After Lin Wan'er successfully used her mind-reading ability to locate Murong Xuan's mole within Rong Kingdom, the entire situation became tense and delicate. Xiao Yichen knew that their upcoming operation concerned the life and death of Rong Kingdom, and could not afford the slightest mistake.

In Xiao Yichen's residence, everyone sat around the council hall, the atmosphere heavy. Xiao Yichen's face was cold and stern, his gaze sweeping firmly over everyone present. He slowly spoke, "Gentlemen, the importance of this operation is self-evident. We must wipe them out before Murong Xuan's spies become aware of this, otherwise, the Rong Kingdom will be plunged into utter ruin."

Chen Feng nodded slightly and said, "Young Master, based on the intelligence provided by Miss Lin, we have conducted a detailed investigation of the residences and strongholds of those spies. They are distributed in different parts of the capital, and each has a certain level of defense. If we want to launch a simultaneous attack, we need precise timing and a strong troop deployment."

Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment, then turned to Lin Wan'er: "Miss Lin, could your mind-reading ability help us further perceive their movements during our operation? This might be of great help to our mission."

Lin Wan'er gently bit her lip, a hint of hesitation in her eyes: "I will try my best. However, during the previous investigation, I could sense that some of them also seemed to have noticed the potential danger, and their inner defenses were becoming increasingly strong. This might interfere with my mind-reading ability."

Su Jinran frowned slightly. "Regardless, Miss Lin's abilities are our greatest asset right now. We also need to prepare for the worst. If the mind-reading ability can't be fully utilized, how should we adjust our plans?"

Xiao Yichen stood up and paced back and forth in thought: "Brother Jinran is absolutely right. In terms of troop deployment, we should reserve a portion as a mobile force to deal with any possible emergencies. At the same time, communication between all forces must remain unimpeded so that we can react quickly if any link in the chain breaks down."

Just as everyone was discussing, Lin Wan'er suddenly closed her eyes, her brows furrowed, as if trying to grasp something. A moment later, she opened her eyes, her expression slightly flustered: "Young Master Xiao, I just felt a strong sense of unease coming from one of the spies. They seem to be speeding up their preparations for the rebellion, perhaps because they realize we've already been alerted."

Xiao Yichen's heart tightened: "Miss Lin, can you be sure which side's mole you are?"

Lin Wan'er shook her head: "Their thoughts are confused. I can only sense that danger is approaching, but I can't know exactly where it is."

Knowing that time was of the essence, Xiao Yichen made a decisive decision: "Mr. Chen, immediately pass down the order to have all forces prepare in advance. The attack will be launched precisely at 9:00 PM tonight. We cannot wait any longer; we must act before them."

"Yes, young master!" Chen Feng accepted the order and left.

With the order given, the entire mansion sprang into action. Soldiers inspected weapons and equipment, and generals rechecked the battle plan; tension and seriousness were etched on everyone's face.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the capital, Murong Xuan's spies were also making final preparations. Lord Wang paced back and forth in his residence, a growing unease settling in his heart. He said to his trusted confidant, "Lately, I've felt like a pair of eyes are watching us. Go and inform General Li to be extremely careful; our plan cannot afford any mishaps."

The confidant nodded in agreement and hurriedly left.

General Li was at his stronghold, directing his soldiers to move weapons and provisions. Upon hearing Lord Wang's news, he sneered, "Lord Wang is far too cowardly. Even if someone notices, so what? Once we launch our rebellion and seize the capital, everything will be under our control."

However, despite his tough words, he couldn't help but become more vigilant. He ordered his men to increase sentry posts and patrols to guard against any unforeseen events.

Time ticked by in the tense atmosphere, and the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) was fast approaching. Xiao Yichen led the main force, quietly approaching Lord Wang's residence. He looked up at the mansion, silently praying for the success of this operation.

"Miss Lin, I'm counting on you. Inform me immediately if anything unusual happens," Xiao Yichen said softly to Lin Wan'er beside him.

Lin Wan'er nodded slightly, concentrating on using her mind-reading ability to sense the movements within the mansion.

At this moment, Lord Wang was in his study in his mansion, discussing the details of the rebellion with several key figures. His forehead was covered in sweat, and his voice trembled slightly: "Gentlemen, success or failure hinges on this. Once we take action, we must quickly seize control of key locations in the capital. Otherwise, we will all perish without a burial place."

Just as they were discussing, Lin Wan'er suddenly caught a glimpse of Lord Wang's inner thoughts. She whispered to Xiao Yichen, "Young Master Xiao, Lord Wang is in his study discussing the details of the rebellion with others. They plan to first seize the palace and then control the court officials."

Xiao Yichen's eyes turned cold: "They have huge ambitions. Pass on my order: the main attack force will forcefully break through the main gate, while the flanking forces will circle around to the rear of the mansion to prevent anyone from escaping."

As Xiao Yichen gave the order, the soldiers surged towards Lord Wang's residence like a tidal wave. The shouts of battle instantly shattered the tranquility of the night.

Upon hearing the commotion outside, Lord Wang's face turned deathly pale: "Oh no! We've been discovered! Quick, organize a defense!"

The guards inside the mansion took up their weapons and engaged in fierce combat with Xiao Yichen's troops. Xiao Yichen took the lead, wielding a longsword and charging into the enemy ranks. His swordsmanship was fierce, and each strike repelled several enemies.

Lin Wan'er followed closely behind Xiao Yichen, constantly using her mind-reading ability to sense the enemy's movements. She discovered that Lord Wang was attempting to escape through a secret passage.

"Young Master Xiao, Lord Wang is trying to escape through a secret passage, which is behind the screen in the study!" Lin Wan'er shouted.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yichen immediately led a squad of soldiers to the study. They found the entrance to the secret passage behind the screen, and Xiao Yichen followed without hesitation.

The secret passage was dark and damp, filled with a putrid stench. Xiao Yichen proceeded cautiously, constantly on guard against any potential traps.

Lord Wang fled desperately through the secret passage, his heart filled with fear. He knew that once caught, he would surely die.

Just as Xiao Yichen was about to catch up with Lord Wang, a stone door suddenly appeared in front of the secret passage. Lord Wang pushed the stone door forcefully, trying to block Xiao Yichen from entering.

Seeing this, Xiao Yichen exerted all his strength and thrust his sword at the mechanism of the stone door. With a loud bang, the stone door slowly opened.

Lord Wang looked at Xiao Yichen in despair and collapsed to the ground: "Young Master Xiao, spare my life! I was forced to collude with Murong Xuan."

Xiao Yichen looked at him coldly: "As an official of Rong Kingdom, you betrayed your country for your own selfish interests. Today is your death day."

Having said that, Xiao Yichen swung his sword and ended Lord Wang's life.

After dealing with Lord Wang, Xiao Yichen quickly returned to the outside of the mansion and directed his troops to continue attacking other strongholds of inside agents.

At General Li's stronghold, the fighting was also exceptionally fierce. General Li personally led his soldiers in resistance, and his superior martial arts skills caused considerable trouble for Xiao Yichen's troops.

Sensing the formidable threat posed by General Li, Lin Wan'er said to Xiao Yichen, "Young Master Xiao, General Li is a formidable enemy. He is filled with murderous intent and has extensive combat experience. We need to be careful."

Xiao Yichen nodded, well aware of General Li's prowess. He decided to personally confront General Li to create a breakthrough for his soldiers.

Xiao Yichen arrived at the front of the formation and shouted, "General Li, you have committed treason and rebellion, a heinous crime. Today is your end!"

General Li sneered, "Xiao Yichen, do you think you can stop me? Today, this is your burial ground!"

Having said that, the two charged at each other, engaging in a thrilling duel. Xiao Yichen's swordsmanship was elegant and agile, while General Li's spearmanship was fierce and powerful. The two exchanged blows, neither giving an inch, and the surrounding soldiers, captivated by their battle, stopped what they were doing and watched intently.

During the battle, Xiao Yichen gradually discovered that while General Li's marksmanship was formidable, his lower body defense was relatively weak. Therefore, Xiao Yichen changed his tactics, focusing his attacks on General Li's lower body.

General Li realized Xiao Yichen's intention and tried to adjust his defense, but it was too late. Xiao Yichen seized the opportunity and thrust his sword at General Li's leg. General Li couldn't dodge in time and was wounded by Xiao Yichen.

His movements faltered, and Xiao Yichen followed up with another sword strike, piercing his chest. General Li stared wide-eyed at Xiao Yichen in disbelief, then slowly collapsed.

With General Li's fall, his soldiers immediately fell into disarray. Xiao Yichen led his troops in a general offensive, quickly capturing General Li's stronghold.

In the other mansions and strongholds of the inside agents, fierce battles were also raging. Under his command, Xiao Yichen's troops advanced methodically. Lin Wan'er's mind-reading ability continued to play its role, providing the troops with timely and accurate intelligence.

After a night of fierce fighting, Xiao Yichen finally succeeded in eliminating all of Murong Xuan's spies within Rong Kingdom. The crisis in the capital was temporarily alleviated.

Looking at his exhausted but triumphant soldiers, Xiao Yichen was filled with mixed emotions. He knew this battle was merely a partial victory in the struggle against Murong Xuan. Murong Xuan would never give up easily, and they would face even greater challenges in the future.

"Miss Lin, we owe our success to your mind-reading ability; otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to complete the mission so smoothly," Xiao Yichen said gratefully to Lin Wan'er.

Lin Wan'er smiled slightly: "Young Master Xiao, you are too kind. This is the result of everyone's joint efforts. However, Murong Xuan will definitely have new retaliatory actions next, so we need to prepare in advance."

Xiao Yichen nodded: "Miss Lin is right. Let's go back to the manor to rest and adjust our state first. Then we can discuss the next strategy to deal with Murong Xuan."

So, Xiao Yichen led his troops back to his residence. Meanwhile, in the Mu Kingdom, Murong Xuan, upon learning that his spies in the Rong Kingdom had been wiped out, angrily smashed the wine cup in his hand to pieces.

"Xiao Yichen, you have once again ruined my plans! I will never let you get away with this!" Murong Xuan roared.

His advisor cautiously said, "Your Highness, now that our spies within Rong have been eliminated, it will be difficult to dismantle Rong from within again. We need to devise a new strategy."

Murong Xuan's eyes turned cold: "I will not give up so easily. Since we cannot attack from within, we will launch an attack from the outside. Issue the order to assemble the army and prepare to attack Rong Kingdom!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" The strategist accepted the order and left.

After successfully eliminating Murong Xuan's spies in Rong Kingdom, Xiao Yichen knew that Murong Xuan would be enraged and launch an attack. Upon returning to his residence, without even resting, he immediately summoned Chen Feng, Su Jinran, and several important generals of Rong Kingdom to discuss strategies for dealing with Murong Xuan's army.

The atmosphere in the council hall was heavy. Xiao Yichen, though weary, spoke first with a determined gaze: "Gentlemen, Murong Xuan's conspiracy has been exposed, and he will certainly not let this go. In my opinion, his next step is very likely to be to directly launch an attack on Rong Kingdom. We must seize the time to prepare to meet this powerful enemy."

Chen Feng nodded in agreement: "What you say is absolutely right, young master. Murong Xuan's army is not to be underestimated. We need to prepare from multiple aspects. First, the defenses of the capital need to be further strengthened. Damaged sections of the city walls should be repaired as soon as possible, and defensive works such as crossbows and catapults should be added."

One of the generals continued, "Our forces also need to be redeployed. Sufficient troops should be stationed on the border to slow down Murong Xuan's advance and buy time for the defense of the capital. At the same time, militia should be organized and trained within the city in preparation for any eventuality."

Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment and said, "The reserve of food and supplies is also crucial. Brother Su, I need you to put in a lot of effort on this matter. Contact the granaries in various places and transport the grain to the capital as soon as possible to ensure that our army has no worries about food and supplies during the war."

Su Jinran cupped her hands in greeting and replied, "Yichen, rest assured, I will do my utmost. However, Murong Xuan's attack this time is overwhelming, and we may not be able to hold out for long by relying solely on defense. Should we consider contacting neighboring countries for support?"

Xiao Yichen frowned slightly: "This plan is good, but the surrounding countries each have their own agendas and may not easily send troops to help. Moreover, diplomatic matters need to be handled with caution. If we are not careful, it may cause more trouble. Let's first make our own defense preparations, and if necessary, then we can resort to diplomatic means."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Just then, Lin Wan'er, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "Young Master Xiao, I have an idea. Although Murong Xuan's army is strong, they have marched a long way and their soldiers must be exhausted. We can set up an ambush along their march to blunt their morale."

Xiao Yichen's eyes lit up: "Miss Lin's plan is brilliant. We can select some elite troops to ambush Murong Xuan in dangerous places such as valleys and forests along his route. However, this requires accurate prediction of Murong Xuan's marching route."

Chen Feng said, "I will arrange for people to closely monitor the movements of Murong Xuan's army and transmit information in a timely manner. At the same time, the ambush troops need to practice in advance to ensure that they can cooperate seamlessly in battle."

With the agreement reached, everyone took on their respective roles and began the intensive preparations.

Xiao Yichen personally went to the city walls of the capital to direct the soldiers in reinforcing the city's defenses. Watching the soldiers busily working on the walls, he was filled with emotion. These soldiers were willing to give everything to protect their homeland; he could not let them down.

"Give it your all! Behind us are our families, the people of Rong Kingdom. We must defend the capital!" Xiao Yichen shouted, his voice echoing across the city walls.

The soldiers shouted in unison, "Defend Rongguo! Defend our homeland!"

Within the city, Su Jinran tirelessly traveled, contacting grain merchants and granaries across the region. Leveraging the Su family's prestige and connections in the business world, he successfully raised a large quantity of grain and organized a continuous transport convoy to the capital.

Meanwhile, Lin Wan'er wasn't idle either. She used her mind-reading ability to help Chen Feng gather intelligence. She traversed the streets and alleys of the capital, sensing people's thoughts and filtering out useful information.

"Mr. Chen, I've noticed some strangers frequently moving around the city. Their intentions are cryptic, but they seem to be probing our army's defenses," Lin Wan'er reported to Chen Feng.

Chen Feng's face darkened: "These people must be spies sent by Murong Xuan. Miss Lin, continue to keep an eye on their movements, and I will arrange for people to wipe them out in one fell swoop."

At the border, the Rong Kingdom's garrison stood ready. They patrolled day and night, strengthening their watchtowers and leaving no suspicious sign unchecked. A young general stood atop a border watchtower, gazing at the distant lands of the Mu Kingdom, his heart filled with vigilance.

"Brothers, Murong Xuan's army could attack at any moment. We must hold our posts and not let them set foot in Rong Kingdom!" the general shouted to his soldiers.

The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes resolute: "Yes, General!"

As time went by, Murong Xuan amassed a massive army in the Mu Kingdom. He stood at the forefront of the army, gazing towards the Rong Kingdom, his eyes revealing greed and determination.

"Xiao Yichen, this time I will definitely raze Rong Kingdom to the ground and make you pay for everything you've done!" Murong Xuan muttered to himself.

He led his army in a grand procession towards the Rong Kingdom. Along the way, Murong Xuan's army burned, killed, looted, and committed all sorts of atrocities. Wherever they passed, people fled in droves, leaving behind a scene of devastation.

The border guards of Rong Kingdom quickly discovered Murong Xuan's army. They immediately lit beacon fires to send an alarm to the capital.

Upon receiving the news, Xiao Yichen quickly issued orders, instructing all forces to proceed according to plan. The ambush troops moved into their designated positions ahead of time, concealed themselves, and awaited Murong Xuan's army.

When Murong Xuan's army reached a valley, the vanguard sensed something amiss. A tense atmosphere permeated the valley, making them uneasy.

"General, something's not right about this valley. Could there be an ambush?" a soldier said cautiously to the vanguard commander.

The vanguard commander frowned slightly: "Don't be so paranoid. Our army is so strong, what can an ambush do? Keep advancing!"

Murong Xuan's army continued its advance deeper into the valley. As they entered the heart of the valley, suddenly, shouts of battle erupted from all sides. Xiao Yichen's ambush troops emerged from the woods on either side of the valley, like divine warriors descending from the heavens.

Arrows rained down, throwing Murong Xuan's soldiers into chaos. They raised their shields in an attempt to block the arrows, but many still fell, struck by arrows.

"Kill! Defend Rong Kingdom!" Xiao Yichen's soldiers shouted as they charged toward Murong Xuan's army.

Murong Xuan's generals hastily organized a counterattack. They ordered their soldiers to form ranks and meet the enemy, attempting to stabilize their position. However, Xiao Yichen's ambush troops were well-trained and fought bravely, and for a time, Murong Xuan's army was caught in a fierce battle.

In battle, Xiao Yichen led from the front, wielding his longsword and charging into the enemy ranks as if they were empty. His swordsmanship was fierce, each strike capable of taking the life of an enemy.

Lin Wan'er, behind the enemy lines, used her mind-reading ability to sense the thoughts of the enemy generals and provide intelligence to Xiao Yichen.

"Young Master Xiao, the enemy general on the left is trying to flank us from the side. You must be careful!" Lin Wan'er shouted.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yichen immediately adjusted his tactics and led his soldiers to block the enemy general's attack.

Seeing his army in dire straits from the rear, Murong Xuan was furious. He personally led an elite force into the battlefield, attempting to turn the tide of the war.

"Xiao Yichen, I've come to take your life!" Murong Xuan roared as he charged toward Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen felt a chill run down his spine when he saw Murong Xuan personally taking to the field. He knew that Murong Xuan was highly skilled in martial arts and not to be underestimated. But he was fearless and went to meet him head-on.

The two instantly clashed, their swords flashing and their movements dazzling. The surrounding soldiers stopped what they were doing and watched their duel with bated breath.

Xiao Yichen unleashed his strongest sword technique, engaging in a fierce battle with Murong Xuan. He knew that this duel was not only a matter of personal life and death, but also of the fate of the Rong Kingdom.

During the battle, Xiao Yichen gradually discovered that although Murong Xuan's swordsmanship was fierce, it also had many weaknesses. He calmly searched for an opportunity, waiting to deliver a fatal blow to Murong Xuan.

Finally, Murong Xuan revealed an opening during one of his attacks. Xiao Yichen seized the opportunity and thrust his sword towards Murong Xuan's chest. Murong Xuan was unable to dodge in time and was wounded by Xiao Yichen.

He screamed, clutching his chest, and staggered backward. Murong Xuan's army, seeing their commander wounded, suffered a severe blow to their morale. Xiao Yichen led his soldiers in a decisive attack, driving Murong Xuan's army out of the valley.

In this battle of the valley, Xiao Yichen's ambush force achieved a great victory. They successfully blunted Murong Xuan's momentum and bought precious time for Rong Kingdom's defense.

Looking at the exhausted but victorious soldiers, Xiao Yichen felt a deep sense of gratitude.

"Brothers, you are all heroes! But we cannot let our guard down. Murong Xuan's army will come again. We must return to the capital as soon as possible and strengthen our defenses!" Xiao Yichen shouted.

Therefore, Xiao Yichen led his troops back to the capital. Murong Xuan, wounded, led his remaining troops back to the Mu Kingdom. He was filled with hatred and vowed to avenge himself.

Upon returning to the capital, Xiao Yichen immediately organized his soldiers to rest and regroup, and further strengthened the city's defenses. He knew that Murong Xuan would not give up so easily; even greater challenges lay ahead.

While recuperating in the Kingdom of Mu, Murong Xuan was also contemplating new offensive strategies. He realized that it would be difficult to conquer the Kingdom of Rong by force alone, and that he needed to find a new breakthrough.

"Strategists, do you have any new ideas after my defeat?" Murong Xuan asked his advisors.

The strategists looked at each other, and for a moment no one dared to speak.

After a long silence, an advisor cautiously said, "Your Highness, the reason why Rong Kingdom is so resilient is inseparable from Xiao Yichen's leadership. If we can find a way to get rid of Xiao Yichen, Rong Kingdom will be leaderless, and it may be much easier to attack Rong Kingdom then."

Murong Xuan's eyes lit up: "This plan is brilliant. But with that vixen by Xiao Yichen's side, how easy will it be to get rid of him?"

The strategist pondered for a moment: "Your Highness, we can start with that demoness. I've heard that her mind-reading ability requires a lot of energy. If we can find a way to interfere with her mind-reading ability and prevent her from providing information to Xiao Yichen, then Xiao Yichen will be like a blind man, and we can take advantage of the situation."

Murong Xuan nodded slightly: "What you say makes sense. I'll leave this matter to you. Make sure you come up with a solution as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Highness!" The advisors accepted the order and left.

While Murong Xuan was recuperating in the Mu Kingdom, his strategists were busily plotting a conspiracy against Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er. They searched far and wide and finally discovered a mysterious ancient book containing a formation said to be able to interfere with mind-reading techniques—the Mind-Bewitching Formation.

This formation requires special materials and precise layout to be effective. Once successful, the thoughts of those within the formation will be disrupted, and mind-reading techniques will lose their effectiveness. Upon hearing this, Murong Xuan was overjoyed and immediately ordered his men to prepare everything necessary for setting up the formation.

Meanwhile, in the capital of Rong Kingdom, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er knew that Murong Xuan would not let the matter rest, so they were constantly strengthening their defenses and intelligence gathering efforts. Xiao Yichen organized his soldiers to train day and night to improve their combat effectiveness, while also deploying more sentries around the capital to keep a close watch on Murong Xuan's every move.

Lin Wan'er diligently cultivated her skills, attempting to improve the control and range of her mind-reading ability, knowing full well that her abilities were crucial to protecting the Rong Kingdom. However, she was unaware that an invisible danger was quietly approaching.

After several days of preparation, Murong Xuan's men finally succeeded in setting up a mind-controlling array in a secluded valley outside the capital. They selected a group of elite assassins, led by a ruthless killer named Dark Night, and prepared to launch a surprise attack on Xiao Yichen's residence under the cover of night.

That night, dark clouds obscured the moonlight, shrouding the capital in darkness, a stillness tinged with a sense of oppression. Dark Night led his assassins like ghosts towards Xiao Yichen's residence, clad in black night-clothes, moving swiftly and silently.

Inside Xiao Yichen's residence, the guards were patrolling as usual. Although they remained vigilant, An Ye and his companions were highly trained experts, skilled at concealing their movements. They skillfully evaded the patrolling guards and gradually approached the core area of ​​the residence.

Just then, a guard seemed to sense something amiss. He stopped and looked around warily. However, before he could raise an alarm, an arrow shot out from the darkness, piercing his throat with pinpoint accuracy. The guard's eyes widened as he slowly fell, the faint sound carried away by the night wind.

Seeing the guard fall, An Ye was overjoyed. He waved his hand, and the assassins sped up, rushing towards Xiao Yichen's residence.

Inside the bedroom, Xiao Yichen was fast asleep. The recent hard work had left him exhausted, but he remained vigilant. Suddenly, he seemed to sense a dangerous aura and abruptly sat up in bed.

"Who?" Xiao Yichen asked in a low voice, while reaching out to grasp the long sword placed beside the bed.

However, only silence answered him. Xiao Yichen carefully got up and walked towards the door. He gently pushed open the door and saw a dark figure flash past at the end of the corridor.

"There's an assassin!" Xiao Yichen shouted, and chased after the shadowy figure.

His shout shattered the tranquility of the mansion, and guards rushed from all directions. But Dark Night and his men had already penetrated deep into the mansion and engaged in a fierce battle with the guards.

Lin Wan'er was also awakened by the commotion outside her room. As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt a strong wave of chaotic thoughts wash over her. Startled, she tried to use her mind-reading ability to sense the situation, but found that her ability was greatly interfered with, and she could only vaguely sense that danger was approaching.

“Young Master Xiao…” Lin Wan’er murmured to herself. She knew that Xiao Yichen was in great danger at the moment, and she had to find him as soon as possible.

Lin Wan'er forced herself to stay calm amidst the chaos of her thoughts and stepped out of her room. She saw fighting everywhere in the mansion, shouts of battle and screams mingling together. She strained to find Xiao Yichen in the crowd, her heart filled with worry.

As Xiao Yichen chased the shadowy figure, he found himself surrounded. An Ye, accompanied by several assassins, slowly emerged from the surrounding area. Their faces were covered by black masks, revealing only pairs of cold eyes.

"Xiao Yichen, today is your death day," An Ye said coldly, his voice low and hoarse.

Xiao Yichen sneered: "You cowards think you can take my life?"

Having said that, he brandished his longsword and charged towards An Ye and the others. Xiao Yichen's swordsmanship was fierce, each strike carrying a powerful aura, forcing An Ye and the others to retreat repeatedly.

However, the assassins brought by Dark Night were all highly skilled. They quickly regained their footing and engaged in a fierce battle with Xiao Yichen. Although Xiao Yichen was highly skilled in martial arts, his opponents outnumbered him and were all fearless, making it difficult for him to gain the upper hand for the time being.

During the battle, Xiao Yichen gradually discovered that the assassins' attacks seemed to have a certain tacit understanding; their coordination was extremely exquisite, as if they were fighting according to a specific formation.

"Could this be Murong Xuan's conspiracy?" Xiao Yichen thought to himself. He knew that he had to break through this encirclement as soon as possible, or the consequences would be unimaginable.

Just as Xiao Yichen was in dire straits, Lin Wan'er finally found him. Seeing Xiao Yichen surrounded by assassins, she was extremely anxious. Although her mind-reading ability was disrupted, she still tried her best to concentrate and assist Xiao Yichen.

"Young Master Xiao, the assassins on the left are less heavily guarded. You can break through from there!" Lin Wan'er shouted.

Xiao Yichen was overjoyed to hear Lin Wan'er's voice. He seized the opportunity, unleashing a fierce sword technique that forced back the assassin in front of him, and then rushed to the left.

Seeing this, An Ye tried to stop him, but it was too late. Xiao Yichen successfully broke through the encirclement and arrived at Lin Wan'er's side.

"Miss Lin, are you alright?" Xiao Yichen asked with concern.

Lin Wan'er shook her head: "I'm fine. But my mind-reading ability has been interfered with by a strange force and can't function properly."

Xiao Yichen frowned: "It seems this is a carefully planned conspiracy by Murong Xuan. Let's leave here first and then figure out a way to deal with it."

After saying that, Xiao Yichen pulled Lin Wan'er along and ran towards the backyard of the mansion. They planned to escape through the secret passage in the backyard to avoid the assassins' pursuit.

However, An Ye wouldn't let them off so easily. He led his elite assassins in hot pursuit, launching attacks relentlessly along the way. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er fought their way back, their situation extremely precarious.

Just as they were about to reach the entrance to the secret passage in the backyard, a new group of assassins suddenly appeared in front of them. It turned out that Murong Xuan had also arranged for people at the entrance to the secret passage to ensure everything went smoothly.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er were caught in a pincer movement and found themselves in dire straits.

"Young Master Xiao, what should we do?" Lin Wan'er asked anxiously.

Xiao Yichen looked at the assassins around him, his eyes resolute: "Don't be afraid, Miss Lin. We'll fight them!"

After saying this, Xiao Yichen shielded Lin Wan'er behind him and faced the numerous assassins alone. He unleashed his strongest swordsmanship, engaging the assassins in a thrilling battle.

During the battle, Xiao Yichen sustained multiple injuries, but he continued to fight tenaciously. He knew he could not fall; if he did, Lin Wan'er's life would be in danger, and the Rong Kingdom would lose its last hope.

Standing behind Xiao Yichen, Lin Wan'er watched him fight valiantly to protect her, her heart filled with emotion and admiration. Without further hesitation, ignoring the interference of her mind-reading ability, she used her wisdom to pick up stones from the ground and throw them at the assassins, trying to distract them.

Just as Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er were feeling desperate, suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves approached. It turned out that Chen Feng, Xiao Yichen's trusted subordinate, had led a squad of soldiers to their rescue after learning of the attack on the mansion.

"Young master, we're too late!" Chen Feng shouted, leading his soldiers to rush towards the assassins and engage in a fierce battle with them.

Xiao Yichen was overjoyed to see reinforcements arrive. He and Chen Feng attacked from both inside and outside, and finally succeeded in repelling the assassins.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Chen, for coming to our rescue in time," Xiao Yichen said gratefully.

Chen Feng nodded slightly: "Young Master, it is what I should do. However, these assassins came aggressively and seem to have come prepared. We need to be careful and prevent them from attacking again."

Xiao Yichen nodded: "I know. Murong Xuan's conspiracy almost succeeded this time. We must find a way to deal with it as soon as possible and restore Miss Lin's mind-reading ability to normal function."

After saying this, Xiao Yichen led Lin Wan'er, Chen Feng, and the others back to the mansion. The mansion was in a mess, with signs of a fight and the corpses of guards everywhere. Looking at all this, Xiao Yichen was filled with anger and grief.

"Murong Xuan, I will make you pay a heavy price!" Xiao Yichen secretly vowed.

In the Kingdom of Mu, An Ye led his remaining troops back to report to Murong Xuan. Upon learning of the failed night raid, Murong Xuan flew into a rage.

"A bunch of useless trash! You can't even kill Xiao Yichen, what use are you to me?" Murong Xuan roared.

He knelt on the ground in the dark, head bowed, not daring to utter a sound.

“Your Highness, this failure was due to the timely arrival of reinforcements beside Xiao Yichen. We successfully disrupted that demoness's mind-reading ability; without the reinforcements, Xiao Yichen would have been dead. Please give me another chance, Your Highness, and I will certainly complete the mission,” Dark Night said.

Murong Xuan pondered for a moment: "Hmph, I'll give you one more chance. But if you fail again, you won't need to come back."

"Yes, Your Highness." An Ye accepted the order and left.

Xiao Yichen and his entourage began clearing the post-battle ruins within the mansion while simultaneously strengthening defenses. Lin Wan'er, meanwhile, was in her room diligently trying to restore her mind-reading abilities. She knew that only when her powers returned to normal could she better help Xiao Yichen protect Rong Kingdom.

While recuperating in the Mu Kingdom, Murong Xuan continued to plot new schemes. He knew that his contest with Xiao Yichen had entered a fierce stage, and he needed to devise an even more ingenious plan to realize his ambitions.