Chapter 110

Chapter 110: Life's Paths Are Often Treacherous (Part 4)

No sooner had he stepped out of the main tent than Cheng Tian Yang found himself swept into a warm embrace. 

A familiar scent instantly enveloped him. He lifted his head to see Si Cang Qing, who had intercepted him.

“Yang,” Si Cang Qing murmured softly, his arms gently encircling him, “Your state of mind is amiss.”

Such easy loss of control was uncharacteristic of Cheng Tian Yang.

After a moment's pause, Cheng Tian Yang's gaze flickered between light and shadow. He simply returned the quiet 

stare of those cool, clear eyes—eyes that held only unchanging indifference and calm.

In the distance, a youth clad in black armor strode swiftly toward them, then abruptly halted, pausing to watch 

from afar.

Outside the main tent, a white and a red figure seemed intertwined. The stern-faced emperor held the exquisitely 

beautiful man close. From afar, it appeared they were laughing and joking about something. Si Cang Qing merely 

gazed down at him, as silent and cold as ever, though the aura surrounding him had subtly softened.

The golden sun shifted westward, gradually sinking toward the mountain's base. The spring evening glow faintly 

painted the horizon, gently rippling across the mortal world. The crimson hue bathed the embracing pair, adding 

a touch of warm intimacy.

Mo Qingjue's previously slightly anxious expression gradually faded. He stood there momentarily stunned, staring 

blankly at the two.

His lips slowly curved upward. Cheng Tian Yang suddenly broke into a radiant smile, his eyes sparkling with 

playful light. His arm was draped around Si Cang Qing's neck, his body pressed intimately against the other's chest. 

His voice was soft, tinged with a seductive languor. “Really... what on earth was I worrying about!”

Staring intently at Si Cang Qing's cold, stern face, Cheng Tian Yang's eyes gradually became misty, a faint stirring 

rising in his heart. This man was absolutely right. These past few days, he had indeed felt restless. His heart, long 

since deadened by years of erosion, was now empty and indifferent, sustained only by one belief: revenge.

But hatred, resentment, and even love—all had long since vanished with the numbness of his soul. Yet why, in 

these past few days, as the army drew ever closer to Hongdu, did this restlessness within him grow stronger and 

stronger? He couldn't tell if it was a feeling of exhilaration or a bittersweet mix of grief and anger. Clearly… 

it shouldn't be like this. All these years of struggle and hardship had long since robbed him of all joy and sorrow.

His eyes softened, a smile playing on his lips as he nestled in Si Cang Qing's arms. His fingers habitually teased 

the beauty mark beneath the man's left eye, and he whispered, "Your Majesty, have I been acting strangely these 

past few days?"

Si Cang Qing lowered his gaze, observing him closely, and nodded slightly. He didn't like this side of Cheng Tian 

Yang, but… this change, for better or worse, might be temporary.

With a soft, almost imperceptible sigh, Cheng Tian Yang gently leaned against the man's arm. A warm, comforting 

fragrance enveloped him.

Actually…

This change in his emotions was also because of being with this man! The humiliation and forbearance of the past, 

though already gone, had been unleashed from the depths of his despair because of being with this man, suddenly 

making him feel incredibly wronged, far more unbearable than he had initially perceived. Perhaps this emotion 

was the most real, but also the most agonizing.

Thinking of this, Cheng Tian Yang glared at Si Cang Qing with a mixture of reproach and anger. It was all his 

fault...

Recalling these days of uncharacteristic behavior, perhaps it was the memories resurfacing, or perhaps it was the 

realization that every humiliation would now be repaid in full. Or perhaps it was because... the day the army 

crushed Hongcheng would also be the day the transaction concluded.

Fingers traced the other's face, habitually teasing with ambiguous flirtation. Yet, between his fingertips, that 

undeniable warmth suddenly jolted his heart. Those restless emotions flared anew, like grievances piled beyond 

measure.

Chengtian Yang merely snorted. “Could Your Majesty not say a few more words? Truly...”

“Blockhead!”

The tone, part reproach, part anger, was drawn out by the evening breeze, lingering long and faint.

It swirled around his ears.

Si Cang Qing gently stroked Cheng Tian Yang's waist, still silent. He merely shifted his gaze to Mo Qingjue, 

who had been standing there for a long time. His eyes showed no emotion, only a cold indifference that ignored 

everything.

Catching the glance from the corner of his eye, Cheng Tian Yang raised an eyebrow slightly before nestling back 

into Si Cang Qing's embrace, saying no more. There was truly no need for haste, no reason to throw himself into 

disarray. Even if Mo Qingjue was indeed the person they suspected—and that remained uncertain—what 

difference would it make?

His opponent was Si Cang Qing—the emperor who had seized control of the court at sixteen, purged the powerful 

ministers at seventeen, ascended the throne at eighteen, and conquered Guangyu by twenty.

Chengtian Yang chuckled softly. “Your Majesty, it seems General Mo has come to seek you out!”

Si Cang Qing merely watched in silence as the young man finally stirred, walking toward them at a measured pace.

“This humble general dares to request the Emperor's decree once more...”

“General Mo,” Cheng Tian Yang spoke first, his voice gentle and his smile faint. “Regarding the reconnaissance 

of Yaoshan's perilous forests, His Majesty has already weighed the matter. Do not fret. Rest well tonight, and 

tomorrow His Majesty will summon several generals to discuss this further.”

“Is that so?”

Si Cang Qing nodded absently in agreement.

Cheng Tian Yang offered a graceful smile and gave Mo Qingjue a slight nod. “General Mo, it's getting late. 

You should retire early.” She looked up at Si Cang Qing and said softly, “Your Majesty, shall we return to our tent?”

“Mm.”

Allowing Cheng Tian Yang to cling to him, Si Cang Qing half-supported, half-carried him as he walked slowly 

toward the nearby camp tents.

Mo Qingjue made no further insistence this time, merely standing rooted to the spot for a very long while.

His eyelids slowly lowered. The dazed expression faded slightly, and his lips seemed to curve into a faint smile.

◇Cang◇Huan◇Qi◇Gong◇

“Your Majesty, you must not!”

Several generals spoke in unison, urging him to reconsider upon hearing Si Cang Qing's decision.

“My resolve is firm.”

Si Cang Qing replied indifferently, averting his gaze from the assembled figures as he strode toward the tent exit. 

“Mo Qingjue, assemble thirty thousand elite troops immediately!”

Frowning deeply, Ye Lou watched Si Cang Qing's figure disappear beyond the tent flap. He turned anxiously to 

Cheng Tian Yang, who sat leisurely sipping fragrant tea. “Your Highness, I humbly beg you to dissuade His 

Majesty from personally venturing into danger.”

Cheng Tian Yang regarded him with a faint, ambiguous smile. “Why should this palace dissuade His Majesty?”

The assembled men paused in surprise.

Then came his reply: “The Emperor's word is law. How could a decision once made be easily altered?”

“But—”

“Generals,” Cheng Tian Yang interrupted softly, cutting off their arguments. “His Majesty has made this decision 

with his own reasons.” He turned to Mo Qingjue with a smile. "If things were truly as General Mo suggests, then 

the perilous forests of Yaoshan would be far more difficult to breach than Fengsi City. Across the entire realm, 

His Majesty's array techniques are likely the most formidable. The Yao Mountain Pass holds the key to victory in 

this campaign. His Majesty must exercise utmost caution and cannot lightly gamble with the lives of our Canghuan 

soldiers."

“Therefore, generals, cease your deliberations.” Cheng Tian Yang's gaze drifted distant as he spoke softly, 

“I trust His Majesty. Do you not trust your own sovereign?”

“We dare not!”

Lowering his gaze, Cheng Tian Yang took another sip of tea and said no more.

Before the Southwest Army, Mo Qingjue stood at the head of thirty thousand elite troops, bowing deeply to 

Si Cang Qing, who stood tall and gazed into the distance. “Your Majesty, all preparations are complete.”

Only then did Si Cang Qing slowly turn. His gaze swept over the neatly arrayed troops, their expressions ranging 

from solemnity to worry, and even relief. His eyes finally settled on the generals of the Ye Lou faction. “The army 

is entrusted to you.”

His gaze shifted to Cheng Tian Yang, and he added, “Yang shall serve as military supervisor.”

The men paused, then recalled the arrow Cheng Tian Yang had fired on the battlefield that day, their hearts easing 

slightly.

Without another word, Si Cang Qing turned to leave—for the terrain ahead was steep peaks and dense forests, 

making horses impractical. They would have to proceed on foot.

“Your Majesty...” Cheng Tian Yang's voice came from behind. “Return soon.”

Si Cang Qing did not turn back, merely nodding slightly, unconcerned whether the man saw it or not.

Mo Qingjue turned and signaled to the thirty thousand elite troops, bellowing, “Advance!”

The dark mass of troops gradually faded into the morning's jagged mountain peaks. Cheng Tian Yang withdrew 

his gaze and turned to the solemn figures before him, smiling faintly. “Generals, you may return for now. Though 

we hold our positions for the moment, the battles ahead still demand careful planning.”

The mountain stream murmured softly.

The wind rustled through the trees.

Along the way, the perilous forests of Yaoshan proved less treacherous than imagined. Only the disorienting terrain 

and tangled undergrowth made progress difficult.

Pausing on a relatively flat clearing, Mo Qingjue unfolded the topographical map. Approaching Si Cang Qing, he 

whispered, “Your Majesty, according to this map, if we continue in this direction for another day or two, we should 

come upon the city walls of Yaoshan.”

Cangqing glanced at the map without comment. He stood silently at the cliff's edge, gazing down at the jagged 

peaks below. The journey thus far had been surprisingly smooth, but the road ahead promised to be far less 

forgiving.

If any traps or illusions lay in wait, this spot would be the perfect place to deploy them.

Si Cang Qing gazed at the distant, vast mountain forests. The dusk mist lightly veiled the lush greenery, creating 

a scene of stillness and tranquility.

“Descend,” he ordered softly. His form shifted lightly as he began climbing down, using the jagged rocks and 

scattered logs along the cliff face.

Mo Qingjue acknowledged the order, then turned to instruct his soldiers. Several formed teams, supporting each 

other as they descended to the cliff's base. Simultaneously, they cleared a path for the main force to follow.

The sky grew faintly dark.

A heavy, gray gloom settled oppressively over the hearts of all.

After scaling the mountain peak, leaping down the cliff, and traversing this perilous forest, an eerie stillness settled 

over them. The night wind suddenly grew fierce, shaking the towering ancient trees with a touch of madness.

“Your Majesty,” Mo Qingjue approached Si Cang Qing quietly and suggested in a low voice, “It is late. Should 

the main force rest here for the night?”

Si Cang Qing gave a faint nod, his hand parting tangled thorns and fallen timber as he strode deeper into the 

woods, his mind lost in silent contemplation.

……

“Your Highness the West Empress, please step aside!”

Ye Lou stood stern-faced, locked in a standoff with the man before him, neither yielding an inch.

Cheng Tian Yang smiled faintly. “What does General Ye mean by this?” His gaze swept over the imposing, 

orderly ranks of soldiers behind him. “His Majesty's decree commands you to remain with the army. Could it be, 

General Ye, that you intend to defy the imperial edict?”

“Your Imperial Highness,” Ye Lou said, enunciating each syllable deliberately, “His Majesty has not returned for 

half a month. The danger is unpredictable. This humble general must go to rescue him!”

Cheng Tian Yang slowly lowered his gaze, silent for a moment.

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