Mo Li

Since ancient times, the Southern Border has been a land of barbarians, with customs and traditions vastly different from those of the Central Plains. The region teems with poisonous insects and herbs, as well as fierce birds and beasts, and its people are martial and fierce in temperament. Those from the Central Plains often avoid it like the plague. A thousand years ago, the Southern Border was part of the Central Plains, then known as Kuizhou. In the late years of the previous dynasty, the royal family of Nanzhao rose to establish the Kingdom of Nanzhao. Later, the Great Ancestor founded the Great Chu, spending his life in conquests north and south. By the time Emperor Taizong could turn his attention southward, Nanzhao had already been established for over a century, its foundations solid, while the Central Plains, after decades of war, urgently needed recuperation. Thus, the Southern Border officially became independent from the territory of Great Chu.

Snowbreak Pass lies on the border between the Southern Border and Yongzhou of Great Chu. Though the two nations alternate between war and peace, the people along the border still engage in trade and interaction. Thirty li beyond Snowbreak Pass, the small town of Yonglin often sees Southern Border folk in peculiar attire coming and going. Yonglin is not large, and because it is close to the border and two hundred li from Yongzhou City, the prefectural capital, it appears rather unprosperous. Apart from the occasional foreign dress among the crowd, it resembles an ordinary small town.

Ye Li stood on the narrow street, watching the passersby with serene expressions, a faint smile in her heart. In such times, for a small border town like this to enjoy such peace and tranquility was truly rare. Or perhaps it should be said that the common people’s ability to adapt to life and their environment always exceeds expectations.

An San stood beside Ye Li, holding his sword, puzzled as he watched his master linger outside the inn with a strange smile instead of entering. "Young Master, there aren’t many inns in Yonglin, and this one is already the best."

Ye Li glanced at him and shook her head with a laugh. "Let’s go in. It’s not that I dislike the inn." With that, she stepped into the rather shabby-looking inn first. An San raised an eyebrow—he hadn’t thought the Princess Consort would mind poor conditions. After all, during their journey, there were times when they couldn’t reach the next town in time and had to camp in the wilderness. Moreover, back in the capital, even the shadow guards hesitated to enter some of the training grounds beneath Black Cloud Peak, yet the Princess Consort had walked in without batting an eye.

Inside the inn, compared to the lavishly decorated establishments in the Chu capital or Guangling City, this small inn couldn’t even rank as third-rate. But it was indeed the best in Yonglin. The main hall held only seven or eight tables, three of which were already occupied. An elderly innkeeper was bent over the counter, calculating accounts. Though Ye Li wore simple cotton clothes, her youthful appearance, refined demeanor, and the imposing figure of An San—who followed behind her with a sword—drew sidelong glances the moment they entered.

This was neither the season for travel nor business, so the inn was rather quiet. Ye Li approached the counter and tapped it lightly twice. The old innkeeper raised his head shakily, studying the two of them for a long moment before asking, "Young Master, are you here to stay?"

Ye Li smiled faintly. "If we weren’t staying, would we be here for tea?"

The innkeeper chuckled apologetically. "What is your surname, Young Master? How many rooms do you need?"

"Chu. Two upper rooms."The old innkeeper called over a waiter to lead the two guests upstairs to their rooms. After dismissing the waiter, An San expertly inspected the entire chamber. Even the best rooms in such a small inn weren't particularly spacious or luxurious—just a bed, a wardrobe, and a screen separating the sleeping area from the chairs and table outside. Standing by the door, An San watched as Ye Li deftly arranged her belongings. Frowning, he asked, "Young Master, when are we heading to the Southern Border?"

Ye Li finished unpacking and emerged from behind the screen, gesturing for An San to take a seat. With a smile, she said, "There's no need to rush these things. I think... we'll need a guide."

For someone entering the Southern Border for the first time, venturing in blindly without proper preparation was practically suicidal. And Ye Li wasn't one to take unnecessary risks.

"A guide?" An San looked puzzled.

Ye Li chuckled. "The Southern Border is too mysterious to us from the Central Plains. It's unfamiliar territory, and we'd be at a disadvantage. Finding a local or a Chu native familiar with the region would be a wise choice."

An San frowned. "But... bringing an outsider might slow us down."

Ye Li tapped the edge of the table idly with her folding fan. "That's why we're waiting. I've already arranged for a guide. Unfortunately, they seem to be two days behind us." Seeing An San's confused expression, she merely smiled and said nothing more. She motioned for him to return to his room. Knowing his master's temperament, An San understood that if she didn't want to explain, racking his brains wouldn't get him an answer. With a resigned sigh, he stood and left, looking disgruntled.

Amused, Ye Li watched him go before retrieving the documents from Pavilion of Heavenly Unity that had been packed in her luggage. She resumed reading. After securing their cooperation, Han Mingxi had proven quite reliable—every few days during their journey south, she received batches of Southern Border intelligence from Pavilion of Heavenly Unity. Ye Li had grown accustomed to reading and memorizing everything immediately upon receipt before destroying the evidence. The documents in her hands now were likely the last batch before entering the Southern Border. Over the course of their travels, she had gradually formed a mental map of the region's situation and general conditions, though how much of it was accurate would only be confirmed once they arrived. Skimming through the thick stack of reports with practiced ease, she calmly set the densely written pages aflame.

At dawn, Ye Li rose early as usual and went downstairs. The main hall already had two tables occupied—one by An San, who sat against the wall. Spotting Ye Li, he quickly stood. "Young Master."

Ye Li nodded with a smile. "You're up early?"

An San remained silent. Normally, with the others around, there was no need for such vigilance. But now that he was the only one accompanying her—even knowing his master was more than capable of defending herself—he couldn't help but worry. Ye Li understood his thoughts perfectly. With a resigned smile, she said, "There's no need to be so tense. If you keep this up, you'll wear yourself out before we even reach the Southern Border. Does following me put so much pressure on you?"An San shook his head, "No, I appreciate your trust, young master." It was just that he and the others had grown up together. Though he was only slightly older than An Si, his temperament was less steady than An Si's. So he was accustomed to following An Yi and An Er's lead. Now that he was alone, it felt somewhat unfamiliar. Ye Li smiled and nodded, sitting down to summon the waiter and order breakfast.

"Gentlemen, are you also heading to the Southern Border?" A man from the opposite table stood up and approached as Ye Li was urging An San to eat.

Hearing this, Ye Li set down his chopsticks and glanced at the newcomer. The man was tall and sturdy, with an ordinary appearance. Though he tried to appear friendly, the fierce aura between his brows was hard to conceal. An San's hand tightened around the sword on the table, but Ye Li pressed down on the blade and gave it a light pat. An San frowned at the man before withdrawing his hand and continuing his meal in silence.

The man clearly noticed their reactions but didn't seem bothered. He chuckled, "No need to be nervous, brother. A few of us are also going to the Southern Border, so I thought to ask if you'd like to travel together." He gestured toward three people at his table. Ye Li glanced over—a wealthy merchant in his fifties or sixties, dressed in luxurious fabrics with a jade thumb ring and clutching a golden abacus, practically begging to be robbed. Beside him stood a middle-aged man who looked like a steward and a sickly young scholar. This group was far more conspicuous than Ye Li and An San. Initially, Ye Li had worried they might draw too much attention, but compared to these people, they were practically invisible. Then again, those daring to venture deep into the Southern Border were rarely pushovers.

Ye Li glanced at An San and smiled, "I'm afraid we might trouble you."

The man laughed. "Not at all! Your companion seems quite skilled. I've been to the Southern Border a few times—it's a treacherous place. More people means more support, right?" His gaze lingered on An San before returning to Ye Li. Clearly, Ye Li was the decision-maker, but the man couldn't gauge the young man's depth. He could only guess this was some sheltered young master out for an adventure with his guard.

"We're heading to the Nanzhao capital. The journey shouldn't be too dangerous. And you?" Ye Li replied with an innocent, friendly smile.

The man boomed, "We're also going to the Nanzhao capital! The road used to be safe, but since last year, things have gotten strange. Our master deals in medicinal herbs there. If you don't mind, why not travel together?" The wealthy merchant across the table gave Ye Li a haughty sidelong glance, while the sickly young man nodded at them with a faint smile.Ye Li lowered her gaze with a faint smile and politely declined, "I merely heard that Nanzhao boasts unique scenery and intended to travel there to broaden my horizons. I've already arranged for a guide, though he won't arrive for another two days. I wouldn't want to delay your journey." Seeing her refusal, the man didn't press further, simply smiling, "In that case, I won't trouble you further, young master. Perhaps we'll meet again in the capital of Nanzhao." Ye Li gave a slight nod, watching as the man returned to his seat across the room. Faint murmurs from the wealthy merchant scolding the man for meddling and expressing disdain toward Ye Li and her companion reached her ears, but she paid no mind, quietly continuing her breakfast with a composed smile.

Once the group had left, An San finally looked up and said, "Young master, be cautious of those people."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "You know them?"

An San nodded, then shook his head. "I know that Sick Scholar."

"?" Ye Li studied An San, curious—he had hardly ever left the capital, so how did he recognize such a sickly scholar? "It seems this Sick Scholar isn't as simple as he appears?" An San nodded. "His alias is Sick Scholar; no one knows his real name, not even the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity." Ye Li pondered the frail-looking scholar she had just seen—he didn’t appear to be a top-tier expert, nor did he stand out in any particular way. How had An San identified him? An San explained, "He’s the third master of the King of Hell Pavilion in Western Liang. Years ago, nearly every assassin organization took on missions to kill His Highness, including the King of Hell Pavilion. Many of our shadow guards died by his hand. However, he was struck by His Highness with a palm strike that damaged his heart meridians, turning his feigned illness into a real one. Did you notice his right hand, young master? Sick Scholar is skilled in poisons—the nails on his left hand are a different color than normal. People assume it’s due to his illness, but in truth, even before His Highness injured him, his hand was already like that. It’s the result of years of refining poisons, making it extraordinarily toxic."

Ye Li thought back and recalled that when the scholar had stood up, his left hand, hidden in his sleeve, had briefly revealed itself—indeed, it seemed to be a dark red. "Turning his own hand into poison? Isn’t he afraid of poisoning himself?" Ye Li found the practice baffling and rather pointless. A body truly immune to all poisons didn’t exist; at best, some individuals developed resistance to most toxins due to certain factors. If someone drenched in poison could live safely, then Shen Yang wouldn’t have had to expend so much effort treating Mo Xiuyao.

After breakfast, Ye Li ventured out to explore Yonglin City, gathering some information about the Southern Border and Snowbreak Pass along the way. By evening, when she returned, she found the same four individuals seated in their original spots, dining—clearly, they hadn’t departed that day. The Sick Scholar nodded amiably at Ye Li and her companion once more. With a polite smile, Ye Li prepared to head upstairs."Oh? When did Yonglin City get such a fair and delicate young master?" Before Ye Li could step onto the stairs, a voice dripping with lewd vulgarity came from behind her. She turned slightly and saw a gaunt, scrawny young man dressed in Southern Border attire staring at her with brazen, lustful eyes. Even his small, rat-like eyes were clouded with depravity. She couldn't help but frown—neither in her past life nor this one, including all the underworld drug lords and terrorists she'd faced, had she ever seen someone who tested the limits of aesthetic tolerance so thoroughly.

An San abruptly turned around, his icy gaze fixed on the young man. His warning glare was laced with murderous intent—if this scoundrel dared utter another word, he would turn him into a corpse beneath his blade. How dare such vermin disrespect the consort of the Ding Royal Palace?

The young man, however, clearly mistook An San's warning for a challenge and grew even more smug. His lecherous eyes lingered shamelessly on Ye Li while he arrogantly taunted An San, "What are you staring at? Was I wrong? This kid’s got a face like a powdered doll. You Central Plains men all look like women, and this one’s even more delicate than one!" To be fair, Ye Li’s disguise was impeccable. Though she appeared more beautiful than most women, her age, demeanor, and bearing left no room for doubt about her gender. Thus, An San saw no need to waste words on the vulgar man. He simply drew his sword—

With a sharp hiss, the blade left its sheath, darting straight toward the lecherous man.

The man clearly hadn’t expected An San to strike without warning. Stunned, he barely had time to react before the sword nearly pierced him. One of his companions yanked him aside and flicked his wrist, sending a slender object flying at An San. An San snorted coldly, his sword weaving a swift arc. Two crisp slashes later, the object fell to the ground in three pieces—a venomous snake, its brightly patterned scales unmistakably deadly.

An San raised an eyebrow disdainfully. They hadn’t come to the Southern Border without first studying its people’s usual tricks.

The Southern Border men paled, but the lecherous one continued to bluster, "You’ve got some nerve! Do you even know who I am?"

An San smirked. "Daring to act so boldly in Great Chu—could you be a prince of Nanzhao? Though as I recall, the King of Nanzhao only has two daughters." The man opened his mouth to retort, but the sight of An San’s raised sword forced him to swallow his words, his face twisted with suppressed rage. He retreated several steps, hiding among his companions before shouting, "Kill this brat!"The men around him seemed somewhat hesitant, whispering to the man in a language Ye Li could vaguely understand. Standing at the top of the stairs, she listened quietly—it sounded like a dialect from one of the ethnic minorities in the Yunnan-Guizhou region of her past life. Having spent years active in that area, she was somewhat familiar with the local languages. The attendants were clearly trying to persuade their master that they were now on Great Chu's soil and that killing someone in broad daylight was unwise. However, the lecherous man refused to listen, insisting on killing An San and capturing Ye Li. After futile attempts to dissuade him, the Southern Border men exchanged helpless glances and began closing in on An San and Ye Li.

Seeing a fight was about to break out, the patrons in the hall scattered like startled birds. Even at Sick Scholar's table, only he and the middle-aged man remained. The old innkeeper had already hidden behind the counter, too frightened to come out. Frowning, Ye Li said, "Throw them out. Don’t damage anything." An San responded cheerfully, "Yes, Young Master!"

"Who dares to anger our Jun Wei so boldly?"

Just as An San was about to act, a lazy, silky voice drifted down from upstairs. Ye Li looked up to see a strikingly handsome man leaning against the railing, dressed in loose dark-red robes, exuding charm in every movement. What a demon! Glancing at the drooling, slack-jawed lecher beside her, Ye Li rubbed her temples and stared at the flirtatious Wind and Moon noble. "Brother Han, what are you doing here?"

Han Mingxi flipped gracefully backward over the railing and landed lightly on the stairs with a smile. "Well... after much thought, I couldn’t bear the idea of letting Jun Wei venture alone into the dangerous Southern Border. Besides, you need a guide, don’t you? So I volunteered." Ye Li couldn’t help rolling her eyes. "Brother Han, do you even know the way to Nanzhao?"

"You underestimate me," Han Mingxi lamented, gazing at her with exaggerated sorrow. "I’ve traveled to Nanzhao at least seven or eight times—I could walk there blindfolded. And besides, with me around, you’ll have protection. Look at you, traveling with just one person, and before you’ve even left Great Chu, you’ve already encountered a scoundrel." Ye Li gritted her teeth. "Brother Han, I’m a man!" Han Mingxi raised an eyebrow in mock surprise, covering his lips with a folding fan as he chuckled. "Ah, Jun Wei, you’re still young and naive. Who says men can’t be harassed? Isn’t that right, you fool over there?"

The idiotic, lecherous youth was already nodding vigorously while drooling. The sight made Ye Li nauseous, and she turned away, shooting Han Mingxi a glare. She had thought this guy only had a taste for women—apparently, he swung both ways.

"Don’t misunderstand, Jun Wei. Even if I do swing both ways, I’d never stoop to such low standards. My tastes are far more refined—someone as dashing as you, for instance." Han Mingxi winked at her and reached out to pinch her cheek. But Ye Li wasn’t about to let him succeed. With a snap, she flicked her fan shut and rapped it sharply against his wrist. Han Mingxi’s face fell instantly.Han Mingxi leisurely descended the stairs, his phoenix eyes lazily glancing at the Southern Border men. "Will you leave on your own, or shall this young master have to escort you out?" The sleazy man stepped forward with a greasy smile, "Is this young master also heading to the Southern Border? I am the young chief of the Luo Yi Tribe. How about I guide you there?" He mimicked the refined speech of the Central Plains, but paired with his murky, squinty eyes, his emaciated frame, and his self-satisfied smirk, it was downright unsettling. Ye Li's lips twitched as she lamented Han Mingxi's romantic misfortune, pulling An San closer to her side. Since someone was eager to step up, why bother doing it themselves?

Han Mingxi's peach-blossom eyes twitched as he deadpanned a single word, "Scram!"

He was indeed a flirt, but he certainly wasn't indiscriminate. Even if he did swing both ways, he still had standards, alright?

The self-proclaimed young chief of the Luo Yi Tribe felt deeply insulted. His initial admiration and tender feelings instantly turned to rage. "Kill these two brutes and take him back with us!" Ye Li was stunned. First, they wanted to kill An San and abduct her, and now that this demonic charmer Han Mingxi had appeared, they wanted to kill her too and take him instead? What kind of logic was this? Han Mingxi curled his lips into a cold smirk. "Get out of here this instant! Or would you prefer General Murong personally escort you beyond the border?"

At these words, the sleazy youth finally showed a flicker of hesitation. After some urging from his followers, he snorted, spat out a final threat, and bolted out the door.

The hall was eerily quiet. Seeing that no fight had broken out, the old innkeeper cautiously rose from behind the counter and began apologizing to the only remaining table of guests. As Ye Li headed upstairs, she quietly instructed An San to leave extra silver for the innkeeper as compensation.

Han Mingxi followed behind, chuckling at her words. "Jun Wei is too soft-hearted. That old innkeeper has run this place in Yonglin for decades—there's nothing he hasn't seen. Do you really think he was scared?"

Ye Li shot him a glance and replied calmly, "It's still a fact that we drove away his customers. Whether he was scared or not doesn’t matter. And also… Brother Han, this is my room."

Han Mingxi grinned. "Aren’t you going to invite me in for tea?"

"You could have had tea downstairs just now."

Mingxi wrinkled his nose in disdain. "Drinking tea in such a place is beneath my noble tastes. Besides… I’d rather not risk having my drink poisoned halfway through. You’re quite lucky, Jun Wei—running into the Sick Scholar right after setting out, a man feared throughout the martial world."

Ye Li raised a brow, stepping aside to let him in. "You know the Sick Scholar? What’s he doing in the Southern Border now?"

Mingxi shrugged, lounging back in a chair with his hands behind his head as he grinned at her. "Who knows? A few years ago, Prince Ding nearly killed him. It was only after the Grand Master of the King of Hell Pavilion intervened that he managed to keep his life. He hasn’t been seen in years, and now he suddenly appears in the Southern Border… Hah, whenever that man shows up, it’s always rivers of blood and wails of despair. You’d better not be fooled by him, Jun Wei. Stay far away."

Ye Li nodded absently, her thoughts already drifting elsewhere. "I don’t know him, so I won’t provoke him. But Brother Han, shouldn’t you be overseeing the Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion? How do you have time to wander all the way to the Southern Border?"

Mingxi scoffed. "The Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion doesn’t need me watching over it. I’d much rather keep an eye on you, Jun Wei. After all… your Fragrant Grace Chamber is the only business that truly belongs to me. If anything happened to you, my losses would be enormous." Though his words were serious, his alluring phoenix eyes sparkled with mischief.

Ye Li regarded him calmly. "I have business in the Southern Border. It’s inconvenient to bring you along."

"No need to bring me—I’ll just follow you. If you climb a mountain of blades, I won’t dive into a sea of fire. How’s that?" Mingxi beamed brilliantly. "I’m quite useful, you know. Didn’t you want to use the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity’s intelligence network? With me by your side, you can access any information from them anytime—far more convenient than waiting for messages to arrive."

Ye Li studied him silently for a long moment before finally saying, "I’m just afraid that if Young Master Mingyue finds out I led his little brother into danger, he might ‘accidentally’ arrange my demise."At the mention of his elder brother, Han Mingxi's good mood instantly darkened. He snorted coldly, "Don't bring him up to me. He probably doesn't even remember he has a younger brother now. One of these days, he'll die... Hmph! When that happens, I'll just go collect his corpse." Ye Li's heart stirred slightly. Although she had outmaneuvered Han Mingyue last time and escaped danger from his hands, she still harbored an innate wariness toward him—something she didn't feel at all toward the strikingly similar Han Mingxi. Perhaps it was due to Han Mingyue's formidable ability to single-handedly establish both the Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion and the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity, or perhaps it was the ambiguous grievances between him and Mo Xiuyao. Or maybe it was simply because he was the first person who had genuinely posed a threat to her.

Watching the still-fuming Han Mingxi with an impassive expression, Ye Li said calmly, "If you're worried, why not go check on him? Why follow me around, Brother Han? It's dangerous, and if something were to happen to Young Master Mingyue, wouldn't you regret it?" Han Mingxi froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. "What could possibly happen to him? There are only a handful of people in this world who can touch him. Besides, he doesn't need my help—in his eyes, I'd only make things worse." Ye Li propped her chin on her hand and smiled at him. "I thought you and Young Master Mingyue had a good brotherly relationship?"

Han Mingxi snorted lightly. "Anyway, I'm going to the Southern Border with you. Even if you refuse, I'll follow on my own. As for my elder brother, don't worry about him. The Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion won't collapse just because he's away for a while." Ye Li shrugged indifferently. Pushing too hard might arouse his suspicion. Since they would be spending quite some time together, she would find a way to learn exactly where Han Mingyue had gone. She hadn't forgotten how Han Mingyue had nearly ruined her reputation for the sake of some woman connected to Mo Xiuyao. Who said she couldn't hold a grudge just because she had accepted his apology? There was no need to rush revenge, after all. As for using Han Mingxi... Ye Li glanced at the man grinning flirtatiously. Well, he was Han Mingyue's brother, and he had insisted on tagging along.

Seeing that Ye Li no longer objected, Han Mingxi was overjoyed. Delighted, he began planning their itinerary. "Jun Wei, I've been to the Southern Border several times. We can start by visiting Mount Cang, then follow the Qingming River westward. We can catch the phoenix flowers and the Southern Border lantern festival before heading to the Nanzhao capital. What do you think?"

Ye Li regarded him coolly. "I thought you knew we were in a hurry. With your plan, would we even reach the Nanzhao capital by the end of May?" Han Mingxi deflated instantly, muttering unhappily, "Fine, we'll go straight to the Nanzhao capital first. After you finish your business, we can visit the lantern festival."

Watching the pitiful-looking Han Mingxi, Ye Li felt a vein throbbing angrily on her forehead. Irritated, she shooed him out. An San stood to the side, watching her with concern. Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Something on your mind?"An San frowned and said, "Young Master, about Han Mingxi..." None of them knew much about Han Mingxi, but as shadow guards who might serve the prince or princess, they were all familiar with Han Mingyue. He was a very difficult person to deal with, and since Han Mingxi was Han Mingyue's younger brother, he probably wasn't any better. More importantly... Han Mingxi's reputation was truly not good. If the princess spent too much time with him... Thinking of the possible consequences, An San couldn't help but shudder.

Ye Li sighed helplessly, "Bringing Han Mingxi along has its pros and cons, but since he's already followed us, it won't be easy to shake him off." The intelligence network of the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity spanned the entire realm. More importantly, there was a type of person who would resist being led but would stubbornly follow when pushed away—the more you tried to shake them off, the more enthusiastically they would cling to you. Han Mingxi was clearly one of those troublesome individuals.

Waving her hand, Ye Li said, "Don't worry about it for now. Let's not consider other matters. First, we need to reach the Southern Border and find my elder brother. An Er should have already found him by now, right?"

An San nodded, "An Er is very skilled at tracking people. He left ahead of us and should have already located Young Master Xu."

Ye Li nodded and said, "Then let's bring Han Mingxi along. After entering the Southern Border, keep an eye out for any clues An Er might have left. We'll rendezvous with my elder brother first."

"Yes."