Chapter Eleven: Ambitions Soaring Like a Swan
"You! You! You!"
Glaring at the smug look on Liu Ji’s face, Sun Zi’ang ground his teeth in fury, his eyes nearly spitting fire as if a volcano raged within his chest.
This Liu Ji had always opposed him, never missing a chance to mock him whenever they met. Just a few days ago, he’d even brought men to beat him so badly that Sun had been bedridden for days.
Such utter disregard for the young master of the Sun family!
He truly wanted nothing more than to give Liu Ji a thorough beating! After all, this fellow, who spent his days idling in brothels, was no match for him—Sun Zi’ang could pin him to the ground with just a finger!
But he couldn’t lay a hand on Liu Ji. As his father had put it, “If you so much as injure Liu Ji, his father will wipe out our entire Sun family.”
Detestable!
Infuriating!
Those damn aristocrats!
He despised people with stronger backgrounds than his own!
One of Liu Ji’s guards stepped forward, his expression indifferent as he looked at Sun Zi’ang, a wave of pressure radiating from him. “What do you intend to do?”
Sun Zi’ang, intimidated by the burly figure, involuntarily took a few steps back. He took a deep breath and cast a glance at Han Feng, who was hiding behind Liu Ji.
With a huff, he shook his sleeve and stormed off. “Let’s go!”
Once Sun Zi’ang and his entourage had left, Han Feng finally emerged from behind Liu Ji. He clasped his fists to Liu Ji in gratitude. “Thank you, my lord, for your assistance.”
His expression was dignified, neither servile nor arrogant. “I, Han Feng, will never forget the kindness you’ve shown me today. Should you ever need anything from me, I will not refuse!”
Liu Ji chuckled. “Do you think, as a noble heir, I would ever need a beggar like you to help me with anything?”
Han Feng responded with a light laugh. “As they say, at home you rely on your parents, but outside, you rely on friends. Surely you don’t plan to spend your whole life in South King City, do you?”
Liu Ji nodded. There was truth in Han Feng’s words; he didn’t intend to spend his entire life in South King City. He, too, yearned to see the wider world.
Suddenly, a loud growl interrupted their conversation. Liu Ji saw Han Feng clutch his stomach awkwardly. “Why not come eat with me?” Liu Ji offered.
“Thank you!” Han Feng replied joyfully.
Soon, the group arrived at the city’s finest restaurant. The attendant hurried over, ingratiating himself: “This way, my lord. What would you like to eat?”
With his hands behind his back, Liu Ji replied coolly, “Bring out your very best dishes. Today, I am hosting a banquet for my friends.”
“Right away, sir! Please, this way—I’ll have the best private room prepared for you, and the food will be served at once!” The attendant beamed with delight. Truly, the young lord was generous!
Led by the attendant, Liu Ji, Han Feng, and their party soon found themselves seated in an elegant private room.
Before long, the dishes were served.
“Brother Han, please,” Liu Ji invited.
“Great kindness needs no thanks!” Han Feng said, and immediately began eating heartily, devouring the food ravenously, as if he hadn’t eaten in days.
Liu Ji casually asked, “Are you alone these days?”
Han Feng nodded. “Yes.”
“Don’t you have any family?”
“I do,” Han Feng mumbled through a mouthful of food, “but I haven’t been back in years. I don’t even know how my parents have fared these past years.”
“Why not return?”
“I can’t be bothered,” Han Feng replied. “If I go back, all they’ll do is tie me to the fields, spending my days with my face to the earth and my back to the sky!”
Suddenly, he cried out, “How could they ever understand the greatness of my ambitions?”
Liu Ji laughed. “Oh? Then, Brother Han, tell me—what are your grand ambitions?”
Han Feng put down his chopsticks. “You’re the first person who’s ever been willing to listen to me. Since that’s the case, let me tell you properly!”
Liu Ji nodded. “Go on.”
“I want to be a great general—the kind of general who can alter the very world with a snap of his fingers. I don’t want to be a docile, honest farmer!”
With that, he returned to his feast.
“But as you are now…” Liu Ji said, “you seem further from your goal than ever. If you continue like this, you’ll starve to death out here.”
“I…” Han Feng’s face flushed with embarrassment, but his expression quickly regained its resolve. “All I lack is an opportunity. If fate gives me a chance, I will become a great general, second only to the emperor!”
As he ate, he added, “If a person doesn’t even have dreams, what’s the point of living? Tell me, my lord—am I wrong?”
Liu Ji nodded. Having dreams was, of course, a good thing. But how many people ever see their dreams realized?
He asked, “Brother, you must know that our world is overrun with demons and monsters. Becoming a great general isn’t easy. Do you have the strength for it?”
“No.”
“Do you know martial arts?”
“No.”
“Do you have a Spirit Armor?”
“No.”
“Are you versed in military strategy?”
“No.”
“Any powerful connections?”
“Just a farmer.”
“…”
After several questions, Liu Ji could only rub his forehead in exasperation. Without strength, background, or cunning, if this guy could become a great general, then he himself could be emperor!
A stifled laugh escaped from Xiaoya beside them. Without bothering to hide her mockery, she said, “You? Dreaming of becoming a great general?”
She sneered, “If you ask me, you’d best hurry home, tuck yourself into bed, and dream all you like. In your dreams, anything’s possible. Better than daydreaming here!”
The four guards standing nearby shook their heads, barely suppressing laughter.
Han Feng, however, took no offense. “I know you all think it’s impossible, but I maintain—I, Han Feng, only lack an opportunity!”
Liu Ji decided not to dampen Han Feng’s spirits any further. If Han Feng could truly become a great general, then the sun might as well rise in the west.
After a moment’s thought, Liu Ji said, “Brother Han, if you’re willing, why not stay with me from now on? At the very least, you won’t have to go hungry.”
Though Han Feng was fond of daydreaming and rather arrogant without much ability, Liu Ji had to admit that Han Feng’s words made sense. When traveling, one relies on friends. Making a friend like Han Feng wasn’t a bad idea. After all, as a noble heir, he could easily afford to support one more person.
Han Feng paused, scrutinizing Liu Ji for a long moment before saying, “Everyone in South King City says that the young lord of the royal house is nothing but a wastrel, a man who gambles, drinks, and frequents brothels. But today, I see they were all wrong.”
He spoke with certainty. “Utterly wrong!”
Liu Ji asked, “And why do you say that?”
Han Feng replied, “Who is the Lord of the South? He’s the ‘Tiger Marquis’—known throughout the entire Nuoxi Empire, commanding the Southern Tiger Cavalry across the realm!”
He gave a sly smile. “How could the son of a tiger be a mere dog? I always thought your reputation as a wastrel was just an act—to mislead the imperial family. Only if you appear useless will the royals feel at ease.”
Hearing this, Liu Ji frowned slightly. Why did Han Feng’s words seem to hold some truth? After all, the Lord of the South was a mighty figure across the empire. How could he tolerate a useless son?
Han Feng went on, “After meeting you today, I’m even more convinced you’re just pretending. Otherwise, how could you have spotted me among a sea of people—a dark horse, and soon to be the greatest dark horse of all!”
He gave Liu Ji a thumbs-up. “I must admit, your judgment is truly extraordinary—far better than that Sun fellow!”
“Pfft!” Xiaoya, drinking water, couldn’t help but spit it out, laughing so hard she clutched her belly, tears streaming from her eyes as if she’d heard the world’s greatest joke.
“Xiaoya! Mind your manners!” Liu Ji coughed, turning to scold her, though his slightly trembling shoulders betrayed his own barely suppressed amusement.
Honestly, he’d only taken Han Feng in because he pitied him—and, well, he did want to make a friend like this. But Han Feng’s words… he didn’t even know how to describe it. Was this fellow completely out of his mind?
So narcissistic!
Yet Han Feng was utterly unfazed by the laughter. He replied with a carefree smile, “Still, I thank you for your offer. The Royal House of the South is filled with powerful warriors. I’d only be a minor foot soldier there!”
He stood up. “As such, I must politely decline your invitation. In a few days, I plan to leave South King City.”
He clasped his fists once more. “But I will never forget your kindness. Should you ever need me, I, Han Feng, will never refuse!”
…
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