Chapter 21: A Secret Letter Disrupts the Game, Danger Lurks at Every Turn

Li Chengyin was in his study at the Eastern Palace attending to state affairs when Pei Zhao suddenly presented him with a mysterious, unsigned letter.

He took the letter, his gaze falling upon the elegant yet strangely unsettling handwriting. It read:

"Your Highness, a secret hidden within the palace for many years, one concerning the life and death of your own kin, has now reached a point where it can no longer be ignored. I implore you to come alone to uncover the truth. You must not inform anyone else; otherwise, the secret will be leaked, and a great catastrophe will surely follow."

The tone was earnest yet carried the weight of a thousand pounds, as if every word were tugging at Li Chengyin's heartstrings. He frowned, his mind filled with doubt, but when it concerned his own kin, how could he stand by and do nothing?

After much deliberation, he decided to keep it from everyone and follow the instructions in the letter to the mysterious location.

Guided by the note, Li Chengyin arrived at a remote spot.

It was an abandoned palace, overgrown with weeds, its crumbling walls and shattered ruins appearing particularly eerie under the dim sky. The palace walls were covered in mottled moss, and several dilapidated windows creaked in the wind, as if emitting painful groans. The once-exquisite glazed tiles were now broken and scattered across the ground.

The surroundings were unnervingly silent, with only the sound of Li Chengyin's footsteps echoing through the empty courtyard; each step felt as though it were treading upon his own taut nerves.

Li Chengyin slowly stepped through the gates of the abandoned palace, and a scent of decay rushed to greet him.

He scanned the surroundings vigilantly, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist. Just then, a chilling, sinister laugh shattered the silence. It seemed to emanate from the depths of hell, cold and bone-piercing, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Who goes there?" Li Chengyin demanded, his voice echoing through the hollow palace.

However, the only response was the sound of footsteps growing clearer and closer.

In an instant, dozens of assassins clad in black emerged like ghosts from all directions. They were all masked, revealing only fierce eyes, their hands tightly gripping sharp, cold blades that seemed eager to taste his blood.

Li Chengyin knew he had fallen into a trap, but he felt no fear. He quickly drew his sword, the blade shimmering with a cold, piercing light in the dimness.

With a sudden movement, he lunged toward the group of assassins, his sword striking out like a dragon emerging from the sea toward the lead attacker.

The assassin reacted with agility, dodging to the side to avoid Li Chengyin's strike, then swinging a blade back toward his waist.

Li Chengyin leaned backward, narrowly avoiding the blow, and immediately followed up with a kick to the assassin's chest, sending him flying.

But there were simply too many of them; as one wave retreated, another surged forward.

Li Chengyin parried and thrust, his sword dancing in a seamless defense, every movement drawing a mist of blood. He dodged incoming blades, spinning his body to deflect the attacks directed at him.

Yet, he was ultimately outnumbered. One assassin, seizing a brief moment while Li Chengyin caught his breath, lunged with a blade aimed at his back.

Though Li Chengyin sensed it in time and turned to avoid a fatal wound, the sharp edge still sliced across his back, and a wave of searing pain washed over him.

Immediately after, another assassin's sword gashed his arm, blood instantly staining his sleeve red.

Li Chengyin began to lose strength, and the wounds on his body multiplied. Yet, he held onto one single conviction: to survive and uncover the mastermind behind this scheme.

Finding an opening, he mustered all his remaining strength to unleash a fierce flurry of sword techniques, forcing the surrounding assassins back a few steps before turning to bolt toward the palace gates.

The assassins pursued him relentlessly. Li Chengyin fought as he retreated, but while running, he was struck in the leg by a hidden weapon thrown by one of his pursuers. He stumbled, but gritted his teeth against the agony and kept charging forward.

Finally, Li Chengyin escaped the abandoned palace. Seeing that he had broken out of the encirclement, the assassins, wary of his status as the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, did not pursue him further.

Dragging his battered and wounded body, Li Chengyin struggled along the palace path.

His steps grew heavier, and his vision began to blur, but he bit his lip and forced himself forward, inch by agonizing inch, toward the Eastern Palace.

Along the way, blood dripped onto the stone path, leaving a trail of shocking crimson stains.

By the time he returned to the Eastern Palace, he was in a wretched state.

His clothes were soaked in blood, his numerous wounds were still seeping, and his face was as pale as paper.

Yet, his gaze remained resolute, burning with an unyielding fury.

He knew that this conspiracy had only just begun.