126: Northern Xinjiang is receiving attention

On the other side, in Princess Danying's bedchamber in the Royal City, it was currently filled with the warmth of spring.

A warm fragrance drifted through the chamber, and the candlelight flickered red.

Li Danying stood before a large mercury mirror, wearing only a crimson gauze robe as thin as a cicada's wing.

Several personal maidservants carefully held up several exquisite palace dresses, trying them against her.

“Your Highness, look at this one made of Cloud Brocade and adorned with pearls; it makes your skin look as white as snow...”

The maidservant's voice was flattering.

Li Danying waved her hand somewhat impatiently, her fingers gently stroking her still-flat abdomen where she could feel a subtle change, her face glowing with happiness:

“These are all too complicated! The winds in the Northern Border are strong, so I need something lighter and warmer... Hmm, the color should be nice, but not too flashy. After all, my husband has just taken office, so I must be dignified...”

The gentle smile of Situ Jun surfaced in her mind, and as she imagined his surprised look when she appeared before him, her cheeks flushed crimson.

She picked up a pure white, warm-to-the-touch bracelet that Situ Jun had given her and examined it closely.

“Husband, wait for me.”

She murmured softly, her fingers subconsciously tracing circles on her abdomen, her eyes filled with infinite longing for the future.

“Soon, we will be together forever... and our child too.”

She was completely immersed in love and joy, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in the Northern Border... In the Northern Border, on a secret mountain path leading to the mine.

The night was as dark as ink, and the cold wind was biting.

Two figures, almost blending into the darkness, moved silently like ghosts among the jagged rocks.

They were the gold-tier partners most skilled in stealth and reconnaissance among the Flying Eagle Guards—'Shadow One' and 'Shadow Two'.

'Shadow One' led the way, his movements ethereal; every step he took seemed to tread on the void without raising a speck of dust, his perception spreading out like an invisible spiderweb covering every inch of the ground ahead.

'Shadow Two' followed closely behind, his aura restrained like a solid rock, his eyes gleaming with a faint green light in the darkness like a nocturnal animal, focused on analyzing the information stream sent back by 'Shadow One'.

Their target was the core area of the mine, shrouded in a Formation and emitting abnormal energy fluctuations. Their companions' previous failure had made them more cautious, but it also ignited a stronger desire for the challenge.

“Stop!”

“Shadow One” suddenly sent a voice transmission, his figure instantly freezing behind a giant rock.

“Shadow Two” also immediately crouched low.

Not far ahead, at what seemed like an ordinary mountain hollow entrance, extremely faint and almost undetectable ripples of spiritual power permeated the air.

If not for Shadow One's extraordinary innate perception, it would have been nearly impossible to detect.

“There are rune fluctuations; a warning Formation has been set up around the mining area, and there might be other monitoring or even attack Formations.”

Shadow One's voice rang directly in Shadow Two's mind, calm and precise.

Shadow Two nodded silently, his fingertips moving slightly as a Jade Slip engraved with star patterns slid out of his sleeve.

A faint blue light flowed over the surface of the Jade Slip, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding darkness.

He carefully pressed the Jade Slip to the ground. A moment later, the Jade Slip glowed brightly, outlining a faint map profile in the air—a rough sketch of the area around the mine.

“Based on the feedback from the Jade Slip, the Formation's coverage is even wider than we estimated,” Shadow Two transmitted via spiritual power, his voice heavy.

Shadow One stared at the map projected by the Jade Slip, his gaze piercing.

“We must find another way in. Forcing our way through will surely alert the guards. Besides, we don't know what they are mining that requires such elaborate multiple Formations.”

The two hid behind a giant rock and fell into deep thought.

The mountain wind howled, swirling dead leaves into eerie arcs in the darkness.

Meanwhile, in a grand manor of the Xihua Sect, Zhuang Xian was staring at an urgent secret report from the Northern Border, his brows tightly knit.

The handwriting on the secret report was scrawled but urgent:

The Heavenly Dragon Dynasty's Imperial Dynasty Inspector continues to focus on Northern Border City; an Outer Sect Deacon of the Xuan Yin Sect has appeared in the Northern Border; and the Shadow Guards of the Tianqi Dynasty are suspected of investigating the new Governor. It is still impossible to confirm why these three parties are so focused on the Northern Border!

Zhuang Xian's brows were tightly knit; for a moment, he couldn't understand what his master had done to attract so much attention.

A moment later, he slammed the table and stood up, his voice echoing in the empty study:

“Someone, come!”

A Sect Disciple quickly entered and knelt on one knee:

“Saint!”

“Immediately send word to Zhuang Lei; have him come see me at once!”

Zhuang Xian slammed the secret report onto the table, his eyes full of anger and worry.

The Northern Border is the master's (Situ Jun's) fief. He has only just become the City Lord; if something truly goes wrong, it would be very disadvantageous for him... Meanwhile, Li Danying was completely unaware of the undercurrents moving in the palace and the Northern Border.

She finally chose a light purple mink fur cloak with a soft, plain silk lining, which was both warm and elegant.

She draped the cloak over her shoulders and spun around in front of the mirror, her lips curling up unconsciously.

“Prepare the carriage. I will depart for the Northern Border immediately.” Li Danying said firmly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Your Highness, it's a long and arduous journey, and your body...” The personal maidservant spoke with concern but was cut off by Li Danying raising her hand.

“It's fine. I can't wait to see my husband.” Li Danying gently stroked her abdomen, her heart full of longing for the future, as if she could already see the warm scene of her reunion with Situ Jun... While Li Danying was preparing to depart, Shadow One and Shadow Two, after some investigation, finally found a weak point on the west side of the mining area.

The Formation's fluctuations there were relatively weak, seemingly due to the complex terrain causing an oversight by the person who set it up.

The two held their breath and focused, sneaking toward that direction like ghosts.

Shadow One held a specially made dagger in his hand, its blade engraved with Formation-breaking runes; Shadow Two took out several small copper bells, which were their specially made interference Magical Artifacts that could disrupt the Formation's sensing.

As they approached the edge of the Formation, Shadow One signaled Shadow Two to get ready.

Shadow Two gently shook the copper bells, the crisp ringing sound faintly echoing in the night wind. At the same time, the dagger in Shadow One's hand flashed coldly as he stabbed at the weak point of the Formation.

In an instant, the originally weak spiritual power ripples suddenly became turbulent. The Formation was triggered, emitting a blinding light. Alarm bells immediately rang out within the mining area, and shouts of battle rose from all sides.

“Not good, we've been discovered!”

Shadow One shouted in a low voice, pulling Shadow Two as they quickly retreated.

However, a large number of guards had already swarmed from all directions. Dressed in black tight-fitting suits and wielding weapons that glinted with a cold light, they surrounded the two.

The leading guard sneered:

“Seize them and hand them over to General Zhu Changpo for judgment!”

Shadow One and Shadow Two were only at the third or fourth level of Foundation Establishment. After a period of fighting to break out, they were still surrounded and eventually captured after exhausting their strength.

On the other side, just as Li Danying's carriage left the Royal City, it was intercepted by a squad of the Imperial Guard.

The leader of the Imperial Guard, riding a tall horse, appeared before her with a solemn expression:

“Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered that you cannot leave the Royal City for the time being.”

Li Danying lifted the carriage curtain, looking shocked:

“Why? What happened?”

The General Who Guards the North hesitated for a moment before reporting truthfully:

“The situation in the Northern Border has changed, and there may be danger. His Majesty is concerned for your safety...”

“I want to see Situ Jun!” Li Danying said urgently, her eyes filled with anxiety. “He is in the Northern Border; I must go!”

“Your Highness, please prioritize your safety!”

The General Who Guards the North remained firm, showing no intention of letting her pass.

Li Danying clenched her fists, tears welling in her eyes.

She Looking north， My heart is filled with worry and unease。

At this moment, she finally sensed that the Northern Border she so looked forward to might be sinking into a massive storm, and she didn't know if her beloved Situ Jun was safe...