Mo Li

After Mo Xiuyao emerged from the Murong family estate, Ye Li finally let out a sigh of relief. As they left the Murong residence, Mo Xiuyao’s brows remained tightly furrowed, clearly troubled by something.

“Xiu Yao, what’s wrong?” Ye Li asked softly. Mo Xiuyao frowned and recounted what he had overheard at the Murong estate.

He hadn’t caught much, wary of Murong Xiong’s presence and not daring to get too close. However, he had clearly heard Murong Xiong say, “You are Lin Yuan.” Perhaps Murong Xiong, confident in his unrivaled martial prowess, hadn’t bothered to lower his voice.

This revelation surprised Ye Li as well. “Ren Qining is a descendant of the former imperial family… Could he and Tan Jizhi be brothers?” Their ages were indeed close. Given that the previous dynasty had fallen over two hundred years ago, it would be strange for two surviving heirs to suddenly appear at the same time.

Mo Xiuyao shook his head. “Unlikely. If they were brothers, they wouldn’t both be called Lin Yuan. Besides, Ren Qining spoke of Tan Jizhi with utter disdain.” Even if they were estranged siblings, such contemptuous tone wouldn’t be used—Ren Qining had made it sound as though Tan Jizhi was beneath even a servant.

“It seems we’ll need to investigate this former imperial family thoroughly,” Ye Li mused with a smile. Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement. “Let’s go. We should inform your elder brother about this.”

Upon hearing the news brought by Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, Qingchen Gongzi remained unperturbed. Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, Prince Ding suddenly felt as though he had meddled unnecessarily.

Ye Li looked at Xu Qingchen with concern. “Elder Brother?”

Xu Qingchen smiled gently. “No need to worry. A single Ren Qining won’t affect the larger situation.”

Mo Xiuyao wrapped an arm around Ye Li, resting his chin on her shoulder as he teased, “Ren Qining sounded quite confident. Since Qingchen Gongzi refuses to marry Miss Murong, isn’t it fortunate that a willing imperial descendant has come along?”

Xu Qingchen tapped the edge of the table absentmindedly, his smile as serene as pear blossoms in the breeze. “Does Ren Qining truly have the capability to withstand threats from Western Liang, Great Chu, Li Cheng, and the King of Hell Pavilion?” Mo Xiuyao raised a brow, clearly intent on provoking him. “What if he does?”

Xu Qingchen lifted his eyelids slightly and replied coolly, “If he had such ability, he could simply raise the banner of restoration. Why bother marrying Murong Mingyan?”

Mo Xiuyao sighed helplessly and rubbed his nose. Talking to clever people was always so dull. “Then what do you think he’ll do?”

Xu Qingchen answered, “He’ll move to secure the Murong family’s assets as quickly as possible—salvaging whatever he can.”

Ye Li asked, “Will Murong Xiong accept this outcome?” Given Murong Xiong’s temperament—unyielding and ruthless—it seemed unlikely he would submit without a fight. Even if the Murong family survived, they would likely be stripped of several layers of wealth.

Xu Qingchen said, “Ren Qining isn’t a god. If the Murong family wishes to avoid annihilation, they’ll have no choice but to accept his terms. This man… Though he poses little threat now, Wang Ye… you should keep a close eye on him in the future. I have a feeling he’ll be ten, even a hundred times more troublesome than Tan Jizhi.”

Mo Xiuyao had never truly regarded Tan Jizhi as a threat, especially now that Princess Anxi had ascended the throne and Shu Manlin had been killed. Tan Jizhi was likely hiding somewhere like a beaten dog. However, since even Xu Qingchen had taken notice of Ren Qining, Mo Xiuyao naturally wouldn’t underestimate him.Lowering his gaze in thought, Mo Xiuyao frowned and said, "We've sent people to investigate everywhere—Great Chu, Western Liang, even Nanzhao. Yet we've found absolutely nothing about this Ren Qining. It's as if he appeared out of thin air. If he's so confident he can save the Murong family, he must have considerable forces at his disposal. How is it possible we can't find any trace of him?"

After a moment of contemplation, Ye Li spoke up, "If it's not because our investigation was incomplete, then... he simply isn't within the territories we searched."

Mo Xiuyao was taken aback. "Not in Great Chu or Western Liang... Could it be Northern Rong? No, the Bei Rong people are inherently xenophobic, and it's extremely difficult for Central Plains people to survive beyond the frontier. Then..."

The room fell into brief silence. The three exchanged glances and spoke in unison: "The northeast!"

The northeastern part of Great Chu, like its other borders, was referred to as barbarian lands by the Central Plains people, who called it the Northern Frontier. Originally, it was home to numerous small tribes constantly warring among themselves—Great Chu had no interest in intervening, while Northern Rong lacked the capability. The terrain of the Northern Frontier wasn't like Northern Rong's vast open grasslands but rather dense, mountainous forests.

Ever since Prince Ding's Estate broke away from Great Chu, the various barbarian tribes in the Northern Frontier seemed to have gradually unified and even began encroaching upon Great Chu's borders. In the past, Mo Xiuyao would have long since turned his attention there. But after severing ties with Great Chu, his focus naturally shifted to the northwest and the borders with neighboring countries. What happened to Great Chu was no longer his concern, nor did he wish to be involved.

"Investigate!" Mo Xiuyao commanded sternly.

"Understood," came a response from the shadows. Mo Xiuyao's expression darkened. "If Ren Qining dares to lead barbarians through the passes... I'll make sure the Lin family line ends with him!" Whatever grievances Mo Xiuyao held against Great Chu, even if the dynasty were to change hands immediately, it wouldn't concern him—provided the new rulers were from the Central Plains. Generations of upbringing had instilled in people an innate aversion to foreign tribes beyond the frontier. As the saying went, "Those not of our kind must have different hearts." The common folk could live contentedly under any Central Plains ruler, but it would be entirely different under foreign rule.

Ye Li gently patted Mo Xiuyao's arm, and his grim expression gradually softened. Turning to Xu Qingchen, he smiled apologetically. "I lost my composure. Brother Xu, please forgive me."

Xu Qingchen replied with a faint smile, "You're too kind, Wang Ye. I'm not pleased either." Having received orthodox traditional education since childhood, Xu Qingchen was even more averse to foreign tribes than Mo Xiuyao. Thus, the Xu Family never intermarried with outsiders. Even in his dealings with Princess Anxi, Xu Qingchen had never hesitated when action was required.

"Should we inform Great Chu about this?" Xu Qingchen asked Mo Xiuyao hesitantly.

Mo Xiuyao snorted lightly. "Send someone to tell that fool Mo Jingqi. Whether he believes it or not is none of my concern." Xu Qingchen nodded in agreement.

"Since Young Master Ren is so confident, I'd like to see just how fast he can be. Send word to Zhennan Wang Shizi and Ling Gezhu—we move tomorrow!" Xu Qingchen's smile was cold and sharp.

"Understood!" came the obedient reply.Once the facade was truly torn and action was taken, everything moved with lightning speed. With a single decree from Zhennan Wang, all the Murong family's shops across Western Liang were sealed. Originally, Zhennan Wang had been opposed to this, as it would inevitably cause a massive upheaval in Western Liang's economy and people's livelihoods. But when Qingchen Gongzi smiled amiably and said, "Then does Wang Ye wish to watch as Ren Qining empties the entire Murong family before acting?"

Zhennan Wang had no choice but to accept Qingchen Gongzi's proposal to act preemptively. If Ren Qining truly was a descendant of the former dynasty, then those with grievances against him wouldn’t just be Great Chu or Prince Ding's Estate. Western Liang had played a significant role in the fall of the previous dynasty as well.

"Xu Qingchen!" Outside the Murong family's gates, Murong Xiong and the Murong family head glared furiously at the ethereal young man before them, their eyes nearly splitting with rage. Murong Mingyan's tears flowed freely, her gaze filled with deep resentment.

Xu Qingchen smiled with refined elegance, cupping his hands politely as he addressed the group before him. "Elder Murong, Family Head Murong, Young Master Ren." Ren Qining's expression was dark. He had made many covert arrangements in recent days but hadn’t expected Xu Qingchen to act so swiftly.

Glancing at Zhennan Wang and Ling Tiehan standing beside Xu Qingchen, Ren Qining chuckled. "Qingchen Gongzi is indeed extraordinary. I’ve heard that Ling Gezhu and Zhennan Wang had some enmity between them. Who would have thought they could now stand together? Surely, this must be the young master’s doing?"

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "All the hustle and bustle under heaven is for profit; all the clamor and chaos is for gain. Young Master Ren must find this amusing." His words were blunt and clear—they were after the Murong family's vast wealth. What could Ren Qining do about it?

The Murong family head stepped forward, pointing at Xu Qingchen and snarling, "Qingchen Gongzi, our Murong family has treated you with nothing but kindness. How dare you act so shamelessly? Do you not fear divine retribution?"

Xu Qingchen sighed helplessly. "Family Head Murong, please understand. Though my ties to Prince Ding's Estate run deep, I would never sell myself for their sake. However, if my inaction were to plunge the northwest into crisis, that would also be my fault. Therefore… I had no choice but to act. I trust the family head will be magnanimous."

The Murong family head trembled with rage, looking as though he might cough up blood at any moment. Beside him, Ling Tiehan and Lei Tengfeng couldn’t help but lower their heads to stifle their laughter. They knew the full story behind this affair. Xu Qingchen’s words were elegant and pleasant to the ear, but to Ling Tiehan and Lei Tengfeng, they translated to: I didn’t want to marry your granddaughter, but you insisted. When I refused, you threatened to cut off the northwest’s trade. So, I had no choice but to destroy your Murong family.

"Outrageous!" Murong Xiong roared, lunging toward Xu Qingchen, who stood at the forefront.

Murong Xiong had re-emerged into the martial world with great confidence this time. Given his reputation and martial prowess, he had expected universal reverence and obedience. To him, allowing someone to marry into the Murong family was an immense favor and act of charity. Yet, he had the misfortune of encountering the ungrateful Xu Qingchen. Not only had the marriage not materialized, but now the Murong family itself teetered on the brink of ruin.Ling Tiehan and Zhennan Wang's expressions changed as they both stepped forward to shield Xu Qingchen, striking out with their palms. The shadow guard behind Xu Qingchen had already pulled him back more than a dozen steps. When the three men's four palms collided, a fierce gale erupted instantly, forcing those standing nearby to retreat. Ling Tiehan and Zhennan Wang each took two steps back, glaring at Murong Xiong, who had flipped midair and landed.

Ling Tiehan sneered, "Senior Murong, you've been renowned for decades. Is attacking someone without martial skills truly worthy of your reputation? Could it be that the title of the world's top martial artist is merely an empty boast?"

"Audacious!" Murong Xiong roared, immediately striking at Ling Tiehan without hesitation.

Unbeknownst to Ling Tiehan, his words had struck a nerve. Years ago, though Murong Xiong had claimed the title of the world's strongest, he had never truly been confident against Ren Qining's grandfather, Lin Fuqin—only that Lin Fuqin had never challenged him for it. Now, Ling Tiehan's taunt felt like a mockery of that unspoken truth.

In reality, Murong Xiong was overthinking it. Even though Ling Tiehan was now ranked among the world's top four martial artists, he understood that there were always greater masters beyond the known realm. The title of the strongest was not so easily claimed.

Despite Ling Tiehan's recent improvement after his duel with Mo Xiuyao, he stood no chance against Murong Xiong. Compared to Ling Tiehan, who was under Murong Xiong's relentless assault, Zhennan Wang, who had only been skirmishing on the side, appeared far more at ease—even having the leisure to analyze their techniques.

Watching from the sidelines, Leng Liuyue and Sick Scholar grew anxious as Ling Tiehan struggled. Leng Liuyue gripped her sword, ready to charge in, but Xu Qingchen stopped her first. "Pavilion Master Leng, joining now would be futile." In a battle of this caliber, unless one was of equal skill, stepping in would only mean becoming cannon fodder.

Glancing at Zhennan Wang, who was merely spectating, Xu Qingchen called out clearly, "Wang Ye, can you defeat Senior Murong alone?"

Zhennan Wang stiffened, then swiftly joined the fray, inserting himself between Ling Tiehan and Murong Xiong. True, he bore a grudge against Ling Tiehan—if Murong Xiong killed Ling Tiehan and then Xu Qingchen, that would be ideal. But unfortunately, once Ling Tiehan fell, he would be Murong Xiong's next target. Better to eliminate the greatest threat first. Their feud had lasted years, yet they had coexisted peacefully enough. With Zhennan Wang's aid, Ling Tiehan finally caught his breath. Together, they managed to hold their own against Murong Xiong.

Nearby, Ren Qining's expression darkened as he swept a glance over the battlefield before leaping into the fight. This time, without Xu Qingchen's prompting, Leng Liuyue and Lei Tengfeng moved simultaneously to intercept him.

Now, all the major figures present were engaged. At the Murong family's signal, their followers and Ren Qining's men surged forward. Behind Xu Qingchen, the King of Hell Pavilion and Zhennan Wang's Gold-Clad Guards advanced as well, unwilling to show weakness. Blades clashed, and the Murong family's grounds were soon drenched in blood."Why are you doing this to me?" Murong Mingyan stepped toward Xu Qingchen amidst the chaos, her voice sharp. Though her martial skills were neither exceptional nor weak, neither side in the battle had seriously attacked her as she advanced, allowing her to reach Xu Qingchen unimpeded.

Xu Qingchen lowered his gaze, looking at her calmly. "Miss Murong, I've said before that we are not suited. You shouldn't force what cannot be." Tears welled in Murong Mingyan's eyes. "So... because I forced you to marry me, you destroyed my family? Qingchen... Qingchen Gongzi, the world speaks of your gentle refinement and immortal grace, yet you are actually so ruthless!"

A faint smile touched Xu Qingchen's lips. "I apologize for disappointing you, Miss Murong. Xu Qingchen is no immortal." Besides... who said immortals were incapable of cruelty? The world worships them, but who has ever witnessed a shred of their mercy?

"Then die!" Murong Mingyan's expression twisted as she snarled. A flash of cold steel—a dagger—shot straight for Xu Qingchen's chest. His expression remained serene, his gaze unflinching as the blade halted inches from his chest. Murong Mingyan's eyes rolled back as she collapsed to the ground. The shadow guard beside Xu Qingchen reported impassively, "Not dead." Xu Qingchen glanced at the unconscious Murong Mingyan and nodded. Attendants swiftly dragged her aside.

Leng Liuyue and Lei Tengfeng were skilled, but far from a match for Ren Qining, the reigning champion of the Martial Arts Tournament. Soon, Lei Tengfeng was the first to be kicked out of the fight. Without him, Leng Liuyue struggled alone. Her expertise lay not in swordplay but in Light Body Skill and hidden weapons, and within a few exchanges, Ren Qining had her cornered. Sick Scholar watched anxiously from the sidelines, frustrated by his own lack of martial prowess. With Leng Liuyue and Ren Qining locked in close combat, even his poisons were useless. The King of Hell Pavilion specialized in assassination—open confrontation was never their strength.

Xu Qingchen frowned at the battle and raised a hand. Four black-clad figures flashed forward, encircling Ren Qining. Leng Liuyue seized the chance to retreat. The tide turned instantly with their arrival. Individually, none could match Ren Qining—or even Leng Liuyue—but their seamless, lethal coordination, honed through countless repetitions, left Ren Qining scrambling.

Leng Liuyue coughed lightly, wiping blood from her lips. "The Qilin of Prince Ding's Estate truly live up to their reputation." Having dealt with the estate's shadow guards before, she recognized these four as something entirely different. A quick deduction revealed their identity.

Xu Qingchen was pleased. Li'er had been right—if they could subdue Mu Qingcang, one of the world's four great masters, then Ren Qining would pose no challenge.The battle on Ren Qining's side wouldn't conclude anytime soon, so the crowd shifted their attention to Murong Xiong's fight. Both Leng Liuyue and Sick Scholar had witnessed the Martial Arts Contest between Ling Tiehan and Mo Xiuyao days earlier, and compared to that, the current battle between these three seemed far less spectacular. Though they hadn't clearly seen the moves in that earlier contest, they could distinctly sense the sword energy and fighting spirit. In contrast, the current fight wasn't particularly fast—every move was visible, the techniques weren't exceptionally refined, yet each strike landed with bone-crushing force, sword energy crisscrossing lethally. This was a fight to the death.

Ling Tiehan and Zhennan Wang had their own unresolved grievances, so their coordination was far from seamless. Murong Xiong, with his wealth of experience, easily spotted this weakness. Seizing an opportunity, he feinted an opening, first striking Ling Tiehan away with a palm strike, then focusing entirely on Zhennan Wang. Left to fight alone, Zhennan Wang lasted only a hundred or so moves before being defeated.

Murong Xiong coldly observed Ling Tiehan, seated, and Zhennan Wang, standing, both heavily injured. He sneered, "Two young upstarts dare challenge this old man?!" Ling Tiehan returned his icy gaze. True, they were badly hurt, but Murong Xiong wasn't unscathed either—though his injuries were far lighter in comparison.

Ignoring Ren Qining's ongoing battle, Murong Xiong instead turned to Xu Qingchen with a cold laugh. "Youngster Xu, what do you think now? Did you really believe these two brats could help you wipe out the Murong family? You're far too naive."

Xu Qingchen remained unruffled, smiling faintly. "Your martial prowess indeed exceeds my expectations, Elder. However... do you truly believe the Murong family can survive this? Can your family overpower Zhennan Wang's three thousand Gold-Clad Guards or Western Liang's million-strong army?" Murong Xiong's expression darkened. "Before those forces arrive, you'll all be dead!"

Ling Tiehan chuckled. "We'll see who dies first. Elder Murong, at your age, you should focus on cultivating tranquility. Meddling in the affairs of the younger generation is unnecessary."

Murong Xiong glared at Ling Tiehan with a cold sneer, while Zhennan Wang, standing to the side, glanced between Ling Tiehan and Xu Qingchen, deep in thought.

With a booming laugh, Murong Xiong pointed at Xu Qingchen. "Let this old man see how the famed Qingchen Gongzi plans to save himself!" He stepped forward, effortlessly bypassing Ling Tiehan and Zhennan Wang as he lunged at Xu Qingchen. There was no way Xu Qingchen could evade this strike—not just him, but even the shadow guards and Leng Liuyue nearby found it impossible to move under the overwhelming pressure. Ling Tiehan's face paled. "Qingchen!"

A white figure shot forward like a startled swan, a flash of sword light slicing through the sky. The piercing sword energy, tangible as steel, cleaved downward. Leng Liuyue and the others suddenly felt the pressure lift and swiftly retreated, while two shadow guards pulled Xu Qingchen to safety. In his place now stood a tall, striking figure in white, snow-like hair flowing, his sword gleaming coldly.

"Mo Xiuyao!"

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Well... Ren Qining's identity might be a bit unexpected. It's not that they stirred up a hornet's nest from the previous dynasty—Lin Yuan has always been just one person. So...