Mo Li

Upon hearing her master's words, Dongfang You was momentarily stunned. It was true that past successors of the Boundless Mountains had never had any connection with Prince Ding's Estate. At the time, however, she hadn't given it much thought, simply assuming it was a matter of fate. After all, the Boundless Mountains existed to assist emperors, and the original Prince Ding's Estate could never have produced one. Precisely because of this, she had become even more fixated on Prince Ding's Estate. If she could accomplish what none of her predecessors had managed, her master would surely be overjoyed, and she herself would become the most remarkable successor in the history of the Boundless Mountains.

But she never expected that the first thing her master would do upon seeing her was to deliver a harsh slap across her face.

"Master..." Clutching her reddened cheek, Dongfang You looked up at the middle-aged woman with tearful eyes, her expression full of grievance.

This middle-aged woman was the current master of the Boundless Mountains and also Dongfang You's teacher. Seeing the child she had raised from infancy gazing at her with such confusion and sorrow, the master's heart ached as well. Dongfang You was the most talented disciple she had ever encountered—her mastery of secret arts, martial skills, and scholarly pursuits even surpassed her own when she was young. She had always taken pride in her disciple. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, despite her earnest efforts to teach Dongfang You the strategies and tactics she ought to have learned, the girl seemed inherently incapable of grasping them. Her interpersonal skills, social interactions, and even her understanding of human nature were laughably naive. In these aspects, she might have been inferior even to a child sweeping the floors on the Boundless Mountains.

By the time the master realized these shortcomings, it was already too late—Dongfang You's personality had fully formed. A brilliant and beautiful young woman, she had been pampered and adored since childhood, never once experiencing setbacks or hardships. As a result, Dongfang You understood nothing of the ways of the world. And this world, in the end, was built upon the interactions between people. What use was vast knowledge if one couldn’t even comprehend human nature?

Take this incident, for example. Dongfang You had merely overheard a few fragmented remarks from her master and the elders and naively assumed that Mo Xiuyao was the most suitable candidate for the Boundless Mountains' successor to assist. She hadn’t spared a single thought to what kind of person Mo Xiuyao truly was or whether she could even control him. By the time the master received word and rushed to Li Cheng, Dongfang You had already stirred up such a storm that nearly the entire world knew the Boundless Mountains had chosen Prince Ding as their patron. Now, the Boundless Mountains was caught in a dilemma with no easy way out.

Looking at her beloved disciple—raised with her own hands—standing there bewildered and aggrieved, the middle-aged woman sighed softly in resignation and bent down to pull her up. Dongfang You could tell her master was genuinely furious this time. She rose to her feet and called out timidly, "Master..."

The woman led her to sit down and, gazing at her slightly reddened eyes, asked gently, "You’ve been alone in the outside world for so long. Have you suffered any hardships?"

Dongfang You bit her lip lightly, tears welling in her eyes. The grievances she had endured at Prince Ding's Estate these past days far outweighed all the hardships she had faced in her entire life up to now. Before, she had been able to bolster herself by saying it was all for the sake of the Boundless Mountains. But that slap from her master had made her realize, at least in part, that her previous actions might have been wrong.

With a helpless sigh, the middle-aged woman murmured, "It’s my fault. I failed to teach you properly.""No..." Dongfang You shook her head repeatedly, saying, "It's my fault. I acted impulsively and made you worry, Master." No matter what, Dongfang You still held deep respect for the master who had raised her since childhood. Seeing her master so self-reproachful, she quickly shook her head in denial.

The middle-aged woman patted her hand gently and said softly, "Alright, tell me everything that has happened these past days. Master will find a way." Ever since realizing they couldn't change Dongfang You's temperament, the Boundless Mountains had already devised a remedy. They had never intended for Dongfang You to descend the mountain alone for training; they simply hadn't expected her to act first and report later. Though the situation was now somewhat tricky, it wasn't beyond resolution.

Only then did Dongfang You slowly recount in detail everything that had transpired since she left the mountain. Though she was naive in worldly matters, her martial prowess and the years of meticulous guidance from the Boundless Mountains' elders were no facade. Thus, after descending, Dongfang You hadn't suffered any hardships. She had directly sought out Zhennan Wang, Lei Zhenting. Once Lei Zhenting confirmed her intentions and identity, he took care of everything else. All she needed was an appropriate opportunity to appear before Prince Ding. Instead, it was after meeting Prince Ding that she endured much humiliation and distress.

People are inherently selfish. Even if it was her own disciple's fault, upon hearing how Prince Ding's Estate had mercilessly rejected and mocked Dongfang You, the middle-aged woman couldn't help but grow furious. Her still-beautiful face instantly turned as cold as if it had frozen over. "Good! What a fine Prince Ding's Estate... Do they truly look down upon our Boundless Mountains so?"

The people of the Boundless Mountains had never considered themselves inferior to Prince Ding's Estate. The reason they had never provoked the estate was because the temperament and capabilities of successive Princes Ding were notoriously difficult to gauge. But that didn't mean they felt themselves lesser in any way. And then there was the Xu Family—not only did the Xu ancestors' records contain mentions of the Boundless Mountains, but the Boundless Mountains' own historical accounts also unsurprisingly held a grudge against Prince Ding's Estate. This was the second time the Xu Family had rejected the Boundless Mountains.

"Master, what should I do now?" Dongfang You asked nervously. She, too, had her pride. If possible, she was unwilling to simply give up on Xu Qingchen. After being so ruthlessly scorned by the Xu brothers, Dongfang You's obsession with Prince Ding's Estate had subtly shifted toward Xu Qingchen. Initially, her desire to marry Xu Qingchen had indeed been to get closer to Prince Ding's Estate. Mo Xiuyao was the future ruler she was meant to assist, and since he was unwilling to marry her, she naturally wouldn't force the issue and displease her future sovereign. But Xu Qingchen's outright rejection and Xu Qingyan's mockery were things Dongfang You couldn't accept.The middle-aged woman lowered her gaze in contemplation and sighed softly, "Since you've already done this, if we suddenly change our minds now, how could the Boundless Mountains maintain its standing in the world?" In truth, if Dongfang You herself had changed her mind and looked down on Prince Ding's Estate, it would have been easier to handle. But now, almost everyone in the world knows that it was Prince Ding's Estate that rejected Dongfang You. If the Boundless Mountains were to shift their support to someone else at this point, it would only confirm the rumors. Even if they later chose another ally, their status and prestige in the eyes of others would be greatly diminished. Hearing her master's words, Dongfang You's eyes brightened slightly. "Master... what should we do now?"

The middle-aged woman gave a light hum and said, "Tomorrow, I will personally visit Prince Ding and the eldest son of the Xu Family at Prince Ding's Estate. Don’t worry, your master won’t let anyone bully you."

A pure, joyful smile blossomed on Dongfang You's beautiful face. "You'er knows that Master is the best."

While Dongfang You and the middle-aged woman were discussing how to handle the matter with Prince Ding's Estate, news of the Boundless Mountains' master entering the city had also reached the estate. No matter how deeply rooted and formidable the Boundless Mountains might be elsewhere, Li Cheng was under the absolute control of Prince Ding's Estate. It was already difficult for the Boundless Mountains to plant a few hidden stakeouts in Li Cheng, let alone have their master enter the city without anyone noticing. Thus, as the master of the Boundless Mountains smugly planned to negotiate with Prince Ding's Estate for her disciple's sake, the estate was simultaneously casting a vast net over the Boundless Mountains.

Inside Prince Ding's Estate, Mo Xiuyao casually handed the newly received intelligence to Xu Qingchen and said with a smile, "Brother Qingchen, the master of the Boundless Mountains has arrived. Doesn’t this count as..." Before he could finish, Ye Li, sitting beside him, pinched his waist hard. She showed no mercy, but the action was so discreet that neither Xu Qingchen nor Xu Qingyan across from them noticed. The two only saw Mo Xiuyao abruptly stop mid-sentence, his expression twisting slightly before he offered Ye Li an ingratiating smile.

Having known Mo Xiuyao for so many years, Xu Qingchen was well aware that nothing good ever came out of his mouth. He didn’t press him to finish his sentence, sparing himself unnecessary frustration.

After silently reading the confidential letter Mo Xiuyao had handed him, Xu Qingchen frowned slightly. "This master of the Boundless Mountains won’t be as easy to deal with as Dongfang You. Has there been any news from Zhennan Wang?" Ye Li replied, "Zhennan Wang doesn’t know much either. We only know that the current master of the Boundless Mountains is named Dongfang Hui, a grandniece of Lei Zhenting’s paternal grandmother. Since Lei Zhenting’s father ascended the throne, the Xiling Emperor’s interactions with the Boundless Mountains have gradually diminished, so their understanding of it is limited."

Mo Xiuyao added, "It’s likely that the Xiling Emperor’s knowledge of the Boundless Mountains has decreased, but the Boundless Mountains’ control over the Xiling Emperor probably hasn’t lessened. Otherwise, Lei Zhenting wouldn’t be so wary of them."Xu Qingchen nodded and said, "Wang Ye is right. With Dongfang You's intelligence, the fact that she could accurately locate Lei Zhenting as soon as she descended the mountain is enough proof that Boundless Mountains' control and understanding of the outside world has never weakened. I suspect... the reason Lei Zhenting has been unable to replace the Xiling Emperor all these years is also related to Boundless Mountains." Compared to the weak and incompetent Xiling Emperor, Lei Zhenting was undoubtedly someone very difficult to control. Allowing him to rise to power clearly did not align with Boundless Mountains' interests. Mo Xiuyao nodded in satisfaction, "If that's the case, then this prince believes Lei Zhenting is genuinely sincere in wanting to cooperate with us." A true powerhouse would never willingly submit to another's control. And Lei Zhenting, regardless of anything else, was undoubtedly one of the era's most formidable figures.

"What are Wang Ye's plans?" Xu Qingchen asked.

Mo Xiuyao smirked coldly, "Cut the grass at the roots." Only by completely eradicating Boundless Mountains could they eliminate the threat permanently. Even if Boundless Mountains did not actively seek out Prince Ding's Estate this time, or even refrained from participating in the chaos of this war-torn era, Mo Xiuyao would still seek them out once he had the time. Just because they weren't provoking Prince Ding's Estate now didn't mean they wouldn't in the future. An organization that appeared detached from the world yet deeply embedded in every corner, operating in the shadows—no ruler would tolerate such a thing. Previously, it hadn't concerned Prince Ding's Estate, but that might not hold true in the future.

Xu Qingchen clearly also thought Mo Xiuyao's idea was excellent. After a moment of contemplation, he frowned slightly and said, "For so many years, no one has been able to locate Boundless Mountains' true whereabouts. I suspect there is a vast natural formation around the mountain. The Xiling Emperor's men likely couldn't find the place." Now that Boundless Mountains fell under Lei Zhenting's jurisdiction, the Mo Family Army couldn't easily enter or exit the area.

"A formation?" Those experienced in warfare had some understanding of formations, but Xu Qingchen's words suggested this formation was beyond ordinary comprehension. Otherwise, Lei Zhenting, being a master of military strategy himself, could have resolved it.

Xu Qingchen thought for a moment and said, "If it truly comes to that, I would like to go and see it for myself."

Mo Xiuyao did not object. Although Qingchen Gongzi was always modest about his lack of expertise in military strategy, high-level formations and battlefield tactics were entirely different fields. Since Qingchen Gongzi had such confidence, Mo Xiuyao naturally trusted his abilities in formations. As for Mo Xiuyao himself, he excelled more in battlefield strategy and adaptability, rarely relying on formations in combat. As for Ye Li, formations like the Single Snake Array, Three Flowers Array, or Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Array might as well be written in an indecipherable script to her.Xu Qingyan, who had been listening in on their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Prince Ding brother-in-law, elder brother, you should first think about how to deal with the master of the Boundless Mountains. I have a feeling that a woman who could raise a disciple like Dongfang You must have quite the temper. And that Dongfang You—I’m certain she has her eyes on elder brother!" Over the past few years, the fifth young master of the Xu Family had made significant progress under Xu Qingbai’s guidance, especially after Xu Qingbai left for Western Liang. He had single-handedly managed agricultural affairs in the north and the resettlement of hundreds of thousands of disaster victims, proving himself capable of standing on his own. This pleased Mo Xiuyao greatly—the Xu Family’s young masters thrived under pressure, so he had no qualms about pushing them to their limits.

Xu Qingchen cast a faint glance at his younger brother, and Xu Qingyan immediately felt a chill run down his spine, his head drooping pitifully. But what he said was true! His elder brother, having lived like an immortal detached from worldly affairs, usually interacted only with scheming individuals or those who revered him like a deity. How could he possibly understand the thoughts of young women? Xu Qingyan, who often mingled with ordinary folk, had a far clearer grasp of common girls’ feelings than his celestial elder brother.

Elder brother, if you don’t heed my warning and end up entangled in unwanted affections, don’t blame me for not reminding you… Xu Qingyan gloated inwardly.

As the four of them discussed matters concerning the Boundless Mountains, a guard outside announced Prince Li’s request for an audience. Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but chuckle. "Isn’t Mo Jingli busy trying to win Dongfang You’s favor? That arrogant beauty must be hard to please—he’s probably been thoroughly rejected." A woman like Dongfang You was impossible to handle—if she fancied you, rejecting her was out of the question, and if she didn’t, groveling before her was equally futile. Mo Jingli’s attempts to curry favor would only bring him misery. Shortly after Dongfang You left Prince Ding’s Estate, she had a coincidental encounter with Mo Jingli—something everyone in the estate knew but paid no mind to. After all, there were plenty in Li Cheng harboring the same intentions as Mo Jingli.

"What do you think he’s here for?" Xu Qingyan asked curiously. Mo Jingli’s hatred for Mo Xiuyao was common knowledge—he would never set foot in Prince Ding’s Estate unless it was for something critically important.

Mo Xiuyao leaned back in his chair, lazily stroking his chin as he smiled. "This prince believes he’s here to deliver a gift."

"A gift?" Xu Qingyan’s eyes widened. Mo Jingli, giving Prince Ding a gift? More likely, he’d shove a few bottles of poison down his throat. Even Qingchen Gongzi’s expression flickered with surprise at Mo Xiuyao’s words, his handsome eyes glinting. "Are you certain he’d hand over something so important to you?" Mo Xiuyao smirked triumphantly. "This prince has said it before—no treasure in this world is worth more than ensuring one’s legacy. From the start, Mo Jingli had no choice but to agree. He just couldn’t swallow his pride. Look—it’s only been a few days, and the item is already here. The moment this prince mentioned it, he must have sent someone galloping back to fetch it."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Handing over the national treasure of Great Chu—how will Mo Jingli justify that to his court?"

"What does that have to do with this prince?" Mo Xiuyao blinked innocently.

The three others present fell silent. Indeed, it had nothing to do with him.When Mo Jingli entered, a sinister chill emanated from his entire being. Unfortunately, none of the four present were the timid sort. However, the attendants following behind him, carrying boxes, were visibly frightened, their hands trembling as they placed the items on the table. After dismissing the attendants, Mo Jingli fixed his gaze on Mo Xiuyao and demanded, "I've brought what you wanted. Where's what I asked for?"

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Prince Li is straightforward, and naturally, this prince keeps his word. Brother Qingchen, take a look." Though treasures and counterfeits may appear similar at first glance, their true worth is worlds apart.

Xu Qingchen nodded and stood up, walking over to a long brocade box and gently lifting the lid. Inside lay a snow-white qin. The body of the instrument was as pure as snow, its luster as smooth as jade, and at the head of the qin was carved a crimson phoenix. Since ancient times, the best seven-stringed qins were made of tung wood—never had one been crafted from jade. Aside from everything else, finding such a massive piece of premium white jade was already a rarity, let alone carving it into a qin, which was an even greater challenge. Yet this qin was not only breathtaking in appearance but also unparalleled in sound. Over the centuries, only this one qin had ever been made of white jade, earning it the title of a celestial instrument among qins.

A faint glimmer of joy passed through Xu Qingchen's serene and elegant eyes as his fingertips lightly plucked the strings, producing ethereal notes. Even these random tones were enough to stir the soul with their beauty.

"It truly is the Phoenix Qin," Xu Qingchen murmured in admiration, withdrawing his hand.

Xu Qingyan stared in shock at the white jade qin in the brocade box, momentarily stunned by the astonishing revelation. The Phoenix Qin... the legendary Phoenix Qin that had haunted the dreams of countless people for centuries? And if this was real, then what about the others... Xu Qingyan unconsciously held his breath, watching as Xu Qingchen's slender fingers reached for another box.

Inside lay a white garment. The Thousand-Silk Snow Thread Gown didn’t appear particularly beautiful—in fact, it could even be called unremarkable. The semi-transparent white gauze was woven with faint snow lotus patterns. Whether compared to the once-renowned Phoenix Brocade, Hibiscus Brocade, or Water-Cloud Silk, countless designs and colors could overshadow it. But the value of the Snow Thread Gown lay not in its aesthetics but in its reputed impenetrable defense. Xu Qingchen glanced up at Mo Xiuyao and asked with a smile, "Wang Ye, would you like to test it yourself?"

"Naturally, I must." How could he dare give something untested to A Li? If it failed, it might not protect her but instead become the very thing that harmed her.

Without hesitation, Mo Xiuyao waited for Xu Qingchen to step aside before rising. A flash of silver light swept from his waist, lifting the white garment from the box. Then, with a few swift strokes of his sword, the blade vanished back into its sheath, and the gauzy white robe fluttered gently into his hands. Mo Xiuyao nodded in satisfaction. "Truly worthy of its name as the impenetrable Thousand-Silk Snow Thread Gown. It can withstand both sharp blades and powerful energy." Even with Mo Xiuyao's formidable skill, the gown remained utterly unscathed in his grasp—proof of its near-miraculous defensive power."Mo Xiuyao!" Mo Jingli's face was darker than the bottom of a pot. To wield a sword so brazenly and casually damage these treasures right in front of him was simply too arrogant.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Since they've been gifted to this prince, they're now this prince's possessions. Can't this prince test them with a few strikes?"

Mo Jingli gritted his teeth, speechless.

Satisfied, Mo Xiuyao took the Snow-Weave Garment to Ye Li and asked with a smile, "A Li, do you like it? Later, I'll have it altered into a beautiful new dress for you to try on." Among these treasures, the one he valued most was this seemingly useless garment to ordinary people. As for the others—though he had stubbornly refused when Xu Qingchen asked for the Phoenix Qin, that had merely been in jest.

Ye Li understood Mo Xiuyao's intentions and nodded with a smile. "It's very nice. No need to alter it."

Mo Xiuyao's expression brightened further. "As long as A Li likes it."

The remaining two items, the Seal of the Nation and the Annihilation Sword, were unsurprisingly genuine as well. In truth, after countless dealings with Mo Xiuyao since childhood, Mo Jingli hadn't dared to pass off fakes. However, in the end, Xu Qingchen took the Annihilation Sword, claiming its killing aura was too strong, and carried it off along with the Phoenix Qin for further study. Mo Xiuyao didn't mind—with his current martial prowess, he had no need for divine weapons.

In the end, after all his scheming to extort Mo Jingli, Prince Ding only ended up with the Seal of the Nation. Casually turning the jade seal-sized object over in his hands, Mo Xiuyao examined it from all angles but couldn't discern its value. Losing interest, he tossed it to the eagerly watching Xu Qingyan.

Xu Qingyan cheered, cradling the Seal of the Nation and turning it over excitedly, utterly enchanted.

Mo Jingli glanced sideways, his heart aching—all these treasures in the hands of these bastards were originally his! Was it really appropriate for them to examine them so thoroughly right in front of him, their original owner?

"Mo Xiuyao, give me what I want!" Mo Jingli demanded in a low voice.

With a casual flick of his hand, Mo Xiuyao sent a small object flying straight toward Mo Jingli's face. Mo Jingli raised his hand to catch it, only to feel a numbing pain in his palm. He was inwardly shocked by Mo Xiuyao's formidable skill but still tightened his grip on the porcelain vial. He opened it and sniffed, confirming it was the same as what Ye Yue had given him before, and finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Mo Xiuyao glanced at him sideways and said, "Don't overthink it. This prince can't be bothered to concoct fake medicine for you. Whether you end up with a house full of descendants or die without an heir has nothing to do with me."

Mo Jingli gritted his teeth but had to admit Mo Xiuyao was right.

Mo Xiuyao looked at him leisurely and continued, "Your hatred for me is completely unreasonable. I wasn’t the one who poisoned you, nor did I hide your son. Even this antidote wasn’t something I stole. I just happened to have it, so why not make a profit? Or did you expect me to selflessly benefit the world without expecting anything in return?"

Mo Jingli glared at him and said coldly, "I will remember this."

"As you wish," Mo Xiuyao replied with a smile. After all, whether this incident happened or not, Mo Jingli would still hate him. So why bother holding back? If there was something to be gained, he might as well take as much as possible—it wasn’t like Mo Jingli would make good use of it anyway.

While fiddling with the Seal of the Nation, Xu Qingyan lifted his head and cast a pitying glance at Mo Jingli. He wanted to tell him, Prince Li, you should really leave now before you lose even more treasures and end up coughing up blood in rage.

But before he could say anything, Mo Jingli—having been tormented by a certain someone for years—had already learned his lesson. With a final furious glare at Mo Xiuyao, he turned and stormed off in a huff.