Chapter 272: You Might Enjoy Yourself

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Liu Jin bites down on a piece of fluffy candy one of the newer disciples brought him from Ember City. Most people would consider it overly sweet, so it is perfect for Liu Jin’s palette. The sweeter something is, the better. That is something Liu Jin realized a long time ago.

However, he might have forgotten the meaning behind that realization.

Liu Jin did not want to lose sight of the simpler things in life. That is something he indirectly learned from Elder Brother Xiao Nan. As the Number One Prodigy of Eastern Port City, Xiao Nan must have been under great pressure, yet it never really felt like he lost sight of the world around him. Liu Jin wanted to emulate that.

Despite that, the answers they arrived at could not be more different. Elder Brother Xiao Nan reached Emptiness, and he…

He reached Hollow.

Liu Jin winces. Just focusing on the word seems to darken the world around him. Even the candy in his mouth is suddenly not as sweet as before. While Elder Brother Xiao Nan’s Emptiness refers to the state necessary before something can come into being, his Hollow is a judgment levied at the entire world. Xiao Nan’s Emptiness is full of possibility and infinite in potential. His Hollow is… not.

After all, how can something be sweet when all is bitter? How can something be hopeful when all is bleak? The strong are eager to indulge in cruelty, and the weak have no choice but to bear it. Why shouldn’t he scorn such a world?

…

Has he been hurting himself by doing so?

Nearly all the Emperors Liu Jin has met had a confidence and certainty to them that Liu Jin lacks. They are at ease with themselves in a way he isn’t.

Elder Xun’s words echo inside his head. He has filled himself with things he does not really want. All the things he has learned and practiced since the fall of Eastern Port City are things that will help him with his goals. However, is that all there is to him? Has it truly gotten to the point where he has lost sight of the small joys in life?

Liu Jin eats another candy.

It is still not sweet.

“I hoped to find you here,” Lu Mei says as she opens the door to his room. “Did things go well with-umph!”

Lu Mei is unable to finish her sentence. Her eyes widen as Liu Jin seals her lips with his own but quickly closes them and melts into the kiss. The door is slammed shut, and the two fall on the bed in a flurry of motion.

“Not that I am complaining,” Lu Mei says when their kiss finally ends. She is pinned under Liu Jin’s body. Her face is blushed, and her breathing is heavy. “But what brought this on?”

“I spoke to Elder Xun.”

“You clearly need to make a habit out of it.”

Liu Jin smiles.

“He told me it was important to find that which brings me fulfillment. I thought it sensible to review all the things I enjoy.”

“A very sensible choice.” Lu Mei’s arms wrap around Liu Jin’s back and pull him closer. “If it is for your own good, I suppose–”

Someone knocks on the door.

Lu Mei does not frown or curse. Without once losing the smile on her face, she sends a wave of menacing intent at the door strong enough to make weaker cultivators faint.

The knocking grows louder. Liu Jin and Lu Mei knew it would. They can recognize the Qi of the person knocking. Trying to scare him off was never going to work.

“Why?” Lu Mei whispers. In a louder voice, she yells, “Go away!”

The door is kicked open.

“Really?” Bei Hong looks at them and scoffs in disdain. “It’s the middle of the morning! Don’t you have anything else to do?”

Lu Mei sighs as Liu Jin rises from the bed. She adjusts her dress and glares at Bei Hong.

“Should you not be hitting yourself in the face with boulders and call it training? Lu Mei asks him. “Preferable somewhere far away from here?”

“I wish, but I’m here on official business,” Bei Hong says. He then adds, “Interrupting you is pretty fun, though.”

“It is good to see you, Brother Bei,” Liu Jin says, his tone only slightly irritated.

Liu Jin first met Bei Hong during the entrance exam. Together with Huang Shing and Lu Mei, the four underwent various trials together. The only reason he did not accompany them to the Storm Dragon Empire is that he chose to prioritize his isolation training instead, something that has clearly borne fruit. Bei Hong has grown at least three more inches since Liu Jin last saw him. However, the real change is his power. Bei Hong has not just entered the True Realm but reached its upper levels.

“What official business do you have with us?” Liu Jin asks.

“Elder Fa gave me a message for you,” Bei Hong replies. The name of the Elder immediately causes Lu Mei and Liu Jin to tense up. Bei Hong rolls his eyes. “Relax. I do mean just a message. It is not some vague way of implying violence, though that would probably be more fun. Maybe after this is over-”

“Get to the point!” Lu Mei snaps at him.

“Fine!” Bei Hong reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. Liu Jin blinks when Bei Hong starts reading it. “To the most Esteemed Emperor Qing Jin, ruler of the Storm Dragon Empire, Bringer of Order, and Ally of the Eternal Flame Clan. Honored as we are by your visit, it behooves me to apologize for our lackluster welcome. As Head of the Division of External Relations, it would please me to discuss various matters with you…”

It continues like that for a few more paragraphs. Once the reading is done, Bei Hong’s hand turns into gold. He crushes the paper and grinds it between his fingers until it’s nothing more than dust at his feet.

“That guy really likes hearing himself talk,” Bei Hong says.

“The unimpressive often do,” Lu Mei says, “but why are you the one delivering his message?”

“Who else was going to do it?” Bei Hong asks. “I’m a member of the Division of Internal Disputes, which is the only Division that’s sort of on good terms with External Relations. I’m also on good enough terms with you to be allowed here, but not so close that I was part of your coup. At least, that’s how people see it, which I’m a little hurt by, if I have to be honest.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“You’re the one who wanted to stay here,” Lu Mei points out.

“Because I didn’t know there would be a coup!”

“It wasn’t supposed to be a coup,” Liu Jin mutters.

“Call it what you want,” Bei Hong says. “You went there, killed lots of people, and named yourself emperor. That could have been fun. All I have are the gains from isolation training and the cultivation pills Elder Fa bribed me with.”

“You took a bribe from Elder Fa to deliver his message?” Liu Jin asks.

“Of course I did. It’s not like you’re going to meet him, right?”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” Liu Jin replies. He turns to Lu Mei. “What do you think?”

She considers it for a moment.

“He is an Elder of the Eternal Flame Clan, so you are somewhat obligated to give him some face. I doubt he’d actually try to kill you in a public meeting.” She pauses for a beat before adding, “However, it’s Elder Fa. Everyone important already knows he was working with the Death Fashioning Scripture. That he is asking you to meet him betrays his desperation. The only thing stopping him from running away is the presence of the other Elders.”

Bei Hong yawns. “Yeah, yeah. So basically, you can ignore him without feeling bad about it.”

“Why are you still here?” Lu Mei asks. “You deal with trash often enough. You should already understand it is better if it knows to take itself out.”

“I’m not smart enough to have a witty retort, but I know if I stay here out of spite, it’ll make you mad,” Bei Hong replies, crossing his arms.

“Thank you for delivering Elder Fa’s message,” Liu Jin says, raising his voice over the ensuing argument. “What will you do now? Do you still plan to remain in the Division of Internal Disputes?”