Mo Li

Sick Scholar was sent flying into the opposite chair by the sudden strike, immediately spitting out a mouthful of blood—clearly severely injured. However, everyone present understood that Mo Xiuyao had undoubtedly held back. Given that Mo Xiuyao had once crippled most of Sick Scholar’s martial arts with a single palm strike, nearly rupturing his heart meridian, this blow would have left no chance for Sick Scholar to breathe had it been full-force. Mo Xiuyao stepped into the flower hall with an aura of cold lethality, his gaze fixed on Sick Scholar as if frozen in ice.

Mo Xiuyao radiated killing intent toward Sick Scholar, and Sick Scholar, in turn, felt not an ounce of gratitude for the mercy shown. Struggling to sit up, he glared at Mo Xiuyao with eyes so venomous they seemed capable of tearing the man before him to shreds. Though Ye Li couldn’t comprehend it, she had to admit that there existed people in this world who, if slighted even unintentionally, would hate you enough to annihilate your entire family. Sick Scholar was clearly one such person. At this thought, Ye Li couldn’t help but frown slightly. The complete prescription for the Underworld Flower was known only to Sick Scholar. If he truly preferred mutual destruction over letting Mo Xiuyao live, the situation would indeed become troublesome.

Mo Xiuyao sat down beside Ye Li and, noticing her furrowed brows in deep thought, gently lifted her chin to face him. His fingers lightly traced her willow-leaf eyebrows as he murmured, “Don’t worry.” Understanding his intent to reassure her, Ye Li smiled faintly and nodded. The tender harmony between the two, however, pierced Sick Scholar’s eyes like a blade. He let out a cold laugh, his voice sharp and mocking, “Mo Xiuyao, your body won’t last more than a few months, will it? Hah… I suggest you let your woman worry a little more… cough … lest she and your orphaned child suffer after you’re dead—”

“Third Brother, silence!” Before Mo Xiuyao’s fury could erupt, a tall figure strode swiftly into the room, his steps as imposing as a dragon’s or tiger’s. It was none other than Ling Tiehan, the Great Master of King of Hell Pavilion and one of the Four Great Masters of the martial world, whom Ye Li had briefly encountered at the Southern Border.

Though Sick Scholar was unruly by nature, he held deep respect for this sworn brother. Had anyone else dared to order him to shut up, they would have been met with a handful of poisoned sand. But because it was Ling Tiehan, Sick Scholar swallowed his words despite his dark expression. Ling Tiehan first nodded at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li before walking over to Sick Scholar, taking his wrist to check his pulse. Relieved to find the injuries not severe, he cupped his hands toward Mo Xiuyao and said, “Many thanks to Prince Ding for showing mercy.”

Seated beside Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li observed this renowned master of King of Hell Pavilion carefully. During their brief encounter at the Southern Border, time had been too pressing for more than a passing exchange of words, leaving no opportunity to study him properly.Ling Tiehan was only in his mid-thirties this year, but due to his profound internal energy, he appeared as if he hadn’t yet reached thirty. However, his composed demeanor and the heroic air that inadvertently emanated from his movements made it clear he was indeed a mature middle-aged man. With this, Ye Li could say she had now met all four of the world’s top martial artists. The eldest among them, Zhennan Wang, was naturally no exception. To Ye Li, Zhennan Wang seemed more like a politician and general than a peerless master. Perhaps it was precisely this mindset that had caused his martial arts cultivation to stagnate over the years. Thus, despite being nearly a generation older than Mo Xiuyao and the others, he was still ranked alongside them.

As for the other top master, Mu Qingcang, his age seemed similar to Ling Tiehan’s. However, Mu Qingcang himself had been trained more like a silent killing machine, hidden in the unseen darkness, year after year draining his own life away. So even though Mu Qingcang might have been younger than Ling Tiehan, he appeared particularly pale and feeble. If the two stood side by side, it would be hard to believe they had once been equally spirited and unrivaled in the martial world. Among the four top masters, the one Ye Li was most familiar with was naturally Mo Xiuyao. Even now, Ye Li couldn’t quite gauge just how high Mo Xiuyao’s martial prowess was, but his reputation as a once-in-a-generation prodigy was undeniable. Mo Xiuyao’s elder brother, Mo Xiuwen, was, as his name suggested, a scholarly general. Though Mo Liufang had cultivated both martial and literary arts in his time, his skills were only at the level of an average master—his ability to render Zhennan Wang defenseless relied on strategic planning rather than direct combat. Ye Li even suspected that Zhennan Wang’s high martial prowess might have been specifically honed to assassinate Mo Liufang. But Mo Xiuyao was an exception. He had earned his place as one of the world’s top four masters at the tender age of fourteen. Though ranked last at the time, everyone understood he was just beginning. Compared to Zhennan Wang at his peak, Ling Tiehan and Mu Qingcang on the cusp of their prime, Mo Xiuyao hadn’t even truly started. Such a prodigy—it was said Ling Tiehan had once publicly declared that in no more than seven years, Mo Xiuyao would sweep the world, leaving no equal. Alas, fate is unpredictable. After turning eighteen, Mo Xiuyao’s life took a strange and silent turn, veering off course.

After comparing the four top masters, Ye Li felt Ling Tiehan was the one who truly embodied the image of a legendary martial artist in both reality and people’s minds. Composed, heroic, and measured in his actions, he seemed more like the righteous leader of the martial world than the bloodstained head of the King of Hell Pavilion’s assassins."Third Brother is unwell. Would it be possible to have a physician examine him first?" Ling Tiehan glanced at his sworn brother, whose face was dark with suppressed arrogance and resentment—though he dared not speak out in Ling's presence—and felt this wasn't the right place for conversation. He turned to Mo Xiuyao with the request. Mo Xiuyao looked down at Ye Li inquiringly; since A Li had invited them, it was her decision to make.

Ye Li smiled gently. "Of course. Prince Ding's Estate has two renowned physicians. If Ling Gezhu doesn't mind, we can have Third Gezhu escorted there immediately."

Ling Tiehan expressed his thanks and called out. Two young men promptly entered, awaiting orders. "Take Third Gezhu to see the physicians," Ling instructed sternly. "If he escapes, you know the consequences." The two men tensed, fully aware of the severity—the King of Hell Pavilion's punishments were no idle threat.

As they stepped forward to guide Sick Scholar away, he flashed them a cold glare and spat, "Get lost!"

"Third Brother." Ling Tiehan's expression darkened as he frowned at Sick Scholar's sallow, pallid face. Sick Scholar knew his elder brother was truly angry, but after being struck by Mo Xiuyao and further stifled by Ling Tiehan's restraint, his fury and humiliation had reached a boiling point. Born with a defiant nature, he now lashed out recklessly, even at the brother he had always revered.

"My life and death are none of your concern!" he snarled. "You think I'm nothing but trouble? Wouldn't it be better if I just died?"

Before Ling Tiehan could react, a shadow streaked in from outside. The figure had barely steadied when— smack! —a sharp, resounding slap sent Sick Scholar's head snapping to the side, silencing his defiance.

"Insolent! Apologize to Eldest Brother at once!" The voice was clear yet icy, belonging to a slender woman clad in black, her graceful figure accentuated by the tight-fitting robes. Though beautiful, her face was frosty—a woman in her twenties, exuding an air of unyielding severity.

Ye Li's brow furrowed slightly as she recognized the woman—Leng Liuyue, Second Gezhu of the King of Hell Pavilion, once feared in the martial world as the "Jade Rakshasa." Renowned for her Light Body Skill and hidden weapons, her ability to infiltrate the estate undetected spoke volumes of her prowess. With a wave, Ye Li dismissed the guards who had pursued her in vain.

The public humiliation left Sick Scholar's face a storm of emotions—any trace of remorse vanished instantly. He clenched his jaw, refusing to look at Leng Liuyue or offer Ling Tiehan an apology.

Ling Tiehan ignored the defiance, relieved by Leng Liuyue's arrival. "Liuyue, take Third Brother to the physicians. Make sure he doesn't run off."

She nodded, then turned to Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. "Forgive my abrupt intrusion."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Second Gezhu's Light Body Skill is truly remarkable. However, next time, I suggest using the front gate. Prince Ding's arrows aren't always sheathed."

Leng Liuyue paused, studying Ye Li's composed expression before nodding. "Noted." She then turned to Sick Scholar. "Come with me."The Sick Scholar had a peculiar temperament, but he held deep affection for his sworn elder brother and sister. Earlier, in a fit of anger, he had stubbornly clashed with Ling Tiehan. Now, after being slapped, he gradually calmed down. With a glance at Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, who were watching the scene unfold, he silently followed Leng Liuyue away. Though Ye Li's expression remained composed, inwardly she was quite furious with the Sick Scholar. If it weren’t for the King of Hell Pavilion and Ling Tiehan backing him, she might have resorted to punishment. Seeing him so docile after being struck, she felt an immense satisfaction, silently applauding Leng Liuyue’s slap: Well struck!

With the disruptive presence of the Sick Scholar gone, the atmosphere in the flower hall improved significantly. Ling Tiehan clasped his hands apologetically toward Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao. "My younger brother is immature and has offended you both. I hope you can forgive him."

"Gezhu need not worry. We’ve kept your brother here not solely out of respect for you," Ye Li replied with a faint smile. Ling Tiehan understood her implication—while the King of Hell Pavilion’s reputation was to be considered, Prince Ding’s Estate certainly had no reason to fear them. The most crucial factor was the complete ancient formula for the Underworld Flower that the Sick Scholar held. Ling Tiehan sighed helplessly. "To be honest, my journey to the northwest was also for this matter." If the Sick Scholar had learned that Prince Ding’s Estate possessed the Underworld Flower, Ling Tiehan naturally would have as well. However, unlike his sworn brother, Ling Tiehan bore no hatred or personal grudge against Mo Xiuyao, nor did their interests conflict. Mo Xiuyao’s life or death meant nothing to him—if anything, he might lament the loss of a talented man should Mo Xiuyao die young. Given that both sides needed the Underworld Flower to save lives—Prince Ding’s Estate had the herb, while the King of Hell Pavilion held the formula—why not compromise for a mutually beneficial outcome? Compared to his sworn brother’s life and health, the latter’s inexplicable vendetta seemed utterly insignificant in Ling Tiehan’s eyes.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Does Gezhu also possess the formula?" Ling Tiehan shook his head honestly and replied solemnly, "Princess Ding need not worry—I will certainly hand over the formula. After all, this concerns not only Prince Ding’s safety but also my younger brother’s life." If nothing else, should Prince Ding truly perish, even if his sworn brother didn’t succumb to illness, Prince Ding’s Estate would surely seek retribution. Ye Li eyed him skeptically with a smile. "There’s only one Underworld Flower. Has Gezhu considered what to do if the medicine proves insufficient?"Ling Tiehan smiled, "I know nothing of medicine or poison, but since Third Brother plans to use half the Underworld Flower for medicine and half for refining toxins, it surely won't be insufficient. Moreover... I don't necessarily require the Underworld Flower—I merely hope Third Brother's health can improve somewhat. He has suffered far more than others since childhood, which is why his temperament is so peculiar. After his injury, he became even more reclusive. It's all due to my failure as an elder brother in guiding him properly. I hope you both can forgive this."

Sick Scholar's condition wasn't as absolute as the poison afflicting Mo Xiuyao—his ailments stemmed from severe injuries. While the Underworld Flower was the best solution, it wasn’t necessarily the only remedy. With Prince Ding's Estate's resources, what medicinal ingredient couldn’t be found? What renowned physician couldn’t be invited? Ling Tiehan had considered personally visiting Prince Ding's Estate to request Shen Yang's treatment for Sick Scholar multiple times, but each time, Sick Scholar vehemently opposed it, even threatening to run away, forcing Ling Tiehan to relent.

Ye Li naturally understood Ling Tiehan’s meaning and couldn’t help but feel a newfound respect for this foremost leader of the martial world’s assassins. Regardless of what Ling Tiehan and the King of Hell Pavilion did, at the very least, Ling Tiehan genuinely cared for Sick Scholar, a brother with no blood relation. With Sick Scholar’s temperament—far from likable—it was no small feat for Ling Tiehan to be so considerate of him. And given Sick Scholar’s ruthless methods, were it not for Ling Tiehan’s restraint, he would likely have stirred up endless trouble in the martial world over the years. Even with the King of Hell Pavilion’s formidable influence, the martial world was filled with hidden dragons—who knew when Sick Scholar might provoke someone beyond his means to challenge?

"Master Ling is truly a good elder brother. In that case, why not stay in Li Cheng for a while with the Second and Third Masters? As for the ancient prescription, there’s no need to rush. It’s not that I distrust you, Master Ling, but this matter is of great importance—it must be something the Third Master willingly offers." Ye Li nodded at Ling Tiehan as she spoke.

After a moment of contemplation, Ling Tiehan agreed to Ye Li’s proposal. He understood her concerns—his sworn brother’s temperament was far too extreme. Even with his intervention, there was no guarantee Sick Scholar wouldn’t stubbornly refuse, preferring mutual destruction with Prince Ding rather than yielding. In that case, it wouldn’t just cost Prince Ding and Sick Scholar their lives—it might also drag down the entire Prince Ding's Estate and the King of Hell Pavilion. Ling Tiehan knew a little about Mo Xiuyao’s condition, and seeing Ye Li remain so composed under such circumstances, he couldn’t help but regard her with newfound admiration. "Then we’ll trouble the Wang Fei for her hospitality."

With Sick Scholar’s matter settled and Ling Tiehan’s stay arranged, Ye Li rose, leaving the space for Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan to converse, and headed to Shen Yang’s courtyard. Though the Second Master of the King of Hell Pavilion had only made a fleeting appearance earlier, Ye Li suddenly felt a spark of curiosity and interest in this ice-cold woman.

The flower hall was now silent, occupied only by Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan. Both men exuded extraordinary presence—Mo Xiuyao carried the innate nobility and dominance of a high-born noble, while Ling Tiehan embodied the unrestrained boldness of a martial world figure. In terms of appearance, Ling Tiehan was slightly inferior to Mo Xiuyao, but his steady, magnanimous, and free-spirited nature made him far more approachable than Mo Xiuyao.After quietly drinking tea for a while, Ling Tiehan finally raised his cup in a toast to Mo Xiuyao and said with a smile, "I've long heard that Princess Ding is one of the most extraordinary women of our time. Though we briefly crossed paths in the Southern Border before, seeing her today truly lives up to her reputation. You've married a fine wife, Wang Ye—what excellent fortune."

Mo Xiuyao accepted the praise without modesty, nodding, "A Li is indeed a good wife. Ling Gezhu, surely you didn't come to Li Cheng just for Sick Scholar? If that's the case, there was no need. We had an agreement—as long as he doesn’t truly provoke me, I won’t touch him." Ling Tiehan looked at him with a hint of skepticism and asked, "Just now, didn’t it seem like you wanted him dead?" Mo Xiuyao scoffed lightly, "He dared to try harming A Li. I’ll spare his life." As for how exactly that life would be spared—that was entirely up to him. Leaving just one breath still counted as sparing a life.

"You and I both know he could never have harmed Princess Ding," Ling Tiehan said. Setting aside Princess Ding’s own formidable skills, the guard standing behind her was not someone to be trifled with. With his third brother’s reliance on poison rendering him nearly useless in combat, the idea of harming Princess Ding was pure fantasy. But Ling Tiehan had no intention of arguing the point with Mo Xiuyao. If the prince wanted to vent his anger for his beloved wife, it was only natural—and the King of Hell Pavilion was in the wrong. Provoking Mo Xiuyao further would only make things worse for his troublesome brother. Sighing, he pushed thoughts of his headache-inducing sibling aside and said, "You asked why I came to Li Cheng? A new business proposition was brought to the King of Hell Pavilion."

Mo Xiuyao frowned. "Does it involve Prince Ding’s Estate?"

Ling Tiehan nodded. "Indeed. Though the King of Hell Pavilion has long declared we won’t accept contracts related to Prince Ding’s Estate, this time the target isn’t an assassination—and the offered price is quite tempting." Mo Xiuyao raised a brow, his expression indifferent as he watched him. The King of Hell Pavilion dealt in killing—if not murder, why seek them out? For other matters, there were surely better-suited parties. Ling Tiehan chuckled, "I’ve already accepted."

Mo Xiuyao regarded him calmly, and Ling Tiehan could only sigh in resignation. Adopting a serious tone, he explained, "Not long ago, you fought Lei Zhenting, didn’t you? The client wants me to fight you as well. Had they been able to locate Mu Qingcang, I suspect they’d have asked him to fight you too."

"Reason?" Mo Xiuyao asked.Ling Tiehan shook his head and frowned, saying, "I've pondered it several times these past few days. When you and Lei Zhenting fought, neither of you likely went all out, which is why you both retreated unscathed. If you and I were to truly engage, it would probably end in mutual destruction. However... after more than a decade, I am genuinely looking forward to sparring with Prince Ding again." Over ten years ago, Ling Tiehan was just a young man in his early twenties, full of vigor and ambition. Although Zhennan Wang had a formidable reputation, he was much older than them, and the only one in the world who could rival him was Mu Qingcang. Who would have thought that Mo Xiuyao, then only fourteen years old, would emerge in a flash of white robes, a horse, and a sword, stunning countless people at that year's Martial Arts Contest? Though Ling Tiehan didn't lose, barely defeating a fourteen-year-old boy by a single move—almost ending in a draw—wasn't exactly a pleasant outcome for him at the time. Back then, Ling Tiehan made a five-year rematch agreement with Mo Xiuyao before retreating to King of Hell Pavilion for seclusion. Little did he know that upon emerging five years later, the first news he received was that his third brother had foolishly provoked Mo Xiuyao. At the same time, he learned of Mo Xiuyao's severe injuries and disability. Ling Tiehan's feelings at that moment were even more complex and subtle than after his initial duel with Mo Xiuyao. It was as if, after five years of hard work, he finally felt capable of defeating his rival, only to be told that his rival had just killed himself the day before.

"You're really determined to fight?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

Ling Tiehan laughed. "Why not? Or is your body still not fully recovered? Then we can wait until the Underworld Flower is refined—there's no rush. I conveniently forgot to confirm the date of the contest with the other party." He had accepted the challenge solely because he wanted to cross swords with Mo Xiuyao, so the time and place were naturally up to the two of them to decide.

Over the years, the so-called "Four Great Masters of the World" had gone their separate ways, rarely crossing paths, which had long frustrated Ling Tiehan. He needed to spar with peers of his caliber to refine his martial skills. Among them, Mo Xiuyao was undoubtedly the best opponent. As for Zhennan Wang, after hearing about Mo Xiuyao's previous duel with him, Ling Tiehan had lost interest in his martial prowess. Zhennan Wang's skills clearly hadn't progressed beyond where they were a decade ago. If Ling Tiehan went all out, he felt at least eighty percent confident of victory.