The snowy wilderness stretched endlessly, with a cloudless sky above. The cold winter sunlight poured down, its golden radiance brilliant as flags fluttered and the earth trembled subtly below.

Black lines emerged from the horizon like waves, resembling mountain ridges slowly advancing across the landscape.

The royal garrison soldiers stared blankly at the distant sky.

The undulating black lines drew closer, surging like tides. Those lines were composed of mounted warriors carrying swords, and wearing armor of various colors. They rode forward at a measured pace, their formations neat and orderly, carrying an air of dignified authority. Their killing intent was unstoppable yet composed as they surrounded a snow-white banner embroidered with gold, advancing in magnificent formation.

Upon entering the battlefield, their pace suddenly quickened. The loose formations on both flanks swiftly contracted toward the center. The thundering of hooves resounded like rolling thunder. In an instant, the entire army’s aura became even more fierce and murderous as they rapidly changed formation. Then, a tall and striking monk in monastic robes burst forth from the battle formation surrounded by his guard. Facing the Northern Rong allied army, he raised a black ox-horn longbow, drew it to the full moon, and loosed an arrow.

The iron arrow tore through the air, its sharp whistle echoing across the battlefield, carrying an overwhelming force that could rend everything asunder as it shot toward the enemy camp.

With two loud clangs, the iron arrow pierced through one commander before striking another beside him, its force undiminished. Both commanders fell from their horses almost simultaneously.

Before anyone could react, in a flash of lightning, the monk continued drawing his bow. Several arrows whistled forth in rapid succession, swift as shooting stars. The enemy forces were thrown into chaos amidst screaming men and whinnying horses as riders continued to fall.

Suddenly, a wave of shocked cries arose from the city walls as the monk’s final arrow directly snapped the commander’s banner in the enemy camp.

The power of these arrows was awe-inspiring, displaying both dominance and magnificence. All present broke out in cold sweat, their hearts trembling in fear.

The monk sat alone on horseback, gripping his bow with one hand as he reined in his mount atop the hillside. He removed the cloth covering his face, revealing strikingly handsome features as he looked down at the sea of Northern Rong allied forces below. His deep, tranquil jade eyes were cold as snow, showing neither joy nor sorrow. His presence was overwhelming, his figure towering, as if a deity had descended to earth.

A deep silence like still water fell over the battlefield.

While the Northern Rong allied army was greatly shaken, on the walls of the Holy City, after their initial shock, the soldiers began weeping loudly toward the monk.

The Regent had returned!

The Buddha’s Son had returned!

Their King had returned!

Not the puppet installed through the noble families’ and Princess Chima’s scheming, but the one who cared for all living beings, who had faced crisis after crisis head-on, leading these common soldiers through battles of steel and blood – their true King!

What did it matter that his birth mother was Han Chinese?

He was still their beloved sovereign supported by the people and tribes! The noble and compassionate Buddha’s Son!

The commanders were moved to tears, their blood boiling with passion.

The Northern Rong allied army fell into momentary chaos as several tribal chiefs roared at Hai Du Aling: “Didn’t you say Su Dan Gu was dead? How is he still alive?!”

Hai Du Aling stared in Tanmoluojia’s direction, his brows deeply furrowed.

Tanmoluojia’s name struck fear in various nations, while Su Dan Gu was known for his martial prowess. The Buddha’s Son and Regent who terrified neighboring countries were the same person, which was why small nations dared not easily attack the royal court. To borrow more troops, he had implied to the chiefs that Tanmoluojia was dead, and only then did they readily agree to lend forces.

Who could have expected that Tanmoluojia had not died from the noble families’ assassination attempts and that he would even return to defend the city after losing his throne?

Hai Du Aling was secretly alarmed.

The Khan of Wakhan had once told him that the Northern Rong was half defeated by Tanmoluojia’s hand, while the other half fell to internal power struggles and nobility fighting for control, leaving them disunited in the face of strong enemies, like scattered sand. The royal court’s nobles also had deep conflicts, and when those contradictions erupted would be the best time to take the Holy City.

He had waited for this opportunity, yet Tanmoluojia proved even more tenacious than he and the old Khan had anticipated.

No wonder the Khan of Wakhan had always deeply feared Tanmoluojia. Whether this man truly had a broad mind or was simply calculating far ahead, in any case, regardless of whether the Holy City won or lost this battle, his reputation would spread throughout all nations. He would no longer need to deal insincerely with the noble families and could easily reclaim his throne and win people’s hearts.

What did it matter if the Buddha’s Son was also the Regent who killed without mercy? In times of chaos, whoever could keep the common people alive would be the king in their hearts.

While everyone was still in shock, Tanmoluojia charged down on horseback. The soldiers in various armor behind him followed without hesitation, brandishing their blades as they directly pierced into the center of the Northern Rong allied army’s formation. With unstoppable momentum, they crashed into a tribal cavalry unit.

The cavalry launched their charge, relying on the advantage of their tall warhorses. Tanmoluojia’s men remained calm, forming three-man teams – two would engage the cavalry while one would swing their blade specifically at the horses’ legs. As blades fell, the warhorses screamed and threw their riders.

In an instant, both forces became entangled in deadly combat. The Buddha’s Son’s troops fought fearlessly like wild beasts, latching onto the enemy’s throats with an iron grip that no amount of struggling could shake off.

The tribal chiefs were terrified and halted their assault on the Holy City, ordering their cavalry wings to withdraw.

“Su Dan Gu possesses extraordinary martial skills – he can slay enemies alone before thousands of cavalry! He must have brought reinforcements!”

For a time there was chaos of falling men and horses as several tribal chiefs turned to retreat.

Hai Du Aling gripped his reins tightly in anger, looking around as he thought coolly: Tanmoluojia had been hunted by the noble families – there was no way he could have gathered a force capable of opposing his hundred thousand allied troops in such a short time!

“Don’t panic!” he shouted. “The royal court’s people hate the Han Chinese. After deposing Su Dan Gu, they immediately attacked the Western Army. With the Wei Dynasty and royal court at war, the Western Army has their hands full – where could Su Dan Gu have borrowed troops from?”

“Su Dan Gu directly charging to scatter the allied forces is just an empty show of force!”

The tribal chiefs ignored him and continued retreating.

“Men, charge with me!” Hai Du Aling gritted his teeth as he drew his sword, shouting to his subordinates as he spurred his horse forward.

It wasn’t the first time the Allied army wouldn’t follow orders.

At the front, Tanmoluojia’s monastic robes fluttered like a sharp blade gleaming with cold light as he led his guard to continue pressing toward the allied army’s center. Their battle formation was scattered, with tribal cavalry constantly spreading to both sides, splitting the entire force in two.

Snow and mud flew everywhere amidst dancing arrows.

Hai Du Aling charged forward with his men when Tanmoluojia’s forces suddenly began contracting toward the center before retreating without hesitation.

The Northern Rong troops rejoiced and immediately gave chase.

Hai Du Aling froze as an ominous feeling crept into his heart, his palms sweating: Could this all be Tanmoluojia’s strategy? He had used this move before when setting an ambush that severely wounded the Khan of Wakhan.

He raised his head to look toward the Holy City. Tanmoluojia had suddenly descended from the heavens, greatly boosting the city garrison’s morale. Attacking the Holy City at this moment could well mean falling into Tanmoluojia’s trap.

Amidst the deafening battle cries, a subordinate saluted and asked for instructions: “Prince, the left and right-wing formations are in chaos! Which side should we reinforce?”

“Withdraw! Preserve our strength and let the tribal cavalry take the lead!”

He decisively ordered.

When the Northern Rong people also began retreating, the other tribal cavalry became even more panicked. The battle formation of the entire allied army was broken. Bi Suo, who led the Imperial Guard defending the city, immediately ordered the gates opened and sent out a force to provide cover. The two armies swiftly joined up and withdrew into the city.

The Northern Rong allied army temporarily retreated to their main camp, ceasing their attack.

Before the city gates, crowds gathered like mountains and seas.

The common people didn’t understand the bloody political struggles of the court, living in confusion. After Tanmoluojia left, the noble families began revising laws and intensifying their exploitation of commoners. Only then did people realize the previous unrest was likely all a noble family conspiracy, but it was too late – the Buddha’s Son had vanished.

After the Holy City was surrounded, they lived in constant fear and suffering, with dark clouds hanging over the city and desolation everywhere.

Hearing that Tanmoluojia had returned with troops, they rushed out of their homes supporting the elderly and young to welcome their king.

Soon, people from the entire city had gathered – men and women, young and old, rich and poor – kneeling along both sides of the main street, weeping with excitement.

“Your Majesty, we shouldn’t have believed the slander! We shouldn’t have been deceived by those nobles!”

“We have wronged you, Your Majesty!”

“You gave us peaceful lives – you are truly worthy to be the Buddha’s Son!”

“What use is Princess Chima’s imperial edict? We don’t recognize the edict, we only recognize our King!”

Their tears fell like rain.

The troops passed before them without stopping.

The common people raised their heads, gazing up at the commander surrounded by soldiers, their eyes filled with passionate devotion. Their calls, shouts, and cries merged into a wave that shot toward the heavens.

“Your Majesty! You’ve returned!”

“You are our true King!”

They wept until their bodies shook, with loud sobbing echoing up and down the entire street.

Those who had doubted Tanmoluojia’s fitness to rule and suspected him of colluding with foreign powers due to instigation from noble families and temple monks were overcome with shame and regret. They crawled forward on their knees to pay respects, kowtowing as they wept until blood flowed.

The troops passed by them, with flying snow and mud from the horses’ hooves splattering their faces and bodies.

The reinforcement troops passed through the main street and went directly to the Royal Temple.

The common people prostrated themselves, kissing the ground where Tanmoluojia’s mount had passed, their faces covered in tears.

The square outside the Royal Temple was already filled with kneeling commoners, and soon after, commanders and officials hurriedly arrived, each exhausted and covered in wounds.

Before the Northern Rong allied army arrived in force, the city’s nobles and officials had all been busy packing their belongings and arranging carriages to flee secretly in the dark of night. But these people couldn’t bear to abandon the city’s population and flee. Remembering Tanmoluojia’s heroic defense of the city at age thirteen, they suppressed their fears to mount the walls and defend the city alongside the soldiers.

As long as the people remained, the city would stand. They had been personally promoted by the King – they couldn’t disgrace his honor!

They knelt before the temple gates, kowtowing as one.

The troops halted and Tanmoluojia dismounted.

The dense mass of heads in the square all bowed down in worship.

Tanmoluojia’s face showed no expression. Without even glancing at them, he strode into the Royal Temple.

Bi Suo was covered in wounds, with broken armor clinging to his body. Looking at Tanmoluojia’s retreating figure with worry, he grabbed Yuan Jue who had just dismounted, his face pale: “When did the King start using his power?”

On the battlefield, when he saw Luojia’s arrow pierce through the enemy commander, while other officers rejoiced, his heart was filled only with despair: Luojia’s body couldn’t withstand the backlash of the technique anymore! The physicians and Mongdatipa had warned that he couldn’t use his power again! This time he had forcefully used it, exhausting his last reserves of vitality – how much longer could he hold on?

Yuan Jue’s eyes were red with tears: “Since yesterday…”

That day, Jin Bo had accidentally let slip, and Tanmoluojia learned that after he fell unconscious, unrest had broken out everywhere in the royal court. Hai Du Aling had returned, and the Holy City was in grave danger, so he decided to return. They couldn’t stop him and could only turn back, meeting several forces still loyal to Tanmoluojia on the way as they hurried back to the Holy City. Last night, Tanmoluojia had Yuan Jue bring out all the medicinal pills and take them all at once – he had to use his power to make an overwhelming first strike on the battlefield to intimidate the allied army and frighten away Hai Du Aling and the tribal chiefs.

This time, when using his power, Tanmoluojia had not changed out of his monastic robes.

“How many reinforcements are there?”

Yuan Jue shook his head with a sigh: “Just over two thousand. They were originally soldiers from the Five Armies who refused to be commanded by Princess Chima and secretly fled to join the King, meeting us by chance… The situation was too urgent!”

Bi Suo clenched his fists and hurried to follow Tanmoluojia.

Tanmoluojia stood before the great hall with its display niches, his cold gaze fixed on the black caskets arranged on the altar, his body emanating an icy killing intent.

At this moment, Bi Suo couldn’t tell if he was Tanmoluojia or Su Dan Gu.

They were one person, but before, Bi Suo could distinguish between him as the Buddha’s Son and him as the Regent.

Now, Luojia and Su Dan Gu had merged into one. He wore monastic robes as he galloped before the battle lines, no longer needing to wear a mask, carrying even more authority and presence than before. His every movement commanded awe without anger, his gaze devoid of any warmth.

Bi Suo didn’t know if this was good or bad.

Why did he have to come back?! The Northern Rong allied army numbered a full hundred thousand! Against such numbers, their few people couldn’t possibly hold the city…

Bi Suo suppressed his grief and said hoarsely: “A Li, Bo Re, and the other guards’ bodies have all been collected, they’re all here… The common people helped gather the bodies secretly. Your Majesty, though the Imperial Guard commanders are stubborn, many soldiers remain loyal to you, as do the common people. Not long ago they secretly set fire to the Royal Temple, and burned down the Kang family residence as well…”

“Who were the masterminds? How many families were involved?”

Tanmoluojia asked, his tone ice-cold.

Bi Suo saluted: “Whichever families benefited most were certainly involved – the Kang family, the An family, and the recently risen Wu Gu family… They used the imperial edict in Chima’s hands and secretly allied with temple monks to first incite popular sentiment, saying the King harbored Han Chinese and stirring up people’s resentment. Then they committed murders to frame others, creating chaos to make people fear the Regent. They secretly captured Mo Bi Duo, Meng Ke, Colonel Zhang, and others loyal to the King to control the city’s Imperial Guard and Central Army Guard, had Chima provoke conflict between me and the King, then profited from the chaos…”

Princess Chima had tried to persuade her consort A Ke Lie to cooperate with her, but he refused. The noble families feared A Ke Lie would reveal their secrets, so they simply killed him.

That day, Bi Suo no longer wanted to deceive Tanmoluojia, telling him about his origins, sending him away, and holding back the pursuers until he was captured after his strength gave out.

The city was in chaos for several days, with officials and commanders still loyal to Tanmoluojia thrown in prison while noble families sent people to spread rumors everywhere slandering him, saying he had already allied with the Han to seize the royal court. The common people believed it.

Princess Chima and the noble families forced Bi Suo to take the throne.

Bi Suo pretended to cooperate while finding ways to gradually rescue those commanders sympathetic to Tanmoluojia. He got Princess Chima to reveal her co-conspirators and, following the trail, pieced together eight or nine-tenths of their plot.

What terrified him was that their original plan had been to use Princess Wenzhao to threaten Luojia – the fire at the courier station had been set by them.

Chima was determined to find evidence of secret relations between Tanmoluojia and Princess Wenzhao, waiting a long time without finding an opportunity to act. Later when maids told her Princess Wenzhao was still a virgin, she found it incomprehensible and had to abandon this plan.

Tanmoluojia listened to Bi Suo’s account without changing expression and asked: “Is there a register?”

“I recorded it and keep it with me.”

Bi Suo took out the register with a self-mocking smile. He had wanted to stabilize the situation and avenge Tanmoluojia but was too weak to do anything about the noble families. He could only hide the register and evidence, hoping to gradually deal with those people when the opportunity arose.

Unexpectedly, in just a few days, the royal court was turned upside down, suffering defeat after defeat until the Holy City was surrounded. Most of the noble families fled in all directions, and Princess Chima fled too. Before leaving, she knelt and begged him to leave with her, but he ignored her.

He was the Commander of the Central Army, son of the Tanmo family – defending the Holy City was his responsibility.

With the Allied army’s arrival, everyone’s fate looked grim. He threw himself completely into defending the city, thinking he would never see Tanmoluojia again in this life.

Tanmoluojia raised his hand.

Guards waiting in the corridor immediately came forward, took Bi Suo’s register, and hurriedly left.

Tanmoluojia turned and entered his meditation chamber. Everything inside was arranged as before, with dark bloodstains on the decorative floor tiles and sword marks still visible on the corridor pillars and windows. Several arrows were embedded in the earthen walls.

He passed through the empty inner hall to his bed, pulled out a drawer, and retrieved a paper package and a red hair ribbon.

The honey candy she had given him – he had kept it uneaten.

He pressed the package into his chest, tied the ribbon around his wrist, and walked out of the inner hall.

Hurried footsteps sounded in the long corridor as monks who had remained in the temple stood at the bottom of the steps, all looking at him with expressions caught between speech and silence, shame evident on their faces.

An elderly monk stepped forward, face full of remorse: “The King’s heart is with all living beings. To defend the Holy City and protect the common people, you disregarded your safety and rushed back at risk of death to take command… Buddha says all beings are equal. We were blind and foolish, harboring prejudice against the King because of his bloodline and origins, and suspecting him of killing innocents because of General Sai Sang Er, not knowing the King’s heart holds great love, unstained by all forms and undeceived by all appearances… We are deeply ashamed.”

The monks joined hands and bowed in respect.

Tanmoluojia descended the steps without looking at them, leaving them surrounded by his guards.

From now on, no king of the royal court would ever again reside in the Royal Temple.

Yuan Jue, walking behind, gave a cold laugh as he looked around: “With the Holy City surrounded, do you plan to continue sitting in the temple chanting sutras, or will you follow the King like me to help defend the city?”

The monks’ faces flushed red with shame.

…

Half an hour later, the guards brought back those named in the register to the Royal Temple.

The enraged common people immediately rushed forward, picking up stones to throw at them. Seeing the guards didn’t intervene, they pounced forward to beat and tear at them.

“You framed the Buddha’s Son! Hunted the Buddha’s Son! Deceived us!”

“Kill them! They nearly got the Buddha’s Son killed!”

The officials were bloodied and crying for help, but no one paid them any attention.

…

Tanmoluojia rode out from the Royal Temple still in his monastic robes, sunlight falling on his sharply defined features, making his facial features even more striking.

Wherever he went, there was a wave of crying and shouting.

The common people wept bitterly, calling out his Buddhist name loudly, while soldiers looked up at him with fervent devotion in their eyes, ready to die for him.

Tanmoluojia mounted the city walls, his face showing not a ripple of emotion.

Commanders came forward to report the city’s situation. Most were low-ranking officers who had no access to military secrets and hadn’t participated in hunting Tanmoluojia that day.

Tanmoluojia asked about remaining food supplies, troops, and weapons, and everyone answered in turn.

His brows furrowed slightly.

Bi Suo sighed: “All the crossbow carts are destroyed, and we’re almost out of arrows. Hai Du Aling announced they brought enough supplies to last half a year, while our granaries are nearly empty…”

Everyone’s expressions darkened.

All understood that with the recent royal court unrest and various tribes relocating, other strongholds barely had enough troops for themselves and couldn’t come to their aid. Without food stores, they couldn’t hold out much longer…

Tanmoluojia gazed at the dense Northern Rong allied army camps outside the city: “The Holy City must be held. Hai Du Aling’s ambition isn’t just to plunder the Holy City. The city is easy to defend but hard to take – if he occupies it, the entire royal court will fall into his hands, and he can use this advantageous position to expand east and west…”

By then, all the vast territory Yao Ying had just recovered would also be taken by him.

Everyone listened with their hearts pounding – if Hai Du Aling took the Holy City, the entire royal court would fall!

“Hold the city, tie down their forces.”

Tanmoluojia commanded.

Everyone responded in unison, composed and passionate – even if they all died in this battle, they couldn’t let Hai Du Aling succeed!

Soon after, several edicts were issued in succession.

All officials and soldiers who remained to defend the city, regardless of background, were promoted to one rank, with additional rewards to be determined for those who distinguished themselves.

All able-bodied men in the city were gathered and divided into several teams, dispatched to different city gates.

The elderly, weak, and women also emerged from their homes, divided into different teams under the guards’ direction – some helping transport equipment, some helping treat wounded soldiers, some running errands and delivering messages.

From today forward, all food stores in the city will be distributed uniformly by the military.

Minor officials used the register to find craftsmen skilled in making machinery, calling on them to help repair and improve the defensive equipment on the city walls.

Additionally, Tanmoluojia announced one more edict.

From this day forward, all slaves belonging to nobles in the city who participated in its defense, regardless of gender, would be granted freedom, with rewards to be determined for those who distinguished themselves.

When this edict was announced, there was an uproar.

Slaves who hadn’t managed to flee the city were overcome with joy, weeping as they sought out soldiers, taking up weapons to defend the city alongside them. Monks also emerged from the Royal Temple – though they couldn’t take life, they helped count and distribute food, maintaining order to prevent the elderly, weak, women, and children from having their food stolen during distribution.

With Tanmoluojia in command, from commanders to common people, everyone suddenly found their center. Their previous despair and dejection transformed into composure – no longer in disarray, they could quickly implement each successive edict.

Military morale soared unprecedentedly. Officers didn’t need to say anything to inspire the troops – at Tanmoluojia’s command, soldiers would charge forward without hesitation even into a sea of blades and blood.

Whenever the Northern Rong allied army attacked the city, Tanmoluojia would inevitably stand atop the walls directing the troops in his monastic robes, his figure towering, seemingly completely unafraid of the arrows flying everywhere.

Under his leadership, the soldiers repelled attack after attack from the Northern Rong allied forces.

Six days later, the city had run out of arrows and food was nearly exhausted. Soldiers defended the walls on empty stomachs, dizzy and weak.

The Northern Rong forces came like waves, surging up one after another. They were a lonely island about to sink beneath the tide, slowly being devoured by the sea.

The soldiers fought with bloodshot eyes as corpses piled into mountains below the city walls.

The setting sun was like blood.

The Northern Rong allied army charged the walls again, their momentum fierce.

Bi Suo held his long sword, covered in blood, cutting down a Northern Rong soldier climbing up a rope ladder. Together with Yuan Jue, he cut the ladder, their blades becoming notched.

A horn sounded, and the Northern Rong allied army retreated.

Bi Suo collapsed in a pool of blood, panting as he looked toward Tanmoluojia, his heart desolate.

He wasn’t afraid of death, he only grieved for Luojia.

Several soldiers were severely wounded, their bodies gradually growing cold. Those nearby began singing a battle song to comfort them.

At first, the singing was sad and low, but gradually more people joined in. The soldiers’ lips were cracked as they wiped blood from their blades, singing ever louder. The song spread down from the walls as city residents joined in, voice after voice like rivers flowing into a vast sea, piercing clouds, and splitting stones as it echoed long over the Holy City.

Suddenly, a strange sharp sound interrupted the desolate song floating over the battlefield.

Everyone froze and looked toward the source of the sound.

The red sun had already sunk into the valley when, at the dark horizon, one after another silvery light with trailing tails shot into the sky, illuminating half the heavens before descending toward the Northern Rong allied army’s camp.

In the blink of an eye, roaring flames erupted from the allied army camp as silver light rained down accompanied by thunderous booms that shook the earth.

The royal court soldiers had never seen such a sight and stared dumbfounded.

The Northern Rong allied army camp fell into chaos and transformed into a sea of fire.

A soldier on the wall suddenly pointed in one direction and shouted: “Reinforcements! There are reinforcements!”

Everyone gathered their spirits and looked where he was pointing.