Chapter 307: Connection

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Lord Feng Shang of the Eternal Flame Clan. The oldest son of Patriarch Feng Zhang. A man with an exceedingly sterling reputation and one of the strongest cultivators on this side of the Dead Plains.

Her biological father.

When Lu Mei was in the Red Sky Pavilion, Lord Feng Shang was a shadow that loomed over her whole existence. When she joined the Eternal Flame Clan, she finally had a face to attach to the name, but his presence remained as remote as ever. Even when the truth of her parentage became known, Lord Feng Shang made no attempts to contact her.

Now, he’s right in front of her.

With only a small table between them, the room they are in feels unbearably small. Lu Mei desperately wants to look away, but that would be showing weakness. Thus, she focuses all her attention on Lord Feng Shang. There is a touch of severity to him, a dash of maturity in the lines of his face that make him look distinctly unlike his brother despite their many similarities.

His red hair and golden eyes are the same as hers.

It would not have been that way in the past. However, as the Eternal Flame within her has grown in power, her Feng features have gained prominence. Now, even a casual observer would be able to tell Lu Mei and Lord Shang are related.

“Daughter,” Lord Feng Shang says, speaking for the first time. It annoys Lu Mei that she cannot quite hide her flinch. “This meeting has been long overdue.”

Lu Mei laughs harshly.

“Overdue? Lord Feng Shang, it has been two years,” she says. Her tone is far more hostile than is prudent in the presence of such a powerful person, but Lu Mei cannot quite control her emotions right now. The Eternal Flame within her is too active. “I have never been in your position, but I would think that finding out one has a child should evoke a minimum level of interest.”

“True enough,” Lord Feng Shang says. His voice is as calm as hers is heated. His aura does not fight against hers. It merely receives. “At first, I was surprised. Then, I was in denial. However, it only took a little thought to realize there was no lie in Lu Junjie’s declaration. You are my daughter.”

Once again, her heart trembles. Daughter. The world should not have such hold over her, but it does.

“You call me daughter, but why have you waited until now to approach me?” Lu Mei asks, not having missed the significance of this meeting.

Lord Feng Shang is in Imperial Cloud City as a representative of the Eternal Flame Clan. Perhaps Lord Feng Gui sent him so that he might witness him succeed where he failed, but that is not the issue. As long as he is here, any meetings or conversations he might have with any of the participants can be dismissed as official tournament business.

In other words, Lord Feng Shang can meet her face to face because he has a convenient excuse.

“The reason should be obvious enough,” Lord Feng Shang replies, bringing his hands together. “I am a married man, and I do not wish to give my wife more cause to hate you than she already has.”

“She sent assassins after me when I was in the Storm Dragon Empire,” Lu Mei says darkly.

“That matter cannot be proven,” Lord Feng Shang replies automatically. “Even if she had, Feng Zhuo acted swiftly to prevent any unfortunate outcomes. As I knew he would. However, had I publicly gone to you, my wife would have never let the issue end with such a sloppy attempt.”

“Am I supposed to believe the great Lord Feng Shang is scared of his wife?” Lu Mei asks. Spite drips from her every word.

“Not at all,” he replies. “It is far more simple. I did not wish to have to kill my wife as a result of my own infidelity. That would be far too unfair to her.”

There are few times in Lu Mei’s life when she has been left speechless. She wants to call Lord Feng Shang a liar, but his words have a heaviness to them that does not leave room for doubt. His aura, previously contained within his body, fills the room with pure intent. If he publicly associated with her, Lady Feng would grow angry and try to kill her. In that situation, Lord Feng Shang would choose his progeny, illegitimate though it might be, over his wife.

Lu Mei supposes she should feel flattered, yet it is another reminder of the complicated nature of her existence.

“I am tired,” Lu Mei says, finally looking away from her father’s face. “Because I was born your bastard daughter, my existence has only invited conflict. Say your piece and be done with it, Lord Feng Shang. There is no need to pretend we are anything but strangers.”

“If only it were that simple,” Lord Feng Shang says, looking at her with far too much pity for her liking. “I have done you a great wrong, daughter. My weakness might have given you life, but it has been a curse upon it. It has denied you the simple joys that should have been yours from the start. Perhaps the best thing I can do is to stay away from you.”

“You have been doing that so far,” Lu Mei counters. “What has changed?”

“You already know,” Lord Feng Shang says. Lu Mei looks down.

She knows. She understands.

Core Disciple. Participant in the Crimson Cloud Tournament. Eventual wife of the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire. Wielder of the Eternal Flame. Lu Mei could go on, but there is no need to.

Simply put, she has become far too successful.

If she were a little less talented. If she were a little less capable. Lord Feng Shang could ignore her.

Alas, that is not the case.

“Without needing my help, you have become prominent in the Eternal Flame Clan. When the tournament reaches its conclusion, your name will be known among the Four Great Sects and beyond. In mere decades, you and your progeny will hold great power and influence within the Eternal Flame Clan. Anyone with eyes can see that,” Lord Feng Shang says. “Feng Zhuo was wise to go to you. However, his presence will no longer be enough to protect you. The enemies you attract will be my enemies.”

And the enemies of an Emperor are not something either she or Qing Jin can stand against.

Not yet.

Feng Shang’s face softens. “That is why I am here, daughter. I want to make it clear that you will be under my protection.”

It is tempting to merely accept. However, what will become of her if she does? The protection of an Emperor means much, but what good is it if it will invoke the ire of another? Can she really risk making an enemy out of Lord Feng Gui?

Considering the forces on Liu Jin’s path, can she really afford to not have as many options as possible?

Can she turn down her one chance to connect with her father?

Lu Mei does not know.

“Is that all you wished to say, Father?”

He sighs. “Unfortunately not. My wife is due to arrive soon.”

Lu Mei frowns.

“This will be unpleasant, won’t it?”

“Indubitably so.”

~~~

“Wonderful! You’re here already! It is a pleasure to welcome you to our estate!” Fu Lihua greets Liu Jin and Xiao Shuang with open arms and a big smile.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“It is a pleasure to be here,” Liu Jin says.

Now that he is not sneaking in like a thief, he can truly appreciate the beauty of Divine Frozen Palace’s estate. The mansion in the center of the property is a flawless mix of wood, stone, and glass, and the yard around it is covered in blue flowers that give off a pleasant scent.

“Emperor Qing Jin, I saw you at the banquet, but it is a pleasure to formally make your acquaintance,” says Xiang Rong, the prince of the Crimson Cloud Empire. He and Fu Lihua stand beside each other at a distance that cannot be called anything other than intimate.

Physically, the man looks much like his father, albeit younger. Xiang Rong holds himself with great poise, but Liu Jin cannot help but notice he lacks much of his father’s presence. Perhaps that’s only natural. The Crown Prince is only a few years older than him, while Emperor Xiang has lived multiple centuries.

“Likewise, Prince Xiang Rong,” Liu Jin says. “Fu Lihua speaks fondly of you.”

Constantly. Annoying. Insistently. The Crown Prince is clearly the older girl’s favorite subject, and she has no end of things to say about him. Some of those things were interesting. Many were things Liu Jin would have been better off not knowing.

Judging by the look on Prince Xiang’s face, he is not completely unaware of Liu Jin’s thoughts.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Fu Lihua asks with a cheerful look on her face. Her pink robes flutter as she jumps ahead. “Come in! Come in! The cooks have been hard at work! Master spends so much time in meetings that they do not have many opportunities to display their skills. You have made them very happy, Your Majesty.”

“But I come here all the time!” Prince Xiang Rong protests, pointing at himself. Fu Lihua beams at him.

“Dear, you come here for many things, and many of those involve your mouth. However-”

“Lihua!” the prince hisses, putting his hands over Fu Lihua’s mouth. His face is redder than the Crimson Cloud floating above the castle.

Liu Jin and Xiao Shuang politely ignore the two and keep walking until they reach the main dining room. It has a large round table with several chairs around it. A man waits for them there. Though he can still be called handsome, time has begun to leave its mark on his face.