Chapter 117: Unnatural Phenomenon

Master Gong pointed to the hole in his trousers, hunching his back and circling the room to show everyone his predicament.

Feng Wuliang gave Master Gong’s backside a firm slap, which seemed to alleviate some of his own pent-up frustration. Master Gong didn’t mind; he simply stood up, returned to his seat, and let out a long sigh after finishing a cup of tea.

"There was a letter attached to the Black Feather Arrow. I opened it, but I managed to lose it. And let me tell you, that Barbarian King’s handwriting is truly hideous." Master Gong gestured in the air, trying to describe just how ugly the writing was.

"Do you even know what the Barbarian King looks like?" Jun Moyan asked, looking at Master Gong. Legend had it that the Barbarian King was incredibly mysterious; no one had ever seen his true face, or perhaps those who had were no longer among the living.

Master Gong shook his head. If he had actually met the Barbarian King, it wouldn’t have been as simple as getting shot in the backside—the King might have just torn him apart in a bad mood.

"Are you saying that Han Liang and the members of the Dragon Guard are now in the hands of the Barbarian King?" Jiang Pingchuan frowned slightly. He had only been away from Dongzhou City for a few days, yet it had suffered such a catastrophe. Only Han Liang and Master Gong had survived; everyone else was gone. This was war—a brutal, merciless war.

"Is Han Liang in danger?" Feng Wuliang asked anxiously. As fellow city lords, he and the new Lord of Dongzhou, Han Liang, were colleagues. Furthermore, Han Liang held the first line of defense for the royal capital. Even though Dongzhou City had fallen, Han Liang’s fate still held significant weight.

"I suspect there is no immediate danger. I fear the Barbarian King has other uses for him," Jun Moyan said, casting a meaningful, amused glance at Jiang Pingchuan.

"Han Liang will not be in danger, at least not as long as the Barbarian King believes I am not a threat to him," Jiang Pingchuan said calmly. He understood what Jun Moyan was implying: the Barbarian King had captured Han Liang and the others likely to use them as leverage against him. In Jiang Pingchuan’s heart, if the King truly resorted to such tactics, he would be no different from anyone else.

To him, those who relied on power and influence to threaten others using innocent lives were boring and unworthy of his concern. If the Barbarian King did not use Han Liang as leverage, Jiang Pingchuan would actually feel the need to be more cautious.

"You can rest easy, Pingchuan. I don’t think the Barbarian King is particularly shrewd. Just be careful in the future; I doubt there are many on the Changfeng Continent who can stand against you," Jun Moyan said with a smile. His tone sounded perfectly sincere, though it felt slightly off to Jiang Pingchuan. Nevertheless, he offered a polite bow in return.

"Let’s put these matters aside for now. I doubt the news has spread that quickly. Tonight is the wedding of Lord Feng and Lady Fu; all other business can wait," Jiang Pingchuan said with a gentle smile toward Fu Meiren and Feng Wuliang. Both blushed—Fu Meiren out of genuine shyness, and Feng Wuliang out of embarrassment and guilt.

He hadn’t listened closely to Master Gong earlier, mistakenly assuming Jiang Pingchuan was tempted by the Barbarian King’s offers. He hadn’t heard that it was impossible for Jiang Pingchuan to defect. Anyone who knew Jiang understood his choices.

"About that... Young Master Jiang, please forgive my earlier offense," Feng Wuliang said, standing up with a flushed face and bowing apologetically. Master Gong, meanwhile, sat with his legs crossed, glaring maliciously at Feng Wuliang before glancing at Fu Meiren, all while incessantly picking his nose with a dirty finger.

"Lord Feng, think nothing of it. You didn’t hurt me, and besides, your intentions were correct."

Jiang Pingchuan stood and helped Feng Wuliang up. He was right; Feng Wuliang’s reaction only showed how much he cared about Jiang’s decisions and how fiercely he defended the Lan Imperial Dynasty.

"You make a fool of me, Young Master Jiang," Feng Wuliang said with an awkward laugh. He had wanted Jiang to be the witness for his wedding, only to end up impulsively throwing a punch of true energy at him. If he had actually hurt Jiang, he would have felt like an absolute idiot. Knowing he had misunderstood the situation, he wished he could crawl into a hole.

"Use your brain next time, you blockhead," Master Gong muttered, picking his nose. After he finished, he flicked his finger toward an indignant Feng Wuliang. Feng Wuliang looked at him with disgust. Just as Jiang Pingchuan was about to speak, he felt a slight tremor in his robes. Looking down, he was amazed to see the eyelids of the little fox, which had been in a deep slumber, fluttering.

Jiang Pingchuan’s expression changed, and he hurried out of the hall. Master Gong’s prayer beads flickered as well. Everyone was stunned by Jiang’s sudden departure, but Master Gong merely furrowed his brow while clutching his beads.

"What has happened to Young Master Jiang?" Feng Wuliang asked, staring at the empty doorway. Feng Xiaoge watched the direction Jiang had vanished with concern, while Fu Meiren took her hand and stroked her hair.

"This shouldn't be... this shouldn't be. An omen. This is an omen. A great event must be coming, it must..." Master Gong muttered, clutching his glowing green prayer beads. Before he could finish, someone tapped his shoulder. He spun around, ready to snap, but stopped when he saw a beautiful young woman standing there, her eyes brimming with tears. Master Gong tucked away his beads, rolled up his tattered sleeves, and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Don't be afraid, miss. Tell me what’s wrong. Did this bastard try to offend you? Don't worry, I'm here," Master Gong said solemnly, pointing at Feng Wuliang. He then gestured for Fu Meiren to come over. "Beauty, come here and see what this scoundrel has done! He wants to marry you tonight? I think he should just drop dead!"

The young woman looked at the righteous Master Gong with a faint, teary smile.

"What is wrong with all of you?" Master Gong asked, looking at the room full of people staring at him with sour expressions, as if he had committed a grave sin.

He turned back to the weeping girl, wiped her eyes again, and signaled her to stop crying. He then pulled Feng Wuliang into the corridor. Feng Wuliang shook him off, sneering at the bewildered old man.

"What are you laughing at? Look at you, how old are you, still preying on young girls? Can’t you just live an honest, peaceful life? You don’t know how many days you have left, yet here you are, chasing after romance and making a mess of things," Master Gong lectured in the tone of an elder. Feng Wuliang waved him off.

"Don't you think she looks familiar? Like someone you know?" Feng Wuliang asked softly. Master Gong looked at the woman in the hall, and his expression suddenly shifted from confusion to intense rage. He turned back to glare at Feng Wuliang.

"Well? Do you see it now?" Feng Wuliang asked with a grin. He thought it was better if Master Gong recognized her himself, saving him the trouble of explaining. He moved to enter the hall, but Master Gong grabbed him back, looking so furious that now it was Feng Wuliang who was left bewildered.

"Feng Wuliang, are we still brothers?" Master Gong asked, his voice low and stern. Feng Wuliang nodded. They, along with Su Tianji and Su Qianyun, had grown up together as inseparable friends and brothers.

"Then why did you find a girl who looks like Liren to be your mistress? Liren is your sister-in-law, your brother’s wife! What do you mean by taking a woman who looks like her as your mistress?" Master Gong grabbed Feng Wuliang by the collar, teeth gritted, veins bulging in his neck. Feng Wuliang rolled his eyes, sighed, and pushed his hands away.

"I am the daughter of Fu Liren. My name is Gong Luoying."

"Impossible."

The woman had appeared behind Master Gong. Before she could finish, Master Gong had spun around, his face flushed with rage, and roared at her. The woman paused, then let out a light laugh.

"She is the daughter of you and my sister, Gong Luoying," Fu Meiren said, stepping out to look at the clearly shaken Master Gong. He shook his head, muttering that it was impossible; he couldn't believe he had a daughter with Fu Liren.

"How is it impossible? You were gone for decades—did you ever care about my sister? You disappeared on your wedding night. Do you have any idea that she was already carrying your child? That child is Luoying!" Fu Meiren said urgently, unable to believe he would deny it.

"Where is Liren? Call her out. I want to ask her myself," Master Gong said, his voice trembling as he struggled to process the news.

"Mother is dead. She died giving birth to me," Gong Luoying said, her face cold and void of emotion, as if she were speaking of a stranger. Master Gong froze.

"Liren is dead? She’s really dead?" He grabbed Gong Luoying’s shoulders, asking over and over. She nodded, but Master Gong seemed not to see her, repeating the words to himself.

"Mother is dead! She’s dead, gone! Do you hear me? Fu Liren is dead!" Gong Luoying wrenched herself free and shouted at him, then turned and walked away. Master Gong stood rooted to the spot, trembling, unable to utter a sound.

Feng Wuliang patted his shoulder, but Master Gong remained unresponsive. He slumped to the floor, oblivious to the fact that the prayer beads on his wrist were flashing with an urgent, frantic light.