Chapter 315: You Misunderstand the Situation

~~~

Night fell on Imperial Cloud City several hours ago. It is hardly the time to hold any sort of family dinner, and no one would have been surprised if the whole affair had to be canceled in light of the day’s events. Lu Mei certainly would not have complained.

However, the Feng Clan is nothing if not stubborn.

They gather in the tallest room of the Eternal Flame Clan’s estate. Lord Feng Gui sits at the head of the table, and his brother, Lord Feng Shang, sits opposite to him. Lady Ling sits at Lord Feng Gui’s right and Feng Zhi at his left. It leaves the mother and step-son staring directly at each other, which cannot possibly be comfortable for either of them.

Lu Mei considers herself luckier in that regard. On her side of the table, Lady Feng and Feng Zhuo are seated in front of each other. The seat in front of her should have gone to Feng Hao, but his mother managed to get him out of attendance. Lu Mei heard the youngest Feng complaining earlier, but he has no idea how lucky he is not to be in this room.

Then again, Lu Mei doubts Lady Feng would glare at Feng Hao anywhere nearly as fiercely as the woman is glaring at her right now. Of course, even that is preferable to the smug superiority in Lady Ling’s face. How someone like her and Lord Feng Gui can produce a child as good-natured as Feng Hao is an utter mystery.

“My dearest family,” Lord Feng Gui says, looking around the table with a warm smile. “I believe this is the first time we have all gathered together like this. My brother and I, his wife and my wife, my child and his children.”

Lady Feng’s twitch is miniscule, but Lady Ling sees it all the same if the predatory smirk on her face is any indication. Lu Mei has to give her uncle credit. To a normal observer, the words would have sounded perfectly innocuous, yet they were nothing but a biting reminder of her biological father’s infidelity. Lu Mei is not Lord Feng Shang’s legitimate daughter, yet she has been given a seat at this table.

To Lady Feng, it must be the highest possible insult.

“Originally, there were many things I wished to discuss,” Lord Feng Gui says, steepling his fingers. “Our Feng Clan has gone through many ordeals that threatened the unity of the Eternal Flame Clan over the past few years. However, we have overcome them, and we are on the precipice of a new and better age.”

Lord Feng Shang does not react. However, Lu Mei can sense that, while not angry, he is most certainly not amused by Lord Feng Gui’s grandstanding.

“Alas, a more pressing matter has presented itself,” Lord Feng Gui continues. His smile grows by a fraction, yet there is nothing warm about the atmosphere in the room. “I assume you all saw the young Emperor’s fight?”

Lord Feng Shang’s face darkens, but the rest of the room is confused. Even Feng Zhuo, her annoyingly confident half-brother, looks somewhat uncertain.

“Uncle, that question is not one that needs to be asked. We were all there,” Feng Zhuo says. “However, it seems you and my father saw something the rest of us did not. Brother-in-law’s fight was a little uncharacteristic of him, but nothing that happened in the ring should have caused so much unrest among so many powerful people. Please enlighten us so we might actually contribute to this discussion.”

Lu Mei keeps her face impassive, yet she is impressed by her half-brother, and she’s not the only one. The admiration in Feng Zhi’s face is unmistakable. He hadn’t just asked Lord Feng Gui to get to the point. He had deliberately referred to Qing Jin as his brother-in-law, recognizing the bond between them despite the tense situation surrounding him.

“It is called Art of the Roaming Thief,” Lord Feng Shang says, answering instead of his brother.

Feng Zhuo blinks.

“The movement technique is the reason for all this?” He asks with marked disbelief in his voice. “I’ll admit it was impressive for his level, but nothing about it should-”

“If he has completely mastered it, he could be sitting here, and not one of us would realize it,” Lord Feng Shang says, immediately silencing his son.

“The Art of the Roaming Thief has seven steps. When all seven are taken, even the Heavens will forget you,” Lord Feng Gui adds, as if reciting from memory. “It is a story passed down across generations, one told to us by our father. The Roaming Thief was a great figure during the war between humans and demons, one that ultimately became part of the One Hundred and Eight. He did not leave behind any blood descendants, but his technique somehow made its way to uniquely troublesome individuals.”

Feng Zhou chuckles. Feng Zhi snorts. Even Lu Mei cannot fight a smile.

Uniquely troublesome is one way of describing her Jin.

“It is not a laughing matter,” Lord Feng Shang says. “One of the last known users of this technique was of great interest to those on the other side of the Dead Plains.”

“Oh? I was not aware we were so familiar with them that they’d tell us their interests,” Feng Zhuo says.

“Son, you are not a fool, so do not play the part,” Lady Feng tells him. “Those on the other side of the Dead Plains generally do not interfere with our affairs, but the Four Great Sects are important enough that some measure of communication must be maintained.”

“A measure of communication. I suppose that is a tactful way to describe our relationship with them, dearest sister-in-law,” Lord Feng Gui says with his usual smile in place. “They send us vague directives once every century, and we’re expected to meekly comply. Now that the Emperor has very publicly made his mastery of the technique known, I expect it is only a matter of time until they are informed of it they don’t already know. They will give no clear orders, but it will be understood that it is preferable to secure the Emperor in some way. It puts us in a uniquely complicated situation compared to the rest. After all, Emperor Qing Jin is a dear ally of ours. On the other hand…”

He trails off and gestures to his brother, motioning him to continue.

“On the other hand, Emperor Qing Jin is an ally of ours,” Lord Feng Shang says, sighing. “He is a member of the Eternal Flame Clan, and we were behind his acquisition of the Storm Dragon Empire. Taking into account those facts, claiming we did not know his background would ring false. They will think we have been hiding him all this time. The steps we take from this point on will either disprove that theory… or reinforce it.”

A tense silence follows. Though there is plenty of food on the table, no one has touched it, and it seems that is unlikely to change anytime soon. A sense of trepidation hangs in the air as multiple eyes move around, trying to gauge where everyone in the room stands on this issue. To speak first is to reveal one’s hand and expose himself to attack from the others.

Naturally, Feng Zhuo is the one who does it.

“Uncle, Father,” Feng Zhuo says, his gaze shifting from one to the other, “forgive me for saying this, but there is no choice at all here. You both taught me the Eternal Flame Clan must command the highest respect. What respect can we command if we act as common lackeys?”

“Careful with how you speak, boy,” Lady Ling snaps at him. “To draw the anger of those on the other side of the Dead Plains is foolishness. This is not the time for us to challenge them.”

Not the time. Lu Mei quickly dissects the phrase. Qing Jin once told her that Lord Feng Gui plans to eventually challenge those on the other side of the Dead Plains. Most likely, he has shared those plans with Lady Ling, and this incident threatens to push up his schedule far beyond what she considers wise.

“Feng Zhuo is right,” Feng Zhi says, drawing a venomous glare from Lady Ling. “I have many issues with Emperor Qing Jin, but he is a member of the Eternal Flame Clan with many noteworthy accomplishments. To give him away would be to betray one of our disciples. What sort of face could we have after that?”

“Emperor Qing Jin has lied from the moment he crossed our gates,” Lady Feng interjects. “Can someone like that truly be called a disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan?”

“Is there a single person without secrets seated at this table?” Lu Mei asks. Lady Feng looks at her with hate in her eyes, but Lu Mei is far too used to being hated for that to stop her from speaking. “The quality of a disciple is what they have accomplished for the Eternal Flame Clan. My Jin has given us an entire Empire.”

“Well spoken, my dear, but you are hopelessly biased,” Lady Ling says.

“Of course, I am biased,” Lu Mei admits. “I can no more side against my husband than you or Lady Feng can side against yours. However, you knew that before inviting me to this table. Why am I here if not to speak? If our opinions did not matter, this would have already been settled between my father and Lord Feng Gui.”

The glare Lady Feng gives her for referring to Lord Feng Shang as her father is accompanied by clear lethal intent. It only stops when she receives a look from Lord Feng Shang.

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Lord Feng Gui laughs.

“That’s right! That’s right, niece! There was no reason to call you or my son here. Even Feng Zhuo’s presence is unnecessary, but we called you anyway! My brother and I wanted to know what the youngest generation thought.”

For the first time, the bottle of wine on the table is opened. Lord Feng Guil pours himself a drink. Then, with a snap of his fingers. The liquid flows out of the bottle and fills every cup.

“Suffice to say, I am pleased,” Lord Feng Gui says. “Do not be mistaken. The decision has been taken. My brother and I are in a rare moment of agreement. Emperor Qing Jin is an unreasonably troublesome child.”

The words are worrying, yet the fond smile on her uncle’s face gives Lu Mei some comfort.

“However, we are the Eternal Flame Clan,” Lord Feng Gui continues, “We are not a meek flame to be snuffed out or fed at the whims of those on the other side. We are a roaring inferno that burns without end. It is time those on the other side realize that.”

Lady Ling looks apprehensive but does not dare publicly contradict her husband.

Lady Feng has no such issues.

“Brother-in-law,” she says. “Your anger at the other side is justified, but I ask that you exercise caution. We cannot recklessly anger them.”

“My wife, it is already too late for such concerns,” Lord Feng Shang says. “From the moment my brother was chosen to succeed my father, this escalation became inevitable. His path cannot allow anything else… and neither can mine.”

Lady Feng is not the only one who looks at Lord Feng Shang in confusion. “Husband?”

“The fires have already been stoked. Putting them out is impossible. We can only decide how they are spread out.” Lord Feng Shang finishes, making his brother laugh.

Dao.

Lord Feng Gui destroys for the sake of creation. At a juncture like this, he cannot possibly step back or act meekly. However, Lord Feng Shang’s Dao is a mystery. Lu Mei, like many, assumed it had something to do with balance, yet it does not seem to be the case.

“It is rare when our paths are in alignment,” Lord Feng Gui says, “which leaves only one matter to be addressed.”

His gaze shifts to Feng Zhi and Lu Mei. Both instinctively lean away from the man.

“Do either of you think you can defeat Emperor Qing Jin?”

~~~

The second day of the tournament arrives, and Gan Nanfeng steps into the ring with her head held high as the announcer calls her name.

“Xiao Shuang of the Divine Frozen Palace vs. Gan Nanfeng of the Eternal Flame Clan!”

To be honest, Gan Nanfeng had been thinking of surrendering before the fight began. Xiao Shuang’s performance yesterday made the difference between them far too clear. She had been hoping to at least make it to the Top 16, but she will have to settle for having made it to the Top 32 instead. That’s already a great accomplishment. She could be happy with that.

But then, Pan Qiu had to stop being a coward for once.

Seeing the man who turned hiding into a way of life stand up to one of the most powerful fighters in the tournament was impressive and annoying in equal parts. Gan Nanfeng can live knowing she cannot match the likes of Senior Brother Jin and Young Master Feng Zhi. She can even accept not being as strong as lunatics like Senior Brother Bei Hong or Brother Huang Shing.

But she refuses to be inferior to Pan Qiu!

Her Qi flares around her with force enough to create a shockwave that crashes into the barrier. Her hair flares up, and her eyes shine with power. The entire audience can feel the full might of a cultivator in the Fourth Level of the Earth Realm coming from her. It is a level most people will fail to reach within their lifetimes. To have done it in less than twenty springs marks her as an outstanding talent any Sect would be lucky to have.

Xiao Shuang enters the ring and all that is snuffed out.

Gan Nanfeng looks into Xiao Shuang’s blue eyes, and her courage freezes and shatters. Her hands reflexively go to her neck. Every breath she takes hurts her throat and wounds her lungs. Her whole body trembles and shudders under Xiao Shuang’s presence. Cold. Too cold. Why is it so cold? Why is it so dark?

Eighth Level of the Earth Realm? No, it’s higher than that.