Phoenix looked at her father with an astonished expression. Zhong Daolong’s face was radiant with a smile, making it impossible for her to discern whether his remark was a joke or a veiled jab of skepticism.
But one should never take lightly the words of a sovereign.
Phoenix knew that every word her father spoke had its profound implications.
"Dad, why would you ask that?" Phoenix complained coquettishly, speaking out, "Tang Fei is my savior, and I went to visit him because he’s injured... Why the rush to marry me off?"
"A man should marry when he comes of age, just as a woman should." Zhong Daolong’s smile remained undiminished, as he looked at Phoenix with affection and said, "I’ve been thinking, since you and Tang Fei get along well, if you truly like him... We could consider finding a way."
"I won’t marry." Phoenix pressed her little face against her father’s arm and said earnestly, "I’m going to stay by Dad’s side for my whole life, not marry anyone."
"As far as I know, every girl who has said those words has ended up getting married without exception."
"Dad..." Phoenix stomped her foot in frustration.
"Alright, alright, I’m just teasing you." Zhong Daolong patted Phoenix’s hand and said, "Before you came back, I had someone decant a bottle of red wine. If you’re feeling alright, would you like to have a glass with your dad?"
"Sure." Phoenix nodded and said, "The wine Dad keeps is always good; I can’t miss out on that."
"Now’s just the right time to drink." Chen Fenglei went himself to bring over the decanted red wine, poured a glass for each of them, and said, "Enjoy your drink, I’ll tell the kitchen to prepare some dried fruit and slice some ham."
After speaking, he turned and walked outside.
Zhong Daolong raised his glass and said, "Here’s to my daughter finding the perfect gentleman soon."
Phoenix didn’t pick up on that topic but raised her glass instead and said, "To Dad’s good health, and wishing you happiness every day."
"Hahaha, that’s a wonderful blessing. If I’m happy every day, I might live several more years."
Zhong Daolong drained his glass in one gulp, and Phoenix followed suit, drinking her wine.
Holding the decanter, Zhong Daolong personally poured more wine for the two of them and casually asked, "Didn’t Tang Fei and Shen Xinglan go on an adventure to the Old Land in search of ancient relics? How did he get so seriously injured? What did they encounter there?"
After a moment of thought, Phoenix said, "Tang Fei told me that they didn’t encounter any danger in the Burial Land, but after they left, they ran into the Grandmaster Fen Kuai who was waiting outside to ambush them..."
"He and Shen Xinglan fought for their lives, and in the end, Shen Xinglan decapitated Fen Kuai with a single sword strike. If not for Shen Xinglan’s exceptional strength, I fear they wouldn’t have made it back..."
Zhong Daolong frowned deeply and inquired, "Fen Kuai? I’ve heard of that name before."
In the Cultivation World, Great Grandmasters are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns, and even Grandmasters are one in ten thousand.
Anyone who steps into the Grandmaster Realm is a person of great renown; Zhong Daolong, being a ruler of a country, naturally paid extra attention to such individuals.
Whether to recruit or to monitor, he preferred to have them within his grasp.
"Fen Kuai hails from the Barbaric Land, but his notoriety precedes him, thirsty for human blood, hungry for human flesh; I’ve also heard of him."
Zhong Daolong’s face showed disgust as he said, "In the civilized world, to still have such vicious people... Worse than an animal, his death is nothing to mourn."
"Yes." Phoenix nodded in agreement and said, "Killing him was indeed ridding the people of a menace."
"What realm is Tang Fei in now?"
"Tongyou?" Phoenix said, "When I met him in the Old Land, he was only in the Realm of Controlling Qi. Now he’s at most in the Tongyou Realm..."
"One from the Tongyou Realm, one Shen Xinglan..." Zhong Daolong’s eyes gleamed as he swirled the wine in his glass, "So it was essentially Shen Xinglan fighting a Grandmaster Realm expert alone... Such a young age, and he’s capable of slaying a Grandmaster?"
Phoenix’s thoughts shifted slightly as she spoke out, "Tang Fei also helped a lot; the two of them together killed the Grandmaster."
It sounded as though she was soliciting recognition for Tang Fei’s efforts, fearing that Zhong Daolong might overlook Tang Fei’s abilities and value.
Zhong Daolong laughed heartily, shaking his head, and said, "You silly girl..."
"How am I being silly? What I said is the truth."
"Very well, very well, it’s the truth." Zhong Daolong indulged her, looking at Phoenix, and questioned, "Did Tang Fei mention who was behind the attack? Who sent Fen Kuai?"
"I asked him, and he said he didn’t know," Phoenix replied, "His mental state wasn’t very good, and we couldn’t talk much. After seeing he was alright, Xin Huai and I left."
"Right," Zhong Daolong nodded, saying, "It’s good that he’s okay. As for the truth, it will always come to light... I heard Shen Xinglan also suffered serious injuries; haven’t you gone to visit him?"
"Not yet." Phoenix said, "I had just come back when I received a call from Little Fatty..."
"You’ve grown up together and have a good relationship. Now’s the time you should visit him."
"If Dad says so, then I’ll go and see him," Phoenix obediently said.
"That’s more like it. Don’t forget your old friends just because you have new ones. Xing Lan is badly injured, and your indifference would hurt both his feelings and your own reputation," Zhong Daolong reminded her.
"Did you come back with Xin Huai?"
"Yes. Manager Chen told me you wanted to see me, so I asked Xin Huai to go back to Phoenix Pavilion first."
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