~~~
Feng Zhuo of the Eternal Flame Clan.
Within the strongest Sects of the Crimson Cloud Empire, few will fail to recognize that name. Feng Zhuo is the strongest prodigy of his generation, a staggering talent that once claimed victory in the Crimson Cloud Tournament. In front of him, every other vaunted genius was made to look like an average person.
He is Lord Feng Shang’s one and only son.
What is he doing here?
“I greet the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire,” Feng Zhuo says, dropping to one knee as soon as he enters Liu Jin’s throne room. The young man looks much like his father and his uncle. He has the red hair and golden eyes of the Feng Clan, and his handsome face is only enhanced by the disarming smile he wears. “I can only regret that it has taken so long for our paths to cross.”
“Feng Zhuo of the Eternal Flame Clan, I have heard much of you,” Liu Jin says. “However, I thought you were supposed to be in the Dead Plains.”
When they were sent to the Dead Plains to settle the succession crisis, Feng Hao discovered a hidden room in the ruined temple they were using as shelter. Not only did it possess a powerful barrier that protected them from the Fleshcrafter’s creatures, it was also tied to the Eternal Flame in some way. After all, it was the Eternal Flame that led Feng Hao to it.
A discovery like that could not be ignored. With the succession settled, the Eternal Flame Clan decided to keep investigating the ruins. However, someone skilled in the use of the Eternal Flame would be needed. Feng Hao was too young to be exposed to the Dead Plains for a second time. His parents would never allow it. Feng Zhi was deemed not talented enough, and choosing someone from a branch sect could have been risky in a different way.
Thus, the responsibility fell to Feng Zhuo.
There are some in the Eternal Flame Clan who think sending Feng Zhuo to the Dead Plains is Lord Feng Gui’s way of punishing his brother. They are wrong. That is simply the result of how much everyone trusts Feng Zhuo.
Regardless, this person should not be in front of him.
“It is true that I was in the Dead Plains, Your Majesty,” Feng Zhuo says with a candid smile. “However, how could I remain there after hearing the news?”
Liu Jin narrows his eyes. He knew the Eternal Flame Clan would send someone now that Lu Mei’s secret has been revealed. However, he never expected it would be Feng Zuo. While he is glad it is not one of the Elders, Feng Zhuo is very much a mystery to him. To make matters worse, General Nie Dan has left to quell Duke Wei’s attempt at rebellion.
“How could I possibly not want to meet my sister?!”
Liu Jin blinks.
“This Feng Zhuo has been an only child all his life, Your Majesty,” Feng Zhuo says, placing a hand over his heart. His eyes are literally and metaphorically shining. “Doubtless, my parents thought there was no need to improve on what has already been perfected, yet this genius Feng Zhuo you see before you has always lived a lonely life because of it! Ah, I still remember the first time I played Go against myself. I lost terribly!”
“I… see.”
“There was no other way. The other kids and servants would always let me win if I played with them, Your Majesty. That is the tragedy of this Feng Zuo,” Feng Zhuo continues with an overwhelming force of personality. “I gambled against myself and played hide and seek against myself. Truly, I never found me. Such a cunning foe, I was. Ah, Feng Zhi and Feng Hao do not know how lucky they are. I have always been envious of their brotherly bond, but Feng Zhi never quite liked me for some reason.”
No, Liu Jin is starting to understand the reason. Such an extroverted and vibrant person is simply too much for most to deal with, especially someone like Feng Zhi.
“However, I have a sister now, Your Majesty! A little sister to pamper to my heart’s content,” Feng Zhuo says, finally rising. Liu Jin instinctively flinches back when Feng Zhuo spreads his arms toward him. “And there’s also you!”
“Me?”
“Your Majesty, we are almost family,” Feng Zhuo shouts happily. “You may have yet to marry, but we will be in-laws once you do. Perhaps you wish to wait until you are older to formalize things, but that is nothing but a formality. Why should I wait a few years to start treating my brother-in-law as my brother-in-law?”
The Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire cannot be harmed in the Storm Dragon Palace.
Liu Jin repeatedly reminds himself that as Feng Zhuo strides fearlessly to his throne and engulfs him in a hug.
“Ah, a sister and a brother,” Feng Zhuo says, still holding Liu Jin in his arms. “How blessed I am! Truly, the Heavens did not only give me staggering talent and handsome looks, they have also decided to give me happiness.”
“I…This is not…” Liu Jin’s protests fall on deaf ears as he fruitlessly tries to break out of Feng Zhuo’s embrace
“I understand, brother-in-law,” Feng Zhuo says. “I am too moved to speak as well. Rest assured, your feelings have been conveyed to the very core of my heart.”
The hug lasts over ten minutes.
~~~
“Sister!”
“What is happening?”
As the one who is closest to Lu Mei, Liu Jin has had the privilege of seeing her in a wide variety of states. He has seen her unguarded, at her most cunning, in the midst of battle, and in rare moments of peace.
This is the first time he sees her quite so dumbfounded.
“Word of your parentage has reached the Eternal Flame Clan,” Liu Jin tells her. Much like he was a few minutes ago, Lu Mei finds herself a victim of Feng Zhuo’s embrace. “The reception was more enthusiastic than we anticipated.”
“Ah, dearest sister, you cannot imagine my joy when I found out,” Feng Zhuo says, swinging Lu Mei around. “Truly, your false father is such a black-hearted villain to expose you like that, yet I am grateful to him. To think I could have gone my entire life without knowing of my sibling! I dare not imagine it!”
“I am…flattered?” Lu Mei says, sounding more uncertain than Liu Jin has ever heard her. “However, this is all too overwhelming for this young miss, Young Master Feng Zhuo.”
“Young Master?” Feng Zhuo lets go of Lu Mei and shakes his head. “No, no, no! That is far too formal for my sister to call me.”
Lu Mei and Liu Jin share a look. Overbearing as Feng Zhuo might be, it is undeniable that he is an important and influential member of the Eternal Flame Clan. It is in their best interests to keep themselves in his good graces.
In other words, it is better to play along.
“I understand,” Lu Mei says, using her freedom of movement to put herself out of Feng Zhuo’s hugging range. “Forgive me. I still need time to get used to thinking about us as… family.”
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“No, it is I who is in the wrong here,” Feng Zhuo says, putting a hand on Lu Mei’s shoulder and nodding. “As the older sibling, I should be understanding of your circumstances. This is, after all, our first meeting. It is unfair of me to expect you to embrace me as your brother so quickly.”
Lu Mei sighs with visible relief.
“I am glad you understand–”
“That is why we must rectify that at once,” Feng Zhuo announces proudly.
“Rectify?” Lu Mei asks, arching one of her eyebrows. Her voice is heavily skeptical and heavily wary.
“Of course, dearest sister of mine!” Feng Zhuo says. “We are siblings with over a decade of memories to make up for! That won’t do! We cannot let ourselves fall behind Feng Zhi and Feng Hao!”
“Surely, it is not a competition,” Lu Mei says, but as a highly competitive person, it is clear that it pains her to say it. Liu Jin sees it, and Feng Zhuo does as well.
“Good, that’s the spirit,” Feng Zhuo says proudly. “A sister of mine must absolutely hate to lose. Here is what I have planned for tomorrow. Please, feel free to share any ideas with me.”
As Feng Zhuo takes out a long list of activities to share with the overwhelmed Lu Mei, Liu Jin proceeds to tune out his voice.
For now, this is fine.
~~~
“She is a Feng.”
Liu Jin does not sigh as he looks at Yong Zhuyi, but it is a close thing. The former Core Disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan had requested a private audience with him, and unfortunately, Liu Jin had correctly guessed the motive behind it.
“You already knew that,” he tells Yong Zhuyi.
“I knew she was a bastard who possessed the Eternal Flame,” Yong Zhuyi says. “That much was acceptable. However, she is Lord Feng Shang’s daughter and will soon be officially recognized as such.”
Liu Jin frowns. No formal announcement regarding Lu Mei’s parentage has been made. According to Ten Zichun’s reports and Elder Xue’s letters, Lord Feng Shang and Lord Feng Gui have been dealing with the situation by pretending it does not exist. However, that does not mean people are not talking about it. Some say the whole thing has been a plot by Lord Feng Shang to make his daughter queen of the Storm Dragon Empire. Others say Lord Feng Gui bribed Lu Mei’s parents to besmirch his brother.
However, Feng Zhuo is here now.
It no longer matters if Lord Feng Shang and Lord Feng Gui never address the rumors. If the greatest prodigy of the Eternal Flame Clan does not doubt Lu Mei’s identity, how can anyone? Feng Zhuo’s presence is enough to legitimize her, and there is no way he is not aware of that.
However, Feng Zhuo is a problem for another day.
Yong Zhuyi and his companions betrayed the Eternal Flame Clan because they grew tired of the Feng Clan’s ways. This led them to be used by Elder Fa, another bastard of the Eternal Flame Clan.
Now, they are here, working for the daughter of their first master.
The Heavens certainly have a cruel sense of humor.
“Does it matter who Lu Mei’s father is?” Liu Jin asks Yong Zhuyi.
“Emperor Qing Jin,” Yong Zhuyi says, looking at Liu Jin with the most stoic expression the latter has ever seen. “It offends me that you would even ask that question. If she is Feng Shang’s daughter, your children will be his grandchildren. I had come to terms with your future offspring being part of the Feng Clan, but this is quite another thing.”
Liu Jin steeples his hands together as he considers what to do.
Yong Zhuyi’s cultivation is higher than his, but that does not mean much here. As long as Liu Jin is in the Storm Dragon Palace, he is untouchable. One word from his lips is all it would take to wake up the Shadow of the Storm Dragon. Yong Zhuyi is at his mercy, and he knows it. That he has chosen to bring up this matter is a sign of good faith.
“I am not Lord Feng Shang,” Liu Jin says at last. “Lu Mei is not her father. Our works are not his works.”
“But your legacy will be part of his,” Yong Zhuyi points out.
“My legacy will overshadow his,” Liu Jin says, and the room seems to quiver with the force of his declaration. “You hate what the Feng Clan is. I already said I sympathize with you, but I will not let you hurt anyone I care about because of it. Instead, I ask that you watch our actions. The Feng Clan that will rise from my line will not be one you disapprove of.”
“Bold words,” Yong Zhuyi says.
“Bold words spoken by an Emperor,” Liu Jin counters. “Senior Brother, you are a sensible person. Will you really let Feng Shang have so much power over you that you will turn away a cup of water simply because Feng Shang’s fingertips have touched it? That is beneath you.”
Yong Zhuyi does not reply right away. He merely regards him in silence. Liu Jin meets his gaze without blinking, trying to convey his sincerity without words.
“True enough,” Yong Zhuyi says at last, making Liu Jin nearly sigh in relief. “We will withhold judgment for now and continue our roles as servants.”
“If I give you reason to doubt me, I will not blame you if you leave without warning,” Liu Jin says. “However… If you try to harm Lu Mei or any future child of mine, there will be no forgiveness.”
It takes Yong Zhuyi longer to reply this time.
“Understood, Your Majesty,” he says. “If you would allow me to say something, I’d recommend waiting a while before meeting anyone else.”
“Why?”
“Your face right now is quite frightening,” Yong Zhuyi replies.
Liu Jin blinks.
“Truly?”
“Truly.”
~~~
Feng Zhuo had many ideas about how to bond with Lu Mei, but most had been rejected as they would require them to leave the Storm Dragon Palace. No matter how trusted he might be by the Eternal Flame, no one here will allow him that much freedom. Instead, he and Lu Mei will spend the day playing board games and asking each other questions, a simple enough way to get to know each other.
While Liu Jin could have accompanied them, he does not want to intrude on what could be a genuine family moment. Instead, he has merely placed guards around the room, and the Shadow of the Storm Dragon has orders to awaken should Feng Zhou try anything. It would be good if Big Sister Bai were here to provide further security, but this would have to be enough. All he needs to do is keep himself alert for as long as Feng Zhuo’s visit lasts.
And just like that, he has gained another excuse to stop himself from using the mirror.
Liu Jin smiles and shakes his head. How easy it is to find excuses! How easy it is to be cowardly!
No, he has put this off long enough.
He has hurt her long enough.
Steeling himself, Liu Jin takes out the mirror and uses a book to make it stand on his desk. His finger touches the surface gently, barely brushing against it before sending a single jolt of Qi into the artifact.
The effect is immediate. A single face appears on the surface of the mirror. Her hair has become white like snow, and her face is older and more beautiful. However, Liu Jin has no problem recognizing her as Xiao Shuang. Her eyes widen when she looks at him. Her mouth opens by a fraction, her face frozen in surprise. Liu Jin knows he should say something, but he finds himself similarly paralyzed.
An eternity passes by in complete silence.
“Husband,” Xiao Shuang says, finding strength when he could not, “it has been so long…Why has it been so long?”
Her question holds no anger or reproach, yet Liu Jin flinches.
“I was afraid,” Liu Jin admits.
“Afraid?” Her white eyebrows quirk in confusion. “What could you possibly fear?”
It is here. The moment he has dreaded for so long.
“Xiao Shuang,” Liu Jin says, willing his voice not to tremble, “Do you hate me?”
“What?”
“Do you hate me?” Liu Jin repeats his question, his voice almost a whisper. “When I encountered a soldier from the Storm Dragon Empire so close to Eastern Port City, I should have talked to someone about it. If I had, your father might have been better prepared for Murong Bang’s attack. Instead, I let my mind dwell on other things, and the entire city was caught by surprise.”
“You were a child!” Xiao Shuang protests. “You were grieving!”
“I was naive!”
“Childs often are!” Xiao Shuang shouts back. The flush of her face is noticeable against her white skin. “Is this why you have waited so long? You feared I would blame you for the fall of Eastern Port City? How small do you think I am?!”
“I feared you would blame me because I bear responsibility for it!” Liu Jin counters. “If I had done differently, things would have gone differently! There is no arguing that. I… I couldn’t even protect a single tree…”
Liu Jin blinks quickly. His eyes sting for some reason.
“Husband, look at me.”
Liu Jin does.
There is no anger in Xiao Shuang’s face, no recrimination.
Only unshed tears of joy and sadness.
“I wanted to see you for so long,” Xiao Shuang says, smiling.
“I have hurt you,” Liu Jin says.
“You have,” Xiao Shuang says. “Make it up to me.”
“How?”
Slowly, Xiao Shuang smiles the same soft smile she once did in Eastern Port City.
“You already know how, husband,” Xiao Shuang says. “Share your life with me.”
Liu Jin does.
~~~