Chapter 342: Their Name Is

~~~

“Hear me, for I bring the words of the Crimson Cloud, and those words promise pain and desolation!”

Liu Jin sighs as Emperor Xiang enters his throne room with Granny Zhao and Prince Xiang Rong. Unlike every other time Liu Jin has seen him, Emperor Xiang looks neither tired nor annoyed. One might even dare to say there is a slight spring to his step. He looks relaxed, upbeat…Happy.

Liu Jin has a headache.

“Look closely, my son,” Emperor Xiang says, waving his arm in Liu Jin’s direction. “That is a ruler in his natural state. Tired, annoyed, and desperately wishing for the day to be over. He is young, so he still holds on to the naive hope that his time will one day be his own once more. Make note of it. One day, that will be you.”

“…I sincerely wish you a long and healthy life, father,” Xiang Rong replies. His father laughs, and it occurs to Liu Jin that it might be the first time he has heard the emperor laugh.

Why is it at his expense?

…Right.

“You are angry with me,” Liu Jin says.

“I already spent the entire tournament being angry, annoyed, and worried,” Emperor Xiang says. “Now that we have reached the end of this perilous path, I can take some comfort in knowing we have avoided the worst outcome.”

“What he means to say is that, considering this is all your fault, it is only a fitting punishment that you deal with the aftermath,” Granny Zhao says.

Liu Jin buries his face in his hands.

“I already talked to Lord Feng Gui and Lady Dai Jie. The former is entirely too dangerous. The latter was agreeable, but I could sense she was not entirely pleased about Xiao Shuang choosing to stay here. Most of the Endlessly Raging Valley’s leadership apparently fled the city after failing to kill me. I am sure they will try again later. Then there’s Elder Chen. He seems to have no intention of coming here. He just sent a message saying the offer of the Old Man of the Mountain is still open to me. I am not sure what to make of it.”

“The Old Man of the Mountain is undoubtedly the most reasonable and level-headed person on either side of the Dead Plains,” Emperor Xiang tells him.

Liu Jin leans back against his throne. “I sense a but.”

“He is extremely powerful,” Emperor Xiang says as if that explains it all. Funnily enough, it does.

A man who has amassed so much power cannot be taken lightly. To march into his domain at his request and expect everything to be fine when over half a continent wishes him either dead or captured would be far too trusting.

As it is now, leaving the Storm Dragon Palace at all is a risk too high.

“Does the Crimson Cloud truly wish me pain and desolation?” Liu Jin asks.

Granny Zhao cackles.

“It was far more loquacious in its description. As I am a lady, I will not repeat it,” she says. “You have succeeded in making that old windbag inordinately angry. Congratulations.”

“I am not the one keeping Feng Hao here,” Liu Jin says, feeling the need to defend himself. “That is Lord Feng Gui’s choice.”

“One he would have never been able to make if not for your interference,” Emperor Xiang points out. “Thus, the blame ultimately falls on you.”

Liu Jin sighs once more. It is not surprising. It is not even unexpected.

But it is one more thing to add to the pile.

“Ah, that look. I know it well,” Emperor Xiang says. “One day, you’ll know it too, son.”

“Father, I wish you nothing but a long and prosperous rule.”

Liu Jin’s eyebrow twitches. A spark of purple crackles above it.

“Why are you here?”

“I came here to laugh at you,” Emperor Xiang replies shamelessly.

“I found you more agreeable when you were tired and annoyed,” Liu Jin says.

“And I found my city more agreeable when your castle was not floating above it,” Emperor Xiang replies, crossing his arms. “How long is that thing going to remain here?”

And that, Liu Jin supposes, is the real reason why Emperor Xiang is here. The longer the Storm Dragon Palace stays here, the more likely it is to draw those from the other side of the Dead Plains to this city.

Which is partially why Liu Jin has it here.

After everything that happened, it would be natural for those on the other side of the Dead Plains to target the Storm Dragon Empire. Not because they expect him to care about his citizens, but because an insult like that would weaken his position and force him into action unless he wants to be seen as weak. That is how most high-level cultivators would think of the issue.

However, if from the beginning he decides to give off the impression that he does not care about his citizens and is perfectly willing to cowardly hide in Imperial Cloud City, it would somewhat discourage those tactics. His unfortunate reputation will, for once, be helpful to him. Firm Shadow and Alarming Shadow will obviously know better, but they represent only one of the three powers.

That is not to say he can stay here indefinitely. Even if having the Storm Dragon Palace and the Crimson Cloud makes Imperial Cloud City one of the safest places in the entire continent, actively drawing attacks to the city would only add needless tension to his relationship with Emperor Xiang.

“It will not be long,” Liu Jin says. “There are still things I need to do here, but I will not abuse your hospitality.”

“You already are,” Emperor Xiang points out.

Liu Jin glares at him.

“If not for me, you’d have lost the Crimson Cloud,” Liu Jin points out. “You’d be an Emperor in name only.”

A moment of silence falls as the two rulers engage in a staring contest, neither one daring to blink. Xiang Rong looks nervous, but Emperor Xiang grins after three full minutes have passed.

“Good,” He says, “That’s the proper attitude you should have.”

“A test?” Liu Jin asks, raising an eyebrow. “Now?”

“Especially now,” Emperor Xiang replies. “People will make demands of you, and they will be ruthless and petty about it. They will argue with you and scorn you if they do not get their way. Then, they will come the next day as if nothing had happened to make the same demands once more. They will be without shame. No method is too low. If they must, they will tire you out until they get their way. You must stand resolute, or you will be made into a withered husk by your supposed allies before your enemies ever have a chance to wrap their hands around your neck.”

Liu Jin stares at Emperor Xiang. He is not the only one. Granny Zhao looks distinctly proud of him, but Liu Jin has a feeling she’ll immediately change her expression if the man were to turn around.

What a hard life he must have led.

“I will treasure your wisdom until the day I die,” Liu Jin says.

“Use it to make sure that day is very far away, and I will consider the trouble you have caused repaid,” Emperor Xiang replies.

~~~

Shortly after meeting Emperor Xiang, Liu Jin finally steps outside the throne room.

It feels good to do so. Be it a few hours or most of the day, something about sitting on a throne feels uniquely uncomfortable. The empty halls of his palace are a welcome change. If he closes his eyes, Liu Jin can almost fool himself into believing his life is a peaceful one.

If only.

Feng Zhi is waiting for him at his destination. For obvious reasons, he looks more annoyed than usual. Still, Liu Jin has a feeling that Shi Qinxia’s presence just a few feet away is not entirely uninvolved with the vein throbbing on his forehead.

“I have made trouble for you,” Liu Jin says.

“Give me one good reason why I should move from this spot,” Feng Zhi says, glaring at him while firmly planting himself on the ground.

Behind him is the door to Feng Hao’s room.

In truth, there’s not a single thing Feng Zhi can do to stop him. Putting aside the difference in cultivation between them and the fact that they are in the Storm Dragon Palace, Feng Zhi is very much outnumbered. Liu Jin could force his will on him and be done with it. The day has already been long enough as it is.

But Feng Zhi deserves better than that.

“If not for me, your brother would already be in the grasp of the Crimson Cloud,” Liu Jin says. “It is up to you to decide how much or how little that is worth.”

Feng Zhi breathes deeply. Steam flares from his nostrils in a way that makes Liu Jin think of a kettle full of boiling water. Wordlessly and with movements so stiff he could pass for a disciple of the Infinite Mountain Sect, Feng Zhi moves out of the way.

Liu Jin goes into the room.

Feng Hao is there.

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The young boy looks nervous, and it strikes Liu Jin that it is the first time the two have been alone in… How long has it been? Clearly, too long. The Feng Hao in front of him is much taller than the child in his memories.

“Young Master Feng Hao,” Liu Jin says.

“Emperor Qing Jin,” Feng Hao replies.

…

Liu Jin struggles to keep his face neutral, yet he cannot deny that the formal mode of address hurts more than any attack he has received in the entirety of the tournament. It is no less than he deserves, obviously, but still.

“See?” Feng Hao says, pointing a finger at him. “It hurts when people only address you by your title, but you always do it!”

“Feng Hao,” Liu Jin says, not able to bring himself to call him Little Brother after all he has done. “I kidnapped you.”

“It is not the first time,” Feng Hao points out. “You sort of did it during the Dead Plains.”

“I am a terrible senior,” Liu Jin says, bowing his head. “At this point, it is the height of shamelessness to ask your forgiveness, yet I must do so. Know that-”

“I’m not angry about that!” Feng Hao says, raising his voice.

Liu Jin blinks.

“You’re not?”

“I am not a child anymore,” Feng Hao says, glaring at him. “I understand people occasionally do things like this. My parents do way worse to other people.”

Those two really are terrible role models.

“You never hurt me, and you were never going to,” Feng Hao continues. “Even though you say you kidnapped me, the truth is you would have never held me against my will. It was all an act, right?”