Chapter Twenty-Five
Finally leaving the grand hall filled with the Demon Nightmare, Yixiao let out a soft sigh but couldn’t resist turning back for one last glance. Look at this, she thought—the heavily fortified, opulent palace, the seemingly joyous and celebratory wedding banquet—yet beneath it all, turbulent undercurrents had long been stirring. But who could truly perceive the slaughter, bloodshed, grief, rage, fear, and hatred hidden within?
Noticing her lingering gaze, Feng Suige paused. “What are you looking at?” Yixiao withdrew her gaze and asked, “Living in a place like this—doesn’t it exhaust you?”
His heart felt as though it had been sliced open. Feng Suige gave a bitter smile. “I have no choice. But you do.” She laughed softly. “Wrong. I should say neither of us has a choice.” “Why?” Feng Suige was puzzled. “You had the chance to leave. As long as you escaped Su Sha, dealing with you would’ve taken far more effort. If only you—”
“You ask me why,” Yixiao interrupted him, her smile against her raven-black hair like a night-blooming epiphyllum in the darkness. “It’s like asking why the night doesn’t change its color. Standing in the daylight, you can’t comprehend the night’s darkness—you might even think black and white are choices it can freely make. But in truth, the night is dark because it has no other option, not because it insists on being so. If it could choose, why would it willingly become the cold, dark night?” The wind lifted her unbound hair, strands of it drifting leisurely.
Feng Suige fell silent. Indeed, if his father decided to pursue something, it would be a fight to the death. Though Yixiao had the strength to protect herself, her weakness was that she would never live solely for herself.
As they neared the square where the carriages and horses were gathered, hurried footsteps sounded behind them. Yixiao and Feng Suige turned to see Xia Jingshi and the others approaching.
Yixiao watched as Xia Jingshi walked toward her—no, he merely glanced at her once, then passed by as though she were a stranger.
A cold wind brushed her cheek, as if ice had been shoved down her throat. That single glance—how could it be so...
For a moment, Yixiao wanted to chase after him, but her legs refused to move. She could only stare fixedly at his retreating figure.
“Yixiao,” Xueying stopped before her, her voice choked with tears. “You said we’d go back together.” Yixiao’s calm facade seemed to shatter in an instant. She lifted a hand to wipe her eyes, forcing a smile. “I’m sorry. I broke my promise.”
The others watched her silently. Ning Fei’s voice was hoarse as he said, “Don’t worry. His Highness is just angry for now. He won’t truly abandon you.”
“That man—he doesn’t love deeply, nor does he hate fiercely. It was realizing this that made me decide to let go,” Yixiao’s eyes shimmered, but more than sorrow, there was resolve. “Don’t worry about me—I’ll take care of myself. Just treat Xueying well, and stop making her angry all the time.” Xueying finally couldn’t hold back any longer. She threw her arms around Yixiao, burying her face in her shoulder as she sobbed, “Yixiao, don’t stay here... Come with us, please...”
“Honestly, I’d love to keep you here with me,” Yixiao murmured teasingly, gently patting her back, though her eyes held an unfathomable sorrow. “But I’m afraid Uncle Ling would kill me—when you marry Ning Fei, remember to write and tell me. Of all the people I’ve met, you two deserve happiness the most.”In the distance, shouts could be heard as Xia Jingshi's carriage prepared to depart. Ning Fei hesitated for a moment before throwing out a hurried "Take care," then, ignoring Xueying's struggles, firmly pulled her toward the square. The others followed closely behind. Yixiao instinctively took a few steps forward but was quickly drawn back by Feng Suige's arm around her.
Xiao Weiran walked at the rear. As he passed Yixiao and Feng Suige, he paused and said to Feng Suige, "She seems clever and stubborn, the kind who can drive people mad with frustration yet still make them worry endlessly. But in truth, she's just a lonely fool, full of self-doubt. If you don’t watch her, she’ll hide away in some corner to cry alone. So, taking care of her isn’t easy. If you can’t protect her, send her back to Brocade sooner rather than later."
As if making a declaration, Feng Suige tightened his arm around her. "I can do it. I’ll make sure she smiles happily every day."
Xiao Weiran gave a faint smile, reaching out to gently touch Yixiao’s face. Softly, he said, "Little one, the most useless thing in this world is reckless bravery. No matter how passionate or skilled you are, two fists can never defeat four hands. To conquer the world, you must rely on wisdom—this path won’t be easy, but once you understand what I’ve said, nothing will be insurmountable." Seeing Yixiao nod, he waved and walked away without looking back.
Staring blankly at Xiao Weiran’s retreating figure, Yixiao remained rooted in place, lost in thought. After a long while, she suddenly smiled. What he had said that day was right—Xiao Weiran truly knew her best. Why wasn’t it him she loved?
"Time to go," Feng Suigo sighed lightly. "If you really can’t bear it, I’ll take you to see them off tomorrow."
Outside Su Sha’s city walls.
The black banner embroidered with the golden character "Xia" fluttered at the head of the procession. Feng Xiyang, her tear-streaked face still damp, kept turning back to gaze at the receding city, as if she could still see her father forcing a smile as he waved farewell from the battlements.
Xueying sat inside the carriage, her eyes downcast, expression cool yet gentle.
Yixiao had not come to see them off.
Feng Qishan was not an easy master to serve, but with Feng Suige around, Yixiao shouldn’t suffer too much. As for Feng Xiyang—perhaps she shouldn’t be blamed, but when she had sent someone to invite Xueying to ride in her carriage earlier, Xueying had still refused...
Suddenly, a dull thud struck the carriage. The guards outside tensed, shouting, "Ambush! Protect the carriage!"
Xueying’s heart clenched. Instinctively, she lifted the curtain—a long-feathered arrow was embedded in the wood beside the window. Chaos erupted outside as the carriage swayed to a halt.
Ning Fei galloped over, scanning the surroundings warily. "What happened? Are you hurt?" he asked urgently. Xueying looked at him blankly. "Ah... I’m fine..." Her gaze drifted past his shoulder, fixing on the high slope where the arrow had come from.
Two riders stood side by side there—Fu Yixiao and Feng Suige.
Yixiao held a bow in one hand and the reins in the other, perched atop the slope. Seeing the commotion below, she gave a faint smile, tossed the bow aside, and spurred her horse downward. Feng Suige, however, remained motionless.
"It’s Yixiao!" Xueying cried, scrambling out of the carriage and waving excitedly. "Yixiao! Yixiao!"
Yixiao didn’t rein in her horse until she was right in front of her. Xueying was both delighted and furious. "I knew you wouldn’t stay away... You haven’t touched a bow in years—what if you’d missed and shot me dead?!"Yixiao tossed a wooden box to her with a laugh, saying, "If I accidentally kill you, I'll follow you in death—here, last time I heard you praise this incense, so I asked Feng Suige for some."
"Yixiao," Xueying caught the box, her eyes shining. "Since you're already out, come with us. Feng Suige won't stop you."
Yixiao gave a faint, distant smile, tinged with sorrow. "I came to see you off—how could I end up joining you? Xueying, thank you for never leaving my side since the day you arrived. I will come back. I promise."
Just as she tugged the reins to turn her horse around, a hoarse voice called out from ahead. "Yixiao... why won't you return with me?" Xia Jingshi approached slowly, his usually deep eyes filled with unmistakable pain.
Yixiao remained silent for a long moment before turning back with a light laugh. "I once thought we belonged to each other. But you made me realize how wrong I was—how utterly wrong." As she spoke those last three words, a crack appeared in her indifferent gaze, and for an instant, a torrent of complex emotions surged forth—relief mixed with anguish, full of contradictions.
Without giving him time to reflect, Yixiao wheeled her horse around and galloped away.
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