Has He... Eaten Something Bad Lately?
“So, when you descended to the lower realm back then, you were actually defying the Mandate of Heaven?”
“The Mandate of Heaven? I suppose you could call it that.” Feng Qi forcibly pressed Ji Chaoyun back onto the bed and tucked the covers around him. “Imperial Daughter Feng Xi is one of the Progenitor Gods. Back then, she brought me from Mount Sumeru to the Heavenly Realm. Later, when the Immortal and Divine Realms were separated, she bestowed divine bones upon me and conferred godhood upon me. Do you know why they established the Divine Realm?”
Ji Chaoyun shook his head. “I don’t.”
“For self-preservation.” Feng Qi sat down beside the bed, hooked one of Ji Chaoyun’s fingers with his own, and idly kneaded and played with it. “When heaven and earth first came into being, there were three realms: the Divine, Immortal, and Demon Realms. The three realms fought and influenced one another, and warfare never ceased. Conflict, desire, and death brought forth an endless stream of turbid qi. That turbid qi shortened the gods’ lifespans and weakened their power.”
“...Thus, for the sake of self-preservation, the Progenitor Gods used boundless divine power to raise the Divine Realm and erected ninety-nine layers of heaven to separate the two realms. Only in this way could they ensure that the gods would exist eternally in this world.”
Ji Chaoyun said, “So, three hundred years ago, when the Immortal Realm prayed to the gods and begging the gods to descend, the Divine Realm originally had no intention of interfering?”
“The Divine Realm was established precisely to avoid calamity. How could they possibly have been willing to wade into those troubled waters?” Feng Qi gave a derisive laugh. “If gods wish to live forever, they must be without emotion or desire. The so-called heartlessness of the Heavenly Dao is, in truth, nothing more than the heartlessness of the gods. So to say that I defied the Mandate of Heaven is indeed correct.”
Ji Chaoyun said quietly, “If you hadn’t done that, I would never have met you.”
“That’s right, so the journey was worth it.” Feng Qi stroked Ji Chaoyun’s hair at his temple and said warmly, “All right, the story is finished. You should rest now.”
Ji Chaoyun had not closed his eyes for three days and three nights.
He had already been particularly prone to drowsiness lately. Were it not for the dragon pearl protecting his body, he might have collapsed long ago.
Ji Chaoyun’s strength was nearly at its limit, yet he still stubbornly refused to close his eyes. He gripped Feng Qi’s wrist with all his strength. “Are you leaving?”
Feng Qi paused briefly, then answered truthfully, “I need to discuss the remaining matters with Uncle and Elder Brother, and...”
He looked out the window. The rosy clouds at the edge of the sky had yet to disperse, magnificent and splendid.
“...I also need to make a trip back to the Divine Realm.”
“Why?”
Feng Qi said, “My former subordinates are still there. Since war is about to break out again, I can’t go without their help.”
“But Imperial Daughter Feng Xi...” Ji Chaoyun was somewhat worried. “Won’t she make things difficult for you?”
“She can’t control me anymore, little fool.” Feng Qi smiled. “Why do you think I insisted on passing through the Gate of Ascension to return to the Divine Realm?”
Ji Chaoyun did not understand. “Wasn’t it because the Gate of Ascension is the Immortal Realm’s only passage to the Divine Realm?”
“Not entirely.” Feng Qi said, “While I was inside the Gate of Ascension, I met Feng Xi once. She told me that as long as I was willing to yield and admit my mistake, she would undo the seal and allow me to return to the Divine Realm.”
“You refused?”
“Yes. I refused.”
Ji Chaoyun’s brows drew together slightly as he began to understand.
“She bestowed divine bones upon me, so she is my divine mother. She could control my life and death and prevent me from defying her,” Feng Qi explained. “Now, however, I ascended and attained godhood through my own strength. Although I regained my former memories and divine power, these divine bones are no longer the ones she bestowed upon me.”
“The person I am now is Feng Xiao, but I am also Feng Qi. Whatever I wish to do now, she can no longer interfere.”
Ji Chaoyun blinked and finally understood. “You possess Feng Xiao’s memories, but your divine body was remade when Feng Qi ascended, so in essence, you’re still Feng Qi?”
Feng Qi nodded. “Correct.”
Ji Chaoyun lowered his eyes, seemingly displeased.
“What’s wrong?”
“Then I... I’m still older than you...” Ji Chaoyun said quietly. “That’s so unfair.”
“...” Feng Qi was momentarily choked speechless, caught between laughter and exasperation. “It’s only three hundred years...”
“Three hundred years...” Ji Chaoyun muttered quietly, then asked, “Then what should I call you now?”
Feng Qi smiled. “You can call me whatever you like. Of course, I would rather you call me... Husband.”
Ji Chaoyun turned his head away, the tips of his ears quietly reddening.
“Call me that once so I can hear it?”
“...”
Feng Qi urged him in a low voice, “Hurry. Last time, you said it so easily in front of outsiders. Why can’t you say it now?”
Ji Chaoyun shrank farther toward the inside of the bed, but Feng Qi refused to let him escape. He pressed him down on the bed, kissing and coaxing him until he finally forced Ji Chaoyun to utter those two words in a small voice before letting the matter rest.
Half of Ji Chaoyun’s crimson face was buried beneath the covers, and his voice was noticeably lacking in strength. “L-Let’s talk about serious matters. The Divine Realm is unwilling to participate in the war. How are you going to return to the Immortal Realm with troops?”
Feng Qi happily licked his lips, paying no mind to Ji Chaoyun’s stiff attempt to change the subject. “I have a group of former subordinates in the Divine Realm who obey my commands alone.”
“The same ones who descended with you three hundred years ago?”
“Yes, only...” Feng Qi paused, then continued, “During that great battle, some of my former subordinates died and others were wounded. After so many years, I have no idea how many remain. So I can’t be certain how many troops I’ll actually be able to mobilize this time.”
Ji Chaoyun’s eyes dimmed. “Then... will you be gone for a long time?”
Feng Qi fell silent.
After a moment, Ji Chaoyun said quietly, “It’s all right. Go.”
“Little dragon...”
“What do you take me for? I’m not so unreasonable.” Ji Chaoyun smiled and said in a low voice, “I know you’re worried about me, but this concerns the safety of the Immortal Realm. You shouldn’t delay matters because of me.”
He paused, then continued, “Besides, I’ve already recovered the dragon pearl, and I’ll be staying at the academy. What are you still worried about?”
Feng Qi gazed steadily at Ji Chaoyun and sighed. “I originally planned to discuss this with you after you had rested.”
“Let’s agree on a time limit.” Ji Chaoyun considered it for a moment. “There’s still one month until the Heavenly Ranking Tournament. I’ll give you one month.”
He grasped Feng Qi’s hand and said earnestly, “Promise me that you’ll return by the Heavenly Ranking Tournament. I want you to see me take first place on the Heavenly Ranking with your own eyes and protect Cloud-Ascending Tower for you.”
Feng Qi had successfully ascended and was no longer a disciple of Hongmeng Academy. Moreover, now that he had regained his divine power, there was no longer any way for him to participate in the Heavenly Ranking Tournament.
According to the rules, Cloud-Ascending Tower would be handed over to the next person who took first place on the Heavenly Ranking.
Feng Qi smiled. “I seem to recall someone worrying not long ago about whether he could even make it into the top ten. How did his ambitions grow so great all of a sudden?”
“What else can I do? The person I like has progressed too quickly. If I don’t work hard, how am I supposed to stand shoulder to shoulder with him?”
Feng Qi smiled and bent down, pressing a kiss to the corner of Ji Chaoyun’s lips.
“I promise. I’ll definitely return before the Heavenly Ranking Tournament.” Feng Qi said in a low voice, “You have to promise me something too. Take good care of yourself. If I find out you’ve neglected your health for the sake of cultivation again, I’ll be sure to punish you properly.”
“...I know.”
Feng Qi stroked the hair at Ji Chaoyun’s temple. “Sleep. I’ll wait until you’re asleep before I leave.”
Ji Chaoyun did not move. His bright, clear eyes remained fixed on Feng Qi, as though he could not bear to look away.
Feng Qi had no way to deal with him. He raised a hand and covered Ji Chaoyun’s eyes, putting on a stern expression. “Close your eyes and sleep. If you still won’t sleep, I’ll use a spell to make you sleep for several days and nights.”
“...”
Ji Chaoyun did not dare disobey him and obediently closed his eyes.
The familiar presence lingered around him. His mind relaxed, and he soon fell into a deep sleep.
Perhaps Feng Qi had left a spell on Ji Chaoyun before departing, for Ji Chaoyun slept exceptionally soundly and did not awaken until the afternoon of the following day.
Feng Qi’s presence was already gone from Wenqu Peak.
Ever since the two of them returned to Hongmeng Academy, Feng Qi had never concealed his presence. Wherever he was, he would deliberately release it so that Ji Chaoyun could sense him.
Now, that familiar presence had disappeared.
Later that day, Feng Ji sent a message informing him that Feng Qi had already departed for the Divine Realm. Before leaving, Feng Qi had led the Phoenix Clan and Heavenly Fox Clan in completely repairing the fissures in the Demon Clan’s seal.
The two clans had spent nearly a month struggling without managing to repair those fissures. With Feng Qi’s help, every last one had been sealed in less than half a day.
Ji Chaoyun finished reading the message and sat blankly on the bamboo couch in the courtyard for a long while, until the faint sound of a bell came from behind him.
“Aowu...”
The little white cat placed both front paws on the bamboo couch and affectionately rubbed its head against Ji Chaoyun’s leg.
Ji Chaoyun bent down and picked it up, lightly fiddling with the silver bell around its neck. “Why didn’t he take you with him?”
The little white cat whimpered and burrowed into Ji Chaoyun’s arms. Its cries were low and quiet, sounding unbearably aggrieved.
“All right, I know you’re upset that he left you behind.” Ji Chaoyun rubbed the little cat’s head and held it up before his eyes. “He’s only been gone for a day, and you already miss him?”
“Wu...”
Ji Chaoyun sighed and looked up toward the sky.
The distant sky was a clear, washed blue, without a cloud for ten thousand li.
He stared dazedly at the faraway heavens. After a long while, he said softly, “I miss him too.”
The little white cat immediately quieted. Nestled in Ji Chaoyun’s arms, it lowered its head and licked his finger, as though offering him silent comfort.
Ji Chaoyun withdrew his gaze and smiled. “Enough of that. Come on, Xiaohua. Come practice swordsmanship with me.”
☁
Once Feng Qi left, all contact between him and the Immortal Realm was completely severed.
The time he had agreed upon with Ji Chaoyun was fast approaching, yet the academy still had not received the slightest news of him.
Only five days remained until the first round of the Heavenly Ranking Tournament. That afternoon, the academy would hold the drawing of lots for the first round in the main hall of the Main Peak.
That morning, within the bamboo forest on Wenqu Peak.
A clear stream of sword qi whistled past, sending fallen leaves flying through the air.
Ji Chaoyun sheathed his sword, and a string of cheerful silver-bell chimes sounded behind him.
“Aowu, aowu!”
The little white cat struggled toward him with a silk bundle clenched between its teeth, stumbling as it walked. Ji Chaoyun wiped the sweat from his forehead and crouched down. “What have you brought me this time?”
The little cat released its bite. The silk cloth fell open, and several bright red wild fruits, still wet with dew, rolled out.
During this period, Ji Chaoyun had remained behind closed doors, devoting himself to preparing for the Heavenly Ranking Tournament on Wenqu Peak.
The spirit tiger Feng Qi had left behind to accompany Ji Chaoyun seemed to have received some sort of instructions. It took care of Ji Chaoyun down to the smallest detail.
Every day, it urged him to eat his three meals on time. If he practiced swordsmanship for more than two hours, it would inevitably urge him to rest. When the nights grew cold, it would even rub against the bedside of its own accord, return to its true form, and keep Ji Chaoyun warm.
It was not the slightest bit inferior to Feng Qi.
Ji Chaoyun smiled and rubbed the little cat’s head, then picked several wild fruits from the silk cloth.
This kind of wild fruit was sweet and delicious, with abundant juice. It was currently the season when they ripened, and many grew on Wenqu Peak. After Ji Chaoyun picked some for himself once, the little white cat remembered and began deliberately picking them for him whenever he practiced swordsmanship so he could quench his thirst.
Ji Chaoyun had always loved this kind of fruit. Just as he raised one toward his mouth, the fresh fragrance of the wild fruit reached his nose, and his stomach abruptly churned.
“Ugh...” Ji Chaoyun turned his head away and began dry-heaving uncontrollably.
Ji Chaoyun half-knelt on the ground, his shoulders shaking slightly as his face instantly turned pale. He had eaten nothing yet that day, so there was nothing he could bring up. He only felt terribly nauseated.
The little white cat crouched behind him, clearly frightened. It anxiously stretched out a paw, yet did not dare touch him.
It took Ji Chaoyun quite some time to endure the wave of nausea. Panting, he sat down on the ground and rubbed his abdomen in confusion.
Had he... eaten something bad lately?
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
Baby: We’re about to make a scene!
————
Once Feng Qi comes back, he’ll discover the baby! Don’t be impatient, it’s only a few more chapters.
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