Nuit éternelle

Chapitre 37

"Lord Feng, the King of Qin wishes to meet with you alone." Xiang Ju spoke respectfully, but inwardly sighed at the unpredictable changes in the world. Glancing at the distant army, she awkwardly asked in a low voice, "Also, how is my sister, Lie Mi?"

The shock of those strange facts was too heavy. He had never even known that Lian Ji was the master of Tianji Tower. An indescribable sense of loss choked his heart. After all, they were siblings, but at this moment, Lian Ji's relationship with Feng Xinglie was clearly closer than that of her own brother.

I still remember the laughter of my childhood, but once I entered the imperial court, I was no longer in control of my own destiny.

As people grow up, they bear such responsibilities. Many things are no longer as simple as they were in their youth. His dearest sister in his memory is now like a stranger...

"She's fine, and she hopes you're fine too. As long as you're both alive, that's more important than anything else." Seeing the clue in Xiang Ju's expression, Feng Xinglie's eyes flickered with concern for Lian Nu. When did the feelings between relatives become so weak and indifferent that even greetings had to be conveyed by a third party?

In the distance, Lian Ji was chatting and laughing with Xiao Huan and Yun Fei. Feng Xing Lie's identity repeatedly shocked the crowd, leaving them speechless with astonishment time and again. Yet, they were still willing to follow her, foolishly going with her to Feng City. It was better than ending up in a brothel. Feng Xing Lie wasn't that great; she couldn't save too many people. But she would protect those around her who were kind to her to the best of her ability.

Xiang Ju glanced in that direction, her young eyes filled with fear. Lian Ji seemed to sense this and turned around, paused for a moment, then smiled faintly and turned away, completely relieved. In that instant, Xiang Ju, her eyes blurry and her nose stinging, forced a smile: "Yes, Sister Lian is still alive. That's more important than anything else."

Feng Xinglie glanced at Ling Yuxiang, who was already fully prepared to leave, and the sorrow of parting was overwhelming.

"I should go." The fiery red dress made Ling Yuxiang's face look even more wild. The outstanding man, who was the envy of many, stepped forward and hugged her tightly.

"Aren't you afraid I'll be flirting with other women?" she said with a mischievous smile.

"I believe in you, and I believe in myself too," Ling Yuxiang said solemnly, raising a confident smile, his narrow eyes revealing an undisguised love.

That carefree smile infected her, and Feng Xinglie also stepped forward, hugged him back, and smiled broadly: "Take care of yourself."

What needed to be said was said last night. They are not ignorant children. Each has their own responsibilities. Complaining is useless. Only by actively facing and striving can they grasp what they have and not let it slip away. Ling Yuxiang and Feng Xinglie are not the kind of people who will be dejected because of parting. Reunion is just the beginning of the future. Based on what he said, Feng Xinglie has already guessed what he might do on this trip. Happiness and tenderness ripple in his heart. The future seems uncertain, but as long as people are willing, hope can always be brewing within them.

He turned and brushed past her, never looking back, while Ling Yuxiang's wild and passionate shouts echoed throughout the crowd.

"Set off!"

"yes!"

Feng Xinglie continued forward until he reached the pale-faced man with sunken cheekbones. He could no longer sense the gentleness he once had, nor did he show any resentment. He seemed like a soulless puppet, living such a miserable life.

"I will do my best to find a way to treat the poison you have ingested. If you want to live a few more days until that day, then don't be so foolish as to harm your body." He frowned. The pungent smell of alcohol was much stronger than last time. These past two days, Qin Han must have been soaking in alcohol vats all day long. He was already poisoned, and he was still ruining himself like this. He was simply courting death!

"I was scheming against you!" Qin Han's handsome face was already frail and sickly. He said with a bitter smile, "How did things come to this... You know I'm forcing you to help me find the antidote, so why do you still care about me?" Her concern would fill him with endless regret. Why couldn't she stay by his side like other women? But, that kind of woman was not the Feng Xinglie he loved.

Looking at his emaciated body with a complex expression, and at the golden dagger hanging at his waist, Feng Xinglie sighed silently. He sat down beside him as always, very close, his dark eyes slightly narrowed, making no attempt to hide his feelings: "You're not a good lover, but you're a qualified ruler. With you, Qin will surely prosper. Now that the overall situation is settled, I have no desire to wish you an early death. And… I also hope you can live. Rationally, I cannot compromise with you, but emotionally, I still can't forget that someone once told me in my loneliness that we would be family for life, brothers and friends for life. I believe that Qin Han spoke those words sincerely, with true intentions. I have never denied your sincerity. You have your helplessness; you were born for imperial ambitions, while I was born unable to compromise on the calculations in relationships. This isn't anyone's fault; it's just that we are not suited to be together."

Now that Qin Han could speak her truth, Feng Xinglie was unwilling to keep his thoughts hidden and spoke frankly: "I've hated, I've been in pain, and I've had things I couldn't let go of, but it's all just my personality. From the beginning, I had a premonition that it wouldn't be long for me to stay by the king's side. You don't fully understand me, yet I still stayed by your side because of your words. Feng Xinglie is a heartless person. Over the years, the name Qin Han has become indelible in my memory. In my heart, I don't want you to die either, do you understand?"

A gentle warmth emanated from the man in white. Qin Han didn't know what he was feeling. He gazed greedily at the silhouette of the person beside him, but he couldn't reach out and hug him as he had before, making a big joke.

No one is at fault for getting to this point; it's just that nothing in this world is perfect.

After a long silence, he sighed and nodded blankly but firmly: "I will be a good emperor, and that is my life's goal."

Feng Xinglie pulled a slip of paper from his sleeve and handed it to him. Facing the person who seemed to have returned to the past, he smiled calmly under his gentle aura: "This formula is an anesthetic that can be made into pain relievers. I saw it by chance in a medical book. I don't know if it will help, but it may reduce the pain when you are poisoned."

Qin Han accepted the document woodenly, turning away from his somewhat sunken eyes, and pondered, "Last night, people came from the palace. My subordinates also noticed. I don't know the details of Tianyi Pavilion, but the day after you performed your dance at Yihong Pavilion, a group of experts in my hidden temple captured a man in blue robes who mentioned the name Tianyi Pavilion. They seemed to be heading to Qing Kingdom. I don't know what kind of martial arts force those people belong to. Perhaps you could find something by investigating in that direction. Right now, this is all I can do for you..."

The forces of the Qing Kingdom? Or the forces of the Jianghu? Feng Xinglie's beautiful eyes were lowered, as if something flickered within them, but he couldn't quite grasp it.

"Thank you!" she said in a deep voice. Thinking of Liu Wuge's identity as the third prince of Ling Kingdom, an indescribable sense of crisis arose. She felt that there seemed to be some conspiracy behind all this, which could even break the relatively solid triangle they had worked so hard to build. However, after thinking about it, she felt that the court situation should be flawless at the moment, and she didn't know where the problem was.

Seeing her get up and leave, Qin Han turned around abruptly, her eyes almost overflowing with warmth.

Will we...me...see each other again?

His hoarse voice clearly indicated that he already knew the answer.

"No more." Feng Xinglie paused slightly, letting out a soft sigh of certainty. His magnificent black robes swayed in the wind as he walked away.

Qin Han stared blankly, opened her lips, but couldn't utter a sound.

This parting, for them, is a final farewell.

Feng Xinglie is no longer the Wind King of Qin, but Qin Han will always be the King of Qin.

From then on, we were separated by vast distances, never to meet again, for it was better not to meet at all.

Homeland of Qin, Chapter Sixty-Eight: Encountering an Ambush

"A hearty laugh echoes across the vast sea, the tides surge on both shores, drifting and sinking with the waves, remembering today; a laugh from the heavens, the world is in turmoil, who wins and who loses, only heaven knows..." The bold, unrestrained, and unconventional male voice was so melodious, the blue robes fluttering in the wind were so dazzling that one might have the illusion that he would drift away. Suddenly, the man's long black hair was flicked, and the wine gourd at his waist was used to cover his mouth as he sang. A carefree yet perfect shadow was reflected in the setting sun, like a beautiful painting.

Such scenery added a touch of joy to the otherwise tedious journey.

Feng Xinglie, who was leisurely lying on his horse, looked at him in surprise: "You still remember this song, and you even sang it without going off-key."

Actually, Qingli sang very well, really well. At least Feng Xinglie thought it was no worse than that star's singing back then. Perhaps it was because of his personality; his voice was bright and magnetic, and with that classic wanderer feeling, the song was almost tailor-made for him. That's why Feng Xinglie decided to teach him on a whim.

However, she only taught it once, and Qingli can now sing it word for word.

Qingli lay casually on the horse's back, his eyes half-open and half-closed, even more relaxed than Feng Xinglie. The wine gourd at his waist swayed in the afterglow of the setting sun, as if nothing in the world could concern him. However, through the slits of his slightly open eyes, he stared intently at the slender, dark figure, his gaze unwavering.

"Hiccup... Who do you think I've been singing this song day and night for years for? Xinglie, have some conscience, okay? Don't ignore my feelings!"

Feng Xinglie glanced at him, both amused and exasperated. This guy was still the same as always: "You say that to every girl, don't you? You little brat, you actually dare to lay your hands on my head? Believe me or not, I'll castrate you with one stroke?"

Qingli shivered with a chill and almost fell off her horse. The fright sobered her up, and she angrily complained, "Hey, you're supposed to be a woman! What's wrong with your head? I really don't know what's wrong with Ling Yuxiang and the others. Why would they take a fancy to a shrew like you and marry you to make you a eunuch?"

"Hmph! Easy peasy. Just now, someone said they'd been singing a song for me for years. What was that saying again?"

"...You're ruthless, but... Xinglie, you have to believe me, my sincerity towards you is more real than nails hammered into a board!" Qingli suddenly changed her tone, shouting and yelling as she became shameless again, making Feng Xinglie so angry that he was practically fuming.

"If you toned down your glib tongue, I might believe you a little more!"

This man is so irresponsible! Even the most sincere words become cynical jokes under his scoundrel-like demeanor, making it impossible to take them seriously. So there's no question of rejection or acceptance; it's just something to laugh at.

However… Feng Xinglie glanced back thoughtfully at his own comfortable shadow in the sunset, and suddenly felt a sense of loneliness and desolation.

Everyone has their own way of hiding their inner wounds. She uses strength to disguise herself, Liu Wuge uses hellish cruelty, Xi Suifeng uses icy indifference, Ling Yuxiang uses unwavering will, and Qingli uses cynicism to hide the deepest sense of loss in her heart.

If one doesn't want to cry, then perhaps laughter is the only option? Since crying and laughing are both the same, then let him laugh...

They were both people who wore masks, which is why he became her "very, very good friend".

As dusk settled, the setting sun cast an eerie, crimson glow, and slowly, the rugged mountain path fell into utter silence. Apart from them and the group of guards in blue robes behind them, there was no other path to be found. Dense forests had appeared all around them, and the tall, gray grass swaying in the wind on either side of the path instilled a sense of unease.

Feng Xinglie suddenly stopped, his horse neighing softly and pawing the ground twice with its front hooves.

Habitually scanning her surroundings with alertness, she realized they had entered a mountainous area. Although the valley was so vast that it was difficult to spot anything unusual, it couldn't escape Feng Xinglie's sharp gaze. A sense of unease welled up within her. Her intuition, honed through countless trials, had saved her from danger many times before, and she had no reason to ignore this feeling.

Where...where are we?

Seeing her strange expression, Xunli calmly looked around, his handsome brows slightly furrowed: "Tianqi Mountain Range, a little west, and you'll soon reach my Qing Army camp on the border."

Feng Xinglie nodded thoughtfully. They had been away from Hancheng for three days. To find out about Liu Wuge, Feng Xinglie had sent Xi Suifeng and the others, along with Lian Ji and Yun Fei, back to Fengcheng ahead of them, while he himself went to Qingguo with Qing Li. With the situation largely stabilized and everyone busy with internal affairs, there should be no danger with the fifty-eight Qingyi Guards. They would contact the Dark Moon Sect's Youmo after arriving in Qingguo to find out Liu Wuge's whereabouts before returning to Fengcheng.

It wasn't that Feng Xinglie had particularly deep feelings for Liu Wuge; indeed, she was worried about this man. But one reason she went there in person was that Liu Wuge was the third prince of Ling Kingdom, and she always felt that the current chaos in Ling Kingdom was related to him.

With a sense of unease, apart from the rustling of the wind through the grass, everything seemed empty and obscure. Qingli jumped off his horse and decisively ordered, "Qingfei, Qingyan, everyone else stop. Go find some firewood. We'll make a fire here and spend the night. We can't go any further. The Tianqi Mountains ahead are even steeper, and the dense forests are the easiest place to ambush. We can't take the risk."

“But…” Qingyan was the leader of the Qingyi Guard. Upon hearing this, her brows furrowed immediately, as if she wanted to say something.

"No buts!" At this moment, Qingli suddenly became so resolute amidst the grayness, like a giant standing tall, as if she were to bear everything.

"Yes, sir!" Qingfei and the other man accepted the order and were about to leave, but Feng Xinglie stopped them with a stern face.

"Qingli, is something on your mind?" Skilled at reading people, she had already noticed that Qingli had been acting strangely the whole way. He was usually a bit of a rogue, but he wouldn't be constantly whispering in her ear. She hadn't asked because she didn't want to interfere, waiting for him to tell her. But now that she was involved, if she didn't find out, she'd be a fool!

Locked in by Feng Xinglie's sharp eyes, Qingli smiled helplessly, knowing she couldn't hide it any longer.

“My border troops have been deployed to the foot of Tianqi Mountain for a long time and have not contacted me, which is why I have been traveling non-stop these past few days.”

Losing contact with their own army? Feng Xinglie's expression changed drastically, turning extremely grim. She was all too familiar with this situation. After considering all the details, there was only one explanation—something had happened in Qing Kingdom!

“The longer we delay, the more dangerous it becomes. Your army has always been loyal to you. There are only two possibilities for why they haven't contacted you: either there's an internal traitor, or they're under siege and unable to send you any information. Either way, it's a serious situation, and you can't ignore it.” Feng Xinglie analyzed decisively, his gloomy face revealing a hint of sinister intent. He stared directly at them, his tone almost commanding as he coldly said, “Qingli! The journey can't be delayed. We must travel through the night to reach your army's garrison as soon as possible. At least we need to know what has happened!”

"I can't do it!" The man, who usually seemed to care about nothing, spoke with a firm tone at this moment. A smile still lingered on his handsome face as Qingli looked back at him without any room for negotiation: "You are traveling with me, and I must ensure your safety. Your safety is my top priority right now."

Feng Xinglie gritted his teeth and said, "Are you stupid?! I'm not some weak woman who can't even restrain a chicken! I won't hold you back!"

“But that doesn’t mean you can fight off a massive army on your own. I can’t take the risk without knowing the enemy’s strength!” Qingli’s calm rebuttal rang out in the gray-yellow air. The sun had already completely set, and Feng Xinglie couldn’t see his expression clearly, but he could feel a gaze in his eyes that was different from the past.

"My lord!" During the stalemate, a guard in blue robes who had been scouting in the distance returned urgently: "I have searched everywhere. This mountain area looks vast, but it has actually entered Tianqi Mountain. The left and right ends of the forest are steep cliffs that cannot be climbed. The only way for us to get through this mountain road is through the only mountain pass in front of us. There is no other way."

Under the dim light, Feng Xinglie and Qingli simultaneously gasped, exchanging a knowing glance. Their familiarity with military tactics allowed them to grasp their predicament. Qishan was undoubtedly an ideal ambush site. Even if there were no ambushes, it was fine; if there were, the enemy would likely have blocked both their front and rear!

It's utterly ridiculous that two unparalleled generals carelessly fell into such a low-level encirclement!

A brief, suffocating silence followed. Feng Xinglie, her expression cold and sharp, lashed out with her whip, leaving a bloody welt on the horse's leg. The mount, wincing in pain, neighed loudly and charged forward. She swiftly and forcefully commanded, "Abandon your horses! Everyone, abandon your horses and head into the jungle! We'll move to the left, close to the mountainside, and we need to be fast! If the horses cause a commotion, we can immediately detect if there's an ambush."

Once it's confirmed that something's amiss, staying put is pointless!

Riding tall horses and swaggering down the official road, it was impossible not to attract attention. Their group was all skilled in martial arts, and it seemed unlikely they could hide from her and Qingli. Although there was no one around, Feng Xinglie was certain there was an ambush 99% likely ahead! But if those people could ambush, couldn't they simply hide in the mountains? A cold glint flashed in Feng Xinglie's eyes. "Hmph, playing hide-and-seek with the terrain? I'd love to show you what death truly means!"

A hint of appreciation flashed in Qingli's eyes, and she cracked her whip on her horse, acknowledging her words with her actions. The fifty-eight Qingyi Guards would certainly not disobey their master's orders, especially since they knew the abilities of the God of War, Feng Xinglie. Seeing her sudden and ruthless methods, many Qingyi Guards showed awe in their eyes and spurred their horses into the forest. Under the dark and menacing sky, the large herd of horses galloped towards the end of the official road, which resembled a gaping maw.

A bead of cold sweat trickled from his palms. Not knowing the strength of their opponents, he felt uncertain. Feng Xinglie and his group slowly made their way to the edge of the cold rocks and bushes. All of them were agile and battle-hardened, and none of them found it difficult to move. He secretly chuckled at his own wisdom; if Yunfei and the others had come along, the commotion would have made running around inconvenient.

Looking at her beautiful yet calm and resolute profile, Qingli's heart fluttered slightly. She was always like this, so calm and wise when faced with danger, always able to make the most of her advantages and turn the tables. Even though he had dragged her into danger, she never complained or held a grudge.

Perhaps because they were too far from the end, the herd of horses disappeared without a trace after galloping away, but the eerie and unsettling atmosphere did not ease in the slightest. As dusk fell, the silence in the entire valley was almost chilling.

Holding a sharp dagger blackened by fire, Feng Xinglie walked at the forefront, her pretty face filled with a grim murderous intent. She cautiously pushed through the grass, probing forward. A faint smell of blood had begun to fill the air, and a heavy weight pressed on everyone's hearts. Feng Xinglie's eyelids twitched slightly; if she wasn't mistaken, these were likely traces of a trap left behind by horses. In that case, the ambush shouldn't be far off.

Her eyes flashed with a fierce light, and she lowered her body, like a black cheetah poised to pounce, searching for its prey, as if she would leap out at any moment!

Suddenly, a hand landed on her shoulder.

In a fit of extreme tension, he reflexively rammed into the chest of the person behind him, barely managing to restrain the urge to stab him with the dagger in his hand. Feng Xinglie glared at him, grabbed his collar, and said in a low, angry voice, "What are you doing! I can't guarantee I won't chop you in half next time!"

Qingli didn't answer, but silently tightened her grip on one of her hands, walked past her to the front, and said slowly and deliberately, "Xinglie, I will protect you. Don't even think about going to lure away the ambush alone again."

Feng Xinglie couldn't help but look up, her surprised gaze betraying her thoughts.

“I am not Ling Yuxiang. I am not as magnanimous as him, nor do I understand you as well as he does! I am selfish and petty! I cannot risk your life to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of my soldiers!” Qingli pursed her lips, her eyes in the night like stars reflected in a mirror, tightly gripping his wrist as if it were a beautiful shackle, strong and firm: “That year you rescued me from three thousand iron cavalry. Today, we will surely escape as well. Neither of us can be missing!”

At this moment, Qingli was no longer glib and smooth-talking. For a moment, Feng Xinglie felt that his figure was unusually tall and strong, and that he could really protect her completely behind him. However, his next words made her so angry that her nose almost crooked.

"Ugh! If anything were to happen to you, wouldn't that heartless bastard Ling Yuxiang, who's just as ruthless as you, come over and slice me to pieces? Rather than be tortured by him, I'd rather die with Xing Lie, the beauty."

Xing Lie was very angry, and the consequences were severe.

Finally, despite a large bump on her head, Yili persevered and walked ahead.

As the long stone wall neared its end, their movements became increasingly cautious. Suddenly, a sharp whistle rang out from the bushes, so abrupt in the silent night! Feng Xinglie and Qingli's expressions changed simultaneously, and they pounced forward with a whoosh, both palm strikes landing on the scout. The man couldn't withstand two such powerful blows; he collapsed before he could even utter a sound. Feng Xinglie, with his exceptional night vision, recognized the scout's general attire, and his heart sank to the bottom.

"The army is your Qing Kingdom's regular army!"

Before they could think any further, the sounds of fighting erupted from all directions, and large swaths of shadows and torches lit up the jungle.

Among the surrounding group were some formidable experts who quickly closed in on them. The Qingyi Guards, no longer hiding, leaped forward to fight the group.

Holding a black dagger, Feng Xinglie nimbly darted through the darkness. The steel needles and thin blades hidden in various parts of her body unexpectedly took several lives, attracting the attention of three people with considerable skill. The three surrounded her and attacked. Feng Xinglie struck out with a palm, only to be shocked to find that each of the three men was no less skilled than her.

In the distance, countless dark heads stretched out, and judging from the torches, there were no fewer than a thousand people. Sharp whistles rose and fell, approaching this place like a tidal wave. Anyone who was caught in the sea of people would be reduced to a skeleton.