A clap of thunder roared past his ears when the name flashed through Jiang Chenâs mind, freezing him in place. Dan Fei? Emperor Peafowlâs adopted daughter, Miss Danâer?
The thought that they could be related had never crossed his mind. Heâd learned of Dan Feiâs departure from the Taifu residence after his return from the Skylaurel trial. Sheâd even left a letter for him to the residenceâs servants.
The letter contained a single lineâEven thousands and thousands of words are insufficient, I will never regret pining for my love.
To this day, the letter resided in his storage ring. The memories of that period sometimes came back to him over the years, reminding him of this girl who was a little competitive, a little arrogant, but also a little petulant.
Many things had happened to Jiang Chen as the years went by. But now and then, in the dead of the night, he sometimes thought of her and his time in Skylaurel. Moreover, Ye Chonglou had also enjoined him to look for Dan Fei when he could.
Jiang Chen had always kept this request to heart. When sending Vastsea and the Geng brothers to the sixteen kingdoms alliance, heâd especially mentioned Dan Feiâs name. But he never thought he would hear of her in such a roundabout way, and in such a flabbergasting manner.
This was truly a strange twist of fate that sheâd turned out to be Emperor Peafowlâs adopted daughter.
âAre both of you certain this woman is Dan Fei? That sheâs Emperor Peafowlâs adopted daughter, Miss Danâer?â Jiang Chen asked after a deep breath, his voice grave.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âYoung lord, Emperor Vastsea is familiar with Miss Danâer, so he canât be mistaken. As for the young miss, she only knew of Sacred Peafowl Mountainâs young lord Zhen, but wasnât aware of your real identity. Her reaction was quite pronounced when she learned the truth. Weâre convinced sheâs an old friend of yours. Her emotions didnât seem fake.â
Jiang Chen was elated. âGreat, wonderful! Fortune truly toys with men. I never imagined... We were both on Sacred Peafowl Mountain, why did we never meet? Fate is so cruel. I wouldâve recognized her if we met face to face, even if she didnât recognize me.â
He sighed with emotion. If Dan Fei really was Emperor Peafowlâs adopted daughter, she wouldnât have worn a disguise. He thought back to the first time heâd gone to Sacred Peafowl Mountain.
Ji San had taken him to pay their respects to Miss Danâer. The Coiling Dragon scion had wanted to win her favor, but theyâd failed to win an audience after Danâerâs maid announced their visit.
After that, Emperor Peafowl had enlisted Jiang Chen when every great faction of Veluriyam proposed marriage, but Miss Danâer had been a step ahead of him. She announced she would enter sealed door cultivation until she broke through, thus denying him another opportunity to see her.
Since then, Jiang Chen hadnât known anything else other than the existence of this adopted daughter cultivating behind closed doors. Now, hearing this stunning news, he lamented not only the coincidence, but also the hand of fate that played with the lives of mortals.
âWhy else would she go to the Precious Tree Sect if she isnât Dan Fei? Thereâs no mistake, it must be her.â Jiang Chen hadnât seen her with his own eyes yet, but he was confident in his judgment. âWhy didnât you bring her back?â he rued.
âEmperor Vastsea meant for us to take her back, but it seems Miss Danâer was feeling shy. I think she said sheâs headed to Skylaurel together with Emperor Vastsea. It seems sheâs looking for someone,â the Geng brothers replied.
âShe must be searching for Ye Chonglou.â Jiang Chen heaved a soft sigh, a slight worry gnawing at him. Back in the day, heâd had a premonition that great changes would descend upon Myriad Domain. Heâd given the old master some resources and told him to go into hiding with the core members of the Precious Tree Sect.
It seemed that Ye Chonglou had taken the suggestion.
Only, there hadnât been a peep from them after that. It would be a lie to say that Jiang Chen wasnât worried. After all, the Precious Tree members didnât have that great of a cultivation. Even in hiding, theyâd face terrible danger if they ever encountered a half-decent cultivator.
âIâll pay a visit to the sixteen kingdoms alliance once things are settled here,â Jiang Chen decided. He could feel the excitement building in him at finally learning of Dan Feiâs whereabouts after such a long time, and in such a spectacular fashion to boot.
Cloudsoar Monarch frowned subtly. He glanced at Jiang Chen, about to say something, but decided to hold his tongue.
âCloudsoar, feel free to speak. Thereâs no harm in it.â Jiang Chen smiled.
The monarch shot to his feet and bowed. âYoung lord, His Majesty cherished Miss Danâer as the apple of his eye. Many eminent talents declared their affections for her before, but she always sent them away with nary a word. It seems she already has someone dear. She always called herself a married woman... and she also has a daughter! The child is still with Plumscore Monarch, correct?â
Plumscore Monarch nodded. âHis Majesty entrusted Nianâer to this old woman and let me raise her. The child has great natural talent and is also very clever. She has a bright future ahead of her.â
A married woman! Nianâer!
Jiang Chen suddenly realized something. Boom!
Lightning bolts crashed inside his skull. A married woman? A daughter? A sudden, inexplicable feeling ignited inside of him.
Countless clues seemed to swim in his head, trying to tell him something. Yet, they couldnât assemble all the pieces of the jigsaw together. Suddenly, Jiang Chen remembered the great trial held by the four great sects of the sixteen kingdoms alliance and a companion at his side who called himself âXiao Fei.â
âXiao Fei!â Emotion surged in Jiang Chenâs heart. Somehow, he was a little afraid of continuing with this train of thought.
The circumstances surrounding that trial resurfaced in his mind, especially that absurd night, that memory both vague yet deeply engraved in his mind.
Heâd fallen into a trap and succumbed to an aphrodisiac poison. His body burned with a fiery fever that seemed inexorable. His cultivation was low back then, and he didnât have many solutions available.
Just as he was about to collapse, a mysterious woman suddenly appeared by his side and gifted him with a night of crazed passion. The memory of that night... A flower in the haze, so faint and distant, yet as real as anything could ever be.
That night left many nagging doubts behind. Who was the woman whoâd sacrificed herself for him?
He and Xiao Fei had been very close to each other, but heâd disappeared after that night.
Here and now, these puzzle pieces fused into an inconceivable picture, sending Jiang Chen spiraling into confusion and chaos.
âWas it her? Are Xiao Fei and Dan Fei one and the same? Was she in that trial in a disguise? Is she the one who saved me that night? Could I be the one she always thinks of? Also Nianâer, is she...â Jiang Chenâs chest wanted to spontaneously combust.
Nianâer.
He wanted to melt when he remembered the little girl as pretty as a flower. An unexplainable feeling of love welled inside him.
Heâd sensed a connection with the young girl at first glance, a feeling of natural affinity and intimacy between them. He remembered being puzzled. Why was he drawn to a total stranger? Simply because she was cute and pretty? Surely that wasnât reason enough?
However, if his guesses were right, he could finally explain that feeling of closeness thatâd struck him out of the blue.
âDan Fei, Nianâer...â Inside his chest, his heart was about to burst. A man could be brave and unyielding, but he also had a soft side.
âGentlemen, letâs discuss these matters another time. I have to go to Skylaurel first.â He shot to his feet like his pants were on fire and immediately flew away under the crowdâs stunned stare.
âIâll go with the young lord.â Emperor Peerless cracked a leisurely smile. âPalace Head Dan Chi, as the sect head, youâre naturally in charge of the important decisions here.â
âJiao brothers, my good friends, Iâll have to trouble the both of you to keep the peace here for Palace Head Dan Chi. What say you?â
The Jiao brothers werenât keen on the idea, but they didnât dare go against Emperor Peerless. They could only mumble their assent.
Emperor Coiling Dragon laughed out loud. âHaha, the more the merrier. Iâm also going. Iâve always been curious what kind of land nurtured a peerless genius like young lord Jiang Chen.
âAs for the rest of you, stay at the Regal Pill Palace and give Palace Head Dan Chi a hand. Donât worry, the young lord should be back by the time the invitations are sent and the guests arrive. Itâs not such a long trip to the sixteen kingdoms alliance after all. Weâre both in Myriad Domain.â He followed closely behind Emperor Peerless after issuing these orders.
Burning with impatience, Jiang Chen didnât have a second to waste. He extracted every ounce of power from his Kunpeng Meteoric Escape and flew toward Skylaurel. He was a ball of anxiousness, guilt, and gratification. Although he kept Dan Feiâs letter in his storage ring, itâd gradually faded from his memories since knowing Huangâer.
Heâd once thought Dan Feiâs admiration for him was merely born from the mediocrity of the other young men in Skylaurel. No one else could make her sit up and take notice. Perhaps, Dan Fei had already found her soulmate somewhere, the sentiments of yesteryear faded with time.
How could he imagine how far Dan Fei would go for the sake of those juvenile sentiments? Sheâd sacrificed so much for him, yet heâd never taken notice of it. He really was too much of a heartless bastard.
He made haste without respite. However, he wasnât prepared for the cries of slaughter that greeted him in Skylaurel. He could sense formidable battle aura dozens of miles away. This feeling was so oppressive it seemed the entire capital was up in arms.
Jiang Chen frowned despite himself. âWhatâs Emperor Vastsea doing? Does a great emperor like him need to make so many waves in a mundane kingdom? How can an ordinary city withstand this kind of devastation?â
Without another moment to spare, he turned into a beam of light and shot into the city, intent on getting to the bottom of the matter.