Mo Li

The speculation about Mo Xiuyao's intentions left both Longyang and Zhu Yan deeply concerned. When Lei Tengfeng delivered the news that a significant portion of the Mo Family Army had indeed covertly departed, their worries became reality. Zhu Yan sat silently in his chair for a long while before sighing, "Well, as expected of the Mo Family Army!"

Faced with the grave expressions of the two veteran generals, Lei Tengfeng sensed that something had gone awry. He asked anxiously, "Generals, what has happened?"

After exchanging a glance with Longyang, Zhu Yan finally recounted the situation. At this point, there was no sense in keeping it hidden any longer. Upon hearing their words, Lei Tengfeng was equally shocked. "General Zhu, are you saying... you still command an elite force of over a hundred thousand soldiers?"

At this, he couldn't help but cast a doubtful look at Longyang beside him. Over the past twenty years, the Zhennan Wang's Estate had meticulously monitored Zhu Yan, who resided in Bian City. He had never contacted his former subordinates, living a reclusive life. Lei Tengfeng had almost grown entirely at ease with him—only to discover that the man had quietly retained command of an elite army of over a hundred thousand.

In the grand scheme of Western Liang's total military strength of nearly three million—a number that could be expanded at any time—a hundred thousand might seem insignificant. But if deployed strategically, it could be devastating. For instance, during the past two decades, Lei Zhenting had visited Bian City several times. Had Zhu Yan chosen to strike then... Lei Tengfeng shuddered, unwilling to dwell on the thought. Now he finally understood why his father had always remained wary of these veteran generals. While civil officials and powerful ministers might sow political chaos, it was usually military generals who truly brought about dynastic changes and usurped thrones. Without military power, all else was meaningless.

As if reading his thoughts, Longyang snorted lightly. "This elite force was personally bestowed upon Zhu Yan by the late emperor. Even the current emperor has no right to revoke it—why should the Zhennan Wang's Estate be privy to it? Moreover... this army was originally prepared as a safeguard against Prince Ding's Estate."

Lei Tengfeng fell silent. He believed Longyang's words, but belief alone couldn't resolve certain issues. And now was not the time to debate this matter. "A hundred thousand troops... wouldn't they still be insignificant against the Mo Family Army?"

"Foolish!" Zhu Yan scoffed coldly. "The late emperor was wise and far-sighted. He understood early on that the Mo Family Army was Western Liang's greatest threat. That's why he began preparing countermeasures long ago. Had he not passed away so suddenly, we wouldn't be in this state today... And then there's Lei Zhenting. Back when Prince Ding's Estate was severely weakened, he wasted a golden opportunity to eliminate rivals. Failing to kill the snake has led us to this day—with the Mo Family Army at our gates!"

Lei Tengfeng had no retort. Back when the Mo Family Army was crippled and Mo Xiuyao lay on the brink of death, the royalist faction in Western Liang had been at its most active. To suppress them, his father had abandoned the chance to attack Great Chu. But at the time, who truly believed Mo Xiuyao would rise again? Even if they hadn't participated in poisoning and gravely wounding him, it didn't mean they were ignorant of it."Old General, what should we do now?" Seeing the tense atmosphere, Lei Tengfeng quickly steered the conversation back. Zhu Yan sighed and said, "Old Long, assist the young master in defending the city. This old man will go meet the renowned Prince Ding."

"Zhu Yan..." Longyang frowned. Though he was several years older than Zhu Yan, the latter was no spring chicken either. Venturing out personally was far too dangerous. Zhu Yan waved his hand dismissively, "No matter. I can still move. You're right—we can't just stand by and watch Mo Xiuyao swallow up my hundred thousand elite troops!" Knowing this was the best option, Longyang sighed, "Very well. Be careful. I'll hold back part of the Mo Family Army in the city for you."

"Take care."

"Take care." The two white-haired old men faced each other solemnly before parting. As Zhu Yan turned to leave, his slightly trembling, hunched frame seemed to straighten instantly. Longyang closed his eyes briefly as he watched his old friend depart, then ordered Lei Tengfeng beside him, "Prepare to march out and engage the enemy!"

It was already noon on the third day. Below the city walls, the Mo Family Army hurled insults incessantly, while the Western Liang defenders on the ramparts retaliated with equal fervor. Sharing a common origin, the two nations had no cultural barriers, making the exchange of taunts effortless. Had it been with Nanzhao or Northern Rong, most would have been left baffled.

At the forefront of the army, Yun Ting and Chen Yun sat side by side on their horses, gazing at the distant city tower. Yun Ting said impatiently, "Aren’t Longyang and Zhu Yan supposed to be famed Western Liang generals? Why are they hiding like turtles?" Chen Yun shrugged helplessly—how would he know?

"Could they be stalling for time? Waiting for Lei Zhenting to bring reinforcements?" Chen Yun ventured uncertainly.

"Don’t joke. Even if Lei Zhenting rushed here, it’d take at least a month," Yun Ting replied. They only had three days, and now that the deadline was nearly up, they hadn’t even touched the city walls of Bian. Over these three days, they had tried every tactic—frontal assaults, sneak attacks—but had to admit there was truth to the saying that an old general was worth two young ones. They simply couldn’t find any weaknesses in Bian’s defenses. This setback had left the young commanders increasingly grim-faced, Yun Ting included. Had he known that even his Prince and Princess Consort were struggling to find Bian’s vulnerabilities, he might not have been so disheartened.

"Look, are they coming out?" Chen Yun pointed to where the banners atop the wall fluttered violently, clearly indicating rapid movement.

Yun Ting narrowed his eyes, a cold smirk crossing his youthful face. "Zhu Yan! Brothers, keep up the insults!"

Behind him, the Mo Family Army soldiers resumed loudly cursing Zhu Yan’s ancestors and extended family.

Longyang appeared atop the wall, squinting at the boastful young men below before calling out, "Young man, state your name."

Yun Ting declared proudly, "Yun Ting, Deputy General of the Ninth Division of the Mo Family Army’s Eagle Corps!"Longyang was taken aback. Such an unconventional military formation made it difficult for him to immediately determine Yun Ting's identity, but Yun Ting's age gave him a rough idea. A young and spirited man like this was unlikely to be the main general of an army. Smiling, he looked at Yun Ting and said, "Where is the main general of the Mo Family Army? Or has the Mo Family Army run out of men?"

Yun Ting was displeased. He raised his head and glared at the elderly man on the city tower, declaring, "This general is the main commander! A mere city like Bian doesn’t require anyone else’s effort. I’ll show you the might of the Mo Family Army!" Longyang remained unperturbed, as if looking at an unruly child, and chuckled, "Oh? Then let this old man see what a young general of the Mo Family Army is capable of. And... I am not Zhu Yan."

"Longyang!" Yun Ting gritted his teeth.

Indeed, the older ginger was spicier. Without even a formal confrontation, just a few casual exchanges had already put Yun Ting at a disadvantage.

Below the city tower, the tightly shut gates suddenly swung open, and the drawbridge over the moat was lowered. The Western Liang soldiers, who had been holed up in the city, surged out like a tide, charging toward the Mo Family Army’s formation. These past few days had been frustrating not only for the Mo Family Army but also for the reinforcements brought by Lei Tengfeng. Enduring the enemy’s taunts without being able to charge out and annihilate them was the greatest humiliation for any soldier. Now that they could finally leave the city, these soldiers rushed forward with bloodshot eyes, eager to strike down the Mo Family Army soldiers who had been flaunting their strength before them.

The battle erupted instantly, with war drums and battle cries shaking the heavens outside the city.

On the city tower, Longyang calmly observed the fierce fighting below. Both the Mo Family Army and the Western Liang Army were formidable forces, so their clash was naturally intense. Longyang smiled faintly as he watched the young white-clad general below. Raising his hand, he waved a small red flag.

Under the guidance of the flag, the gray-clad Western Liang soldiers swiftly changed their formation. From the vantage point of the city tower, the entire battlefield was clearly visible. The black-clad Mo Family Army was rapidly split apart and surrounded by the gray tide, then systematically dismantled. Yun Ting reacted quickly, commanding his troops to reorganize with equal speed. Yet, he was always one step behind Longyang. The Western Liang Army shifted formations again, transforming into a gray dragon that rampaged through the Mo Family Army, hunting at will.

Though the Mo Family Army was valiant, battlefield success was not solely determined by individual bravery. When one Mo Family soldier faced three Western Liang soldiers, or when a small squad was encircled by a large enemy force, Yun Ting could only watch helplessly as his men fell one by one before him.

Suddenly turning back, he saw the elderly man in white standing atop the city wall, dressed in plain clothes like an unremarkable villager. Yet, the confidence and pride in those aged eyes revealed his extraordinary nature. Though the distance should have made it impossible for Yun Ting to discern the man’s expression from so far below, he distinctly felt as insignificant as an ant in the old man’s gaze."Yun Ting! What are you doing? Charge out!" Chen Yun kicked the dazed Yun Ting aside just as an arrow narrowly missed the spot where Yun Ting had been standing. Chen Yun glared at him irritably—daring to space out on the battlefield was practically asking for death!

Yun Ting finally snapped back to reality. For a moment, he had been so overwhelmed by the aura emanating from Longyang that he forgot he was in the midst of battle. Dodging a blade swung at him, Yun Ting broke into a cold sweat, his heart pounding. This was the terrifying might of the Western Regions' God of Slaughter!

The signal to retreat sounded from behind. The Mo Family Army soldiers ceased their engagement and broke through the encirclement of the Western Mausoleum Army, fighting their way out. However, their retreat bore traces of a disarray rarely seen in the Mo Family Army over the years. On the city wall, Longyang signaled his own troops to retreat after watching the Mo Family Army withdraw. Lei Tengfeng frowned. "General, why not pursue them while we have the advantage?"

Longyang replied calmly, "Today was just a test. It seems the Mo Family Army has indeed split their forces. When they were on the verge of defeat, no reinforcements came—instead, they sounded the retreat."

"But—"

"Patience. We'll test them again tomorrow," Longyang said firmly.

Having suffered a defeat, the dejected Yun Ting and his group returned to camp, prepared to apologize to Wang Ye and Wang Fei. However, Zhuo Jing, standing guard outside the tent, informed them that Wang Ye and Wang Fei were occupied and that all military affairs were temporarily entrusted to Chen Yun and Yun Ting. Yun Ting nearly collapsed in fright, while Chen Yun turned pale. It wasn't false modesty—neither had the experience or seniority to command even a single division, let alone the entire Mo Family Army camp. The two exchanged horrified glances, drenched in cold sweat. Yun Ting looked pleadingly at Zhuo Jing.

Zhuo Jing shrugged helplessly and patted Yun Ting's shoulder. "If Wang Ye gave this order, it means he trusts your abilities. Don't worry."

"But... but we just lost a battle..." Yun Ting said shamefully. Having failed Wang Ye's mission, he had expected to face military punishment. Now, he almost wished for that instead!

Zhuo Jing smiled calmly. "You nearly lost, but you didn't actually lose, did you?" With an encouraging look, he turned and reentered the tent. Yun Ting wanted to cry—if the retreat hadn't been sounded earlier, he might have died on the battlefield.

A hundred li southwest of Bian City lay a small county town. Its area was less than a tenth of Bian City's, but its location was strategically placed on the main road between the Western Mausoleum Imperial City and Bian City. In other words, any western forces seeking to reach Bian City at top speed would have to pass through here. Three days prior, Zhang Qilan, under Mo Xiuyao's orders, had led seventy thousand troops to occupy this town. With the Western Mausoleum's main defenses concentrated at Bian City, such a small town was lightly guarded. Zhang Qilan seized it almost effortlessly.Then, the seventy thousand troops stationed themselves in this small town, seemingly idle. But Zhang Qilan knew that an elite force of over a hundred thousand was nearby, though even the Mo Family Army's most elite Qilin unit had failed to pinpoint their exact location. Yet Zhang Qilan was certain they were hidden in the mountains thirty miles away. Sending the Mo Family Army into the mountains would be unwise, so Zhang Qilan waited. If this force intended to approach Bian City, they would inevitably pass before his eyes—he was in no hurry.

Not far from the small town, off the main road, a squad of Mo Family Army soldiers was pursuing a group of people. The group consisted of only five individuals: four men shielding a plainly dressed young girl as they fought and retreated. Though the four men were skilled, they were outnumbered, and the Mo Family Army soldiers were no ordinary foes. Already covered in wounds, the men still kept the girl protected in their midst.

"Young Mistress, run! We'll hold them off! Go to the capital... go to the capital and find—" One of the men shoved the girl toward a narrow path ahead, his voice hoarse with urgency. But before he could finish, a blade pierced his abdomen, and he collapsed to the ground. The remaining three had no time to check on their comrade—one grabbed the girl and sprinted forward, while the other two stayed behind to block the pursuing Mo Family Army soldiers.

The two ran desperately, but before long, the girl stumbled to the ground, panting heavily. "I can't go on... leave me..."

"No! You must go! You must return to the capital. Don’t forget... the General wanted you to live!" the guard snapped, dragging her up and pulling her into the woods by the roadside. Soon after, the sound of approaching footsteps signaled that the two guards who had stayed behind had fallen in battle.

They hid in the thorny undergrowth of the forest, and the pursuing soldiers lost track of them. For nearly half an hour, the soldiers searched, slashing and stabbing at every possible hiding spot in the thickets, but ultimately failed to find them and gradually withdrew, taking the bodies of the fallen guards back to claim their reward.

The forest grew quiet again. After a long while, the grass by the roadside rustled, and the disheveled girl crawled out, shaking the person beside her. "Wake up! Please wake up..." Her delicate hands were stained with blood, and she gasped in horror. During the soldiers' search, the guard had used his own body to shield her from the blades hacking at the undergrowth. A long, deep wound on his back oozed blood, and he had long since lost consciousness. The pale-faced girl gazed at the desolate wilderness and her only remaining protector, now unconscious, and finally broke down into sobs.

Amid her dazed weeping, a figure in moon-white robes appeared before her. The girl lifted her tearful eyes, her gaze lost and pleading. "Save me..."The young man in moon-white robes gazed silently at the unconscious man and woman before him, his handsome features marred by a slight frown between his sword-like brows. Examining the man's injuries, the numerous wounds and the near-fatal slash across his back spoke volumes of the fierce battle he had endured. Though dressed in plain cotton garments, the girl's delicate beauty and jade-like slender hands betrayed her privileged upbringing. He could have saved them—even those fallen guards—but his unique status demanded careful deliberation. So he had watched from the shadows as the guards fell one by one, as the girl wept helplessly in the wilderness.

"Master, what should we do?" whispered the attendant behind him.

After a moment's silence, the man asked, "Earlier, I heard one of the guards mention a general. Whose daughter is she?"

The attendant shook his head. "I don't know, likely the daughter of some general defeated by the Mo Family Army."

The man pondered briefly. "Search them for any identifying tokens."

The attendant stepped forward, crouching to retrieve a waist token from the unconscious guard before carefully removing a violet jade bracelet from the girl's wrist and presenting it to the striking figure in moon-white robes.

Taking the items, the man frowned. "This guard served under General Yang Hu of the Tiger's Might. As for this violet jade bracelet… it was a tribute from the Western Regions during the late emperor's reign, gifted to Grand Preceptor Ling. And General Yang Hu's wife is Grand Preceptor Ling's daughter."

The attendant murmured, "So this girl is General Yang Hu's daughter? The general was stationed at Licheng and fell in battle ten days ago. This girl…"

After a long silence, the man finally spoke. "Take them back."

Hidden deep within the mountains, clusters of courtyards and houses lay scattered, veiled by dense forests and perpetual mist, leaving no trace for outsiders to discover. In a simple room, the slumbering girl jolted awake as if from a nightmare, sitting up abruptly. Her gaze landed on the striking young man seated not far from her.

"Ah?! Hel—"

"Silence," the man commanded sternly.

Trembling, the girl shrank into the farthest corner of the bed, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt. "Wh-who are you?"

The man replied coolly, "That's my question for you. Who are you?"

Biting her rosy lip, the girl remained silent. "Where is A-Lin? Is he… is he still…" She shuddered, unable to finish.

The man answered calmly, "He's alive, if that's what you're asking."

Relief washed over her. "Good… that's good… Did you save us?"

Ignoring her question, the man repeated, "Who are you?"

"I—I'm Yang Xianya. My father was General of the Tiger's Might. My father… my father…" Her eyes reddened as tears spilled down her cheeks, her breath hitching in quiet sobs.

The man's brows furrowed slightly before he sighed. "I know. General Yang fell in battle ten days ago. Did he order his guards to escort you to safety?"The girl, Yang Xianya, nodded slightly. Biting her lip, she whispered, "Before Licheng fell, Father had people escort me back to the capital. Originally... there were twelve of them. But now... only A-Lin is left. Wuwu..."

The man frowned, pondered for a moment, then asked, "Why is the Mo Family Army so relentless in hunting you down?" Though she was the daughter of General Huwei, she shouldn’t hold such importance to the Mo Family Army. Their persistent pursuit along the way seemed unreasonable.

The girl shook her head in confusion. "I don’t know. Father only told me to return to the capital and seek out my uncle."

The man stood up and said, "Understood. Rest well for now. Once your injuries heal, I’ll arrange for someone to escort you back to the capital." With that, he turned and walked toward the door.

"You... Xianya still doesn’t know your esteemed name... For saving my life, once I return to the capital, I will surely repay you," the girl murmured softly.

The man paused briefly at the doorway before replying indifferently, "Zhu Ling."

Once outside, his guard was already waiting. Seeing him emerge, the guard hurried forward and reported, "Young Master, we’ve investigated. The late Grand Tutor Ling’s daughter married General Huwei and indeed bore only one daughter. General Yang and his wife doted on this girl immensely—one could say she was their most treasured jewel. The current Lord Ling, the girl’s uncle, also treats his niece as his own. It’s said that Miss Yang is seventeen this year and was betrothed since childhood to her cousin, the eldest son of the Ling family. If not for the sudden attack from the northwest, General Yang would have taken his daughter back to the capital soon to hold the wedding."

The man nodded and said, "I just asked as well, and it's pretty much the same as what you said."

The guard asked, "Then... can we trust her words?"

Zhu Ling replied, "Keep her for now. My grandfather has a close relationship with the Ling family. If she really is the Ling family's granddaughter, it wouldn’t be right to abandon her—we wouldn’t be able to explain it to the Lings later. Have someone keep a close eye on them."

"Yes, Young Master."