Mo Li

"I sincerely invite Wang Fei to visit Northern Rong. Why must you be so unappreciative?"

Upon hearing He Lianpeng's words, Ye Li's lips twitched imperceptibly before she replied calmly, "I, too, sincerely invite General He Lian to stay a while longer. Why must you be in such a hurry to leave?" He Lianpeng glanced at the considerable distance now between them and sighed helplessly. It wasn’t that he wanted to leave in haste, but if he didn’t go now, he might never get the chance. The Qilin of the Mo Family Army truly lived up to their reputation. Individually, He Lianpeng didn’t regard the black-clad men around Ye Li as threats, but when they acted together, even without fully engaging, they had already made him sense danger. That was why he had no choice but to retreat far away.

He Lianpeng gazed at Ye Li with regret and said, "I heard the Qilin were personally trained by Princess Ding. Indeed, they are extraordinary. No wonder Prince Ding would dare to charge into the Northern Rong Camp for your sake."

At this, Ye Li froze momentarily before asking in a low voice, "What did you say?"

Seeing her reaction, He Lianpeng was also taken aback. Mo Xiuyao had single-handedly stormed the Northern Rong Camp, leaving a trail of blood in his wake—such a major event should have been widely publicized by the Mo Family Army by now. Little did he know that Mo Xiuyao, fearing Ye Li’s anger, had strictly forbidden any mention of the incident. Naturally, the Northern Rong army wouldn’t bring up such an embarrassing defeat either. As a result, Ye Li had not heard even a whisper of it until now.

But since he had already mentioned it, He Lianpeng saw no harm in elaborating. Smiling at Ye Li, he said, "A few days ago, Prince Ding ventured alone into the Northern Rong Camp with just his sword, cutting a bloody path through our forces. Could it be that Wang Fei was unaware?"

Ye Li’s expression darkened slightly as she replied coolly, "Thank you for informing me, General. Now I know."

Seeing that Ye Li showed none of the reactions he had anticipated—as if what she had just heard was nothing extraordinary—He Lianpeng shrugged in disappointment and chuckled, "It seems I won’t be able to invite Wang Fei today. No matter, there will be other opportunities. I’d like to see just how long your forces can hold Vulture Peak Mountain." With that, He Lianpeng wasted no more time and swiftly retreated toward the rear. As the commander of his army, he couldn’t afford to be away from the battlefield for too long.

Lin Han stood beside Ye Li, carefully observing her impassive expression before cautiously saying, "Wang Fei, please don’t be angry. Since no news has come from the central army, His Highness must be safe and unharmed." Mo Xiuyao hadn’t just kept this matter from Ye Li—he had concealed it from everyone stationed at Vulture Peak Mountain. Thus, Lin Han’s shock upon hearing the news was no less than Ye Li’s.Ye Li remained silent for a long while before sighing, "Let's talk about this after the battle is over here." Rather than being angry that Mo Xiuyao had concealed such an important matter from her, she was more shocked and heartbroken. Ye Li had always known that Mo Xiuyao treated her exceptionally well—so much so that in both her past and present life, no one had ever regarded her as the most important existence the way he did. If Mo Xiuyao had rushed into the Northern Rong Camp on a whim to wreak havoc, no one would believe it. The mere fact that he had gone to such lengths just because she had been attacked by He Lianpeng... Ye Li suddenly even regretted leaving the central army to come to Vulture Peak Mountain. Perhaps she should have stayed by his side...

However, that regret was fleeting. Ye Li was always rational enough. She didn’t consider herself indispensable, but she also understood where she needed to position herself for the best outcome in the situation. Such rationality might seem cold or even indifferent at times, but wasn’t this another way of supporting the one she loved in her own manner? Only by completely ending this war, only by ensuring the Mo Family Army and Prince Ding's Estate regained stability, would the resentment and knots in Mo Xiuyao’s heart truly unravel.

What Ye Li didn’t know was that while she was worrying and agonizing over Mo Xiuyao, he was also furious over matters concerning her. Inside the Mo Family Army’s command tent, Mo Xiuyao sat grimly in the main seat, his voice low and heavy. "So, Wang Fei and Zhou Min are now trapped on the mountain with only a hundred thousand troops, surrounded by He Lianpeng’s army of over two hundred thousand?"

The assembly fell silent for a moment before Nan Hou stood and said, "Wang Ye, this general believes Wang Fei is not trapped on the mountain but is instead buying time for Generals Sun and He to eliminate the Northern Rong forces in Luozhou and Huicheng. Once Generals He and Sun secure those two locations, a three-sided encirclement will leave He Lianpeng with no choice but to retreat or face defeat."

Feng Zhiyao added, "Wang Ye, this subordinate agrees with Marquis Nan. Moreover, Vulture Peak Mountain is easy to defend and hard to attack. He Lianpeng won’t find it easy to take the camp. Besides, Vulture Peak Mountain isn’t far from Flying Goose Pass. If anything truly goes wrong, Old General Yuan Pei won’t stand idly by." These were things Mo Xiuyao would naturally consider, but Feng Zhiyao elaborated out of fear that Mo Xiuyao might impulsively abandon the hundreds of thousands of troops here to rush to Vulture Peak Mountain.

Clearly, Mo Xiuyao wasn’t as impulsive as he feared. Though his expression remained dark, he didn’t act rashly.

"A Li won’t mobilize the troops at Flying Goose Pass unless absolutely necessary. Feng Zhiyao, take two hundred thousand troops to Vulture Peak Mountain immediately," Mo Xiuyao ordered sternly.

Feng Zhiyao frowned. "No, Wang Ye. If we send two hundred thousand troops to Vulture Peak Mountain, the central army’s camp will be..." Feng Zhiyao believed in Mo Xiuyao’s ability to hold his own against the Northern Rong’s seven to eight hundred thousand troops with just three hundred thousand men—but that depended on the time and place. With the two armies now face-to-face in open confrontation, even the Mo Family Army, formidable as they were, couldn’t withstand an enemy several times their size. More importantly, deploying so many elite troops to Vulture Peak Mountain would be a waste of resources.Mo Xiuyao naturally knew his arrangement was unreasonable. After a moment of silence, he finally waved his hand, signaling to retract his earlier words.

"If Wang Ye is willing to trust me, how about I go to Vulture Peak Mountain?" Han Mingyue, seated beside Han Mingxi at the end, suddenly spoke up. Everyone was taken aback. The veteran officials of Prince Ding's Estate all knew that Prince Ding and Young Master Mingyue had once been close brothers and good friends, though no one knew why they later fell out. However, in recent years, everyone had witnessed Prince Ding's attitude toward Young Master Mingyue. To say it was indifferent would be an understatement. If not for Han Mingxi's sake, Young Master Mingyue would likely have long been driven out of Li Cheng. Even though Han Mingyue's abilities far surpassed those of Han Mingxi, the current head of the Han family, Prince Ding's Estate had always treated Han Mingyue as if he didn't exist, entrusting all matters to Han Mingxi and consulting with him instead. As a result, despite having no authority or status, Young Master Mingyue was constantly busy cleaning up his younger brother's messes.

Because of this, although Han Mingyue and Han Mingxi were inseparable, Han Mingyue never voiced any opinions in public. His sudden interjection now surprised everyone. Marquis Nan and the others knew nothing of the enmity between Han Mingyue and Mo Xiuyao, but they now recalled that Young Master Mingyue had once been a dazzlingly brilliant figure, and their eyes lit up with interest.

Mo Xiuyao let out a light snort and was about to refuse, intending to send Feng Zhiyao to bring Ye Li back. Just then, Han Mingyue smiled faintly and said, "I know nothing about warfare. However, when it comes to rescuing people, I am far more adept than Feng San." Han Mingyue's martial skills surpassed Feng Zhiyao's, and more importantly, he was not a subordinate of Prince Ding's Estate. If Ye Li refused to leave in a crisis, Feng Zhiyao would be powerless, but Han Mingyue would have no such qualms. Even if force were necessary, Han Mingyue's chances of success were much higher than Feng Zhiyao's.

Mo Xiuyao's thoughts shifted, and he nodded. "Fine, you go. Han Mingxi stays." If A Li suffers even the slightest harm, I will flay Han Mingxi alive. Han Mingyue noticed Mo Xiuyao's threatening gaze but paid it no mind, smiling faintly. "Very well. I'll prepare and set off shortly." In truth, Mo Xiuyao's worries were unnecessary. Given Han Mingxi's feelings for Ye Li, Han Mingyue would never harm her. After all... in this world, Mingxi was his only remaining family.

Han Mingxi opened his mouth but held back his words. Not only was he worried about Ye Li, but this situation also presented an excellent opportunity to improve his elder brother's circumstances. If Han Mingyue could ensure Ye Li's safety, the relationship between Prince Ding and his elder brother would likely ease considerably. Over the years, watching his brother toil tirelessly for him without gaining anything, while outsiders viewed Young Master Mingyue as living off his younger brother's patronage, Han Mingxi had felt deeply guilty. Su Zuidie had been dead for many years—even as punishment, this was enough. He didn't expect his elder brother and Prince Ding to restore their former friendship; some things, once broken, could never be mended. But at the very least, he hoped his brother could receive fair treatment or the freedom to go wherever he wished."Big brother, be careful on the road," Han Mingxi said, looking at Han Mingyue.

Han Mingyue smiled faintly and waved his hand to indicate that there was no need for concern before turning and leaving the tent.

Feng Zhiyao watched as the hem of Han Mingyue's robe disappeared beyond the tent entrance and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. For the sake of Su Zuidie, the once brilliant Young Master Mingyue had fallen to such a state. And his former good brother, Prince Ding, wasn't much better—constantly stirring up earth-shattering events for the sake of Princess Ding. The only comparable aspect was perhaps that Mo Xiuyao's judgment was better than Han Mingyue's.

The tent fell silent for a moment before Mo Xiuyao spoke in a deep voice, "Relay my orders: all three armies are to stand by. Prepare for a full assault on the main forces of Northern Rong!"

The officers stiffened, then rose to their feet and responded in unison, "We obey your command, General."

A cold smile curled at the corners of Mo Xiuyao's lips. "Give Yelv Ye a thorough beating. I want to see whether He Lianpeng will come to his rescue or not."

A sudden chill seemed to sweep through the tent, making the officers shiver involuntarily: So cold...

At Vulture Peak Mountain, Ye Li was surprised to see Han Mingyue suddenly appear before her. "Young Master Mingyue, what brings you here so unexpectedly?" she asked.

Han Mingyue smiled faintly. "I’ve come at the prince’s request to escort you away from here."

Ye Li didn’t hide the skepticism in her eyes as she smiled at him. Han Mingyue shrugged indifferently. "Originally, Xiu Yao intended to send Feng Zhiyao with two hundred thousand troops to reinforce Vulture Peak Mountain. Feng San barely managed to talk him out of it."

Ye Li nodded. "I believe you, but I won’t leave with you."

Han Mingyue frowned slightly. With a helpless sigh, Ye Li explained, "He Lianpeng is in a frenzy. He’s somehow managed to summon additional troops, and now there are no fewer than three hundred thousand soldiers surrounding Vulture Peak Mountain. If the mountain falls, it’s uncertain whether he’ll seize the opportunity to march on Flying Goose Pass. Even if he doesn’t advance, if he turns back to attack He Su and Sun Yaowu, they’ll likely be annihilated."

Han Mingyue sighed. "So, Princess Ding intends to stay here and hold him off yourself?"

Ye Li nodded. "Morale is crucial in warfare, especially when defending a position. If I, as the commander, flee at this critical moment, the camp at Vulture Peak Mountain will collapse long before He Lianpeng even attacks." Not all the soldiers here were the steadfast, battle-hardened Mo Family Army—many were remnants of the Great Chu forces and northern border troops who had only recently pledged allegiance to Prince Ding's Estate.

Han Mingyue studied Ye Li for a long moment before murmuring softly, "You truly are different from other women. No wonder... Fine. If I return without you, I’ll be in trouble anyway. I might as well see for myself just how far Princess Ding can go."

Ye Li understood his meaning perfectly and smiled faintly. "Truthfully, Xiu Yao worries too much. With the Qilin by my side, even if we’re defeated, I won’t be in any real danger."

"In the chaos of battle, blades and arrows have no eyes," Han Mingyue countered. Even the most skilled masters couldn’t guarantee their safety amid thousands of troops, let alone someone like Ye Li, whom Mo Xiuyao cared for so deeply. His concern was natural—love made one reckless."Did Wang Ye suffer any injuries when he went to the Northern Rong Camp?" After persuading Han Mingyue, Ye Li turned to the topic she truly cared about. Though she knew Mo Xiuyao was unharmed, she couldn't help but seek confirmation. The people of Prince Ding's Estate had kept silent due to Mo Xiuyao's orders, and she didn't wish to pressure them. Fortunately, Han Mingyue was someone not bound by such restrictions.

Han Mingyue was surprised, clearly not expecting Ye Li to know about this matter. After a moment's thought, he realized the source of the leak. Since the estate's servants wouldn't dare disobey Mo Xiuyao's command, the information must have come from an outsider. He calmly recounted the entire incident—while Mo Xiuyao had sustained minor injuries, they were so trivial that they barely counted as flesh wounds in their eyes.

Only then did Ye Li truly relax, her expression softening considerably.

Han Mingyue studied the white-robed woman seated gracefully in the host's position—her gentle demeanor and exquisite features. Truthfully, he wasn't familiar with Ye Li. Though they'd crossed paths briefly a few times, they'd never engaged in meaningful conversation. Had he remained Mo Xiuyao's closest friend, perhaps he too would have become her confidant, or like the estate's household, genuinely admired her. But from the beginning, he'd stood on the opposite side, leaving little opportunity to understand this woman. He'd always acknowledged that Ye Li's beauty, intellect, methods, and martial skills made her exceptional among women—a rare example of virtuous wife and mother. Yet he'd never comprehended why this serene, composed woman could inspire such obsession in a man like Mo Xiuyao.

This was actually quite understandable. Just as the world couldn't fathom why the brilliant Young Master Mingyue would nearly ruin his life—even risk death—for a merely beautiful Su Zuidie. Love's origins are unknowable, yet once begun, it runs deep...

Now, watching Ye Li calmly yet efficiently process the piled documents and memorials from her seat of authority, Han Mingyue suddenly felt he understood a little. This woman possessed qualities and beauty entirely different from ordinary women.

"Now, I truly feel some envy for Xiu Yao and Wang Fei," Han Mingyue remarked with emotion.

Ye Li glanced up, giving him a questioning look. Han Mingyue shook his head with a faint smile, remaining silent. Setting down her brush and closing the final memorial, Ye Li smiled gently, "Some things are better forgotten and released. Without moving forward, one can never know if the scenery ahead might surpass what's behind."

"What if one cannot forget or let go?" Han Mingyue murmured absently.

After consideration, Ye Li replied, "Life's journey always contains elements beyond our control. Whether good or bad, when you look back years later, rights and wrongs, grudges and loves—they'll simply be precious memories in your life's tapestry. People must live in the present, always looking toward the future."Observing Han Mingyue's thoughtful expression, Ye Li suddenly asked, "Young Master Mingyue, do you harbor hatred in your heart? Hatred for Su Zuidie, or for Mo Xiuyao?" Both were plausible. Han Mingyue was once a prodigy of his generation, yet he had lost everything because of a woman who only knew how to exploit him. If Su Zuidie were still alive, and if Han Mingyue's will were slightly weaker, he might have truly despised her to the core. As for Mo Xiuyao, he had ultimately killed Su Zuidie, and over the years, Han Mingyue himself had been under the control of Prince Ding's Estate. It was entirely possible that Han Mingyue had transferred this resentment onto Mo Xiuyao.

For many years, few had dared to mention Su Zuidie's name in front of Han Mingyue. Hearing it now felt like recalling a distant past. After a long silence, Han Mingyue shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Perhaps I hate myself."

"Whether it was true love or misguided affection, both are life experiences. If Young Master Mingyue has already moved on from this chapter, why cling to the past and refuse to let go? Is it the love itself that you're holding onto, or the sacrifices you made? The person is gone, the feelings have faded—must you continue to sacrifice the rest of your life for this stubbornness?" Ye Li spoke calmly.

Han Mingyue remained silent for a long while before finally standing up and saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Wang Fei. I shall take a walk now."

"Young Master, as you wish." Ye Li did not press further. She had said all she could. Whether Han Mingyue would take it to heart was beyond her control. At worst, it would be the same as all these years—just a few more people keeping an eye on him in secret. With Han Mingxi around, Han Mingyue was unlikely to cause any major trouble.

Meanwhile, the Northern Rong army camp at the foot of the mountain was far from peaceful. Over the past few days, He Lianpeng had led his troops in a relentless advance, moving the camp to within five miles of Vulture Peak Mountain. Though they had yet to capture the mountain, they had sealed off all routes up and down. He Lianpeng was confident that with his hundreds of thousands of troops, they would surely take Vulture Peak Mountain within five days at most. By then, even if Ye Li attempted to break through with her remaining few thousand soldiers, she would never escape the encirclement of his massive army. The thought reassured He Lianpeng that his bold strategy of gathering all his forces to attack Vulture Peak Mountain had been correct. Once the mountain fell and Ye Li was captured, what did it matter if Luozhou and Huicheng were lost? Wouldn't He Su and Sun Yaowu have to surrender the two cities in exchange for Wang Fei's life? Moreover, she might even serve as a decisive weapon against Mo Xiuyao.He Lianpeng had spent a long time in Northern Rong and knew little about Prince Ding's Estate or Ye Li. Thus, he paid no heed to Yelv Ye's warnings and naturally couldn't understand why the powerful figures of various nations would rather target Mo Xiuyao himself than dare to lay a hand on Ye Li. If he could successfully capture Princess Ding alive, it would undoubtedly be an excellent trump card. However, not only was Princess Ding not easy to capture, but even if caught, she might not remain alive. Back then, Lei Zhenting hadn’t intended to kill Ye Li, but she would rather throw herself off a cliff than let herself be used to threaten Mo Xiuyao. If Princess Ding were truly killed, Mo Xiuyao would likely go completely mad, and then it would truly become a fight to the death. Especially after Ren Qining’s unfortunate experience, the powerful figures of various nations had reached an unspoken consensus: unless Mo Xiuyao himself was killed, it was best not to provoke Princess Ding. Ye Li was indeed the person Mo Xiuyao cared about most, but that didn’t necessarily make her his weakness.

He Lianpeng was unaware of these considerations among the higher-ups. Even after the lesson at the Northern Rong Camp that day, he still hadn’t truly abandoned his plan to capture Ye Li. However, he no longer intended to use underhanded methods. If he defeated Ye Li openly and took her prisoner, even Mo Xiuyao wouldn’t be able to say anything about it.

But now, He Lianpeng’s expression darkened. A command had just arrived from the Northern Rong Camp—Yelv Ye’s order. The Northern Rong army had been repeatedly pushed back by Mo Xiuyao’s forces in recent days, and Yelv Ye demanded that He Lianpeng immediately abandon Vulture Peak Mountain and lead his troops to regroup with the main camp to jointly confront Mo Xiuyao. Victory was within sight, and having to retreat now was unbearable for He Lianpeng.

"General, the Seventh Prince’s orders..." the messenger asked cautiously.

After a moment of contemplation, He Lianpeng replied, "Return and inform the Seventh Prince that within three days at most, this general will conquer Vulture Peak Mountain and capture Princess Ding alive. Once that is done, I will send reinforcements to assist His Highness."

Hearing this, the messenger's expression darkened. "General Helian, this is the Seventh Prince's order." Regardless of whether the Seventh Prince's command was right or wrong, military orders were as unshakable as mountains. Yet Helian Peng had the audacity to refuse without a second thought. Helian Peng replied, "This general is on the verge of capturing Vulture Peak Mountain. Withdrawing now would mean wasting all our efforts. Return and report to the Seventh Prince—he will surely understand."

The messenger grew furious and snapped, "How could the Seventh Prince not know you're attacking Vulture Peak Mountain? But the entire army is retreating, and you alone insist on advancing. If you become trapped deep in Chu territory, what use will a lone force like yours be?" What he didn’t say was that if not for Helian Peng’s relentless assault on Vulture Peak Mountain, Prince Ding wouldn’t have gone berserk attacking the Northern Rong Camp.

Helian Peng’s face darkened with displeasure. "All you need to do is relay my words to the Seventh Prince. How dare a mere messenger question military affairs?"

The messenger, realizing he couldn’t persuade Helian Peng, snorted in frustration and stormed out of the camp, galloping back to the Northern Rong Camp to report to Yelv Ye.

Seeing Helian Peng dismiss Yelv Ye’s envoy so easily, the assembled officers grew uneasy. Helian Peng was Helian Zhen’s adopted son—perhaps he had nothing to fear. But if the Seventh Prince took offense, they, as subordinates, would bear the brunt of his wrath. One officer stood and hesitantly advised, "General, the Seventh Prince urgently recalls us. The situation must be dire. Shouldn’t we…?"

Helian Peng replied calmly, "The Seventh Prince’s camp has seven to eight hundred thousand troops, while the Mo Family Army has fewer than five hundred thousand. They can surely hold out for another two or three days. Once we swiftly capture Vulture Peak Mountain and seize Princess Ding, the Seventh Prince won’t punish us—he’ll reward you all. No more discussion. My orders stand: Vulture Peak Mountain must be taken within three days."

The others exchanged glances. Someone ventured, "But… even if we take Vulture Peak Mountain, capturing Princess Ding is uncertain. Her Qilin is formidable—even if it can’t defeat an army, it can surely protect her escape." Helian Peng remained composed. "This general has a plan. Your only task is to focus on taking the mountain."

With Helian Peng obstinately refusing to yield, the officers had no choice. Unless Yelv Ye personally stripped him of his rank, Helian Peng remained their supreme commander, and they had no choice but to obey.

The defenders on Vulture Peak Mountain could clearly sense the enemy’s increasingly ferocious assaults below. It was as though something was driving the already fierce Northern Rong soldiers to charge recklessly uphill. The pressure on the Mo Family Army intensified. Forced to hold the line almost around the clock without rest, exhaustion began to show on many soldiers’ faces.

Yet, as the three-day deadline passed, though the Northern Rong troops nearly breached the mountainside several times, the tenacious Mo Family Army repelled them each time. Helian Peng’s eyes burned red with fury as he glared at the Mo Family Army’s camp, their banners still fluttering defiantly on the mountainside, his gaze seething with murderous intent."Princess Ding, order your men to surrender immediately, or don't blame this general for setting the mountain ablaze!" He Lianpeng's voice, amplified by inner energy, echoed from the foot of the mountain. His words startled not only the Mo Family Army on the mountain but even the generals accompanying He Lianpeng. It was already late September, when all things wither—if He Lianpeng truly set fire to the mountain, Vulture Peak Mountain wouldn't be the only casualty.

On the mountain, Han Mingyue stood beside Ye Li, smiling as he observed the woman's unshaken composure. "Princess, if He Lianpeng really sets the mountain on fire, we'll truly be finished," he remarked.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "With Young Master Mingyue's martial skills, how could mere mountain flames trouble you?"

Han Mingyue chuckled openly—he indeed wasn't worried. Even if He Lianpeng set the fire, he could easily escape with Ye Li. However, with the battle at this stage, he was genuinely curious about how Ye Li planned to resolve their predicament. "Does the Princess have a way to counter He Lianpeng's scheme?"

Ye Li shook her head. "No. With over two hundred thousand troops surrounding us below, even if we tried to break through, our few thousand men wouldn't make it."

"Then what does the Princess intend to do?"

Ye Li smiled serenely. "Strike first."

Han Mingyue was taken aback, not understanding her meaning. Ye Li gazed down at He Lianpeng's encampment below and said leisurely, "When it comes to fire attacks... we are the true masters."

Without waiting to see if Han Mingyue grasped her meaning, she summoned Lin Han and asked, "Are the items I requested yesterday prepared?" Lin Han nodded. "Reporting to the Princess, they are ready."

Han Mingyue asked curiously, "Did the Princess anticipate He Lianpeng would burn the mountain?" Ye Li shook her head. "No, but whether he intended to or not, I planned to do this anyway. Otherwise, we wouldn't last another day."

Soon, Lin Han brought over an object resembling a lantern—crudely made, but unmistakably a lantern. Han Mingyue frowned. "This thing... isn't actually a lantern, is it?"

Ye Li smiled. "It is indeed a lantern. This is called a Kongming Lantern."

"What can this thing possibly do?" Having seen all manner of exquisite lanterns, Han Mingyue toyed with the rough object dismissively. Ye Li cradled the lantern cheerfully. "You'll find out soon enough, Young Master Han."

Before long, Han Mingyue understood Ye Li's plan. Countless lanterns, once lit, slowly rose into the air and drifted toward the Northern Rong camp. Since it was daytime and amidst battle, the floating lanterns initially went unnoticed by the Bei Rong people—or if noticed, they paid no heed.

Ye Li watched with satisfaction as the Kongming Lanterns reached their intended positions before gradually descending.

"Hmm?" Han Mingyue was astonished. The mere fact that the lanterns could fly was shocking enough, let alone their synchronized flight and near-simultaneous descent. If he hadn't known for certain Ye Li was human, he might have suspected her of sorcery. "Those lanterns contain a fair amount of tung oil—they shouldn't burn out so quickly. Does the Princess intend to...?"Han Mingyue quickly understood Ye Li's plan—she intended to use these lanterns to scatter tung oil onto the camp or soldiers below, and then...

Sure enough, Ye Li's firm voice rang out: "Fire the arrows!" Dozens of flaming arrows shot through the air toward the still-floating lanterns. Upon contact, the lanterns immediately ignited and plummeted from the sky. Below, the soldiers witnessed dozens of fireballs crashing down—some landing on people, others on tents or provisions in the camp, quickly setting everything ablaze. In no time, the Northern Rong Camp at the foot of the mountain was engulfed in a sea of flames.

With this, the Northern Rong forces had no mind left to attack or set fire to the mountain. They rushed back to their camp in a desperate attempt to extinguish the flames. But with accelerant tung oil dripping everywhere, the fires ignited instantly, making any rescue effort futile. Amid the cheers of the Mo Family Army, Ye Li calmly issued her next order: "Descend from the southern slope and retreat to Flying Goose Pass!"

After this incident, He Lianpeng would undoubtedly be furious. In his rage, he might recklessly set the mountain ablaze, and Ye Li had no intention of staying to sacrifice tens of thousands of soldiers needlessly. Thus, while the Northern Rong army below scrambled chaotically to fight the fires, the Mo Family Army quietly withdrew from the southern slope, leaving no trace behind.

Outside the Northern Rong Camp, He Lianpeng stared at the inferno before him, his eyes nearly bursting with rage. "Ye Li... Ye Li! I swear I will kill you!"

"General, the Mo Family Army on the mountain has retreated," a scout hastily reported.

He Lianpeng's expression darkened. "Which direction?"

"Toward Flying Goose Pass, it seems."

"Pursue them!" He Lianpeng commanded.

"General!" Several officers looked grim. They had never fully accepted this newly appointed general, though they dared not voice their dissent given his formidable reputation. But now, with their camp burned and provisions destroyed, how could they possibly chase the Mo Family Army? Flying Goose Pass was guarded by over two hundred thousand Mo Family troops—not a mix of elites and remnants like those at Vulture Peak Mountain, but the Mo Family Army's most elite soldiers. Even if He Lianpeng were invincible, it would take at least ten days to breach the pass, and they had no idea where their next meal would come from.

"Our provisions are completely destroyed. We cannot continue fighting. Please reconsider, General," the officers urged.

He Lianpeng's face darkened further. He knew full well their supplies were gone, but the humiliation of being outmaneuvered by Ye Li was unbearable. "Confiscate grain from nearby villages," he growled.

The Northern Rong army's so-called "grain confiscation" was little more than plundering. However, the northern regions were largely deserted, with most civilians having fled behind Mo Family lines. Even if they tried to loot, how much could they possibly seize? It wouldn't even cover a single meal for their massive army.

"General He Lian, I propose we withdraw north immediately to regroup with the Seventh Prince and Senior General He Lian," one officer insisted firmly.

He Lianpeng's expression turned stormy. "Pursue them first! If we fail, then we'll reconsider. But we cannot let them escape unscathed!"Left with no choice, several stubborn generals took their own troops and left, leaving only those still loyal to He Lianpeng to pursue with fewer than a hundred thousand men. He Lianpeng watched as the military camp before him turned into a sea of flames, the towering crimson glow reflecting on his face, making his expression appear especially ferocious and terrifying.

The remaining tens of thousands of Mo Family Army troops were not cavalry, so their retreat was naturally not very fast. Meanwhile, most of the Northern Rong forces were mounted and quickly caught up with the Mo Family Army. He Lianpeng fixed his gaze on Ye Li, no trace of his usual leisure and arrogance remaining. "Princess Ding, this general originally had no intention of harming you. But this time, you brought it upon yourself."

Ye Li paid no heed to his words and replied calmly, "In war, victory and defeat are matters of course. General Helian, isn't this behavior rather unsportsmanlike?"

Veins bulged on He Lianpeng's forehead. "Fine! Since this general began leading troops, every defeat has been at the hands of Princess Ding. Today, we shall settle this once and for all!" Ye Li shook her head lightly and smiled. "This consort knows that General Helian was personally trained and nurtured by General Helian Zhen as a military prodigy of Northern Rong. It's just a pity... there's a phrase from our Central Plains that I wonder if the general has heard of?"

He Lianpeng glared at her coldly. "This general would like to hear it from the princess."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Armchair strategist."

"Ye Li, you're too arrogant!" He Lianpeng roared in fury. His command of Central Plains language and script was quite good, so he naturally understood the meaning of the term. Ye Li was mocking him for having no real military skill. Observing his rage, Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "General Helian need not feel that this consort is insulting you. Although you studied under Helian Zhen since childhood, the truth is you had never led troops before this. If not for your formidable martial arts, you likely wouldn't even be able to control the generals under your command. Forgive my bluntness, but the Mo Family Army has no shortage of officers more skilled than you in troop deployment. These past days, had it not been for your numerical advantage, do you truly believe you would have won?"

He Lianpeng's face alternated between pale and purple. After a long pause, he gave a cold chuckle. "Fine! So what if this general can't lead troops? You'll still die here today!" Without giving Ye Li another chance to speak, he spurred his horse forward, raising his blade to charge at her. At Ye Li's side, Han Mingyue drew his sword and intercepted He Lianpeng's strike. Having seen Han Mingyue once before in the Northern Rong camp when he daringly rescued Mo Xiuyao, He Lianpeng knew this man's martial arts were formidable. "Who are you?"

Han Mingyue clasped his hands with a smile. "This humble one is Han Mingyue. Greetings, General Helian."

"Young Master Mingyue?" Though He Lianpeng was from Northern Rong, his master was from the Central Plains martial world. Though Murong Xiong was aging, he still knew of all the famous martial experts of the Central Plains. However, Han Mingyue had not appeared in public for many years. Aside from those in Prince Ding's Estate, most probably assumed Young Master Mingyue had either retired or died.

Han Mingyue smiled. "Indeed, it is I."

He Lianpeng sneered. "This general cares not what master you are. Those who stand in my way shall die!"

"I look forward to learning from the general's skills," Han Mingyue replied with a smile.He Lianpeng didn't waste words and attacked immediately. Han Mingyue responded in kind, raising his sword to meet the challenge. In his youth, Han Mingyue had been close enough with Mo Xiuyao to be considered bosom friends, and had once commanded the world's foremost intelligence organization, the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity. His martial prowess was naturally extraordinary. Though not quite on par with the world's top four masters, he was more than a match for He Lianpeng. Their battle quickly became an intense deadlock.

He Lianpeng was desperate to capture or kill Ye Li, but Han Mingyue felt no such urgency. His only goal was to prevent He Lianpeng from harming Ye Li, so he fought with relative ease.

Meanwhile, Lin Han shielded Ye Li while observing the fight. He asked, "Wang Fei, should we assist Young Master Mingyue?"

Ye Li shook her head with a smile. "Young Master Mingyue's skills are no weaker than He Lianpeng's. If we intervene rashly, we'd only complicate things for him."

After considering this, Lin Han nodded in agreement. Looking around, he saw that a new battlefield had formed. Northern Rong soldiers and Mo Family Army troops were locked in mortal combat. With both sides now evenly matched in numbers, formations and tactics had been abandoned in favor of close-quarters fighting. If this continued, the likely outcome would be mutual destruction.

Just as Lin Han was about to suggest that Ye Li retreat, earth-shaking hoofbeats sounded in the distance. Lin Han paused, then listened carefully before exclaiming joyfully, "Wang Fei, it's General Yuan Pei's forces!" The sound came from the direction of Flying Goose Pass—any troops arriving from that direction could only be Yuan Pei's men.

Ye Li nodded and gazed into the distance. Soon, black banners bearing the insignia of the Mo Family Army appeared on the horizon, followed by countless black warhorses charging toward them. Glancing back at the still-fighting Mo Family Army soldiers, Ye Li's face finally relaxed into a smile.