Mo Li

A hundred miles outside Flying Goose Pass, the Mo Family Army, with their black banners fluttering, was advancing toward the pass at a rapid pace. Mo Xiuyao rode at the forefront of the troops, his snow-white hair making him appear even colder and more detached. Despite having just annihilated a Western Liang force, his brows remained furrowed.

"Greetings, Wang Ye!" A fast horse galloped toward them from the direction of Flying Goose Pass, stopping only when it reached Mo Xiuyao. The rider didn’t even dismount, saluting directly from horseback. Seeing his hurried demeanor, Mo Xiuyao’s heart sank. "No need for formalities. What’s the situation at Flying Goose Pass?"

The man replied gravely, "This subordinate is incompetent. Wang Fei… Wang Fei refuses to leave Flying Goose Pass."

"What did you say?" Mo Xiuyao’s handsome face instantly turned as cold as iron, his eyes radiating palpable killing intent.

The man continued, "Yesterday, there was a fierce battle at Flying Goose Pass. Nearly half of the defending soldiers were lost. Additionally… the six Qilin squads stationed there were almost completely wiped out. Wang Fei… Wang Fei adamantly refuses to retreat first."

Mo Xiuyao narrowed his eyes and asked coldly, "What about the Little Prince?"

The man answered, "Several days ago, Wang Fei sent the Little Prince back to Li Cheng."

After hearing the shadow guard’s report, Mo Xiuyao’s expression darkened with severity. After a long silence, he finally barked, "Black Cloud Cavalry, follow me ahead of the main force. We must reach Flying Goose Pass by noon today!"

The Black Cloud Cavalry soldiers behind him responded in unison. Mo Xiuyao instructed Leng Huai and He Su to take charge of the remaining troops before leading thirty thousand Black Cloud Cavalry riders in a swift charge toward Flying Goose Pass.

The conversation did not last long. When Ye Li returned to the city wall, Feng San and the others waiting there couldn’t help but sigh in relief. They had been worried that Lei Zhenting, in his desperation, might harm Ye Li. However, despite their eased expressions, Ye Li felt no relief. She didn’t understand the meaning behind Lei Zhenting’s deliberate words to her, but she had grasped his determination to take Flying Goose Pass—and his plans afterward. The real challenge was yet to come.

This time, Lei Zhenting indeed showed no mercy. The hundreds of thousands of Western Liang troops launched relentless, fierce attacks. The Mo Family Army, now reduced to a mere hundred thousand, could no longer afford to engage outside the walls and could only defend desperately. But the disparity in numbers was too great. Moreover, the Mo Family Army soldiers were exhausted from days of bitter fighting, while the Western Liang forces, with their vast numbers, could rotate troops and remain relatively fresh.

Under such circumstances, by noon, the Mo Family Army defending Flying Goose Pass was barely holding on.

Even so, they had far exceeded Lei Zhenting’s expectation of breaching the pass within two hours.Soon, a Western Liang soldier scaled the walls of Flying Goose Pass, followed by a second, then a third... Though many were struck down by the defending soldiers, more and more Western Liang troops managed to climb onto the battlements. The fighting, initially confined to the base of the walls and the parapets, now spilled onto the ramparts themselves. Ye Li swung her blade, slashing open the throat of a Western Liang soldier. As she turned, a flash of steel gleamed behind her. She raised her arm to block, but someone pulled her aside abruptly. The Western Liang soldier wielding the large sword, his face twisted in a snarl, collapsed with a thud. Han Mingyue stood behind Ye Li, still clad in pristine white robes, his demeanor as composed and graceful as ever.

"Why haven't you left yet?" Ye Li frowned slightly upon seeing him. Those like her bore the responsibility of defending the pass and had no choice but to stay. But Han Mingyue held no official position in the Mo Family Army and thus had no obligation to remain. Moreover, she had already sent Han Mingxi back to Li Cheng days ago under the pretext of official business, leaving Han Mingyue with even less reason to stay. Han Mingyue smiled faintly. "I wanted to see just how far Wang Fei and the Mo Family Army could go."

Ye Li gave a helpless, bitter laugh. "Now you see... we can't hold out any longer..." Her voice carried a tinge of resignation and sorrow. Despite their perseverance over these long days, the outcome remained unchanged. More importantly, their failure wasn't just a defeat—it came with a price. Once Lei Zhenting led his troops through the pass, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Does Wang Fei regret it?" Han Mingyue asked curiously.

Ye Li shook her head. "I only do what I must. Besides, no matter the outcome, what's done cannot be undone. What use is regret?"

Watching her calm and composed demeanor, Han Mingyue felt his own turbulent emotions settle somewhat. He chuckled. "The reason I stayed is that I thought a miracle might just happen."

"Let's hope so," Ye Li replied with a faint smile, clearly not taking his words seriously.

Miracles did exist in this world, but this time, it was evident they weren't on their side. When everyone saw Lei Zhenting—who should have been severely injured and far from recovered—leap onto the ramparts of Flying Goose Pass with astonishing Light Body Skill, they couldn't help but be stunned. At the same time, they silently thanked their luck that Lei Zhenting hadn't ambushed Wang Fei earlier when she descended from the walls. Otherwise, even with Qin Feng and the others, they might not have been able to stop him.

Lei Zhenting stood leisurely on the battlements, facing Ye Li. The ramparts were now a river of blood. Yet, anyone with eyes could see that no matter how valiantly the Mo Family Army fought, with the enemy outnumbering them several times over, defeat was nearly inevitable. Lei Zhenting smiled at Ye Li. "Is Wang Fei curious why I didn't strike earlier at the base of the walls?" Ye Li shook her head. "More than that, I'm far more curious about how Zhennan Wang recovered from his injuries in such a short time." No one understood Lei Zhenting's wounds better than Ye Li. Given the improper treatment by Western Liang's military physicians, his injuries could only be worse than she had anticipated—never better.Han Mingyue stood beside Ye Li, his smile gentle and refined. "There's no need to be surprised. I recall there is a martial technique that can rapidly enhance a person's potential in the shortest time. Even if severely injured, one can temporarily surpass their usual strength."

Lei Zhenting glanced at Han Mingyue indifferently and remarked, "Young Master Mingyue is indeed well-informed."

Han Mingyue took a subtle step forward, shielding Ye Li without drawing attention. He sighed, "I wish I didn't know." Nothing in this world comes without a price. The effects of the technique Han Mingyue mentioned were so extraordinary that the required sacrifice was self-evident. That Lei Zhenting had resorted to this clearly indicated he no longer intended to live. A martial arts master might not be terrifying, but one who no longer cared for life was undoubtedly fearsome. Observing Lei Zhenting's unyielding demeanor, Han Mingyue shook his head and said, "Zhennan Wang is a hero in his own right. Why must you be so desperate?"

Lei Zhenting showed no anger, not even a flicker of emotion. Having reached this point, he was already at the end of his road. Though he never quite understood how Mo Xiuyao had outmaneuvered him, defeat was defeat, and he was not without the courage to admit it. But before that, he could still do something more for Western Liang—or perhaps... deal Mo Xiuyao one last, vicious blow.

"Zhennan Wang should know Xiu Yao's temper. If anything were to happen to Princess Ding... your tens of thousands of troops..." Han Mingyue calmly reminded him.

Lei Zhenting nodded with a faint smile. "Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Mingyue. However... from the moment they followed me to attack Flying Goose Pass, none of them expected to survive. So... I'm afraid I cannot accept your kindness." Han Mingyue sighed. If possible, he truly did not wish to confront Lei Zhenting. With his current skills, he might match Lei Zhenting in a decade, but now it was impossible. Moreover, the reverse technique Lei Zhenting employed was an extraordinary method to concentrate all his strength in a short time. Under these circumstances, Lei Zhenting's power would double for twenty-four hours. Even if Mo Xiuyao himself were here, the outcome would be uncertain, let alone Han Mingyue.

Lei Zhenting studied Ye Li, who stood beside Han Mingyue, and asked curiously, "Does Wang Fei truly not resent Mo Xiuyao at all?"

Ye Li raised her eyes, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. "This consort does not understand Zhennan Wang's meaning."

Lei Zhenting laughed heartily. "Wang Fei is intelligent—how could you not understand? If not for Mo Xiuyao's schemes, how could the over two hundred thousand defenders at Flying Goose Pass and your Qilin have been trapped by me, now facing total annihilation? Can Wang Fei truly harbor no resentment?" Ye Li lowered her gaze, pondering for a moment before replying calmly, "Though this consort is not adept at weighing gains and losses, I still understand the principle of achieving the greatest victory at the smallest cost. From the standpoint of Prince Ding's Estate, his decision brings a hundred benefits without a single harm. Why should I feel resentment?"Lei Zhenting scrutinized Ye Li for a long moment before finally sighing helplessly, "I had originally thought... Never mind. If Wang Fei shared the same thoughts as ordinary women in this world, then she wouldn’t be Princess Ding. Wang Fei... I must apologize for offending you." With that, Lei Zhenting wasted no more words. His gaze toward Ye Li instantly filled with murderous intent, and an overwhelming pressure bore down upon her. Lei Zhenting was never one for idle talk; the only reason he had spoken so much to Ye Li was because he was certain Mo Xiuyao couldn’t return so quickly, and he had also hoped to sow discord between Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. If Princess Ding were to die harboring resentment toward Prince Ding, what kind of blow would that be to the prince, who cherished his wife above all else? Unfortunately, Ye Li’s mental fortitude proved far more resilient and composed than he had anticipated, utterly unmoved by his words. With some regret, Lei Zhenting abandoned his scheme.

Without Lei Zhenting needing to say more, Ye Li and the others knew the situation was now unavoidable. Calmly, Ye Li drew two pistols, one in each hand, and aimed them at Lei Zhenting. Curious, Lei Zhenting eyed the objects in her hands. "So it was this thing that injured me?" Ye Li smiled faintly. "Wang Ye is welcome to test it again." Before her words faded, two deafening bangs rang out as bullets streaked toward Lei Zhenting. With a swift flicker of his figure, Lei Zhenting dodged effortlessly. Unfazed by the missed shots, Ye Li remained composed, steadily tracking his movements as her pistols continued to roar. Though the bullets were fast, Lei Zhenting’s speed seemed even faster. The onlookers could only catch glimpses of a blur darting across the battlements. By the time Ye Li ceased firing, Lei Zhenting had reappeared atop a merlon. Glancing down at his battle robe, he noticed a small hole that hadn’t been there before. "Impressive," he praised. "A pity... If you had more of these, I might have been wary. But it seems Wang Fei doesn’t have many left."

Ye Li didn’t conceal the truth, nodding. "Indeed, I only have these two. I never intended to rely on them against Zhennan Wang." She had merely wanted to gauge Lei Zhenting’s current strength—and what they saw confirmed that he now surpassed even Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan. Lei Zhenting smiled and nodded. "Now that Princess Ding has made her move, it’s my turn." With that, he unsheathed his sword and swung it toward Ye Li. The strike was deceptively simple, devoid of any flourish, yet everyone present could sense the lethal intent and terrifying power behind it. Han Mingyue’s expression darkened as he drew his own sword, slashing to intercept Lei Zhenting’s blade energy. Meanwhile, Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, and Wei Lin beside Ye Li also sprang into action, attempting to block the attack.Ye Li sidestepped swiftly. After her battle with Ling Tiehan, she had come to understand that she held no real advantage when facing truly supreme masters of internal energy. The reason she had never encountered danger before was simply because she had never faced opponents of Lei Zhenting and Ling Tiehan's caliber. Taking a deep breath, she glanced back at the Mo Family Army soldiers and Western Liang troops still locked in fierce combat nearby. The battle had devolved into brutal, close-quarters fighting—a life-or-death struggle with no quarter given.

Lei Zhenting's current power far surpassed what Han Mingyue and the others could withstand. By burning his life force as fuel, his martial prowess had reached the absolute peak of his lifetime. With a single strike, Han Mingyue and Zhuo Jing were sent flying over a dozen paces, while Qin Feng and Wei Lin crashed against the city wall, both coughing up blood.

Having dispatched all four with one move, Lei Zhenting paid them no further mind. His sword swept toward Ye Li in a clean, decisive arc. She retreated several steps in haste, yet his sword energy seemed to pursue her like a shadow. Seeing no escape, Ye Li gritted her teeth. A cold glint flashed in her hand as she charged forward instead—straight toward Lei Zhenting. A faint smile touched his lips, mocking her overestimation of her own abilities.

From atop the battlements, a streak of cold light shot forth—swift as lightning—aimed directly at Lei Zhenting. Sensing the threat of a peer-level opponent, he immediately abandoned his attack on Ye Li and raised his hand to block the incoming strike.

Not far away, a figure clad in plain blue robes stood atop the city wall behind Ye Li. The newcomer regarded Lei Zhenting with cool detachment. "Since when does Zhennan Wang enjoy bullying the weak?" he said. "If you wish to fight, why not face me?"

Having narrowly avoided Lei Zhenting's sword, Ye Li caught her breath and withdrew to join Han Mingyue and the others, leaving the battlefield to Ling Tiehan. Lei Zhenting cast a regretful glance at Ye Li before turning to Ling Tiehan. "Your timing is impeccable," he remarked.

Ling Tiehan replied indifferently, "Didn't you ask me to find you?"

Frowning, Lei Zhenting said, "You couldn't have arrived this quickly." By his calculations, Ling Tiehan should only have arrived after he'd finished handling all matters here.

Ling Tiehan rested his sword against his shoulder. "Indeed, I shouldn't have. But some days ago, someone warned me that if I didn't hurry, I might miss you forever. It seems he wasn't mistaken." Lei Zhenting's current formidable state would last only twenty-four hours. After that, not only would he lose all his martial abilities, but his life as well. As one of the world's top masters himself, Ling Tiehan naturally understood what had brought about Lei Zhenting's condition.

"Mo Xiuyao again?" Lei Zhenting frowned. "He could predict even this?"

Ling Tiehan didn't deny it. "Ten days ago, I met with him. He told me that within ten days, Zhennan Wang would surely meet his end at Flying Goose Pass. If I wished to find you... I'd best arrive before then. So I came two days ago. I never expected to witness such an entertaining spectacle."Lei Zhenting naturally understood what he meant by "good show." At his level, there was little left to provoke anger. With a flick of his long sword, he said, "In that case, let’s begin. Killing you first before dealing with Princess Ding won’t make a difference. At this point… whether I’m here or not hardly matters anymore." The soldiers of Western Liang had already received his orders earlier—once they breached Flying Goose Pass, they were to disregard everything else and focus solely on causing maximum destruction across the northwestern region. Once these troops scattered and infiltrated the northwest, even Mo Xiuyao’s million-strong army would find it a headache to deal with. Under such circumstances, the presence or absence of a commander like Lei Zhenting truly made little difference.

Ling Tiehan nodded solemnly, his expression grave. "Very well. The grievances between us should have been settled long ago. If I die by your hand in this battle, it will mean I was no match for you. But if you lose… I swear I will no longer trouble Teng Feng."

Lei Zhenting smiled in satisfaction. "In that case, it seems I’m getting the better end of the deal. After you."

"After you."

"Wang Fei," Qin Feng pressed a hand against his throbbing wound while watching the two men locked in confrontation by the city wall. His gaze toward Ling Tiehan was particularly complex. Who would have thought that the person who saved Wang Fei’s life this time would be the very same Ling Tiehan who had nearly killed her before? No one could have guessed that Wang Ye had secretly arranged such a move. If Ling Tiehan hadn’t arrived in time, given their current condition, it would have been nearly impossible for them to rescue Wang Fei from Lei Zhenting’s grasp.

Ye Li nodded, her voice firm. "Don’t worry about them. Stop the Western Liang soldiers entering the pass at all costs."

Qin Feng and the others responded in unison, "Understood!"

Apologies for the delay today, and for the shorter update. I was out all day and only got back after six, so I couldn’t finish in time. Please forgive me~