Extra · The Cubs’ Search for Papa
Ji Chaoyun returning to Hongmeng Academy to resume classes was something he and Feng Qi had agreed upon long ago. Yet when it actually came time to put the plan into action, quite a few problems arose.
Most of them were because of those two little cubs.
Dragon Cub and Phoenix Cub were already past the age when they could not bear to be apart from their fathers. Feng Qi had also hired plenty of immortal attendants to look after them, so even if both fathers were away, it should not have mattered much.
However, outsiders could never compare to having their own fathers by their side.
At first, the two little cubs did not know what Papa went out to do every day. Moreover, whenever Ji Chaoyun returned in the evening, he would always bring them pastries or sweets, easily coaxing the two cubs into behaving themselves.
Unfortunately as his coursework gradually became heavier, Ji Chaoyun could no longer return every day. Sometimes even Feng Qi had to leave for half the day without showing his face.
That was when things became troublesome.
“...They definitely abandoned us to go out and have fun!” The little silver dragon coiled around the parasol tree where they had hatched, grumbling angrily.
The little phoenix crouched beside her, grooming his feathers. “Sister, Father and Papa must have something very important keeping them busy.”
“I don’t believe it!” The little silver dragon unhappily flicked her tail and gave a heavy huff, spitting out a tiny burst of flame. “Papa never used to leave us behind. He hasn’t come home for three whole days. Don’t you want to see him?”
“I... I do.” The little phoenix lowered his head. “Then what should we do?”
“Shh!” Dragon Cub flicked her tail and yanked her younger brother back into the nest.
Below the parasol tree, two immortal attendants hurried over.
“Young Master, Young Miss, where are you?”
“They’re usually napping indoors at this hour. How could they suddenly disappear? They couldn’t have run outside, could they?”
“Let’s keep looking. We’ll check over there.”
The two immortal attendants searched around and soon ran off into the distance.
Up among the parasol branches, two little heads poked out from the leaves.
Phoenix Cub asked, “Sister, why did we hide?”
“...Oh. Why did we hide?” Dragon Cub tilted her head, blinking her pair of golden-red eyes. “Then let’s go find Papa and Father!”
“But...”
“No buts.” The little silver dragon climbed along the little phoenix’s wing and onto his back, lifted her head, and let out a quiet dragon cry. “Awooo~ Let’s go!”
“...”
Both cubs knew their Father and Papa left through the teleportation array in the courtyard. The little phoenix deftly avoided the immortal attendants throughout the residence and soon arrived beside the array.
Phoenix Cub stood next to it, somewhat frightened. “Sister, are we really going in? We don’t even know what’s inside...”
“Don’t be scared. Your sister is here.” Dragon Cub jumped off her younger brother’s back and patted him with her slender tail. “Come on. Let’s go find Papa.”
The two cubs stepped into the array and were instantly engulfed by a brilliant light.
When the light faded, they found themselves before a great hall. This was Hongmeng Academy’s Council Hall, and the open space before it was currently deserted.
“It’s so cold here. Why would Papa and Father come somewhere this cold?” The little phoenix shivered and puffed out his feathers, murmuring quietly.
Dragon Cub suddenly thought of something. “Did Papa run into trouble? Just like last time?!”
Without waiting for Phoenix Cub to answer, Dragon Cub hooked her tail around him and leapt onto a wall. “Hurry, follow me. I can sense Papa over there!”
Two tiny figures, one dragon and one phoenix, slipped over the wall.
In front of the Council Hall, one of the disciples on guard rubbed his eyes. “Did something just fly past over there?”
“Probably a bird.”
The disciple looked in that direction doubtfully. “...Does the academy have birds like that?”
The two cubs were born with extraordinarily strong spiritual power. Concealing themselves all the way, they avoided the disciples and followed Ji Chaoyun’s aura until they soon reached the rear mountain.
A group of academy disciples had gathered around an open field not far away.
“Chaoyun, you can do it!”
“Why is His Divine Highness still giving way? Careful he doesn’t keep yielding until he loses. That would be embarrassing.”
“Tsk. When has His Divine Highness ever gone easy on us during sparring? He’s probably afraid he won’t be allowed through the door when he gets home tonight.”
Everyone laughed and teased. No one noticed the two little cubs quietly climbing an ancient pine beside the field.
Dragon Cub and Phoenix Cub crouched on a branch and poked their heads out. They happened to see their Papa and Father fighting below.
“...Why are Papa and Father fighting?!” Dragon Cub anxiously flicked her tail.
Phoenix Cub was about to answer when a streak of sword qi came flying through the air, skimming across the top of the pine tree. He shrank back in fright and asked pitifully, “They’re fighting so fiercely. What do we do? Should... should we help?”
“But... who do we help?”
The two cubs looked down at the two people in the clearing.
Feng Qi had not even summoned a weapon. He turned aside to evade Ji Chaoyun’s sword, caught his wrist, and smiled. “See? You’re getting impatient again. Your movement technique is indeed fast, but when facing an opponent, especially one whose movement is comparable to or even faster than yours, you need to calm down even more. The faster you move, the easier it is to expose an opening. Have you forgotten what I taught you?”
Ji Chaoyun did not answer. He tried to pull free but failed, then glared at Feng Qi in frustration.
His cheeks were flushed from the fight, and the dark hair at his forehead was slightly damp with sweat, making his eyes look even darker and brighter.
Feng Qi’s heart stirred under that gaze. Distracted for only a moment, he actually let Ji Chaoyun break free.
Before he could react, Ji Chaoyun’s next sword strike was already upon him, nearly cutting off a strand of his hair.
Feng Qi dodged somewhat awkwardly, drawing another round of laughter from the surrounding disciples.
“Now I finally understand how to deal with His Divine Highness. Turns out he doesn’t fall for force or persuasion. He only falls for the beauty trap.”
“That still depends on who’s using it. Try that with someone else and it definitely wouldn’t work.”
“All of you shut up!” Feng Qi finally snapped. “Watch quietly. Whoever says one more word will practice the sword technique you learned today eight hundred times! No one leaves class until they do it properly!”
Up in the ancient pine, Dragon Cub and Phoenix Cub pulled their heads back.
“It looks like Father is getting beaten worse,” Dragon Cub said.
Phoenix Cub asked, “Then should we help Father?”
“...” The two cubs looked at each other for a long time.
Dragon Cub said uncertainly, “Maybe... let’s watch a little longer?”
Phoenix Cub nodded. “Mm!”
Ji Chaoyun and Feng Qi continued sparring.
By this point, Ji Chaoyun’s stamina was gradually failing him, and his movements had slowed.
Feng Qi quickly noticed. “Tired?”
“I’m not tired,” Ji Chaoyun said.
Feng Qi smiled and shook his head. Then he suddenly struck out, sending a palm toward Ji Chaoyun.
He had not put much spiritual power into the strike. Ji Chaoyun, however, had grown accustomed to this man only retreating and never pressing forward. Caught off guard, he was pushed several steps back and fell onto the grass.
“And you still say you’re not tired. Go rest for a while.” Feng Qi withdrew his hand and spoke gently.
Ji Chaoyun wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead, looking somewhat reluctant. “But I...”
Feng Qi lowered his voice and interrupted him. “Little Dragon, what did we agree on before? You can’t rush your cultivation.”
Ji Chaoyun looked into those gentle eyes, then lowered his gaze. “I know...”
Feng Qi smiled and was about to step forward to pull him up when two small figures suddenly flashed across his vision.
“Don’t bully Papa!”
The two cubs flew in from afar, transformed into human form, and each hugged one of Feng Qi’s legs.
“?” Feng Qi stared down in confusion. “How did you two...”
Dragon Cub clung tightly to Feng Qi’s thigh and accused him tearfully, “Father is bad! At home, Father obviously listens to everything Papa says, but outside you actually bully Papa and even pushed him down! Bad Father!!!”
Ji Chaoyun: “...”
Feng Qi: “...”
The surrounding disciples: “?”
The two cubs had firmly decided that their Papa was being bullied by their Father and cried so bitterly that violent winds swept across Hongmeng Mountain, alarming countless academy disciples.
After that day, rumors that Divine Lord Feng Xiao abused his spouse spread throughout the Immortal Realm. Fengming Valley and Lingyuan Sea took turns sending people to have stern talks with Feng Qi, and even the divine soldiers who had already returned to the Divine Realm descended once to ask after the situation.
Later still, word had it that Divine Lord Feng Xiao found teachers for his two children.
From then on, the two cubs were forced to remain at home every day to study and cultivate, and never again stepped beyond Fengchiqi.
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
Cubs: Whimper. 🥺
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