4.Night Raid at the Border: First Encounter of Blades

On an early spring night, the cold wind howled across Great Yan's frontier. Moonlight spilled silver onto the land, broken only occasionally by distant animal cries, heightening the sense of chilling unease.

Beneath the city walls, a small group of Great Yan soldiers escorted a patrol led by Xiao Zhongyan. Under the pale moonlight, his expression held a mixture of pride and caution. Rumors had spread recently, alleging covert alliances between Northern Di and Western Rong, while frontier towns reported frequent raids by unknown assailants. His mission tonight was clear: investigate the truth and quell any disturbances.

Joining the patrol was Xiao Zhengyu, dispatched by imperial command to assist Xiao Zhongyan and personally look into recent smuggling incidents and thefts from military arsenals.

Frontier villagers had grown increasingly anxious. Caravans were robbed by day, horses and supplies mysteriously vanished, and houses were forcibly entered at night, losing rice and iron tools. Fearful villagers rushed to report these unsettling events.

"A few days ago, my barn was full of grain. Overnight, it was nearly emptied!" an elderly farmer complained bitterly to the officials.

"Not just grain," another villager whispered anxiously, "even iron shovels and axes made by our strongest men disappeared. Could they be crafting weapons?"

Alarmed by these frequent reports, local officials relayed their concerns urgently to the capital. At the imperial court, the troubling thefts from border armories deeply unsettled ministers.

"Within a single month, dozens of weapon crates have vanished. If someone is secretly arming a force, consequences will be catastrophic."

Thus, Xiao Zhengyu's presence was twofold: aiding border patrols and uncovering the hidden forces behind these troubling incidents.

Suddenly, subtle noises disturbed the night. Several soldiers collapsed without warning, muffled groans rising from the shadows.

"Protect His Highness!" shouted the captain urgently.

Before he finished speaking, a shadow darted swiftly from the darkness, sword flashing toward Xiao Zhongyan's vital points.

"Such speed!" exclaimed one guard in shock.

Dressed entirely in black, the assassin's face was veiled, revealing only cold, piercing eyes. Her sword strikes were swift, merciless, instantly penetrating the guards' defenses.

At that critical moment, a clear voice echoed, accompanied by a figure leaping gracefully from above, wielding a silver sword to deftly intercept the assassin's attack.

"With skills like these, why hide your identity?" Xiao Zhengyu asked calmly, though his eyes were sharp as an eagle's.

The assassin hesitated momentarily before resuming her fierce assault. The two clashed intensely, sword against sword, evenly matched, leaving soldiers watching in astonishment.

"Who could hold his own against the Third Prince like this?" soldiers murmured in awe. "Such skills are rarely seen in the martial world!"

After several fierce exchanges, the assassin abruptly withdrew, vanishing swiftly like a phantom into the moonlit shadows.

Xiao Zhengyu gazed thoughtfully toward where the figure disappeared, brows slightly furrowed.

"Such martial skill—it's clearly no ordinary opponent," Xiao Zhongyan remarked gravely.

"Thank you for your timely intervention," he adjusted his robes, turning to Xiao Zhengyu. "The assassin's technique was unusual. Did you recognize their style?"

Xiao Zhengyu considered briefly. "Their moves were agile and ruthless, reminiscent of Meishan Sect."

"Meishan Sect?" Xiao Zhongyan frowned slightly. "They only accept female disciples. Could it be...?"

Xiao Zhengyu's eyes flickered subtly. "Perhaps so."

He glanced casually, asking, "Has uncle recently offended anyone?"

Xiao Zhongyan hesitated briefly before laughing lightly, "In the imperial court, someone is always displeased. There's no need to take it personally."

Xiao Zhengyu nodded silently, taking note in his heart.

Soon after, whispers spread across the martial world of a mysterious assassin—extraordinarily skilled, swift as the wind, and elusive. Speculation ran wild.

In the deepening night, Mo Yan sped across the wilderness, finally vanishing into an abandoned mountain temple.

Under the broken eaves, Liu Quanzhen meticulously wiped her blade, half her face illuminated by glowing embers.

"You failed?" Liu Quanzhen asked without looking up, the sword scraping sharply against the whetstone.

Mo Yan knelt on one knee, voice low. "I encountered someone troublesome."

Sparks burst suddenly from the embers; Liu Quanzhen sharply sheathed her sword.

She narrowed her eyes, voice icy. "No matter. I intended to teach him a lesson, yet you couldn't even touch a hair."

Mo Yan's eyes lowered, fists clenched silently.

Liu Quanzhen laughed coldly. "Never mind. This is only the beginning… Now go."

Mo Yan rose slowly, gaze profound. She turned to the crescent moon, knowing after tonight, there would be no turning back.