Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 246 - 245. Martial Arts Competition at the Mountain Peak
With Xu Qingchen keeping an eye on the situation in Ancheng City and the Murong family, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao found themselves even more at ease. Every day, Mo Xiuyao would take Ye Li wandering around inside and outside the city, seemingly without purpose, like a young couple idly passing time before the Martial Arts Conference. This greatly frustrated those sent to tail them, as they could find nothing unusual about the young couple. Even if the man was somewhat handsomer and more skilled in martial arts, and the woman somewhat more beautiful and seemingly more outstanding than the young ladies of typical prominent families, what did that have to do with their master? They simply could not understand why their master so adamantly believed these two were dangerous.
After following them for two days and still finding nothing amiss, even Ren Qining felt it was too embarrassing to have them followed any longer and had to withdraw the people monitoring Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li.
Stepping outside and noticing the absence of their tail, Ye Li was somewhat surprised. "They’ve withdrawn so soon?"
Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently, "He’s a smart man. Since he couldn’t find out our origins, continuing to follow us would only lead to an unpleasant confrontation for everyone if things were laid bare." Ye Li frowned and asked, "Has Big Brother found out anything about Ren Qining’s background?"
Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Nothing. This man, and the power behind him, have likely never appeared in the worldly society or among the prominent figures of various countries; otherwise, there would surely be some clues by now. However, it doesn’t matter... This is Xiling’s territory. Since the man appeared in Xiling, any resulting headache should be Lei Zhenting’s concern. Your Big Brother has already sent someone to alert Lei Zhenting and Lei Tengfeng. Let’s see their reactions."
Ye Li nodded. Originally, if not for Ren Qining’s presumptuous act of having them followed to investigate their background, she wouldn’t have developed any interest in this person. Since Mo Xiuyao had it under control, Ye Li couldn’t be bothered with it anymore.
These past few days, they had wandered all over Ancheng City and its surroundings. Although they had an annoying tail, they had also gathered a considerable amount of information. While the Murong family was not prominent in the Northwest or Great Chu, Ancheng City was less than ten miles from the Murong family’s residence. Thus, the entire city could be considered within the Murong family’s sphere of influence, and naturally, news about them was plentiful.
Rumor had it that Miss Murong was as beautiful as a flower, with a gentle and kind temperament. She enjoyed an excellent reputation in the Ancheng City area; to many common people, she was like a living Bodhisattva. It was said that on the first day of every month, Miss Murong would go to Zhaoning Temple outside the city to offer incense and pray for her grandfather. It happened to be the first of the month, and even with the Martial Arts Conference imminent, Miss Murong seemingly hadn’t altered this habit. Consequently, many young martial artists and distinguished heroes from the worldly society, having received the news early, rushed to Zhaoning Temple without even stopping for breakfast. This made the usually bustling Ancheng City suddenly much quieter.
Since Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li were there to join in the excitement, it was natural for them to also go to Zhaoning Temple to partake in the grand event. After breakfast, the two leisurely made their way out of the city. By the time they reached Zhaoning Temple, it was already teeming with people. An uninformed outsider seeing this would surely marvel at how Zhaoning Temple thrived with worshippers.
Although it was crowded, Zhaoning Temple itself was fortunately a place worth visiting. The vast, tranquil mountain forest on its rear mountain, in particular, was picturesque. As everyone had congregated on the front mountain, hoping to catch a glimpse of Miss Murong’s beautiful face, the rear mountain appeared exceptionally quiet and serene. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li strolled hand-in-hand along a small path on the rear mountain. The distant hubbub, faintly audible, further accentuated the quiet solitude of the rear mountain. Thinking of those people craning their necks in anticipation, Ye Li couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Mo Xiuyao looked down at her. "What is Ah-Li laughing about?"
Ye Li looked up at him, suppressing a smile. "I was wondering if Mo Jingli and Lei Tengfeng are among those people, and also... what would it look like if the Prince was also among those eagerly awaiting her?"
Mo Xiuyao snorted in displeasure. Prince Ding had always been proud; it was always others who eagerly awaited him, when had he ever waited for others? "Apart from Ah-Li, who in this world is worthy of this Prince’s wait?" Ye Li rolled her eyes, feeling somewhat immune to Prince Mo’s constant sweet talk.
As they were talking and laughing, Mo Xiuyao’s gaze suddenly sharpened. He looked ahead, then swept Ye Li up, leaping onto a slope beside the path and landing on an ancient tree covered in green vines.
Mo Xiuyao’s action didn’t startle Ye Li. Leaning against his chest, she looked in the direction he was facing, and soon, she heard the clear sounds of conversation. A group of people was strolling down the mountain. Ye Li saw among them a dozen or so able-bodied men and women carrying swords. Protected in their midst was a young lady in light purple silk clothes, accompanied by six green-clad serving girls and two nannies. At a glance, Ye Li recognized the young lady’s purple silk clothes as watered silk from Nanzhao—one of its three great treasures—and the gauze robe worn over the silk clothes was hibiscus gauze.
The Nanzhao people considered blue and white the most revered colors. Therefore, watered silk from Nanzhao was usually of lighter shades, and they did not produce deep purple. Therefore, this watered silk was clearly not a tribute from Nanzhao. And since no one in the world besides Nanzhao could produce such exquisite watered silk, this purple watered silk must have been made by someone else. This meant that someone had long ago mastered Nanzhao’s most precious secret techniques. If they were to produce large quantities of watered silk, it would undoubtedly be an enormous fortune. Yet, the world had never heard of watered silk being produced anywhere outside Nanzhao. It seemed those people simply didn’t regard this business as significant.
Looking at the young lady’s jade hairpins, pendants, and gemstones, each piece was of the highest quality. Such luxurious attire was likely beyond even that of an imperial family princess. Without needing to think twice, Ye Li had already guessed the identity of the young lady surrounded by the group.
"Miss, there are so many people outside the mountain gate. Let’s exit through the side gate," the nanny beside the purple-robed young lady suggested softly. "Although there aren’t many people around here, it’s only because those people think Miss hasn’t arrived yet. Unbeknownst to them, we came up the mountain before dawn. If we exit from the main gate now, it might disturb Miss."
The purple-robed young lady smiled faintly. "Nanny Su, there’s no need to worry. Those people are all esteemed martial artists from across the land attending the Martial Arts Conference. I trust they won’t be so ill-mannered."
"Exactly, Miss is right!" the maid beside the purple-robed young lady chimed in with a smile. "Those people are eager to curry favor with Miss; who would dare offend her? The Family Head and the Granduncle Master have said they wish to select the most outstanding man in the world to be Miss’s husband. They also want everyone to know that our Miss is not only the young lady of the wealthiest family but also a devastating beauty!"
"You minx, talking such nonsense!" the purple-robed young lady chided, though the smile in her water-clear eyes, visible beyond the light purple veil, showed no real blame. "When we return, see if Grandfather doesn’t teach you a lesson!"
The young maid, knowing her mistress was always kind, wasn’t afraid and giggled. "Miss is the kindest! She would never let Grandfather punish Lv’er."
The purple-robed young lady sighed softly. "Enough. Let’s hurry back, lest Grandfather and Granduncle worry."
"Miss is right."
As they chatted, the group gradually walked further away. Only then did Mo Xiuyao, holding Ye Li, descend back onto the path. Ye Li looked at the now-empty path, a thoughtful expression on her face, then smiled. "It seems our luck is quite good. We saw Miss Murong before anyone else, without having to squeeze through the crowd."
Mo Xiuyao hummed nonchalantly, clearly unimpressed. Ye Li playfully poked him. "I don’t believe you, Prince. Didn’t you notice?"
Mo Xiuyao looked down at her and smiled. "Notice what?"
Ye Li said, "That Miss Murong—the subtle patterns on her clothes and the hairpin on her head were all phoenix designs. It seems this Miss Murong is very fond of phoenixes."
In Xiling and Great Chu, two countries with largely similar cultures and customs, phoenix patterns were not something anyone could use. With Ye Li’s current status, she was naturally free to use any pattern she liked. However, back when she was in the Capital of Great Chu, Ye Li herself seldom used phoenix patterns. Especially the subtle patterns on Miss Murong’s clothes just now—though inconspicuous, they couldn’t escape the eyes of Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao. It was a nine-tailed phoenix pattern, the true totem of the king of birds. This point alone was enough to prove that the Murong family, and this Miss Murong, likely had extraordinary ambitions.
"Mere ostentation. Why should Ah-Li bother with them?" Mo Xiuyao said indifferently, one arm around Ye Li’s waist, leading her further up the mountain.
The scenery of Zhaoning Temple’s rear mountain was beautiful, and pilgrims often went up the mountain to enjoy it after offering incense. Therefore, the temple had specially built a pavilion on the mountaintop for people to rest. When the two reached the mountaintop, they saw that there were already people in the pavilion.
Ling Tiehan was sitting in the pavilion speaking with Leng Liuyue and a sick scholar. Hearing footsteps, they turned their heads. Seeing Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, they were somewhat surprised. After a moment, Ling Tiehan said, "Prince Ding? Princess Consort Ding?" Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li had only made slight alterations to their appearance. Strangers would certainly find it difficult to connect them to their true identities, but those who knew them would not be fooled face-to-face.
Mo Xiuyao didn’t try to hide it. He helped Ye Li up the last step, raised an eyebrow, and said with a smile, "Pavilion Master Ling? What a fortunate meeting."
Seeing Mo Xiuyao in good spirits, Ling Tiehan laughed heartily. "Indeed, it is a fortunate meeting. I originally thought Prince Ding would not be able to come this year. I didn’t expect to encounter you here. Well? Is the Prince ready to honor the martial contest agreement from several years ago?"
Mo Xiuyao’s sword-like eyebrows rose. He looked at Ling Tiehan with a smile. "Does Pavilion Master truly wish to fight me at this moment? If so, at the Martial Arts Conference... Just now, I saw that Miss Murong; she is indeed a national beauty. Is the Pavilion Master not moved in the slightest?" If, after an all-out battle, either of us could still participate in the Martial Arts Conference, it would only mean we were both holding back.
Ling Tiehan sneered, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes. "Just a self-righteous little girl. This Pavilion Master didn’t come for the Murong family." Although Ling Tiehan was the head of assassins, his disposition was steady and resolute. He seldom displayed such derision or dissatisfaction in front of others. It was unclear what Miss Murong had done to provoke him.
"I originally planned to look for Lei Zhenting. But since I’ve met you here, Lei Zhenting is of no consequence. Well... would Prince Ding care to offer some pointers?"
Ling Tiehan spoke forthrightly. While he wanted to trouble Lei Zhenting, that could be done anytime. An opportunity to cross swords with Mo Xiuyao, however, was not always available. In recent years, Ling Tiehan had faintly sensed his cultivation stagnating, evidently having reached a bottleneck. If he could battle a master like Mo Xiuyao, he might gain new insights and ascend to a higher level.
Mo Xiuyao looked down at Ye Li. She smiled faintly, patted his arm, then let go and retreated a few steps into the pavilion. Ling Tiehan, however, had already stepped out.
Mo Xiuyao smiled. "In that case, it is a rare opportunity for this Prince to experience Pavilion Master Ling’s profound skills."
Inside the pavilion, Ye Li merely nodded to Leng Liuyue and the sick scholar. All three were fixated on the two men outside, with no time for greetings or conversation.
Ling Tiehan was dressed in blue commoner’s clothes, yet his demeanor was even more composed and imposing than it had been a few years ago. Though he was past forty, his profound internal energy cultivation made him appear like a robust man in his thirties. A cold glint flashed, and an ancient, unadorned longsword appeared in Ling Tiehan’s hand. Atop the mountain, the man in blue stood, sword in hand, his presence as steadfast and majestic as Mount Tai, drawing all eyes.
Mo Xiuyao was similarly dressed in ordinary white robes, his black hair like a cloud, a very faint smile playing on his lips. Clearly, the chance to fight Ling Tiehan had put him in excellent spirits. A glint flashed in his eyes. A streak of snowy light shot past, and a brilliantly clear, ice-cold flexible sword was in Mo Xiuyao’s hand. Unlike the archaic, seemingly ancient bronze heavy sword in Ling Tiehan’s hand, Mo Xiuyao’s flexible sword was as thin as a cicada’s wing. With a flick of his wrist, the blade quivered lightly in the air.
Yet, neither made the first move. They stood still, gazing intently at each other, their robes and hair fluttering gently without any wind.
The three in the pavilion held their breath, staring fixedly at the two standing figures. The potent energy gradually coalescing around the two combatants exerted a palpable pressure on them.
After an unknown period, both men suddenly launched themselves from the ground, transforming into countless phantoms that streaked through the air. Ye Li couldn’t help but widen her eyes, trying hard to follow their exchange, but all she could perceive were blurs of blue and white.
Ye Li knew they hadn’t actually become phantoms; their speed was simply too great for her eyes and abilities to follow their movements clearly. It was at this moment Ye Li understood something. Her own abilities might be enough to deal with ordinary experts, but against supreme masters like Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan, she was still far from adequate. A faint ache throbbed in her chest, and she couldn’t help but frown.
A hand landed on her shoulder. Reflexively, Ye Li was about to strike back when Leng Liuyue’s calm voice said, "Don’t force it."
Ye Li turned her head. Neither Leng Liuyue nor the sick scholar were staring intently at the two combatants anymore. They would glance over from time to time. Leng Liuyue seemed fine, but the sick scholar, whose complexion had improved significantly after years of recuperation, had turned somewhat pale again.
Leng Liuyue looked at her and explained seriously, "When true supreme masters exchange blows, the disparity in our cultivation levels is too great. Watching offers no benefits and might even cause one to suffer qi deviation."
Previously, Mo Xiuyao and the Southern Garrison Prince had also fought, but that wasn’t a true all-out battle; both sides had held back. This time, however, Ling Tiehan and Mo Xiuyao were both facing their opponent with their full, peak strength. Under such a full-powered assault, the potent energy and battle intent generated between them were enough to inflict internal injuries on those with shallower cultivation or unstable minds, or in severe cases, cause qi deviation. Ye Li’s mental fortitude was arguably among the top ten in the world, but her internal energy cultivation had simply begun too late. At best, it was comparable to the sick scholar’s, and considerably weaker than Leng Liuyue’s. Just now, she had focused all her energy on watching the exchange between Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan. If Leng Liuyue hadn’t stopped her, she would likely already be internally injured.
Ye Li naturally expressed her gratitude for Leng Liuyue’s kindness. She glanced at the two men locked in combat, sighing inwardly. It wasn’t that she didn’t envy the martial cultivation of Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan; it was just that her own start had been far too late. Cultivating martial arts, especially internal energy, inherently required starting from childhood. Those tales in novels about obtaining some elixir or wondrous secret manual and leaping from a novice to a peerless expert were, in the end, just stories.
Leng Liuyue seemed to have a rather favorable impression of Ye Li. Seeing her frown, he said softly, "It’s alright to watch. Just don’t overexert yourself. Prince Ding and Elder Brother both know their limits; they won’t truly fight to the point of mutual destruction."
Ye Li nodded. "Thank you, Pavilion Master Leng." She glanced outside, feeling a bit helpless. If she strained, she could still make out a general idea, but without straining, she truly couldn’t see anything clearly. After a moment of thought, Ye Li stopped looking outside and instead closed her eyes, carefully listening to the sounds of the battle.
Leng Liuyue saw this, and a hint of faint admiration flickered in his cool eyes.
