The morning at the General's Mansion began as usual amidst the hustle and bustle, but a subtle unease, like vines growing in the shadows, began to spread throughout the mansion.

That day, Ah Fu, the servant responsible for cleaning the area near the general's mansion gate, got up to work before dawn, as usual. When he reached the corner to the left of the gate, he inadvertently discovered several strange footprints. These footprints were deeply embedded in the soft soil, long and narrow in shape, clearly different from the cloth shoe prints usually worn by the people in the mansion. Ah Fu squatted down, carefully examining the footprints, a strange unease rising within him. He held out his hand, gesturing to the size of the footprints, his brow furrowed. These footprints looked like they were left by a group of nimble people, and they seemed to have stayed there for some time, because there were some messy marks around the footprints, as if someone was secretly spying on the general's mansion.

Afu dared not delay and hurriedly ran to inform the steward. Upon hearing the news, the steward immediately put down his work and rushed to the gate. Experienced, he immediately recognized that these footprints were extraordinary. The steward crouched down and gently traced the outline of the footprints, his expression growing increasingly solemn. "These footprints… seem like the steps of someone from the martial world, light yet carrying a sense of gathering power," the steward murmured to himself. He stood up and looked around. The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, making everything around him somewhat hazy, but this haziness only added to the air of mystery.

The steward instructed Afu to keep quiet and that the matter needed to be reported to General Xiao Yichen first. Afu nodded repeatedly, knowing the gravity of the situation and daring not to be negligent. The steward hurried towards Xiao Yichen's study, his mind racing with thoughts. The General's Mansion had always been highly respected, but precisely because of this, it inevitably attracted the covetous eyes of some with ill intentions. The appearance of these mysterious footprints was undoubtedly a dangerous sign.

Xiao Yichen was discussing military matters with several trusted confidants in his study when the steward rushed in, knowing it must be something important. The steward reported in detail about the discovery of the footprints, and Xiao Yichen's expression darkened upon hearing it. He knew that in these turbulent times, any slight disturbance could foreshadow a major crisis. "Strengthen patrols within the manor, especially at night. Order all guards to be on high alert and report immediately if they spot anyone suspicious," Xiao Yichen decisively ordered. The confidants obeyed and left, and the atmosphere in the study became tense.

Meanwhile, in the backyard of the General's mansion, Xiao Cui, the maid responsible for tending the flowers and plants, also encountered a strange incident. Every day, Xiao Cui would fetch water from the well in the backyard to water the delicate flowers. This day, when she arrived at the well, she noticed that the rope around the well opening was somewhat tangled, as if someone had pulled on it forcefully. Xiao Cui was startled. She looked into the well; the water was bottomless, and the dark well opening resembled a gigantic beast with its mouth wide open, sending chills down her spine. Xiao Cui remembered the rumors circulating in the mansion recently about mysterious people and couldn't help but feel afraid. She put down her bucket, hurriedly left the well, intending to tell her other maids about it.

Near the general's mansion's stables, the groom, Old Li, also noticed something amiss. The usually docile horses were unusually restless that morning, neighing incessantly and kicking at the stable fence. Old Li tried to calm the horses, but his mind was filled with doubt. He searched the area around the stables and found some trampled marks in the grass behind them, as if someone had been hiding there. Old Li frowned. Having worked as a groom at the general's mansion for many years, he knew the horses' habits well; this unusual behavior was no accident. He guessed that a stranger might have approached the stables and frightened the horses.

These seemingly scattered signs gradually spread throughout the general's mansion, arousing suspicion among the servants. The women in the laundry room whispered among themselves while doing laundry, wondering if thieves were eyeing the general's mansion; the cooks in the kitchen, in their spare time, would also talk about the strange phenomena, each of their faces filled with worry.

Outside the General's Mansion, in a grove of trees not far away, a group of men in black were hidden among the dense foliage. They were dressed in tight-fitting black suits and wore black masks, revealing only their sharp eyes. These men in black were agile and well-trained, clearly masters of the martial arts world.

"Chief, we've been observing the area around the General's Mansion for several days, and it seems they've noticed something amiss inside," a man in black reported in a low voice to his leader. The leader of the men in black frowned slightly, a cold glint in his eyes. "Hmph, it doesn't matter. So what if they've noticed? Our goal is the treasure map, and we won't give up until we achieve it." The leader's voice was deep and hoarse, carrying an undeniable authority. He peered through the gaps in the leaves towards the General's Mansion, his eyes gleaming with greed.

“However, the General’s mansion is heavily guarded, and we cannot act rashly. Continue to monitor and wait for the best opportunity,” the leader ordered. The men in black nodded in unison, waiting silently in the woods like ghosts.

Back at the General's Mansion, Xiao Yichen decided to personally inspect the areas where the anomalies had been discovered. He took several trusted men and first went to the well in the backyard. He carefully examined the rope around the well and the surrounding ground, discovering that besides the messy marks Xiao Cui had mentioned, there seemed to be some new scratches on the well wall, as if someone had used tools to climb it. Xiao Yichen's heart skipped a beat; he realized that these mysterious people were no longer merely spying outside the General's Mansion, but might have already infiltrated the mansion.

Next, Xiao Yichen went to the stables. Old Li told Xiao Yichen about the horses' restlessness and the traces in the grass. Xiao Yichen squatted down and carefully examined the trampled grass. He found some black threads in the grass, similar to the threads around the footprints found near the gate. "It seems these were all done by the same group." Xiao Yichen stood up, his expression grim. He ordered his trusted men to collect the threads and take them to their friends in the martial arts world to examine, hoping to find some clues.

The afternoon sun shone brightly, but the atmosphere inside the general's mansion remained tense. The servants were extra cautious as they worked, and the patrolling soldiers were on high alert. Lin Wan'er couldn't sit still in her room any longer; she decided to use her mind-reading ability to see if she could find any clues about the mysterious man in black.

Lin Wan'er arrived at the garden of the mansion, a place bustling with people, making it easier to perceive the emotions and thoughts of those around her. She sat on a stone bench in the garden, closed her eyes, and concentrated. At first, she only sensed the chaotic thoughts of the servants in the mansion—worry, fear, and curiosity. But as she continued to adjust her breathing and focus her attention, some faint, unusual thoughts began to enter her mind.

"We can't let the people from the General's Mansion discover our actions..." Lin Wan'er vaguely "heard" this thought, and she was startled, quickly opening her eyes. She looked around; everyone in the garden was busy with their own things, and there was no one suspicious. But she knew that this must be the idea of ​​those mysterious men in black; they were nearby, and they were plotting something.

Lin Wan'er hurriedly went to find Xiao Yichen and told him about her discovery. After listening, Xiao Yichen grasped Lin Wan'er's hand: "Wan'er, your mind-reading ability might be the key to breaking this deadlock. Try sensing again and see if you can obtain more information." Lin Wan'er nodded, closed her eyes again, and tried hard to capture that faint trace of thought.

However, this time she encountered difficulties. No matter how hard she concentrated, she could no longer grasp the thoughts of those mysterious people. It was as if they had sensed someone spying on their minds and were deliberately hiding themselves. Lin Wan'er was somewhat frustrated, but Xiao Yichen comforted her, "It's alright, Wan'er. This is already a big breakthrough. At least we know they are still nearby and are planning their actions."

Just then, a patrolling soldier came to report that some suspicious markings had been found outside the General's Mansion wall. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er immediately rushed over to investigate. They saw strange symbols carved on a large tree outside the wall; these symbols resembled some kind of coded language, obscure and difficult to understand. Xiao Yichen carefully examined the symbols, trying to find some clues, but for the time being, he was completely stumped.

As night fell, the general's mansion was brightly lit. The patrols were more frequent, their figures moving swiftly under the lights, vigilantly watching for any movement inside or outside the mansion. Meanwhile, in the woods outside, the men in black remained waiting. They seemed to be waiting for a specific opportunity, the perfect moment to successfully infiltrate the general's mansion and seize the treasure map.

A tense atmosphere pervaded the entire General's Mansion. Everyone knew that danger was closing in, and the mysterious men in black, like ghosts lurking in the shadows, could appear at any moment, bringing a great disaster to the mansion. On this seemingly peaceful night, a storm was brewing in the shadows, and the fate of the General's Mansion would be rewritten in this battle against the men in black.

In a secluded corner of the general's mansion, a black cat crouched silently on the roof, its eyes gleaming eerily in the darkness, as if sensing the tense atmosphere. It watched every move within the mansion like a silent observer, witnessing the impending crisis. Meanwhile, the people inside the mansion desperately searched for a glimmer of hope, trying to find a way to unravel the black-clad man's conspiracy in the darkness.

As time passed, the actions of the men in black became increasingly mysterious and unpredictable, and suspicion and unease within the General's Mansion grew heavier. The servants slept restlessly, often awakened by nightmares. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er continued to discuss countermeasures in the study. They knew they had to unravel these mysteries as soon as possible, or the General's Mansion would be plunged into utter ruin. However, what exactly were the plans of those men in black? How would they act? All of this remained unknown, like a heavy night shrouding the General's Mansion, making it difficult to breathe.

Xiao Yichen stood in the courtyard of the General's Mansion. A gentle breeze blew by, but instead of bringing any relief, it only intensified the unease in his heart. He looked up at the sky, where heavy, leaden clouds pressed down, as if foreshadowing an impending storm. And this storm might not just be caused by celestial phenomena.

In recent days, the various strange phenomena that have appeared in the manor have haunted his mind like ghosts. From the strange footprints outside the gate, to the tangled ropes by the well in the backyard, the flattened grass around the stables and the mysterious black threads, to the inexplicable markings outside the wall, every detail is like a piece of a puzzle, but the whole picture remains blurry, leaving him feeling like he has a fishbone stuck in his throat.

He knew all too well that the General's Mansion, with its high profile and numerous military achievements, had become a target for many. Whether it was bandits from the martial world, spies from other forces, or mysterious organizations with ulterior motives, any of them could be the mastermind behind this series of events. And now, he had a strong premonition that the enemy had already woven a trap in the shadows, waiting only for the right moment to launch a fatal blow against the General's Mansion.

Xiao Yichen first summoned the guard captains of the manor. The atmosphere in the general's manor's council hall was serious and tense. His gaze sharpened as he surveyed each captain, saying, "Gentlemen, there have been many suspicious signs appearing in the manor recently, which I believe you have all heard about. I have a bad feeling that the enemy is approaching, and we must be fully prepared."

The guard captains nodded in agreement. They were all loyal followers of Xiao Yichen for many years and knew the gravity of the situation. One of the captains clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "General, we have increased patrols, but so far we have not found any trace of the enemy. Does the General have any further instructions?"

Xiao Yichen frowned slightly, pacing back and forth in the hall. “From now on, the patrol intervals will be shortened, and each patrol team will have two more members. Pay special attention to corners and passageways that are usually overlooked, such as the alleys behind the warehouses and the hidden spots behind the garden's artificial hill.” He stopped, looking at the map of the General's Mansion hanging on the wall, and pointed to several key locations. “Set up sentries in these places, and assign agile and observant soldiers. If anything unusual is detected, immediately send a signal.”

Another captain raised a question: "General, while increasing patrols and sentries will certainly improve defenses, won't that make the atmosphere inside the mansion too tense and cause panic among the servants?"

Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment and said, "Panic is inevitable, but safety is the top priority right now. We can have the steward reassure the people and tell them that this is just a routine security reinforcement. At the same time, those who spread false rumors and disturb people's peace should be dealt with."

After arranging the patrol, Xiao Yichen then inspected the defenses within the mansion. He arrived at the main gate of the general's mansion, carefully examining the heavy door panels and sturdy bolts. On the watchtowers on either side of the gate, the newly added archers were undergoing intensive training. He walked around the perimeter of the wall, checking its height and sturdiness, and ordered the soldiers to repair any cracks or loose sections.

While inspecting the armory, Xiao Yichen noticed that some weapons were rusty. He frowned, summoned the soldier in charge, and said sternly, "Weapons are our life-saving tools. How can we be so negligent? Immediately organize a team to polish and maintain all the weapons to ensure that every single one is sharp and usable." The soldiers did not dare to delay and immediately began to work.

Besides strengthening defenses, investigating suspicious signs was also of utmost urgency. Xiao Yichen, accompanied by his trusted aides, arrived at the large tree where the markings outside the wall had been discovered. He carefully examined the strange symbols again, trying to search his memory for similar patterns or codes. Some of these symbols resembled twisted snakes, others birds with outstretched wings, yet their combination made no logical sense.

"Has any of you seen similar markings?" Xiao Yichen asked his trusted confidants. Everyone shook their heads. Xiao Yichen frowned. He knew these markings might be a way for enemies to communicate; if they could decipher them, they might be able to know their plans in advance.

He decided to send men into the city to find wise men or sorcerers who were knowledgeable in coded language and symbols. At the same time, he ordered his trusted men to expand the search area around the general's mansion to see if there were any other similar markings.

During the investigation, Xiao Yichen recalled the mind-reading clues Lin Wan'er had discovered. He approached Lin Wan'er, hoping she could try using mind-reading again to obtain information. Lin Wan'er looked at Xiao Yichen's expectant yet worried eyes and nodded.

The two arrived at a relatively quiet corner of the garden within the mansion. Lin Wan'er closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself. She concentrated, attempting to sense the thoughts of any potentially suspicious individuals around her. However, apart from the servants' normal thoughts, there was nothing unusual.

"Yichen, I... I can't feel anything." Lin Wan'er opened her eyes in frustration. Xiao Yichen held her hand and comforted her, "It's alright, Wan'er. It's not your fault. Maybe the enemy is hiding very well. Let's think of another way."

Just then, a soldier came to report that some suspicious powder had been found in an alley near the general's mansion. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er immediately rushed over to investigate. They saw some grayish-white powder on the ground of the alley, distributed in a linear pattern that stretched all the way to the end of the alley.

Xiao Yichen crouched down, dipped his finger in the powder, and smelled it, but it didn't have any special smell. He wondered what this powder was. Was it accidentally left by the enemy, or some kind of mark or trap they had deliberately created?

He ordered the soldiers to carefully follow the powder's trail, being careful not to touch it to avoid danger. The soldiers advanced cautiously, with Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er following behind. The powder's trail meandered through several alleys, finally disappearing in front of an abandoned courtyard.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, its doors and windows dilapidated, exuding a sinister atmosphere. Xiao Yichen signaled the soldiers to surround the courtyard, and then he and Lin Wan'er slowly approached. The courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling of the wind through the weeds.

Xiao Yichen pushed open the courtyard gate, and a musty smell wafted out. Several dilapidated houses stood in the courtyard, seemingly uninhabited for a long time. They searched the courtyard but found nothing obviously unusual, yet Xiao Yichen's unease only deepened. He felt that this courtyard was somehow connected to the crisis at the General's Mansion, but he hadn't yet found any evidence.

Upon returning to the General's Mansion, Xiao Yichen informed the guard captains of these new discoveries, instructing them to keep a close watch on similar abandoned courtyards and suspicious powder in the surrounding area. He also instructed the steward to check the mansion for similar powder.

Night fell, and the general's mansion was brightly lit, with patrolling soldiers moving about in every corner. Xiao Yichen stood on a high point in the mansion, overlooking everything. His gaze was deep and worried; despite the many defensive measures he had taken, an uneasy premonition still lingered in his heart. He knew that the enemy was like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness, ready to strike at any moment, and he had to find its tracks and subdue it before it could strike.

In a room of the general's mansion, the servants huddled together, whispering about the events of the past few days. Despite the steward's best efforts to calm them, fear still crept into their hearts. Some servants began packing their belongings, preparing to flee at any moment, while others comforted each other, hoping it was just a false alarm.

Lin Wan'er couldn't sleep in her room. Looking at the moonlight outside the window, she silently prayed that the General's Mansion would weather this crisis. She knew Xiao Yichen was under immense pressure, and she hoped she could help him, even if only in a little way. She decided to try mind-reading again tomorrow, determined to find the enemies threatening the General's Mansion.

In the darkness outside the General's Mansion, the leader of the men in black was discussing matters with his subordinates in a secret hideout. "The General's Mansion has strengthened its defenses, but that won't stop us. That treasure map is ours for the taking." A greedy glint gleamed in the leader's eyes. They had learned of some of the General's Mansion's defensive measures, but they had their own plans; a conspiracy against the General's Mansion was quietly unfolding.

As time passed, the tense atmosphere within the General's Mansion grew increasingly intense, with everyone anxiously awaiting their unknown fate. Xiao Yichen's uneasy premonition acted like a lighthouse in the darkness, guiding him to constantly search for a way out of this foggy situation, while the fate of the General's Mansion swayed uncertainly in this unseen contest.

Lin Wan'er sat quietly in her boudoir, everything around her seemed so peaceful, but her heart was far from calm. Ever since she discovered she possessed the ability to read minds, her world had been swept up in an unknown storm, and now, that storm was howling toward the General's Mansion.

She closed her eyes, trying to concentrate again to capture Xiao Yichen's thoughts. In that dark sea of ​​consciousness, Xiao Yichen's unease surged like waves, crashing against her one after another. She "heard" his deep concern for the safety of the General's Mansion; his chaotic thoughts were filled with vigilance against unknown enemies and worry for the safety of everyone in the mansion.

"The General's Mansion cannot be harmed. I must protect everything here. But where are the enemies? What are they plotting?" Xiao Yichen's thoughts echoed in Lin Wan'er's mind, each word like a heavy hammer, striking her heart. She knew that Xiao Yichen was the pillar of the General's Mansion, and he had always been strong and brave, but now, even he was so uneasy, which showed how serious the situation was.

Lin Wan'er stood up and paced around the room. She recalled the past liveliness and peace of the General's Mansion, the warmest harbor in her heart. Every blade of grass, every smiling face in the mansion, appeared before her eyes like a precious painting. The old steward's kind face, the maids' cheerful laughter, the soldiers' synchronized drills—none of this should be disturbed. Yet now, all of this faced a tremendous threat, and she felt so insignificant.

She decided to go find Xiao Yichen and discuss countermeasures with him. When she arrived at Xiao Yichen's study, she saw him standing in front of a map, his brows furrowed, deep in thought. Lin Wan'er walked over gently and called out, "Yichen." Xiao Yichen turned around, saw Lin Wan'er, and a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by worry.

“Wan’er, you’ve come,” Xiao Yichen said. Lin Wan’er walked to his side, looked at the General’s Mansion marked on the map and the surrounding terrain, and said, “I can sense your unease, Yichen. I’m also very worried about the General’s Mansion. We can’t let it fall into danger.” Xiao Yichen grasped Lin Wan’er’s hand and nodded slightly: “I know, Wan’er. But the enemy is hiding too well right now, and we still have too few clues.”

Lin Wan'er bit her lip and said, "Perhaps I can try my mind-reading ability again. Although we encountered difficulties before, we can't give up." Xiao Yichen looked at her, a glimmer of hope in his eyes: "Alright, Wan'er. Try again; perhaps you'll make a new discovery."

So the two went to the garden of the mansion again. It was bustling with people, a chaotic scene, but Lin Wan'er tried to calm herself and began to use her mind-reading ability. She closed her eyes, shutting out the surrounding distractions, attempting to find that one suspicious thought among the crowd. However, this time she mostly sensed the servants' normal worries and fears, without any valuable information.

Lin Wan'er was somewhat discouraged, but she still didn't want to give up. She said to Xiao Yichen, "Let's try somewhere else. Maybe there are too many people here, and it's too noisy." Xiao Yichen nodded, and the two arrived near a relatively secluded warehouse in the General's Mansion. This place was usually quiet and rarely visited.

Lin Wan'er closed her eyes again, concentrating her mind. This time, she seemed to sense a faint anomaly. In that chaotic sea of ​​thoughts, a cold aura flickered faintly. "Something's up," Lin Wan'er whispered. She tried hard to capture that aura, attempting to decipher the information within it.

"The treasure map... We must get it... The General's Mansion's defenses... have weaknesses..." Lin Wan'er stammered out what she had "heard." Xiao Yichen's expression changed: "It seems the enemy is indeed after the treasure map, and they are looking for loopholes in our defenses."

Lin Wan'er opened her eyes and looked at Xiao Yichen: "We need to find the flaws they mentioned as soon as possible and fix them." Xiao Yichen nodded in agreement, and he began to carefully consider the defense layout of the General's Mansion. From the main gate to the walls, from the patrol routes to the positions of the hidden sentries, every detail flashed through his mind.

“There are usually few people around this warehouse, could it be here?” Xiao Yichen said, looking at the warehouse. Lin Wan’er also thought it made sense: “Although it doesn’t store anything valuable here, we can’t be careless. The enemy might take advantage of its seclusion.”

The two entered the warehouse, which was filled with old supplies and miscellaneous items. Xiao Yichen inspected the doors, windows, and walls, noticing a damp patch in the back wall and some loose bricks. "This could be a hidden danger," Xiao Yichen said. He summoned the soldiers and ordered them to immediately reinforce the back wall of the warehouse and increase patrols.

After dealing with the warehouse matters, Lin Wan'er still had a furrowed brow. She said to Xiao Yichen, "Yichen, I think we can't just passively defend ourselves. We need to take the initiative and find those men in black." Xiao Yichen looked at her, a hint of appreciation in his eyes: "Wan'er, you're right. But we know very little about the enemy right now, and acting rashly might lead us into their trap."

Lin Wan'er thought for a moment and said, "We can start with those suspicious signs, such as the footprints, powder, and markings we found earlier. Perhaps we can find some clues to track down the enemy." Xiao Yichen nodded and said, "Okay, let's start with those. I've already sent people to investigate those clues, but there haven't been any results yet. Do you have any new ideas?"

Lin Wan'er pondered for a moment and said, "We can try starting with those markings. I think those markings might be a special kind of symbol, representing a certain organization or plan. If we can find someone who understands these symbols, perhaps we can solve the mystery." Xiao Yichen thought Lin Wan'er's idea made a lot of sense: "I have already sent people into the city to look for people who have studied Jianghu coded language and symbols. I hope they can find something."

Just then, a soldier came to report that some new traces had been found at the rockery in the general's mansion garden. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er immediately rushed over to investigate. They saw some new footprints and scratches around a cave in the rockery, and these footprints were somewhat similar to those found outside the gate earlier.

“It seems the enemy has already infiltrated this place.” Xiao Yichen’s face was grim. Lin Wan’er squatted down and carefully examined the footprints and scratches. She noticed that the footprints were pointing towards the interior of the artificial hill. “Is there some secret inside?” Lin Wan’er asked. Xiao Yichen shook his head: “This artificial hill was built by the former general. I’m not quite sure if there are any special mechanisms or passages inside.”

To ascertain the situation inside the artificial hill, Xiao Yichen summoned several veterans familiar with the general's mansion's layout. The veterans recalled that the artificial hill might have contained some underground passages during its construction, but the specifics were unclear. Xiao Yichen decided to send men to thoroughly search the artificial hill and simultaneously strengthen its defenses.

Throughout the search of the artificial hill, Lin Wan'er remained by her side. Her heart was filled with worry, fearing a sudden attack from the enemy. She remained vigilant, using her mind-reading ability to perceive her surroundings. However, after half a day of searching, they found nothing of value, only some ancient graffiti deep within the artificial hill. But this graffiti was different from the previous markings and held no particular meaning.

Back in the main hall of the General's Mansion, Lin Wan'er sat wearily in a chair. She felt her mind had been under immense pressure for a long time and was exhausted. But she knew now was not the time to rest; the crisis at the General's Mansion was not yet over. Xiao Yichen looked at the tired Lin Wan'er and said with concern, "Wan'er, you should rest. You've already done so much for the General's Mansion." Lin Wan'er shook her head: "No, Yichen. I can't rest. I want to face this with you."

Xiao Yichen grasped Lin Wan'er's hand with emotion, saying, "Wan'er, having you by my side is my greatest fortune. We will definitely overcome this difficulty." Looking into Xiao Yichen's resolute eyes, Lin Wan'er felt a surge of strength within her. She knew that as long as the two of them worked together, along with the unity of everyone in the General's Mansion, they would surely be able to protect the General's Mansion.

However, just then, a commotion arose outside the mansion. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er's hearts tightened, and they immediately got up and walked towards the gate. They didn't know if this commotion was a feint by the enemy or a real attack. But in any case, the General's Mansion was once again plunged into a tense situation, and Lin Wan'er's worries grew stronger. She held Xiao Yichen's hand tightly, preparing to face the upcoming challenge.

Outside the General's Mansion, the leader of the men in black watched the chaotic scene inside, a cold smile playing on his lips. His plan was unfolding step by step, while the people of the General's Mansion were still groping in the darkness, trying to find a glimmer of hope. But what he didn't know was that Lin Wan'er's mind-reading ability had become their greatest threat, and the people of the General's Mansion would not easily succumb to this crisis.

The night wind grew stronger, rustling the trees around the General's Mansion, as if playing a prelude to the impending life-or-death struggle. Lin Wan'er and Xiao Yichen stood before the gate, gazing into the darkness outside the mansion. Their eyes were filled with determination and fearlessness, for they knew that what they were protecting was something more important than life itself.