Mo Li

"A Li, I've come to take you home."

"Xiu Yao..." Inside the carriage, Ye Li gazed in slight bewilderment at the green-robed man outside who was smiling and extending his hand toward her. The faint slanting sunlight filtered through the forest canopy, casting dappled light upon him. Through the soft glow, she could clearly see his face—paler and thinner than before. Somehow, her heart ached, and before she could stop them, crystalline tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. Watching the composed, graceful woman in the carriage, his gaze lingering on the tear tracing her cheek, Mo Xiuyao's expression suddenly turned anxious. Yet he stubbornly kept his hand outstretched toward her. "A Li... A Li, are you upset that I came too late?"

Ye Li's eyelids fluttered slightly as she realized she had shed tears. Quickly wiping them away, she reached out toward the man outside the carriage.

Mo Xiuyao carefully helped her down but refused to let go afterward, as though releasing her would make her vanish. Gently lifting her face—still gentle and lovely, though slightly altered from her usual delicate features—he took out a handkerchief and meticulously wiped away the faint traces of disguise, revealing the familiar, beautiful countenance beneath.

"A Li..." Gazing at her with tender devotion, his eyes brimmed with affection. "A Li... I'll never let you leave me again."

Ye Li looked up and was instantly lost in those warm, loving eyes. The cautious tension of the past days melted away, leaving only the desire to rest quietly in this man's embrace. She nodded softly. "Yes, we'll never be apart again." Her quiet sigh made Mo Xiuyao's eyes brighten. He carefully drew her into his arms, resting his strong chin against her slender shoulder with a smile. "Good. It's settled then. Never again..."

Left ignored at the side, Tan Jizhi glared darkly at the oblivious couple. But when his gaze fell on the fallen guards nearby, he forcibly suppressed his fury. His covertly stationed guards had yet to respond—clearly, they had been subdued or eliminated before anyone noticed. And earlier, Mo Xiuyao had effortlessly dispatched several obstructing guards despite moving second. Such skill alone justified his arrogance. Tan Jizhi had never underestimated Mo Xiuyao or the Ding Royal Palace. That was why he had spent years cautiously manipulating events from behind Mo Jingqi's back—he knew exposure would invite Mo Xiuyao's fatal retaliation.

Su Zuidie... that wretched woman?!

Now, at this critical juncture, he grew even calmer. Willing or not, he had to admit—Su Zuidie had betrayed him. Hidden from view, Tan Jizhi clenched his fists tightly, mind racing for an escape.

"Your Highness, Your Grace." Qin Feng and the others, having dealt with Tan Jizhi's hidden guards and waited in vain for their lord's summons, finally stepped forward—earning themselves a sharp, warning glance from Mo Xiuyao."Your subordinates greet the Prince and Princess!" Scattered throughout the woods were many people who bowed in unison to the pair. Their seemingly casual positions completely sealed off Tan Jizhi's escape routes. Seeing this, Tan Jizhi's expression shifted several times before finally settling into calmness. Stepping forward, he smiled and said, "This humble one greets His Highness Prince Ding."

Mo Xiuyao seemed to only then notice there was an outsider present, granting him the slightest sliver of attention. With a glance at the bowing Tan Jizhi, Mo Xiuyao asked indifferently, "Minister Tan... where were you planning to take this prince’s princess?"

Tan Jizhi’s heart sank, uncertain whether he should take the gamble. If he won... he might still have a chance to leave safely. But if he lost... No—if he didn’t take the gamble, there was no way he would leave this place alive today. Moreover, the way Prince Ding looked at him didn’t suggest he knew about that matter. Quickly, Tan Jizhi made up his mind. Cupping his hands, he offered an apologetic smile. "Indeed, this humble one momentarily succumbed to greed and erred in judgment. Since Your Highness is already here, I offer my congratulations on the reunion between the Prince and Princess. As for today’s matter... I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness."

"Forgiveness?" Mo Xiuyao’s smile was faint, yet it sent a chill through those who saw it. He nodded lightly. "This prince recalls that Minister Tan nearly took away my beloved princess. My mood is rather poor. If I accidentally cause Minister Tan any harm... I ask for his forgiveness as well." Having said this, he seemed to lose all interest in Tan Jizhi and waved a hand. "Take him away. Kill him."

Tan Jizhi’s heart clenched. He hadn’t expected Mo Xiuyao to be so ruthless, ordering his death without hesitation. A thought flashed through his mind, and he said, "Does Prince Ding not wish to know His Majesty’s thoughts?"

Mo Xiuyao let out a cold laugh and uttered a few words flatly, "Qin Feng, kill him." Then, bending down, he carefully picked up Ye Li and turned to leave.

Being carried like this in front of so many people made Ye Li squirm uncomfortably. Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "A Li, don’t move..." Ye Li frowned slightly, sensing something off about Mo Xiuyao, though she couldn’t quite place it. But the moment she met his gaze—so tender it seemed to melt—she found herself unable to voice any objections and could only let him hold her.

Seeing them about to leave, Tan Jizhi knew that once Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li were gone, his fate was sealed. Glancing at Ye Li in Mo Xiuyao’s arms, he suddenly called out, "Princess, don’t you want to know how to cure the poison in Prince Ding’s body?"

Ye Li froze, but Mo Xiuyao acted as if he hadn’t heard, continuing toward the edge of the woods. Tan Jizhi raised his voice. "Princess, do you truly not wish to know where the Underworld Flower is? Or do you believe the Ice Fire Lotus alone can cure Prince Ding’s poison?"

Not many knew that Princess Ding had been secretly searching for the Underworld Flower and had even made an enemy of the Third Master of the King of Hell Pavilion in the process. Ye Li hesitated, then ordered, "Qin Feng, take him back."

Mo Xiuyao let out a soft hum but did not contradict her, carrying her away without looking back.Left behind, Qin Feng and the others watched Mo Xiuyao's retreating figure with grim expressions. They hadn't even gotten a chance to speak with the princess consort before the prince took her away. However, given the delicate and dangerous atmosphere that had prevailed these days, none of them had the courage to stop Mo Xiuyao now to discuss anything important or trivial. Waving his hand to have Tan Jizhi and Shu Manlin taken away, Qin Feng glanced at Mo Hua, who stood nearby with a hesitant expression, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Mo Hua replied gravely, "The prince's condition..." Today was the full moon, and over the past few months, the prince's episodes had grown increasingly severe. Last month, the episode had begun at noon on the day of the full moon. According to Shen Yang's assessment, the prince must be suffering terribly now. But at this moment... Qin Feng looked in the direction Mo Xiuyao had gone, hesitated, and said, "It should... be fine, right?" When the episodes struck, there was nothing to be done—it was just pain. Given the prince's resilience, there was basically no life-threatening danger. Besides, no medicine had any effect on it, so it didn't matter where the prince was or what he was doing now. The most important thing was that none of them dared to disturb him. "I'll have people ensure the prince and princess consort's safety."

Mo Hua nodded. Though this should have been the shadow guards' responsibility, he had to admit that the Qilin had proven more capable than the shadow guards these days.

Leaning against Mo Xiuyao's chest, Ye Li suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of peace. Though she had appeared calm and composed on the surface these past days, the advanced stage of her pregnancy had made movement difficult, and she couldn't possibly have been truly at ease. Especially when dealing with Tan Jizhi—every seemingly casual or joking remark had been carefully calculated and weighed. Now that she could finally relax completely, drowsiness washed over her. She nuzzled against Mo Xiuyao's chest, her eyelids growing heavy. "Xiu Yao... where are we going?"

Mo Xiuyao looked down at her half-lidded eyes and smiled softly. "If you're tired, sleep."

Ye Li shook her head, forcing her eyes open to look ahead at the increasingly secluded path. If she paid attention, she would realize that even Mo Xiuyao himself had no fixed destination—he was simply taking the most remote paths and walking forward. Ye Li didn't know where Mo Xiuyao intended to take her, but she could sense the rare determination and resolve in his eyes. With a soft sigh, she said, "Xiu Yao, I'm a little tired. Can we rest before continuing?"

"Tired?" Mo Xiuyao looked down at her and indeed noticed the exhaustion that couldn't be hidden on her delicate face, the faint shadows beneath her eyes. Glancing around, he tapped his foot lightly and lifted Ye Li into the air, stepping onto the treetops by the roadside before gliding toward a mountain path on the opposite side.

Behind them, Qin Feng, who had quietly followed, grabbed Mo Hua just as he was about to use his Light Body Skill to pursue them. Mo Hua turned and glared at him in displeasure. Qin Feng shrugged. "Can't you tell the prince is deliberately avoiding us by walking ahead? If we follow, he'll just keep going."

Mo Hua stopped reluctantly, frowning. "But the prince and princess consort's safety..."

Qin Feng rolled his eyes skyward and sat down on a flat rock by the mountain path. "The Mo Family Army is stationed at the foot of the mountain, with shadow guards and Qilin in between. If assassins still manage to slip through, we might as well not live anymore. We can just jump off this cliff together."Mo Hua remained silent for a moment before quietly sitting down on a nearby rock. Qin Feng leaned against the stone, gazing at the azure sky with a contented sigh. "The sky is so blue..."

Mo Xiuyao glanced back at the opposite side where he had carried Ye Li around the mountain bend, turning onto an even more secluded path. Soon, they arrived at a quiet and flat spot. He sat down with Ye Li still in his arms, then flashed her a triumphant smile. "Finally shook them off." Ye Li was speechless, finally realizing what had felt off earlier. She had never seen Mo Xiuyao like this before. In the past, even when he deliberately teased her and succeeded, his triumphant smirk would be accompanied by a gentle, confident smile—warm yet exuding strength and reassurance. But now, his smug grin carried a hint of willfulness and recklessness.

"Xiu Yao... what's wrong with you?" Ye Li frowned, raising her hand to lightly touch his pale face. "I'm sorry for worrying you."

Mo Xiuyao buried his face in her hair, his voice muffled. "A Li, I want to kill them."

Ye Li froze. "Them? Who?"

"Everyone!" His voice dripped with murderous intent as he tightened his grip around her. "Kill them all... those who hurt A Li... they all deserve to die! And those annoying pests—I only want A Li... the rest can perish!" A shiver ran through Ye Li. Trembling slightly, she pushed Mo Xiuyao away just enough to lift his face from her hair. The unbridled fury and cruelty hadn't yet faded from his expression. In turn, Mo Xiuyao saw his own reflection in her eyes—the carefully crafted facade of gentility completely shattered. The truth was... Mo Xiuyao had never truly been gentle. Nor had he ever seen anything wrong with that. But the version of himself reflected in Ye Li's eyes was undeniably ugly. With her deft fingers, she removed the mask from his face, revealing the slightly grotesque scar on his left cheek, still tinged with lingering bloodlust. No longer the composed and aloof Prince Ding in the eyes of others, he now resembled a vengeful Asura risen from hell.

"A Li... are you afraid of me?" Mo Xiuyao stared intently at the woman in his arms, his voice laced with a rare vulnerability and grievance, yet the ferocity on his face only intensified. That gentle, calm, and wise demeanor had always been a pretense. The real him had always been one who loved and hated without restraint, acting on impulse. The Mo Xiuyao of the past had once galloped through the capital with unrivaled brilliance, his whip striking down both spoiled brats and noble scions alike. His sword would slay gods if they stood in his way, and Buddhas if they dared obstruct him. But now, stripped of that disguise, Mo Xiuyao was left with a body marred by wounds and a heart consumed by hatred and bloodshed. The fiery, radiant youth of the past was long gone. He didn’t know whether to be grateful that A Li had never witnessed his former brilliance or to resent that he could only offer her this flawed version of himself. "A Li...""What nonsense are you talking about?" Ye Li sighed softly, sitting up to place a gentle kiss on his lips. She didn't know how this man before her had spent these past few months, but she clearly understood that his current worries, pain, and resentment were all because of her. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Ye Li gazed at him earnestly and whispered, "Xiu Yao, no matter what happens, I will never leave you. Here..." She took his hand and gently placed it on her rounded belly, saying tenderly, "Here is our baby. Xiu Yao... soon, we will have a complete family."

Mo Xiuyao froze. Truthfully, from the very beginning, he hadn't even noticed the child. Fortunately, he had been so careful while holding Ye Li that his earlier agitation hadn't harmed the baby. Staring blankly at the large belly beneath his hand, feeling the occasional gentle movements, Mo Xiuyao frowned and pulled Ye Li back into his embrace, muttering unhappily, "I hate the child! A Li, I only want you..." Ye Li blinked, looking at the man before her who was acting as petulant as a child, yet she couldn't bring herself to utter a single word of reproach. Mo Xiuyao had never hated children—during their time of mutual affection, he had even looked forward to the arrival of their child. Quickly, Ye Li understood why he was reacting this way. It was precisely because her pregnancy had slowed their retreat that she had fallen off the cliff. Mo Xiuyao was blaming the child for her accident. She sighed helplessly, soothing the man who was rarely so emotional. "I love him... he is our child..."

Mo Xiuyao's body stiffened slightly before he lifted his head to stare intently at her. Ye Li looked at him in confusion and whispered, "What's wrong?" Mo Xiuyao pressed his lips together and remained silent, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on her.

Ye Li sighed in resignation—the thoughts of a sulking man were hard to decipher. After staring at her for a long moment, Mo Xiuyao shifted his gaze to her rounded belly, his eyes filled with anger and jealousy. Ye Li was taken aback, then chuckled softly as she recalled what she had just said. Lifting Mo Xiuyao's face to meet hers, she laughed quietly and whispered in his ear, "Xiu Yao, I love our baby because... I love his father even more... do you understand?"

In an instant, it was as if spring had returned to the earth. The gloom in his eyes melted away, replaced by a scattering of gentle starlight. Mo Xiuyao lowered his head and fiercely captured her sweet lips in a kiss. Never before had he heard such moving words—words that made him want to drown in them forever, never waking from this bliss. "A Li... A Li, I love you... Mo Xiuyao will love only A Li in this lifetime..."

Ye Li wrapped her arms around his shoulders, returning the long-awaited kiss. "I know... me too..."

Under the golden hues of the setting sun, on the quiet hillside, the reunited couple entwined themselves in expressions of love and longing. Their lips and tongues intertwined, merging their breaths into one. Mo Xiuyao held the delicate woman tightly in his arms, as if imprinting her into his very being. "A Li... A Li, no one will ever take you away from me again..."

"Xiu Yao..."The evening breeze gently brushed by, bringing a touch of coolness to the sweltering summer day. Ye Li opened her eyes and couldn't help but smile as she looked at the man who had his arms around her, dozing against the hillside. They were both so exhausted that two grown adults had fallen asleep here without a care. If their enemies knew, they would surely lament in frustration.

The moment she moved, Mo Xiuyao immediately opened his eyes. "A Li?"

Ye Li gave him a reassuring smile. "It's nothing. Rest a little longer if you're tired. We can go back later." Since they were already this late, another moment wouldn’t matter. The sight of Mo Xiuyao’s furrowed brows, even in sleep, made her heart ache faintly.

Mo Xiuyao closed his eyes again, burying his face against Ye Li’s chest and breathing in her familiar fragrance. His tightly knit brows gradually relaxed, but the familiar pain slowly spread from his legs to the rest of his body. Yet, he chose to ignore it.

Over these past few months, he had come to realize that the monthly bouts of pain were nothing in comparison. Sometimes, he even longed for that agony—because only when the pain was that intense could he drown out the endless darkness and coldness in his heart. Only then could he suppress the nearly uncontrollable urge to destroy everything.

Like this… was fine.

Ye Li lowered her head and gently flicked away a fallen leaf from his shoulder. The fading glow of the sunset illuminated his raven-black hair, and her hand paused midair, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Carefully, she touched his hair, where a few strands of silver peeked through the dark. She ran her fingers through his locks, and gradually, a faint trace of dye stained her fingertips.

Instantly, her clear eyes welled up with tears, spilling like broken pearls down her cheeks.

"A Li..." Mo Xiuyao called softly.

"It's nothing. Sleep. The breeze feels nice," Ye Li whispered with a smile, even as crystalline teardrops silently fell, dampening the back of her hand.

"Mmm."

Author's Note:

Ugh… I hate writing emotional scenes. Plot would be so much easier… This chapter took me forever. Let me know what you think. Not sure how it turned out, but toward the end, I suddenly felt a pang of sadness…