Mo Li

"Princess Consort, grave news!"

Ye Li and her party pressed on toward Snowbreak Pass without rest. The sudden mobilization of Nanzhao and Prince Li's forces had caught many by surprise. The Black Cloud Cavalry's earlier entry into the Southern Border had already drawn considerable attention, and now their journey could no longer proceed as smoothly as before. Ye Li had no choice but to proceed with An Er, An San, and a few Black Cloud Cavalry soldiers, while the others dispersed and returned to Eastern Chu.

"What happened?" Ye Li frowned, pulling on the reins. The messenger from the Black Cloud Cavalry lowered his voice. "Commander Wu Chengliang was assassinated. The Yongzhou reinforcements were ambushed just after crossing the river. The entire army... was annihilated."

Ye Li's heart clenched. "How far are we from Snowbreak Pass now?"

An Er replied, "Half a day's journey. But... Snowbreak Pass is already besieged by over a hundred thousand Nanzhao troops. Even if we arrive, we likely won't be able to enter."

Ye Li said, "Take a detour. Forget Snowbreak Pass for now—head straight to Yonglin. Prince Li's army should be arriving soon."

"Yes, Princess Consort."

At Snowbreak Pass, the clamor of battle and the thunder of war drums continued unabated, just as it had for the past few days. Murong Shen watched the Nanzhao generals taunting them from below the walls, his expression dark as water. Days of holding the gates shut had dealt a severe blow to the soldiers' morale. Many of the officers around him could barely restrain their urge to charge out and fight, but he had stopped them one by one.

"General, please allow this subordinate to lead a sortie!" A young officer pleaded firmly, his eyes burning with defiance. The Nanzhao troops had been hurling insults beneath the walls day after day, while they could only remain shut inside. This had long stoked the fury of these proud and spirited soldiers.

"Silence!" Murong Shen snapped. "Our priority now is to defend the city, not engage in reckless battles. We must not allow a single Nanzhao soldier to set foot inside Snowbreak Pass—that is our duty as border defenders. Wait for reinforcements!"

The young officer looked at him skeptically. "Will reinforcements arrive in time?" They had only eighty thousand defenders, while the Nanzhao forces surrounding them, combined with Prince Li's troops closing in from Lingzhou, numbered at least three hundred thousand.

Murong Shen fell silent for a moment before replying with conviction, "They will, as long as we hold Snowbreak Pass. So, no pointless heroics."

Glaring resentfully at the jeering Nanzhao soldiers below, the young officer gritted his teeth. "Understood, General."

"General!" A messenger rushed in. "General, reports from the front—Commander Wu Chengliang of Yongzhou led twenty thousand troops to reinforce us. But they were ambushed just after crossing Yunlan River. Commander Wu... has fallen!"

A collective gasp swept through the gathered officers. Murong Shen felt the world spin before his eyes but steadied himself quickly. "How? How could Prince Li move so fast?!"

"Report! General, the Prefect of Yongzhou surrendered the city to Prince Li last night. This morning, Prince Li's forces breached Qingyuan City. Their vanguard will likely reach the outskirts of Yonglin by dusk."

The officers exchanged grim looks. Yongzhou had never had many defenders to begin with, and now its highest-ranking official had surrendered to Prince Li. No wonder Prince Li's army had advanced so swiftly. With this speed, the ten days they had hoped to hold out would be impossible—Snowbreak Pass would likely be encircled within two days. The thought sent chills down their spines.

Murong Shen let out a bitter laugh. "Well done! What a fine Prefect of Yongzhou! Who is willing to defend Yonglin City?"

Several young officers stepped forward at once. "General, we volunteer!"Murong Shen looked at the solemn young man before him and nodded. "Very well. Yun Ting, Xia Shu, I’m giving you twenty thousand troops to hold Yonglin. Understood?"

"Yes, General," the two young men replied in unison. They accepted their orders and turned to leave without questioning how twenty thousand men could defend Yonglin or for how long. Watching their retreating figures, Murong Shen swept his gaze over the assembled officers and said, "The same goes for us—hold Snowbreak Pass. Understood?"

"Yes, General!"

The usually tranquil town of Yonglin was now steeped in grim tension. Shops along the streets were shuttered, and not a single pedestrian was in sight. Unlike the stifling gloom of Snowbreak Pass, where they were locked in a desperate defense, the foot of Yonglin’s walls was already a scene of flashing blades and blood-soaked chaos. Below the walls, siege soldiers scrambled up ladders, only to be forced back by stones and arrows from the defenders above. As one man fell, another surged forward to take his place. Meanwhile, soldiers atop the walls were frequently picked off by enemy archers, their bodies plummeting to the ground below, shattered beyond recognition. No one had the luxury to dwell on such horrors—everyone was locked in a frenzied battle for survival. They had forgotten that they were all once countrymen, even comrades. Now, it was kill or be killed.

"How about it? Should I go first?" one of the two young commanders on the wall asked grimly.

"I’ll go!" The other drew his sword and turned away without hesitation.

Left behind, the first young man let out a resigned sigh before turning to slash down an enemy soldier who had seized the moment to climb the wall while a defender was shot down.

The city gates swung open, and the young commander led a cavalry charge straight into the enemy ranks, relieving the pressure on the walls. He cut a bloody swath through the battlefield, his blade claiming countless lives. Soon, however, a burly middle-aged man blocked his path. The man brandished a broadsword, sweeping aside those around him, and sneered, "Has Murong Shen run out of men? Sending a wet-behind-the-ears brat to stand in my way? Open the gates of Yonglin now, and I might spare your life!"

The young commander arched an eyebrow and smirked. "I don’t waste my blade on nameless dogs. State your name, traitor, and I’ll grant you the mercy of a whole corpse!"

"I am Sun Wei, vanguard of the Western Army, personally appointed by His Highness Li Wang Dianxia!"

The young commander rolled his eyes. "So, you serve that rebel Mo Jingli. Sun Wei... never heard of you. Now, die!" His sword flashed, swift and merciless, driving the self-proclaimed vanguard into a frantic retreat before finally cutting him down.

With a disdainful scoff, the young commander spat, "Pathetic. Daring to strut before me?" The death of their vanguard threw the besieging army into disarray. Seizing the moment, the defenders launched a counterattack, and before long, the enemy forces were in full retreat."How was that, Xia Shu?" Back on the city walls, watching the enemy forces retreat in disarray, the young general who had just vented his frustrations through a brilliant display of martial prowess was beaming with excitement. The young man named Xia Shu frowned as he gazed into the distance and said, "This was likely just their vanguard scouting party. Although we drove them back, when their real elite forces arrive..." The young general's expression also darkened, his earlier joy from victory gradually fading. Even if it were just a hundred thousand pigs instead of soldiers, they could trample their meager forces to death. Holding the city with twenty thousand men was already difficult enough, let alone venturing out to engage the enemy. Yonglin City was no Snowbreak Pass—if they simply hunkered down, Prince Li's army could bypass this small city, albeit with some inconvenience. Once Snowbreak Pass fell, this isolated city with its mere twenty thousand defenders would be as good as theirs.

"Who cares? If they come, this young master will drive them back all the same! I, Yun Ting, am no coward afraid of death!" the young general snorted.

Xia Shu gradually smiled as well. "Well said. Just remember, the next round is mine."

Perhaps because their vanguard had suffered such a crushing defeat, the main forces arrived slower than expected. It wasn't until dawn the next day that the sound of war drums echoed from outside the city. Standing atop the gate tower, Xia Shu and Yun Ting looked down, and even Yun Ting couldn't help but suck in a breath. "Did Mo Jingli mobilize the entire army of Lingzhou?" The area before Yonglin City wasn't particularly spacious, but the sea of fluttering banners and densely packed figures made one reluctant to even estimate their numbers. Xia Shu murmured, "Back in the capital, everyone said Prince Li was a fool, but it seems that wasn't entirely true." The disciplined, orderly formation of Prince Li's troops below, their imposing aura, hardly seemed like an army led by an incompetent. Yun Ting scoffed. "Either he has a mastermind working for him, or he's been playing the fool all along. Could an idiot even launch a rebellion? That'd take a madman."

A few riders emerged from the enemy ranks, among them a middle-aged man who was clearly no warrior. He shouted up at the gate tower, "Hear this, defenders on the wall! Open the gates at once and let us pass."

Yun Ting curled his lip. "Who the hell are you? You think we'll just obey your command?"

The middle-aged man declared, "I am the Prefect of Yongzhou! Yongzhou has already sworn allegiance to Li Wang Dianxia. How dare you refuse to open the gates and welcome His Highness into the city!" At this, Yun Ting couldn't suppress a low curse. "So it's this traitor. The road to heaven was open, yet you chose to be a rebel. You should've had the sense to hide in some hole instead of strutting about like this." In one fluid motion, he snatched a bow and arrow from a nearby soldier, drew, and loosed the shaft straight at the Prefect of Yongzhou without hesitation."Ah?!" The Prefect of Yongzhou, who had been boasting proudly on horseback, was yanked by someone beside him just as an arrow whizzed past his ear. He let out a terrified shriek, nearly tumbling off his horse. Yun Ting clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Damn, my aim's off today."

The Prefect's attempts to persuade surrender had no effect. One of the men waved dismissively, ordering him sent back to the army. Then, looking up at the two figures on the city wall, he called out, "Up there must be the young generals Yun Ting and Xia Shu, right? You have at most twenty or thirty thousand troops—no match for my two hundred thousand. Why resist stubbornly? We’re all subjects of Great Chu. Wouldn’t it be a shame if anyone got hurt?"

Yun Ting spat and sneered, "What a joke! You still remember you’re a subject of Great Chu? I thought you were just some mutt barking for a traitor."

The man below paled slightly but quickly forced another smile. "The emperor is tyrannical. Prince Li is the true Son of Heaven. Naturally, we follow his command—"

"Bullshit!" Yun Ting fired another arrow, unfazed when the man dodged it easily. He roared, "I’ve seen shameless bastards before, but none as shameless as you! 'The emperor is tyrannical'—did he kill your parents or steal your wife? 'True Son of Heaven'—as if I haven’t heard the rumors from the border! Flirting with his future sister-in-law before marriage, caught fooling around with a woman on the day of the peace marriage. Oh, and fainting at his own wedding! If he’s that weak, he should stay home and spare us the embarrassment!"

Xia Shu, standing beside him, looked slightly mortified by Yun Ting’s relentless tirade. The defending soldiers on the wall burst into laughter, while even Prince Li’s troops below wore strange expressions. The officer attempting to persuade surrender now wished he could vanish into the ground. He pointed furiously at Yun Ting. "You little brat! If you ever fall into my hands, I’ll make you beg for death!"

Yun Ting tilted his chin up, radiating arrogance. "I’ll be waiting."

Far behind the massive army, Mo Jingli’s face darkened with fury, his chilling aura silencing the generals around him. Though they were far from the front, Yun Ting’s words had been infused with inner energy, ensuring every officer near Mo Jingli—all skilled in martial arts—heard them clearly. Mo Jingli’s expression was predictably stormy. "Attack the city! I want that brat alive!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" A wave of his hand sent thunderous war drums booming, and the army surged forward to assault the walls.Mo Jingli clearly intended to end the battle swiftly, aiming to seize most of the territory south of Yunlan River before the imperial reinforcements arrived. Thus, even a small town like Yonglin was not spared, especially since Snowbreak Pass lay just beyond it. This time, Yun Ting and Xia Shu felt pressure several times greater than the previous day. Merely defending the city walls was overwhelming, let alone diverting troops to engage the enemy outside. Even if they could spare some soldiers, those few would be swallowed by the tens of thousands of enemy troops, vanishing without a trace. Below the walls, massive wooden battering rams began slamming against the gates, shaking the entire fortification with each thunderous impact. Soldiers on the walls fell one by one, yet the enemies attempting to scale the battlements seemed endless. Yun Ting and Xia Shu swung their weapons relentlessly, filling the gaps left by fallen comrades as the air thickened with the metallic scent of blood.

Watching the dwindling number of defenders, Yun Ting’s white battle robe was now splattered with blood. "What rotten luck. This is my first time leading troops, and we’re about to be wiped out?"

"Don’t worry. If you die, the court will surely posthumously promote you to general," Xia Shu said with a faint smirk.

"Thanks for the comfort. I’d rather see these bastards die first!" Yun Ting retorted, swiftly cutting down an enemy who had scaled the wall and tried to ambush Xia Shu from the side. He then hurled the corpse at the climbers below.

"Hold the line, brothers! If these rebels breach Snowbreak Pass, it’s over. For centuries, not a single Southern Border barbarian has set foot beyond it—we can’t let it fall on our watch!" Yun Ting rallied the defenders, who roared in unison, "Defend Yonglin to the death!" Though all were soldiers, those stationed inland could hardly comprehend the mindset of border troops. Guarding the nation’s gates was their greatest honor, duty, and a responsibility etched into their bones.

Several miles away in the forested hills, Ye Li stood beneath the shade of a tree, gazing into the distance. The clamor of battle—clashing steel and thundering hooves—reached even here.

"Your High—Young Master, Yonglin won’t hold much longer," An San reported urgently.

Ye Li lowered her head. "For two thousand troops to last this long is impressive. Who’s leading the defense now?"

An Er replied, "Two lieutenants under General Murong—Yun Ting and Xia Shu."

Ye Li frowned. "Just two lieutenants?"

An Er nodded. "Snowbreak Pass has few stationed officers. These two are General Murong’s most promising protégés. Yesterday, Yun Ting even slew Prince Li’s vanguard." Ye Li’s brow furrowed further. "Mo Jingli is with the army?" An Er pointed toward a distant fluttering banner. "Prince Li should be there. Young Master… should we…?" Ye Li shook her head. "Mo Jingli’s guard will be impenetrable, and he’s no weakling himself. Decapitating the leadership is near impossible. An Er, An San."

"Yes."

"Select a few men and assassinate the Prefect of Yongzhou."

Exchanging a glance, An Er and An San responded firmly, "As you command."

Ye Li’s voice turned grave. "Kill only the prefect. Do nothing else, and retreat immediately.""Yes! Then, Young Master, you..."

Ye Li let out a soft sigh and glanced up at the azure sky. "I'll go with the Black Cloud Cavalry." The commanders standing behind her looked at her with deep respect. Although they were duty-bound to follow the orders of the princess consort, a mistress with agile skills and a sharp mind was far more acceptable to these proud and formidable warriors than one who merely relied on beauty and talent. Though they hadn't known her for long, these past few days, the princess consort had ridden with them, covering hundreds of miles daily, traversing mountains and rivers without hesitation—even more nimble than the average soldier. This had earned her the genuine allegiance of the Black Cloud Cavalry.

An Er and An San also understood that, though they were called shadow guards, the princess consort didn’t actually need constant protection. The tasks she assigned them were for their own futures, hoping they could stand openly among people rather than remain unseen bodyguards. "As you command," An Er said, exchanging glances with the Black Cloud Cavalry commanders: Her safety is in your hands now.

One of the commanders raised an eyebrow in silent acknowledgment.

"Are all preparations complete?" Ye Li asked, turning around as An Er and An San led their men away.

"Reporting to Young Master, everything is ready. We can move out at any time."

Ye Li nodded. "Good. Divide into four groups, entering the battlefield from both flanks in a crisscross formation. In a quarter of an hour, the remaining forces will begin their advance."

"Yes, sir." The situation on the battlefield was growing increasingly dire. At first, only one or two enemy soldiers managed to scale the walls before being swiftly cut down, but now, those who climbed up could kill several before being stopped. Though the damage was still contained, it wouldn’t hold for much longer. Yun Ting no longer had the energy to shout or curse, silently wielding his weapon instead, his young face etched with exhaustion and a sharp, murderous aura. Xia Shu had a gash torn across his right arm, forcing him to switch to his left hand for his sword—fortunately, his left-handed strikes were just as deadly.

As one wave of attackers receded, another surged forward. Xia Shu swung his blade, sweeping an enemy soldier off the wall, only for another to suddenly appear, his face twisted in a snarl as he thrust a dagger forward. "Xia Shu!" Yun Ting cried out, breaking away from his own opponent to rush over. Xia Shu barely had time to react before the attacker’s expression twisted into shock—then he toppled backward off the wall.

Four black shadows shot through the battlefield like sharp arrows, their speed terrifying as they pierced through the ranks of thousands. Wherever they passed, they carved through like a black tornado, swiftly splitting the massive army into fragmented sections. Soon, the gray haze of battle was shattered by streaks of black.

"What is that?" Yun Ting gasped, staring down at the black-clad riders below. One of them drew his bow and fired three arrows in rapid succession—without even seeming to aim—each striking an enemy attempting to climb the walls. Then, like a whirlwind, the riders swept past, reducing the scaling ladders to splinters in moments before galloping away as if the battlefield were empty. Yun Ting could only watch in stunned disbelief.Xia Shu clutched his burning wound, forcing a faint smile as he said, "Reinforcements! Quickly, loose arrows!" With the siege ladders destroyed, the pressure on the city walls had lessened considerably. Xia Shu immediately ordered the soldiers atop the battlements to fire arrows in support of the black-clad knights below. From their vantage point, they could see clearly—the reinforcements were few in number, but their sheer momentum and combat prowess, coupled with the thunderous charge of thousands of ironclad cavalry, had thrown the enemy into disarray. Cavalry were rare in the south, and as Xia Shu gazed at the dark riders below, his weary eyes suddenly blazed with fervor. "Quickly, Yun Ting, be ready to receive them into the city!" Even if these knights could fight a hundred men each, prolonged combat amidst tens of thousands of enemy troops was no sustainable strategy.

"Understood! I'll ride out to meet them!"

Xia Shu shook his head. "No need. Hold the gates—they'll fight their way out on their own."

Yun Ting gave Xia Shu a puzzled glance but decided to heed the advice of his slightly older comrade.

The Black Cloud Cavalry cut through the battlefield like a blade through silk. At the enemy's rear, Mo Jingli stood with his subordinate commanders, observing the battle. He had never placed much importance on this small town of Yonglin—the campaign had been too smooth thus far. Capturing Yonglin would secure half of Great Chu's territory. Even Mo Jingli himself hadn't anticipated such effortless progress. He glanced sideways at the Prefect of Yongzhou standing nearby, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. A man who betrays his master once would likely betray a second. For now, this man still had his uses, but in the future...

Whoosh! Several hidden weapons shot through the air toward Mo Jingli amidst the crowd. Alert, he tilted his head to dodge as his guards immediately formed a protective circle around him. "Assassins! Protect His Highness!" Several figures leaped out from all directions, yet none charged at Mo Jingli, who was shielded by layers of guards. Instead, some blocked the surrounding guards while one turned and lunged at the Prefect of Yongzhou, who was cowering to the side. The prefect tried to scream in terror but found himself utterly voiceless. A chilling sensation pierced his chest as a dagger stabbed through his heart. Lifting his fearful gaze, he met a pair of icy, indifferent eyes. A low voice whispered in his ear, "By the order of the Princess of the State—for the crime of treason and rebellion, die!"

"Retreat!" With a swift pull, the short blade was yanked from the prefect's chest, sending blood gushing like a fountain. An Er turned and slashed the throat of a guard rushing toward him before calling out to the others still entangled, "Fall back!"

The assassins quickly disengaged, scattering in all directions and seamlessly blending into Prince Li's troops before vanishing without a trace.

Mo Jingli's face darkened as he stared at the lifeless body of the Prefect of Yongzhou on the ground. The generals around him wore equally grim expressions, their eyes flickering with concealed fear and unease. Though they hadn't caught the assassin's full words, the final phrase—"for the crime of treason and rebellion, die!"—had been unmistakably clear. That the prefect could be so cleanly executed right under their noses, surrounded by thousands of soldiers and layers of protection, sent a bone-deep chill through them all.

Before Mo Jingli could vent his fury, a panicked shout cut through the tension: "What is that?!"

Everyone turned to look. On the battlefield, black-clad riders had appeared out of nowhere, weaving through the chaos with deadly precision. The frontlines were already showing signs of collapse after just a few charges. "Where did so many cavalrymen come from in the south?" The riders moved with terrifying speed, crisscrossing the field in such a way that their exact numbers were impossible to discern from afar. Yet their presence was undeniable—wherever they went, corpses piled high. The narrow terrain outside Yonglin City made it impossible to deploy all their forces effectively, leaving them helpless against the onslaught.

"The Black Cloud Cavalry!" Mo Jingli spat through gritted teeth.

The Black Cloud Cavalry! The name sent another wave of tremors through the crowd, the faint-hearted paling visibly. The Black Cloud Cavalry—the most elite force under the Ding Royal Palace, arguably the fiercest army in all of Chu. Commanded solely by Prince Ding himself or the recognized mistress of the Ding Royal Palace, no one else could wield this force. If the Black Cloud Cavalry was here... then Prince Ding must be nearby!

"Impossible!" Mo Jingli hissed. "That sickly Mo Xiuyao couldn't have gotten here so quickly!" He had left the capital in secret. Even if Mo Xiuyao had received word immediately and given chase, his frail body would have taken days to cover the distance. And even if he had arrived, he'd be in no state to command a battle.

"Then... who is leading this Black Cloud Cavalry now?" a general stammered.

Mo Jingli scoffed. He was certain Mo Xiuyao wasn't in Yonglin—but who, then, was commanding this force? Feng Zhiyao? No, Feng Zhiyao couldn't command the Black Cloud Cavalry either...

"Your Highness, a large cavalry force is approaching from the south!"

Mo Jingli stiffened. "How many?!""There are so many... countless... scouts were all shot dead the moment they got close!"

Everyone turned to look south, where indeed, beyond the forest, billowing dust and shadowy figures could be seen, along with the thunderous sound of galloping horses that shook the ground even from afar. Only thousands of horses could produce such an effect.

"Your Highness..."

The retreat signal sounded, and the attacking enemy forces withdrew like a receding tide. Simultaneously, the gates of Yonglin City swung open, allowing the black-clad knights to swiftly enter before the heavy gates closed once more. On the city walls, Yun Ting and Xia Shu exchanged glances, both sighing in relief as they watched the retreating enemy forces. Had these reinforcements not arrived in time, they would surely have been overwhelmed.

Casually wiping the blood from his sword and sheathing it, Yun Ting asked curiously, "Xia Shu, who exactly came to our aid?"

Xia Shu sighed. "When we get back, don’t brag about growing up in the capital. If you can’t even recognize this, you must’ve spent all your time collecting trivial gossip, huh?" He knew all about Prince Li’s affair with his sister-in-law, yet remained clueless about something so important.

Yun Ting tilted his head and blinked, then suddenly widened his eyes, staring dumbfounded at Xia Shu. After a long pause, he stammered, "Xia... Xia Shu, it can’t... it can’t be what I’m thinking, right?" Xia Shu rolled his eyes. "What else could it be?" Yun Ting finally let out a shriek and dashed down the city wall. Shaking his head helplessly, Xia Shu followed. The legendary Black Cloud Cavalry—he was just as curious.

Below the walls, the broad street was lined with densely packed men and horses, yet not a single sound could be heard. The entire street was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. The moment Yun Ting descended, he was met with an overwhelming aura of sharp killing intent and oppressive presence. His initial excitement involuntarily faded as he straightened his posture and looked toward the figure at the forefront.

The person at the front was also clad in black, but unlike the others, he wasn’t mounted. Instead, he stood quietly, holding the reins of a black steed. Yun Ting immediately noticed his difference—compared to the riders, he appeared smaller and gentler, devoid of their fierce, battle-hardened demeanor. There was even a faint smile in his eyes as he looked at Yun Ting. But Yun Ting knew this didn’t mean the man was weaker. On the contrary, he was likely the leader of them all.

"I am Yun Ting, Captain of Snowbreak Pass. Thank you all for your timely aid. May I ask... how should I address you?"

Ye Li observed the visibly nervous yet expectant young officer before him, finding it somewhat amusing. His expression, however, remained calm. "Captain Yun, would you mind speaking somewhere else?" Before Yun Ting could respond, Xia Shu, who had caught up, said, "Of course. This way, please. I am Xia Shu, also Captain of Snowbreak Pass."

Ye Li nodded and turned to the Black Cloud Cavalry behind him. "Rest here."

"Yes, sir."

Two thousand cavalrymen dismounted in unison, their movements so synchronized it was breathtaking.

Snapping out of his daze, Yun Ting said, "You must be exhausted from your journey. Would you like to rest at our camp?"Ye Li said somewhat helplessly, "I'm afraid there won't be much time for rest. There's no need to go through the trouble—I imagine Yonglin City has many wounded soldiers needing attention. However, these warhorses still require your assistance." Xia Shu naturally understood. Fortunately, although Snowbreak Pass didn't have many cavalry, they could still supply fodder for two thousand warhorses for some time. He nodded and said, "Rest assured, Young Master. I'll have someone attend to it immediately. Please come this way."

Ye Li nodded and followed Xia Shu toward the military camp set up not far from the city gate tower.

Yun Ting, feeling slightly dazed, turned to look at the black-clad knights who had sent off the warhorses—some sitting down to rest with their eyes closed, others polishing their swords—before glancing back at Ye Li, who was walking away with a few black-clad followers in tow after Xia Shu. Shaking his head, he quickly hurried after them.