I’m Far Better Than That Bastard Who Disappeared for Three Hundred Years
At the hour of Wei, the distant sound of a pipa drifted from the stage.
Looking out from the private room window, several immortal maidens descended from the sky, drawing waves of cheers from the crowd.
By contrast, the private room itself was completely silent.
A faint, elegant incense burned inside.
Ji Chaoyun sat quietly across from Feng Qi, his gaze unconsciously wandering over the several plates of delicate, exquisitely crafted pastries before him.
He wanted to eat them but did not dare move, so he could only sit there looking obedient and quiet.
Feng Qi leaned comfortably against the back of his chair.
Watching Ji Chaoyun, he could barely hide the smile threatening to appear at the corners of his mouth.
“If you want some, eat. I bought them especially for you.”
“...No need.”
Feng Qi did not force him. He raised a hand and poured tea for them both, then fell silent again.
Ji Chaoyun stared at the steam curling from his tea and quietly asked, “Why... why are you here?”
“You didn’t come home. Shouldn’t I have come looking for you?” Feng Qi raised a brow, his tone distinctly sour.
“I couldn’t sleep after you left. I waited eagerly on Wenqu Peak for a certain someone for two whole hours, only to learn after asking around that he had long since gone down the mountain to enjoy himself. What else could I do but come after you?”
He leaned forward and stared directly at Ji Chaoyun.
“What did I tell you this morning?”
“...”
Feng Qi urged in a low voice, “Speak. What exactly did I tell you to do?”
“Once the drawing of lots is over, I’ll return to Wenqu Peak and wake you to help me change the dressing. After that, I’ll sit quietly in the spring behind the residence for two shichen.” Ji Chaoyun pursed his lips and said softly, “But I really am already better.”
Feng Qi gave a cold snort, neither confirming nor denying it.
“I’m not lying to you. I was like this before as well,” Ji Chaoyun explained. “As long as I don’t exhaust my spiritual power, I won’t be affected. What happened in the secret realm was only an accident.”
Feng Qi regarded him for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. “Before... when that happened, did you always suppress it with your cultivation?”
“Yes.”
Feng Qi asked, “What about that Divine Venerable from the Phoenix Clan? He never helped you?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? When I knew him, I hadn’t even—”
Ji Chaoyun’s brows drew together. His cheeks grew faintly warm, and he could no longer continue.
So nothing had ever happened between them.
A secret sense of delight rose in Feng Qi’s heart.
The irritation that had lingered ever since he heard that unfamiliar name inside the secret realm eased considerably.
His mouth suddenly felt dry. He took a sip of tea and smiled as though to hide it.
“Sorry. I was just asking.”
Ji Chaoyun lowered his head and did not answer.
His complexion was naturally cool and pale, rarely showing any warm color.
Only when embarrassed would a faint pink begin at the tips of his ears, gradually spreading toward his cheeks depending on how flustered he became.
It made him especially pleasing to look at.
Feng Qi’s heart stirred slightly.
“Have you never thought of using another method to suppress it?”
Ji Chaoyun had just gathered the courage to reach for a pastry when Feng Qi spoke. His hand immediately stopped midway.
“What did you say?”
Feng Qi stared into those clear, innocent eyes and forcefully swallowed the impulse that had nearly escaped his mouth.
He downed another mouthful of tea and said expressionlessly, “...Nothing. Eat. Once you’re finished, you’re coming back with me.”
“...Oh.”
Ji Chaoyun picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and quietly began eating.
Immortals did not need to eat, but no one had ever said they could not enjoy food.
Changyuan Pavilion was famous throughout the area for its pastries.
There were many varieties, all recipes brought from the mortal realm by wandering immortals who settled here.
The osmanthus cake was soft and pleasantly chewy, sweet without becoming cloying.
With one bite, the delicate fragrance of osmanthus filled the mouth. Ji Chaoyun ate slowly and carefully.
Occasionally, a crumb stuck to his lips, and he would quickly sweep it away with the tip of his tongue. The pale pink tip flashed briefly before disappearing between his soft, glossy lips.
A crack finally appeared in Feng Qi’s flawless composure.
Ji Chaoyun, entirely oblivious to the other man’s reaction, kept eating his osmanthus cake at his own leisurely pace while quietly searching the table with his eyes.
Feng Qi closely watched Ji Chaoyun’s gaze wander repeatedly between lotus candy crisps, hibiscus cakes, taro pastries, and osmanthus cakes.
Finally, after finishing the last bite of osmanthus cake, Ji Chaoyun reached for a taro pastry.
Feng Qi could not help laughing softly.
Ji Chaoyun looked up. “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing.”
Feng Qi tried to hold himself back, but eventually asked, “Did that fellow never buy you things like these?”
That day inside the cave, Feng Qi had not actually heard the name Ji Chaoyun called clearly nor did he have any interest in deliberately asking for the name of his love rival.
Ji Chaoyun paused and replied somewhat helplessly. “We haven’t seen each other in three hundred years.”
“Ah. Right.” Feng Qi answered.
That was pretty good too.
Feng Qi thought smugly to himself that at least right now, he was the only one who could buy Ji Chaoyun these things. He was far better than that bastard who disappeared for three hundred years without a word.
Another half hour passed.
After Ji Chaoyun had eaten his fill, Feng Qi half-forced him to go next door and say goodbye to Ye Chenxing and Bei Ran.
Then, carrying several extra boxes of pastries, Ji Chaoyun returned to the academy with Feng Qi.
The teleportation formation opened before the mountain gate.
The two stepped out, only to find someone already standing there.
Jun Ruzhuo.
Feng Qi’s face immediately darkened.
Jun Ruzhuo looked equally displeased when he saw Feng Qi.
His brows knitted tightly as he stared at the two below the steps.
After a long while, he finally squeezed out, “You’re a dragon. Why are you spending every day mixed up with a phoenix?”
“...”
Ji Chaoyun was silent for a moment.
Before he could answer, Feng Qi scoffed.
“He likes being with me. We eat together, live together, and go everywhere together. What business is it of yours?”
“You—”
“Feng Qi.” Ji Chaoyun tugged Feng Qi’s sleeve and shook his head. Then he looked at Jun Ruzhuo.
“Why are you looking for me?”
“Who said I was looking for you?”
Jun Ruzhuo’s gaze darted away, refusing to meet his eyes.
“I was just... I was just passing by...”
Ji Chaoyun: “...”
“Oh, so you were passing by.” Feng Qi nodded in sudden understanding, then took Ji Chaoyun with him and headed straight through the academy gates. “Then I’ll have to trouble Young Master Jun to step aside. We’re heading back.”
The two passed Jun Ruzhuo and were just about to climb the stone steps when he gritted his teeth and shouted, “Wait!”
Ji Chaoyun stopped and turned around.
Jun Ruzhuo raised his hand and threw something toward him.
Ji Chaoyun was about to catch it when Feng Qi stepped forward first and snatched it from the air.
It was an exquisitely translucent jade bottle.
Feng Qi examined it briefly. “What is this?”
“Wound medicine developed by Lingyuan Sea for the Dragon Clan.” Jun Ruzhuo turned his head aside, avoiding their gaze as he quickly added, “It’s effective for external injuries.”
Feng Qi paused slightly and looked back at Ji Chaoyun.
Ji Chaoyun took the jade bottle.
A dragon pattern had been carved into its surface, the unique mark of the Dragon Clan of Lingyuan Sea.
He rubbed his fingertips over the familiar pattern and said softly, “Thank you.”
Jun Ruzhuo immediately looked uncomfortable.
“I-It wasn’t especially for you! They sent me too much and I couldn’t use it all, that’s all!”
Only after the words left his mouth did Jun Ruzhuo realize how painfully transparent his excuse sounded. The side of his face flushed bright red. He turned and hurried toward the academy gates, his figure soon disappearing along the mountain path.
Feng Qi and Ji Chaoyun remained standing there.
After a while, Feng Qi asked, both amused and exasperated, “Are all you dragons this incapable of being honest?”
Ji Chaoyun shook his head and sighed. “Let’s go back.”
The two returned to Wenqu Peak.
Feng Qi immediately forced Ji Chaoyun back to his room to rest.
Ji Chaoyun had exhausted a great deal of spiritual power inside the secret realm and was also injured, so he truly needed quiet recuperation.
However, only three days remained before the second-round examination, and Jin Ting was far from an easy opponent.
Ji Chaoyun tossed and turned in bed, unable to settle down.
After thinking for a long while, he pulled out his sword and climbed out of bed.
He cracked open the door and looked outside.
The courtyard was empty.
Second Highness Feng had been woken from his sleep because of him earlier that day. He had probably gone back to his room to catch up on rest.
Ji Chaoyun finally relaxed.
He silently stepped out of the room and headed toward the courtyard entrance, but just as he reached the stone bridge, a voice sounded behind him.
“And where are you trying to go now?”
Ji Chaoyun’s steps paused. He turned back helplessly. “Why are you always staring at me?”
Feng Qi leaned casually against the doorway and laughed, clearly amused by his words. “You’re good-looking. I like staring at you. Is that not allowed?”
“...” Ji Chaoyun said, “Ridiculous.”
Feng Qi smiled without caring and walked toward him.
His gaze landed on the sword in Ji Chaoyun’s hand.
“Trying to sneak out and practice again? I already told you. Your injuries haven’t healed, and your spiritual power hasn’t fully recovered. You cannot overwork yourself these next few days. Why are you so disobedient?”
Ji Chaoyun lowered his head and answered honestly, “I can’t sleep.”
“Worried about the second round trial?”
“...Yes.”
Feng Qi nodded. “You have good reason to worry. The second round is a direct duel on the platform. It tests movement techniques, cultivation, and how you respond to your opponent’s moves.
When it comes to those things, Jin Ting is among the strongest in the entire Yellow rank. As far as I know, he has never lost during a platform examination.”
Ji Chaoyun’s eyes dimmed.
Feng Qi continued, “Jin Ting comes from Baizhang Domain. He was originally the son of an immortal attendant serving at the Domain Lord’s side. The Lord of Baizhang Domain had neither children nor close kin, so he took Jin Ting in as his adopted son and carefully instructed him.
Jin Ting received the entirety of his true teachings, but his innate aptitude ultimately cannot compare with that of descendants from prestigious families. On top of that... his luck has never been particularly good. That is why he has remained in the Yellow-rank all this time.”
“If you fight him as you are now, your chances of winning are practically zero.”
Ji Chaoyun’s hand tightened unconsciously around his sword.
“Then all the more reason I cannot slack off.”
Feng Qi asked with interest, “You don’t think you’ll lose?”
Ji Chaoyun shook his head.
He said seriously, “The match hasn’t begun yet. No one knows who will win or lose. I don’t make assumptions like that.”
“Well said.”
Feng Qi lowered his gaze toward him, warmth softening his eyes.
“I think I suddenly understand why you believe so strongly that person will return.”
“What?”
With someone so dazzling loving him so deeply, waiting for him all this time, Feng Qi thought that if it were him, he would never be able to let go either.
No matter how many hardships stood in the way, he would do everything possible to return to that person’s side.
Feng Qi merely smiled.
He ruffled Ji Chaoyun’s hair and slowly drawled, “...Because you’re exactly that kind of stubborn little fool.”
“...”
Feng Qi straightened and became serious.
“I wasn’t lying earlier. As you are now, you truly have almost no chance of defeating Jin Ting. Unless... Someone tells you the secrets behind Baizhang Domain’s techniques and how to counter them.”
Ji Chaoyun looked at him. “You mean...”
Feng Qi smiled.
“Call me Senior Brother first. Then I’ll teach you.”
In a clearing within the bamboo forest, Feng Qi held Ji Chaoyun’s sword and thrust it through the air.
A bright streak of sword energy followed.
Ji Chaoyun stood silently to one side.
His face revealed nothing, but inwardly he could not stop admiring him.
Feng Qi usually wielded a whip, yet Ji Chaoyun had never expected his swordsmanship to be equally exceptional.
Even if Feng Qi had used a sword during their entrance examination duel, Ji Chaoyun probably would not have had any chance of victory.
He truly deserved his reputation as a martial genius seen only once in a century at Hongmeng Academy.
“What are you staring at?”
Feng Qi withdrew his sword and turned toward him.
“Did you remember everything?”
Ji Chaoyun quickly nodded. “I remember.”
Feng Qi walked over but did not immediately return the sword.
He raised a brow, clearly waiting for something.
“...”
Ji Chaoyun forced himself to speak, awkwardly saying, “Thank you, Feng... Senior Brother.”
“That’s more like it.”
Feng Qi returned the sword, his mood instantly becoming excellent.
“Why do you look so unwilling? You can call Jiang Cheng and Song Zhifei Senior Brother. Does calling me Senior Brother somehow wrong you?”
“...No.”
Feng Qi nodded in satisfaction.
“The method I taught you is based on the techniques Jin Ting has commonly used in platform duels over the past several years, but I can’t guarantee he doesn’t have anything else prepared. Even after memorizing these counters, remain cautious. Don’t become careless.”
“I understand.”
Ji Chaoyun paused before asking, “Do you remember how to counter the techniques of everyone in the academy?”
Feng Qi vaguely sensed the meaning behind his question.
He lowered his head and smiled into Ji Chaoyun’s clear eyes.
“What’s wrong? Finally realized how impressive I am?”
“...”
Ji Chaoyun instinctively stepped backward, only for his back met a slender bamboo stalk.
The smile in Feng Qi’s eyes deepened.
He asked gently, “Want to learn? We still have plenty of time ahead of us. If there’s time in the future, I can slowly teach you all of it.”
He stood too close.
Close enough that Ji Chaoyun could feel the naturally commanding aura surrounding him.
Ji Chaoyun leaned his head back, trying to avoid the presence that was making his heart beat far too quickly.
“Feng Qi...”
Feng Qi stared at him for a moment. Then he straightened and stepped half a pace away.
“I won’t tease you anymore. Keep practicing. I’ll stay here with you. If you have questions, ask me. But remember what you promised. Only two hours of practice a day.”
“...All right.”
Three days later, the second-round examination began.
Ji Chaoyun was already highly accomplished with the sword.
With Feng Qi’s careful guidance over the past few days, he felt considerably more prepared.
On the day of the match, Feng Qi even did something unprecedented and woke up early, personally accompanying him to the White Jade Platform.
“Why aren’t you talking? That nervous?”
Under an ancient pine beside the square, Feng Qi smiled as he asked.
The first match on the distant platform had already begun.
Ji Chaoyun had drawn the fifth Yellow-rank match, so there was still some time before his turn.
Ji Chaoyun’s expression was tense.
He originally wanted to deny it, but in the end nodded honestly.
“A little.”
Feng Qi smiled and opened his arms toward him.
“Come here.”
“Why?”
Feng Qi said, “I heard hugging someone can relieve nervousness. I want to see whether it’s true.”
“...”
Ji Chaoyun turned away, caught between laughter and helplessness. “Feng Qi, stop joking with me.”
“When was I joking?”
Ji Chaoyun fell silent.
For the past several days, Feng Qi had seemed like an entirely different person, taking meticulous care of him.
Anyone with eyes could tell something about him was strange, yet he still had the nerve to ask when he was joking?
Could it be that after learning Ji Chaoyun had some connection with a Phoenix Clan predecessor, Feng Qi was trying to make up for the disrespect he had shown him before?
Feng Qi’s serious expression made Ji Chaoyun reluctant to expose him.
He sighed.
“Nothing. Just stay farther away from me. You’re making me more nervous.”
Something flickered faintly in Feng Qi’s eyes as he blurted out, “Ji Chaoyun, I actually—”
But at that moment, a voice sounded behind them.
“Junior Brother Ji, so you’re here. Another match just ended. You should go prepare.”
It was the attendant disciple responsible for supervising the second-round examination.
“All right.”
Ji Chaoyun nodded, then turned back toward Feng Qi.
“What were you going to say?”
Feng Qi gave the tactless attendant disciple an indescribable look. Then he looked back at Ji Chaoyun and rubbed his forehead in frustration.
“Nothing. Go ahead.”
Ji Chaoyun remained completely puzzled.
He had just turned to leave when Feng Qi called him from behind.
“Ji Chaoyun.” Feng Qi stood beneath the ancient pine and smiled at him.
“Fight well. Win this match, and I’ll grant you one request.”
“...Anything you want.”
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
Little Dragon: Then can you ascend to the Divine Realm and help me bring Feng Xiao back? ovo
Phoenix: ...Anything but that!
————
There was a mistake in the previous chapter. The second-round trial should take place three days after drawing lots.
Review has been extremely strict lately, so I don’t dare go back and revise it in case the chapter gets locked. Will fix it when I get the chance, just flagging it here for now.
Fifty more red envelopes dropping in the comments this chapter.
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