At three-quarters past dusk, fiery red clouds hung in the sky, yet the atmosphere was as heavy as a suffocating cloud.

Chen Zhennan stood at the palace gate, his brows furrowed, his face showing a particularly resolute expression due to tension.

His gaze would occasionally drift outside, where the black smoke, like dark clouds, plunged the sky above Beirong City into darkness.

Chen Zhennan felt a vague unease, and an ominous premonition quietly grew in his heart.

Yan Shiyu went out to investigate the situation, while the remaining team members guarded the palace gates, each with a solemn expression, fearing that the enemy might take the opportunity to attack.

Huaming Palace may seem safe, but Chen Zhennan understands that while chaos is raging outside, the palace is probably the most dangerous place.

After thinking it over, Chen Zhennan still felt uneasy, so he hurriedly ran to the palace gate.

"Prepare the carriages and dispatch twenty men to move Yunyang immediately!"

As the order was given, the team members began to get busy, and the sound of the carriage wheels seemed particularly jarring in the oppressive atmosphere.

Just then, a group of special forces soldiers dressed in black suddenly appeared in the distance, their numbers making Chen Zhennan's heart tighten.

"Yan Shiyu only took away twenty people, how come forty or fifty people came back?"

"Everyone be careful!"

Chen Zhennan's voice rose a few decibels, and a sense of alertness instantly spread among the team members.

Just as he was about to give further instructions, half of the people in the black-clad crowd suddenly raised their bows and arrows, their cold gleam startling.

"Kill them!"

Chen Zhennan's roar was like the sound of war drums. Without hesitation, he pulled out a pistol from his pocket, turned off the safety, and decisively pulled the trigger.

Gunshots rang out, and two enemies in front fell to the ground, their blood splattering and instantly staining the ground red.

The enemy seemed stunned by the sudden attack, and their formation immediately fell into disarray.

But at that moment, the archers behind them fired arrows one after another. Dozens of arrows flew like raindrops, and the sound of them cutting through the air was terrifying.

Chen Zhennan's heart tightened, and he almost instinctively dodged to the side. However, the two teammates next to him failed to react in time, were hit by arrows and fell to the ground, their battle robes instantly stained with blood.

"Quickly, cover them!"

Chen Zhennan's voice was tinged with fear and anxiety, his heart churning like a stormy sea.

The special forces brothers reacted quickly and efficiently, taking out submachine guns from behind their backs, turning off the safety, and launching a counterattack against the men in black.

The roar of submachine guns echoed through Huaming Palace, bullets streaking like meteors as dusk approached, instantly wiping out nearly half of the enemy.

Although the situation was very favorable, Chen Zhennan was filled with doubts. It was a well-known fact that the special forces had powerful firepower, so why would these people come to their deaths?

Chen Zhennan was puzzled, his gaze sharp as a hawk's as he scanned his surroundings.

He felt a vague unease. The special forces were already renowned for their power, so why would the enemy still choose to fight a losing battle?

Just then, his gaze inadvertently fell on Huaming Palace, and his heart tightened, as if he understood something.

Their target is Song Yunyang!

Chen Zhennan's eyes widened, then he turned around and decisively shouted, "You guys come with me!"

Several team members quickly followed. When they rushed into Huaming Palace, the tranquility around them eased Chen Zhennan's mind a little. But then he found that the courtyard was completely empty, and his unease returned.

Just then, the bedroom door suddenly opened, and a man in black carrying a long sword slowly walked out. His expression was cold and his eyes were like knives, exuding a ruthless killing intent.

Chen Zhennan's pupils contracted sharply, clearly indicating that Song Yunyang had been taken hostage.

Chen Zhennan raised his pistol and pointed it at the man, coldly saying, "Release Song Yunyang, or no matter how many of you come, you'll all die here today!"

Chen Zhennan's voice was like thunder, instantly resounding throughout the entire courtyard.

A cold smile curled at the corner of the man in black's lips, his contempt as sharp as ice. He spoke in broken Chinese, "I will not release Song Yunyang. There is only one way to keep her alive, and that is for you, Chen Zhennan, to exchange your own life for hers."

The atmosphere froze instantly; the man in black's words were like nails piercing Chen Zhennan's heart.

The man in black beckoned into the bedroom, and two imposters dressed in team uniforms escorted Song Yunyang to the doorway, their long knives gleaming coldly against her neck.

Song Yunyang frowned slightly, feeling anxious inside, but she tried her best to remain calm.

The long knife grazed her neck lightly, causing a sharp pain, but there was no fear in her eyes, only a resolute light.

Chen Zhennan frowned and asked in a deep voice, "Is there any other solution? We can talk about it."

The man in black shook his head, his voice as cold and hard as iron: "No, there's no room for negotiation."

Chen Zhennan's breathing became more and more rapid, his heart filled with worry for Song Yunyang.

Although he held the gun tightly in his hand, he dared not fire it easily, fearing that a single mistake would cost Song Yunyang her life.

Song Yunyang frowned slightly and looked at Chen Zhennan with dissatisfaction.

"Brother Nan, fire! I don't care if I die, but you are the emperor, you must act decisively. Even if it's me, don't you understand?"

Song Yunyang's words echoed in Chen Zhennan's ears. His brows furrowed, and his conflicted emotions were evident on his face. But in the end, he did not choose to fire.

The man in black smirked and mocked, "We Shadows come here prepared to die. Since you, Chen Zhennan, don't want to die and don't dare to fire, then Song Yunyang is the only one who will die."

The atmosphere was extremely tense, and the laughter of the man in black echoed in the night sky like the whisper of death.

Chen Zhennan was filled with contradictions and struggles. With a pained expression, he said, "I don't live for myself. The safety of the Great Yan rests on my shoulders. I cannot let the whole country fall into chaos for my own selfish reasons."

Chen Zhennan wasn't afraid to die; ever since the Lingnan Uprising, he had become indifferent to life and death.

However, if I were to die, the Great Yan would surely descend into chaos once again, with mountains of corpses and seas of blood, as it faced the combined siege of the three kingdoms.

Seeing Chen Zhennan hesitate, the man in black's smile widened: "See? You have no courage at all! If you don't choose, I won't be polite! I'll kill her!"

The two men in black raised their knives, ready to behead Song Yunyang.

Chen Zhennan gritted his teeth, his finger tightly gripping the trigger, ready to fire at the last moment.

A faint smile played on Song Yunyang's lips, her face radiating relief.

Everything happened too fast; there was no time to say goodbye, no time to confide in anyone. A smile was the best expression.

Just as the long sword was about to fall, a burst of gunfire erupted from the bedroom. The two assassins who were about to attack Song Yunyang were both shot multiple times and stood frozen in place.

Chen Zhennan's eyes widened. He hadn't ordered anyone to go inside to rescue anyone. What was going on?