Swords drawn in mid-air, gathering together

  Swords drawn in mid-air, gathering together

  In stark contrast to the previous days' slow and steady approach, the rebels suddenly became impatient. They started attacking the city before dawn, and as the sky grew brighter, their offensive grew more intense. It's believed that if it weren't for the fact that there wasn't enough space outside Yonglin City to deploy so many troops, Mo Jingli would have loved to bring in hundreds of thousands of soldiers to besiege this tiny city.

  Used to defend the city, two thousand Black Cloud Riders would not be much stronger than two thousand border city guards. By noon, the remaining defenders in Yonglin City were already exhausted. The city gate also began to shake under the continuous impact of the rebel army.

  "King... Xu Gongzi, we can't hold on anymore, you guys go first!" Xia Shu stood in front of Ye Li with a body full of bloodstains and exhaustion. "And the brothers of Hei Yun Cavalry, defending the city was our job to begin with. We've already held out for many days thanks to your help."

  "Leave?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow, "Where can we go now? There are hundreds of thousands of troops outside the city."

  "Hei Yun's two thousand iron riders haven't suffered any losses, and being trapped in the city is just like a dragon stuck in shallow waters. As long as we get out of the city, we can definitely break through," Xia Shu said. Ye Li pointed to the people behind him and said, "Ask them if they're willing to leave." Behind Ye Li stood Qin Feng, the commander of Hei Yun's cavalry, and An Er and An San, who were dressed in black and looked stern. Qin Feng said solemnly, "Hei Yun's cavalry exists solely to defend Da Chu. If we abandon the city and the soldiers defending it, when we return, my brothers will only be able to apologize for our failure in front of Hei Yun's soldiers." An San smiled at Xia Shu and said, "We are the dark guards; wherever our master is, that's where we'll be." Xia Shu glared at the people in front of him, feeling a stinging sensation in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, "It's not worth it!" Letting one city, Yong Lin City, bury a crown prince and two thousand Hei Yun iron riders. Such a price...

  An San patted Xia Shu's shoulder and laughed: "If Yonglin City really breaks, we will fight to the death to protect the young master and break out. At that time, whether we can break through or not is a matter of life and death. Now, why are you talking about abandoning the city and escaping? That's no different from abandoning the city a few days ago, and it wouldn't have cost so many lives."

  Xia Shu was stunned, and with a slap of his hand, he turned around and left, saying "Do as you please!"

  Dark Three shrugged and said to the crowd behind him, "He seems to be shy?" Dark Two patted him on the back, "Is our third brother okay? Is he having a seizure or something? We're in the middle of a battlefield, you know?"

  As the city gate began to crack under the heavy impact, Ye Li sighed helplessly, after all, they couldn't hold on until reinforcements arrived. "Black Cloud Riders, prepare!"

  "Yes!" The remaining defenders on the city wall handed over, while 2,000 Black Cloud Riders were ready below, like a drawn bowstring waiting to be released. Ye Li turned back and nodded at Xia Shu and Yun Tian standing on the city wall, then with a wave of his hand, the city gate crashed down, and before the rebel army outside could rush in, the black iron cavalry burst out like a storm, leaving bloodshed wherever they went.

  "Your Highness, they've arrived. The Black Cloud Riders!" Behind the army, Mo Jing Lei sat tall on his horseback, intently gazing at the situation on the battlefield. Without needing anyone to remind him, he naturally saw those groups of black, agile figures.

  "It's no wonder they're the Black Cloud Riders......" The generals beside him couldn't help but sigh, if there was such an army, how could the world not be at peace? Even though they were now considered enemies, seeing such elite troops still couldn't hide their admiration.

  Mo Jingli sneered, "Finally out." With a wave of his hand, the two routes of fresh troops that had not participated in the battle charged into the battlefield. "It's said that the Black Cloud Riders are good at swift attacks, but with so many people, I see how you'll handle it!" The already small Yonglin City was even more crowded with the addition of these two routes of troops, and the war horses were unable to fully deploy. The Black Cloud Riders clearly understood this as well, and soon abandoned their mounts and merged into the chaotic army. With 2,000 people trying to hold off tens of thousands, it was like an mantis trying to stop a chariot, but the city gate was only so big, and it was impossible for tens of thousands of people to charge in at the same time. So, for the time being, the two armies were still entangled at the city gate. Even if a few rebel troops occasionally broke through, they were quickly eliminated by the defending army inside the city gate.

  "Who is that person?" Mo Jing Lei, who was watching the battle, suddenly pointed at a black-clad figure in the chaotic army and asked. He wore the same black cloud-patterned armor as all the Black Cloud Riders, but his movements were completely different from theirs. If the Black Cloud Riders' movements were agile and sharp, his movements seemed extremely simple yet ruthless. You couldn't see any specific moves, but almost every simple movement of his resulted in a soldier falling down in front of him. Whether it was an ordinary foot soldier or a commanding general, they all seemed to be no different under his hands.

  "That is……" The crowd fell silent, no one knew who that person was. Because except for being slightly shorter and more agile, he had no obvious difference from other Black Cloud Riders. Staring at the swift figure in the chaotic army, Mo Jing's dark eyes gradually narrowed, and that figure gave him a strange sense of familiarity. After a long time, he finally gritted his teeth and spat out a name, "Ye Li!" The military advisor next to him was stunned, quickly looking towards the person in the chaotic army, and exclaimed: "Your Highness said that is the Empress Dowager?!" Mo Jing didn't care about his question at all, pointing forward with the whip in his hand, "Capture that person alive, I will reward a thousand taels of gold!"

  "Yes!"

  The black cloud cavalry blocked the rebel army at the city gate, but it was clear that the city wall could no longer be effectively defended. Many rebels had climbed up from the city wall and were fighting with the defenders on the city wall. Ye Li felt a strong pressure under the city wall, sweeping away a rebel who pounced on him with one knife, and in one turn, he stabbed another rebel who pounced on him from behind in the throat. An Er and An San approached, An Er said in a low voice: "Young master, it's time to retreat." An San swung his sword and brought out a blood flower, saying: "Has Mo Jingli found the princess? I feel that these people who came over don't seem like ordinary soldiers?" The people around them obviously had good martial arts skills, making them harder to deal with than ordinary soldiers.

  Ye Li was also helpless, but the fall of Yonglin City had already been decided. At this time, if Hei Yunji sacrificed himself, it would be completely meaningless. They dragged on for nearly an hour at the city gate, and I'm sure the news has already reached Suixueguan, "Hei Yunji has withdrawn from the battlefield!"

  "Yes! First team, second team, third team, retreat! Everyone else, withdraw!" Qin Feng shouted loudly.

  "Want to run?!" From a distance, Mo Jing Lei naturally saw the situation on the battlefield. The Black Cloud Riders were skilled at rapid raids and ambushes, but also excelled at escaping. The terrain near Yonglin was complex, and if they let them escape from the battlefield, it would be difficult to catch up with them. However, from the beginning, the Black Cloud Riders did not really charge towards the center of the chaotic army, but only blocked the city gate and prevented them from advancing. As soon as they received the order, they immediately retreated in different directions, including into the city, leaving behind a small group of skilled archers to cover their retreat. Even if the rebels were unwilling to give up, they could only watch as the Black Cloud Riders swiftly left the battlefield. Mo Jing Lei let out a cold hum, turned around, and drew his bow and arrow from his horse's back, taking aim at the petite black figure in the chaotic army.

  In the midst of the battle, Ye Li clearly sensed a dangerous aura. He only felt that when he turned his head to look into the distance, all he saw was Mo Jing Lei's gloomy eyes and the arrow flying through the air with its string broken. If it were any other time, Ye Li wouldn't have worried about dodging this arrow, but now he was being surrounded by several rebels and couldn't avoid it. An San let out a cry of surprise and immediately rushed over. Ye Li cursed under his breath, grabbed one of the rebel's knives with his hand, and flung it in the direction An San was rushing towards. In that split second, his left arm felt a burning pain, and the arrow behind him was almost within reach.

  "Your Highness!"

  "Whoosh——!" A white arrow with a dazzling golden light broke through the air and came, Mo Jingli's arrow collided with the incoming arrow three feet in front of Ye Lian, and fell to the ground. However, that arrow seemed unaffected, passing through the body of a rebel soldier and shooting into the chest of another person. The man stared at his chest in disbelief, unable to understand how an arrow could come from behind his comrade's back and shoot him through. Ye Lian was also stunned by this incredible shot, but in an instant she threw it off and kicked a rebel who seemed to be sneaking up on her.

  "Oh no..." An Er and An San couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Just now, An San had rushed over, but the person who was flung away by Ye Li had blocked him, and for a moment, he thought that arrow was going to hit the princess. At this moment, his heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but break out in cold sweat as he hastily moved closer to Ye Li's direction.

  "Golden Feathered Arrow?! It's the King!" The black cloud riders who were left behind couldn't help but exclaim when they saw the golden arrow tail exposed on the person who had fallen straight down.

  In the distance, Mo Jing Lei's arrow missed its mark, and he was furious. He grasped his bow and arrow again to shoot, but suddenly the ground began to shake slightly, and hoofbeats sounded like thunder. Mo Jing Lei coldly laughed and said: "We've already played this trick before, do you want to play it again?"

  "No... not again, Your Highness!" The military strategist beside him was pale as paper, pointing at the distant rolling smoke and dust, shouting: "This time it's real!" A black iron cavalry came pouring in like a dark cloud, covering the sky and earth, with sharp whistling sounds and golden flames shooting into the air. The Black Cloud Riders, who had already retreated from the battlefield, turned their heads back to the battlefield simultaneously upon seeing the golden flames in the air. Unbeknownst to them, figures clad in black appeared on the surrounding hills at the same time. One of them rode a white horse with a silver spear, wearing a white robe with flowing clouds embroidered on it. A silver mask covered half of his face, but the other half revealed sharp eyebrows and a handsome face that was unmatched. His eyes, which were originally warm and gentle, now filled with an aura that made people dare not look directly at him, flowed lightly over Ye Lian's body. Ye Lian felt a shiver in her heart, and subtly took a breath.

  A man in white robes raised his whip, and a white horse seemed to leap into the air as it galloped down the mountain slope and charged into the chaotic army. No one dared to confront him along the way. "Black Cloud Cavalry, listen to the order! Those who plot rebellion against the country will be killed without pardon!" The low voice carried with internal energy spread throughout the entire battlefield.

  "Yes, Your Highness!" The echoes reverberated through the surroundings.

  In an instant, the entire battlefield seemed to have frozen. Everyone forgot that they were still on a battlefield where guns and swords were flying everywhere, and could only stare blankly at the white-clothed man in the chaotic army. A name was about to be called out from their hearts...

  "Mo Xiu Yao... how is this possible?!" Mo Jing Lei glared fiercely at the scene before him, his eyes filled with incredulous light. "Beat the drums, attack!"

  Knock knock knock!

  The sound of war drums was heavy, as if beating in everyone's heart. The rebels trembled with fear and rushed towards the white-clothed man. They were facing... the undefeated war god of Great Chu! Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, seeming to disdain them. His silver spear drew a dazzling silver arc, its tip bringing out beautiful blood flowers everywhere. On the mountain ridge, countless arrows wove together into a dazzling arrow net. Hei Yun Qi was famous for his marksmanship, but facing such a vast and dense arrow rain, the rebels couldn't even muster the courage to raise their bows, let alone make an effective counterattack. And behind them, the massive army was on the verge of collapse in just a moment, with tens of thousands of soldiers already showing signs of defeat.

  As soon as Mo Xiuyao appeared, Ye Li retreated back into the city of Yonglin. After clearing out the rebels who had just invaded the city with Hei Yunqi, he stood on the city wall, gazing out at the scene below. All eyes, however, were involuntarily fixed on the white-clad man like snow. White clothes and silver spear, as agile as a swimming dragon. Wherever he went, the rebels retreated in droves, not daring to engage him in battle. Ye Li had once heard Xu Qingchen comment that Mo Xiuyao was dazzlingly brilliant like fire in his youth, but after his transformation, the young man became quiet and reserved, with an undercurrent of shocking power hidden beneath. And now... Mo Xiuyao was like a world-renowned sword that had been forged through thousands of trials and tribulations, tempered over thousands of years, only to reappear in the world, its sharpness contained, its killing intent gradually calming, yet still radiating an aura that drew people's attention from all sides.

  "Ding...Ding Wang?" Yun Tian leaned against the wall, his body weak and powerless, not even bothering to wipe away the bloodstains on his face as he gazed longingly at the figures moving back and forth below the city.

  Xia Shu stood beside him, his face full of ease, "Obviously it is indeed."

  "So... so we're waiting for reinforcements? We're holding onto Yonglin City?" Yun Tian's voice had a hint of illusion to it, and for a moment, it was as if he couldn't distinguish between dreams and reality.

  An Qi chuckled and patted his shoulder, consoling him: "Congratulations, Yun Xiao Wei. You'll be promoted soon." Yun Tian ignored him, blinking his eyes as he gazed longingly at Ye Li, but unfortunately Ye Li was staring down at the city below and didn't have time for him.

  This time the battlefield didn't last too long, and in less than half a watch, the rebels began to retreat eastward. Looking at the retreating rebels like a receding tide, Yun Tian was speechless, "What... what does this mean?" Are these rebels just picking on weak targets? When he didn't see many people who hadn't even clashed with the Black Cloud Riders fleeing, what did it mean for them to fight to the death for several days? An San smiled and said, "Cloud Commander, don't be disheartened. Even if reinforcements arrived, or if our king stood alone there, those guys wouldn't dare take a step forward. This... is called aura. Something others can't learn." Just having King Ding standing unscathed at the gate of Yonglin City was enough to intimidate most people, what's the point of fighting?

  "When can I have this momentum?" Yunfeng muttered to himself.

  "Come on slowly, if you could cut down twenty generals and defeat three hundred thousand enemies at the age of fifteen or sixteen, you should have this momentum now." An San comforted without much sincerity.

  Ye Li was too lazy to listen to their nonsense, turned around and prepared to go down the city tower, but was suddenly pulled back by Mu Rong Ting who had somehow snuck back. Ye Li frowned, "Mu Rong, how did you come back again?" Mu Rong Ting hummed a sound, looked at the city below with a smile and said: "The Ding Wang has brought reinforcements, I'd be an idiot if I didn't come back. No... it's not that I didn't leave, it's that you took me away, I never left in the first place!" Ye Li waved his hand indifferently and said: "We'll talk about this later, I'm going down now."

  "Ah..." Murong Ting hastily pulled her back, while running downwards and said: "Are you a woman or not? Down there is the Ding Wang...Ding Wang! And he's still your husband, can't you change into another set of clothes to welcome him? Look at what you're wearing now! If Tian Xiang and Sheng'er were here, they'd be so angry they'd die. Ye Li couldn't help but have a black face, Murong's personality is indeed straightforward and carefree, but she's still a girl after all, and at this time she actually has the energy to think about these things. "Murong, this is a battlefield."

  "What's wrong with the battlefield? Isn't the battle over yet? Even if the rebel army comes back, it won't matter if you're one less. Come with me!" He said, not caring about Ye Li's stiff and helpless expression, and dragged him towards a landing point not far from the city gate.

  Murong Ting is indeed suitable for being a battlefield medic with her nimble hands and feet. Ye Li couldn't help but admire the neatly arranged clothes and accessories in front of her. In less than half an hour, she had to rush back from the road to Shuixue Pass, find these hard-to-find clothing and accessories in Yonglin City, and then intercept herself on the city wall before the battle ended. She's really well-trained.

  "Hurry up, hurry up. Once you're dressed, we can go welcome the king." Murong Ting grabbed the clothes on the table and stuffed them into Ye Li's hands before pushing her into the inner room to change. She began fiddling with the decorations on the table herself. Yonglin City was small to begin with, and it wasn't easy to find good things. Especially today, when everyone was barricaded indoors and no one was open for business. She had run all over the place to find these things. Ye Li reluctantly hugged the clothes and went in, fearing that if she didn't move quickly, Murong Ting would burst in herself and tear off her clothes to change into them for her.

  The battlefield outside the city has quieted down, leaving a group of people to clean up the aftermath. Mo Xiu Yao was instructed to lead the Mohist army into the city to take over defense duties. As he rode his horse into the city, the remaining generals and soldiers in Yonglin City lined up to welcome him. However, when Mo Xiu Yao looked around, he didn't see the person he wanted to see. Feng Zhiyao rode her horse beside Mo Xiu Yao and curiously asked in a low voice, "Where did the princess go?" Earlier outside, she had clearly seen that Princess Dingguo was fighting fiercely in the chaotic army, her skills at taking lives were almost... too compatible with Mo Xiu Yao's. At the same time, Feng Zhiyao also reminded herself not to provoke the princess again. A woman becoming like this... was really too terrifying.

  "Hmm... I know where the princess went." Feng Zhiyao pointed to the intersection ahead.

  Mo Xiuyao looked in the direction he was heading, and two figures of different heights appeared on the side of the street. A tall red-clothed girl was excitedly pulling a green-clothed woman towards him. Mo Xiuyao's gaze locked tightly onto the petite and elegant woman. The woman who had just been wearing black armor on the battlefield, looking heroic and cold-blooded, now indeed wore a faint smile with a hint of helplessness, her clothes fluttering in the wind, her wide sleeves fluttering. Her soft green hair was loosely tied up, with a pearl tassel pinning it back. She moved with gentle elegance, like the most refined maiden from a noble family.

  Ye Li obviously also saw Mo Xiuyao, slightly stunned and stopped in her tracks. Mo Xiuyao rode his horse forward, the snow-white steed happily running to Ye Li's side under its master's urging, even affectionately nudging her with its head.

  “Ah Rui...” Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly and leaned forward, extending his hand to Ye Rui. Ye Rui raised her hand and grasped the one he offered, and with a sudden jolt, she was pulled onto the horse's back, sitting in front of Mo Xiu Yao. Then the snow-white steed galloped away, leaving Mu Rong Ting staring in shock, her face frozen in stupidity for half a day before she muttered softly: "Burning bridges... This girl didn't even get to touch the warhorse, how petty..."

  Yao, who was far away on horseback, shrugged and dismounted, looking at the stiff-faced generals and the curious Black Cloud riders. Well, weren't subordinates meant to handle necessary tasks when their masters were busy?

  Two riders galloped through Yonglin City, and once out of the city, they sped along. The fine horse was indeed a fine horse, and in the blink of an eye, even the distant Snow Fragment Pass was in sight. Ye Li looked down at her arm, which was slightly sore from holding on to Mo Xiuyao's waist, and said softly, "Mo...Xiuyao, where are we going?" Mo Xiuyao looked down at her and finally reined in his horse, dismounting. Ye Li raised an eyebrow, preparing to follow suit, but instead of the ground, she was met with Mo Xiuyao's open arms. "Get down." Seeing his insistence, Ye Li had no choice but to let him lift her off the horse. Nestled in his embrace, which carried a hint of coolness, Ye Li felt an inexplicable sense of security and relaxation, and the strange heat spreading across her face left her at a loss.

  As she looked up, a refreshing and elegant masculine aura came towards her, and Ye Li was shocked to widen her eyes. The man's kiss was like a sudden stormy rain, sweeping in amidst Ye Li's stunned state. Her petite body was tightly locked into his embrace, and the slightly cool fingertips gently lifted her bewildered face. Warm lips lingered on her tender and beautiful red lips. Mo Xiuyao's kiss was not gentle, even somewhat rough. With some domineering and inexplicable anger, he pried open Ye Li's lips, forcing her to relax her teeth and let his tongue entwine with hers in a bewildered dance.

  "Uh..." Ye Li furrowed her brow slightly, wanting to struggle. The arms holding her waist tightened their grip, firmly trapping her in his embrace. One hand gently stroked the hair at the back of her head, forcing her into a deep entanglement as they exchanged breaths. Ye Li weakly tugged on his shirt collar, "Xiu Yao..."

  When they parted, both of them were slightly panting. Mo Xiuyao lowered his head and leaned his forehead against Ye Lili's clean forehead, saying in a low voice: "Ah Lili, you scared me." When he rushed to the outside of Yonglin City and saw that scene, no one could know the shock and fear in his heart. Even he himself didn't know what he was thinking at that moment, only subconsciously shooting out that arrow. When he saw that arrow shoot through two people, bringing out a brilliant blood flower, the violent anger that suddenly rose from the bottom of his heart did not calm down in the slightest. If it weren't for his astonishing self-control, the second arrow would have been shot at Mo Xiuyao at that time. If he hadn't blocked that arrow... if he hadn't blocked that arrow, none of the rebels present today would be able to live!

  "A Li..."

  Ye Li's face was flushed with a deep red, for the first time in her life she felt flustered and didn't know where to put her hands or feet. She...she had actually kissed a man on the side of the road where people were passing by...

  But when he heard Mu Xiuyao's soft sigh, all his struggles and rejections turned into nothingness.

  "Mo Xiuyao, it's great to see you again." Ye Li sighed softly. Mo Xiuyao lowered his head, and in the depths of his eyes, there was only a warm and gentle feeling. His slightly warm lips touched her delicate red lips once more, this time extremely tender and lingering, "A Li... I missed you so much, it wasn't right to let you come to Nanjiang alone." Ye Li smiled faintly and didn't speak, not planning to tell him that she had also... okay, not just a little bit of longing for him during their separation.

  The white horse had run off somewhere, and the two were only a few miles away from the Broken Snow Pass. The majestic pass was clearly visible. However, Mo Xiuyao did not intend to return to Yonglin City or see Murong Shen immediately, but instead pulled Ye Li to sit down on a nearby hillside to rest.

  Ye Li leaned against Mo Xiuyao and sat down, relaxing her tense body for several days, and couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh. When she raised her head, she saw Mo Xiuyao's slightly furrowed brow, "What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable or hurt somewhere?" Mo Xiuyao shook his head, "We've been rushing on the road for several days in a row, and I'm a bit tired. Speaking of injuries..." Mo Xiuyao pulled up her left arm, rolling up the wide sleeve to reveal the long, thin scars on her forearm, frowning, "Why didn't you bandage it?"

  Ye Li didn't think Mo Xiuyao had seen her injury, shaking his head and smiling: "It's just a scratch, the bleeding has already stopped. This way you'll recover faster."

  "Nonsense." Mo Xiuyao scolded in a low voice, taking out several small medicine bottles from his body and using one of them to clean her wound with the transparent liquid inside. He then carefully sprinkled some medicinal powder on it before taking out a white handkerchief from his bosom to bandage the wound. Ye Li smiled as she admired Mo Xiuyao's neat bandaging, saying: "Really, I'll be fine in two days."

  Mo Xiuyao pulled her into his arms, stroking her soft hair and whispered, "From now on, you're not allowed to get hurt. If you do, you won't be allowed to go anywhere!" Ye Li didn't respond, knowing that accidents could happen at any time, and this was something she couldn't guarantee. "I'll try my best," she said, "but aren't you also injured often when you go into battle?" The Young War God's reputation wasn't unfounded, and Mo Xiuyao wasn't an immortal being with a divine body that was impervious to harm.

  "Can I be like you?"

  Ye Li raised her head and looked at him with displeased narrowed eyes, "Are you discriminating against women?"

  Mo Xuyao helplessly said, "I don't discriminate against women, and even if I did discriminate against women, I wouldn't discriminate against you." His Ah Lian left just like that. If she were to be discriminated against, all the men in the world would have to go kill themselves.

  "So you're saying I don't look like a woman?"

  "A Li." Mo Xiuyao looked at her with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Are you angry or throwing a tantrum?" Ye Li was taken aback, staring blankly at Mo Xiuyao's warm and gentle smile, feeling like she wanted to pounce on him and bite him or hit herself. Was she really going to be unreasonable with Mo Xiuyao again? She was even more childish than Murong, Murong would never ask such a childish and boring question!

  Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and pulled her back into his arms before she could get angry, "Stay with me for a bit, I'm a little tired."

  Ye Li slightly moved, but soon calmed down. Mo Xiuyao's body wasn't good, and it was impossible for him to miraculously recover in such a short time. Even though he tried his best to conceal it, she didn't miss the fatigue and pallor between his eyebrows. Tightly leaning into his arms, Ye Li unknowingly thought about something as she gradually fell asleep...

  Digression

  Haha... Let's get together for a passionate kiss. By the way, I wrote 5,000 words in two hours at the beginning, and 2,000 words, no, accurately speaking, 800 words of kissing scene were written in one hour... Of course, more than half of the time was spent daydreaming...