In the Moonlight

At the cliff's edge lay a chaotic mess of footprints, the wind howling fiercely.

Bi Suo immediately summoned the army's craftsmen, instructing them to compare the Northern Rong's ropes with the vine ropes commonly used in the Royal Court's forces. He asked, "The Northern Rong used these iron chains... We have vine ropes—can we temporarily construct a cableway using vine ropes and iron hooks to let soldiers slide across?"

The craftsmen carefully examined the terrain and shook their heads. "Our vine ropes are suitable for scaling walls, but building a cableway for suspension crossing requires sturdier, longer iron chains. Preparing them takes time. Hastily attempting a suspension crossing is far too risky. Forcing the use of vine ropes would cost many lives!"

Tanmoroqie signaled for the craftsmen to withdraw and turned his horse around.

Bi Suo rushed forward. "This general is willing to risk a suspension crossing to pursue Haidu Aling and prevent him from attacking Gaochang..."

Judging by the traces near the cliff, Haidu Aling had taken a desperate gamble, losing a group of his subordinates before successfully escaping. Bi Suo could also take the risk to catch up with Haidu Aling as quickly as possible.

Tanmoroqie shook his head. "The terrain has been sabotaged."

Bi Suo was taken aback and turned to gaze into the distance.

Indeed, given Haidu Aling's caution, he would have surely destroyed the terrain upon reaching the other side to hinder pursuers. Now, even if the Royal Court dispatched its best craftsmen, it would be impossible to set up a cableway within a day.

Sweat beaded on his forehead. "This general will lead the central army south, passing through Sand City to intercept Haidu Aling."

Tanmoroqie remained expressionless. "It's too late."

Even if the army set out immediately, their marching speed would not be fast enough to catch up.

Bi Suo wiped the sweat from his brow.

Haidu Aling's forces moved with lightning speed. If Li Yaoying had already reached Gaochang, and Gaochang could hold out for ten days to half a month, the Royal Court might still have time to send reinforcements. But if she encountered the ruthless Haidu Aling on her way to Gaochang... the consequences would be unthinkable.

Anxiety gnawed at him. "This general can lead the vanguard elites south, rushing to Gaochang at top speed, with reinforcements to follow!"

Tanmoroqie called for Yuanjue and handed him a bronze tally.

"She will take the merchant route through Water City. You go first with a team to catch up, find her, and do not proceed to Gaochang. Bring her directly back to the Royal Court. If she has already reached Gaochang, stay to protect her. In case of urgent military developments, seek aid from the surrounding tribes."

Yuanjue's expression turned grave. He acknowledged the order, sharply tugged his reins, and galloped south with a dozen cavalrymen.

Haidu Aling had already fled. Ge Lu remained to search the river valley for any of his remaining subordinates, while the others broke camp and returned to the Holy City. Along the way, they provided detailed reports of the military situation over the past few days.

Bi Suo followed behind, his mind unsettled. Several officers tasked with staying behind approached him, inquiring about the great battle at Samu Valley. He answered distractedly and asked about the situation in the Holy City.

One of them said, "Although Haidu Aling failed to break out of the river valley, our army still suffered many casualties. When the news reached the Holy City, the nobles were thrown into panic. Some idle gossipers seized the chance to spread rumors, claiming that Wahan Khan himself was leading troops to attack, that the army at Samu Valley had been wiped out, and even that you, lad, had fallen in battle. They said a hundred thousand troops were at the city gates, spinning such convincing tales that I almost believed them myself! There were several disturbances in the city—a group of nobles packed their valuables, wailing and begging to flee the city to escape the war. It was chaos. Some even sent their private soldiers to storm the city gates. The inner city guards sent for reinforcements, but with Haidu Aling right under our noses, how could we dare abandon our posts?"Hearing this, Bi Suo's heart skipped a beat: "Has unrest broken out in the city?"

The rumor-mongers were undoubtedly Northern Rong spies who had infiltrated the Holy City in advance, creating chaos to open the city gates from within and allow Haidu Aling's forces to enter. If their scheme succeeded, commanders like Ge Lu would surely dispatch troops back to the city to assist, enabling Haidu Aling to advance unimpeded!

The man smiled and said, "It's nothing serious. I heard the Monk Soldiers from the temple intervened, and the unrest was quickly quelled."

Bi Suo felt a lingering fear, grateful that Bā mǐ ěr, who remained at Wang Temple, was experienced and handled such situations with ease, preventing a major disaster.

The army soon returned to the Holy City. The sound of horns echoed, and the common people, stirred by the news, came out with food and drink, vying to welcome the troops outside the city gates. Young girls approached with crystal-clear fine wine, singing ballads and scattering flowers.

Men and women, old and young, all dressed in their finest attire, filled the city with joyous celebration and thunderous cheers.

Tanmoroqie, accompanied by Bi Suo and others, avoided the surging crowds and returned to the city through a secret passage, heading straight to the palace to receive his ministers.

The common folk showed no surprise that Su Dan Gu was still alive, believing it was due to the Buddha Prince's divine protection that Su Dan Gu had narrowly escaped death.

The ministers, however, felt differently—they would never believe such legends.

Upon entering the grand hall and seeing Su Dan Gu standing before the steps in military attire, exuding a stern and imposing aura, they were initially terrified. But remembering his defeat of the Northern Rong and the punishment of the nobles who had plotted against him, they couldn't help but beam with delight. First, they lavished praise and requested celebratory ceremonies and prisoner offerings, then vehemently distanced themselves from the former head of the Xue family, finally hinting at the opportunity to annex Northern Rong territory.

Bi Suo frowned; after just one victory, the ministers were already swelling with ambition.

Tanmoroqie neither agreed nor disagreed, dismissing the ministers and summoning military commanders to calmly handle affairs, assign tasks, and direct troop movements.

"The Northern Rong tribal nobles are riddled with internal conflicts. With Wahan Khan's major defeat, the allied forces have splintered. Mobi Duo is pursuing the remnants, while other armies guard the passes tightly. Do not attempt to annihilate the Northern Rong in one stroke; force them to fight separately and break them one by one."

The commanders assented in unison. This way, the Northern Rong would be unable to recover for years to come.

As orders were issued one after another, everyone gained clarity and departed to carry out their duties.

Throughout, Bi Suo glanced worriedly at Tanmoroqie a few times but, meeting his icy, snow-cold gaze, dared not speak.

After the commanders left, Tanmoroqie walked out of the hall and stood at the top of the long steps, overlooking the resplendent, majestic palaces below.

A strong wind rose in the afternoon, darkening the sky as clouds churned. The palace halls bathed in the deep hues of dusk. Beyond the palace walls, the streets and neighborhoods teemed with crowds; the entire city emptied as people came out to celebrate the victory, their cheers and laughter echoing throughout the Holy City.

The whole world rejoiced; every corner of the land celebrated.

The common people were safe and joyful, yet her fate remained unknown—she was likely in grave danger.

It was he who had altered the plan at the last moment, sending her away earlier.

Li Xuanzhen's arrival made him realize she would eventually leave; Mobi Duo's embrace stirred uncontrollable greed within him; when she slept soundly with her head on his thigh, he could not restrain the urge to touch her hand.

The Scriptures in the books, he had long memorized backwards and forwards, comprehending their depths thoroughly. He had his own path, indifferent to the world's opinions—a lifetime of solitary wandering was but a blink of an eye. The only companionship was but an illusion, a bubble's fleeting shimmer.But the illusion was so beautiful and alluring.

Allowing her to follow the army in the first place had been a moment of indulgence on his part.

If he didn't let her go now, he didn't know what he might do.

All troubles are but guides—letting go is the answer.

He released her, yet could not release his heart.

Dark clouds churned across the sky, overwhelming and menacing, with flashes of brilliant lightning cutting through the layers.

The howling wind echoed through every street and alley.

Tanmoroqie lifted his gaze to the gloomy horizon, the wind billowing through his sleeves, making them flap fiercely.

She had been so afraid of Haidu Aling back then... When he sent her to Sand City, she hadn't asked a single question, leaving calmly. In her letter, she only mentioned causing him trouble and thanked him for his understanding.

Faint lantern lights flickered in every corner of the palace and residential wards. The raging wind, oppressive dark clouds, roaring thunder, and layers of black clouds shrouded everything. Icy lightning danced wildly, dimming the lights of countless households.

Tanmoroqie tightened his grip on his sword and turned in the whistling gale.

A pale blue lightning bolt tore through the night sky, illuminating the heavens as if a giant hidden in the black clouds was brandishing a long blade, slicing across the entire firmament.

The stark white light fell upon Tanmoroqie's face, revealing his scar-covered visage and the quiet turbulence surging in his eyes.

Bi Suo stood before him, gazing into his deep green eyes, and said, "My King, the overall situation is settled. I will guard the Holy City well..."

He had arranged everything, yet he had never considered himself. Now, it was time for him to be willful just once.

Deafening thunder exploded in the sky, shaking the roof tiles and making the earth tremble.

Amid the rumbling thunder, Tanmoroqie swiftly descended the long steps, leaped onto his horse, and galloped away, his tall and solitary figure seeming to ride the wind back to whence he came.

Bi Suo rushed down the stone steps after him, followed by several close guards, escorting him through the narrow passage out of the city.

With the army's victory, there was no curfew in the city tonight. Cheerful laughter drifted from behind the ward walls as muffled thunder rolled and the clouds pressed lower and lower, so close that soldiers on the towers felt they could reach out and touch the dark wisps.

Several fast horses shot like arrows through the empty narrow passage, their hoofbeats thundering like storm, robes flapping noisily in the wind.

Bi Suo waved a bronze tally at the guards on the flanking walls, signaling them to notify the soldiers at the city gate to open it.

Soldiers on the walls, holding torches, ran back and forth, relaying the command toward the gate.

Suddenly, a faint light appeared ahead as a fast horse galloped toward them. The rider was dressed in the uniform of the Wang Temple Monk Soldiers.

"Regent! General!"

The monk soldier raced up to the group and, without waiting for his horse to fully stop, clasped his fists and reported, "The Princess has been waiting for a long time."

Bi Suo frowned, slowing his pace slightly, and said, "Tell Princess Chima I will visit her tomorrow."

The monk soldier scratched his head, steering his horse to catch up. "General, it's not Princess Chima... It's Princess Wenzhao. The Princess heard that the Regent and the General had returned and has been waiting at Wang Temple. Seeing that night had fallen and the court assembly had ended, yet the Regent and General had not returned to Wang Temple, the Princess had no choice but to come..."

Amid the howling wind, roaring thunder, and pounding hoofbeats, lightning flashes lit the narrow passage as bright as day.

Bi Suo had galloped several horse-lengths ahead when he realized what the monk soldier had said. He abruptly reined in his horse, stunned.

A moment later, he fiercely whipped his mount, chasing after Tanmoroqie at the front.

"Regent—Princess Wenzhao is in the Holy City!"This roar was drowned out by the rumbling thunder. Just as Bi Suo thought Tanmoroqie hadn’t heard it, the tall figure suddenly paused. The warhorse reared and neighed, coming to a halt.

Tanmoroqie turned his head. A flash of lightning streaked across the night sky, revealing his face as dark as a rakshasa, his jade-green eyes tinged with a blood-like crimson, and an overwhelming aura of killing intent radiating from him.

Bi Suo’s heart trembled faintly, unsure whether he was helping or harming him. He turned to ask the Monk Soldiers, "Where is the princess?"

The Monk Soldiers pointed in the direction he had come from. "The princess is behind."

As soon as he finished speaking, the rhythmic sound of hoofbeats echoed through the wind. Torchlight flickered as a dozen or so guards escorted a cloaked woman riding slowly forward.

Lightning flashed and thunder roared, one blue streak after another. In the shifting light and shadows, the woman rode unhurriedly, as if descending from the heavens atop the electric arcs.

The atmosphere in the narrow passage was tense.

Tanmoroqie gripped the reins, halting in the middle of the passage. His figure stood as still and imposing as a mountain range.

Unaware of the undercurrents swirling around her, the woman seemed delighted to see Tanmoroqie and his party. She urged her horse forward to meet them. The wind blew back her hood, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. Her sleek, lustrous black hair, illuminated by the lightning, seemed to shimmer with a soft, radiant glow.

She waved at Tanmoroqie, her face as lovely as hibiscus. "General Su…"

With a deafening crash, a thunderbolt exploded overhead, shaking the earth and sky as if the heavens were collapsing.

A series of sharp cracks erupted from the top of the narrow walls. Dark clouds churned, and raindrops began to pelt down fiercely, drawing a vast curtain of rain between heaven and earth.

The rain grew increasingly dense, pea-sized droplets rolling and splashing across the courtyard walls and tiled roofs.

Torches were extinguished by the downpour, plunging the passage into darkness.

Tanmoroqie stood motionless in the rain, letting the water stream down his face.

Yaoying exclaimed softly, pulling up her hood as she guided her horse closer to Tanmoroqie.

He remained silent, his jade-green eyes fixed on her, reflecting the lightning in the sky.

Yaoying smiled at him. "I’ve been at the Royal Court for so long, yet I’ve rarely seen it rain here…"

As she spoke, she untied a cloth bag from her waist and raised her hand, intending to shield him from the rain.

"General, you must be injured. Don’t let yourself get drenched…"

The next moment, her breath caught.

Tanmoroqie suddenly leaned forward, gripping her wrist tightly. His fingers were scorching hot.

Yaoying froze.

As the rain poured down, he pulled her closer, inch by inch. Yaoying looked up at him, his fierce, scarred face drawing nearer and nearer.

The thunder ceased. Icy raindrops struck Yaoying’s eyelids, and she trembled uncontrollably.

Tanmoroqie lowered his gaze, still holding her hand. His other hand rose, brushing aside her long hair before pressing against the back of her neck, pulling her into his embrace.

He held her, slowly closing his eyes.

A few raindrops gathered on his eyelashes, trembling lightly before finally dripping from their tips.

Yaoying’s forehead rested against his chest. She felt dazed, unable to gather her thoughts for a long while. Only after what seemed like an eternity did she become aware of her heart pounding fiercely.

His powerful arms encircled her back, his heartbeat steady and slow, his body as rigid as iron.

The rain poured relentlessly.

The guards in the passage stared at the two of them, stunned.

The Monk Soldiers looked equally shocked and were about to urge their horses forward when Bi Suo, catching sight of them out of the corner of his eye, shook his head and raised a finger to his lips in a silencing gesture.

The rain cascaded like a waterfall, enveloping the two figures.Bi Suo gestured for all the royal guards to withdraw.

"All meetings born of affection are transient and hard to last long. Life is full of fears, as fragile as morning dew. Worry arises from love, fear arises from love. If one departs from love, there will be no worry nor fear."

Clearly, Luojia had developed a weakness.

His own haphazard interference would be futile. It would be better to let Luojia indulge himself before Princess Wenzhao's departure.

The royal guards withdrew, while Yaoying's personal guards exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what to do.

First Mobi Duo, now the Royal Court's Regent... The guards thought inwardly, "Our master will be furious."

Icy rainwater trickled past her collar, sliding over warm skin. Yaoying shivered uncontrollably from the cold.

The arm wrapped around her shoulders immediately released her. She lifted her head, gazing at Tanmoroqie who stood so close, her eyes wide with disbelief. Shock, confusion, bewilderment, and helplessness flickered in her gaze.

This expression mirrored the stunned look she had when she first saw him eating plain meat—as if struck by lightning.

After that, she would secretly watch him every time he dined.

Tanmoroqie released Yaoying, the crimson hue fading from his eyes. He calmly took the cloth bag she was clutching tightly and helped her put on the hood, tying the strings.

His movements were natural, as if he had merely leaned over to take something from her hand and happened to embrace her briefly.

Yaoying grew even more dazed, wondering if the embrace had been her imagination.

"General?"

She called to him softly.

Tanmoroqie averted his gaze, his damp chin glistening with moisture: "An old injury acted up just now. I lost my composure momentarily. Please forgive me, Princess."

His voice was hoarse and low.

Yaoying frowned slightly, wanting to say something, but Tanmoroqie gently nudged his horse's flank and rode away.

She looked puzzled.

When he had held her, she had been momentarily stunned, her heart racing, yet his breathing hadn't faltered at all. He remained cold and detached, emanating a chilling aura of killing intent—completely different from Mobi Duo's nervous passion when embracing her, devoid of any sense of emotional stirring.

Yaoying stood dazed in the rain for a moment, tightened her cloak, and followed him.

The rain grew heavier. The party returned to Wang Temple in silence, all drenched, and went to their respective rooms to change clothes.

Bi Suo first escorted Yaoying back to her quarters, instructing servants to bring charcoal and cold-prevention medicine, then went to check on Tanmoroqie.

Just as he stepped out of the corridor, he saw a dark figure standing before the stone steps, soaked through, with bloodshot blue eyes and a faint red tinge between his brows.

"Why is she in the Holy City?"

He withdrew his gaze, turned into the corridor, and asked softly.

As if questioning Bi Suo, yet also himself.

Why hadn't she left?

Bi Suo followed behind him and smiled, "Your Majesty, I cannot guess Princess Wenzhao's thoughts. You should ask the Princess directly."

Tanmoroqie remained silent. As they walked, he suddenly stopped, his brow furrowing deeply.

Bi Suo started, thinking "this is bad," and quickly rushed forward.

Tanmoroqie let out a muffled groan and vomited a mouthful of blood. A few streaks of blood splattered, instantly staining a patch of his robe crimson.

"Regent..."

Bi Suo looked at him, both worried and relieved.

From the moment Li Yaoying left, Luojia had been tense, restraining himself without showing any abnormality. But this stagnant blood had been accumulating in his chest—the longer it remained, the greater the harm. Now that he saw her safe and sound, he finally relaxed and expelled this stagnant blood.Tanmoroqie's expression remained placid as he wiped away the bloodstains and closed his eyes briefly.

"It's nothing."

He spoke indifferently, took a few steps, then staggered and collapsed to the ground.

Bi Suo's face paled dramatically as he rushed forward to support the unconscious Tanmoroqie, whose eyes were tightly shut.

How could it be nothing? He was clearly unwell.

Bi Suo summoned Bā mǐ ěr and had the unconscious Tanmoroqie carried back to the secret chamber, where they changed his sweat-soaked garments.

His body burned with fever, limbs stiffened, consciousness blurred.

Bi Suo fed him several elixir pills and forced down multiple bowls of soothing herbal decoctions, yet the high fever persisted and his awareness remained clouded.

The informed physician arrived overnight for examination, shaking his head with a sigh: "This isn't a Cultivation method flare-up, nor are there signs of Qi deviation."

Bi Suo asked anxiously: "Then what is the cause?"

The physician explained: "The King may be excessively fatigued... burdened by official duties, coupled with the constant vigilance required on the battlefield, mental exhaustion compounded by using his Cultivation method has overwhelmed his constitution. It could also be that accumulated melancholy during this period, left unrelieved, has triggered old ailments."

"How should it be treated?"

The physician frowned: "The King must first cease using his Cultivation method, recuperate with herbal decoctions, and absolutely must rest well these coming days while maintaining emotional tranquility..."

Bi Suo instructed the physician to personally prepare the medicine. After watching over Tanmoroqie for a while, he called for Bā mǐ ěr.

"Go invite Princess Wenzhao."