Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 398 - 397. Family ties are hard to sever

397. The Difficulty of Severing Family Ties

"Who’s there?!"

Out of the woods, a man dressed all in black sauntered forth. Under the dim moonlight, his resolute face was clearly visible. Though wrinkles had begun to appear on the middle-aged man’s deep-set face, its strong features were still noticeably distinct, carved as if by a knife. His temples were faintly tinged with gray, and he gazed indifferently at the crowd under the moonlight.

"Mu Qingcang?" Ling Tiehan questioned in a sonorous voice.

"Pavilion Master Ling, long time no see," Mu Qingcang responded lightly, nodding. The newcomer was indeed Mu Qingcang, the once unparalleled expert of Great Chu who had suddenly disappeared years ago. Mu Qingcang looked at Ye Li, who was standing to the side, and said, "Princess Consort, you can leave first with your people."

Ye Li walked over to help Zhuo Jing and Lin Han up, nodding respectfully. "We appreciate your assistance, Mr. Mu."

Ling Tiehan silently watched as Ye Li took her people and left, making no attempt to pursue them. He knew full well that he would not be able to lay a finger on Ye Li tonight unless he first dealt with Mu Qingcang. Although he was confident that he could defeat Mu Qingcang, as one of the Four Great Experts, Mu Qingcang was not someone to be dismissed lightly. Moreover, he could feel that Mu Qingcang was somewhat different from ten years ago. Back then, he had chanced upon Mu Qingcang and had clearly felt his prowess diminishing, so he had never regarded him as a significant opponent since. It was inevitable for one’s strength to decline with age, but at that time, Mu Qingcang was still in his prime. However, meeting him now, Ling Tiehan discovered that Mu Qingcang’s condition was not as bad as he had anticipated; he had even made some improvements.

Furthermore, there were some things that Ling Tiehan could not understand. Frowning, he asked, "I, for one, was unaware that Mu Qingcang would submit to Prince Ding’s Mansion." Outsiders might not know, but as the master of the King of Hell Pavilion, how could Ling Tiehan not know Mu Qingcang’s true identity? Mu Yang and Mu Jingmin had just fallen into the hands of Prince Ding’s Mansion, yet here was Mu Qingcang, coming to rescue the Princess Consort. This was quite beyond Ling Tiehan’s expectations.

"I am not affiliated with Prince Ding’s Mansion," Mu Qingcang replied coldly.

Ling Tiehan raised an eyebrow. "Then what is Brother Mu doing here?"

"It’s merely a deal with Prince Ding’s Mansion," Mu Qingcang said. "I promised Prince Ding’s Mansion I would protect Princess Consort Ding for three days. After three days, you may do as you please." Ling Tiehan sighed helplessly. "Though I have no desire to cross swords with Brother Mu now, it seems I have no choice." In three days, Ye Li would have already returned to the Mo Family Army camp. With hundreds of thousands of Mo Family soldiers and Qilin guards there to protect her, killing her would be impossible. It would even be difficult to get near her.

"Please," Mu Qingcang said, nonchalantly nodding.

Soon, the two figures on the ancient path were fiercely engaged. Under the moonlight, their forms split and merged, the release of their sword energies creating strong gusts of wind. The fighting spirit of these two top-tier masters was entirely different from that encountered when they had assaulted Ye Li and her companions earlier.

「In the shadows」

Leng Liyue and her companion quietly watched as Ye Li and her group rode away. Leng Liyue furrowed her brows. "Should we help Big Brother stop them?" Even though they disagreed with taking action against Princess Consort Ding, since their Big Brother insisted, they, as his sworn siblings, naturally had to support him fully.

The Sickly Scholar shook his head. "No, let them go. Prince Ding’s Mansion is not to be trifled with. Besides... Big Brother held back just now." With Ling Tiehan’s martial skills, if he truly wanted to kill Ye Li, he could have struck from the shadows. Even Mo Xiuyao himself, if caught unprepared, likely couldn’t have stopped such an attack. There was no need to stand by the roadside waiting for a tiresome chat.

After contemplating for a moment, Leng Liyue nodded. "Right. Big Brother only promised to ambush Ye Li on the road. If she manages to escape back to the Mo Family Army camp, it’s no longer our concern." Moreover, with a world-renowned expert like one of the Four Great Experts assisting them, even if their Big Brother failed, no one could say anything.

As assassins, both the inherently cold Leng Liyue and the gloomy and arrogant Sickly Scholar were fundamentally calm and rational individuals. The King of Hell Pavilion held significant influence in the worldly society. However, facing Prince Ding’s Mansion, whose power stretched across more than half of the former Xiling and Great Chu, was not a good idea. Regardless of whether Mo Xiuyao was severely injured or not, as long as he was still alive, the Mo Family Army and Prince Ding’s Mansion remained formidable adversaries. Back when Mo Xiuyao was crippled and poisoned, he still managed to protect Prince Ding’s Mansion even when it was on the brink of ruin. Now, more than ever, Prince Ding’s Mansion was at the zenith of its power.

If Lei Zhenting hadn’t sent someone to find their Big Brother this time, they would never have known the truth. Their Big Brother, orphaned from a young age, was actually a prince of the Xiling imperial family. But over the years, the Xiling imperial family had meant nothing to them, and their Big Brother had never received any benefits from them. On the contrary, they had once been wantonly suppressed by Lei Zhenting. Why should their Big Brother confront Prince Ding’s Mansion for the sake of the Xiling imperial family?

The duel between Ling Tiehan and Mu Qingcang continued until daybreak the next morning. The morning light bathed the edge of the ancient path as Ling Tiehan, leaning on his iron sword, stood by the road and looked at Mu Qingcang not far away. Blood silently seeped from his sleeves, trickled down his arm, and fell into the dust at his feet. "The foremost expert in Great Chu indeed lives up to his reputation," Ling Tiehan remarked quietly.

Not far from him, Mu Qingcang knelt with a pale complexion. His right shoulder was almost pierced through, and his abdomen was dyed red with fresh blood. This time, unlike the previous spars between Ling Tiehan and Mo Xiuyao, this was a genuine fight to the death. Over the past few years, Mu Qingcang had lived in seclusion, dedicating himself to martial studies. Freed from the shackles that once constrained him, Mu Qingcang had gradually recovered and even advanced further in his martial arts. Though slightly inferior to Ling Tiehan, when he fought for his life, he had managed to hold Ling Tiehan off for an entire night.

Wiping the blood from his lips, Mu Qingcang gave a faint, bitter smile. "Pavilion Master Ling, you flatter me. I admit defeat."

Ling Tiehan shook his head and remained silent. Leng Liyue and the Sickly Scholar appeared before him. Seeing the dark-red bloodstains on the ground next to Ling Tiehan, they stared malevolently at the severely injured Mu Qingcang, who knelt on the ground. "Big... Big Brother..."

Ling Tiehan raised his hand to stop the Sickly Scholar, who looked ready to kill Mu Qingcang. "The fight is over," Ling Tiehan said. "There’s no need for more trouble." The Sickly Scholar nodded. "Big Brother... do we still pursue?"

Ling Tiehan smiled at his two worried sworn siblings and raised his sword hand. "I’ve suffered an internal injury. It’s time to go back."

A flash of pleasant surprise lit up Leng Liyue’s and the Sickly Scholar’s eyes. Big Brother indeed had no genuine intention of killing Princess Consort Ding.

"Yes, Big Brother, let’s go back," Leng Liyue said, moving to support Ling Tiehan.

He waved her off. "That won’t be necessary. Brother Mu, do you need me to arrange for someone to escort you?"

"Thank you, Pavilion Master Ling. Prince Ding’s Mansion will take care of Mr. Mu." Mo Hua appeared by the ancient path, his expression frigid as he watched the three of them.

Seeing Mo Hua, Ling Tiehan frowned. The many assassins from the King of Hell Pavilion he had dispatched to intercept Qilin and the Mo Family Army’s secret guards must have all perished. Although Ling Tiehan didn’t recognize Mo Hua, he could tell that Mo Hua’s martial arts skills were far superior to those of Zhuo Jing and Lin Han. For such a person to have no fame in either the imperial court or the worldly society, it was clear that Prince Ding’s Mansion was indeed full of hidden talents.

Well, he had grown weary of the King of Hell Pavilion after so long... Nodding, Ling Tiehan said, "Farewell. If Prince Ding intends to seek revenge, I will be ready for him at any time." Leng Liyue wanted to say something, but Ling Tiehan’s glance silenced her. She reluctantly shut her mouth and followed Ling Tiehan as he left.

Only Mo Hua and Mu Qingcang remained on the side of the road. Mo Hua said in a deep voice, "Thank you, Mr. Mu, for your assistance. How are your injuries?"

Struggling to stand, Mu Qingcang’s body was a bit shaky. Although he had fought Ling Tiehan for several hours, his injuries were much worse than those Ling Tiehan had sustained. Ling Tiehan claimed to have suffered internal injuries, but Mu Qingcang knew very well that Ling Tiehan had only suffered superficial wounds.

"I’m fine. I hope Prince Ding’s Mansion will keep its promise," Mu Qingcang said, fixing his gaze on Mo Hua.

Mo Hua nodded and lightly clapped his hands. Two men dressed in black walked over, dragging an old man with them. The old man, with snow-white hair and a face full of wrinkles, looked like a decrepit man well into his seventies. Those who knew him, however, were aware that he was still two years shy of sixty. Just half a month ago, he had still looked like a man in his mid-forties.

"What have you done to him?!" Mu Qingcang roared, his eyes glinting coldly.

Mo Hua calmly replied, "Nothing. He was already like this when we brought him back." Since seeing Mu Yang’s body, Marquis Muyang had aged twenty or thirty years overnight. His mind had also become muddled, and he was generally unresponsive. Occasionally, when he had a moment of clarity, he would grab anyone nearby and call them "Yang’er." Even Mo Xiuyao, who had initially wanted to see him, lost all interest. Otherwise, Mu Qingcang probably wouldn’t have been able to see him now.

Supporting his shaky body, Mu Qingcang walked over, helped Marquis Muyang up, and called softly, "Father... Father?"

As if hearing the word "father," Marquis Muyang’s blank, vacant eyes shifted. He stared at Mu Qingcang for a long time before stuttering, "Yang... Yang’er?" A flicker of sadness crossed Mu Qingcang’s eyes. He took Marquis Muyang from the two black-clad guards and said, "Father, let’s go home."

Marquis Muyang offered no resistance and allowed Mu Qingcang to lead him away. Behind them, Mo Hua spoke in a low voice, "In exchange for saving the Princess Consort, Marquis Muyang is yours to deal with. However... if he causes any more trouble, Mr. Mu, you’d best remember the Prince’s words."

Mu Qingcang’s footsteps paused for a moment, then he stated resolutely, "I understand. From now on, you will see neither him nor me ever again."

Watching Mu Qingcang and Marquis Muyang’s receding figures, one of the black-clad guards beside Mo Hua asked in a low voice, "Commander, are we just going to let them go?"

Mo Hua nodded, his voice deep. "Mu Qingcang saved the Princess Consort." When it came to matters involving the Princess Consort, the Prince always kept his word. Besides, the Prince hadn’t killed Mu Qingcang in all these years; he certainly wouldn’t be interested in doing so now. "Let’s return. There are matters to attend to in the army." Soon, the three men in black disappeared from the edge of the ancient path.

「On the official road, inside an inconspicuous roadside post station」

Lei Tengfeng sat leisurely drinking tea. Although Mo Xiuyao had tricked him earlier, causing him to rush back to Yuming Pass, the subsequent developments had not harmed Xiling or Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion in the slightest. Instead... unexpectedly, Mo Jingli had emerged as a dark horse, greatly benefiting the Xiling Army, which had been somewhat passive on the battlefield. Consequently, Lei Tengfeng’s mood had been excellent these past few days.

Seeing three people strolling towards him, Lei Tengfeng’s smile widened. He even rose personally to greet them. "Tengfeng pays his respects to the Imperial Uncle."

Ling Tiehan looked indifferently at the young man before him. "I am but a humble wanderer from the worldly society; I dare not accept such grand courtesy from the Heir."

Lei Tengfeng smiled. "How can that be? Imperial Uncle is my Imperial Grandfather’s own son and a blood relative of our Xiling imperial family. It is only proper for Tengfeng to pay his respects."

Ling Tiehan glanced at him for a moment, then a hint of cold amusement touched his lips. "Lei Tengfeng, didn’t your father tell you to stay... far away from me?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Lei Tengfeng was taken aback; his father had indeed warned him. He had simply been too eager about the outcome of events and had come personally. He hadn’t expected to overstep his bounds. Though a myriad of thoughts raced through his mind, Lei Tengfeng’s expression remained calm as he said respectfully, "Nephew was disrespectful. Pavilion Master Ling, please forgive me."

Ling Tiehan snorted lightly and walked forward. Lei Tengfeng glanced at Ling Tiehan’s blood-stained sleeve and frowned slightly. He quickly caught up. "Pavilion Master Ling, I wonder about Princess Consort Ding..."

"Princess Consort Ding has left," Ling Tiehan said calmly.

"What?!" Lei Tengfeng couldn’t help but exclaim. He was genuinely stunned. He had never imagined that even the Master of the King of Hell Pavilion couldn’t kill Ye Li. His father had clearly said that Ling Tiehan’s current martial prowess was very likely superior to his own. How could he fail to kill Ye Li, whose martial arts weren’t even first-rate?

Ling Tiehan turned and glanced at the shocked young man behind him. Lei Tengfeng felt a shiver run down his spine but managed to withstand Ling Tiehan’s pressure. "But Pavilion Master Ling, you did promise Father..."

"I said I would do my best," Ling Tiehan interrupted. "And I did."

"But, Ye Li and those around her, their martial arts skills..." Lei Tengfeng said, unconvinced.

The Sickly Scholar glanced gloomily at Lei Tengfeng. "Haven’t you noticed that Big Brother is injured? If you think someone could fight Mu Qingcang and still chase down and kill Ye Li, why did you seek out Big Brother in the first place?"

"Mu Qingcang..." Lei Tengfeng’s heart sank. Even with all their meticulous scheming, they hadn’t anticipated Mu Qingcang. The foremost martial artist of Great Chu, after nearly ten years of silence, his first act upon reappearing was to foil their crucial plan concerning Princess Consort Ding! "But..." Seeing the three strolling so leisurely, even Lei Tengfeng, despite his usually good temper, felt a little upset. With Ling Tiehan behaving like this, who would believe he hadn’t deliberately held back?

Perhaps Lei Tengfeng’s expression was too obvious. Ling Tiehan frowned and looked at him. "Lei Tengfeng... do you think that just because I’m injured, I wouldn’t dare to kill you?"

Lei Tengfeng’s face paled slightly. Lowering his gaze, he said, "Nephew wouldn’t dare. In that case, I shall take my leave."

Ling Tiehan neither agreed nor disagreed, merely saying, "Go tell Lei Zhenting that the favor I owed him has been repaid. In the future... it will be time to settle the scores between him and me."

Lei Tengfeng silently replied, "Nephew will certainly convey the message to Father. I bid you farewell." Although unaware of the specific grudge between his father and Ling Tiehan from many years ago, Lei Tengfeng knew one thing. The reason Ling Tiehan hadn’t truly troubled Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion over the years was because he owed his father a significant favor. Otherwise, had Ling Tiehan chosen to support the Emperor of Xiling, the power of the King of Hell Pavilion could have caused considerable headaches for Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion.

But in the eyes of someone like Ling Tiehan, there was no concept of favors and grudges cancelling each other out. Once the favor owed was repaid, it was time to collect on old grudges. At this moment, Lei Tengfeng couldn’t help but question whether he and his father had made a mistake in asking Ling Tiehan to deal with Ye Li.

「After bidding farewell to Ling Tiehan, Lei Tengfeng rode non-stop back to the Xiling Army.」

Upon seeing his son’s dejected expression, Lei Zhenting sighed. Before Lei Tengfeng could speak, he asked, "Ling Tiehan failed?"

Lei Tengfeng nodded. "Father..."

"Did Ling Tiehan intentionally let Ye Li escape?" Lei Zhenting asked, his expression somewhat troubled. Although he had considered this possibility when seeking out Ling Tiehan, he ultimately chose to trust him. Ling Tiehan always kept his promises, and there was no one more suitable.

Lei Tengfeng said with some uncertainty, "Ling Tiehan was also wounded by Mu Qingcang, the long-missing foremost expert of Great Chu. They fought an intense battle throughout the night. By dawn, when a victor emerged, Ye Li and her group had already entered territory controlled by Prince Ding’s Mansion." He was uncertain whether Ling Tiehan had deliberately held back, but at the very least, Ling Tiehan had not seemed particularly enthusiastic about killing Ye Li.

"Mu Qingcang?" Lei Zhenting frowned. "Absurd! Ye Li just destroyed Marquis Muyang’s Mansion. Why would Mu Qingcang save her?"

Lei Tengfeng said, "I sent men to investigate. It was indeed Mu Qingcang who suddenly appeared and blocked Ling Tiehan’s sword. After the fierce battle, Mu Qingcang was severely injured. He also took an old man from the custody of Prince Ding’s Mansion’s people. According to my subordinates, it’s highly probable that the old man is the former Marquis Muyang, Mu Jingmin. Originally... Ling Tiehan almost killed Ye Li." At this point, Lei Tengfeng appeared somewhat regretful. Although he greatly admired Ye Li’s abilities and intellect, they were enemies. Losing an opportunity to eliminate such a formidable foe naturally made Lei Tengfeng clench his fists in silent frustration.

Lei Zhenting shook his head. "Never mind. Such is fate. As long as Mo Xiuyao is truly incapacitated, it doesn’t matter if Ye Li lives. Our focus now should be the situation on the battlefield."

Lei Tengfeng agreed, setting aside his lingering disappointment. He said gravely, "Father is correct. Mo Xiuyao is critically injured, and though his exact condition—whether life or death—is unknown, judging by the Mo Family Army’s performance these past few days, his injuries are likely severe. Otherwise, Feng Zhiyao wouldn’t be so anxious for Princess Consort Ding to rush back. These past few days, the Mo Family Army’s tactics have changed. Gone were their usual elusive and unpredictable maneuvers that exhausted their opponents. It was clear that someone else had taken command. The fact that Mo Xiuyao was so heavily injured that he could no longer manage army affairs is certainly good news for Xiling."

"Mo Jingli’s several hundred thousand reinforcements have already reached the north," Lei Tengfeng added. "They are likely preparing a counterattack. As long as we quickly defeat the Mo Family Army here, Lv Jinxian will probably be unable to disengage and return with reinforcements in time."

Mentioning Mo Jingli, Lei Zhenting frowned slightly. "Let him struggle. That’s all he’s good for. However... Tengfeng, Mo Jingli is narrow-minded and vindictive. He will undoubtedly bear a grudge for this incident. If you encounter him on the battlefield in the future, be careful. If necessary... find a way to eliminate him!"

"Father?" Lei Tengfeng looked at Lei Zhenting, a hint of unease in his eyes. Although his father had taught him many things over the years, he had never spoken of dealing with a monarch in such a way.

Lei Zhenting smiled calmly. "You’re not a child anymore. It’s high time you stood on your own. When this war ends, the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion will be handed over to you."

"Father?!" Lei Tengfeng exclaimed, looking at Lei Zhenting with concern.

Lei Zhenting laughed it off, waving his hand. "Enough, let’s not discuss these matters now. You must be vigilant in defending Yuming Pass. After all, in the eyes of the Mo Family Army, we are the true enemy. If a real crisis arises, Lv Jinxian might well abandon Mo Jingli’s forces and lead his troops back to aid this front." Even if they were unwilling to admit it, the Mo Family Army’s hostility towards the Army of Great Chu was far less than that towards Xiling. Even on the battlefield, the clashes between the Mo Family Army and the Army of Great Chu were less fierce than those against the Xiling Army. It wasn’t that Lv Jinxian’s troops lacked bravery or strength, but that deep down, both sides still recognized they were once kin. So, if Prince Ding’s Mansion faced a true crisis, Lv Jinxian was highly likely to abandon all territory beyond Yuming Pass and turn to attack the Xiling Army.

Lei Tengfeng nodded. "I understand."

Lei Zhenting nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, you may go."

Lei Tengfeng thought for a moment before asking, "Father, did you already know Ling Tiehan wouldn’t be able to kill Ye Li?" When he had returned to report, his father had been somewhat displeased but had not seemed particularly surprised or outraged.

Lei Zhenting shook his head. "If he could kill her, that would naturally be best. But even if he couldn’t, it doesn’t matter much."

Lei Tengfeng looked at Lei Zhenting in confusion, his eyebrows furrowed. Over the years, it was because Ling Tiehan owed his father a favor that he had refrained from acting against the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion. Now that this favor was repaid, hadn’t they gained another enemy?

Lei Zhenting sighed. "Even without this incident, I would have found a way to make him repay that favor."

"Your son is slow-witted," Lei Tengfeng said, genuinely puzzled by his father’s reasoning.

"Silly child, Ling Tiehan owes the favor to me, not to you." In Ling Tiehan’s mind, there was no concept of all debts being cleared, nor of favors extending to the next generation. However, many of those who had wronged Ling Tiehan in the past were still living under the protection of the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion. "Either I kill Ling Tiehan before my own death, or I kill all those offenders on my deathbed. Otherwise, Ling Tiehan would inevitably target you, Tengfeng, in the future. But both of those choices are hardly realistic."

With a puzzled expression, Lei Tengfeng left. As he reached the door, he paused for a moment, and then his father’s meaning suddenly struck him. Lei Tengfeng furrowed his eyebrows and clenched his teeth, but he did not go back in. Indeed, he was still not strong enough; that was why his father worried so much for him...