are determined to defend their territory to the death..."

Ying Ziqing chuckled and slowly approached.

"But are there still loyal ministers like Zhao Kuo? Or are you still hoping for help from the states of Qi and Chu?"

Cold sweat beaded on Li Bo's forehead.

He suddenly realized that this young man's understanding of the Zhao state was probably more thorough than that of the court officials.

"King Zhao is a foolish and incompetent ruler; you all plot a rebellion, and the Zhao court is already falling apart."

Ying Ziqing's voice remained calm, "And your biggest mistake was assuming that Qin would care about a complete Zhao state."

Li Bo was shocked. He finally understood how terrifying Ying Ziqing was—this young man not only saw through the current state of Zhao, but also understood the thoughts of these people.

In Ying Ziqing's eyes, the State of Zhao was nothing more than a game of chess that had already reached its end, and no matter how much they struggled, they could not escape the predetermined fate.

"Master Li,"

Ying Ziqing turned to look at the moonlight outside the window.

"I'm giving you a choice. Either watch the State of Zhao turn to ashes in the flames of war;"

Either they can be used by me, or at least the lives of the people of Zhao can be saved.

Li Bo slumped to the ground, feeling as if his spine had been ripped away. He knew he had no other choice.

The unruly commander before them was like a drawn sword, sharp and unfathomable.

The State of Zhao was merely one of the sacrifices made by this sword.

A night breeze swept by, swirling up a few fallen leaves...

P.S.: Do you have any book requests for the next genre? Feel free to leave a comment below!