Just then, he suddenly saw a vortex appear in the distance, heading towards him. Mo Li was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly turned around and ran in the opposite direction of the vortex. "When it rains, it pours! Is this trying to kill me?!"

(Actually, you're already dead...)

——

The barbarian army retreated, and peace returned to the Central Plains. The emperor issued an edict, and the whole country celebrated and rewarded those who had contributed to the victory.

Wang Qiankun, holding Hua Yue's hand, bowed to the soldiers behind Hua Mulan and said, "Take care, everyone. I will not be going to the capital."

Hua Mulan nodded, her expression somewhat somber.

Seeing this, Hei Song hurriedly spoke up, "General Wang, oh no, now I'm Brother Wang, have a safe journey and remember to write!"

"Alright, everyone take care." Wang Qiankun nodded with a smile.

With that, he took Huayue's hand, and the two mounted their horses and turned to leave.

Hua Mulan watched the two walk further and further away, feeling utterly cold in her heart. After thinking for a moment, she turned around and led her soldiers directly into the capital!

Countless flowers waved across the city walls, welcoming the returning heroes.

Mulan gazed coldly at the bustling city. No matter how vast the land, no matter how prosperous the world, there was no longer anyone to accompany her in this world...

The palace was magnificently constructed, and Mulan, spear in hand, walked into the main hall.

But the guards stopped him. "Halt! You are not allowed to bring weapons into the main hall!"

Wang Jian and the others were about to take off their swords when Hua Mulan suddenly declared, "As long as the sword is there, I am there; if the sword dies, I die!"

"What? Who do you think you are? Coming to the palace with weapons?"

Hua Mulan coldly stared at the guard. "And who are you? Where were you when we drove out the barbarian army? Did you kill a single barbarian? Have you ever seen internal organs being pulled out of a body? You—want to try?"

The guard turned pale with fright and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Upon seeing this, Wang Jian hurriedly whispered to Hua Mulan, "General, this is not the royal city. We must follow the rules."

Mulan gripped her spear tightly. "You want to take my weapon? Impossible! Unless I die!"

Wang Jian looked helpless. "You, the great hero, have returned. Who would dare let you die?"

Hua Mulan stared coldly at the guard, then suddenly pointed her spear at his throat and said coldly, "Go tell the emperor that I, Hua Mulan, will never lay down my weapon. If he doesn't agree, then I'll go back!"

The guard turned pale with fright, nearly dropping his pistol, before rushing into the main hall to report the incident.

Wang Jian swallowed hard and said in a low voice, "General, this...this isn't quite right—that's not how it's supposed to be—"

Mulan coldly replied, "What are rules? I don't understand! I only know that my spear is stained with the blood of my beloved. It is the last thing I have to remember him with, and I will never let anyone else touch it!"

Wang Jian's lips twitched involuntarily.

After waiting a while, the guard rushed out in a panic. "Heroes, generals, sirs, His Majesty said you can bring weapons in, but only three people can enter... What do you think..."

Hua Mulan coldly looked at the gatekeeper. "Who do you think should stay and who should leave among the three of us? If that's the case, then let them go. I'm leaving!"

As Mulan spoke, she prepared to leave.

Seeing this, Wang Jian hurriedly grabbed Hua Mulan, saying, "General, General Hua, don't worry, let's discuss it some more."

Hua Mulan stopped and looked at Wang Jian. "I don't care about your pursuit of fame and fortune! Wang Qiankun can give up fame and fortune, so can I! Not everyone cares about these things!"

"Since General Hua says so, I, Hei Song, will not be coy anymore. I'll go back to my Black Dragon Mountain and be the mountain king!" Hei Song said, removing his armor and throwing away his weapons.

Wang Jian's lips twitched. "You know why the bandit leader is following us around and causing trouble, don't you?"

Upon hearing Heisong's words, the former brothers of Black Dragon Mountain also laid down their armor and weapons, ready to follow Hua Mulan.

Wang Jian was so angry he almost stomped his foot. Pointing at them, he said, "What are you doing? Are you saying I, Wang Jian, am after fame and fortune? Now that you're leaving, what am I, Wang Jian, still doing here? Let's go! Let's all leave!"

Upon seeing this, the young gatekeeper turned pale with fright. "Good sirs, brothers, heroes, I was wrong! Please, let me ask again for you! Please don't leave! What will the people think if you leave!"

Hua Mulan coldly replied, "Go and double-check. We are all in this together, whether we stay or leave! Our weapons are half our lives; they absolutely cannot leave our hands!"

The young gatekeeper was terrified and hurriedly nodded, "Okay, okay, I'll go and report it right away."

The guard ran off again. Mulan coldly watched his retreating figure. "He did it on purpose. Some people deliberately prevent us from getting in!"

Everyone looked at Mulan, and Heisong asked in surprise, "What, what's going on?"

Hua Mulan shook her head and didn't speak. Only she could see clearly that the man's heart was black!

Since Mo Li disappeared, and she cried for him, her eyes have taken on a different look. Her heart, which sees through all lies, now understands the true nature of this world.

The sky is blue, the clouds are white, the palaces are golden, but the human heart is—

Black!

The guard ran back respectfully, bowed, and said, "Heroes, our king says that all of you may enter, and you may bring your weapons."

Mulan coldly ordered, "Lead the way!"

"Yes, yes, this way please..."

The road ahead was flat and unobstructed, but in Mulan's eyes, it was winding, winding into the depths of darkness, with no end in sight!

They marched forward, led by Mulan and followed by Wang Jian and others. They arrived at the main hall, flanked by numerous civil officials. The emperor, sitting in the magnificent hall, wore a dragon robe and an imperial crown, and looked at everyone with a forced smile.

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