Xiao Yichen shielded Lin Wan'er behind him, his gaze fixed intently on the approaching man in black, a resolute determination rising within him. He knew that today's battle concerned the survival of the General's Mansion, and even more so, the life and death of him and Lin Wan'er.

"Wan'er, stay behind me. No matter what happens, don't make any rash moves," Xiao Yichen whispered, his voice steady and firm, reassuring Lin Wan'er.

Lin Wan'er gripped Xiao Yichen's clothes tightly, her eyes filled with worry. But she knew she couldn't cause him any trouble at this moment, so she just nodded slightly and said, "General, you must be careful."

The mysterious figure stood behind the men in black, a sinister smile playing on his lips, as if victory was already assured. He waved his hand, and the men in black surged towards Xiao Yichen like a tidal wave, instantly filling the courtyard with a murderous aura.

Xiao Yichen wielded a longsword, its blade gleaming coldly like a star in the night sky. He struck first, his movements as swift as lightning, instantly plunging into the ranks of the men in black. His swordsmanship was fierce, each move carrying immense power, and with every swing, a man in black fell with a scream. He moved with effortless grace among the men, like a dragon entering the sea, leaving a trail of blood wherever he went.

Despite the large number of men in black, Xiao Yichen showed no fear. His gaze was fixed on the enemy's movements, and relying on his keen intuition and superb martial arts skills honed over many years on the battlefield, he skillfully avoided their attacks and delivered fatal counterattacks.

However, the men in black seemed to have undergone special training; they coordinated seamlessly, with one falling immediately followed by another, giving Xiao Yichen no chance to catch his breath. They wielded various weapons, including longswords, short swords, and chains, attacking Xiao Yichen from all directions.

A long sword came slashing towards Xiao Yichen's back. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Xiao Yichen dodged to the side and swung his long sword backward, severing the sword in two. Then, he turned around and thrust his sword straight at the throat of the swordsman. The movements were swift and decisive.

But at that moment, two more men in black attacked him from the other side, brandishing iron chains. The chains whistled through the air, accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound. Xiao Yichen seized the opportunity, leaping into the air and using the wall beside him as leverage to push off, thus avoiding the chains' attack. In mid-air, he adjusted his stance and swooped down on the two men in black like an eagle swooping down on its prey. His longsword flashed with a flurry of swordplay, and before the two men in black could react, they were engulfed by the sword's dazzling display and instantly fell to the ground, dead.

Lin Wan'er watched all this nervously, her heart pounding with every move Xiao Yichen made. Seeing him surrounded, she was frantic, looking around anxiously, hoping to find a way to help him. Suddenly, she spotted some old farm tools in a corner of the courtyard, among which a hoe looked fairly sturdy. She rushed over, grabbed the hoe, and charged towards the men in black.

"General, I'm here to help you!" Lin Wan'er shouted.

Upon hearing Lin Wan'er's voice, Xiao Yichen was startled. "Wan'er, go back! It's too dangerous here."

But Lin Wan'er had already rushed to the side of the men in black. She raised her hoe and swung it at one of them. Caught off guard by Lin Wan'er's sudden attack, the man was struck in the shoulder by the hoe, wincing in pain. Seeing this, some of the other men in black split off and attacked Lin Wan'er.

Although Lin Wan'er was brave, she had not received professional training, and she quickly became overwhelmed by the men in black's fierce attacks. One of the men in black kicked her wrist, causing the hoe to slip from her hand, and Lin Wan'er fell to the ground.

"Wan'er!" Xiao Yichen roared, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes. He charged towards Lin Wan'er without regard for anything else, his long sword swinging faster and more fiercely, and wherever he went, the men in black fell down, their blood staining the ground red.

The mysterious man frowned slightly upon seeing Xiao Yichen's ferocity. He pulled out a hidden weapon from his robes and shot it towards Xiao Yichen. The weapon gleamed blue in the sunlight, clearly coated with a potent poison.

Xiao Yichen was running towards Lin Wan'er when he suddenly sensed a dangerous aura. He abruptly stopped and glanced around, spotting the incoming hidden weapon. He had no time to dodge and could only swing his longsword, trying to deflect the weapon.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" With a few crisp sounds, Xiao Yichen successfully knocked away most of the hidden weapons, but one still grazed his arm, leaving a deep wound. He felt a sharp pain in his arm, followed by a numbness.

"General!" Lin Wan'er exclaimed, disregarding her own safety, and crawled towards Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen gritted his teeth, enduring the pain in his arm, and continued walking towards Lin Wan'er. He knew he couldn't fall; he had to protect Lin Wan'er and the General's Mansion.

At this moment, the men in black surrounded him again. Seeing that Xiao Yichen was injured, their attacks became even more ferocious. Xiao Yichen wielded his longsword with all his might, engaging in a desperate struggle with the men in black. With each swing of his sword, he could feel the pain in his arm intensify, but his eyes remained resolute, showing no sign of retreat.

Lin Wan'er crawled to Xiao Yichen's side and was horrified to see that the wound on his arm had begun to turn black. "General, you've been poisoned!" Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Don't worry, Wan'er, this little bit of poison can't hurt me," Xiao Yichen comforted her, but his voice was already somewhat weak.

Just as they were in dire straits, the guards from the general's mansion heard the commotion and rushed over. Seeing that the general was injured, the guards were filled with righteous indignation, and they roared as they charged towards the man in black.

"Protect the general!" the guards shouted.

The battle in the courtyard intensified. The arrival of the guards eased the situation slightly, but the men in black were not to be outdone, and the two sides reached a stalemate.

Taking advantage of the situation, Xiao Yichen led Lin Wan'er to a relatively safe corner. He sat cross-legged, attempting to expel the poison through his internal energy. Lin Wan'er watched him anxiously from the side, knowing that the situation was extremely critical; if Xiao Yichen couldn't detoxify in time, the consequences would be unimaginable.

As he circulated his internal energy, Xiao Yichen's forehead was covered in sweat, and his face grew increasingly pale. The toxins raged within him, battling against his inner strength. Each impact caused him excruciating pain, but he persevered with unwavering willpower, struggling to suppress the toxins.

On the battlefield, the guards and the men in black fought fiercely. Although outnumbered, the guards fought bravely to protect the general and his residence. They risked their lives in a brutal battle against the men in black.

One of the guards was slashed in the abdomen by the man in black, but he still clung tightly to him, shouting, "Brothers, kill him!" Seeing this, the other guards were greatly encouraged and attacked the man in black even more desperately.

The men in black began to panic; they hadn't expected the general's guards to be so tenacious. Seeing the situation turning against them, the mysterious man's face darkened. He decided to intervene personally and turn the tide of the battle.

The mysterious figure walked towards the corner where Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er were. His steps were slow and steady, each step carrying a strong killing intent. He held a long sword in his hand, the blade radiating an eerie light.

"Hmph, Xiao Yichen, today is your death day," the mysterious man said coldly.

Lin Wan'er was filled with fear as she saw the mysterious man approaching. She stood in front of Xiao Yichen, "Don't come any closer! I won't let you hurt the general!"

The mysterious man glanced at Lin Wan'er with disdain. "You? A weak woman like you, you think you can stop me? What a joke."

With that, he raised his longsword and thrust it towards Lin Wan'er. Lin Wan'er closed her eyes, awaiting death. But at that moment, Xiao Yichen suddenly opened his eyes, and with all his might, shot a hidden arrow at the mysterious man.

The hidden dart flew towards the mysterious man with a whistling sound. Sensing the danger, the man quickly dodged to the side. The dart grazed his cheek, scratching his face.

"Xiao Yichen, you're really tenacious. But it's all in vain." The mysterious man was furious.

Xiao Yichen stood up, his body swaying slightly, but his eyes remained fixed firmly on the mysterious man. "You want my life? Not so easy." He picked up his longsword and confronted the mysterious man.

Their eyes met, and sparks seemed to fly through the air. They both knew that this battle would determine the fate of everything.

Xiao Yichen launched the first attack; despite being poisoned, his swordsmanship remained sharp. The mysterious man was not to be outdone; he wielded his longsword and engaged Xiao Yichen in a thrilling duel.

Their longswords clashed, producing a crisp clang. Each impact sent shivers down their spines. Xiao Yichen endured the corrosive effects of the poison, relentlessly searching for the mysterious man's weakness. He knew he had to finish the fight quickly, or the poison would spread, leaving him with no strength left to fight.

The mysterious man seemed to have read Xiao Yichen's mind. He deliberately created an opening to lure Xiao Yichen into attacking. Xiao Yichen fell for it and thrust his sword at the opening. But at that moment, the mysterious man suddenly changed his move, his longsword aimed at Xiao Yichen's chest.

Upon seeing this, Lin Wan'er exclaimed, "General, be careful!"

In that critical moment, Xiao Yichen, relying on his years of combat experience, forcibly twisted his body. The mysterious man's longsword grazed his chest, tearing his clothes and leaving a shallow wound.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xiao Yichen retaliated, his longsword slashing towards the mysterious man's wrist. The mysterious man quickly withdrew his hand, but was still cut on the wrist by Xiao Yichen's sword.

"Damn it!" the mysterious man roared.

The two distanced themselves again, re-examining each other. Meanwhile, the battle between the guards and the men in black was nearing its end. With their unwavering will and fearless spirit, the guards gradually gained the upper hand, and the men in black began to retreat steadily.

Seeing that the man in black was clearly losing, the mysterious man felt a pang of panic. He knew that if he continued to fight, he would not only fail to obtain the box, but his life might also be in danger.

"Hmph, Xiao Yichen, I'll let you go for now. We'll meet again." After saying this, the mysterious man led the remaining men in black away from the general's mansion.

With the departure of the men in black, the general's mansion returned to calm. However, the mansion was now a scene of devastation, littered with blood and corpses. The guards were exhausted, and many were injured.

As Xiao Yichen witnessed all of this, his heart was filled with self-reproach and guilt. He knew that it was all because of him that the General's Mansion had suffered such a calamity.

Lin Wan'er walked to Xiao Yichen's side and took his hand. "General, this is not your fault. You have done your best."

Xiao Yichen looked at Lin Wan'er, his eyes filled with emotion. He knew that Lin Wan'er had been by his side throughout this crisis, giving him strength and courage.

"Wan'er, we must find the mastermind behind this and protect the General's Mansion," Xiao Yichen said firmly.

“Yes, General, let’s go together.” Lin Wan’er nodded.

The leader of the men in black watched as the mysterious figure led some of his men away, but he did not move an inch. His gaze was fixed on Lin Wan'er like that of a hawk, and the sinister aura in his eyes grew stronger, as if Lin Wan'er was the culprit for the failure of his operation.

Lin Wan'er was supporting the injured Xiao Yichen when she felt a chill run down her spine as she gazed at him with malice. She instinctively looked at the leader of the men in black, who was dressed in a black outfit, had a burly build, and a hideous scar on his face that stretched from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth, appearing even more menacing in the afterglow of the setting sun.

"Hmph, little girl, it's all because of you that we ruined our plans." The leader of the men in black's deep voice echoed in the courtyard, carrying a strong sense of threat.

Lin Wan'er forced herself to remain calm. She gripped Xiao Yichen's arm tightly, trying to draw strength from him. "You came here to do evil, so don't blame me."

Xiao Yichen sensed the urgency of the situation and shielded Lin Wan'er behind him. Although the excruciating pain from his wounds nearly made him faint, he still forced himself to stay awake and whispered to Lin Wan'er, "Wan'er, find a chance to leave later and go find Li Ran and the others."

Seeing Xiao Yichen's actions, the leader of the men in black sneered, "Xiao Yichen, you can't even protect yourself, yet you want to protect her? None of you are leaving today." As he spoke, he slowly raised the long sword in his hand, which gleamed with a cold light in the afterglow.

The guards of the general's mansion had just gone through a fierce battle and were mostly exhausted, but when they saw the leader of the men in black preparing to attack again, they still struggled to surround him.

"Protect the general and the young lady!" a guard shouted, his voice hoarse but full of determination.

The leader of the men in black glanced contemptuously at the approaching guards. "A bunch of ants, trying to stop me?" He suddenly swung his long sword, aiming at the nearest guard. The guard raised his weapon to defend, but the man in black was too strong. With a "crack," the guard's weapon was broken, and the long sword sliced ​​across his chest, blood gushing out.

Seeing this, the other guards roared and charged at the leader of the men in black, but they were no match for him. The leader of the men in black moved through the guards as if they were nothing, wielding his long sword, each swing sending up a spray of blood, and the guards fell one after another.

Xiao Yichen watched his guards fall one after another, his heart filled with anxiety. He knew this couldn't continue, or everyone would die here. He released Lin Wan'er's hand, picked up his longsword, and prepared to fight the leader of the men in black once more.

"General, your injuries are too severe, you can't fight anymore," Lin Wan'er cried out anxiously.

"Wan'er, there's no other way. I can't just watch everyone die because of me." Xiao Yichen's eyes were resolute. He dragged his injured body toward the leader of the men in black.

The leader of the men in black saw Xiao Yichen walking towards him and a cruel smile appeared on his lips. "Xiao Yichen, are you here to die? Perfect, I'll deal with you first, then I'll go settle accounts with that little girl."

The two faced off again. Xiao Yichen knew his situation was far worse than the leader of the men in black, but he couldn't back down. He took a deep breath and struck first. Although his swordsmanship wasn't as sharp as before, it still carried some momentum. The leader of the men in black easily dodged Xiao Yichen's attack, then swung his sword back at him. Xiao Yichen couldn't dodge in time and was slashed across the shoulder by the long blade, blood instantly staining his clothes.

"General!" Lin Wan'er exclaimed, running towards Xiao Yichen without regard for her own safety.

Seeing this, the leader of the men in black changed his target and charged towards Lin Wan'er. He was incredibly fast, arriving in front of Lin Wan'er in the blink of an eye, and slashed down with his long sword. Lin Wan'er closed her eyes in terror, thinking she was doomed this time.

At this critical moment, a figure suddenly rushed over and stood in front of Lin Wan'er. It was a guard who had used his body to block the leader of the men in black from the fatal blow. The long knife was deeply embedded in the guard's back, and he coughed up blood, but he still held tightly to the leader of the men in black's arm, preventing him from continuing to attack Lin Wan'er.

"Hurry up... Miss..." the guard said to Lin Wan'er with difficulty.

Tears streamed down Lin Wan'er's face. She knew this guard was protecting her with his life. She gritted her teeth and ran to the side. The leader of the men in black forcefully shook off the guard and continued his pursuit of Lin Wan'er.

Seeing this, Xiao Yichen was frantic with worry. Ignoring his own injuries, he chased after the leader of the men in black. He knew that if anything happened to Lin Wan'er, he wouldn't live on alone.

Lin Wan'er ran frantically through the general's mansion, her mind a complete mess, focused solely on escaping the leader of the men in black. In her panic, she stumbled into a secluded garden. The garden was overgrown with weeds, dotted with artificial hills and winding corridors; she hoped to shake off the leader of the men in black there.

The leader of the men in black followed closely behind Lin Wan'er, walking at a leisurely pace, as if Lin Wan'er was already his for the taking. "Little girl, you can't escape. Today is your death day." His voice echoed in the garden, like a ghost.

Lin Wan'er hid behind a rockery, trying to calm her breathing. She looked around, searching for an escape route. Suddenly, she noticed a hidden entrance to the rockery, concealed by weeds and difficult to spot without careful observation. Without thinking twice, she quickly crawled towards the entrance.

Hearing the commotion, the leader of the men in black walked towards the artificial hill. He saw Lin Wan'er and a smug smile appeared on his lips. "Let's see where you can run now." He walked towards Lin Wan'er but didn't notice a vine under his feet. He tripped over the vine and fell forward, a fall that only fueled his anger.

"You wretched little brat, once I catch you, I'll make you wish you were dead." The leader of the men in black stood up and quickened his pace.

After crawling into the cave entrance, Lin Wan'er found herself in a narrow, dark, damp passage with a pungent odor. Ignoring this, she continued crawling forward.

The leader of the men in black also arrived at the cave entrance. He glanced at the entrance, frowned, but still crawled inside. The passage was somewhat narrow for him, forcing him to stoop as he moved, which slowed his movements.

Lin Wan'er crawled through the passage for a while when suddenly a light appeared ahead. Overjoyed, she crawled towards the light. When she emerged from the passage, she found herself in an abandoned courtyard. The courtyard was filled with clutter and surrounded by high walls.

"What should we do? There's no way out here." Lin Wan'er was extremely anxious, searching everywhere in the courtyard for a way to escape.

Just then, the leader of the men in black crawled out of the passage. He saw Lin Wan'er trapped in the courtyard and laughed loudly, "Little girl, you have nowhere to escape."

As the leader of the men in black approached step by step, Lin Wan'er's body trembled involuntarily. She looked around and found a wooden stick in the corner. She ran over, picked up the stick, and swung it at the leader of the men in black.

"Don't come any closer! I'm not afraid of you!" Lin Wan'er shouted, though her voice was filled with fear.

The leader of the men in black looked at Lin Wan'er with disdain. "With just this wooden stick? You're really overestimating yourself." He easily dodged Lin Wan'er's attack, then kicked her wrist, sending the wooden stick flying out of her hand.

Lin Wan'er fell to the ground. The leader of the men in black walked up to her, raised his long knife, and prepared to deliver a fatal blow.

At this critical moment, Xiao Yichen finally found the place. He saw the leader of the men in black preparing to attack Lin Wan'er and roared, "Stop!" He threw his longsword at the leader of the men in black with all his might. The longsword flew towards the leader of the men in black, who sensed the danger behind him and quickly turned to dodge.

Taking advantage of the moment, Xiao Yichen ran to Lin Wan'er's side and pulled her into his arms. "Wan'er, are you alright?" he asked with concern.

Lin Wan'er threw herself into Xiao Yichen's arms and burst into tears, "General, I thought I would never see you again."

After dodging Xiao Yichen's longsword, the leader of the men in black's face grew even more grim. "Xiao Yichen, you really are a persistent ghost. But this time, you'll all die." He raised his longsword again and charged towards Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er.

Xiao Yichen shielded Lin Wan'er behind him, knowing that escape was likely impossible this time. But he showed no fear; his eyes were filled with unwavering defiance as he looked at the leader of the men in black.

Just as the leader of the men in black was about to reach them, suddenly, a group of archers appeared on the courtyard wall. They drew their bows, arrows aimed at the leader of the men in black.

"Fire!" a voice shouted.

Instantly, arrows rained down on the leader of the men in black like locusts. The leader was terrified and hastily brandished his longsword to deflect the arrows. But the arrows were too numerous and too dense; he was still struck by several, sustaining multiple wounds.

It turned out that Li Ran, the deputy general, had arrived with reinforcements. Upon seeing that the general and Lin Wan'er were in danger, Li Ran immediately ordered his men to fire arrows.

Knowing that all was lost, the leader of the men in black glared fiercely at Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er. "You just wait, I will definitely get my revenge." With that, he turned and ran towards the passage, disappearing into the darkness.

Xiao Yichen breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Li Ran and nodded slightly in gratitude. Then, he looked at Lin Wan'er in his arms and said, "Wan'er, it's alright now. We're safe."

Lin Wan'er looked up at Xiao Yichen, her eyes filled with relief at surviving such a close call. She hugged Xiao Yichen tightly, as if afraid that he would disappear if she let go.

Li Ran led the soldiers into the courtyard. "General, you are injured. Let's go back to the mansion for treatment first."

Xiao Yichen nodded, and with the help of the others, he led Lin Wan'er away from the dangerous courtyard. Although the General's Mansion was temporarily out of danger, Xiao Yichen knew that this was only the beginning; the conspiracy behind it was still ongoing, and they had to remain vigilant at all times.

Back at the General's Mansion, the physician immediately treated Xiao Yichen's wounds. Lin Wan'er stood by his side, her eyes filled with worry. Looking at Xiao Yichen's pale face, she secretly vowed to face the challenges of the future with him and never let him suffer again.

After treatment, Xiao Yichen's injuries were brought under control. Looking at the people around him, he was filled with gratitude. He knew that his escape from danger was the result of everyone's joint efforts.

"Li Ran, strengthen the security in the manor. We can't afford to relax even a little. Also, send someone to find out the origins of those men in black. We must take the initiative; we can't always be on the defensive," Xiao Yichen said weakly but firmly.

"Yes, General. You should rest well. Leave these matters to me," Li Ran replied.

Lin Wan'er grasped Xiao Yichen's hand, "General, you should focus on recovering from your injuries first. We can figure out the rest later."

Xiao Yichen looked at Lin Wan'er and smiled slightly, "Wan'er, it's so good to have you here."

Lin Wan'er's gaze was fixed on the leader of the men in black. His demonic figure grew larger and larger in her eyes, each step feeling like a blow to her heartstrings, making her heart pound as if it would burst from her chest. Fear overwhelmed her like a tidal wave; her legs went weak, and her body trembled uncontrollably. But the instinct for survival made her dodge to the side at the last moment, barely dodging the leader of the men in black's unstoppable attack.

The leader of the men in black slashed his longsword at the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, the immense impact causing the ground to tremble. He frowned, clearly surprised that Lin Wan'er had managed to dodge the attack, but this was only for a moment. The next instant, his eyes grew even fiercer, and a cruel smile crept onto his lips, as if he were enjoying this cat-and-mouse game.

"Little girl, do you think you can escape?" The leader of the men in black spoke in a deep, hoarse voice, like a pronouncement from hell, each word sending chills down Lin Wan'er's spine.

Lin Wan'er retreated in terror, her eyes searching for a place to hide or something she could use as a weapon. The surrounding area was a desolate courtyard, piled high with clutter, mostly old tables, chairs, and discarded farm tools—none of which offered her any sense of security.

The leader of the men in black wouldn't give her much time to think. He raised his long sword again and charged towards Lin Wan'er. This time, he was faster and his attack was more ferocious. The long sword flashed through the air, aiming straight for Lin Wan'er's throat.

Lin Wan'er screamed in terror and ran with all her might behind a pile of clutter. The long knife struck the clutter, sending wood chips flying, and a dilapidated table was split in two. Lin Wan'er hid behind another pile of clutter, covering her mouth to try to keep quiet, tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't know how much longer she could hold on.

Seeing this, Xiao Yichen was frantic with worry. Ignoring his own severe injuries, he wanted to rush over to protect Lin Wan'er. But he had only taken one step when the excruciating pain from his wounds almost made him fall. Li Ran quickly supported him, "General, you mustn't act rashly now. We will find a way to save Miss Lin."

Xiao Yichen clenched his fists tightly, his gaze never leaving Lin Wan'er and the leader of the men in black. "We must save Wan'er, we can't let her get hurt." His voice trembled with anxiety and anger.

The leader of the men in black seemed to sense Xiao Yichen's anxiety. He deliberately slowed his movements and walked towards where Lin Wan'er was hiding, saying loudly, "Xiao Yichen, just watch this little girl die in front of you. It's all because of you. You dragged her into this disaster."

Hearing these words, Lin Wan'er felt a complex mix of emotions. She knew the leader of the men in black was right; if it weren't for meeting Xiao Yichen, she wouldn't have found herself in such a dangerous situation. But she didn't regret it. In their brief time together, she had fallen deeply in love with Xiao Yichen, and for him, she was willing to face everything.

"Don't come any closer!" Lin Wan'er shouted, mustering her courage. She picked up a stone and threw it at the leader of the men in black. The stone arced through the air, but it posed no threat to the leader, who easily dodged it.

"Hmph, is that all you've got?" The leader of the men in black looked at Lin Wan'er with a mocking expression and continued to approach her.

Just as the leader of the men in black was about to reach Lin Wan'er's hiding place, Li Ran gave the order, and the soldiers surrounded him. They were armed and completely encircled the leader.

"Put down your weapons, you're surrounded!" Li Ran shouted.

The leader of the men in black looked around without the slightest fear on his face. "You little shrimps and crabs?" He suddenly exerted his strength and charged at the nearest soldier. With a swing of his long sword, the soldier was cut down before he could react.

Seeing this, the other soldiers roared and charged at the leader of the men in black. In an instant, the courtyard was once again engulfed in fierce combat. The leader of the men in black fought against the many, yet he was not at a disadvantage. His long sword flashed through the crowd, injuring soldiers with each swing.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lin Wan'er ran out from behind the pile of debris and headed towards Xiao Yichen. Xiao Yichen breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Lin Wan'er was out of danger. However, he knew that the leader of the men in black was too powerful, and the soldiers probably wouldn't be able to hold out for long.

"Li Ran, find a way to trap him and prevent him from escaping," Xiao Yichen said.

Li Ran nodded. He instructed his soldiers to change tactics, no longer attacking blindly, but instead trying to trap the leader of the men in black in an encirclement. The soldiers cooperated with each other, some attacking from the front, others harassing from the flanks, preventing the leader of the men in black from fully engaging.

The leader of the men in black, finding himself restricted in his movements, grew increasingly annoyed. He spotted an opening and lunged at a soldier, grabbing him and pressing his long sword against the soldier's neck. "Get out of my way, or I'll kill him!"

The soldiers were hesitant to act, unsure of what to do. Li Ran frowned; he knew he couldn't compromise like this, but he also couldn't just stand by and watch his soldiers be killed.

Just then, Lin Wan'er suddenly said, "He's lying. He won't let anyone get away with this. We can't let him succeed."

Li Ran felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing Lin Wan'er's words. He knew Lin Wan'er was right; if the leader of the men in black were allowed to leave, he would definitely return, and the General's Mansion would face an even greater disaster.

"Don't let him threaten you, keep attacking!" Li Ran shouted.

Hearing the order, the soldiers hesitated for a moment, but still surrounded the leader of the men in black. The leader of the men in black did not expect Li Ran to disregard the lives of his soldiers. Enraged, he swung his long sword and was about to kill the soldier.

At that critical moment, an arrow flew from afar and struck the leader of the men in black precisely in the arm. The leader of the men in black cried out in pain, nearly dropping his long sword, and released the soldier.

It turned out that the archers from the general's mansion had arrived. They stood on the wall of the courtyard, bowstrings drawn, arrows pointed at the leader of the men in black.

"Loose the arrows!" shouted the archer captain.

Arrows rained down on the leader of the men in black. He brandished his longsword to defend himself, but several arrows still struck his body. Several bloody holes immediately appeared on his body, and blood flowed freely.

"Damn it!" the leader of the men in black roared. He knew that if this continued, he would truly perish here. He ran towards a corner of the courtyard, where there was a tall pile of miscellaneous items, hoping to use them as cover from the rain of arrows.

The soldiers and archers gave chase, determined not to let this opportunity to completely eliminate the leader of the men in black slip by. The leader of the men in black ran into a pile of debris, temporarily escaping the attack. He gasped for breath, looking at his wounds, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"You will all die!" He pulled a small black ball from his pocket and threw it forcefully at the soldiers. The ball exploded upon impact, generating a powerful shockwave that sent the surrounding soldiers staggering, and many were injured.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the leader of the men in black rushed out from behind the pile of debris and ran towards the courtyard wall. He was incredibly fast, reaching the wall in the blink of an eye. He leaped over the wall, intending to escape.

Just as he was about to climb the wall, Xiao Yichen picked up a soldier's spear and hurled it with all his might at the leader of the men in black. The spear flew with a whistling sound towards the leader and pierced his leg.

The leader of the men in black screamed and fell from the wall. He landed on the ground, his leg wound making it even harder for him to move. But he still struggled to escape again.

The soldiers swarmed forward, surrounding the leader of the men in black. This time, he had no chance of escape.

"Tie him up!" Li Ran shouted.

The soldiers tied the leader of the men in black up tightly with ropes, making sure he couldn't break free.

Lin Wan'er walked to Xiao Yichen's side, looked at the bound leader of the men in black, and breathed a sigh of relief, "General, we've finally caught him."

Xiao Yichen nodded, but his expression remained serious. "We can't let our guard down. He's just a small leader; the mastermind behind him is still lurking in the shadows. We need to get useful information out of him."

Li Ran walked up to the leader of the men in black. "Speak! Who are you? Why did you attack the General's Mansion?"

The leader of the men in black stared coldly at Li Ran without saying a word, his eyes filled with disdain and hatred.

Li Ran frowned. "You'd better tell the truth, or you'll be in for a world of trouble."

The leader of the men in black remained silent, seemingly prepared to face his death.

Xiao Yichen stepped forward. "Do you think you can protect the people behind you by not speaking? You should know that we have plenty of ways to make you talk."

The leader of the men in black looked at Xiao Yichen and said, "Hmph, Xiao Yichen, don't even think about getting any information from me. You and the General's Mansion will be doomed."

Xiao Yichen ignored his threat and said, "Take him back to the manor and interrogate him properly."

The soldiers escorted the leader of the men in black towards the general's mansion. Along the way, Xiao Yichen pondered the motives behind the attack. He knew that things were definitely not as simple as they seemed; a huge conspiracy must be brewing.

Back at the General's Mansion, the leader of the men in black was taken to a secret interrogation room. Xiao Yichen, Lin Wan'er, and Li Ran all arrived at the interrogation room, ready to question the leader of the men in black.

The interrogation room was dimly lit and the atmosphere was oppressive. The leader of the men in black was tied to a chair, his body covered in blood, but his eyes remained fierce.

"You'd better tell the truth now; this is your last chance," Xiao Yichen said.

The leader of the men in black sneered, "I have nothing to say."

Li Ran picked up a whip. "Looks like you won't open your mouth unless I teach you a lesson." He brandished the whip and lashed it at the leader of the men in black.

The whip lashed across the leader of the men in black, making a crisp sound. The leader's body trembled slightly, but he gritted his teeth and did not utter a scream.

Lin Wan'er felt a pang of pity. "General, isn't this too cruel?"

Xiao Yichen shook his head. "Wan'er, we must know the truth, otherwise the General's Mansion will never have peace."

Li Ran continued to lash the leader of the men in black, striking him again and again. The leader's clothes were torn, and bloody welts appeared on his body, but he still stubbornly refused to speak.

Just when everyone was feeling somewhat helpless, the leader of the men in black suddenly burst into laughter, "You think you can make me submit like this? You're too naive. Our plan has already begun, and the General's Mansion will be destroyed sooner or later."

Xiao Yichen frowned. "What exactly are you talking about? What plan?"

The leader of the men in black looked at Xiao Yichen, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes. "You'll find out soon enough, hahahaha..." His laughter echoed in the interrogation room, sending chills down everyone's spine.

Xiao Yichen knew that getting the truth out of the leader of the men in black wouldn't be easy, but he wouldn't give up. He had to unravel this mystery as soon as possible to protect the General's Mansion and his loved ones.

On this night filled with crisis and intrigue, the people of the General's Mansion were gripped by deep unease. They knew that even greater challenges lay ahead, and they had to prepare themselves for an unknown fate.