He Really Isn’t My Elder Brother’s Former Lover?
“I said from the beginning that we shouldn’t have made an exception for him. The academy has never accepted a disciple with aptitude this poor!” Inside the Council Hall, a tall, thin, stern-faced middle-aged Daoist spoke irritably.
Yaoguang fiddled with the bamboo scroll in his hand and tried to persuade him in a low voice. “Why must Immortal Lord Kaiyang be so harsh? Leaving aside what sort of spiritual root he was born with, anyone capable of climbing Hongmeng Mountain certainly can’t have weak cultivation. His movement techniques were plain for everyone to see as well. Even if he has a low-grade spiritual root...”
“That counts as a low-grade spiritual root? That’s practically the lowest of the low!” Immortal Lord Kaiyang bristled with anger. “I don’t know why you insist on protecting that boy at every turn. Even cultivation sects in the mortal realm wouldn’t accept a useless spiritual root like his. Yet Hongmeng Academy suddenly isn’t picky now?”
Yaoguang argued back, “How is he useless? He defeated two Heaven-rank disciples yesterday.”
“That was because they didn’t use immortal arts. If immortal arts had been allowed, he wouldn’t have lasted a single move against either of them!”
“You—”
The argument inside the Council Hall continued without end.
Ji Chaoyun stood in the courtyard outside the hall, his eyes lowered so that his expression could not be seen.
Voices had been faintly carrying through the doors all this time. He could not make out the words clearly, but they were presumably still discussing him.
A cold wind swept across the courtyard. Ji Chaoyun tightened his robe around himself and let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
Footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.
He swiftly turned his head and saw an old man with completely white hair and beard approaching at a brisk pace, a tall man following behind him.
It was Feng Qi.
Feng Qi had already changed into the academy’s disciple robes.
Hongmeng Academy’s disciple robes had a white base patterned with pale-blue clouds. The designs varied according to disciple rank, with increasingly elaborate cloud patterns for higher ranks, giving the robes an elegant, otherworldly appearance.
Yet when worn by Feng Qi, the same robe carried an entirely different air.
He was extraordinarily handsome, and the contours of his brows and eyes carried an innate aggressiveness, like the brilliant flash of a blade being drawn from its sheath, sharp and imposing.
Even dressed in plain robes, there was nothing gentle or understated about him.
Ji Chaoyun’s gaze briefly met Feng Qi’s before he looked away, indifferent.
Only when the two drew near did Ji Chaoyun step forward and bow to the elder. “Greetings, Immortal Venerable.”
The current head of Hongmeng Academy, Immortal Lord Tianshu, paused slightly.
His gaze upon Ji Chaoyun seemed to carry a hint of complicated emotion, but he quickly concealed it and said evenly, “Rise.”
Afterward, he continued leading Feng Qi toward the Council Hall.
Ji Chaoyun stepped half a pace aside.
As Feng Qi passed him, he inexplicably turned his head for another look.
There was no telling how long Ji Chaoyun had already been standing there. All color had drained from his face until it nearly matched the snow upon the mountain, without the slightest trace of warmth.
He stood perfectly straight in the cold wind, his back as upright as a green pine, yet his figure looked especially slender.
Feng Qi’s steps slowed involuntarily, as though he wanted to say something.
However, Immortal Lord Tianshu had already reached the entrance of the Council Hall. Before the doors slowly opened, he turned back. “What are you looking at? Hurry inside.”
Feng Qi: “...Yes.”
The instant the doors opened, the argument inside the Council Hall stopped.
Immortal Lord Kaiyang and Immortal Lord Yaoguang stood on opposite sides of the hall and simultaneously bowed their heads in greeting toward Immortal Lord Tianshu.
Immortal Lord Tianshu took his seat at the head of the hall, while Feng Qi followed closely behind him.
Tianshu’s gaze moved back and forth between the two men below. “What were you arguing about just now?”
Before Yaoguang could speak, Kaiyang said first, “Immortal Lord Tianshu, my Supervisory Hall is responsible for this year’s admission trials. Ji Chaoyun lost his final match yesterday and should have been sent back down the mountain, yet Immortal Lord Yaoguang insisted on making an exception and accepting him.”
“Now look at what happened. His spiritual-root test revealed a useless aptitude, disgracing Hongmeng Academy before all our immortal friends. Immortal Lord Yaoguang, why don’t you tell us exactly why you insisted on accepting this disciple? Could it be that you received some benefit from him?”
“How can you say that? I only did it because—” Yaoguang’s face reddened with anger, and he was about to argue back when he instinctively glanced toward Immortal Lord Tianshu.
The latter sat quietly with lowered eyes, drinking his tea.
Yaoguang seemed to think of something and reluctantly closed his mouth.
Feng Qi laughed instead. “What age are we living in? Why is Immortal Lord Kaiyang still judging people solely by their innate spiritual roots? If spiritual roots truly determined a person’s achievements, why would the academy establish rank-advancement examinations?”
Kaiyang’s expression tightened. “The Immortal Venerables are speaking. Is it your place to interrupt?”
“Enough. Stop arguing.” Immortal Lord Tianshu cast Feng Qi a glance before speaking unhurriedly. “I called Feng Qi here myself. He fought Ji Chaoyun yesterday and has some understanding of that disciple.”
“Feng Qi, you tell us. What exactly do you think of him?”
“Him...” Feng Qi considered it for a moment before saying lazily, “His movement techniques are good. I don’t know about his cultivation. As for the person himself... he’s rather exciting.”
Kaiyang: “...”
Yaoguang: “...”
Tianshu rebuked him in a low voice. “Stop fooling around.”
Feng Qi innocently spread his hands. “I’m telling the truth.”
Tianshu looked at him with an indescribable expression. “...Then in your opinion, how should this matter be handled now?”
Feng Qi said, “Since we’ve already allowed him to enroll, throwing him out now would only make Hongmeng Academy appear fickle and completely lacking in credibility. Besides, no matter how poor his aptitude may be, didn’t he still defeat two Heaven-rank disciples...”
“That was because he didn’t use immortal arts—”
Before Kaiyang could finish arguing, Feng Qi interrupted him first. “Yet when Immortal Lord Kaiyang established the examination rules, you never said that wasn’t allowed.”
Immortal Lord Kaiyang’s face alternated between green and white.
After a moment, he gritted his teeth. “Fine. If all of you insist on keeping him, then keep him. However, Hongmeng Academy will never accept useless disciples and become a laughingstock among our immortal friends.”
“The Supervisory Hall proposes that his fate be decided by the seasonal examination three months from now. If he falls into Grade C, that will prove his spiritual aptitude is insufficient for him to remain at Hongmeng Academy, and he will be expelled immediately.”
Feng Qi was about to say something else when Tianshu suddenly spoke.
“Agreed.”
Yaoguang said, “Immortal Lord Tianshu...”
“Since Hongmeng Academy was founded, we have never accepted a disciple with a low-grade spiritual root. This rule cannot be broken,” Tianshu said. “We’ll do as Immortal Lord Kaiyang proposed.”
☁︎
The doors of the Council Hall slowly opened.
Ji Chaoyun raised his head as Immortal Lord Kaiyang and Immortal Lord Yaoguang walked out.
Ji Chaoyun bowed to both of them.
Kaiyang gave a cold snort and strode past as though Ji Chaoyun were invisible.
Yaoguang, on the other hand, warmly approached and helped Ji Chaoyun straighten. “Tired from standing so long? It’s all right now.”
“Immortal Venerable, I...”
Yaoguang waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t pay attention to that fellow Kaiyang. He manages the Supervisory Hall, and Jiang Cheng is his prized disciple. Jiang Cheng lost to you yesterday, so of course he’s unhappy about it.”
He sniffed theatrically. “Can’t you smell it? Such a strong sour smell.”
“...” Ji Chaoyun was silent for a moment before asking, “Then I... can I stay?”
Yaoguang unconsciously tapped his fingers against the bamboo scroll in his hand.
Instead of answering immediately, he asked, “Let me ask you something. Why did you come to Hongmeng Academy?”
“I...”
Ji Chaoyun lowered his eyes.
Beneath the starry sky several hundred years ago, the man held him in his arms. The man’s steady, powerful heartbeat and the faint vibrations of his chest as he spoke traveled through Ji Chaoyun’s back.
“Hongmeng Academy? Why are you suddenly asking about that?”
“Hongmeng Academy is the highest institution of learning in the Immortal Realm. Once you complete your cultivation there, you can seek a position anywhere in the Immortal Realm or become an immortal official guarding a territory. More importantly...”
“Hongmeng Academy possesses the Immortal Realm’s only passage leading to the Divine Realm, the Gate of Ascension.”
“Still, becoming a god is tens of thousands of times more difficult than a mortal ascending to the Immortal Realm. Why trouble yourself so much just to reach the Divine Realm?”
The man pressed close to his ear, his voice gentle. “Once matters here are settled, I’ll personally take you there. All right?”
The promise from back then remained vivid in his memory.
Neither of them had ever imagined that such a seemingly simple promise would remain unfulfilled after so much time had passed.
Ji Chaoyun closed his eyes and answered quietly, “I... don’t want to drift through an ordinary life and remain nothing more than a wandering immortal forever.”
Such an answer was not uncommon within Hongmeng Academy.
Yaoguang nodded. “I understand.”
Yaoguang continued, “Immortal Lord Tianshu has decided that you may remain at Hongmeng Academy for now. You’ll enter the Yellow rank and cultivate alongside the other ordinary disciples.”
“However, Hongmeng Academy has never accepted disciples with spiritual roots below middle grade, so there will be a time limit for you.”
“A time limit?”
“You have only three months.” Yaoguang raised three fingers and said seriously, “You must pass the seasonal examination three months from now. If you fall into Grade C, you’ll be expelled early. Do you understand?”
“I won’t fail,” Ji Chaoyun said. “Immortal Venerable need not worry.”
“Good child. Right, you haven’t collected your disciple robes yet, have you? Go take care of those small matters first, then return to your disciple courtyard and rest.”
“There are no lessons scheduled for today. Familiarize yourself with the academy for now. If anything comes up in the future, you may come find me whenever you need.”
“I...” Ji Chaoyun opened his mouth, but then seemed to remember something and forcibly swallowed the words that had reached his lips.
In the end, he bowed to Immortal Lord Yaoguang and turned away.
☁︎
Only Feng Qi and Immortal Lord Tianshu remained inside the Council Hall.
While sipping his tea, Immortal Lord Tianshu glanced sideways at Feng Qi.
After seeing Immortal Lords Yaoguang and Kaiyang off, Feng Qi had simply remained standing below with nothing to do.
Tianshu asked in surprise, “They’ve both left. Why aren’t you returning to your classroom?”
Feng Qi looked even more surprised than he did. “I thought Uncle still had something to tell me in private.”
Feng Qi was the Phoenix Clan’s Second Prince and the younger brother of the current Phoenix Clan Leader.
Immortal Lord Tianshu was their biological uncle.
A strange look flashed through Tianshu’s eyes. “I’ve told you before not to call me that within the academy.”
“Yes, Immortal Venerable.” Feng Qi agreed readily yet still showed no intention of leaving.
The two waited quietly for another moment before Feng Qi asked, “So, Immortal Venerable truly has nothing to tell me?”
Tianshu said, “What do you think I should tell you?”
“If there isn’t anything, then never mind. This disciple does have one small question, though.” Feng Qi said, “May I ask why Immortal Venerable is treating Ji Chaoyun so favorably?”
Immortal Lord Tianshu’s movements paused.
He asked in return, “Have I treated him favorably?”
Feng Qi gave an unhurried smile. “I know Immortal Lord Yaoguang’s character better than most. He would never take such an interest in a new student unless someone had instructed him to.”
“Your old injuries still haven’t healed, and you’ve been in seclusion for quite some time. Yet the moment you heard about Ji Chaoyun’s spiritual root today, you hurried straight to the Council Hall.”
“Uncle, do you still intend to keep this from me?”
Tianshu asked, “So that was why you spoke for him just now?”
Feng Qi’s eyes flickered faintly.
After a moment of silence, he said, “Even if I hadn’t spoken for him, Uncle would still have kept him here, wouldn’t you?”
Tianshu did not answer.
The Council Hall abruptly fell silent.
One sat while the other stood.
Feng Qi did not urge him. He raised his head slightly and met Tianshu’s gaze calmly.
His imposing bearing did not diminish in the slightest. Even before this elder who commanded immense respect throughout both the Phoenix Clan and the Immortal Realm, Feng Qi showed no weakness.
Instead, there was almost a sense that the two stood on equal footing.
After an unknown amount of time, Tianshu finally spoke slowly.
“Ji Chaoyun... do you truly not know this person?”
Feng Qi was taken back.
When they first met yesterday, Ji Chaoyun had asked him the exact same question.
Feng Qi had remained within the Phoenix Clan from the moment he was born and never once setting foot beyond it until entering Hongmeng Academy more than fifty years ago.
He had occasionally traveled through the mortal realm, but he had never befriended anyone from the Dragon Clan.
Moreover, there had never been any fragmented or incomplete memories within his mind.
Feng Qi frowned suspiciously. “Should I know him?”
“No. You don’t know him... Of course you wouldn’t know him.”
Tianshu sat upright in the principal seat, looking toward Feng Qi below, yet it seemed as though he were looking through him at something far deeper and much more distant.
Feng Qi was about to ask again when Tianshu suddenly said quietly, “This person has ties to the Phoenix Clan. Whenever a member of the Phoenix Clan encounters him, no matter when it may be, they are to treat him with courtesy and assist him with all their effort.”
Feng Qi was taken back again.
The Phoenix Clan was noble by birth and naturally proud. There were many among them who held lofty positions across both the Immortal and Divine Realms.
Yet Feng Qi had never heard of anyone worthy of having every member of the Phoenix Clan ordered to “treat him with courtesy and assist him with all their effort.”
Much less when that person was a dragon.
Feng Qi pressed, “Who gave this order? My elder brother?”
Tianshu shook his head. “I can’t answer anything else and I’d ask you not to press further. Since Ji Chaoyun is remaining at Hongmeng Academy, look after him properly. Don’t let him suffer any mistreatment. Do you understand?”
“This...” Feng Qi fell silent for a moment, not daring to mention that he had already made the little yao dragon sleep in the bamboo grove for an entire night yesterday.
Tianshu began driving him away. “Enough. Go.”
“Immortal Lord Tianxuan came to complain to me again two days ago. He said you skip eight out of every ten morning lessons, and during the other two, you arrive at the classroom only to sleep through the entire thing.”
“I know your talent and cultivation are high, but as long as you remain at Hongmeng Academy, even if you have to pretend, at least pretend to follow some rules for me.”
“Understood, Uncle.”
Feng Qi was just about to walk out when he suddenly remembered something and turned back.
“I have one more question.”
“Speak.”
“That Ji Chaoyun...” A rare hint of hesitation appeared in Feng Qi’s eyes as he carefully sought confirmation. “He really isn’t my elder brother’s former lover?”
“...”
Tianshu’s expression went completely blank for an instant.
Only when he saw Feng Qi trying to suppress his laughter did he react.
He shouted angrily, “What nonsense are you spouting?! Absolutely ridiculous! Get back to class this instant!”
Feng Qi grinned and got the hell out.
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
Phoenix Clan Leader: I’m speechless. I haven’t even appeared yet and I’ve already had an enormous black pot dumped on my head. Life is too hard.
————
Last day for red packets! Until Chapter 6 is updated, comments on all of the first five chapters will receive red packets. I’ll send them all together tomorrow after Chapter 6 is posted.
Thank you all so much for your support. I’ll keep working hard!
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