Chapter Fifty-Six: A Phoenix Cannot Settle in a Henhouse

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The Phoenix had already left. Zhong Daolong walked over to the desk and re-lit the cigar that had just been pinched out by the Phoenix.

He took a deep drag, then looked at Chen Fenglei and asked, “How’s the investigation going?”

“The situation is getting more complicated,” Chen Fenglei stepped forward and reported in a low voice, “According to the news from Old Earth, it’s not just the Phoenix Empire’s expedition teams heading to Shennongjia in search of the tomb—both the Aust Empire and the Carman Federation are sending people to Old Earth as well... Clearly, someone has deliberately made the map public, just to stir these waters until they’re completely muddied... The Old Earth crime pursuit line is now useless.”

“The Wuyou Palace assassin General Bai Qi brought back also died mysteriously in prison, without a trace or sound... That lead has been cut off too. If we want to pick it up again, I’m afraid it will take some time...”

Zhong Daolong’s face darkened as he said, “No matter how cunning the fox, it will still show its tail. Over the years, my greatest achievement has been learning patience.”

Chen Fenglei dared not reply and remained silent.

Zhong Daolong took another puff of his cigar, blowing out a thick cloud of smoke. “You heard what Xiuxue said. What do you think?”

“You mean her suggestion to invite some of her friends from Old Earth to Nova?” Chen Fenglei asked with a smile.

“You old fox... What else could it be?” Zhong Daolong looked at him suspiciously. “What? Is there something about this that concerns you?”

“I’m just a servant. How can I comment on the affairs of the family?” Chen Fenglei dodged the question.

“No, it’s not that simple.” Zhong Daolong waved a hand and looked at Chen Fenglei. “With your cautious nature, you must be worried about being implicated later, otherwise you wouldn’t be hedging on this issue...”

“What is it? Do you believe General Bai Qi’s report? Do you also think... Xiuxue might have some emotional entanglement with that boy called Tang Fei?”

“Frankly, I don’t believe it. Princess Xiuxue has excellent taste. So many outstanding young men in Phoenix City circle around her, but she’s never shown interest in any of them... If a few days in Old Earth made her fond of a local orphan—”

“Sorry, just habit... If she so easily took a liking to a boy from Old Earth, wouldn’t that make all those self-proclaimed geniuses in Phoenix City lose face?”

“If you ask me, Princess Xiuxue fell into danger for the first time in her life, and when she was feeling lost and helpless, that boy just happened to appear...”

“In the time they spent together, trust and reliance formed—it’s only human. When I was a child, I’d go to my grandmother’s house and pick fruit with friends for a few days, and we’d all cry when it was time to part.”

“Once Princess Xiuxue returns to her familiar world, second only to one, above all others, surrounded by flowers and wine, friends wherever she goes, how could she remember a few friends from Old Earth? What could they possibly offer her? How could a phoenix soaring in the sky fall into a chicken coop?”

Zhong Daolong nodded. “That’s how I see it too. So, General Bai Qi... when he dropped that hint, was there a deeper meaning?”

Chen Fenglei smiled. “He’s simply dutiful. He reports whatever he sees to the ruler.”

“I’ll leave this matter to you,” Zhong Daolong finally decided. “They’ll be handed over to you.”

“To me?”

“Yes.” Zhong Daolong looked at him and said, “Although I don’t believe my daughter could fall for a wild man from Old Earth, it never hurts to be cautious... If he’s right under our noses, what trouble could he possibly cause?”

“Understood.” Chen Fenglei nodded with a smile. “But what if—just what if—there’s a spark?”

Zhong Daolong gave him a sidelong glance. “I’ll allow my daughter to be heartbroken for a while, but I won’t allow her to suffer for a lifetime.”

“Understood.” Chen Fenglei’s expression became serious. “I’ll make sure everything is done perfectly.”

“Good.” Zhong Daolong nodded. “I’ve always trusted your work.”

-------

On Old Earth, the night was as dark as ink.

The old man was sleeping soundly when faint notes from a flute drifted into his ears.

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The old man’s expression changed slightly; he immediately got up from bed.

He tiptoed into the courtyard, listened carefully for a while; Tang Fei and Fatty’s breathing was steady—both were sleeping soundly.

With a swift movement, he vaulted over the wall and disappeared into the darkness.

Deep in Hate Mountain, atop a protruding boulder, stood a middle-aged man dressed in a Tang suit.

He held a long flute in his hand, quietly waiting for something.

“Subdued longing, fresh and ethereal. After all these years, your ‘Reminiscence of an Old Friend’ has only grown more refined,” the old man’s figure appeared on the boulder, looking at the man before him.

“This piece was taught to me by you, big brother. I use it to express my longing for you—how could I not play it with all my heart?” the middle-aged man replied.

The old man waved a hand. “Let’s talk business. How did you find me?”

“When I came to escort Princess Xue back to the capital, I was with the Immortal Army,” the man said. “I caught a glimpse of you from the sky, wanted to find a chance to catch up, but you had already vanished.”

The old man looked at him in surprise. “I look like a ghost of myself, and you still recognized me?”

“Because when I saw you, you were on stage singing opera,” the man replied solemnly.

“There was a time when you liked to drink and sing, taking a sip, singing a line... I could never remember the words, but that operatic tone and your drinking manner are still vivid in my memory.”

“So, the moment I saw you, I knew. Others might not recognize you, but I could.”

“And what if you did?” The old man shook his head with a bitter smile. “I’m not who I once was, and neither are you. Go back. Just pretend you never saw me.”

“Big brother—”

“For your sake and mine... go back. Pretend you never saw me.”

“I must take you back with me this time,” the man said resolutely.

“Oh?” the old man sneered. “If I refuse, will you drag me back? Ah, I nearly forgot you serve in the Immortal Army now... How do you like that dog’s life?”

Crack!

The exquisite flute in the man’s hand snapped in two. He shouted angrily, “How can you think of me that way?”

“You know a man’s face, not his heart. So many years have passed—who knows what you’ve become? You once vowed to die for the marshal... but now you’re thriving in the Immortal Army, aren’t you?”

“You—” The man was left speechless.

The two glared at each other, neither willing to yield.

After a long silence, the old man sighed softly. “Zhiyong, go back. I know myself, and you know me. There’s no need to let harsh words damage our brotherhood. Let’s leave some good memories... This is all I have left.”

“Even if you don’t think of yourself, think of those two children,” Lu Zhiyong said, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt a chill seize his body, his skin tightening, every hair standing on end.

The air around him seemed to freeze. Icy intent, sharp as daggers, stabbed at his vital points.

He knew he’d been locked onto by a deadly aura.

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Murder flickered in the old man’s eyes as he asked in a low voice, “What do you mean?”

A faint green light glimmered on his hands. If Lu Zhiyong’s answer failed to satisfy him, he would strike without hesitation.

He could not take the risk.

This was something that absolutely, absolutely could not be risked.

If this colossal secret were exposed, his own death would mean nothing—Tang Fei and Fatty would not survive either...

With a thud, Lu Zhiyong fell to his knees and said, “Big brother, from what I know, Princess Xiuxue has already asked Zhong Daolong to let her repay her saviors and bring the three of you to Nova... If the welcoming party truly comes, what will you do? Will you go or not?”

“Oh?” The old man was surprised. “That girl is so kind-hearted?”

“Yes, absolutely.” Lu Zhiyong felt the crushing aura vanish instantly.

“If that’s the case...” The old man pondered the situation carefully. “Then it really isn’t appropriate for me to return with them...”

“Exactly. They’ll definitely investigate your backgrounds thoroughly... As for those two, it’s easy enough, since no one on Nova knows them. ‘Old Earth orphans’ is explanation enough. But what about you? If certain people find out you’re with them... what then?”

“I understand.” The old man nodded. “If your information is true, I’ll leave before the Phoenix Empire’s people arrive... I’m already a dead man; there’s no need to show myself anymore.”

“That’s why, as soon as I got the news, I came straight here to bring you back,” Lu Zhiyong said.

The old man looked at him and asked, “Does the family head know I’m here?”

“Not yet,” Lu Zhiyong shook his head. “Ever since you disappeared, the family head has often lamented, saying you were the most brilliantly gifted member of the Lu clan... If you returned, he’d be overjoyed.”

“He wouldn’t trade my head for a few jars of wine, would he?” the old man mocked.

“Big brother...” Lu Zhiyong was exasperated. “How did you become so suspicious? If we meant you harm, it wouldn’t be just me coming—it’d be a whole group...”

“If you lived here for a few years, you might not even trust yourself...” the old man replied. “It’s come to this; there’s no better choice. I’ll go back with you... but first, I have some things to take care of.”

“Fine, I’m here to take you back,” Lu Zhiyong said. “Once you’re done, we’ll return together.”

He paused, then asked, “Big brother, those two children... what’s their story?”

The old man squinted at him with a smile. “What do you mean?”

“I know your nature, and I know how hopeless you felt back then. If there wasn’t a special reason, how would you end up here, taking in two children?”

“What else could I do?” the old man retorted. “I just wanted to live out my days quietly where no one knew me, but I stumbled upon those two little rascals... Was I supposed to feed them to the rats? So I raised them, and before I knew it, they’d grown this big... and even ended up saving your Phoenix princess... Tell me, isn’t that ridiculous?”

“It’s fate,” Lu Zhiyong replied. “Big brother, come back. We’re all waiting for you.”

“We?”

“Yes, we are.” Lu Zhiyong met the old man’s gaze, fire burning in his pupils, his voice firm. “We’re waiting for you to take charge once again.”