Chapter Sixty-One: Sharpening the Axe Does Not Delay the Cutting of Firewood

"Your Highness, Princess." The chubby boy took the initiative to greet Phoenix, wearing an honest, naive smile.

He recalled Chen Fenglei's warning, so he addressed her by her royal title.

"Call me Sister Phoenix," Phoenix glared at him and spoke.

"Sister Phoenix," he quickly corrected himself.

"That's better." Phoenix circled around him, clicking her tongue in approval. "You look very dashing today, and you seem lively—much more natural than your brother..."

He grinned, a little embarrassed. "My brother looks better than I do. When we changed into these clothes, everyone praised him for being handsome."

"Really? Who has such poor taste?" Phoenix teased.

"The people who helped us get dressed," he replied.

He had never worn such clothes before. They looked nice, but were uncomfortably tight. He felt like a tightly wrapped rice dumpling, bound by bamboo leaves and silk threads, unable to breathe freely. Even now, he held in his stomach, worried that if he relaxed, the buttons would go flying...

He still preferred his old clothes—loose, comfortable, easy to move in.

Sheng Xinhuai looked at Phoenix and asked, "You've been standing here for ages—are you planning to chat in the courtyard all day?"

Phoenix shot her a glance, then introduced Tang Fei and the chubby boy. "This is my good friend, Sheng Xinhuai," she said, then gestured to the others. "You already know them—my friends from the Old Lands, Tang Fei and Little Fatty..."

"I know," Sheng Xinhuai said, reaching out to Tang Fei. "I've heard Xuexue mention you often."

"Thank you." Tang Fei glanced at Phoenix. "What did she say about me?"

"She said you're an interesting person and that you saved her life," Sheng Xinhuai replied.

"That's not wrong," Tang Fei nodded.

Sheng Xinhuai giggled, then turned to Phoenix, winking. "He is interesting—no wonder you were so eager to bring him to Newstar."

"Sheng Xinhuai..." Phoenix shot her a warning look, telling her not to talk nonsense.

She turned to Tang Fei and the chubby boy. "Come inside and sit down. Don't be shy—pretend you're at home."

"Alright," the chubby boy answered, though he still felt a little uneasy. This place was so wonderful, it didn't seem real...

He became extra cautious, afraid that a careless move might shatter this dream.

Tang Fei, meanwhile, glanced around in admiration. He hadn't expected to find such a classically elegant courtyard on Newstar. Pavilions, rock gardens, ponds—like a miniature Suzhou garden.

Wasn't this a hundred, a thousand times more comfortable than tall, modern buildings?

Of course, the price would be beyond compare.

Phoenix stayed by Tang Fei's side, mischievously asking, "Mr. Tang Fei, do you like it here?"

"I do," Tang Fei nodded, then looked at Phoenix. "Are we going to live here from now on?"

Before Phoenix could answer, Sheng Xinhuai burst out laughing, winking at Tang Fei. "It's not impossible... but you’ll have to work hard."

"Sheng Xinhuai..." Phoenix lunged at her, aiming a playful pinch at her waist.

She really had dressed provocatively and flamboyantly today—no wonder she was asking for trouble...

Phoenix turned to Tang Fei and the chubby boy. "You can't live here. This is for your protection. But I've bought a small courtyard for you nearby—you'll stay there."

"What? We have our own courtyard too?" the chubby boy asked, his face alight with excitement.

They had just arrived on Newstar, and already they had a home—a courtyard, no less!

This was a dream that countless people on Newstar could never achieve, even after decades of struggle.

For the chubby boy, having a house meant having a place to belong, a sense of security.

Now, he could see himself as a true citizen of Newstar.

Without a house, he would always feel like he was drifting, never settled... as if at any moment, he might be cast out.

"Yes," Phoenix said, delighted by his joy. She liked the chubby boy very much—she doubted she would ever find someone so pure-hearted again. Back on the Old Lands, his kindness toward her was genuine, without a trace of calculation. "Though it's not as large as this courtyard."

"Is it as big as the Hate Mountain Courtyard?" he asked.

"About the same," Phoenix replied. "The environment is even better, and of course, it's much safer."

"That's wonderful! I really want to see our courtyard right now," the chubby boy said eagerly.

"But you haven’t eaten yet," Phoenix reminded him. "After dinner, I'll have someone take you there. Today’s dishes are all your favorites."

"Is there meat?"

"All meat."

He said no more about the courtyard. That could wait, but missing this meal would mean waiting until the next one.

Phoenix invited everyone to sit in the living room, and the servants promptly brought tea.

She glanced at the chubby boy. "Bring him a chilled cola," she instructed.

She knew he would love such a drink—otherwise, his physique would make no sense...

"Yes, Miss," the servant answered, soon bringing him an ice-cold cola.

The chubby boy took one sip and fell in love with the taste—cold, sweet, refreshing, absolutely delicious.

He handed the half-finished glass to Tang Fei. "Brother, try this. It's amazing!"

"This is something from before the Great Cataclysm..." Tang Fei remarked, but still took a sip before handing the drink back. "You have it. I’ll stick with tea."

"Bring two more glasses," Phoenix ordered.

The servant returned with two more colas.

Tang Fei, seeing the chubby boy now had an extra glass, finally picked up his own and drank. Cold and invigorating!

What young person doesn't love cola?

"The steward has already spoken with you, hasn't he?" Phoenix asked Tang Fei, knowing the chubby boy would follow his brother's lead on any decision. "About your future plans?"

"He did. He said we should go to school," Tang Fei replied.

"I actually considered recommending you to the Royal Guard," Phoenix said, "but I think joining them now would be bad for your future."

Tang Fei’s education was too limited—almost nonexistent. In the Royal Guard, his career would hit a dead end. Even if he transferred to another department, future promotions would be nearly impossible.

Phoenix truly cared for Tang Fei and the chubby boy—not just for their present, but for their future as well.

She wanted them to undergo systematic training and education first, so that when they entered the workforce, they’d be well-prepared and could be promoted smoothly.

At the very least, no one would say: "He’s just a pretty boy who got ahead because of a woman."

"Besides, there's a big cultural gap between the Old Lands and Newstar. If you jumped straight into society, you might struggle to adapt. So, I want to help you find a school. Learn a professional skill, get your diploma... that way, after graduation, whether you want to find a job or start your own business, you'll have more options."

Tang Fei nodded in agreement. "I think we should study first too. There’s a lot we don’t know or can’t do. Even the best hunter knows you have to sharpen your tools before you chop wood."

"I’ll do whatever my brother says," the chubby boy chimed in.

"But school might be tricky," Phoenix continued. "You’re joining halfway and never had formal education. Schools worry you won’t keep up. Of course, there are schools, but we want to aim for the best."

Phoenix was trying to pull strings at the Empire’s First Military Academy—her own alma mater.

Unfortunately, even after several conversations, the old headmaster refused to bend, not even for the princess herself...

No matter, she’d just have to go block his door next time.

"I trust you," Tang Fei said to Phoenix, understanding her predicament.

Without her royal status, trying to force two uneducated refugees from the Old Lands into the academy would be nearly impossible.

"There might still be a chance," Phoenix said, meeting Tang Fei’s eyes. "I told them you’re a mechanical genius. Back on the Old Lands, you could build wooden birds that fly..."

"They didn’t fly," Tang Fei corrected her.

He wanted them to, but they never did.

"I saw one fly with my own eyes," Phoenix replied playfully. "If it doesn’t fly now, it just means you need more practice. Scientific experiments allow for failure."

She then pointed to the chubby boy. "Little Fatty has natural strength. I want to enroll him in the Ancient Martial Arts program. If, with the teachers’ help, he can sense the energy of yin and yang, he could become a cultivator."

Cultivators have even broader career prospects, not to mention improved health and longevity.

On the marriage market, cultivators are also more popular...

Little Fatty was so plump—if he struggled to find a girlfriend, showing off his cultivator status might earn him extra points.

Alas, the Princess of the Phoenix Empire even had to worry about her friends’ marriages...

Tang Fei was deeply moved—Phoenix had arranged a path for each of them based on their strengths.

He loved machinery, so she wanted him to study the mechanical arts.

Little Fatty had strength and nothing else—so she aimed him at martial arts.

She fulfilled their interests and addressed their weaknesses—it was truly thoughtful.

"Can I study Ancient Martial Arts too?" Tang Fei asked.

Phoenix looked at him. "Don’t you want to be a machinist? On Newstar, machinists are in high demand. Both the military and major corporations are desperate for talent."

"But I’m worried about Little Fatty being bullied if he’s alone," Tang Fei said.

Little Fatty was honest and naive, straight from the Old Lands—a perfect target for bullying.

Tang Fei wanted to study with him, so if anyone dared pick on him, he could stand up for his friend. If necessary, he’d start by bullying a few himself, just to show the others that refugees from the Old Lands weren’t so easily messed with.

Besides, Tang Fei himself had the heart of a cultivator and longed to break through to a higher level. Last time, he’d suffered at the hands of a master and it left him with a sense of crisis. Only by growing stronger could he avoid being bullied—or even become the one who bullies less.

If he could become the strongest under heaven, no one could ever hurt him again.

"It’s alright," Phoenix said, inwardly moved by the depth of their brotherly bond. "If you want, you can take martial arts as an elective. The curriculum is flexible—as long as you master your core subjects and complete your practicals, you can use your free time for electives."

"Ancient Martial Arts is a popular course. Lots of students from other majors take it, not just those specializing in it. Either way, it’s always good to strengthen your body."

"Understood." Tang Fei nodded. "I’ll major in machinery, and take martial arts as an elective."

If Little Fatty got bullied, he could always get revenge later.

"What did you major in?" Tang Fei asked Phoenix. He’d never thought to ask, and never had the opportunity.

What was the point of a refugee from the Old Lands asking about someone else’s studies? Even if they answered, what would he say next?

"Political Economy," Phoenix replied.

"Oh," Tang Fei nodded, as if that explained everything.

"Miss Xuexue, the meal is ready," the maid Xiao Huan announced.

"Come, let’s eat," Phoenix said.

Just then, another servant hurried up to report, "Miss Xuexue, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince have arrived..."

"What are they doing here?" Phoenix said, her tone tinged with annoyance.