Er kämpft in allen Himmeln und unzähligen Welten

Kapitel 57

I call him "Mo Li".

He hummed in response in the darkness.

I was somewhat disappointed, but even more so, I was uneasy. I wanted to get close to him, but I was also afraid that he already knew that I had been hiding many things from him and was angry with me. I sighed inwardly, not knowing how to start the conversation.

Sometimes women are just greedy and insatiable. They finally get a little kindness from the person they like, and immediately start wanting more. They are easily swayed by the slightest words or actions from him, and in the end, they exhaust themselves.

Fortunately, after a moment, Mo Li spoke first.

He said, "I already know what happened."

I said "oh," wondering what Wende had told him. My master is always wise and should be able to easily distinguish between the important and trivial matters, but this cryptic talk puts me in a very passive position.

"I've said it before, I hate being lied to the most." He continued speaking, his voice hoarse. I was used to it, and it even felt like a kind of warmth, but that last sentence shocked me.

I wanted to explain, but he didn't give me a chance.

“With the two countries at war, and your identity being so special, if I hadn’t tracked the elder to that valley, you might have already been used by them. If you had been killed by that arrow, were you going to keep it from me until your death?”

I panicked and shook my head, saying, "That's not how it is. I'm no longer a princess. Princess Ping'an is long dead. I never thought about going back to the past. I just want to be who I am now."

He spoke again, his voice clenched through gritted teeth, "And what about that day at the valley entrance? Why didn't you dodge that arrow? Did you prefer to be shot to death behind me?"

I stared at him, speechless, wondering what he was more angry about.

“But at that time…” I wanted to say that it was my instinctive reaction, but he suddenly stood up, lowered his head and pressed down hard on my wrists, and said in a hoarse voice: “I hate being lied to the most, and I hate women who don’t know what’s good for them even more.”

His face was inches away from mine, and his uneven breathing made him seem genuinely furious.

I stared blankly, not knowing what he was going to do.

We stared at each other in the darkness for a while, and then suddenly, without warning, he lowered his head and buried his face in my uninjured shoulder, his cheek pressed against mine, his voice muffled from the side of my neck.

Do you understand now?

I looked up at the sky, wanting to say, "Mo Li, forgive my ignorance, I really don't understand what you mean by those words." But at this moment, the man I love, with his hands firmly pressing down on my wrists and uttering threatening words, his head bowed, only made me feel his weakness.

This weakness stemmed from fear, a weakness that even surpassed his anger at my deception, a weakness that made my heart, which had finally calmed down, begin to ache again.

I tried to raise my hands, but they remained firmly in his grasp. I struggled for a long time, and in the end, all I could do was what I could do at that moment.

I slowly turned my face towards him and finally kissed his cheek very lightly.

4

I never imagined in my life that I would spend such a quiet time in this insignificant little place, Jinshui Town.

Jinshui Town, though nominally a town, is actually just a small border village, located near the northern border of the country. It's far from Chongguan City, but closer to the border of the Mo Kingdom. Surrounded by towering mountains, and with Tuoguan City, a military stronghold dozens of miles away, occupying a strategically important but easily defensible position on the main road into the Central Plains, its location is extremely difficult to attack. Furthermore, even entering the Central Plains from here requires traversing countless treacherous mountain ranges. Therefore, when the Mo Kingdom launched its surprise attack on the Central Plains, they chose Chongguan City, situated on a relatively flat plain, as their point of attack. Thus, although the area is barren, it maintained a relatively peaceful life after the start of the war.

He Nan's medical skills were indeed remarkable. Although Cheng Wei was always very proud of his medical expertise, he was still completely impressed by He Nan's acupuncture techniques. While He Nan was a chatterbox in front of Mo Li and me, he was surprisingly unfazed by others. He always acted like a master physician, chin held high as he walked around, occasionally complaining by my bedside about how troublesome Cheng Wei was and how few decent doctors were in the Central Plains martial arts world. Once I felt a little better, he unexpectedly left without saying goodbye one night, leaving me only a tattered piece of paper with a prescription, instructing me to take the medicine on time.

I guessed that He Nan was probably reluctant to leave the flowers, plants, and strange animals in the valley, but his hasty and thieving escape was really surprising to me. I was both annoyed and amused. When I mentioned it to Mo Li, he wasn't surprised at all and just said to let him go, as if he had known that He Nan would do such a thing.

For the first few days after I woke up, I could only stay indoors, but later I was able to get up and walk around. Wende rarely came to see me, perhaps because Moli was always there. I had concealed his identity for so long, and he had said that he hated being lied to, but to my surprise, apart from showing a little anger towards me that night, he never mentioned it again, as if it had never happened. He only mentioned the days after we parted ways once, saying that he had sent someone to contact Elizabeth, and that she and Gebu had returned safely to Montenegro, so I didn't need to worry about them anymore.

I guessed that Sanza was grateful to him, or had already copied the map for him so that he could cross the canyon to find me. So it was not surprising that he could send someone to Mongolia. Hearing him say this, apart from still feeling sad for Sanza and the other dead herdsmen, it was still good news.

He added, “Ellie sent me a letter; if you asked her to deliver it, she did so in the letter.”

What if I asked Elizabeth to deliver it? I was momentarily stunned.

He said slowly, "Ellie said you hate me for leaving you with them and never want to see me again in this lifetime."

I panicked when I heard that, almost yelling, "How could that be! I specifically wanted her to tell you that I've always missed you, so much..."

My voice trailed off as I spoke, and my face flushed crimson. The despicable man before me stared at me, a slow smile creeping into his eyes, before finally saying, "Finished."

I opened my mouth again and again, feeling my face burning hot, and finally I couldn't take it anymore and said, "You're so mean, don't even think about hearing me repeat myself."

He actually smiled this time, his eyes softening with tenderness, and he reached out to hug me as I lay on the bed, his hands landing on my head with a long-awaited, tender kiss.

"I understand. Get well soon. I still have many places I want to take you to."

I don't know how long it had been since I had enjoyed his tenderness. I melted in his embrace and kisses, turning into a puddle of water, and even laughed, a silly laugh.

I'm so pathetic, but I have no choice.

Later, I asked Mo Li what exactly happened in the days after he returned to the church, whether the sacred insect he brought back really worked, how the leader dealt with the fake priest, and what the current situation was of Wen Su, Xiao Wei, and the others. He wouldn't say much about all these questions, being very sparing with his words, only saying that he would tell me in a few days.

I asked a few questions but didn't get any definite answers, so I gave up. In any case, it was good that he came back safe and sound. In addition, Mo Li did not pursue his anger over deceiving me to the end, which made me overjoyed. Compared with these two things, what exactly happened in the Holy Fire Sect was insignificant.

Mo Li brought a large group, so he booked the best inn in town. Although there were still rooms available, my master and Cheng Ping chose to stay nearby. Wen De rarely visited me, and he met Mo Li even less often—they practically never saw each other. In fact, if these two stood together, the oppressive aura they exuded would make anyone with a modicum of sense avoid them. In the past, due to some misunderstandings, they almost came to blows, so it was normal for them to dislike each other. But now that the misunderstandings had been largely resolved, why were they still so at odds?

I racked my brains but couldn't figure it out, so I had to give up in the end.

Well, true masters are often beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

After that long talk with me that day, Wende never mentioned my brother or the war to me again. However, I always remembered him saying that we might be able to use Abule to end the war sooner. I tried to ask him for more details several times, but he always ignored my questions as if he had never said those words.

I was at a loss and had no idea what he was planning.

A few days later, I was able to get out of bed, and Mo Li led me on a slow walk through the courtyard of the inn. There were some shady characters in the town, and he and Qingyi always wore masks when they came and went. I wanted to let Chengping and the others see his true face, perhaps the atmosphere in their office would be less tense, but I was still recovering from serious injuries, and although I had the will, I didn't have the strength. Besides, even if I wasn't injured, it would be impossible to force Mo Li to do something he didn't want to do. After much consideration, I had no choice but to give up.

I had been lying down for a long time, and at first, I would stagger after taking just a few steps. He was incredibly patient, keeping his hands behind his back and watching me from about three feet away. When he saw me about to fall, he reached out to help me up. Cheng Ping, who happened to be passing by that day, saw this. Although Cheng Ping was cold, he was actually a man who wore his heart on his sleeve and couldn't hide anything. When he saw us holding hands, he glanced at us and immediately let out a cold snort.

I blushed and felt resentful, thinking to myself, "It's only because of you. If Yi Xiaojin were here, I wonder how envious he would be."

Once I was able to walk a few more steps, I felt that the narrow house and courtyard were like a cage, and I begged Mo Li to take me out to see it every day.

Deep down, I still harbored a sliver of hope that the war had vanished without my knowledge. Whether it was Murphy, Abule, or whoever was behind him, they were undoubtedly cunning and shrewd, but my brother was truly the most unassuming person I had ever met in this world.

I've never forgotten my elder brother. He was the man who murdered our father without batting an eye, ascended the throne without hesitation, and married me off without a second thought, even giving me a pair of unwavering vows in his final moments. This war may have come suddenly, but if it were my elder brother, perhaps he had foreseen it all. If it were my elder brother, perhaps everything would have vanished without my knowledge—just like that period of my life I once knew so well.

Mo Li couldn't resist my persistence, and finally, with a stern face, she took me out for a short while. It was early morning, and we climbed over the wall to get out. No one noticed, and I don't know whose eyes we were trying to avoid.

I tried to climb over the wall myself. Although my wound had almost healed at a miraculous speed in the short two months thanks to the combined treatment from He Nan and Cheng Ping, I was still not fully recovered. I was too impatient and tried to use my lightness skill to fly out as soon as I took a deep breath. The result was, of course, miserable. I slipped before I even got close to the top of the wall and was about to fall down looking like an ugly frog with its belly facing up.

Mo Li didn't say anything, but flew over and grabbed my waist with one hand, and even had time to give me a cold "see" look.

Feeling embarrassed by his gaze, I landed on the ground and said somewhat awkwardly, "Actually, I can do it. Master even transferred so much true energy to me a few days ago."

His face darkened after hearing that. I didn't know what I had said wrong, so I kept glancing at him as we walked. He pursed his lips and spoke after a long while, his voice extremely low.

“I also transferred my inner energy to you; he only took over during the few days I was away.”

I didn't actually hear what he was saying, and I couldn't believe it. It took me a while to figure it out, and then I tried my best to hold it in for a bit, but finally I couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

Is this man throwing a tantrum at me? The way he talks is just like a child who did a good deed but didn't get any praise.

"What are you laughing at?" He turned his head and glared at me.

Even if I had a hundred lives, I wouldn't dare say what I was thinking. I immediately suppressed all my laughter and replied with a serious expression, "Yes, yes, I know it was you who transferred your true energy to me. You saved me. Thank you."

He kept a straight face, and after a long while, he finally uttered a muffled sentence.

I never realized I could love such an awkward man so much, to the point where I couldn't even find a way to express it. Luckily, my body responded automatically. I turned around and, in the chilly morning air, happily embraced him, then, with complete understanding and tolerance of everything his awkwardness represented, said, "Thank you, I love you too."

5

The small town was quiet. Most of the residents still maintained the lifestyle of working at sunrise and resting at sunset. In the morning light, the few small shops on both sides of the town's only street were quietly closed, so quiet that it gave me an unreal feeling.

Mo Li and I walked hand in hand for a while. He held a transcendent position in the Holy Fire Sect, usually displaying a cold and dignified demeanor. Any tenderness he showed me was only in private; he would never let me hold his hand like this in public. But the town was quiet, especially in the early morning, as if we were in a deserted place. I had been so moved earlier that after hugging him, I stubbornly refused to let go. He couldn't pull his hand away, so he eventually let me continue. After walking for a while, seeing that I was slightly out of breath, he turned his hand over and gently took mine, slowing his pace considerably.

After walking a few more steps, he suddenly spoke, "In a few days, once you're fully recovered, we'll be leaving."

I was taken aback. Although I knew in my heart that I would eventually have to leave this place, I was speechless when he brought it up like that.

If this had happened in the past, I would have responded enthusiastically and made some requests, saying which places I wanted to go and which things I wanted to do.

I have been away from the palace for a long time. I am no longer the fool who dreamed of the ordinary restaurants and a pound of beef described in books. In this world, there are the misty willows of Jiangnan in the south, the desert sands in the north, the vast ocean in the east, and the towering mountains in the west. If I could ride freely and enjoy myself to the fullest, what would be a place I would not want to go with him? What would be a thing I would not want to do with him?

But now...

When I thought of what Wende had said to me, my heart skipped a beat, and my voice caught in my throat.

“Mo Li, but some people in the Mo Kingdom already know that I am…”

"Yes, I understand," he said in a deep voice, then glanced at me again. "Do you know why those people are looking for you?"

I lowered my eyes and remained silent in the clear morning light.

“I tracked down the elders and found this man, Abule. I followed them back to that valley, intending to bring Abule back as a hostage to exchange for the three old men and bring them back to the church to be punished. But I never expected to find you there.”

I never imagined that I was only saved by a twist of fate. Mo Li had never mentioned it before, and I had forgotten to ask. Now that I heard it, I immediately nodded with immense relief.

He added, "After I brought you back, I sent others to continue the investigation. The other day, news came back that someone was contacting Abule, wanting to help him raise an army."

I hummed in agreement again, but what came to mind was Lord Li's refined and handsome face.

Mo Li paused for a moment, then said, "It was your brother who sent someone to contact Abul."

Even though I had already guessed it, I still shuddered at those words.

He gently squeezed my hand and continued, “Your brother has already placed a pawn beside Abule to utilize his power in the Mo Kingdom. Now that he has sent someone to negotiate with Abule, if Abule can sign an alliance with the Southern Dynasty to overthrow Mofei and ascend the throne, then this war will naturally be resolved without the Southern Dynasty losing a single soldier.” He then glanced at me slightly, “However, an alliance naturally requires some guarantees.”

I felt cold all over; every inch of my skin felt like it was immersed in ice water. Only the small area where he held my hand was warm, which made me feel even colder.

Why are they looking for me?

Lord Li said, "You must be tired from your journey, Your Highness."

He said that the Emperor had always been concerned about the princess's safety, and now that the princess was safe, it was a blessing for the country.

He added that the princess only needed to remember that the emperor had already made arrangements, and there was no need to be afraid.

Yes, I was of no use to Murphy, but now I can be put to good use and put to good use to Abule, which is a blessing for the country.

"Peace," he suddenly called to me.

My face turned deathly pale. I looked up and asked cautiously, with a hint of fear, "Does Master know about these things too?"

He didn't answer the question, but stopped, took my hand, and looked into my eyes: "Do you want to go back to your old life?"

Without thinking, I blurted out, "Of course not!"

For me, yesterday is as good as dead. Even if you were willing to go back to the past with me, I wouldn't want those torments and pains to happen again. While there are things to cherish about my youth, looking back, there was more pain than joy, more despair than hope. Go back? Who would want to suffer through hell and high water?

"That's it." He seemed quite satisfied with my answer and said, "Our sect has never been subordinate to any country. In these chaotic times, the conflicts between nations have never ceased. You are no longer the princess of the Southern Dynasty. As for me, once the matter of the elders' betrayal is resolved, I will return to the main altar to see the sect leader, resign, and leave. From then on, the world will be vast and open. What does the Southern Dynasty or the Mo Kingdom have to do with us?"

"I..." I felt as if I had been struck on the head, and because the shock came so quickly, I lost the ability to react.

He didn't wait for me to finish speaking, but asked me again, "Ping An, do you want to come with me?"

He spoke slowly and clearly, looking me in the eye with a calm gaze when he asked the question.