Mo Li

Ye Li quickly translated the text on the silk scroll. Fortunately, this time, the founding emperor hadn’t played any tricks—the true location of the treasure was within the northwestern region, not too far from Li Cheng. However, now was clearly not the right time to go digging for it. At the very least, they had to wait until the various foreign dignitaries still lurking in the northwest in search of the treasure had all withdrawn. Ye Li handed the translated text to Mo Xiuyao, who merely glanced at it, committed it to memory, and then burned both the translation and the original treasure map without leaving a single trace behind.

The members of the King of Hell Pavilion were housed in a modest courtyard in the northwest corner of the estate. Though Li Cheng was not yet running perfectly smoothly, it was a rare haven of peace compared to the chaos outside. With no pressing matters at hand, Ye Li turned her attention to the Underworld Flower—and the first step was naturally to deal with that insufferable Sick Scholar.

After breakfast, Ye Li went to visit the courtyard where the King of Hell Pavilion members were staying. Ling Tiehan and Leng Liuyue were in the middle of a sparring session. Sick Scholar sat alone to the side, his gloomy eyes fixed on his elder brother and sister as they darted and clashed across the garden, engrossed in their match. His hands gripped the armrests of his chair so tightly it seemed he might leave deep marks in the redwood.

Ye Li approached him with a faint smile and remarked casually, "I’ve long heard that despite being a woman, Leng Gezhu is one of the top martial artists in the jianghu. Seeing her now with Ling Gezhu, they truly make a fine pair."

A muscle in Sick Scholar’s face twitched. He lifted his head and shot Ye Li a venomous glare. Given her past profession, Ye Li had encountered all manner of ruthless and deranged individuals—Sick Scholar’s hostility barely registered. She continued cheerfully, "Come to think of it, it’s rather odd. Leng Gezhu must be over thirty now, isn’t she? For a woman to remain unmarried at this age, Ling Gezhu is truly holding her back. Perhaps I should mention it to my Wang Ye and ask him to remind Ling Gezhu. What do you think, Third Master?"

"Ye Li!" Sick Scholar snarled, immediately breaking into a fit of violent coughing. When he pulled his hand away, his palm was smeared with blood.

The commotion drew Ling Tiehan and Leng Liuyue’s attention, and they swiftly ended their match, darting back. "Third Brother, what’s wrong?" Ling Tiehan asked sternly.

Sick Scholar, however, refused his concern. He shot Ling Tiehan a resentful look, then stood and retreated into the house without a word. Frowning, Ling Tiehan turned to Leng Liuyue. "Liuyue, go check on him."

Leng Liuyue nodded silently, sheathed her twin daggers, and followed inside.Ling Tiehan casually picked up a cloth towel nearby to wipe his hands, then turned to Ye Li and said, "Wang Fei, my third brother's health is truly poor. I must ask you to show some mercy with your words." Ye Li raised an eyebrow with a faint smile—so Ling Tiehan had realized that Sick Scholar's sudden coughing up blood was due to her provocation. Without denying it, she flicked her sleeve and sat down opposite Ling Tiehan, replying with a laugh, "Ling Gezhu, even if the Third Pavilion Master is your kin, you shouldn't be so biased. This consort was also greatly provoked by him yesterday. If I don’t vent this anger, I truly won’t be able to eat or sleep in peace."

Ling Tiehan sighed helplessly. His sworn brother’s sharp tongue was something even he, as the eldest brother, sometimes wanted to slap out of him. Watching Ye Li, he sighed again and asked, "Is Wang Fei wondering why I always shield my third brother like this?"

Ye Li gave a slight nod. She was indeed curious. Given Ling Tiehan’s temperament and principles, he shouldn’t have any fondness for someone as paranoid, gloomy, and ruthless as Sick Scholar. Not that Ling Tiehan himself was particularly compassionate, but despite being the leader of the King of Hell Pavilion, he was far more upright than those so-called righteous figures who preached morality while committing vile deeds in secret. A man like him would naturally despise those with twisted, dark hearts.

Ling Tiehan sighed regretfully. "My two younger siblings and I have known each other since childhood. Though my third brother was quiet and reserved back then, he wasn’t like this. We were just children, drifting through the martial world without any real skills, suffering no small amount of hardship. One year… Liuyue fell gravely ill. We spent all our savings, but what little we had wasn’t enough for proper treatment. To save Liuyue, my third brother sold himself, leaving only the silver behind before disappearing with the buyers. After Liuyue recovered, we joined the King of Hell Pavilion. She trained day and night, hoping to one day find him. By the time I finally located him, over a year had passed. No one knows what he endured in that time—when we found him, he was severely injured, nearly dead."

He continued bitterly, "My third brother’s innate talent was mediocre. Even if he trained in martial arts, he’d never reach the level of Liuyue or me. He wasn’t suited for a place like the King of Hell Pavilion. After he recovered, Liuyue and I hoped he’d live an ordinary, peaceful life. With us watching over him, no one would dare bully him. But who could’ve guessed…"

Ling Tiehan gave a pained smile. "He refused to listen to us and ended up joining the King of Hell Pavilion anyway. With his limited aptitude, he’d have been nothing more than a second-rate assassin at best—often just cannon fodder. So he took a different path, specializing in poison, which eventually elevated him to the ranks of the Pavilion’s top assassins. Though ruthless and merciless to outsiders, he’s fiercely loyal to his own. Liuyue, being a woman, sometimes hesitates when it comes to killing. So my third brother always steps in to take the jobs she can’t bring herself to complete."Ye Li listened quietly to Ling Tiehan's words, never expecting that the three leaders of the most feared King of Hell Pavilion in the martial world today had such a past. But then again, natural-born psychopaths were rare, and Sick Scholar's mental illness wasn't cultivated overnight. "Do Pavilion Master Ling and Pavilion Master Leng tolerate him like this because they feel guilty toward him?" Ling Tiehan remained silent, tacitly confirming Ye Li's words. Back then, Ling Tiehan was still young and impulsive, and in a place like the King of Hell Pavilion, he devoted most of his energy to improving his martial skills. By the time he came to his senses, his sworn brother had already become a poison master who struck fear into the hearts of the martial world.

Ye Li studied Ling Tiehan thoughtfully and asked, "Speaking of which, even the Third Pavilion Master should be nearly thirty this year among the three leaders, yet none of you have married. Why is that?"

Ling Tiehan lowered his gaze, lost in thought, before sighing after a long pause. "I have been wholly devoted to martial arts and truly never considered marriage. Besides, the King of Hell Pavilion is, after all, in the business of killing. Those who kill will inevitably be killed... It's better not to have any familial burdens. However... hearing Wang Fei mention it today, I realize I may have delayed Liuyue and Third Brother." Ye Li couldn't help but frown, carefully observing Ling Tiehan's expression—calm yet somewhat regretful. It seemed Ling Tiehan truly had no romantic feelings for Leng Liuyue. Sick Scholar's unrequited love for Leng Liuyue was certain. If Ling Tiehan had no interest in her, things would be much simpler. The only question was Leng Liuyue's own feelings. Even if a woman were an assassin, she wouldn't remain without a beloved past thirty, would she? The only men close to Leng Liuyue were Sick Scholar and Ling Tiehan. If Ye Li had to choose, she felt she wouldn't pick Sick Scholar over Ling Tiehan either.

"Does Pavilion Master Ling know the purpose of my visit?" Ye Li asked softly.

Ling Tiehan nodded. "Naturally. These past two days, Liuyue and I have been doing our utmost to persuade Third Brother to hand over the prescription. After all, this benefits both sides. There's no need for mutual destruction."

"Then... may I ask Pavilion Master Ling one more question?" Ye Li said.

Ling Tiehan paused, surprised, but nodded. "I'll answer truthfully."

Ye Li lowered her eyes and asked quietly, "How does Pavilion Master Ling view Pavilion Master Leng?"Ling Tiehan frowned, his sword-like brows knitting together as he said, "Of course, I regard Liuyue as my own younger sister..." His reaction was swift, and the moment the words left his mouth, he understood what Ye Li was implying. A look of surprise crossed his composed and handsome face as he asked, "What does Wang Fei mean?" Ye Li gave a faint smile and was about to nod when the sound of rustling fabric came from behind them. Both turned to see Leng Liuyue's black figure retreating into the distance. Ye Li looked helplessly at Ling Tiehan with a bitter smile—it seemed Leng Liuyue had overheard their conversation. More importantly, it appeared Leng Liuyue truly harbored feelings for Ling Tiehan, which was why she had left heartbroken upon hearing his words. "Gezhu Leng is unfamiliar with Li Cheng," Ye Li said. "Perhaps you should go after her to ensure nothing happens."

Ling Tiehan also knew Li Cheng was unlike other places. The shadow guards of Prince Ding's Estate, the Mo Family Army's Black Cloud Cavalry, and the enigmatic Qilin were all gathered around this city. If Leng Liuyue provoked any trouble, she might not escape unscathed. Nodding, Ling Tiehan stood and hurried in the direction Leng Liuyue had gone.

As Ling Tiehan's figure disappeared, the gentle smile on Ye Li's face gradually faded, replaced by a cold, ruthless expression. The emotional entanglements of the King of Hell Pavilion members were not her concern, but if this was Sick Scholar's only weakness, she saw no issue in exploiting his feelings for Leng Liuyue to achieve her goal.

Rising to her feet, Ye Li walked leisurely toward the room where Sick Scholar was resting. Before she even entered, she could hear intermittent coughing from inside. Shen Yang and Doctor Lin had been right—Sick Scholar's illness was indeed terminal. Pushing the door open, the man inside turned sharply at the sound, but his eyes dimmed when he saw it was Ye Li. "What are you doing here?" he snapped. "As Wang Fei, have you forgotten even the basic courtesy of announcing yourself before entering someone's room?"

Ye Li paid no mind to his rudeness. Smiling, she stepped inside and took a seat in a chair not far from his bed. "Just now, while I was speaking with Gezhu Ling," she said calmly, "I didn’t notice Gezhu Leng listening in. She ran off alone afterward."

"What exactly did you say to him?!" Sick Scholar's eyes flashed with worry before he roared at her.

Ye Li blinked innocently. "Nothing much. We merely mentioned that Gezhu Ling sees her as a younger sister. Is there a problem with that?"

Sick Scholar froze, uncharacteristically silent instead of spewing venom. Seeing his reaction, Ye Li allowed a faint smile to touch her lips. Then, her expression turned serious. "Third Gezhu, in life, nothing is ever perfect. What matters is what one chooses to prioritize. Is holding a grudge against my Wang Ye truly more important than spending your life with the one you love? If he had destroyed your family or clan, I would understand. But as far as I know, apart from that duel years ago, you’ve had no contact with him—nor has your family ever had any feud with Prince Ding's Estate. Why cling to this resentment? Sometimes, yielding a step leads to boundless skies. Don’t you agree?"Sick Scholar suddenly raised his head, glaring fiercely at Ye Li. His expression shifted unpredictably—there was the fury of having his thoughts exposed by Ye Li, hatred and resentment toward Mo Xiuyao, and an indescribable mix of self-loathing and gloom. "You make it sound so noble, but all you want is the prescription, isn’t it?"

Ye Li nodded in agreement, smiling. "Of course I’m saying all this for the prescription, for my husband’s life. Did you think I was here to play matchmaker for the Third Pavilion Master? I’m not that idle. Once I have the prescription and my Wang Ye’s life is secured, I’ll be happy. Whether you recover and pursue Pavilion Master Leng is entirely your own business. Frankly, if Pavilion Master Leng ever ends up with you in the future, I’d feel guilty."

In Ye Li’s eyes, the eccentric Sick Scholar was utterly unworthy of Leng Liuyue. She had only used Leng Liuyue as a bargaining chip in their conversation, never intending to actually help him win her over. Of course, a woman like Leng Liuyue was strong-willed—no amount of advice would work unless Sick Scholar could move her himself.

"You!" The one thing Sick Scholar hated most was being told he wasn’t good enough for Leng Liuyue. Deep down, he knew he didn’t deserve his sworn elder sister, but he couldn’t stand hearing it from others.

Seeing that she had said enough, Ye Li stood up to leave. "Think it over, Third Pavilion Master. Will you keep your life and try your luck, or gamble with my Wang Ye to see who’s tougher? I promise… I’ll find Pavilion Master Leng a perfect husband before you die."

Leaning against the headboard, watching Ye Li stride away without hesitation, Sick Scholar coughed violently again. "Ye Li! You’re ruthless…" She had indeed struck his weakest point. He was no gentleman who would selflessly wish others happiness—the thought of Leng Liuyue marrying someone else would torment him far more than death.

No one knew what Ling Tiehan and Leng Liuyue had discussed. Later, they returned to Prince Ding’s Estate one after another as if nothing had happened.

After dinner, Ye Li and Xu Qingchen enjoyed a rare leisurely moment playing chess and chatting. Sick Scholar had a guard stationed in the courtyard deliver an ancient-looking piece of cloth covered in faded writing. Ye Li unfolded it, her face lighting up with satisfaction, then handed it to Qin Feng behind her, instructing him to personally deliver it to Shen Yang and Doctor Lin’s quarters.

With the long-pending matter finally resolved, Ye Li’s mood visibly lightened.

Xu Qingchen pondered as he moved a chess piece. "You got the Underworld Flower prescription—that happy?"

Ye Li grinned. "Of course I’m happy. Aren’t you?"

Xu Qingchen shook his head, smiling. "A grown daughter is no longer her family’s."

Ye Li flushed—she had been married for over two years! Xu Qingchen placed a piece calmly and added, "You deliberately stirred up the emotional entanglements between Ling Tiehan and his sworn siblings to force Sick Scholar’s hand. Ling Tiehan is too distracted now, but once he realizes what you did, he might come after you."

Ye Li waved it off, capturing several of Xu Qingchen’s white pieces with her next move. "Would Ling Tiehan really dare? Pavilion Master Leng is already past thirty—she’s spent her entire youth on him. Isn’t it about time he gave her an answer?"Xu Qingchen paused the chess piece in his hand, smiling at her as he said, "Why do I feel there's an underlying meaning to your words?"

Under Xu Qingchen's teasing gaze, Ye Li immediately felt a chill run down her spine. But she maintained her composure and replied, "Isn't it true? What good family can a woman past thirty find in this world? Whether Ling Tiehan knows it or not, as an elder brother, it's inexcusable for him to let his sworn sister remain unmarried past thirty without even asking about it. To put it nicely, Ling Gezhu is so engrossed in martial arts that he remains undisturbed by worldly matters. To put it bluntly, he's a scumbag who's ruining a woman's life!"

"Scumbag?" Xu Qingchen's smile deepened. "Li'er, is there anything else you'd like to say to your elder brother? Feel free to speak your mind."

Ye Li broke into a cold sweat, inwardly cursing her own weakness. She didn’t know why she was so afraid of Xu Qingchen, rather than Xu Qingze, who had always been more stern since childhood. Of course, this wasn’t just her problem—in fact, the three younger brothers of the Xu Family were all more intimidated by the gentle and refined Xu Qingchen. "I wasn’t talking about you, Eldest Brother. Please don’t take it personally." Xu Qingchen nodded, sighing helplessly at Ye Li’s rare display of guilt as he asked, "Has Princess Anxi spoken to you?"

Ye Li also felt a bit awkward. Xu Qingchen’s romantic affairs were none of her business. "Princess Anxi didn’t mention you, but..." As a princess and the Crown Princess of her country, Princess Anxi had no interest in the so-called Imperial Jade Seal, given the stark cultural differences between Nanzhao and the Central Plains. Yet she had stayed in Li Cheng for so long—what else could it be for? Though Xu Qingchen never avoided her, his busy schedule with Northwestern affairs left little time for companionship. Every time Princess Anxi visited Ye Li, her hesitant and melancholic expression evoked deep sympathy in Ye Li.

"Eldest Brother, what exactly do you think of Princess Anxi? Second Brother is about to get married, and Uncle and Aunt must have urged you too, right?" After some thought, Ye Li decided to ask Xu Qingchen directly. It wasn’t just for Princess Anxi’s sake, but also for the sake of her aunt and grandfather, who had long hoped for him to settle down. "Princess Anxi isn’t young anymore. Whatever your thoughts, it’s best to make them clear to her."

Xu Qingchen nodded. "I understand. I’ll handle it properly."

"Eldest Brother, you—"

"Anxi and I aren’t suited for each other," Xu Qingchen said calmly with a smile. "She is the Crown Princess of the Southern Border and will one day inherit the throne of Nanzhao." Ye Li frowned, unsure whether Xu Qingchen had feelings for her or not. "What if Princess Anxi is willing to give up the throne of Nanzhao?"

"We’re just friends."

－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－

Ahhh~ I just realized something terrifying—what kind of girl should I pair with Qingchen Gongzi?! Rejecting someone doesn’t have to involve the "good person" card; you can also say, "We’re just xx." or "I’ve always seen you as xx."