Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 604 The Head of the Kuai Family Reminisces Before His Spirit: The Hidden Dragon of Xuanqiong Palace Rises in Secret

Kang Rongquan's eyes were filled with complex emotions that he could not hide, but he quickly lowered his head and did not dare to respond to Kuai En's greetings. He simply bowed again and said respectfully, "Kang Rongquan of Chongming Sect pays respects to Lord Feng'en. Our sect leader has ordered his disciple to personally welcome you. We respectfully request that Lord Feng'en move 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, he realized he didn't know where to begin.

After all, he has now become a disciple of a master, entered the Guixu Spring in the outer sea, 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 Xuelin Mountain, Kuai En's "righteousness" brought disaster upon Tang Gu and the Kuai family.

Although he later turned misfortune into blessing, without Kuai En's request and the protection of the Prince of Nan, the fate of the entire Chongming Sect is unknown.

So, to be honest, the two of them didn't really owe each other anything.

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 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 family:
"It's been a long time since I've seen Lord Feng'en. 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 bow, which served as a greeting to Fei Donggu, who had come to meet him.

"Their demeanor is even more impressive than before!"

At this moment, Feng Enbo's speech was clearly not as warm and natural as when he was facing Kang Rongquan at the beginning. His self-importance was once again on his face, and he seemed to have a rare sense of closeness to him.

Fei Donggu had heard that the fake prince consort from the Kuang family 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 a real person, so it was perfectly normal for him to have some temper, and 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 family. 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 asked me to give to Marquis Fengcheng. However, when he was in Shanbei Road, he was always elusive and rarely visited, which is why I have never been able to see him. So I have no choice but to ask Senior Fei to pass it on to him."

The latter, hearing that Fei Donggu's words did not 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 have heard that Xianzhou is far away. I need to go and see Marquis Wuning as soon as possible. I will trouble my fellow Daoists Zhongmingzong and others to wait for me to fly the boat to guide me. This 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 Yangmingshan, their destination was lush with spiritual trees and shrouded in mist.

However, Master Kang 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 stretched diagonally towards the clouds, and the morning dew clinging to the pine needles rolled down along the grain, splashing onto the bluestone slabs below, creating tiny water droplets that quickly blended into the surrounding mist, leaving only a few damp traces.

Scattered among the trees are many spiritual plants, their leaves shimmering with a lustrous emerald light, absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy into visible pale blue mist. As a gentle breeze blows, the mist swirls 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 shone 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 spiritual plants 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 Refining cultivator who was still worried about the survival of his family at the time, the journey from Yunjiao 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 Yangmingshan, which had been dismantled intact from Pingrong County during the reign of Emperor Chongming, 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 was leading a group of elders and officials to wait under the archway, which 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, and 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 aura emanating from his body unconsciously caused the surrounding cultivators to sigh with admiration and secretly hold their breath.

Kuai En couldn't help but feel a surge of pleasure in his eyes, because 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 to him.

This feeling was different from when he was in the court, and it seemed that even his decades of hard-earned Dao heart had shown a slight flaw.

"Returning home in wealth and honor is like wearing fine clothes at night."

He was, after all, a disciple of a True Immortal, and even top figures of the Immortal Dynasty like Palace Master Lanmeng and Emperor David had bestowed upon him words of instruction. Therefore, he suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.

After this change of heart, Kuai En's expression became solemn, all his arrogance vanished, and he respectfully bowed to Kang Dabao, saying, "Greetings, Uncle."

"You're too kind, Uncle Feng'en. We've brought in some new tea; please come in and taste it." Headmaster Kang'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 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 emotional again.

Kuai En took a few sips of the spiritual tea. It should have tasted ordinary, but now it tasted like a fairy bud.

Seeing that the headmaster Kang, who was seated in the main seat, was not in a hurry to speak, Kuai En spoke first: "Kuai En has come to pay respects to my aunt and uncle, which is an inconvenience to you, Uncle." "My brother and I are very pleased with the sentiment of the Earl of Feng En. Where does this inconvenience 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 headmaster Kang led Kuai En alone to the Chongming Sect's cemetery.

Kuai En saw that the graves were interspersed 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 Grand Master Kang came from behind: "They all came from Pingrong County, but the disciples' skills were not good enough. They stumbled and struggled for several months. Fortunately, it was barely considered a success."

"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 Shanbei Road to rush to Xianzhou 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 Headmaster Kang 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 how anxious he was about the war in the southwest, but he 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, he had already uttered the respectful words in his heart: "I am but a lowly person, and I am extremely grateful to have been mentioned by His Majesty."

These words weren't entirely without sincerity; after all, the Grand Master Kang had received considerable favor from the Kuang family clan. Whatever Emperor 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 Wuning: 'What about the Duke of Qin?'"

Headmaster Kang felt utterly bewildered. The question of who the imperial heir should be decided by the court officials, not by someone like Marquis Wuning, 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 in a low voice: "Uncle, please speak freely. Kuai En has been ordered to inquire about all the nobles and important officials in Shannan this time."

Only then did Kang Dabao realize something. Without thinking, he solemnly cupped his hands and said in a voice as loud as bells, "The Duke of Qin is a man of great talent and wisdom, yet also kind and skillful. He is a pillar of the state. Why should I, Kang, need to comment on him?!"

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, Grand Master Kang'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.

"Lord Feng'en, regarding what I just said..." Kang Dabao hesitated, but Kuai En knew what he was thinking and immediately 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, the Grand Master Kang understood the situation much better and then probed further: "I wonder if His Majesty has inquired about the Earl of Feng'en?"

The latter smiled calmly, thinking to himself that it was quite rare that his uncle, despite being confined to a corner of the southwest, had not lost his mind.

However, since this matter was of great importance, he could not express his intentions, so he could only tell the truth: "Uncle, you have indeed asked the wrong person. This favor is not something everyone can receive. As the eldest son-in-law of the Fei family, you might as well write to the Pillar of State and the Marquis of Fengcheng to inquire about it."

“That’s a possibility,” Kang Dabao would have thought of this 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 Headmaster Kang 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 been freed from a shackle, making it difficult for him to reconcile with the timid young master of the family he once was.

Only then could Master Kang be certain that he had remained polite throughout and had not made any mistakes.

The current Kuai En is a Golden Core cultivator, a disciple of the Southern King, 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.

"This may be the real purpose of this child's trip. He is completely different from the one I saw in the Moon Marrow Golden Ointment 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 agreement.

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, Master Kang continued to entertain him with great hospitality. Kuai En summoned all his old acquaintances and presented them with gifts. His generosity was so great that the puppet 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 in advance, I would have asked the Duke for leave to come out and offer my congratulations."

The two women bowed in gratitude in fear, but Kuai En feigned anger and softly rebuked them: "The friendship between the Kuai and Pei families is enough to last for a thousand or 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. Headmaster Kang was unable to contact Fei Tianqin and Fei Nanying. Fei Donggu's letter instructed him to observe the situation.

This suited his wishes, and besides, Kang Dabao might not even be qualified to change ships now.

Even if Kuang Liuting still favors him, the entire Fei family 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 Grand Master Kang'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 will probably need to pay more attention to news from the court in the future. The Fei family may not keep any information confidential. If there is anything unclear in the future, you can ask Kuai En."

(End of this chapter)