The Blood Crown - Chapter 181

Upon recovering from his illness, Yan Sikong realized that he had been in the Feng Ye’s camp for six or seven days. Guizhou must be very anxious, but he had instructed them before leaving: as long as there was no news of his death, they should not take any action.

He couldn’t continue to stay cooped up in the tent, wallowing in self-pity. Now that he was clear-headed, there were things he needed to do. He decided to inspect the camp and see the situation with Feng Ye’s troops.

However, just as he stepped out of the tent, he was stopped.

Wu Liuqi was on guard outside. Upon seeing him, he cupped his hands and said, “Lord Yan, Feng Ye has given orders that you… cannot leave the camp.”

Yan Sikong frowned. “I’ve been confined for many days. I just want to take a walk and get some fresh air.”

“Feng Ye’s orders…” Wu Liuqi said awkwardly, “I’m afraid I can’t let you leave.”

Yan Sikong paused for a moment. “Where is General Que?”

“General Que has gone to transport the military provisions.”

Military provisions… Yan Sikong vaguely remembered that, while in prison, they mentioned that Yuan Shaoxu was sent to transport supplies. Could it be that he’s going to meet Yuan Shaoxu? It seems he will see Yuan Shaoxu soon.

Although he had resolved not to defend himself any longer, he was not willing to miss any chance to prove who he truly was. Even if Feng Ye would never believe him, if Yuan Nanyu might, it was worth a try.

He took a deep breath and asked, “Is he going to meet General Yuan?”

“That’s right.”

“In that case, why don’t you come in and talk with me?” He wanted to find out Wu Liuqi’s knowledge of Yuan Shaoxu’s position in the Feng Ye’s army.

Wu Liuqi showed a difficult expression.

“What? Is there another order from Feng Ye?”

Wu Liuqi respectfully said, “ Feng Ye said….”

“What did he say?” Yan Sikong’s tone grew sharper.

He was a person of great experience and shrewdness, and his imposing manner was something that this rural soldier could hardly withstand. Wu Liuqi, clearly intimidated, nonetheless said, “He said that you have recovered and no longer need anyone to attend to you, and that you shouldn’t talk too much.”

Yan Sikong felt a chill in his heart. Feng Ye was actually guarding against him to this extent. He snorted coldly, angrily swished his sleeve, and turned back into the tent.

He did not touch his lunch or dinner that day. Left with no choice, Wu Liuqi had to report to Feng Ye.

After a day of hunger, Feng Ye appeared. Seeing Yan Sikong quietly reading at the desk, his anger flared up. He coldly said, “Yan Sikong, when did you become so foolish as to threaten me with starvation?”

“I’m not starving myself.” Yan Sikong turned a page of his book without lifting his head,calmly said, “It’s just that eating alone is rather lonely, so I’ve lost my appetite.”

“You want me to keep you company?”

Yan Sikong smiled sarcastically. “How could I dare trouble the Feng Ye? With you around, I have even less appetite.”

“You want to see Que Wang, don’t you?” Feng Ye’s eyes narrowed. “Do you think I would let him be alone with you again and be deceived by your sweet words? Don’t dream about it. Without my permission, he will not see you again.”

“We are brothers. Even if he believes me, it’s understandable.”

“You are not brothers.” Feng Ye stepped closer, “You have no blood ties and haven’t been through hardships together as true brothers. He won’t believe you, and I won’t give you another chance to use him.”

Yan Sikong’s eyes flashed with anger. “I grew up with him. We are like brothers. How can you prevent him from seeing me?”

“Because I am Feng Ye.” Feng Ye came right in front of Yan Sikong, crouched down, and coldly stared at him. “Because he fought alongside me, faced life and death with me, because he saved my life and helped me through the most torturous times of my life. Because he is my Sikong.”

“Your Sikong.” Yan Sikong said each word slowly, his heart tightening. Looking at Feng Ye’s cold and domineering expression, he suddenly felt a chill deep in his bones and trembled. “Feng Ye, do you perhaps…”

Feng Ye savored Yan Sikong’s fear with great pleasure. He didn’t answer directly, only coldly sneered, “He is different from you.”

Yan Sikong grabbed Feng Ye’s collar and said fiercely, “Yuan Shaoxu is back, isn’t he? Does he dare confront me face to face?!”

“Why wouldn’t he dare?” Feng Ye’s long arm crossed Yan Sikong’s waist, holding him tightly and forcing him against his own body. Their breaths became heavy. “When he returns, you’ll see him immediately.”

Yan Sikong clenched his fists against Feng Ye’s chest. The fear from that night resurfaced, and he stared at Feng Ye with a fixed gaze. “What… do you want to do…”

“You are my prisoner, and I am the person you swore to serve for life. Whether it’s this camp or your body,” Feng Ye playfully lifted his chin, “I can visit at any time without having to inform you.”

Yan Sikong grabbed Feng Ye’s wrist. He had regained his strength but was still a challenge to deal with.

The two stared at each other, their eyes sparking with intense hostility. Feng Ye eventually released Yan Sikong and said maliciously, “Feeling lonely eating alone? I’ll find you a companion.”

Yan Sikong watched Feng Ye’s retreating figure until he disappeared from the camp. He then collapsed onto the ground, covered in cold sweat.

—

Yan Sikong pondered Feng Ye’s attitude towards Yuan Nanyu. By now, he could no longer distinguish whether Feng Ye was moved by “Sikong” or by him as a person. If Feng Ye had feelings for Yuan Nanyu…

Yan Sikong closed his eyes, trying to dismiss these thoughts and not delve further.

Soon, Yan Sikong would know what kind of “companion” Feng Ye had found for him.

As night fell, there was a commotion outside the camp. Soldiers’ voices were filled with either fear or excitement. Yan Sikong, curious, stood up and approached the tent’s entrance to see what was happening.

But just as he got close, the noise outside suddenly fell silent, becoming eerily quiet. Through the tent, Yan Sikong sensed a dangerous aura that seemed to seep into his bones. Even though he hadn’t seen anything yet, his hair stood on end, and his instincts warned him that something outside, just a tent away, threatened his life.

Then, he heard a deep, heavy breathing. It wasn’t human, but—beast!

The tent flap was lifted, and Yan Sikong involuntarily stepped back as a large, gray-black wolf head pushed its way in. The wolf’s green eye, glowing faintly in the darkness, and its white, sharp fangs, visible beneath its dark, moist nose, were enough to make anyone’s legs go weak.

The wolf fully entered the tent, shaking its thick fur. Its massive body made the tent feel even more cramped and narrow, as if everything inside was within its grasp.

Yan Sikong stared at the giant wolf in a daze and softly called, “…Hun’er.”

Feng Hun inspected Yan Sikong, then raised a large paw and walked slowly towards him.

Yan Sikong backed away step by step, struggling to swallow his nervousness. After all these years, did this true Wolf King still remember him? If… if he didn’t remember…

Man and wolf retreated to the edge of the tent until Yan Sikong’s back was against the tent fabric, with no way to retreat. He was forced to stop, his forehead covered in sweat.

Feng Hun came close, crouched on its hind legs, and sat upright, staring at Yan Sikong with its cold single eye, as if waiting for something.

As Feng Hun sat, they were almost at eye level. The wolf’s mouth, filled with fangs, was right in front of Yan Sikong’s face. He could even smell the odor of raw meat from Feng Hun’s breath. It was quite unpleasant.

Finally, Feng Hun grew impatient. It nudged Yan Sikong’s chest with its head and then lay down, ignoring him.

Yan Sikong immediately felt a wave of relief. Feng Hun remembered him; this was a sign of goodwill… or at least, he hoped it was.

Yan Sikong sat down on the ground, patted Feng Hun’s head, and said, “Hun’er, you still remember me.”

Feng Hun emitted a deep grunt from its nose.

“I came to find you on the mountain back then, several times…” Yan Sikong stroked the coarse fur and sighed. “I even rode Zui Hong to find you. You liked playing with it, didn’t you? It seems you had already left by then. Fortunately, you left…”

Feng Hun responded with a light grunt.

Yan Sikong lay down on Feng Hun, burying his face in the warm, thick fur, reminiscing about the times he and Feng Ye had drunk and talked under this giant wolf, their heads resting against the tree, or walked together on Jing Mountain in the spring, or huddled together in a cave to escape the rain, or rode Zuihong together, with Feng Hun jumping from the mountain to run alongside them on the grassland.

Feng Ye’s pure, bright, carefree smile suddenly invaded his mind, causing his heart to ache.

If life were only as it was at first sight…

He closed his eyes, tears forming at the corners, clutching Feng Hun’s fur tightly, trying to draw warmth from the animal that he could no longer find elsewhere.

Feng Ye, can you see? Even Feng Hun recognizes me…

Regardless of Feng Ye’s motives in sending Feng Hun to accompany Yan Sikong, or merely to monitor him, Yan Sikong was glad for Feng Hun’s presence. In his life, spent mostly on the edge of a knife, every day could be his last, so encountering an old friend—even if that “friend” wasn’t human—was a comfort.

However, after spending two days with Feng Hun, he was met by the last person he had hoped to see in his lifetime—Yuan Shaoxu.

Yuan Shaoxu had gained Feng Ye’s favor because of Yuan Nanyu and now held some influence among the rebels.

Yan Sikong understood why Yuan Shaoxu told this lie. For someone like him, who was ambitious yet mediocre, having lost his family and lived in obscurity for years because of his father’s wrongful death, any opportunity to rise was precious. If Feng Ye ever took control of the capital, Yuan Shaoxu could look forward to titles and glory.

Though Yuan Shaoxu had never treated him well, even driving him out of the family home, Yan Sikong had never harbored resentment due to the Yuan family’s great favor. But Yuan Shaoxu’s actions now showed that he had forgotten even the slightest brotherly affection.

AN – Roar~ I like Hun’er~~ (End of chapter)