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Chapter 259: Guilty Heart
Tianxing and Beixian were separated by Gushan Mountain. Gushan Mountain stretched for dozens of miles, with steep and rugged terrain, and was uninhabited. Beyond Gushan Mountain lay a ten-mile-long plain, and beyond that plain lay the Beixian border city—Xianguan City.
Led by Ying, 100,000 elite troops marched at breakneck speed, arriving at Ghost Valley Cliff in less than half a day. Ghost Valley Cliff was a steep section of Gushan Mountain, where the mountain winds, carried by the terrain, became extremely fierce and powerful. The cliffs on both sides were about ten zhang high, making it extremely treacherous, even birds could not fly over. The bottom of the cliff was about five zhang wide, and the path was full of loose rocks. Coupled with the gale, it was so strong that people could not open their eyes, making every step extremely difficult.
One hundred thousand elite soldiers, hand in hand, heads bowed, backs hunched, necks hunched, huddled together, finally managed to make their way through with great difficulty. They were all swaying and staggering, utterly exhausted.
Zuo Yi came over and said, "Second Prince, do you want to rest for a while? At this rate, the army probably can't move forward." The danger ahead is no less than that of the Ghost Valley Cliff they just passed.
Ru Ying hesitated for a moment, then said, "Pass down the order: everyone rest for an hour, and have the cooks prepare the meal immediately. After the meal, the army will immediately set off."
There is not much time left. His father's body has reached its limit. Yesterday, the imperial physician Shangguan sent a letter saying that his father's condition was extremely critical. He was extremely anxious and wished he could grow wings and fly to the capital.
However, the 100,000 elite troops were an indispensable force for the Beixian, and he could only feel at ease if he could safely bring them out of Gushan.
Ru Ying clenched her fist tightly, her cold gaze fixed on Meng Tai not far away. It all started because of him. Her mother's death from poisoning, her father's heart-wrenching grief, and his terminal illness...
If it weren't for the fact that he was also the Emperor's son, and that the Emperor might want to deal with him personally, I would have truly wanted to kill him with my own hands.
Meng Tai looked dejected. Ever since he came to his senses and realized that everything was already set in stone, he had been in a daze and completely ignored Ru Ying.
Ru Ying turned her gaze back, about to take a step. Suddenly, a sense of alarm arose in her heart. She turned her head to look, her eyes darkened, and her pupils contracted.
Ahead, on the cliff edge, a figure in light ink stood calmly, his back to himself and the 100,000 elite soldiers, elegant and nonchalant. The wind had subsided considerably, but it was still a massive precipice, its bottom unfathomable, where falling rocks echoed without a sound. It was far more dangerous than the Ghost Ravine Cliff behind them. No one dared approach within three feet of the precipice, yet he stood there leisurely. The fierce winds at the edge of the cliff seemed to automatically circumvent him, leaving only his robes fluttering in the breeze.
"Tianxing Moyu?" Zuo Yi exclaimed in surprise. His expression suddenly changed. He looked at the Second Prince with some unease, then at the 100,000 elite soldiers behind him, and involuntarily took half a step back.
The sudden appearance of 100,000 elite troops of the Beixian army outside the border city of Tianxing—Gushan City—would not be interpreted as a sign of goodwill. In fact, Meng Tai's arrival with 100,000 elite troops was indeed ill-intentioned.
Meng Taiji and several other countries formed an alliance and, taking advantage of the marriage between Dawei and Tianxing, launched a coordinated attack on cities and territories in both countries. Moreover, the army had received a reply stating that Dawei had lost several cities and that the emperor was in grave danger. The allies were now gloating and urging the Beixian army to attack the city.
In recent days, the Beixian army had made all preparations for the siege. If it weren't for Ruying's sudden appearance, Mengtai's sudden loss of power, and Ruying's anxiety for her father and her desire to return home as soon as possible, the entire country would probably have been thrown into chaos by now, and the border city of Gushan would have fallen to the Beixian.
Therefore, seeing Mo Yu at this time and place, Zuo Yi couldn't help but feel guilty and uneasy.
Chapter 260: Ridicule
Mo Yu—to the Bei Xian, this name represented a power no less than that of 100,000 elite troops.
Back then, when he was just a ten-year-old child, he went on a diplomatic mission to the Beixian Kingdom on behalf of his father, General Mo. Facing a group of renowned and experienced officials who were determined to make things difficult for him, he showed no panic. Instead, he remained calm and composed, displaying extraordinary demeanor and sharp wit. He left the renowned scholars speechless and ashamed. The young Mo Yu returned home victorious, while the entire Beixian Kingdom was terrified.
From that time on, the name Mo Yu became a legend in Beixian.
Later, Tianxing faced a dire situation. The entire nation's army of over 200,000 was trapped in a perilous predicament, on the verge of total annihilation. Tianxing was about to be slaughtered at the mercy of others. Moyu's father looked up to the sky and lamented, intending to die for his country. Suddenly, a young rider galloped in, devising ingenious plans that instantly turned the tide of the battle, achieving a complete victory and shocking the world.
This young man was Mo Yu. From then on, the name Mo Yu attracted worldwide attention.
Two years later, Mo Yu's father passed away, and he was ordered by his father to leave the mountains to protect the country. However, he remained silent and unknown from then on. He only held the position of Minister of War, and he did not bother to show his face in the court. He also did not make any major moves or achievements that were known to the world.
Ordinary people may forget Mo Yu's fame, but those in high positions in various countries admire him from the bottom of their hearts and sigh, "A good warrior does not have illustrious achievements." A person with great vision and ability, who does not care about empty fame, has a far-sighted vision and can resolve everything in the early stages of danger. Why would he give himself the opportunity to quell danger and turmoil at the cost of national turmoil and the suffering of the people?
Looking at the Tianxing Kingdom's turbulent past, Mo Yu protected it for many years, and it gradually stabilized and prospered, becoming one of the major powers. Anyone with discerning eyes can see Mo Yu's contribution.
Zuo Yi's exclamation wasn't loud, but many people still heard it. The exclamations followed one after another, spreading throughout the entire army in an instant. Suddenly, the 100,000 elite soldiers were all exhausted. They stood up straight, looked up, and silently gazed at the elegant figure standing on the cliff edge, their eyes filled with both fear and vigilance, as well as fervent admiration.
For a moment, apart from the sound of the wind, all was as still as a cicada's song.
Ru Ying's eyes were filled with complex emotions as she looked at the person on the cliff edge.
He had followed this man since childhood. This man brought unbearable shame to his country and people, yet, for this man, the attitude of all the prominent figures in Hubei, besides humiliation, also included a heartfelt admiration, including for him.
Why has this person come here at this time and place? Ru Ying paused for a moment, then slowly walked towards him.
"Lord Mo." His voice was indifferent.
Mo Yu turned around with elegant movements, a faint smile playing on his lips. However, the gaze he cast upon Ru Ying was cold, like the water of an icy pool. He scrutinized Ru Ying from head to toe for a while before finally curling his lips and saying softly, "Ru Ying? Or... the second prince of the Meng family?"
His voice was full of sarcasm.
Ru Ying clenched her fists, her face turning pale. She pursed her lips and said coldly, "Lord Mo has come all this way to wait here. What brings you here? If there's nothing else, please step aside!"
No matter how talented or skilled he may be, he is only one person. Behind him are 100,000 elite soldiers. It is not his place to comment on the rights and wrongs, the debts and obligations between him and Qingyan.
Mo Yu chuckled, flicked his sleeve, turned around, and walked away leisurely. "Listen up, you Xian soldiers. Considering that you ultimately did not offend my Tianxing, I will let you go. If there is a next time, you will not return."
Chapter 261: Lingering Fear
Mo Yu's voice was soft and gentle; if one disregarded the implied meaning, it would be like a spring breeze. However, those who understood the meaning behind his words all paled. The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of Mo Yu's intentions. He had come to warn them, but on what basis?
Suddenly, the sound of gunfire erupted overhead, accompanied by the menacing shouts of soldiers. The synchronized cries pierced the calm wind and echoed across the cliff face, startling everyone who looked up.
On the cliff tops of Ghost Valley Cliff, where even birds cannot fly, soldiers clad in Skywalker armor had somehow gathered, each with a pile of stones half a person's height at their feet, coldly facing the 100,000 Bei Xian troops below. Lin Ye, fully armored, stood in the center of the army.
Seeing everyone looking up, Lin Ye gave a cold sneer, raised his hand, picked up a huge rock, and threw it down with a "boom." The rock swept through the air with a deafening crash, landed on the cliff where Mo Yu had just stood, bounced once, and rolled down the cliff. After a long while, a deep, muffled thud was heard.
The cheers of the Skywalking army on the cliff were deafening.
The 100,000 elite Xianbei soldiers all paled in shock.
If these stones had suddenly been thrown down from the sky when everyone was struggling against the gale and supporting each other to cross Ghost Valley Cliff, the 100,000 elite soldiers would have been powerless to resist and most of them would have been killed or wounded in the blink of an eye.
Even now, if they were to throw them down, the crowd would still be overwhelmed and could only flee and dodge. And on this cliff, it's likely that only two or three out of ten would actually escape.
Ru Ying stumbled, and her lips turned completely bloodless.
Mo Yu... Mo Yu... His reputation is indeed well-deserved.
When did he find a way to allow the army to climb this Ghost Ravine Cliff, which even birds cannot ascend? Since he could do this, this Ghost Ravine Cliff has actually become the first dangerous pass of Gushan City. As long as Tianxing sends a few hundred soldiers to guard this place, no matter how powerful the Beixian army is, even if they have ten times the strength, they can only suffer heavy casualties and will never be able to enter Gushan or get close to Gushan City.