Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 254 - 253. Chaotic Battle, The Downfall of the Master
253. Chaos of Battle, Fall of Experts
"Mo Xiuyao?!"
Murong Xiong was both shocked and angered. Although he had never seen Mo Xiuyao, he knew that Prince Ding had white hair. Moreover, there were very few in the world who could withstand his full-strength attack; the white-haired man before him could only be Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao. Watching the white-robed man standing with his sword, the Southern Garrison Prince had mixed feelings, but he could not deny that Mo Xiuyao’s sudden appearance was a secret relief.
He glanced at Xu Qingchen not far away. "Young Master Qingchen, you certainly know how to strategize." For Mo Xiuyao to arrive so coincidentally, he definitely didn’t just get to Ancheng City. He must have been here all along but hadn’t shown himself; clearly, he was Xu Qingchen’s hidden trump card. No wonder Xu Qingchen, despite his utter lack of martial strength, dared to provoke someone who could almost be called the world’s top expert. Xu Qingchen just smiled faintly without replying. The Southern Garrison Prince sighed inwardly, then turned to Mo Xiuyao. "Prince Ding, you certainly know how to pick your moments. Wouldn’t it have been better if you’d arrived a bit later, when both sides had suffered heavy losses?"
Mo Xiuyao replied calmly, "Just now, over a hundred experts were heading this way. It took some time to deal with them, so I was almost late. My apologies."
It was then that the crowd noticed droplets of fresh scarlet blood on Mo Xiuyao’s white clothing. The bloodstains had not turned black, indicating they were recent. Ren Qining, who was still entangled in battle with the four Qilin, paled upon hearing Mo Xiuyao’s words, narrowly dodging an attack that could have severed his arm.
"It’s good that you’ve arrived," Ling Tiehan said, standing up.
Xu Qingchen frowned. "Were many people coming?" He knew Ren Qining must have other arrangements, which was why he had asked Mo Xiuyao to block the approaches to the Murong family estate. Several hundred guards were manageable, but those Mo Xiuyao considered ’experts’ were certainly no simple matter.
Mo Xiuyao smiled. "No need to worry. Ah-Li and Mo Jingli are handling it. I came ahead to check. Young Master Ren, why don’t you stop?"
Ren Qining frowned and swiftly retreated from the battle. From their initial engagement, he knew these individuals, though seemingly mediocre, were incredibly challenging opponents. If he possessed Murong Xiong’s lethal power, he wouldn’t have to worry. But without it, he could only be tied down, his internal energy and stamina slowly drained until defeat. Once he retreated, the four Qilin did not pursue, falling back to Xu Qingchen’s side and forming a tight protective circle around him.
Looking around, Ren Qining gave a bitter smile. "I was blind not to recognize Prince Ding and the Princess Consort after our encounters. I deserve this defeat." This confirmed that Mo Xiuyao had indeed been in Ancheng City for some time.
Mo Xiuyao offered an insincere smile and nodded. "I initially just wanted to wander around and join the fun. However, Young Master Ren, you gave me quite a surprise, which made me decide to stay a few more days. Isn’t it a coincidence that it led to today’s events?" The implication was clear: If you hadn’t been so ’clever’ as to send people to follow me, I would have left long ago. So, your grand plan failing today? You have only yourself to blame. Ren Qining understood Mo Xiuyao’s unspoken words, and his expression became even more grim.
"So you’re Prince Ding?" Murong Xiong stared at Mo Xiuyao, his voice deep.
Mo Xiuyao lifted his head proudly. "Indeed, I am." In the worldly society, Murong Xiong might be a significant figure, but Prince Ding’s Mansion had never lacked for extraordinarily brilliant individuals in any generation. How could Mo Xiuyao possibly take someone like Murong Xiong, who knew nothing but martial arts, seriously?
Murong Xiong sneered. "Well then, Prince Ding, let’s see what you’re made of!"
Mo Xiuyao’s sword quivered, and he smiled faintly. "Why don’t you give it a try? Pavilion Master Ling, can you still move?"
While they were speaking, Ling Tiehan and the Southern Garrison Prince had seized the opportunity to regulate their breathing and recover some energy. Hearing Mo Xiuyao’s words, they immediately shifted their positions, forming a triangle that effectively surrounded Murong Xiong. In this situation, no one was foolish enough to consider challenging Murong Xiong one-on-one. Moreover, two of the three were not even considered part of the worldly society, so they couldn’t be expected to adhere to its rules. Killing the opponent was paramount.
Ren Qining suddenly inserted himself, blocking the Southern Garrison Prince. He smiled. "Gentlemen, two against one might be acceptable, but three against one is rather unsightly. Why don’t I have the honor of exchanging a few blows with the Southern Garrison Prince?"
Mo Xiuyao laughed. "Young Master Ren, as you wish." Saying that, he ignored the others, his sword weaving a chilling, silver screen of light as he attacked Murong Xiong. Ling Tiehan, no longer holding back, brandished his own sword, its energy filling the air. The two of them working together were far more formidable than Ling Tiehan and the Southern Garrison Prince had been. Even Murong Xiong could no longer fight with ease. Meanwhile, Ren Qining had also engaged the Southern Garrison Prince.
「On the main road to the Murong family estate」
A bloody melee was also underway. One side consisted of men in ordinary civilian clothes, wielding a variety of weapons, but each was an exceptional fighter. So much so that Mo Jingli’s guards on the other side were visibly struggling to hold them off.
Mo Jingli had just dispatched an enemy with his sword when he sensed a gust of wind from behind. He tried to dodge, but it was too late. Just as a long sword was about to pierce his chest, a figure in white darted past. The attacking sword paused for an instant, allowing Mo Jingli to twist away. He turned to see his assailant collapsing. The plainly dressed woman who had intervened moved with the grace of a startled swan, yet her techniques were lethal. In the blink of an eye, three or four corpses lay at her feet. Mo Jingli stared blankly, his expression as he looked at Ye Li difficult to decipher.
Ye Li drew her blade across a man’s neck, then turned to see Mo Jingli standing behind her, staring blankly. She couldn’t help but frown. "His Highness Prince Li, can you afford to daydream even on the battlefield?"
Mo Jingli snapped back to reality and looked at Ye Li with a peculiar expression. "Why are you like this?"
Ye Li, nonplussed, rolled her eyes and looked skyward, completely unable to grasp what Mo Jingli was trying to say. Turning back, her dagger flashed coldly, severing an enemy’s wrist, only for Mo Jingli to grab her arm again.
Ye Li frowned, exasperated. She whirled around and glared at Mo Jingli. "What on earth are you trying to do?"
Seeing this, Prince Ding’s Mansion’s secret guards and Qilin moved closer to Ye Li, creating a perimeter to keep enemies away from the two of them. Ye Li took a deep breath, shook off Mo Jingli’s hand, and said sternly, "Prince Li, whatever you have to say, can’t it wait until this is over?"
Mo Jingli looked at her silently. Will I even be able to find you to talk after this is over? He had never believed that as a prince, he needed to charge into battle like an ordinary soldier. Thus, he felt no shame standing here making idle conversation while his men were still fighting.
Mo Jingli stared at Ye Li. "You never told me you were such a skilled fighter."
Hearing the implicit reproach in his words, Ye Li silently rolled her eyes. She had truly had enough of Mo Jingli harping on the same old grievances. It seemed like every time they met, he brought up similar topics, as if she owed him something. "What does my skill, or lack thereof, have to do with you, Your Highness?"
During their standoff, the combined forces of Prince Ding’s Mansion and Prince Li’s men finally managed to eliminate all opponents. Ye Li, no longer wanting to deal with the erratic Mo Jingli, turned to head towards the Murong family estate.
Before she could take a step, she saw a large contingent of horsemen approaching from a distance. Ye Li frowned. Ren Qining couldn’t have hidden so many people near Ancheng City without anyone noticing.
Mo Jingli glanced at them. "It’s my Imperial Brother."
Indeed, it was Mo Jingqi, arriving with his large retinue of expert guards. Ye Li’s expression turned grim. They had brought few people this time, which was why they had chosen to cooperate with Mo Jingli to intercept Ren Qining’s men. This was partly because Mo Jingli had already seized a significant portion of the Murong family’s assets in Great Chu. Furthermore, although Mo Jingli was somewhat unreliable, Ye Li felt he was at least more predictable than the erratically calm and then frenzied Mo Jingqi, possessing some semblance of a bottom line. She hadn’t expected Mo Jingqi, who cherished his life immensely, to not have fled Ancheng City despite the obvious chaos, but to instead head towards the Murong family estate with his men. "What’s he doing here now?"
Mo Jingli sneered. "What else? He’s here to profit from the chaos, of course."
Ye Li’s smile was cold. "Profit from the chaos? Who does he think he can rob?" As they spoke, Mo Jingqi had already entered with his men. Upon seeing Ye Li, Mo Jingqi’s initially smiling face instantly clouded over, twisting into a scowl. "Princess Consort Ding? What are you doing here?"
Ye Li smiled faintly. "Ancheng City is part of Xiling. The people of Xiling haven’t said this consort isn’t welcome. Why can’t I be here?"
Mo Jingqi’s eyes held a probing look. "Since Princess Consort Ding is here, Prince Ding must be nearby as well?"
Ye Li laughed. "Does the Emperor of Great Chu wish to invite my Prince for tea?"
Mo Jingqi glanced at Ye Li and the dozen or so guards by her side. His gaze flickered for a moment before he turned to Mo Jingli. "Imperial Younger Brother, what brings you here?"
Mo Jingli replied solemnly, "I came to join the excitement and happened to run into Princess Consort Ding. Aren’t you here too, Imperial Elder Brother?"
Mo Jingqi said skeptically, "Is that so?" It was evident from his tone that he didn’t believe Mo Jingli’s explanation. Mo Jingli knew Mo Jingqi suspected him of colluding with Mo Xiuyao, but he offered no further clarification, merely nodding seriously. "Precisely."
"This consort will be heading to the Murong family estate first. If His Highness Prince Li and the Emperor of Great Chu still have matters to discuss, I will take my leave," Ye Li said with a slight smile.
Mo Jingli said, "I also need to go to the Murong family estate, so we might as well go together. Imperial Elder Brother..."
Mo Jingqi said in a deep voice, "I will naturally go as well." As he spoke, his gaze kept lingering on Ye Li. She, however, walked nonchalantly beside Mo Jingli, seemingly oblivious to Mo Jingqi’s dark expression, conversing with Mo Jingli as they made their way to the Murong family estate. Mo Jingqi walked alone on the other side, his gaze towards the pair gloomy and stern, enough to make one shudder.
Ye Li cast a casual glance at Mo Jingqi, who was staring at her from time to time. She knew very well what Mo Jingqi was contemplating—whether he could take advantage of a moment when she was unattended to capture her and threaten Mo Xiuyao. A pity... she wouldn’t give him that chance. Looking at Mo Jingli, who was just a step away, if Mo Jingqi dared to make a move, Mo Jingli and his guards would become her best shield.
Moreover, given Mo Jingqi’s personality, he wouldn’t dare act without first ascertaining which side Mo Jingli was truly on.
When they arrived at the Murong family estate, the large-scale battle had already concluded. Only Mo Xiuyao and a few others were still fighting fiercely on the open ground in front of the main residence. Powerful sword and palm energies flew in all directions, shattering nearby trees and even the eaves of buildings, leaving a scene of utter devastation.
"Big Brother," Ye Li said softly, walking to Xu Qingchen’s side.
Xu Qingchen glanced at Mo Jingli and Mo Jingqi, who were following Ye Li, then at the bloodstains accidentally spattered on her clothes. He sighed lightly. After carefully looking Ye Li over, he asked softly, "Li’er, are you hurt?"
Ye Li shook her head. "Big Brother, don’t worry, I’m not hurt. How long have they been fighting?"
Xu Qingchen pondered for a moment. "About two hours. Xiuyao met Murong Xiong before and said that by joining forces with Pavilion Master Ling, they should be able to handle him. However, we need to be wary of the Southern Garrison Prince trying to take advantage of the situation after the battle."
Xu Qingchen nodded with a smile. "That’s what I was thinking. So... let the Southern Garrison Prince and Ren Qining fight a little longer."
The Southern Garrison Prince had already been injured fighting Murong Xiong earlier, and more severely than Ling Tiehan. Another battle with Ren Qining would undoubtedly leave him severely depleted of energy, rendering him incapable of causing further trouble. Consequently, Xu Qingchen, despite observing for a long time, had no intention of ordering the Qilin to assist the Southern Garrison Prince. While the outcome of Mo Xiuyao’s fight was still uncertain, the battle between Ren Qining and the Southern Garrison Prince was rapidly approaching its conclusion.
As Xu Qingchen and Ye Li spoke, the two combatants simultaneously unleashed a final, all-out palm strike, then each staggered back seven or eight steps before steadying themselves. Ren Qining’s face was pale; he frowned and finally spat out a mouthful of blood. Although the Southern Garrison Prince did not vomit blood, a trickle escaped the corner of his lips, and his body swayed precariously. Lei Tengfeng quickly stepped forward to support him. Ren Qining was nearly twenty years younger than the Southern Garrison Prince; managing to fight him to a near draw, even with the Prince’s prior injuries, was something Ren Qining could be proud of.
"Father, how are you?" Lei Tengfeng asked with concern, supporting the Southern Garrison Prince.
The Prince waved his hand, indicating he was fine, then looked at Ren Qining. "Young Master Ren, remarkable skill."
Ren Qining, also considerably injured, managed a faint smile. "Prince, you flatter me."
Noticing Ye Li standing beside Xu Qingchen, he gave a helpless, bitter smile. "It seems I was truly blind not to recognize Prince Ding and the Princess Consort. This has all been a wasted effort."
So, it’s not good to be too transparent, where everyone sees through you, nor is it good to be too mysterious. If you hide too deeply, you lose opportunities to connect with others. Had it been Lei Tengfeng, Mo Jingli, Tan Jizhi, or almost anyone else who had encountered Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li on the road, even if they didn’t recognize them immediately, they likely would have upon reflection. After all, disguise techniques weren’t so miraculous as to completely alter a person. Unfortunately, Ren Qining had never met Mo Xiuyao or Ye Li. Even if he had seen portraits, artwork of this era was exceptionally abstract and impressionistic; without identical attire, one might not recognize the subject even face-to-face. If Ren Qining had known he was dealing with Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, he would never have been so arrogant or acted so rashly.
Ye Li was indifferent to Ren Qining’s regrets. She smiled beautifully. "You’re too kind, Young Master. The Prince and I never expected to encounter such a distinguished individual as yourself. We have long admired... Young Master Lin." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
Ren Qining’s eyes narrowed as he stared intently at Ye Li. Ye Li met his gaze, a faint smile in her eyes, then shifted her attention to Mo Xiuyao and the others who were still locked in combat.
The duel had reached its most critical juncture, and the spectators involuntarily held their breath. In the midst of the fight, Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan exchanged a look, then simultaneously surged forward, thrusting their swords at Murong Xiong from front and back.
Murong Xiong, caught in their pincer attack, faced immense pressure. The combined might of Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan was several times more difficult to handle than that of the Southern Garrison Prince. Both men were swordsmen. Ling Tiehan’s style was steady, grand, and sweeping, displaying the air of a grandmaster. Mo Xiuyao’s swordsmanship, however, was fierce and unorthodox, forcing constant vigilance. Even Murong Xiong had to admit that these two were heaven-gifted prodigies; had they been of his generation, their achievements might have surpassed his own. More importantly, during their fight, when one attacked with full force, the other would seize the chance to recover, and vice versa. Murong Xiong knew they were trying to prolong the battle to deplete his power, but he couldn’t break their rhythm. As the two swords thrust towards him simultaneously, Murong Xiong felt a distinct weariness. Yet, he was unwilling to let these two arrogant juniors off so easily. He twisted, unleashing full-strength palm strikes at both of them.
Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan gritted their teeth and, instead of retreating, pressed their attack, unhesitatingly thrusting their swords towards Murong Xiong. However, Murong Xiong’s twin palm strikes also landed squarely on them, sending both men flying backward, their swords simultaneously knocked from their grasp.
"Xiuyao!"
"Big Brother!"
Ye Li and Leng Liuyue cried out in unison, leaping forward to support the falling Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan. From a distance, the details of the fight had been unclear, but now they saw Mo Xiuyao was drenched in sweat, his silver hair damp. Ling Tiehan, equally pale, had the back of his blue robe stained a deep, dark blue, and his sword-holding hand was trembling slightly.
Ye Li cried out repeatedly, "Xiuyao, Xiuyao... how are you?"
Mo Xiuyao caught his breath and managed a reassuring smile for Ye Li. "I’m fine. My sword struck him first." If his sword hadn’t struck Murong Xiong first, weakening his palm strikes and draining a good deal of his internal energy, their injuries would be far more severe than this. At least now, Mo Xiuyao still had the energy to look provocatively at Ling Tiehan. "You won last time. This time, I won."
Ling Tiehan gave a resigned smile. "This time, you won."
All eyes turned to Murong Xiong, who had also collapsed in the distance. His injuries were far more gruesome than Mo Xiuyao’s and Ling Tiehan’s. Mo Xiuyao’s soft sword had pierced clean through his chest, while Ling Tiehan’s longsword had slashed across his waist. His entire upper body was dyed a dark red with blood. Ye Li could see clearly that Mo Xiuyao’s sword had struck him directly in the heart. It was a miracle Murong Xiong was still breathing, but it was obvious he wouldn’t survive.
She recalled that if Mo Xiuyao’s sword hadn’t pierced Murong Xiong’s heart, even if Ling Tiehan had also injured him, Murong Xiong’s retaliation would likely have wounded them much more severely. Afterwards, even if Murong Xiong lacked the strength to kill both, finishing off one of them would have been easy. The thought sent a cold shiver down Ye Li’s spine. However, she didn’t know that Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan had resorted to such a risky move out of desperation. They had indeed intended to wear down Murong Xiong’s internal energy before striking a decisive blow, but Murong Xiong’s nearly fifty years of profound cultivation were not to be underestimated. While Murong Xiong had expended considerable energy, they had consumed even more. If they hadn’t succeeded in that one strike, it was truly uncertain who would have outlasted whom.
Murong Xiong coughed repeatedly, blood frothing at his lips. He glared at Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan, his voice harsh. "Good... very good, Prince Ding! Good, King of Hell Pavilion Master! Who would have thought... who would have thought this old man would..." The once-unrivaled expert of his generation was to die at the hands of two juniors. Murong Xiong couldn’t finish his sentence. His eyes remained wide open as he breathed his last, dying with unresolved grievances.
A heavy silence fell upon everyone present. Murong Xiong was, arguably, one of the most highly skilled martial artists of his time. The fall of such a master always evoked a sense of sorrow.
Witnessing this, Ren Qining, who stood to the side, couldn’t help but pale. Suddenly, he lunged towards the Murong Family Head, who was cowering in a corner. Before anyone could react, Ren Qining’s sword flashed, slitting the Family Head’s throat. The Murong Family Head, still reeling from his uncle’s death, lost his own life. After killing the Murong Family Head, Ren Qining’s expression eased somewhat. He smiled at Mo Xiuyao and the Southern Garrison Prince. "Prince Ding, Southern Garrison Prince, how do you plan to acquire the Murong family’s assets?"
The Southern Garrison Prince frowned. "Young Master, what do you mean?"
Xu Qingchen sighed with a hint of resignation. "I suppose the real gold and silver accumulated by the Murong family over many generations is now in Young Master Ren’s hands?" The Murong family’s businesses, trade routes, and lands, which Ren Qining couldn’t easily move, had already been mostly divided. What remained was the countless gold, silver, and jewels amassed over more than ten generations.
Ren Qining chuckled. "Young Master Qingchen is indeed perceptive. It’s also down to my luck. Had it not been for this, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have left Ancheng City alive today." After killing the Murong Family Head, only he knew the location of those treasures; that knowledge was his safeguard.
