Chapter 269: Heart I

~~~

Qing Guo knocks on the door, but no one answers.

The palace is full of activity nowadays. Strategy and logistics are discussed daily, and messengers arrive with news every other hour. Even the nobles can be seen dashing through the halls, forgoing their usual decorum. Everyone has something to do, somewhere to go, something to say.

Everyone except them.

“Father,” Qing Guo tries again after several minutes have passed. “The servants left your food outside. You have not touched it yet. It has been days, father.”

A cultivator in the Heaven Realm no longer needs to eat for sustenance, but there is a reason why most still choose to eat despite that. Indulging in the whims of mortality helps center the mind. Without them, it is easy to get lost in continuous existence. Seclusion can be a powerful tool, but it requires a prepared mind.

His father’s mind is very much in an unprepared state.

“Father,” he tries again, knocking more insistently.

Qing Guo knows he’s doing something pointless. If he really wanted to see his father, he’d have forced the door open by now. What can wood, regardless of its quality, do against the strength of someone in the True Realm? It’d be easy to rip the door from his hinges. Once he does, he’ll be face-to-face with his father.

He wouldn’t know what to do.

Qing Guo looks down and sighs before walking away. His steps are loud on the empty corridor. That is how it is nowadays. All the people around him have vanished overnight. Now that his cousin is the Emperor, they have no reason to care for him.

Qing Guo’s face twists as he thinks about his cousin. Day after day, the number of positive things people have to say about him increases. The new Emperor has the allegiance of the Lei Clan. The new Emperor has secured the aid of the Divine Frozen Palace. The new Emperor is on friendly terms with the Elders of the Eternal Flame Clan. He talks with people older and stronger than he is, yet the young Emperor’s wisdom and intelligence always shines through.

It is enough to make Qing Guo want to cough blood!

However… How can Qing Guo deny what he noticed during their first meeting? Compared to Qing Jin, he is woefully lacking. Now that Qing Jin is here, he’ll probably never be the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire.

It does not make him as sad as he thought it would be.

Just lonely.

The dog that his cousin made lightly headbutts his knee in what is probably some inane attempt at comfort. These days, the dog is the only one who has remained at his side. His presence is such a constant that Qing Guo sometimes forgets he is there.

“Prince Qing Guo, I have been looking for you.”

Qing Guo nearly jumps out of his skin when his cousin appears around the corner. While Qing Guo had not failed to hear the footsteps approaching, he had expected to see a servant. Qing Jin’s Qi had been so well hidden that Qing Guo had not recognized him!

“You!” Qing Guo hisses, putting a hand over his beating heart.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

“My apologies,” Qing Jin says. “I did not mean to scare you. I was wondering if we could talk?”

“Talk?” Qing Guo’s chest rises and falls as he tries to get his breathing under control. A bitter smile appears on his face. “Is saying no to the Emperor really an option?”

“Absolutely.”

Qing Guo stares at him, but no matter how hard he does, Qing Jin’s expression does not change.

“Fine,” Qing Guo says, looking away. He glances in the direction of his father’s room. “We should do it elsewhere. Your presence could agitate my father.”

Wait… Is that why Qing Jin is keeping his Qi hidden?