Hou Chi

High Lord Feng Ran?

Jing Jian unconsciously repeated the name to himself. Gazing at the phoenix eyes meeting his from beyond the assembled immortals, he felt a hazy sense of familiarity at their fierce, overbearing arrogance, as though he had seen them somewhere before.

He suppressed his surprise and uncertainty. No wonder she radiated such menace. So she was High Lord Feng Ran, who had gravely wounded his elder brother, enraged his Imperial Father, and even prompted him to issue an order for her execution throughout the Three Realms? The only Fire Phoenix to appear since the dawn of the Post-Primordial Realm—she certainly lived up to her reputation.

But... he had heard she had not left Qingchi Palace in ten thousand years. Why had she come to High Lord Dong Hua's birthday banquet this time?

Jing Jian glanced at the furious Zi Yuan, then at Feng Ran's thoroughly unruffled expression, and realized that High Lord Zi Yuan, accustomed to throwing his weight around, must have gotten nowhere with her. Now he had come to borrow Jing Jian's authority to swagger about.

"Uninvited?" An icy voice swept past everyone's ears. With a sweep of her robes, Feng Ran walked through the assembled immortals and said, enunciating every word, "Then I wonder who was bold enough to send Qingchi Palace an invitation in High Lord Dong Hua's name! As for taking you to task, Zi Yuan, you allowed a lesser immortal to trespass in Qingchi Palace... Don't think I can do nothing to you just because Jing Yang backs you."

The undisguised killing intent in Feng Ran's eyes struck terror into Zi Yuan's heart. He retreated behind Jing Jian, gave a snort to cover his unease, and steadied his faintly trembling hands.

Jing Jian frowned at the sight of Zi Yuan hiding behind him. He had never liked this High Lord who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Had Zi Yuan not saved his elder brother's life, he would never have associated with the man.

He simply had not expected that delivering a birthday gift to High Lord Dong Hua on his elder brother's behalf would lead to so much trouble.

With Feng Ran glaring at him through narrowed eyes, and his elder brother's reputation now involved, Jing Jian could only raise a hand slightly and smile at her. "So you are High Lord Feng Ran. You certainly live up to your reputation. I have come to offer birthday wishes on my Imperial Father's behalf, and it is truly my good fortune to meet you. As for what High Lord Zi Yuan said, I believe there must be some misunderstanding..." As he spoke, Jing Jian turned toward High Lord Dong Hua, a trace of inquiry in his expression.

Since one claimed she had come "uninvited" and the other said she had "an invitation as proof," naturally the host should offer a fair word. Who was right and who was wrong would then be plain to see.

Standing behind Jing Jian, Zi Yuan's eyes flashed with annoyance. Why did the Second Highness keep speaking so meekly? It seemed the Eldest Prince was right: the Second Highness really was too soft.

High Lord Dong Hua's expression had also darkened at Zi Yuan's words, and inwardly he resented the man's refusal to let the matter rest. Whether Feng Ran had an invitation or not, her strength stood at the pinnacle of the High Lord rank, and she now governed Qingchi Palace on High God Gu Jun's behalf. Her standing was far from ordinary; her willingness to attend was already an honor to him.

But he had emerged from secluded cultivation in his cave only a few days earlier and naturally knew nothing of these minor arrangements. He could only beckon to the disciple behind him. "Xian Zhu, tell us what happened."

His eldest disciple, Xian Shan, had spent years cultivating single-mindedly in preparation for his Heavenly Tribulation, so the everyday affairs of the immortal residence had always been arranged by his second disciple, Xian Zhu.

"Second Highness, High Lord Zi Yuan, I delivered High God Gu Jun's invitation to Qingchi Palace a month ago." An Immortal Lord in black scholar's robes stepped out from the crowd and bowed to Jing Jian before speaking.

The assembled immortals paused at this. High God Gu Jun was the highest authority in Qingchi Palace; naturally, addressing the invitation to him was more appropriate.

High Lord Dong Hua also breathed a sigh of relief and smoothed things over. "High Lord Zi Yuan must have misunderstood. This Lord has long heard of High Lord Feng Ran's mastery of martial skills and has wished to exchange insights with her."

The immortals found High Lord Dong Hua's attempt to defuse the situation amusing. Who did not know that High Lord Feng Ran had acquired all her formidable fighting skills battling the beasts of Yuanling Marsh? What good would merely exchanging insights do?

Jing Jian, too, waved a hand, preparing to soothe Zi Yuan with a few words and put the matter to rest. To his surprise, Zi Yuan's rather smug voice suddenly sounded behind him. "High Lord Feng Ran, since you came bearing an invitation, I misspoke. I owe you an apology."

Jing Jian turned and saw that although Zi Yuan was voicing an apology, a gleam of delight flashed in his eyes. Sensing something amiss, he frowned. How much more trouble was Zi Yuan planning to stir up? Over some stale grievance from tens of thousands of years ago, did he truly mean to make an implacable enemy of Feng Ran, who governed Qingchi Palace?

Feng Ran gave a noncommittal snort and said nothing more, letting the matter drop out of respect for High Lord Dong Hua. Seeing Zi Yuan apologize, the assembled immortals finally let out a long breath of relief—only for that breath to catch halfway, nearly choking them.

"Since High Lord Feng Ran also admits she came to Mount Daze bearing an invitation, then... would you kindly accompany me above the Nine Heavens now to answer for your offense before the Heavenly Emperor?" Zi Yuan bowed toward the Heavenly Palace as he spoke.

The immortals froze. Even Feng Ran gave Zi Yuan a couple of puzzled looks, wondering whether he had lost his wits.

"Immortal Friend Xian Zhu just said that the invitation he delivered to Qingchi Palace was for High God Gu Jun. I hear that High God Gu Jun's whereabouts have long been unknown. Presumably, High Lord Feng Ran, he knows nothing of your coming here today with his invitation. Falsely acting in a High God's name is a grave offense. Surely you know that?"

Silence fell over the square. A gulf separated the ranks of High God and High Lord. Although Feng Ran governed Qingchi Palace on his behalf, if she had come bearing High God Gu Jun's invitation without his orders, she had indeed... affronted the dignity of a High God.

High Lord Dong Hua sighed. Knowing that Zi Yuan was not wrong, he could think of no way to resolve the predicament. He could only say to Feng Ran, "High Lord Feng Ran, if High God Gu Jun gave you orders, please tell us..."

Feng Ran narrowed her eyes at the smug Zi Yuan, then glanced at the worried High Lord Dong Hua. She pressed her lips together without speaking.

She had always been upright and forthright; naturally, she would not lie to deceive everyone. But if she invoked Hou Chi's name... Feng Ran glanced at Jing Jian standing nearby and quickly dismissed the thought. In a clear voice, she declared, "I have nothing to say."

At worst, she would suffer the lightning punishment above the Nine Heavens and lose a few thousand years of cultivation. What did she have to fear!

Seeing Feng Ran openly admit that she had not come on High God Gu Jun's orders, Zi Yuan's face lit up with delight. He stepped out from behind Jing Jian and waved imperiously at her. "Then please come with me, High Lord Feng Ran. The Heavenly Emperor is merciful and naturally will not make things difficult for you. But... the dignity of a High God cannot be infringed upon. The Nine Heavens Lightning Punishment descends according to one's offenses. You had best pray for your own good fortune!"

This overbearing manner swept away his earlier cowardice and weakness. Several High Lords in the square snorted in contempt, but Zi Yuan paid them no heed and strode straight up to Feng Ran, his expression haughty.

Feng Ran narrowed her eyes at Zi Yuan standing before her and frowned. Her foot itched to kick this lackey of a High Lord out of the way...

"Feng Ran, Mount Daze is far too hard to climb. Since Dong Hua was willing to go to all the trouble of putting together a birthday banquet, why couldn't he have thought to repair these steps?"

The languid complaint drifted up from the stone steps below the square. It was not loud, yet somehow every Immortal Lord in the square heard it with perfect clarity.

Feng Ran and Dong Hua were among the foremost High Immortals of the Heavenly Realm. Even a son of the Heavenly Emperor had to address them respectfully as High Lord. Who was this newcomer, daring to call both by name, and with such a lack of courtesy?

Think as they might, there was only one person in the Three Realms entitled to do so. The immortals exchanged glances, their faces filled with incredulity at the absurdity of it. It was only a birthday banquet, yet not only had High Lord Feng Ran, who had not left Qingchi Palace for ten thousand years, appeared here, but even...

The immortals cut off that thought and stared eagerly toward the stone steps from which the voice had come. Even Dong Hua and Jing Jian were no exception. Only Zi Yuan's expression shifted slightly; seemingly unable to believe it, he turned with an ashen face.

Feng Ran lowered her half-raised foot and sighed, a trace of amusement flickering in her eyes. She had actually forgotten that the other woman lacked the immortal power to ride a cloud. Climbing an immortal mountain by its stone steps, and complaining about it so openly, too—how utterly... embarrassing!

At the top of the stone staircase that stretched for a thousand li, a figure in dark blue-green slowly came into view, moving at an unhurried pace, utterly at ease.

Her simple, old-fashioned dark blue-green robe brushed the ground. Her long hair, gathered with a black hairpin, hung still, while the silver brocade sash at her waist reflected dazzling streams of sunlight. Her ink-dark eyes seemed to hold an ageless vastness and tranquility.

Her indescribable nobility and elegance made one completely overlook her thoroughly ordinary features. There was an ancient quality about this woman that seemed to pierce time and the heavens, as though... she had stepped out of the distant past.

It was a bearing they had never seen even in the Heavenly Empress.

The immortals stood motionless, staring blankly at the woman walking toward them. Even Feng Ran seemed stunned. She raised a hand to point at Hou Chi a short distance away, her mouth hanging open, unable to utter a word.

Could someone please tell her whether this creature, more goddess-like than a goddess... was really the Hou Chi who had been throwing tantrums and playing dumb with her on a cloud not long ago?

Of all the astonished immortals, High Lord Dong Hua recovered first. He hurried forward two steps, lowered his head, and offered a respectful salute. "High God Hou Chi, your presence on Mount Daze leaves Dong Hua truly overwhelmed."

The immortals all started, then bowed toward Hou Chi and said in unison, "We respectfully welcome you, High God."

Their voices rang out together across the square, carrying unmistakable reverence.

No matter how Hou Chi had obtained her rank as a High God, and no matter how deficient her own spiritual power might be, her standing as a High God was recognized throughout the Three Realms. In tens of thousands of years, no one had ever been able to change that.

Yet no one could have imagined that High God Hou Chi—who, according to rumor, had gained her rank only through High God Gu Jun's domineering insistence, whose spiritual power was so meager that she might dissolve into dust at any moment—would possess such a bearing.

Neither the radiance of uncut jade nor a beauty that stilled the world could begin to describe her grace.

In the blink of an eye, only three people remained standing straight in the square: Feng Ran, wide-eyed and working her mouth; Zi Yuan, still full of disbelief; and the last... Jing Jian, whose face bore a complicated, embarrassed expression.

However little they ordinarily cared, or however often they chose to forget the existence of the fourth High God of the Three Realms, Hou Chi remained a thorn in the hearts of Jing Jian and his siblings.

But a child did not speak of a father's faults... What could he do?

Jing Jian had never imagined a day when they would meet like this. With a soft sigh, he stepped briskly forward, bowed his head, and saluted. "Jing Jian respectfully welcomes High God Hou Chi."

Hou Chi raised an eyebrow and gave him a fleeting glance, her expression unchanged. Then she looked up at the gathered immortals in the square and addressed Dong Hua at a leisurely pace. "High Lord Dong Hua..."

Dong Hua hastily stepped forward. "Please give your instructions, High God."

"These stone steps..."

"This lowly immortal will instruct his disciples to repair them tomorrow. Please rest assured, High God."

Only then did Hou Chi give a satisfied hum. Raising her hand, she said, "There is no need for such ceremony, everyone."

At these words, the immortals straightened and took a step back in unison.

Only now did Zi Yuan come to his senses. In trepidation, he prepared to bow toward Hou Chi, only to find himself held fast by a force, unable to move. At the inscrutable smile in her eyes, how could he fail to understand what was happening? His heart lurched, and cold sweat beaded densely on his forehead. He thought, Rumor says High God Hou Chi has little spiritual power. How can she be so difficult to deal with?

"And this High Lord would be...?" Hou Chi gestured toward Zi Yuan with a tiny movement of her finger, looking exceedingly casual.

"High God, this is High Lord Zi Yuan." Some forthright Immortal Lord answered before Hou Chi had even finished asking.

"Oh? So you are Zi Yuan. Just now, on the stone steps, I heard you declaring with such certainty that you would call Feng Ran to account. I have come here today without an invitation from High Lord Dong Hua or permission from my Father God. I wonder, High Lord Zi Yuan, do you intend to escort me under guard to the Nine Heavens as well, to confess my crimes before the Heavenly Emperor?"

Hou Chi spoke lightly, her manner entirely composed.

"High God, this lowly immortal would n-not... not dare," Zi Yuan stammered. Unable to move so much as a step, he could not help looking to Jing Jian for aid.

Jing Jian sighed and shook his head at him.

"Good, so long as you wouldn't dare. Feng Ran, come here."

Hearing Hou Chi summon her with such affected solemnity, Feng Ran walked toward her with a perfectly meek and dutiful air, her eyes lowered so far that no one caught the laughter she was struggling to suppress in them.

In a moment, Feng Ran had taken her place behind Hou Chi.

"High Lord Dong Hua, I won't be entering your immortal residence." Hou Chi turned toward the stone steps, saying as she walked, "Next year, when these steps have been repaired, there will still be time enough for me to come offer my birthday wishes."

High Lord Dong Hua repeatedly murmured his assent and bowed to see her off. Only then did the assembled immortals realize that, from beginning to end, Hou Chi had never actually set a single foot within the bounds of the residence. They could not help marveling inwardly at how exacting a High God's protocols truly were.

They glanced at High Lord Zi Yuan, who was barely managing to remain standing, cold sweat streaming down him. Just as they were thinking he had somehow escaped disaster, a cool voice slowly sounded nearby.

"I have always treated others with leniency. But since High Lord Zi Yuan says that the dignity of a High God must not be affronted, no such precedent can be allowed..." Hou Chi tilted her head slightly and looked toward Jing Jian, an unreadable gleam in her eyes. In an instant, their pale, inky hue grew deep and intense. "Jing Jian, take Zi Yuan to the Nine Heavens and ask the Heavenly Emperor how Zi Yuan should be punished for showing contempt for a High God. The decision rests entirely with him."

Her voice carried an icy authority utterly unlike her mild, cool manner of a moment before. Startled, the immortals glanced at Zi Yuan, who was still standing ramrod straight. Thinking that he had brought this doom upon himself, they all lowered their eyes and said nothing.

At being singled out, Jing Jian felt something strange stir within him—neither honor nor anger, but sheer awkwardness. Still, he obediently answered Hou Chi, "I will certainly take Zi Yuan to the Nine Heavens and hand him over to my Imperial Father for punishment. Please rest assured, High God."

With a quiet acknowledgment, a seven-colored auspicious cloud rose from the square and soared into the heavens.

Watching the figure in dark blue-green disappear into the sky, the immortals all let out long breaths of relief. Immortal Lord Xian Zhu walked up behind High Lord Dong Hua and asked softly, "Master, everyone says High God Hou Chi has little spiritual power. How could she..."

Dong Hua knew what Xian Zhu meant to ask. He waved a hand, a trace of puzzlement appearing on his own face. With his abilities, he could naturally tell that Hou Chi's spiritual power was not profound. Yet... that oppressive aura, belonging to an entirely different level, had been undeniably real. That was why he had bowed in salute without the slightest hesitation.

He had felt such majesty only from the Heavenly Emperor and High God Gu Jun. Not even the Heavenly Empress possessed it.

Could it be... Dong Hua abruptly froze, recalling the prophetic pronouncement that High Lord Ling Juan, who presided over destinies, had made on Mount Kunlun all those years ago. He let out a long breath, incredulous astonishment rising in his eyes.

Could this Little Divine Lord truly possess the destiny of a High God? But... if she had already possessed so exalted a destiny before she had even hatched, then in the future...

While High Lord Dong Hua was marveling to himself, another ringing phoenix cry came from the horizon. He looked up at the sky and thought: He was a full seventy-eight thousand three hundred and twenty-one years old this year. Could this birthday banquet please be a little less trying on his old bones!