He Lan Tianxia

After more than a month of careful treatment, Lingyi showed significant improvement. The Spirit Serpent Cave was occupied by the white-haired woman, and Lingyi had nowhere else to go for the time being. After careful consideration, Murong Junlan decided to stay for another month before returning to Du Yan Kingdom. Murong Junlan instructed everyone to strengthen their martial arts training and continue picking snow lotus flowers, and to bring some back to Du Yan Kingdom for future use.

Jiang He and Xiong Bao went out to gather herbs, while Murong Junlan and Yan'er were serving Ling Yi snow lotus. Although Ling Yi could not transform into a human, he could speak to everyone. Ling Yi said apologetically, "Your Highness, thank you for taking care of me these past few days. I am truly fortunate. As for healing my wounds, I would like to return to the Spirit Serpent Cave to heal slowly."

“No. The Spirit Serpent Cave has already been taken over by the white-haired woman. If you go back, you'll just be walking into a trap.” The woman was the first to object.

“Yan’er is right. I think this matter needs to be considered carefully. As for the Spirit Serpent Cave, I will find a way to help you take it back.” Murong Junlan could understand Ling Yi’s feelings at this moment, but he didn’t have time to worry about that right now. However, there was one thing that Murong Junlan had always wanted to know.

"Lingyi, tell me the truth, have you lost the ability to transform into a human?"

"Your Highness..." Ling Yi wanted to tell the truth that he couldn't return to human form, but he was worried that Murong Junlan would make wild guesses, so he deliberately said, "I'll cultivate some more after my body recovers." But he knew in his heart that even if he cultivated for another two thousand years, he still wouldn't be able to return to human form. Back then, besides his high cultivation level, it was all thanks to the Transformation Pill. Now, he thought that perhaps everything was destined. The Transformation Pill was originally in Cangying's hands, and he had tricked him into giving it to him. So, even if you forcibly take what isn't yours, you'll only end up with nothing. However, at least he had been human once, which was lucky, but he owed Cangying a debt for a lifetime. Thinking of all this, Ling Yi always regretted his impulsiveness back then. Cangying's magnanimity in forgiving him afterward made him feel even more guilty. Now that he could no longer transform into human form, it was for the best; it was a kind of relief.

"I just want to know how you can restore your power?" Murong Junlan said, leaving no room for argument.

"..." Lingyi.

"If it weren't for saving Yan'er..."

“Your Highness, this has nothing to do with the Princess Consort,” Lingyi immediately clarified. “I haven’t been able to change for a while now.”

"Could it be a white-haired woman?" Murong Junlan guessed that the trouble Lingyi was encountering was no ordinary matter.

"No, it's just that I got distracted while practicing." Ling Yi was telling the truth, but he only told half of it. He didn't want Murong Junlan to know too much, so he comforted him, "Your Highness, don't worry, I will try my best to regain my ability to be a decent human being."

"That's good. If there's anything I can help you with, just say so." Although Murong Junlan had long guessed that Ling Yi's injuries were serious, he didn't expect them to be this severe. He secretly resolved to find a way for Ling Yi to return to human form.

As they were talking, a sudden "crackling" sound came from outside the cave, as if someone had fallen. Murong Junlan quickly went out and saw Luo Rina lying on the snow.

"Luorina." Yan'er shook Luorina vigorously.

"Princess Rina." With Murong Junlan's help, the two of them helped Luo Rina into the bear den.

"Your Highness, please go to the Wubei Kingdom to save my brother." Luo Rina managed to say before fainting. Given Luo Rina's constitution, fainting like this was clearly unusual.

"Check if she's injured." Due to the taboo against physical contact between men and women, Murong Junlan turned his face away.

"Your Highness, look." Yan'er pulled open the blood-soaked clothes on Luo Rina's left shoulder.

"How badly are you injured?" Murong Junlan continued to ask.

"It looks like she's been poisoned." Yan'er looked at the large bruise on Luo Rina's shoulder, then suddenly turned her head and saw that Murong Junlan was still looking away. She got angry and slapped Murong Junlan across the face. "What kind of time is this?" she said angrily. "Look for yourself."

"Isn't it inappropriate? Men and women shouldn't touch each other." Murong Junlan was still a little conflicted.

"If you don't look soon, Luo Rina is beyond saving." Yan'er was truly anxious.

"You have no objections?" This was the most hesitant Yan'er had ever seen Murong Junlan. What objections could she possibly have? This was about saving lives.

"Quick, get a flint and steel, start a fire!" Murong Junlan looked down and his expression immediately tensed. He pulled out a small cloth bag from his body, took out a sharp knife, heated the knife over the fire Yan'er had started, paused for two seconds in the air, and then slashed the knife at Luo Rina's bruised skin. Yan'er, afraid that Luo Rina would move, held her tightly to prevent her from moving. Black bruises flowed from the wound. Murong Junlan then took out a small pair of pliers from the cloth bag, heated them over the fire for a few seconds, paused, and then pulled a small dart, about the size of three grains of rice, from the wound.

"Your Highness, this thing is truly amazing! Even at such a small size, the texture is so clear." The woman was so surprised that she opened her mouth wide and reached out to take a look.

"Don't move, it's very poisonous." Murong Junlan took out an exquisite box from his sleeve and put the poisoned dart inside. Then he took out a snow lotus, softened it over a fire, and applied it to Luo Rina's wound while it was still hot.

"This is a rare poison dart used by the Xiongnu, called a 'Yi dart.' Originally, these 'Yi darts' were only used to hunt small animals such as squirrels and snow rabbits. Later, some people with ulterior motives poisoned them and used them in battles between armies. Battles between armies? Could it be that Luo Xie has started a conflict with Qin Nan?"

At this moment, Luo Rina moved slightly. Yan'er looked down and saw that Luo Rina's forehead was covered with beads of sweat, which showed how much pain she had just been in.

"You watch over her, I'll go make some detoxifying soup." With that, Murong Junlan turned and left. After a short while, he returned with a wooden bowl of detoxifying soup and handed it to Yan'er to feed Luo Rina.

"Your Highness, can this snow lotus really cure poison?" Yan'er asked, looking at the few remaining snow lotus petals at the bottom of the wooden bowl.

"I added some Bai Jie Teng (a type of vine) and a pill, hoping it can neutralize the poison." After saying this, Murong Junlan stared intently at Luo Rina's face to see if there was any improvement.

"Your Highness, rest assured, Miss Luo's poisoning has been alleviated." Lingyi, who had been silent on the stone bed, finally spoke up.

"That's good." Murong Junlan breathed a slight sigh of relief. Recalling the tension and worry between the two of them just now, Ling Yi felt a warm feeling well up in her heart, thinking, "It's truly a blessing to have such a master!"

As the sun set, Jiang He and Xiong Bao returned with the snow lotus flowers they had picked. Murong Junlan instructed Jiang He to pack his things and prepare to return to Du Yan Kingdom ahead of schedule. He wanted to settle them in and then go to Wu Bei Kingdom to see what was going on.

The next day, upon arriving in the snowy region, two fiery red hares, a carriage, and five thousand elite soldiers were already waiting by the roadside. The group boarded the carriage and, escorted by Jiang He, returned to the capital, Yan Kingdom. Murong Junlan and Yan'er, leading the five thousand elite soldiers, headed straight for the Wubei Kingdom. Originally, Murong Junlan had intended for Yan'er to return to Yan Kingdom as well, but Yan'er refused and insisted on coming along. Murong Junlan had no choice but to give her a fiery red hare to accompany them.

Since they were already there, Murong Junlan decided to teach Yan'er how to ride a horse. Yan'er had already learned light-body skills, so riding a horse wouldn't be difficult for her. Besides, Yan'er was very enthusiastic about learning to ride. After explaining the general techniques and precautions, she quickly learned how to ride. Along the way, Murong Junlan taught by example, and Yan'er picked it up very quickly. The two fiery red rabbits carried their two masters at a very pleasant pace.

Because they were all elite troops, the journey that would normally take three days and two nights was completed in just two days and two nights. While Murong Junlan might not be an expert on everything about the Wubei Kingdom, he was already quite familiar with it. Upon arriving outside the city, Murong Junlan didn't rush to attack. Instead, he found a good spot with a good water source to set up camp and ordered his soldiers to go down into the river to catch fish. Large pots were set up on the bank to cook food. The woman watched for a long time, thinking it didn't look like a war mission at all, but rather a camping trip. Hearing that they could catch fish to eat, the soldiers were all very enthusiastic. Some cooked rice, some washed vegetables, some caught fish, and some even set up tree branches to roast fish. The aroma was incredibly tempting; even the soldiers on guard at the Wubei city gate were drooling, constantly glancing over and taking a few breaths of the wafting fragrance to satisfy their taste buds.

A night passed without incident. The soldiers ate and slept in their tents. The people in the city, thinking they were being deceived into a nighttime attack, were all focused on preparing for battle. But even at dawn, no one came to attack. The next morning, Murong Junlan's soldiers went to the river to catch fish, cooked and ate as usual, and slept through the night. But the soldiers on guard at the city gate dared not sleep, fearing an attack. The third day was the same, and the fourth day was the same. While the soldiers here ate their fill, the soldiers of Wubei Kingdom watched in fear as the enemy feasted on meat and fish, unable to get a good night's sleep.

The Seven Luminaries had passed, and not only the soldiers of Wubei Kingdom couldn't hold back, but even the women couldn't contain themselves. One woman, holding a grilled fish in one hand, walked up to Murong Junlan, who was leisurely drinking Da Hong Pao tea, and handed him the fish, saying with a hint of displeasure:

"Your Highness, of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, which one did you use?"

"Oh, which thirty-six stratagems? I'd like to hear the details." Murong Junlan looked quite interested.

"Look at you, we rushed here in such a hurry but you didn't move an inch, you weren't in a hurry to save Luo Xie, did you just come here to camp?"

"Then what does my beloved consort wish for me?" Murong Junlan put down his teacup and reached out to take the grilled fish, but Yan'er quickly withdrew her hand. "Your Highness, you've been eating lavishly for a week now. How long are you going to keep eating before you start attacking the city?" The woman, who had been so excited at the beginning, now had completely lost her morale and was venting all her pent-up frustration.

"It seems my beloved concubine still cares quite a bit about Luo Xie Chanyu," Murong Junlan teased his Yan'er.

"You, you're so petty, Murong Junlan, what are you doing here instead of attacking the city?" The woman was so angry that her face turned red, and she simply threw the grilled fish on the ground.

"What a pity. Why don't you go and attack the city?" Murong Junlan wasn't angry.

"Me? I have no experience. What if they shoot me with a hail of arrows?" the woman straightened her back and said confidently.

"It's good that you know." Murong Junlan took another sip of tea and said slowly, "In the past, I fought bravely because I had no worries. Now that I have you, my beloved consort, I'm afraid that I might be shot by a hail of arrows. If that happens, will you feel sorry for me?"

"So what if you got shot? What does it have to do with me?" The woman turned around and was about to leave.

"Report."

"Come in." The guard rushed in.

"Reporting to Your Highness, I have completed the task assigned to me. The Wubei Kingdom is gathering its troops and preparing to open the city gates."

"Alright." Murong Junlan then instructed, "Tell everyone to pack their things and prepare to withdraw the troops and return to the capital, Yan."

"Yes." The guard accepted the order and left.

What? They didn't even fight a battle, just came here to eat, drink, and relax for a few days, and then they're calling it a day? That's not like Murong Junlan's style. Wait a minute, the woman went through the Thirty-Six Stratagems in the military book, and the one that fit the most was the stratagem of retreat.

"Your Highness, are we leaving now?"

"Hmm." Murong Junlan had already hung up his sword, and with a long stride, he was already at the tent entrance. He then said to the guards outside, "Pass down the order to retreat thirty miles immediately."

It must be said that Murong Junlan's team was indeed an elite force. Five thousand men were assembled in the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, and they were even faster than others when they fled.

Murong Junlan took the woman's hand and urged, "You ride a horse with me." Before the woman could react, she was already on the horse's back. Murong Junlan leaped gracefully and sat behind her. With a pull of the reins, the Red Hare immediately galloped away.

"Your Highness, what should we do with Chanyu Luoxie?" The woman was still unwilling to give up. If they just left like this, wouldn't it be the same as coming for nothing?

"What does this have to do with me?" Murong Junlan mimicked the woman's tone from before, continuing on his way without stopping.

"I didn't expect you to be so disloyal." The woman was unwilling to accept this and tried to provoke her.

"Why doesn't anyone care about me?" Suddenly, Murong Junlan lunged forward and pounced on the woman.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" The woman was startled.

"You've been hit by an arrow," Murong Junlan said quickly.

"Where are you? Are you alright?" The woman reached out and touched Murong Junlan's lower back.

"Sit still and don't move. It's good that you know how to care for me." Murong Junlan led his elite troops to retreat to a mountain range thirty miles away. Looking around, he saw towering cliffs on both sides of the path, with a narrow and dangerous passage in the middle that could only accommodate two horses at a time. After going in for thirty feet, there was an open area that could accommodate five or six hundred people. It was truly a strategic location for military purposes.

Just as Murong Junlan's troops had set up their forward defenses, the enemy Wubei general led a massive army to surround them. Beside the commander, a large banner bore the name "Yelü," and beneath it stood a man in golden armor and a deep blue cloak, wielding a golden-handled halberd. He appeared to be about the same age as Luo Xie, with a stubble beard. This man was none other than Yelü Yu, a descendant of the nomadic Xiongnu. Yelü Yu brandished his halberd and spurred his horse forward, saying, "Prince Murong, I have long admired your bravery and martial prowess, your brilliant military strategies. Seeing you today, I find it to be true. Ha…"

Murong Junlan was still riding a horse with Yan'er. At this moment, he smiled slightly and said, "General Yelü, I have disappointed you. General Yelü personally led an army of 100,000 to fight. His momentum was overwhelming. No wonder he was able to take over the small Wubei Kingdom in one fell swoop."

“Prince Murong, it seems rather unethical of you to rescue two people right under my nose in front of me.”

"General Yelü, you are mistaken. I am here purely to enjoy the scenery with my beloved concubine. Does that bother you, General Yelü?"

"Since Prince Murong is in such a leisurely mood, then this general will accompany you to loosen up your muscles." After saying that, Yelü Yu swept his golden-handled halberd and attacked horizontally.

Murong Junlan grabbed Yan'er and executed a move called "Looking Up at the Moon," the golden-handled halberd whizzing past their faces—a close call! Before they could even sit up straight, the halberd swung upwards again, aiming for their right legs. Murong Junlan did a somersault, pulling Yan'er to the left side of his horse. Then, the halberd came crashing down on their heads. Murong Junlan spurred his horse, and the Red Hare shot forward with a "whoosh"...

The woman's heart pounded in her chest; she was terrified. Good heavens, this was playing with fire! Feeling Yan'er move closer to him, Murong Junlan's lips curled into a knowing smile. He reined in his horse, turned, flicked the thin rope in his hand, and spurred his horse straight towards Yelü Yu…

After a hundred rounds, Yelü Yu wielded his halberd with great skill, while Murong Junlan and Yan'er's horses moved gracefully and freely among the halberds, like swallows.