Mo Li

The Murong family’s resplendent and majestic estate was no less grand than a royal palace. Perhaps due to the sparse number of family members, the entire estate exuded an eerie and decaying aura. The opulence, built upon countless priceless treasures, weighed heavily on the senses, suffocating in its extravagance. As Murong Mingyan stepped through the gates, a crowd of servants had already gathered to welcome her.

"Eldest Miss, you’ve finally returned. The master was worried sick," they greeted her eagerly.

Murong Mingyan wrinkled her nose in disgust, eyeing the sycophantic expressions of the servants and the intricately carved, gilded eaves and beams. Her mind involuntarily flashed to the ethereal, otherworldly figure of the white-robed man she had encountered. Biting her lip, a determined glint flickered in her eyes.

"Grandfather, Great-Uncle." Before she could even retreat to her own quarters, Murong Mingyan was summoned to the study by the Murong family head. Inside, not only was the family head waiting, but also her great-uncle, Murong Xiong, who had instilled fear in her since childhood.

The family head snorted coldly. "So you finally remember to come back? You are the eldest daughter of the Murong family. Who gave you permission to run off as you pleased?"

Murong Mingyan lowered her head, nervously twisting the silk handkerchief in her hands, not daring to speak. To outsiders, she was the pampered and privileged young lady of the Murong family. But from childhood, in front of her grandfather and great-uncle, she had never been allowed a voice. She had always been expected to listen in silence.

But now… what they were about to dictate was her lifelong fate.

Seeing her obedient demeanor, the family head’s anger subsided slightly. His tone softened as he continued, "Tomorrow is the final day of the Martial Arts Tournament. Your great-uncle and I have decided—you will marry Ling Tiehan, the master of the King of Hell Pavilion."

"But… Ling Tiehan is already forty years old!" Murong Mingyan blurted out in shock, raising her head abruptly. To her, at only seventeen, forty was practically an old man. If her father were still alive, Ling Tiehan would be several years his senior.

"Silence!" The family head’s expression darkened as he glared at her with exasperation. "What does forty matter? With Ling Tiehan’s martial prowess and status, he is still in his prime. Do you think there are many in this world who can rival Lei Zhenting? I would have preferred to marry you to Prince Ding, but unfortunately, he didn’t even bother to show up—clearly, you weren’t worthy."

Humiliated by her grandfather’s merciless scorn, Murong Mingyan flushed crimson before turning deathly pale, rendered speechless for a long moment.After all, she was his own granddaughter and the only bloodline left in this world. Seeing her like this, the Murong family head sighed and softened his expression, patiently saying, "We went to such lengths precisely for your sake. There are only a handful of truly capable men in this world. Prince Ding's refusal to come clearly shows he has no regard for you or the Murong family's wealth. Moreover, Prince Ding's deep affection for Princess Ding is known throughout the land—even the capital of the northwest is named after her. Even for the sake of his reputation for devotion and the Xu Family, Prince Ding would never abandon his princess. If you married him, you’d only be a concubine at best. As for Emperor Chu and Prince Li, Emperor Chu already has the Liu family by his side, leaving no room for us. And Prince Li—I fear he lacks the potential to rise. But Ling Tiehan is different. He is the master of the King of Hell Pavilion, based in Western Liang yet maintains good relations with Prince Ding. His position keeps him independent of the power struggles, yet no one dares offend him. Besides, Ling Tiehan remains unmarried. If you wed him, you’d be the mistress of the King of Hell Pavilion, backed by the Murong family. Who in this world would dare slight you?"

Murong Mingyan stubbornly bit her lip and remained silent. Even if her grandfather painted Ling Tiehan as a blooming flower, in her eyes, how could a plain-dressed, unremarkable man like him compare to the elegant and refined Qingchen Gongzi?

Had Ye Li been present, she would have scoffed at Murong Mingyan’s judgment. Not that Ye Li believed Ling Tiehan was superior to Xu Qingchen—they were simply entirely different types. Though Ling Tiehan might not match the beauty of Xu Qingchen, Mo Xiuyao, Feng San, or Han Mingxi, he was tall and upright, with a resolute and dignified bearing. Even among the most renowned beauties of the land, he would never fade into obscurity. And while most would assume Xu Qingchen had a gentler temper than Ling Tiehan, Ye Li would argue that Ling Tiehan’s heart was likely softer than Xu Qingchen’s.

If Ye Li had to choose between the two as a husband, she’d probably pick Ling Tiehan over Xu Qingchen. This also explained, in part, why Qingchen Gongzi—despite his unparalleled beauty and intellect—remained unmarried. Sometimes, excessive gentleness was merely a form of detachment and indifference. Unfortunately, Murong Mingyan failed to grasp this truth.

Murong Xiong snorted coldly. "I understand a young girl’s fancies. You simply think Ling Tiehan is much older and less handsome than the dashing young lords attending the Martial Arts Tournament. It seems the Murong family has spoiled you too much. Do you truly believe your looks are so exceptional? Did you go to see that Xu boy tonight? And got rejected? Your beauty might be considered noteworthy in Ancheng, but Great Chu is not Western Liang. That Xu boy has traveled the world—what kind of beauties hasn’t he seen? Standing beside him, you might even pale in comparison! Don’t complain about Ling Tiehan’s age either. If he looks thirty at forty, he’ll look forty or fifty at seventy. Do you think you’ll still be a beauty at fifty? By then, he’ll be the one finding fault with you! If you married that Xu boy or Mo Xiuyao, I fear you’d be cast aside before you even turned thirty.""Great Uncle!" These words were undeniably vicious. Murong Mingyan had never suffered such humiliation in her life, and now it was delivered by her own family. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, no matter how hard she tried to wipe them away.

"Ahem... Uncle..." The Murong family head coughed lightly, also feeling that Murong Xiong had gone too far. While Murong Mingyan's beauty might not be unparalleled in the world, she was far from being undesirable. The title of Ancheng's most beautiful woman wasn't self-proclaimed either. Although his uncle wanted to humble Mingyan and prevent her from overestimating herself, some things could be overdone.

Murong Xiong glanced at Murong Mingyan and ultimately said nothing more. Only then did the Murong family head look at Mingyan and declare, "In any case, this matter has been decided by your great uncle and me. There's no need for further discussion."

How could Murong Mingyan accept this? Resolutely, she knelt before the family head and pleaded, "Grandfather, Mingyan has a better idea. Ling Gezhu might not be the best choice." The Murong family head raised his graying eyebrows. It wasn't that he looked down on Mingyan, but he knew exactly what she was capable of. Naturally, he didn't believe she could have any brilliant ideas. Mingyan quickly added, "Qingchen Gongzi."

The family head's expression darkened with anger. "After all I've said, you still refuse to see reason! In the end, you just can't let go of Xu Qingchen's handsome face, yet you dare to dress it up so nobly. Have you forgotten who has provided you with this life of luxury all these years?" Murong Mingyan looked at him tearfully, her eyes full of grievance. Murong Xiong, standing nearby, frowned and raised his hand to stop his nephew's outburst. He fixed his gaze on Mingyan and said, "Let's hear it." Overjoyed, Mingyan quickly explained, "Qingchen Gongzi is peerless in wisdom and strategy. If... if we could get him to agree to marry into the Murong family..."

The family head snorted coldly. "Marry into our family? You think too highly of yourself. Have you even considered what kind of family the Xus are? Getting him to agree to marry you would be difficult enough, let alone having him join our family!"

As he spoke, the family head felt a pang of discomfort himself. Nothing was more grating to a proud family man than admitting his family's inferiority. But in the eyes of the world, even if the Xu family were penniless, their status would likely far surpass that of the Murongs. So-called scholarly families... Hmph!

Murong Mingyan thought of Xu Qingchen's indifference, and her beautiful eyes dimmed slightly. She continued, "Great Uncle and Grandfather are immensely powerful—you would surely find a way. If Qingchen Gongzi became part of our Murong family, given his relationship with Princess Ding, we wouldn't need to associate with any assassin organizations, and the Xiling Emperor wouldn't dare to act rashly against the Murongs. Moreover, with Qingchen Gongzi's help, taking the Murong family to greater heights would be effortless."Hearing this, the head of the Murong Family hesitated. It would naturally be best if the Murong Family could rise to greater heights. Once Xu Qingchen married into the Murong Family, they would become relatives of the Xu Family. Most importantly, the next generation of the Murong Family would then be the sons of the renowned Qingchen Gongzi. Who would dare say the descendants of the Murong Family were mere merchants reeking of money? But... the Xu Family had always been aloof and disdainful—how would they ever agree to such a proposal? The Murong Family head cast an inquiring glance at Murong Xiong, hesitating before finally saying, "If that's the case, Xu Qingchen is indeed a more suitable choice than Ling Tiehan. After all... Ling Tiehan is the leader of assassins and likely difficult to control. But this matter... won't be easy to accomplish."

Murong Xiong narrowed his aged eyes in contemplation, a sharp glint flashing within them. He declared arrogantly, "What's so difficult about it? It's his good fortune that I, Murong Xiong, am willing to marry my grandniece to him!" Not because Murong Mingyan was worthy of Xu Qingchen, but because she was his grandniece. The prestige of being the world's top martial artist gave him absolute confidence that Xu Qingchen would not refuse this proposal. The Murong Family head glanced at Murong Mingyan, kneeling on the ground with hopeful eyes, then at the self-assured Murong Xiong, and ultimately relented.

This year's Martial Arts Tournament could be described as arriving with high hopes but leaving in disappointment. Half of the top ten experts selected on the second day of the contest had died before the third day's competition—everyone knew how they had met their end. After all, who wouldn't want to be the son-in-law of the world's wealthiest man? Unfortunately, the Murong Family had only one daughter, so naturally, people sought to eliminate as many rivals as possible. Thus, when the contest began and only half of the original top ten experts appeared, no one was the least bit surprised.

"Ling Gezhu, do you intend to test your skills on stage this year?" Zhennan Wang turned slightly and asked Ling Tiehan, who sat nearby with his eyes closed in repose.

Though his expression remained calm, Zhennan Wang was inwardly wary of Ling Tiehan. This time, he couldn't discern Ling Tiehan's depth at all—meaning Ling Tiehan was now at least his equal, if not stronger. Yet Ling Tiehan was a full decade younger than him. And when he considered Mo Xiuyao, who was seven or eight years younger than Ling Tiehan, Zhennan Wang suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion and resignation. Compared to Mo Xiuyao, he had grown old.

The one who should have been competing with Mo Xiuyao was his son, but unfortunately, his son was far inferior to Mo Liufang's son. Glancing back at Lei Tengfeng seated behind him, Zhennan Wang began to reflect—had he arranged things too meticulously for Teng Feng, leading to his current inadequacy compared to Mo Xiuyao? Perhaps... it was time to let him stand on his own after they returned...

Ling Tiehan opened his eyes and replied indifferently, "Not interested. Why doesn't Zhennan Wang Shizi give it a try?" Among these so-called rising talents, only the young man named Ren Qining was somewhat noteworthy—the others couldn't even catch Ling Tiehan's eye. Having just fought Mo Xiuyao, Ling Tiehan had no interest in sparring with juniors at the moment. Besides... there was a far more formidable opponent in An City right now. Ling Tiehan lowered his gaze to his right hand resting on the armrest, then idly shifted his attention to the opulent and grand estate of the Murong Family not far away.Zhennan Wang laughed heartily and said, "Teng Feng's meager martial skills are hardly fit for the Martial Arts Contest stage. Besides, he's not part of the jianghu world and needn't bother with such petty competitions." These last words were directed at Lei Tengfeng—after all, the Murong family would never marry their daughter to Zhennan Wang's household, so whether Teng Feng participated or not held no significance whatsoever.

"Father speaks wisely," Lei Tengfeng nodded in agreement. Zhennan Wang nodded with satisfaction, looking at his son with some gratification. "After returning to the capital, Teng Feng shall lead troops south to garrison the borders." Hearing this, Lei Tengfeng was overwhelmed with surprise and joy. He understood his father's military intentions—being ordered to lead troops south at this time meant he was being granted independent command. If he managed well, he could truly establish his own military authority. Seeing that his son grasped his meaning, Zhennan Wang patted his shoulder and said, "You're no longer young—it's time you stood on your own. Your father is growing old..."

"Father is still in your prime. This son thanks you..." Lei Tengfeng replied.

The conversation between Zhennan Wang and his son was not at all discreet. Even Xu Qingchen, who had been feigning sleep nearby, seemed completely indifferent. This was, in fact, a test Zhennan Wang had set for Xu Qingchen. Qingchen Gongzi's literary fame was known throughout the land, but many matters required not just talent—they demanded decisiveness and ruthlessness.

The terrain along the border between Nanzhao and Western Liang was complex, making a swift and decisive battle impossible. Thus, from the moment Zhennan Wang conceived the idea of attacking Nanzhao first, he had never planned for a surprise blitz. Therefore, maintaining secrecy was relatively unimportant. Or rather, if he could uncover Xu Qingchen's true capabilities, Zhennan Wang would consider leaking some military intelligence a worthwhile trade.

If Xu Qingchen chose to aid Nanzhao, it would prove him soft-hearted and unthreatening. If he chose to stand by indifferently, there would be no need for excessive concern. But if Xu Qingchen used Nanzhao and Western Liang to check each other, or even took other actions... then beyond Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li in the northwest, there would be one more person requiring vigilance.

Xu Qingchen neither pretended not to have heard nor deliberately engaged with the topic. He behaved as though the father and son were merely exchanging ordinary family talk—a father praising his son. Opening his eyes, he smiled faintly at Lei Tengfeng and said, "Congratulations, Lei Shizi."

Lei Tengfeng smiled back, "Many thanks, Qingchen Gongzi," though the smile didn't reach his eyes. Lei Tengfeng's life had been rather stifling. Though his abilities and methods were commendable, he was overshadowed by the towering presence of Zhennan Wang, leaving him no room to shine. Success would be attributed to "like father, like son," while failure would brand him "a bad shoot from good bamboo." In terms of skill, capability, and insight, even if he couldn't match Mo Xiuyao, he certainly wasn't inferior to Yelv Hong, Yelv Ye, Mo Jingqi, or Mo Jingli. Yet whenever people spoke of him, the only impression was "Zhennan Wang Shizi." Lowering his head, a determined light flashed in Lei Tengfeng's eyes—he would make the world understand what it meant for the pupil to surpass the master!

"A humble servant greets Qingchen Gongzi." As the three men chatted idly, a middle-aged man dressed as a Murong family servant approached and bowed to Xu Qingchen.Xu Qingchen sat up and nodded with a faint smile, saying, "No need for formalities." However, the man's gaze toward Xu Qingchen carried a hint of flattery and sycophancy as he grinned, "Not at all. The elder and our master have invited Qingchen Gongzi to the manor for a discussion."

Early this morning, Murong Xiong and the Murong family head had not appeared at the Martial Arts Contest. Though everyone found it strange, there was little to be said. After all, the Martial Arts Tournament had always been left to its own devices, and the Murong family had already done more than enough by organizing it this time.

Those present were no ordinary figures, and they naturally noticed the man's unusual attitude toward Xu Qingchen. Xu Qingchen frowned slightly and asked, "May I ask what the Murong family head wishes to discuss?"

The man smiled obsequiously, "The family head naturally has important matters to discuss with Qingchen Gongzi." Xu Qingchen nodded and stood up, saying, "In that case, please lead the way."

Ling Tiehan, who had been sitting nearby, also rose to his feet and chuckled, "I have long admired the prestige of the Murong family. Might I also have the honor of visiting?"

"This..." The messenger hesitated. The family head and the elder certainly wouldn’t want Ling Tiehan visiting at this moment, but how could he, a mere messenger, resist the imposing aura of the leader of the King of Hell Pavilion? Ling Tiehan didn’t press further and instead smiled magnanimously, "No need to trouble yourself. However, this humble master has a good relationship with both Prince Ding and Wang Fei, and I’ve promised Prince Ding to ensure Qingchen Gongzi’s safety. If it’s inconvenient for me to go, then I’ll have to ask the Murong family head to come out and speak with Qingchen Gongzi here."

Wasn’t this already causing trouble? The messenger’s face paled, but he forced a smile and said, "Qingchen Gongzi is our guest, and the Murong family will naturally guarantee his safety."

"Wasn’t the first person to attack Qingchen Gongzi at the Martial Arts Tournament a member of the Murong family?" Leng Liuyue, seated behind Ling Tiehan, remarked coldly.

"Very well, Ling Gezhu, you may come as well," the messenger gritted his teeth and said. His orders were clear—to bring Qingchen Gongzi back at all costs. If he failed, the elder would likely punish the incompetent before even asking for an explanation.

Watching the group depart, Lei Tengfeng frowned and asked, "Father, is the Murong family planning to..."

Zhennan Wang sneered, his eyes flashing with ruthlessness. "That old fool Murong Xiong is courting death. This prince will gladly oblige him!"