Создание гармоничной династии песен

Глава 63

"Xinglie, what did you say? I don't understand."

"Stop pretending!" Feng Xinglie roared hoarsely, grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling it in front of his own eyes, his eyes filled with pain, unable to control his emotions any longer!

“You know I’m not referring to what you did today, throwing the plague into the Qing Army camp! Yes, you were impulsive, reckless, and it moved me, but compared to the war, although I grieve for the tens of thousands of lives lost, I will never blame you for it! I’m a heartless woman; for the sake of the greater good, I can even kill these people with a single stroke! The Qing King must pay the price for the sins he has committed!”

"Yao Tianlin! I've always wondered why you'd rather watch me and Yu Xiang kiss than leave my side for even a moment, why you've stayed with me for so long. Did you decide from the moment we met again that you'd give up your life for my happiness? You've stayed with me all this time, unwilling to leave, because you know you're about to die, isn't that right? You've said so much to me because... you don't want me to be sad because of your death, is that right?"

Her beautiful eyes were moist, and the clear tears that slid down told of her sorrow.

"Tianlin, is that you? You poisoned Qin Han, didn't you?"

Chapter 106 What Does Death Matter?

The last day—the last day to keep Qin Han from succumbing to the poison! After tonight, Qin Han will succumb to the poison and die!

Yao Tianlin's expression changed several times. Under the raging yet lonely flames around him, he seemed to become transparent, pale as if he might disappear at any moment. Yet, the tenderness in his eyes as he looked at Feng Xinglie never faded for a moment.

He let out a long, leisurely sigh: "Did I still hurt your feelings? When did you guess that?"

His hands were warm, gently massaging the aches and pains on her body. This completely relaxed her, and Feng Xinglie felt warm all around her, as if she were in a greenhouse, but her heart was as cold as ice. Who could understand this feeling of being warm on the outside but cold on the inside?

"Do you remember what I asked you before I fainted in Fengcheng?" Her long eyelashes trembled incessantly, and her limbs felt weak. At this moment, she had no strength left in her body and lay limply in Yao Tianlin's arms, her voice sorrowful and blank.

"It really was back then." Yao Tianlin smiled with a hint of understanding and relief, quite proudly: "As expected of Feng Xinglie, who has captured the hearts of all of us. Always so clever, you thought it might be me back then? No wonder you were so nervous after I explained the poison of the Green Gu. Xinglie, I'm so glad you're worried about me too!"

"You idiot! Yao Tianlin! You've wasted your title of Medicine King! Do you know you're a fool?" Feng Xinglie gritted her teeth and cursed, warm tears streaming down her cheeks through her blurred eyes, revealing her heartbroken state. The intense conflict was driving her mad. All her thoughts were in turmoil, as if no path was right, and she couldn't escape this fog. Today, she felt powerless once again.

"Then what do you want me to do? Xing Lie, wouldn't it be even more painful for you to choose?" Yao Tianlin laughed self-deprecatingly, a smile that seemed to indicate he had let go of everything.

"If Qin Han dies, the stability you and Brother Ling have worked so hard to achieve will immediately collapse! Everything will be overturned. Although I am not one to be swayed by power, I am not a fool either; I understand all of this. What wouldn't I do for you? I've said it before, I will not let any of those who have hurt you go unpunished, and I will repay those who have caused you suffering a thousandfold. That's why, when I discovered that Qin Han harbored suspicions about you, I ruthlessly planted the Green Gu poison in his body. I never imagined that it would become the source of your suffering today..."

Everything had unknowingly reached a dead end. A knot had formed, and someone had to cut the Gordian knot decisively to break the deadlock. Otherwise, everything would become unmanageable!

"But Xinglie, I have no regrets!" Yao Tianlin's expression was very serious, and his smile was brighter than flames.

"I have no regrets whatsoever. Qin Han, that was his own fault! For your sake, I wanted him to suffer a fate worse than death. I have no regrets. And now, I know that for your sake, I cannot let him die, and I will not regret the decision I have made all this time!" Yao Tianlin's beautiful face lost all its coldness, and he smiled so gently, so beautifully, like a banished immortal who had mistakenly entered the mortal world, otherworldly and incomparably handsome.

His melodious voice gradually became ethereal, yet it seemed to be right next to my ear.

"Do you know? Xinglie, nothing is more important than you. Your happiness comes first. You have that kind of magic that makes every man around you put everything else aside for your smile, your happiness. Whether it's me, Ling Yuxiang, Xi Suifeng, Qingli, or that Liu Wuge, it's all the same. Even Qin Han has had such thoughts. It's just that some of us have our own circumstances, status, and helplessness, like Qingli and Qin Han. Although they might lose control for you, they still have too many things to consider."

Feng Xinglie listened in a daze, his heart pounding. So, she had always been so happy. Those around her had always doted on her and loved her so much!

"Do you know why I'm so jealous of Ling Yuxiang, and even had murderous thoughts towards him, yet I've always restrained myself from revealing them?" Yao Tianlin smiled gently, uttering words he would never normally say. His tender, watery gaze fell on Feng Xinglie, and he gently pulled her closer, making her more comfortable.

Yao Tianlin's words were absolutely true. How could a man be completely without hostility towards someone who is his love rival? Besides, they were both outstanding individuals, and each of them was known for their arrogance. To say that he had never had such thoughts would be unbelievable, even to a fool.

His next words caused a cloud of confusion to rise in Feng Xinglie's eyes once again.

"Because I know you will be angry, you will be in a difficult position, and you will never want to see a rift between us because of you. So no matter how unbearable it is, I will coexist peacefully with him. No matter how painful it is in my heart, I will make you feel at ease."

"Tianlin..." The call that escaped his lips was soft and weak, yet it made Yao Tianlin's brows relax once more, his entire face beaming with a joyful smile, as if he were the happiest person in the world. But Feng Xinglie could clearly see that he had personally torn away his disguise. The heart behind that mask was bleeding profusely! She had already hurt them so deeply, and now, she could only continue to wound him!

Perhaps, as he said, he did it willingly. But who owes whom? Anyone with eyes can tell.

"Xing Lie, I heard you also have another name, 'Feng Meiniang,' and that you can sing and dance. Sing me a song, I want to hear your voice." He closed his beautiful eyes, a satisfied look on his face, and waited quietly.

Feng Xinglie finally blinked his usually lively but now desolate eyes, barely suppressing the unbearable pain in his chest. He took two deep breaths, leaned his head against the man's strong chest, and his melodious singing voice slowly rose amidst the raging flames.

"When will the times change and the prosperity return?"

The wind has already dispersed the clouds and smoke.

But then, a sword that had once severed all ties of affection was drawn.

Who is willing in the end?

The murky wine, drunk, drowns out love.

Yet, it cannot sever the longing.

The emotional cocoon I created has been torn apart.

The last drop of blood gushed out.

He waved goodbye, without looking back.

For whom does this madness reside?

Turning away, how could I bear to let go?

We've held hands and broken up, for too many reasons.

One person goes and tears flow.

I've laughed and cried, there are so many reasons.

Love has decayed.

He waved goodbye, without looking back.

For whom does this madness reside?

Turning away, how could I bear to let go?

We've held hands and broken up, for too many reasons.

One person goes and tears flow.

I've laughed and cried, there are so many reasons.

Love has decayed…

As if entranced, a warm, faint smile appeared on Yao Tianlin's lips. She sang for so long, so very long, refusing to stop. Because she knew that if she stopped, this man would leave…

How long and how short that time was, each second and minute passing by. Forgetting everything else, Feng Xinglie only wanted to keep this man, this man who had given so much for her yet asked for nothing in return, even willing to sacrifice his last life. She wasn't a scarecrow; she couldn't be moved, she couldn't shed tears. How could she remain oblivious to someone who had sacrificed so much for her?

She sang like that, and with each passing minute, the heaviness in her heart grew heavier. However, even though her heart was so heavy that she couldn't even look at herself, the hoarse sounds coming from her throat just wouldn't stop.

She sang on, large tears rolling down her cheeks. Feng Xinglie always said, "She bleeds and sweats, but not tears; no matter how much pain one suffers, one must be strong." Even when Qin Han forced her to the edge of a cliff, she hadn't shed a tear. But at this moment, that unwavering resolve was shattered by this man's actions. She could choose not to weep for her own sorrow and pain, but she couldn't bear to see others suffer so much because of her.

She sang on and on, the distant sounds of battle unable to penetrate her heart. In the pitch-black night, she still felt that this song could never be sung enough, never finished, and she still couldn't bring herself to end it...

Yao Tianlin opened his eyes at an unknown time, his warm hand gently stroking her cheek. The singing stopped abruptly, like a snapped string, and never resumed.

“It sounds beautiful,” he said with a smile.

"Then let's continue!"

Feng Xinglie continued, struggling to sit up with some agitation. But it was all in vain. Although the medicine Yao Tianlin had given her was excellent for her health, it contained a small amount of anesthetic. Now, Feng Xinglie could hardly move, let alone circulate her internal energy.

"Xinglie, you can't stop me, and you shouldn't stop me. Haven't I gone mad enough for you? This is the last time, I'll go mad no matter what!" He spoke with unwavering resolve, gripping Feng Xinglie's hand. The brilliance in Yao Tianlin's eyes was so dazzling, as if he wanted to unleash the last essence of his life in this moment. "Only one of me and Qin Han can live. It's too painful for you to choose, so I'll choose for you!"

"This isn't fair! Tianlin! This is absolutely unfair to you!" She shook her head frantically, but deep down she knew she couldn't stop him.

“There is no fairness in this world! Does Qin Han care about fairness? Do I care? So-called fairness is just a product of self-interest. This is my own choice, and for the sake of the stability of the world, you have to make this choice. I know you can't accept that I should die, and that's the contradiction in your heart, but Xing Lie. I want to say that you don't need to feel guilty about this at all, because I'm just using this deal to achieve my own goals.”

His faint smile made Feng Xinglie feel dizzy. The medicinal fragrance emanating from him seemed so abrupt at this moment. She knew it was a calming drug with strong sedative properties.

"Do you remember what I told you? I don't expect to win your heart, I only hope that you will remember me. I think that from now on, the name Yao Tianlin will be firmly etched in your heart and mind, never to be forgotten. Isn't that enough?"

Yao Tianlin, as if afraid of hurting her in the slightest, gently laid her entire body flat on the boulder. With his sleeve facing the sky, a bright blue flame shot straight into the clouds, adding a touch of vibrant color to the black night.

"Brother Ling and the others will be back to pick you up soon. Xing Lie, get some sleep. When you wake up, everything will be alright."

He seemed to use all his strength to gaze deeply at her, then finally turned away, never to look back.

Feng Xinglie felt the voice in her ear drifting away, and the image of Yao Tianlin in front of her gradually blurred. Her eyelids were heavy, and her mind was in a daze, but she bit her tongue hard to keep herself from falling asleep.

"Tianlin!" Her voice was so soft, so faint, much softer than the sound of a raging fire. But the person who was gradually fading away still heard it.

From afar, a faint, ethereal laugh drifted over, like an immortal returning to the celestial realm, carefree and unrestrained.

"Xinglie, life is but a dream. What does it matter if I die for you?"

In the darkness, a lonely man lay on a large rock, staring intently at a shadow that was no longer clearly visible.

Watching that figure disappear into the raging flames, a heart-wrenching pain gripped my chest, and tears streamed down my face even more...

Life is but a dream, what does death matter?

Even in a dream, the beautiful moments make it hard to wake up, don't you?

Tianlin, you left so decisively and fearlessly, simply so I wouldn't have any psychological burden. But are you really such a reckless person? Even at the very end, why did you still think of me, why did you do this for me...?

Even I can't bear to part with you, so how could you leave so carefree?

Chapter 107 Never to Be Apart

"Lie...Lie...Wake up, stop scaring me!..." The warm and familiar voice called out word by word for a long, long time, embracing her with unreserved tenderness whenever she felt pain. In her pain, she felt so happy.

Just like when she was singing that song, this call never stopped, it kept coming, rescuing her from her pain and constantly giving her strength.

"Lie, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

"Look at me, open your eyes and look at me... I accept all the blame, beatings, and insults you have for me... I beg you, please wake up..."

Feng Xinglie's brows twitched slightly. She had slept fitfully, but a heavy weight still pressed on her heart, a weight she couldn't lift even in her dreams. The swelling pain in her lips brought on her breath, and she couldn't help but hiss in pain.

"It hurts..." She couldn't help but subconsciously lick her burning lower lip, but this brought another, even more intense pain, causing her eyes to widen suddenly and letting out a loud, unbearable cry. "Ah!"

Red suddenly burst into a dark world, a red more intense than fire, replacing the pitch black, so dazzling that it burned the eyes. A hoarse voice, filled with joyful sobs, came from beside me, and in an instant, my body was tightly embraced by that familiar, broad chest!

"You're awake! You're finally awake!" His voice trembled, usually deep and pleasant, but now hoarse, and I couldn't properly express the chaos in my heart: "It's good that you're awake, it's good that you're awake! I missed you so much, you scared me so much, you can't leave me, you can't!"

Warmth, endless warmth! Just like when they first met, the warmth he brought always managed to rekindle her heart, which had been frozen and wounded to the extreme, whenever she needed it most. It rekindled the flame of her soul, which had been gradually extinguished by disillusionment with the world, time and again!

Fengxing closed her eyes unhappily, her eyes reddening once again. After a moment of stunned silence, all her memories churned in her mind, as chaotic as a pot of burnt porridge, unable to distinguish between sadness and joy. Her gaze was dull, but instinctively she moved her body to hug the person who always brought her warmth and soothed her pain in the most important moments, a hoarse sound escaping her throat that she herself could hardly believe.

"Yu Xiang, I..."

As soon as she said it, she was so frightened that she shut her mouth. She had sung for so long under the scorching heat of the previous night, and because the toxins in her body had not been expelled, she had a high fever all night. At this moment, her throat was as painful as her swollen lower lip.

After a moment of stunned silence, Ling Yuxiang finally calmed down a little, loosened his tight embrace and hugged her back. He could see her face, and Feng Xinglie finally saw the long-lost face he hadn't seen for many days. But he was completely stunned at that moment.

"Don't talk. You've had a fever all day and been unconscious for so long. You must be feeling terrible."

His warm eyes gazed at her with a deep and unforgettable expression, filled with heartache and care that instantly made her body heat up. However, a hint of anxiety within those eyes startled Feng Xinglie. Although his dull eyes were gradually regaining their former vitality when he saw her, it still caused her a sharp pain in her chest.

His handsome and charming face was sallow and haggard, with bluish stubble on his smooth chin, very prominent dark circles under his eyes, messy hair on his forehead, and dry, yellowish hair that cascaded down his back, which looked like it hadn't been groomed in a long time. His red clothes were stained with blood and had burn marks in many places. He smelled strongly of burnt clothes, which suggested that he hadn't changed his clothes since he rescued her from the battlefield.

Feng Xinglie reached out with trembling hands and touched Yu Xiang's cheek, which was a little prickly from the stubble. He asked in a stern voice, "Yu Xiang, why do you look like you're sick? Why don't you take better care of yourself?"

Ling Yuxiang glared at him with a wry smile, a mixture of helplessness and indulgence: "Do you think I could remain calm if you were just kidnapped like that? One moment you were right beside me, the next you were gone in the blink of an eye. Do you know how much I wanted to kill you? But the person I wanted to kill the most was myself. I'm a liar, a useless man. I told you I would protect you, that I wouldn't let you get hurt, that I wouldn't let anyone harm a single hair on your head, but it was because of my leaving that you were put in danger..."