Mo Li

The stage was set up right across the street from Ningxiang Pavilion. From a distance, Ye Li could already see the gem-encrusted dagger placed at the center of the platform. Either the owner had immense confidence in his archery skills or simply had too much money to spare. Regardless of the dagger’s actual quality, the rubies, sapphires, and emeralds embedded in its hilt and sheath alone were priceless treasures.

"Qin Feng," Ye Li called softly.

Qin Feng, who had been following behind her, stepped forward and whispered, "What are your orders, Wang Fei?" Ye Li glanced at the middle-aged man on the stage dressed in Bei Rong warrior attire and said, "Find out this man’s background."

Qin Feng looked at the man on the stage and nodded. "Understood."

The three of them stood at the back of the crowd, watching the stage. Ahead of them, Yun Ting had already leaped onto the platform and was staring arrogantly at the Bei Rong man. "So, how does this challenge work?" he demanded.

The Bei Rong man looked Yun Ting up and down and chuckled. "This young master looks fair and delicate. Are you sure you can even draw a bow? Our Bei Rong’s strong bows are nothing like the ones you Chu people use."

Yun Ting sneered. "If I weren’t here to compete, why would I bother stepping onto this stage? To chat idly with you?" He walked over to the side where the bows and arrows were placed, casually picked up a bow and an arrow, and in one swift motion, shot an arrow toward a thick wooden pillar at the edge of the stage. With a sharp thud, the arrow embedded itself deep into the wood. The crowd below erupted in cheers.

The Bei Rong man also clapped and laughed. "Well done! I didn’t expect this young master to be such an expert. In that case, let’s begin."

Yun Ting gave a light hum, lowering his head to examine his bow and ignoring the man. Unfazed, the Bei Rong man continued with a smile, "The rules are simple. I’ve heard you Central Plains folk have a saying—'shooting a willow leaf at a hundred paces.' We Bei Rong people aren’t fond of such refined games, so we’ll skip the willow leaves. Young master, look over there."

Following the direction of his finger, about seventy or eighty paces away from the stage stood a towering tree. From its branches hung countless silk threads, each suspending a copper coin. Since it was already nighttime, even though the streets were brightly lit, the illumination was still not as clear as daylight. Without careful observation, one could barely even see the threads holding the coins. A gentle breeze caused the coins to sway, occasionally clinking together with crisp sounds.

The man continued, "There are thirty coins in total. If the young master can shoot them all down, this dagger is yours. You have half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn and ten arrows." In other words, Yun Ting had to shoot down thirty coins with ten arrows in half the time it took for an incense stick to burn.

"Yun Ting..." Chen Yun, standing below the stage, frowned. His archery skills were no worse than Yun Ting’s, but even he believed it was impossible to shoot down thirty coins with just ten arrows. The coins were hung at varying heights and arranged in a staggered pattern, making it incredibly difficult to hit multiple targets with a single shot. Compared to the so-called "shooting a willow leaf at a hundred paces," this challenge was far more difficult.The odds were against him. Yun Ting stared at the large tree dozens of paces away for a moment, then snorted coldly and raised his bow, nocking an arrow. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the feathered arrow left the string and shot toward the copper coins hanging in the shade of the tree. A crisp clinking sound rang out as one coin was pierced clean through the center. The tremendous force carried by the arrow shattered the coin into several pieces that clattered to the ground. The arrow’s momentum didn’t falter—it severed another silk thread suspending a coin before embedding itself into the tree trunk.

"Bravo!" The spectators below the stage erupted in cheers once more. To hit two targets with a single arrow in such dim lighting was a feat no less impressive than the legendary "hitting a willow leaf at a hundred paces." However, the Bei Rong man standing on the platform showed no surprise, nor did Yun Ting or Chen Yun onstage. Those familiar with archery understood that each subsequent shot grew more difficult. While Yun Ting’s skill was commendable, completing all thirty coins was far from guaranteed. As Yun Ting nocked another arrow and took aim, the crowd’s attention remained fixed on the coins beneath the tree.

By Yun Ting’s seventh shot, fifteen coins still remained on the tree. Qin Feng appeared silently behind Ye Li, startling Yao Ji, who stood beside her. Ye Li glanced sideways at Qin Feng, who whispered, "That middle-aged man is indeed from Bei Rong, but no ordinary Bei Rong man. He’s a trusted general under Helian Zhen and reputedly the finest archer in Bei Rong. Moreover, the saber he’s offering as a prize is no ordinary weapon—it was bestowed upon him by the King of Northern Rong when Helian Zhen was still in favor. They say it’s sharp enough to slice through a floating hair."

"Oh?" Ye Li arched a brow, smiling faintly. "The finest archer of Bei Rong comes to Ruyang to set up a street stall and a challenge?" Qin Feng chuckled. "His stall has nothing to do with the King of Northern Rong. After Helian Zhen fell from grace, several factions tried to recruit him, but he refused them all, even abandoning his military post. Now he’s just a commoner—as long as he doesn’t break any laws, no one can stop him from setting up shop wherever he pleases." When the city of Ruyang issued invitations to celebrate the birth of the heir, it had openly welcomed merchants and travelers from all regions to the northwest. As a result, many martial artists, wandering swordsmen, and even scholars and poets had come to hold competitions or set up challenges. Of course, the majority were merchants and sightseers drawn by the news.

Ye Li turned to look at him and asked with a smile, "So he’s Yelv Ye’s man?"

Qin Feng nodded. "You could say that." Ye Li’s expression turned cold. "What a Yelv Ye—what a Seventh Prince of Bei Rong!" Yelv Ye knew full well that Ruyang was the garrison of the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry, yet he sent this man to stir trouble. Wasn’t it just to prove that the archery of the Mo Family Army and Black Cloud Cavalry was nothing special? Seeing Ye Li’s anger, Qin Feng asked quietly, "My King—""Wang Fei, shall I send a few men to deal with him?" Such demanding archery skills were rare even among the Qilin, but fortunately not impossible. Out of the hundreds of Qilin members, seven or eight could still be selected for this challenge. However, given his earlier performance, it was unlikely that Northern Rong had anyone else with this man's skill—otherwise, how could he claim the title of Northern Rong's top archer? Ye Li shook her head and said calmly, "Such a person isn't worth the Qilin's effort. Perhaps Yelv Ye just wants to see the Qilin in action?" Since when was the Qilin something anyone could demand to see? Special forces, in any era, were synonymous with mystery. If everyone could guess their capabilities, how could they remain the secret trump card?

"Lieutenant Yun is likely to lose," Qin Feng pointed at Yun Ting, who was preparing to shoot his final arrow. Thirteen copper coins still hung from the tree, and there was no way Yun Ting could shoot them all down with one arrow.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "It's good for young people to have their pride humbled now and then. Losing to Northern Rong's top archer is no disgrace for him."

Qin Feng nodded. "As Wang Fei says."

Yun Ting's final arrow flew, managing to knock down three coins at once. Even so, it was clear he had lost this round. The young man's handsome face was icy, with a trace of barely concealed frustration. The Northern Rong man laughed, "Young master, you've lost. Fifty taels." Yun Ting grimly took out a fifty-tael silver ingot from his pocket, handed it to the man, and leaped off the platform.

"Are there any other experts willing to step up and try?" The man pocketed the ingot and grinned at the crowd below.

"If even a member of the Mo Family Army can't do it, who else could win?" someone in the crowd shouted, drawing all eyes to Yun Ting. The man on the platform chuckled. "Oh? So this young man is from the Mo Family Army? My apologies for not recognizing you. I’ve heard the Mo Family Army is full of master archers, one in a hundred. Are there any other Mo Family Army soldiers willing to come up and test their skills? What about you, young master?" He looked down at Chen Yun standing beside Yun Ting, his tone now carrying an unmistakable challenge. Chen Yun and Yun Ting were evenly matched in archery, but now he was caught between stepping up or backing down. Yun Ting's expression darkened, realizing his earlier arrogance had dragged Chen Yun into this. Just as he was about to speak up, Chen Yun pulled him back. Chen Yun hesitated, about to respond, when a clear, melodious voice rang out from behind them.

"In that case, may this consort give it a try? General Huyan of Northern Rong?"

Everyone froze. Earlier, their attention had been fixed on Yun Ting's archery, and because it was nighttime, Ye Li and Yao Ji had been standing inconspicuously at the back. The crowd before the platform hadn’t noticed the two beautiful women among them. Now, hearing Ye Li speak, they turned in surprise, their gazes shifting to her—while others scrutinized the Northern Rong man on the platform. It was understandable for Northern Rong people to hold hostility toward Great Chu, so no one had paid much attention to the man’s earlier provocation toward Chen Yun. But if this was the famed Northern Rong general and top archer deliberately challenging an unknown junior officer of the Mo Family Army, that was another matter entirely."Greetings, Wang Fei!" Half the crowd before the arena were residents of Ruyang City. Upon seeing Ye Li, they hurried forward to bow and made way for her. The others naturally followed suit with their own salutations. Though not under the jurisdiction of the Mo Family Army or Prince Ding's Estate, guests should still show some respect to their hosts.

The Northern Rong man was momentarily stunned when his identity was exposed. His gaze fell upon the green-robed woman emerging from the crowd—her features elegant and refined, her lips curved in a smile like any noble young lady of Great Chu. Yet that smile inexplicably sent a chill down his spine. He forced a grin at Ye Li. "So it is Princess Ding. I'm afraid I don’t quite understand what Your Highness means by 'General Huyan'?"

Ye Li smiled faintly and, under the crowd’s watchful eyes, nimbly leaped onto the arena platform. "Huyan Lü, once the foremost divine archer of Northern Rong. Though my subordinates may be somewhat lacking, for a general of your stature to personally instruct them seems rather excessive. I shall be sure to thank the Northern Rong Crown Prince properly later." Her implication was clear—Huyan Lü, a renowned veteran, had publicly provoked two young officers of the Mo Family Army, an act of bullying the weak.

Ye Li regarded Huyan Lü with a composed gaze, her serene eyes carrying a faint coldness. Did he think that just because he had left the Northern Rong army years ago, no one would recognize him? Even if others didn’t, the Northern Rong Crown Prince surely would.

Huyan Lü’s heart skipped a beat, but he managed a stiff smile. "Since Wang Fei wishes to challenge the arena, I naturally welcome it. Please, after you." He clearly intended to brush off the matter of his identity.

Ye Li paid it no mind. Instead, she glanced at the gem-encrusted dagger displayed at the center of the arena and remarked lightly, "A gift from the King of Northern Rong must be extraordinary. Then I shan’t stand on ceremony."

Huyan Lü’s expression darkened. "Let’s wait until Wang Fei wins before claiming it."

He stepped aside and handed Ye Li a bow and arrows. To his credit, Huyan Lü did not deliberately make things difficult for her in this regard—he wasn’t foolish enough to offer a bow so stiff even a burly man would struggle to draw it, as that would only be seen as bullying the princess. Better to provide a suitable bow and let her defeat herself.

When it came to archery, Huyan Lü had absolute confidence. He couldn’t believe this delicate, seemingly fragile woman before him could be a sharpshooter. He had heard of how Princess Ding once frightened Lingyun Gongzhu to tears with a single arrow, but in his view, her archery skills back then had been barely passable at best.

Ye Li accepted the bow with calm composure, testing its draw with ease. "A fine bow," she remarked mildly.

Huyan Lü replied proudly, "All bows from Northern Rong are of the finest quality."

Coins had been rehung from a tree several dozen paces away. Huyan Lü said, "Wang Fei may step closer before shooting."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Thank you for your kindness, General Huyan."

Another might have taken his offer, but Ye Li knew that in archery, closer wasn’t always better. In this case, standing directly beneath the tree would make it impossible to shoot down all the coins—even for a once-in-a-century marksman.Under the gaze of the crowd, Ye Li calmly picked up three arrows from her shoulder and nocked them on her bow. The audience collectively gasped—Princess Ding actually intended to shoot three arrows simultaneously. With practiced ease, Ye Li drew the bowstring, adjusted her stance slightly, and released without hesitation. The arrows whistled through the air, three streaks of silver light shooting toward the distant tree under the lantern glow. A crisp clinking sound followed as coins struck the ground. Without pause, Ye Li didn’t even glance to see how many of the first three arrows had hit their mark. Instead, she swiftly grabbed another three arrows, nocked them, and fired again—

Another crisp clatter rang out. Before anyone could fully process it, Ye Li had already drawn her bow once more. This time, she spun gracefully, dropping to one knee and firing three arrows upward from a low stance.

In what seemed like mere moments, only one arrow remained out of the ten. The crowd turned their eyes to the tree, where five coins still dangled. Many secretly worried for Ye Li, but regardless of the outcome, no one would ever doubt the archery skills of the Mo Family Army again.

Not far away, in a private room of the Ningxiang Pavilion, an open window overlooked the arena below. Two men sat facing each other, their expressions inscrutable as they watched the spectacle. "Prince Li, what do you think… of Princess Ding’s final arrow?" Mo Jingli downed the fine wine in his cup and replied coldly, "Whether Ye Li wins or loses has nothing to do with this prince. The reputation of the Mo Family Army isn’t mine, nor is that treasured Xiaoyue Blade." Hearing this, Yelv Ye shook his head with a sigh. "Prince Ding is truly fortunate. To have such a woman as his wife—what a blessing in this world."

Thud! Mo Jingli slammed his cup onto the table, rattling the wine jug and dishes.

Yelv Ye watched Mo Jingli’s stormy expression with amusement and smiled. "Speaking of which, Princess Ding was originally betrothed to Prince Li by the late Emperor of Chu. What a pity…"

Crack! The cup in Mo Jingli’s hand shattered, leaving only fragments in his grip.

In another room, Lei Tengfeng and Zhennan Wang were also observing the arena. Lei Tengfeng praised with a smile, "Who would have thought Princess Ding’s progress would be so astonishing? Two years ago, she could barely draw a bow properly. Father, who do you think will win?" Zhennan Wang seemed not to hear, his gaze fixed intently on the green-robed woman on the stage, a strange light flickering in his eyes. Seeing this, Lei Tengfeng fell silent, lowering his eyes as if lost in thought.

On the arena, Huyan Lü concealed his shock as he addressed the green-robed woman before him. "Princess Ding, this is the final arrow."

Ye Li smiled faintly and unhurriedly picked up the last arrow. This time, she took her time, carefully nocking and aiming. The entire crowd held their breath, eyes locked on the few remaining coins on the tree. Suddenly, Ye Li pushed off the ground, leaping onto the table behind her before propelling herself upward. Mid-air, she swiftly drew and released the arrow— whoosh! —The arrow thudded into the great tree with a sharp twang. Everyone stared dumbfounded at the now empty branches where the hanging copper coins had vanished without a trace. Those with keen eyesight could still make out several threads of precisely equal length dangling from the boughs. Princess Ding's final arrow had severed all five slender threads simultaneously - such archery skill and visual acuity left the crowd utterly stunned. Ye Li turned to look at the pale-faced Huyan Lü and smiled faintly, "Same rules apply. If General Huyan can replicate this feat, I shall concede defeat!"

The crowd erupted in murmurs. Earlier it had been Huyan Lü setting up this challenge platform to test all comers, but now the tables had turned with Princess Ding publicly challenging Northern Rong's foremost warrior. Below the platform, excited whispers spread like wildfire. Yun Ting, who had been scowling moments before, now beamed with exhilaration. "Well, General Huyan? Surely you're not declining our Wang Fei's challenge?"

Huyan Lü's face turned ashen. Indeed, he dared not accept. As Northern Rong's top martial artist, his skills were genuine. Given sufficient time, he might have replicated Ye Li's feat, but accomplishing it now was beyond him. He could shoot down all coins within ten arrows by firing individually, but controlling three arrows simultaneously to strike seven or eight coins? That was impossible. Ye Li clearly knew this when posing her challenge.

"General Huyan?" Ye Li prompted with a smile.

"I concede!" Huyan Lü gritted through clenched teeth, prompting immediate jeers from the crowd. Ye Li strode to the platform's center and drew the gem-encrusted dagger from its stand. As the blade cleared its sheath, an icy aura washed over the spectators. The mirror-bright steel reflected light with crystalline clarity, its razor-sharp edge whispering of countless battles. With a casual flick of her wrist, Ye Li reduced the display stand to splinters. Sheathing the weapon, she praised, "Truly exceptional craftsmanship. My thanks to General Huyan."

Watching his prized blade disappear into Ye Li's sleeve, Huyan Lü turned deathly pale but remained speechless. He could only stare helplessly as Ye Li descended the platform with his treasured weapon, her robes fluttering gracefully behind her.