Chapter 399: Behind the Curtain

The border beacon fires and the covert struggle in Bian Liang seemed to have temporarily subsided with Chief Clerk He's quiet departure from the capital and the mysterious zither master's disappearance.

False Song's border harassment, after suffering several decisive counterattacks, noticeably decreased in frequency.

At court, as the new emperor Chen Hong steadily handled internal and external troubles, the originally somewhat restless populace gradually settled.

The young emperor

was adapting to the weight and loneliness of the throne at an astonishing speed.

"Your Majesty, the Inspector of Huainan West Circuit reports that governance in Guang and Huang Prefectures has initially shown improvement."

"A batch of corrupt and derelict officials have been investigated; the newly appointed officials all perform their duties diligently, and the people's hearts are gradually at ease."

Zhang Cheng stepped forward to report, his tone carrying a barely noticeable relief.

Although he had moved into the shadows, the surface governmental context remained clear, and covert guidance was not difficult.

"General Shen Qi, the King of the Northern Border, reports that the border has returned to tranquility, with no recent movement from False Song's scouts."

Ministry of War officials followed closely behind.

"The Ministry of Works reports that the 'Miasma-Dispelling Device' has successfully mass-produced thirty units, being shipped in batches according to plan to the identified pestilential-qi disaster zones; local feedback shows significant effect."

Zhao Ting's voice also relaxed considerably.

One piece of news after another pointed toward a favorable direction.

Chen Hong sat upright on the Dragon Throne, giving a slight nod.

His face still bore traces of toil, but the youthfulness in his eyes had largely faded, replaced by an emperor's solemn composure and dignity.

"All of you ministers have worked hard."

His voice was calm, yet carried its own weight.

"However, the wounds of natural disaster have not healed, and False Song eyes us covetously; we must absolutely not relax. Governance rectification must continue to advance, and border defenses must remain ever vigilant."

His gaze swept over the officials of His Majesty, carrying scrutiny and expectation.

"I hope that you ministers each fulfill your duties, unite in cooperation, and get through these trying times together."

"We solemnly obey Your Majesty's edict!"

The court officials replied in unison, their voices filled with more sincere conviction.

This new emperor is no longer the ignorant youth of Wu.

He is winning the empire's genuine recognition through his own ability and will.

The surface turmoil has temporarily ceased, but the undercurrents behind the curtain have never stopped.

Inside the Hidden Mountain Villa, the atmosphere grew even more solemn.

"It's been clarified."

Qian Gui placed a secret report on the wooden table before Chen Wen, his face grim.

"That zither master is merely a piece placed openly; the true hub responsible for the Shadow Erosion mental infiltration lies not within Bianliangcheng but thirty li west of the city, at an abandoned former imperial villa—the Qinfang Garden."

"There the terrain is remote, seldom visited, and underground there are complex abandoned cache structures, easy to conceal. Our observers have seen occasional furtive, cold‑tempered individuals coming and going; the guards appear lax but actually conform to some formation, making infiltration extremely difficult."

Chen Wen picked up the report and read it carefully.

The Level 1 (2×) Thought Doubling Effect let him quickly digest every detail therein.

Abandoned Imperial Villa, complex underground structure, formation guards, cold‑tempered entrants…

These clues point to a clear conclusion: this is likely an important base operated by the Iron Crow Army, possibly a command and energy‑amplification node for mental infiltration targeting Bian Liang and surrounding areas.

"It must be uprooted."

Chen Wen's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable resolve.

"Otherwise, today there is Chief Clerk He, tomorrow there will be Chief Clerk Zhang and Chief Clerk Li; mental infiltration is impossible to guard against."

"But the defenses there are strict; a frontal assault would likely…"

Shi Dun frowned, being more skilled in battlefield combat; storming such a covert stronghold is not his forte.

"We cannot storm it; we must take it by stealth, and do so swiftly, precisely, and silently."

Chen Wen's gaze swept over the five people present.

"Zhao Lao Nian, how large an area can your improved mini Disturbing Crystal Disk and the sonic interferometer aimed at Gloomy Shadow cover? Could it instantly paralyze their outer perimeter alarms and communications?"

Zhao Lao Nian twirled his beard, pondering.

"If used concentratively, it can cover the manor's core area, but only for an extremely brief time, and it must be set up within a hundred steps."

"Within a hundred steps…"

Chen Wen looked at Qian Gui and Shi Dun.

"The infiltration and setup tasks go to your most elite subordinates. Any problems?"

Qian Gui and Shi Dun exchanged a glance, each seeing resolve in the other's eyes.

"No problem!"

"Wang Ru."

Chen Wen turned to the side.

"We need a plausible pretext that won't alert the enemy, allowing a unit to approach the outskirts of Qinfang Garden."

Wang Ru pondered briefly.

"We could use the excuse of investigating the former dynasty's illicit assets, or searching for lost officials' families and pets, sending out constables from Kaifeng Prefecture to approach openly; our people would mingle among them."

"Good!"

Chen Wen nodded, then finally looked toward Zhang Cheng.

"When the time comes, you must ensure on the court side that no one interferes with this 'ordinary' operation of the Kaifeng Prefecture due to other affairs."

"Understood."

The plan was quickly settled, like precise gears beginning to mesh and turn.

Two days later at dusk, a team composed of Kaifeng Prefecture constables and capable persons infiltrated from the Jing'an Bureau, under the pretext of searching for an official's missing Western Region raccoon cat, appeared on the outskirts of the overgrown Qinfang Garden.

The squad leader shouted loudly, directing everyone to scatter and search; though it seemed chaotic, in secret they had precisely placed the equipment provided by Zhao Lao Nian at the predetermined locations.

Meanwhile, another elite unit personally led by Qian Gui and Shi Dun, from another direction, under the cover of night and terrain, silently sneaked to the base of the manor's wall.

Inside the manor, utter silence.

But in the depths of the abandoned pavilions and towers, inside an underground secret chamber, several black-robed figures with icy auras of the Nether Shade sat around a complex rune array emitting a faint blue light, maintaining the transmission and amplification of some mental power.

They had not noticed that the shadow of death had already fallen.

"Action!"

As the commander hidden among the constables gave the order.

"Hum—"

Several invisible surges instantly rippled at a specific frequency!

Around the manor, several hidden corners emitted faint sounds like shattering glass, a sign that the simple warning formation had been forcibly disrupted and disabled.

Almost simultaneously, a high-frequency sound wave inaudible to ordinary people enveloped the manor's core area.

Inside the underground secret chamber, the blue light sustaining the rune array violently flickered, becoming unstable.

Several Nether Shade members' bodies stiffened simultaneously, a flash of anguish and confusion in their eyes, as their fine control of nether energy was instantly cut off.

"Enemy attack!"

The Nether Shade leader had just issued a brief alarm when the secret chamber's heavy stone door shattered with a dull boom.

Qian Gui and Shi Dun took the lead, charging in like a tiger descending the mountain!

Behind them were top-notch experts rigorously selected and equipped with specially made armor-piercing crossbow bolts and Heart Guard Talismans!

The battle erupted instantly in the cramped space, fierce and brief.

Having lost the initiative and the advantage in nether energy, the Nether Shade, under the encirclement of Qian Gui and Shi Dun—battlefield veterans and an elite squad—lasted less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick before being completely slain.

The Nether Shade commander stationed at the hub, responsible for guiding mental infiltration, attempted at the last moment to detonate the core rune array, seeking to perish together with the intruders.

But Shi Dun, trading injury for life, smashed their heart veins with a heavy, powerful punch, to no avail.

"Clear the scene, search for anything useful, then completely burn this place!"

Qian Gui wiped the blood spatter from his face and gave the order in a cold voice.

Firelight sparked in the depths of the abandoned Qinfang Garden, dyeing half the sky red.

From afar, it looked like an ordinary fire.

Within Bianjing city, no one knew that a crisis capable of shaking the imperial court had been silently nipped in the bud.

Inside the mountain villa's secret chamber, Chen Wen, having received news of the operation's complete success, slowly closed his eyes.

This time, he did not personally participate in the battle, nor did he step even half a step out of the mountain villa.

But from intelligence analysis, to plan formulation, to resource allocation, finally with the command settled, excising the tumor…

Throughout the process, he was like a master chessman, directing from behind the scenes, mobilizing all forces, to accomplish this precise and deadly strike.

He clearly felt that his understanding of the Balance of Fortune Momentum had deepened another level.

Guarding the dynasty is not about personally handling everything, but about making the correct choice at critical moments, mobilizing the appropriate forces, to maintain that delicate balance.

With this realization, and the massive feedback of effective effort from this successful operation.

Deep in consciousness, the light bar representing growth progress finally filled completely, reaching a hundred percent perfect state!

A feeling of fullness and fulfillment, as if about to break free from its cocoon at any moment, lingered in Chen Wen's heart.

The peak of Level 1 has already been reached.

The next breakthrough is within reach.

He opened his eyes, his gaze calm yet deep, gazing out at the boundless night beyond the window.

Behind the curtain, the guardian's blade has already been drawn, returning having drunk blood.

And his own brand-new power is also about to be reborn from the earth.