Mo Li

"Show mercy!"

"Zhuo Jing!" Ye Li called out sharply. An San's eyes darkened as he swiftly sheathed his sword, flipping backward through the air and landing lightly on a nearby treetop. With that, three figures now perched on the treetops, poised to strike at any moment. Meanwhile, the other side would be at a severe disadvantage if they failed to regain control of the snakes soon.

A tall, middle-aged man dressed in Southern Border attire emerged from the woods. The same tribal markings on his clothing as the young man and the subtle air of authority he exuded made it clear that he held a high position within the Luo Yi Tribe. The man strode forward, and the snakes parted before him, clearly intimidated by his presence. "Friends from Great Chu, my son is mischievous and has offended you. Please show mercy. Our tribe will treat you as honored guests."

Ye Li sneered inwardly. Mischievous? This man had been hiding in the woods the entire time, only stepping in when his son was truly in danger. Now, he thought a simple "mischievous" would smooth things over?

Han Mingxi stood atop a tree branch, his slender figure swaying with the breeze. "Mischievous indeed. Chief of the Luo Yi Tribe, how dare you let your son roam around with such behavior?" The middle-aged man's expression darkened. As he approached the young man, he shot him a cold glance, causing the youth to wilt like a scorched leaf. The boy shrank back, not daring to raise his head. Only then did the chief snort lightly and step forward, cupping his hands toward Ye Li and the others. "I am Le Jiang, chief of the Luo Yi Tribe. This is my son, Le Nan. Please forgive his rudeness, esteemed guests from the Central Plains." The chief was clearly superior to his son not only in appearance but also in demeanor and speech—hardly resembling a father and son.

Ye Li said, "While your tribe's hospitality is rather startling, perhaps Chief Luo Yi could first have someone deal with these little creatures?" The snakes, repelled by the circle of snake-repelling powder and fire, had scattered in all directions. Given enough time, even if they were searched for, not all might be recovered. The Luo Yi chief nodded and waved at the Snake Charmers nearby. They resumed playing their short flutes, while a few others dispersed to retrieve the runaway snakes. After issuing these orders, the chief turned back to Ye Li and the others with a smile. "Since you’ve passed through our territory and were disturbed by Le Nan’s rudeness, why not rest at our village? Consider it my apology."

Ye Li hesitated, glancing at the three figures in the trees. Han Mingxi looked indifferent, and An San naturally wouldn’t oppose Ye Li’s decision. However, the Sick Scholar frowned and said, "We’re in a hurry. We won’t trouble Chief Le Jiang any further."The Luo Yi tribe leader raised his eyebrows and shook his head repeatedly, saying, "How can this be called trouble? Having our guests from the Central Plains frightened would truly damage our Luo Yi Tribe's reputation for hospitality. Please, honored guests, come rest in our village for a while. Tomorrow, I will personally arrange for someone to escort you to the capital." Hearing his words, the Central Plains visitors present couldn't help but inwardly scoff. The Southern Border people were notoriously xenophobic, so apart from some bold merchants and those capable of self-defense, ordinary Central Plains people would never venture into the Southern Border. However, compared to other tribes deep in the Southern Border hinterland, the Luo Yi Tribe bordering Great Chu could indeed be considered warm and hospitable. Having a local Southern Border guide would certainly make the journey much easier.

"Well... then we'll trouble the chief," Sick Scholar took the lead in accepting the offer. Seeing this, Ye Li merely raised an eyebrow without voicing any objection.

The Luo Yi chief was clearly delighted and enthusiastically summoned his attendants to help the guests with their luggage. Ye Li and her two companions had few belongings to begin with. She bent down to pick up a bundle left by the rocks and tossed it to An San, who was still in the tree, keeping another for herself. Sick Scholar also traveled light. In contrast, Master Liang took quite some time with the help of his steward and guards to manage his belongings. His careful guarding of his luggage from the Southern Border people made Ye Li curious about what was inside his conspicuously large bundle—its weight didn't seem to suggest it contained gold or silver.

The Luo Yi village wasn't far from their campsite. Riding on horseback, they reached their destination in less than fifteen minutes. Of course, their original horses had either bolted when the snakes appeared or were no longer usable. They were now using horses provided by the Luo Yi Tribe, which was also why Ye Li didn't object to going to the village. Beyond this settlement, the next inhabited place where they could purchase horses was at least two hundred li away. Not going would mean they'd likely have to continue their journey on foot.

The Luo Yi village was built on a mountainside, and the path wasn't as mysteriously rugged as the Southern Border villages rumored in the Central Plains. Wooden houses were scattered across the mountainside. As it was already late at night, the chief led them to a guesthouse, arranged for food and hot water to be brought, then took his leave with the timid young chief Lenan, who hadn't dared speak along the way.

After the young women in exotic attire were dismissed, Han Mingxi washed his face contentedly with water and sighed, "It's so much better to have a proper roof over our heads. If we'd known, we could have just come straight to the Luo Yi Tribe for lodging, couldn't we?" Ye Li, sitting nearby while curiously examining the food on the table, laughed and said, "Do you think if we'd come directly, you'd have found your room—bed and floor—full of snakes by midnight?"Han Mingxi imagined the scene and couldn't help but shiver, shaking his head as he smiled at Ye Li. "Speaking of Jun Wei, you'd better be careful. Southern Border women are famously passionate, and they particularly favor fair-skinned young gentlemen like you. Be wary... hehe..." He covered his face with a folding fan, grinning with unmistakable mischief. Ye Li was quick to retaliate, "Brother Han, don't worry. If I'm blessed with such fortune, I certainly won't forget to share it with you. Besides... there isn't a single person in this village who's obsessively fixated on my face like someone else is." At the mention of Lenan, Han Mingxi's roguish smile instantly darkened. He snorted, a cold glint flashing briefly in his eyes. The Wind and Moon noble held grudges very well!

An San stood by the tightly shut window, waiting for the two to finish before turning around and whispering, "There's someone outside."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, stood up, and with a flick of her sleeve, extinguished the candle on the table. Faint moonlight spilled in through the window lattice, casting dim shadows but not hindering Ye Li's movements. She calmly walked over to An San's side. "They're not watching us." An San nodded, pointing to a small hut nearby. "They're watching them, but there's one person keeping an eye on us too—probably just incidental." Han Mingxi quickly adjusted to the dimness and chuckled softly. "So these people really are suspicious? Then why did they drag us into this?" Ye Li smiled faintly. "Since they're scheming, it'll come to light eventually. We've had a long night—I think we should rest first."

An San nodded and gestured toward the inner bedroom. "Young Master, you go rest inside. Brother Han and I will keep watch out here."

Han Mingxi wanted to protest, but Ye Li nodded without hesitation, turned, and waved at them before heading in to rest. Blinking, Han Mingxi complained pitifully, "I want to rest too." It wasn't just Jun Wei who hadn't slept well in the wilderness, was it? An San shot him a cold glance and pointed to the bamboo couch in the main room. "You can sleep there." Han Mingxi was speechless—was that couch even half his height? The bed inside was clearly much bigger. Seemingly reading his thoughts, An San impassively moved to block the doorway to Ye Li's room, sitting down on a chair. The message was clear: if Han Mingxi wanted to enter, he'd have to step over him. Resigned, Han Mingxi curled up on the bamboo couch to rest, inwardly lamenting: Why did I say I wanted to stay with Jun Wei?

Ye Li woke up early as usual. Even before getting up, she knew they probably wouldn't be leaving today. The soft, steady pattering outside indicated heavy rain. She was no stranger to the rainy weather of the south, but this downpour had arrived far too suddenly—had they camped in the wilderness last night, they'd be in trouble now. Thinking this, she suddenly found the Luo Yi Tribe's young master a little less detestable. After dressing, she stepped out to find An San still sitting in the chair by the door, eyes closed in meditation—though she knew he wasn't asleep. At the sound of her footsteps, he immediately opened his eyes and turned to look at her.

"Go inside and rest for a while. We won't be leaving this morning." Glancing at Han Mingxi, who was curled up on the bamboo couch with a frown, she added softly.An San hesitated for a moment before nodding and stepping inside. Ye Li entered the hall and pushed open half a window to admire the rain outside.

"Jun Wei, you're so heartless. You hog such a large bed all to yourself while making me sleep on a bamboo couch," Han Mingxi suddenly spoke, having opened his eyes at some point. He lay lazily on the bamboo couch, his bewitching eyes gazing at Ye Li with a pitiful expression. Ye Li turned to look at him and smiled, "You can go inside and sleep with Zhuo Jing now." Han Mingxi raised an eyebrow, grinning at her, "I have no problem sleeping with Jun Wei. This young master is very clean, you know."

"I prefer to keep good things all to myself," Ye Li replied without batting an eyelid.

Han Mingxi muttered something indistinct under his breath before sitting up. Frowning slightly, he adjusted the soft dark-red silk robe he was wearing and walked over to stand beside Ye Li, gazing out at the rain. He sighed softly, "The rainy days in the Southern Border have their own charm, but the constant downpours can be a bit overwhelming." Before Ye Li could respond, footsteps echoed outside, followed by a knock at the door.

Opening the door, they found Sick Scholar standing there, holding an oil-paper umbrella. Despite resting for half the night, his complexion hadn't improved—instead, it appeared even more sallow and dull. His free hand covered his mouth as muffled coughs escaped intermittently. "Young Master Han, Young Master Chu, am I disturbing you?" Ye Li smiled faintly, "Not at all. Please come in."

Sick Scholar stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room before settling on the doorway to the inner chamber. Ye Li said calmly, "Zhuo Jing is still resting. Please have a seat. What brings you here so early in the morning?"

Sitting down, Sick Scholar coughed lightly before speaking, "I didn’t expect to encounter Young Master Han on this trip to the Southern Border. Young Master Han... cough ... surely knows who I am?"

Taken aback by his directness, Han Mingxi paused briefly before smiling, "Indeed. The reputation of the Third Master of the King of Hell Pavilion in Western Liang is something Mingxi has long been aware of." His choice of address and self-reference made it clear he had no desire to provoke this man—in fact, he was deeply wary of him. Sick Scholar smiled faintly, "No need for formalities. The Pavilion Master and your elder brother are close friends, and I also share some acquaintance with him. However... this young master here seems unfamiliar." Ye Li quickly assessed the situation, maintaining a composed smile as she replied, "I am not part of the martial world, so my knowledge is rather limited. Forgive my ignorance." I don’t know you, and you don’t know me—so we’re even. Sick Scholar studied Ye Li as if weighing something, but Han Mingxi, unwilling to let him scrutinize her further, interjected with a smile, "My elder brother mentioned that you rarely venture out these days. What brings you to the Southern Border this time? Is there anything the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity can assist you with?"

Sick Scholar seemed momentarily surprised before shaking his head with a smile, "Just some personal matters. No need to trouble Young Master Han." Since he refused to elaborate, Han Mingxi naturally didn’t press further—in truth, he wished to stay as far away from him as possible. Why didn’t Mo Xiuyao just finish this plague god off back then? Han Mingxi smiled politely while inwardly cursing. Sick Scholar, however, showed no interest in discussing his affairs. Instead, he looked at Ye Li and Han Mingxi and asked, "What do you two think of this village?"

Han Mingxi frowned, "I’ve traveled to the Southern Border two or three times, but I never noticed the Luo Yi Tribe’s village was this close."“What does Young Master Chu think?” Sick Scholar asked, looking at Ye Li.

Ye Li frowned and said, “The Luo Yi Tribe is said to be one of the largest tribes in the Southern Border. But I don’t think there are more than a hundred people in this village. I’ve heard that the settlements of Southern Border tribes are usually extremely well-hidden, so why would this Luo Yi Tribe village be built right by the main road?” Han Mingxi raised an eyebrow and smiled at Ye Li. “So Jun Wei noticed it last night. If there are so many suspicious points, why did you still come?”

Ye Li arched a brow. “Did we have a choice? We don’t have horses, and the area is crawling with venomous snakes. They were determined to invite us as guests—it’s much more dignified to be politely escorted here than to be tied up like dumplings and thrown in. However… I am curious about why they’ve gone to such lengths. As for me… apart from slightly offending that young chieftain in Yonglin City, I don’t seem to have any value that would warrant such elaborate arrangements.” After speaking, Ye Li’s gaze fixed steadily on Sick Scholar. Sick Scholar sighed softly and said, “Young Master Chu is remarkably sharp-witted for his age. Indeed, they are here for us.”

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. “I’d like to hear the details.”

“I believe both of you noticed last night that we were being watched. The Luo Yi Tribe’s goal is actually quite simple—they are after a treasure in Master Liang’s possession,” Sick Scholar said calmly. Han Mingxi chuckled. “I’ve never heard that the young master has taken up escort work.” Sick Scholar suppressed a cough and smiled faintly at Han Mingxi. “You’re right. I didn’t accompany Master Liang to protect him.”

Han Mingxi leaned back in his chair and glanced at Sick Scholar. “I know—the young master wants that treasure too. In that case, why not just kill the old man? Why go through the trouble of bringing him all the way to the Southern Border?” Sick Scholar’s expression darkened, a trace of malice flashing across his previously gentle and smiling features, making him appear far more sinister than the frail scholar he had seemed before.

“True, I could kill him. But unfortunately… he’s no fool. The treasure is in the capital of Nanzhao. He only carries a token—half of it—that can retrieve the treasure. No one in the world knows where the other half is, nor how to use the token once obtained.” A murderous glint flickered in Sick Scholar’s eyes, clearly frustrated by Master Liang’s cunning. Han Mingxi smirked. “Perhaps you could consider torture.” Sick Scholar snorted coldly. “Surely Young Master Han knows who he is?”Han Mingxi shrugged nonchalantly, only smiling when he noticed Ye Li's gaze turning toward him. "I know. The fifth wealthiest family in Great Chu besides the four major merchant clans—Feng, Yan, Jin, and Lü—is the Liang family of the northwest. They're even richer than my elder brother. And while my brother loves money as much as his own life, Master Liang values money more than life itself. I heard once that bandits kidnapped his most beloved concubine and demanded twenty thousand taels of silver as ransom, but he didn’t even bother to respond. Despite his immense wealth, he pinches every penny, living more frugally than an average merchant. Last night, didn’t he brag to you about visiting the Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion? My brother despises him the most because he spent an entire evening there and only ordered the cheapest tea, not even spending twenty taels. If someone like him truly had a treasure, he’d probably rather die than hand it over."

Ye Li looked at Sick Scholar. "What I’m more curious about is why you’re sharing this information with us. Aren’t you afraid we might be tempted by greed?"

Sick Scholar replied indifferently, "I need your help. Last night, I noticed Young Master Zhuo’s martial skills were impressive, and though Young Master Chu’s depth is hard to gauge, he must be no ordinary man. As for Young Master Han, I naturally won’t let you leave empty-handed either." Han Mingxi propped his chin on his hand, tilting his head. "I thought you just said you didn’t need the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity’s assistance."

Sick Scholar nodded. "I don’t need any intelligence from the Pavilion. But since I happened to run into Young Master Han, I’ll have to ask you to join us."

"Can we refuse?" Han Mingxi asked.

"I’m afraid not," Sick Scholar said in a low voice, his slightly sinister gaze sweeping over them. Han Mingxi felt as if he’d been pricked by a knife, an uncomfortable sensation. Ye Li’s expression remained unchanged, but his fingers inside his sleeve tightened slightly. Sick Scholar’s smile was cold and twisted as he elegantly raised his left hand, admiring the slight difference in skin tone between his fingers. "I believe Young Master Han won’t refuse, will you?"

Han Mingxi’s expression darkened, his guard rising. "You poisoned us?!"

Sick Scholar merely smiled in response, not answering, but Han Mingxi’s face grew even more troubled. As if certain of Han Mingxi’s compliance, Sick Scholar turned to Ye Li. "And Young Master Chu?"

Ye Li poured himself a cup of cold tea, frowning slightly at the bitter taste before replying, "I refuse."

"Refuse?" Sick Scholar seemed taken aback. After a pause, his gaze sharpened with menace. "Are you certain, Young Master Chu?" Ye Li smiled faintly, setting down the cup. "I heard of your reputation a few days ago and know you’re unparalleled in the art of poison. But... unless you plan to use something immediately lethal, it’s best not to act."

"What do you mean?" Sick Scholar’s expression darkened as he stared at Ye Li.Ye Li lowered her gaze to her hands resting on her knees and said softly, "I heard that you accidentally injured your heart meridian many years ago? Although I'm not well-versed in such injuries, I do have some superficial understanding of this pathology. In my opinion, if you can't kill your opponent in the snap of a finger, it would be best not to engage at all. Because... your heart probably can't withstand prolonged violent tremors, isn't that right?"

The killing intent in Sick Scholar's eyes almost materialized instantly as he gritted his teeth and said, "Are you certain I can't kill you?"

Ye Li smiled, "You're welcome to try."

Of course, Sick Scholar wouldn't attempt it. This Chu Junwei hadn't made a single move throughout their journey and didn't appear to possess profound inner energy. Yet his instincts told him this composed young man was anything but ordinary. Besides, there was also Han Mingxi watching intently nearby and an unseen, skilled guard in the room. Han Mingxi lounged in his chair, propping up half of his handsome face as he glanced between the gloomy Sick Scholar and the serenely smiling Ye Li, playfully blinking his eyes. It seemed he had stumbled upon some remarkable secret.

"Heh, Young Master Chu is indeed no ordinary person. However... it's too late for regrets now," Sick Scholar sneered.

"What do you mean?" Han Mingxi narrowed his eyes.

Sick Scholar replied, "Right after I left that small building earlier, I suspect that fellow surnamed Liang is no longer there."

"You did this on purpose?" Han Mingxi asked. Sick Scholar nodded, "Exactly. That Liang came to the Southern Border specifically to find the Luo Yi Tribe. Last night, they weren't here to cause trouble for us but to rendezvous with him." Han Mingxi frowned, "So what?" Sick Scholar scoffed, "So what? Now that he's reached his destination, naturally everyone who knows of his whereabouts must be... silenced. If they didn't bring us all here, what if someone escaped? Wouldn't all their efforts be in vain?"

"Was it your idea for Zheng Kui to approach and invite us to travel together the day before yesterday?" Ye Li asked Sick Scholar calmly.

"That's right. Zheng Kui thought he was just escorting the Liang family to Nanzhao for business. I told him the two of you were skilled and traveling together would provide mutual support. To be honest... I didn’t originally intend to choose you, but at this time of year, very few people are heading to the Southern Border. Yet I need capable individuals to assist me. Coincidentally, Young Master Han and I share some connections, don’t we?"

Han Mingxi smiled. "I’m more curious why you aren’t using people from the King of Hell Pavilion. I’m sure there are plenty there willing to go through fire and water for you."

Sick Scholar’s face darkened as he replied coldly, "This is my own affair."

Ye Li stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the still-pouring rain before turning back. "What kind of treasure does Master Liang possess that even someone like you would go to such lengths?"

"You’d be better off not knowing, Young Master Chu. After all, the less you know, the safer you are. Out of respect for Young Master Han, I won’t act against you afterward," Sick Scholar said with a stern expression. Ye Li gave him a faint glance and smiled. "I’m sorry, but I’m not fond of being kept in the dark and used as a pawn."

Sick Scholar sneered. "Even if you refuse to help, you won’t be able to leave. Take a good look outside." Han Mingxi swiftly moved to the window and peered out. Through the rain, the distant scenery was faintly visible, but a strange, subtle fragrance lingered in the air. Ye Li pulled Han Mingxi back and shut the window. Sick Scholar nodded approvingly at her. "I wasn’t wrong—Young Master Chu has some knowledge of poisons as well." Ye Li shook her head. "I don’t know much about poisons, but I was recently incapacitated by a narcotic drug from the Southern Border, so I’ve become more cautious."

After that incident where she fell into Ye Yue’s trap, Ye Li had repeatedly reviewed the events. She eventually concluded that Ye Yue hadn’t poisoned her after she entered the hall—the narcotic had been there from the start. Two pots of half-bloomed orchids had been placed at the entrance of Yaohua Palace’s main hall, with two more inside. Later, in the small courtyard where Mo Jingli had imprisoned her, she had seen the same orchids. Though perhaps they weren’t orchids at all—just something that resembled them.

Sick Scholar said, "The paths up the mountain have all been cut off, and those flowers and plants on the slopes outside... Right now, Young Master Han can take a whiff without issue—it’s harmless. These poisonous flowers only take effect during the day, and only in clear weather. But once the rain stops, their fragrance will turn into a deadly toxin, paralyzing anyone who breathes it in." Han Mingxi stared at him. "Do you have the antidote?"

Sick Scholar replied arrogantly, "Such a minor poison is nothing to me."

Han Mingxi returned to his seat and sat down. "So unless we agree to help you, you won’t give us the antidote? What’s stopping us from descending the mountain before the rain stops?" Sick Scholar chuckled. "Martial artists don’t need to worry about whether there’s a path when climbing or descending. Feel free to try—you’d be doing me a favor by drawing away the people and those poisonous insects." Han Mingxi recalled the dense swarm of snakes from the previous night, shuddering as goosebumps rose on his arms. He rubbed them nervously and looked pleadingly at Ye Li.Ye Li stood with her hands behind her back and said calmly, "Then I can assume that not only does the gentleman have antidotes for those poisonous flowers and herbs, but also methods to deal with venomous snakes and insects. What we need to do is only handle those people, correct?"

Sick Scholar nodded in good spirits, "Exactly." The displeasure from having his shortcomings exposed earlier finally dissipated somewhat, and the murderous intent in his gaze toward Ye Li gradually faded. After a moment of contemplation, Ye Li nodded and said, "I can agree to the gentleman's terms."

"Hey, Jun Wei, aren't you afraid he might go back on his word and silence us in the end?" Han Mingxi whispered as a reminder. Sick Scholar was hardly a benevolent man. Ye Li smiled, "I trust the promise of the Third Master of the King of Hell Pavilion."

"In that case, it's settled."

Hey, hey... does that guy even have something like credibility?