The letter was covered in tiny, densely packed characters, but from beginning to end, it said only one thing: help.
Yet it gave no reason for the plea, nor did it say why help was needed.
Judging by the last lines, the writer had been in a terrible hurry, leaving many passages that failed to connect from beginning to end.
Qin An set down the letter and tapped his fingertips lightly against the table. A thoughtful look flickered through his eyes.
Seeing Qin An deep in thought, Emperor Xuanwu said nothing and waited patiently.
About half an incense stick later, Qin An finally looked up.
"Your Majesty, you must know more than this, don't you?"
After thinking it over, he concluded that the plea for help had to concern the Betrayers from the forbidden lands.
After all, only those Betrayers could drive the Holdouts to send Qin An a plea for help.
But what exactly had happened? How had it come about, and how could it be resolved?
Qin An doubted anyone else could answer those questions. Perhaps Emperor Xuanwu could.
Emperor Xuanwu paused, then poured a cup of tea and placed it before Qin An, inviting him to drink while he explained.
Qin An wasted no words. He lifted the cup of steaming tea and took a slow sip.
Just as he swallowed, Emperor Xuanwu began to speak.
"After receiving this letter, I sent many members of the Evil Extermination Division to the forbidden land where the incident occurred. But they told me they couldn't get inside at all."
"An invisible barrier seems to have sealed it off. No one from outside can enter. I even had the Chief Director try to smash through it, but to no avail."
"I tried myself as well. Even with the strength of