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The traditional classical decor of Huaguo featured a winding dragon table and four curled brocade cushions. Not far away, a round sandalwood table displayed an incense burner, from which wisps of fragrant smoke rose gently, adding an ethereal quality to the wooden room.
Liu Xing picked up a green clay teapot and poured a cup of boiling tea for the Elder beside him. The tea, named One Night Red, was a so-called import, renowned for its rich flavor developed overnight among the bushes in Cosmos. It had become a favorite at high society gatherings in recent years.
The teacup was filled to the brim, instantly releasing a sweet aroma.
Liu Xing then filled the cups for Jufeng and his daughter before finally attending to his own.
The Elder's face was kind, with relaxed skin that bore many wrinkles, and his graying hair seemed to tell a grand history. Despite appearing as a weathered old man, he exuded an aura of warmth and familiarity. His gentle gaze was filled with affection as he looked at the young man kneeling on the meditation cushion holding the teapot. Only when the young man set down the teapot did he shift his attention back to Jufeng across from him and raised his cup in a toast.
Chuyang clearly showed little interest in drinking tea. Liu Xing had already lifted his cup when he caught sight of Chuyang's indifference. After pondering for a moment, he set his cup back down. The Elder and Jufeng exchanged knowing glances, their smiles deepening. Chuyang shot Liu Xing an annoyed look for two seconds before casually turning his head away, seemingly opting for ignorance.
"At my age, time is far more abundant than it is for the young. When I have nothing to do, I often find myself reminiscing about my youth, sometimes laughing out loud at my own thoughts. Back then, my mind was filled with calculations and dreams of the moon; I didn't have friends as vibrant as those now."
The Elder gazed at Liu Xing, as if recalling fleeting memories from years gone by. The most successful moments in life often come in old age when one can still enjoy leisurely reflections over tea and conversation.
Jufeng listened with a smile to the Elder's musings. He understood that during such moments, remaining silent and respectful was what the Elder appreciated most from younger people. So he simply smiled and waited for the Elder to continue.
Once the Elder finished speaking, he raised his cup again, took a sip of tea, then set it down. Jufeng discreetly followed suit, taking a sip while attentively listening.
The Elder naturally transitioned from memories back to reality, his gaze towards Jufeng still warm as he slowly began discussing topics related to Romain's visit.
"I hear things are progressing well in the North?"
Jufeng recognized that the question was directed at him. He placed his hand that had been touching the cup back on the table and considered his words carefully before responding: "They are all children harboring some resentment; fueled by their passion, they inevitably catch their opponents off guard at the beginning."
The old man relaxed his withered hands around the cup upon hearing the words. The young man was not afraid of suffering losses; he feared having an inflated ego that could lead to a significant downfall.
"I hear you've been wandering around Jiangnan. How many closed doors have you encountered?"
The old man used the word "hear" again. Although it seemed unremarkable, the whereabouts of Jufeng were unknown even in the north. How could the old man have heard? If he could hear, it indicated that he possessed considerable influence—something even the Unification Alliance could not match. Otherwise, how could Jufeng sit here calmly enjoying tea?
A glimpse reveals much; a single leaf can signal autumn. The old man was like Mount Tai!
His life was seemingly ordinary yet filled with grand undertakings. Born into a prominent family, his grandfather was a central figure, and his father had fought his way up to provincial leadership. It was no wonder the old man had such an education; it explained why he had spent his childhood surrounded by books. He rose steadily throughout his life, honing his skills within the system, reaching his father's level by fifty. Upon retirement, he surpassed even his grandfather—a towering figure in the political arena, deserving of Jufeng's utmost respect.
When it came to embarrassing moments, Jufeng laughed rather than lamented, self-deprecatingly saying, "I’ve only faced a couple of closed doors, but plenty of open ones! Once I got inside, they served me tea and prepared meals, only to hastily send me off after one meal as if my presence had settled any lingering debts from years past. I couldn’t help it; my skin isn’t thick enough to stay longer, so I left feeling somewhat disgruntled. I didn’t gain much from those encounters, but I certainly added some weight!"
After Jufeng finished speaking, the old man burst into hearty laughter. Jufeng felt quite frustrated and said, "Uncle Chen, I knew you would mock me! Reality is just too harsh!"
Once Chen Lao had laughed enough, he took a sip of tea to calm down. The cup was nearly empty, and Liu Xing quickly straightened up and poured more for the old man.
Still nine-tenths full.
The old man kindly said "thank you," causing Liu Xing's face to turn bright red as he hurriedly shook his head.
The old man continued, "You know, you are just like your father back in the day. He wanted to implement sweeping reforms in Huaguo's economy and visited various departments and influential figures but received no support at all. Yet he never gave up. Eventually, he found me, and that’s when things finally fell into place. I asked him why he persisted after so many rejections; he said as long as there were people in higher positions who hadn’t turned him down and even a glimmer of hope remained, he would keep trying! That kind of tenacity is truly admirable."
Jufeng had never heard these stories about Father Ju directly from him; this was the first time he learned about those glorious pasts.
Mentioning Father Ju made Jufeng take a sip of tea, unsure whether to savor its sweetness or bitterness.
The old man fell silent for a moment before slowly uttering the most serious words of the day.
"Do you know why I took such a great risk to support your father's cause?"
Jufeng shook his head.
"Because I told him that as long as it benefits the country and brings happiness to the people, I would spare no effort in my support... and now you must do the same."
"The country needs a unified and stable Underworld. This is your opportunity, and it is my only requirement. Go ahead, take action. After a hundred years of chaos among the heroes, it's time for a unified realm!"
Jufeng did not know how he walked out of the Association; he only felt light on his feet, his spirit lifted, and the entire Hang City seemed brighter.
...
After leaving the Association, he arrived at a villa by West Lake. The villa was not luxurious at all; in fact, it could be described as simple, standing in stark contrast to its grand appearance from the outside.
The villa was heavily guarded, but fortunately, Jufeng and his companions faced little obstruction. Upon entering, they were greeted by a middle-aged man dressed in plain clothes who welcomed them with a smile.
"You made me wait so long! I thought you would leave without saying goodbye after wandering around Hang City for two or three days."
The middle-aged man's words were surprising, but Jufeng laughed gracefully, unfazed by the man's teasing.
"As the leader of the United Heart Association, I naturally had to make thorough preparations before visiting," Jufeng said as he placed Chuyang on the sofa and let Liu Xing sit beside him.
The middle-aged man sat across from Jufeng and got straight to the point: "I know that the movements in the north are all orchestrated by you. You need my help; we have a common enemy. I want to know how far you can sustain this commotion."
"You should know where I come from. The only thing I can insist on is that the Unification Alliance must disappear in Huaguo."
The middle-aged man naturally knew where Jufeng came from. In fact, recently, Jufeng had been under the watch of the United Heart Association. He was aware of the power of the elder in the Association and did not dare to underestimate Jufeng.
After a moment of contemplation, the middle-aged man made up his mind. "With your words, I will also persevere. I hope we can meet at the home base of the Unification Alliance!"
Jufeng smiled warmly and stood up to leave. After Jufeng departed, a young man behind the middle-aged man asked him with confusion.
"Brother, is it worth taking a risk for someone as obscure as him?"
The middle-aged man gazed at the spot where Jufeng had sat. Although their meeting was brief, he had gained a clear understanding and murmured, "He is a dragon, not an insect; he is not something that can be found in a pond!"
(To be continued)
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