The vast snow plains stretched endlessly beneath a cloudless sky, where the cold winter sun cast its brilliant golden rays. Where the banners fluttered, the earth trembled faintly.
Dark, undulating lines surged from the horizon like rolling mountain ridges slowly advancing.
The Royal Court soldiers stared blankly at the distant skyline.
The approaching dark lines grew clearer, swelling like tidal waves. These lines were composed of countless mounted warriors carrying blades, clad in armor of varying colors. They advanced at a steady pace, their formation orderly, exuding an aura of dignified calm and unstoppable lethality. They flanked a snow-white banner adorned with golden patterns, marching forward in a grand procession.
Upon entering the battlefield, the formation abruptly accelerated. The loosely arranged flanks swiftly contracted toward the center, the thunderous sound of hooves echoing like a roaring storm. In an instant, the entire army’s presence turned more menacing and fierce, its formation shifting in the blink of an eye. Then, a tall, imposing monk in monastic robes, surrounded by his personal guards, charged out from the ranks. Facing the Northern Rong Allied Army, he raised a pitch-black horn bow, drew the string taut like a full moon, and released an arrow.
The iron arrow tore through the air, its sharp whistle reverberating across the battlefield, carrying an overwhelming force that seemed capable of shattering everything in its path as it shot toward the enemy camp.
With two resounding clangs, the arrow pierced through one commander, its momentum undiminished, and struck down another nearby. Both commanders fell from their horses almost simultaneously.
Before anyone could react, in the flash of a moment, the monk drew his bow again. Swift as shooting stars, a volley of arrows followed in rapid succession. The enemy ranks erupted into chaos—men shouting, horses neighing—as soldiers tumbled from their steeds one after another.
Suddenly, cries of astonishment rose from the city walls. The monk’s final arrow severed a command banner within the enemy formation.
The sheer power and majestic authority of these arrows sent chills down the spines of all who witnessed it, leaving them drenched in cold sweat and trembling with fear.
Alone on his horse, the monk gripped his bow with one hand, reining in his steed atop the slope. He removed the cloth covering his face, revealing strikingly handsome features. His deep, serene jade-green eyes, cold as snow and devoid of emotion, gazed down upon the swarming Northern Rong Allied Army below. His towering figure, radiating an overwhelming presence, seemed like a deity descended from the heavens.
A deathly silence, deep as still water, fell over the battlefield.
The Northern Rong Allied Army was thrown into turmoil. Meanwhile, on the walls of the Holy City, after a moment of stunned silence, the soldiers broke into loud, emotional cries toward the monk’s direction.
The Regent has returned!
The Buddha Prince has returned!
Their King has returned!
Not a puppet propped up by the schemes of noble families and Princess Chima, but a ruler who cared for his people, who time and again faced adversity head-on in times of crisis, leading his low-born soldiers through the clash of arms and the trials of battle!
What did it matter that his mother was Han?
He remained the monarch beloved by the people and supported by the tribes—the benevolent and noble Buddha Prince!
The commanders’ eyes welled with hot tears, their blood boiling with fervor.
The Northern Rong Allied Army faltered momentarily. Several chieftains turned to Haidu Aling, roaring, "Didn’t you say Su Dan Gu was dead? How is he still alive?!"
Haidu Aling stared in the direction of Tanmoroqie, his brow furrowed deeply.
Tanmoroqie was renowned across nations, and Su Dan Gu was feared for his martial prowess. The fact that the dreaded Buddha Prince and the Regent were one and the same had deterred neighboring states from rashly attacking the Royal Court. To secure more troops, Haidu Aling had hinted to the chieftains that Tanmoroqie was dead, which had persuaded them to gladly lend their forces.To think that Tanmoroqie not only survived the pursuit of the noble families but also returned to defend the city after losing his throne.
Haidu Aling was secretly alarmed.
Wahan Khan had once told him that half of the Northern Rong’s defeat was due to Tanmoroqie, while the other half resulted from internal power struggles and conflicts among the nobility. With disunity among the people, they were nothing but a scattered force in the face of a formidable enemy. The Royal Court nobles were also riddled with conflicts, and when those conflicts erupted, it would be the perfect opportunity to seize the Holy City.
He had waited for this moment, yet Tanmoroqie proved more resilient than he and the old Khan had anticipated.
No wonder Wahan Khan had always deeply feared Tanmoroqie. This man might truly possess a broad and generous heart, or perhaps his schemes ran deep. In any case, whether the Holy City won or lost this battle, his reputation would spread far and wide across the nations. Without having to feign cooperation with the noble families, he could effortlessly reclaim the throne and win the people’s hearts.
So what if the Buddha Prince was a Regent who killed without mercy? In times of chaos, whoever could ensure the people’s survival would be the king in their eyes.
Amidst the shock of the crowd, Tanmoroqie galloped down on his horse, followed unhesitatingly by soldiers clad in different armors. Wielding long blades, they charged directly into the heart of the Northern Rong Allied Army’s formation, colliding with a tribal cavalry unit with an unstoppable momentum.
The cavalry, relying on the advantage of their tall steeds, launched their assault calmly. They formed small teams of three—two would engage the enemy riders while the third swung his blade, targeting the horses’ legs. With swift, precise strikes, warhorses whinnied and threw their riders to the ground.
In an instant, the two forces clashed fiercely. The Buddha Prince’s troops fought with fearless ferocity, clinging to their enemies like wild beasts sinking their teeth into throats, refusing to let go no matter how their foes struggled.
The Chieftains, terrified, halted their assault on the Holy City and ordered their flanking cavalry to retreat.
"Su Dan Gu possesses extraordinary skills—he can single-handedly slay enemies before a thousand troops! He must have returned with reinforcements!"
Chaos erupted as several tribal chieftains turned and fled.
Haidu Aling tightened his grip on the reins, furious. Scanning the scene, he calmly reasoned: Tanmoroqie, pursued by the noble families, could not possibly have assembled a force capable of confronting his own hundred-thousand-strong allied army in such a short time!
"Stay calm, all of you!" he roared. "The Royal Court despises the Han people. After deposing Su Dan Gu, they immediately launched an attack on the Western Army. With the Wei Dynasty and the Royal Court at war, the Western Army is too preoccupied to assist. Where could Su Dan Gu possibly find borrowed troops?"
"Su Dan Gu’s direct charge to break the allied forces is nothing but a bluff!"
The tribal chieftains paid no heed and continued their retreat.
"Men, follow me into battle!"
Gritting his teeth, Haidu Aling drew his blade, shouted to his subordinates behind him, and urged his horse forward.
It was not the first time the allied forces had disobeyed his commands.
Ahead, Tanmoroqie’s monastic robes billowed in the wind like a gleaming, sharp blade. With his personal guards, he pressed onward toward the center of the allied forces. The allied formation shattered as tribal cavalry on both sides scattered, splitting the entire army in two.
Mud and snow flew everywhere, arrows whizzing through the air.
As Haidu Aling led his men forward, Tanmoroqie’s troops abruptly contracted toward the center and then retreated without hesitation.
The Northern Rong forces, overjoyed, immediately gave chase.Haidu Aling froze for a moment, a sense of foreboding gripping his heart as his palms grew clammy with sweat: Could this all be Tanmoroqie’s strategy? He had used this very tactic before to ambush and cripple Wahan Khan.
He lifted his head, gazing toward the direction of the Holy City. Tanmoroqie had descended from the heavens as if by miracle, reinvigorating the morale of the city’s defenders. To attack the Holy City now would likely plunge them straight into Tanmoroqie’s trap.
The roar of battle cries filled his ears as his subordinate clasped his fists and asked for instructions, "Your Highness, the left and right flanks are in disarray! Which side should we reinforce?"
"Retreat! Preserve our strength—let the tribal cavalry hold the line!"
He issued the command decisively.
As the Northern Rong forces began to withdraw, panic spread like wildfire among the other tribal cavalry. The entire allied battle formation crumbled under the assault. On the city walls, Bi Suo, who was leading the imperial guards in the defense, immediately ordered the gates opened and dispatched a unit to provide support. The two forces swiftly merged and withdrew into the city.
The Northern Rong Allied Army temporarily retreated to their camp, ceasing their offensive.
Outside the city gates, the crowd surged like a turbulent sea, packed shoulder to shoulder.
The common people, ignorant of the bloody struggles in the court, had lived in a daze. After Tanmoroqie’s departure, the noble families had begun revising the laws, exploiting the commoners with increasing severity. Only then did the people realize that the earlier turmoil had likely been a conspiracy orchestrated by these families. But by then, it was too late—the Buddha Prince had vanished without a trace.
After the Holy City was besieged, they lived in constant fear and torment, their days shrouded in gloom, with sorrow and suffering pervading every corner.
When they heard that Tanmoroqie had returned with his troops, they rushed out of their homes in excitement, young and old alike, to welcome their king.
Soon, the entire city’s populace had gathered—men and women, young and old, rich and poor—kneeling along both sides of the long street, weeping with overwhelming emotion.
"Your Majesty, we should not have listened to the slander! We should not have been deceived by those nobles!"
"We have wronged you, Your Majesty!"
"You gave us peace and stability—you are the true Buddha Prince!"
"What use is the edict Princess Chima produced? We do not recognize that edict—we recognize only you, our king!"
Tears streamed down their faces.
The procession passed before them without pausing.
The people lifted their heads, gazing fervently at the general surrounded by soldiers. Their shouts, cries, and sobs merged into a roaring tide that surged toward the heavens.
"Your Majesty! You have returned!"
"You are our true king!"
They trembled with weeping, their wails rising and falling along the entire street.
Those who had once doubted Tanmoroqie, swayed by the instigations of the noble families and monks into believing he had colluded with foreign powers and was unworthy of the throne, now felt deep shame and regret. They crawled forward on their knees, kowtowing and weeping bitterly until blood streamed from their foreheads.
The procession moved past them, the hooves of the horses kicking up snow and mud that splattered across their faces and bodies.
The relief troops marched straight through the long street and headed directly for Wang Temple.
The people prostrated themselves on the ground, kissing the path where Tanmoroqie’s steed had trodden, their faces drenched in tears.
The square outside Wang Temple was already filled with kneeling citizens. Before long, generals and officials hurried over as well, their faces etched with exhaustion and covered in wounds.
Before the Northern Rong Allied Army pressed in on the city, the high-ranking officials and nobles had busied themselves packing their belongings and arranging carriages, sneaking away under the cover of darkness. But these men could not bear to abandon the city’s people and flee. Remembering Tanmoroqie’s heroic stand at the age of thirteen, they suppressed their fear, climbed the city walls, and defended the city alongside the soldiers.
They would stand with the city to the end. Having been personally promoted by the king, they could not bring disgrace to his name!They knelt before the temple gate, bowing their heads in unison.
The procession halted, and Tanmoroqie dismounted from his horse.
The sea of dark, densely packed heads in the square lowered, paying homage to him with deep reverence.
Tanmoroqie’s face showed no expression. Without even a glance at them, he stepped into Wang Temple.
Bi Suo, covered in wounds, his armor tattered and clinging to his body, watched his retreating figure with deep concern. He pulled Yuanjue, who had just dismounted, his face deathly pale. "When did His Majesty start using his cultivation method?"
On the battlefield, when he saw Luojia shoot an arrow through the enemy commander, the other soldiers cheered, but Bi Suo felt only despair. Luojia’s body could no longer withstand the cultivation backlash. The physicians and Mengda Ti Po had warned him—he must not use his cultivation method again! By forcing it this time, he had exhausted the last of his vitality. How much longer could he hold on?
Yuanjue’s eyes were red-rimmed. "Since yesterday…"
That day, Jin Bo had inadvertently let slip the truth. Tanmoroqie learned that during his unconsciousness, chaos had erupted throughout the Royal Court. Haidu Aling had returned, and the Holy City was in grave danger. He decided to come back. Unable to dissuade him, they turned back and, on the way, encountered several groups loyal to Tanmoroqie. They hurried back to the Holy City. Last night, Tanmoroqie ordered Yuanjue to retrieve all the elixirs and consumed them all at once—he had to use his cultivation method to intimidate the allied forces and deter Haidu Aling and the tribal chieftains before the battle began.
This time, Tanmoroqie did not change out of his monk’s robes while using his cultivation method.
"How many reinforcements are there?"
Yuanjue shook his head with a sigh. "Only a little over two thousand. They were originally soldiers from the five armies who refused to serve Princess Chima and secretly left to join His Majesty. We happened to meet them on the way… The situation is too urgent!"
Bi Suo clenched his fists and hurried after Tanmoroqie.
Tanmoroqie stood before the hall with its display of niches, his gaze fixed coldly on the rows of black boxes on the altar. A faint, icy killing intent emanated from him.
At that moment, Bi Suo could not tell whether he was Tanmoroqie or Su Dan Gu.
They were one and the same, but in the past, Bi Suo could distinguish the Buddha Prince from the Regent.
Now, Luojia and Su Dan Gu had merged into one. He charged into battle in his monk’s robes, no longer needing to wear a mask, exuding even more authority and dignity than before. Every move he made commanded awe, and his gaze held no trace of warmth.
Bi Suo did not know whether this was good or bad.
Why did he have to come back? The Northern Rong Allied Army numbered a full hundred thousand! With such a massive force, their small contingent could never hold the city…
Suppressing his grief, Bi Suo said hoarsely, "The bodies of Ali, Bore, and the other Imperial Guards have been properly collected and placed here… It was the common people who secretly gathered them. Your Majesty, the Imperial Guard commanders may be stubborn, but many soldiers remain loyal to you, as do the people. Not long ago, they secretly set fire to Wang Temple and burned down the Kang family’s residence…"
"Who is the mastermind? How many families are involved?"
Tanmoroqie asked, his tone icy.Bi Suo clasped his fists: "The families who gained the most benefits must be involved - the Kang family, the An family, and the recently risen Wugu family... They used the imperial decree in Chima's possession to secretly ally with monks from the temple, first inciting the people by claiming the King was sheltering Han Chinese, stirring up public resentment. Then they committed murders to frame others, confusing the people and making them fear the Regent. Afterward, they secretly captured those loyal to the King - Mobi Duo, Meng Ke, and Commandant Zhang - taking control of the Holy City's imperial guards and central army guards. They had Chima provoke conflicts between me and the King, then profited from the chaos..."
Princess Chima tried to persuade her consort A Ke Lie to cooperate with her, but he refused. Worried that A Ke Lie might reveal their secrets, the noble families simply killed him.
That day, Bi Suo, no longer wishing to deceive Tanmoroqie, revealed his true origins to him and helped him escape. While holding off pursuing soldiers, Bi Suo was captured after exhausting his strength.
The city experienced continuous unrest for several days. Officials and generals who remained loyal to Tanmoroqie were imprisoned one after another. The noble families sent people everywhere to spread rumors defaming Tanmoroqie, claiming he had conspired with Han Chinese to seize the Royal Court. The common people believed these rumors.
Princess Chima and the noble families forced Bi Suo to ascend the throne.
Pretending to cooperate, Bi Suo managed to gradually rescue those generals sympathetic to Tanmoroqie. He extracted information from Princess Chima about her accomplices and, following the clues, pieced together nearly the entire sequence of their plot.
What made his heart tremble with fear was that Princess Chima and her allies had originally planned to use Princess Wenzhao to threaten Luojia - the fire at the post station had been set by them.
Chima had been determined to obtain evidence of Tanmoroqie and Princess Wenzhao's secret affair, but after waiting a long time found no opportunity to act. Later, when her maid informed her that Princess Wenzhao was still a virgin, she found it utterly unbelievable and could only abandon this plan.
After hearing Bi Suo's account, Tanmoroqie remained expressionless and asked: "Is there a name list?"
"I recorded it and brought it with me."
Bi Suo produced the name list and smiled self-deprecatingly. He had wanted to stabilize the situation and seek revenge for Tanmoroqie, but being outnumbered and outmatched, he couldn't confront the noble families directly. He could only hide the name list and evidence, hoping for future opportunities to deal with them gradually.
Unexpectedly, within just a few days, the Royal Court was turned upside down. After suffering consecutive defeats and with the Holy City besieged, most noble families had scattered and fled. Princess Chima also escaped, but before leaving, she knelt and begged him to accompany her. He ignored her plea.
As a central army general and a son of the Tanmo family, protecting the Holy City was his responsibility.
With the allied forces arriving, everyone faced grave danger. He had devoted himself entirely to defending the city, thinking he would never see Tanmoroqie again in this lifetime.
Tanmoroqie raised his hand.
The guards waiting outside the corridor immediately approached, took Bi Suo's name list, and hurried away.
Tanmoroqie turned and entered his Zen room. All furnishings inside remained as before - dark bloodstains marked the patterned brick floor, sword marks still visible on the corridor pillars and windows, several arrows embedded in the earthen walls.
He passed through the empty inner hall and walked to the bed. Pulling out a drawer, he retrieved a paper package and a red hair ribbon.
The Thorn Honey she had given him - he had kept it all this time without eating it.
He pressed the paper package against his chest, wrapped the hair ribbon around his wrist, and walked out of the inner hall.
Rapid footsteps echoed through the corridor. Monks who had remained in the temple stood below the steps, all gazing at him with hesitant expressions and ashamed countenances.An elderly monk stepped forward, his face filled with shame: "The King's heart is devoted to the people. To defend the Holy City and protect the citizens, he disregarded his own safety and risked his life to return and take charge... The Buddha teaches that all beings are equal. We have been deluded, harboring prejudice against the King due to lineage and background, and suspecting him of indiscriminate killing because of General Saisang’er. Little did we know that the King possesses great compassion, untainted by all forms and unswayed by all appearances... We are deeply ashamed."
The monks pressed their palms together and bowed in reverence.
Tanmoroqie descended the steps without glancing at them and walked out surrounded by his personal guards.
From that day onward, no king would ever reside in the Wang Temple again.
Yuanjue, walking at the rear, let out a cold laugh and swept his gaze over the crowd. "With the Holy City besieged, do you plan to remain seated in the temple chanting sutras, or will you follow me in serving the King and aiding in the defense of the Holy City?"
The monks flushed with embarrassment.
...
Half an hour later, the personal guards apprehended the individuals listed in the register and brought them back to the Wang Temple.
Enraged citizens immediately surged forward, picking up stones and hurling them at the captives. Seeing that the guards did not intervene, they rushed forth to beat and tear at them.
"You framed the Buddha Prince! You hunted the Buddha Prince! You deceived us!"
"Beat them to death! They nearly killed the Buddha Prince!"
The officials, bleeding and battered, cried out for help, but no one paid them any heed.
...
Tanmoroqie rode out of the Wang Temple, still clad in his monastic robes. Sunlight enveloped his sharply defined face, accentuating the lines of his features.
Wherever he passed, wails and cries filled the air.
The people wept bitterly, loudly calling out his Dharma name, while the soldiers gazed up at him, their eyes blazing with a fervent willingness to die for him.
Tanmoroqie ascended the city walls, his expression utterly unperturbed.
The officers approached to report the situation within the city. Most were low-ranking and had no access to military secrets; they had not participated in the pursuit of Tanmoroqie that day.
Tanmoroqie inquired about the remaining grain, troops, and weapons in the city, and each person answered in turn.
His brows furrowed slightly.
Bi Suo sighed. "All the ballistas are destroyed, and we have few arrows left. Haidu Aling has boasted that they brought enough provisions to last half a year, while our granaries are nearly empty..."
Gloom settled over everyone’s faces.
All understood that after the recent turmoil in the Royal Court, various tribes had relocated, and garrisons in other key cities were too preoccupied with their own affairs to send reinforcements. Without stored provisions, they could not hold out for long...
Tanmoroqie gazed at the densely packed camps of the Northern Rong Allied Army outside the city. "The Holy City must be defended. Haidu Aling’s ambition extends beyond plundering the Holy City. The city is easy to defend but hard to attack. If he captures it, the entire Royal Court will fall into his hands, and he can use its strategic position to expand eastward and westward..."
By then, even the vast territories Yaoying had just reclaimed would be seized by him.
The listeners trembled with fear—if Haidu Aling took the Holy City, the entire Royal Court would be doomed!
"Hold the Holy City and tie down their forces," Tanmoroqie declared.
Everyone responded in unison, calm and resolute—even if they all perished in this battle, they would not allow Haidu Aling to succeed!
Soon, several decrees were issued in succession.
All officials and soldiers remaining to defend the city, regardless of origin, were promoted one rank, with further rewards to be granted based on merit.
Every able-bodied man in the city capable of fighting was assembled and divided into several units, dispatched to different city gates.The elderly, weak, and women also emerged from their homes, organized into different teams under the command of the royal guards. Some assisted in moving equipment, others helped tend to the wounded soldiers, while some ran errands and delivered messages.
From that day onward, all food reserves in the city would be uniformly distributed by the military.
Officials consulted the registers to identify craftsmen skilled in making equipment, calling on them to help repair and improve the city’s defensive machinery on the walls.
Additionally, Tanmoroqie issued an edict.
Starting that day, all slaves belonging to nobles within the city would gain their freedom if they participated in the city’s defense, regardless of gender. Those who performed meritorious deeds would be rewarded accordingly.
The proclamation of this edict caused an uproar.
Slaves who had not managed to flee the city were overjoyed, weeping with emotion. They flocked to the soldiers, took up arms, and joined them in defending the city. Monks also emerged from Wang Temple. Though forbidden to kill, they assisted in counting and distributing food supplies and maintaining order to ensure that the elderly, weak, women, and children would not have their rations snatched away during distribution.
With Tanmoroqie holding the fort, everyone from generals to common citizens suddenly found their pillar of strength. The previous despair and despondency vanished as they calmed down, no longer panicking. Once decrees were issued, they were swiftly implemented.
Morale in the army soared to unprecedented heights. Officers didn’t need to deliver inspiring speeches—just one command from Tanmoroqie, and even if it meant charging into a mountain of blades or a sea of blood, the soldiers would advance without hesitation.
Whenever the Northern Rong Allied Army attacked the city, Tanmoroqie would stand atop the city walls, directing his troops. Clad in monastic robes, his towering figure seemed utterly unafraid of the arrows flying wildly through the air.
Under his leadership, the soldiers repelled wave after wave of assaults by the Northern Rong Allied Army.
Six days later, the city’s arrows were exhausted, and food supplies were nearly depleted. The soldiers defended the city on empty stomachs, dizzy and faint.
The Northern Rong soldiers surged forward like relentless waves, while the defenders were like a solitary island on the verge of sinking, slowly being swallowed by the sea.
The soldiers fought with frenzied determination, and beneath the city walls, corpses piled up like small hills.
The setting sun was as red as blood.
Once again, the Northern Rong Allied Army stormed the walls with ferocious momentum.
Bi Suo, gripping a long blade, drenched in blood, hacked down a Northern Rong soldier climbing up a rope ladder. Together with Yuanjue, he severed the ladder, the blade’s edge chipped from the relentless strikes.
A horn sounded, and the Northern Rong Allied Army retreated.
Bi Suo collapsed into a pool of blood, gasping for breath. He looked at Tanmoroqie, his heart filled with sorrow. He was not afraid of death—only grieved for Luojia.
Several soldiers, gravely wounded, grew colder by the minute. To comfort them, those nearby began singing a war song.
At first, the song was mournful and subdued, but as more joined in, the soldiers—their lips cracked, wiping blood from their blades—sang louder and louder. The melody spread from the walls downward, and the city’s residents joined in. One voice after another converged like streams flowing into a vast ocean, piercing the clouds and shaking the stones, echoing over the Holy City for a long time.
Suddenly, a strange, sharp sound cut through the desolate song hovering over the battlefield.
Everyone froze, turning to look in the direction of the noise.
The red sun had already sunk into the valley. Against the darkening horizon, streaks of silver light with shimmering tails shot into the sky, illuminating half the heavens before descending upon the Northern Rong Allied Army’s camp.
In the blink of an eye, raging flames erupted from the allied camp. Silver light rained down, accompanied by thunderous roars, shaking the earth.
The Royal Court soldiers had never witnessed such a scene and stood dumbfounded.
The Northern Rong Allied Army’s camp descended into chaos, transforming into a sea of fire.
A soldier on the wall suddenly pointed in a direction and shouted, "Reinforcements! Reinforcements are here!"
Everyone rallied their spirits and turned to look where he pointed.
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