Evelyn Wynn let out a despondent sigh, said nothing more, and took out two meat buns—long since gone cold—from his coat, stuffing them into Henry Lang's hands.

Since ancient times, quarrying and mountain opening have always been extremely arduous and dangerous work. What’s more, this time there was a terrifying stone vein that would drain a person’s life force at the slightest touch. Both Henry Lang and his uncle were well aware of the dangers of this journey, but like countless other convicts, they could only follow the vast procession, heading toward Mount Kunai.

And so, Henry Lang traveled with the group by day, while Evelyn Wynn would sneak into the camp at night, always bringing some food.

The territory of Dahong was vast. Henry Lang had set out from home and walked for over forty days before the terrain finally began to slope upward. According to the officer leading the group, they would reach their destination in another two or three days.

At this point, the convict team Henry Lang was in had swelled to over ten thousand people. That evening, after dinner, the escorting soldiers broke up the group, then divided them into teams of a thousand.

Not long after, the thunder of hooves came from the direction of Mount Kunai. A squad of imposing, fierce cavalry galloped over. The convicts, having never seen such a sight, were only puzzled as to why these riders wore long black robes instead of armor.

Only Henry Lang was quietly startled. He had spent years reading and learning, and knew much about the Dahong dynasty. These cavalrymen, dressed in ink-black robes and carrying embroidered spring knives at their waists, were the elite troops under the command of the Nine Dragons Division, known as the Nine Dragons in Blue.

The Nine Dragons Division was the Dahong dynasty’s supreme supervisory force—overseeing the conduct of officials and investigating the affairs of the people. The division had its own prisons and offices, and wielded independent, absolute authority. The Nine Dragons Division operated under a separate command structure, answering only to the emperor, and their power was truly fearsome.

The Nine Dragons in Blue were not only skilled in archery and horsemanship, but most of their officers also possessed special abilities—not the arts of cultivation, but rather divine powers granted to mortals.

Henry Lang hadn’t expected the Nine Dragons Division to show up, but upon reflection, it made sense. With such a major incident at Mount Kunai, the division, charged with national oversight, would naturally intervene.

This squad of Nine Dragons in Blue numbered a thousand. Their leader, a young man with a pale face, was thin and handsome. Besides the long knife at his side, he carried a jet-black longbow on his back. Yet his demeanor and movements all bore a sickly air, as if he might fall from his horse at any moment.

As soon as the Blue-robed squad arrived, the officer in charge of the convict escort hurried over, smiling and speaking quietly to the young commander.

Moments later, the pale-faced commander lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic crowd now divided into teams of a thousand. He waved weakly to his subordinates.

His elite troops immediately split into ten squads, each led by a centurion, and inserted themselves among the convicts—one hundred Blue-robed soldiers for every thousand convicts.

In no time, the Nine Dragons in Blue had brought the teams to order. Only then did the commander address the convicts in a flat tone: “Seven Killings: Spreading rumors and inciting the crowd—death. Slacking off or escaping—death. Fighting or brawling—death. Wandering at night or sleepwalking—death. Stealing food or hoarding rations—death. Crying out of fear—death. Pretending to be deaf or mute—death!”

His voice was weak, sounding like the hiss of a snake flicking its tongue. Though soft, every word was crystal clear!

“In short,” the commander finished with a helpless gesture, “do whatever you’re told. Anything else, and you will die without exception.”

Chapter Three: Breaking the Mountain and Dispelling Evil

The pale-faced commander had issued the Seven Killings order and, with a hundred Blue-robed soldiers, rode into the ranks—taking charge of the very team that included Henry Lang.

The officers of the regular soldiers handed over the rosters, route markers, and other matters to the Blue-robed soldiers, and, after confirming everything, withdrew their troops.

Once the army had left, the centurions gave the order: “Set up camp. We march at dawn.”

At that moment, the pale-faced commander, who had remained silent, suddenly let out a cold laugh and, without looking up, said, “Yin-soaked filth, you’ve been lurking nearby for quite some time!”

Henry Lang was startled, his whole body tensing instinctively!

Normally, Evelyn Wynn would have arrived by now, but seeing that the soldiers hadn’t left, he must have been hiding nearby, not daring to show himself. Unexpectedly, the pale-faced commander had already noticed him.

The commander sneered, lazily extending a finger and pointing lightly to the northwest.

His gesture seemed effortless, but only Evelyn Wynn knew that the man had pinpointed his exact hiding place. The air trembled, and Evelyn Wynn appeared with a troubled expression, bowing and speaking softly to the commander: “Spare me, sir, I, I…”

The Blue-robed soldiers behind the commander, seeing a little ghost appear, drew their embroidered spring knives and prepared to advance. But when the pale-faced commander saw the coin-shaped birthmark on Evelyn Wynn’s face, he raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly and waved his men back, saying coolly to Evelyn Wynn, “I am entrusted with an important mission by the court and do not wish for complications. Leave at once!”

He paused, then sneered, “There are many cultivators ahead. If you come within a few miles, you will be utterly destroyed!”

A few of the Blue-robed soldiers behind the commander exchanged glances, their eyes full of confusion—they couldn’t understand why their lord had suddenly become so merciful.