[You pinned the Beautiful Woman onto the bed and locked her down.]

  [Seeing that you were serious, the Beautiful Lady panicked a little, hurriedly ciming that she was on her period and that today wouldn't work, suggesting another day instead.]

  [You sneered, "Tell me, who sent you?"]

  [Upon hearing this.]

  [The voluptuous Beautiful Woman froze.]

  [After a moment, she turned her head away, feeling guilty, not daring to look at you.]

  [No matter how you questioned her next, she remained silent. Realizing that dragging this out wasn't a solution, and fearing someone might come in to catch you in the act, you threatened her, saying if she didn't confess, you'd strip her and throw her into the Martial Practice Field for everyone to see.]

  [You began tearing at her clothes.]

  [The Beautiful Lady's face turned deathly pale, struggling desperately while threatening you, ciming she was the widow of a Song Family disciple. She warned that even if you were an Organ Refining Stage martial artist, you wouldn't escape the punishment of the Divine General's Manor if you dared to disgrace her.]

  [You remained unmoved by her words.]

  [Seeing your disregard, the Beautiful Lady was thoroughly frightened, her tone softened, saying you could ask whatever you wanted, and she would tell you everything.]

  [Under your oppressive intimidation, the Beautiful Woman chose to submit and confess.]

  [It turned out her real identity was not a Song Family widow, but Lin Qiushui, the daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites of Great Wei. Fourteen years ago, due to her father's grave crime, her entire family was exiled to the bordernds to build a city. Near the Liangzhou Bordernds, they were suddenly attacked by demons.]

  [During their escape, she found a swaddled child, Song Fan, and used the identity token on the child to disguise herself as a Song Family widow. For fourteen years, she lived under the Song Family's protection, leading a decent life, running a tavern in Liangzhou City... until recently, when Elder Wang of the Enforcement Hall suddenly discovered her identity and used it to threaten Lin Qiushui, forcing her to use her beauty to entrap you. If she refused, he would expose her as the daughter of a criminal official.]

  [After getting the answers you wanted.]

  [You released Lin Qiushui and tossed her a set of clothes, indicating she could leave.]

  [Lin Qiushui was somewhat incredulous.]

  [She left.]

  [Watching her embarrassed silhouette, you had already made your calcutions. You knew that without a golden finger, your genius identity would eventually be exposed. Therefore, you needed to use the time when you were most valued by the Seventh Madam to fiercely intimidate those secretly plotting against you.]

  [Moments ter, a group of red-cd enforcers burst into the room and dragged you away.]

  [You were thrown into a cell.]

  [Subjected to interrogation.]

  [During this time, you tried to reveal the conspiracy between Elder Wang and Lin Qiushui against you.]

  [The Interrogator was indifferent.]

  [Instead, they summoned a Harsh Officer to torture you.]

  [Seeing this, you confessed to the crime without hesitation.]

  [On the eighth day, under the Interrogator's fearful gaze, you left the cell with Li Ping and met Lin Manqing, who had just returned to the manor. You revealed the entire plot of Elder Wang against you.]

  [On the ninth day, a bloody incident occurred at the Divine General's Manor. Elder Wang disappeared. You were surprised by the news and quickly sought out Lin Manqing for answers, only to find her equally grave. She said that after hearing your story yesterday, she sent someone to summon Elder Wang for questioning, but unexpectedly, he erupted in violence, killing someone and fleeing the Divine General's Manor.]

  [This made you extremely uneasy because you realized Elder Wang's reaction was too extreme.]

  [In the Divine General's Manor, you were insignificant, just a stable hand. Even with Lin Manqing advocating for you, it was difficult to do anything against him. The best outcome would be to uncover the truth and mediate, as he was an Elder of the Enforcement Hall, holding a high position.]

  [Yet despite this, he still chose to kill and flee the Divine General's Manor.]

  [In the Song Family, such actions were a capital offense.]

  [Between verbal reprimand and a capital offense, Elder Wang decisively chose the tter... which could only mean that the Mastermind was extremely cautious.]

  [A lion uses all its strength even when hunting a rabbit.]

  [The masked Man in Bck, upon capturing you, understood the vilin's downfall due to excessive talking, and without wasting words, knocked you out for a Soul Search. As for Elder Wang, when his plot was exposed, he directly defected, leaving no chance to extract any information from him. The overall style was like that of an assassin, striking once and fleeing a thousand miles if unsuccessful.]

  [And all of this was aimed at you.]

  [You couldn't understand why the Mastermind was targeting a stable hand like you with such caution and discretion, making you feel as if the other party was also wary of you...]

  ***

  Seeing this, Chen Shi's eyes flickered.

  The Mastermind's strength was on a completely different level from his, like comparing a firefly to the bright moon.

  If such a person truly wanted him dead, how could he have survived for two and a half years after crossing over?

  That was clearly impossible!

  So, this incident also indirectly showed that the Mastermind must have only recently, perhaps in the st couple of days, developed the intention to kill him...

  Realizing this.

  Chen Shi broke into a cold sweat.

  If his strength allowed, he would want to escape the Divine General's Manor immediately. Staying here, he feared every word and action might be under surveilnce.

  After all, the other party had great powers, even having the Song Family's Enforcement Hall Elder under their control.

  ***

  [ The matter with Elder Wang made you extremely uneasy because you realized the Mastermind's trail had completely vanished.]

  [In the evening, several people came to your residence with gifts to apologize, including the Interrogator from the cell, the Enforcement Hall personnel who captured you, and Lin Qiushui, who had been apprehensive after you took liberties with her...]

  [You accepted the gifts, stating it was all a misunderstanding. Upon hearing this, they left relieved, with Lin Qiushui leaving the fastest.]

  [On the tenth day, following Lin Manqing's instructions, you joined Alpha Battalion, Squad Nine for training.]

  [On the twelfth day, you participated in the Alpha Battalion competition. As an Organ Refining Stage practitioner, you were defeated by a mid-Tendon Refining Stage Song Family disciple, becoming the ughingstock of the Alpha Battalion. Upon hearing this, Lin Manqing told you not to mind, saying you had just started your cultivation journey, hadn't practiced martial techniques, and cked combat experience, so losing to a prodigy of the Alpha Battalion was normal.]

  [A month ter, you practiced the martial technique "Octapor Avanche," but due to your poor comprehension, you couldn't grasp the essentials.]

  [Two months ter, perhaps due to Lin Manqing's influence, the Mastermind completely disappeared, no longer attempting to frame you. Meanwhile, with a rge amount of resources, your cultivation broke through, barely reaching the mid-Organ Refining Stage. During this time, Lin Manqing asked you several times, though indirectly, but you understood she began to doubt the authenticity of your talent, prompting you to train even harder.]

  [Four months ter, you mastered the basics of "Octapor Avanche," and your cultivation broke through again, reaching the te Organ Refining Stage. However, you felt no joy, as the Song Family disciple who had previously defeated you had also reached the Organ Refining Stage. Now, you couldn't withstand more than three moves under his hand, leaving you increasingly bitter. You also realized that effort was worthless in the face of talent.]

  [Seven months ter, despite consuming a rge amount of resources, you remained stuck at the te Organ Refining Stage, unable to progress. During this period, the Chief Steward of the Inner Court, Granny Wang, visited you once, asking how you had broken through to the Organ Refining Stage within a year. Unable to expin, you could only evade with "I don't know" and "I'm not sure."]

  [Nine months ter, Lin Manqing suddenly frequently sent people to question you, focusing on why Elder Wang wanted to frame you and whether you had any fortuitous encounters...]

  [Ten months ter, Lin Manqing personally summoned you, asking you to reveal your secrets, promising you a lifetime of wealth and prosperity. In response, you cimed ignorance. Lin Manqing sneered, no longer polite, and summoned an Innate Realm Expert from the Song Family to perform a Soul Search on you. After a thorough investigation, the expert decred you were just an ordinary stable hand with nothing extraordinary in your background. Hearing this, Lin Manqing was greatly disappointed.]

  [Since then, you often experienced severe headaches during training.]

  [Through ancient texts, you understood that your soul had suffered severe damage, and your martial path was completely severed, forever halting at the lower five realms. Yet, you dared not express any dissatisfaction.]

  [Eleven months ter, despite becoming a cripple, you were not expelled from Alpha Battalion, which surprised you, thinking Lin Manqing had a change of heart. Until one day, a newcomer named Song Fan arrived at Alpha Battalion, and his first act was to challenge you, seeking revenge for your previous affront to his mother.]

  [You sensed the powerful Vital Qi and Blood emanating from him and immediately wanted to concede, but Li Ping stopped you, stating that a prodigy of Alpha Battalion must not surrender before fighting, and viotors would be executed.]

  [Li Ping reassured you that if danger arose, he would intervene in time.]

  [Reluctantly, you fought Song Fan, and as a te Organ Refining Stage practitioner, you were instantly killed by a single ssh, your body severed.]

  [Due to your death, this simution ended.]