Mo Li

In the Western Route Army camp of the Chu forces, Zhao Lian and Lei Tengfeng sat facing each other, exchanging bitter smiles. Mu Yang and Gao Ming's troops had simultaneously fallen into an ambush by the Mo Family Army, costing the Chu army tens of thousands of soldiers in an instant. Now, the two men finally understood—everything that had happened these past few days was entirely a scheme orchestrated by Prince Ding's Estate. And for this, they had lost the most resourceful veteran of the Chu army, the Old Marquis Muyang, as well as its most promising rising star.

The methods of Prince Ding's Estate were truly terrifying.

Lei Tengfeng lowered his gaze and said, "Now that Marquis Muyang Manor has been eliminated... the next targets of the Mo Family Army will likely be you and me. General Zhao, we must be extremely cautious of Lyu Jinxian's forces." Lei Tengfeng knew that Lyu Jinxian's army must be in a hurry to rendezvous with Yun Ting on the other front. But it wasn’t just Lyu Jinxian who was pressed for time—Lei Tengfeng was equally desperate. The battles on the western front, where his father and Mo Xiuyao were engaged, were not going well either.

Zhao Lian nodded solemnly. "Young Master Lei is right." Though he had been locked in a standoff with Lyu Jinxian these past few days, Zhao Lian felt immense pressure. What frustrated him most was that despite commanding far superior numbers, he was still being suppressed by the enemy, unable to gain the upper hand. He had to admit the gap between himself and Lyu Jinxian. But this was the last line of defense before Lyu Jinxian's forces reached Hangu Pass—no matter what, they had to hold.

Hearing Zhao Lian's intention to adopt a delaying tactic, Lei Tengfeng's eyes flickered briefly, but he said nothing more.

Returning to his own tent, a guard promptly delivered the latest battle report from the Western Liang Army. Though separated by nearly a thousand miles, reports of the clashes between the Western Liang Army and the Mo Family Army were delivered to Lei Tengfeng without fail every day. After scanning the confidential letter in his hand, Lei Tengfeng sat down, rubbing his weary forehead. "Did my father leave any instructions?" he asked. Originally, he had led over a hundred thousand Western Liang troops here in secret, intending to deploy them methodically. However, what Mo Jingli possessed was simply too crucial, forcing him to expose his forces in exchange for that list. Compared to a hundred thousand soldiers, a hidden move capable of turning the tide at a critical moment was what Zhennan Wang truly needed.

The guard replied gravely, "Wang Ye said that the Young Master did nothing wrong. However... we must still withdraw from this stalemate as quickly as possible. The western front is unfavorable for Western Liang. Wang Ye suspects that Mo Xiuyao has dispatched a force of nearly two hundred thousand men, intending to flank our rear. He requests that the Young Master disengage within half a month and rush to Yuming Pass, three hundred miles west of Hangu Pass, to intercept this army."

Lei Tengfeng was stunned. "Two hundred thousand? Where did the Mo Family Army get so many troops?" The total strength of the Mo Family Army was less than a million. After annihilating over a million enemy soldiers, their losses should have been at least two hundred thousand. Even if they hadn’t lost a single soldier, factoring in garrisons across the region, the Mo Family Army simply couldn’t have spared another two hundred thousand men to ambush the Western Liang Army's rear.The guard said, "Young Master has forgotten, the conscription system of Prince Ding's Estate is different from other nations. According to Wang Ye's estimation, if Prince Ding is willing, he could mobilize another one million well-trained troops within a month, and recruit two million new soldiers within three months." The territory currently under Prince Ding's control could be said to be the largest among all nations, and their recent victory over Northern Rong had boosted the morale of Prince Ding's Estate to soaring heights. For Prince Ding, gathering troops would be an extremely easy task.

Lei Tengfeng couldn't help but draw a sharp breath. What had always reassured them most about the Mo Family Army was its troop numbers—they were never excessive. But they had failed to account for the deep reserves of Prince Ding's Estate and the rallying power of the Mo Family Army. Once Mo Xiuyao decided to expand his forces, he would have an endless stream of soldiers continuously replenishing his ranks.

"Wang Ye has another message for Young Master," the guard said respectfully. Lei Tengfeng looked at him, and the guard lowered his voice: "Wang Ye says, Young Master need not pay too much attention to Mo Jingli—he is no match for Princess Ding. He urges Young Master to extricate yourself as quickly as possible."

Lei Tengfeng was momentarily stunned before realizing his father's intent. His father had never truly intended to cooperate with Mo Jingli; from the very beginning, he had never held high hopes for him. The reason for forming this alliance with Mo Jingli was merely to use him as a means to restrain Ye Li. After all, Mo Xiuyao alone was already a formidable opponent; adding Ye Li to the mix would likely be more than even Zhennan Wang's Estate could handle. Once the objective was achieved, Mo Jingli would be of no further use. Whether Mo Jingli won or lost was inconsequential to Zhennan Wang's Estate. If Zhennan Wang's Estate ultimately triumphed over Prince Ding's Estate, it would naturally be best if Mo Jingli lost, leaving Zhennan Wang's Estate as the sole victor. If Zhennan Wang's Estate lost, then Mo Jingli would be even more of a liability, inevitably becoming a major threat to them.

After frowning in contemplation for a moment, Lei Tengfeng raised his head and said, "I understand. Go back and inform Father that I will withdraw from this battlefield as soon as possible. Tell him to take care of his health." The guard nodded and respectfully withdrew, saying, "This subordinate takes his leave."

Inside the tent, Lei Tengfeng remained silent for a long while before finally speaking: "Someone!"

A guard-like man appeared at the entrance. "Young Master."

"Deliver a letter to Princess Ding on my behalf. I wish to speak with her," Lei Tengfeng said.

A flicker of surprise passed through the guard's eyes, but he still responded respectfully, "This subordinate obeys."

By a small stream several miles from the two armies' camps, Ye Li sat leisurely on a stone by the water, watching the murmuring brook flow past with a serene expression. On the grassy bank, tender green shoots had begun to sprout among the withered yellow wild grass, adding a touch of warmth and hope to the otherwise desolate and chilly scene. Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing stood side by side not far behind Ye Li, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Young Master Lei, since you've come, why not show yourself?" Suddenly, Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing turned their gaze toward the woods behind them, and Qin Feng spoke up."Princess Ding is indeed surrounded by masters. I am impressed," Lei Tengfeng emerged from the woods with a faint smile. Ye Li stood up and turned to him, replying lightly, "Young Master Lei is himself a rare master. Unlike me, who lacks any real skill and must rely on bringing people along to avoid mishaps." The corner of Lei Tengfeng's mouth twitched imperceptibly. If this woman before him had no skill, then few in the world could claim any. At the same time, he was inwardly surprised by Ye Li's caution. Though Lei Tengfeng rarely showed his hand, and only a handful in the world knew the extent of his abilities, Ye Li had not forgotten that he was the son of one of the world's top four martial masters. With his innate talent, barring any accidents, Lei Tengfeng's martial prowess was certainly nothing to scoff at.

"You jest, Princess. When encountering you... it's others who meet with mishaps," Lei Tengfeng remarked dryly.

Unfazed by his veiled sarcasm, Ye Li smiled faintly. "With our armies at war, surely Young Master Lei didn't seek me out privately just to mock me?"

Lei Tengfeng chuckled. "Straight to the point, Princess. Very well, I won’t mince words. I know you are eager to reach Hangu Pass to join General Yun Ting, am I right?" Ye Li nodded slightly. Some things on the battlefield could be concealed, but others were impossible to hide—especially the movements of the Mo Family Army from someone like Lei Tengfeng.

"If I join forces with General Zhao, do you believe you can reach Hangu Pass within half a month?" Lei Tengfeng asked.

"No," Ye Li answered frankly. Swift victory required the right timing, terrain, and unity—often all three. Not every battle had exploitable weaknesses, or else some wars wouldn’t drag on for years. Though currently outnumbered, both Ye Li and Lyu Jinxian were confident they could defeat Zhao Lian and Lei Tengfeng. The problem was... it would take far too long.

Lei Tengfeng was slightly taken aback by her candor but soon realized she already understood his intentions—otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so direct. With a wry smile, he admitted, "It seems I can’t hide anything from you, Princess. I intend to withdraw my forces immediately. I ask for your... cooperation."

Ye Li smiled. "A favor for a favor. Young Master Lei may proceed as he wishes."

Lei Tengfeng studied her skeptically. "You know why I’m withdrawing?"

Ye Li replied calmly, "To protect Zhennan Wang’s flank, isn’t it?"

"If you’re aware... letting me go would disrupt Prince Ding’s strategy, wouldn’t it?" Even after all these years, Lei Tengfeng still found this woman inscrutable. But having witnessed and heard too much of her deeds, he had no choice but to tread carefully.

Ye Li gazed at the stream before her and said quietly, "Allowing you to pass may or may not disrupt His Highness’s plans. And... could you even be stopped? But if I don’t let you go, Yun Ting’s hundred thousand troops will suffer immediately. The choice is clear."

Lei Tengfeng paused, then finally clasped his hands in salute. "In that case, I thank you for your generosity, Princess. Farewell."

"Safe travels," Ye Li nodded.Watching Lei Tengfeng's figure disappear into the forest, Zhuo Jing said solemnly, "Wang Fei, Western Liang has thoroughly played Mo Jingli for a fool this time." Ye Li smiled faintly, "From the very beginning, Lei Zhenting never took Mo Jingli seriously." Mo Jingli and Lei Zhenting were fundamentally unequal in capability—how could one expect Lei Zhenting to truly regard Mo Jingli as a partner? From start to finish, Mo Jingli had merely been a tool in Lei Zhenting's hands.

"Once Teng Feng withdraws and Mo Jingli loses Mu Jingmin and Mu Yang, he likely won’t last much longer," Zhuo Jing remarked. Qin Feng frowned, "Even so, Mo Jingli’s forces still outnumber ours. It’s unlikely we’ll be able to return to assist Wang Ye anytime soon."

Ye Li replied calmly, "That depends on how long Mo Jingli can hold out."

Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing both recalled the arrangements they had made during their trip to Nanjing. As for how long Mo Jingli could last… it was truly hard to say.

Lei Tengfeng left swiftly and ruthlessly. By the time Zhao Lian and Lyu Jinxian returned from their fierce battle, the camp was already deserted. Left with no choice, Zhao Lian had no option but to dispatch a fast rider to report the situation to Mo Jingli.

When the news reached Mo Jingli’s main camp, he was already in a towering rage. The reason? Marquis Muyang, who had been imprisoned in the army, had mysteriously vanished. Over the past few days, Mo Jingli’s temper had soared to new heights. The entire camp was on edge, with soldiers and officers treading carefully, afraid of provoking the emperor’s wrath with the slightest misstep.

Mo Jingli deeply felt that this campaign had been plagued by misfortune from the very beginning. The past few days, in particular, had left him utterly overwhelmed. First, he suspected Marquis Muyang Manor of betraying him and defecting to Prince Ding’s Estate. Before that matter could even be clarified, Mu Yang had the audacity to kill his guards. Then, when he sent Gao Ming to capture Mu Yang, both Mu Yang and Gao Ming ended up in the hands of the Mo Family Army—with Mu Yang committing suicide on the spot. As a result, Mo Jingli’s earlier suspicions of Marquis Muyang Manor’s defection now made him look like a foolish clown, played for a fool by Prince Ding’s Estate.

Just as Mo Jingli was deliberating whether to release Marquis Muyang to placate the situation or simply execute him to eliminate future troubles, news arrived of the marquis’s mysterious disappearance. Before Mo Jingli could even vent his fury, a fast dispatch from Zhao Lian sent him into such a rage that he spat blood. The wound Ye Ying had inflicted months ago had never fully healed, and with his rising temper these past few days, the sudden fury finally overwhelmed him.

"Your Majesty!" The generals below were startled by the sight, though none knew what the dispatch contained to provoke such a reaction.

Mo Jingli waved away the eunuch who rushed forward to support him, wiping the blood from his lips with a cold laugh. "What a fine move, Lei Tengfeng! By my decree, order the Right Wing General to intercept Lei Tengfeng’s forces! They must be annihilated completely!"

"Your Majesty?!" The generals gasped in shock. Their confidence in this northern campaign had stemmed from their alliance with Western Liang. Now, before they had even made progress against the Mo Family Army, they were turning on their own ally. The outcome awaiting them was all too clear."Your Majesty, please reconsider," a general at the forefront stepped forward and said, "Our army is currently locked in a standoff with the Mo Family Army. If we also clash with the Western Mausoleum Army, it might allow Prince Ding's Estate to reap the benefits. In this humble general's opinion... our most urgent task now is to first annihilate the hundred thousand Mo Family Army troops led by Yun Ting outside Hangu Pass. By then, even if Princess Ding and Lyu Jinxian's forces arrive at Hangu Pass, they will inevitably be isolated and surrounded by our troops."

The sudden breach of contract by the Zhennan Wang Shizi of Western Liang had indeed taken everyone by surprise and incited anger. However, not everyone was as reckless as Mo Jingli when enraged. Even if Lei Tengfeng took his men and left, leaving them to face the Mo Family Army alone, they still weren't necessarily doomed to defeat. But if His Majesty truly clashed with Zhennan Wang Shizi, then defeat would be inevitable. Lyu Jinxian certainly wouldn't be courteous enough to wait for them to finish their internal strife before attacking.

Mo Jingli remained silent for a long while before finally grunting in acknowledgment of his subordinate's advice. He was well aware that fighting Lei Tengfeng now would bring no benefits. But having been thoroughly outmaneuvered by Prince Ding's Estate and then deceived by Zhennan Wang's Estate, Mo Jingli found this humiliation impossible to swallow.

After another long silence, Mo Jingli finally spoke in a heavy voice, "Concentrate all our forces. Within three days, I want to see Yun Ting's head!" With his fury having no other outlet, Mo Jingli could only vent his anger on Yun Ting, who was stationed outside the pass.

"At your command!" The generals below secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to Lei Tengfeng, Yun Ting was naturally easier to deal with. Moreover, whether considering the overall situation or the current state of the battlefield, Yun Ting was the primary target they needed to eliminate first.

After dismissing everyone, Mo Jingli sat alone in the silent tent, his expression growing increasingly grim. Too many things had happened these past few days, and now, upon reflection, he finally understood—the so-called betrayal of Marquis Muyang Manor had been a scheme orchestrated by Prince Ding's Estate from the very beginning. And because of it, he had lost two of his most capable subordinates. No doubt Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li were laughing at him from the shadows at this very moment.

"Bang!" Mo Jingli swept his hand across the table, sending all its contents crashing to the ground. The attendants in the tent dared not approach to clean up, instead cowering on their knees, too afraid to move.

"Mo Xiuyao! Ye Li... I will never let you off!" Mo Jingli's voice was icy and sinister, as if emerging from the depths of hell.

Marquis Muyang awoke from his slumber, momentarily disoriented by his surroundings. This was clearly not the prison cell he had been kept in within the Chu army camp, but rather a gloomy dungeon. He couldn't help but smile bitterly—had His Majesty moved him here out of fear that someone might attempt another prison break? It was overly cautious. He had already handed over all of Marquis Muyang Manor's forces to Mu Yang to take away—who else would come to rescue him now?

Having slept too long, his body felt stiff. Marquis Muyang shifted slightly and sat up, only to freeze when he noticed the figure not far from him.In an instant, Marquis Muyang's face turned deathly pale. His aged, slightly sagging lips trembled uncontrollably as he stared blankly at the "person" outside the nearby prison cell. To be precise, it was a corpse. Mu Yang's lifeless eyes were wide open, the large patch of blood on his abdomen already darkened to a blackish hue. The hideous wound on his neck further confirmed that he had long lost his life.

"Yang'er!" Marquis Muyang screamed hoarsely, his aged body lunging toward the prison bars with a speed completely unbefitting his physical condition. Yet the iron bars prevented him from reaching the person lying silently beyond. Tears streamed down the old man's face. "Yang'er... Yang'er! Who... who killed you?!"

Only his anguished cries echoed through the empty dungeon. Marquis Muyang collapsed weakly by the cell, staring vacantly at his son's corpse. In that moment, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Mu Yang had been his only son—his sole hope. With Mu Yang gone, it seemed as if everything in this world had lost its meaning in an instant. The Muyanghou Manor... was finished...

All his life, he had strived for fame and fortune, hoping to elevate the Muyanghou Manor to greater heights under his leadership. Yet now, the manor had been destroyed by his own hands. His only son lay dead before him. Had he truly been wrong?

"Yang'er... why? Why didn't they take this old man's life instead?! Why kill my son?! Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The Muyanghou Manor has always been loyal—"

"The 'Your Majesty' Marquis Muyang is calling out to—is it Mo Jingqi or Mo Jingli?" A cold voice sounded from outside as the tightly shut dungeon door creaked open. A tall, handsome man dressed in black entered.

"Qin Feng?! Was it you who killed Yang'er?!" Marquis Muyang was shocked. He had assumed Mo Jingli had captured Mu Yang, never realizing that his son had already fallen into Prince Ding's Estate's hands. Now that he thought about it—his sudden unconsciousness before waking up here—if it had been Mo Jingli, there would have been no need for such measures.

Qin Feng did not deny it, replying calmly, "Since Marquis Muyang understands, you must also know why you've ended up in this situation, no?" While Qin Feng might have felt some regret over Mu Yang's death, he harbored no such sentiments for Marquis Muyang's fate. The Mo Family Army valued loyalty above all else. Marquis Muyang had conspired with Mo Jingli even before Mo Jingqi had fully succumbed to illness. Moreover, the incident where Marquis Muyang had nearly caused the deaths of Wang Fei and the Little Prince remained a deep-seated grudge for everyone in Prince Ding's Estate. Perhaps, from Marquis Muyang's perspective, he had merely followed orders. But from Prince Ding's Estate's standpoint—especially in the eyes of Prince Ding Mo Xiuyao—this was a crime deserving of death. Perhaps it wasn't a matter of right or wrong, but the strong had the right to deal with their enemies as they saw fit.Marquis Muyang couldn't help but tremble, closing his eyes in pain. Seeing people from Prince Ding's Estate, what more was there to understand? He had been cautious all his life, appearing to outsiders as someone who curried favor with the powerful, lacking the backbone expected of a general. So, after Prince Ding's Estate fell from grace, he wholeheartedly pledged his allegiance to Mo Jingqi. Unlike Marquis Nan, who stayed out of political affairs, or the Hua family, who secretly supported Prince Ding's Estate, he did whatever the emperor commanded. Wasn't he a subject? As a subject, obeying the emperor's orders was only natural, even if... they were wrong.

But the greatest mistake of his life was leading troops to besiege Princess Ding. That one act had sealed the fate of Marquis Muyang Manor. So when he saw Mo Jingqi's decline, he had no choice but to immediately switch his allegiance to Mo Jingli. He couldn't side with Prince Ding's Estate like Marquis Nan and the Leng family, nor did he have the courage to stake the entire Hua family's survival like Duke Hua, who chose to stand or fall with Great Chu. He wanted to live, to hold onto power, to ensure Marquis Muyang Manor endured for generations. But now... all his struggles and efforts over the years had ultimately come to nothing.

"Prince Ding's Estate... Prince Ding's Estate... Why?! I was only following orders back then!" Marquis Muyang roared in frustration. He couldn't accept it. If he'd had a choice back then, would he have foolishly made an enemy of Prince Ding's Estate? Perhaps... occasionally, he had entertained the fleeting thought—if Prince Ding's Estate were completely destroyed, could Marquis Muyang Manor take its place...? But that had been nothing more than a passing fancy.

Qin Feng said calmly, "Before leaving, His Highness asked me to relay a message to Marquis Muyang."

Marquis Muyang looked at him as Qin Feng spoke, "Wang Ye said, the bone-deep pain he endured will be repaid a hundredfold. Back then, Wang Ye spared Mu Yang's life, but now he takes it back."

Marquis Muyang remained silent. After that incident years ago, Mo Xiuyao had ultimately released Mu Yang, and he had once harbored a sliver of hope. So, was it that Mo Xiuyao simply felt the blow dealt to him wasn't severe enough?