Extra · Visiting Family
When the dragon cub and phoenix cub turned one, Ji Chaoyun had yet to return to the academy to resume his studies.
Descendants of immortals and gods grew much faster than ordinary mortal children. Though they had only just passed their first birthday, the two children already looked five or six years old by mortal standards.
Five or six was precisely the age when children loved nothing more than running around and getting into trouble.
That day, Ji Chaoyun was reading inside when Feng Qi’s voice came from the courtyard:
“Dragon Cub, put the koi back. How many times have I told you those aren’t for eating?! Phoenix Cub, if you help your sister catch fish again, I’ll pluck your feathers and hang you from the rafters!”
“...”
Here they went again.
The splash of water sounded outside. Ji Chaoyun pressed his brow, torn between laughter and helplessness, and had barely closed his book when Feng Qi kicked the door open and strode inside, one cub dangling from each hand.
Feng Qi huffed, “Do something about your daughter and son. They’re trying to roast my koi again.”
With the pact between the Immortal and Demon Realms settled, the divine soldiers had completed their duty and withdrawn from the Immortal Realm.
Feng Qi and Ji Chaoyun settled in the Immortal Residence with their two children.
The residence had once been destroyed by the demonic creatures Yan Huaqing released. After the great war ended, Feng Qi used the spirit stones he had won from the Dragon and Phoenix Clans to renovate the entire residence, and it was finally completed.
When the residence was finished, Feng Qi specially asked Immortal Venerable Tianshu to inscribe its name, formally naming the place Fengchiqi.
During the renovations, a lotus pond modeled after the one on Wenqu Peak had been built in the courtyard. Feng Qi had also used a spell to move over the entire pond of golden-tailed koi from Wenqu Peak.
Naturally, those plump, fresh-looking koi immediately caught the attention of the two cubs.
Feng Qi dropped both children into Ji Chaoyun’s arms and demanded, “Didn’t you say dragons don’t eat koi?”
“...” Ji Chaoyun patted both children’s heads in comfort and blinked innocently. “...I never said that.”
“Then back on Wenqu Peak...”
Ji Chaoyun said, “I don’t eat them. Koi don’t taste good.”
Dragon Cub asked, “They really don’t taste good?”
“They don’t. The meat is tough, and it isn’t fresh at all when roasted,” Ji Chaoyun said.
Dragon Cub did not understand. “If they don’t taste good, why raise them?”
“...”
Ji Chaoyun silently looked at Feng Qi.
“Because I want to!” Feng Qi snapped.
“All right.” Ji Chaoyun hooked a finger around Feng Qi’s and quietly soothed him, “I’ll keep an eye on them for you. Don’t be angry anymore.”
The corner of Feng Qi’s mouth lifted almost imperceptibly, though he quickly hid it. Leaning against the edge of the table, he kept a stern face as he bent down. “That’s all?”
Ji Chaoyun met his gaze and immediately understood.
He covered both cubs’ eyes, raised his head, and planted a quick kiss on Feng Qi’s lips.
Ji Chaoyun immediately drew back, the tips of his ears slightly red.
Feng Qi finally failed to suppress his smile. Straightening, he pinched Ji Chaoyun’s ear. “Teach these two little brats properly. I’m going to cook.”
Feng Qi turned and left. As he crossed the threshold, he could still hear the two cubs asking curiously behind him:
“Why did Papa cover our eyes?”
“Papa’s face is so red too. Is he feeling unwell?”
“...”
After the Immortal Residence was formally completed, Feng Qi specifically found a group of immortal attendants to take care of affairs within the estate. Ji Chaoyun had grown accustomed to his cooking, however, so Feng Qi still personally prepared their meals.
Later that evening, Feng Qi held Ji Chaoyun as they reclined together on a lounge beside the lake and admired the moon.
The moon was bright overhead, reflected upon the mirrorlike lake until the water seemed clear and luminous.
A little phoenix skimmed low over the calm surface. With a crisp, childish dragon cry, a little silver dragon suddenly shot from beneath the water. The little phoenix banked aside and avoided the rising spray, only to be caught by the little silver dragon’s long tail.
Dragon and phoenix tangled together and tumbled into the water. Even from far away, their cheerful dragon cries and phoenix calls could still be heard.
Feng Qi peeled a lychee and fed it to Ji Chaoyun. “What are you looking at so intently?”
Ji Chaoyun did not turn his head, his gaze still fixed on the two cubs in the distance. “Watching them.”
“It’s fortunate there are two of them. They can play with each other.” Feng Qi picked up another lychee from the fruit plate. “If there were only one cub, I fear we wouldn’t even have time alone.”
Ji Chaoyun spat out the pit. “How can you even be jealous of your own children?”
“I like it when you coax me.” Feng Qi smiled and lowered his head, sharing a kiss rich with the fragrance of fruit.
Ji Chaoyun turned his head away. “Don’t. The children might see.”
“They’re too busy playing. They won’t see.” Feng Qi rolled over and blocked Ji Chaoyun entirely from view, rubbing the tip of his nose against Ji Chaoyun’s again and again. “Besides, what if they do see? They’ll understand these things one day. Someday they’ll have someone they like too.”
“............”
The air went still for quite some time.
Feng Qi and Ji Chaoyun stared at one another. Feng Qi changed his words first. “No. Better not. If someone really carries those two cubs off one day, I won’t be able to bear it.”
Ji Chaoyun also looked uneasy. “Y-Yes...”
Having reached an agreement, the two sat properly side by side on the lounge.
After a while, Feng Qi suddenly said, “Right. Jun Ruzhuo sent me a message two days ago. He asked me to choose a day when you’re in a good mood and ask whether you’d be willing to take the children back for a visit.”
Ji Chaoyun froze.
Feng Qi said gently, “I originally wanted to refuse for you, but then I thought we can’t keep going like this forever. The past is already past. Since you haven’t stopped Jun Ruzhuo from seeing the children, perhaps you also... don’t reject the Dragon Clan quite as much anymore?”
“I...” Ji Chaoyun leaned against Feng Qi and said softly, “I simply don’t know how to face them.”
Feng Qi asked, “You still don’t want to forgive the Dragon King?”
“I don’t know.” Ji Chaoyun said, “He had circumstances beyond his control, but I can’t completely treat everything that happened as though it never existed. Besides, even without everything that happened afterward, it remains true that he once used me to harm you...”
“Silly, you don’t have to consider my feelings.”
Feng Qi stroked his hair and said softly, “So many years have passed. I stopped caring about those matters long ago. The only thing I care about now is how you feel.”
“I can tell you still can’t let go of that place, yet you always keep everything buried in your heart. That only makes me worry more.”
“Go back once, Little Dragon,” Feng Qi said. “You can’t keep avoiding it forever. Whatever you finally decide, you should tell them yourself.”
After gaining the unanimous agreement of both children, the two left Fengchiqi with their cubs and headed for Lingyuan Sea.
Dragon Cub and Phoenix Cub were now over a year old, but aside from that time they secretly slipped off to the Demon Realm, they had never traveled far since they were born.
The moment they boarded the immortal carriage, both cubs became unbearably excited. They looked this way and that and simply could not sit still. They even wanted to fly out into the clouds and race alongside the carriage.
They were promptly bounced back by the barrier Feng Qi had prepared in advance.
Meanwhile, on the shore of Lingyuan Sea, Jun Ruzhuo waited on the beach with several others, pacing anxiously back and forth.
Everyone waiting on the shore wore silver armor and formal crowns, all dressed with great ceremony.
Jun Ruzhuo inspected them one by one for the tenth time. “Everything in the Dragon Palace is ready?”
Ah-Xuan replied, “Young Master, His Highness’s chambers, his favorite dishes, music and dancing for entertainment, and toys for the two young Highnesses have all been prepared according to your instructions.”
“Good. That’s good.” Jun Ruzhuo nodded. “Tell everyone that nothing may go wrong tonight. If anything upsets my elder brother, I’ll hold all of you accountable!”
“Yes.”
Just as Ah-Xuan finished speaking, the cry of a spirit beast sounded from the horizon.
Jun Ruzhuo abruptly raised his head. An immortal carriage came riding upon the clouds.
He raised a fist to his lips and coughed heavily. Every dragon attendant on the beach straightened their backs at once, their gazes fixed upon the slowly approaching carriage.
Feng Qi lifted the carriage curtain. Everyone outside wore solemn expressions as they called out in unison, “Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince!”
“...”
Feng Qi fell silent for a moment.
Phoenix Cub tugged at Feng Qi’s sleeve and asked curiously, “Father, what are they doing?”
“Nothing.” Feng Qi jumped down from the carriage with both children in his arms and said as though it were nothing remarkable, “They came to welcome me. Your father is simply this popular.”
Jun Ruzhuo: “...”
Dragon Cub tilted her head. “But they look so silly standing like that...”
The dragons: “...”
Feng Qi smiled without saying anything. He set the two children on the ground, then reached up to help Ji Chaoyun down.
Ji Chaoyun lifted the curtain and stepped out. He too was startled by the sight before him.
If he remembered correctly, the last time the Dragon Clan had used such an impressive reception was when Feng Xiao first descended from the Divine Realm.
Ji Chaoyun let Feng Qi help him down from the carriage and asked quietly, “Didn’t we agree this would only be a family banquet? Why is all this...”
“You’re too difficult to invite. Look what you’ve driven the poor fellow to.” Feng Qi laughed.
“...”
If merely welcoming them outside had already turned into such a grand display, Ji Chaoyun could already imagine what other “surprises” were waiting.
Everyone entered the Dragon Palace. The moment they stepped into the banquet hall, they were nearly blinded by the roomful of precious treasures and jade ornaments, not to mention the nearly hundred dishes of Lingyuan Sea specialties covering the tables.
Ji Chaoyun’s mouth twitched. He ground out at Feng Qi, “This... wasn’t your idea too, was it?”
“How did you kno—” Feng Qi coughed lightly and straightened his expression. “Of course not. Why would I have private dealings with the Dragon Clan?”
“...”
Jun Ruzhuo hurried forward. “Elder Brother, come sit here. These are all dishes you used to like. I specifically had people ask around, and I even invited Grandpa Turtle, who worked in the kitchens back then, to return. He made everything on this table today. You used to love his cooking.”
“...”
Feng Qi asked, “Grandpa Turtle?”
Ji Chaoyun rubbed his brow. “A turtle immortal. He left the Dragon Palace not long after I was born. He must be nearly nine thousand years old now.”
“...Eight thousand nine hundred and sixty-four, actually.” A voice sounded from behind them. “I never thought Young Highness would still remember this old one.”
The old turtle immortal was advanced in age, his hair completely white and his steps unsteady. “No, I shouldn’t call you Young Highness anymore.”
He placed a dish of pastries on the table before Ji Chaoyun and smiled. “Crown Prince, have a taste. These were your favorite when you were little.”
Ji Chaoyun quickly reached out to steady him. “Thank you. You’ve gone to too much trouble.”
“What trouble is there in this? To see Your Highness once more in this lifetime is already this old one’s great fortune.” The old turtle immortal waved a hand. “Enough of that. Your Highness should eat. This old one will return to the kitchen.”
Ji Chaoyun watched his faltering steps as he left, his expression dimming slightly.
In the end, he said nothing more.
Jun Ruzhuo had clearly spared no effort in preparing for Ji Chaoyun’s visit.
After dinner, Jun Ruzhuo took them through the renovated Dragon Palace, showed them the dragon clan’s unique songs and dances, and even took the two cubs swimming through the deep sea.
By the time everything was over and Jun Ruzhuo escorted them back to their sleeping quarters, the moon was already high in the sky.
“Elder Brother, this was your old bedchamber. All these years, aside from cleaning, Uncle never allowed anyone else to touch anything here...” Jun Ruzhuo pushed open the door and led the two inside.
Ji Chaoyun looked around the room, a sudden wave of emotion rising within him.
Three hundred years had passed since he last returned here, yet every furnishing and arrangement remained exactly as it had been when he left. Not merely this room, but the entire Dragon Palace, every brick, every tile, every blade of grass and tree, was painfully familiar.
“Is this where Papa used to live?”
Day and night were indistinguishable within the deep-sea Dragon Palace, and the two cubs had played so much they no longer knew what tiredness was. They looked around curiously, slipped free of Ji Chaoyun’s hands, and pattered into the inner chamber.
The remaining three sat around the table in the outer room.
Ji Chaoyun had just reached for the teapot when Jun Ruzhuo immediately stood and eagerly poured him a cup of tea.
“Elder Brother, please have some tea.”
Ji Chaoyun looked at him for a long moment, accepted the cup, then sighed silently. “Ah-Zhuo, you don’t need to treat me like this.”
“I...”
“Today, I only brought the two children back to visit family. They carry the blood of the Lingyuan Sea dragons, after all. That bond can never be severed.” Ji Chaoyun said, “If you’re hoping to gain anything else from me, however, I’m sorry. I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you.”
Jun Ruzhuo lowered his eyes. “Elder Brother, you still aren’t willing to come back...”
Under the table, Feng Qi took Ji Chaoyun’s hand.
“I’ve said before that I won’t return to Lingyuan Sea.” Ji Chaoyun’s voice was calm. “Perhaps there was some anger behind that decision before, but now I simply have something else I want to do.”
“Before long, I’ll return to Hongmeng Academy and continue cultivating. Once I attain the Dao, pass through the Gate of Ascension, and reach the Divine Realm...”
He raised his eyes to Jun Ruzhuo and said earnestly, “That is my answer.”
Jun Ruzhuo met his gaze for a long time before finally smiling softly. “As expected.”
“This isn’t bad either. You’re living the life you want. I believe Uncle would be happy too if he knew.” Jun Ruzhuo stretched as though a great burden had been lifted and sighed. “Now I can finally give the elders an answer. Elder Brother has no idea how often they ask when you’re coming back. They’ve nagged me until calluses are practically growing in my ears.”
Ji Chaoyun said, “The Dragon Clan is without a leader at present. Naturally they’re anxious.”
“It isn’t that there are no capable people in the clan. It’s only...” Jun Ruzhuo glanced toward the door and lowered his voice. “Before Uncle left, he hid the Sea-Calming Pearl passed down through the dragon clan. No one has found it to this day.”
“The Sea-Calming Pearl...” Ji Chaoyun lowered his gaze. “He seems to have mentioned it to me before, but he never told me where it was.”
Jun Ruzhuo sighed. “According to Dragon Clan law, whoever finds the Sea-Calming Pearl becomes the next Dragon King. Yet the pearl has vanished without a trace, so no Dragon King can be chosen. The elders can only oversee matters for the time being.
These things have nothing to do with me, though. I only hope they choose someone soon. Then I can finally have some peace.” Jun Ruzhuo rose and said to Ji Chaoyun, “Elder Brother, rest early. I’ll leave you now.”
“All right.”
Jun Ruzhuo reached the door, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He turned back and smiled at Ji Chaoyun. “Elder Brother, you can come back and visit often. Just treat it as visiting family.”
After seeing Jun Ruzhuo off, Ji Chaoyun and Feng Qi had barely closed the door when the sound of something shattering came from inside.
Dragon Cub came running from the inner room in tears. “Waaah!”
Ji Chaoyun hurriedly caught her. “What happened?”
“It... it broke...” Dragon Cub held out the shattered pieces of a seashell.
Phoenix Cub also came running out with reddened eyes. “Papa, I broke it. Don’t scold Sister... I didn’t hold it properly...”
Dragon Cub sobbed, “No, I asked Phoenix Cub to hold it for me. It’s my fault, waaah...”
Seeing the two cubs crying harder by the second, Feng Qi quickly crouched down and soothed them. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. It’s only a seashell. Here, I’ll fix it for you.”
Dragon Cub sniffled. “...R-Really?”
“Really. Hold out your hands.”
Dragon Cub lifted both hands, holding the broken shell fragments. Golden light rose from Feng Qi’s palm and fell upon the shell.
Within the golden light, the shattered pieces seemed to come alive, slowly fitting themselves together until the shell was soon restored to its original state.
It was a snow-white seashell, roughly the size of Dragon Cub’s palm.
Dragon Cub’s eyes lit up. “It really is fixed!”
“Hm? This is...”
Only after the shell was restored did Ji Chaoyun remember what it was.
Feng Qi asked, “Is there something special about this shell?”
“This was the first birthday gift I ever gave Father.” Ji Chaoyun looked at the shell and said softly, “The first time I left Lingyuan Sea, I found it on the shore. It was the prettiest shell I could find.”
Feng Qi gently stroked Ji Chaoyun’s back in comfort.
“I’m all right...” Ji Chaoyun shook his head. “I just find it strange. Why would it be kept here?”
Ji Chaoyun reached out and picked up the shell.
The instant his fingers touched its surface, silver light suddenly rose from it.
Dragon Cub felt her palm grow heavier, as though something had rolled out from within the shell.
“Papa...”
Dragon Cub raised her hand. In her small palm now lay a pearl glowing with deep blue light.
The Sea-Calming Pearl.
Ji Chaoyun froze where he stood.
The Sea-Calming Pearl that countless members of the dragon clan had fought to find had actually been hidden here by the Dragon King of Lingyuan Sea.
Which meant the one who had found it...
Feng Qi and Ji Chaoyun looked at one another, then their gazes fell upon Dragon Cub at the same time.
Feng Qi was the first to react. He scooped Dragon Cub into his arms and strode toward the inner room. “No. I am absolutely not sending Dragon Cub to Lingyuan Sea. I don’t care what the Dragon Clan’s rules say!”
“...Feng Qi.”
“I’m not listening. No one is taking my daughter away!”
“............”
They stared at one another for a long time before Ji Chaoyun finally yielded. “Fine. I won’t tell the Dragon Clan.”
Feng Qi nodded heavily.
Dragon Cub was a direct descendant of the dragon clan, a true princess of Lingyuan Sea. If those elders, whose minds were entirely occupied with finding an heir, learned that the pearl was in her possession, they would certainly make an enormous fuss and insist on taking her back to raise her as the future ruler.
“I don’t want anyone else raising Dragon Cub either,” Feng Qi muttered unhappily.
Ji Chaoyun did not want Dragon Cub left with the Dragon Clan either. After discussing it, the two sealed the Sea-Calming Pearl back inside the shell and decided to let Dragon Cub choose for herself whether she wished to come to Lingyuan Sea once she was grown.
The two cubs finally tired themselves out and lay drowsily in Ji Chaoyun’s arms.
Feng Qi idly stroked Ji Chaoyun’s hair. “Back then, he truly hoped you would inherit his position.”
“I know.” Ji Chaoyun’s voice was also heavy with sleep.
No one knew when the pearl had been placed inside the shell. No one knew how much effort the Dragon King had spent hiding this secret throughout all those years when Jun Jue searched everywhere for it, through all those years when the Dragon King himself was controlled by the Demon Clan and lived without seeing daylight.
He had hidden the Sea-Calming Pearl inside this completely inconspicuous shell, and with it, hidden all his hopes for the future and for the Dragon Clan.
Ji Chaoyun lowered his head and looked at the little shell hanging around Dragon Cub’s neck. Suddenly, he said, “I want to make a trip to Congji Abyss.”
Feng Qi replied, “All right. I’ll go with you.”
Half-asleep, Dragon Cub raised her head. “Where are we going to play now?”
Ji Chaoyun said, “To see your grandfather. Do you want to go?”
“Yes! Can we go tomorrow?”
Ji Chaoyun smiled and said softly, “Mm. We’ll go tomorrow.”
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
The Immortal Residence’s name came from the name little angel [Loves Eating Passion Fruit] suggested for the cubs. I didn’t get to use it before, but I liked it very much, so I used it here instead. Thank you so much!
The extras don’t follow the main story’s timeline continuously. Each extra can be read independently orz
The next chapter should be about the academy.
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