Chapter 564: First Volume, Chapter 564: Mutual Admiration

First Volume, Chapter 564: Mutual Admiration

Qin Feng found it strange.

Even if Chen Si had abundant experience, how could his character be so broad-minded?

Whether on the Battlefield, where life and death clashed, or in the Imperial Court, where words cut like swords, he and Chen Si had been mortal enemies.

Yet in private, Chen Si offered praise without restraint.

And from Chen Si's eyes, not a trace of hostility could be felt.

Qin Feng could no longer suppress his curiosity and asked casually.

"General Chen, don't you harbor any grudge against me?"

"I heard Zhong Ling and you were sworn brothers. Zhong Ling died by my hand."

"Besides that, the soldiers of Di who met Military Death, and the insults just now in the Imperial Court—if it were me, I would surely seek revenge."

Upon hearing this, Chen Si laughed even more unrestrainedly, as if the entire street echoed with his booming laughter.

Only when Qin Feng was nearly impatient did Chen Si's laughter finally cease.

Yet his eyes carried a hint of solemn reflection.

"To be honest, at first I thought Lord Qin was merely youthful in appearance, but inwardly mature beyond his years."

"Now, hearing your question, I realize Lord Qin is truly just a boy."

A boy…

Qin Feng felt a quiet amusement inside.

Since stepping onto the Battlefield, even he had forgotten he wasn't truly a man yet.

Still, calling him a boy was somewhat excessive praise.

Qin Feng was no innocent youth—he sometimes harbored a ruthlessness within that even frightened himself.

Chen Si wore the look of one who had walked the path, speaking with gravity.

"As a soldier, the greatest taboo is carrying battlefield grudges into daily life."

"This isn't shirking responsibility, nor am I flattering you to win your favor."

"Zhong Ling and I were sworn brothers—this is true."

"But Zhong Ling was a soldier; from the moment he donned armor and took the field, death on the Battlefield was inevitable."

"Whether he died by Lord Qin's hand or by the hand of some Liang soldier, it made no difference."

"After all, we all fought for our own nations—there was no right or wrong."

Saying this, Chen Si's gaze fell again on Qin Feng, laden with unspoken meaning: "If I'm not mistaken, Lord Qin, this is your first time on the Battlefield?"

Qin Feng paused, then replied without thinking: "Second time."

Hearing this, Chen Si laughed again.

Clearly, once off the Battlefield, this old man was an unusually cheerful fellow.

In life and on the Battlefield, he was two entirely different people.

Chen Si kept one hand behind his back: "That encounter with Zhong Ling doesn't count."

"That was merely a raid against bandits—not war."

At this, Qin Feng frowned.

Chen Si and Zhong Ling were sworn brothers, bound by deep affection.

Yet Chen Si had called Zhong Ling a "bandit."

To Qin Feng, this was unimaginable.

Chen Si, with his vast experience, saw through Qin Feng's thoughts at a glance.

He explained lightly: "Zhong Ling was a soldier of Great Di, secretly infiltrating your Liang Kingdom before war broke out—what else would you call him but a bandit?"

"Similarly, Lord Qin, sneaking into Great Di's Qingyu Mountain was nothing more than being a border-crossing bandit."

"Many things need not be taken too seriously—otherwise, life becomes exhausting."

Qin Feng lowered his head, lost in thought.

No one had ever told him these things before.

Or rather, everyone assumed Qin Feng could figure it out himself, that he could walk out of the shadow of war on his own.

The truth proved he was far weaker than they imagined.

Now, with Chen Si's words, he felt a sudden clarity, like clouds parting to reveal sunlight.

Even Qin Feng himself hadn't expected that the one who would heal his war trauma would be his mortal enemy on the Battlefield.

Chen Si had fought more battles than Qin Feng had walked steps.

This detachment was forged through countless life-and-death struggles, refined over time—how could Qin Feng possibly compare?

"In terms of character, Lord Qin is far stronger than most of your peers."

"Based on my many years of Battlefield experience, the vast majority of New Recruits on their first campaign undergo drastic personality changes."

"Some grow cowardly and never recover; others develop delusions, becoming obsessed with killing."

"More often, they simply panic, losing control of their bowels and bladder."

"Watching living men have their heads chopped off or their bodies severed before their eyes."

"Hot blood splashing across their faces—this shock, I too once endured."

"Don't laugh at me, Lord Qin—I had nightmares for three straight days and nearly broke down."

Qin Feng smiled silently, yet his heart had undergone a complete transformation.

Since returning from the Battlefield, he had become utterly gloomy.

As if his body were packed with gunpowder, ready to explode at the slightest spark.

Now it seemed the war's impact had sunk deep into his bones, though he had never realized it himself.

Qin Feng slowly exhaled, and the clouded, bewildered eyes that had once gone numb gradually regained their color.

At this moment, Qin Feng looked at Chen Si before him and no longer felt such hatred.

But he still asked one question.

"General Chen, do you know Li Lang?"

Chen Si nodded.

"I know him—the son of Liang Kingdom's Ming Prince, Baron of Fuyun County, exceptionally brave in battle."

"Originally, I sent several times his number of troops before finally capturing him; the soldiers who returned said…"

"Li Lang, before his death, slew over ten of my soldiers—he truly fought until his very last breath."

Hearing this, Qin Feng's heart ached.

We had once sworn: we wouldn't be born in the same year, month, and day, but we would die in the same year, month, and day.

Yet when Li Lang needed me most, I was not by his side.

Qin Feng felt overwhelming guilt, yet also learned that Li Lang had fought until his final breath, not disgracing the valor of a Shedynasty man.

Qin Feng's heart swelled with pride.

"After this northern Di campaign ended in defeat, our national strength suffered heavy losses, and countless soldiers died on the Front Line—why, then, has General Chen not been punished?"

"Instead, why are you now the Diplomatic Envoy for State Peace Talks?"

Chen Si let out a long sigh, a bitter smile curling at his lips.

"Our Lord has always been pragmatic; our Great Di has already suffered such losses—what purpose would killing me serve?"

"Better to let me live, to Da Yi."

"Today in the Imperial Court, I intended to provoke your Holy One into anger, to sacrifice myself for honor, thereby securing the continuation of Great Di's fate."

"But…"

Chen Si did not continue, turning to look at Qin Feng, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"Marquis Qin, tell me honestly—do you truly have the strength to attack Great Di?"

Qin Feng did not hesitate; he nodded: "Didn't I say so already?"

"Within half a month, I'll capture three of your Cities. If you don't believe me, try me."

Qin Feng's face was as calm as an old dog; inside, he was panicking.

He had not a shred of strength!