paranoianovel Chapter 16 Old Friends!
Chapter 16 Old Friends!
Jiang Feng ended his call with his sister and was about to withdraw his divine sense to continue comprehending what he had gained from his earlier celestial survey when the communication jade slip, which had just gone silent, suddenly heated up slightly again, emitting a familiar, somewhat impatient fluctuation.
"Brother! Brother! It's me again!"
Jiang Yu's voice rang in his mind again, this time with less excitement and more barely suppressed curiosity and calculation.
"I can't sleep! I'm so excited about it being over in two days! Can I ask you a few more questions? Just a few!"
Jiang Feng felt a little helpless, but the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved into a smile. This girl, her personality is still so lively. He sent a wisp of his divine sense to reply: "Ask."
"Bro, what do you think I should stream when I get there?"
Jiang Yu's voice was full of anticipation and planning.
"What does the Heavenly Court look like over there? Is it really floating in the sky? Are the palaces all made of jade? Do you have those glowing trees and fruits that grant immortality if you eat them? Oh, right!"
Her voice suddenly rose, filled with excitement.
"Are there any non-human... uh, demonic beasts? Spirit beasts? You mean those incredibly majestic, incredibly magical creatures that absolutely don't exist on Earth! Like... dragons! Bro, do you have dragons where you are? Real, divine dragons that can ride the clouds and summon wind and rain!"
She got more and more excited as she spoke: "If I could have a dragon as a mount, or even just a shot from afar... oh my god! The live stream would be phenomenal! Bro, do you know what a dragon means on Earth? It's mythology, it's a totem, it's the code to top-tier viewership! If I could bring a dragon into the shot, wouldn't all those people who questioned me before, saying it was special effects or a script, kneel down and call me a god on the spot? Just thinking about it is awesome!"
Jiang Feng listened to his sister excitedly imagining the scene of "riding a dragon live and shocking the world," and he couldn't help but laugh and cry. This girl, she hadn't even arrived yet, and she was already thinking about how to "show off" and slap people in the face. No wonder she was a streamer; her professional habits were ingrained in her bones.
"Whether it's true or not, you'll know when you get here." Jiang Feng deliberately kept everyone in suspense, his tone flat and revealing no emotion.
"Oh, brother! Can't you at least give me a little hint? Satisfy your little sister's curiosity!" Jiang Yu complained, "And also, brother, you've been over there for ten thousand years... have you found me a sister-in-law yet? I've never met her! What does she look like? Is she also a cultivator? Is she powerful? Is she good-tempered? Will she like me, her sister-in-law? Brother, tell me quickly!"
Jiang Feng was slightly taken aback by the barrage of questions about his "sister-in-law," then shook his head helplessly. This girl's thinking was incredibly unconventional.
"You'll know when you get here." He still avoided answering, his tone carrying an undeniable air of finality. "Alright, don't ask anymore. Get some rest and recharge. Don't keep sending messages. I... I have other things to do."
"Okay, okay..." Jiang Yu sensed a hint of "shooing her away" in her brother's tone. Although she was itching with excitement, she knew she couldn't make a fuss anymore and reluctantly agreed. But she still emphasized at the end, "Brother, I'll be waiting! Two days from now, see you there! I'm really, really looking forward to it! A million times more excited than when I was waiting for my college entrance exam results!"
After ending the extended call, Jiang Feng sat quietly for a moment. The gentle smile that had appeared in his eyes because of his sister's vivid words gradually faded and turned into a deep warmth.
For millennia, I have fought alone under the starry sky, witnessing countless deaths and separations, for the Great Dao is ruthless.
Only his sister's genuine intimacy, carefree attitude, and even somewhat annoying questioning reminded him that he was not born a proud and aloof Heavenly Emperor, but was once the eldest son of an ordinary family on that blue planet, with a sister who would pester him with questions and share secrets.
This concern is the anchor that keeps the last bit of human warmth in his heart in this cold and cruel world of cultivation.
Just then, a divine general respectfully reported from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, Princess Wanlong, Her Highness Longli, is requesting an audience."
Princess Wanlong? Long Li? A knowing glint flashed in Jiang Feng's eyes. He had just returned from his celestial patrol, and his aura hadn't fully dissipated. It was understandable that Long Li sensed his presence and came to visit. Perfect timing; a thought that had just arisen in his mind because of his sister's words could perhaps be directed at her.
"Announce," Jiang Feng said calmly.
A moment later, a tall and slender figure entered the Heavenly Palace.
She wore a magnificent pale gold palace dress, the hem of which trailed on the ground and was embroidered with lifelike dragon patterns, as if she might take off at any moment.
She was extremely beautiful, with an innate nobility and aloofness. On either side of her forehead were a pair of small, exquisite, crystal-clear dragon horns, which added to her mystery and majesty.
It was none other than Long Li, the daughter of the Dragon Emperor.
She stepped into the hall, bowed slightly to Jiang Feng on the throne, and performed a standard ancient greeting. Her voice was clear and melodious, like the clinking of jade stones: "Long Li of the Myriad Dragon Nest pays respects to His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor."
His manners were impeccable, but a complex emotion flickered in the depths of his deep purple dragon eyes.
Once upon a time, the Heavenly Emperor who sat high on the throne, whose power overwhelmed all the heavens and who made her and the entire Ten Thousand Dragon Nest bow down in respect, was just an unknown human youth struggling to survive at the bottom of the Big Dipper.
She met him when they were both struggling, and they once ventured into a secret realm together and faced life-or-death dangers together.
She remembered that when she first met him, he had low cultivation, kept a low profile, and was even somewhat cowardly.
It wasn't until later that he suddenly erupted like a dormant volcano, rising at an incredible speed, sweeping away his contemporaries, and finally proving himself as an emperor, establishing the Heavenly Court, and becoming the only supreme being under this starry sky.
She had never quite understood why he had been so dormant in the early stages, but now it seemed that perhaps this was the true cultivation method of a prodigy.
A slow and steady build-up, followed by a stunning debut?
Now, he is the emperor of humanity, the supreme ruler of all races, and the ruler of all heavens.
But she remained the princess of the Dragon Nest. The vast difference in their status and position cast an indescribable estrangement and awe over their former friendship.
"No need for formalities, Long Li." Jiang Feng's voice came from the imperial throne, calm and gentle, with less of the cold pressure he had when facing the supreme ruler of the forbidden zone.
His gaze fell on Long Li, looking at her face, which hadn't changed much from back then, only now possessing more dignity and beauty. A faint smile appeared in his eyes, a natural reaction to seeing an old acquaintance. "It's been a long time."
Seeing the familiar smile on Jiang Feng's face, Long Li felt a slight sense of relief, but then her heart tightened again. She felt inexplicably embarrassed, and a faint blush rose on her fair cheeks.
What does it mean that he... he's looking at me and smiling like that? Could it be...?
Just as she was feeling slightly flustered, Jiang Feng spoke, saying something that surprised her. "You've come at the right time. There's something I'd like to trouble you with."
"Your Majesty, please speak. I, Long Li, will do my utmost to assist you without hesitation," Long Li said respectfully, suppressing her distracting thoughts.
"I have a younger sister who will be arriving from our distant ancestral star soon. She'll be new to Beidou and unfamiliar with the place," Jiang Feng said calmly, as if discussing a casual matter. "She's lively and quite interested in everything about Beidou. I have some important matters to attend to and may not have time to accompany her. I'd like to ask if you could look after her when you have the time, show her around Beidou, and prevent her from feeling bored at first."