Chapter 427: Chapter 427 : The Little, Unfortunate, Lying Devil

"Let me go! Let me go! How dare you treat me this way!"

Qiao Wei and Jiang Muchen stared at Zhang Fengxi, who was struggling to free himself some distance away from them.

The little boy had a thick rope tied around him, with both ends connected to Jiang Muchen’s spiritual lion.

The beast, meanwhile, batted at Zhang Fengxi with playful swats, its tail swishing like a metronome debating whether the kid was more plaything or prime rib.

Qiao Wei’s discomfort was palpable.

Jiang Muchen, however, had the faintest hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. He savored this petty victory with every fiber of his being, and he did not bother to hide it.

"Behave, Zhang Fengxi," he said. "Otherwise, your punishment will never end."

"Muchen, tell me the truth. Is he going to recover once he returns to the Heavenly Realm?" Qiao Wei asked. "I don’t feel safe leaving him alone."

Jiang Muchen burst into tears.

"Little Uncle, you are still the same," he said while wiping tears off the ends of his eyes. "You always put others first before you. You are such a selfless saint. I love you very much. This bastard does not deserve you at all."

In response, Qiao Wei gave his nephew a flick on the forehead.

"Muchen, you should not talk about Fengxi that way. By rank, he is your elder."

"That’s right!" Zhang Fengxi screeched. "I am your elder, you unfilial nephew-in-law!!!"

Jiang Muchen spat to the side.

"Pfui! Does he look like an elder right now? My lion can squish him easily if he wants to!"

As if on cue, the lion chose that moment to give Zhang Fengxi a lick on his face to assess his compatibility as a snack.

Zhang Fengxi yelped to the side and pushed the lion away.

"Get away from me!!"

"I dare you to do it yourself, you Big Baby!" He then hisses at Jiang Muchen.

"What did you say just now???"

Jiang Muchen stepped forward, intent on teaching Zhang Fengxi’s mouth a lesson. Qiao Wei had to pull at his arm to stop him.

"I said, ’Big Baby’!" Zhang Fengxi cried out as he struggled to free himself from the ropes.

"Muchen, don’t. Fengxi is just mad because he is small now..."

When Zhang Fengxi let out a sharp gasp, Qiao Wei immediately realized his error.

"Heh."

Jiang Muchen sneered at Zhang Fengxi.

"My Little Uncle is right. You are small now. I shall not stoop to your level, you dwarf."

"Muchen...!" Qiao Wei raised his voice.

"ARGHHHHHHH!!!"

With a frustrated roar, Zhang Fengxi bucked and twisted, his fingers digging into the rope like tiny daggers, desperate to pry at the knots securing him to the spiritual lion.

"Muchen, really!"

Qiao Wei marched toward Zhang Fengxi and released him from the rope.

"Jianbao, wahhhhhhh...!!!"

Zhang Fengxi whimpered against Qiao Wei’s shoulder.

"There, there. Muchen, I demand that you treat my husband well," Qiao Wei told Jiang Muchen. "Do not bully my husband."

Jiang Muchen rolled with his eyes.

"It was just a joke," he murmured. "Little Uncle, please don’t be upset."

Qiao Wei cradled Zhang Fengxi in his arms.

"Fengxi, go back to the Heavenly Realm."

"No."

"You must. You can return when you recover from the seal."

A crease furrowed between Zhang Fengxi’s brows, etching a line of worry across his forehead.

"I cannot leave you alone here," he said. "You are deeply involved in Huang Taichen’s matter, and we haven’t discovered the person who smuggled the three-headed lion into Mount E’ling."

"Huang who? What happened?" Jiang Muchen piped up. "Little Uncle, if you need any help, I can help you anytime."

"No, Muchen. I don’t want you to be sealed the same way Fengxi currently is. You two are indispensable parts of the Heavenly Empire’s force. Do not do anything unnecessary."

"I need you to also do nothing unnecessary," Zhang Fengxi stared at Qiao Wei. "Jianbao, Sect Leader Bai already said no. Promise me that you are not going to seek out Huang Taichen on your own and endanger yourself."

"Fine."

Qiao Wei exhaled.

"I will stop trying to recruit Huang Taichen into the Wushan Temple Sect. I will continue serving by my shizun’s side, and do nothing dangerous."

Knowing Qiao Wei’s personality through and through, Zhang Fengxi was pretty sure that Qiao Wei would end up doing something to improve Huang Taichen’s situation.

Unfortunately, he had to return to the Heavenly Realm now.

The longer he stayed in the Human Realm, the more the amount of dark chains that swam beneath his skin, weakening him rapidly day after day.

At least if he went back now, he might recover soon enough to aid Qiao Wei when he needed help.

With that optimistic thought in mind, Zhang Fengxi obediently left with Jiang Muchen on his spiritual lion.

"You should feel honored," Jiang Muchen quipped. "I don’t usually allow a tiger to ride on a lion."

Zhang Fengxi rolled with his eyes.

"Am I supposed to say thank you then?"

"Most people would, but I know that you are not most people," Jiang Muchen quipped. "So, I assume that you do not plan on returning to Fuxi Palace."

"Not now," Zhang Fengxi said.

He did not want to run into his children.

He wouldn’t know how to explain his situation. Besides, it was too embarrassing. Once he recovered, he would never be able to look them in the eyes, ever again.

"Longjing Palace, then?"

"Yes, that would be great."

Jiang Muchen dropped Zhang Fengxi at the palace gate and left.

When the guards saw him, they crossed their spears to prevent him from entering.

"This is the Longjing Palace," one of them spoke up.

"Little one, please return with your guardian and we will announce your arrival."

"I do not need a guardian."

Zhang Fengxi reached into his qiankun bag and retrieved his jade medallion. His full name along with Longjing Palace’s sigil were carved onto its surface, identifying him as the heir of the palace.

When the guards saw the jade medallion, they could not help but gape at the much younger version of their prince.

"P-prince Zhang Fengxi."

"Open," Zhang Fengxi arched his brows at them.

The gates swung open and Zhang Fengxi walked into the front courtyard.

He had not even reached the entrance hall yet when a curious voice was heard some distance away from him.

"Who are you?"

Zhang Fengxi whipped around so fast that his neck almost cracked.

The one who just spoke was Zhang Mingrui.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay