The Blood Crown - Chapter 285

After much deliberation, Yan Sikong and She Zhun formulated a plan. Time was tight, and they could only take a gamble.

Yan Sikong knew very well that his chances of escaping were slim, but he was determined. If he managed to leave this time, he swore he would risk his life to save Yuan Nanyu. At the same time, he would make everyone who had hurt Yuan Nanyu pay, especially Chen Mu.

Everything Chen Mu had done had completely exhausted the last remnants of their teacher-student bond. He would make Chen Mu realize what it meant to be his enemy—up to this day, without exception, all of his foes had lost.

Feng Ye was set to launch a surprise attack on the camp tonight, and Yan Sikong had made his preparations. He stayed in the study, writing a letter to Feng Ye.

The letter mentioned nothing about the two of them; instead, it earnestly advised Feng Ye never to proclaim himself emperor. After supporting the thirteenth prince’s ascension, he must not monopolize power, eliminate dissent, appoint favorites, or engage in reckless warfare. He should assist the young ruler alongside wise and virtuous ministers. Having once worked in the Ministry of Personnel, Yan Sikong was well-acquainted with civil and military officials and listed over sixty capable ministers and generals, detailing their strengths, weaknesses, and character.

He always believed that Feng Ye had the people’s welfare in mind, because Feng Ye was the son of Prince Jingyuan, Feng Jianping. Prince Jingyuan had devoted himself heart and soul to the nation and its people. Feng Ye might not be loyal, but he was undoubtedly filial, and he would surely protect the Hua-Xia lands like his father. This letter was meant to remind Feng Ye not to lose himself to the allure of power.

If Yan Sikong managed to escape the Forbidden City today, he knew it would be a farewell to Feng Ye forever. This time, going to Chen Mu, he never intended to return alive. He not only wanted to send Yuan Nanyu back to Feng Ye but also give Feng Ye a grand gift—clearing the last obstacles for his entry into the capital.

The war had dragged on for so many years; the people had suffered long enough. It was time to end it. Before repelling external threats, internal strife must be resolved. Their real enemy lay beyond the borders.

Before the raid, Feng Ye came to see Yan Sikong: “Everything is ready. Qian Cunxi will lead five thousand soldiers for a night raid. The weather is dry, perfect for a fire attack. If we can defeat Prince Ning tonight, I’ll immediately send an envoy to negotiate with Chen Mu, offering him Yunnan in exchange for Que Wang.”

Yan Sikong was surprised: “You’re willing to give him Yunnan?”

“A temporary measure, first we save Que Wang.”

“…Thank you, Wolf King.”

Feng Ye said coldly, “Rest assured, if I capture Chen Mu, it won’t stop at an ear; I’ll have him torn apart by five horses!”

Yan Sikong made no comment, only saying, “I wish the Wolf King victory.”

Feng Ye couldn’t help but reach out and stroke Yan Sikong’s cheek: “If we save Que Wang, don’t forget your promise to me.”

Yan Sikong stared intently at Feng Ye.

Feng Ye gritted his teeth and softened his tone: “Let’s go back to the way we were. I can forgive you. Everything—I can forgive everything. Now that I hold the land in my grasp, I’ll make you second only to me, above all others. Isn’t that what you once wanted? With your assistance, I’ll be a wise and renowned ruler, and together, we’ll bring back a prosperous era for Hua-Xia.”

Yan Sikong lowered his gaze, his heart trembling, which he had to forcefully suppress.

Feng Ye spoke of “forgiving” him—how ironic. Feng Ye said he would “forgive” him? Even if he needed Feng Ye’s “forgiveness,” Feng Ye had treated him unpredictably so many times, spewing venom one day and sharing warmth the next. Feng Ye hated him, so consumed by his obsession that he couldn’t let go, thus tormenting him repeatedly.

But he had long ceased to care. He had seen through it, had grown numb, and would no longer fall for it.

Feng Ye felt tortured by Yan Sikong’s indifferent demeanor: “Say something. Don’t you believe me? I’ve already made concessions. What more do you want? Just say it—if you dare to ask, I dare to give.”

Yan Sikong raised his head, gazing calmly at Feng Ye: “Do you remember the Lantern Festival that year?”

Feng Ye froze. Yan Sikong’s eyes shimmered beautifully, making his heart quake. He had once been captivated by those eyes, still unable to break free even now. He murmured, “Of course, I remember.”

“That night, you made a wish under the lanterns.”

Thinking of the wish he made then, Feng Ye’s nose tingled, and sorrow welled up.

“May we share love year after year, and peace for all our days.”

They both recited the wish in unison.

Yan Sikong’s eyes turned red.

Feng Ye’s heart ached terribly, his body trembling slightly: “I haven’t forgotten a single thing from back then. We’ve endured so many hardships and finally reunited. We still have a chance to fulfill that wish.”

Yan Sikong smiled faintly: “You were always curious about my wish, but no matter how you asked, I wouldn’t tell you.”

“Because you said that wishes lose their magic if spoken.”

Yan Sikong carefully studied every feature of Feng Ye’s face, as if etching it into his memory forever: “Now I can tell you, because it has come true.”

“What… was it?”

“I wished that you, Feng Ye, would become a great hero, a general admired through the ages.”

Feng Ye’s heart thumped painfully, his body trembling.

“Today, the Wolf King has made it.”

Feng Ye couldn’t resist pulling Yan Sikong into his embrace, kissing him fiercely and passionately, sucking on his soft lips, and teasing his moist tongue. His desire threatened to devour Yan Sikong as he kissed him forcefully.

This time, Yan Sikong didn’t resist, allowing Feng Ye to kiss him until he was breathless.

Reluctantly, Feng Ye pulled back, gently caressing Yan Sikong’s hair and cheeks: “Our wishes will both come true. I have everything now. You no longer have any reason to deceive me or to leave me.”

Yan Sikong gazed at Feng Ye, simply watching him.

Feng Ye kissed him again, hard: “I have to oversee the troops now. Once we save Que Wang, we’ll defeat Chen Mu together and share the empire.”

Yan Sikong nodded.

Feng Ye looked back at Yan Sikong several times before finally leaving.

Watching Feng Ye’s back fade away, Yan Sikong softly murmured, “Fool, once a wish is spoken, it loses its magic…”

—

Late at night, Yan Sikong donned his night attire. After finishing his preparations, he overturned a candlestick and a flowerpot, then shouted in alarm: “Who’s there?”

The guards outside were startled and rushed in: “Lord Yan, what happened!”

Suddenly, a black object rolled to their feet, and in the next instant, a yellowish gas quickly spread, filling the room with its acrid, pungent stench.

“Cough, cough, it’s a trap!” The guards clutched their noses, blind in the dark fog, fumbling toward the bed in search of Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong was already waiting at the door. As soon as they entered, he threw a smoke bomb and quickly retreated, locking the door from the outside.

Hearing the sound of the door closing, the guards finally reacted, but the smoke had already seeped in, making them dizzy and weak, their limbs going limp as they nearly fainted.

Yan Sikong swiftly ran across the courtyard, climbed over the high wall, and disappeared into the darkness.

Relying on his memory and the directions given by She Zhun, Yan Sikong found the entrance to the secret passage that had once helped Feng Ye escape the city. It was hidden in an old residence in a deep alley.

To cover up the evidence, She Zhun had ordered the passage to be sealed, and the house had since been abandoned, now dilapidated and crumbling.

Pushing open the fragile door that seemed ready to collapse at any moment, Yan Sikong saw that the entrance to the secret passage had been reopened.

Years ago, it was here that he and Feng Ye had their final falling out, parting ways with pain and resentment. With Yan Sikong longing for Feng Ye and Feng Ye filled with hatred for him, they could never return to the love they once shared. Six or seven years had passed since then, and standing here again, he could still recall the anguish and despair they both felt, leaving him full of emotion.

With no time to hesitate, Yan Sikong entered the secret passage. She Zhun’s people had already lit the way, ensuring the air flowed, but the dust was unavoidable, making it hard to breathe. Covering his mouth and nose with a cloth, he crawled and scrambled to the end of the tunnel.

Emerging from the passage, he found himself in an abandoned field. There was no one in sight, only a bright moon hanging in the sky, casting a pale light that barely illuminated the ground.

He couldn’t linger. The camp of Chen Mu was still ten miles away. If Feng Ye discovered his escape and came chasing on horseback, he would surely be caught.

Brushing off the dust, Yan Sikong quickly headed south.

—

After covering more than half the distance, Yan Sikong suddenly felt a slight tremor underfoot. He lay on the ground and listened, hearing the rapid sound of hoofbeats.

It had to be Feng Ye!

Panicking, Yan Sikong scanned his surroundings. The capital lay on a flat plain, and there was nowhere to hide. He took off running.

But he had barely covered two or three more miles before the hoofbeats grew clearer. Exhausted, Yan Sikong slowed. No one could outrun a horse.

A troop of riders appeared behind him, surrounding him in a circle. At the forefront was a towering, majestic red horse—the legendary Tianshan King Horse, Drunken Red, a name he had chosen. Naturally, the rider was the formidable Wolf King.

The riders encircled him, and Feng Ye, looking down from his horse, wore a furious and heartbroken expression, his blood-red eyes filled with madness. He clenched his teeth and growled, “Run, then! Where do you plan to escape? To Chen Mu?”

Yan Sikong glared at Feng Ye. “Did you succeed in the raid?”

“Although we didn’t manage to burn their supplies, we disrupted their defenses…”

“Then you failed,” Yan Sikong retorted. “Regardless of your success, I had to leave. I cannot risk Kué Wáng’s life.”

“You bastard!” Feng Ye roared. “Yan Sikong, I’ve been patient with you, lenient time and again. I wanted to treat you well, yet you continue to lie to me and betray me. You deserve a thousand cuts; your death wouldn’t be enough!”

“No need for the Wolf King to dirty his hands.” Yan Sikong suddenly drew a dagger and pressed it to his neck. “Just say the word, and I will end my life to ease your hatred.”

“You…” Feng Ye’s face twisted with rage. “Die then! If you do, I’ll bury She Zhun and A-Li and everyone you care about alongside you!”

Yan Sikong glared coldly at him. “Let me go. I never want to see you again. I must save my brother. Stop me, or kill me.”

“Yan Sikong!” Feng Ye felt his heart wrenching as if being torn apart, the pain crushing him. No one else in the world could wound him so deeply without lifting a weapon. And this person, he was willing to inflict such pain.

“I’m not Yan Sikong; you said so yourself.” Yan Sikong replied, “None of it matters anymore. Just let me go.”

“Dream on.” Feng Ye’s voice was bitter, as if it bled, “I’ll break your legs, bind your hands, seal your lips, and make you live in misery, unable to die, unable to escape!”

Yan Sikong pressed the dagger into his neck, drawing blood.

Seeing the crimson stain on his pale throat, Feng Ye’s eyes widened in horror. “You dare? I’ll slaughter She Zhun!”

Yan Sikong bit his lip, his own gaze filled with pain.

Suddenly, distant hoofbeats echoed. The noise was loud, with no fewer than a hundred men approaching. Feng Ye had rushed out in pursuit, bringing only a few personal guards.

“Wolf King, it’s the Chu Army!” a guard shouted.

“We’re too close to their camp! We have to retreat!”

Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong. “Get on the horse!”

Yan Sikong brandished his dagger. “I won’t go back.”

“Don’t you care about She Zhun’s life?!”

“You’re a man of honor,” Yan Sikong replied. “She Zhun saved you; you won’t kill him.” He looked anxiously into the distance, where the Chu Army’s flags were becoming visible. “You should leave. Soon it will be too late.”

“Come with me!” Feng Ye commanded, his voice like thunder. “Yan Sikong, I order you to mount this horse.” He moved forward.

Yan Sikong gripped the dagger. “Stay back. If you come closer, I’ll really do it. You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t dare.”

“You…” Feng Ye glared at Yan Sikong, hatred blazing in his eyes.

“Wolf King, please leave! It’ll be too late soon!” the guards pleaded desperately, some almost in tears. “The state is more important, Wolf King!”

Feng Ye didn’t even glance at the approaching Chu Army. He just stared at Yan Sikong. Suddenly, tears streamed down his face.

Yan Sikong froze.

Feng Ye’s voice trembled, “Yan Sikong, I hate you. I hate you so much.”

Yan Sikong’s heart ached, and he choked out, “Feng Ye, I don’t hate you. I left a letter in my room for you. I hope you will honor the legacy of Prince Jingyuan and protect our land.”

“Wolf King, we must go!”

The Chu Army drew nearer, and with an agonized heart, Feng Ye turned his horse and fled.

Yan Sikong lowered his dagger, his vision blurring as he watched Feng Ye leave. He suddenly shouted, “Bring peace to the realm, defend the nation, drive out invaders, pacify the land, achieve unmatched glory, and earn eternal fame!”

Feng Ye was struck as if by lightning, turning back to see Yan Sikong swallowed by the advancing Chu soldiers. Arrows pierced the air in the darkness, and with his heart breaking, Feng Ye galloped away.

Yan Sikong watched Feng Ye vanish, feeling his heart shatter.

Feng Ye, I’ll fulfill our childhood promise and help you achieve your dream. But in this lifetime, I never want to see you again.

—

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Ah~ Tomorrow, the final volume begins!