Nuit éternelle

Chapitre 16

The desert winds whipped at Qingli's long hair. Every year at this time, he would come here, staring at the endless expanse of yellow, a color so pure it couldn't be purer, for whole days and whole days...

He clenched his teeth, and a streak of bright red, incongruous with his style, sprang from his tightly clenched fingertips, dripping into the sand and disappearing in an instant.

I clearly warned you! I clearly reminded you! Why won't you listen!

An emperor is an emperor. No matter how outstanding Qin Han is, or how deep his feelings for you are, he can't escape the common fate, especially since he doesn't even know you are...

Xinglie, are you really dead? You really won't pat me on the shoulder again and say that we are the best of friends, maybe not before, but now and forever?

Do you know that I have never considered you a friend? Never!

Your arrogant and unrestrained demeanor has long been etched into my heart, an indelible mark. Three thousand iron cavalry, you laughed it off; the desolate desert, you showed no fear. That spirit and style captivated me, filled me with admiration, made me… Do you know, ever since you rescued me, I have…

"General! General! Urgent report!" A burly man shouted from afar, his face flushed red, swallowing hard. His excited roar sounded like a wolf howling in the desert. "It's about Commander Feng!"

"What!" Qingli was shocked. Her figure blurred, and she transformed into a streak of green, leaping forward...

==========I am that gorgeous dividing line==========

A few days after the incident with Hong Qi, Ling Yuxiang pretended to thoroughly investigate the entire army. To show his sincerity, Feng Xinglie led more than ten members of the Flame Cavalry to pay a formal visit, ostensibly to discuss important matters.

As soon as they entered the tent, Ling Yuxiang's red robes flashed into view, his handsome face magnified and close enough to captivate millions of girls.

"You're finally here!" Her joyful and happy smile made him dizzy. He took her fair hand and held it in his palm, pulling her into his arms with lightning speed. He didn't care that the person who came with Feng Xinglie was already looking annoyed. He clung to her without hesitation and said, "Lie, I missed you so much."

Feng Xinglie felt a sweet warmth in his heart, but he couldn't save face. He blushed and pushed him away, saying, "You...you're going to die...get away from me! It's only been a few days, what's there to think about?"

"Four days and six hours, don't you miss me at all?" It's amazing that he can remember the time so clearly, but Ling Yuxiang's face full of disappointment and grievance makes one feel even more disgusted.

"I... I didn't mean it either... sigh!" Feng Xinglie was at her wits' end. When this guy got shameless, she really had no way to deal with him. Her outstretched hand stopped in mid-air, and she had no choice but to give up the idea of throwing him out and change the subject: "Prince Ling, those 200,000 refugees are still waiting for us to make arrangements. Please, have some mercy and stop making trouble, okay?"

Ling Yuxiang raised an eyebrow and smiled, his gaze sweeping over her with an even more domineering air. He turned and helped her sit on the leopard-skin rug. Although he didn't make any more intimate moves, he held her hand tightly and refused to let go. Feng Xinglie rolled her eyes, unable to resist him.

"Generals, please come in."

Ling Yuxiang gave a friendly greeting to Xi Suifeng and the others who had just entered the tent. In the blink of an eye, he became composed and dignified, exuding an air of authority and a subtle kingly aura. It was clear at a glance that he already possessed the demeanor of a great general. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, Xi Suifeng and the others would probably have seriously doubted whether the Ling Yuxiang they had just seen was an imposter.

Ye Piao's face was cold and expressionless. Zi Mo was already numb. After the two of them suddenly appeared intimately in the tent that day, they finally got to know the prince they had served for so many years in a new light. It's true what they say that people in love have IQs that drop to zero! Although the prince hadn't reached that point yet, his constant flattery and sweet words made them shiver and feel dizzy. In just a few days, they had gotten more goosebumps than in the previous ten years combined.

Xi Suifeng entered the tent, his gaze fixed on Feng Xinglie with a somewhat somber expression. Seeing the mixture of anger, sweetness, and even dependence on the man on her face, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Despite a bitter feeling in his chest, he had to say, "That's wonderful."

That's great! You finally have someone you can rely on. That's great! You no longer have to carry everything alone. That's great! Finally, there's someone who can stand on the same level as you, who can be your equal, who understands your thoughts, who knows everything about you, and who is genuinely devoted to you...

His eyes shone so brightly when he looked at you, revealing so much undisguised emotion and fervor. I didn't quite understand the complex feelings he conveyed, but I could deeply feel that he truly cherished and loved you.

Even if that person isn't me, so what? I've always known that my personality is completely unsuitable for you, and I've never thought that way. Xi Suifeng's life is yours, and I will always protect you. As long as you're happy, what could I possibly be dissatisfied with?

Moving her gaze, she landed on the man dressed in fiery red. Coincidentally, he was also observing her with a playful look in his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips. He gave her a reassuring and earnest look – she needed her help.

Ling Yuxiang was taken aback. His gaze lingered on Xi Suifeng for a moment, but he sighed inwardly. This man had probably already given everything for Feng Xinglie, yet he was so selfless and devoted to her. Such loyalty and affection were destined to have no future. How could one not feel sorry for him?

But he will absolutely not give up, never!

He nodded slightly in response, and then looked at Xi Suifeng's expression, which was full of deep respect and determination.

Xi Suifeng smiled faintly. With such magnanimity and wisdom, Ling Yuxiang, the God of War of Daling, truly deserves to be called a hero of our time, on par with Xing Lie.

Between men, a single glance or gesture can often convey their attitude and express their feelings.

Ling Yuxiang and Xi Suifeng are both upright and courageous men. What do real men have to fear from gossip and dare not be upright and honorable?

Most people in the room were somewhat aware of the flirtatious exchanges between the two, but they were all a little confused by what they saw.

Strange, aren't these two supposed to be rivals for love? It's one thing that they didn't fight like crazy, and it's another that they didn't exchange sarcastic remarks, but instead they seem like old friends, their gazes filled with respect and openness. This... this is really strange.

Others might not understand, but Feng Xinglie saw it all clearly. Deep in her heart, she felt a surge of emotion, followed by a surge of warmth. Countless feelings of happiness welled up within her. At this moment, she was truly grateful that she could live in this world.

To have Xi Suifeng's selfless devotion and Ling Yuxiang's unreserved love, and to have them understand and respect each other—what could be more gratifying for her? She had considered the issues between the two, but it wouldn't be fair to either of them if she brought them up. Only they could resolve and communicate with each other.

These two men are people she can't let go of, and they've never disappointed her, no matter what!

A deep sense of emotion filled the air, and before I knew it, my eyes were already a little red.

Suddenly, her hand tightened. Ling Yuxiang squeezed Feng Xinglie's hand to draw her attention and gave her a knowing smile.

"Speaking of these 200,000 refugees, what do you plan to do?"

[Border Storm: Chapter Thirty-Two - Another Shock]

Today, Ling Yuxiang's tent was the liveliest it had been in days. Not only did more than a dozen Flame Riders arrive, but the Dark Pavilion, having heard rumors of their impending arrival, had also left more than ten men inside. The four Flying Feather Cavalry generals, Ling Xiang, Ling Ke, Ling Tian, and Ling Fang, were also present. As elite personal guard units, how could they not be tempted to compete? With the addition of Ma Zhiyun and Han Ruo, two somewhat confused men, the meeting was quite lively and engaging.

They had long heard of how outstanding the Flame Riders were, but Ling Ke and the others, including Ling Yuxiang, were very curious about how Feng Xinglie had trained them to be so excellent, both in literature and martial arts, with sharp minds, each of them an extraordinary all-rounder.

But upon seeing this scene, Ye Piao and the others, who had initially been envious, suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, extremely grateful that they hadn't become members of the Blazing Riders.

Feng Xinglie, his handsome face stern, slapped Ling Yuxiang's thigh hard (the table was too far away), and angrily berated the dozen or so people: "Very good, very good, you all certainly had the skills, ambition, and sense of righteousness all along! Have your brains all rusted after not seeing you for a while? What happened to the observation, analysis, preparation, and backup plans I taught you? Did you just crumple them up and throw them away like waste paper? Did you not need to exercise your thinking and discuss things together when I wasn't around? What did I say before? Every member of the Blazing Flame Riders has to use their brains! Don't count on those few people; when you're alone, you can only rely on yourselves. You dare to slack off! Hmph, hmph!"

Regarding the whereabouts of the refugee army and the Flame Army, as usual, she asked them to analyze it themselves. The result gave Feng Xinglie a big "surprise"! These strategies really made her furious. She was lucky to have discovered it early today. If this continued, the entire Flame Cavalry might become all brawn and no brains. All the talents she had painstakingly cultivated over the past ten years would suddenly become worthless. Wouldn't she be so frustrated that she wanted to bang her head against the wall?

From Xi Suifeng and Luo Yun all the way to Yue Yi at the very end, no one dared to breathe loudly. They lowered their heads in perfect unison. Judging from their posture, they must have "trained" hundreds or thousands of times. Even the angle of their heads was perfect and coordinated.

Ye Piao and the others could feel the dampness on their backs. It was amazing that these people could still listen to the teachings without changing their expressions. If it were them, they would be so ashamed that they would want to find a hole to crawl into and never see anyone again.

The Flame Riders didn't expect Feng Xinglie to give them any face. They had indeed been slacking off lately, and feeling guilty, none of them dared to say a word. You see, although Feng Xinglie was usually easygoing and approachable, when it came to discussing matters and training their skills, he was a complete sadist!

"Sui Feng!" Just as he was thinking this, Feng Xinglie began calling out names with a pale face.

Xi Suifeng's expression turned serious, and he stepped forward with a wry smile.

"Do you know where you went wrong?" Feng Xinglie angrily took the cup of tea that Ling Yuxiang handed him after observing his expression, and gulped down a few mouthfuls, afraid that he would be driven to death by these brainless kids.

"We shouldn't prioritize our own interests while neglecting the interests of the people, and now we're going to bring you eternal infamy..."

"Pfft...Stop, stop, stop!" Feng Xinglie felt goosebumps rising all over his body, and he spat out a mouthful of tea. He rubbed his temples, ignoring the fact that Ling Yuxiang's face was twitching from the pain, and continued to slap Ling Yuxiang's thigh forcefully (poor little Xiang, you're so pitiful), stopping him from continuing: "Don't you feel numb coming out of these grand words of benevolence and righteousness? What's shameful about becoming an independent king in this chaotic world? How hypocritical! Hypocritical! The Great Ling Emperor has been king for less than a hundred years, and now who dares to say that the Ling Emperor Ancestor betrayed his promise? History books are always just tools for the victors to write their glorious deeds. Whether I am benevolent or moral depends only on whether I succeed or not! The victor is king, the loser is a bandit. Do I need to repeat such a simple truth? You keep giving me this set of feudal ethics. I've wasted all these years teaching you!"

"I know you understand my intentions and are considering the well-being of the people, but if I were to lead an army of 200,000 refugees and soldiers to establish myself as king, occupy a territory, and govern it well, coupled with the reputation of the Great Qin King serving as a warning to the world, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. What angers me is your methods! Too soft! Too weak! Too slow! Too stupid! The ruthlessness and ruthlessness I taught you, the willingness to use any means to achieve your goals, you've all thrown them to the winds!"

Those who know Feng Xinglie wouldn't be intimidated by her arrogant and conceited tone. Ma Zhiyun and Han Ruo, however, were pitiful. These two simple-minded men had never doubted Feng Xinglie's gender from beginning to end, and were wondering why Prince Ling's attitude and behavior towards Feng Xinglie was so strange. Now, they stared even more intently at this terrifying person. Good heavens! Was he really going to flaunt his talents like this?! Not offering a single word of refusal or humility. While it might not be entirely untrue, wasn't this Great Qin War God a little too narcissistic?

The members of the Dark Pavilion knew her, but they were still shocked once again.

To declare herself king! She says it so naturally and logically! That's treason! Judging from her tone, if she doesn't commit treason, how can she be considered hypocritical? This sounds utterly illogical and unreasonable on a normal day! But setting aside these superficial principles and looking at her approach more deeply, isn't what she says wrong?

Of course not, absolutely right! Not just a little bit right! Look at the history books now, look at those emperors who achieved great things, and then think about the current situation. If Feng Xinglie were to be hesitant and indecisive, spouting platitudes about benevolence and morality… a chill would run down my spine. He really is… hypocritical!

Ye Piao took a deep breath. What a perfect example of "the winner takes all, the loser is nothing!" He now understood why Feng Xinglie had mentioned the Great Ling Kingdom. She was giving them a reminder, making those of them who always had some strange feelings understand the situation clearly, willingly cast aside the shackles of the nation, and understand the prince's thoughts and actions.

Did everyone support the Great Ling Emperor when he first declared himself emperor? A country only gains recognition as it gradually expands and becomes stronger. When the Great Ling Ancestor first became emperor, wasn't he met with universal condemnation and constant criticism? But what happened later? What was the situation like when the country became powerful?

Ye Piao's eyes were slightly misty. This person was always so straightforward, so direct, so unconcerned with pretense. Her words often seemed shocking and unconventional, yet they were always incisive and entirely true. Her carefree attitude was so refreshing that it made people feel good just watching her. She was clearly extremely arrogant, but her extreme wisdom made everything seem perfectly reasonable. Although what she said always defied common sense, when she spoke it, even the most twisted logic became the truth.

She seemed to possess a kind of magic, drawing everyone's attention to her. Unconsciously, she captivated everyone's gaze, whether it was the prince's, the Flame Riders', the surrounding Dark Pavilion members', or even his...

Ling Yuxiang gazed intently at the person before him, a genuine smile of joy spreading across his lips. How many more surprises will you give me? How much more will I fall for you? Your decisiveness, your arrogance, your openness, your wisdom—everything about you is captivating and awe-inspiring. Even if you were to set up a trap and openly tell people, they would willingly jump in, because you are the one who set it up!

With just a few words, you once again astonished everyone, leaving them in awe and forced to acknowledge your talent, Feng Xinglie. You never play by the rules, yet you can create such an effect with even the simplest of situations. You truly are…

How could you not understand the Flame Riders? Could you really not fathom their answers? If I didn't know you so well, if I didn't understand the situation now and grasp your intention to intimidate, I'm afraid I would have been completely fooled. Thinking this, Ling Yuxiang's thoughts drifted to the times Feng Xinglie had schemed against him, and his smile deepened.

"And you, Luo Yun!" Feng Xinglie let Xi Suifeng go, and immediately his sharp gaze shifted to the back of the room. Luo Yun forced himself to step forward, bowing his head repeatedly, wishing he could lower it to the ground. He no longer looked like a glorious general of ten thousand men; he looked like a brat who had made a mistake and was waiting to be punished by his parents!

"You're considered a strategist in my Flame Cavalry, so you should have a good understanding of the overall situation. How could your suggestion be so ill-considered! It's one thing for Sui Feng to tell me to become king, but you actually want me to make Liecheng my capital! I don't deny that Liecheng is a good place, but what about the refugee army? Two hundred thousand of them! Where are you going to find a place to stuff them in? Besides, that's the border of Da Ling, the border between two sides! Do you know what that means? You think my fight with Yu Xiang isn't enough, so you want us to officially start a war?"

Ling Yuxiang, who was in pain from being slapped, suddenly fixed his gaze on her upon hearing the last sentence. His eyes hardened and he stared back fiercely. "You dare to instruct my shrew to murder her husband? Are you tired of living?"

Luo Yun was already annoyed by a huffy glare, but now he was met with a murderous glare. He couldn't help but shudder, a chill running down his spine. He felt wronged, thinking, "Wasn't I only making this suggestion because of your relationship with Ling Yuxiang, Lord Lie? He holds the military power of the Ling Kingdom's army. The recent internal strife that swept through the Great Ling Kingdom in an instant clearly demonstrated that the emperor is simply not up to the task. Ling Yuxiang is the one who has real influence in Ling Kingdom. He's clearly helping you openly and secretly right now. Would he really be willing to go to war with you?"

How could he not see through Luo Yun's thoughts? Feng Xinglie shook his head with a look of utter disappointment: "Your vision is still too short-sighted! Although I don't agree with completely putting aside personal feelings, if it gets entangled in national affairs, it's a tangled mess. The best way is to prevent the interests of the Lie Army and the Ling Kingdom from clashing. Even if military power is in Yu Xiang's hands, the Ling Kingdom is not just Ling Yu Xiang's country. No matter how illegitimate that emperor is, he is still the emperor! What about the court officials? What about the various lords? What about the various noble families behind the concubines? Do you think they will allow the Lie Army to rise on the border? One person's influence is not enough; if you push them too far, they can unite and cause enough headaches."

"Moreover, most of the Ling army have no idea that my relationship with Yu Xiang is somewhat... complicated. Even if Yu Xiang is not the commander of Ling Kingdom, as long as it is for the national interest, they will choose to cooperate with us. After all, the Lie Army has my name on it, and now there are 200,000 more refugee soldiers. Even if Yu Xiang wanted to swallow us up, there is no guarantee that he wouldn't overeat. For Ling Kingdom, the border is already chaotic enough. It is better to have an ally than an enemy. Originally, they didn't have any hostility towards us. Now you've set up an important stronghold next to their territory. It's no wonder they're so anxious to turn their backs on you."

Luo Yun was surprised to hear this, and forgetting her shame, she frowned and began to think carefully about her shortcomings.

Feng Xinglie took the cup of tea that Ling Yuxiang handed him with a pitiful look, took a few sips, and finally stopped "torturing" him. He snorted and said, "Next!"

Luo Yun stepped back, and Lin Xuan followed behind him, walking up cautiously and maintaining the same posture as Luo Yun, bowing his head to receive the scolding.

Feng Xinglie didn't hold back either, launching into a tirade of criticism and fault-finding. The thirteen Flame Riders were so berated that they didn't dare raise their heads. Ling Yuxiang's personal guards felt incredibly fortunate at that moment! Although the Dark Pavilion's training was exceptionally arduous, compared to this inhuman physical and mental torment, they still felt that the world was truly wonderful. Heaven had truly blessed them; at least they hadn't been born in Qin, and hadn't had the opportunity to be "rescued" and "trained" by Feng Xinglie.

When Feng Xinglie finished recounting the last one, the entire tent was filled with nothing but shock and disbelief, except for Ling Yuxiang and the Flame Riders.

With such a profound and broad vision, and such intricate relationships, Feng Xinglie could clearly and logically analyze and consider each point without contradiction. Just listening to her explanations would be incredibly daunting and tedious for them, yet she saw everything without a single lapse in clarity. Such formidable insight and talent, such profound and far-sighted strategy—could she possibly be inferior to Ling Yuxiang? The battle in Dadu, where a hundred fought against ten thousand, seemed to be brought back to life. The countless battles of wits and strategies between the two heroes of Baihui Pass, seemingly evenly matched, appeared as if they were still yesterday. Who would dare to look at her with suspicion now? Who would dare to underestimate her simply because she was a woman?

At this moment, everyone sighed inwardly, Feng Xinglie truly deserves to be called the Wind King of Great Qin, and truly deserves the title of God of War!

Xi Suifeng had already seen through some of the clues and chuckled, "Xinglie, since you say this won't work and that won't work, you must have come up with your own ideas. Prince Ling has been watching the show from the sidelines, so he must have a plan in mind as well, right?"

The purpose of creating a stir has been achieved, and this show should come to an end.

Feng Xinglie and Ling Yuxiang exchanged a knowing glance, a hint of smugness in their eyes. Almost simultaneously, they pointed to a spot on the map, their voices carrying a chilling and bloodthirsty undertone: "Attack here!"

[Border Storm: Chapter Thirty-Three - Your Blood, My Heart]

Everyone gasped in unison, staring with utter disbelief at the bright red stronghold on the large map.

"Baihui Pass?"

“That’s right, it’s Baihui Pass.” Ling Yuxiang and Feng Xinglie smiled at each other, a strange sense of joy and relief filling their chests. Facing those seemingly incredulous gazes, Ling Yuxiang smiled somewhat heavily.

"To conquer the world, we must act quickly and at a low cost. Liecheng is not suitable for development, so we should seize the most advantageous stronghold with swift and decisive action, deliver a heavy blow to the entire world, and demonstrate our strength through military force so that no country dares to underestimate the Lie Army. Only in this way can we ensure that the Lie Army can truly establish itself in this chaotic world, rather than just relying on the name of the Great Qin King."

Although Feng Xinglie wasn't surprised that Ling Yuxiang and she shared the same opinion, she couldn't help but glance at him happily and continued, "Political power is won through force. Without military deterrence, everything is just empty talk. First, we need to seize Baihui Pass to intimidate all sides. Second, Baihui Pass is a meeting point of three kingdoms, with an exceptionally rich flow of people and goods. All sorts of people gather here. Geographically, it's a good place. The city is large enough and the location is good enough to support the entire Lie Army without any problem. We can also garrison a million soldiers. The terrain is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Once the Lie Army is stationed here, and we recruit more soldiers and become stronger, then no one will have the right to refuse us."

"Third, Ling and Qingqiu have been eyeing Baihui Pass for quite some time now. Wasn't Yu Xiang and Qing Li causing a huge commotion here back then? No matter which of the three kingdoms occupies this place, the other two will be keeping a close eye on it. In comparison, the Lie Army is just a small warlord in a chaotic world, with only one or two cities. If it were our Lie Army that occupied Baihui Pass, the relationship between the three kingdoms wouldn't be as tense as it is now. Instead, they would be waiting for one of them to make a move and for the Lie Army to deal with it. But which of these three kingdoms isn't shrewd and experienced? With our military show of force, who would dare to make a rash move? As soon as the border is relaxed, it will give us room to develop."

"Furthermore, the attack on Baihui by Daling itself would come at a great cost. Occupying the territory would be even more unprofitable, but not occupying it would leave them uneasy. This worry could be greatly alleviated if the Lie Army were to break through Baihui Pass. We can sign an alliance with Ling, agreeing never to invade each other's territory for a hundred years. In the event of war, we can help each other. After the war, Ling can also reap some benefits by signing some trade agreements and preferential conditions. If Ling's army uses this as a pretext to participate in the war, how could Ling's attitude towards our Lie Army not change? This move kills several birds with one stone. Yu Xiang and I would be a win-win situation. Given the current situation, isn't this the best choice?"

His words were delivered in an orderly and confident manner, clearly demonstrating that he had given it considerable thought. Every step was meticulously planned and flawless, with even the smallest details carefully considered. Ling Yuxiang couldn't help but nod in approval.

“But…” Ling Fang, one of the four cavalry generals of the Ling Army, couldn’t help but say, “Baihui Pass is currently in the hands of the Qin state, and there are a large number of soldiers and civilians there. If we launch a surprise attack on the city, the innocent people will not have time to evacuate…”

Feng Xinglie narrowed his eyes slightly, and suddenly exuded a lazy aura, but the hidden coldness and cruelty made people shudder.

“If we don’t fight, it will be those 200,000 refugees who die. The Lie Army has been stationed on the border of Ling Kingdom for a long time without the restraint of the other two countries. Sooner or later, war will break out. As long as the Baihui Pass, a thorn in the side of all nations, is not removed, there will be no peace in the world. This is the consequence of untimely mercy. I think it’s more like womanly compassion!”

A hidden danger was spreading in the shadows, and Feng Xinglie's voice was extremely calm.

“Kill when you should, without hesitation. Sometimes righteousness is just a stumbling block. A butcher’s knife is more effective than a thousand reasons. Where there are people, there will always be conflict. The law of the jungle is the nature of the world. In chaotic times, human life is as worthless as grass. If you really care about human life, why are you still in this military camp, taking other people’s lives with your own hands?”

Ling Fang's face paled slightly. He was about to say something, but when he saw the person with piercing eyes, he ultimately lowered his head. Apart from Ma Zhiyun and Han Ruo, the two big, simple-minded men who didn't quite understand, everyone else present was an exceptional individual. Who could truly not understand? Understanding is one thing, but being able to truly see through things is quite another.

Seeing through things is one thing; being able to let go is another.

The hand being held suddenly tightened. Meeting Ling Yuxiang's worried gaze, Feng Xinglie forced a smile and said, "Don't think that Baihui Pass is so easy to take. Qin Yue treats this place like a treasure. We must concentrate our forces and go all out. If we can't take it in one go, he will definitely send many reinforcements. At that time, given the terrain of Baihui Pass, I'm afraid Yuxiang and I will only be able to watch helplessly."

The stakes are clear, and even if they feel reluctant, it's just lip service. Those people from Baihui Guanzhong aren't relatives of any of them, so who would care about their lives?

At that moment, the generals began to discuss the attack plan with great enthusiasm, each offering their own opinion.