Main Story Complete: Surprise
It was not until the latter half of the night that Ji Chaoyun finally managed to coax the two children to sleep and return to the bedroom.
Feng Qi’s injuries were not particularly serious, but he had exhausted a tremendous amount of spiritual power this time. After the Medical Sage briefly treated and bandaged him, he had forcibly ordered Feng Qi to remain in bed and recuperate.
Ji Chaoyun silently pushed open the door and entered. At a glance, he saw Feng Qi lying quietly on the bed, seemingly fast asleep.
Ji Chaoyun lightened his footsteps and walked to the bedside.
When Feng Qi slept, his features lacked their usual sharpness, making the exquisite contours of his brows and eyes even more apparent. It was a face that no matter how delicate the brushwork, no painting could ever truly capture.
Ji Chaoyun knelt beside the bed, rested his head against its edge, and gazed absentmindedly at the man before him.
He wondered just how much good fortune he must have accumulated in his previous life to meet someone like this in this one, and to possess everything he had now.
“At a time like this, shouldn’t you lean over and kiss me awake? What are you waiting for?”
Ji Chaoyun startled back to his senses. Only then did he realize Feng Qi had already opened his eyes at some point and was watching him with a smile.
“...” Ji Chaoyun straightened, the tips of his ears hidden in the darkness growing faintly warm. “I-I wasn’t...”
“But I was.”
Feng Qi tilted his head with a smile, caught Ji Chaoyun by the wrist, and gave a firm tug. He easily pulled him onto the bed, then rolled over and pinned him beneath him.
“You’re still injur—” Ji Chaoyun had barely spoken when Feng Qi covered his lips with a hand.
Feng Qi whispered, “Shh. Careful, or you’ll wake those two little cubs again.”
“...You’re afraid of waking the Medical Sage.” Ji Chaoyun exposed him without the slightest mercy.
Feng Qi merely smiled and said nothing. His thumb slowly brushed over Ji Chaoyun’s lips. “What were you looking at just now?”
Ji Chaoyun had only just come in from outside, and his body still carried the chill unique to the night. Feng Qi, however, was very warm. That scorching heat passed onto Ji Chaoyun without restraint, making him begin to feel warm as well.
“I... I wasn’t looking—”
Before Ji Chaoyun could finish, Feng Qi lowered his head and kissed him.
Even while kissing him, Feng Qi looked at him teasingly, the mischief in his eyes completely undisguised.
After a while, he finally released Ji Chaoyun. “I’ll give you another chance. Tell me, Little Dragon. What were you staring at just now?”
Ji Chaoyun’s breathing quickened. “I... I was looking at you...”
“What about me?”
Feng Qi deliberately leaned extremely close, so close that they could feel each other’s breath as they spoke. “Tell me, Little Dragon. Am I handsome?”
Their gazes met. Ji Chaoyun’s cheeks grew hotter and hotter. Finally unable to withstand the pressure, he lifted his head and coaxingly kissed the corner of Feng Qi’s lips. “Handsome. You’re the most handsome. The Medical Sage said you need to rest properly, so hurry and sleep.”
After saying that, he tried to turn over and escape, only for Feng Qi to hook an arm around his waist and drag him back. “Where are you running off to?”
Ji Chaoyun was pressed face-down against the bed, his back against Feng Qi’s lean, firm chest. The moment he tried to move, Feng Qi’s hand came down and covered his, interlocking their fingers.
“Feng Qi...” The heat coming from behind him was impossible to ignore. Ji Chaoyun’s heart sped up, and his voice trembled slightly.
Feng Qi tilted his head and slowly kissed the exposed skin along Ji Chaoyun’s neck. In a low voice, he said, “Who knows how long I’ll have to lie around before I recover like this. Wouldn’t it be better to use another method to heal?”
“...” Ji Chaoyun buried his face in the pillow. His fingers tightened nervously, only for Feng Qi to pry them open and lace their fingers together again.
“Little Dragon, help me.”
...
...
Ever since the children were born, the two had not indulged themselves like this for a long time.
At first, Ji Chaoyun was still mindful of Feng Qi’s injuries. Who would have expected spiritual cultivation to work so well? After several rounds, not only had the faint wounds left behind even after applying medicine disappeared, but the spiritual power Feng Qi had exhausted also recovered quickly.
Feng Qi set up a barrier inside the room to block out all sound. Outside, the courtyard remained silent throughout the night.
Inside, however, the bed creaked beneath the strain for the entire night and only faintly quieted when dawn was nearly upon them.
☁
The thirty thousand demon soldiers who had escaped before the seal was reshaped were mostly the Demon Realm’s elite forces and were not easy to deal with.
After several days of chaotic fighting with the Immortal Realm, the demon army forcibly occupied a weak clan’s territory and established camp there, remaining locked in a stalemate with the allied forces.
The fighting dragged on, yet Feng Qi had clearly decided not to involve himself. Using his injuries as an excuse, he refused every request for aid from the allied forces and spent each day in the Immortal Residence with Ji Chaoyun, indulging in a life of leisure and pleasure.
As for the divine soldiers?
Feng Qi had already dispatched all of them to guard the entrance to the Demon Realm’s seal. None were free to offer assistance.
The stalemate continued for nearly half a month before Feng Qi finally relented.
“Peace talks?” Within the Feng clan’s communication mirror, Feng Ji’s brows drew together slightly.
“That’s right. At present, this is the only way to resolve the conflict between the Immortal and Demon Realms.” Feng Qi reclined on a lounge chair beside the lake. His gaze drifted past the mirror toward Ji Chaoyun, who was playing in the water with the two children.
The silver dragon’s scales shimmered beneath the sunlight, extraordinarily beautiful.
Feng Qi withdrew his gaze and said seriously, “Brother can relay my suggestion to the allied forces. As for how all of you decide, I will not interfere. Likewise, I will no longer involve myself in the conflict between the Immortal and Demon Realms.”
Feng Ji watched Feng Qi through the mirror for a long while before suddenly smiling. “May I ask what changed your mind?”
“Nothing in particular. I simply discovered during my time in the Demon Realm that it was different from what I had imagined.” Feng Qi said, “There are unscrupulous invaders in the Demon Realm, but there are also innocent people who simply yearn for freedom. I believe there can be a solution that does justice to both sides, and I believe the conflict between the two peoples will not remain this bitter forever.”
Feng Ji asked, “But even if we reach peace now, who can guarantee what will happen in the future...”
“Brother worries too much. Whatever happens in the future will be the concern of our descendants. It has nothing to do with us.”
“You certainly know how to think things through. I will convey your words to the allied forces exactly as you said them.” Feng Ji was about to end the transmission when Feng Qi suddenly called out to him.
“Brother, wait.” Feng Qi looked somewhat awkward. After hesitating for a long while, he shook his head. “Forget it. It’s nothing. I won’t trouble you.”
Feng Ji looked at him thoughtfully. “Is it about Ji Chaoyun?”
“...” Feng Qi guiltily glanced toward Ji Chaoyun on the lake and muttered, “Yes.”
“He still hasn’t agreed to form a union with you?”
“How did you know?” Feng Qi raised his eyes in surprise.
Feng Ji gave him an indescribable look.
These days, this fellow had been asking everyone he met how he could convince Ji Chaoyun to form a union with him.
Word spread from one person to ten, then from ten to a hundred. Before long, the entire Immortal Realm knew that the mighty Divine Lord Feng Xiao had failed in his proposal and now spent his days unable to eat or sleep, washing his face with tears, practically one step away from plucking out his own feathers to threaten Ji Chaoyun.
“Rumors! Complete rumors!” Feng Qi declared righteously. “I would never pluck my own feathers!”
“...” Feng Ji pressed his fingers to his brow. “So do you have a plan?”
Feng Qi looked at Feng Ji through the mirror for a moment, then sighed. “No.”
Feng Ji thought for a moment. “I do have an idea.”
Three days later, Feng Qi dragged Ji Chaoyun down to the mortal realm.
Spring was in full bloom in the human world. As soon as the spirit tiger landed, it turned back into a little white cat and chased several butterflies into the grass.
Feng Qi took Ji Chaoyun by the hand and entered the cedar forest.
“This place is...”
“Where we first met.” Feng Qi looked around. “I wonder if we can still find that tree.”
Ji Chaoyun laughed softly and tugged his arm. “You’re going the wrong way.”
Ji Chaoyun pulled Feng Qi in the other direction. There were at least several hundred cedar trees in this forest, yet Ji Chaoyun moved through them with ease and soon led Feng Qi to the right place.
The tall, straight cedar looked no different from any of the others in the forest. Yet when Feng Qi looked toward its branches, a familiar feeling immediately welled within him.
This was it.
Three hundred years ago, gravely injured, he had fled to the mortal realm. Tormented by poison, he had casually chosen a cedar tree to rest in. He had not slept long before a young boy woke him from his dreams.
Of the hundreds of cedar trees in the forest, that boy had happened to kick this one.
From then on, their fates became entangled, all the way until today.
Feng Qi reached out and stroked the trunk, filled with emotion. “When you lived in the mortal realm, did you come here often?”
“Yes.” Ji Chaoyun leapt onto the tree and sat upon a branch, looking down at Feng Qi. “Whenever I had nothing to do, I would come sit here, sleep for a while, and imagine that perhaps you might suddenly appear beneath the tree and wake me.”
Feng Qi also leapt onto the branch and sat beside him. “And what happened?”
“I always accidentally fell out of the tree after falling asleep.” Ji Chaoyun glanced at Feng Qi and muttered quietly, “I don’t understand how you phoenixes sleep in trees. It isn’t comfortable at all.”
Feng Qi laughed and pulled him tightly into his arms.
“Now you have me holding you. You won’t fall again,” Feng Qi said softly after a while.
“Mm. I know.” Ji Chaoyun leaned against him, then looked up. “So, did you bring me here because there’s something you want to say?”
Feng Qi met his gaze for a moment before sighing. “Who told you this time? My elder brother?”
Ji Chaoyun lowered his eyes and remained silent.
“...” Feng Qi asked, “What did he tell you?”
“It isn’t that I don’t want to form a union with you.” Ji Chaoyun sat upright and said seriously, “When I refused you before, it wasn’t because I was unwilling.”
“Then why...”
“I... I don’t want you to keep dragging me forward.” Ji Chaoyun said, “Whether three hundred years ago or now, you’re always the one protecting me. You always stand in front of me and solve every kind of trouble on my behalf. You treat me so well, but it’s precisely because you treat me too well that I don’t want to spend my whole life sheltered by you.”
“I want to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, not remain protected behind you.”
“Little Dragon...”
“Let me finish.” Ji Chaoyun said, “Before, I could never make up my mind, but these days, I finally understood what I want.”
He looked directly at Feng Qi and said, each word solemn and clear, “I want to return to Hongmeng Academy. I want to continue cultivating. One day, I will ascend through the Gate of Ascension and then openly and honorably form a union with you.”
Feng Qi had not expected this answer and looked somewhat surprised.
Ji Chaoyun lowered his head and said quietly, “I’m sorry. I know this is unfair to you... and my spiritual power is far below yours. I don’t know how many years it will take me to succeed. But... but I’ll cultivate even harder. I definitely won’t make you wait too long...”
“No. You don’t need to apologize.” Feng Qi gazed at him tenderly. “No matter what decision you make, I won’t oppose you. As long as we’re together, anywhere is fine.”
Ji Chaoyun smiled.
Warm sunlight filtered through the branches and fell over the two of them in dappled patches.
Ji Chaoyun lifted his head and kissed Feng Qi beneath the sunlight.
More than half a month later, news arrived that the Immortal and Demon Realms had finally ended their months-long stalemate and agreed to choose a date for peace negotiations.
Three months later, the Immortal and Demon Realms formally signed an accord and agreed to cease hostilities, with neither side to invade the other for one thousand years.
The gate Feng Qi had left behind was named the Spirit Realm Gate.
The Spirit Realm Gate would no longer be sealed. Instead, the Immortal and Demon Realms would each station people there to guard it. Trade and travel between immortals and demons would be permitted through the gate, but anyone passing through had to undergo inspection by both sides and receive their joint approval.
At the beginning of the accord, there was no shortage of opposition from either realm. It would take a very long time before the two sides could truly adjust to one another and perfect the arrangement.
None of that, however, was Ji Chaoyun’s concern anymore.
Once the two children grew a little older, Ji Chaoyun formally returned to Hongmeng Academy and resumed his studies.
He had claimed first place in the Heavenly Rankings Tournament. After returning, not only did he receive the right to use Cloud-Ascending Tower, but he was also directly promoted to the Heaven Rank.
Early one morning, Hongmeng Academy’s morning bell slowly rang out.
Ji Chaoyun stepped into the Heaven Rank classroom.
Ordinarily, few Heaven Rank disciples bothered attending Daoist Scripture lessons. Yet today, the entire classroom was packed. The moment footsteps sounded at the entrance, more than twenty pairs of eyes turned toward the door in unison.
“...”
“Chaoyun, over here!” Li Hao waved at him. “I saved you a seat.”
Not long ago, Li Hao had passed his final advancement examination and successfully entered the Heaven Rank.
Ji Chaoyun walked over and sat at the desk in front of him. After the two chatted briefly, Immortal Venerable Tianji, who taught the Heaven Rank Daoist Scripture course, entered, and only then did the classroom fall quiet.
“Before we begin today’s lesson, there are two matters I must tell everyone.” Immortal Tianji had white hair and a white beard. His voice was slow and unhurried, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
“First, Chaoyun will be attending classes with everyone from today onward. I hope you will all offer him your assistance.”
“As for the second matter, Immortal Venerable Yuheng, who is responsible for the cultivation course, suffered some injuries during the recent conflict and will be unable to teach for the time being. However, there is no need to worry. The academy has already found someone to take his place. Come in and meet everyone.”
Immortal Tianji turned toward the doorway.
Ji Chaoyun’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
The next instant, a man in golden robes leisurely stepped into the classroom.
The entire room immediately erupted.
Feng Qi stood at the front of the hall and swept his gaze over everyone. The disciples quickly quieted down.
“I don’t need an introduction. You all know me.” Feng Qi said, “From now on, I’ll be in charge of the Heaven Rank cultivation course. I know plenty of you normally don’t like attending class. I was the same when I was in the Heaven Rank.”
“Same old rule. If you can defeat me, I won’t bother managing you anymore.”
Amid the disciples’ collective wails, Feng Qi curved his lips into a smile and looked directly at Ji Chaoyun.
Across the crowd, their gazes met in silence, as though an unseen current quietly surged between them.
After a moment, Ji Chaoyun sighed and helplessly covered his forehead.
No wonder Feng Qi had told him that morning, before he left the Immortal Residence, that he had prepared a surprise.
It truly was...
One enormous surprise.
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
Happy Lantern Festival!!
The main story ends here! It has been a long time since I wrote something this long, and fortunately, I’m fairly satisfied with how it turned out.
Thank you all for your support over these past few months. Before the next extra chapter is updated, I’ll be giving out red packets to comments on this chapter. Love you all, muah muah!
There will be several extras afterward, including sweet everyday life, flashbacks to three hundred years ago, the ending for the villain pair, stories about the little cubs, and more. The contents will be noted in the chapter summaries, so everyone can choose which ones they want to purchase~
My next novel will be After Transmigrating into a Book, I Was Marked by the Tyrant. It should begin around the end of February, so you can visit my author page and bookmark it first.
Writing long novels is exhausting. The Little Koi novel is also a really long one, and writing two long stories back-to-back would kill me, so I’m pushing that one back a little. Sorry _(:з」∠)_
The Tyrant novel should only be a little over 200,000-ish characters. After I finish that, I’ll write Little Koi. I promise.
Also, please bookmark my author page qaq
IsitRo: Yay! main story is done so omw to extras, see u there cattos :3 Also, since it will be Halloween soon, please enjoy this lil game just for awooooo~ 👻
P.S. ⚠️ Please note:
🎃 Who Is Your ACWTE Halloween Companion? 👻
The main story has ended!
Before we wander into the extras, let fate decide who will accompany you through the Immortal Realm this Halloween.
Choose carefully. Feng Qi is unfortunately one of the possible outcomes.
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