Chapter 47 A Joke Reveals a Gentle Heart: Xu Fengyi Uses a Unique Approach...
Feng Yi used their unique communication method to send them a signal. He originally wanted to set the location at Fengming Ridge, where they first met, but considering Mi Zhen's current status, he set the location at Zhongwu Mountain in Yunhuai territory.
The group rushed over as soon as they received the news, but found no one at the mountaintop.
God knows how excited they were when they learned that Feng Yi was still alive, and how shocked they were when they learned that he had become the Ghost King. They never imagined that Feng Yi would become the Ghost King so quietly, causing them to spend a year searching for him and living in fear.
Ming Qi shouted, "Feng Yi, you madman, you're still alive, so get out here right now! Do you know how worried we were about you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, several birds took flight, but they received no response from the man. Only Mingqi's echo reverberated on the mountaintop.
The group fell silent, each harboring a deep resentment.
Even the usually composed and rational Mi Zhen couldn't help but shout, "Feng Yi! I think you're unworthy of the title of Ghost King. You're just a runaway horse, good for nothing but causing trouble! Have you lost your mind and are you cultivating 'idiocy' as a gift? If you don't show up soon, you might as well go cool off somewhere else..."
"It's rare to hear Mi Zhen swearing. It seems you guys really miss me."
Before you see him, you hear his voice.
Mu Yi said, "Feng Yi, you think you're so great now that you've become the Ghost King? If you don't show yourself soon, you'll never get to eat Yao Qi's cooking again!"
"No, no! I was just joking with you guys."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Feng Yi appeared before everyone, laughing loudly, "Haha! Long time no see, everyone! Did you miss me? I'm back!"
"......"
Everyone was taken aback.
The black clothes remain unchanged, but what's with the dark, curly hair and the sleazy vibe that's emanating from top to bottom, inside and out?
Ming Qi: "Who are you?"
Yun Xiang: "Feng Yi's subordinates?"
Mi Zhen: "Is this Feng Yi?"
Yu Zhi: "Did he use a disguise technique?"
Yaoqi and Muyi: "You really have turned into a ghost, and a black one at that."
"......"
Feng Yi said, somewhat speechless, "Are you really my friends?"
Ming Qi and Yao Qi exchanged a glance, then simultaneously channeled their magical power into their palms and swiftly flew towards Feng Yi.
Feng Yi exclaimed in shock, "What are you doing?!" At the same time, Feng Yi dodged, knowing he was in the wrong, and did not retaliate.
But the two men weren't going to let him go. If their first attack missed, they'd try again, while the other four stepped aside to watch the show.
From the moment they met, Feng Yi, though outwardly displaying an aloof and unapproachable demeanor, giving the impression of a composed person, was actually fearless and ready to fight anyone who disagreed with him. He was willing to go to great lengths for them, even unto death. He was like a wild, untamed horse, doing as he pleased, unrestrained. This reckless spirit initially attracted quite a few enemies.
Feng Yi used to be a free spirit, unburdened and carefree, so he naturally didn't care about these things. But things are different now. He has a close friend who is like family to him. How can he not teach him a lesson for such behavior?
While fighting, Mingqi and Yaoqi called out to their wives, "Wife, come quick! It's no fun with just the two of us fighting. Let's all four of us go together! Let them cheer us on!"
Yunxiang and Muyi exchanged a smile and said, "That's exactly what we were thinking."
Feng Yi, who had just dodged Ming Qi's thrusting sword, exclaimed in surprise, "No, are you serious?"
Yun Xiang swung her hand out and said, "Who's playing games with you!"
Mu Yi said, "Aren't you the Ghost King? Then let us see your strength!"
That's what he said, but Feng Yi dared not and would not attack his friend, not even in a contest. He was in the wrong this time, and he was willing to accept the consequences, only defending and not attacking.
In an instant, the situation turned into four people chasing and beating him, while two people watched from the sidelines. They used magic weapons and fists and feet in a barrage of attacks, while Feng Yi fought bare-handed, without even using his long axe. He was caught off guard, and this fight was definitely the most frustrating one he had ever experienced in his life.
Feng Yi inwardly groaned. If he had known this would happen, he should have at least sent them a message before entering the Thirty-Three Heavens Pass.
The time it takes for an incense stick to burn has passed, and the fight is over. The four of them didn't go all out; they just wanted to teach him a lesson. However, Feng Yi exhausted his stamina by avoiding them.
Mi Zhen and Yu Zhi were watching with great interest, and when they saw them stop, they felt they hadn't had enough.
Mi Zhen said with lingering interest, "Why did you stop? A-Zhi and I haven't had enough yet."
Yu Zhi also said, "I heard that he was drinking and eating melon seeds before he fought with that female general. It's such a pity that he rarely leaves the palace. If I had known there would be a good show to watch today, I should have prepared some wine and meat so that we could watch to our hearts' content."
Sweating profusely, Feng Yi lay sprawled on the ground, panting and begging for mercy: "...My esteemed gods and ancestors, I was wrong! I'll never do it again... Please forgive my wickedness, I've already died once, please have mercy..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ming Qi's voice came from above his head, "Feng Yi, welcome home."
Mi Zhen's voice followed, "Feng Yi, you're still alive, that's good."
Only Yaoqi remained silent with a cold expression.
The moment Feng Yi opened his eyes, he was stunned by the reddened eyes of his friends, filled with joy. There was more than just joy; there was regret, even heartache. A sudden wave of bittersweetness washed over him, an indescribable feeling.
At that moment, he realized once again with unparalleled clarity that it was already rare to have even one true friend in this life, and he had six. He was the luckiest person in the world.
That day, Feng Yi enthusiastically confessed to the group how he died and how he entered the Yansha Arena to become the Ghost King. He thought it would elicit sighs and lamentations from his friends, but instead received only teasing and ridicule.
Ming Qi said, "Hahahaha! How come I never noticed you had such potential before? Other people's ghost kings died in a way that shook heaven and earth, but you died so casually."
Yun Xiang said, "I've heard that it takes at least ten or a hundred years to get out of the Yan Sha Sect, and even if you want to enter, you might not be able to. Not only did you enter easily, but you also completed the cultivation in just one year. How can you expect others to compare?"
Yao Qi remained expressionless and said, "So this is why the Emperor sent people to attack you?"
The atmosphere instantly became tense upon hearing this.
After a long silence, Mi Zhen smiled and said, "I think that emperor just wanted to see Feng Yi's strength. After all, he has been in charge of the Ghost Realm for many years, and he should be handed over to someone he can trust."
Feng Yi laughed twice and said, "Mi Zhen is right! Don't worry, I have made it clear that I will not be an enemy of Tianjia Mountain, and I will not joke with the creatures of the Ghost Realm. Besides, you are there, so I will never act rashly."
Even so, everyone still couldn't help but feel worried.
Mount Tianjia is home to numerous deities and their factions are deeply entrenched. The ascension of these four together, with its grand scale and immense influence, should have been a celebrated tale. However, despite the presence of an emperor ruling over their realm, their fame inevitably attracted the attention of those lurking in the shadows who sought to replace them, even though they had been trying to maintain a low profile.
Just then, a sunset descended from the horizon, casting a warm glow on everyone's faces. Several birds flew by in formation, creating a colorful scene.
Yu Zhi pointed to the setting sun and said, "Look! Doesn't it look like the sunset we saw at Fengming Ridge back then?"
Upon hearing the sound, everyone looked over, and countless memories flooded their minds.
Ming Qi said, "I really miss it!"
Mi Zhen said, "It's been more than ten years since we met."
Yao Qi said, "Peach blossoms and spring breeze, a cup of wine; Jianghu night rain, ten years of lamplight."
The mother leaned on Yaoqi's shoulder and said, "I want to go back to Fengming Ridge."
We met ten years ago, and ten years have passed since then.
Yunxiang laughed and said, "We'll definitely have a chance to go back! Then it'll be just the few of us again, singing, getting drunk, and strolling around!"
Yu Zhi said, "Then it's settled! If it doesn't work out in this life, my husband and I will definitely come looking for you again in our next life!"
Mi Zhen took Yu Zhi's hand and smiled, "Of course, if you're not happy being gods or ghosts, then come home. You'll be protected by me and A-Zhi!"
Feng Yi suddenly stood up, extended a hand, and said, "My bond with you all is unwavering, and we will never be separated, even in life and death!"
Everyone stood up, palms clasped together, and said in unison, "Our love is unwavering, even in life and death!"
Under the setting sun, three couples leaned on each other, leaving Feng Yi all alone.
In the past, he would have scoffed at it. But today was different; a warm and bright figure was clearly reflected in his mind.
Feng Yi chuckled almost imperceptibly; he couldn't escape.
June 13. Miranjana. A gathering of the gods.
The Milan Festival was originally the day when the current Emperor Yanxiao became Emperor.
He was once the Grand Tutor of the ancient state of Yanjin, second only to the king, and his strategies for the country were unparalleled. Perhaps it was precisely because of his great reputation that he was ultimately framed by treacherous people, alienated from the king, and met a tragic end, being torn apart by five horses.
That day, his body was carelessly abandoned in a mass grave, devoured by wild dogs. His limbs had long since lost all feeling, only his indifferent eyes remained stubbornly open. Just as the wild dogs were about to gnaw off his eyes, light suddenly appeared, and Heaven granted him ascension.
Other deities had to exert considerable effort to attain high positions, but Yan Xiao was a man of both literary and martial talents from the outset, highly valued by the previous emperor. Furthermore, his character was noble and upright, and his conduct remained unchanged from his mortal days, leaving no room for criticism. Moreover, his ascension was arguably the most arduous among all the deities, thus earning the utmost respect and admiration from both the celestial officials and mortal believers.
Three years after ascending to heaven, the former emperor passed away, and without any doubt, Yan Xiao ascended the throne.
To thank and congratulate this deity, people spontaneously held celebrations on the day he became emperor, and some countries even temporarily ceased hostilities as a result.
Yan Xiao, unwilling to see his followers indulge in extravagance, led the priests to bestow blessings upon the people and designated this day as a festival. Dynastic changes, plagues, and wars are inevitable natural laws, but he hoped that on this day, war could cease and everyone could be happy.
Yan Xiao named this day "Milan," and it has continued for five hundred years to this day.
On this day, in addition to the celebrations on earth, Tianjia Mountain was also very lively.
Besides regularly bestowing blessings upon humankind, the priests also hold literary and martial arts competitions on the mountain. The literary competition is held at Qizhu Peak, and the martial arts competition is held at Cangzhutai. The questions are set by Yanxiao himself, and the competition is secondary; the purpose is to promote relationships among the priests.
The market at the foot of the mountain was also bustling with activity. Shopkeepers from all walks of life made carvings, portraits, banners, and other items depicting different priests. The priest whose items sold the most was considered the one with the best chance of winning. Losing didn't matter, because regardless of whether the priest won or lost, people would receive blessings, more or less, which was a win-win situation for them.
For the priests, although they usually compete with each other openly and secretly, on this day, everyone will get along peacefully without any complaints, out of respect for Yanxiao.
Yan Xiao specially invited Feng Yi to Tianjia Mountain as a guest, saying that he wanted to apologize to Feng Yi for what happened back then.
The relationship between Feng Yi and Yao Qi and the others was already known, so the task of welcoming them naturally fell to them. The four of them took Feng Yi for a tour of the Tiancai Market at the foot of the mountain.
In the market, a figure in white, tall and slender, appeared to be around twenty-one or twenty-two years old. His skin was dark and glossy, his eyes deep and alluring, and his long, curly hair cascaded over his shoulders, making him look like a beauty from another land. Behind him walked two men and two women side by side. The men were either ethereal and cheerful, or righteous and serious; the women were either gentle and kind, smiling softly, or aloof and mysterious, smiling from afar.
The market was bustling with activity, a constant stream of people and vehicles, filled with the sounds of children playing and vendors hawking their wares. It was Feng Yi's first time there, and everything was new and exciting to him. He would look at this and that, occasionally even helping out with a shout, just like a little kid.
Today, he was dressed impeccably and solemnly, somewhat resembling his former self. He had always been a man of few words, with a perpetually stern face, as if the whole world owed him something. Now, however, his personality had drastically changed; his clothing, demeanor, and behavior were all different from before. If his friends didn't know him, they would have seriously suspected he had been possessed. This change might be seen as immoral by others, but to them, it was a liberation of his true nature. In a way, they could consider it a blessing in disguise.
Ming Qi sighed, "Feng Yi has really changed."
The other three nodded and laughed, "It's become more interesting, and more like a living person."
At this moment, Feng Yi was attracted by something new. He stared at it for a moment, then ran towards the stall, calling out to the four of them to follow, lest they get lost.
The four of them were both amused and exasperated. They followed the stall and found it was a sculpture stall. Feng Yi immediately spotted the statues of the four of them with their names engraved on them.
Feng Yi picked one up casually and said in a low voice, "The carving is quite good, but why does it look a bit different from yours?"
Yun Xiang smiled and said, "The appearance of immortals is just something people make up. There's no need to force it in front of thousands of people. Besides, what they really care about is whether you are effective or not. As for appearance, it's enough for us to know it ourselves."
Feng Yi shrugged, then suddenly noticed a statue in the corner that looked deliberately abandoned. The workmanship was rather rough, and it didn't even have a name engraved on it. Feng Yi quickly glanced at the others and realized that the one he was holding was Xi Le's statue.
Feng Yi said coldly, "Why are the statues of other priests so exquisitely carved, while this one is so crudely carved?"
Upon hearing this, the stall owner glanced at Feng Yi, startled by his gaze, but still managed a forced smile and said, "You don't know this. Although this person is a martial god, she is still a woman. Most of the priests are men. Even if she has high magical powers, what kind of trouble can she, a mere woman, possibly cause?"
Upon hearing this, Feng Yi's expression darkened, and the expressions of the four others also changed.
Just as Mu Yi was about to retort, Feng Yi spoke first: "You say she's just a woman and can't amount to anything. But when she was alive, she was a princess of the Qizhen tribe who could command ten thousand horses by herself. Can you do that?"
"She led an army of thousands, bravely fought against the enemy, and ascended to godhood. Can you do that?"
"She arrived as a Valkyrie, the only female Valkyrie. Can you do that?"
"When she fought the Ghost King alone, if it were you, you would probably be scared out of your wits. So who gave you the courage to criticize her so casually, and even slander her value and reputation?"
Upon hearing this, the stall owner lowered his head guiltily, not daring to look at him again. The four people behind him, however, were both shocked and delighted; he really was different.
Feng Yi took out a gold ingot and slammed it on the table, saying, "Didn't you want to choose who would win this year's competition? I'll choose her!" After saying that, he carefully wrapped the statue in a handkerchief and left.
Feng Yi followed the four people up the mountain. The fairy pavilions and palaces, the small bridges and flowing water, the mythical beasts and birds, compared with the bustling market in the human world just now, this place seemed to have entered a quiet and leisurely paradise.
Feng Yi chuckled, his expression mocking, and said, "Gilded Palace, Jade Palace, this place is truly magnificent."
The four understood the deeper meaning in his words and smiled without saying a word.
Originally, she was going to take Feng Yi to see the Emperor, but they happened to run into Xi Le, who was on her way to Cang Zhu Tai to make preparations.
The four greeted her: "Hello, General Xile."
Xi Le clasped her hands in greeting and said with a light smile, "Greetings, fellow immortals."
Feng Yi walked past the four people and came to Xi Le, smiling as he said, "You didn't expect this, did you? We're really seeing each other again, Xi Le."
Xi Le paused for a moment, then nodded, her expression expressionless, and said, "Yes, we meet again."
Yaoqi asked, "Is General Xile heading to Cangzhutai?"
Xi Le looked at Yao Qi and said, "That's right."
Yao Qi said solemnly, "I have long admired your great reputation, General. Today, thanks to the Emperor's honor, I have the opportunity to spar with you. I will do my best."
Xi Le recalled her battle with Feng Yi last time and said, "That would be best. I have long heard of the great names of the Four Lords of Tianji. In that case, let's meet at Cangzhutai."
After saying that, Xi Le was about to leave when Feng Yi called out to her, "Xi Le, wait!"
Xi Le looked at Feng Yi and asked, "Does the Ghost King have anything else to say?"
Feng Yi walked to her side and said softly, "I choose you to win today's competition."
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Author's Note: Finally, an update! Thank you all for waiting! Hope you enjoy reading!
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