Nuit éternelle

Chapitre 41

After the banquet in the Western Qin Kingdom, the Dark Moon Gate's Netherworld Guards all knew what was going on. Although some might not be convinced in their hearts, they would certainly be meticulous in their actions. The Netherworld Guards were currently within the territory of the Ling Kingdom and held the Ling Kingdom's God of War in high esteem, so they did not feel awkward calling him "Lord".

"Is it news from Lie?" Ling Yuxiang, preoccupied with worry, didn't have time to argue about the way he was addressed and asked as soon as he helped him up.

With an unusual urgency, the shadowy, zombie-like face spoke quickly and heavily: "After entering the Tianqi Mountains, which are the border between Qing and Qin, our lord lost contact with Youmo. Youmo waited for our lord in Qing but could not find him. Upon investigation, he discovered that the Blood Fiend Organization and a Qing army had sealed off the mountains. We suspect that they are targeting Prince Qingli. Now our lord's whereabouts are unknown, and he is in danger in the Tianqi Mountains."

"What?" The first to exclaim was Zi Mo. She and Ye Piao both knew Feng Xinglie's position in relation to Ling Yuxiang. If something happened to the princess, they were afraid...

An invisible tension permeated the air. Ling Yuxiang's eyes suddenly became incredibly deep, a cold glint flashing within them, turning into a sharp and menacing sword in the blink of an eye, his entire being bathed in the moonlight.

"Hmph! Since that's the case, there's nothing more to tolerate!"

He flicked his bright red sleeves and said sternly, "Ye Piao Zi Mo, clean up those parasites that have been unearthed in Ling Kingdom as quickly as possible. Let those who should disappear disappear. Make all the descendants of those stubborn old ministers die mysteriously one after another! Let the Empress's faction in the court suffer fear bit by bit. I don't believe that the Empress's power base will dare not withdraw from the court! At this time, the Emperor's confidants should take over those important positions, the sooner the better!"

"What do you want to do? Are you crazy! The reshuffling of the court must be done step by step. Aren't you afraid that all those old ministers will retire and go back to their hometowns if you use such bloody methods? How are you going to control the situation in the capital?" Ling Yuhan exclaimed in shock. When he saw the coldness in Ling Yuxiang's eyes, the words in his throat suddenly became blocked and he could not make a sound.

"Even if they've gone mad, they were forced into it! Those retired officials who are going back to their hometowns, Your Majesty, just let them go. At most, they'll leave the capital. Once the court discovers that those old officials have died one after another at the hands of 'bandits,' I'd like to see who dares to return home without cause!" The red robe suddenly lashed out in a solitary arc, and a ferocious expression appeared on his face. An astonishing rage spread in Ling Yuxiang's eyes like a deep sea, and falling into it would mean certain death.

"Then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"You think you can save her like this? Royal brother, don't go crazy!" Ling Yuhan grabbed him urgently. Although his method was indeed very efficient, he seemed to have never met this devilish man before! A chill ran down his spine. This terrifying and chilling behavior was something that Ling Yuxiang was not capable of doing!

"I don't care!" Ling Yuxiang flung his hand away, his surging emotions completely exploding. He no longer restrained his reason, his eyes flashing with endless madness: "They better pray that Feng Xinglie is alright, otherwise, I will make the entire Qing Kingdom pay with its life!"

The red robes fluttering away left a chilling trail in the air. No one could have predicted that this legendary war god, who had never recklessly committed murder, would lose control like this.

"Ling Xiang, Ling Ke, order the three armies to set off immediately for the border of Qing Kingdom and send a message to Commander Xi Suifeng in Feng City, informing him that our Ling Kingdom is ready to send troops at any time. Ling Tian, go and send a letter to Bai Zhongyan, the border general of Qing Kingdom, telling him that I have given him half a month. If he cannot find Feng Xinglie, he can wait to collect the corpses of his army!"

Chaos in Qingqiu, Chapter 74: Seeking Survival Amidst Death

The raging fire roared and intertwined, but the mountain wind suddenly became strange. The flames that were almost burning in front of them made the three of them break out in a cold sweat. They might perish in the sea of fire at any moment!

Suddenly, however, the flames changed course amidst the churning air currents in the mountains. The clusters of flames abruptly stopped, and the heat wave in front of them quickly reversed, rushing towards the raging fire surging towards the valley entrance!

Qingli and Yao Tianlin exchanged a surprised glance, their eyes filled with joy and shock, finding hope for survival, but also with many questions and doubts.

Of course, they were foolish enough to think it was a miracle. Feng Xinglie's confident eyes were still deeply imprinted in their minds. Her unwavering demeanor in the face of death impressed them from the bottom of their hearts. Neither of them had ever regarded Feng Xinglie as a woman. Although they both had feelings for her, they also knew that she was a person with profound knowledge.

Therefore, they knew perfectly well that Feng Xinglie had probably known from the beginning that the fire had suddenly turned around, or at least that she thought this method was feasible.

She was always shrouded in mystery, making her impossible to understand and leaving people captivated and bewildered.

At this critical moment, the two men stared at her, momentarily lost in thought, their gazes fixed on her increasingly bright eyes and ever-upturning lips, captivated by her proud confidence.

"The principle of heat convection is simple, but it's not always feasible. Fortunately, there were no calculation errors." Letting out a breath, Feng Xinglie's beautiful face blossomed into a triumphant smile under the blazing red light before him: "Hmph! Who do you think I, Feng Xinglie, am? You think I can't do anything to you with just a fire? That's wishful thinking!"

It was clearly a way of surviving a near-death experience! Her narcissistic appearance severely impacted the two men beside her, who couldn't help but roll their eyes.

Was she not anxious or flustered just now? Was her heart racing? Was she not overjoyed at surviving such a close call?

They would never believe it! They didn't know who was staring at the night sky with deep longing. The way they looked clearly indicated that they were thinking of someone. Thinking of this, the two of them couldn't help but feel a little frustrated. However, such feelings seemed insignificant at this moment. Their six eyes were fixed on the front, watching every inch of the two large fires.

The raging fire from the valley entrance surged forward, and the fire within the valley met it head-on, like two relentless, murderous armies. Two bright, broad lines of fire formed distinct battle lines on either side of a sea of flowers. The fire within the valley seemed to gain the upper hand, quickly rising to a height almost as thick as the incoming flames, creating a breathtaking and terrifying scene under the night sky.

The hissing sound of burning, the billowing smoke rising into the sky, the flames dancing and turning into ashes, the bright red light that swallowed the eyes—all of this was incredibly awe-inspiring. This rare spectacle drew people into a wonderful realm, and the three of them almost forgot the danger they were in, admiring this cruel yet magnificent beauty.

The fire spread incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, the two armies of flames quickly intertwined, burning even more fiercely. Thick black smoke and a desolate, tragic atmosphere quietly spread through the vast valley.

The fires at both locations initially shot into the sky, then gradually subsided and eventually went out.

The three people experienced different ups and downs, anxiety, and turmoil, before finally calming down.

The last wisp of fire disappeared, leaving only a wisp of smoke on the burnt branches. After raging through the night, the wildfire finally came to a difficult end.

The three, who had been suffering greatly, let out long sighs in unison, each with their own degree of relief. Their gazes met, seemingly separated by a hazy distance, reflecting a sense of having witnessed a magnificent battle, and even more so, the joy of surviving.

"Xinglie, I'm starting to suspect you fell from the sky." Qingli teased, holding her hand tightly. Her deep eyes seemed to hold an even stronger emotion.

“I agree. I don’t know where you learned these weird and crazy ideas.” Yao Tianlin echoed, holding her other hand tightly and refusing to let go, their emotions unspoken.

"Just think of me as a fairy who fell from the sky." Feng Xinglie chuckled happily, looking rather silly for once. She was a transmigrator, so saying she fell from the sky wouldn't be an exaggeration, right? But the thought of the phrase "a Lin Daiyu fell from the sky" made her shudder. Lin Daiyu? Crying and whining like that, if Feng Xinglie imitated her, she'd probably scare everyone to death before she herself would.

"But changing the subject won't help. I haven't forgotten that you two bastards dared to trick me!" With a change of heart, Feng Xinglie immediately transformed into a tiger, settling scores after the fact. He viciously swung his fists and mercilessly slapped the two men on the head twice.

"You two dared to ambush me and make decisions for me! Even that bastard Yu Xiang didn't dare to rebel, but you two managed to pull off a comeback! Humph! Very well, if you want a beating, just say so. Don't think that just because you're skilled in martial arts I can't beat you up!"

The wind howled as she punched them. The two men dared not commit the grave offense of 'disobedience' while she was in a fit of anger. They obediently took a few light punches from her, lamenting their misfortune. What use was their high martial arts skills? How could they dare to resist her at this time? If she wanted to beat them up, wouldn't they just be punching bags?

"Xinglie, I promise I won't do it again, ouch..." Qingli made a pitiful face, crying out pitifully even though she was not in any pain. Yao Tianlin nodded repeatedly beside her, it was unclear whether he agreed with her words or with the pig-like screams.

Feng Xinglie threw a few punches in a huff, then stopped, rolling his eyes coolly: "Don't do it again!"

The two of them suddenly reached a tacit understanding at this critical moment. They looked at each other and actually understood what the other was thinking—she really did soften her heart!

The fire had been extinguished for a long time, but the valley was still warm and cozy. A faint medicinal fragrance filled the air between the three of them. Yao Tianlin, with his gentle and handsome face like that of a mountain immortal, asked softly, "Xinglie, why were you so insistent on not letting us take you away back then?"

Qingli was also taken aback, her equally focused gaze fixed on Feng Xinglie.

They will never forget that Feng Xinglie held onto his principles until the very last moment! Even in such circumstances, he refused to give up his stubbornness and his unwavering determination to live and die together.

Feng Xinglie lowered his eyes, then suddenly raised them again, habitually unwilling to evade, and said loudly and firmly, "Because you also hold a significant place in my heart, a place that surpasses even my own life! Although this is a different feeling from that for Yu Xiang, it still makes me unwavering in my devotion to you."

A relationship that one would entrust their life to is definitely something to cherish. A silent emotion flowed between their eyes, and both men felt a warmth in their hearts, chuckling softly. With those words, whether she was a friend or a lover to them no longer mattered so much.

Yao Tianlin never intended to take her from Ling Yuxiang, but he couldn't suppress the burning passion in his heart that he couldn't forget no matter how he tried to numb it. Does loving someone necessarily mean demanding a return? Even if she had given all her love to that person, as long as she had a place for herself in his heart, so what if it wasn't from the perspective of love?

Does that mean he can't love her? Feelings are uncontrollable. Now that he's accepted it, what does it matter if he loves her or not? What does it matter if there's no reciprocation?

As long as he could stay in her sight for a moment longer, as long as she could look at him with her beautiful and confident eyes, he would love her to the point of being shattered to pieces without having a single regret!

As for Qingli, to tarnish his reputation and avoid suspicion from his father and brothers, he developed a habit of frequenting brothels without ever getting involved with anyone. The only one who truly moved him was Feng Xinglie, but he also understood that for the sake of the country, he was destined to part ways with her. However, their unwavering devotion in the face of life and death had long since broken down all his self-control, and he was no longer willing to deceive himself.

So what if we're destined to be separated forever? So what if we know it's a dead end, a hopeless and tragic love affair?

Since she values him above her own life, what else can he hold back? Even if the feelings are destined to be buried, he will never deliberately suppress them again! Whether she accepts them or not is her business; whether he loves her or not is his problem.

The two men stepped forward again in perfect unison, flanking her from both sides, their eyes filled with a tenderness that could almost drown a person!

Under the intense gaze of two such outstanding men, Feng Xinglie couldn't help but shiver. She sighed inwardly, thinking that being too stunningly beautiful was indeed not a good thing. She couldn't handle so many men!

A gust of cold wind swept into the valley, waking the three of them from the shock of their near-death experience and bringing them to their senses.

"Don't be too smug. There are still Qing Kingdom troops outside. We won't get out so easily." Although she said this, Feng Xinglie had already signaled Yao Tianlin and Qingli to explore the valley entrance. The ashes of the withered grass and trees drifted and scattered as the three of them lightly touched the ground. It was still late at night. The fire that sealed the mountain should have made those people lower their guard. She secretly planned a way to take advantage of the chaos and approach the not-so-wide valley entrance.

Turning past a mound, Feng Xinglie looked around and frowned in surprise at the scene of chaos and a large number of soldiers lying haphazardly. What happened? Had these people been attacked by other troops?

Qingli lowered her voice and whispered using her internal energy, which could only be heard by the two people beside her, "Could it be a trap?"

After careful observation, Feng Xinglie frowned slightly: "It doesn't seem like it. Their formation is a mess, lacking any ambush skills. Some of their weapons are even thrown three meters away. How could they possibly react to an unexpected situation? And several of them are clutching their stomachs, their expressions of pain not feigned. Judging from their appearance... it seems like they've been slightly poisoned..."

Yao Tianlin, who had a strange expression, suddenly clapped his hands and remembered: "I know, it's the smell emitted after the burning of the Cypress flowers in my valley. Although the Cypress flowers are not very poisonous and can be used as medicine if used properly, if you are poisoned by Cypress flowers, you will be paralyzed and weak all over, and suffer from abdominal pain and diarrhea. The fire spread the smell all over the mountains and fields, so I believe these soldiers must have been poisoned. Even if they are treated, it is impossible for them to fully recover in a short time."

Feng Xinglie asked in confusion, "Then why is my Yin alright?"

Yao Tianlin rolled his eyes: "Do you think I'm called the Medicine King for nothing? I've been immersed in medicinal jars since I was a child, and the herbal scent emanating from me is the nemesis of ordinary poisons. As long as it's not a deadly poison like Ten-Step Intestinal-Piercing Powder, I can hold you and sleep with you and I guarantee you'll be as lively as ever. Humph! You'd better be careful in the future. If you come back poisoned again, I'll just use this method to detoxify you." As he said this, he became serious and thoughtful, seemingly looking forward to such a scenario.

Upon hearing that the usually aloof and cold Yao Tianlin would actually make such a joke about death, Feng Xinglie nearly fell over, his face flushing red: "Pah! I'm not that easily taken advantage of!"

Qingli pondered for a moment and smiled slightly: "It seems that heaven is helping me. After all, this is the only way we have. Otherwise, we would be trapped in the valley and die. Sooner or later, we will have to go out and face it. No matter if it is a trap or not, we have no choice but to try!"

“That’s right!” Feng Xinglie nodded and calmly pondered, “There are two forks in the road outside, both leading to that place?”

"On one side is a flat plain, and on the other side is a steep cliff and abyss."

“Okay! Let’s go to the cliff!” Feng Xinglie said firmly without hesitation.

"A cliff?" Yao Tianlin asked, puzzled. "That cliff is bottomless. Even if I fell, I would definitely be smashed to pieces. There's no river below, and the rock face is bare and barren. Don't expect any trees to catch you. Going there would be certain death."

Feng Xinglie raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you believe me?"

Seeing her confident and arrogant expression, Qingli and the other person exchanged a glance and nodded firmly again: "We believe you!"

"Very good!" With a satisfied smile, Feng Xinglie lowered his body, used his heels to push off the rock beside him, and shot forward!

"Let's go!"

As soon as the words were spoken, three figures appeared like ghosts, moving as fast as lightning. Qingli and Yao Tianlin flew out together with Feng Xinglie. The soldiers lying on the ground reacted one after another, but they still looked sick and had no intention of pursuing. There were also many sick people lying on the mountain road outside the valley. It seemed that Yao Tianlin's Baili flower poison had indeed taken effect.

Just now, as he caught a glimpse of the eyes of several soldiers, a stern warning mechanically echoed in his mind. Feng Xinglie hurriedly shouted, "Beware of an ambush!"

Her voice echoed through the mountains, triggering a strong sense of crisis. A dozen muscular figures suddenly leaped out from the crooked soldiers at their feet! Long whips, gleaming with a dull blue luster, shot towards the three of them with lightning speed!

Qingli and Yao Tianlin, reminded by her, were already prepared. They both drew their usual weapons, swung the whips, and retreated swiftly! Feng Xinglie shouted, "You really can't lift yourself up!" His body had already fallen. Those people were clearly well-trained. Youdao couldn't gather her qi at this moment. The agile black whips were all-pervasive, attacking vital points with every move! The six men swiftly swung their whips, making a 'crackling' sound, attacking her from the top, middle, and bottom!

Feng Xinglie felt a chill run down her spine. The materials of the whips couldn't be discerned in the darkness, but their chilling aura and faint bluish metallic luster told her they were no good! She swiftly drew a dagger from her sleeve, deflecting the whips that attacked her from the left and right. She dodged two whips from above with a quick tilt of her head, then plunged the black dagger into the carotid arteries of the two men at the top. She stomped hard on the stone wall and darted towards Qingli and the other man. But one of the agile black whips followed her like a shadow, clinging to her like a leech!

A sudden, bone-chilling coldness ran down her calf. The black whip lashed against her leg muscles, eerily piercing her flesh. Only then did Feng Xinglie realize with astonishment that it wasn't a whip at all! It was a long, black chain studded with dragon-whisker needles! The needles would automatically curl and twist as they pierced the flesh, resembling thorns. The worst part was that while not fatal, the excruciating pain was enough to make someone faint on the spot!

Fortunately, the whip didn't wrap around her entire leg; it only struck one spot. Even so, Feng Xinglie staggered and fell straight down from the air in pain.

"Xing Lie!" Yao Tianlin and Qing Li's eyes turned red instantly. They channeled their energy into their palms and struck the man in black. Although they were good at sneak attacks, they were no match for Yao Tianlin and Qing Li in terms of martial arts. After the three leaders were killed by the two, the rest of them retreated in great fear.

A strong gust of wind came from behind. Feng Xinglie knew he couldn't get entangled by the whip that followed. He focused his mind, tapped his toes, and shot out three steel needles in a triangular pattern. Before the attacker could even let out a scream, his throat was pierced by the three steel needles!

With a forceful tug, she tore off the black lock, skin and flesh intertwined. As blood splattered and excruciating pain shot through him, Feng Xinglie felt his vision go black, and a scream was swallowed, almost escaping his lips!

Sweating profusely, Feng Xinglie stumbled into the arms of Yao Tianlin and Qingli. The two men, one on each side, supported her with concern in their eyes. Shocked by her injuries, they dared not move too much. They quickly pressed their backs against a recessed part of the mountain wall and then unleashed two sharp palm strikes, forcing the men in black to stay away.

Of the sixteen men wielding the black locks, three died at Feng Xinglie's hands, and three more were killed by Yao Tianlin and Qingli. In an instant, only ten remained. These ten men adjusted their formation and surrounded the three men between the mountain walls. The long black locks swayed slowly, exuding a faint aura of death, making them extremely sinister.

"Don't rush in! Watch out for those black whips, they're covered in dragon whisker needles. If you get caught in them, you'll be half dead, if not killed!" Feng Xinglie, pale-faced, weakly warned, placing his weight on the two of them. The excruciating pain in her legs made it almost impossible for her to stand. The dragon whisker needles writhed incessantly in her muscles, like live worms tearing at her calves. Cold sweat poured down her body. Blood seeped from her tightly clenched lips, but she dared not loosen them, fearing that if she did, she wouldn't scream in agony.

Damn it! She actually got tricked by this insidious thing! But now, apart from the pain, she could hardly feel anything at all, and even the strength to curse in secret had diminished.

"Dragon Beard Needle!" Qingli and Yao Tianlin were also shocked. They had heard how dangerous this poisonous thing was. The Dragon Beard Needle was extremely thin and narrow. It did not contain any poison itself, but once it pierced the body, one would die from excruciating pain! Fortunately, Feng Xing was hit in the leg. If it had been in a sensitive area such as the abdomen, she would probably have already fainted.

Qingli noticed that she was covered in cold sweat and asked anxiously with heartache, "Xinglie, how are you feeling?"

"It hurts..." He uttered a broken syllable with a slight frown. The knuckles of his fingers, which were gripping the shoulders of the two people, turned white. Even the stubborn Feng Xinglie was complaining of pain, which showed just how intense the pain was!

"Open your mouth!" Yao Tianlin's eyes were full of tenderness as he took out a pill with a faint medicinal fragrance and put it to her lips: "Take it quickly, it will refresh you and relieve the pain."

In her hazy state of consciousness, Feng Xinglie bit down and swallowed it. The rich aroma of ginseng gave her a slight boost of energy, indicating that it contained medicinal ingredients. Although she felt somewhat weak, at least the pain wasn't too severe.

She forced a smile and joked, "I'm like a turtle eating barley, wasting a rare and precious medicine."

Yao Tianlin retorted with dissatisfaction: "That's true. Fortunately, we have a dedicated pharmacist, which saves us a lot of suffering."

Qingli and the other person glared at her helplessly. Even though they knew this woman was always arrogant and presumptuous, she was still joking at this point. There was probably only one such person in the world.

The black-clad men wielding the ropes slowly narrowed their range, their eyes filled with chilling killing intent. Feng Xinglie clung to Yao Tianlin, and the three of them stared at them nervously. The atmosphere was tense, as if this attack was a desperate fight to the death!

"Stop!" Hearing the rapidly approaching shout, those wielding black ropes suddenly took a half step back. A large circle of soldiers wielding gleaming weapons surged forward like a tide, following a middle-aged man in white, and surrounded them in the blink of an eye.