The Kuai Household Head Remembers Before the Spirits; a Hidden Dragon Quietly Rises in Mystic Firmament Palace
Kang Rongquan's eyes held a complex mix of emotions, but he quickly lowered his head, not daring to respond to Kuai En's pleasantries. He simply bowed respectfully again, saying, "Chongming Sect Kang Rongquan Sect greets Earl of Fengen. Our sect leader has ordered his disciple to personally welcome you. We respectfully request that Earl of Fengen travel to Yangming Mountain."
"Brother Dao and Kuai En are old friends, why are you acting like this?!" Kuai En sighed softly, but just as he was about to say something polite, he realized he didn't know where to begin.
After all, he has now become a disciple of True Person, entered the Return to the Ruins Spring, and received a title from the current emperor. He is no longer the small family head who had to rely on his aunt's favor to ask Kang Rongquan to guide him.
At that time, the two were still considered to be close, and even when Kang Rongquan often teased Kuai En about "exploiting his son-in-law," the latter never got angry.
While at Learning Forest Mountain, Kuai En's "brotherhood" brought disaster upon Tanggu and the Kuai Household.
Although he later turned misfortune into blessing, without Kuai En's request and the protection of the Prince of the South, the fate of the entire Chongming Sect is unknown.
So, to be honest, the two of them weren't exactly estranged.
When Kuai En finished reading this passage and looked down at Kang Rongquan, the last vestiges of affection had vanished with the passage of time, and his expression gradually became indifferent.
Kang Rongquan understood this principle before Kuai En. Seeing the latter's expression change, he remained calm and composed, and was about to lead Zhang Huangshi and Kang Xiangyi behind him to bow again when they heard a joyful sound coming from the direction of the Fei Household:
"It's been a long time since I've seen Earl of Fengen. How have you been?"
"Greetings, senior."
Kang Rongquan and the other cultivators bowed down like wheat, leaving only Kuai En, still clinging to the hull of the spirit boat, to offer a polite, half-hearted bow as a greeting to Fei Donggu, who had come to meet him.
"Their demeanor is even more impressive than before!"
At this moment, Earl of Fengen's speech was clearly not as warm and natural as when he was facing Kang Rongquan at the beginning. His self-importance was back on his face, and he seemed to have a rare sense of closeness to him.
Fei Donggu had heard that the fake prince consort of the Kuang Household was difficult to get along with when he was in the capital, but he didn't pay much attention to it. After all, he was a direct descendant of the True Person emperor, so it was perfectly normal for him to have some temper. He was not as easy to coax as a junior from a humble family.
However, Kuai En's leave this time was not specifically to visit the Fei Household. Erxiu only exchanged a few pleasantries on the cloud before Kuai En handed a Jade Slip to Fei Donggu and whispered his instructions:
"This is something my master specifically instructed me to give to the Marquis of Fengcheng. However, when he was in Mountain North Circuit, he was always elusive and rarely visited, which is why I have had difficulty getting to see him. Therefore, I have no choice but to ask Senior Fei to pass it on to him."
The latter, hearing that Fei Donggu's words didn't seem to indicate any anxiety, nodded in agreement without hesitation.
After finishing his tasks with Kuai En, he turned to his subordinate Kang Rongquan, his tone becoming much more formal:
"I've heard that Xian Prefecture is far away, so I need to go and see Marquis of Martial Peace as soon as possible. I'll Chongming Sect, fellow Daoists Zhongmingzong, to wait for me to guide you by flying boat, which will save some time."
Kang Rongquan did not refuse after hearing this, but led the group of cultivators behind him to thank him.
Several days later, when Kang Rongquan led Kuai En's gilded flying boat to Yangming Mountain, their destination was lush with spiritual trees and shrouded in mist.
However, Sect Leader Kang Da was a good homemaker, and in just over a year, Yangming Mountain was revitalized from its devastation.
The ancient pine trees by the roadside required two or three people to encircle them, their vigorous branches leaning towards the clouds. Morning dew clinging to the pine needles rolled down their veins, splashing onto the bluestone slabs below, creating tiny water droplets that quickly disappeared into the surrounding mist, leaving only a few damp traces.
Scattered among the trees were many Spirit Plant, their leaves shimmering with a lustrous emerald light, absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Qi into visible pale blue mist. As a gentle breeze blew, the mist swirled around the branches, eventually condensing into a thin layer of spiritual frost on the tree trunks.
Occasionally, a spirit bird would fly through the mist, its wings stirring up the clouds and revealing vast stretches of spirit fields below.
The rice paddies were covered with specially made spiritual light mulch, and the rice growing under the mulch was thriving. The grains hanging on the rice ears shimmered with a faint Golden Light, clearly indicating that they were irrigated with high-level spiritual spring water.
From the depths of the clouds and mist, the faint sound of the babbling brook could be heard. The sound of the water crashing against the rocks mingled with the subtle rustling of the Spirit Plant growing, weaving together a unique rhythm in the forest.
The airship swept past a cliff, where spirit vines hanging from the cliff face bloomed with small white flowers. The petals opened as soon as they encountered the mist, releasing a refreshing fragrance that even the silver-armored guards on the airship couldn't help but take a few deep breaths, their eyes showing a hint of relaxation. Only Kuai En, standing at the bow of the ship, remained calm and composed as his gaze swept over the beautiful scenery.
Kuai En stood on the bow of the ship without saying a word the whole way. For a Qi Refinement cultivator who was still worried about the survival of his Lineage at the time, the journey from Cloud Horn Prefecture to other prefectures was too unfamiliar, so he did not feel any reminiscence.
But as soon as he saw the archway at the foot of Yangming Mountain, which had been dismantled intact from the Pingrong County Chongming Sect, Kuai En suddenly let out a long sigh. Looking around, he realized there was no one to talk to, so he swallowed his feelings back.
Having received the news early, Sect Leader Kang Da was currently leading a group of elders and officials to wait under the archway, which clearly showed how much he valued Kuai En.
The gilded flying boat slowly landed on the open ground in front of the archway. The cabin door opened, Kuai En, dressed in a peacock feather brocade cloak and wearing a seven-jeweled pearl crown, slowly stepped off the flying boat.
Sunlight shone on him, making the mermaid pearl and golden cloak shine together. The Golden Core aura emanating from his body unconsciously caused the surrounding cultivators to sigh with admiration and secretly hold their breath.
A hint of pleasure flashed in Kuai En's eyes, for many of the people he was dealing with were people he used to have to rely on, but now they all had to bow down and pay homage, and could not be treated with disrespect.
This feeling was different from when he was in the imperial court; it seemed that even his decades of painstaking cultivation of his Dao heart had revealed a slight flaw.
"Returning home in wealth and honor is like wearing fine clothes at night."
He was, after all, a disciple of True Person, and even top figures of the Immortal Dynasty like Palace Master of Billowing Dream and Great Wei had bestowed upon him words of guidance. Therefore, he suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.
After this change of State of Mind, Kuai En's expression became solemn, all arrogance vanished, and he respectfully bowed to Kang Dabao, saying, "Greetings, Uncle."
"Earl of Fengen, you're too kind. We've brought in some new tea; please come in and taste it." Sect Leader Kang Da's smile remained as warm as ever. He instructed all the cultivators behind him, regardless of rank, to bow before leading Kuai En into the banquet hall.
After Kuai En sat down, he felt the aroma of tea from the cups on the low table in front of him was refreshing. In the eyes of ordinary cultivators, his living conditions and enjoyment over the past few decades were comparable to those of celestial beings, so he should not have been surprised by a bowl of tea.
Although he had been to the banquet hall of the Chongming Sect a few times in the past, it was unprecedented for Kang Dabao to be so generous as to bring out such spiritual tea to entertain him, which made him feel quite moved.
Kuai En took a few sips of the spiritual tea. It should have tasted ordinary, but now it tasted like celestial buds.
Seeing that the sect leader Sect Leader Kang Da, was not in a hurry to speak, Kuai En spoke first, saying, "I have come to pay my respects to my aunt and uncle, and I apologize for troubling you, Uncle."
"My brother and his wife are naturally very pleased that the Earl of Fengen has such a kind intention. As for the word 'inconvenience,' where does it come from?"
Kang Dabao murmured something, and seeing the undisguised urgency in Kuai En's eyes, the two exchanged few pleasantries. Soon after they sat down in the banquet hall, the Sect Leader Kang Da led Kuai En alone to the Chongming Sect's cemetery.
Kuai En saw that the graves were scattered here and there, but he didn't know how many old friends had passed away in the Chongming Sect over the years. He used his Divine Sense to explore and saw the place where Pei Yi and his wife were buried together.
As Kuai En approached, the voice of the Sect Leader Kang Da came from behind. "They all came from Pingrong County, but the disciples' skills were lacking, and it took several months of stumbling and struggling. Fortunately, it can be considered a satisfactory result."
"Zhu'er and Brother Pei are here too. That's good; there will always be people to serve our aunt and uncle. Uncle, it's Kuai En who's late."
Kang Dabao did not rush to respond to Kuai En's heartfelt words, but simply let the former shed all the clear tears in his eyes.
He was unaware that the weeping and wailing Nascent Soul disciple before him was merely putting on an act. He simply did not believe that Kuai En, a dignified Golden Core cultivator, could spare time from the urgent war in Mountain North Circuit to rush to Xian Prefecture just to pay respects to Pei Yi and his wife.
After all, this could have been done sooner or later; there was no need to rush it at this crucial moment.
As expected, seeing that Sect Leader Kang Da was not swayed by her true feelings, Kuai En sobbed a few more times before finally clarifying the purpose of her trip:
"To be honest, Uncle Kuai En was summoned by the Emperor before his departure. The Emperor did not say much about the anxious situation in the southwest, but instead praised Uncle Kuai En's previous achievements. He only said that Uncle Kuai En was loyal to the country and was indeed a model of military merit."
Although Kang Dabao was surprised, his respectful words had already slipped out. "I am but a lowly person, and I am deeply grateful to have been mentioned by His Majesty."
These words weren't entirely without sincerity, after all, the Sect Leader Kang Da had received considerable favor from the Kuang Household clan. Regardless of Emperor of Wei's motives, he was genuinely trying to select officials from humble backgrounds.
Kuai En was quite satisfied with Kang Dabao's response, but then his expression changed again, and he spoke slowly, "His Majesty also asked Marquis of Martial Peace: 'What about the Duke of Qin?'"
Sect Leader Kang Da felt utterly bewildered. The question of who the imperial heir should be decided by the court officials, not by Marquis of Martial Peace, who held only a title but was confined to a border state.
At this moment, Kuai En seemed to notice Kang Dabao's hesitation, and then explained calmly, "Uncle, please speak freely. Kuai En have been ordered to inquire about Fang Yi the nobles and important officials in Mountain South this time."
Only then did Kang Dabao realize something. Without thinking, he solemnly cupped his hands and said in a voice as resonant as a bell, "The Duke of Qin possesses both strategic brilliance and sharp wit, yet is also benevolent and skillful. He is naturally a pillar of the Great Wei, so why should I, Kang, offer my opinion?!"
Upon hearing Kang Dabao's effusive praise, Kuai En's expression remained ambiguous, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. After some thought, he finally decided to bring up a matter with the latter:
"Uncle may not know, but the Ninth Prince is already preparing for Nascent Soul Formation."
"Nascent Soul Formation?!"
Upon hearing this news, Sect Leader Kang Da's expression changed again. However, he was ultimately unaware of the affairs of the court and wondered what kind of upheaval this news might cause at this crucial juncture.
"Earl of Fengen, regarding what I just mentioned..." Kang Dabao hesitated, but Kuai En, understanding his thoughts, reassured him, "It's alright, Uncle. I'll need to bother you for a few more days. If you have some free time during that time, you might as well consider it further."
Upon hearing Kuai En's words, Sect Leader Kang Da understood much more clearly and then probed further. "I wonder if His Majesty has inquired about the Earl of Fengen?"
The latter smiled calmly, thinking to himself that it was quite remarkable that his uncle, despite being confined to a corner of the southwest, had not lost his mind.
However, given the gravity of the matter, he couldn't reveal his intentions directly, so he could only speak the truth, "Uncle, you have indeed asked the wrong person. This favor is not something everyone receives. As the eldest son-in-law of the Fei Household, you might as well write to the Grand General and the Marquis of Fengcheng to inquire about it."
"That's a possibility," Kang Dabao would have easily come up with the idea if he hadn't been taken aback by the unexpected question.
Having said all he could say, Kuai En then spent some time reminiscing with Sect Leader Kang Da about a few old stories in front of Pei Yi and his wife's graves.
However, as time went by, Kang Dabao felt that Kuai En seemed to have shed a shackle, making it difficult for him to reconcile with the timid young master of the family he once was.
Only then could Sect Leader Kang Da be certain that he had remained polite throughout and had not made any mistakes.
The current Kuai En is Golden Core cultivator, a disciple of the Prince of the South, a nobleman of the Immortal Dynasty, and a future imperial consort. However, he is no longer the filial junior who always liked to stay by his side.
"Perhaps this is the true purpose of this young man's trip. He is completely different from the one I saw at the Moon Marrow Golden Paste Pool back then."
No one knows how long they reminisced about their old friendship, but as the sun began to set, the two of them fell silent without prior arrangement.
Kang Dabao took the lead and turned around. Kuai En followed without saying a word. Before they even reached the mountain gate, the two had already parted ways.
In the days that followed, Sect Leader Kang Da continued to entertain them with great hospitality. Kuai En summoned all his old acquaintances and presented them with gifts. His generosity was so great that the puppet-like man sitting in the main seat secretly clicked his tongue in amazement and felt slightly ashamed.
On the day before his departure, Kuai En summoned Pei Xiangcao and her husband for a meeting. "I never expected that it was your wedding day half a month ago. If I had known beforehand, I would have asked the Duke for leave to come out and offer my congratulations."
The two women, trembling with fear, bowed in gratitude. Kuai En feigned annoyance and softly rebuked them, "The friendship between the Kuai and Pei families is enough to last for a thousand, ten thousand years. Why be so distant with me?!"
He was very concerned about their recent situation. He not only gave them a storage jade bracelet, but also asked them to tell him about the difficulties they had encountered in their cultivation. He was very kind when he was helping them, just like a close elder.
Soon it was time to leave. Sect Leader Kang Da was unable to contact Fei Tianqin and Fei Nanying. Fei Donggu's letter instructed him to observe the situation.
This suited him perfectly; besides, Kang Dabao might not even be qualified to change ships now.
Even if Kuang Liuting still favors him, the entire Fei Household now relies on Kuang Liuting, a member of the imperial clan. For Kang Dabao, it has long been a situation where they rise and fall together.
Kuai En had finished handling all matters, big and small, and ignored Sect Leader Kang Da's attempts to persuade him to stay, deciding to leave as soon as the time came. However, he did leave the latter with some meaningful words before he left:
"Uncle, you'll likely need to pay close attention to news from the court in the future. The Fei Household may keep things confidential; if anything is unclear, you can always ask Kuai En."