"Congrats on summoning the golden dragon," Cangtian congratulated him heartily as he took a dip into the murky hot springs.
Lianfeng nodded his head in courtesy. No more words were necessary. He caught the glint of anger in Cangtian's eyes - a dagger lied behind that smile.
The constant competition and pressure have driven a wedge between them.
He would have dearly loved to treat Cangtian as a brother, since they are first cousins.
After all, they were from the same bloodline. Lianfeng secretly envied his father's close relationship with his uncle. Growing up with Cangtian, he knew that it was impossible.
Cangtian could only summon the Red flaming Kirin, a level below him. Still, he had to be wary. Cangtian is very cunning.
"Were you also training in the hot springs earlier?" Cangtian enquired.
Lianfeng nodded and said, 'I find it peaceful to meditate in the pool. I do apologize if I scared others.'
Cangtian was being the usual, trying to fish for any information to use. For the moment, it looked like Cangtian bought his bullshit.
Lianfeng was also curious about the person who was in earlier. His father had told him to jump into the bubbling pool quickly and do a bit of 'show' of soaking.
He only saw the body of the unconscious young man. Probably from the fine garments covering his body, the Third Prince of Lingyu.
There was also something odd about the air when he entered as ordered - it was like a sinking feeling of another unknown qi. Then it dissipated.
Did the poor man mess up his entire meridian system beyond repair, Lianfeng wondered.
"So I heard that the third prince has arrived as a guest," Lianfeng commented casually as Cangtian yawned.
"That vegetable? Yes, he is here. Luckily, that annoying brat isn't clingy as he was before. Pity all his pretty boy looks are wasted on him. If he was a girl, different story."
Girls again - Lianfeng sighed.
That was what Cangtian did in his spare time - disturb girls in the nearby Youdu city.
Cangtian was not ready to marry based on several rejected betrothal offers, but always ready to have his way with them.
"Weren't you both good friends in your youth? What happened?" Lianfeng raised his eyebrow.
Cangtian laughed loudly and replied, "just playing nice to a patron's son. Never bothered to return his letters. And when I had the three peaceful years, he has to return here for some rehabilitation reason. He still might be of used to enter one of the famous exclusive brothels in Youdu city."
Lianfeng was heavily tempted to advise Cangtian against that action.
Not all the pretty girls were human in Youdu and Cangtian should know better than to bring someone, especially a young prince who had a broken ling system, to the brothels of Youdu.
The advice could be better used by the prince. Lianfeng remembered Ji Feng as someone smart enough to avoid such temptations.
***
A well-built young man with a polite disposition approached me cautiously with a bow. His face to the floor.
So this is Lianfeng. He has grown taller than Cangtian. The one who likes cultivation books and probably could find something I wanted.
"Dispense with formalities," I waived the servants away. "Thank you for visiting me. I remembered you. Guess Cangtian can't bully you now. Do have a seat."
He lifted his head and obediently got up to the chair my hand directed to.
I am so cursed. In my previous life as a woman, I have never seen so many good-looking men on planet Earth - movie stars had to even use make up to look that good.
Shiseido and L'Oréal won't stand a chance to be conglomerates in Lingyu, let along the entire world of Jinshi.
Damn, Lingyu has an astonishing abundance of handsome stallions when I am in a boy's body. It was very rare to see an ugly one here. Even the peasants were pleasant looking.
Fortunately, that said, went for the ladies too. Maybe it's the food - fresh vegetables, freshly slaughtered mystery meat and who needs mineral water when spring water was in abundance. Nothing deep fried.
McDonald's doesn't exist here. Neither does KFC, Taco Bell, Burger King or other fast food joints on Earth.
Shit, Lianfeng was better looking than Cangtian. A bit gentler looking. Definitely not weak based on his built. That voice was to die for, better than mine - this guy had the smoothest sounding manly voice which could sound threatening yet sexy all the time.
I hate him already.
"Hehe, surely you jest. I hope your highness feels much better."
"Already better. I would like to request your help in a matter since your father mentioned your interest in books of cultivation." There we go, my upfront request.
"Oh, what topic?"
"Qi, particularly Xuan qi."
He gazed downwards at the floor in deep thought.
"Xuan qi is only in the legends. There is a book in our library which mentions this particular qi, but from what I recall, only certain celestials and deities can use it. Those of a Yin constitution. One has to be ...a corpse before it can be used."
Um...I am living in the corpse of Ji Feng, right now. Yahtzee! Bingo! That counts. That's why that entity mentioned the building blocks of Xuan qi.
"Well, just interested in doing some reading on it. What else can I read? Learn how to cultivate my ling qi?"
Whoops.
Awkward silence ensued. I really didn't care about this broken body, but it did leave him in a vulnerable position. Beads of cold sweat were breaking out on the poor fellow's forehead.
I could scream 'Off with his head', like Alice in Wonderland's Queen of Hearts, and they would probably behead him.
With power came great responsibility. Truth be told, no one in my newfound royal family would actually execute without a very good reason. They could, but they won't.
"Um...well, when can we see the library?"
"Anytime, as your highness wishes," he gulped.
"Oh, in that case...let's go now. I am bored."