Chapter 270: So You Are

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“So, you are the one who defeated me.”

Liu Jin has seen Lord Feng Shang before. However, it is the first time the distance separating him from the man is less than a few feet. It makes it even easier to see the already obvious resemblance between the two brothers. Lord Feng Shang and Lord Feng Gui share the same fierce red hair and golden eyes of the Feng Clan. Only the lines on Lord Feng Shang’s face and his far calmer demeanor differentiate the siblings.

Liu Jin hopes Lord Feng Shang’s calm remains undisturbed.

“Lord Feng Shang,” Liu Jin begins with some hesitation and no small amount of confusion, “you praise me too much. How could I possibly have defeated you?”

A small smile appears on Lord Feng Shang’s face.

“You do not have siblings, do you?” Lord Feng Shang asks.

Liu Jin shakes his head. “I do not, Lord Feng Shang.”

“It shows,” Lord Feng Shang says. “Know that it is easier for me to say that I lost to you than to admit my younger brother defeated me. Thus, as far as I am concerned, you are the one who defeated me. First, by helping Elder Xue gain the Medical Pavilion. Then, through your actions in the Dead Plains.”

Liu Jin blinks.

“Lord Feng Shang, this one has only recently reached the Earth Realm. Is it really better to say you lost to someone like me than to consider Lord Feng Gui bested you?”

“Consider everything you know about my brother.”

Liu Jin does.

Two seconds later, he looks down and drinks from his tea.

“A good argument, Lord Feng Shang.”

“It is the sum of my experiences,” Lord Feng replies. “My brother is insufferable at the best of times. It is bad enough he is going to be the next Patriarch. There is no need to give him more things to hold over my head.”

Lord Feng Shang shrugs his shoulders. “What can you do?” the gesture seems to say.

Liu Jin is still not sure what’s going on.

Despite Huang Shing inviting himself and Fan Bingbing to his and Lu Mei’s wagon, the trip back to the Eternal Flame Clan had been enjoyable. It had been a while since Liu Jin spent time with his friends without having to worry about his various responsibilities. For a few blessed hours, he was just Liu Jin.

Alas, all that ended as soon as they reached the end of the Ash Road. Two Core Disciples were waiting for them with orders to escort Liu Jin to Lord Feng. They had not threatened them, though seeing as they were both in the upper levels of the Earth Realm, some could argue that their presence constituted a threat. Regardless, Liu Jin allowed himself to be escorted, reassuring everyone that there was no reason to worry.

In hindsight, Liu Jin should have asked which Lord Feng they were referring to. Rather than being brought to Patriarch Feng or Lord Feng Gui, the Core Disciples brought him to Lord Feng Shang’s estate, where the Emperor Realm cultivator was waiting for him in his courtyard with tea ready for them to drink.

It all makes little sense. Lord Feng Shang should bear some sort of grudge against him. It is as the man said. Liu Jin is somewhat responsible for helping Lord Feng Gui win the position of Patriarch. People have tried to kill him for less.

So, why is the man treating him so amicably?

“This is no trap,” Lord Feng Shang says, putting his cup down. “I realize telling someone to be calm usually encourages the opposite, so I will not. Instead, know at least four Emperor Realm cultivators have their attention on us. That is far too many witnesses for me to do anything to you.”

Oddly enough, that does make Liu Jin feel better.

“Of course, even if they were not watching, you would not be in any danger from me,” Lord Feng Shang adds. “Hard as this might be to believe, I bear no grudge toward you.”

“My lord, you began this conversation by saying you lost to me,” Liu Jin points out.

“I did,” Lord Feng Shang admits, “and I would be a very small person if I raged after every loss like some sullen child. I will forgive you for thinking of me in those terms since I have not given the best impression of myself.”

Liu Jin wisely decides to remain silent.

“You can say it if you wish to,” Lord Shang says as if reading his thoughts. “I have already thought far worse of myself. I allowed a traitor to get the best of me. I freed a monster. I nearly killed my nephew. All for nothing. I was foolish and short-sighted, and my brother will be the next Patriarch because of it. How can I bear a grudge against you when I so clearly deserved to lose?”

Lord Feng Shang does not sound angry or resentful when he speaks. He feels resigned. His words seem more directed at himself than at Liu Jin.

“Lord Feng Shang, why am I here?”

“I already said it, did I not? You are the one who defeated me. How can I not be curious about you?” Lord Feng Shang replies. “Our paths have been opposed since the day you entered the Eternal Flame Clan, and you have only grown more interesting with time. I am no longer speaking to one of our newest Core Disciples but to the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire.”

Ah.

“You have heard,” Liu Jin says, perhaps pointlessly. He already knew the Eternal Flame Clan had been informed of his ties to the Divine Frozen Palace. It would be foolish to think they hadn’t learned what is already known throughout the Storm Dragon Empire.

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“You are not foolish enough to think I wouldn’t,” Lord Feng Shang rebukes. “However, I imagine it is the specifics that you are curious about. After all, the truth is one thing; the news that has reached us is another, and what you wish for us to believe will be something else still.”

Feng Shang laughs and bites on a cookie.

“You are of royal blood. I think that much has been proved beyond all doubt. It is the rest that is not clear. Some believe you have been a pawn of General Nie Dan from the start. Given how everything turned out, it is a strong possibility. However, your clear ties to the Divine Frozen Palace are far more worrying to us. While General Nie Dan can be negotiated with, the Divine Frozen Palace represents a direct competitor. Despite their reputation, they can be quite vicious when it suits them.” Lord Feng Shang smiles with melancholy. “You would hardly be the first person to be enchanted by them.”

“I imagined it would be seen like that,” Liu Jin says, hanging his head. “Lord Feng Shang, hard as this might be to believe, my connection to the Divine Frozen Palace was pure happenstance. I was engaged to the daughter of the Xiao Sect’s Patriarch.”

“The Xiao Sect?” Lord Feng Shang interrupts. “Ah, Eastern Port City. I see.”

Liu Jin stares.

It is not surprising that Lord Feng Shang can make the connection. It is known that Eastern Port City was the home of the Xiao Sect, and it is known Eastern Port City fell. That is all information one can find with some effort.

However, that Lord Feng Shang can instantly make the connection is worrying.