Mo Li

Once again encountering Ren Qining at the same inn, Ye Li wasn’t overly surprised. However, it also confirmed that this young master Ren was not as harmless as he appeared—his background was likely far from ordinary. Even so, this alone wasn’t enough to earn him any regard from Mo Xiuyao or Ye Li. To put it bluntly, apart from the royal families of various nations, no one else in the world had the qualifications to make Mo Xiuyao take notice. Thus, upon seeing Ren Qining again, Mo Xiuyao’s attitude remained cold and distant.

This left Young Master Ren somewhat frustrated. He had always been held in high esteem since childhood, and his warm, refined demeanor naturally drew people to trust and approach him. Never had he encountered someone so utterly indifferent. If it weren’t for the risk of being overly rude, Ren Qining would have outright asked Mo Xiuyao whether he had somehow offended him.

"Brother Ye, are you also here for the Martial Arts Tournament?" Ren Qining asked with a bright laugh, as if oblivious to Mo Xiuyao’s aloofness.

His voice wasn’t quiet, so the moment he spoke, most of the patrons on the second floor turned their gazes toward Mo Xiuyao. Their eyes were filled with wariness and hostility. After all, even disregarding Mo Xiuyao’s concealed identity and martial prowess, his striking appearance alone was enough to provoke envy in most men.

Mo Xiuyao lifted his eyelids slightly, seemingly unaware of the hostile stares. He replied indifferently, "We’re merely passing through. My wife wanted to join in the excitement. On the other hand… given Young Master Ren’s status, shouldn’t you be staying at the Murong family’s estate? What brings you to an inn?"

At these words, the hostility in the surroundings instantly dissipated. Indeed, seated beside this handsome gentleman was an elegant and refined woman. Though she couldn’t compare to the Murong family’s immeasurable wealth, her delicate beauty and graceful demeanor made it clear she was a cultured lady from a scholarly family. The Murong family’s young misses might not even surpass her in looks or bearing—perhaps this gentleman simply preferred beauty over riches? In contrast, the young master in blue silk robes was equally striking in appearance, clearly of noble birth, and most importantly—unattached!

Ren Qining’s eyes flickered as he chuckled. "Brother Ye, you jest. What status do I have to stay at the Murong family’s estate? Like you, I’m just here for the excitement. Would you mind if I joined you?" Mo Xiuyao neither agreed nor refused, so Ren Qining took it as consent and sat down across from them.

As they drank tea, Mo Xiuyao showed no interest in conversing with Ren Qining, leaving the atmosphere at the table rather chilly. Ye Li took a sip of tea and remarked casually, "This Martial Arts Tournament is rather unusual. Wasn’t it customary for the previous tournament’s top masters to decide the location? Did they choose the Murong family’s estate this time?" Typically, the masters preferred secluded scenic spots or famous mountains. It was said that once, someone even selected the summit of a snow-capped mountain in northern Western Liang—that year had the lowest attendance, as many couldn’t even climb to the peak.

Ren Qining smiled. "Madam, do you know who the current top four masters in the martial world are?"

Ye Li nodded. "I’ve heard a little."Ren Qining smiled and said, "Speaking of which, these four were not the top masters from the last Martial Arts Contest, but from the one before that. In fact, the last Martial Arts Tournament could hardly be considered successful." Ye Li asked curiously, "How so?"

Ren Qining explained, "During the last tournament, Prince Ding was unable to participate due to injuries, and Ling Gezhu of the King of Hell Pavilion also abstained because of Prince Ding's absence. Prince Zhennan of Western Liang was too busy with state affairs... So, the only top master present was Mu Qingcang. However, none of the challengers could defeat him or even manage a draw. What was supposed to be a three-day tournament ended in just half a day."

Ye Li glanced subtly at Mo Xiuyao and chuckled, "Such a thing happened?" Ren Qining sighed, "Indeed. Strictly speaking, the rankings of the martial arts masters haven't changed for eighteen years. Naturally, many rising talents are eager to test their skills."

"What does this have to do with the Murong family?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow. The Murong family were merchants, seemingly unrelated to the martial world.

Ren Qining smiled meaningfully, "Madam may not know this, but the Murong family is rumored to have a mysterious master—Murong Xiong, the number one martial artist fifty years ago."

Ye Li openly displayed her confusion. She knew little about contemporary masters, let alone the top master from fifty years ago. Mo Xiuyao, however, seemed familiar and interested in this figure. "Murong Xiong is still alive?"

A thoughtful glint flashed in Ren Qining's eyes as he looked at Mo Xiuyao. "That's the rumor, though no one has seen him. This Martial Arts Tournament is being convened in Murong Xiong's name. It's said that with the current decline in martial arts, the elder Murong wishes to meet the younger generation's talents and might even take on a disciple. Additionally..." Ren Qining smiled amiably at them, "The Murong family's sole heir, the Second Young Lady Murong, is seventeen. Rumor has it the elder Murong intends to select a reliable husband for his descendant."

"Young Master Ren is truly well-informed," Mo Xiuyao remarked coolly, having obtained the information he wanted. Ren Qining, realizing he had spoken too much, smiled faintly and fell silent.

"Why are they here?" Ye Li frowned as she noticed the crowd on the street below.

Mo Xiuyao looked down and spotted several familiar faces in the crowd—Mo Jingli, Lei Tengfeng, and, most surprisingly, Xu Qingchen.

Ren Qining also immediately noticed the exceptionally distinguished figures among the crowd. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Madam knows them?" Ye Li shook her head. "Not exactly. I've met Qingchen Gongzi a few times, and the Zhennan Wang Shizi in Nanzhao. Don't you know them, Young Master Ren?"

These individuals were undoubtedly among the most prominent young talents of the era, and claiming ignorance would be too disingenuous. Ren Qining smiled. "I've met Young Master Lei and Prince Li a few times, but this is my first encounter with Qingchen Gongzi. He truly lives up to his reputation as an elegant figure. It's no surprise to see them here—they were all in Nanzhao for Princess Anxi's wedding and coronation. They must have come directly for the Martial Arts Tournament. Though... Prince Ding and Wang Fei returned to the northwest earlier. I wonder if they'll attend? If Prince Ding comes, this year's tournament will indeed be lively.""Qingchen Gongzi is not a martial artist," Ye Li said.

Ren Qining smiled. "This isn't a formal Martial Arts Tournament either. With Qingchen Gongzi's reputation, even if he couldn't overpower a chicken, he'd still be far more impressive than most experts. However... Qingchen Gongzi might not necessarily take a liking to the Murong family's young lady."

Ye Li privately agreed with Ren Qining's assessment. Leaving aside Xu Qingchen himself, even her eldest uncle and aunt in the Xu Family would likely disapprove of this match. While the Xu Family wasn't the type to look down on others, the gap between merchants and scholarly families was, in their eyes, far more significant than mere wealth disparity. The Xu Family would rather marry a daughter from a destitute scholarly family than a merchant's daughter. If the merchant family was known for charity, that might be different—but the Murong family, with their monopolistic wealth spanning half of Western Liang, was precisely the kind of merchant clan the Xu Family would disdain. In a way, the Xu Family's criteria for selecting brides were stricter than the emperor's selection of concubines. The emperor needed the financial support of wealthy merchants, so their daughters could enter the palace as consorts—but the Xu Family had no such need, so they saw no reason to marry into a merchant's household. Though she had always been anxious about her elder brother's marriage prospects, this time, Ye Li truly held no expectations.

Late at night, Xu Qingchen sat alone in an inn's private room, sipping tea. Though he had also received an invitation from the Murong family, unlike Mo Jingli and Lei Tengfeng, who had taken up residence in the estate prepared by the Murong family, Xu Qingchen had chosen to stay at a reputable inn in An City instead. A faint rustling came from the window, and Mo Xiuyao turned his head toward it with a faint smile. "So you're here after all."

Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao stood by the window, looking at Xu Qingchen, who seemed to have been waiting for them. "Elder Brother, you've had a hard time these past days," Ye Li said with a smile.

Xu Qingchen sipped his tea leisurely, his tone light. "Li'er still remembers that her elder brother has had it rough? You were quite eager to run off with Wang Ye back then."

Ye Li gazed at him apologetically, at a loss for words. Mo Xiuyao couldn't bear to see his beloved wife distressed, so he took her hand and led her to sit across from Xu Qingchen. "Nanzhao's affairs weren't too difficult for you to handle. Besides, if we had stayed, it might have made things more inconvenient for you." Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, lifting the teapot to pour tea for Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao. Ye Li exhaled slightly in relief—her elder brother wasn't angry anymore.

Xu Qingchen looked at Mo Xiuyao with an amused expression. "Speaking of which, Wang Ye really does attract trouble wherever he goes. Weren't you supposed to be sightseeing? How did you end up at a Martial Arts Tournament—and what's more, one that seems to double as a matchmaking event for the Murong family's young lady? Are you sure bringing Li'er along was a good idea?"Mo Xiuyao gritted his teeth, wishing he could slap Xu Qingchen to death—must you always sow discord? But with Ye Li watching right in front of him, he could only maintain a proper smile and look at Xu Qingchen with amiable warmth. "Brother Qingchen, you overthink things. A Li and I are just an ordinary couple here to join in the fun. As for you, Brother Qingchen, I hear Miss Murong is quite the beauty. You're not getting any younger—shouldn’t you consider settling down? After all, when one gets older... they might become undesirable. Most importantly... Miss Murong comes with a generous dowry. Why not marry her and contribute to the economy of our Northwest?"

Xu Qingchen remained unperturbed, replying calmly, "I believe there are rumors circulating that I have no interest in women. I’m afraid I must disappoint you, Wang Ye."

Ye Li sighed inwardly. These two could never coexist peacefully when together. Should she be grateful that her elder brother didn’t know martial arts and that Mo Xiuyao had no habit of attacking those who couldn’t fight? Otherwise, instead of trading barbs, they’d probably be brawling the moment they met.

"Elder Brother, why did you come to join this event?" Ye Li smoothly changed the subject. Xu Qingchen glanced at her with a faint smile and said lightly, "Prince Li and Zhennan Wang Shizi extended such enthusiastic invitations that I couldn’t refuse." Ye Li blinked, her eyes filled with disbelief. Since when could Qingchen Gongzi be forced into anything? If he wasn’t willing, no matter how fervent the invitation, he could send you packing in the blink of an eye.

"Elder Brother, is there something wrong with this Martial Arts Tournament?" Ye Li frowned and asked.

Xu Qingchen looked at Mo Xiuyao and said, "What does Wang Ye know about that mysterious expert from the Murong family?"

Mo Xiuyao pondered for a moment before replying, "Not exactly mysterious. Murong Xiong is the only member of the Murong family who pursued martial arts instead of business. It’s said he disliked commerce from a young age, so the Murong family paid him little attention. At eighteen, he made a name for himself in the martial world. By twenty, when a notorious bandit sect targeted the Murong family and the Xiling Emperor seemed inclined to take advantage, Murong Xiong single-handedly slaughtered the entire sect overnight, leaving no survivors. His ruthless methods earned him a poor reputation in the martial world. Over time, various factions challenged the Murong family under different pretexts, only to be soundly defeated by Murong Xiong. At thirty, he claimed the title of the world’s top martial artist, surpassing all rivals. He remained undefeated for three consecutive tournaments until, the year before the fourth tournament, he suddenly vanished. No one in the martial world saw him again after that. Many speculated he had died, but those who later provoked the Murong family met equally gruesome ends—including two of the subsequent top four martial artists. So... in recent years, few have dared to cause trouble for the Murong family. What? Is it really Murong Xiong this time?"

Xu Qingchen nodded and placed a golden invitation before them. The signature read "Murong Xiong." Mo Xiuyao studied it for a long while before frowning. "Murong Xiong is the current Murong family head’s uncle, which would make him at least eighty years old. What could he possibly want by reappearing now?""Who knows? Perhaps as everyone speculates, they want to select a suitable husband for Miss Murong to prevent the Murong family from having no heir?" Xu Qingchen didn't particularly care either—let them roll away! If it weren't for Mo Jingli and Lei Tengfeng gathering here, and even rumors of interest from Chu Jing, Xu Qingchen wouldn't have made this trip at all. Although the Xu Family and Prince Ding's Estate looked down on the Murong family's assets, if such a vast fortune fell into the wrong hands, the trouble would undoubtedly be significant.

Mo Xiuyao snorted coldly, a mocking smile playing at his lips. "Gathering heroes from across the land for him to pick and choose? Murong Xiong overestimates the prestige of his Murong family." Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "Yet many are flocking to it eagerly." In the eyes of the Xu Family, such arrogance was inherently inferior, and they naturally wouldn't regard it highly.

Mo Xiuyao nodded, then looked at Xu Qingchen earnestly. "As before, I’ll have to trouble you with matters here, Elder Brother."

Xu Qingchen was speechless. He had figured it out by now. When Mo Xiuyao needed his help, he was "Elder Brother." Otherwise, it was "Brother Qingchen," "Qingchen Gongzi," or "Young Master Xu."

"You’re not planning to participate?" Xu Qingchen asked.

Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "If it were just a simple Martial Arts Tournament, I might go and exchange a few moves with Ling Tiehan. But I doubt even he would attend such an event, so there’s no need for this prince to make an appearance. On the day, A Li and I will just drop by to watch the spectacle. You can handle everything else—after all, would I ever doubt your competence, Elder Brother?" When Young Master Xu truly set his mind to something, he executed it flawlessly, leaving others awestruck and ashamed of their own inadequacies. Since Xu Qingchen had already come along, it meant he took the matter seriously, and Mo Xiuyao was more than happy to leave it all to him.

Xu Qingchen observed Mo Xiuyao's composed demeanor, devoid of any reluctance or hesitation, and finally nodded. No matter how shamelessly Mo Xiuyao evaded responsibility or acted unreasonably, at least his devotion to Li'er was absolute and sincere. The Murong family's wealth wasn’t something just anyone could resist—after all, the treasuries of entire nations might not rival their fortune. What did it mean to be "as rich as a country"? The Murong family embodied it. That Mo Xiuyao could reject the opportunity to claim the Murong fortune without hesitation for Li'er's sake was reason enough for Xu Qingchen to willingly settle this matter on his behalf.

After conversing a while longer and noting the late hour, Mo Xiuyao rose and took Ye Li’s hand to bid farewell. Before leaving, he added, "We’re staying at the Qingyuan Inn in the city. Send someone if you need anything." Xu Qingchen nodded and saw them out.

Meanwhile, in a quiet chamber in the rear courtyard of Qingyuan Inn, Ren Qining stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, lost in thought as he gazed at the scenery outside. This was a private courtyard—one of only three such exclusive spaces in the inn, superior even to the highest-tier rooms. While Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li could only secure mid-tier accommodations, Ren Qining, arriving later, had managed to secure this prestigious residence—a testament to his extraordinary status."They lost them?" Ren Qining turned around, his voice low as he looked at the middle-aged man standing at the door. Gone was his usual gentle and refined demeanor; his handsome face was now etched with cold fury and displeasure. The middle-aged man at the door couldn’t help but tremble, stammering, "Forgive me, Young Master. That Mr. Ye and Madam Ye are exceptionally skilled. Our men lost them shortly after they began following." Ren Qining frowned deeply but did not blame him. After all, even he couldn’t gauge the depth of the martial prowess of that young man who claimed the surname Ye. It was only natural his subordinates couldn’t keep up. "Have you identified their backgrounds?"

The middle-aged man paled. "They seemed to have appeared out of nowhere in that small town. This subordinate is incompetent—I couldn’t trace their origins or uncover their identities."

"Useless! Wait… they’re surnamed Ye?" Ren Qining mused thoughtfully. The middle-aged man asked cautiously, "Has Young Master thought of something?"

Ren Qining replied gravely, "I recall that Princess Ding is also surnamed Ye..." In this world, there weren’t many people of that age with such formidable martial skills, so he couldn’t help but suspect.

The middle-aged man hesitated before saying, "Prince Ding has white hair, and the appearances of these two don’t quite match the descriptions we have of Prince Ding and Princess Ding. Moreover, this subordinate has received word that Prince Ding and Princess Ding have indeed returned to Li Cheng."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Ren Qining’s eyes. So that couple truly wasn’t Prince Ding and his consort? Then when had such a pair emerged in the martial world? Most importantly, why did they appear at this exact moment?

"Investigate further. Before the Martial Arts Tournament begins, you must uncover their identities," Ren Qining ordered.

"This subordinate obeys."