Night settled heavily over the Northern Border.
The crimson banner of the Fifth Prince fluttered above the captured outpost, standing proud against the endless white snow. Torches burnt along the walls, and the sound of training echoed through the courtyard below.
Phoenix Flame Guards drilled in formation.
Newly recruited village militia struggled to copy them.
The two Frost Wolves patrolled the outer gate like silent guardians, their icy breath rising in the cold air.
Everything was changing.
Fast.
I stood inside the command hall, looking over maps spread across the wooden table.
Frostwood Village.
The Northern Border Outpost.
Nearby trade roads.
Three abandoned villages.
Two beast-infested forests.
One small iron mine.
This was no longer survival.
This was territory management.
And I intended to do it properly.
Yue Lian stood beside me, calm and sharp as always.
"The villagers from Frostwood have begun rebuilding the southern road," she reported. "Food storage has improved after using your underground cellar design."
Good.
Very good.
Even small improvements built loyalty.
In my previous life, I had learned one thing clearly—
People followed the results.
Not empty promises.
Hu Mei sat lazily on the windowsill, watching the moonlight with a bored expression.
"Master has become terribly serious."
She sighed dramatically.
"No flirting, no teasing, only maps and taxes."
I didn't even look up.
"Try conquering a kingdom first. Then complain."
She smiled.
"That sounds suspiciously like a marriage proposal."
Before I could answer, Lin Xue entered the hall.
Her silver hair still carried traces of frost.
Her expression was colder than usual.
"There are intruders."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
I raised my head.
"How many?"
"Eight."
Her blue eyes narrowed.
"All cultivators."
Not ordinary assassins.
Interesting.
Feng Yuehuang, standing near the window in silence, finally spoke.
"Their killing intent is disciplined."
Golden eyes turned toward the northern forest.
"Not mercenaries."
Her voice became colder.
"Soldiers."
I smiled faintly.
Good.
That meant the capital had finally responded.
The Third Prince was never patient.
I walked to the window.
Far beyond the walls, the snow-covered forest looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
"They came faster than expected."
Yue Lian's hand moved to her spear.
"Should I prepare the guards?"
I shook my head.
"No panic."
I turned.
"If they came all this way, they should at least feel welcomed."
Hu Mei laughed softly.
"There's the Master I like."
The system suddenly flashed.
[Danger Alert]
Hostile Force Detected
Identity: Blood Wolf Battalion
Threat Level: High
Ah.
Even the system recognised them.
That meant trouble.
I narrowed my eyes.
The Fifth Prince's memories surfaced.
The Blood Wolf Battalion.
The Third Prince's personal execution force.
Not soldiers.
Killers.
Every member was trained to hunt cultivators and nobles alike.
If they were here—
Chen Lie truly wanted me dead.
Perfect.
I smiled.
Then I said the words every web novel protagonist should say.
"Bring them in."
Yue Lian blinked.
"…Alive?"
I smiled wider.
"If possible."
Midnight.
The outer gate opened.
Eight figures walked through the snow.
Black armour.
Wolf masks.
No wasted movement.
Each carried the aura of blood and death.
The strongest one stood at the front.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
A scar across his jaw.
His cultivation pressure alone was enough to make ordinary soldiers suffocate.
Qi Gathering Level 7.
Strong.
Much stronger than Han Luo.
His cold eyes locked onto me.
"So."
His voice was rough like grinding steel.
"The Fifth Prince."
I sat calmly in Zhao Ming's former command chair.
"Yes."
He stepped forward.
"We came for your head."
Direct.
I appreciated that.
I leaned back.
"Usually, people at least introduce themselves first."
Silence.
Then he answered.
"Blood Wolf Captain Luo Shan."
Fair enough.
I nodded.
"Good. Now I know whose grave to mark."
The Phoenix Guards tensed.
The militia looked ready to faint.
Hu Mei was clearly trying not to laugh.
Luo Shan's expression did not change.
He drew his sword.
"We were ordered to kill you."
I pointed lazily toward Feng Yuehuang.
"Then I recommend running first."
Only then did his eyes shift toward her.
For the first time—
His face changed.
Just slightly.
He could not read her realm.
But his instincts screamed danger.
Good instincts.
Feng Yuehuang looked at him with complete indifference.
Like a person glancing at an insect.
Luo Shan took one step back.
Only one.
But I noticed.
Interesting.
Fear.
Even killers feared death.
I stood.
"No need for her."
I picked up my sword.
"This one is mine."
The hall went silent.
Even Feng Yuehuang turned her head slightly.
Yue Lian frowned.
"Your Highness—"
I raised a hand.
"No."
I looked at Luo Shan.
"If I hide behind others forever, I remain the same useless prince they exiled."
I let my Qi Gathering aura rise.
The air trembled.
The torches flickered.
The militia gasped.
Even Luo Shan's eyes narrowed.
"He broke through…"
Good.
Let them all see it.
I stepped forward.
"Tonight, I prove something."
Luo Shan lowered his stance.
Then he smiled for the first time.
A brutal smile.
"Good."
He vanished.
Fast.
Too fast.
Steel crashed against steel.
His sword slammed into mine, forcing me back three steps.
Strong.
Very strong.
This was a real assassin.
Not a corrupt border commander.
Blood dripped from my palm where the impact had split skin.
Perfect.
This was exactly what I needed.
A real battle.
Luo Shan attacked again.
Slash.
Step.
Turn.
Every strike was aimed to kill.
No wasted movement.
No arrogance.
This was a professional executioner.
And that made him dangerous.
But—
I smiled.
I had something he didn't.
The Myth System.
Every battle.
Every kill.
Every breakthrough.
I was becoming stronger faster than anyone could imagine.
He swung again.
This time I didn't retreat.
I met him head-on.
Our Qi collided.
BOOM.
The command hall shook.
The floor cracked beneath our feet.
Outside, the soldiers stared in shock.
Inside, Feng Yuehuang watched silently.
Golden eyes unreadable.
Then—
I saw it.
A gap.
One opening.
I stepped in.
The sword flashed.
Blood sprayed.
Luo Shan staggered backwards.
A deep wound cut across his chest.
His eyes widened.
Impossible.
He had come to kill a broken prince.
Instead—
He was bleeding.
I smiled coldly.
"Third Brother sends weak gifts."
His killing intent exploded.
Good.
Now he was angry.
Angry men made mistakes.
And mistakes got people killed.
Tonight—
The Blood Wolf Battalion would learn that exile had teeth.