[Transmigration] The War God's Consort

Chapter 39

Feng Xinglie rubbed his eyes, a feeling of surprise spreading through his chest. The beauty of nature permeated every cell. He couldn't see the end of the valley, only vague shadows in the thick fog of the mountains. As far as the eye could see, there was a sea of flowers, with various colors reflecting in his eyes. The mountain wind blew, and the swaying flowers and grasses made a rustling sound like waves, which made him feel an extraordinary shock from the bottom of his heart.

It was already late autumn, and the mountain paths outside were overgrown with withered grass, but here it was a hidden paradise, where so many beautiful flowers were in full bloom.

Such vast beauty could easily sweep over one's soul, making her take a few deep breaths. Feng Xinglie glanced around and locked his gaze on the blue-robed man who was hiding among the flowers, holding a wine gourd and drinking to the sky.

Yao Tianlin was right; Qingli did seem to be admiring the flowers. However, she was more inclined to believe that he was destroying them than admiring them.

His loose hair, including the hairband, had slipped off. His blue robe was half-open and half-closed, a mess of disheveled clothes that weighed down a large patch of flowers, causing them to droop like tears. He supported his head with one hand and shook a wine gourd with the other, as if he were already half-drunk. His once clear and bright eyes were narrowed into slits. His flushed cheeks, slender figure, and unruly posture could probably tempt countless young girls to throw themselves into his arms, even knowing it was like moths to a flame.

But beneath that seemingly dashing figure, Feng Xinglie saw a sense of dejected loneliness and heartbreak.

Feng Xinglie suddenly clenched his hands, which had been hanging by his sides, and strode over. He carved out another circular space next to the flowers he had trampled and sat down. He said in a low but firm voice, "You're in pain!"

Qingli, who was drinking, was startled. Her clear voice rang out a unique, unrestrained laugh, as if mocking her words. Her cheerful expression seemed very pleasant, but when she met Feng Xinglie's amber-like, firm gaze, her expression gradually softened and lowered. Her two beautiful eyebrows raised slightly as always, but it was with great difficulty.

"You guessed right." After the blue robes were turned over, a desolate and heart-wrenching cry of anguish rang out. He wasn't truly dissolute, but if he hadn't so freely expressed his emotions in another way, he probably would have collapsed long ago.

"Although you seem to be able to calmly and decisively sacrifice a pawn to save the king, Qingyan and the others are probably your last remaining family." Feng Xinglie's expression shifted, subtly avoiding the main point. She really didn't know how to comfort people; in this respect, the seemingly omnipotent Feng Xinglie was actually quite clumsy. Given her personality, not directly revealing the truth was already very merciful. Although she had played it close to the line, a smart man like Qingli would understand.

“They were warriors. I remember every name and every face of every one of them clearly. As long as I live, I will never forget them.” Qingli changed the subject, pointing to her chest and closing her eyes, as if she could see those familiar faces. “Besides, they might not. At least, I won’t give up until I find their bodies.”

“I am not as good as you.” Feng Xinglie sighed sincerely: “If it were with Sui Feng and the others, I would definitely not be half as decisive as you. Although I am not a woman who likes to be soft-hearted, as long as it involves the people I care about, I would never abandon any of them.”

“But you always like to abandon yourself!” Qingli’s slightly reproachful tone was exactly the same as Yao Tianlin’s: “If I hadn’t pulled you the night before, you would have gone alone, wouldn’t you?”

"Perhaps." She glanced at him, remembering what he had said before he lost consciousness. Feng Xinglie refused to look him in the eye. When did she start wanting to run away from him?

"Then... can I take it as you also considering me someone you care about?" Qingli, who was usually indifferent to everything, now spoke and looked like a lone goose in sorrow. She lay sprawled among the flowers, looking up at Feng Xinglie, her eyes faintly tinged with a somber gray amidst her disheveled hair. Her hand clung to Feng Xinglie's clothes, refusing to let go, like a drowning man grasping at the last piece of driftwood. If she were to leave, her vulnerability would overwhelm him like a flood pouring into his heart.

Feng Xinglie angrily swung his arm and smacked him hard on the shoulder: "Have you lost your mind? I remember telling you a long time ago that we are extremely good friends. Maybe we weren't before, but now, in the future, and always will be! And you're still asking me if I care about you as a friend?"

A bitter feeling slowly welled up. It wasn't that Qingli lacked a sense of security, but rather that he had truly been pushed to his limit. His heart might shatter at the slightest further impact. In fact, he should have been mentally prepared for the worst on his way back, but he never expected that those people wanted to kill him!

There was no kinship, no room for compromise; it was ruthless and bloody, like a tarantula devouring its young—so cruel. If there were no hope, perhaps he wouldn't have lived such a hard life, but Qingli, like her, loved to dream. Even the most impossible dreams wouldn't be awakened until they shattered, and when that moment truly arrived, she couldn't help but feel heart-wrenching pain.

The sudden force made Jin Fengxinglie frown slightly, but she didn't push him away in the end. She went along with his wishes, letting the man, who seemed unable to support himself, bury his head between her legs, and she couldn't help but wail in her heart.

Yu Xiang, I'm so sorry, these people have taken advantage of you again!

Her long hair snaked across the floor, covering her legs and feet. Qingli remained silent for a long time before letting out a forced laugh. "Would you like to hear my story? I don't remember ever telling you one."

Feng Xinglie silently withdrew one hand, trembling slightly in mid-air, before gently placing it on his head, which was almost completely buried in his face, and running her fingers through his hair. She actually knew many things about Qingli, and while he would surely feel much more at ease if he told her himself, she… perhaps, rather than those cold pieces of paper, preferred to hear him speak for himself.

"I am a prince born in a stable."

With Feng Xinglie's tacit approval, Qingli's gaze gradually drifted into the distance, and her voice suddenly became indifferent: "You should know that my father, Qingyuan, is ruthless and heartless. If Qin Han is an excellent emperor, then he is an excellent tyrant. In his eyes, there is only profit, and in his eyes, people are only divided into two categories: useful and useless. He has played with and killed countless palace maids and boys, and very few of them have been able to leave behind offspring. My mother, however, was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she not lose her life, but she also saved me through numerous examinations and medicines."

A glimpse of her face peeking out from beneath her robes revealed a mocking smile. Qingli sneered, "But do you know that she did this not because she loves this child, but because this child might be related to her future wealth and status? I'm afraid even getting close to my father was an opportunity she painstakingly sought. Women in the harem can be truly terrifying when they become ruthless. Therefore, my birth was kept extremely secret. To protect my life, my mother did everything she could to conceal it until I was nine years old. Only then did she seize the opportunity when my father went to offer incense to boldly meet the emperor and prove my identity. But so what?"

“I thought I could finally get my father and brothers’ love, and that I would never have to suffer their cold looks again. But I was wrong, so wrong! Although my mother was made a concubine because of me, the second prince, she was just a powerless and powerless concubine with no background. It was difficult for her to even see my father. As for me, the helpless prince, I was just a ‘bastard’ born of a ‘lowly woman’. In a place like the palace, my status was even lower than some favored maids and eunuchs. My father wouldn’t even look at me, and my brothers bullied me at will. After that, I don’t know how many times I stood up alone in some dark corner of the palace, covered in bruises, and silently crawled back to my desolate and overgrown palace.”

The slight trembling of his body seemed to be a reminder of those unbearable days. Feng Xingding felt a sudden pang of heartache and couldn't help but reach out and hug the helpless man tightly. At this moment, he was no longer the Qingli who could easily swallow his pain with a smile. He had taken off his mask and was left with only a lonely soul.

No one is so strong that they never get hurt; they just don't express it, or rather, they have no one to confide in. What Qingli suffered was far more complex than he could describe in a few words.

"From that moment on, I knew that if I didn't stand up, my father would look at me even less, and one day I would be thrown onto the bed and played with at will by my powerful brothers because of my handsome appearance."

"Xing Lie, perhaps these things are truly sordid, but in the palace, these unspeakable matters are always commonplace. Take that crown prince you tricked, for example; he not only had a multitude of wives and concubines in his household, but also kept no fewer than ten male servants, not to mention those he discarded after his use."

"I know you don't think my heart is pure, do you?" Feng Xinglie sneered. What didn't she know? Qin Han and Qin Yue might indeed be outliers, but according to the data, the actions of the former King of Qin were no less egregious than those of this Crown Prince Qingxuan. Ultimately, she was just someone struggling to emerge from darkness, only this world's experiences had allowed her to conceal the traces of her past life. She was no innocent kitten.

"At least in my opinion, you are more virtuous than anyone else." Qingli slowly took her fair fingers in his hand, gently stroking them as if handling a precious jewel. Feng Xinglie inwardly cried out in disbelief. Had she heard correctly? Virtuous? Someone with such a demonic nature could be called virtuous! Qingli had witnessed her actions firsthand; was there something wrong with his eyes?

Without thinking it over, Qingli continued in a detached voice, "In that environment, anyone would be forced to become stronger. I spent three whole days kneeling at the door of my father's study until I collapsed, in exchange for the right to study with the other princes. I became General Bai Zhongyan's most prized disciple, and I became Grand Tutor Wen's most arrogant student. As I grew, my father's attitude towards me finally changed. Then, at the age of fourteen, I stepped onto the battlefield, traversing three years of bloodshed, winning the respect of the Qing Kingdom's subjects and gaining some power and brothers of my own with countless wounds and blood. After the border war ended, I returned to the palace with glory."

His usually bright eyes stared blankly at the broken bouquet, and he smiled bitterly again: "I thought my father would look at me with new eyes, I thought I could finally gain the approval of my family, but I was wrong again."

What awaited me was intrigue, exclusion, and contempt. When my father looked at me, his gaze was sharper and colder. I knew he was wary of me; my own father was plotting against me! He was planning how I would die, how I would disappear, so that I wouldn't threaten his rule! If I were the legitimate son, he probably wouldn't do this, but I am an illegitimate son, without any family power behind me. With my overly intelligent mind, I could only be sacrificed!

After my mother gained favor with the emperor, seeing my father's displeasure, she grew increasingly cold towards me. To sever ties, she even refused to have any contact with me. Xinglie, do you know that? I haven't seen my mother for almost a year, and in that year she hasn't even bothered to send me a single message!

Feng Xinglie was disheartened. Qingli was merely a stepping stone for that woman. Once she got what she wanted, this stepping stone, which was in the way, became worthless. Such a ruthless woman certainly knew how to make choices. Although she was a woman in the deep palace, her ruthlessness and coldness were truly chilling.

Feeling Qingli's arms tighten around her waist, Feng Xinglie felt even more distressed. Even someone as strong as him could feel such despair!

The information wasn't that detailed, but she was certain that Qingli's words were absolutely true; it was easy to imagine the cold treatment a royal illegitimate son would receive. Yet, listening to her conversations, she realized he had no one he truly trusted; in the vortex of self-interest, he was always a victim.

"Sometimes I really don't understand, is the status of being born out of wedlock really that important? I am also his son, and I want to defend my country more than anyone else. My literary and military talents are no less than anyone else's, and I don't have that much ambition!"

I knew this mission was a deliberate ploy to divert my attention and seize control of the army, yet I still believed that without the threat to his military power, at least my father wouldn't take my life. I offered up all my military power and status, so why didn't they trust me? Why did they insist on my death? Why couldn't I gain even a shred of familial affection no matter what I did? Why… what was the purpose of all this…”

Qingli burst into laughter, her trembling voice broken and intermittent. Where Feng Xinglie's fingers touched, cool water trickled down the strands of hair that covered his eyelids. His tightly clenched lips could no longer open. There was no crying, only the dampness seeping into his skin.

Unable to offer words of comfort, and knowing that those words were not what he needed most right now, Feng Xinglie felt a pang of pity in her heart. Knowing she shouldn't show him any pity, she still couldn't help but tighten her arms around him to make him more comfortable. The heart-wrenching despair emanating from him, like falling into an abyss, stirred up strong emotions in her, but she could only sigh inwardly!

Who says men don't shed tears? It's just that they haven't reached the point of heartbreak yet.

Chaos in Qingqiu Chapter 71: Purgatory of Despair

Feng Xinglie couldn't look down at his crying face, and Qingli had no time to look up to see if she had a maternal instinct. One was gazing at the starry sky, and the other was silently shedding tears. It wasn't as romantic as imagined, but the warmth that went straight into their hearts had already saved those who were on the verge of breaking back to life.

"Should I thank you?" He looked up, his carefree smile returning, his deep eyes still glistening with tears, as clear as the sky two days later.

"It's best not to." Feng Xinglie, who was unsure how he would "thank" her, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. The thought sent a cold shiver down his spine, and he glared angrily. If Qingli had that wolfish smile, she would have guaranteed not to let him come within half a meter of her.

Although Qingli did this to vent her feelings, Daohua did not rule out the purpose of informing Feng Xinglie of the current situation in Qing Kingdom. Of course, he did not want Feng Xinglie to get involved in Qing Kingdom's mess, but she almost lost her life this time. Given her righteous nature, she would definitely not give in. It would be better to explain things to her in advance than to have to clean up her mess later.

Moreover, Feng Xinglie suspects that the matter of Qing Kingdom is related to Liu Wuge, and may even involve the internal strife in Ling Kingdom. Since it concerns Ling Yuxiang, she will not stand idly by!

When the two returned to the cabin, they saw Yao Tianlin, who looked visibly unwell. The bowl, emitting a horrifyingly bitter smell, was placed in front of Qingli without any room for argument: "The last dose of the antidote!"

Qingli shrank back in fright at the pungent bitter smell, and glanced cautiously at Yao Tianlin. Although she knew he was deliberately playing a trick on her, she had no choice but to pick up the medicine bowl and force herself to swallow it down, suppressing the urge to vomit. She couldn't help but glance at Feng Xinglie with a look of utter resentment.

Yao Tianlin's martial arts skills were extremely high, and even Feng Xinglie couldn't detect his comings and goings. But she could tell with her toes that his frustrated expression, which made him want to vent his frustration on someone, meant that he must have seen her holding Qingli in his arms. However, he couldn't bring himself to hurt her, so poor Qingli suffered instead.

"Thank you for saving me, Brother Yao." Qingli finished the medicine and was very polite, but the provocative look on her face was anything but grateful.

"I've always heard that Young Master Qingli is a womanizer, but do you know that there are some people you can't touch?" Yao Tianlin said calmly with a dark face.

"Huh? Brother Yao, could you perhaps mean...you?"

Qingli looked surprised, then revealed a strange and relieved expression, her face full of understanding: "Of course, the Medicine King of Medicine King Valley, the number one extraordinary person in the martial arts world, is not to be touched. Brother Yao, rest assured, I have no interest in that kind of thing. However, if you are interested, I would not object to such a heavenly beauty."

As Qingli spoke, she gave him a frivolous smile and moved closer to him, seemingly unintentionally. Yao Tianlin almost choked on his saliva. Wang Youzi felt a chill run down his spine and retreated three meters away from him, barely managing to maintain his usual calm voice.

"Stay away from me! I don't have any abnormal hobbies!"

"Brother Yao, tsk tsk, that's not right of you. If you dare to think it, you should dare to admit it." Qingli's ability to feign ignorance was first-rate. She stuck to this fact, with an attitude of "there's no need to hide it anymore, I understand," which made Yao Tianlin so angry that he wanted to vomit blood. You should know that Yao Tianlin had lived in seclusion in the mountains for many years. Even if he were to enter the world, he would never argue or fight with anyone. His verbal skills were nowhere near one ten-thousandth of this shameless rogue.

"If you dare to spout any more nonsense, I'll kill you right now!"

"Brother Yao, could this be considered murder to silence me? But heaven and earth bear witness, even if you kill me, you should at least be able to face your conscience..."

"you……"

Watching the two usually calm and reserved men exchange barbs like two hedgehogs, Feng Xinglie was at his wits' end. He slammed his fist on the wooden table in anger and roared, "Shut up, all of you! There are still a bunch of soldiers searching outside, and you're in the mood to argue here?"

These two men, who were of extraordinary status, instantly became listless, turning into two submissive little crocodiles, nervously watching her expression and trying to please her.

"Xinglie, don't be angry. We were just joking. Look, Brother Yao and I are 'good brothers'." Qingli quickly put her arm around Yao Tianlin's shoulder, acting like they were best buddies.

"Xinglie, although the poison in your body has been cured, you are still weak. Don't ruin your health." Even though he wanted to throw the hand next to his shoulder away immediately, Yao Tianlin still restrained the impulse and had to smile. He and Qingli each held one of her arms, their concern overflowing.

Feng Xinglie, his anger flaring, was not about to let it go. Still not satisfied, he was about to slam his fist on the table again to give her another scolding when Qingli, who was to his right, quickly reached out and placed her hand on the table, giving her a heavy thud. Ignoring the pain, she carefully smiled apologetically, "Brother Yao's table is too hard. Xinglie, if you want to hit someone, hit me instead."

Frustrated by his stomping, Feng Xinglie gritted his teeth and stomped his foot hard, only to find that what he stepped on was soft.

*Cough...* Yao Tianlin subtly withdrew his foot, which had been stepped on. His calm face remained expressionless, but his tone betrayed both gentleness and fear: "If you're going to lose your temper, take it out on us. Breaking things is a small matter; hurting yourself is a big deal. Can you please save your energy, you handsome guy?"

After staring intently at the two men with aggrieved expressions for a long time, Feng Xinglie, who was originally furious, was defeated by these two men.

It's unbelievable how her tendency to soften her heart when others are genuinely kind to her has become common knowledge.

Seeing that she had calmed down, Qingli breathed a sigh of relief and said seriously, "Xinglie is right. The pursuers outside the mountain have not completely retreated yet. It seems that Brother Yao has not been discovered here. However, it is still not advisable to stay here for long. Facing a large number of regular troops, even if one's martial arts are high, it may not be useful. If we want to return to Qing Kingdom, we should set off as soon as possible."

"What do you plan to do?" Feng Xinglie asked in a deep voice. Qingli should understand the situation by now, and he believed that this kid probably already had a plan.

"What should I do? I don't want to die, and I can't let my 600,000 troops be buried with me. Moreover, I can't watch the country be destroyed by a few incompetent people! My father is getting old after all. This deployment is probably his last conspiracy. However, he didn't expect you to come with me. Tell me, what did Lie Jun and Ling Yuxiang say after they found out about your sudden disappearance?" Qing Li spoke calmly, but her clear eyes were fixed on Feng Xinglie, capturing her every expression.

Feng Xinglie was startled, his expression suddenly turning sharp yet filled with pity and sorrow, a chilling aura emanating from him: "If you don't have the awareness to sit in that position, don't blame me for beating you!"

Qingli laughed loudly, her eyes shining like the golden sun: "I have everything I need. For someone like you, if it's your wish, what can't I do?"

"No one discovered them? Who said that?" Yao Tianlin frowned slightly, his calm and gentle voice sounding like a death knell, causing Feng Xinglie and Qingli's expressions to change drastically. "Someone actually scouted the valley entrance the night before last, but although this place isn't exactly fraught with danger, there are quite a few traps. Those people should have died in the poisonous flower thicket on the outskirts of the valley. I was busy preparing antidotes for you at the time and didn't pay much attention. After that, no one came to scout over again, so I didn't keep an eye on them..."

Yao Tianlin's voice grew softer and softer, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper, the rustling of the flowers in the valley swaying in the wind filling the air. He had clearly noticed the problem; if it was a military search, how could there be a few missing people without any movement? They had probably already locked onto them as targets and were trying to scout the terrain and plan their attack.

"Damn it! What's the terrain like here?" Feng Xinglie asked urgently, hoping the answer wouldn't disappoint her.

Yao Tianlin smiled bitterly: "There is only one exit in this mountainous area, and it is surrounded by cliffs. It is usually my place of seclusion. How could I have imagined that there would be such a large army surrounding the mountain today?" He was arrogant and his whereabouts were unpredictable. Although he was not stupid, he knew very little about military affairs. By the time he got the idea, they had unknowingly walked into another tiger's den.

Qingli's eyes were deep: "Their target is me, so I might as well go out."

"Keep dreaming!" Feng Xinglie glared angrily, leaving no room for rebuttal: "You think I'm going to abandon you so easily, trying to frame me? Don't you know my temper? Besides, this Medicine King Valley is full of traps, and your poison has been cured. It would be strange if they didn't know that someone was here!"

Yao Tianlin smirked, then leaped forward in a flash, delivering a rare, defiant kiss: "I'll see just how capable the Qing Kingdom's army is, that they can trap me!"

"Tianlin, don't do anything reckless, Qingli!" Seeing Qingli suddenly dart out, Feng Xinglie was furious. He channeled his inner energy to catch up, and with lightning speed, his white hand grabbed one of the two crazed men on each side. A dazzling light flashed in his beautiful eyes, and he shouted authoritatively, brooking no resistance: "You've all rebelled? If you want to leave, we'll leave together! If you still don't listen to me, don't blame me, Feng Xinglie, for not recognizing you in the future!"

Did they think they could protect her just by going? I was touched, but I was even more annoyed by the childishness of these two men and wanted to beat them until they couldn't get up.

"Damn it! Have you all been kicked in the head? How long does it take for the army to search this little valley? If you cause me any more trouble, believe me, I'll kick you all to death right now!" Before the harsh rebuke had even finished, a scent that was extremely discordant with the floral fragrance in the valley, along with the panic of death, spread out. Feng Xinglie and the other two's expressions instantly became even more serious. Although the billowing smoke of Ye Mian was not very clear, the alluring bright red light in the distance was extremely clear!

"Damn it!" Feng Xinglie couldn't help but grit his teeth and swear. It was already late autumn, and the mountains were overgrown with weeds. Even under the wildflowers, there were many withered grass branches. Once they were set on fire, one could imagine the speed at which a wildfire would spread. The ferocious tongues of fire would howl and spread extremely quickly in the night mountain wind. There was no need for anyone to attack from the front. A single fire could destroy all the traps and make them all die. I wonder which bastard came up with such a vicious idea!

Feng Xinglie finally understood the true meaning of 'a single spark can start a prairie fire'. The flames, like a thousand horses galloping, were fueled by the mountain wind and were not much slower than a real fast horse. The towering flames instantly turned the entire valley into a sea of fire. But this was not the time for rewards. They were now waiting to be roasted alive. No matter how capable they were, they could not escape.

Once the fire starts, it won't be extinguished in a short time. The flowers are about half a person tall. If a fire starts in the valley, it won't stop for at least a day. By then, even if you're not burned to death, you'll definitely be suffocated by the thick smoke!

"Xing Lie!" The two men on either side grabbed her arms tightly. Feng Xing Lie felt a numbness in her shoulders and realized that she was immobilized by the two men. She was furious.

What do you want to do?

She wasn't unprepared; Yao Tianlin's martial arts were far superior to hers, so even if Feng Xinglie was on guard, it wouldn't have mattered.

Fortunately, they were of one mind. Faced with such a scene and Feng Xinglie's murderous gaze, they were still able to remain calm and composed, staring intently at her as if they wanted to imprint her image into their souls for life. At the same time, their calm yet profound voices rang out.

"Even if it kills me, I will protect you!"

The flames drew ever closer, their scorching heat gradually affecting them. The hope of survival seemed so slim at this moment. The two men, unusually united, their eyes, illuminated by the firelight, were equally resolute, like an immovable rock. This was certainly not the situation Feng Xinglie wanted to see, and he had no time to feel moved.

“We’ll each carry you a section, and we’ll go as far as we can. My brother Yao’s lightness skill is quite good, so we should be able to get you outside.”

"Xinglie, don't be angry with us now. With your skills, you might not die if you go out, and we might not fall halfway." Knowing that there was no time to lose, the two of them picked her up and set off immediately, but they were so startled by a thunderous roar that they didn't even have time to gather their true energy.

"Bullshit!" Feng Xinglie was so angry he was practically fuming. He cursed, "What a load of rubbish! Anyone who dares to enter the ring of fire will surely be suffocated! Besides, so what if she went out alone? Do they think those Qing Kingdom soldiers are just for show? What if they cripple her martial arts and send her back to be a military prostitute? I'd rather be burned to death!"

"If you dare to take a single step, I will immediately sever my own heart meridian!" In the hoarse voice, the face illuminated by the red light was filled with murderous intent, revealing a unique and cruel beauty.