Mo Li

Princess Ding, Ye Li, achieved the remarkable feat of defeating Ren Qining, the King of the Northern Border, in just over a month. Within two months, she had completely pacified the entire northeastern region. The reclaimed territories and their people, once subjects of the Great Chu, now fell under the jurisdiction of the Ding Royal Palace.

Though the rulers of major powers like Great Chu, Western Liang, and Northern Rong could discern the instability and internal strife within Ren Qining's Northern Border regime, the fact remained that he commanded a force of a million. That Princess Ding managed to quell such a force in less than three months left the world astounded. From then on, Ye Li's military achievements stood unrivaled, matching even the greatest generals of history. The people under the Ding Royal Palace and those beyond the newly secured Zijing Pass revered her as if she were a deity.

In the residence of Prince Zhennan of Xiling, Lei Zhenting was bent over a map spread across his desk. Ever since Boundless Mountains allied with Mo Jingli, the latter had begun to show subtle signs of provocation toward Xiling. Boundless Mountains indeed possessed some skill, having dealt Lei Zhenting minor setbacks in several skirmishes, further solidifying his resolve to eradicate them.

Seated calmly below was Qingchen Gongzi, dressed in white robes. Despite Boundless Mountains' concealment deep in the wilderness and their natural defensive formations, Xu Qingchen showed no trace of concern. He sipped tea leisurely, awaiting Lei Zhenting's response.

"Father! Father..." Lei Tengfeng hurried in, clutching a letter, causing Lei Zhenting to frown deeply. In age, Lei Tengfeng was nearly the same as Xu Qingchen and Mo Xiuyao, yet in terms of strategy, tactics, or even temperament, he paled in comparison. It was no wonder Lei Zhenting often worried about his only son.

In truth, Lei Tengfeng's abilities and strategic mind, while perhaps not on par with prodigies like Mo Xiuyao or Xu Qingchen, were certainly no worse than Mo Jingli or Ren Qining. However, perpetually overshadowed by his father and lacking experience, his temperament fell short compared to others.

"Qingchen Gongzi is present. Must you shout so disruptively? What is the matter?" Lei Zhenting said sternly.

Only upon entering did Lei Tengfeng notice Xu Qingchen seated to the side, and he inwardly regretted his rashness. Yet being scolded by his father in front of Xu Qingchen left him visibly displeased. Xu Qingchen set down his teacup and smiled. "Since Prince Rui has arrived with urgent business, I shall take my leave."

Lei Zhenting glanced at the letter in Lei Tengfeng's hand and could guess its contents. Shaking his head, he said, "Qingchen Gongzi is no outsider. Speak plainly."

After a brief hesitation, Lei Tengfeng presented the letter to his father. "Princess Ding has crushed Ren Qining's million-strong army. Ren Qining has taken his own life.""What?" Even someone as seasoned as Lei Zhenting was momentarily stunned, and he could hardly blame his son for his earlier lapse. Initially, the alliance between Northern Rong and the Northern Frontier had not been something Lei Zhenting particularly favored, but he was still pleased to see it happen. After all, while he was currently cooperating with Prince Ding's Estate to deal with the Boundless Mountains, he also had to guard against the possibility of Prince Ding's Estate launching a surprise attack from behind. The Northern Frontier's involvement as a buffer had given him some peace of mind. Yet, who could have imagined that Ye Li alone could annihilate the Northern Frontier in just two months without Mo Xiuyao even lifting a finger? Was Prince Ding's Estate simply too powerful, or was the Northern Frontier too weak to withstand even a single blow?

At this thought, Lei Zhenting's expression toward Xu Qingchen shifted slightly. Xu Qingchen, however, remained oblivious, his demeanor calm and composed. Collecting himself, Lei Zhenting smiled at Xu Qingchen and said, "Princess Ding is truly a once-in-a-millennium heroine. I must congratulate Qingchen Gongzi and Prince Ding's Estate."

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. While the pacification of the Northern Frontier could be attributed to an unrepeatable stroke of luck, he was still immensely pleased that his cousin had accomplished such a feat so smoothly. Nodding lightly, he replied, "Thank you, Wang Ye. Li'er is still young, and this achievement was somewhat accidental—more a matter of luck." Beside him, Lei Tengfeng couldn't help but twitch his lips. Princess Ding had risen to fame in less than a decade, defending Yonglin, securing the northwest, sweeping through Western Liang, and now pacifying the Northern Frontier. Even his own father had suffered setbacks at her hands. If someone like her was still considered "young," what would happen when she grew older? Would there be any room left for others to thrive?

Xu Qingchen seemed to realize that such modesty might sound more like boasting to outsiders, so he naturally shifted the topic with a smile. "The affairs of the Northern Frontier are a thousand miles away. Let's not dwell on them. Instead, we should focus on how to deal with the Boundless Mountains. If our two families join forces and still fail to conquer a mere mountain range, I would truly be too ashamed to return to Li Cheng."

Lei Zhenting and Lei Tengfeng also straightened their expressions. The Northern Frontier was already a settled matter, and further deliberation would be pointless. However, they would need to carefully reassess their northern border defenses. As for the present, if Zhennan Wang's tens of thousands of elite troops, combined with the wisdom of Qingchen Gongzi—renowned as the most brilliant strategist in the world—couldn't subdue the Boundless Mountains, then Ren Qining wouldn't be the biggest joke in the world; they would be. Moreover, Mo Jingli, emboldened by the Boundless Mountains' support, had repeatedly provoked them along the Cloud Ripple River. Lei Zhenting could no longer tolerate such insolence. At this point, failing to destroy the Boundless Mountains would only cost Prince Ding's Estate a bit of face, but for Western Liang, it had already become a formidable enemy!

Lei Zhenting nodded. "Qingchen Gongzi speaks wisely. Regarding the natural formations within the Boundless Mountains, do you have any thoughts?"

Xu Qingchen frowned slightly. "Although I've studied the maps, they remain incomplete. I do have some ideas, but I'll need to visit the Boundless Mountains in person to verify them."

Lei Zhenting said, "There have been some minor incidents along the Cloud Ripple River recently, so I won't be able to accompany you. Instead, my son will lead fifty thousand elite troops to escort you to the Boundless Mountains. How does that sound?" Xu Qingchen nodded and cupped his hands toward Lei Tengfeng with a smile. "Then I must trouble Rui Jun Wang for his assistance."

Lei Tengfeng quickly returned the gesture. "It's my duty. Qingchen Gongzi need not stand on ceremony."After seeing Xu Qingchen off, Lei Zhenting and his son remained silent in the study for a long while. Lei Tengfeng asked with concern, "Father, are we really going to leave the northern border situation unchecked?"

Lei Zhenting smiled bitterly. "How can we intervene? The northern border has nothing to do with Western Liang, and it was they who provoked Prince Ding's Estate first. Even if they are destroyed, it is their own doing—no one else is to blame. It's just... even I never expected that Ye Li would be so..."

Lei Tengfeng couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "Princess Ding truly surpasses any woman in this world. Even those from the Boundless Mountains are incomparable to her."

Lei Zhenting glanced at the letter Lei Tengfeng had presented. "Princess Ding posthumously honored Ren Qining as Prince Changqing? Such magnanimity..." Back in Western Liang, Ren Qining had orchestrated an assassination attempt on Ye Li, which directly led to Mo Xiuyao slaughtering countless nobles in Western Liang. For someone like him, it would have been understandable if Ye Li had him torn apart by horses and left his corpse in the wilderness. Yet she not only posthumously granted him a princely title but also buried him with full royal honors.

"Though Princess Ding is a woman, she possesses the ambition and bearing of a man who can overturn the heavens and command the world," Lei Zhenting murmured with a sigh.

Father and son exchanged sighs, ultimately resigning themselves to the thought that Mo Xiuyao was simply blessed with extraordinary fortune.

In the south, within the Regent's Estate of Great Chu, Mo Jingli received the news with far less composure than Lei Zhenting and his son. With a furious sweep of his hand, he sent everything on his desk crashing to the floor, his grip on the letter so tight that veins bulged on the back of his hand.

"Ye Li... what a Ye Li!" No matter how much power he now held, Mo Jingli was consumed by relentless bitterness. Perhaps he had realized long ago that abandoning that woman had been the greatest loss and regret of his life. Now, every achievement of Prince Ding's Estate seemed to mock his incompetence, and the news of Ye Li pacifying the northern border felt like a personal insult.

"What are you throwing a tantrum about?" Dongfang You appeared at the study door. Having shed her snow-white robes for the resplendent attire of the Regent's Consort, her beauty now carried an air of regal elegance. Yet the cold, almost mocking look in her eyes made it impossible to believe they were newlyweds.

Mo Jingli's expression darkened. "What are you doing here?"

Ignoring his displeasure, Dongfang You stepped calmly into the study, stepping over the scattered mess to stand before him. With a faint, derisive smile, she asked, "Are you angry that Prince Ding's Estate and Ye Li have destroyed Ren Qining?"

Mo Jingli scoffed. "The Boundless Mountains' intelligence network is indeed impressive."

Dongfang You arched a brow. "Of course it is. What's so surprising about that? I knew this news ten days ago."

Mo Jingli's face twisted. He seized her arm. "Ten days ago? Why didn't you tell me?!"

Dongfang You casually brushed his hand away and sneered. "Why should I? Did you think that just because I married you, the Boundless Mountains would fall under your control? Mo Jingli, you overestimate yourself. My master only agreed to support you as a last resort. Look at yourself—what qualifications do you even have?"Mocked so blatantly by his own wife, Mo Jingli's face twisted with fury as he shoved Dongfang You away and roared, "You bitch! You—" Dongfang You cut him off without hesitation, "My master told me to warn you—stop acting on your own whims. Take a good look at your current strength. If you truly provoke Lei Zhenting, you won't be able to handle the consequences!"

With that, she turned and strode out the door without a backward glance at Mo Jingli's livid expression. His icy gaze followed her retreating figure until it disappeared beyond the threshold, his teeth clenched as he spat out each syllable of her name, "Dong...fang...You..."

No matter how much Mo Jingli seethed, he couldn't change the fact that he was powerless against Dongfang You now. His initial scheme to marry her had been solely to secure the Boundless Mountains' influence. Now that he had it, he finally understood why Mo Xiuyao had dismissed the Boundless Mountains' power with contempt—and why the ever-ambitious Lei Zhenting had never involved himself with the Boundless Mountains from the start.

True, the Boundless Mountains' strength was formidable. With their support, the Great Chu's power had surged within mere months, to the point where they could now contend with Lei Zhenting's forces. But in exchange, Mo Jingli had become shackled to the Boundless Mountains. Many of his decisions now required Dongfang Hui's approval, while Dongfang You harbored nothing but resentment toward him, seizing every chance to provoke him. The humiliation of being controlled by two women—despite his status as the Great Chu's Regent—was a wound no amount of power could soothe.

Amidst the swirling rumors, Ye Li had already settled all major and minor affairs in Changqing City before delegating the remaining trivial matters to Leng Haoyu, Leng Huai, and others. She then set off with Zhuo Jing and a few others, heading toward the Mo Family Army's camp where Mo Xiuyao was stationed.

Mo Xiuyao had been waiting outside the camp gates. The moment he spotted Ye Li and her party riding toward him, he leaped forward, landing effortlessly on her horse. The steed beneath Ye Li was a prized blood-sweating horse, yet it remained unperturbed by the sudden additional weight, continuing its steady pace. Mo Xiuyao settled behind her, one arm wrapping around her waist while the other took hold of the reins. With a sharp tug, the horse whinnied and veered off in another direction, leaving Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, and the rest exchanging bewildered glances—unsure whether to follow or not.

After a long pause, Qin Feng shook his head. "Let's head back first. With His Highness and Wang Fei together, there shouldn't be any trouble." It was clear the Prince wanted time alone with his consort. If they were tactless enough to intrude, they'd only earn his displeasure—and likely face retribution later. The others agreed, spurring their horses toward the camp. Meanwhile, the generals who had gathered outside to welcome Wang Fei's return were left waiting in vain. After exchanging glances, they could only shrug and disperse.

Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li rode together for some distance before he let the horse amble freely, occasionally pausing to graze on the grass. He simply held Ye Li close, resting his chin on her shoulder and nuzzling her affectionately. "A Li, you're finally back. I missed you so much."

Ye Li turned her head with a soft sigh, pressing a kiss to his cheek before leaning into his embrace. "I missed you too," she murmured.Mo Xiuyao's eyes lit up as he hooked his delicate chin and stared at those warm, rosy lips before fiercely kissing them. "A Li..."

"Xiu Yao... stop fooling around..." Ye Li was startled by his sudden passion, but Mo Xiuyao refused to stop. He raised his hand to cup the back of her head, deepening the kiss. Helpless, Ye Li sighed softly in her heart and wrapped her arms around his neck, surrendering to this intimate entanglement.

Mo Xiuyao embraced Ye Li and leaned to one side, causing both of them to tumble off the horse. Instinctively, Ye Li tightened her hold on Mo Xiuyao as they fell onto the grass, rolling quite a distance before coming to a stop. Mo Xiuyao gazed down at the slightly flushed face beneath him, showering her with a series of lingering kisses before burying his head in her hair and chuckling softly. "A Li, A Li..."

Their silver and black hair intertwined, strikingly distinct yet seemingly destined to be entwined. Ye Li smiled gently and whispered, "Xiu Yao, I'm back."

Mo Xiuyao helped Ye Li up, and the two sat side by side on the grass. It turned out that Ye Li's horse had wandered aimlessly, bringing them to a small hill not far from the camp. From their vantage point, they could see the distant encampment of the Northern Rong army.

"A Li pacified the northern border in just over two months, while your husband has achieved nothing in the same time. I’m truly ashamed," Mo Xiuyao teased, looking at her with playful eyes.

Ye Li pinched his handsome cheek and laughed. "Comparing Northern Rong to the northern border—why hasn’t Yelv Ye come to fight you to the death?" Though both were nations, the difference between Northern Rong and the northern border was like heaven and earth. Northern Rong had been established for centuries, repeatedly invading the Central Plains throughout history. Though they had never truly breached the heartland, they remained the greatest threat to the dynasties of the Central Plains. Moreover, Northern Rong’s harsh climate and rugged terrain bred a fiercely martial people, far more formidable than those of the northern border. In truth, while Yelv Ye had allied with the northern border, he merely saw Ren Qining as a pawn to contain the Mo Family Army, never treating him as an equal ally.

Mo Xiuyao nuzzled Ye Li’s cheek lightly and grinned. "He doesn’t want to fight me to the death—he just wants my life." Yelv Ye still hoped to return to Northern Rong and contend for the throne against Yelv Hong. Why would he risk his life against Mo Xiuyao? Unfortunately, many in this world wanted Mo Xiuyao dead, yet he remained alive and thriving.

"Have Yelv Hong and Ronghua Princess already returned?" Ye Li asked.

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Yes, but Helian Zhen has arrived. And he brought 800,000 troops. Now, the Northern Rong camp has at least 1.3 million soldiers."

"So many?" Ye Li frowned slightly. No wonder Mo Xiuyao said he had made no progress. Even with the combined forces of the reclaimed territories under Prince Ding's Estate and the elite troops of the Mo Family Army, their numbers barely reached a million—far from enough to match Northern Rong’s military might, especially while also needing to garrison various regions.Mo Xiuyao gave a cold smile. "The more that come, the better. This prince promised Yelv Hong not to touch the foundations of his Northern Rong, but those who enter the pass themselves shall not return." Seeing the fleeting murderous intent flash across Mo Xiuyao's face, Ye Li tenderly kissed his slightly cold cheek and said softly, "No need to rush. We will avenge elder brother."

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Thank you, A Li."

The two led their horses down the small hill, where at the foot lay a tiny village. The sparse population of the village had dull eyes and were emaciated to the bone, their tattered clothes making for a pitiful sight. Remembering how the people under Prince Ding's Estate in the northwest lived in peace and prosperity with ample food and clothing, then looking at these exhausted and despairing commoners, Ye Li couldn't help but feel her nose sting.

Seeing her gaze fixed on them in thought, Mo Xiuyao also sighed softly, pulling her into his arms as he whispered a promise: "We will deal with the Bei Rong people as quickly as possible." Ye Li asked somewhat puzzled, "Why don't these villagers leave this place?"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Where could they go if they left here? Even if Prince Ding's Estate could take them in, many would starve to death on the long journey. Besides... the northwest is small—how could it accommodate so many? Where in the realm isn't in chaos now? Even if they fled south, it's no more peaceful there. And many elderly, women, and children cannot bear to leave their homeland, nor do they have the strength to travel so far. This village is the same—the young have either joined the army or fled as refugees, leaving behind only the elderly who cannot walk and helpless young children. These here are actually the fortunate ones—most northern villagers were killed when the Bei Rong army first invaded. Villages like this are everywhere..." Speaking of this, Mo Xiuyao couldn't help but feel somber as well.

When Northern Rong invaded Great Chu, he had been planning an attack on Western Liang, so naturally the northwest had no troops to spare to aid Great Chu against Northern Rong. Although Prince Ding's Estate had already severed ties with Great Chu by then, and there was no fault in terms of reputation or righteousness, facing these suffering and numb commoners, Mo Xiuyao's heart was not made of iron—he couldn't help but feel a trace of guilt.

"Y-you two... could you be Prince Ding and Wang Fei?" As the two walked slowly with their horses, a hoarse, trembling voice suddenly came from the roadside. They looked over to see a white-haired old man in his seventies, dressed in rags, leaning on a wooden staff as he gazed at them unsteadily.

Mo Xiuyao silently studied the old man for a long moment before asking, "How did you know?"

The old man said excitedly, "They say Prince Ding is in the prime of life yet has white hair... and this old man also heard the prince's army is camped dozens of miles away. Wang Ye, Wang Fei... please save the people of our Great Chu!" As he spoke, his staff slipped, and he fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. Several other villagers nearby heard his words and quickly came over, soon kneeling in a crowd, all weeping bitterly.

Ye Li looked around—indeed, those present were either elderly in their sixties or seventies, young children of a few years, or a few women and children. Apart from the oblivious toddlers, everyone's faces bore deep sorrow, yet when they looked at Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, there was also a glimmer of hope.

Ye Li bent down to help the old man at the front to his feet, momentarily at a loss for words.Turning to look at Mo Xiuyao and seeing his silent sorrow, Ye Li said softly, "Elder, would you be willing to leave this place?"

The old man shook his head. "We're already halfway in the grave—where could we go? We only hope that Wang Ye and Wang Fei can drive those bandits out, to avenge our many slaughtered kin and let our innocent children grow up in peace. As for us old folks... if we die, so be it..."

Ye Li observed the villagers' sallow, gaunt faces and understood the depth of their suffering. With a sigh, she said, "I'll have someone bring food supplies later. Winter will arrive in two months. Still, if possible, you should move further inland. When autumn harvest comes, the Northern Rong soldiers will surely raid for grain. And in the days ahead, as the armies clash, this place will become even more dangerous."

"This..." The old man hesitated. Their village was closest to the front lines between the two armies and had indeed suffered frequent harassment from the Bei Rong people. Fortunately, the Bei Rong no longer killed indiscriminately as they had when first entering the pass. But where could these people—either too old and weak or too young and ignorant—possibly flee to?

Mo Xiuyao said firmly, "There are several villages about sixty li back that are now mostly empty. You can relocate there. The battlefront won't retreat any further, so you can settle there safely. Tomorrow, I'll send men to escort you." His words were tantamount to a promise: no matter how the war progressed, as long as even a single soldier of the Mo Family Army remained, they would not retreat another step.

Hearing this, the villagers were overjoyed, weeping with gratitude as they kowtowed repeatedly to Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao. Ye Li helplessly helped the old man up and pulled a small child to his feet. The boy, no more than five or six years old, looked up at her fearlessly. When she gave him a faint smile, he immediately blushed and hid behind the old man's sleeve, clutching his tattered clothes. Ye Li thought of the spirited Mo Xiaobao, Leng Junhan, and Xu Zhirui back at Prince Ding's Estate, then looked at this thin, undersized child in ill-fitting old clothes, her heart aching.

The scenes they had witnessed at the foot of the mountain left them in no mood for further sightseeing, so they returned to the main camp together.

Back at camp, the generals came out to greet them. Apart from Zhang Qilan guarding Western Liang, veteran General Yuan Pei defending Flying Goose Pass, Murong Shen stationed at Chu Jing, and Leng Huai far away in Changqing, all the notable commanders of the Mo Family Army had gathered here—numbering several dozen.

"Wang Fei's pacification of the northern frontier is a monumental achievement. I offer my congratulations," said Third Master Feng, resplendent in flamboyant red robes that stood out among the generals' battle attire, his demeanor elegant and striking.

Ye Li smiled faintly and clasped her hands. "This was everyone's accomplishment. You flatter me, Third Master Feng."

The generals all joined in congratulating her. They had already held Prince Ding's Consort in high esteem, but now with her success in stabilizing the northern border, no one in the Mo Family Army dared question her capabilities any longer.

With Ye Li's return, Mo Xiuyao was in excellent spirits. After dismissing most of the officers, he kept only Lyu Jinxian and a few others for discussions. The others couldn't resist asking Ye Li about her experiences in the north. Not wanting to dampen their enthusiasm, she recounted some key events. They marveled at Ren Qining's misfortune and Prince Ding's Estate's good fortune—indeed, it seemed heaven itself favored them. At the same time, they silently admired Wang Fei's methods, vision, and strategic acumen. While they might have been able to pacify the northern frontier themselves, achieving it so effortlessly, nearly without bloodshed, was something few present could have managed.

After listening to Ye Li's account, Mo Xiuyao pondered briefly before saying, "With Leng Huai and Leng Haoyu in Changqing, that's sufficient. We can recall He Su to return."Ye Li raised her eyebrows with a smile, "It seems things are quite troublesome here? With so many fierce generals in the army, you still need to recall He Su." Lyu Jinxian and the others knew He Su was Ye Li's subordinate and chuckled, "Wang Fei is right. Helian Zhen has been sidelined by the King of Northern Rong these years, yet he hasn’t wallowed in despair. Instead, he’s managed to nurture quite a few talents. Now, Northern Rong boasts a million elite soldiers, and his subordinates are filled with formidable generals. We’ve long heard that General He Su’s command abilities stand unrivaled among the younger generals. If he can come, it would naturally be a good thing."

Nan Hou stroked his beard and nodded with a smile, "Indeed, Wang Fei’s subordinates are also full of capable individuals. Among the younger generation of generals, General He Su truly stands out. As for my own son, he’s rather disappointing." With that, Nan Hou shot Fu Zhao a reproachful glare. Fu Zhao rubbed his nose innocently—it wasn’t that he wasn’t trying, but the world these days was simply overrun with prodigies.

Ye Li smiled, "Nan Hou, you exaggerate. The young master is a rare talent, excelling in both civil and martial arts. How could He Su compare?" She lowered her head in thought and said, "Very well. General Leng Huai is highly respected, and Leng Haoyu is flexible and adaptable. With them stationed in Changqing, the areas beyond Zijing Pass will likely soon regain their former prosperity. But tell me, what kind of renowned generals are in the Northern Rong camp that even General Lü finds them so daunting?"

Lyu Jinxian replied, "There’s a young general in the Northern Rong army named He Lianpeng, likely a junior of Helian Zhen. But when it comes to military strategy, even Helian Zhen might be slightly inferior to him. With Yelv Ye, Helian Zhen, and He Lianpeng commanding the Northern Rong forces, along with their million elite soldiers, it’s truly a bit troublesome." Though he spoke of trouble, there was no trace of concern on Lyu Jinxian’s face—only a flicker of eager battle spirit.

"Since Yelv Hong has returned to Northern Rong, the army is now entirely under Yelv Ye’s command. I wonder if Yelv Hong’s return will go smoothly. If all goes well, Yelv Ye won’t last much longer," Ye Li mused.

Mo Xiuyao scoffed and raised an eyebrow, "If Yelv Hong can’t even handle such a trivial matter, he might as well die. Now that A Li is back, I’d like to properly meet Helian Zhen and see if he’s still as sharp as he was in his prime!" Speaking of Helian Zhen, a trace of hostility inevitably surfaced in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes. It wasn’t that Helian Zhen was some unparalleled genius—it was simply that the Prince Ding’s Estate, undefeated for over a century, had suffered its only loss at his hands. Though it was a defeat not of battle but of circumstance, a loss was still a loss. Undoubtedly, that battle over a decade ago was the most humiliating and devastating the estate had endured in a hundred years. How could Mo Xiuyao not remember Helian Zhen?

Just as Mo Xiuyao remembered Helian Zhen, Helian Zhen had not forgotten Mo Xiuyao either. Back then, as Northern Rong’s top general, Helian Zhen had been on the verge of defeating the Prince Ding’s Estate and becoming Northern Rong’s unprecedented God of War. But then Mo Xiuyao, barely eighteen, had emerged out of nowhere, setting fire to their ranks and sending them fleeing in defeat. In that battle, Northern Rong had deployed no fewer troops than they had now, and just as victory seemed certain, they had nearly been annihilated. Though Mo Xiuyao had also paid a heavy price, Northern Rong’s losses had been equally devastating.In the Northern Rong camp, Yelv Ye sat in the main seat. Below him, to his left and right, were a white-bearded veteran general in his fifties and a robust young man around twenty-seven or twenty-eight exuding a fierce aura. Unlike the typically combative and reckless Northern Rong people, however, his eyes held a rare calmness and sharpness. These two were none other than Helian Zhen, the former Grand General of the Flying Cavalry of Northern Rong, and his adopted son He Lianpeng, who had come to reinforce Yelv Ye.

Before Mo Xiuyao and Helian Zhen arrived, the two armies had been engaging in frequent skirmishes—small battles every three days and large ones every five. But once the commanders-in-chief arrived, both sides grew more cautious and deliberate in their actions. For the past half month, neither side had initiated a single battle.

"I've said it all along—Ren Qining was never up to the task. We should have sought Lei Zhenting as our ally from the start," Helian Zhen said gravely.

Yelv Ye's expression darkened as he replied coldly, "I truly didn’t expect Ren Qining to be so incompetent. To be driven to defeat and suicide by a mere woman in less than three months, with nearly his entire army annihilated! The reason we chose him initially was partly due to geography, but also because Lei Zhenting is too ambitious and cunning—far harder to control than Ren Qining."

Helian Zhen asked, "Then what should we do now? The Seventh Prince has sworn a military pledge to the king, vowing not to return to Northern Rong until the Mo Family Army is crushed. Now that the Princess Ding has pacified the northern border, Prince Ding's Estate will surely send reinforcements here soon. At this point, forming an alliance with Lei Zhenting may already be too late." Currently, Lei Zhenting was not without his own troubles. In the south, Mo Jingli was eyeing his territory covetously, while within Western Liang, the Xiling Emperor watched Lei Zhenting closely, waiting for any misstep to seize power. If Lei Zhenting were to commit all his forces against Prince Ding's Estate now, the outcome of their combined efforts would be uncertain—but regardless of victory or defeat, Lei Zhenting himself would inevitably suffer the consequences.

Yelv Ye sighed. "At least we currently outnumber Mo Xiuyao’s forces. There’s still a chance of victory."

He Lianpeng, who had been silent until now, raised his head and said, "Your Highness, that may not necessarily be the case." Yelv Ye arched an eyebrow. "How so?" He Lianpeng explained, "Although we currently have more troops than the Mo Family Army, the Central Plains is their territory. If they wish to expand their forces, they could likely muster a million soldiers in the blink of an eye. Even if these new recruits aren’t as elite as the original Mo Family Army, they would still be useful. Moreover, in my humble opinion, Mo Xiuyao doesn’t strike me as someone lacking foresight. He must be aware that his forces are far outnumbered by those of other nations. Yet, he hasn’t made any visible effort to recruit more troops."

Yelv Ye frowned, studying He Lianpeng intently. "Are you suggesting that Mo Xiuyao is hiding his true strength?" He Lianpeng nodded. "Exactly. I believe the Mo Family Army’s numbers far exceed what we know. It’s likely Mo Xiuyao has concealed a significant portion of his forces somewhere unknown, waiting to deliver a fatal blow to our army. Your Highness must not let your guard down."

Yelv Ye nodded. He was not the type to be arrogant or careless, and when facing Mo Xiuyao, he preferred to be cautious. "Helian, what do you propose?" he asked.

He Lianpeng replied, "I intend to test the Mo Family Army’s strength first."Yelv Ye looked at him with great interest and said, "How do you plan to test them? Over the past half year, our army has engaged the Mo Family Army in dozens of battles, large and small. I must say, the Mo Family Army truly lives up to its reputation as the iron-blooded elite force that has shaken the world for over two hundred years." Even Yelv Ye couldn't help but admire the combat prowess of the Mo Family Army. The physical constitution of the Central Plains people was inherently inferior to that of their nomadic counterparts. Although many in the Central Plains practiced internal energy, and those with profound martial skills could take on ten opponents at once, mastering martial arts required time, and not everyone could achieve such high levels of skill. Therefore, historically, with equal numbers, the combat strength of Central Plains troops had always been weaker than that of Northern Rong. However, the Mo Family Army was clearly an exception—each of its soldiers possessed strength that was in no way inferior to the warriors of Northern Rong, making every clash between the two armies exceptionally fierce.

Helianpeng pondered for a moment before saying, "The Qilin."

"The Qilin?" At these words, even Yelv Ye and Helian Zhen couldn't help but react. The Qilin had not been established for long, yet they had repeatedly achieved remarkable feats. Their presence could be traced in several of the Mo Family Army's major victories, yet few in the world had ever truly seen them in action. They were like phantoms, elusive and mysterious.

Yelv Ye said, "The Qilin was founded by the Princess of the State herself and remains the most enigmatic unit under her direct command within the Mo Family Army. Helian, are you suggesting we challenge the Princess of the State?"

Helianpeng raised an eyebrow. "Is that not allowed?"

Yelv Ye chuckled. "It's not that it's not allowed. I merely thought someone as proud as you would prefer to face Mo Xiuyao directly." Helianpeng replied calmly, "I do not underestimate women, especially when that woman is the Princess of the State. Moreover, for some reason, I always feel that if we don't eliminate the Qilin first, Northern Rong will eventually fall to them."

Yelv Ye was slightly taken aback. "What makes you say that?"

Helianpeng hesitated before answering, "I don't know—it's just a feeling. Since their emergence, the Qilin have always struck unexpectedly, targeting our most vulnerable points without fail. Our Northern Rong warriors fear no one in a head-on battlefield confrontation, but dealing with such elusive enemies is precisely our weakness."

Yelv Ye nodded in agreement. Having fought the Mo Family Army for so long, he was well aware of this. However, the strengths and weaknesses of Northern Rong's forces were deeply ingrained habits accumulated over centuries—not something that could be changed overnight. "How do you plan to counter the Qilin, Helian?"

Beside them, Helian Zhen smiled and said, "Ever since the Qilin appeared, Peng'er has been deeply intrigued by them. So, we've trained a special unit specifically to deal with the Qilin."

Hearing this, Yelv Ye was genuinely surprised. He looked at Helianpeng and asked, "Is this true?" Over the years, his father had held Helian Zhen in great disdain, stripping him of his military authority and leaving him idle at home. Under such circumstances, the fact that Helianpeng had managed to train such a force was nothing short of astonishing. If not for this war, such a shadowy, lethal unit would have been perfect for dealing with Yelv Hong.Helian Peng's expression remained unchanged as he nodded and said, "Indeed. The Central Plains people call the Qilin a benevolent beast, but that's too weak and lacks a sense of ferocity. This unit, I call them Yazi."

"Yazi?" Although Yelv Ye was a Northern Rong man, as a prince, he naturally had some understanding of Central Plains culture. Yazi—one of the nine sons of the dragon, resembling a jackal in appearance, fond of bloodshed, named a dragon's offspring but in truth a vicious beast. It piqued Yelv Ye's curiosity that Helian Peng also seemed quite knowledgeable about Central Plains culture.

"Exactly." Helian Zhen declared loudly, "Back then, I was careless and lost to that brat Mo Xiuyao. If I cannot avenge this humiliation, I would have no face to meet the ancestors of the Helian family even in death. For this day, I have waited over a decade. Your Highness need not worry—this time, we will ensure the Mo Family Army never rises again."

Yelv Ye was well aware of Helian Zhen's hatred for Mo Xiuyao. It could be said that Helian Zhen's life had been both made and broken by Prince Ding's Estate. His greatest military achievement was defeating the Mo Family Army and killing Mo Xiuwen, yet his greatest defeat also came at the hands of the Mo Family Army and Mo Xiuyao. Nodding, Yelv Ye said solemnly, "Then I leave it to Uncle and Helian. I await good news. What is Helian's plan?"

Helian Peng pondered for a moment before replying, "Ye Li has just returned and won’t be prepared for our moves so quickly. My suggestion is a night raid tonight."

Yelv Ye hesitated. "Are you confident?"

Helian Peng smiled. "Your Highness need not worry. This is merely a test."

"In that case, it is approved."