Mo Li

A grand battle atop the city walls should have drawn countless martial artists to witness the spectacle. Yet, at this moment in Flying Goose Pass, no one had the time to spare for such things. Whether it was the Western Liang troops desperate to break through the pass or the Mo Family Army soldiers fighting to the death to hold them back, no one had the mind to watch the duel. In the hearts and eyes of all, there was only one target—the enemy.

The city gates were finally shattered by the impact of a massive log. The Mo Family Army soldiers blocked the breach with their own flesh and blood, engaging the enemy in fierce combat. On the city walls, in the streets—everywhere, soldiers from both sides clashed in brutal melees. Whether it was Zhennan Wang’s impending fall or Princess Ding’s vow to stand with the defenders to the end, both had greatly bolstered the morale of their respective armies. Neither side yielded an inch, fighting a bloody battle to the death.

No one knew how long this bloodshed lasted. By the time the distant sound of hoofbeats finally reached them from beyond the pass, everyone—including Ye Li—was drenched in blood and utterly exhausted. Feng Zhiyao’s spirits soared as he suddenly leapt up, shouting, “The Black Cloud Cavalry is here! His Highness has returned!” Instantly, all surviving soldiers felt a surge of renewed vigor. As the hoofbeats drew nearer, an irrepressible joy welled up in their hearts. Their prince had finally returned. Reinforcements had arrived. They… had finally held Flying Goose Pass!

With the arrival of the Black Cloud Cavalry, the pressure on the defenders at the city gates eased significantly. The Western Liang forces outside the pass, caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, fell into disarray. Seizing the opportunity, the Black Cloud Cavalry charged through the chaos and swiftly entered the city. At the forefront of the cavalry rode a figure clad in white, his hair silver, his aura imposing. “Close the front and rear gates!” he commanded.

Though named a pass, Flying Goose Pass housed a small city within its walls. However, the city was not large, and its inhabitants were mostly stationed soldiers, with only a handful of civilians. With the battle imminent, the civilians had already retreated to the rear, leaving the city almost entirely occupied by the Mo Family Army. Once the gates were shut, the Western Liang soldiers still outside would have to expend great effort to breach them again, while those already inside would be trapped and doomed.

“A Li…”

“A Li…” Mo Xiuyao galloped through the streets, his whip lashing out at any Western Liang soldier foolish enough to attempt an ambush, sending them flying dozens of feet away. Finally, at a street corner, he caught sight of that slender figure. Her once-white robes were now stained crimson, and even from a distance, he could see the traces of blood marring her delicate features. In that instant, Mo Xiuyao felt as though his heart had been violently lacerated, the pain unbearable.

“Xiu Yao?” Hearing his voice, Ye Li was momentarily dazed. She had lost count of how many she had slain that day. Her entire being seemed steeped in the thick scent of blood. Now, hearing Mo Xiuyao’s voice so abruptly, it felt surreal, like an illusion.

“Watch out!” Han Mingyue called sharply, hurling his sword at a Western Liang soldier sneaking up behind Ye Li for a surprise attack. Simultaneously, Mo Xiuyao vaulted from his horse, swift as a swan skimming water, and landed before her. In one fluid motion, he pulled her into his embrace."Xiu Yao?" Ye Li blinked, finally recognizing the person holding her.

"A Li." Mo Xiuyao tightened his embrace around the woman in his arms. For the first time in his life, he felt an overwhelming sense of dread. Mo Xiuyao, who had always been meticulous in his calculations, could manipulate the entire world at his fingertips. But this time, he had truly miscalculated. He couldn't bear to imagine what he would do if anything had happened to Ye Li.

With one arm around Ye Li, Mo Xiuyao wielded his horsewhip in the other, sending waves of fierce energy like venomous arrows in all directions. Within moments, every Western Liang soldier within a ten-zhang radius around them fell. The remaining soldiers, intimidated by Prince Ding's fearsome reputation, dared not advance further.

Han Mingyue withdrew his sword from a fallen Western Liang soldier and approached. "You're finally back," he said. Mo Xiuyao nodded, looking at Han Mingyue with unprecedented solemnity for the first time in over a decade. "Thank you," he said gravely. Like Ye Li, Han Mingyue was drenched in blood, his once-elegant demeanor completely gone. His body bore numerous wounds, clear evidence that he had been protecting Ye Li all along.

Han Mingyue smiled faintly, his face still smeared with enemy blood. Yet, the warmth in his eyes carried a hint of the radiant charm that had once made Young Master Mingyue renowned throughout the land.

Han Mingyue knew that the rift between them over the years might finally be mended after this battle. He understood Mo Xiuyao's temperament well—Mo Xiuyao would never hate him, but he would forever ignore him, as if they had never been friends or brothers. Only after freeing himself from the delusion of unrequited love did Han Mingyue realize what he had lost for that hopeless affection.

Mo Xiuyao's return naturally caused a stir, and soon Feng Zhiyao and others rushed over. Without wasting time on pleasantries, Feng Zhiyao urgently asked, "How many men did you bring back?!" Mo Xiuyao replied, "Thirty thousand."

Feng Zhiyao's expression darkened instantly. Against hundreds of thousands of Western Liang soldiers, thirty thousand was practically useless!

Mo Xiuyao said calmly, "Don't worry. Leng Huai will arrive with reinforcements soon. We just need to delay the Western Liang forces and hold them at Flying Goose Pass and the small town."

At this point, there was nothing more to say. Feng Zhiyao turned decisively. "Understood. But I don't know how long we can hold out. If any of them break through..."

Mo Xiuyao frowned. "Every county has stationed troops. Though not many, they should be enough to stop any stragglers."

Ye Li added coolly, "I've already ordered all civilians within a hundred li of Flying Goose Pass to evacuate."Upon hearing this, everyone was delighted. Apart from Ye Li, no one had truly considered this solution. Although evacuating all the civilians would be difficult, given the prestige of Prince Ding's Estate, as long as Princess Ding issued the order personally, at least **% of the people would comply. With the most pressing concern resolved, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Feng Zhiyao smiled and said, "In that case, we'll focus all our efforts on holding back the Western Mausoleum Army. We’ll definitely last until General Leng arrives. Wang Ye, Wang Fei, this subordinate takes his leave!" As long as there were no major civilian casualties, even if some houses and crops were destroyed, it wouldn’t be a significant loss for the Mo Family Army. Despite years of continuous warfare, the careful planning and development over these years had ensured that the entire northwest remained fundamentally intact.

"This subordinate takes his leave!" the group echoed in unison before turning to head to their respective battlefields.

"By the way, Lei Zhenting and Ling Gezhu are still on the city tower," Ye Li suddenly remembered. However, after such a fierce battle, she couldn’t be sure how much time had passed. But since Lei Zhenting hadn’t reappeared, it was either because the two were still locked in combat, or Lei Zhenting had already fallen—or perhaps both had perished together.

Mo Xiuyao showed no concern for Ling Tiehan, whom he had coaxed into helping. After all, Ling Tiehan had come seeking revenge against Lei Zhenting; Mo Xiuyao had merely provided him the opportunity while incidentally saving his own subordinates. Even though Ling Tiehan had ended up rescuing Ye Li by sheer coincidence, Mo Xiuyao wouldn’t feel guilty if Ling Tiehan lost his life in the process.

Removing his cloak and draping it over Ye Li’s shoulders, Mo Xiuyao said softly, "A Li, let’s go back and change your clothes first." Ye Li shot him an exasperated glance before turning to head toward the city tower.

The battle atop the tower was still raging. Lei Zhenting’s reversal technique was indeed astonishing. Under normal circumstances, even if Lei Zhenting were uninjured, he would hardly be a match for Ling Tiehan’s martial prowess. Yet when Ye Li and the others arrived, it was Ling Tiehan who was covered in wounds. However, Ling Tiehan, a lifelong martial arts devotee with an unyielding spirit, showed no intention of stopping despite his injuries.

Hearing Mo Xiuyao and the others ascend the tower, Lei Zhenting was the first to disengage and retreat.

"Mo Xiuyao, it’s you again," Lei Zhenting narrowed his eyes, his deep and desolate gaze now tinged with bloodshot fury—whether from the battle or from Mo Xiuyao’s premature return ruining his plans.

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow calmly, though only Ye Li, whose hand he held, could sense the storm beneath his composed exterior. With a faint smile, Mo Xiuyao said, "Naturally, it’s this prince. Though I must admit, I’m a little surprised… how is it that you’re still not dead yet?"

Lei Zhenting sneered. "As long as you’re alive, how could this prince die?" Without another glance at Ling Tiehan, he lunged toward Mo Xiuyao—but his sword was aimed straight at Ye Li beside him. Mo Xiuyao’s expression darkened instantly. With one hand, he pushed Ye Li behind Han Mingyue while his other drew the Fenmie Sword from its sheath in a flash, slashing ruthlessly toward Lei Zhenting.

"Lei Zhenting, this prince will make sure you die in the ugliest way possible!" Mo Xiuyao hissed coldly. In an instant, the two clashed. Unfazed, Lei Zhenting laughed. "Who dies ugly remains to be seen."It must be said that even people like Han Mingyue and Ling Tiehan were deeply wary of the heaven-defying effects of the reversed cultivation technique. After a fierce battle with Ling Tiehan, Lei Zhenting seemed to have expended little energy. When he clashed with Mo Xiuyao, his strikes were still as swift as lightning, evoking in Mo Xiuyao memories of their first duel over a decade ago when he had just entered the martial world. Back then, his martial skills had been slightly inferior to Lei Zhenting's. But now, Mo Xiuyao was in his prime, while Lei Zhenting was gradually aging. Mo Xiuyao was absolutely confident that his current martial prowess surpassed Lei Zhenting's. Yet even so, as they fought, he still felt a trace of pressure.

Seeing this, Ling Tiehan joined the battle without hesitation. In such a situation, there was no question of ganging up on someone. Lei Zhenting, having used the reversed cultivation technique, was already doomed to die, and there was no reason for others to perish with him. More importantly, it was impossible for Mo Xiuyao to withdraw now. Under these circumstances, Ling Tiehan had no qualms about two against one.

With two top-tier experts suppressing him, Lei Zhenting gradually fell into a disadvantage. But even so, Ling Tiehan and Mo Xiuyao also sustained numerous new injuries. The battle raged from day until night. Ye Li and Han Mingyue, unable to intervene, dared not leave even for a moment, forced to watch the three combatants helplessly.

At the most perilous moment, Han Mingyue could no longer contain himself and let out a long, hearty laugh. Standing nearby, Ye Li also wore a faint smile. Witnessing the duel between the three greatest martial artists in the world, Han Mingyue experienced a breakthrough in his mental state, elevating his long-stagnant martial arts to a new level. In a few years, the name of Young Master Mingyue would surely be counted among the top four martial experts in the world.

Under the night sky, the entire Flying Goose Pass remained brightly lit. Within the small city, soldiers clashed in every street and alley, the stench of blood permeating the air. At the rear city wall, the elderly General Yuan Pei led a small contingent of soldiers guarding the gate tower. Below them was a gate only a third as wide as the main entrance of Flying Goose Pass, but beyond it lay the vast, open plains of the northwestern region. Though exhausted, every soldier gripped their weapons tightly, cutting down wave after wave of enemies. Behind them were the civilians and lands they were sworn to protect—there was no retreat. Their only choice was to slaughter the enemy at the gates.

Another wave of Western Liang soldiers broke through the Mo Family Army's defenses and charged forward. Yuan Pei's expression turned grave as he commanded, "Archers, fire!" A storm of arrows rained down. Though many enemies fell, more surged forward. The soldiers guarding the gate rushed to engage those who survived the arrows in brutal close combat.Just as everyone thought these days would never end, the heavy sound of horse hooves finally echoed from afar once more. Even from a distance, the tremors of the earth could be felt—the unmistakable sign of thousands of troops charging forward. At that moment, everyone knew who was coming. The exhausted faces of the Mo Family Army soldiers lit up with renewed vigor. "Reinforcements are here!"

"Reinforcements are here! Brothers, charge! Hold back the Western Liang troops!"

"Reinforcements are here!" Cheers from the Mo Family Army soldiers spread throughout the small city, and the battle between the two sides grew even fiercer.

Leng Huai led a million-strong army into Flying Goose Pass, and the hundreds of thousands of Western Liang troops instantly collapsed in disarray. Originally, the tens of thousands of Western Liang soldiers had been held back by the Mo Family Army's mere hundred thousand in the city for an entire day, suffering heavy casualties. Their morale was already wavering. Now, with the sudden appearance of a million reinforcements, even the most resilient Western Liang soldiers couldn't help but break. By the time dawn had yet to arrive, the fighting in the small city was nearing its end. The Western Liang troops in the city were either dead or surrendering. When Leng Huai and his men arrived at the rear city gate, they were just in time to steady the staggering Yuan Pei.

The elderly General Yuan was already over seventy years old. A full day and night of battle would have been exhausting even for younger men, let alone someone of Yuan Pei's advanced age. Seeing Leng Huai, Yuan Pei also breathed a sigh of relief. If Leng Huai had arrived any later, they truly wouldn't have been able to hold on. "General... General Leng..."

Leng Huai said apologetically, "Elder General Yuan, it's my fault... We were late. You've endured much hardship."

"You're here now... That's all that matters..." Yuan Pei repeated weakly. Then, his vision darkened, and he collapsed. Leng Huai reacted swiftly, catching him. "Elder General Yuan... Elder General Yuan... Fetch a physician!"

At that moment, Feng San happened to be approaching and, hearing Leng Huai's call, quickly rushed over. After taking Yuan Pei's pulse, he exhaled in relief. "It's nothing serious—just exhaustion. Have someone escort Elder General Yuan back first. Later, we can have Shen examine him."

Seeing that Yuan Pei was unharmed, Leng Huai finally relaxed. Yuan Pei was the oldest remaining general in the Mo Family Army. If anything had happened to him here, it would have been a tremendous loss for the army.

After arranging for Yuan Pei's escort back to the general's residence, Leng Huai and Feng Zhiyao ordered the newly arrived troops to search every street and alley for any remaining Western Liang soldiers. By the time they finished these arrangements, the sky had already brightened, and the two men finally let out a sigh of relief. Exchanging a glance, Feng Zhiyao suddenly exclaimed, "Wang Ye and Wang Fei are still on the city tower!" If Mo Xiuyao had already dealt with Lei Zhenting, he would have appeared with Ye Li to take charge. The fact that they still hadn't shown up could only mean the decisive battle on the tower was not yet over.The two hurried to the top of Flying Goose Pass's city wall, where Qin Feng and the others had already arrived. Though they were all battered and bruised, sitting or leaning against the wall with little confidence, everyone's expressions were remarkably relaxed. Feng Zhiyao couldn't help but smile as well, shrugging before walking over to the steps and sitting down beside Qin Feng at the base of the wall. With this battle concluded, there would likely be a long stretch of peace—wasn’t it only natural to feel at ease? For a soldier, never having the chance to step onto the battlefield in one's lifetime might be a tragedy. But for a nation, if it were forever mired in war, it might as well perish sooner rather than later.

As Feng Zhiyao, Leng Huai, and the others appeared one after another, Lei Zhenting finally realized he had been defeated by the Mo Family Army once again. His attacks grew even more ferocious. But after a full day and night of intense combat, Lei Zhenting’s exhaustion far surpassed that of Ling Tiehan and Mo Xiuyao. No matter how powerful the reversal technique was, it couldn’t guarantee Lei Zhenting invincibility for twenty-four hours. Even at his strongest, facing the combined might of Ling Tiehan and Mo Xiuyao—two of the era’s greatest masters—he had suffered severe injuries. As a human, even after burning through all his vitality in advance, there were limits. After several relentless assaults, both Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan could clearly sense the shift in Lei Zhenting’s condition.

Exchanging a glance, Ling Tiehan swung his sword in a sweeping arc, aiming straight for Lei Zhenting’s chest. Meanwhile, Mo Xiuyao leapt into the air, thrusting his blade downward toward the top of Lei Zhenting’s head.

Lei Zhenting sneered, dodging Mo Xiuyao’s descending strike with a swift sidestep while his hand shot out, gripping Ling Tiehan’s sword with brute force. Seizing the momentum of Ling Tiehan’s blade, he lunged forward, palm striking toward Ling Tiehan’s chest.

This was precisely the moment Mo Xiuyao had been waiting for—the overhead thrust had been nothing but a feint. A vital point like the crown of the head was far too crucial; unless Lei Zhenting was immobilized, he would never let anyone land a strike there so easily. Mo Xiuyao twisted his wrist mid-air, and the Flame Extinguisher Sword flashed coldly as it plunged into Lei Zhenting’s right shoulder. The force of Lei Zhenting’s palm strike faltered, and Ling Tiehan wrenched his sword free with a sharp twist. Dropping low, he swung his blade in tandem with Mo Xiuyao, slashing at Lei Zhenting’s legs from left and right.

Staggered by Mo Xiuyao’s sudden strike, Lei Zhenting recoiled in pain, barely evading the follow-up attacks from both men—though Ling Tiehan’s sword still grazed his left leg, leaving a bloody gash.

Lei Zhenting retreated until his back hit the city wall, steadying himself at last. Glancing down at the wound on his right shoulder, he frowned. The injury itself wasn’t critical, but his shoulder had only recently been pierced by Ye Li’s bullet, the wound not yet fully healed. Now, with Mo Xiuyao’s sword adding to the damage, it was like pouring salt on the wound. Moreover, the reversal technique couldn’t completely numb him to pain—the countless injuries and agony wracking his body had once again drastically diminished his strength.

Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan didn’t rush. Gripping their swords tightly, they watched Lei Zhenting with cold detachment. At this point, given Lei Zhenting’s nature, he would never flee again. The only concern was whether he might try to drag someone down with him in his final moments.

Lei Zhenting smiled faintly. "To have fought against Prince Ding and the master of King of Hell Pavilion—this prince has no regrets in this life."Ling Tiehan remained silent with a composed expression, while Mo Xiuyao responded with a cold smile, "This prince never intended to fight you. There is only one thing I want. Your death—and my survival."

Lei Zhenting was momentarily stunned before bursting into loud laughter. "Haha... Prince Ding truly lives up to his name! Mo Liufang raised a fine son! Mo Xiuyao... if Ling Tiehan weren't here today, the one who would die by this prince's hand would undoubtedly be you!" The most unpredictable thing in this world is human nature, yet Mo Xiuyao could precisely calculate the hearts of men. That was why even a master like Ling Tiehan could be maneuvered at his will. Perhaps Ye Li had been right—back then, Prince Ding's Estate had nearly been destroyed by the treachery of human hearts. Mo Xiuyao, reflecting deeply on the pain, had managed to unravel all the desires and schemes within people's minds. That was why he had lost to him.

Mo Xiuyao paid no heed to Lei Zhenting's mockery and said indifferently, "If Ling Gezhu weren't here, you wouldn't be dying here either. This prince naturally has other ways to ensure your demise."

Lei Zhenting laughed uproariously, leaving the onlookers exchanging bewildered glances, unsure of what he found so amusing. Perhaps even he himself didn’t know. When he finally stopped laughing, Lei Zhenting rose to his feet once more, pointing his sword at Mo Xiuyao. "Good! Very well... Let this prince see just how Prince Ding intends to kill me!"

A cruel smile curled at the corner of Mo Xiuyao's lips. "This prince wants you... to wish you were dead."

The atmosphere on the city tower shifted once more as everyone involuntarily held their breath, their gazes fixed upon the three figures locked in confrontation. The life-and-death battle between the three most accomplished martial artists in the world was about to reach its conclusion. At the same time, this signified that the victor of the prolonged struggle for supremacy that had lasted for years would soon emerge. Even though... many already knew who would ultimately rule the land, they still couldn't help but feel their hearts race and their eyes remain transfixed.

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Writing to the end, I almost started wondering if Lei Zhenting had fallen for Mo Liufang~