There was no denying it — Jiang Feng's instincts were remarkably sharp.
"Chen'er, your father has failed you. All these years, you faced so much on your own, and I wasn't there by your side to face it with you." Jiang Feng's voice carried a note of self-reproach. "Perhaps as a father, I truly let you down. And your brother as well…"
Jiang Chen felt a pang in his heart and consoled him, "Father, you took care of me for so many years. It was only after I could stand on my own that you went out to find Mother. If anyone should apologize, it's me who has failed you."
"What are you saying? Don't be childish! What could you possibly have done wrong to your father? This time, if not for you, could your father have escaped alive? If not for you, could your father have learned your mother's whereabouts? Chen'er, your father's two greatest achievements in this lifetime are knowing your mother and having a son as fine as you."
Jiang Feng had long since forgotten all about his so-called vassal lord status in the Eastern Kingdom. Having left the Eastern Kingdom and departed the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance, he finally understood how vast this world truly was — and how insignificant he had once been. He also finally understood why those people had worn such contemptuous expressions when they took his wife away.
They truly had every reason to be proud!
Compared to them, somewhere as tiny as the Eastern Kingdom really was like a frog at the bottom of a well. It wasn't even worthy of being called that!
"By the way, Chen'er — you were hunted by the Imperishable Heavenly Capital back then. What happened after that, in the end? How did you manage to escape their pursuit?"
That story would take a long time to tell in full.
Jiang Chen kept it brief: "I was indeed hunted by the Imperishable Heavenly Capital at the time, but they didn't cause me too much trouble. Later, through a stroke of fortune, I made my way to the Glazed Glass Royal City."
"You really did go to the Glazed Glass Royal City? I heard people say that the Imperishable Heavenly Capital set up an ambush outside the Glazed Glass Royal City specifically to prevent you from reaching it."
"Yes. If not for the help of a young master from the Wei family in the Glazed Glass Royal City, I wouldn't have been able to enter."
"Good, good — that's what they mean by saying a fortunate person enjoys the protection of heaven. After you entered the Glazed Glass Royal City, where did you go after that? You've changed so much over these years. I could barely recognize you." Jiang Feng was visibly excited. Every father harbored the ambition of seeing his son become a dragon.
And the greatest happiness of all was watching one's son grow into someone extraordinary.
"After I entered the Glazed Glass Royal City, I hardly ever left. For the past few years, I've been there the entire time. I built my own power base there and made my own friends. I also have another identity now — I go by Zhen Shi, Pill King Zhen."
Jiang Feng's heart skipped a beat, and a look of utter disbelief shot into his eyes. "Chen'er, what did you say? Pill King Zhen? The Pill King Zhen who defeated Pill King Jilang of Pill Fire City?"
Jiang Chen smiled bitterly. "You've heard about that too, Father?"
"Who hasn't? Every corner of the Upper Eight Domains is talking about it. Chen'er — you're saying that Pill King Zhen is you?"
Jiang Chen smiled and didn't deny it. "It's me. Because I didn't want to reveal my identity for the time being, lest it affect the plans to rebuild Dan Qian Palace, nor did I want to bring trouble to the Glazed Glass Royal City."
Jiang Feng took a deep breath. This sudden revelation had left him somewhat dazed. After several deep breaths, he barely managed to compose himself, and his excitement surged. He punched Jiang Chen on the shoulder. "Well, I'll be! In all my life, I never imagined that my son would turn out to be this impressive. My goodness — Pill King Zhen! Hahaha! The world-famous Pill King Zhen is actually my son! I'd like to see anyone from the Moon God Sect look down on our family now! Son, I also heard that some years ago, you were designated as the Young Lord of Peacock Sacred Mountain by the Peacock Great Emperor of the Glazed Glass Royal City?"
Jiang Feng might have been roaming about gathering information everywhere, but in truth, he kept close track of news from the outside world.
Jiang Chen's designation as Young Lord had happened many years ago. By now, the news had long since spread throughout the entire human domain.
After all, following his designation as Young Lord, Jiang Chen had also entered the Glazed Glass Main Tower.
Several years had been more than enough for this news to ferment and reach every corner. At the time, Jiang Feng had treated it as mere gossip.
He could never have dreamed that Pill King Zhen was his own son!
Jiang Chen didn't deny it either, nodding. "That's right. The Young Lord of Peacock Sacred Mountain — it's a rather daunting title. But the burden on my shoulders isn't light either."
"What young man fears carrying a burden? I've heard that the Peacock Great Emperor is the foremost Great Emperor of the Glazed Glass Royal City, symbolizing its supreme status. Which means you'll be controlling the Glazed Glass Royal City's power in the future, won't you? Heh heh heh — if that's the case, what is the Moon God Sect compared to that?"
Jiang Feng's tone was immediately filled with boundless pride.
With a son this accomplished, how could a father not be overjoyed? How could he not feel vindicated?
All these years, every time he thought of his wife's origins, every time he recalled the contemptuous expressions on those people's faces as they took her away, his heart had ached beyond measure.
That feeling of being despised, of being treated as nothing more than an ant — it had tormented his very soul.
He knew it was a gap that was nearly impossible to bridge. Jiang Feng admitted as much. So he could only pin his hopes on his wife not having forgotten her feelings for him.
But marriages had always been about matching social standing. If his wife truly belonged to the bloodline of some great house or supreme power, even if he found her, would they really be able to reunite as a family?
In truth, Jiang Feng was not particularly optimistic.
But all his worries, all his frustrations — the moment he learned of his son's current standing, every last problem ceased to be a problem.