Yaoying's letter was intercepted and burned to ashes when it passed through Sand City, carried by the messenger eagle across towering mountains and rugged ridges.
Outside the Holy City.
The sky was gloomy, with snow raging and winds howling.
Bi Suo led his personal guards through the blizzard, his felt cap covered in snowflakes. The clatter of hoofbeats approached from behind as a cavalry troop galloped out from the city and caught up with him.
Instantly alert, he signaled to his guards and slowly drew his saber. When he recognized the newcomer's face, he froze.
It was the Chief Steward of Princess Chima's residence.
"General, something terrible has happened!"
Bi Suo's eyelids twitched violently: "Has the King relapsed?"
The steward paused in surprise, then shook his head: "General, Prince Mobi Duo has killed the Consort Akelie! Princess Chima is heartbroken and begs you to return to the city at once!"
A buzzing filled Bi Suo's head, nearly making him fall from his saddle.
Akelie was dead?
He sharply tugged the reins, wheeling his horse around to charge back toward the Holy City.
The princess' residence was filled with wails of mourning. Servants and slaves knelt weeping along the outer corridors while generals of the imperial guards stood beneath the veranda, their faces dark with fury. Several officials stood apart, engaged in heated discussion.
Bi Suo rushed into the main chamber where Akelie's body lay in a pool of blood, already lifeless.
Princess Chima crouched over him, tears streaming down her face.
Bi Suo dropped to his knees.
"Mobi Duo did this," Princess Chima lifted her head, wiping away tears with an icy expression. "It was Luojia's order. Mobi Duo has already confessed."
Bi Suo snapped out of his daze and retorted with a cold laugh: "Impossible! Why would the King want Akelie dead? Where is Mobi Duo? I'll question him myself!"
Princess Chima's eyes reddened: "Why did Luojia kill Akelie? Because I was the one he truly wanted dead! Akelie died under Mobi Duo's blade while protecting me."
Bi Suo frowned deeply: "The King would never harm you! Don't speak nonsense. I will uncover the truth and ensure Akelie doesn't die in vain."Princess Chima let out a piercing cold laugh, her voice slithering like a snake: 'Why does Luojia want me dead?" Because I know about his origins! He's killed so many to bury his secret—even the temple master. Now he's coming for me!"
Bi Suo stared at Princess Chima in stunned horror.
In that instant, everything clicked into place: the noble families' suspicious closeness to Princess Chima, the eerie calm at court after the war, the constant harassment Mobi Duo faced, the merchant caravan's mysterious deaths, the monks identifying Su Dan Gu, Bā mǐ ěr's imprisonment... All these pieces converged in a lightning flash of understanding.
Even with Luojia gravely ill, they still schemed against him!
Bi Suo glared at Princess Chima and suddenly rose, his saber leaping from its sheath. In the blink of an eye, the blade pressed against Princess Chima's throat.
Luojia had warned him to investigate the princess's associates. He'd assured the king that she'd cut ties with them after marriage.
He had repeatedly shielded the princess, covering for her before Luojia. He knew she guarded a monumental secret yet naively believed she wouldn't cross any lines.
How bitterly Bi Suo regretted it now.
Princess Chima shrieked: "You'd kill me for Luojia?!"
The blade rested against her flesh—the slightest pressure would slit her throat.
She struggled in terror: "Bi Suo, have you gone mad?!"
Bi Suo trembled uncontrollably, hesitating as he met the princess's desperate gaze.A loud bang echoed as the door slammed shut behind him. The sound of rushing footsteps flooded in as young officers stormed into the room, striking his arm with the flat of their blades.
The long sword in his hand was wrested away.
Princess Chima seized the chance to crawl aside, coughing violently, her face taut. "Bi Suo, stop struggling. It’s too late."
Bi Suo cast a cold glance at her and let out a self-mocking laugh.
Yes, it was too late. Everything was too late. Chima had fallen into someone else’s trap—the noble families must have long known about Luojia’s origins.
Although Luojia had anticipated this and instructed him and Mobi Duo to cooperate in exposing the true culprit… now, the identity of the culprit hardly mattered. Once the secret was out, even Luojia would be unable to control the situation.
"How foolish I was… to have actually trusted you…"
His eyes bloodshot, he swept a hateful glare over Princess Chima.
At the wedding, she had spoken so earnestly about reconciling with Luojia. Luojia had given her a chance, yet she had secretly colluded with the noble families.
Akelie had died by her hand.
He scanned the room, locking eyes with each of the officers.
A few looked ashamed and averted their gazes, while the others remained resolute, declaring, "Bi Suo, we have no choice. We are loyal to the royal family, to the Tanmo clan."
They knelt on one knee before him.
Without a word, Bi Suo turned and charged out.
"Stop him!"
Princess Chima’s voice was icy.
The crowd surged forward, a mass of dark figures. Expressionless, Bi Suo shoved aside everyone blocking his path, seized a horse, and galloped toward Wang Temple without looking back.
Outside the princess’s residence, a dense crowd had gathered. The Imperial Guards stood in tight ranks, encircling the estate. Most court officials had already arrived—nearly all of them scions of noble families.
At the sight of Bi Suo, they swarmed toward him.
Ignoring them completely, Bi Suo broke through and raced down the long street.
Several figures leaped onto the horse from different directions, grappling with him. A sharp chop to the neck sent darkness flooding his vision, and he lost consciousness.
Chima, her hair disheveled, rushed out of the residence. Seeing Bi Suo subdued, she sighed in relief and angrily addressed the crowd, "We can’t wait any longer. Bi Suo will never agree—we can’t persuade him. Let’s go to Wang Temple now and demand justice for the consort!"
Exchanging glances, the Imperial Guard commander drew his sword and shouted, "Wang Temple is surrounded. Garrison troops from other regions won’t react in time to come to its aid. The King has been deceived by treacherous individuals, repeatedly shielding Han people and favoring foreigners. To conceal his secret, he has slaughtered young officers and the consort. Today, we must obtain the King’s abdication decree!"
The soldiers before the steps roared in unison.
Officials crowded around Princess Chima as they hurried toward Wang Temple, the howling wind drowned out by the thunder of their footsteps.
Wang Temple stood silent amid the heavy snowfall.
The Monk Soldiers, seeing the dark tide of people surging forward, panicked momentarily before turning to report. Someone struck the alarm bell, its solemn toll echoing through the snowstorm.
Mounted on his steed, the commander yelled, "So many outstanding young men have died in the Holy City these past days, and now the consort has met a mysterious end! We demand an audience with the King—we want answers!"
Snowflakes swirled thickly as the Imperial Guards advanced layer by layer, like towering walls ready to crush everything in their path.
The Monk Soldiers retreated step by step.
Amid the standoff, with a series of heavy thuds, the temple gates swung wide open.Monk soldiers carrying a lotus throne surged out from the corridors and stood upon the steps. The man seated on the throne swept his gaze across the scene. Clad in a Kasaya, his face bore signs of illness and he appeared haggard, yet his presence was as profound as an abyss, as majestic as towering mountains. A single glance from him could compel others to kneel in involuntary submission.
A dead silence fell over the crowd, heavy as submerged water, broken only by tense, suppressed breaths. Several Imperial Guards, their courage shattered, trembled as they knelt, their weapons clattering to the ground.
With several thuds, the others were jolted awake and followed suit, laying down their arms and kneeling.
The captain and officials, momentarily stunned by Tanmoroqie's imposing aura, snapped back to reality after a brief daze and gritted their teeth, shouting, "Get up! Pick up your weapons!"
The soldiers exchanged glances, retrieved their weapons, but all kept their heads bowed, not daring to look at Tanmoroqie on the platform.
Yuanjue, standing beside Tanmoroqie, stepped forward and demanded, "You have trespassed into Wang Temple! Your crime warrants death!"
The soldiers shuddered.
The captain sneered coldly and stepped forward, "We are not guilty! Your Majesty, you ordered Mobi Duo to kill Akelie, and the temple master's death was also suspicious! Today, with court officials, Princess Chima, and all the major lords present, you—"
Before he could finish, several arrows whistled through the air. The captain let out a sharp cry and fell from his horse.
The sudden turn of events shifted the situation abruptly. Before the officials could react, Monk Soldiers who had been lying in ambush rushed out from three side paths. Figures moved along the walls, densely packed with fully drawn bows. Bā mǐ ěr stood atop the wall, waving a flag to direct the archers.
Arrows were aimed at the crowd below the steps, ready to unleash a volley at Tanmoroqie's command.
It was an ambush!
The officials paled in terror, hastily hiding behind their personal guards and retreating in panic.
All exits were blocked by Monk Soldiers, while those on the walls stood with bows drawn and arrows nocked.
The officials were forced back to the base of the long steps, huddling closely together and looking around in confusion.
Princess Chima, startled, retreated toward the hall under the cover of her guards, but Monk Soldiers closed in, surrounding them completely.
On the platform, Tanmoroqie suddenly covered his mouth and coughed.
Yuanjue, alarmed, quickly ordered the Monk Soldiers to carry him back into the hall.
Bā mǐ ěr found Bi Suo bound and untied him, bringing him back to the main hall.
Bi Suo slowly regained consciousness, scrambled to his feet, and grabbed Bā mǐ ěr by the collar, "Take the King away from the Holy City immediately, to Gaochang, hurry!"
Bā mǐ ěr was taken aback—they had just begun to close the net, why leave now?
"General, don't worry. The officials and Imperial Guards who broke into Wang Temple have been captured, Princess Chima is also detained... The King has already sent people to the military camps and sealed off the military headquarters—they can't turn the tables..."
These people were surely connected to the murders. Though they left no clues, capturing them all might yield some answers. Tanmoroqie had Bi Suo enter prison under the guise of the Regent to lull them into carelessness and reveal their schemes.
No one expected them to be so impatient.
Bi Suo's eyes widened, his face contorted, "It's too late! Capturing more people won't help! Leave now! They know everything!"
Bā mǐ ěr's heart sank, "General, what's happened?"
Without explaining, Bi Suo rushed into the inner chamber, "Your Majesty, you must leave the Holy City at once!"
Tanmoroqie had already arranged all matters and was nearly unconscious. Hearing this, he frowned slightly, awakened, and fixed his gaze on Bi Suo's face.At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the hall as a monk soldier rushed into the inner chamber: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards, the royal guards, the city defense garrison... suddenly none of them are obeying orders! Those we sent out have either been captured or turned back to lead the way for them! The Prime Minister and the Chief Justice are leading them toward Wang Temple! They demand we release Princess Chima!"
Another monk soldier ran in, his expression bewildered: "Your Majesty, the temple elders are demanding we withdraw from Wang Temple... The elders say they wish to meet with you and request your abdication..."
Yuanjue's face turned deathly pale, blood rushing to his head.
The Imperial Guards had mutinied, officials were forcibly storming Wang Temple alongside Princess Chima, all other garrison troops had turned against them, and even the monks were pressing for the king's abdication.
Why?!
The king was so benevolent, so beloved by the people. When confronting the noble families, the royal guards and central army had loyally stood by his side. Why were they suddenly refusing to obey his commands now?
Princess Chima had never been popular—how had the Prime Minister and others all joined forces with her?
Tanmoroqie's expression remained unchanged as he looked at Bi Suo.
"Bi Suo, what have you been hiding from me?"
He asked, his demeanor calm, as if he had long anticipated this day.
Tears welled in Bi Suo's eyes as he knelt and kowtowed.
He had kept this secret from Luojia for over twenty years, but ultimately failed to conceal it.
"Your Majesty... Your birth mother wasn't the former queen... Your biological mother was a palace slave... She was a Han Chinese..."
Yuanjue and Bā mǐ ěr stood frozen in shock.
How could the Royal Court accept that their Buddha Prince was born from a Han Chinese slave!
Tanmoroqie fell into a momentary daze.
"So that's how it is."
He stated calmly, his jade-green eyes like stagnant water, utterly unrippled.
No wonder Chima had broken with him over the Zhang family matter and held such hatred for him all these years.
He was born from a Han Chinese slave—Chima had never considered him a brother.
"Bi Suo," Tanmoroqie asked, "what happened to my birth mother?"
Bi Suo choked back sobs: "The Han woman passed away after your birth. The queen despised Han women and didn't want to keep you, ordering you thrown into the river... But when you were born, celestial phenomena appeared—clouds filled the sky, divine music drifted down as if gods and Buddhas had descended to earth. The Holy City's people marveled at the wonder. The wet nurse, being Buddhist, dared not kill and persuaded the queen to spare you, saying they could use the miracle of your birth to intimidate the noble families. The queen herself had given birth to a son two days earlier. Fearing her child would be taken by the noble families, she followed the wet nurse's advice and had you delivered to them..."
Who would pay attention to an insignificant slave? Only when the Han woman gave birth did the palace realize she had been pregnant. No one knew two princes had been born in the palace within days of each other.
Afterward, Tanmoroqie replaced the queen's child as the noble families' prisoner, enduring immense suffering.
Bi Suo's voice grew strained.
This secret had been buried deep in his heart. He hadn't dared tell Luojia the truth, knowing that even if Luojia learned of his origins, he would still shoulder this burden without hesitation. But how heartbroken Luojia would be! And it could severely affect his mental state, potentially causing Qi deviation.
From the moment of his birth, Luojia had been the queen's pawn!
Tanmoroqie looked at Bi Suo: "Are you the child the queen gave birth to?"
Yuanjue and Bā mǐ ěr widened their eyes in disbelief.
Bi Suo trembled violently, tears streaming down his face.
"It is me."
He was Luojia's elder brother, born two days before him.The Queen knew the noble families would not let the Tanmo family go, so she secretly sent Bi Suo to the late princess's residence. The princess raised him and allowed him to inherit the title of the Ashina family.
He grew up carefree, clothed in fine silks and fed with delicacies, showered with affection. As an adult, he frolicked among flowers, attracting bees and butterflies, never having suffered a single hardship. Meanwhile, Luojia was confined in a dark interrogation hall, deprived of sunlight.
After learning his true origins, Bi Suo visited the interrogation hall. There, he saw the youth reading Buddhist scriptures in his cell, and his heart was overwhelmed with guilt. He had expected Luojia to be gloomy, profound, sensitive, and irritable, but Luojia was remarkably composed and steady. Luojia was smarter and more diligent than all of them.
The Queen, his adoptive mother, and Princess Chima all told Bi Suo that making Luojia the King was only a temporary measure. Once the Tanmo family grew stronger, they would kill Luojia and install Bi Suo as King.
Bi Suo had no desire to be King. Luojia had suffered so much—how could the Queen coldly eliminate him after using him?
Bi Suo became Tanmoroqie's personal attendant, swearing eternal loyalty to Luojia. He wanted to atone for Luojia through his devotion. Luojia was his younger brother, bearing the burden of the Tanmo family alone, while he, the elder brother, indulged in pleasure. This was his only way to redeem himself.
Later, the Queen passed away, and his adoptive mother died as well. Princess Chima urged Bi Suo to reclaim his identity as a prince and contend for power with Luojia, but Bi Suo firmly refused. He made a pact with Chima: in this lifetime, neither would reveal Luojia's secret.
Bi Suo knew that if Luojia's identity were exposed, he would never resort to killing to cover it up. But the noble families would seize this opportunity to frame Luojia! So Luojia could not abdicate.
Now, his premonition had come true.
Chima had leaked the secret.
Bi Suo cried hoarsely, "Chima is my sister... She suffered greatly as a child... I thought if I took good care of her, she wouldn’t betray me... My King, I have brought disaster upon you."
It was too late. No words could undo it. Nothing he did could ever make up for what he owed Luojia.
He knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly until his forehead was smeared with blood.
A sudden chill touched his forehead.
Bi Suo looked up.
Tanmoroqie held a gilded staff, tapping it lightly between Bi Suo's brows. "Perhaps this is for the best... After I die, you will succeed to the throne and stabilize the situation as quickly as possible... The noble families cannot all be killed, nor can they be lightly pardoned. I have already drafted a plan and explained it to you. Follow it step by step... This crisis is also an opportunity for you to establish your authority... The Buddha Prince cannot occupy the throne forever... Use me as bait to draw everyone out. Bi Suo, find Mobi Duo and coordinate with him from within..."
Bi Suo opened his mouth, stunned. Regret, guilt, bitterness—waves of emotion surged in his heart. He could no longer hold back and wept aloud.
"My King, what about you?"
What would become of Luojia?
Tanmoroqie lifted his gaze, looking toward the east outside the window.
"Remember what you promised me."
Tears streamed down Bi Suo's face like a spring.
Several sharp whistles pierced the air abruptly. Iron arrows tore through the Felt Curtain, embedding themselves in the carpet in the hall, their shafts quivering.
Outside the hall, footsteps clamored, flames leaped, and shouts rose and fell.
Yuanjue snapped back to reality and tremblingly rushed to the bedside.
"My King, let us escape through the secret passage!"
The ministers of the Royal Court now knew the King's origins—they would surely depose him!
The wind blew, gently swaying the Felt Curtain. The room was filled with the cold, lingering scent of aloeswood.Tanmoroqie, clad in a loose kasaya and gaunt to the bone, sat upright on the couch, fingering his Buddhist beads as he calmly stated, "All conditioned things are impermanent; they are subject to birth and death. When birth and death cease, one attains the bliss of Nirvana."
Years ago, when he chose to don the mask of Su Dan Gu, he had foreseen his own fate.
If I do not enter hell, who will?
He simply hadn't expected that the cause would be his origins.
Fortunately, sensing the impending storm, he had sent her away.
"Follow Bi Suo and assist him in becoming king. Do not worry about me. I... am nearing my end and have no attachments left."
Holding his Buddhist beads, he spoke to Yuanjue and Bā mǐ ěr.
Yuanjue burst into tears.
Bā mǐ ěr's eyes were bloodshot.
"There's still a chance! There's still a chance!"
Bi Suo suddenly scrambled to his feet, drew the sword from Bā mǐ ěr's waist, and rushed out of the inner hall, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Close the temple gates! Kill everyone who tries to break in today—spare no one!"
Chaos reigned outside as monk soldiers and temple monks panicked, stunned by his words.
"Kill them all?"
Bi Suo, gripping the sword, strode swiftly: "Kill them all! Leave no one alive!"
He charged straight toward the imprisoned Princess Chima and swung his blade down.
Kill Chima, and no one would be able to question Luojia's identity anymore. Kill her!
Princess Chima, her hair disheveled and teeth chattering, stared blankly as Bi Suo's blade descended upon her.
He's insane! Completely mad!
"Bi Suo, I am your sister! Your only family!"
Bi Suo continued to strike.
Princess Chima screamed and fled.
"General!"
Those nearby cried out in terror, grabbing him around the waist.
"General! Don't act rashly! We can't possibly kill all these people!"
"General!"
Bā mǐ ěr rushed out after him. "The King has fainted."
Bi Suo snapped back to his senses, dropped the long blade, and dashed back into the inner hall.
Tanmoroqie had collapsed. Already exhausted and feeling his days were numbered, learning the truth of his origins had shattered even his iron will.
Bi Suo steadied himself, wiped his face and tears away, his expression grim as he signaled Yuanjue to carry Tanmoroqie.
"Let's go! Take the secret passage and head for Gaochang!"
Luojia had struggled tirelessly, pouring his heart and soul into the Royal Court, only to have the central army and royal guards turn against him because he was born of Han Chinese descent.
His master's prophecy had come true.
Outsiders could not kill Luojia; formidable enemies could not defeat him.
Only when struck by one's own would the blade cut to the bone. Luojia's heart had turned to ashes.
Bi Suo's blood boiled with rage.
He would not bother with the chaos in the Holy City anymore!
Luojia's previous plans and strategies... he wanted no part of them!
All he wanted was for Luojia to live!
At the very least, while Luojia was still alive, he should have the chance to see Princess Wenzhao one more time!
The group rushed into the secret passage.
...
Soon, news spread through every street and alley of the Holy City.
The citizens were horrified.
The Royal Court's central army, fully armed, surrounded Wang Temple, with royal guards stationed layer upon layer at every exit, their armor and blades glinting coldly. The temple monks, trembling with fear, gathered in the main hall, silently reciting scriptures.
Bore, who had been copying Buddhist scriptures in the sutra hall, ran out upon hearing the commotion outside. Seeing soldiers ransacking everywhere, his jaw nearly dropped.
Had the monk soldiers actually let these people in? Were they insane?
He cursed the monk soldiers, then yelled at the soldiers, "How dare you show such disrespect to the King?"
The soldiers herded the monks together, corralling them into a confined space.The Prime Minister stood on the high platform and shouted, "The Buddha Prince is unworthy of being king! He is not the Queen's bloodline! Bi Suo is the Queen's son!"
Princess Chima was helped onto the stage, gritting her teeth as she produced two edicts.
"Before the late King and Queen passed away, they both left edicts bequeathing the throne to the Queen's son. Tanmoroqie is not the Queen's biological child—he was born to a Han slave! The Zhang family pushed him onto the throne to confuse the royal bloodline. The true king is Bi Suo!"
The crowd stood dumbfounded.
Bore stood among a group of monks, his feet turning cold.
Is the Buddha Prince not of royal blood?
The monks were in turmoil, whispering among themselves, "What should we do?"
The Regent glanced at the crowd below: "Invite the elder to come up!"
An elderly monk slowly ascended the steps, sighed as he looked at the panicked monks below.
"The Buddha Prince was not born of the Queen... Fearing his identity would be exposed, he killed the temple master, the royal consort, and court officials... Before his nirvana, the temple master left a letter..."
The old monk's face was filled with sorrow.
"The Buddha Prince is the Regent, Su Dan Gu."
"I am Bore Liuzhi's junior brother and have seen the cultivation method practiced by the Buddha Prince. This method is a secret Buddhist technique. If one's mind is unstable while practicing it, they may suffer backlash, go mad, and kill. Now that the Buddha Prince's identity is exposed... if we do not stop him, he will surely become a demon..."
As his words fell, monks carrying piles of weapons, books, masks, and other items stepped before the crowd.
"I swear in the name of the Buddha that every word I speak is true. If I lie, may I fall into eternal hell. The Buddha Prince is Su Dan Gu. Every time the Buddha Prince entered seclusion, it was merely a cover."
In the heavy snow, thunder suddenly roared.
Rolling peals of thunder echoed incessantly in everyone's ears, making them tremble uncontrollably.
The Buddha Prince was actually the Regent!
The Buddha Prince had taken countless lives!
The merciless Vajra Asura and the compassionate, deeply enlightened Buddha Prince were the same person!
Bore felt all strength drain from his body and collapsed to the ground.
Amid the chaos, several soldiers rushed out from behind the hall: "They've escaped! There's no one inside—they must have fled through a secret passage!"
"Who knows where the entrance to the secret passage is?"
Everyone shook their heads.
A guard shouted loudly, "There's an exit from the secret passage that leads to the Beast Garden!"
"We cannot let Su Dan Gu escape... He has already begun killing indiscriminately..." The old monk shook his head and sighed, clasping his hands together. "Either let him remain as king, or... kill him..."
The Regent exchanged glances with the others and quickly made a decision.
They could not accept the son of a Han slave as king. Since the Buddha Prince and the Regent were the same person, keeping him would be a hidden danger—uncontrollable. They must eliminate the Buddha Prince and support Bi Suo to ascend the throne.
"After them!"
The clatter of armor and swords echoed as all the soldiers gave chase.
Bore, dazed and confused, followed them.
The news had already spread to every corner of the Holy City.
Outside the Wang Temple, crowds surged. The common people stood dazedly outside the temple gates, some shouting, some arguing loudly, while more devout believers knelt in the snow, wailing in sorrow.
The Buddha Prince and the Regent were the same person! The Buddha Prince they revered was not the son of the Queen but the child of a Han slave!
"I don't believe it!"
"It's a lie! The Buddha Prince has already attained nirvana—this Su Dan Gu is an imposter! He's pretending to be the Buddha Prince!"
One believer after another wailed and threw themselves against the temple gates, blood splattering everywhere.
Bore's vision blurred. Touching his face, he realized he was weeping.
His Buddha Prince was a fraud.
Bore turned and ran away.
Soldiers, monk soldiers, commoners, and officials surged toward the Beast Garden in waves.
The guards of the Beast Garden stepped forward to resist. Princess Chima raised the imperial decree, and the central army guards stepped forward, shouting, "By the decree of the late king and queen, step back immediately!"
Chaos erupted—people and horses collided, no one knew who to obey, panicked figures and cries were everywhere, a scene of utter disorder.Bi Suo, Yuanjue, and Bā mǐ ěr rushed out of the secret passage with Tanmoroqie, their horses galloping toward the rear mountains. A brilliantly colored leopard kept pace beside them. More than twenty loyal guards provided cover, shooting arrows as they rode, felling the pursuing Imperial Guards.
"It's Su Dan Gu's leopard! The Buddha Prince is indeed Su Dan Gu!"
"Capture them!"
"Seize the false Buddha Prince who defiles the Buddhist Dharma!"
Inciting shouts rose and fell among the crowd, a tumultuous uproar as the masses surged forward.
Arrows whistled through the air, guards tumbling from their horses one after another.
Suddenly, rapid hoofbeats echoed from both sides of the path. Imperial Guard knights in blue robes and white cloaks, carrying curved bows, charged out from behind snow-covered mountain rocks. Drawing their longbows to full stretch, they surrounded Bi Suo and the others.
Arrows fell like locusts. Everyone suffered arrow wounds to their arms, shoulders, or legs, gritting their teeth as they broke off the shafts.
The leopard roared fiercely, leaping at a guard preparing to shoot, and viciously bit off half of his hand.
The guard clutched his mangled, bloody hand, his agonized screams echoing over the snowfield.
Terror gripped the hearts of the onlookers. Others drew their swords and advanced, stabbing repeatedly at the leopard. Enraged, it roared and pounced on one guard, its sharp claws slashing open the man's belly.
Trembling with fear, the guards pulled their horses back, seeking shelter behind mountain rocks. A dozen of them drew their bows simultaneously.
Arrows rained down upon the leopard.
"Ali, be careful!" Bi Suo shouted.
The leopard nimbly dodged back and forth, lunging at the guards. Despite their fear, the guards advanced to fight it, their long spears, broadswords, and lances striking down. The leopard's body became riddled with arrows, its glossy fur quickly soaked with blood, yet it continued leaping forward to protect its master.
Seeing the leopard nearly exhausted, the guards swarmed it together. A long spear plunged deep into its body. The leopard struggled fiercely, biting several guards to death or injury before turning its head to glance at the barely conscious Tanmoroqie on horseback. It lifted a paw, then collapsed to the ground. A guard stepped forward and thrust down with his spear.
The leopard convulsed several times and lay still.
"Ali!" Yuanjue cried out, tears in his voice.
A powerful eagle cry pierced the sky as a massive falcon suddenly swooped down, its sharp claws savagely striking the Imperial Guards.
The guards frantically shot arrows. After injuring several guards, the falcon let out a mournful cry, two arrows embedded in its body as it flew higher and higher, gradually descending.
"Garuda!" Yuanjue shouted. "Fly away! Escape!"
Bi Suo's eyes burned crimson with rage as he looked up at the densely packed Imperial Guards closing in and the distant commoners.
"Are you just going to stand by and watch your King be hunted down?"
The commoners glanced at each other uncertainly.
In despair, Yuanjue yelled, "Make way! The King is dying! Must you pursue him to the bitter end?"
"Please, we beg you, let us pass!"
"Over a decade ago, when the Northern Rong besieged the city, all the nobles and officials fled with their families. The King was only thirteen—he could have escaped, but he didn't! He knew the Northern Rong would slaughter the city, so he turned back with the Monk Soldiers to defend the Holy City."
"Eight years ago, when summer came, the mountain snows lingered without melting. For a hundred miles, not a blade of grass grew, and disasters struck everywhere. The King opened his private treasury to aid the people, saving countless lives!""Seven years ago, the King personally led troops to purge the tribes plundering the trade routes, established trade with Western nations, reduced taxes, attracted merchants, and made the markets of the Holy City the most prosperous bazaar along the trade routes."
"When nobles trampled your manors, seized your wives and daughters, and plundered your wealth, the Regent upheld justice for you. He enforced the law impartially, and no innocent souls ever fell beneath his blade!"
"Every time the Northern Rong invaded, the King donned his armor and devoted himself entirely to ensuring the people's stability and prosperity."
"The King knows his time is short, so he established alliances with various nations to ensure the Royal Court's lasting peace after his death..."
"The King has never been selfish!"
Yuanjue cried out: "Just because he isn't the Queen's son, you would destroy him?"
The soldiers' faces showed moved expressions, and some quietly lowered their weapons.
Bi Suo's colleague urged his horse forward; he was one of Tanmoroqie's trusted former generals. "Bi Suo, he is not our King. He is the son of a Han slave. He favors the Han people, favors foreigners. He is unworthy to be the monarch of the Royal Court!"
"Yes, he is Su Dan Gu!"
"He is unworthy to be the Buddha Prince!"
"He has suffered Qi deviation! We cannot let him go!"
"The son of a Han is unworthy to be our King! Even more unworthy to be our Buddha Prince! He has deceived us! Deceived the Buddha! He deserves to die!"
"He has defiled the Buddhist temple!"
The common people said coldly.
The soldiers stiffened, gripping their sabers tightly.
Bi Suo urged his horse forward, his gaze sweeping over the unyielding soldiers and the indifferent common people, then he laughed heartily at the sky.
"I once thought that Luojia would truly go mad."
"I watched him every moment, fearing his resolve would waver because of affection."
"I feared he would suffer Qi deviation for love and desire, and I exhausted all means to prevent it."
Bi Suo turned his head to look at Tanmoroqie.
"He did not. He always remembered his responsibilities, and the one he loves also respects his faith and choices, never forcing him to abandon his identity."
Bi Suo raised his head, looking at the soldiers firmly blocking their path and the surrounding furious common people, spat, and grinned fiercely.
"I never expected that one day, it would be his own people who drive Luojia to a dead end! The Royal Court he has defended with his heart and soul!"
"It is not that he is unworthy to be the Royal Court's monarch, but that you are unworthy to have a King like him!"
The long road fell into silence, with only the howling wind and snow.
The Imperial Guards' commanders frowned deeply, exchanging glances.
They were not unaware of Tanmoroqie's hardships over the years, but the Royal Court had never had a precedent of a Han slave's son ascending the throne. Moreover, Tanmoroqie, as the Buddha Prince, was actually the same person as the Regent. He had killed so many people; the noble families deeply hated Su Dan Gu, and the common people could not accept Tanmoroqie's origins. They had already decided to support Bi Suo's accession and must force Tanmoroqie to abdicate.
Suddenly, a voice rang out: "He has long known his identity and has been scheming all these years to protect the Han people. He wants to hand the Royal Court over to the Han! If we let him go, he will seek out the Wei Dynasty Han and return with them to attack us!"
"Are we to be enslaved by the Han in the future?"
"Those not of our kind must have different hearts!"
The Imperial Guard commanders snapped back to reality, shouting: "We cannot let him go! He will collude with the Han!"
Bi Suo drew his saber: "Who dares to stop me?!"
As everyone was at their wits' end, Princess Chima rushed over with her men. "Bi Suo, come back!"Bi Suo's face was as dark as water, his eyes bloodshot as he reined in his horse to block Yuanjue's path. Tanmoroqie, barely conscious, was firmly shielded by Yuanjue.
Princess Chima gnashed her teeth in fury: "Bi Suo, you are the true king of the Royal Court! I promise you—spare Luojia's life, and only strip him of his throne!"
Bi Suo's expression remained icy: "Foolish woman! Do you think your words hold any weight? Do you believe those who helped you scheme would spare Luojia? Do you imagine they'd pledge loyalty to me after deposing him?"
Princess Chima flew into a rage: "I possess the final decrees of my father and mother! The monastery monks, civil and military officials, the Imperial Guards, the Monk Soldiers, and the common folk of the Holy City... all stand with me! They pledge allegiance to the Tanmo family! The only reason Luojia gained their support is because he bears the Tanmo name!"
Bi Suo's gaze turned grim: "The Tanmo family lost power long ago! Your prosperity, the Royal Court's stability, my carefree years—all were bought with Luojia's life! Without him, the Holy City would have been trampled by Northern Rong cavalry! How did news of Luojia's origins spread so quickly? Why have reinforcements been delayed? Who leaked the matter of Su Dan Gu? Someone is stirring public sentiment and destabilizing the situation! You're merely a pawn in their game!"
"Once they achieve their goals, I'd be nothing but a puppet. Would the noble families truly respect me?"
As his words faded, sharp whistles pierced the air—iron arrows shot from all directions, enveloping him in a deadly, cold aura.
Princess Chima erupted in fury, lashing her whip at the nearby generals: "Who ordered the archers to fire? What if Bi Suo is harmed? He is your king!"
The generals hastily dodged and commanded a ceasefire.
But in the chaos, the soldiers couldn't hear the orders clearly. Curses rang out continuously as iron arrows streaked overhead one after another.
"General, this way!"
A dozen horses charged into the Imperial Guards from behind, their riders burly and forceful, carving a path through the ranks. The lead man gestured to Bi Suo: "General, over here!"
Bi Suo recognized Jin Bo and his subordinates. After a moment's surprise, he spurred his horse toward them. Yuanjue, Bā mǐ ěr, and other close guards swiftly followed.
Jin Bo and his men shielded their escape from the encirclement.
The Imperial Guards faltered briefly before giving chase. Another horse darted out from the side, its rider wildly swinging a long blade.
It was Bore, the Buddha Prince's personal guard, who had brought Jin Bo and his troops.
He scattered a handful of caltrops from his sleeve, covering the retreat for Bi Suo and the others.
"Whether the king is the queen's son or not..."
He drew his long blade and murmured a Buddhist chant.
An iron arrow pierced his chest, spraying a fountain of blood.
He stood firm with his blade, blocking the narrow mountain pass exit, his round face etched with determination.
"I only know this—the king saved us slaves. He allowed us to study Buddhism like him, ensured we had food and warmth. We no longer starve or freeze, no longer fear being dragged away and beaten to death for no reason..."
He cut down an Imperial Guard soldier with one stroke.
"The king treated me as a human being."
Regardless of whether the king was the Buddha Prince or the monarch, he would never betray him.
Arrows whizzed through the air, embedding themselves all over his body.
Bore fell from his horse.
Bi Suo glanced back, his eyes nearly bursting with rage. With pursuers closing in, he dared not linger. Urging his horse into a gallop, he charged into the mountain valley with Yuanjue, then clasped his hands toward Jin Bo.
"I never expected you to step forward in this crisis, Prince."Jin Bo returned the salute with a smile. "I am a prince of the Northern Rong. If not for the Buddha Prince's pardon, how could I have survived to this day? Moreover, the Buddha Prince once saved my life before. I owe him a debt—how could I stand by and watch him die?"
Bi Suo sneered coldly. While Jin Bo was willing to risk his life for Luojia, the people of the Royal Court treated him like worthless trash.
He drew his dagger and handed it to Yuanjue. "Take the King to Gaochang. The noble families will not spare him—only Princess Wenzhao can save him now."
Yuanjue choked back tears as he accepted the dagger. "And what about you, General?"
Bi Suo wrapped a scarf around his head, covering his face until only his eyes were visible. "I will hold them off."
The sound of hoofbeats grew closer. With tearful glances, the group exchanged fist salutes and hurriedly parted ways.
...
Yuanjue and the others escaped through the secret path in the rear mountains, leaving their pursuers far behind.
Just as they emerged from the cliffs, a large contingent of troops appeared in the distance across the snowy plains, advancing like a black torrent with dark banners fluttering fiercely in the wind.
It was the Right Army stationed nearby.
Cold sweat drenched Yuanjue and his companions as they tightly encircled Tanmoroqie for protection.
A swift rider broke away from the Right Army and galloped toward them, shouting, "Princess Chima and the court officials have proclaimed to the world that Su Dan Gu is the son of a Han Chinese and unworthy of bearing the Tanmo family name! Our general does not wish to harm you—leave quickly!"
Yuanjue felt a momentary relief, then a flicker of hope. "Can you spare us a few horses?"
The messenger shook his head, notched an arrow, and shot it at the feet of Yuanjue's mount. "Not capturing you is already an act of mercy! Leave now! Any delay, and we will not hold back!"
Yuanjue laughed bitterly and turned with his guards toward another direction.
They passed through White City, several manors, and a few tribes—all places that had once received the King's benevolence.
Yet everyone who saw them avoided them like venomous snakes.
"Go away! We will not shelter you!"
When they begged for water or medicine, the people bolted their gates, refusing them entry no matter how they pleaded or wept outside the walls. Some even hunted them, hoping to capture them and claim rewards in the Holy City.
Jin Bo fumed, "The people of the Royal Court are no different from us Northern Rong! Let's stop being polite and just take what we need by force!"
Yuanjue abandoned all hope of seeking help from the towns they passed. He directed Jin Bo and the others to seize whatever supplies they needed, pressing onward at full speed while evading repeated attacks. Finally, they reached Sand City.
The garrison commander of Sand City had been reassigned. Disguised as pilgrims seeking medical treatment, Yuanjue and his men blended into the city, planning to continue to Gaochang once they departed.
The city was crowded and tense, its main street packed with families carrying bundles of belongings, their faces etched with sorrow.
"What's happening?" Yuanjue asked a passerby.
"War is coming!" a herder clutching a child scurried past. "Prince Haidu Aling of the Northern Rong has returned with a hundred thousand troops! They intend to crush the Royal Court!"
A shiver ran down Yuanjue's spine. He pressed for more details, and as he learned more, cold sweat broke out across his body.It turned out that a few days ago, court officials had deposed Tanmoroqie in the name of the late king, the late queen, and Princess Chima, and installed Bi Suo as the new king. Fearing rebellion from the armies, they recalled all generals to the Holy City and replaced them with their own trusted subordinates. Conflicts soon arose among the various factions, with constant friction and chaotic military orders and edicts flying everywhere—one decree in the morning, another by night, throwing the military into disarray.
Upon hearing that the Royal Court had installed a new king, the surrounding minor tribes began declaring independence.
Haidu Aling of the Northern Rong happened to have borrowed troops to attack the Western Army, intending to first recapture several key towns to boost morale. Unexpectedly, the Royal Court fell into internal strife, so he immediately changed course, persuading forces long covetous of the Royal Court to lend him troops. In this way, he gathered tens of thousands of soldiers.
The eastern gateway of the Royal Court was guarded by a major tribe. Upon hearing that Tanmoroqie had been harmed by noble families, they were filled with grief and indignation and simply opened their gates. The Northern Rong Allied Army, overjoyed, took a shortcut through the desert from the east and headed straight to attack the Holy City.
It was said the army was now closing in on the Holy City.
The court was leaderless, with even the appointment of a commander sparking fierce disputes. In less than a month, they had suffered several consecutive defeats. Remembering the Northern Rong’s brutal tactics of mass slaughter, the people of the Royal Court panicked, packing their belongings and fleeing westward.
Yuanjue’s heart was a turmoil of emotions.
As a native of the Royal Court, he naturally did not wish to see the Holy City fall to the Northern Rong. But after experiencing Tanmoroqie’s deposition, he no longer had the energy to worry about the Holy City’s populace.
His only thought was to escort Tanmoroqie to Gaochang, so that Luojia could reunite with Princess Wenzhao.
"Keep this from the king. Don’t tell him," Yuanjue instructed his guards.
These days, Tanmoroqie drifted in and out of sleep. Whenever he woke, he would ask about the situation in the Holy City. Afraid he would worry, they lied, saying Bi Suo had taken control of the court.
The guard responded solemnly and returned to the carriage.
Jin Bo stood guard on horseback by the carriage window, speaking with someone inside.
Yuanjue approached and said, "I bought an exit permit from a silk merchant. We can head to Gaochang now."
A hand lifted the carriage curtain, and Tanmoroqie’s voice emerged: "Where has the Northern Rong Allied Army reached?"
Everyone froze.
...
Royal Court, Holy City.
The Northern Rong Allied Army advanced with unstoppable momentum, capturing over a dozen key towns in succession. The Holy City was in imminent peril.
The court issued edicts repeatedly, but nearby tribes dragged their feet, refusing to send aid: they recognized only the Buddha Prince; no one else’s decrees could move them.
When news of yet another defeat reached the front lines, the people of the Holy City fled in droves. Just outside the city, dust clouds rose on the horizon, and terrifying horn blasts echoed as the Northern Rong Allied Army in black armor surged toward the Holy City from all directions like tidal waves. Black banners fluttered fiercely in the wind, their presence overwhelming.
Terrified, the people turned and scrambled back into the city.
The Northern Rong Allied Army did not rush to attack. Instead, they encamped and began constructing fortifications. The city’s inhabitants comforted themselves: perhaps the Northern Rong dared not assault the city.
The next day, the Northern Rong beat war drums and launched their assault.
The Holy City’s defenders, caught off guard by the swift attack, responded in disarray. Relying on the ballistas improved by Tanmoroqie, they repelled the Allied Army’s first wave.
Though less disciplined than the Northern Rong Iron Cavalry, the Allied Army fought with greater flexibility. After several days of failed assaults, they brought out siege engines, concentrating their forces to destroy the ballistas on the city walls.
Ten days later, the Holy City’s last ballista was rendered completely useless.Everyone knew the Northern Rong Allied Army would slaughter the city mercilessly, where no one—men, women, or children—would escape the fate of being ravaged. All able-bodied men in the city had ascended the walls to defend it.
Below the walls, corpses piled up like mountains.
That day, before dawn broke, several camps of the Northern Rong Allied Army opened their gates. The sound of horns wailed as cavalry first rode out in orderly formations, followed by infantry marching in ranks. Tens of thousands of troops arrayed themselves at the foot of the Holy City, their drumbeats, hoofbeats, and the fierce roars of soldiers piercing the clouds and cracking the stones.
The Northern Rong Allied Army was launching another fierce assault.
The people in the city were terrified, weeping and wailing in despair.
On the city walls, the Royal Court soldiers wore expressions of hopelessness.
Suddenly, a commanding falcon cry descended from high above, and a massive Falcon swept across the battlefield.
The soldiers froze momentarily, their eyes blazing with fervor.
On the horizon, a dark line surged faintly.
Someone cried out, tears falling like rain.
Under the rising sun, a snow-white banner adorned with golden patterns fluttered gently in the brilliant morning light.
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