Perhaps they knew that Yan Sikong would not be able to come back in the short term. After all, the journey to Yunnan was full of rugged mountains and the journey was long and dangerous. What they were planning was more dangerous than good. Who could say that they would meet again in the future after parting today?

Although Feng Ye verbally agreed to let him go, he was actually very struggling in his heart. In addition to Yuan Nanyu and Wu Liuqi who served him, he also carefully selected ten soldiers with high martial arts skills and loyalty from the Feng family army. At this time when people were needed, Feng Ye sent out his generals and elite soldiers, which showed his worries.

In those days, Feng Ye would come to eat and sleep with Yan Sikong every day. The post station was heavily guarded, and no one except Wu Liuqi could see Yan Sikong. But there is no wall that is impenetrable in the world, and the rumor about him colluding with the Wolf King must have already flown to the capital. After all, ever since he appeared, the rumor of their broken sleeves has been the gossip and joke in teahouses and taverns, and Maoren and Qianzhou were successively conquered by Feng Ye, which made people suspicious.

Yan Sikong knew this very well, but it was impossible to ask Feng Ye to avoid suspicion. Feng Ye was unruly and arrogant by nature. He never adhered to etiquette and did not care if others knew it. He even wished that everyone in the world knew about it. Now that Hetao had been completely attacked, he had nothing to fear.

Perhaps because they had not much time left to spend together, Feng Ye's attitude towards Yan Sikong became much gentler, and the two of them never mentioned those complicated grudges. This was the most peaceful time between them since their reunion.

No matter how busy his military duties were, Feng Ye would always have at least one meal with Yan Sikong every day, and they would always sleep in the same room, whether they were making love or just sleeping in each other's arms.

Countless mornings, Yan Sikong woke up in Feng Ye's arms, and suddenly, it seemed as if they had returned to many years ago. The bitter cold of winter could not even get close to them, because the warmth from their embrace seemed to be able to withstand all the cold.

For example, today, after a night of crazy lovemaking, Yan Sikong slept until dawn. When he opened his eyes, he saw Feng Ye's sleeping face right next to him.

The long hair that was like ink, the thick eyebrows that were like distant mountains, the nose that was as high as a cliff, and the thin lips that were as red as vermilion, were just like the handsome boy in his memory, but he knew that when those eyes opened, he would no longer see tenderness and affection. So he held his breath, motionless, and used his eyes to describe every inch of skin on that face over and over again, for fear of waking up Feng Ye, and thus waking up this dream.

I don't know how much time had passed, Feng Ye's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he was about to wake up. Yan Sikong also woke up as if from a dream and quickly closed his eyes.

When one cannot see, one's ears and nose become extra sensitive. He could hear the rustling sound of someone moving their body, feel a pair of focused eyes wandering over his face, and smell the fragrance of soapberries on Feng Ye's body.

Feng Ye was looking at him, just like he was looking at Feng Ye just now...

Yan Sikong's heart was beating wildly and he couldn't help it. His body was so hot that it felt like it was going to catch fire at any moment. He wanted to scold himself for being stupid. What was he doing? What was he thinking?

After a long while, Feng Ye whispered, "You are awake now."

Yan Sikong felt as if he had been granted amnesty. He opened his eyes and met Feng Ye's slightly teasing eyes. Those pupils were narrow and deep, perhaps the most beautiful and sharpest pair of eyes he had ever seen.

Feng Ye stretched out his arms, hugged his back, and pulled him into his arms.

Both of them were naked, and their hot chests pressed together, feeling hot.

Yan Sikong was tongue-tied. He put his arm on Feng Ye's broad chest and barely opened a little distance between them. He whispered, "Get up and change your clothes."

"What's the hurry?" Feng Ye's big hands stroked Yan Sikong's smooth back. His back was long and strong, and the soft lines of his shoulder armor were like the undulating northwest plains, while the thin muscles covered were like fertile grasslands. Feng Ye's fingers were like galloping horses, leaping on them tirelessly, feeling every temperature and every vibration of the earth. It was simply intoxicating.

Yan Sikong was trapped in Feng Ye's arms, not daring to move. The two were naked and close to each other. Feng Ye was casual and domineering, but he didn't care about day or night at all.

Feng Ye's lips lightly touched Yan Sikong's cheek, and his low, hoarse voice rang in his ear: "Why are you pretending to sleep?"

“…”

"I have never asked you, if one day we help the new king of Chu ascend the throne, and you command the support of all and have power over the government and the country, what else do you want?"

Yan Sikong was stunned.

Feng Ye stared into Yan Sikong's eyes quietly: "Tell me, how can you be satisfied?"

“I don’t do this to satisfy myself.”

"What is that for? For the country and the people?" Feng Ye sneered, "Why are you pretending in front of me? You once said that you live for revenge and that you can give up everything for revenge. Now that you have revenge, you want power again. Yan Sikong, I want to hear the truth. How much do you want and how can you be satisfied?"

Yan Sikong lowered his eyelids. He was no longer willing to talk to Feng Ye about his ideals, because Feng Ye would not understand him, nor would he acknowledge the him before he was consumed by hatred. But if he did not answer, Feng Ye would not give in, so he had no choice but to say calmly: "I want to implement my own laws and restore the peaceful and prosperous times of peace and prosperity. I want to appoint people based on their merits and grant them power according to their abilities, so that the government will not be suspended when the person is alive and cease to exist when the person dies. I want to create a society where thieves will be punished and doors are open at night. To cultivate order and bring peace to the country was my original ideal."

Feng Ye gently lifted the long hair that fell on his cheeks, stared at his handsome and fair face, and said: "To do these, you have to be the emperor." As he spoke, Feng Ye's hand slid down from his spine and reached that shameful place.

Yan Sikong was shocked, not only because of Feng Ye's rebellious hand, but also because of what he had just said. He took a deep breath: "What the world lacks is not wise ministers, but wise rulers. I have never thought about the throne." He reached around his back to grab Feng Ye's wrist, but he couldn't stop him at all.

Feng Ye buried his face in Yan Sikong's neck, biting the protruding collarbone, his tone clearly unhappy: "So, the King of Chu is the wise leader in your mind?"

"...Yes." Yan Sikong's breathing became heavier unconsciously. Wherever Feng Ye's fingertips touched, it seemed that they could ignite a hot flame. "I, I have been the prince's tutor for four years. I know him very well. He is smart, intelligent, diligent and studious. Because he has been bullied in the palace since he was a child, he can understand the suffering of the ants. Not to mention that he is the eldest prince and the future emperor. He will definitely become...ah..." Yan Sikong screamed and kept twisting his body in Feng Ye's arms.

"What?" Feng Ye teased Yan Sikong's body wantonly.

"Become... a great sage and wise ruler..." Yan Sikong's face flushed, and his body, which had not yet fully recovered its strength, began to weaken again, "Feng Ye, don't..."

"Don't tell me no." Feng Ye kissed Yan Sikong's neck and continued, "You chose him, isn't it because he is easy to control?"

"There is also... this consideration. After all, he is young and cannot escape our... control for the time being..."

Feng Ye lifted Yan Sikong's legs and leaned forward: "Whether he is old or young, he is under my control." His tone was very arrogant.

"Feng Ye, it's daytime now...ah..."

"So what?" Feng Ye charged with terrifying force, "One day I will live in the capital, and I want the mountains and rivers, thunder and rain, day and night, all to be mine... and you too."

Amidst the chaos of lust, Yan Sikong's barely gathered consciousness was making him alert to Feng Ye's words, but soon he was unable to think of anything else.

——

On a moonlit night with few stars, Yan Sikong and Yuan Nanyu set out with their entourage of soldiers.

When a group of thirteen riders quietly rode out of the city, Yan Sikong's mind was not about the dangerous and unpredictable road ahead, but Feng Ye's strong and warm embrace before him. He could not help but look back at Qianzhou City, but saw a tall figure on the city wall. He was stunned and looked carefully, but he could not see clearly.

Is that Feng Ye? Is Feng Ye here to see him off?

He had always wanted to stay away from the wilderness, but as soon as he stepped out of the city gate, he wanted to know when they would meet again, but he didn't know whether he really wanted to see them again.

If he could live his life over again, he would never meet Feng Ye again. That way, there would be no one in this world who could make him hate, suffer, and worry.

"He's here to see us off." Yuan Nanyu's voice blew into Yan Sikong's ears along with the cold wind.

Yan Sikong turned around immediately and said, "I can't see it."

Yuan Nanyu paused for a moment: "It's him."

Yan Sikong stopped answering. The further he was away from Fengye, the colder and more determined his eyes became.

What is waiting in the distance are more dangers and a heavier mission. He originally thought that Feng Ye was the only person he could rely on in this world, and the two of them should walk hand in hand and share life and death. But now Feng Ye has severed their relationship with him, and he also has to put his children and love behind him. Only in this way can he become a copper, wall, iron, and barrier.

Volume 7: Fighting for the Central Plains (Part 1)