Chapter 90: [Sheng & Bi] Long Companionship (Part 2)
That year, Feng Shengshi was five years old, and his limbs and cheeks were still chubby, looking a little cute.
Feng Qi and Wen Ning’an had begun to slowly reel in their net. The court seemed to be calm, but in reality, there was a turbulent undercurrent, and it was not peaceful at night. This night, assassins had broken in again. Wen Ning’an and Feng Qi were outside with the guards, defending against those “uninvited guests.” Bai Bi and Feng Shengshi were nestled in bed in the room, silently listening to the sound of fighting from outside.
“Long’er, don’t be afraid.” Seeing that Feng Shengshi seemed a little worried, Bai Bi immediately held him in his arms and said softly, “Imperial Father and Daddy are very powerful, with high martial arts. They’re not afraid of those assassins. We are very safe here.”
Bai Bi’s embrace was very soft, and there was a faint scent of medicinal herbs.
“Thud—”
The hall door was kicked open, and a man in black with a long sword rushed at them.
Not good, a fish has slipped through the net!
Bai Bi held the young Feng Shengshi tightly. Before he could even call for help, he saw a few guards chase after the assassin who was trying to attack the two children.
Bai Bi let out a secret sigh of relief.
At the moment the guard’s long sword pierced the assassin’s heart and throat, Bai Bi reached out and gently covered Feng Shengshi’s eyes.
Feng Shengshi only felt the world before him go dark. He could only feel Bai Bi’s soft body and faintly hear the miserable screams and the sound of dripping liquid in his ear.
Bai Bi was actually also very scared at that time. Feng Shengshi could feel him trembling slightly, but he still smiled and comforted him, shielding him behind him.
It was those hands that had gently covered all the cruelty and blood. It was this person who had accompanied him for countless years with a faint smile. Since he had been conscious, he had never left.
Another four years passed.
Feng Shengshi was eager for success. After finding the secret manual of Annihilating Yang White Bone in a secret compartment in Feng Qi’s study, he began to practice it secretly.
“You bastard!” Feng Qi threw the book in his hand at his face, his eyes red with anger.
Feng Shengshi knelt in the Imperial Study, trembling at Feng Qi’s roar. He pursed his lips slightly, his hands tightly gripping the hem of his clothes.
Feng Qi was really angry, and not just a little.
“Do you know what Annihilating Yang White Bone is? If I hadn’t found out early, you could have lost your life! You have some nerve, don’t you? How dare you practice without permission? Are you itching for a beating? Let’s see if I don’t beat you to death!”
Feng Shengshi said in a low voice, “But the mental cultivation method says that Annihilating Yang White Bone… is unparalleled in the world…”
“Rebellious son! Rebellious son!”
Feng Qi was blinded by anger and couldn’t be bothered to reason with him. He just turned and drew the king’s whip, lashing it at him hard.
“Imperial Father!”
The sound of breaking air came to his ear. Feng Shengshi closed his eyes in fear, but the expected pain did not come. He opened his eyes and saw Bai Bi protecting him tightly, taking the blow for him. At this moment, he was kneeling beside him, his face pale with pain, his whole body trembling.
Seeing him suddenly appear, Feng Qi was also slightly stunned. Although he had withdrawn his strength in time, he had still not been able to stop the arc of the whip.
Bai Bi said softly, “Imperial Father, Long’er is still young and doesn’t know any better. Please forgive him. His body has not yet fully grown. He can’t take a beating.”
Feng Shengshi had always been restless and fearless, doing things to the extreme without regard for the consequences. The last time he had gotten into trouble and been beaten, he had been in bed for three whole days, in so much pain he was almost dead, but he still hadn’t learned his lesson.
Feng Qi threw the whip in his hand aside and said in a low voice, “Men, call the imperial physician!”
Feng Shengshi was young and couldn’t take a beating, but Bai Bi’s body was even more frail. At this moment, he couldn’t even stand up. Feng Qi had no choice but to pick him up and leave, then turned to Feng Shengshi and said, “Kneel here and don’t move! I’ll deal with you later.”
Watching Feng Qi leave with Bai Bi, Feng Shengshi was stunned and speechless.
“Bi’er…”
Bai Bi also seemed to be angry because he had practiced the evil technique. His eyes were red with pain, but he was unwilling to turn his head and look at him.
…
“Bi’er…”
“Your Majesty…”
“Your Majesty!”
Feng Shengshi’s eyes flew open, and Fu Che’s worried face gradually became clear. He shook his head and only then realized that he had been propping his cheek with his hand and had fallen asleep at his desk.
It was not his fault. For these past few days, he had been frantically searching for Bai Bi’s whereabouts and had not slept for a long time.
In the Imperial Study, Fu Che had a servant bring him a pot of tea and some pastries.
“Your Majesty, please have some food first.”
Feng Qi and Wen Ning’an had already abdicated and were traveling the four seas, free and easy. Only Fu Che had insisted on staying in the palace and was unwilling to return to his hometown, saying that he had no relatives there and that it was better to stay in the capital to take care of the little crown prince.
Feng Shengshi gave a vague “mmm” and continued to look at the secret letter from the shadow guard in his hand without looking up.
“Your Majesty…” Fu Che frowned slightly and said gently, “If Your Majesty falls first, who will go and save the prime minister?”
Feng Shengshi was stunned for a moment and had no choice but to take the plate. To him and Bai Bi, Fu Che was no longer just a servant, so his words naturally had a certain deterrent effect.
“Your Majesty, the distinguished guest has arrived.” A young eunuch’s announcement came from outside the hall.
“Let them wait first. I will be there shortly.”
Feng Shengshi stuffed the last piece of hibiscus cake into his mouth and then hurriedly stood up and left.
The so-called “distinguished guest” was indeed of noble status.
In the main hall, Feng Shengshi cupped his fists and smiled. “Greetings, Queen of Nanxiang. Greetings, King of Dongwu.”
Nan Xiliu and the tall man standing beside her also nodded and greeted him. Nan Xiliu was now of a certain age, but her looks had not diminished, and she still had her charm. Her smooth long hair was coiled up high, her beautiful eyes were flowing, and her aura was like a secluded orchid.
The man beside her was expressionless, exuding a cold and aloof aura that kept people at a distance. He was her husband, the King of Dongwu, Bo Fang, the man who was rumored to only smile at her.
“You two have come a long way. It has been hard on you.”
Nan Xiliu shook her head. “It was not hard. The internal strife in Dongwu this time has affected Bei Miao. We also feel very guilty in our hearts.”
Feng Shengshi invited the two of them to sit down. “I do not know much about the turmoil in Dongwu. Please explain it to me in detail so I can make a long-term plan to save him.”
Nan Xiliu nodded slightly.
Dongwu was an ancient country. From the nobles down to the common people, they all worshipped the holy religion and strictly abided by the etiquette of their ancestors. Thus, besides the king, the status of the elders was even more noble, not to mention that they were above ten thousand people and did not even fear the royal power.
Although Bo Fang was cold on the outside, his heart was kind and transparent. He knew very well that a general’s success is built on ten thousand bones and did not like war, let alone dragging thousands of people into it. However, a few of the elders had been blinded by their interests and evil thoughts and were determined to promote the holy religion and let Dongwu surpass other countries.
The ancient books of Dongwu recorded that if the blood of a foreign royal family was used as a sacrifice to please the gods of Dongwu, it would surely bless Dongwu to be undefeated in a hundred battles and become the common ruler of the world.
Nan Xiliu sighed. “A few of the elders have closed and pedantic minds. They have great ambitions but no brains or courage, only thinking of gods and despicable means. Now that the world is at peace and all countries are on good terms, we absolutely cannot let them stir up trouble. That is why we have come in person.”
Bo Fang also said, “The King of Hong Xi is ruthless and cautious in his actions. Prince Jun and the King of Hong Xi are almost inseparable, and they are heavily protected in the palace. So they took advantage of your unpreparedness and chose to act against Master Bai, the soft persimmon.”
Nan Xiliu sighed. “It was also fortunate that Master Wen and Sheng’er happened to be visiting us in Dongwu. Otherwise, as a member of the Nanxiang royal family, Sheng’er would have definitely been poisoned. They are so audacious they even dared to assassinate me. I think Bei Miao should act as soon as possible and head for Dongwu. Otherwise, if we are late, and something irreversible happens…”
Feng Shengshi frowned.
However, Bai Bi was not a member of the Bei Miao royal family. He was just the adopted son of Wen Ning’an and Feng Qi. Outsiders didn’t know, because Wen Ning’an had intentionally or unintentionally hidden it to prevent him from being wronged.
Feng Shengshi’s hands clenched slightly into fists. “Do you two know where those villains have taken Bai Bi?”
“According to the scattered clues from the shadow guards and our speculation, it should be in the ruins of the Water God Temple in Dongwu… The ancient books have mentioned that there are mountains and water there, and the feng shui is excellent. It is one of the best places for a sacrifice.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
“Ngh…”
Bai Bi slowly woke up and saw that his hands and feet were shackled.
He looked up and around and found that he was now lying flat on a high platform, which was in a dense forest, surrounded by towering ancient trees and bushes. Above his head was a dark night sky, with twinkling bright stars and not a single dark cloud. And beside him were men and women in white robes, kneeling below the high platform and chanting. Candles were stuck on the steps of the high platform and around him, the candlelight flickering, looking a little strange.
“Swish—”
An old man threw a bowl of blood at him, and he couldn’t help but cough.
“May the gods bless us!” The old man suddenly knelt down to the sky with a “thud” and shouted excitedly.
“May the gods bless us! May the gods bless us—”
“Long live Dongwu—”
A more enthusiastic response came from below.
What on earth is going on… He blinked, not understanding and at a loss.
After that, the old man squatted beside him and fed him a bottle of medicine. His neck was choked, and he was forced to swallow the strangely colored, unknown liquid.
“Mmph…”
His throat felt as if it were on fire, and his mind gradually went blank. He only felt his eyelids grow heavier and heavier, and his vision was gradually replaced by darkness…
