Nuit éternelle

Chapitre 22

Although I couldn't tell the truth, this thank you was sincere.

However, whenever she thought about the current situation, she couldn't help but think of Ling Yuxiang's almost desperate eyes when they parted.

Even a fool could tell he's not doing well. Even without any misunderstanding between them, the uncertainty of her fate is enough to cause him immense pain. Moreover, he might obsessively believe he hasn't considered her needs, that he's abandoned her—and this was her own choice! That foolish man, who knows what he'll do to her!

Hopefully, it won't be another Sui Feng. One white-haired person can be considered a unique sight, but a group of white-haired people can be terrifying. Feng Xinglie made up his mind in frustration: If you dare to appear in front of me looking pale, thin, and malnourished, I will definitely beat you into a panda without any mercy!

However, Ling Yuxiang is not a weak man. Since he knows in his heart that he will definitely take responsibility for his choice, and she is not his only support. It's just that, like her, he is unable to express his pain and can only suffer in silence. His heartache is more intense than that of ordinary people.

Considering this, the heaviness and pain on Feng Xinglie's face were not feigned.

Upon hearing her words, Sister Yun and the maid stared wide-eyed. Those terrifying robbers? A pack of wolves? A sandstorm? Good heavens! Any one of those would be enough to kill someone, and yet she had survived!

The girl looked at Feng Xinglie as if he were a god: "Girl, you are so amazing! This is a miracle among miracles! How did you survive!"

How did he survive? Feng Xinglie smiled seemingly easily, but the pain from his injuries made him frown involuntarily.

Looking back now, she even doubts how she survived.

Losing too much blood and feeling dizzy and lightheaded, how could she have ridden a horse for such a long distance? Her injuries were severe, every inch of her body aching enough to drive her mad, how did she remain conscious and never lose her mind? With no food or water, and a bleak future, how did she manage to suppress her fear and steadfastly maintain her belief?

Feng Xinglie was a strong person to begin with, which was undeniable. More importantly, she had a warm and strong belief supporting her. At the time, she was too weak to think about it, but now she understood it clearly and plainly.

Yu Xiang, oh Yu Xiang, I never knew when you had become so important to me.

To my surprise, someone like me who has always been reluctant to rely on others has unconsciously come to depend on you without feeling awkward at all.

A gentle halo instantly enveloped her face, and she exuded an unimaginable charm.

"The miracles of life need support to be created."

Satisfied to see that Sister Yun and the maid were once again completely captivated by his charm, Feng Xinglie finally asked in a somewhat urgent tone, "How long have I been unconscious? Where is this place? How far is it from Baihui Pass?"

[Homeland of Qin: Chapter 43, Han City of Western Qin]

As he asked the question, Feng Xinglie glanced around thoughtfully and began to analyze the situation as usual.

This was clearly a woman's boudoir, filled with a faint fragrance. It wasn't particularly luxurious, but it didn't resemble a private residence either. The fact that it wasn't in a tent or similar location indicated they had left the desert. While the soundproofing was decent, Feng Xinglie's hearing was exceptionally sharp, and he naturally heard the commotion downstairs clearly. After a moment's thought, he roughly understood the reason.

"Girl, you've been unconscious for over half a month, running a high fever the whole time. Our Sister Yun has been taking care of you like a lover, risking her life for you. Otherwise, you'd probably be reporting to the King of Hell by now." The young girl smiled easily, nudged Sister Yun, and blinked her bright eyes. Sister Yun, I've really made people like you a lot. Whether you accept this girl or not is up to you.

Sister Yun wasn't used to being praised, and her face flushed slightly, but she didn't refuse. After all, she really liked the feeling Feng Xinglie gave her, and she really wanted to recognize this younger sister as her.

"What! More than half a month?" Upon hearing this news, even though he was mentally prepared, Feng Xinglie still couldn't help but exclaim in shock, his heart filled with anxiety and worry. Counting the seven days she wandered in the desert, it had been a full month! So much could have changed in a month! Ling Yuxiang and Xi Suifeng must be extremely worried about not being able to find her, and the overall situation of the world would likely have undergone many changes due to the Battle of Baihui Pass.

With her gone from the army, so many things fell on the shoulders of those two already worried men. She owed them so much, so much that it made Feng Xinglie feel incredibly uncomfortable. At that moment, Feng Xinglie felt like a complete idiot; he had slept like a log for almost a month!

Oh, Sui Feng, I have failed your expectations; Oh, Yu Xiang, I have let you down.

"Cough cough cough..."

In his haste, he couldn't help but taste a metallic sweetness in his throat, which immediately triggered a series of coughs.

Seeing Feng Xinglie's strong reaction, Sister Yun and the young maid were also startled. One busied herself pouring water, while the other gently patted her back. They couldn't help but ask, "Miss, do you perhaps have some important business to attend to?"

Feng Xinglie caught his breath and realized that no matter how anxious he was, his current physical condition would be useless. Looking at his injuries, which had not improved much after nearly a month, he knew that Sister Yun was concerned, but she was probably powerless to help him.

"Sister Yun, what kind of medicine is being used on my injury?" Feng Xinglie asked indirectly.

Both women looked embarrassed at the same time, and their movements froze in mid-air.

With a slight sigh, it seemed she hadn't guessed wrong. Feng Xinglie grinned, casually waving his bloodied hand, and smiled slightly: "You don't need to do this. I know Sister Yun has been taking good care of me. I survived without good medicine, all thanks to you. I'm truly grateful for your help. Without you, I'm afraid I would have died in the desert. If Sister Yun doesn't mind, I'll call you 'sister.' I've always wanted a sister who cares about me."

She wasn't unreasonable. The two women had dark circles under their eyes, and one of them, a young woman in the prime of her life, looked haggard. What else could it be but exhaustion? If she couldn't even see the good intentions that Sister Yun and this girl had for her, then she would truly have no conscience left to be devoured by wolves.

Xiao Huan and Sister Yun were utterly astonished. How could she be so lively and energetic after suffering such a serious injury? It seemed she was truly out of danger. But didn't she feel any pain? And how could she still smile so brightly and beautifully? What kind of environment could nurture a girl like this?

Upon hearing the word "sister," a bittersweet warmth welled up in Sister Yun's heart. She was willing to call her sister!

That extremely affectionate way of addressing her instantly shortened the distance between the two of them. She was overjoyed and forgot to reply. She just held Xiao Huan's hand and smiled happily, expressing her indescribable feelings.

Feng Xinglie leaned against the headboard with a faint smile, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Is this a brothel?"

The two, who were initially in high spirits, nearly tripped and fell. This time, Sister Yun and the young girl were genuinely frightened. The stunning beauty of this woman was simply too overwhelming. Was she truly a deity? She was incredibly prescient! She could even guess exactly where they were?

Seeing that Feng Xinglie, despite his injuries, was still looking at her with a gentle smile, waiting for her answer, his exquisite face exuded an unusual elegance and nobility. His calm and composed demeanor made Sister Yun feel that there was nothing in the world she couldn't do. Surprised, she sighed softly.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to find you a better doctor. Xiao Huan and I are just newcomers, we’re just using the name to get by. I’m originally from the border of Eastern Qin. Although I’m a courtesan, I’m considered a famous one. But ever since our Great Qin King Feng died, that place has been plagued by constant war. That night, the city was also looted by bandits who rose up from the wilderness. The government soldiers chased after the bandits, but they couldn’t help us ordinary people. When the bandits retreated, everyone was in a panic, and nobody wanted to stay any longer. I thought about how I had distant relatives in Hancheng, so I followed them all the way.” The caravan, intending to seek refuge here, rescued you along the way. Unexpectedly, upon arriving, we discovered our relatives were also dead, and our travel funds were long exhausted. Left with no other choice, we came to this Yihongxuan. However, although Zhang Mama here finds me attractive, she doesn't favor courtesans. I realized that in Western Qin, there's probably no law. If someone with power and influence takes a liking to you, they won't care if you're prostituted. If trouble arises, this little brothel simply can't afford the consequences, which is why we've been delayed. Now, I don't know where to go."

As she spoke, Sister Yun became genuinely saddened, and a few tears fell as she lowered her head.

Hancheng? The moment the word "Sister Yun" came out, Feng Xinglie really felt like banging his head against a wall.

"Is this Hancheng, the capital of Western Qin?"

Youying had provided some intelligence about the changes in Qin State over the past few months. This Western Qin Han City was the capital established by King Yue, Qin Yue, after Qin Han sent troops to occupy a large area of western Qin State and declared himself king. At this time, Qin Han and Qin Yue each occupied their own territory and neither paid any attention to the other. Qin Han was in the east, so it was called Eastern Qin, and Qin Yue was in the west, so it was called Western Qin.

Xi Qin Han City is a hundred and eight thousand miles away from Baihui Pass!

Yunniang and Xiaohuan both nodded in confusion, while Feng Xinglie cursed inwardly! In her current state, going to Baihui Pass was like an old woman hanging herself; she was asking for trouble. Even the Long March of the Red Army might not have been as arduous as her journey. Who knew when she would see Ling Yuxiang again…

Seeing that she looked somewhat dejected, Sister Yun assumed that she had also been touched by something sad. She wiped away her tears and forced a smile: "Don't worry, although this is a brothel, it is still a place where you can stay. Since you are willing to call me sister, I will not treat you badly. At most, by tomorrow, I will definitely find the best doctor in Hancheng to prescribe the best medicine to cure you."

Upon hearing this, Feng Xinglie's face suddenly darkened. Sensing something amiss, he said seriously, "Since you're my sister, don't wrong yourself because of me. Which brothel madam doesn't want money? She'll drag anyone into it if she can. She thinks you're easy to bully since you're new to the area. Otherwise, would they really not accept virgins here? I don't believe that such a large brothel can operate without a few powerful backers."

Feng Xinglie wouldn't mind accepting kindness as long as it was good to her, but he would never agree to it if she had to sacrifice anything.

Sister Yun shrank back slightly. They had only known each other for a short time, but she was genuinely somewhat afraid of this unpredictable younger sister. Not only did she seem to know everything, but she also possessed an aura that instilled fear in those around her, making it almost impossible to resist. "But what can I do if I don't agree? Here we eat their food and use their things. I know what kind of place this is. If I don't agree, not only will they not let me off the hook, but I'm afraid it will implicate you." Frankly speaking, she was indeed just a woman fallen into prostitution. In this world, what choice did she have?

"Sister Yun, think again, we must have other ways," Xiao Huan said urgently. Although her voice was full of confidence, the heaviness in her eyes betrayed her worry.

No sooner had the words been spoken than the door was suddenly pushed open, and a middle-aged woman with curved eyebrows and a face full of perfume strolled in, waving a handkerchief in her hand and glancing at the bed in surprise.

"Oh, Miss Yunfei, your sister's awake?"

"Aunt Zhang? Business downstairs is booming, how come you've deigned to come see me?" Sister Yun glanced at the woman cautiously, stood up without making a sound, covered Feng Xinglie's entire face behind her, smiled gently, and responded softly.

"I've come to ask you, young lady, have you made up your mind? I've already picked out a date for you. Don't say I don't love you; so many girls have stayed with me, and every single one of them started off shy and hesitant, but what happened later? Those high-ranking officials and generals would give them a little reward if they were satisfied, and their lives became much more comfortable. You are a woman of the night, so you should understand this principle. I shouldn't be telling you these things, but this is an opportunity. Didn't Prince Yue invite several generals from the Lie Army and the Qing Kingdom to our Han City to discuss important matters? Which girl in the capital isn't vying for that opportunity? If you're willing to go on stage at that time and catch the eye of some important figure, you'll enjoy a lifetime of wealth and honor." These words sounded quite reasonable, making it hard to refuse, especially since Sister Yun was indeed in a difficult situation right now; she couldn't afford not to be tempted.

Feng Xinglie sneered inwardly. This Madam Zhang was indeed a shrewd and calculating person, always choosing the best words to say. What if the person who took a liking to Sister Yun wasn't a big shot? How many big shots are there out of ten thousand? How many people actually visit brothels? What are the odds of seeing you on stage? It's practically the odds of winning the lottery, like drawing a top commander from a deck of cards as tall as a building—extremely slim.

However, Feng Xinglie noticed the information in her words and his mind started racing. The Prince of Yue had invited the Lie Army and the people of Qing Kingdom? The siege of Baihui Pass should be a foregone conclusion, but even if it was Qin Yue's territory, he shouldn't have compromised so easily. He should have waited a few months for the Lie Army to settle down before making a statement. Why was he acting as a peacemaker at this time? He even included Qingqiu in the mix, which was extremely strange.

Having made up his mind to get something out of this clever Zhang Mama, Feng Xinglie reached out without hesitation and gently pulled Sister Yun to the side.

Unaware, Sister Yun was gently pushed to the side by a soft force, and involuntarily took a step back.

Zhang's mother was suddenly struck by a breathtakingly beautiful woman, as if she were a fairy from a painting. The woman smiled faintly, her brows exuding an unprecedented confidence. With a casual glance, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhang's mother with a hint of inquiry.

In an instant, she felt a burning unease, as if her body was on fire. Those eyes could almost see right through her, making her tremble in her heart. Zhang Mama was a worldly woman, not someone as easily fooled as Yunfei. She swallowed her handkerchief and smiled shrewdly: "So Miss Yun's sister is such a beauty. Are they sisters?"

"Whether we're biological sisters or not doesn't matter. What matters is that my sister treats me just as well as her own sister." Feng Xinglie gave Yunfei a deep look, and his casual words brought tears to Yunfei's eyes. Looking at Zhang Mama's expression, she felt that things were not going well, but she couldn't get a word in edgewise and could only anxiously watch from the side.

Feng Xinglie, however, seemed completely unperturbed. He raised his hand with some effort, gesturing for the other person to sit down.

“Mrs. Zhang, please sit down. I think we can talk about my sister’s performance on stage.”

The imposing aura emanating from the other side sent a chill down her spine and through her limbs. Only after sitting down in the chair did Zhang's mother look back with a startled expression and a displeased look.

"Miss Yun's performance on stage is her own business. This place is, after all, a brothel. Since you've already come here, why are you still clinging to your pride?"

These words were already quite explicit, and a subtle threat was already being revealed. Brothels are not simple places. In this industry, Zhang Mama alone cannot control everything, but even she wields a lot of real power. Feng Xinglie had no doubt that if she continued to be aggressive, the fox on the other side would reveal its claws.

Even if they aren't respectable henchmen, grabbing someone will still hurt.

However, since he had already managed to make her take himself seriously, Feng Xinglie wouldn't go too far. He put on a friendly and gentle smile and pretended to be surprised, saying, "I think Mom has misunderstood. I just wanted to ask if Mom and my sister could switch places, but I want to be a male prostitute. I wonder if Mom would object?"

Unexpectedly, Feng Xinglie would say such a thing, and Zhang Mama was startled this time. She narrowed her eyes, weighing the pros and cons in her mind, and looked the girl up and down several times before hesitatingly saying, "Miss, I certainly won't criticize your appearance too much, but this courtesan is different from other girls. Miss Yun has some talents, but I don't know if you, Miss..."

The scrutinizing gaze did not make Feng Xinglie feel uncomfortable at all. Seeing that her tone had already become swayed, she also narrowed her eyes. The confidence she exuded in an instant almost made the three people present unable to look away from her face. Her smile was gentle, charming and extremely beautiful, which made the three people present feel involuntarily amazed and dazed.

"Oh right, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Feng Meiniang from Yuluo City (hehe, anyone want to criticize me?), I wonder if Mom has heard of me."

A seemingly casual remark caused Zhang's mother to widen her eyes and jump up from her chair, knocking over the teacup on the table beside her.

Sister Yun stared at Feng Xinglie with her mouth agape, completely petrified as soon as she finished speaking.

Xiao Huan was even more exaggerated. The medicine jar in her hand rolled to the side, her finger trembling as she pointed at Feng Xinglie, her jaw dislocated, and her eyes almost popped out.

The tension in the room instantly turned into an eerie silence.

Chapter Forty-Four: A Sudden Visitor

After staring at Feng Xinglie for a long time, Zhang's mother finally stopped smiling. The nonchalant confidence emanating from his face was truly impressive. The lively Xiao Huan came to her senses, both surprised and delighted, like a child who had found something new and exciting. She was a complete trendsetter and kept asking Feng Xinglie questions.

"Feng Meiniang? Is that the peerless courtesan of Jade Gong City? The one who, along with Miss Lianji, is considered one of the two most outstanding dancers in the world? The one whom Miss Lianji also genuinely praised for her dancing, Feng Meiniang?"

Yunfei and Zhang's mother stared intently at Feng Xinglie, their six eyes fixed on her, not letting their guard down for a moment.

They must have misheard!

Such a legendary woman, who had been missing for several years, how could she suddenly appear here! But for some reason, Sister Yun and the other two felt that Feng Xinglie didn't seem to be lying.

"Although I've never shown my true face in public before, you don't really think I'm an ugly woman like the rumors in the streets, do you? How many people in Jade Gong City would dare to impersonate Feng Meiniang? Besides, a name can be faked, but can knowledge and temperament be faked? I believe Zhang Mama's judgment is not bad. I'm afraid you can't make this decision yourself. You should ask the person behind you to come and see me." Although she was smiling, Feng Xinglie's gaze, which was as sharp as a physical object, swept over her sharply. Since she had already said it outright, she might as well be frank. Now that things had come to this, even if she was more arrogant, Zhang Mama, who knew the importance of things, would not actually lay a hand on her.

The so-called Feng Meiniang of Jade Gong City was a legendary identity she created several years ago before meeting Tai Han in order to develop the Dark Moon Sect's business. This identity was initially just for making money, but unexpectedly, after arranging and promoting it, it achieved an unexpected sensation and popularity as soon as she appeared on stage. It was also because of this identity that she met Lian Ji and became friends with her. However, after meeting Tai Han, she became the Great Tai Feng King, and the Dark Moon Sect gradually developed, so she naturally disappeared from the world's sight.

Unexpectedly, he had to return to his old ways at this time. Feng Xinglie sighed inwardly at the unpredictability of life and realized that it was indeed the right thing to do to leave himself a few options.

After remaining silent for so long, Zhang's mother finally stood up, her eyes regaining their shrewd and insightful light. Her laughter carried a hint of understanding: "Miss Feng is truly an interesting person, like glass. Based on Meiniang's words alone, whether you are Feng Meiniang of Jade Gong City or not, I can no longer make a decision. Miss Feng, please wait a moment. It just so happens that the Pavilion Master has returned to Hancheng these days, so I will go and make a fuss for you."

She came suddenly and left quickly, departing as soon as she said she would, which was quite decisive.

Yunfei was astonished: "There are people behind Yihong Pavilion?"

Feng Xinglieyou, being relatively naive and inexperienced, even though she had worked in a brothel before, remained a pure and chaste woman, and her worldly experience might not be extensive. She smiled faintly and said, "In places like brothels and gambling dens, the social networks involved are bound to be quite large. If it were a small town, it wouldn't matter, but this is Xitai Capital, no matter how turbulent or improper it may be, it's still the capital. Madam Zhang has acted with a certain arrogance in everything she's done. I don't believe she has no one protecting her from above."

"But sister, what are you planning to do by luring that person out?" Although Yunfei was not very knowledgeable, she was not stupid. She felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She thought that there was always a mysterious veil around this sister, making it impossible to see clearly, like a fog, as if nothing would be left after it dissipated.

"Sister, there are some things I don't want to tell you, but I don't know how to bring them up. Besides, if you knew many things, it might not be a good thing; it might even cause trouble. Just leave these things to me. Apart from that bastard, no one has ever been able to make me suffer a direct loss. I'm your good sister, isn't that enough?" Feng Xinglie shamelessly boasted, looking at the corner of his lips.

Yunfei was just an ordinary woman after all, and getting involved with her might not be a good thing. But since she was already on the ship, as long as Yunfei was willing, she would not abandon her. Feng Xinglie secretly decided that he would take her to Baihui Pass and settle her properly in the future.

Yunfei hadn't intended to get involved in Feng Xinglie's affairs, but hearing her say that, she was deeply moved. She took her hand and called her "sister," completely forgetting about the behind-the-scenes manipulators.

Just as the two were feeling touched, Xiao Huan suddenly let out a very unromantic shout.

"Oh my god! The medicine has all been spilled! What are we going to do about your injury, Feng prostitute?"

Feng Xinglie stretched lazily, wincing in pain, then rolled his eyes, a hint of amusement flashing in them, confident and composed.

"You think Zhang Mama is someone who doesn't know how to read the room? Someone will be here soon."

Xiao Huan's eyes widened, and her lips pouted: "You guessed it again?"