King of Hundred Victories Saber

Chapter 135: Chapter 102: Sudden Turmoil: Dark Night at Jinhui Inn

After sending Gong Simeng, the Vermilion Bird flew back alone to Shi Feiyang’s side.

Indeed, the tokens and the Jade Pendants to control it and the White Tiger were all in Shi Feiyang’s hands. He was the true master of these two Auspicious Beasts, similar to a magnet having a natural attraction to iron filings. Their destinies were closely linked with Shi Feiyang, inseparable.

Night fell, and moonlight poured into the courtyard of ”Jinhui” Inn like liquid silver, draping the world in a layer of dreamy gauze. Everything around turned into a surreal vision, as if placed in an Immortal Realm. The few osmanthus trees in the inn courtyard cast mottled shadows under the moonlight, while the breeze brushed past, making the leaves rustle, whispering secrets unknown to anyone.

Liu Tingting, clad in black, like a ghost of the night, quietly arrived in front of Gong Simeng’s room.

Her steps were as light as a cat prowling, each step falling with extreme quietness, with the faint ”tiptoe” sounds nearly swallowed by the darkness, as if she was part of the night itself, seamlessly blending with the darkness.

From the street outside the inn occasionally came the sound of dogs barking, echoing in the silent night, adding to the loneliness and mystery.

Liu Tingting extended her slender fingers and gently pushed the door open. The door’s axle let out a soft ”creak,” which seemed particularly abrupt in the silent night, like a stone breaking the calm surface of a lake, provoking layer upon layer of ripples.

Inside the room, Gong Simeng was seated at the table, the flickering candlelight casting a dim glow on her somewhat tired face. The interplay of shadows added to her pitiful demeanor, invoking sympathy. Outside the window, a piece of dark cloud slowly floated past, obscuring the moonlight, making the room slightly darker, foreboding the impending unease.

Gong Simeng looked up, suddenly seeing Liu Tingting, her eyes flashed with surprise, like a startled deer, pupils slightly enlarged, eyebrows slightly raised, lips involuntarily slightly parted, as if she saw something beyond imagination.

Liu Tingting swiftly closed the door, moving as nimbly as a leopard hunting, instantly flashing to Gong Simeng’s side, lowering her voice, speaking coldly and urgently: ”Gong Simeng, I’ve come with news of great importance.” Her voice was low and sharp, as if carrying shards of ice, each word squeezing through her teeth, fearing being overheard.

At this moment, a draft gently blew through the room, causing the candle flame to flicker violently, as if trembling with the tense atmosphere. Gong Simeng slightly frowned, confusion swiftly gathering like dark clouds on her face, she softly asked: ”What matter is so secretive?”

Liu Tingting’s gaze was as sharp as a hawk, tightly fixed on Gong Simeng’s eyes, that gaze seemingly penetrating into Gong Simeng’s inner depths, revealing her thoughts, coldly saying: ”I warn you, don’t truly fall for Shi Feiyang. You should know being in Divine Water Palace, emotions are the most deadly weakness. Once the palace learns you’ve truly fallen in love, your parents and brothers will face execution by Divine Water Palace, with no chance of survival.”

Her gaze exuded a bone-chilling coldness, her words carried an irrefutable authority, cold and ruthless like a judge pronouncing a death sentence. The wind outside seemed to grow stronger, making the window paper ”whoosh,” echoing this icy threat.

Gong Simeng’s face turned deathly pale, bloodless, lips slightly trembling, like autumn leaves ravaged by the cold wind, she bit her lip, attempting to steady herself, saying: ”I... I have no special feelings for him.”

A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes, that panic like a startled bird flitting about, desperately concealing her true emotions, yet the more she hid, the more obvious that panic became, like ripples spreading across a calm lake.

The room’s temperature also lowered with Gong Simeng’s tension, she couldn’t help but shiver slightly.

Liu Tingting sneered, a sound seemingly emanating from deep within her nasal cavity, carrying disdain and mockery: ”It better be so. Besides, my mother has instructed that you must find out where Shi Feiyang has hidden Snow Eagle Castle’s treasure. This is an order, not to be defied. Additionally, find a way to bring Shi Feiyang’s White Tiger and Vermilion Bird back to Divine Water Palace. The White Tiger and Vermilion Bird are Auspicious Beasts, significant to Divine Water Palace.”

Her tone was fiercely adamant, each word like a cold bullet directly shooting into Gong Simeng’s heart, leaving her no place to hide. At this moment, the clouds outside grew thicker, completely obscuring the moonlight, plunging the room into darkness, only the swaying candlelight barely illuminating their faces.

Gong Simeng shook her head, body slightly trembling, startled saying: ”That’s impossible! Truly, the token and Jade Pendants to control the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird are all with Shi Feiyang. How could I possibly get my hands on them?”

Her voice carried a tremble, like fallen leaves shivering in the cold wind, filled with helplessness and despair. A cold breeze squeezed through the window gaps, nearly extinguishing the candlelight, Gong Simeng reflexively hugged her arms tight.

Liu Tingting coldly looked at her, a hint of slyness revealed in her gaze, that slyness like a fox calculating its prey, chilling to the bone, saying: ”Won’t you sleep with him? Wait until he falls asleep, won’t you steal those tokens and Jade Pendants?” Her words were like sharp knives, directly piercing Gong Simeng’s dignity and emotions.

Gong Simeng felt a sudden dizziness, the room blurred before her eyes, her face turned instantly pale, body trembling violently, as though struck by a fierce lightning bolt, she froze entirely.

She clenched her fists, nails digging deep into her palms, making a faint ”creak” sound, enduring immense emotional pain. After a moment of silence, she slowly nodded, her voice low and forlorn, saying: ”I understand.”

Gong Simeng’s voice seemed tightly shackled by fate, carrying endless sorrow and despair.

At this moment, a muffled thunder sounded outside the window, seeming to protest against Gong Simeng’s tragic fate.

Liu Tingting glanced at her, once again reminding, her tone as cold as winter ice: ”Remember, this matter is of great importance, do not even slightly overlook it. If it goes wrong, you can’t afford the consequences.” Finished, Liu Tingting’s figure flickered, ”swish,” and disappeared into the night, her actions clean and swift, as if she had never been there, leaving Gong Simeng alone in the darkness, plunged into deep suffering and confusion.

At this moment, the candle flame inside finally succumbed, ”poof,” and extinguished, plunging the entire room into complete darkness.

With Liu Tingting’s commotion, Gong Simeng no longer felt any sleepiness. She sat by the bedside, staring numbly at the moonlight outside the window, that moonlight now seeming cold and unfeeling in her eyes, akin to Liu Tingting’s ruthless gaze.

Gong Simeng’s heart was a mix of complex emotions, intertwined like chaos, unable to untangle or make sense of.

Liu Tingting’s warning kept ringing in her ears, like countless bees buzzing, disturbing her restless and troubled heart, her head aching as if it would burst. Outside the window, the dark clouds gradually dispersed, the moonlight fell again but could not illuminate the dark corners of Gong Simeng’s heart.

She recalled the moments since getting acquainted with Shi Feiyang, his bravery and fearlessness, standing out against strong enemies, that determined gaze seemed able to disperse all darkness; his gentle care, offering a cup of warm tea when she was weary, those concerned words seemed to warm her entire world; his smile, like the warmth of spring sun, able to dispel the gloom in her heart. Every moment was so vivid, constantly surfacing in her mind, deeply etched in her heart.

Could this be love? But this love was like a rose with thorns, beautiful yet dangerous, slightly touching would draw blood.

Gong Simeng deeply understood the rigorous rules of Divine Water Palace, cold like iron laws, once violated, the consequences were unimaginable, her family’s lives would be on a knife-edge. Yet to investigate Shi Feiyang’s treasure, to betray the person she perhaps already loved, how could she bear it?

Her heart struggled painfully, as if tightly gripped by an invisible hand, unable to breathe, each heartbeat accompanied by sharp pain. Caught between love and responsibility, justice, and loyalty, she lost her direction, not knowing where to go.

At this moment, the branches outside the inn were rustling in the wind, lamenting Gong Simeng’s suffering.