Show Some Restraint. Don’t Let Anyone Notice.
When Feng Qi awoke the next day, his head felt as though it were splitting apart.
With his eyes still closed, he pressed at the space between his brows and was about to get up when he suddenly touched the warm, soft body in his arms.
He turned his head and saw Ji Chaoyun lying in his embrace, still fast asleep.
Feng Qi’s gaze lingered for a moment on the bite wound at the corner of Ji Chaoyun’s lips, and his brows drew together. Then he immediately noticed the other man’s disheveled clothes. Ji Chaoyun’s outer robe was still on, but the collar had clearly come loose, revealing a small patch of pale skin.
Feng Qi blinked, and his gaze continued downward.
Ji Chaoyun’s hands were bound by a slender golden chain. The position was probably uncomfortable, his fingers slightly curled, a faint red mark pressed into his slender wrists.
“!!!”
Feng Qi was horrified and nearly sprang up on the spot.
Th-this-this...
Why did this look as though...
Feng Qi forced himself to calm down and quietly shifted to the side, pulling out the arm Ji Chaoyun had been using as a pillow. He propped himself up, silently steadied his breathing, then reached toward the opening of Ji Chaoyun’s loosened robes.
If he really had done something, there should be traces left behind.
Feng Qi held his breath. He had only just pulled Ji Chaoyun’s collar open a little when a voice suddenly sounded. “What are you doing?”
“!”
Feng Qi jolted violently and yanked his hand back. He failed to notice that there was nothing behind him and tumbled awkwardly off the bed.
“Pfft—” Ji Chaoyun could not hold it in and burst out laughing.
He sat up with his knees bent, unable to suppress his amusement. “This time, I wasn’t the one who kicked you off.”
Feng Qi met Ji Chaoyun’s gaze and blinked blankly. “I... last night, I...”
“You don’t remember what you did last night?”
“I...”
Feng Qi truly did not remember.
His memories of the previous day were extremely hazy. He only vaguely remembered threatening to lock Ji Chaoyun away here, then forcibly carrying him back into the room, and then...
The more Feng Qi thought about it, the more horrified he became. He hurriedly scrambled up from the floor. “Chaoyun, I... last night, I wasn’t in my right mind. I don’t know why I acted that way... Did I hurt you? Let me have a look.”
Ji Chaoyun turned aside, avoiding Feng Qi’s outstretched hand.
Feng Qi’s hand stiffened in midair. Ji Chaoyun asked, “You truly don’t remember anything? You don’t remember what I said to you either?”
“After we entered the room, I don’t...” Feng Qi hurriedly said, “Never mind that for now. Let me undo this first. Does anywhere else feel uncomfortable?”
“Don’t undo it.” Ji Chaoyun was inexplicably a little angry and said irritably, “This is evidence that you bullied me. You’re not allowed to undo it.”
Feng Qi did not dare touch him carelessly. He asked softly, “Then does that mean I really did... something to you?”
“What do you think?” Ji Chaoyun said crossly. “If it wasn’t you, then who tied me up with this golden chain? Who bit my mouth? And my... my clothes...”
His ears grew hot, and he could not continue.
Feng Qi stood beside the bed and looked down at Ji Chaoyun, who was still sulking to himself. His heart was filled with guilt and distress.
How could he have borne to bully him like this?
Had he gone mad last night?
In truth, once Feng Qi had completely regained his senses, he could roughly tell what had happened to him the night before.
He had spent many years cultivating in seclusion and understood his own condition very well. In fact, when he decided to kill Jun Jue in the Dragon King Temple, he had already anticipated that something like this might happen.
During those days when he had been taken back to Lingyuan Sea for interrogation, however, he had been exhausted from dealing with the various factions and had no time at all to sit in meditation and calm himself.
After so many days of delay, by the time he emerged from Lingyuan Sea’s dark prison, his immortal power was already no longer entirely stable.
It was simply that while caught in the midst of it himself, he had been unable to notice any of this.
“Little dragon, I was wrong.” Feng Qi sat down beside the bed and tentatively reached for Ji Chaoyun’s hand. “I truly didn’t expect this to happen. If you’re angry, you can hit me or scold me. Don’t make things difficult for yourself because of me.”
His voice was so soft and gentle that more than half of Ji Chaoyun’s anger immediately and rather spinelessly disappeared. “I-I’m not that angry...”
“That’s good.” Feng Qi said gently, “Take off your clothes and let me see your injuries.”
“...” Ji Chaoyun frowned in confusion. “You bit my lip. Why would I need to take off my clothes?”
“...Huh?”
A short while later, Ji Chaoyun emerged from the room fully dressed, rubbing his wrists.
The sun outside was just right. In the distance, a light breeze stirred ripples across the lake, reflecting scattered flecks of shimmering light.
Feng Qi followed him out and asked guiltily, “You’re really not angry with me anymore?”
Ji Chaoyun considered it for a moment. “I’m still a little angry.”
“...”
Ji Chaoyun said, “Who told you to forget what I said last night?”
Feng Qi vaguely sensed that it must have been something extremely important. Unfortunately, his memories of the previous night were a complete haze, and he could not recall anything at all. After racking his mind to no avail, he followed Ji Chaoyun and pestered him. “Then... tell me again? I promise I’ll remember this time.”
“No.”
“Little dragon...”
“No. Remember it yourself.”
Feng Qi was about to say something else when a streak of golden light suddenly flew over from the horizon. Fine strands of golden radiance formed the shape of a golden phoenix and descended before the two of them.
Ji Chaoyun recognized the familiar aura upon the phoenix. “This is... a message from Immortal Venerable Tianshu?”
“Yes.” Feng Qi had been interrupted and looked faintly impatient as he explained, “This is a message-transmission spell unique to the Phoenix Clan. It allows one to see the other person’s location from a thousand li away. Most likely, because I didn’t return to Fengming Valley with my elder brother, Uncle is sending word to urge me back to the academy.”
“You really should return to the academy,” Ji Chaoyun said. “Your immortal power hasn’t completely stabilized. There’s no telling when you’ll lose control again. Right now, you need to return and cultivate in seclusion.”
“But...” Feng Qi was silent for a moment before admitting the truth. “Once we go back, you’ll have to resume your studies, and I’ll probably have to enter secluded cultivation. Wouldn’t that mean we won’t be able to see each other again?”
Feng Qi was right.
Once they returned, the time they could spend together would become much, much shorter.
They were not in the same rank, so they could not attend lessons together. Ji Chaoyun would also have to deal with examinations and trials of every size.
On top of that, Feng Qi’s condition would certainly require secluded cultivation. Even though they would be living beneath the same roof, they might go a very long time without seeing each other.
Ji Chaoyun pressed his lips together, and his resolve began to waver slightly.
Yet he could not be willful when Feng Qi’s safety was at stake.
He said, “No matter what, answer Immortal Venerable Tianshu’s message first.”
Feng Qi nodded and raised a hand. The phoenix transformed into a mirror of light before the two of them.
Immortal Tianshu’s figure appeared within the mirror.
Tianshu frowned. “Why did it take you so long to respond? Have you gotten so carried away playing outside that you don’t intend to return to the academy?”
Feng Qi replied, “Forgive me, Uncle. I just woke up.”
Tianshu’s gaze traveled back and forth over the two figures before the mirror. He fell strangely silent for a moment, then coughed lightly. “When are you planning to return?”
Feng Qi glanced sideways at Ji Chaoyun. “The three-month period for our experiential training isn’t over yet. We...”
Tianshu seemed to have expected this answer and sharply cut him off. “The three months may not be over, but you’ve already fulfilled your merit requirement. If you still don’t return, what are you waiting for?”
“I never should have agreed to let the two of you go to the mortal realm for experiential training.” Tianshu had clearly been holding back a great deal of anger. He reprimanded them, “What other academy disciples cause such a commotion during their training? First, you barged into Mount Sumeru and drew out a great host of demon soldiers. Then you became entangled in the case of Lingyuan Sea’s Third Prince being killed. If I let the two of you keep running wild, who knows what else will happen? Hurry back!”
“...”
For once, Second Prince Feng was left completely speechless after being rebuked. He opened his mouth, yet had no idea how to answer.
Ji Chaoyun silently sighed and tried to smooth things over. “Immortal Venerable, please don’t be angry with us. We’ll return as soon as possible.”
“I’m not blaming you.” Tianshu’s manner softened considerably when facing Ji Chaoyun. He consoled him, “Chaoyun performed well during this training, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I’ve already informed the Supervisory Hall in advance and had you placed in Grade A.”
“Many thanks, Immortal Venerable.”
Tianshu stroked his beard and continued, “In truth, there would be no harm in letting you travel outside for a while longer. There is, however, a piece of news I think the two of you will find interesting.”
Feng Qi raised a brow. “What news?”
Tianshu said leisurely, “The Heavenly Ranking Tournament.”
Ji Chaoyun froze. Tianshu continued, “The demons have appeared repeatedly of late. Neither the academy nor the Immortal Realm has been peaceful, and unease has spread throughout the academy. The disciples are finding it difficult to settle their minds and cultivate. After discussing the matter with the other Venerables, we decided to move the Heavenly Ranking Tournament, originally scheduled for next year, forward by half a year. It will now be held five months from today. The next seasonal examination will be temporarily canceled and postponed until after the Heavenly Ranking Tournament.”
“This...” Ji Chaoyun lowered his eyes.
Every disciple in the academy could participate in the Heavenly Ranking Tournament. The victors could advance in rank as an exception, while those who placed among the top ten could even advance directly into the Heaven-Ranked Class.
Ji Chaoyun naturally wanted to participate as well.
According to the original schedule, however, he would have had nearly a year to prepare. Now that it had been moved forward, only five months remained.
For his cultivation to reach the level required to participate in the Heavenly Ranking Tournament within five months was nearly as difficult as ascending to Heaven.
Feng Qi’s brows drew tightly together. “For something this important, how can you simply move it forward without telling anyone beforehand?”
“Am I not telling you beforehand right now?” Tianshu replied irritably. “How long has it been since you properly cultivated? Hurry back. If you lose first place on the Heavenly Ranking, let’s see how you’ll face yourself then.”
“...”
Tianshu said, “I’ve said all there is to say. Whether you return is for the two of you to decide.”
The two bowed toward the figure within the mirror. “Yes, this Disciple understands.”
Tianshu nodded and was about to end the transmission when he suddenly seemed to remember something. He paused, looking as though he wanted to speak but hesitated.
Feng Qi asked, “Is there something else, Uncle?”
Tianshu looked at Feng Qi, then turned to look at Ji Chaoyun. He seemed to find the words somewhat difficult to say. “Once you return to the academy, the two of you should... exercise a little restraint..”
Feng Qi did not understand. “What do you mean?”
Tianshu’s aged face reddened. “...Just some restraint. Don’t let anyone notice.”
Ji Chaoyun: “?”
Feng Qi: “???”
Tianshu gritted his teeth. “Your mouth!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the mirror of light dissolved into a wisp of smoke and vanished into the air.
Only then did Ji Chaoyun belatedly touch the wound beside his lips, which had already formed a scab. His cheeks grew hot, and he turned around and hurried into the room.
The door slammed shut. Feng Qi’s anguished cry rang throughout the entire courtyard. “Chaoyun, I already apologized... Don’t lock me outside! Hurry and let me in!!”
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
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