Nuit éternelle

Chapitre 17

Led by Xi Suifeng, the Flame Cavalry rushed back to Liecheng, leading the Lie Army to coordinate with the Ling Army and the 200,000 new troops led by Feng Xinglie, launching a pincer attack that isolated Baihui Pass. If the pace of the frontal assault was well controlled, it would only be a matter of time before the city was breached.

After exchanging a few words with Xi Suifeng and the others, Feng Xinglie finally saw them off. Looking up, she saw a clear moon shining brightly. She had no intention of returning to camp and wandered around aimlessly for a while. Before she knew it, she had wandered to the riverbank where Ling Yuxiang had brought her that day.

The Nanfan River is a long river that runs through three kingdoms. She jumped off Zijin Mountain that day, but she did not expect that there was a branch of the Nanfan River at the bottom of the cliff of Zijin Mountain. She drifted along the river and entered the Nanfan River.

The great river flows into one, but the world is torn apart, with fighting, strife, and bloodshed continuing until how long?

The night wind was still cold and strong, and she couldn't help but shiver. She looked up and froze on the spot.

Under the tree ahead, a handsome man, his entire body ablaze with fiery red, was quietly watching her. In the darkness, the lines of his handsome face were somewhat blurred, but anyone familiar with him could recognize him at a glance. Who could easily forget this man after seeing him? How could she not remember those bright, fiery eyes?

The two had known each other for so long, but this was the first time they had gazed at each other silently without saying a word.

Without even asking him why he was there, Feng Xinglie knew he had come to find her.

"I'm fine."

“But I have something to do.” Ling Yuxiang walked up to her, his expression unreadable in the moonlight, and pointed to his chest: “My heart is aching.”

Why are you in pain?

"Because you never like to talk about the pain you feel."

Feng Xinglie felt a mix of emotions—bitterness, sweetness, and spiciness—and he didn't know what expression he was wearing, only that he seemed to be smiling.

"Yu Xiang, do I, a person like me, deserve to speak of pain? I've long been numb. I became numb the moment I picked up a sword and spear and faced the enemy time and time again. All those who wanted my life died by my hand. At that time, I knew I had embarked on a path of no return, and I also realized that those who kill will be killed in return. I am not omniscient or omnipotent. Too many people have died by my hand or because of me. It is only natural for anyone to seek revenge at any time. In Qin, I knew the consequences I would cause, yet I suppressed my true feelings and selfishly watched Qin Han hand me a cup of poisoned wine. Knowing there was something wrong, I drank it without hesitation, waiting for him to push me to the brink, waiting for Qin to fall into chaos because of me. As a result, so many lives on the border were destroyed. Those refugees were grateful to me and worshipped me immensely. Little did they know that I was also largely responsible for their suffering. And I knew all this, yet I still went my own way and remained indifferent. Tell me, how can a cold-blooded person like me deserve to speak of pain?"

The moonlight, so white and transparent, shone on Feng Xinglie's exquisitely beautiful face, yet it revealed a hint of sorrow.

"I knew there were so many innocent people at Baihui Pass this time, but I didn't hesitate for a second! No matter how strict the army's discipline, it can't completely stop the burning, killing, and looting after entering the city. Everyone has greed, and those refugees are just the lowest class of people. I know all too well what will happen. Those young women in the city were defiled and murdered, and the homeless became the victims of the jubilant army's wanton slaughter. The streets and alleys were filled with tragic bloodshed. Then our victorious army can step on this blood and enter Baihui Pass, writing a perfect chapter in history as victors. After fighting for so many years, I can almost recite these things by heart. So why should I feel pain?"

The temperature of his fingertips was extremely hot, and Feng Xinglie trembled slightly. Ling Yuxiang's hand gently caressed her cheek, as if touching a rare treasure. His eyes, like luminous pearls, were fixed on her, unwilling to look away for a long time, and his gentle words echoed in her ears:

"Lie, you're too smart, too clear-headed. So clear-headed that you can't even deceive yourself. So smart that you cruelly force yourself to do things you can't bear. It's precisely because you're so smart that you understand the consequences even better. And because you're smart, you know exactly what you want, so you never hesitate in your actions. You seem ruthless and heartless, but you're actually carrying the deepest wounds. You can't turn a blind eye to pointless casualties, nor can you stop them. You can only use your cruelty to tear through the pretense, decisive and resolute. Others may not understand, but please believe me, I understand you, I truly understand you..."

He gently pulled her into his arms with his long, slender arm, but Feng Xinglie awkwardly blocked him slightly, biting his lip and saying in a muffled, hoarse voice, "My body is stained with the blood of those people."

Ling Yuxiang was taken aback, but immediately used even more force, hugging her tightly and imprisoning her completely. His bright gaze was like two beautiful shackles, determined to lock her in forever. He chuckled softly, "What are you afraid of? Your blood flows in my heart too."

Held warmly in his arms, Feng Xinglie's sadness vanished, replaced by a sweet and happy tone in his voice: "How do you always manage to untangle my knots?"

Ling Yuxiang grimaced and said dejectedly, "I have to hang myself from this rope, are you trying to make my death uncomfortable with all these knots?"

Feng Xinglie scoffed, saying coolly, "Then why don't you go and change the rope?"

Ling Yuxiang glared at her, his hot breath hitting her face: "You heartless little thing, I'm already a wandering ghost, and you just want to abandon me?"

The magnified handsome face was right in front of him. The man's extremely masculine aura made Feng Xinglie's body tremble slightly involuntarily. Fortunately, it was night and it was dark so he couldn't see clearly. But the temperature on his face didn't lie to him. He felt his cheeks burning hot, and his breathing became erratic. How could he not notice this? He wanted to break free from his embrace, but for some reason, he couldn't break free.

"Lie..." The husky and sexy call made his head even hotter. Ling Yuxiang's eyes were like magnets, able to draw people in completely. As Feng Xinglie watched him get closer and closer, his head suddenly went blank, and everything turned into mush.

[Border Storm: Chapter Thirty-Four - Bewilderment and Passion]

The hot touch on his lips was gentle and careful. He was afraid of scaring her, so he touched her slowly and gently. Feng Xinglie felt his face turn completely red, and his heart felt like it was being gnawed by a million ants. It was so itchy that he trembled and his nerves were stretched to the limit. He was so sensitive that even the slightest movement could cause him to tremble uncontrollably.

Her body was completely out of her control; her arms involuntarily wrapped around Ling Yuxiang's neck and gently encircled him. As if encouraged, he suddenly changed from gently licking to pressing tightly against her.

The scorching, alluring fire suddenly blazed, darkening the sky and the earth. In her dazed state, she parted her red lips and let out an unbearable moan. Ling Yuxiang's eyes were already burning with passion. Such closeness, the fresh and elegant fragrance emanating from her body, and the alluring sound of her voice—how could he possibly resist? He had been wanting to do this for a long time. What man wouldn't yearn for a kiss with the woman he loved?

His strong arms tightly encircled her slender waist, while his other hand firmly supported the back of her neck from behind, leaving her no room to escape. When he kissed her again, his actions were more domineering and intense. Ignoring her almost powerless resistance, he probed into her mouth, entwining her soft and slippery lips with his own.

The overwhelming pleasure of their lips meeting instantly drowned out reason. Her hand, which landed on his shoulder as if in protest, tightened its grip with negligible force, only further fueling his desire. His advances intensified, becoming increasingly chaotic, and he was on the verge of madness. A thousand words burned and melted in this kiss that penetrated to the very marrow of his bones.

Emotions have stirred, thoughts are in turmoil, the heart is heavy, desires have been aroused—a raging fire, how can it be extinguished?

Feng Xinglie was almost intoxicated by his kisses, lost in the hot and intimate atmosphere. His outstretched hand seemed to both resist and welcome her. His seemingly domineering entanglement was actually incredibly gentle, revealing a deep love and tolerance, and he did not want her to be hurt in any way.

Even though he was so engrossed in the kiss that he couldn't think straight, Feng Xinglie still knew clearly that if she really told him to stop, no matter how intense the passion was, he really wouldn't continue.

Her eyes reddened slightly, and a deep emotion welled up inside her, turning into a bittersweet feeling that rushed into her nose. Her whole body went limp, and all her weight was given to the man before her. His arms were so strong and reliable that she couldn't harbor any doubts. She hadn't felt this kind of peace and happiness in so many years.

The passion lingered, sometimes gentle, sometimes intense, a fiery and tender embrace, kissing even the very soul. No need for vows of eternal love; the deepest imprint had already been etched into the heart. Even so, it was still not enough.

"Ugh..." The low moan before suffocation brought Ling Yuxiang back to his senses. He reluctantly released her, only to find that his breathing was also chaotic.

Ha, when he gets crazy, he's not much different from the one in front of him. Ling Yuxiang looked at the person he was kissing, who was panting and blushing, with great satisfaction.

The playful smile in those incredibly charming, narrow phoenix eyes infuriated Feng Xinglie. What a damning rumor! What a womanizer! This guy…this guy is clearly a seasoned womanizer, a notorious womanizer! His kissing skills are amazing, and he says he doesn't touch women? Nobody believes that!

Damn it! Absolutely despicable!

Although she lacked experience, she was still a modern person from the 21st century! To be kissed so passionately by an ancient man, she should just buy a block of tofu and smash her head against it!

Moreover, this kiss threw everything into chaos, and the jealousy flared up even more fiercely.

"Tell me! How many women have you been with before? What was the relationship like with each of them? Don't try to fool me! If you dare to hide anything, I'll beat you into a panda!" Feng Xinglie exuded a considerable amount of sourness, waving his fists menacingly, looking quite frightening.

Ling Yuxiang stared at her blankly, blinked, and finally came to his senses. But he couldn't help but burst into laughter, his loud voice carrying far and wide.

"You, you, you, you...you dare to laugh again and see what happens!" Enraged, the person raised their foot as if to kick.

“Lie.” He smiled, his eyes crinkling, and stared at her with delight. “I’m so happy that you care about me.”

Feng Xinglie felt dizzy and weak, and could barely stand. Why did this guy only pick the good interpretations?! Her anger was just ignored like that?

Ling Yuxiang's gaze was gentle yet earnest as he said solemnly, "Before you, I have never been attracted to any other woman. As for those... well, I don't even remember their names, so how could I keep them in my heart? I know you probably wouldn't like that, but you won't dwell on the past. I promise you here that I will never have anyone else but you, okay?"

Even with his thick skin, Feng Xinglie's face slowly turned red after hearing such explicit words.

"You...you're kidding me, I...I didn't say I wanted to..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, lacking strength, until finally she ran out of breath.

Ling Yuxiang couldn't help but tremble, and then burst into loud laughter.

Feng Xing stomped his foot angrily, his heart filled with rage. Seeing that he had been laughing for a long time and still showed no sign of stopping, he grabbed his clothes, pulled him down, and bit his angular lips hard. "I'll make you laugh!"

The slight sting and fishy smell reignited his fiery passion. How could Ling Yuxiang not take advantage of such a bargain? He kissed his way down her full, sweet lips again. However, this time, the stubborn girl seemed unwilling to passively endure it. Instead, she explored his mouth and teased his desire, instantly igniting the flames of passion.

Passionate and infatuated.

Under the bright, white moonlight, the two separated once again, panting, the result being a draw.

"Hmph!" Feng Xinglie licked his swollen red lips and said fiercely, "One day I'll get my revenge!"

Ling Yuxiang found it laughable. No matter how you look at it, he was the one who benefited the most. Where did he lose out?

"Then I'll wait."

"Before that, if you dare to kiss this person or that person again, watch out..."

Her lips were captured in his mouth again, but without pausing, he gently bit her lips as if punishing her. He smiled faintly and said, "You don't trust me that much? Although I am an exceptionally good man, I am not someone you can have just anyone."

"Then why do I remember that every time Sui Feng looked at me, someone would give off a super unpleasant sour smell? Does that mean I can be anyone?" Feng Xinglie feigned confusion with a chilly expression.

"Hey, you..."

Seeing that Ling Yuxiang had finally been humiliated, Feng Xinglie couldn't help but burst into laughter. His eyes suddenly became incredibly deep, and his voice was unpredictable:

"However, we still have a big task to do..."

Ling Yuxiang trembled upon hearing this, looking over in disbelief. His tense body and increasingly heavy breathing betrayed the shock in his heart.

“That is, cough cough~” Feng Xinglie laughed with an extremely “cunning” smile.

"For the sake of all people, let us attack Baihui Pass and march towards a peaceful and prosperous world!"

The budding infatuation was shattered by those words, leaving Ling Yuxiang both amused and exasperated. Only Feng Xinglie could scheme against him at a time like this!

In a fit of rage, he grabbed the person and kissed him fiercely again.

Forget about all those "big things"! Who can resist this unforgettable tenderness at this moment?

[Border Storm: Chapter Thirty-Five - The Loneliness of a Hero]

As it turns out, playing with fire is never a good thing, and jumping into the river in the middle of the night to quell lust is hardly an honorable thing. In fact, the open-minded Feng Xinglie didn't care much about etiquette and chastity, but seeing the restrained care and cherishing in Ling Yuxiang's eyes, he was moved, and his body acted faster than his mind. He simply and decisively grabbed Ling Yuxiang by the collar and threw him into the Nanfan River.

She may not care about her reputation, and he may not care about the world's opinion, but he is unwilling to let her suffer any injustice. A man who has a woman in his heart will certainly want her, but he wants to give her the best even more. So he wants her, but definitely not now.

In this situation, to make him feel better, we had no choice but to ask someone to take a cold shower.

Ling Yuxiang, his clothes soaked, climbed ashore with a helpless yet delighted smile. Looking at Feng Xinglie, who was still squinting and chuckling like a lazy cat that had just stolen some fish, he suddenly felt annoyed that he had gone along with her wishes.

Don't let me catch you next time, or I'll devour you whole! Ling Yuxiang thought viciously, his handsome face dark with rage.

Soaked to the bone, they could no longer enjoy the moonlight, and the two immediately returned to their respective camps.

In the following days, Ling Yuxiang and Feng Xinglie were too busy with the hasty deployment of troops to spare any attention.

This attack on Baihui Pass emphasizes speed and a surprise attack to achieve victory. If the generals of Baihui Pass were to learn of their intentions, given the pass's terrain, which is easily defended and difficult to attack due to its surrounding mountains, taking it would inevitably come at a great cost.

Although Feng Xinglie said he saw through the casualties, he couldn't bear it in his heart. The sooner they launched the operation, the better it would be for them. The faster they could seize the city, the sooner they could grasp the situation inside the city and avoid a long period of attrition. If they acted quickly, the suffering of the people inside the city could also be reduced.

On the third day, as night fell, Feng Xinglie finally finalized the general movements of all the forces. This offensive line was extremely long. In addition to the city, the 30,000 troops stationed outside Baihui Pass also needed to be guarded against. Although Ling Yuxiang and Feng Xinglie were acting together, they did not question each other's tactics at all. The two were responsible for different parts, and they tacitly agreed not to inquire about each other's methods.

As long as the goal is achieved, that's enough. They're not three-year-old kids; do they need to be kept so tightly under control? Those so-called care and constraints disguised as love are most likely to create distance or even suspicion. Neither of them can stand that kind of thing.

Now that you've accepted it, why can't you trust them? Why can't you confidently entrust the burden to them?

Who is Feng Xinglie? And who is Ling Yuxiang?

Since they can see things clearly and understand everything, why do they need to keep whining and worrying all day long? Smart people can often understand each other with just a glance. If they really care, they will understand what the other person wants. If they really care, they will not disrespect the other person's thoughts and make irresponsible comments under the guise of love.

Shoulder to shoulder, soaring together, open and honest, straightforward and decisive.

How could one not feel joy from the bottom of one's heart to have such a close confidant who dares to love and trust?

Ling Yuxiang, who came to exchange military strategies, knew Feng Xinglie's thoughts and cooperated in setting up a battle net. He glanced at her arrangement, and although he had no intention of interfering, he couldn't help but shake his head and sigh: "You've been fighting for so long, do you know that you have a huge weakness?"

Feng Xinglie smiled faintly, unconvinced: "You mean you cherish your generals and your soldiers, seemingly ruthless, yet always leaving the enemy with the greatest leeway?"

"Since you know this, why do you still like to take risks and always choose unconventional strategies to win?" Ling Yuxiang was not surprised by Feng Xinglie's clear-headedness, but there was still a knot in his heart. That day, he suspected that Feng Xinglie subconsciously did not care about his life and death, and now, seeing this, this worry was even greater.

Her strategies were incredibly meticulous, perfectly suited for defeating overwhelming odds, and she possessed a profound understanding of her subordinates, even surpassing his in skill in command—truly remarkable. However, the process was intricate and complex; a single move could have far-reaching consequences. It could result in either a resounding victory, a triumphant win with several times the manpower and minimal casualties, or a crushing defeat, utterly annihilated! Her personal talent played a significant role; in short, the battles she fought required direct command from herself or someone at her level.

But what if something happens to her? What if no one connects these intricate threads?

He saw the flaws in Feng Xinglie's formation. Feng Xinglie was not surprised, but just shook his head and smiled: "Yu Xiang, you and I are not the same kind of people, and our methods are naturally different. There is nothing perfect in this world, and there is no such thing as certain victory or certain defeat. It only depends on how far each person can see and how far they can calculate, and whether they can calmly deal with it."

She pointed to Ling Yuxiang's strategic layout, her eyes sparkling with excitement: "Take your strategy, for example. It's based on the overall situation, a steady and methodical advance, with almost no chance of any unexpected events. But in terms of speed, you're far from sufficient. Speed is of the essence in war, and your approach would generally have a high success rate in most battles. However, to capture Baihui Pass today, this long-term main offensive still needs to be led by me. Your command skills are not as good as mine, and my understanding of the overall situation is not as good as yours. We each have our strengths, and the difference in success or failure is not significant. After all, we've both calculated many steps ahead. Although we can't achieve perfection, it's simply a pipe dream for outsiders to break through our lines."

Her voice was so proud, arrogant, and conceited, yet it didn't make people feel disgusted at all. On the contrary, it made people marvel at her intelligence. Feng Xinglie narrowed his beautiful eyes, lazily rested his chin on his hand, and grinned happily, saying, "I used to be praised as a genius of our time. Almost no one could see my flaws, but Yu Xiang, you could see them at a glance. Strangely, I wasn't unhappy at all. Instead, I felt surprisingly relaxed and happy."

Ling Yuxiang saw her eyes sparkling with brilliance. That stunningly beautiful woman exuded unparalleled charm and vitality. He was completely captivated, unable to look away, and all his worries vanished. He gently put his arm around her shoulder, his voice full of doting affection: "Heroes have always been lonely. If they can't find someone who understands them, how can they be happy standing at the top with a mere empty title? Now I know you and understand you, how could you not be happy? Besides, I've guessed what you're thinking, and haven't you guessed what I'm thinking too? I, Ling Yuxiang, am also a war god. If I were inferior to you, would you even look at me!"

He first sighed slightly at the hero's lonely words, then Feng Xinglie glared at him sideways and said, "You make me sound like a snob."

Ling Yuxiang laughed: "That's not called being snobbish, it's just that you're too outstanding. But I have to thank you for being so outstanding, outshining all other men, otherwise I wouldn't be where I am now." He leaned in and sniffed her neck a few times, teasingly saying: "You smell so good, so sweet. Smelling your scent, I just don't understand how people can't see that you're a stunning beauty."