"I’ll take my leave now. Call us if you need anything."
After saying goodbye to Feng Yuan, Xia Zihuai turned and left Feng Yuan’s room, closing the door behind him. Feng Yuan glanced at the door and then spoke to Xiao Ji, who was playing with the Dreaming Dragon Baby,
"You can play, but don’t make too much noise."
Seeing Feng Yuan sitting at the table and staring at him, the virtual shadow of Agunas was somewhat puzzled. Feng Yuan thought for a moment and said,
"Why don’t you stop monitoring her for now and come over here to have some fun?"
After looking at Feng Yuan, Agunas smiled and replied,
"No need. I’m past that age."
Feng Yuan reached out to ruffle Agunas’s head, only to remember that Agunas was just a virtual shadow when his hand passed through. Withdrawing his hand, Feng Yuan said with a smile,
"Don’t you feel like you’ve gotten younger after your rebirth?"
After a moment of silence, Agunas sighed and said,
"If I could, I would like to let loose and have fun like you, but my responsibilities don’t allow for that."
"Ah, why do you have to worry about such things? Having some fun won’t stop you from getting your work done, right?"
"I need a calm self, otherwise I can’t analyze those matters."
"Alright, I won’t persuade you anymore. If you feel like it, come over; if not, then forget it."
The virtual shadow of Agunas nodded and fell silent again. Feng Yuan sat on the edge of the bed, teasing the two little ones who were play-fighting, but after a while, as if Feng Yuan was bothering them, the two little fellows teamed up to shoo him away.
"Whine, whine, whine, Big Cat, you have to comfort me. Look, even Xiao Ji despises me."
Held by Feng Yuan, Big Cat meowed in confusion a few times and then just sat there blankly. After realizing Big Cat wouldn’t comfort him, Feng Yuan poked Big Cat’s belly discontentedly and said,
"Really, can’t even bother to comfort me a bit."
Najia, who was sitting by the window, glanced at Feng Yuan, smiled, and then looked back out at the night sky again.
The next morning, as they were having breakfast in the restaurant, Yao Yin was puzzled to hear Feng Yuan say he would rest at Cotton Orchid Manor for the day. Feng Yuan looked at her strangely and said,
"Why the rush to leave? Do you have somewhere else you want to go?"
"I thought you would want to leave early since you finished exploring here yesterday, didn’t you?"
"Who said that? There are places around Cotton Creek and the daytime breeding grounds you haven’t visited, and don’t you plan to go fishing by the creek?"
Yao Yin looked at Feng Yuan incredulously and said,
"You really know how to fish?"
"I just don’t think you’re the kind of person who has the patience."
"That’s slander! Besides, I’ve invited Qi Chen and the others to come and play as well."
"Your classmates? Aren’t they in class today?"
After staring at Yao Yin for a while, Feng Yuan said helplessly,
"It’s Saturday, a day off. I don’t believe you have classes every day."
"Early morning classes are mandatory, as are the combat classes. My schedule is packed every day, of course, that’s them."
"It seems like you’re a student who doesn’t like going to classes~"
Glancing at Feng Yuan, Yao Yin said calmly,
"After all, early classes and such aren’t of much use to me. They’re meant for the ordinary disciples."
"Tch, must be nice to have a powerful father."
"Hey, are you guys not here yet?"
(Are you kidding me? I’ve just gotten up.)
"Tch, Qi Chen, you’ve changed; now you’re sleeping in."
(Buzz off! I don’t believe you wake up at this time on the weekends!)
(Are you calling to tell me not to come?)
"Why do I get the feeling you’re actually happy when you say not to come?"
"I just thought you hadn’t come over in so long, I was worried you’d forget~"
After hanging up the phone, Feng Yuan sighed and said,
"Agunas, why don’t you open a Space Gate and fetch Qi Chen?"
"Can’t he come by himself?"
"Too slow, let’s speed him up–"
"I definitely heard that, and he did not agree to your request to open the door."
"Tsk, how can someone’s ears be so sharp."
Glancing at Agunas, Feng Yuan leaned helplessly in his chair, watching Xiao Ji and Dreaming Dragon Baby fight over a small fish. Clearly, the two little rascals had just eaten their fill of small fish, yet upon seeing the sole remaining one, they became as if they had never eaten before, engaging in a fierce struggle over it.
"What, is your roommate really coming?"
Yao Yin picked up a small piece of cake, handed it to the fluffy snow creature, and watched it nibble on the cake while she absentmindedly asked.
"Yeah, after all, it’s a rare day off."
Looking puzzled, Yao Yin lifted her head and stared at Feng Yuan for a long time before saying,
"I don’t really understand why you would specifically invite him over. Could it be that you have some..."
Looking at Yao Yin’s disdainful little expression, Feng Yuan pursed his lips and said,
"You’re thinking too much. I invited them all, but Zhong Liuyan and Pei Yu were busy, apparently they had plans to go shopping. Guo Huai seemed to be busy tinkering with his potions; no matter how many times I asked, he said he was unavailable, so it’s only him and Dou Yanlan who are free to come over and play."
"Should I leave for a bit?"
"Leave for what? Don’t think so crookedly, please! When I first met you, I thought you were very innocent, but now I realize..."
Yao Yin smiled, her voice tinged with a touch of melancholy,
"Even if my father is the Heavenly Venerate, if I were truly innocent, perhaps I would no longer be here."
Feng Yuan sighed and patted the head of the Dreaming Dragon Baby, which had succeeded in snatching the last small fish and was gloatingly showing off to Xiao Ji,
"The more powerful the world, the more complex the hearts of its people become, but I hadn’t expected that you too would encounter such things. Doesn’t He intervene at all?"
"How can He intervene in a world where might is right?"
"If this world weren’t of such a low level, perhaps I’d prefer to stay in this world..."
"At least this world isn’t filled with so many plots and schemes."
Hearing Yao Yin’s sigh, Feng Yuan chuckled and said,
"That’s because you’re a guest now. All those beautiful things are just illusions your imagination has conjured."
Raising her cup, Yao Yin shook it and looked at the clear fruit inside, smiling as she said,
"Illusions? It’s a pity they’re unwilling to even grant me those..."
"What madness have you unleashed? We still have class tomorrow."
Upon arriving at Cotton Orchid Manor, Qi Chen said irritably to Feng Yuan, taking a few steps back, while Feng Yuan smiled brightly,
"I’ve asked for leave on your behalf..."
"What?! You asked for leave for me? What on earth are you up to..."
Qi Chen looked at Feng Yuan speechlessly, and Dou Yanlan, holding Cotton, stepped forward with some confusion,
"Did you encounter some kind of trouble?"
"Then why the rush to get us here? You’re acting like you want to journey far away..."
It seemed like Dou Yanlan remembered something, sighed, and scratched his head, and Feng Yuan said with a bright smile,
"Isn’t this just taking the opportunity to catch up with you guys while I’m back–"
"It’s because of the Yongning incident, isn’t it?"
Yao Yin somewhat understood what had driven Feng Yuan to this, and upon seeing Feng Yuan freeze, Qi Chen realized Yao Yin was right. But thinking about it, he wasn’t quite clear what the Yongning incident was; Dou Yanlan thought for a moment and then said,
"You’ve just come back, so the Yongning incident can’t be referring to modern times. I recall you mentioned that you went back to just before Great Li’s end of days when Mo Li hadn’t yet declared himself king, so..."
"Should it be the beginning of everything, the Yongning City beast tide incident that led to Mo Ling’s death?"
"Yeah... Ah, let’s not talk about such things on a day off–come on, let’s go fishing–"
"Right, have you guys had breakfast? If not, shall I order some for you?"
Scratching his head, Qi Chen said,
"Although I haven’t eaten yet, weren’t you in a hurry to go fishing?"
"It can be delivered to the creek side–"
Watching Feng Yuan leave with Xiao Ji in his arms, Dou Yanlan stared at Yao Yin for a long time before asking,
"Who exactly are you?"
"He won’t take you back to the past, and you don’t really seem like one of his friends."
"Then... should I address you as ’otherworldly’?"