Unlike the unhurried pace of previous days, the rebel forces had clearly grown impatient. They launched their assault before dawn, and as daylight broke, their attacks grew increasingly ferocious. Had Yonglin City's outskirts not been too cramped to deploy all their troops, Mo Jingli would undoubtedly have thrown his entire hundred-thousand-strong army at this tiny town.
For defending a city, two thousand Black Cloud Cavalry were hardly more effective than two thousand border garrison soldiers. By noon, the remaining defenders in Yonglin were utterly exhausted. The city gates, battered by relentless assaults, began to creak ominously.
"Your High— I mean, Young Master Xu, we can't hold any longer. You should leave first!" Xia Shu, covered in blood and exhaustion, stood before Ye Li. "And the Black Cloud Cavalry brothers—defending the city was always our duty. We’ve held out this long only thanks to you."
"Leave?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Where to? There’s an army of over a hundred thousand outside."
"The two thousand Black Cloud Cavalry remain intact. Trapped in the city, they’re like a dragon stranded in shallow waters. Once outside, they could fight their way through," Xia Shu argued. Ye Li gestured to the men behind her. "Ask them if they’ll go."
Standing behind her were Qin Feng, the stern Black Cloud Cavalry commander, and shadow guards An Er and An San. Qin Feng declared solemnly, "The Black Cloud Cavalry exists to defend Great Chu. If we abandon the city and its defenders, we’d have no choice but to atone before our brothers upon return." An San grinned at Xia Shu. "We’re shadow guards. Where our master goes, we follow."
Xia Shu glared at them, his eyes stinging with unshed tears. "It’s not worth it!" Burying a Princess of the State and two thousand elite Black Cloud Cavalry for the sake of Yonglin—such a price...
An San patted Xia Shu’s shoulder. "If Yonglin truly falls, we’ll fight to the death to get Young Master out. Whether we break through or not, fate decides. But fleeing now? That’s worse than abandoning the city days ago—then at least fewer would’ve died."
Xia Shu froze, then swatted An San’s hand away and turned on his heel. "Do as you please!"
An San shrugged, turning to the others. "Seems he’s shy?" An Er sighed and gave his occasionally erratic younger brother a light smack. We’re in the middle of a battle, you idiot.
As the gates began to splinter under the relentless battering, Ye Li sighed. They wouldn’t last until reinforcements arrived. "Black Cloud Cavalry, prepare!"
"Yes!" The remaining few defenders took over the walls while below, the two thousand Black Cloud Cavalry stood ready, taut as a drawn bowstring. Ye Li nodded to Xia Shu and Yun Ting on the battlements, then raised her hand. The gates collapsed with a thunderous crash. Before the rebels could surge in, the black cavalry stormed out like a hurricane, leaving a trail of carnage in their wake.
"Your Highness, they’re here. The Black Cloud Cavalry!" At the rear of the army, Mo Jingli sat astride his horse, eyes fixed on the battlefield. He didn’t need his aide’s warning—the sight of those swift black figures was unmistakable."Truly worthy of the Black Cloud Cavalry..." The general beside him couldn't help but sigh. With such an army at one's command, what worries could there be about conquering the world? Even now, when they were considered enemies, seeing such elite troops still evoked unstoppable admiration.
Mo Jingli sneered coldly, "Finally showing themselves." With a wave of his hand, two fresh reserve forces that had not yet participated in the battle charged into the fray. "They say the Black Cloud Cavalry excels in swift assaults, but let's see how they handle this many people!" The already cramped space before Yonglin City became utterly packed with the addition of these two forces, leaving no room for warhorses to maneuver. The Black Cloud Cavalry clearly understood this as well, quickly abandoning their horses to merge into the chaotic melee. Two thousand men trying to hold back tens of thousands was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, but the city gate was only so wide—it was impossible for tens of thousands to charge in simultaneously. Thus, for the moment, the two armies remained locked in a stalemate at the gate. Even when a few rebels managed to break through, they were swiftly eliminated by the defenders inside.
"Who is that?" Mo Jingli suddenly pointed at a particularly petite black-clad figure amidst the chaos. Dressed in the same black Cloud Pattern uniform as all the Black Cloud Cavalry, yet their movements and style were completely different. If the Black Cloud Cavalry's movements were agile and fierce, this person's were simple yet ruthless. There were no discernible techniques, yet with almost every simple motion, a soldier fell before them. Whether ordinary foot soldiers or commanding officers, they all met the same fate under those hands.
"That's..." The crowd fell silent; no one knew who that person was. Apart from being slightly shorter and more agile and fierce, there was no obvious difference from the other Black Cloud Cavalry members. Staring at the fierce figure in the chaos, Mo Jingli's dark eyes gradually narrowed—that silhouette gave him an eerie sense of familiarity. After a long pause, he finally gritted his teeth and spat out a name: "Ye Li!" The strategist beside him froze, quickly turning to look at the figure in the melee, exclaiming, "Your Highness, are you saying that's Princess Ding?!" Ignoring the question, Mo Jingli pointed his whip forward and commanded, "Capture that person alive! A thousand taels of gold to whoever succeeds!"
"Yes, sir!"
Though the Black Cloud Cavalry held the city gate against the rebels, the walls above were clearly no longer defensible. Many rebels had already scaled the ramparts, engaging the defenders in brutal combat. Ye Li, below the walls, also felt the mounting pressure. With a sweep of her blade, she felled one charging rebel, then spun around to drive the edge through the throat of another attacking from behind. An Er and An San moved closer to her. An Er whispered, "Young master, it's time to retreat." An San, slicing through an enemy with a spray of blood, added, "Has Mo Jingli discovered the Princess? Why does it feel like the men coming at us now aren't ordinary soldiers?" The fighters surrounding them clearly had considerable martial skills, making them far more formidable than the average foot soldier.
Ye Li was equally frustrated, but the fall of Yonglin City was inevitable. At this point, any sacrifice by the Black Cloud Cavalry would be meaningless. They had held the gate for nearly two hours—Snowbreak Pass must have received the message by now. "All Black Cloud Cavalry, withdraw from the battlefield!""Understood. First, second, and third squads cover the retreat. Everyone else, withdraw!" Qin Feng commanded loudly.
"Trying to run?!" From a distance, Mo Jingli clearly saw the battlefield situation. The Black Cloud Cavalry excelled at swift raids, covert operations, and equally at retreats. With Yonglin's complex terrain, once they disengaged, catching them would be impossible. However, the cavalry hadn't truly charged into the rebel forces' center from the start, merely blocking the city gates to halt their advance. Upon receiving orders, they immediately split left and right, retreating into the city while skilled archers covered their withdrawal. Despite the rebels' frustration, they could only watch as the cavalry nimbly escaped the battlefield. Mo Jingli snorted coldly, turned, and drew his bow from his horse, nocking an arrow and aiming at a small, dark figure amidst the chaos.
Amid the fighting, Ye Li distinctly sensed a dangerous presence. Glancing back, she saw Mo Jingli's sinister gaze and the arrow already loosed, streaking toward her. Normally, dodging such an arrow would be trivial, but now, entangled with several rebels, she couldn't evade. An San cried out in alarm and lunged forward. Ye Li cursed inwardly, seized a rebel's wrist gripping a dagger, and hurled him toward An San's path. In that split-second maneuver, a searing pain flared in her left arm as the arrow closed in.
"Young Master!"
"Whoosh—!" A white-feathered arrow, shimmering with golden brilliance, cut through the air. Mo Jingli's arrow collided with it three feet from Ye Li, clattering harmlessly to the ground. The golden arrow, seemingly unaffected, pierced one rebel and embedded itself deep in another's chest. The man stared in disbelief at the shaft protruding from his body, unable to comprehend how an arrow from behind his comrade had impaled him. Ye Li, momentarily stunned by the miraculous shot, quickly refocused, spinning to kick a rebel attempting to ambush her.
"Heavens..." An Er and An San exhaled in relief. An San's lunge had been blocked by the rebel Ye Li threw, nearly leaving her exposed to the arrow. Cold sweat broke out as they hurried to Ye Li's side.
"A Golden Feather Arrow?! It's His Highness!" The Black Cloud Cavalry covering the retreat gaped at the golden fletching visible on the fallen man, recognizing it instantly.
From afar, Mo Jingli seethed at his failed shot. Gripping his bow, he prepared another, only for the ground to tremble faintly as thunderous hoofbeats approached. "The same old trick?" he sneered. "You think it'll work again?""No... no, Your Highness!" The strategist beside him turned ashen, pointing at the billowing dust in the distance and shouting, "This time it's real!"
The black cavalry surged forth like a dark cloud, overwhelming the horizon. Piercing whistles accompanied golden flames shooting into the sky. The Black Cloud Cavalry, which had already withdrawn from the battlefield, turned back upon seeing the golden signal.
Unnoticed before, dark figures had appeared simultaneously on the surrounding hills. At their forefront rode a man on a white horse, wielding a silver spear, his white robes fluttering like drifting clouds. A silver mask covered half his face, but the visible half revealed striking brows and unparalleled handsomeness. His usually gentle eyes now radiated an intimidating sharpness as they briefly swept over Ye Li, sending a tremor through her heart as she exhaled softly.
The white-clad man tugged the reins, and his steed leaped down the hill into the chaotic battlefield as if flying through the air. None dared stand in his path.
"Black Cloud Cavalry, hear my command! Those who plot treason and betray the nation—show no mercy!" His low voice, amplified by Internal Force, resonated across the entire battlefield.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Thunderous responses echoed from all directions.
For a moment, the battlefield seemed frozen. Everyone forgot they were still amidst flying arrows and drawn swords, staring dumbfounded at the white-clad figure cutting through the chaos. A name hovered on the brink of recognition...
"Mo Xiuyao... How is this possible?!" Mo Jingli glared viciously at the scene before him, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Sound the drums! Attack!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The heavy war drums pounded like blows to the heart. Trembling rebels lunged toward the white-clad man—they were facing Chu's undefeated God of War!
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow in disdain. His silver spear traced a dazzling arc, painting the air with bursts of crimson. From the hills, countless arrows wove a deadly net. Renowned for their archery, the Black Cloud Cavalry's overwhelming volley left the rebels no courage to even raise their bows, let alone mount an effective counterattack. With the massive army pressing from behind, the tide turned almost instantly—the hundred-thousand-strong rebel forces already showed signs of collapse.
The moment Mo Xiuyao appeared, Ye Li retreated into Yonglin City. After helping the Black Cloud Cavalry clear the rebels who had breached the walls, she stood atop the battlements, watching the scene below. All eyes were irresistibly drawn to the snow-white figure—white robes, silver spear, moving with the grace of a soaring dragon. Wherever he advanced, rebels scattered, too terrified to engage.
Ye Li once heard Xu Qingchen remark that in his youth, Mo Xiuyao had blazed like fire, dazzling and brilliant. After the great upheaval, the young man became as still as water, yet beneath the surface lurked terrifying undercurrents. Now, Mo Xiuyao was like a peerless sword, tempered through countless trials, sheathed for centuries before emerging anew—its edge restrained, its killing aura subdued, yet the refined brilliance born of endless trials still commanded the world's awe.
"Prince... Prince Ding?" Yun Ting leaned weakly against the parapet, ignoring the blood smeared on his face as he gazed yearningly at the figure weaving through the battlefield below.
Xia Shu stood beside him, his expression relaxed. "Quite obviously, yes.""So... so we've waited for reinforcements? We've held Yonglin City?" Yun Ting's voice carried a dreamlike quality, as if he couldn't tell whether this was reality or a dream.
An San chuckled and patted his shoulder reassuringly, "Congratulations, Captain Yun. You'll be getting a promotion soon." Yun Ting ignored him, blinking eagerly as he looked towards Ye Li, who unfortunately was too busy watching the scene below the city walls to pay him any attention.
This battle didn't last long—within half an hour, the rebel forces began retreating eastward. Watching the rebels withdraw like a receding tide, Yun Ting was speechless. "What... what does this mean?" Were these rebels only picking on easy targets? He had clearly seen many of them flee without even engaging the Black Cloud Cavalry. What had all their desperate fighting over the past few days been for? An San laughed, "Don't take it to heart, Captain Yun. Even if it weren't for the reinforcements, just the sight of our prince standing there would have been enough to keep those cowards from crossing the line. This... is called presence. It's something others can't imitate." The mere sight of Prince Ding standing unharmed at the gates of Yonglin City was enough to terrify most people—what was there left to fight?
"When will I ever have that kind of presence?" Yun Ting murmured.
"Take your time. If you had been able to slay twenty enemy generals and defeat three hundred thousand troops by the age of fifteen or sixteen, you'd probably have that presence by now too," An San offered insincerely.
Ye Li had no patience for their nonsense and turned to leave the city walls, only to be abruptly grabbed by Murong Ting, who had somehow slipped back unnoticed. Frowning, Ye Li asked, "Murong, why are you back again?" Murong Ting snorted, glancing down at the city gates with a grin. "Prince Ding brought reinforcements—only a fool wouldn't come back. Wait, no... you were the one who tied me up and dragged me away! I never left in the first place!" Ye Li waved her off dismissively. "We'll talk about that later. I'm heading down first."
"Hey—" Murong Ting quickly grabbed her again, pulling her along as they hurried down the steps. "Are you even a woman? That's Prince Ding down there... Prince Ding! And your husband, no less. Couldn't you at least change your clothes before greeting him? Look at what you're wearing right now—if Tianxiang and Zheng'er were here, they'd nag you to death." Ye Li couldn't help but feel exasperated. Despite Murong's bold personality, she was still a girl at heart—how could she be thinking about such things at a time like this? "Murong, this is a battlefield."
"So what? The battle's over, isn't it? Even if the rebels come back now, with Prince Ding here, they won't miss you if you're gone. Come with me!" Ignoring Ye Li's stiff and reluctant expression, she dragged her toward a temporary lodging not far from the city walls.
Murong Ting's efficiency truly made her suited to be a battlefield medic. Ye Li couldn't help but admire inwardly as she looked at the neatly arranged clothes and accessories before her. In less than half an hour, Murong had rushed back from the road to Snowbreak Pass, somehow gathered these hard-to-find garments and accessories in Yonglin City, and even managed to intercept her on the city walls before the battle ended. She was impressively well-trained."Hurry, hurry. Once you're dressed up, we can go welcome Prince Ding." Murong Ting grabbed the clothes from the table and shoved them into Ye Li's hands before pushing her into the inner room to change. She then began fiddling with the accessories on the table. Yonglin City was small to begin with, and good items were hard to find. Moreover, with the imminent siege, no shops were open for business. She had run all over the place just to gather these things. Ye Li had no choice but to take the clothes and go inside—if she didn’t move quickly, she feared Murong Ting might burst in and tear her clothes off to change her herself.
The battlefield outside the city had already quieted down. Leaving a portion of the troops to clean up the aftermath, Feng Zhiyao was ordered to lead the Mo Family Army into the city to take over defense duties. Mo Xiuyao rode into the city on horseback, where the remaining soldiers of Yonglin lined the streets to welcome him. Yet, as his gaze swept over the crowd, he didn’t see the figure he longed to meet. Feng Zhiyao, riding beside Mo Xiuyao, asked curiously in a low voice, "Where’s the Princess of the State?" He had seen it clearly outside—the way the Princess of the State moved through the chaos of battle, striking down enemies with swift precision, her lethal grace was a perfect match for Mo Xiuyao. At the same time, Feng Zhiyao reminded himself never to provoke the Princess of the State. A woman like that… was truly terrifying.
"Uh… I know where the Princess is," Feng Zhiyao said, pointing ahead at a crossroads.
Following his direction, Mo Xiuyao spotted two figures—one tall, one petite—standing by the roadside. The taller girl in red was eagerly dragging a woman in green toward them. Mo Xiuyao’s gaze locked onto the slender, elegant figure. The woman who had been clad in black battle attire, fierce and unyielding on the battlefield, now wore a faint, resigned smile. Her robes fluttered gracefully, her wide sleeves swaying gently. Her soft, dark hair was loosely tied up, adorned with a pearl-studded hairpin with dangling tassels. Her demeanor was gentle and refined, like the most graceful maiden from a noble household.
Ye Li had clearly noticed Mo Xiuyao as well. She paused briefly in surprise. Mo Xiuyao urged his horse forward, and the snow-white steed eagerly trotted up to Ye Li, affectionately nuzzling her with its head.
"A Li…" Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly, leaning down to extend his hand. Ye Li reached up and grasped it. With a swift motion, she was pulled onto the horse, seated in front of Mo Xiuyao. Then, the white horse galloped away, leaving Murong Ting gaping in astonishment. After a long pause, the red-clad girl muttered under her breath, "How ungrateful… I didn’t even get to touch a warhorse. So stingy…"
From a distance, Feng Zhiyao watched the stunned soldiers and the curious Black Cloud Cavalry before dismounting with a shrug. Well, wasn’t it the duty of subordinates to handle necessary matters when their superiors were otherwise occupied?The two rode together through Yonglin City, galloping swiftly beyond its walls. The steed lived up to its reputation—in the blink of an eye, Snowbreak Pass was already visible in the distance. Ye Li lowered her head, feeling the arm around her waist tighten painfully, and whispered, "Mo... Xiu Yao, where are we going?"
Mo Xiuyao glanced down at her before finally pulling on the reins and dismounting. Ye Li raised a brow, preparing to follow suit, but when she looked down, she was met with his outstretched arms.
"Come down."
Seeing his insistence, she had no choice but to let him lift her from the horse. Nestled in his slightly cool embrace, she inexplicably felt a wave of comfort and ease, though the sudden heat rising to her face left her flustered.
She looked up—only to be met with the refreshing, pleasant scent of the man before her. Her eyes widened in surprise. His kiss descended like a sudden storm, sweeping over her in her dazed state. Her petite frame was locked tightly against him as his cool fingertips gently tilted her bewildered face upward. His warm lips lingered on hers, soft and rosy, savoring their sweetness.
Mo Xiuyao’s kiss was not gentle—it was almost rough, carrying a hint of dominance and inexplicable anger as he pried her lips apart, coaxing her teeth to part and drawing her hesitant tongue into a dance with his own.
"Mmm..." Ye Li frowned slightly, attempting to struggle. But the arm around her waist only tightened stubbornly, holding her firmly in place, while his other hand tangled in her hair, pressing her closer, deepening their exchange of breath. Weakly, she clutched the front of his robes.
"Xiu Yao..."
When they parted, both were slightly breathless. Mo Xiuyao lowered his head, pressing his forehead against Ye Li's smooth one, and murmured, "A Li, you scared me." When he arrived outside Yonglin City and witnessed that scene, no one could fathom the shock and fear in his heart. Even he himself didn’t know what he was thinking at that moment—only that he had instinctively loosed that arrow. When he saw it pierce through two people in succession, splattering brilliant crimson, the sudden surge of brutality in his heart showed no sign of abating. If not for his extraordinary self-control, his second arrow would have been aimed at Mo Xiuyao. Had he failed to block that arrow… Had he failed, none of the rebel soldiers present today would have been left alive.
"A Li…"
Ye Li’s face was flushed crimson, and for the first time in her life, she felt so flustered she didn’t know where to put her hands or feet. She… she had actually kissed a man on the roadside where anyone could pass by…
But when she heard Mo Xiuyao’s sighing call of "A Li," all her struggles and resistance melted away.
"Mo Xiuyao, it’s so good to see you again," Ye Li whispered with a soft sigh. Mo Xiuyao lowered his head, his deep eyes filled with warmth and tenderness. His slightly cool lips brushed against her delicate, rosy ones again, this time with utmost gentleness and lingering affection. "A Li… I missed you so much. I shouldn’t have let you come to the Southern Border alone." Ye Li smiled faintly, saying nothing, unwilling to admit that after being apart for so long, she had missed him a little… well, more than a little.
Their well-behaved white horse had long since wandered off. The place where they stood was only a few miles from Snowbreak Pass, its majestic gates clearly visible. However, Mo Xiuyao had no intention of immediately returning to Yonglin City or meeting Murong Shen. Instead, he led Ye Li to a nearby hillside to sit and rest.
Ye Li leaned against Mo Xiuyao as she sat, finally relaxing her body, which had been tense for days, and couldn’t help but let out a contented sigh. When she looked up, however, she noticed Mo Xiuyao frowning slightly. "What’s wrong? Are you hurt or uncomfortable somewhere?" Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Just tired from riding nonstop for days. Speaking of injuries…" He took her left arm, rolling up the wide sleeve to reveal a slender scar. His brows furrowed. "Why didn’t you bandage this?"
Ye Li hadn’t expected him to notice her injury. She shook her head with a smile. "It’s just a scratch. It’s stopped bleeding already. It’ll heal faster this way."
"Nonsense," Mo Xiuyao chided softly. He took out a few small medicine bottles from his pouch, using a clear liquid from one to clean the wound before carefully sprinkling it with powder. Then, he pulled out a white handkerchief from his sleeve and wrapped it around the injury. Ye Li admired his perfectly bandaged work and smiled. "Really, it’s nothing. It’ll heal in two days."
Mo Xiuyao pulled her into his arms, ruffling her soft hair as he murmured, "No more injuries from now on, or I won’t let you go anywhere!" Ye Li stayed silent. Accidents happened all the time—she couldn’t promise that. "I’ll try. But didn’t you get hurt a lot yourself on the battlefield?" The title of Young God of War wasn’t earned for nothing, and Mo Xiuyao wasn’t some divine being with an invincible body.
"How can you compare yourself to me?"
Ye Li lifted her head, narrowing her eyes at him in displeasure. "Are you discriminating against women?"Mo Xiuyao sighed helplessly, "I don't discriminate against women, and even if I did, I wouldn't discriminate against you." If his A Li were to be discriminated against, then all the men in the world might as well go commit suicide.
"Are you saying I'm not womanly enough?"
"A Li," Mo Xiuyao looked at her with an amused smile, "Are you angry or are you acting spoiled?" Ye Li froze, staring blankly at Mo Xiuyao's gentle smile, torn between wanting to bite him or punch herself. Was she really throwing a tantrum with Mo Xiuyao? Even Murong wouldn't ask such childish and silly questions—she was being more immature than Murong!
With a faint smile, Mo Xiuyao pulled her back into his embrace before she could get too flustered. "Stay with me for a while. I'm a bit tired."
Ye Li shifted slightly but soon settled quietly. Mo Xiuyao's health wasn't good, and it was impossible for him to miraculously recover in such a short time. Even though he tried hard to hide it, she hadn't missed the exhaustion and pallor between his brows. Pressed tightly against his chest, Ye Li drifted into sleep, her thoughts wandering aimlessly...
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Haha... Now that they're reunited, how about a passionate kiss? By the way, the first 5,000 words took me two hours to write, but the next 2,000 words—no, to be precise, the 800-word kissing scene—took me half a day... Of course, most of that time was spent spacing out...
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