Mo Li

"Wang Fei?" Everyone looked at Ye Li in surprise, momentarily unsure of what had happened. Although Princess Ding was no older than any of them present, her composure and calmness were qualities even seasoned veterans like Lyu Jinxian deeply admired. For her to lose her usual serene expression—something must have gone terribly wrong...

Yun Ting stepped forward, picked up the letter, and glanced at it. He nearly screamed, "Wang—"

"Silence!" Ye Li quickly regained her composure, cutting Yun Ting off sharply. She closed her eyes briefly, and when she reopened them, they were once again calm and steady. She extended her hand, and Yun Ting, suppressing his shock, handed her the letter with both hands.

Ye Li took the letter and read it again carefully before asking, "Where is the messenger? Bring him in." Moments later, a young man with reddened eyes and a travel-worn appearance entered. "Wang Fei."

"A Jin," Ye Li said solemnly. A Jin was one of Mo Xiuyao's most loyal subordinates, someone who rarely appeared in public and thus drew little attention. The fact that Feng Zhiyao had sent A Jin personally to deliver the letter made Ye Li uneasy. Steadying herself, she asked softly, "A Jin, what happened to Wang Ye?"

A Jin bit his lip, his eyes pleading as he looked at Ye Li. "Wang Ye... Wang Ye is unconscious. Third Master Feng asked me to urge Wang Fei to return as quickly as possible." A Jin knew he wasn't the brightest, but that only made him more loyal. Neither Wang Ye nor Wang Fei had ever looked down on him for it—instead, they trusted him implicitly. That was why Third Master Feng had chosen him to deliver the message. Otherwise, with Wang Ye severely injured, not even Feng San's orders could have made him leave Wang Ye's side.

Ye Li's heart trembled slightly. She nodded. "I understand. Go rest first. We'll set off tonight."

A Jin nodded emphatically. Though Third Master Feng had managed to suppress news of Wang Ye's unconsciousness, his prolonged absence would soon become impossible to hide. If Wang Fei could return quickly, the situation would be much easier to handle.

After dismissing A Jin, Zhuo Jing and the others spoke up. "Wang Fei, what should we do now—"

Ye Li raised a hand to stop him, took a deep breath, and said, "Qin Feng, I'll write a letter. You must personally deliver it to General Lü. Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, prepare everything. We leave immediately."

"Yes, Wang Fei!" The three responded in unison before swiftly exiting the tent to make arrangements.

Ye Li turned to the remaining He Su and Yun Ting. "After I return, all operations against the Chu army will be under General Lü's command. Both of you—you must obey his orders without question. Understood?"

Yun Ting and He Su bowed respectfully. "This general obeys." Seeing Ye Li's slightly distracted expression, Yun Ting couldn't help but add, "Wang Fei, Wang Ye is blessed by the heavens. He will surely overcome this. Please do not worry too much."

Ye Li smiled faintly and nodded. "I know." Mo Xiuyao was too stubborn to die. She maintained her calm smile, but to Yun Ting and He Su, it only deepened their concern. Exchanging a glance, they could only retreat helplessly.In a certain camp of the Chu army, within a lavish tent, Mo Jingli lounged comfortably on a chair draped with thick furs, enjoying the graceful dance of the performers before him. With one arm wrapped around a seductive woman, his usually gloomy face was now filled with smug satisfaction.

A general entered and, upon seeing the revelry before him, frowned almost imperceptibly.

"Your Majesty."

Mo Jingli raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it?" The general lowered his gaze and respectfully presented a secret letter. Mo Jingli opened it and, after reading it, burst into laughter. Sitting up, he held the woman's slender waist with one hand and the letter with the other, his mood exceedingly pleased. "Excellent, truly excellent. It was indeed worth my efforts... General Li, issue the order to set up checkpoints on all roads leading to Flying Goose Pass and intercept Ye Li! Oh, and don’t harm her... bring her to me. I want to see who will have the last laugh!"

General Li frowned slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he reported truthfully, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. If Princess Ding intends to return to Flying Goose Pass, she will undoubtedly be protected by the Qilin. Killing her would already be difficult, but capturing her alive would be..." It wasn’t that he lacked confidence, but facing the Qilin, who struck fear into the hearts of nobles across nations, no amount of men might suffice. And now, His Majesty was adding to the difficulty by demanding that Princess Ding not be harmed.

Mo Jingli’s face darkened with displeasure. "Are you saying it can’t be done?"

General Li hesitated, then sighed inwardly. Well, the chances of killing Princess Ding were already slim to none. If she escaped due to their restraint, at least they could justify themselves if the Emperor blamed them later. "As you command." Satisfied, Mo Jingli nodded. Noticing the lingering confusion on General Li’s face, he smirked and asked, "Do you want to know why Ye Li is suddenly in such a hurry to return?"

"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty," General Li replied respectfully. Princess Ding’s departure was certainly good news for them, but her sudden exit, combined with the Emperor’s evident joy, suggested something significant had happened at Flying Goose Pass.

Mo Jingli laughed heartily. "For us, it is indeed good news. Mo Xiuyao is dying... isn’t that wonderful?"

General Li was stunned. The words "is dying" seemed utterly incompatible with Prince Ding. Countless people had cursed him to die early over the years, yet through all the ups and downs of Prince Ding’s Estate, he had remained indomitable. To General Li, the notion that Prince Ding was dying sounded more like wishful thinking from the man before him.

Though his mind raced with wild thoughts, his expression remained perfectly respectful, even feigning appropriate shock. Seeing his subordinate’s reaction, Mo Jingli’s mood soared. He could hardly wait to see the look on Ye Li’s face—or on Lei Zhenting and Lei Tengfeng’s. That father-son pair had burned their bridges, but in the end, hadn’t Mo Xiuyao still fallen by his hand?"Ahem, Your Majesty... it would be best to confirm this matter thoroughly. After all, Prince Ding is..." General Li coughed dryly, subtly reminding Mo Jingli. Back then, Prince Ding's injuries were so severe that the entire world believed he would remain crippled for life. Yet in less than ten years, Prince Ding had led the Mo Family Army to once again dominate the battlefield, striking fear into the hearts of all. Seeing Mo Jingli's smug expression, General Li felt compelled to advise caution. There are some people in this world whom it's best not to provoke. And if you've already provoked them, you must be even more careful. Unless you see their corpse with your own eyes, you must never let your guard down. Otherwise, the one who ends up suffering will likely be yourself.

Mo Jingli narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering for a moment, and surprisingly took his subordinate's words to heart. He nodded and said, "You're right. We should indeed verify this to avoid any mishaps." Mo Xiuyao, I refuse to believe you're truly that lucky! If you didn't die the first time, surely you won't survive this time!

Night fell, and several fast horses galloped swiftly along the official road, kicking up clouds of dust in their wake.

Ye Li rode atop her horse, relentlessly whipping it forward. With memories from two lifetimes and a naturally composed disposition, she was usually unflappable. But this time, she couldn't help but feel somewhat flustered. She let the biting cold wind whip against her cheeks, tousling the hair at her temples. Zhuo Jing and the others followed closely behind her, also riding without pause. The sudden unexpected turn in what had been a smooth campaign had caught everyone off guard.

Suddenly, Ye Li's steed let out a piercing whinny and reared up on its hind legs.

"Wang Fei, be careful!"

From atop the horse, Ye Li leaped into the air, landing gracefully just as the galloping horse collapsed to the ground.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—" A volley of arrows rained down from both sides of the road.

A flash of killing intent passed through Ye Li's clear, beautiful eyes as she said in a low voice, "Eliminate them all!" From the darkness, countless black-clad figures emerged, charging toward the archers on either side of the road. Meanwhile, Ye Li had already mounted another horse and was galloping ahead. Behind her, Lin Han, Zhuo Jing, and A Jin paid no attention to the ongoing battle, instead following Ye Li's retreating figure.

On the ancient moonlit path, where the night air carried a hint of desolation, a tall and straight man stood silently by the roadside, gazing up at the crescent moon in the sky. His deep blue robes appeared even darker in the night, lending him an air of cold detachment and wariness not usually present. In his hand, he held a heavy sword, as if he had just arrived or as if he had been standing there since time immemorial.

From the distant road, the sound of galloping hooves approached rapidly. A woman in black and a young man in green appeared beside the man. The black-clad woman frowned and said, "Big brother, are we really going to do this?" The green-clad young man also voiced his disapproval, "Big brother, provoking Prince Ding's Estate is not a wise move."

The middle-aged man glanced at his younger siblings and said calmly, "This is my business. The two of you, leave at once."

A trace of impatience flashed across the young man's brooding face as he retorted irritably, "Big brother, if something really happens to Ye Li here, do you think Prince Ding's Estate will let us off? In that case, what difference does it make whether it's just you alone or the three of us?"The middle-aged man said, "This is my personal matter. You two go back—this is an order!"

"But..." The woman in black frowned.

"Unless you no longer acknowledge me as your elder brother, leave at once!" the middle-aged man commanded. The woman in black stamped her foot helplessly, then tugged at the man in blue robes, and the two vanished into the night. No sooner had they left than the sound of hoofbeats, previously distant, suddenly drew near. At the head of the group was a white-clad woman draped in a cloak. When she spotted the middle-aged man waiting by the roadside, a flicker of surprise crossed her face as she reined in her horse.

Under the cover of night, silence lingered for a moment before Ye Li spoke calmly, "I never imagined that among those who would come to trouble me would be the master of the King of Hell Pavilion." The middle-aged man was none other than Ling Tiehan, one of the four greatest martial artists in the world. With Mu Qingcang long missing and Lei Zhenting growing old, Ling Tiehan and Mo Xiuyao were now the two most formidable martial artists known to the world. Moreover, Lei Zhenting, who had devoted his life to martial arts, was far less approachable than Mu Qingcang. The instant they recognized him, Zhuo Jing and the other two immediately stepped forward, shielding Ye Li.

Ling Tiehan paid no heed to their defensive stance, his steady gaze fixed on Ye Li. A trace of regret flashed across his resolute face. "Neither did I expect it would come to this," he admitted. Whether it was his mutual respect with Mo Xiuyao, his friendship with Xu Qingchen, or simply his admiration for this woman, Ling Tiehan had never imagined he would one day raise a hand against her. Yet now...

Zhuo Jing stood firmly in front of Ye Li and said gravely, "Master Ling, as a renowned master, isn’t it beneath you to target our Wang Fei, a woman? Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?" Ling Tiehan regarded him with a faint, mocking smile. "The subordinates of Prince Ding’s Estate are indeed fiercely loyal," he remarked coolly. "Surely you know what my profession is?" The King of Hell Pavilion was, after all, an assassin organization. Who would expect fairness or honor from assassins? In his youth, when his skills were still unrefined, Ling Tiehan had resorted to underhanded methods to eliminate his targets. Even as the pavilion’s master, he had never placed much weight on reputation.

Zhuo Jing fell silent. Arguing morality and honor with a man bred in the world of assassins felt absurd even to him.

"I recall that Master Ling holds a grudge against Prince Zhennan of Xiling," Ye Li said evenly. Mo Jingli alone could never have persuaded Ling Tiehan—it had to be Lei Zhenting’s doing. Ling Tiehan did not deny it. "True," he acknowledged with a nod. "But even so... I am still a man of Xiling."

Ye Li lowered her gaze, her brow furrowing slightly. "Now that I think of it... very few know of Master Ling’s origins. You... are also of the Xiling imperial family, aren’t you?"Ling Tiehan looked at Ye Li with some surprise, then after a long pause, he smiled faintly and said, "Princess Ding is indeed extraordinary." Ye Li shook her head helplessly, "If Ling Gezhu hadn't appeared here, I would never have made such a guess." Although many had speculated about Ling Tiehan's background, his usual demeanor showed no flaws or vulnerabilities. Over the years, there had been no visible interaction between him and the Western Liang royal family, making it difficult for anyone to guess his origins. But after Ye Li eliminated all other possible reasons for Ling Tiehan to assist Lei Zhenting, only this one remained.

The strained relationship between Ling Tiehan and Lei Zhenting was not an act. The only reason Ling Tiehan would set aside years of prejudice to help Lei Zhenting was if he himself were a member of the Western Liang royal family.

The ancient road stretched endlessly under the dim moonlight, appearing desolate and cold. After a long silence, Ling Tiehan finally spoke, "My mother... was once the Imperial Concubine of the late emperor." Ye Li raised an eyebrow slightly. The intrigues and power struggles within the palace were inevitable. Since Ling Tiehan was a prince of the late Xiling Emperor, yet he only spoke of having a personal grudge against Lei Zhenting rather than against the entire Western Liang royal family, it was likely that his mother had died early, and his own exile into the martial world was connected to Lei Zhenting—or more precisely, to Lei Zhenting's maternal family. Ye Li vaguely recalled that in the previous dynasty of Western Liang, there had been an extremely favored Imperial Concubine who was later executed by the late emperor. However, it was such a distant event that few paid attention to it. Even Ye Li herself had only glanced at it while reviewing Lei Zhenting's records and hadn't even remembered the concubine's name.

Ye Li sighed softly, understanding that the current situation was unavoidable. She nodded and said, "Ling Gezhu, please make your move."

Ling Tiehan raised an eyebrow. "You're not afraid?" If Ye Li truly believed she could defeat Ling Tiehan, it would be a joke. If Ling Tiehan were to unleash his full strength with intent to kill, not only Ye Li but everyone present on the battlefield combined wouldn't stand a chance.

Ye Li smiled wryly. "What good would fear do me?" If showing fear would make Ling Tiehan spare her, she wouldn't mind displaying how terrified she was. Ling Tiehan lowered his gaze to the iron sword in his hand and said, "If the Princess is willing, you may visit the King of Hell Pavilion as my guest. In half a month, I will personally escort you back."

Ling Tiehan's intentions were clear—he did not wish to harm Ye Li. He merely wanted to delay her from returning in time. Whether she lived or died made no difference to him. His friendship with Xu Qingchen and his admiration for Ye Li made him reluctant to fight her.

Unfortunately, while Ling Tiehan might think this way, Ye Li could not accept his kindness. She smiled faintly and said, "Ling Gezhu, please."

As Ye Li spoke, Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, and A Jin subtly shifted their positions, surrounding Ling Tiehan while simultaneously shielding Ye Li from harm. Observing their movements, Ling Tiehan's eyes flashed with appreciation. He nodded and said, "In that case, I must apologize for my offense."Ling Tiehan slowly drew his iron sword, his movements so deliberate it seemed as if he were hesitating whether to unsheathe it at all. The moment his blade emerged, Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, and A Jin simultaneously lunged at him from three different directions. What should have been an instant action stretched into slow motion as a cold gleam sliced through the night. Ling Tiehan’s longsword swept toward them with a razor-sharp surge of sword energy.

Given Ling Tiehan’s prowess, a direct clash would have left Zhuo Jing and the others either dead or severely wounded in a single exchange. The instant they saw that icy flash, all three altered their trajectories, narrowly evading the oncoming sword energy—though Lin Han’s robe was sheared off at the hem.

The trio fixed grim expressions on the man before them, now fully realizing the chasm between themselves and a true top-tier master. Under the crushing pressure of Ling Tiehan’s aura, their chests burned with a dull ache. Had they not possessed iron wills, they might have already collapsed.

Zhuo Jing took a deep breath and suddenly thrust his sword forward, launching a rapid flurry of strikes at Ling Tiehan. Blades clashed, figures blurred, and sword energy scattered like sparks. Yet despite Zhuo Jing’s all-out assault, Ling Tiehan remained unshaken, even managing to speak mid-combat. "Not bad. In martial arts, speed reigns supreme. But... you’re still not fast enough!"

Ling Tiehan’s movements weren’t particularly swift, yet no matter how fast Zhuo Jing attacked, his blade always found the perfect defensive position with effortless precision. This style of combat didn’t just drain an opponent’s stamina—it eroded their will.

Lin Han and A Jin exchanged a glance before Lin Han charged in, sword raised. A Jin unfurled her whip with a sharp crack, its length darting toward Ling Tiehan like a venomous serpent.

From the sidelines, Ye Li exhaled softly. A short blade slid from her sleeve into her palm as she joined the fray. In close combat, few in the world could rival her—yet Ling Tiehan was clearly one of them. "Wang Fei’s skills... though it’s a shame your inner energy is lacking," Ling Tiehan remarked with genuine admiration. For a woman, Ye Li’s cultivation was impressive; after only a decade of training, she could nearly match Leng Liuyue, a testament to her extraordinary talent. But having missed the optimal age to cultivate inner energy, she paled in comparison to a peerless master like Ling Tiehan.

Ye Li moved even faster than Zhuo Jing and Lin Han, each strike aimed with lethal precision. Yet to Ling Tiehan, even these deadly techniques fell short. Truly, he was the only one in the world capable of rivaling Prince Ding.

Though it was four against one, Zhuo Jing and the others grew increasingly disheartened. Just as they could never defeat Prince Ding, they stood no chance against his equal, Ling Tiehan.

"Wang Fei, run!" Zhuo Jing urged in a low voice.

Ye Li smiled bitterly but didn’t slow her movements. Escape was impossible now. Ling Tiehan wasn’t even fighting at full strength—if she fled, Zhuo Jing and the others would be dead within moments. More importantly... she had no confidence in outrunning Ling Tiehan’s pursuit alone."Princess Ding, I must offend you now." Ling Tiehan's voice was cold, tinged with a hint of regret.

His sword moved like the wind, effortlessly deflecting Zhuo Jing and Lin Han as it shot straight toward Ye Li.

"Wang Fei!"

Zhuo Jing and the others cried out in unison. At the same time, Zhuo Jing let out a sharp whistle and, together with Lin Han, lunged forward from left and right. Their swords came down with all their might, actually managing to block Ling Tiehan's strike. Seizing the opportunity, A Jin used her whip to pull Ye Li behind her. "Wang Fei, run!" A Jin said, glaring fiercely at Ling Tiehan.

"Interesting." Ling Tiehan raised an eyebrow as he looked at Zhuo Jing and Lin Han, who had fallen to the ground. They weren't injured—just exhausted from using all their strength to block his strike. But if they survived this, both their mental state and martial skills would advance significantly. "The people of Prince Ding's Estate are indeed extraordinary. However... who will block my next strike?"

Ye Li's expression was grave. Over all these years, she had never felt as powerless as she did now. The Qilin still hadn't arrived—they must have been held up by forces from the King of Hell Pavilion and Lei Zhenting's men. Moreover, as the saying goes, absolute strength overwhelms all tactics. In the face of sheer power, even the most cunning strategies were meaningless.

Watching the white-clad woman whose expression remained as calm as still water, Ling Tiehan sighed softly and swung his sword in a simple, horizontal arc. A Jin lashed out with her whip, a weapon specially crafted by skilled artisans, but the blade's energy sliced through it effortlessly. The sword's momentum didn't falter as it swept toward Ye Li, and Zhuo Jing and the others could only watch in despair.

"Whoosh!"

From the shadowy woods, a surge of energy shot out, colliding precisely with Ling Tiehan's blade. The sword aimed at Ye Li halted abruptly. Ling Tiehan's expression shifted slightly, his gaze sharp as lightning as he turned toward the ancient path's bordering forest. "Who's there?!"

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Special thanks to Blue Moonlight Orchestra and Miss Yuan Yue for composing the lyrics to Feng's song "Chaos. Remembering the Mo Family Army." Miss Huiliyi's rendition was also exceptionally moving—how can loyalty and righteousness betray one's homeland when it's worth protecting?

Frost-cold swords pave the way ahead, the waning moon accompanies the reading of military texts.

With sword and halberd, steps fall into chaos, drunken laughter hasty amidst the fray.

This life, bleak and solemn, sings proudly of life and death's fleeting nature.

Ambitions for dominion point toward grand designs.

Spear in hand, riding into dusk, fallen feathers sink into the sands of eternity.

The cries of crows stir the drums of war time and again.

Turbulent waves pierce the sky, swords rival the heavens.

Clouds shift, winds stir—black banners unite the cities, cold songs echo heavy.

Chang'an holds dreams, yet bears the weight of restless bones; northern winds cannot erase the path home.

Where loyal souls pass, blood tears stain the emperor's road.

Recitation: I—do not speak of regret, have never regretted! Fighting side by side, what if our halberds sink? In the next life we meet again, I'll strum the sword's hilt in your memory!

Once it was said that loyalty and righteousness could not withstand the fickleness of human hearts.

Amidst the chaos, where can the common folk find shelter for their loyal bones?

Yellow sands choke the frontier posts, the Qiang flute's frost seeps into iron armor.

The solitary city prepares to close its gates—next life, clad in black armor, we'll ride jade dragons once more.