The Blood Crown - Chapter 254

Yan Sikong wanted to turn around and ask, but She Zhun gave him a look, shook his head, and whispered, “I’ll go into the city to ask around. Wait here and don’t interact with anyone.”

 

“In such a small county, what could we possibly find out?”

 

“People in the rivers and lakes already know, so it’s probably no longer a secret. It’s not hard to inquire. Just wait for me,” She Zhun said, downing his drink and standing up.

 

Yan Sikong stood still for a moment, then continued eating his noodles. However, he kept his ears sharp to listen in on the conversation at the neighboring table. It wasn’t really eavesdropping, as the voices of these men were so loud that they were practically shouting directly into his ears.

 

However, they weren’t particularly concerned about the Prince of Chu mobilizing his army for Taiyuan. They were simply complaining about the potential chaos caused by the war, which had led to the canceling of a convoy mission. They lost the deal.

 

She Zhun was gone for two hours, during which Yan Sikong saw one group of customers after another leaving. Even the innkeeper’s gaze became somewhat odd. Fortunately, he had disguised himself, otherwise his appearance alone would have attracted attention.

 

Before nightfall, She Zhun returned. He deliberately ignored Yan Sikong’s anxious and questioning look, calling for the waiter. “Wrap up ten jin of buns, ten jin of cooked beef, and bring a few pots of wine.”

 

The waiter grinned. “Got it, guest.”

 

As soon as the waiter left, Yan Sikong pressed, “How did it go?”

 

“Chen Mu indeed moved his troops, the very day after we fled Taiyuan,” She Zhun answered.

 

“How many soldiers did he lead? How fast are they moving? Where are they now?” Yan Sikong asked.

 

She Zhun furrowed his brows. “What does this have to do with you?”

 

Yan Sikong paused, avoiding his gaze. “I just… his news is too well-informed. Even if there are spies in the city, it would take at least two or three days for word to reach Yongzhou from Taiyuan. Unless… they predicted I would escape on the day of Feng Ye’s wedding?”

 

“That’s not hard to guess. When you broke into Feng Ye’s prison, you chose the moment when the guards were lax…” She Zhun paused as he saw the grim expression on Yan Sikong’s face.

 

“Yes,” Yan Sikong sneered. “Sometimes I think, he and Feng Ye are both manipulated by fate. Otherwise, how could the same thing repeat in our lives after so many years? Only the positions are reversed.”

 

She Zhun fell silent, unsure how to comfort Yan Sikong.

 

“However,” Yan Sikong said, “if Shen Hexuan and Chen Mu could guess it, why wouldn’t Feng Ye guess it too? Don’t you think our escape from Taiyuan was too easy?”

 

“Easy?” She Zhun raised his voice unintentionally but quickly lowered it as he realized they were still in the inn. “You just performed a little play at the city gates, of course, it was easy. I lost a major intelligence network in Taiyuan and spent a lot of money.”

 

“She Zhun, that’s not what I meant. I’m sorry.”

 

She Zhun sneered. “Forget it.”

 

At that moment, the waiter brought the items they had requested. After paying, they left immediately, leaving Ah Li, who hadn’t eaten yet, behind.

 

Once outside the city, Yan Sikong kept thinking. He felt that the situation was not as simple as it seemed.

 

She Zhun couldn’t help but say, “You’re uneasy because Chen Mu is coming to Taiyuan.”

 

Yan Sikong whispered, “Taiyuan was taken by me… Besides, what exactly does Chen Mu want to do? His actions will change the situation of the whole world, how can I not think about it?”

 

“What use is it to think?” She Zhun said coldly. “You’ve already decided to leave Feng Ye. You can’t help Chen Mu. Their fight has nothing to do with you.”

 

“It used to be related to me. How can I just let go now?” Yan Sikong said solemnly. “Now is the coldest time of the year. Hardly anyone would march an army at this time. What exactly is Chen Mu trying to do?”

 

“Moving troops doesn’t necessarily mean war,” She Zhun said. “Don’t forget, even though the dog emperor has deposed Chen Chun, he hasn’t promised Chen Mu anything in return, and Feng Ye still publicly pledges loyalty to the Prince of Chu.”

 

“Publicly, ha,” Yan Sikong sneered. “Their intentions are as obvious as Sima Zhao’s heart. Everyone knows. Chen Mu is here to tear off the last façade with Feng Ye. If Feng Ye refuses to give up the city, Chen Mu will immediately declare it to the world. Then Feng Ye will become the target of everyone.”

 

“Since he’s chosen this path, he’s already prepared. He treated you like that for his own ambition. You shouldn’t still be worried about him.”

 

Yan Sikong lowered his eyelids. “I have already severed ties with him. Whether he lives or dies, wins or loses, has nothing to do with me. But my brother is still his vanguard general.”

 

“He’s no longer a child. Following Feng Ye was his own choice. A man should fight on the battlefield, make achievements, and not waste his life. All you can do now is wish him safety, there’s nothing else you can do.”

 

“…Mm.”

 

She Zhun looked at Yan Sikong, his eyes flickering. “Sikong, forget about all of this. If you don’t, you’ll be alive but stuck in the mud of the past.”

 

Yan Sikong shook his head. “It’s too late. My whole life, no matter where I go, my heart will remain in the mud.”

 

She Zhun’s eyes held hidden pain.

 

—

 

When they found Ah Li, he was starving and ate two jin of buns in one go. Yan Sikong watched him devour the food, feeling like he was looking at a child—both comforting and heartbreaking.

 

He had made up his mind. Once they escaped the Central Plains, he would settle Ah Li down properly and arrange a marriage for him. He would never have a family, but he hoped Ah Li could have one, and not suffer like him, wandering alone for the rest of his life.

 

After they finished eating, She Zhun urged them to get moving. They had bought so much food and hay for the horses in the city. If Feng Ye traced them here, they would likely discover it was them. So, they couldn’t stay long and would have to continue moving through smaller cities to restock, avoiding the main roads and going over mountains, which was incredibly tough in the cold winter.

 

After a few days, they had run out of supplies and had no choice but to enter a nearby city. This place was close to Pingliang, and to the west was Qingyang. If all went well, after traveling south for another ten days to half a month, they would finally be out of Feng Ye’s territory.

 

There were more than ten villages surrounding Pingliang, but Pingliang itself was a small town. The surrounding villages were isolated, and the villagers knew each other. As outsiders, they would be noticed the moment they entered. So, if they needed to resupply, they had no choice but to go to Pingliang, even though it was risky.

 

However, She Zhun insisted on going alone, fearing that the two of them would be discovered.

 

“You alone, how are you going to bring back enough supplies for three people and three horses?” Yan Sikong said. “Ah Li has to stay here. We both need to go.”

 

“No,” She Zhun said decisively. “Pingliang is a city under Feng Ye’s control. The wanted posters must be up everywhere by now. The guards will be strict. I’m afraid you might reveal something.”

 

“Your disguise skills are superb. No one will recognize you. If you go alone, it won’t be long before we need to restock again. Delaying things like this, how long will it take for us to get out?”

 

“I’d rather be slow and steady than take any risks,” She Zhun said. “I’ll do my best to bring back more supplies. You two just wait here for me.”

 

Yan Sikong frowned. “She Zhun, why do I feel like you don’t want me to go?”

 

She Zhun’s expression remained calm. “Naturally, I don’t want you to go. I’m afraid you’ll be discovered.”

 

“No, I feel it’s not just that,” Yan Sikong said, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze. “We only need to split up. Even if the guards are strict, they can’t check everyone’s face.”

 

“Feng Ye knows I can disguise myself. Wouldn’t he be on guard?” She Zhun’s tone turned stern. “Stop arguing with me. Wait for me here. I’ll be back before dark. If it’s not enough, I’ll go again tomorrow.”

 

Yan Sikong paused. “Alright.”

 

After watching She Zhun leave the mountain, Yan Sikong looked at Ah Li. “Ah Li, do you also feel that something’s off with She Zhun?”

 

Ah Li shook his head blankly.

 

Yan Sikong was very good at reading people and could catch subtle changes in others’ emotions. He felt that She Zhun’s insistence on not letting him go was strange, but She Zhun did make some valid points. Maybe it was just excessive caution, and he was overthinking it.

 

However, after waiting until afternoon, they still hadn’t seen She Zhun return. Yan Sikong became anxious. He wasn’t sure if there was a curfew in Pingliang, but since it was also under Feng Ye’s control, the rules were probably the same. After sunset, the citizens couldn’t enter or leave the city. Looking at the sky, there was at most one hour before sunset.

 

After some thought, he decided to go into the city to check. If something had happened to She Zhun, he was probably the only one who could save him.

 

Ah Li didn’t want him to go but didn’t dare to disobey. He could only watch as Yan Sikong went down the mountain.

 

Entering the city, Yan Sikong saw large posters of the three of them pasted at the city gates. He was questioned, but because of She Zhun’s excellent disguise skills, the guards didn’t recognize him and allowed him to enter.

 

The city was filled with his posters, with a bounty of ten thousand taels, showing Feng Ye’s anger. The atmosphere in the city was tense. People were hurrying, and soldiers were marching in rows, transporting military supplies. It felt like… preparations for war.

 

Pingliang was preparing for war… Could it be that Chen Mu was already close, or had he already declared war on Feng Ye?

 

Thinking it over, neither seemed likely. It was freezing cold, and the marching speed would be slow. Chen Mu couldn’t have arrived so soon. Moreover, before going to war, Chen Mu would naturally want to negotiate. If they hadn’t even begun talks, how could he rashly declare war?

 

The only possibility was that Feng Ye was already preparing for war with Chen Mu. Even if they appeared to be negotiating on the surface, they were simply pretending for show, with no room for reconciliation in reality.

 

Yan Sikong stood frozen, watching the soldiers in Feng Ye’s armor march past, a multitude of emotions surging in his heart.

 

What was coming was sure to be an earth-shattering war. Though Feng Ye was known for his great generals and had many capable subordinates, Chen Mu had come prepared, with strategists like Shen He Xuan by his side. Could Feng Ye… win?

 

The thought of Feng Ye possibly losing made his heart tighten. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to see Feng Ye’s defeat, or to see the once proud eyes of the king filled with nothing but despair.

 

He took a deep breath, recalling every word Feng Ye had said to him before their separation, every action. His emotions gradually turned cold.

 

He and Feng Ye owed each other nothing now. They had parted ways, and he no longer cared about Feng Ye’s gains or losses.

 

He was only worried about Yuan Nanyu.

 

Thinking of Yuan Nanyu, Yan Sikong truly felt worried and helpless. But as She Zhun had said, the Kunpeng flies only in shallow streams. He couldn’t stop a man’s ambition, and he could only hope that Yuan Nanyu would get what he wanted.

 

Just as he was thinking about Yuan Nanyu, a young officer shouted at the soldiers transporting military supplies, “Hurry up! General Que is coming to inspect Pingliang tomorrow! Move faster!”

 

Yan Sikong was stunned. Que was coming to Pingliang tomorrow? If he was coming to Pingliang tomorrow, it meant he had already left Taiyuan.

 

What was Yuan Nanyu coming here for?

 

Yan Sikong’s heart sank. Without thinking, he already knew why Yuan Nanyu was coming: Feng Ye had sent him to guard the three cities of Qingyang, Pingliang, and Fengxiang.

 

These three cities were all conquered by Yuan Nanyu, and they were his familiar territories. They were also a defense line against Chen Mu. If Chen Mu wanted to take Taiyuan by force, he would first need to capture these three cities.

 

But this meant that Yuan Nanyu would be the first to face Chen Mu’s army at its strongest.

 

Yan Sikong felt a deep pang in his heart.

 

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Yan Sikong, pulling him backward. He was about to resist when he heard She Zhun’s familiar voice behind him: “It’s me.”

 

She Zhun dragged Yan Sikong into a narrow alley and gritted his teeth. “What are you doing in the city? I told you to wait outside!”

 

“You didn’t come back. The sun’s about to set.”

 

“I need too many things by myself, and it would raise suspicion, so I have to buy from several different shops,” She Zhun’s eyes flickered slightly, as if trying to read something from Yan Sikong’s face.

 

Yan Sikong coldly said, “You know this, yet you still insist on not letting me follow.”

 

“I’m afraid…”

 

“You’re afraid I’ll learn about the military situation, right?” Yan Sikong’s tone became sharp.

 

She Zhun stared at him silently without speaking.

 

“Yu’er is coming to Pingliang tomorrow. He’s already left Taiyuan. Did you hear anything when you were gathering intelligence?”

 

She Zhun remained silent.

 

“Did you hear anything?” Yan Sikong’s brows furrowed deeply. “You’re purposely hiding this from me, aren’t you?”

 

“What will you do if you know?” She Zhun said coldly. “You’ve escaped with great difficulty; are you planning to go back?”

 

“I won’t go back, but Yu’er is my brother. How can I not worry about him? And why are you hiding this from me?”

 

She Zhun turned his face away. “I’m afraid you’ll soften… The sun is setting soon, let’s go.”

 

“Wait.” Yan Sikong grabbed She Zhun. “Tell me everything you found out. If you don’t, I’ll never be at ease.”

 

She Zhun gritted his teeth. “If you’re not planning to go back, why do you need to know all this? It will only add to your worries.” With that, he turned and walked towards the city gate without looking back.

 

Yan Sikong chased after him, but he dared not argue too loudly to avoid suspicion. He only asked, “She Zhun, do you know anything else? Tell me.”

 

She Zhun ignored him.

 

Yan Sikong looked at the sky; the sun was indeed about to set. He didn’t dare to delay any longer. On the way, he bought more supplies and planned to leave the city before discussing it further.

 

Once they were out of the city, Yan Sikong sternly questioned, “She Zhun, are you mute now?”

 

She Zhun suddenly turned around and glared at Yan Sikong. “What exactly are you asking about the military situation? What do you want to do? Are you worried about Yuan Nanyu, or are you worried about Feng Ye?”

 

“He’s my brother!” Yan Sikong snapped. “He might be about to go to war with Chen Mu. Can I not inquire about the military situation?”

 

“And then what?” She Zhun asked coldly. “If you think Yuan Nanyu has no chance of winning, what do you plan to do? Are you going to help him?”

 

Yan Sikong answered firmly, “First, Chen Mu may not go to war. Second, Yu’er is a capable general, both wise and brave. He still has cities to defend. As long as he has enough soldiers, even with Shen He Xuan by his side, he has the advantage. He might not need anyone’s help. I just want to know the military situation because I’m worried about him.”

 

“What if… What if he really needs help?” She Zhun stared deeply at Yan Sikong. “On the battlefield, blades and arrows do not discriminate. Even seemingly certain victories can end in defeat. Yuan Nanyu chose to follow Feng Ye’s rebellion, putting his life at risk. You know this, don’t you? You know that your brother might die in battle, and there’s nothing you can do about it?”

 

Yan Sikong froze. His voice trembled, “I… I know.”

 

“Life is full of things we are powerless to change,” She Zhun placed a hand on Yan Sikong’s shoulder. “Let it go. Stop thinking about anything related to Feng Ye.”

 

“But…” Yan Sikong whispered, “If Yu’er is truly in danger, I will go to the ends of the earth to save him.”

 

“You…” She Zhun’s face turned pale.

 

Yan Sikong grabbed She Zhun’s hand. His ominous premonition grew stronger. “She Zhun, are you hiding something from me? What do you know?”

 

She Zhun shook off his hand and looked at him coldly. “Yan Sikong, I ask you, are you willing to do anything for your brother?”

 

Without hesitation, Yan Sikong replied, “He was willing to be exiled to the northwest for me. I would sacrifice my life for him.”

 

She Zhun sighed deeply, exhaustion and sorrow evident on his face.

 

“She Zhun, what’s really going on? What are you hiding from me?”

 

“Feng Ye… sent Yuan Nanyu to guard the three cities of Qingyang, Pingliang, and Fengxiang.”

 

“I already guessed that.”

 

“But he only gave him 30,000 soldiers.” She Zhun seemed to give up and closed his eyes.

 

The words struck like a thunderbolt, and Yan Sikong’s mind went blank.

 

Feng Ye gave Yuan Nanyu only 30,000 soldiers to defend three cities against Chen Mu’s 100,000-strong army?!

 

Yan Sikong’s blood rushed to his head. He felt darkness closing in before stumbling, nearly falling to the ground.

 

“Sikong!” She Zhun quickly caught him. “Are you alright?”

 

Yan Sikong gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, and his face twisted with murderous intent. “Feng Ye is forcing me to go back. He’s using my brother to threaten me! He dares to use my Yu’er to threaten me!”