Murong Xuan stood in the shadows of a grove of trees not far from the General's Mansion. His figure was shrouded in darkness, with only his eyes gleaming coldly in the night. The trees beside him swayed gently in the night breeze, rustling softly, as if they too were trembling with tension for the conspiracy that was about to unfold.

Watching Zhao Lin lead the first squad towards the General's Mansion gate, Murong Xuan silently calculated every step of the entire plan. He knew this was a gamble fraught with danger and uncertainty; failure would severely damage his status and reputation in the Mu Kingdom, and his ambitions would vanish. But he had no choice; to achieve his goal of dominating the continent, he had to take the risk.

At this moment, the battle between Zhao Lin and the guards of the General's Mansion had reached a fever pitch. Zhao Lin's longsword gleamed coldly in the moonlight; his moves were sharp and fierce, each strike carrying immense power, attempting to break through the guards' defenses. The guards, in turn, worked closely together, forming a solid barrier with their spears, tenaciously resisting the enemy's attacks. Although Zhao Lin's squad was numerous and highly skilled, the guards of the General's Mansion were well-trained; they did not retreat and held their posts steadfastly.

"Kill! Don't let them storm into the mansion!" a guard captain shouted, his voice firm and powerful, inspiring his comrades.

Murong Xuan frowned slightly; he was not satisfied with Zhao Lin's progress. According to the plan, the first squad should have been able to attract Xiao Yichen's attention more quickly, but it seemed the guards' resistance was much stronger than he had anticipated. He clenched his fists, inwardly anxious, but outwardly remained calm.

In the backyard of the general's mansion, Yingfeng's second squad was quietly approaching the wall. Like a nimble night cat, Yingfeng moved swiftly through the woods without making a sound. His team followed closely behind, their eyes focused and alert, constantly watching their surroundings.

Yingfeng arrived at the foot of a large tree. He looked up at the branches extending into the General's Mansion, took a deep breath, and used his light-footed skill to quickly climb the trunk. He lay prone on a branch, cautiously observing the situation inside the walls. All was quiet within the walls, save for the distant sounds of a banquet. Yingfeng secretly rejoiced. He gestured to his team behind him, signaling them to follow.

The team members climbed the tree one by one, then slowly moved towards the wall along the branches. Yingfeng was the first to reach the wall. He drew a dagger from his waist and gently inserted it into a crack in the wall to check for any traps. After confirming there was no danger, he leaped over the wall and landed silently inside the general's mansion.

Immediately afterward, the other team members also successfully scaled the wall and entered. They quickly hid behind a clump of bushes, and Yingfeng whispered, "Everyone be careful. According to the plan, we need to find Xiao Yichen's residence and study first. Amu, come with me, we'll go and crack any possible traps."

Amu nodded, and the two of them crouched low as they walked deeper into the courtyard. Their figures appeared and disappeared in the moonlight, like ghosts.

Iron Hand's third squad waited for their opportunity outside the general's mansion. Hidden in the bushes, they kept their eyes fixed on Xiao Yichen's tent. Iron Hand's palms were sweaty; he knew the key to this mission lay with their squad. If they could successfully steal the military deployment map, Murong Xuan's plan would be half successful. But he also knew that Xiao Yichen was no ordinary person, and his tent would undoubtedly be heavily guarded.

"Everyone, stay calm and don't make any rash moves. We'll act after Yingfeng and the others create chaos inside the mansion," Iron Hand whispered to his team.

Inside the manor, Xiao Yichen had already arrived at the gate. He saw Zhao Lin leading the enemy in a frenzied attack on the guards, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes. "Murong Xuan, you're causing trouble again! Today is your end!" Xiao Yichen roared, sword in hand, and charged into the fray.

His swordsmanship flowed like clouds and water, each strike precise and deadly, felling enemies wherever his blade struck. Zhao Lin, seeing Xiao Yichen appear, was overjoyed, knowing he had completed part of his mission. "Xiao Yichen, prepare to die!" Zhao Lin roared, brandishing his longsword as he charged towards Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen met Zhao Lin's attack head-on, and the two instantly clashed. Their moves were exchanged back and forth at incredible speed, leaving onlookers with only a blur of flashing blades. Xiao Yichen's swordsmanship proved superior, and he gradually gained the upper hand, while Zhao Lin began to struggle to defend himself.

"You invaders, do you think you can succeed like this?" Xiao Yichen said coldly as he attacked.

Zhao Lin gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn't back down. "Xiao Yichen, don't be so smug, today is your death day!" He used all his strength to launch a fierce attack, but Xiao Yichen easily deflected it.

On the other side of the General's Mansion, while searching for Xiao Yichen's residence, Yingfeng and Amu accidentally triggered a mechanism. A soft "click" was heard, and several arrows shot out from hidden holes in the wall. Yingfeng reacted quickly, pulling Amu along, and the two rolled to the ground, narrowly avoiding the arrows.

"That was close! Xiao Yichen is indeed cunning; he set traps everywhere," Yingfeng said, still shaken.

Amu stood up, dusted himself off, and said, "It's alright, we'll just be careful. This mechanism should be connected to a trigger, and if we follow the clues, we should be able to find the control center of more mechanisms."

So the two began to carefully search for clues to the mechanism. They found some subtle scratches and markings on the wall, and following these clues, they gradually found the control hub of the mechanism. Amu used his knowledge of mechanisms to cleverly solve the puzzle and eliminate the surrounding danger.

“Alright, now we can move on,” Amu said.

Yingfeng nodded, and they continued to quietly approach Xiao Yichen's residence.

At this moment, Tie Shou, seeing some movement inside the mansion, felt the time was ripe. "Brothers, move out!" Tie Shou gave the order, and the third squad rose from the bushes and rushed towards Xiao Yichen's tent.

Their movements attracted the attention of the patrol team. "Enemy! Protect the general's tent!" the patrol captain shouted, leading his men to meet them.

Iron Hand's squad engaged in a fierce battle with the patrol outside the camp. Iron Hand wielded his spiked club, each strike carrying immense power, repelling any approaching enemies. But the patrol was equally determined, fighting desperately to prevent the enemy from getting a single step closer to the camp.

During the battle with Zhao Lin at the gate of the mansion, Xiao Yichen gradually realized that the enemy's intentions seemed to extend beyond just attacking the gate. A thought struck him: there might be important military deployment maps hidden in his tent, and he worried that the enemy might take advantage of the situation to strike.

"You all stay here and hold them off, I'm going to check on the camp!" Xiao Yichen said to the guards, then used his lightness skill to rush towards the camp.

His figure flashed through the general's mansion like lightning. Murong Xuan, seeing Xiao Yichen leave the mansion from the woods, was overjoyed, feeling his plan was progressing step by step. However, he dared not let his guard down, keeping a close watch on the movements within the mansion, ready to respond to any possible changes.

This battle, unfolding within the General's Mansion, involves a clash of multiple forces and a web of intrigue. Will Xiao Yichen arrive at the camp in time to protect the military deployment map? Will Yingfeng be able to successfully locate Xiao Yichen's residence and obtain confidential intelligence? Everything remains uncertain, and the outcome of this battle will have a profound impact on the future of both the Xiao and Mu Kingdoms.

After cracking the mechanism, Yingfeng and Amu proceeded with increasing caution towards Xiao Yichen's residence. Moonlight spilled onto the stone path in the courtyard, casting their furtive shadows. The surroundings were so quiet that only their light footsteps could be heard, occasionally broken by a rustling of leaves in the wind, adding an unsettling accompaniment to the tense atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Iron Hand's third squad was locked in fierce combat with the patrol outside the camp. Shouts of battle and the clashing of weapons shattered the night's silence. Iron Hand's spiked club whistled through the air with each swing, and he roared, "Get out of my way! I'm taking this camp today!" The patrol soldiers, undeterred, fought swiftly, their spears forming a forest, repeatedly blocking Iron Hand's attacks. One of the squad leaders shouted, "If you want to set foot in the general's camp, you'll have to get past us first!"

Xiao Yichen moved like a gust of wind, rushing through the courtyard and corridors, his heart burning with anxiety as he hurried towards the camp. He knew all too well that if the military deployment map in the camp fell into enemy hands, the Xiao Kingdom's border defense plan would be exposed, with unimaginable consequences. His eyes burned with anger and determination, and the sword in his hand gleamed with a cold, sharp light under the moonlight, as if it too could sense its master's anxiety and fighting spirit.

Near the granary of the General's Mansion, the area appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, it concealed a hidden danger. After Murong Xuan's men suffered a crushing defeat here last time, Xiao Yichen had specifically strengthened the defenses. Countless small but sharp tripwires were hidden in the bushes surrounding the granary; a slight misstep would result in cuts to the legs and feet. The granary's gate looked ordinary, but it was actually forged from refined iron, incredibly heavy, and equipped with a cleverly designed lock; only those who knew the code could open it.

While searching for Xiao Yichen's residence, Yingfeng and Amu stumbled upon a granary. Amu, with his sharp eyes, noticed something amiss in the bushes and quickly pulled Yingfeng aside: "Wait! There might be an ambush here. Look at those bushes, something's not right." Yingfeng followed his gaze, his heart skipped a beat, and he crouched down to examine them closely. He saw faint metallic wires peeking through the bushes, gleaming weakly in the moonlight. He secretly rejoiced, "Thank goodness! If you hadn't spotted us in time, we might have been ambushed."

The two decided to bypass the granary and continue towards their lodgings. However, their actions had already been detected by Xiao Yichen's spies hidden in the shadows. The spies quickly relayed the information to Xiao Yichen, who immediately hatched a plan. While speeding towards his tent, he secretly ordered the guards near the granary to feign ignorance and let Ying Feng and his men approach, preparing to trap them like turtles in a jar.

After circling around, Yingfeng and Amu found that all other paths were guarded and patrolled. Left with no other option, they tried again to pass through the vicinity of the granary. They carefully avoided the tripwires and slowly approached the granary gate. Amu meticulously examined the lock on the door, trying to crack it. Yingfeng, meanwhile, vigilantly watched their surroundings, gripping his dagger tightly, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

Just as Amu was about to break the lock, Xiao Yichen arrived at the camp. He saw Tie Shou locked in fierce combat with the patrol team and shouted, "Stop being so arrogant!" before charging into the fray. His swordsmanship was exquisite, each strike as swift as a dragon weaving through the air. Tie Shou immediately felt an immense pressure bearing down on him, secretly astonished: "This Xiao Yichen truly lives up to his reputation; his martial arts are so superb."

Xiao Yichen and the patrol team worked together to gradually suppress Iron Hand's squad. Seeing the situation was dire, Iron Hand was extremely anxious. He knew that if he couldn't break into the camp quickly, the mission would fail completely. Therefore, he recklessly charged towards Xiao Yichen, attempting to fight to the death to buy time for his men. "Xiao Yichen, prepare to die!" Iron Hand roared, his spiked club slamming down with tremendous force towards Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen remained calm, easily dodging Tie Shou's attack with a sidestep, while simultaneously thrusting his sword towards Tie Shou's chest. Tie Shou hurriedly dodged, but was still grazed on the arm by Xiao Yichen's sword. "Damn it!" Tie Shou gritted his teeth, enduring the pain to continue fighting Xiao Yichen.

Meanwhile, at the granary, Amu finally cracked the lock, and the gate slowly opened. Yingfeng was overjoyed, thinking he had found a shortcut to Xiao Yichen's residence. He entered the granary first, with Amu following closely behind. As soon as they stepped inside, Yingfeng felt his feet sink into the ground. He knew something was wrong, and before he could react, a huge net descended from the sky, tightly covering him and Amu.

It turned out that Xiao Yichen had already set up multiple traps inside the granary. The net was made of special steel wire, incredibly tough, and difficult to cut with ordinary swords. Yingfeng and Amu struggled in the net, but the more they struggled, the tighter it became. At this moment, the guards around the granary appeared one after another, surrounding them completely.

"Hmph, fools who walked right into our trap," a guard captain sneered.

Yingfeng was filled with regret; he hadn't expected to fall for Xiao Yichen's trap. Amu tried to use his tools to break the net, but to no avail. "Yingfeng, we've been tricked. This net is impossible to break," Amu said helplessly.

At the camp, the battle between Xiao Yichen and Tie Shou continued. Xiao Yichen seized an opportunity, unleashing a fierce sword technique that forced Tie Shou to retreat repeatedly. Seeing their captain in trouble, Tie Shou's men tried to help, but were firmly blocked by the patrol team. "None of you are escaping!" the patrol captain shouted.

Taking advantage of Tie Shou's panic, Xiao Yichen stabbed him in the thigh with his sword. Tie Shou screamed and fell to his knees. "Do you think you can act recklessly in my General's Mansion?" Xiao Yichen said coldly.

Iron Hand was filled with despair; he knew the mission had failed completely. He stared at Xiao Yichen, his eyes filled with hatred: "Xiao Yichen, don't be so smug. His Highness will not let you off the hook."

Xiao Yichen ignored him and turned to order the patrol team to capture Tie Shou and the others. Then, he quickly went to the granary to deal with Ying Feng and Amu.

Yingfeng and Amu were trapped in the net, their hearts filled with resentment as they looked at the guards around them. They knew that once Xiao Yichen captured them, they would face severe interrogation, and all the information they knew about Murong Xuan's plans would be exposed. But at this moment, they were helpless and could only watch Xiao Yichen approach step by step.

The battle surrounding the General's Mansion is gradually becoming clearer. Murong Xuan's conspiracy has suffered a heavy blow thanks to Xiao Yichen's skillful handling. However, will Murong Xuan give up? How will Xiao Yichen deal with the potential crises that may follow? Everything unfolds in an unpredictable night, heading in an unknown direction.

Yingfeng and Amu were trapped in the large net of the granary, their faces filled with terror and despair. They struggled desperately, wildly swinging their weapons within the net, only to have the tough wire mesh bind them tighter. Beads of sweat rolled down Amu's forehead, a hint of resentment in his eyes. He knew that he and Yingfeng had become victims of this conspiracy, and that Murong Xuan's entire plan had been plunged into extreme danger because of their failure.

Xiao Yichen strode steadily and powerfully toward the granary. His eyes were cold and icy, as if they could pierce the darkness and reach the depths of the enemy's heart. Every step carried an invisible authority, making the surrounding air seem to freeze. When he reached the granary entrance and saw Yingfeng and Amu trapped in the net, he frowned slightly. His expression contained both disdain for the enemy's conspiracy and a hint of contempt for their self-inflicted trap.

"You think you can so easily uncover the secrets of my General's Mansion? Murong Xuan's plan may be clever, but he has ultimately underestimated me, Xiao Yichen." Xiao Yichen's voice was deep and calm, but it resounded like a bell around the silent granary, hitting Yingfeng and Amu's ears directly.

Yingfeng gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Xiao Yichen. "Xiao Yichen, don't be so smug for too long. How can you stop His Highness's grand ambitions? Today's defeat is just a momentary lapse in judgment."

Xiao Yichen sneered, "Is that so? Then I'd like to see what other tricks Murong Xuan has up his sleeve. Take them away and interrogate them carefully. I want to see what Murong Xuan is planning." With that, he waved his hand, and the guards stepped forward to drag Yingfeng and Amu out of the net and escort them to the dungeon of the General's Mansion.

Meanwhile, outside the general's camp, Tie Shou and his men had also been subdued. Tie Shou had a leg wound, blood staining his trousers. He was being held up by two soldiers, his eyes still filled with stubbornness and hatred for Xiao Yichen. Xiao Yichen glanced at him and said, "Take them away too, and lock them up with the others."

After dealing with matters here, Xiao Yichen stood there, pondering Murong Xuan's operation. He knew that although he had successfully intercepted and captured some of Murong Xuan's men, Murong Xuan himself was definitely still lurking somewhere outside the manor. He looked up at the dark woods outside the manor, as if he could see Murong Xuan's figure hidden within, and his heart pounded with vigilance.

Murong Xuan was indeed hiding in the woods, witnessing his plan crumble step by step. Yingfeng and Amu were trapped, Tieshou captured; his heart was filled with anger and resentment. His hands were clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain. He had originally thought this meticulously planned operation would be foolproof, a crushing blow to Xiao Yichen, laying the foundation for his future dominance, but he never expected that Xiao Yichen would once again see through his scheme and thwart his plans.

"Xiao Yichen, why are you always so difficult to deal with!" Murong Xuan roared inwardly. But he also knew that if he didn't escape now, he would surely die if Xiao Yichen found him. He suppressed his anger and quietly retreated, preparing to escape the General's Mansion.

Just as Murong Xuan turned to leave, a night owl suddenly flew overhead, letting out a sharp cry. The cry sounded particularly abrupt in the silent night sky, instantly alerting Xiao Yichen. Xiao Yichen's eyes sharpened; he sensed that the owl's cry might not be accidental, but rather a signal from Murong Xuan or something that had been triggered by his actions.

"Oh no, Murong Xuan might be trying to escape." Xiao Yichen was startled and immediately used his lightness skill to chase after him towards the woods. His figure was like a black lightning bolt, streaking across the night sky at an astonishing speed.

Hearing the noise behind him, Murong Xuan's heart tightened; he knew he had been discovered. He quickened his pace, running wildly into the depths of the woods. He weaved left and right through the trees, trying to use the cover to shake off Xiao Yichen's pursuit. His breathing was rapid and heavy, sweat soaking his back, but he dared not stop for a moment, for he knew that if he were caught, his mission would be in vain, and he might even lose his life.

Xiao Yichen pursued Murong Xuan closely, his eyes fixed on Murong Xuan's back. The two engaged in a thrilling chase through the woods. Branches scraped past them, cutting their skin, but they paid no heed to the pain. Murong Xuan glanced back frequently, growing increasingly anxious as he saw Xiao Yichen closing in.

"Am I really going to die here today? No, I refuse to accept this!" Murong Xuan cried out in his heart. Suddenly, he saw a stream ahead, and an idea struck him. He quickened his pace and ran to the stream, then followed the current, trying to use the water to cover his scent and footprints, so that Xiao Yichen would lose track of him.

Xiao Yichen chased after Murong Xuan to the stream and saw the trail of water from which he had fled. He hesitated for a moment, but quickly realized it might be a trick by Murong Xuan. He decided not to be fooled by the illusion and continued to follow his intuition. He believed that Murong Xuan would inevitably reveal a flaw in his actions in his panic.

After running along the stream for a while, Murong Xuan realized that he hadn't shaken off Xiao Yichen, and his panic intensified. He saw a dense thicket ahead and thought he might be able to hide there for a while. He rushed into the thicket without thinking, curling up and trying his best to avoid being discovered.

Xiao Yichen chased the bushes to the vicinity and stopped, carefully observing the surroundings. He sensed that Murong Xuan might be hiding in the bushes, but he didn't act rashly. He stood there quietly, using his hearing and sense of smell to try and find Murong Xuan's trail.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment; only the heavy breathing of Xiao Yichen and Murong Xuan filled the forest. Murong Xuan hid in the bushes, barely daring to breathe. His heart pounded like thunder in his ears; he was afraid Xiao Yichen would suddenly discover him. Xiao Yichen, on the other hand, waited patiently. He knew that Murong Xuan, in his extreme tension, would inevitably make a move, and that would be the perfect opportunity for him to strike.

Suddenly, a wild rabbit darted out of the bushes, startling Murong Xuan. Murong Xuan instinctively shifted his body, a slight movement immediately noticed by Xiao Yichen. Without hesitation, Xiao Yichen struck, his sword flashing like a cold light, aimed straight at Murong Xuan in the bushes.

Murong Xuan's eyes widened in terror as he saw Xiao Yichen's sword hurtling towards him, thinking he was doomed. In that split second, he mustered all his strength to dodge to the side. Xiao Yichen's sword grazed his clothes, slashing his arm. Ignoring the pain, Murong Xuan seized the moment when Xiao Yichen's sword missed, leaping out of the bushes and continuing his desperate escape.

Xiao Yichen was surprised that Murong Xuan could escape from such a desperate situation, and he secretly admired Murong Xuan's resourcefulness. But he would not give up easily. He chased after Murong Xuan and shouted, "Murong Xuan, you can't escape today!"

Murong Xuan shouted as he ran, "Xiao Yichen, don't push me too far. I, Murong Xuan, will not let this go. One day I will make you pay the price."

Their voices echoed through the woods, thick with tension. But as Murong Xuan approached the edge of the forest, a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart. He knew that if he could escape this forest and return to the Mu Kingdom, he would still have a chance to rise again.

Finally, Murong Xuan mustered his last bit of strength and rushed out of the woods. He saw a horse ahead, the one he had arranged beforehand for any eventuality. Overjoyed, he immediately ran over, mounted the horse, and rode away, kicking up dust.

Xiao Yichen chased after Murong Xuan to the edge of the woods, only to see him flee on horseback. He stopped in his tracks, filled with worry as he watched Murong Xuan's retreating figure. He knew that although Murong Xuan had failed this time, he would not give up. And the struggle between him and Murong Xuan would only become more intense and brutal.

"Murong Xuan, I'll be waiting for you to come again. Next time, I will not let you escape so easily," Xiao Yichen murmured to himself. He turned and slowly walked back to the General's Mansion. He knew he still had many things to deal with, such as interrogating the captured Murong Xuan's subordinates and strengthening the defenses of the General's Mansion to deal with Murong Xuan's possible attack again.