Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Don’t Say You Met Me for the First Time (Part 1)

In the secret hall of Fuhu Temple, a young man in black sat in the upper seat, with dozens of young men in black, 

all around seventeen or eighteen years old, kneeling in front of him.

His eyes lightly swept over the people in front of him. Feng Qing rested his chin with his left hand, looking a 

little lazy.

"Your Highness," the commander Kui beside him handed over the documents with both hands to Feng Qing, 

looking at the young men below, "This is the information you requested. They are your personal guards, 

a total of thirty-four."

Having said that, Kui turned around to face everyone and loudly declared, "From today onwards, you are 

the personal guards of the young prince. Serve him for life, and if there are any traitors, kill them without mercy!" 

"We accept the order!" 

"Your Highness, do you have any further instructions?" Kui bowed and asked.

Feng Qing slowly sat up straight and flipped through all the information about the thirty-four personal guards 

in his hands. It was exactly what he heard in the palace that year.

The orphan who survived the Lan family massacre. Over the years, under the protection of the emperor's 

shadow guards, they have been able to stand on their own.

Closing the file, Feng Qing stood up, walked down the steps, and approached everyone, saying softly, 

"Get up, all of you, lift your heads."

After scrutinizing each one for a while, Feng Qing turned back to the couch, tilted his head towards Kui, 

and said, "Pair up, martial arts competition."

Hearing this, Kui Wei was stunned, and then he understood that Feng Qing was testing the strength 

of these people, "Yes, Your Highness."

Kui shouted to the guards: "You quickly divide into groups, and then compete one by one, Show your best 

skills, but don't injure each other fatally.”

Suddenly, thirty-four well-trained individuals split into seventeen groups. In the dark hall, a fierce battle ensued.

Feng Qing watched the fight silently, secretly assessing each person's strength. 

When everyone was exhausted, Feng Qing said calmly, "That's enough."

Pointing at four people, he said, "You four, follow this prince. As for the others, Kui will arrange it when 

the time comes." 

"Your Highness, what are your plans?" Kui asked softly.

Without answering, Feng Qing leisurely walked up to the four chosen individuals and asked, "From today 

onwards, you will be renamed Lan, Xiang, Mo, and Zi, and your surname will be Feng."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for bestowing the name!" the four of them said in unison.

Looking down at the four people kneeling on the ground, Feng Qing said: "Raise your head!"

These four people showed outstanding martial arts or good potential in the competition just now, so Feng Qing 

chose them to be his shadow guards.

Among the four, Feng Lan was the youngest, looking to be around fourteen or fifteen years old. Feng Qing 

remembered that he was the youngest son of the Lan family. Back then, out of over a hundred members of the 

Lan family, he was the only one who survived.

With some interest in his eyes, Feng Qing looked at the young man with clear eyes in front of him. It was hard to 

believe that he had experienced a massacre, and it was even more unimaginable that he was one of the shadow 

guards who survived in this darkness.

"Just you." Feng Qing said lightly and walked towards the exit.

After getting along with him for a few days, Kui got to know this indifferent prince somewhat. Walking in front 

of the Four Shadow Guards, Kui said in a deep voice: "Feng Lan, from today on, you will be His Highness's 

personal attendant; for the other three, you will secretly protect His Highness."

"We accept the mission," the four said in unison.

◇Cang Huan◇Seven Palaces◇

On the table, the scent of sandalwood wafts through the air. Occasionally, someone speaks softly, but most of the 

time, only one person's voice can be heard.

Feng Qing gently closed the secret fold in his hand, raised his eyes to look at Kui, and said: "Those thirty people, 

arrange them according to what is written here."

Quickly flipping through the secret documents, Kui looked at Feng Qing in astonishment. The latter's expression 

remained calm and indifferent, "Your Highness, you..."

The layout here is comparable to that of the current emperor, even surpassing it. It's just…

"Why go into business?"

Feng Qing gave Kui a faint glance and said, "Economy is the foundation of a nation." Seeing the other person's 

somewhat puzzled expression, he couldn't be bothered to explain. It must be said that Si Cang JueTian was 

indeed worthy of being a generation's emperor, but the ancient people's disdain for commerce was truly a 

common flaw.

The economic base determines the upper class. This economy cannot rely solely on ancient and backward 

agriculture. Only by developing business can we be truly strong.

Speaking of which, the current influence of Si Cang JueTian in the civilian and martial arts circles is even 

greater than he imagined. So, he only needs to draw a few things from it, except for the business aspect. 

"Yes, I will make arrangements immediately according to the master's instructions." Kui quickly calmed down 

his expression, clutching the secret document, and left Feng Qing's room.

After everyone had withdrawn, Wuxin, who had been by Feng Qing's side, finally asked, with a hint of concern 

in his voice, "Master, do you really trust those people?"

Although the master is indeed a prince, those people ultimately take orders directly from the emperor. But can 

the emperor really trust the master this much?

"Not a problem." Feng Qing replied lazily. He naturally understood Wuxin's concerns, but at this moment, apart 

from the manpower given to him by 'Father Emperor,' he had no foundation of his own. Not to mention the 

principle of using people without suspicion and not using those who are suspicious, even if those people 

retained their loyalty, it would not harm him.

That emperor, having been struck by the Heart-Extinguishing Gu, is likely to have a short lifespan. 

For this reason, he sacrificed many resources back then, even breaching the agreement with Penglai Pavilion, 

to preserve the only royal bloodline, the young prince.

Nowadays, even if the emperor has reservations about him, he won't harm him; he just harbors doubts.

Moreover, the reason he is willing to get involved in the court's disputes is precisely because of his status 

as a prince; otherwise, he wouldn't bother entangling himself in them.

In terms of emotions and reason, he chose to trust the emperor. As for these people, he did not doubt the 

emperor's ability to manage people. Those who are loyal to the emperor now will soon be loyal to him.

However... 

"Lühuan, Wuxin, you two should follow them," Fengqing instructed the two lightly, "Lü Huan, you stay in 

Lin City and help them establish the Feng family of wealthy merchants; Wuxin, you go with the people from 

Dongying Tower to the headquarters in Jiangxi and take charge of the shadows."

Regarding Wuxin and Luhuan, he trusts them wholeheartedly. Rather than saying they are subordinates, 

it would be more appropriate to say they are family. They, along with Feng Wufei, are the only family he has 

had in two lifetimes.

"Master, we don't want to leave you." Luhuan immediately shouted, looking aggrieved, "I've been taking care 

of you since you were little. If I leave you, who will serve you?"

"It's nothing," Feng Qing's cold voice softened slightly, "You have a cheerful disposition, making it easier for 

you to make friends." Engaging in business is just perfect for you.

"I already have a retainer by my side." Speaking of this, Feng Qing thought of those clear eyes.

“Ah?”

Not wanting to explain further, Feng Qing gently waved his hand, signaling them to retreat.

Knowing Feng Qing's stubborn personality, Lu Huan could only grumble in dissatisfaction and leave with 

Wu Xin.

◇Cang Huan◇Seven Palaces◇

The moon is at its zenith.

Feng Qing glanced at the four people kneeling in front of him and said calmly: "n the future, you four are 

exempt from bowing when you see me.”

"Xiang, Mo, Zi, your martial arts skills are the best among the guards, but they are still somewhat lacking. 

Starting today, you will train according to the training schedule drafted by this prince."

"Yes, Master!"

"Lan," Feng Qing looked at the somewhat frail boy and said coldly, "To the outside world, you are my 

personal servant."

"Yes, Master." Feng Lan replied.

"Everyone, retreat!"

With a casual wave, Feng Qing walked towards the inner room. It was late, and he was ready to rest.

"Master, let me help you change clothes!" Feng Lan, who quickly adapted to his role, said softly.

Turning around, Feng Qing raised his head to look at Feng Lan, who was a head taller than him, and stared 

at him steadily, saying, "No need, you go rest outside."

Saying this, he ignored the other person and undressed himself before getting into bed. Since his previous 

life, he had never liked outsiders getting close to him, let alone helping him change clothes. If it weren't for 

hiding Feng Lan's identity, he wouldn't need any personal servant at all.

Moonlight, filtering through the window bars, casts a cool glow all around.

Feng Qing leaned against the bed, resting with his eyes closed, quickly recalling the information he had 

supplemented over the past few days, pondering the arrangements and plans for the next three years.

Outside, there were faint, careful sounds from Feng Lan. Feng Qing suddenly thought of some questions, so he 

got up to ask Feng Lan. Silently walking to the door of the partition, Feng Qing's body slightly paused, almost 

imperceptibly.

Sitting on the bed with the quilt wrapped around him was his newly appointed personal attendant, Feng Lan. 

However, those clear and bright eyes were inexplicably tinged with a hint of confusion and sorrow.

The youth draped in the cool moonlight exudes solitude and sorrow.

Feng Qing seemed to have seen his past life. After meeting his biological father Feng Aozhu again, he often 

saw that bamboo-like person on such nights, and secretly felt sad and haggard. At that time, he didn't understand 

and didn't care.

At this moment, Feng Qing gently furrowed his brows. The person before him, with eyes that remained bright 

and clear even in the deepest darkness, inevitably caught his attention. But why at this moment…

After a moment of contemplation, Feng Qing spoke indifferently, his voice not loud, yet in the stillness of the 

deep night, it was profoundly moving: "Only those who have experienced sorrow can truly understand happiness."

This sentence is not his sentiment. But back then, Feng Aozhu said it to him who didn't understand emotions 

in an almost philosophical manner. Feng Aozhu said that mortals always have joys and sorrows, and it is for 

this reason that they understand happiness. To this day, he still can't understand it, but he seems to understand 

its meaning.

Just like himself, there is never any sadness or happiness.

"Master!" Suddenly hearing Feng Qing's words, Feng Lan was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at Feng 

Qing, with confusion and bewilderment flickering in his eyes.

Feng Qing's furrowed brows relaxed, and he no longer pondered those enigmatic emotions. Since he didn't 

understand why people always had so many joys and sorrows, there was no need to trouble himself with them.

Before Feng Lan could make a move, Feng Qing turned and walked towards the inner room, leaving behind 

a faint remark: "Only the strong can survive."

This is his philosophy in life.

Those so-called sadness and happiness can only be truly owned and protected if they are strong enough.

And the people around him, he doesn't want them to be weak.

Quickly forgetting the sad young man outside, Feng Qing lifted the thin quilt, sat back on the bed, and continued 

to think about future arrangements…

Front Page Next