Fight to the death

"General Divine Arrow has guarded the Boundary of Broken Blade for over a decade, with none daring to step half a foot into its domain. His illustrious reputation precedes him, and I, Mojie, have always held him in great esteem. Today's encounter is indeed a delight."

Mojie sat astride his horse, inclining slightly towards Liu Canglan, a gesture of his respect for the God of Snow Moon Army.

"A defeated general has little grounds to boast of bravery," Liu Canglan's voice carried a tinge of sorrow. The deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers staining the battlefield—a burden he bore, his heart still bleeding.

"The failure to meet General at the opportune time is not his fault. Should the General be willing to join our realm of Moyue, I, Mojie, would gladly extend my hand in welcome, offering him command of our forces."

Mojie spoke with great courtesy, devoid of any arrogance despite his royal status. His willingness to humble himself before Liu Canglan spoke volumes of his potential for greatness.

"Victory or defeat stands alone, devoid of excuses," Liu Canglan shook his head gently. "I thank the Prince for his kind offer."

"Allow me to present someone who will make everything clear."

With a wave of Mojie's hand, the soldiers beside him made way, revealing several figures among the crowd. One particularly elegant figure, ensnared by ivy, was brought forth before the Moyue troops.

"The princess."

Both Liu Canglan and Lin Feng's pupils contracted, especially Lin Feng, his gaze sharpened with undisguised hostility.

How could this be? The princess was in Mojie's hands.

Could it be that the assassination attempt on Duan Xinye was not orchestrated by Duan Tianlang, but by Mojie's men?

But why was that commander already lying in ambush, ready to besiege him the moment he appeared, with his guilt already predetermined?

Lin Feng was momentarily puzzled.

Mojie's gaze fell upon Lin Feng, a smile playing on his lips. "Your name is Lin Feng, isn't it?"

Lin Feng's gaze narrowed slightly, but he heard Mojie's mouth slowly open, reciting:

"Furiously raging, leaning on the railing, the rain ceases in the breeze."

"Raising my eyes, gazing heavenward, a passionate spirit wells within."

"Thirty years of fame reduced to dust and soil, eight thousand miles under the clouds and moon."

"Do not idle away your youth, lamenting in vain!"

"Shame of the broken blade remains unavenged."

"The subjects' hatred, when will it be quelled?"

"Riding iron horses, breaking through the Helan Mountain pass!"

"Feasting on the flesh of barbarians, laughing while drinking the blood of Moyue."

"Starting anew, reclaiming the old mountains and rivers, ascending to the heavens!"

Mojie's voice carried a solemnity, his gaze filled with fervent determination, causing Liu Canglan and Lin Feng's pupils to contract once more.

"To sing such verses requires a vast heart and fiery spirit. Lin Feng, if you are willing to join Moyue, I, Mojie, am equally willing to extend my hand in welcome. If you do not object, we can become sworn brothers."

Extending a welcoming hand, becoming sworn brothers.

Moyue's Crown Prince Mojie placed great value on Lin Feng indeed.

"If you choose to join Moyue, I will naturally no longer trouble this princess. You may marry her if you wish."

Mojie continued with a smile, his gaze towards Lin Feng carrying a hint of sympathy.

Liu Canglan glanced at Lin Feng, realizing that the spirited verses were Lin Feng's creation. However, his passionate spirit was in vain, as Moyue's forces were already advancing towards the Boundary of Broken Blade.

"Was the one who attempted to assassinate the princess your doing?" Lin Feng inquired.

"You need not doubt anymore. I'll show you someone, and everything will become clear."

With a clap of his hands, a figure beside him rode forward. When he lifted his head and removed his helmet, Lin Feng felt a chill run down his spine.

"It's you."

Lin Feng's tone carried a thick murderous intent. This person was none other than the commander who obstructed him when he pursued the princess and accused him of plotting against her.

"Now you should understand. I know everything about your Snow Moon Army, including the conflicts between you."

Mojie said calmly, his voice steady.

Lin Feng felt a coldness in his heart as he looked at Mojie, realizing the depth of his schemes. Although there were conflicts within their army, turning them into such a perfect turmoil and then swiftly launching an attack, every step flawlessly executed—such a person was formidable. Mojie had foreseen every detail.

As for the undercover agents in the army, that was insignificant. Who said there were no Snow Moon spies in Moyue's grand army? The effectiveness of an undercover agent depended on how much information they could access and how they were utilized. Mojie undoubtedly made perfect use of this individual.

A dike of a thousand miles can collapse due to an ant hole; one wrong move can lead to complete failure. Mojie exploited a tiny gap, determining the entire course of the battle.

"If you and the general choose to join Moyue, you will both be heroes."

Mojie extended his invitation again, but both Lin Feng and Liu Canglan shook their heads.

"I, Mojie, welcome you both at any time."

Mojie turned his horse around, then spoke lightly, "Order the troops to set up camp five miles away."

As Mojie's words fell, his voice echoed several times, authoritative and resolute. His position among the soldiers was unquestionably godlike.

"Listen, soldiers of Snow Moon. In three days, I want all of you to retreat from the Boundary of Broken Blade. Otherwise, I will behead the princess before the Boundary. " A tremendous wave of sound rolled out, shaking the Snow Moon soldiers to their core.

They were to retreat from the Boundary of Broken Blade in three days, or the princess would be killed!

"For these three days, I will not harm your princess. Consider your options carefully."

Mojie reiterated, and with a tremor of the earth, rolling yellow sand filled the air, leaving the Snow Moon crowd in shock.

There were no conditions to negotiate. Mojie demanded their withdrawal from the Boundary of Broken Blade without room for discussion. Having said that, he departed.

Lin Feng glanced at Duan Xinye's sorrowful eyes as she left, feeling a slight tremor in his heart, a profound sense of guilt rising within him. If not for his insufficient strength, the princess would not have been abducted, Duan Tianlang would not have had a reason to cause trouble, and the internal strife would not have occurred. The blood of tens of thousands of Snow Moon soldiers would not have been shed.

Of course, Lin Feng was grappling with his own conscience. He had done his best, but being outsmarted, he couldn't change anything.

"Return to Blade City," Liu Canglan turned his body, taking a step forward. Watching his departing figure, Lin Feng's heart trembled slightly. He knew that at this moment, Liu Canglan was more tormented than anyone else.

Those tens of thousands of soldiers were his brothers.At that moment, a group of figures strode forward, arriving before Liu Canglan and the others.

"Liu Canglan, orchestrating internal turmoil, resulting in the capture of the princess, and the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers in a foreign land. What crimes do you think you should be held accountable for?"

Approaching them, Duan Tianlang's voice rang out sharply, causing Lin Feng to narrow his eyes slightly at this beastly figure.

It was because of his subordinates' betrayal that the princess was captured. It was Duan Tianlang's refusal to desist, his desire to take Lin Feng's life and incite internal turmoil. Even when Moyue attacked, he did not cease his actions. Now, he was shifting blame onto Liu Canglan. Such despicable and shameless behavior.

"Liu Canglan, you're responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers. You'd be better off taking your own life in penance."

Duan Tianlang spoke again, and Lin Feng's expression grew colder. Liu Canglan was already heavy-hearted, and under such provocation, given his character, he might indeed choose to end his life in atonement.

"Duan Tianlang, I must commend your audacity for still having the nerve to stand here and spout such nonsense."

Lin Feng couldn't help but interject, his voice icy. "Your trusted subordinates betrayed you, leading to the princess's capture. You sought personal vengeance, attempting to put me in mortal peril, yet you did nothing to apprehend the one who abducted the princess. You instigated a civil war for your own ends, and even in the face of Moyue's invasion, you still sought personal gain, causing our soldiers to shed blood. After the battle began, you abandoned the soldiers you brought from the imperial city, fleeing with your son, faster than anyone else. You're like a beast, leaving countless soldiers dead. Among them were your own men. Yet, you have the audacity to accuse General Liu. If I were you, I'd have committed suicide countless times over. I truly admire you, as a prince and a general, for being so shameless."

Lin Feng's words were as cold as ice, each one piercing Duan Tianlang's heart. The surrounding crowd looked at Duan Tianlang with strange eyes, and his own face turned particularly ugly.

"Lin Feng, don't forget, you are the princess's guardian. If the princess is captured, you cannot escape responsibility."

"Duan Tianlang, don't forget, you are a military leader. Under your command, the princess was captured by your subordinates' betrayal. I can't escape responsibility, but what about you?"

Lin Feng responded indifferently, his voice stern.

"Then let's see who lives and who dies."

Duan Tianlang sneered coldly, then turned and left, brushing his sleeves.

"You'd better put me in a difficult situation. If I don't die, both you and your beastly son will."

Lin Feng watched Duan Tianlang's departing figure, his voice seeming to echo from the depths of hell. His words came from the depths of his heart; if he grew powerful in the future, he would definitely kill Liu Canglan and his son. There would be no hesitation.

Sensing the chill in Lin Feng's words, Liu Canglan's footsteps paused slightly before resuming. Lin Feng...he too would have to die. They would either kill or be killed—there would be no truce between them!