The Blood Crown - Chapter 159

Yan Sikong pressed his pained chest and was devastated by Feng Ye’s hateful glare. He trembled as he said, “I don’t have time to explain now. We must leave immediately.”

Feng Ye bitterly said, “Yan Sikong, the thing I regret most in my life is having ever trusted you!”

Yan Sikong gritted his teeth and got up from the ground. “She Zhun, take him away!”

She Zhun yanked Feng Ye up from the ground. Feng Ye tried to fight back but was too weak, and was dragged out of the prison by She Zhun.

“Father—” Feng Ye struggled violently, reaching out futilely towards Feng Jianping. The unclosed eyes of his father expressed all his grievances and unwillingness.

She Zhun shouted, “Yan Sikong did everything to save you. If you’re a man, live on and avenge your father!”

“Everything he did was for himself!” Feng Ye roared, elbowing She Zhun’s chest and breaking free from his grasp. He lunged back towards Feng Jianping.

She Zhun’s face turned pale with anger. He raised his hand to strike but was stopped by Yan Sikong’s gaze.

Feng Ye held his father tightly, drawing warmth from the fading body. Then he reached out, trembling, and gently closed Feng Jianping’s eyes. His eyes were stormy, and at that moment, the proud, young, and blood-stained heir to Prince Jingyuan seemed to have died. The living Feng Ye had no warmth in his eyes. Tears streaming down his face, he murmured softly, “Father, your wolf cub will avenge you. Those who wronged the Feng family will be doomed to eternal suffering!”

Yan Sikong felt a deep chill in his heart.

Feng Ye adjusted his father’s clothes and smoothened his hair, then helped him lean against the wall. Kneeling, he kowtowed three times, then stood up, clenched his fists, and forced himself to turn away.

Yan Sikong grabbed the blood oath left by Feng Jianping, tucked it into his clothes, and also kowtowed three times, silently vowing, “Your Highness, I, Yan Sikong, will not let you down.”

She Zhun urged, “Hurry up!”

The group ran out. Feng Ye, weak and needing to support himself against the wall, was assisted by She Zhun’s subordinates. They passed through the dark prison, climbed the stairs, but before they could return to their base, they heard the sounds of chaos from outside. She Zhun said, “I’ll clear the way. Don’t worry about me. Follow the planned route and get out.”

Yan Sikong glanced at his clothes, which were the guards’ regular uniforms meant for Feng Jianping. He threw them to She Zhun, saying, “Put these on. It might help you blend in.”

She Zhun quickly changed into the clothes and ran ahead.

The others hid below, hearing She Zhun lure them to another entrance. When things were quiet, they made their move.

The fire in the storeroom was dying down, and a large number of the Imperial Guard were dispatched to the prison. The courtyard was patrolled, making escape impossible.

“Damn it…” She Zhun’s subordinate said. “If we can’t get out, we’ll have to force our way through.”

Yan Sikong frowned, hesitating. If it weren’t for Feng Jianping and Feng Ye buying time, they might have escaped before the fire was controlled. Now it was too late, and forcing their way out was like signing their own death warrant.

“No need.” Feng Ye said coldly, “Wait.”

“Wait… wait for what?”

Before the question could be answered, there was a huge explosion, accompanied by flashes of fire, pushing the already turbulent night into even greater danger.

It was—firearms!

Firearms were expensive and scarce, only available in large battles or wars. The firearms barracks in the capital were heavily guarded and regularly checked. Stealing a firearm was almost impossible.

The only troops in the outskirts of the capital equipped with firearms were Zhao Fuyi’s garrison, but it couldn’t be them—unless it was the Feng family army!

On the day of the Spring Hunt, nearly all the Feng family army Feng Jianping brought back from Datong was annihilated, but a few escaped and were hunted down. After a while, there was no news, but only they could bring firearms and risk their lives to storm the prison!

But they could have coordinated from inside. Did Feng Ye not trust him…

Yan Sikong felt an icy chill but had no time to dwell on it. He urged, “Hurry, take advantage of the chaos and escape!”

The power of firearms was formidable, waking up half the capital. Using firearms so openly in the Emperor’s domain was incredibly daring. Yan Sikong could imagine the large number of Imperial Guards rushing to the prison. The Feng family soldiers attempting the prison break would be suicidal.

They stormed out of the base, the sounds of firearms and blades clashing echoing. The courtyard was filled with screams and killing. The group protected Feng Ye as they followed their planned escape route. Although many were drawn away by the firearms, they were soon discovered and surrounded.

She Zhun and the remaining men fought their way through, trying to retreat towards the small gate used for transporting excrement, located in the most remote part of the compound. The gate was foul-smelling and rarely approached, and horses waited outside.

As they neared the small courtyard, a large group of Imperial Guards rushed in. Among them was a familiar face—Xue Bo.

Yan Sikong didn’t know how Xue Bo had escaped. He must have fled when the Emperor’s decree to raid the house was issued. Now, in his fifties, he was covered in blood, his face looking like a demon compared to the gentle steward he once was.

“Xue Bo!” Feng Ye called out.

“Young Master, hurry!” Xue Bo shouted. “We’ll hold them off. Hurry—”

She Zhun, while fighting enemies, angrily cursed, “Why didn’t you tell us you had reinforcements!”

Feng Ye coldly replied, “I don’t trust you.”

“Damn it…” She Zhun, enraged, cut down an Imperial Guard and reached the small gate. Enduring the stench, he kicked open the door and shouted, “Go!”

Feng Ye grabbed a guard’s sword and slashed through several enemies, gasping for breath as he yelled, “Xue Bo, come with me!”

“Young Master, go first!” Xue Bo, red with rage, roared. “Go now!”

Yan Sikong fought off a few more guards, but the encirclement tightened, forcing them back to the gate. Xue Bo gritted his teeth and pushed Feng Ye and the others out the door, proclaiming, “I have followed the Prince and Young Master all my life. Even in death, I have no regrets! Young Master, avenge us!”

Xue Bo shut the door behind them.

“Xue Bo—” Feng Ye stared at the door with red, tear-filled eyes.

The sounds of battle, slaughter, and blood-curdling screams filled the air, sending shivers down their spines. That wall now separated them from eternal separation.

She Zhun led a fast horse and urged, “Get on!”

Feng Ye kept looking back at the door, biting his lip until it bled.

—

Yan Sikong pushed Feng Ye towards the horse and said sharply, “Hurry up and leave. Only if you survive will their deaths not be in vain!”

Feng Ye glared at him with anger and grabbed the reins, trying to mount the horse. But his feet were unsteady, and he couldn’t muster the strength. The imprisonment, torture, and suffering over the past six months had left him extremely weak, and the fighting along the way had drained his last bit of strength.

Yan Sikong half-knelt, letting his knees sink into the muddy and stinking ground. He supported Feng Ye’s foot, helping him onto the horse, then mounted himself, grabbing the reins and urging, “Go!”

The group rode swiftly towards the south of the city, but they were soon pursued by a group of Imperial Guards.

Feng Ye lay weakly on the horse, his ribs jutting out distinctly, as if he had lost half his body weight. Yan Sikong thought of the once sturdy chest he had relied on, of the man full of vigor and pride, and his nose grew sour.

During the retreat, She Zhun had already made arrangements. As they passed an ancient tree, the people hiding in a nearby shop ignited gunpowder, causing a massive explosion. Half the street was left in ruins, and the pursuing Imperial Guards were thrown from their horses.

They abandoned their horses halfway and fled into an abandoned house. This was a secret passage to the city’s outskirts that She Zhun had secretly arranged years ago. After passing through the passage, someone outside would help them, and Feng Ye would likely be safe.

Finding the passage, She Zhun stared at Feng Ye. “I’ll get you out of the city. There will be people outside to assist you. Rest and recover. Once the situation calms down, you can leave with the prepared provisions.”

Feng Ye leaned against the wall, deeply gazing at Yan Sikong and breathing heavily.

Yan Sikong felt a mix of emotions and said hoarsely, “Feng Ye, it seems we… will part ways forever from now on.”

Feng Ye’s eyes were bloodshot.

“You don’t trust me, so there’s no need for explanations. We part ways here, our paths diverge. In the end…” Yan Sikong took a deep breath, forcing back his tears, “in the end, we are fated to be separated.”

Feng Ye clenched his fists. “If you want me to trust you, then come with me now.”

Yan Sikong shook his head. “I can only take you this far. I have to stay behind.”

Feng Ye’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you unwilling to give up your wedding night?”

“Yes, I can’t give up everything I’ve worked for,” Yan Sikong choked out. “Saving you is the last bit of affection I can offer…”

“You saved me for yourself!” Feng Ye roared, “To return to Datong, lead troops, and help you seek revenge!”

Yan Sikong’s heart ached. He stepped closer to Feng Ye, tears hanging in his eyes. “No one understands me in this world, and I don’t care. Feng Ye, go on and live well. Let’s… sever our ties here.”

Feng Ye’s emotions surged, a mix of hatred and pain, feeling as if his heart was being torn apart.

She Zhun burst in, urgently saying, “The pursuers are coming. You need to leave now!”

Yan Sikong wiped away his tears. “Take him and go first. I’ll hold them off.”

“You can’t escape alone. Hurry up and leave!”

“If they discover the passage, all will be in vain. Take him away quickly.”

“Nanyu!” She Zhun said sternly. “If you’re in danger, why should I still save him?”

Yan Sikong grabbed She Zhun’s shoulder and said earnestly, “I swear I will escape. As long as the eunuch lives, I’ll survive. You go now.”

She Zhun gritted his teeth and ordered his subordinates, “Protect Lord Yan with your lives.” Then he grabbed Feng Ye and headed for the passage.

Feng Ye looked back at Yan Sikong, his eyes filled with endless despair. Yan Sikong felt a pang of grief and couldn’t hold back. He rushed forward, grabbing Feng Ye’s hand, tears streaming down his face. “Feng Ye, live on, live on!”

Feng Ye opened his mouth, his throat barely able to make a sound, but he still struggled to form the words: “Come with me.”

Yan Sikong shook his head. Feng Ye’s fingers clung tightly to his hand, but Yan Sikong had to pry them apart. Watching the pain and hatred in Feng Ye’s eyes felt like a thousand swords piercing his heart.

She Zhun took Feng Ye down the passage. Yan Sikong drew his sword, wiped away his tears, and quietly slipped out of the courtyard. This area was the most chaotic, crowded, and impoverished part of the city. The maze-like alleyways were complex. Anyone unfamiliar with the terrain could easily get lost after a couple of turns. But they had long memorized the map. When the Imperial Guards surged in, they led them away from the entrance to the passage while looking for an opportunity to escape.

The prison break had awoken the entire capital at dawn. The number of Imperial Guards sent to pursue them far exceeded Yan Sikong’s estimates. He and She Zhun’s men decided to split up and escape according to fate. Under the dim moonlight, Yan Sikong chased through narrow alleys and dark passages.

Although Yan Sikong knew the area like the back of his hand, the number of pursuers was overwhelming, and they had entered every alley, leaving him almost no escape. He realized he was surrounded and that everything would be over if he was captured.

Suddenly, a strange noise came from behind. Yan Sikong turned sharply, raising his sword to strike. But in the moonlight, he saw a familiar figure in black clothes.

This person… this person is!

“Who are you?” Yan Sikong asked in a low voice. “Why have you been following me multiple times?”

The person was the same black-clad figure he had seen the night he met Ye Li. He could recognize them by their tall and agile build, which was unusual.

The person didn’t speak but tossed him a set of plain clothes.

Yan Sikong caught the clothes, which had a smell of soapberry, likely from clothes hung out to dry by ordinary people. He asked, “Why are you helping me? Who are you?”

The person was silent for a moment before speaking, “Are you ultimately a good person or a bad one?”

Yan Sikong was taken aback. The voice seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t remember who it was. He had an excellent memory—what he remembered, he remembered well, and what he forgot, he forgot. This was a rare feeling of vagueness.

Footsteps of the Imperial Guards approached from behind. The person suddenly moved swiftly, effortlessly leaping onto the rooftop as if riding the wind.

Yan Sikong marveled inwardly at their skill.

“There!” The Imperial Guards shouted, chasing after the figure, immediately drawing all the pursuers away.

Yan Sikong quickly changed into the night clothes, discarded his sword, and took advantage of the chaos to escape from the alley, heading towards the secret entrance outside his residence.

His mind was a mess, with no time to think about the identity of the black-clad person. His thoughts were consumed by Feng Ye’s hateful eyes at their parting… (End of Chapter)