Nuit éternelle

Chapitre 42

Chaos in Qingqiu Chapter 75: Escape from Dire Situation

The middle-aged man in white had a handsome face and a composed demeanor. He was clearly visible in the red light of the surrounding torchlight. When Qingli's slender figure met his gaze, she trembled slightly, and a look of sadness crept onto her brow.

"It's you..." It wasn't too far off from what he expected, but Qingli still couldn't help feeling a pang of regret and pain in his chest and abdomen. After all, he was his most respected master. He had never cared that this person was his father's confidant and always liked to treat him like a father. And this person had proudly told him that he was his most outstanding disciple.

However, as his status continued to rise after he achieved success and fame, he eventually distanced himself from him. He could no longer bear the fact that most of his military power had been taken away from him. From then on, they became cold and indifferent to each other, building a wall colder than that between strangers.

The man in white, his expression stern, said indifferently, "I have been ordered by the Azure King to arrest the rebellious Third Emperor Qingli. You'd better surrender. I... don't want to kill you..."

Qingli smiled bitterly: "You may not want to kill, but others do. Surrendering is also a dead end. Do you think I would believe such naive words? I don't remember my respected master teaching me that I should surrender when facing a strong enemy. I only know that my mentor earnestly taught me that to become a true man, one must be indomitable and never surrender. Have you forgotten all that?"

This man had always been his father's right-hand man, so it was only natural that he should be in charge of the secret military operation to kill him. However, seeing the chilling killing intent and greed in his eyes, one couldn't help but lower one's head and sigh.

The muscles in his face twitched, as if recalling an unhappy memory. The man in white said angrily, "If you don't surrender, you'll die right now!"

Qingli replied calmly, "So what? Am I, Qingli, actually a coward who fears death? Teacher, it's you who's been corrupted. When did the teacher I respected become so completely gone? Is power really something addictive? If you had spared my life out of consideration for our past relationship, I wouldn't have been forced to this point. Fine, I have no choice but to sever all ties with you. If I survive this ordeal, I will show no mercy to you in the future!"

The expressionless face finally showed a hint of emotion, but it quickly vanished again. A sinister aura broke through the disguise, and with a wave of his hand, more than a hundred archers drew their bows and aimed at the three of them. If they fired at the same time, escape would be difficult. The man in white sneered coldly: "I'm afraid you won't have that chance!"

Having observed all of this, Feng Xinglie roughly understood the newcomer. Seeing the tense atmosphere, he endured the pain in his legs, channeled his inner strength, and laughed loudly: "So it's General Bai Zhongyan. I've long admired your name. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Her voice was extremely loud, echoing through the valley just like her previous roar. An indescribable aura emanated from this injured person, showing none of the anxiety or pain one would expect from someone seriously injured. This nonchalant attitude, as if everything was under control, actually made those who were trying to capture her begin to feel a sense of unease.

The man in white's expression changed, and he stared at her blankly as if pondering something, without even trying to suppress the slightly agitated soldiers.

Having achieved his goal of confusing the opposing god, Feng Xinglie secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If Bai Zhongyan had ordered his men to attack without saying a word, it wouldn't have been long before they would have had to say goodbye to this world.

She firmly withdrew her hands from Qingli and Yao Tianlin; at this moment, she had to remain calm and composed!

Two warm, slightly rough hands reached out nervously, continuously channeling heat from internal energy into Feng Xingding's body, allowing her to stand upright. Feng Xinglie felt a warm current coursing through his chest. He gave the two beside him a reassuring look, remaining alert, and used his internal energy to transmit his voice secretly to them.

"Do you remember the direction we agreed on?"

The reason they headed towards the plains was because Feng Xinglie had calculated that there would be an army blocking their way below. It was true that some soldiers on the ground were poisoned, but those who were farther away were not seriously injured. The assassins who played with locks took advantage of the soldiers' lack of vigilance and underestimated them to set them up.

Although the somersault was a terrible mistake, it also exposed their trump card. Now that they were on guard, it would be no easy task to use that damn thing to wrap them up.

Qingli and Yao Tianlin both nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, in response. At this moment, as far as they could see, there were densely packed soldiers below. Even if they had no intention of going down, they would be scared back by the sight of the enemy. It would be fine if they could take advantage of the chaos, but now that they were facing off in such a large-scale confrontation, only a fool would rush over.

In comparison, the pressure on the road leading to the cliff was much less. These soldiers probably also considered that it was a dead end. Most of them were on the road leading down the mountain, which was so crowded that probably not even a swarm of grasshoppers could fly in!

"While I go and disturb Zhong Baizhongyan, you all pay attention to the strength in my hands. If you feel me suddenly increase the strength, break through immediately and go up the cliff!"

After decisively giving the order, she received two trusting and doting gazes. Without hesitation, she entrusted her life to him, which made Feng Xinglie smile bitterly in the dark. She was afraid that she could never repay such kindness in this lifetime.

Bai Zhongyan's voice rang out, filled with deep inquiry: "Is the one on the other side the Fierce Army Commander, Feng Xinglie, the City Lord of Fengcheng?" Just now, when Yao Tianlin and Qingli shouted the name "Xinglie" together, Bai Zhongyan knew that things had changed, which is why he appeared to stop the assassins' actions. Otherwise, he would not have suddenly played the role of savior when the three of them were trapped.

Upon hearing this, Feng Xinglie felt relieved. Bai Zhongyan was probably already wavering. The meaning of Feng Xinglie's current identity to the world was probably extremely complicated in the eyes of these politicians, like a hot potato or a hornet's nest. If it was disturbed, the huge hornets that followed would not be to be trifled with!

"Indeed, life is full of unexpected encounters. Feng Xinglie never expected that I would have such great influence that the Grand Marshal of the Qing Kingdom would come to welcome me." She replied with a forced smile, her words exuding a subtle authority that made the man opposite her take a step back in shock.

Bai Zhongyan frowned as he looked at her. Now he was completely certain of her identity. Besides Feng Xinglie, who else could be so arrogant as to force him to retreat amidst such a dense encirclement? His expression changed drastically as he rolled his eyes and smiled nonchalantly, "I am deeply ashamed that I have failed to greet General Feng properly. However, I am truly puzzled as to why General Feng, having already joined the War God of Ling Kingdom, is still showing his face in public."

Was she trying to mock her as merely a woman who should stand behind a man? Feng Xinglie raised an eyebrow and sneered, feigning surprise: "General Bai, please forgive my arrogance. What kind of person is Feng Xinglie? How could anyone be willing to confine someone as talented as me to my chambers? Wouldn't that be a waste of talent? General Bai, surely you are not that foolish?" Her arrogance darkened Bai Zhongyan's face, yet he couldn't find any reason to refute her. Who in the world didn't know Feng Xinglie's talent? Now that her identity as a woman was public knowledge, all the kings and generals were probably lamenting that they hadn't had the chance to bring her home.

Seeing him lost in thought, Feng Xinglie smiled strangely again, his skin thicker than a city wall, and said, "Could it be that General Bai is also interested in Feng Xinglie?" She shook her head greatly, looking regretful, "But I already have Yu Xiang. With that person's personality, I'm afraid I can't be unfaithful. I don't know what Yu Xiang's response will be after he understands General Bai's feelings."

Bai Zhongyan stumbled and almost tripped, cursing Feng Xinglie's feigned ignorance in his heart. She clearly knew they weren't after her, yet she kept pushing them to think about her identity and the consequences of harming her. Her intention to protect Qingli was very obvious.

"That would require Ling Shuai to know the news first!" Bai Zhongyan didn't bother to refute, a sinister smile spreading across his face, the threat of killing her to silence her quite obvious. He was playing a double game with her, outwardly agreeing with her words while secretly warning her that they might very well deal with her as well.

"Oh?" Feng Xinglie innocently narrowed his eyes, then suddenly burst into a loud, arrogant laugh: "General Bai means to make all those who know the truth disappear?" Her bright eyes, seemingly full of meaning, suddenly swept over the dense crowd, and she said leisurely and slowly: "It's just that it's really hard to silence everyone. Even if your emperor agrees, the number of mouths to be silenced... seems a bit too many."

Several echoes drifted and spread, causing a stir among the orderly ranks. At this point, anyone who wasn't hopelessly stupid could understand Feng Xinglie's unspoken meaning. Bai Zhongyan's face turned ashen, and he was about to retort when Feng Xinglie let out another long, hearty laugh, giving him a disdainful glance with an air of arrogance.

"Besides, even if you could silence them, how could the Qing Kingdom's mountain blockade go completely unnoticed? Does General Bai think that all foreign spies are stupid? At least the Fierce Army that I trained shouldn't be. Yu Xiang's Flying Feather Cavalry must also have their own methods. As for the King of Qin... Ha, you surnamed Bai, this is the border of Qin. Do you think Qin Han would remain indifferent?"

"You!" Bai Zhongyan gritted her teeth. This was clearly a blatant threat! But what she said was all true. Although Qing Wang Qing Yuan intended to stir up trouble, inviting powerful enemies from all sides to attack together was simply asking for trouble.

Despite their meticulous planning, they failed to foresee that Feng Xinglie, a figure with "deep connections" to all three other forces and whose every move could affect the entire situation, would travel all the way to Qing Kingdom to visit, and would also be caught up in this siege. They couldn't touch him, but they couldn't let him go either. This awkward situation caused them extreme headaches.

"Hey Bai, do you know who this man beside me is?" Seeing Bai Zhongyan's obvious unease, Feng Xinglie's narrowed eyes flashed with a cunning glint. His smile widened, and he added fuel to the fire, pointing to Yao Tianlin beside him and continuing, "Have you ever heard of the name Medicine King Tianlin? Surely the Medicine King Valley's influence extends throughout Qing Kingdom, doesn't it? I wonder how it feels to have those skilled in poison stabbed in the back by both the underworld and the legitimate world?"

Bai Zhongyan could no longer consider her arrogant and threatening words. The implications were enormous. In his astonishment, he couldn't help but weigh the pros and cons in his mind. His chaotic thoughts were disjointed. The soldiers around him also looked puzzled and relaxed a lot. A silver glint flashed in Feng Xinglie's eyes. He squeezed the palms of the two people on his left and right. The opportunity had come.

Qingli and Yao Tianlin had been waiting for her signal. Without hesitation, they swept aside the soldiers blocking their path with a flurry of palm strikes and blade shadows, lifted her up, and soared high over a group of soldiers before landing on the mountain path. There were few soldiers here, and the two men kicked them all away with a few punches and kicks, then charged straight out.

The two exerted force with their feet, pulling Feng Xinglie away from Bai Zhongyan's army behind them, and sped up the mountain road. Feng Xinglie could not exert any strength, and the wind was whistling in her ears. She knew that although the two had high lightness skills, with her as a burden, they would definitely be caught by those lock-wielding masters.

The chilling cracking of whips echoed once more in his ears. Feng Xinglie gritted his teeth, his heart hardening, and whispered to the two men, "Get ready. Ignore those black locks and take out those soldiers as quickly as possible! Otherwise, we'll be driven crazy by them before we even reach the top of the mountain!"

Qingli and Yao Tianlin were taken aback. Although they didn't understand, they stopped. Feng Xinglie was right. Even if there was a risk of being caught up by the army behind them, they wouldn't be able to escape unless they got rid of these annoying soldiers.

The two fiercely gripped their familiar blades, and with Feng Xinglie's every move aimed at vital points, they leaped forward and attacked as if risking their lives.

In their view, the most troublesome thing was those black chains. As long as they could hold them back, killing them wouldn't be difficult. The only question was whether they had enough time. At this point, they could only take a gamble!

"Brother Yao, I'll block their weapons, you just take care of them!" Qingli had just finished speaking when she saw a black figure following behind, rushing towards the people below before them.

"Xing Lie!" The two were shocked.

Seeing her desperate appearance, the men in black couldn't help but show their horror. Under the exclamations of the two above, their arms had already grabbed at a black lock that was rushing towards them!

Ignoring the excruciating pain of her flesh being torn apart and the piercing, bone-chilling cold that threatened to make her faint, she swung her other hand even more fiercely at the black lock that was being swung at Yao Tianlin. Large sections of the black lock were embedded in her skin and wrapped around her body, making it impossible to pull them out for a moment. The people behind her holding the black locks had probably never seen such a terrifying head-on collision in their lives. Seeing that beautiful face become ferocious yet filled with a sharp and eerie look due to the pain, they were shocked, panicked, and felt a chill rise from the depths of their souls. The black locks in their hands slowed down slightly.

Feng Xinglie's eyes were filled with ruthlessness, and his resolute cold shout left no room for resistance: "Kill him now!"

Without hesitation, Yao Tianlin and his companion swept their palms with unimaginable speed. Seeing Feng Xinglie's wounded hands turn bright red, almost dripping blood, Qingli killed three people in succession with a single slash. Yao Tianlin then used the Great Prajna Finger Technique to directly choke four people by the throat. The remaining two who escaped were also injured in their legs, arms, and legs, and retreated in panic. One of the black locks was struck back by Yao Tianlin's finger wind, hitting his chest and letting out a deafening scream before fainting on the spot.

Seeing that the two remaining fighters were no longer able to fight, Yao Tianlin and Qingli had no intention of pursuing them. They leaped to Feng Xinglie, who was clinging tightly to the stone wall and had bitten her lip until it bled. Yao Tianlin was filled with anger and pain. He picked her up and carefully pulled the two dragon whisker needle locks that were still wrapped around her body from the black locks that were deeply embedded in her flesh, inch by inch. The tearing pain caused her to groan in pain.

"You feel pain now? You really enjoy dying heroically? Do you know how many people will worry about you just because you're injured?" Qingli, who was always chivalrous, had a livid face. She had never seen Bai Zhongyan so gloomy.

Feng Xinglie gritted her teeth, too weak to argue with them. She couldn't afford to faint yet! If it weren't for the lingering pain from the anesthesia, she probably wouldn't be much better off than the guy lying on the ground. Seeing their slow pace, she struggled to her feet, her heart pounding with anxiety: "Hurry up! Just tear it off already! The people behind us are catching up!"

"Don't even think about it!"

Both men were furious, angry at her recklessness, yet heartbroken by her injuries and blood-soaked appearance. Undeterred, they meticulously removed each thorn embedded in her bones, determined not to be rough, even if the sky were to fall!

Knowing he was in the wrong, Feng Xinglie had no choice but to let the two men 'fix' her up and down. The dragon whisker needles on her legs were also pulled out along with the skin and flesh. Although she was still in pain, it was much better than the trembling pain of being eaten by worms.

A dense crowd surged in, and the two of them once again carried her up the mountain at breakneck speed. The difference this time was that she had no strength left, so Yao Tianlin simply carried her horizontally.

Not far from the mountaintop, in less than a quarter of an hour, the three of them had reached the edge of the cliff. Below them was a sea of white clouds, and the thick fog obscured the view.

"You have nowhere to escape!" Bai Zhongyan led his army and archers to approach one after another, leaving no possibility of a surprise attack. His face was grave: "Feng Xinglie, Yao Tianlin, if you are willing to ignore this matter of my Qing Kingdom, I guarantee that I will treat you as honored guests. Don't be ungrateful!"

The mountain wind howled past, ruffling the three men's disheveled robes as they fled. The eastern sky began to glow with a shimmering white light, and behind them, a few small pebbles tumbled down the precipice with a crackling sound.

"No room for negotiation! You think you can fool me with your little schemes?" Feng Xinglie sneered indifferently. Even in Yao Tianlin's arms, he could still show a dazzling smile. Did he think she was a child? Treating her as an honored guest was nothing short of imprisonment. She wasn't foolish enough to become a prisoner and exchange her for the interests of various parties.

She snorted coldly, pointed triumphantly at the bottomless cliff, and burst into a loud, bright, and confident smile.

"Who says there's no road? Isn't the road right here under your feet?"

Chaos in Qingqiu, Chapter Seventy-Six: Escape from a Dead End

Bai Zhongyan's expression changed drastically upon hearing her words. He stopped the soldiers who were about to step forward and called out urgently from a distance, "You guys surnamed Feng! You should understand that I absolutely do not want your lives, so why must you fight to the death?"

He had already witnessed Feng Xinglie's ruthless and decisive methods firsthand. Bai Zhongyan swore he had never seen anyone dare to confront that dragon-beard chain head-on, especially since she was a woman! Furthermore, the rumors circulating in the streets and alleys about her fierce character were mostly embellished, and those in high positions could easily see through that facade. The story of her refusing the king's temptation by dying on Purple Mountain was, in essence, an unwillingness to be coerced and imprisoned by Qin Han, choosing instead to perish together with him.

If he really pushed her too far, he had no doubt that Feng Xinglie would jump, and the consequences would be far beyond what he could bear.

"I'm sorry, but given the current situation, I don't think surrendering would bring any benefits. On the contrary, if we die, you and Qing Kingdom will face even greater trouble." The lazy voice showed no sign of tension. Feng Xinglie elegantly yawned slightly, her bright and beautiful eyes constantly scanning the cliff face. She recklessly used her own life as a bargaining chip, making her threat impossible to ignore.

Those on Bai Zhongyan's side who understood the situation were all sweating profusely, almost driven mad by her damned attitude, but apart from gritting their teeth, they were truly helpless.

"Fine!" A voice of compromise and defeat echoed from afar, squeezing out a long string of words through clenched teeth: "I, Bai Zhongyan, swear to heaven that I will never cause any trouble for Feng Xinglie and Yao Tianlin. If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning. Leave Qingli behind, and you may leave!"

The duck that was almost in their grasp flew away, and there was bound to be some resentment. It was just a pity that Feng Xinglie was such a big fish that he might really die from eating him. Under pressure, Bai Zhongyan had obviously made a huge concession.

"Leave Qingli behind?" Feng Xinglie laughed sarcastically, deliberately turning to the tall, slender man in blue beside him and asking with a smile, "They want me to leave you behind, are you willing?"

Qingli's smug and relaxed smile was arrogant and domineering: "Do you even need to ask? Of course you don't."

We already decided to live and die together in the valley, so what's the point of asking this question now?

After a light, pleased laugh, he uttered a statement that left no room for negotiation: "Hey Bai, did you hear that? The three of us came together, and we'll leave together. If one of us is missing, forget it!"

"Feng Xinglie! Don't push your luck!" Bai Zhongyan had already put down this bargaining chip, but who knew that Feng Xinglie's appetite would be so big, insisting on taking Qingli with him. Even with his good patience, Bai Zhongyan couldn't hold back any longer and angrily said with a livid face. Letting Qingli go would have endless troubles, and he could not back down on this point.

"Then there's nothing more to say." Patting the two on the shoulders, Feng Xinglie shook his head and gestured for them to take a few more steps closer to the cliff. At this point, half of the three of them were swaying in the wind. They looked like they were floating on air with carefree smiles, but to outsiders, this terrifying behavior would probably make them stare in horror.

"Wait a minute!" The emperor wasn't worried, but the eunuchs were. The scene was truly comical. Feng Xinglie and his two companions, who were ready to jump off the cliff at any moment, remained calm, while the people arresting and killing them were turning pale with worry because of their recklessness.

He shouted urgently, forcing himself to calm down. Bai Zhongyan said in a cold voice, "You'd better think this through. Is Qingli more important than both of your lives? Feng Xinglie, are you willing to risk your life? Do you want Yao Tianlin to die with you for a complete stranger like Qingli?"

"Your attempts to sow discord are utterly unsophisticated." Before Feng Xinglie could speak, Yao Tianlin glanced at him indifferently, then gazed tenderly into the eyes of the woman in his arms, who was weak yet still radiant, and chuckled, "Don't say I won't refute Xinglie's words. Even without her, do you think I, Yao Tianlin, am someone who can be threatened by others?"

If the number one extraordinary person in the martial arts world doesn't even have this much arrogance, how can he be worthy of the title of extraordinary person?

Feng Xinglie glanced at the two of them to the left and was surprised to find that they seemed to have become one. Although Qingli and Yao Tianlin had only met for one night and could not even be considered friends, they were willing to give up their precious lives.

It was precisely because of Feng Xinglie's unique cohesive power that this seemingly strange combination became warm, solid, and unbreakable. The beliefs of three people with different identities and personalities were intertwined into a single rope. The source of this power was that strong and beautiful woman who was covered in wounds but never gave up.

Blood seeped continuously from the gruesome wound that snaked from his shoulder to his palm. A few drops of bright red slowly dripped from the corner of his black robe. As the morning light appeared, it made Feng Xinglie's stunningly beautiful face appear incredibly pale. His face, devoid of any color, was still radiant and his arrogance undiminished.

A long, leisurely laugh drifted on the wind, echoing throughout the valley with a carefree and exhilarating feeling.

As the laughter subsided, Feng Xinglie sneered at Bai Zhongyan: "Bai, don't assume everyone is like you! Insignificant people spend their lives only eyeing profit, power, and themselves. When things are going well, they're full of vigor, but when things get tough, nobody will even glance at them. The immediate gains may be substantial, but you've lost many more precious things, and in the end, you're left with nothing but empty promises. Life is indeed important, but what if we give it up?"

Her words were so bold and inspiring, and as the sun gently peeked out from behind the clouds, a bright light shone behind her, giving the illusion that the radiant light seemed to emanate from her.

Feng Xinglie chuckled, then abruptly changed the subject, saying leisurely, "Besides, who said we'd lose our lives? General Bai, we've been chasing you all this way; by now, all your thousands of men who are afraid of death must be on this mountain, right?"

Blown by her words, Bai Zhongyan's mind was in complete chaos, filled with frustration and anger: "So what? A few thousand people are enough to trap you here!" He dared not order his men to advance, nor could he retreat. He could only wait here in vain. They outnumbered the three men, who had no food or water. The situation was only in their favor.

Feng Xinglie nodded as if she understood something, then suddenly thanked them sincerely, saying, "Then thank you very much, General Bai, for sparing our lives." She grabbed Qingli and the other woman by the shoulders and shouted, "Hold on tight, jump!"

"What?" Bai Zhongyan was shocked and could no longer hold back. He led his men and rushed towards the cliff.

Qingli and Yao Tianlin grabbed her from both sides, having long since disregarded their own lives. Without hesitation, they leaped off the cliff, and the three of them flew off the cliff. Bai Zhongyan was shocked and shouted in horror, "Are you guys really crazy?!"

The mountain wind howled in his ears, and the clouds were sparse at the cliff, making it almost impossible to see the scene below. The two streaks of blue and one streak of black stood out starkly against the white halo. The soldiers stared wide-eyed and pointed. Bai Zhongyan looked up and saw that the figures of the three people in the distance had already turned into a black cloud. He wiped his eyes, looked again, and was almost scared out of his wits.

What was that black cloud was clearly a large, strangely shaped black cloth, like a tent. The cloth was quite large, and Bai Zhongyan could still see it clearly. There were phosphorescent metal ropes firmly fixed to Feng Xinglie's body. The three figures were so small that they could only be seen as small as fingernails, but judging from their slow descent, they were not only not in danger at all, but were actually quite leisurely.

"What is that?"

"How should I know? I've never seen it before!"

The soldiers, who had never heard of such a strange thing, forgot about their current situation and began whispering amongst themselves, ignoring their commander who was still standing nearby.