To the east, a troop cloaked in black robes took advantage of the cover of night and the chaos within the allied camp, stealthily approaching the Holy City. Their horses' hooves were wrapped in cloth, muffling the sound of their approach beneath the strange, continuous explosions.
Silver flashes lit up the sky as thunderous roars erupted incessantly. The fires in the allied camp grew fiercer, the flames casting faint outlines of their figures.
The soldiers on the city walls trembled with fear, their legs weak, no longer daring to make a sound. This troop numbered only a few hundred—if discovered by the Northern Rong Allied Army, none would escape alive!
Suddenly, the thunderous beat of war drums echoed from the allied camp. A unit of Northern Rong Iron Cavalry charged out, pursuing the reinforcements and closing in on them.
Everyone on the walls stood up, hearts pounding in their throats. Forgetting all else, they shouted down to the troop below:
"Be careful!"
"Hurry!"
The troop, realizing they were being pursued, quickened their pace. As the flames blazed brighter, their faces grew increasingly distinct.
Soon, the crowd recognized the banner flying high among them. Stunned, they froze in disbelief.
Bi Suo, Yuanjue, and the others trembled uncontrollably.
The troop deftly navigated past the barricades and galloped to the foot of the city walls. The leader tugged on the reins, halting her horse and gazing up at the battlements as she removed her face covering.
Just then, a silver light tore through the dark night sky, pouring down to envelop her in a radiant glow. Bathed in the brilliant beams, her exquisite features and radiant beauty made her appear like a goddess descending from the clouds alongside the silver light.
The Royal Court soldiers stared at her, dumbstruck.
She lifted her head, her eyes meeting those of Tanmoroqie, who stood on the walls in his monastic robes.
"Luojia!"
She called out with a laugh, her eyes shining brighter than the stars above.
Behind her, sparks flew from the allied camp as the Iron Cavalry closed in. Silver flashes flickered, and thunderous booms erupted from the ground.
Her gentle smile seemed to brighten the entire night sky.
Tanmoroqie looked down at her, unmoving, his Kasaya fluttering lightly in the wind.
In the next instant, he snatched his sword and dashed down from the walls like lightning.
Bi Suo, snapping out of his daze, lips quivering, urged the soldiers to open the city gates.
Since returning from Sand City, Tanmoroqie had become unfamiliar and fearsome to those close to him.
He led the defense of the city, comforted the people, punished the noble families, and freed the slaves. On the surface, he seemed unchanged, yet everyone knew he was different—like a detached deity, compassionate yet devoid of any emotion.
Even when the Northern Rong Allied Army nearly breached the gates, he had only frowned slightly.
It was only now, only when Princess Wenzhao softly called him "Luojia," that he truly came back to life.
The city gates swung open. Tanmoroqie charged out on horseback, galloping straight toward Yaoying.
The allied camp was engulfed in flames, staining half the sky crimson. Corpses littered the ground, and Iron Cavalry units converged from all directions. Disorganized soldiers scattered across the hills, their frantic shouts mingling with the neighing of horses, screams, the roar of flames, and furious bellows—it was like the Asura's Realm from his nightmares.
He felt himself sinking, destined to fall into hell forever.
Amid the bloodshed and thick black smoke, that graceful figure suddenly descended from the heavens, draped in cool silver light, racing toward him. Her hood fell back in the wind, revealing a cascade of dark hair.
In all the world, only her form remained.
He had thought he would never see her again.Tanmoroqie stared at her unblinkingly, afraid that everything before him would vanish with a single blink.
The sound of hoofbeats grew closer, each strike echoing as if stepping directly upon his heart.
She suddenly tightened the reins, stopping just a few yards away from him. Squinting slightly, she let out a soft hum.
The two faced each other in silence.
The surroundings suddenly grew as cold and still as deep water, all clamoring voices fading away. Tanmoroqie could hear the beat of his own heart—steady and unhurried.
"What is Princess Wenzhao doing here?"
His voice was cool and composed.
Yaoying smiled radiantly. "This princess has been thinking of you day and night, so I came to find you."
The Royal Court soldiers who had rushed over to assist gaped, exchanging stunned glances.
Tanmoroqie remained expressionless, his emerald eyes dark and intense.
"Princess, I am a monk."
Yaoying spread her hands. "This princess doesn’t mind that you’re a monk."
Tanmoroqie closed his eyes briefly. When he lifted his gaze again, his eyes were sharp and profound. "I am suffering from Cultivation backlash and do not have much time left."
Yaoying looked at him, her expression softening gradually. "Then let us cherish the remaining days together, alright?"
Tanmoroqie was silent for a long moment, emotions surging in his eyes.
The wind howled fiercely.
Yaoying chuckled. "What, have you forgotten what happened that night? Forgotten how you held me and promised never to lie to me again? Forgotten…"
Her vision darkened, and her voice cut off abruptly.
Hooves trampled the snow as he suddenly urged his horse forward, pulling her hands from the reins. He reached out, drawing her directly from her saddle into his embrace. The scent of blood mingled with his own enveloped her, his cold fingers tangling in her long hair as his emerald eyes fixed on her.
Breathing lightly, she raised her hands to cradle his noticeably thinner face, her eyes gradually reddening.
"Luojia, you lied to me again."
Tanmoroqie held her, his entire body trembling. He lowered his head, tightened his arms, and captured her lips.
The kiss was urgent, domineering, fiercely parting her moist lips—utterly unlike the chaste kisses he had once placed on her forehead. His arms around her tightened relentlessly, the taut muscles beneath his Kasaya trembling faintly.
A surge of electricity coursed through Yaoying, making her shiver. She lifted her hands to wrap around his waist.
A clatter of weapons hitting the ground echoed as the Royal Court soldiers on and below the city walls stood frozen, dumbstruck.
Before the eyes of thousands of troops, their Buddha Prince, clad in Kasaya, was kissing Princess Wenzhao.
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