The Blood Crown - Chapter 320

Chapter 320

Zhuo Letai was determined to crush their spirits, sending tens of thousands of soldiers to take turns shouting challenges outside the city, day and night without rest. The roaring voices left the soldiers and civilians of Guangning deeply unsettled.

Liang Huiyong and Yuan Nanyu did their utmost to reassure their troops, but many were still affected.

Yan Sikong knew that if this continued, their morale might collapse even faster than the Jurchens’. However, they were still hoping for reinforcements, so every day they could delay was a victory.

But at this critical moment of life and death, a messenger from the capital risked his life to slip past Zhuo Letai’s sentries and brought a piece of despairing news to Guangning—Chen Mu had mobilized his troops, and Feng Changyue was urging Feng Ye to return to the capital immediately.

Chen Mu had gathered 200,000 troops from various loyalist forces and was advancing toward the capital with great momentum, determined to wrest the Chen dynasty’s throne back from the Feng family’s army.

Chen Mu’s move was akin to taking advantage of a fire to loot. If Feng Ye wanted to defend the capital, he would have to abandon Liaodong. Only his return to the capital could truly unite the Feng family army. However, if he left, Guangning’s fall would only be a matter of time.

This news was nothing short of adding insult to injury. Just when they thought they had reached the end of the road, a deeper abyss awaited them.

After a long silence, Liang Huiyong finally asked softly, “Should we tell the Wolf King?”

Yuan Nanyu exchanged a glance with Yan Sikong, also waiting for him to speak.

Yan Sikong said solemnly, “The Wolf King’s condition has only just stabilized. It’s not the time to burden him. Let’s… discuss countermeasures first.”

Though his tone was deliberately calm, it was difficult to fully conceal one’s emotions during such a dire time.

Both Liang Huiyong and Yuan Nanyu noticed this. They shared the same worry as Yan Sikong—afraid that Feng Ye would abandon Guangning and leave.

Though Zhuo Letai was besieging the city, it would not be difficult to slip away amidst the chaos of battle.

Half of Liaodong was already lost, and the remaining half was barely holding on. Would Feng Ye really sacrifice Liaodong to defend the capital and all that he had worked so hard to achieve?

Liang Huiyong clenched his fists. “The Chu King is utterly ruthless. Even if he becomes emperor, how could such a man bring peace to the nation and its people?”

Yuan Nanyu trembled with anger.

Yan Sikong said nothing. Chen Mu’s actions might cost him Liaodong, might cost him the people’s support, but it might also bring him the throne. Yan Sikong understood this well.

He wondered what Shen Hexuan was doing at this moment. If Shen had tried to dissuade Chen Mu, then he had clearly failed. But would Shen truly allow Chen Mu to take such a step?

To abandon Liaodong and seize the throne—this might be Chen Mu’s choice, but it would not be Shen Hexuan’s. Yet now, it seemed that any words of dissuasion were too late.

Yuan Nanyu frowned and looked at Yan Sikong. “Second Brother, say something.”

Yan Sikong asked in return, “How many troops are stationed in Datong Prefecture?”

Yuan Nanyu thought for a moment. “About 40,000.”

“Can we transfer 20,000 from Datong to reinforce us?”

“The Yong King is currently stationed in Datong. If we want to transfer troops, it would require the Wolf King’s direct order.”

Yan Sikong nodded. “I will personally inform the Wolf King of the military situation.”

Liang Huiyong hesitated. “But…”

“The Wolf King will find out sooner or later,” Yan Sikong said, his expression unreadable. “If he… if he leaves Guangning, and Datong refuses to send reinforcements, then we will have to rely on ourselves.”

“I won’t leave,” Yuan Nanyu said resolutely. “Even if I’m the only one left, I will stand and fall with Guangning!”

—

Whether it was due to Feng Ye’s exceptional constitution or Master Que Linghu’s extraordinary medical skills, just two days earlier, he had been unconscious and on the brink of death. Yet two days later, he could already sit up and eat.

When Yan Sikong came to visit him, Feng Ye’s face had regained some color for the first time in a while.

As soon as they met, Feng Ye asked anxiously, “What’s the situation on the battlefield?”

“Zhuo Letai has ordered his troops to shout challenges outside the city, trying to disrupt our morale. They’ve been at it for an entire day and night.”

Feng Ye’s eyes turned cold. “Let them shout. Once reinforcements arrive…”

“There will be no reinforcements,” Yan Sikong said, lowering his head.

Feng Ye was stunned, staring at Yan Sikong. “…Chen Mu has mobilized his troops.” There was still a faint trace of hope in his heart, but even he didn’t realize his tone had already betrayed certainty.

Yan Sikong said nothing, silently confirming it.

Feng Ye’s face was tense, and a complex array of emotions flickered in his deep eyes.

Chen Mu was bound to make a comeback eventually, but choosing this critical moment was nothing short of taking advantage of the fire, utterly insidious.

However, they were not surprised. This worst-case scenario was one of the possibilities they had anticipated. Yet confronting it required greater courage and sacrifices than they had imagined, as the Jurchen blades were already at their throats.

Yan Sikong said in a low voice, “General Feng has urged you to return to the capital again. I imagine his words must be quite harsh.” He took out an unopened letter from his robes and handed it to Feng Ye.

Feng Ye paused for a moment before slowly unfolding the letter. His eyes scanned it quickly, and his expression grew darker.

Yan Sikong’s thoughts were in turmoil.

Now, Feng Ye was being forced to choose between Guangning and the capital.

Anyone in his position would choose the greater good. Besides, Guangning could be recaptured if lost, but how many chances does one have in a lifetime to seize the capital? Yet Guangning, falling under the Jurchens’ blades, was destined for a bloodbath. Who cared about these insignificant lives?

Feng Ye set the letter down and remained silent.

Yan Sikong lifted his head and looked at Feng Ye. He couldn’t bring himself to ask Feng Ye to stay because, in his position, he probably wouldn’t make such a choice either. But Guangning was his hometown, and he couldn’t abandon it.

Feng Ye suddenly spoke, “I will send a letter to Datong Prefecture, asking Yong Wang to send reinforcements.”

Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye in astonishment. “You… you’re not leaving?”

“Would you leave?” Feng Ye countered.

Yan Sikong shook his head decisively. “No.”

“Then neither will I,” Feng Ye said, gazing at Yan Sikong. “I’ve said before, no one can hurt you again as long as I’m alive.”

Yan Sikong’s heart trembled. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt that having Feng Ye by his side was… a good thing.

“As long as we defeat Zhuo Letai quickly, I can still make it back to the capital. Uncle will hold on…” Feng Ye narrowed his eyes at Yan Sikong. “What’s the matter? You seem surprised.”

“…”

“You thought I’d abandon you?”

“I wasn’t sure,” Yan Sikong answered honestly.

Feng Ye stared at Yan Sikong, his expression filled with sorrow. He smiled bitterly. “You… ‘weren’t sure.’ No matter how many times I tell you how important you are to me, you’ve never truly believed it.”

“I believe you now.”

“You believe me, and then what?” Feng Ye pressed.

Yan Sikong stood up and walked to the side of Feng Ye’s bed. Calmly, he said, “Feng Ye, you know what kind of person I am. I’ll stop at nothing to achieve my goals. You saved me, and now you’re willing to stay and save Guangning. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll agree. Is that the answer you wanted?”

Feng Ye’s breathing grew uneven, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and anger. “What I want is your willing heart.”

Yan Sikong said softly, “You’ve seen what my willingness looks like. I’m afraid I can’t pretend.”

“Yan Sikong!” Feng Ye cried out in anguish. “Even if I died for you, would you never love me again?!” His agitation strained his wound, causing him to bend over in pain, his face twisting.

“Feng Ye!” Yan Sikong rushed to the bedside, supporting his back. “Did your wound reopen? I’ll go get—”

Feng Ye grabbed Yan Sikong’s wrist with a strength that belied his recent brush with death.

Looking at Feng Ye’s face, now pale again, Yan Sikong felt a pang of regret. He could don countless masks and say anything to please others, yet he couldn’t do the same with Feng Ye. Perhaps it was because their current predicament stemmed from his initial deception. He didn’t want to lie to Feng Ye anymore.

Feng Ye glared at Yan Sikong with bloodshot eyes, his voice filled with anguish. “Do you care about me as a person or as the Wolf King?”

“I care about both.” Yan Sikong loosened Feng Ye’s inner robe to check his wound. Seeing no fresh blood, he was somewhat relieved. He met Feng Ye’s gaze and said hoarsely, “Feng Ye, I don’t want to deceive you anymore. You said you hate it when I lie to you. If you want me to stay by your side, I will. As long as you save Liaodong, even my life is yours… but I won’t fall in love again. That was the biggest mistake of my life.”

Feng Ye said softly, “The feelings between us were the biggest… mistake of your life?”

Yan Sikong couldn’t answer Feng Ye’s question. His chest felt heavy with pain. Yes, it was the biggest mistake of his life but also his most beautiful memory—so beautiful that someone like him didn’t deserve it. And indeed, the heavens had quickly taken it away.

They had come too far, far beyond the point of return. To force a way back would only lead to greater mistakes.

“Yan Sikong, your heart is truly cruel.” Feng Ye’s lips trembled. “What I treasure so deeply, you see as nothing more than a ‘mistake.’”

Yan Sikong didn’t want to argue with an injured man about who first discarded their feelings. He said softly, “Right now, you need to focus on recovering. Everything else can wait until you’re better.”

Feng Ye still held Yan Sikong’s hand, his eyes filled with unspeakable pain. He opened his mouth slightly and said in a small voice, “I want you… to kiss me.”

Yan Sikong paused, then hesitantly leaned in and lightly kissed Feng Ye’s lips.

The kiss, as light as a dragonfly skimming water, carried restraint and distance.

Feng Ye’s heart ached even more. He recalled the moment he had fallen into Yan Sikong’s arms after being struck by an arrow. The sorrow and anxiety in those eyes had been genuine. It was the only time Yan Sikong had shown him true emotion since their reunion.

He wished—he wished he could remain in that moment forever.