Chapter 107

Chapter 107: Life's Paths Are Often Treacherous (Part 1)

The chilly city lay shrouded in gloomy, dark clouds. The freezing rain showed no sign of stopping, the weather 

growing increasingly bleak and bitter. The biting wind sliced like a blade across the cheeks exposed beneath iron 

helmets, causing a raw, stinging pain.

Mo Qingjue walked slowly past each camp, heading toward his own tent. Just then, a soldier came running up to 

him. Before he could even stand upright, he gasped out urgently, breathless: “Mr. Mo... Mr. Mo...”

A blast of cold wind filled his throat, choking him violently. He began coughing harshly.

Mo Qingjue chuckled softly. “Take your time, no need to rush.”

The soldier finally suppressed his coughing fit and spoke excitedly, “Master Mo! The forward sentry reports that 

His Majesty and His Imperial Highness the West Empress are leading a large army toward us. They should arrive 

any moment now!”

Mo Qingjue paused slightly before asking, “Has General Ye Lou and the others been notified?”

“I'll go right now!”

Watching the man dash off into the distance, Mo Qingjue stood silently in place. After a long moment, he slowly 

raised one hand, tightening his cloak. His fingers slid down, gently resting on his other arm.

Torrential rain, whipped by fierce winds, lashed across the land.

The army jogged in perfect step, their footsteps echoing long through the mountain pass. Several men rode horses, 

wearing conical hats and straw cloaks, occasionally cracking their whips as they urged their mounts forward.

The winding mountain path finally reached its end, giving way to a steep, precipitous slope that seemed to jut 

out mid-air. Perched atop it stood a towering city gate. Such sheer cliffs made it no wonder this Fengsi City was 

called the first natural barrier of the Hongcheng frontier.

Si Cang Qing's horse gradually slowed to a halt. The imperial guards leading the way also stopped, retreating 

orderly from front to back and lining up on either side. A narrow path opened before them, its far end already 

crowded with waiting figures.

Gazing up at the towering gate piercing the sky, Si Cang Qing remained seated silently on his horse, making no 

move to proceed. Rain pelted the muddy ground, occasionally splashing onto his body.

“Your Majesty?” Cheng Tian Yang spoke tentatively, interrupting Si Cang Qing's thoughts.

Si Cang Qing glanced at him. “Let's go.”

“Yes,” Cheng Tian Yang nodded slightly, his gaze shifting straight ahead as he asked, “What were you thinking 

about just now, Your Majesty?”

Si Cang Qing paused, his gaze fixed on the approaching city gate. “Are there any experts in formation tactics 

among Cheng Tianyi's men?”

He had just surveyed the terrain here. Though treacherously steep, Luo Shan possessed extensive military 

experience, and commanding over a hundred thousand soldiers was no small feat. Being trapped here for so long 

suggested they were most likely ensnared within a formation. However, after the battle at Guangyu Kingdom, 

An Ping, Luo Shan, and Luo Shui had all diligently studied formation techniques. Si Cang Qing himself had 

personally instructed them extensively. Ordinary formations simply couldn't hold Luoshan captive.

If it truly was an array, then whoever had set it up would pose a significant obstacle to the southern campaign. 

To successfully capture Hongdu, they would first have to take Yao Mountain Ridge, far steeper and more 

treacherous than Fengsi City. If a sophisticated array had been laid there, this battle would become exceptionally 

perilous.

“The generals under Cheng Tianyi are indeed valiant warriors, but most are mere brutes. Moreover, such 

formations often demand excessive sacrifice and are generally avoided on the battlefield,” Cheng Tian Yang 

mused. “If you ask who truly excels in formation tactics, I've never heard of anyone.” He understood 

Si Cang Qing's meaning. But deploying an array capable of trapping over a hundred thousand men on Fengcheng's 

treacherous mountain slopes was simply impossible.

Letting the matter drop, Si Cang Qing pulled gently on his reins as the approaching crowd came into view.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty. Our Emperor...”

“Enough,” Si Cang Qing coldly cut off the kneeling salute. He dismounted and scanned the group, his gaze 

settling briefly on Mo Qingjue beside Ye Lou before shifting away. “Any matters can be discussed back at camp.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Inside the camp tent, firewood burned quietly, filling the space with warmth.

Si Cang Qing sat at the head of the tent, listening as Ye Lou and the others meticulously recounted the details 

of the previous battle and the siege of Fengsi City.

“...That is the general situation,” Ye Lou concluded, then stood respectfully at attention.

Lowering his gaze to the painted topographical map before him, Si Cang Qing asked slowly, " Mo Qingjue, is 

there nothing you wish to report to this Emperor?"

Unexpectedly called upon, Mo Qingjue paused slightly, quickly glancing up at Si Cang Qing before hesitantly 

speaking. “Your Majesty, Qingjue does not understand what you mean?”

Si Cang Qing gave him a faint, dismissive glance. Cradling his teacup, he took a leisurely sip. “Over a hundred 

thousand troops have been trapped in Fengsi City for nearly half a month. Only now have you presented 

Luo Shan with a strategy to break the siege.”

The implication was clear to everyone present.

Mo Qingjue fell silent.

Ye Lou, growing anxious, hastily interjected in his defense, “Your Majesty, Mr. Mo did not deliberately delay. 

It was truly...”

“Ye Lou!”

Si Cang Qing's tone, neither harsh nor gentle, instantly silenced Ye Lou. Daring not to continue, he quietly stepped 

back.

A thick, oppressive silence hung in the tent, making everyone feel flustered and anxious, each holding their breath 

cautiously.

“Your Majesty...” Mo Qingjue finally spoke, slowly raising his head to stare directly at Si Cang Qing. He said 

softly, " Before General Luoshan met his end, he privately entrusted Qingjue with certain matters. Qingjue has 

never disclosed them to others."

“Now, would Your Majesty grant Qingjue a private audience?”

◇Cang◇Huan◇Qi◇Gong◇

As soon as Mo Qingjue spoke, the others were all taken aback, their expressions tinged with concern.

Si Cang Qing watched the man silently. His gaze did not waver, meeting Si Cang Qing's own with unwavering 

resolve—a hint of the same presence he had possessed on the execution ground at Zhaoyang back then.

Raising an eyebrow slightly, Si Cang Qing spoke in a calm voice, “Ye Lou, you and the others may withdraw for 

now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ye Lou hesitated briefly before obediently following the other generals out of the tent.

“Speak.”

Si Cang Qing leaned back slightly in his chair, his fingers idly tracing the patterns on the jade pendant at his waist.

Mo Qingjue seemed to smile briefly before his expression turned serious. He murmured, “Your Majesty, you 

suspect Qingjue is a spy, don't you?” He paused. “General Luo Shan was constantly wary of me back then. 

I imagine that was actually your command, wasn't it?”

Si Cang Qing replied nonchalantly, “What difference does suspicion make? What difference does not suspecting 

make?” He showed no surprise at this man's sharpness. This was the very person who had stirred up the migrant 

uprising years ago, and who now commanded the bulk of the Southwest Army.

“How does this relate to this Emperor's question?”

Mo Qingjue showed neither fear nor alarm, offering a faint smile. “Because of General Luo Shan's suspicion, 

I was trapped in Fengsi City back then. He never believed a word Qingjue said. This place...”

“Was actually rigged with an illusory array, designed to wear down one's will. Sacrificing a city to destroy the 

main force of the southern campaign—a remarkably profitable bargain.”

Is that so? Si Cang Qing offered no comment. Now that the other party had opened up, he intended to see how 

this man would defend himself.

“Cheng Tianyi spared no expense this time, deploying this deadly formation throughout the entire city, heedless 

of the lives of the citizens and soldiers defending it. It was for this reason that General Luo Shan never believed 

Qingjue's words.”

“Only when cornered did General Luo Shan finally adopt Qingjue's strategy as a desperate gamble. By then, 

the Hongcheng defenders were driven to the brink by our forces, fighting to the death like cornered beasts. At 

the critical moment of their attempted breakout, General Luo Shan, exhausted from relentless exertion, 

momentarily lost his guard. He was ambushed and gravely wounded.”

“When the general entrusted me with his command seal, it wasn't true trust—it was merely a gamble.”

Mo Qingjue smiled with a touch of self-mockery. “Regardless of how the General views me, as a member of 

the Southwest Army, Qingjue must protect the troops even at the cost of my life. Though we have only a seventy

 percent chance of breaking this deadly formation, we have no choice but to risk a breakthrough.”

“If His Majesty demands a full account from Qingjue, this is all there is to say.”

Glancing at Si Cang Qing's cold, expressionless gaze, Mo Qingjue lowered his eyelids. "His Majesty's suspicion 

of Qingjue is understandable. General Luo once mentioned that His Majesty and His Majesty the East Empress 

had been targeted multiple times by the same individual. Even this instance, where I saved His Majesty is 

connected to that person. I happened to be in the remote mountains of the frontier, happened to save His Majesty 

the East Empress, and it occurred during a tense period. Who wouldn't suspect such coincidences?"

Si Cang Qing glanced at him with mild surprise, unaware the man could be so candid. But... he had misunderstood 

one thing. His suspicion stemmed from an uncanny intuition, making these coincidences seem less significant.

However, now...

Si Cang Qing finally spoke, his voice calm: “Since you have rescued over a hundred thousand of my Southwest 

Army troops, I shall reward you according to your merits.”

At these words, Mo Qingjue paused, then brightened. “Your Majesty... does this mean... you believe Qingjue?”

Furrowing his brow slightly, Si Cang Qing felt that peculiar sense of unease resurface within him—this man’s 

demeanour had shifted almost unnervingly in the blink of an eye. The composed, articulate speaker from moments 

before didn’t seem like someone who would wear his emotions so openly.

Was this an act?

Choosing not to pursue it further, Si Cang Qing lowered his gaze to the jade pendant he was fingering. His doubts 

about this man would have to be set aside for now. Whether or not he was the one he sought, he currently posed no 

apparent threat. On the contrary, he seemed genuinely passionate—much like every soldier in the Southwest Army.

Mo Qingjue was indeed a rare talent for command.

Si Cang Qing declared, “You shall temporarily assume the position of General Luoshan. Command of 

the Southwest Army is entrusted to you. Do not disappoint my expectations.”

His expression flashed with emotion as Mo Qingjue knelt on one knee, his voice solemn. “This subordinate swears 

undying loyalty to His Majesty! I shall aid His Majesty in crushing the Hongcheng Kingdom and unifying 

the realm!”

Si Cang Qing gave a faint nod. “You may withdraw.”

After Mo Qingjue departed, a figure emerged slowly from behind the screen. He spun around and sat astride 

Si Cang Qing, wrapping his arms around the other's neck as he grinned. “Your Majesty, that man is truly 

remarkable!”

Si Cang Qing gently placed a hand on the other's waist and asked calmly, “Why?” It seemed not only he sensed 

something off about Mo Qingjue—Cheng Tian Yang felt it too.

“Your Majesty, have you heard the legend of the Ji God?”

Si Cang Qing gave a slight nod. Every land had its own myths. The Ji God was a fairly widespread folk legend, 

roughly depicting a war god from ancient times who eradicated all demons and monsters from the mortal realm 

before ultimately perishing as his divine essence dispersed.

Cheng Tian Yang chuckled softly. “The Ji God isn't one deity, but two fused into one—one embodying wisdom, 

the other valour—jointly safeguarding peace among mortals.”

Si Cang Qing regarded Cheng Tian Yang thoughtfully. “Two gods?”

“Indeed,” Cheng Tian Yang replied with a smile. "Within a single body, it's said their personalities and preferences 

were starkly different. The reason Ji Shen's soul scattered was because the Wisdom God controlled their body at 

the time. Yet his magical power proved insufficient. Monsters seized the opportunity and shattered his divine 

essence. Without the Wisdom God, Ji Shen possessed only brute strength and was ultimately lured into a trap that 

cost him his life."

Si Cang Qing remained silent for a long while before asking, “Do you think Mo Qingjue is the same?”

Cheng Tian Yang leaned against Si Cang Qing's shoulder and whispered softly, “I... have seen such a person 

before.”

Si Cang Qing said no more.

So then, the eerie feeling he’d sensed while speaking with Mo Qingjue earlier—was it because... that man suffered 

from a split personality?

To him, the concept of spirit deities was mere superstition. But the idea of one body housing two souls—in the 

context of his original world, wasn't that precisely what they called a split personality?

Thus, the subtle shifts in Mo Qingjue's expressions and demeanour throughout their encounter were imperceptible 

to others. Yet Si Cang Qing's intuition was sharp, and Cheng Tian Yang had encountered countless types of 

people—hence their detection.

Si Cang Qing knew little about split personalities, but he understood that the split personalities could be strong or 

weak, with vastly different dispositions. The reasons for such a condition also varied greatly. And that calm 

Mo Qingjue from earlier—had he sensed danger and stepped in to protect himself?

 

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