Mo Li

In the early morning, Bian City had regained its usual peace and tranquility, though it no longer possessed its former bustle and prosperity. The empty streets, aside from the patrolling soldiers of the Mo Family Army, were devoid of the clamoring crowds of vendors and the shops and taverns that once lined the roads, open for business. The vast city now seemed eerily quiet and desolate.

Mo Xiuyao had been summoned to the study early by Zhang Qilan and others, leaving Ye Li with some free time. She took Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, and Qin Feng for a walk around the city. Gazing at the empty streets, she fell silent for a moment before asking, "Those people at the execution ground yesterday..." The three exchanged glances, and Qin Feng replied, "Reporting to Wang Fei, His Highness ordered all the civilians expelled from Bian City."

Hearing this, Ye Li felt a slight relief in her heart. At the very least, there had been no actual massacre.

"Expelled from Bian City entirely? Where did they go?" she asked after a moment's thought. Qin Feng answered, "Having narrowly escaped death, anywhere would be better. However... Lei Tengfeng's defeated forces, now reduced to twenty or thirty thousand, retreated westward. Many of the civilians followed in that direction. It's likely that a significant number will be conscripted into Lei Tengfeng's army. Once they reach the battlefield..."

Ye Li said coolly, "On the battlefield, they become the enemy. Spread the news that Longyang used the people of Great Chu as human shields atop the city walls of Bian City. Exaggeration is permissible." The three looked at her in confusion. Ye Li explained, "The matter of the prisoners and His Highness's intent to kill civilians cannot be concealed. With this as justification, it will reflect better on His Highness and the Mo Family Army's reputation." Once word spread that Longyang had used Great Chu's citizens as human shields, Mo Xiuyao's actions would become more understandable—whether framed as vengeance or a moment of fury. It would make it easier for people to overlook Mo Xiuyao's own conduct. Moreover, in the end, Prince Ding had not carried out the massacre, had he?

Zhuo Jing acknowledged the order and left to handle the task. Ye Li continued forward with Qin Feng and Lin Han. "Where is Longyang?"

Qin Feng hesitated before replying, "In the prison in the western part of the city. His Highness has stationed heavy guards there."

"Let's go see him," Ye Li said softly.

Mo Xiuyao truly loathed Longyang to the core. The place where Longyang was imprisoned was not a sturdy dungeon but a small building facing the execution ground west of the city. From the building's windows, one could see the execution site outside the city. No one knew exactly how many had been killed there the night before, but Longyang certainly did—because from start to finish, he had been forced to watch as the prisoners were executed one by one. Even after the executions concluded, the cell Mo Xiuyao had arranged for him still overlooked the execution ground, ensuring that the stench of blood from the site would have lingered with him throughout the night.

The soldiers guarding the building did not stop Ye Li. She motioned for the others to stay behind, taking only Qin Feng and Lin Han upstairs. After just one night, Longyang had become unrecognizable from the man he had been the day before. Already an elderly man in his seventies, Longyang's once-straight back had finally hunched over. Overnight, the wrinkles on his face had multiplied, making him appear decades older. His sparse, white hair was disheveled, and his aged, clouded eyes were dull and lifeless.Anyone could see that Longyang was in immense pain. His suffering was not physical, but stemmed from the torment of guilt and remorse weighing on his heart. Now a septuagenarian, he no longer possessed the iron will and ruthless decisiveness of his youth. Watching Western Liang soldiers die one after another due to his mistakes, he wished he could trade places with them.

"Cough... Princess Ding?" Hearing footsteps ascending the stairs, Longyang turned with difficulty to see a young woman standing at the stairwell. Clad in simple blue robes, this elegant woman wore no jade ornaments or luxurious silks, yet her serene beauty carried an innate dignity that surpassed both delicate maidens and noble ladies. Longyang hadn’t expected the famed Princess Ding to be a woman who appeared barely twenty. But in Bian City, the only woman who could move freely with such presence was the Princess of the State.

Ye Li nodded gently. "General Longyang, it’s an honor."

Longyang smiled bitterly. "A defeated general hardly merits such courtesy. Yesterday... I must thank you for sparing the lives of Bian City’s people."

"I didn’t do it for them," Ye Li replied evenly as she took a seat in a nearby chair. Longyang shook his head. "Regardless of your reasons, the fact remains that you saved them. This old man... this old fool nearly doomed these innocent lives. For that, I must express my gratitude." With that, he rose and bowed deeply to Ye Li. As a man nearing death, he no longer cared for pride or reputation, and kneeling before a woman in her early twenties held no shame for him.

Ye Li paused, glancing at Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing standing nearby. The two quickly stepped forward, supporting Longyang on either side and guiding him back to his seat. After catching his breath, Longyang looked at Ye Li and asked, "Your visit at this hour—do you have something to say to this old man?" His energy and stamina were severely depleted, not just from days of exhaustion but also from spending the entire previous night staring out the window at the execution grounds without sleep. Though the Mo Family Army had neither harmed him nor withheld food, Longyang’s complexion and body had grown alarmingly frail.

Ye Li nodded, hesitating briefly before speaking. "General Zhu Yan... and Zhu Ling have both fallen in battle."

Longyang sighed with resignation. "I... expected as much. Zhu Yan spent his life in turmoil. After twenty years of stifled frustration, dying on the battlefield was a mercy for him. He was luckier than I. But Zhu Ling... that boy was barely ten when his grandfather threw him into the Pacification Army. After over a decade of struggle, he finally took command—only for this to happen..." Shaking his head, he met Ye Li’s gaze. "When we heard you single-handedly defeated Lei Tengfeng’s army of hundreds of thousands, we assumed it was his arrogance that led to his downfall. But now I see it was my own hubris. You truly rival the greatest generals of history. Just uncovering the Pacification Army’s location in mere days... that alone earns my admiration."

"A trivial trick. You flatter me, General."

After a brief silence in the chamber, Longyang asked, "How did Zhu Yan die?""General Zhu... chose to leap from the city walls and die for his country after the city fell," Ye Li said softly.

"Good... To die a worthy death leaves no regrets," Longyang nodded. He looked at Ye Li and said, "In truth, even if Wang Fei had not come today, this old man had wished to meet you."

Ye Li replied solemnly, "General Longyang, speak your mind freely."

Longyang sighed, gazing at the empty execution ground not far beyond the window. "Surely Wang Fei has heard that in my youth, I was a ruthless and merciless killer."

Ye Li nodded. "Indeed, General Longyang's reputation as the 'God of Slaughter of the Western Regions' was renowned not only in the Western Regions but also throughout the Central Plains."

Longyang shook his head. "What 'God of Slaughter'? In my youth, I believed in neither heaven nor gods nor fate, and I committed countless atrocities. Only in these past twenty-odd years of quiet reflection have I come to understand my past mistakes. Yet I never imagined... that the karma of my slaughter would catch up to me in my old age. In this lifetime, I lost my wife in middle age, and now in my twilight years, I am left alone with neither children nor family. There must be some reason for it."

Ye Li was silent for a moment before raising her eyes to meet Longyang's. "This consort understands what General Longyang means."

Longyang nodded. "Though I am old, I still have some ability to judge character. Wang Fei is gentle by nature and not one who delights in killing. But as for Prince Ding... Though I have only met him a few times, beneath his calm and indifferent demeanor, his brow is sharp as a blade, and his eyes conceal a gathering ferocity. I fear this is no auspicious sign. I have heard that Wang Fei comes from a noble scholarly family of Chu and must know that casualties in war are inevitable. But wanton slaughter of innocent civilians violates the harmony of heaven."

Ye Li frowned, a faint displeasure in her eyes, and replied coolly, "General Long, Wang Ye has not harmed a single ordinary citizen of Bian City."

Seeing her displeasure, Longyang smiled faintly and nodded. "That is precisely why this old man must thank Wang Fei. Were it not for your presence, Bian City would likely now be awash in blood, its streets filled with the wails of wronged souls."

Ye Li narrowed her eyes. "What exactly does General Longyang wish to say to this consort?"

Longyang fixed his gaze on her and said gravely, "I implore Wang Fei to counsel Prince Ding more often. Deaths on the battlefield are fated. But slaughter beyond the battlefield—of the innocent—is not the way of a true general or ruler."

Ye Li's heart stirred slightly as she regarded Longyang calmly.

Longyang turned back to the window, his expression wistful. "Facing death, one's words are sincere. I say this not for Western Liang, but purely as the lesson of my own half-lived life. If bloodshed clouds one's eyes, one day it will also shroud the heart. The battlefield, since ancient times, has been a place that turns the living into ghosts."

Ye Li lowered her gaze, her thoughts in turmoil. She understood Longyang's meaning—the battlefield was indeed a place that amplified the darkest impulses of the human heart.

Ye Li had always known that Mo Xiuyao was not what he appeared to be on the surface. Whether it was his initial gentleness and refinement, his later calm indifference, or his occasional willful mischief and carefree demeanor—none of it was the whole truth. A man who had endured such heavy blows and humiliation, who had suppressed his true nature for so many years that even his personality had twisted—how could his heart truly be so serene and untroubled?

At the very least, if it were her, she knew she could never achieve such peace.Mo Xiuyao harbored hatred in his heart, but he could suppress it. He also bore resentment, yet he merely watched as Mo Jingqi died before him without seeking further vengeance. This easily gave the impression that his hatred was not deep, or that his magnanimity had gradually allowed him to let go. However, Ye Li knew that Mo Xiuyao was never a magnanimous man who would return good for evil.

This sudden outburst from Mo Xiuyao was, in fact, unreasonable. Longyang's use of the people of Chu as human shields was undoubtedly wrong, but an ordinary person would likely want to capture Longyang and subject him to a thousand cuts to vent their fury. Yet Mo Xiuyao wanted Longyang to live—to witness the deaths of Western Liang soldiers and even civilians one by one. He wanted Longyang to suffer a fate worse than death. His rage was not directed at Longyang's actions but at Longyang himself—an extreme, seething hatred. In truth, there was no enmity between Longyang and Mo Xiuyao; the bloodshed of the battlefield could hardly be called hatred.

Longyang had discerned all this, and Ye Li naturally understood as well. Thus, Longyang now regretted—not his actions of using civilians as shields, but the fact that his deeds had provoked Mo Xiuyao's murderous intent, possibly unleashing a bloodthirsty demon.

Ye Li gazed at the aged man before her, his eyes filled with concern, and said solemnly, "He will not become such a person. He will be just fine."

Longyang nodded. "This old man believes Wang Fei can ensure that. Prince Ding is fortunate to have you as his wife." Ye Li smiled softly. "Meeting him is my fortune as well." Whose fortune it truly was didn't matter. But Ye Li believed Mo Xiuyao was the right one for her. Even if there might be others in this world more handsome, more powerful, or more capable than Mo Xiuyao, there was only one of him.

At this, the two unexpectedly shared a smile. The atmosphere in the small pavilion was uncharacteristically peaceful, as if they were not enemies at all.

Just as Ye Li was about to speak, steady footsteps echoed from below. Qin Feng, standing at the stairway, glanced down and signaled to her. Ye Li rose and walked to the stairs as the newcomer ascended. Seeing her, the man paused briefly, then smiled. "A Li."

Ye Li reached out, took Mo Xiuyao's hand, and led him into the pavilion. "What brings you here?" she asked with a smile. Mo Xiuyao looked down at her and replied softly, "I finished my official duties and thought to take you for a stroll. They said you'd left." Ye Li chuckled. "I had nothing to do this morning, so I came out for a walk and decided to visit General Long. You've been busy since dawn—why not sit and rest for a while?"

Noticing Longyang by the window, a cold glint flickered in Mo Xiuyao's half-lowered eyes, but he did not resist Ye Li's suggestion. He allowed her to pull him down to sit beside her. Naturally, there was little to say between two people who had been locked in mortal combat just the day before. Mo Xiuyao made no effort to speak to Longyang, treating him as if he weren't there, and instead gently asked Ye Li, "Is there anywhere you'd like to visit, A Li? We'll be setting off in a couple of days. I hear there are a few places in Biancheng worth seeing."Ye Li smiled, "Wherever you think is good, we can go take a look. If I recall correctly, Dragon Mountain Academy is within the city?"

Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly and nodded somewhat displeased, "Indeed. Unfortunately, several renowned scholars from Dragon Mountain Academy were taken away by Lei Tengfeng. Only some useless literati remain, though there are some ancient books they didn't have time to take. A Li, you can see if there's anything you like—we can have them sent back later for Grandfather and uncles."

Ye Li smiled gently, "How thoughtful of you. But... just select a few that Grandfather and the others would appreciate. The rest should remain in Bian City. They'll still be useful later." This usefulness naturally didn't mean returning them to Dragon Mountain Academy's people. Since the Mo Family Army had occupied Bian City, long-term rule would be impossible without citizens. Although Mo Xiuyao had currently expelled all of Bian City's residents, people would inevitably return in the future. As one of the world's three great academies, restoring Dragon Mountain Academy would greatly benefit Prince Ding's Estate's governance.

Mo Xiuyao naturally understood Ye Li's meaning and smiled slightly, "Whatever A Li says is fine. But if you're interested in Dragon Mountain Academy... there's still someone in Bian City I can have brought to meet you later." Ye Li felt somewhat helpless—what did he mean by her being interested in the academy? However, his words piqued her curiosity. She raised an elegant eyebrow and asked, "Which scholar from Dragon Mountain Academy remained in Bian City without leaving?"

Mo Xiuyao arched his brows and smiled, "The academy's headmaster, Xiuting Mr. Chen Xiufu."

Hearing this, not only Ye Li but even Longyang showed surprise. Xiuting Mr.'s reputation wasn't as widely known across nations as Mr. Qingyun or the Xu Family's, but this didn't mean his talent was any lesser than Mr. Qingyun's. Compared to Great Chu, Western Liang had always valued martial prowess over literary arts. There were fewer refined scholars, and literati status was far less esteemed than in Great Chu. Moreover, Xiuting Mr. truly stayed out of politics, focusing solely on teaching. Considering that Western Liang—viewed by Central Plains people as little better than the uncivilized barbarians of Nanzhao and Northern Rong—could elevate Dragon Mountain Academy to become one of the world's three great academies spoke volumes about Xiuting Mr.'s talent and erudition. Unlike Mount Li Academy's ancient heritage, Dragon Mountain Academy flourished under Xiuting Mr.'s leadership.

"Why would this gentleman still be in Bian City? And still here now?" Ye Li asked curiously.

Mo Xiuyao nodded with a smile, "Naturally." Even if he truly wanted to kill everyone in Bian City, he hadn't completely lost his senses. He knew exactly which people couldn't be killed or released. In Bian City, only a handful of individuals held such value. Before the city had even fallen, Mo Xiuyao had already ordered the Qilin to secure them—they couldn't have left even if they'd tried. "Shall we go see him now?" Mo Xiuyao asked softly, "I hear this gentleman can be quite... lively."

Ye Li stood up with him. Their stay in Bian City wouldn't be long, so they needed to make the most of their time.

Mo Xiuyao released Ye Li's hand and smiled, "There are a few more things I'd like to discuss with General Longyang. A Li, could you wait for me downstairs?"Ye Li glanced at Longyang sitting by the window and nodded softly, "I'll wait for you downstairs."

Only after the sound of descending footsteps had completely faded did Mo Xiuyao turn to look at Longyang by the window. The gentle smile on his face had vanished without a trace, replaced by a dark gaze sharp with menace. "If I ever hear you spouting nonsense to A Li again, I will make sure you regret it beyond measure!"

Though he hadn't heard what Longyang had said to A Li, the fleeting worry in her eyes when she looked at him earlier hadn't escaped Mo Xiuyao's notice. Longyang must have said something inappropriate to make A Li concerned about him.

Longyang regarded him calmly, no longer consumed by the heart-wrenching pain and hatred of yesterday. He smiled faintly, "Prince Ding is truly fortunate to have such a Wang Fei."

Mo Xiuyao snorted coldly, his eyes fixed on Longyang with a predatory glare. Longyang shook his head with a wry smile, "Wang Ye need not worry. What could this old man possibly say to Wang Fei? We merely chatted idly. Besides... we likely won't meet again..." At this, Longyang sighed with melancholy.

Mo Xiuyao stared at Longyang intently for a long moment before suddenly chuckling darkly, "Longyang, don't hold out hope for Lei Zhenting's return. Even if he comes back, he won't save Western Liang. I have four hundred thousand troops stationed at the border waiting for him. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers from Nanzhao. Do you think the local garrisons will have the means to return and reinforce? And those small Western kingdoms you oppressed in the past—do you think they'll seize this chance for revenge? Western Liang... is beyond saving!"

Longyang was stunned. It took him a long while to recover before he finally laughed helplessly, his laughter filled with desolation and defeat. "Truly worthy of Prince Ding. Years of planning... indeed, you either don't act or make an earth-shattering move when you do. Enough... this old man is aged and should die. The affairs of the future... are beyond my control... Prince Ding, please..."

Outside the building's main entrance, Ye Li smiled as she saw Mo Xiuyao stroll out and went to meet him. Mo Xiuyao wrapped an arm around her slender waist and murmured, "Shall we visit Xiuting Mr. now?" Ye Li blinked, a hint of worry in her voice, "Will Xiuting Mr. really not drive us out?" Scholars always had a certain pride. Given Mo Xiuyao's actions in Bian City, not only might they be driven out, but if Xiuting Mr. came at them with a knife, Ye Li wouldn't be surprised.

Mo Xiuyao gave a light hum and guided Ye Li forward, "Who would dare?"

Ye Li glanced back at the small building with its still-open window and asked, "What did you say to General Longyang? How do you plan to deal with him?"

Mo Xiuyao's eyes flickered slightly as he replied with a faint smile, "Just told him not to spout nonsense to A Li anymore. A Li doesn't need to worry about me."

Ye Li paused, then reached to hold the hand resting on her waist and whispered, "I'm not worried. No matter what, we'll always be together." Mo Xiuyao's expression softened, his smile growing warmer. "A Li need not fret. This prince has no interest in squabbling with a half-dead old man. As long as he doesn't cause trouble, I'll leave him be."Ye Li smiled faintly. "In my eyes, aren't you more important than him? Xiu Yao, I don't care how you deal with him." As a soldier, Longyang's devotion to his country was indeed admirable. But with his hands stained by countless bloodshed and his recent actions in Bian City, even if Mo Xiuyao executed him, she wouldn't object. The fall of a renowned general was regrettable, but Longyang was far from innocent.

The two walked further away until a soldier caught up with them, panting slightly as he reported, "Wang Ye, Wang Fei, Longyang has committed self-immolation by fire."

Ye Li froze, "What happened?" Turning back, the small hut where Longyang had been imprisoned was no longer visible from where they stood. Yet, thick smoke could still be seen rising from that direction.

The soldier hesitated before replying, "General Longyang doused himself in liquor and committed self-immolation by fire."

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

These chapters have been too heavy, haven't they? Longyang's death... Shivers~ I really didn't mean for it to be intentional~

First of all, giving Longyang this death wasn't meant to treat him as mere cannon fodder. Although his actions in the war are hard to justify, Feng personally holds no ill will toward him or Zhu Yan. It's just... the circumstances forced by the conflict between two armies. Though they are the protagonists' enemies, they are not villains...