Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 170. Life and Death on the Cliff

170. Cliff Encounter

A group of people was heading up the mountain when Ye Li noticed several Dark Guards leave the team upon a signal from Mo Hua. Ye Li knew they were heading off to distract the pursuing forces that could catch up at any time. After a silent glance at the departing Dark Guards, Ye Li said little and followed the trail of the vanguard Dark Guard up the mountain. The pursuers seemed to arrive quickly. Not long after, the sounds of a crowd and clashing short weapons were heard from afar, gradually fading away as they were evidently led in the opposite direction. Mo Hua looked back at the distant, fading sounds and frowned. "Princess Consort, the group that pursued us up the mountain didn’t seem like the court’s forces."

Ye Li quietly nodded. Those people were just at the foot of the mountain; they couldn’t have caught up so quickly if they were ordinary soldiers. Clearly, they are all experts. "Lei Zhenting’s men," she stated.

Zhuo Jing said, "The Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion maintains a secret private guard unit, the Golden Armor Guards. They number over a thousand, normally protecting the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion and accompanying the Southern Garrison Prince on every campaign. Their existence has allowed the Southern Garrison Prince to escape death on the battlefield multiple times. This includes the time the Southern Garrison Prince was defeated by the Old Prince; it was these Golden Armor Guards who risked almost their entire force to rescue him. Although the Golden Armor Guards were nearly wiped out saving the Southern Garrison Prince, he later re-established them."

As they walked up the mountain, Ye Li asked, "It seems the Dark Guards never received this information?"

Zhuo Jing replied, "Ever since the Golden Armor Guards were nearly annihilated by the Old Prince while rescuing the Southern Garrison Prince, they haven’t appeared in public. Almost everyone believed they no longer existed. It was Young Master Mingyue who informed me of this before he left."

Walking through the mountain forest, Ye Li asked thoughtfully, "How do the Golden Armor Guards compare to the Qilin?"

Without much thought, Zhuo Jing replied, "They are not a match for the Qilin. The Golden Armor Guards only train in martial arts. Their sole responsibility is to ensure the Southern Garrison Prince’s safety and occasionally deal with certain individuals on his orders. According to Young Master Mingyue, their combat skills are not inferior to our Dark Guards."

Everyone’s heart grew somewhat heavy. In their current situation, it wasn’t just that the enemy’s skills were on par with the Dark Guards; even if only one or two hundred ordinary elite soldiers attacked, Ye Li’s small group might not be able to withstand them.

They hurried up the mountain until they finally reached a cliff edge halfway up. Although it was only the midway point, the mountains in the Northwest were remarkably high. It was early winter, and looking down from the cliff in the night, all they could see was a vast, white sea of clouds; nothing below was visible.

Gazing at the precipice before them, Ye Li turned and asked, "How far is it to the other side?"

Mo Hua pondered for a moment. "About fifteen or sixteen Zhang."

Ye Li thought for a moment, then nodded and asked, "How is everyone’s lightness skill? Can we make it across?"

Mo Hua nodded. Apart from two Dark Guards whose lightness skills were slightly weaker, the rest could cross.

Ye Li said to the two Dark Guards, "You two, go down the mountain, either together or separately. Be careful not to attract the pursuers’ attention. If the base of the mountain is too heavily surrounded, wait for a while."

The two Dark Guards hesitated, looking at Ye Li, somewhat at a loss.

Ye Li sighed softly. "Go now. It’s just the two of you. We’re about to cross over; there’s no point in you staying."

Behind her, Mo Hua silently nodded. The two Dark Guards bowed to Ye Li, then turned and quickly vanished into the darkness.

"Alright, let’s prepare to cross. Mo Hua, you’ve scouted the terrain before, so you go first," Ye Li said, turning to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua wasted no time. With a light tap of his foot, he leaped towards the opposite cliff. After he landed, those remaining on this side could only see a hazy silhouette of him in the mist. Ye Li waved her hand, signaling the other Dark Guards to cross one by one.

When it was Zhuo Jing’s and Wei Lin’s turn, however, neither of them moved.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "What are you two planning?"

Zhuo Jing said gravely, "Princess Consort, Wei Lin and I have both witnessed your lightness skill. You cannot cross this."

Ye Li was taken aback, then a bitter, helpless smile touched her lips. If I had known this day would come, I would have mastered my lightness skill even if it killed me. My original lightness skill was only ever second-rate, and now, I even feel a faint discomfort in my abdomen. To think I could fly across myself is nothing but a daydream.

She shot Zhuo Jing a sideways glance. "Can either of you carry me across?"

Zhuo Jing lowered his head and gritted his teeth. "We cannot."

Crossing a fifteen-to-sixteen-Zhang chasm required first-rate lightness skill. To carry someone across demanded not only exceptional lightness skill but also supreme internal energy to support it.

Wei Lin smiled faintly. "I cannot either. Therefore, we will stay and accompany you, Princess Consort."

The distant clamor was already faintly audible. Ye Li shot them an exasperated look. "Nonsense! Are you going to wait here and die with me?"

From the other side of the chasm, a dark figure soared through the air, landing before the three. He frowned. "Why haven’t you crossed yet?" His gaze paused on Ye Li, and Mo Hua suddenly remembered. The Princess Consort has only been cultivating internal energy and lightness skill for a little over a year; she can’t possibly leap such a distance using her lightness skill. "My apologies for my oversight, Princess Consort. Please forgive me," he said. "I will take you across."

Ye Li looked at him with a smile. "How certain are you?"

Mo Hua remained silent for a long moment before saying gravely, "Two chances out of ten." If it were daytime, perhaps I’d have another two chances, but the sky is dark now, and a thick fog has risen. At most, I only have a twenty percent chance.

Ye Li shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "So, you’re saying there’s an eighty percent chance we’ll fall to our deaths, our bodies never to be found? You all cross first. I have my own way."

How could Zhuo Jing and the others agree? Wei Lin said, "Then please, Princess Consort, you cross first. It won’t take us much time anyway."

Mo Hua frowned. "The pursuers are closing in. If they are indeed martial arts experts, and they discover our tracks, we won’t be able to escape even if we make it across."

All three were equally stubborn. Ye Li finally relented, "Mo Hua and Wei Lin, you cross first. Zhuo Jing, you stay." She took a well-prepared rope from a bundle beside her and handed it to Wei Lin. Wei Lin took it silently and leaped into the thick fog towards the other side.

Zhuo Jing watched Ye Li secure the other end of the rope to a large tree at the cliff’s edge. "Princess Consort..." he began.

Ye Li laughed helplessly. "Actually... I only have a fifty percent chance with this." The cliffs were not obliging; this side was slightly lower, while the opposite side was even higher. This meant I couldn’t use an energy-saving method like sliding across; I’d have to pull myself along the rope slowly. And because of the baby in my womb, I can’t risk any overly dangerous movements.

Just as she finished securing the rope and was about to move, an arrow whistled out from the woods, streaking past her. Shortly after, a group of men in black rushed out from the forest, surrounding the two of them at the cliff’s edge.

"Princess Consort Ding? We do not wish to harm you. Please come with us," the leader of the men in black said, staring at Ye Li, his sinister eyes filled with malice and greed.

Ye Li released the rope and asked calmly, "The Golden Armor Guards of the Southern Garrison Prince of Xiling?"

The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he sneered, "Princess Consort Ding is indeed knowledgeable. Since you already know our identity, please do not offer futile resistance. If you are harmed, it will be difficult for us to answer to our Prince."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and asked softly, "And what if I refuse?"

The man grinned menacingly. "Our Prince is in a very bad mood because of the events in Hongzhou. If something unfortunate were to happen to you, Princess Consort, I’m sure our Prince wouldn’t blame us. Our Prince is a hero of this age and genuinely admires Princess Consort Ding. Why must you insist on following that good-for-nothing Mo Xiuyao? Our Prince has also said that as long as you are willing to return with us, he will grant you the title of Princess Consort Southern Garrison. As for that cripple Mo Xiuyao—!"

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! Two piercing sounds cut through the air as two streaks of silver light, carried by gusts of wind, shot forth. One grazed the speaker’s face, the other his neck, each leaving a bloody gash.

Ye Li stared coldly at the man opposite her. "If you’re seeking death," she said icily, "I shall grant your wish!"

The man touched the wound on his neck and couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath. Hearing Ye Li’s frigid words, a chill ran down his spine, and for a moment, he dared not reply.

"Since Princess Consort Ding is so unyielding, don’t blame us for being impolite!" The leader’s face darkened. He waved his hand. "Capture Princess Consort Ding!"

The surrounding Golden Armor Guards swarmed forward. Zhuo Jing, shielding Ye Li, fought them off. Across the chasm, Mo Hua and Wei Lin, realizing the dire situation here, quickly returned and joined the fray. The Golden Armor Guards were indeed the elites Han Mingyue had described, their combat prowess comparable to that of the Dark Guards. Against such opponents, and already outnumbered, the Dark Guards struggled to hold their ground.

Seeing two more of the already disadvantaged Dark Guards fall, Ye Li took a deep breath and cried out, "Mo Hua, take your men and retreat immediately!"

Mo Hua’s hands didn’t pause; he thrust his sword through a Golden Armor Guard’s chest while replying, "The Dark Guards’ priority is the Princess Consort’s safety. We cannot obey that order."

Ye Li slit the throat of a Golden Armor Guard and retreated to a corner, pressing a hand to her abdomen, which throbbed with a dull pain. "Do you think there’s any point in this now? Retreat!"

Mo Hua didn’t respond, his attacks only growing fiercer, clearly indicating his intention to disobey. Ye Li felt a pang in her heart. Just as she was about to speak, a figure streaked across the night sky, lunging towards her. Ye Li raised her dagger and swung. The person dodged aside, grabbed her arm, and said, "It’s me."

Ye Li started. "Han Mingyue, what are you doing here?"

Han Mingyue appeared somewhat disheveled, his usual elegant demeanor gone. Gripping Ye Li’s arm, he urged, "Quick, get out of here! The Southern Garrison Prince is coming!"

Seeing Han Mingyue, Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin were overjoyed. They tacitly coordinated to hold back the advancing Golden Armor Guards, creating an opening as they called out, "Young Master Han, take the Princess Consort and go first!"

Han Mingyue nodded, and grabbing Ye Li, he was about to leap towards the opposite cliff with a light push of his feet.

"Han Mingyue, how audacious of you!" A deep, furious male voice boomed from the woods. Simultaneously, a tangible wave of force lashed towards Han Mingyue. Already in mid-air and carrying Ye Li, he awkwardly dodged the attack. His internal energy faltered, and his ascending figure could only fall back to the ground. A tear appeared on the shoulder of his white robe, stained faintly with red.

The Southern Garrison Prince emerged from the woods, Su Zuidie, who had left Hongzhou with Han Mingyue, by his side. At this moment, Su Zuidie’s exquisite face was a mask of triumph and schadenfreude as she gazed smilingly at Ye Li.

With the Southern Garrison Prince’s arrival, the fighting immediately ceased. Mo Hua and the others retreated to Ye Li, forming a protective semicircle and shielding her behind them.

The Southern Garrison Prince looked at Ye Li, who stood behind her guards, her face somewhat pale. A complex light flickered in his eyes. Then, glancing at the corpses on the ground, he nodded in praise. "As expected of the Dark Guards from Prince Ding’s Mansion. My Golden Armor Guards are indeed still somewhat lacking in comparison."

Zhuo Jing sneered, "Your Highness is too modest. The Dark Guards of Prince Ding’s Mansion undertake many duties; how can they be compared to your Golden Armor Guards, who serve only to protect one person?" His words were a clear mockery, implying the Southern Garrison Prince was a coward for needing a force of a thousand solely for his protection.

The Southern Garrison Prince, however, did not show any anger. Instead, he smiled at Ye Li. "You are excellent, completely beyond my expectations. If you come to my side, I can let all past matters be bygones."

"Your Highness..." Su Zuidie began to protest coquettishly, but a cold glance from the Southern Garrison Prince cowed her into swallowing her dissatisfaction.

Ye Li looked at the Southern Garrison Prince, who wore an expression of absolute confidence, and smiled faintly. "Your Highness is swift indeed; Ye Li is impressed. I presume all matters both inside and outside Hongzhou City have been properly handled by Your Highness? However... is Your Highness not concerned in the slightest about the hundreds of thousands of reinforcements at the Northwest border?"

The Southern Garrison Prince’s face darkened for a moment, but he quickly chuckled. "I am indeed somewhat worried about the reinforcements. However... to be bested by a woman is a first for me in my entire life. So... I find you to be somewhat more important. Besides... for some reason, I suddenly feel that losing his Princess Consort would likely cause Prince Ding more anguish than losing the entire Northwest. And... if this Princess Consort Ding becomes my Princess Consort Southern Garrison..."

The more he thought about it, the more brilliant the idea seemed, and the Southern Garrison Prince couldn’t help but throw his head back and laugh heartily. The last traces of gloom from the defeat in Hongzhou vanished from his face. Standing beside him, the color drained from Su Zuidie’s face upon hearing his words. She glared fiercely at Ye Li but, intimidated by the Southern Garrison Prince’s authority, dared not utter another word.

Ye Li sneered. "I’m afraid Your Highness is overthinking things."

The Southern Garrison Prince replied leisurely, "We’ll soon find out if I’m overthinking. Little Li, just wait patiently to become this Prince’s Princess Consort."

"URGH..." Overcome by a wave of nausea, Ye Li turned aside and retched against a large tree.

An abrupt silence fell upon the cliffside. The Southern Garrison Prince’s face turned ashen as he stared at the woman bent over, vomiting uncontrollably.

Han Mingyue casually treated the wound on his arm and said with an amiable smile, "Your Highness, it seems Princess Consort Ding has no interest in the position of Princess Consort Southern Garrison. Why must Your Highness try to force someone against their will?"

Wei Lin scoffed. "Some people are like toads lusting after swan meat—a complete pipe dream!"

None of the Golden Armor Guards dared to utter a word. Princess Consort Ding retching at the mere mention of becoming Princess Consort Southern Garrison showed the true extent of her aversion to the idea. They dared not speak, fearing they might misspeak and incur the Prince’s wrath.

His face ashen, the Southern Garrison Prince snorted coldly, then forced a laugh. "Do you think you can stall for time like this? Don’t worry, I’ll spare your lives... so you can return and tell Mo Xiuyao to attend this Prince’s ceremony to instate my new consort! Seize Princess Consort Ding!"

The fierce battle on the clifftop erupted once more. The Southern Garrison Prince had no intention of watching from the sidelines. Instead, he lunged towards Ye Li without hesitation. Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin surged forward to intercept him but were brushed aside in just two or three moves.

Han Mingyue and Mo Hua attacked the Southern Garrison Prince from the left and right. Though the Prince had only one arm, his palm strikes, imbued with energy as sharp as a blade, were so powerful that they had to use all their strength just to withstand them without retreating.

The Southern Garrison Prince scoffed. "So-called young heroes? You don’t even possess the level of skill Mo Xiuyao had in his teens, and you think you can stop me, this Prince? Out of my way!" He thrust a palm towards Han Mingyue’s chest. Startled, Han Mingyue quickly executed a mid-air sideways flip to evade the blow, landing aside only to be immediately swarmed by several Golden Armor Guards.

Having neutralized Han Mingyue, the Southern Garrison Prince evaded Mo Hua with similar ease. From his first move to reaching Ye Li’s side, it took him merely seven or eight exchanges. Before absolute power, all fancy techniques were meaningless.

Ye Li flipped the dagger in her hand and swiftly thrust it towards the Southern Garrison Prince. The violent retching earlier, coupled with the exhaustion of the past few days, had not only left her face pale; more importantly, she could clearly feel her physical strength rapidly depleting.

The Southern Garrison Prince sidestepped, parrying her attacks. After a few exchanges, appearing quite pleased, he seized her wrist and chuckled, "Not bad skills. A pity your internal energy is lacking. Had you trained in martial arts from a young age, with your aptitude, you could have ranked among the world’s top experts. Unfortunately, now... Wait, you!"

Gripping Ye Li’s wrist, he suddenly paused. The Southern Garrison Prince’s expression contorted, and he snarled, "What a Princess Consort Ding! So, you truly are devoted to Mo Xiuyao. This Prince will absolutely ensure this cursed offspring..."

"Bitch, go die!" Su Zuidie, watching from a distance with a twisted expression, pushed up her sleeve, revealing a hidden projectile weapon strapped to her wrist. She aimed it at Ye Li and fired.

A shower of silver needles rained towards Ye Li. Han Mingyue, currently entangled with Golden Armor Guards, his face paling in alarm, cried out, "Zuidie, don’t!"

But it was too late. With a flash of silver light, the projectiles were unleashed. Han Mingyue had no time for thought; he swept aside the Golden Armor Guards near him with his sword and lunged forward.

At the same time, the Southern Garrison Prince, hearing Su Zuidie’s cry, turned his head to look. Ye Li seized the opportunity, twisted her wrist, and her dagger sliced a bloody gash across the Southern Garrison Prince’s hand. Wincing from the sudden pain, the Southern Garrison Prince released his grip on Ye Li.

Ye Li’s foot slipped, and in an instant, her body toppled over the edge of the cliff.

"Ye Li!"

"Princess Consort—!"

The Southern Garrison Prince reacted with lightning speed, his hand shooting out towards the cliff edge to grab her. However, he was met by Ye Li’s faint smile and the cold, glinting dagger in her hand. The merciless threat of the dagger forced him to snatch his hand back even faster than he had extended it.

The Southern Garrison Prince was one-armed; letting go this time meant he had lost any chance to grab Ye Li again. He stared, somewhat dazed, at the faint smile on the lips of the woman as she plummeted into the abyss, her silent words seeming to echo in the air: You... don’t even dream of harming my child...

A silver glint—her dagger—shot up from below the cliff. A crimson flower of blood blossomed on the Southern Garrison Prince’s chest. As if startled awake by the sudden, sharp pain, the Southern Garrison Prince looked down at the dagger embedded there. Due to the lack of force behind the throw, it hadn’t struck a vital point. He gripped the hilt, his voice raspy, "Ye Li..."

"Princess Consort—!"