Chapter 95: A Quiet Trip

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Their transport flies at least a mile above the ground. Its flaming wheels leave streaks of flame in their wake, soaring through the skies like a comet.

“Incredible!” Huang Shing says. He has his face pressed up against the window, his expression alight with childish wonder. “Absolutely incredible! The Eternal Flame Clan is the best!”

Out of the four, he’s by far the less composed, but that doesn’t mean his feelings aren’t shared by the others. Even Lu Mei and Bei Hong, who come from esteemed Sects, cannot help but be awed by the Eternal Flame Clan’s flying vehicle.

Bei Hong tries to appear unmoved. He sits with his arms crossed and a stern expression on his face, but his eyes betray him. They keep darting to the right, trying to look over Huang Shing’s shoulder. His body follows suit, slowly inching closer to the window. Lu Mei doesn’t have this problem. By choosing a window seat from the start. She’s free to look as much as she wants.

Liu Jin is no different.

The multi-colored trees of the Summer Forest have faded away. Now grassy hills and plains stretch for miles below them. It is nothing Liu Jin hasn’t seen before, yet the altitude makes all the difference. From this high up, even entire towns look so small Liu Jin feels he could scoop one in his hands if he were to just reach out and grab it.

“To think people in the Heaven Realm get to experience this all the time! So lucky!”

“Ha! Don’t mistake things!” Bei Hong tells Huang Shing, using the opportunity to move even closer to the window. “Certainly, those who enter the Heaven Realm are no longer bound by gravity, but you cannot compare their flight to this. As amazing as flying like this is, people in the Heaven Realm are far more amazing!”

“Really?”

“Of course! Think about it, right now, we’re inside this wagon.” Bei Hong taps the window for emphasis. “The sights we can see through the window are impressive, but that’s just it. We can only look through the glass and no more. However, when you’re in the Heaven Realm, you have no need for things like this!”

Bei Hong makes a fast, sweeping movement with his arm, which causes Huang Shing to jump back a little.

“If you’re in the Heaven Realm, you can experience the rush of air on your skin! You can go as high as you want, as fast as you can! You can even let yourself fall! Even Sister Mei’s flying carpet can’t compare to that. The feeling as your body speeds up and the earth grows closer is the best!”

“Oooh! I never thought of it that way! It’s almost like Brother Hong is speaking from experience!”

“I am!” Bei Hong puffs his chest with pride. “When I was in the Golden Fist Sect, I convinced an Elder to carry me on his back. That way, I got to experience how flying felt like!”

“I am so jealous of Brother Hong right now!”

“He’s telling the truth, you know?” Lu Mei tells Liu Jin. There is a fond smile on her face. “It was quite a sight.”

“I did not expect an Elder would concern himself with such things.”

Lu Mei’s smile takes on an impish quality. “Well, when said Elder happens to be your grandfather, it is only natural. Of course, Bei Hong was hardly the only one to enjoy that privilege. Elder Bei loves spoiling his many grandchildren.”

“Hey!” Bei Hong calls out. “Do not say spoiled. It was a special privilege I earned through many great deeds.”

“Oh, of course. Clearly, I misunderstood,” Lu Mei says with mock seriousness. “As a young child, holding your arms up to your grandfather must have been quite hard. What I took for childish glee was actually a monumental effort on your part. How ignorant of me.”

Liu Jin smiles. Huang Shing covers his mouth with his hands to try to hide a snort.

Bei Hong starts turning red.

“If we are talking about being spoiled, then why not start with the time you—”

“Excuse me.”

Whatever anecdote Bei Hong is about to share never gets the chance to leave his lips. A servant enters their wagon and kneels before them. He is of average height and androgynous looking. Liu Jin is quick to identify him as the one who held the door open for Feng Zhi.

“Master Feng Zhi wishes to speak to you,” the servant says, keeping his head bowed. “He bids you present yourselves before him.”

The announcement causes the four of them to trade concerned looks. Feng Zhi had never once tried to approach them while they were in the Eternal Flame Clan. Even though he had been placed in charge of them for this trip, he never once seemed to acknowledge their existence.

Did he wait until now because he no longer has to worry about what the Elders may say or do?

It is a worrying thought. Huang Shing, in particular, looks rather stressed. Knowing his history with Feng Zhi, it is easy to understand why. Feng Zhi may not have recognized him yet, but that can change if they keep interacting face to face. They can only hope that enough time has passed since their last meeting to render Huang Shing unrecognizable to Feng Zhi.

After all, it is not as if they can decline his invitation.

“Of course,” Liu Jin says, standing up. “We would not dream of inconveniencing the Young Master.”

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The flying vehicle is made of five interconnected wagons. The first wagon contains the control mechanisms. The fifth wagon is for the servants. The fourth is for luggage, and the third is for Liu Jin and the others.

The second is for Feng Zhi’s personal use.

Just entering it is enough to appreciate the difference in status between them. The wagons may all look the same from the outside, but the same can clearly not be said for their inside. Feng Zhi’s wagon has much more space.

Literally.

Feng Zhi’s wagon is far bigger on the inside. Compared to their wagon, this one has at least twice as much space yet is arranged in a way that makes it clear it is meant to be used by fewer people. The seats are larger, but they are also less. There is a table with a couple of empty plates, evidence Feng Zhi has eaten a meal before calling them. Next to him, there is a tea kettle and a cup of steaming tea.

There are no teacups for them.