Chapter 753: Son

Marquis Pingxi finally returned to Fengxin City, loyal to him to its very bones.

Only, considering the Marquis's current physical condition, his entry into the city was deliberately kept low-key.

For one thing, Zheng Fan genuinely could not be bothered standing outside and greeting the crowds of commoners who would inevitably swarm toward him. For another, he might not care about preserving his personal image, but he could not ignore the unrest that might arise if the people saw how weak he presently looked.

By now, Marquis Pingxi had become the central pillar upon which all the soldiers and civilians of eastern Jin depended. Especially with no clear successor in place, the condition of Marquis Pingxi's body directly and visibly affected the entire region.

Everyone had only just begun living stable lives. They had survived the hardest first year of restoring production. This year's harvest had already been stored away. From here onward, people were beginning to look toward the future with hope.

If, at a moment like this, word spread that Marquis Pingxi had suddenly become sickly and frail, the spirit of both army and people would immediately become unsettled.

Besides, among the Demon Kings, the only one who truly involved himself in military affairs was Liang Cheng. The various military chiefs scattered across eastern Jin obeyed Marquis Pingxi himself.

It was different from the death of an Emperor of Yan. At least the imperial court's framework remained intact. The so-called stirring of people's hearts merely meant local regions might fear the center a little less, or the center might suppress the regions with slightly less force.

But here in eastern Jin, if anything truly happened to Marquis Pingxi, the entire framework simply could not hold together.

It would collapse.

Over these past few years, Zheng Fan and the Demon Kings had deliberately raised him into something approaching a "deity." Naturally, that brought advantages. It also brought drawbacks.

Of course, the Demon Kings did not particularly care about the drawbacks.

After all, if Zheng Fan died, there was a good chance they would all drop dead with him.

So discussing succession plans and emergency arrangements for the possibility that something happened to Zheng Fan... what would be the point?

By the time the carriage neared the Marquis Residence, the Sword Saint finally decided to get off.

Two days earlier, a messenger rider from Fengxin City had already informed him that his wife had given birth.

Yu Huaping knew now.

He had a son.

A son of his own blood.

Marquis Zheng waved to the Sword Saint and reminded him:

"When you go inside, look at your wife first. Only after that should you look at your son. Best if you act like you don't care about the boy at all."

The Sword Saint shook his head.

"You certainly sound experienced."

"Give Sister-in-law my apologies. You should've been able to make it back in time."

"You're exaggerating. It was because of me that you nearly ran into disaster."

"Enough, enough. Let me recover for a few days. Then I'll come see my godson."

"Good."

The Sword Saint returned to his own home.

Marquis Zheng's carriage entered the Residence directly.

The Residence was unusually quiet now.

Siniang was in Shengle City investigating matters. The Princess and Ruqing were still in Chu territory and had not made it back yet.

Marquis Zheng, long accustomed to aching hips and a sore back, suddenly found this emptiness somewhat difficult to adjust to.

As one of the matrons of the Residence, Matron Ke personally attended Marquis Zheng while he bathed.

It was deep winter.

Snow was still falling outside.

After maidservants helped Marquis Zheng onto the bed, they withdrew. Matron Ke removed her outer clothing as well, climbed beneath the blankets, and tucked Zheng Fan's feet against her chest to warm them.

All three ladies of the household were away.

So she could act a little more freely.

Marquis Zheng lay there with his eyes half closed.

He had slept enough in the carriage that he was not sleepy now, but he still deeply enjoyed this decadent, lazy feeling.

This wicked old society... truly deserved condemnation.

The Blind Man had left the city the day before.

He had met Zheng Fan midway and exchanged information with him.

Next, the Blind Man would travel to Shangchuan County and conduct a full investigation into everything surrounding little Monk Liaofan.

That matter had to be investigated completely.

Once they understood the entire chain and determined the exact location... there was a good chance troops would have to move.

Qian was still somewhat far away.

The snowfields?

They could strike those whenever they wanted.

As for the other Demon Kings, each was busy with his or her own affairs. Zheng Fan had already sent word ahead that after returning, he intended to rest for several days. Unless something major happened, no one was to bother him.

"This child... has come to pay respects to Father."

The moment Tian Tian learned his godfather had returned, he immediately trotted over to see him.

The tiny child stood outside the door and bowed with perfect solemnity.

Behind him, the black cat and fox crouched low as well.

Matron Ke heard him and immediately climbed out of bed, dressed herself properly, propped pillows behind Marquis Zheng, then walked over and opened the door.

"Greetings, Young Master."

"Hello, Matron."

"Son!"

Marquis Zheng called from the bed.

A smile appeared on Tian Tian's face.

He stepped across the threshold, entered the room, and came to Zheng Fan's bedside.

"Father."

Tian Tian saluted Zheng Fan.

No one had actually taught him these formalities.

Marquis Zheng had always treasured this adopted son beyond measure. Even if he raised him into some spoiled wastrel, some little tyrant who ran wild through the world, Marquis Zheng would not have cared.

Biological father and godfather alike possessed enormous households and immense foundations.

Was all that wealth and power not precisely there for the boy to squander?

Could Zheng Fan really not afford to support one second-generation wastrel?

Yet somehow, from the day Tian Tian was born, the things that accompanied him had been ghosts, zombies, and monsters... and somehow the child had still managed to copy the manners of the servants in the Residence, learning etiquette all by himself.

And he performed it properly.

More importantly... he was obedient.

And sensible.

By now, Tian Tian no longer called Zheng Fan "Godfather" or "Adoptive Father."

He simply called him "Father."

Of course, he knew who his true father was.

He simply had no memories of him.

Calling Zheng Fan "Father" was an expression of closeness.

Adding the word "god" to it felt rather like adding "maternal" to "grandfather" or "grandmother."

It made things seem more distant.

In later generations, plenty of children in some places had even stopped distinguishing between maternal and paternal grandparents.

Everyone was simply Grandpa and Grandma.

Marquis Zheng reached out and stroked Tian Tian's cheek.

"Father is sick?"

"I was assassinated on the way home. But your father here is highly capable. The people who tried to assassinate me have already been killed by me instead."

Most elders would not talk about fighting and killing in front of a child.

Marquis Zheng had no such reservations.

And Tian Tian's capacity to endure such things was far greater than that of an ordinary child.

"Father is the strongest."

Tian Tian had always worshiped Zheng Fan.

"Mm. Your real father saved me."

"My real father came?"

Godfather had lost the word "god."

Biological father had gained the word "real."

You could hardly blame the child.

Zheng Fan had never minded praising Old Tian in front of Tian Tian, telling him again and again how powerful the man had been.

As the godfather, he had no reason to feel jealous of the biological father.

More than that...

Zheng Fan hoped Tian Tian would always remember what his true father had done.

He wanted the boy to know exactly what kind of towering figure his biological father had been.

"Your real father ran off to the west. Far, far west. The people there have hair and eyes that aren't black, and there are plenty of interesting things over there too. Your real father went ahead to scout the road for us. When Tian Tian grows up, Dad will take you west with me, and we'll go find your real father together."

"Mm."

"Where's Big Sister?" Tian Tian asked.

Zheng Fan pointed toward the red stone sitting on the tea table.

"She got tired. She's sleeping."

On the Wang River, the Demon Child had consumed too much strength and entered a temporary dormant state.

It was not a serious problem.

Much like Zheng Fan himself... the boy simply needed time to recover.

"Cough... cough..."

Zheng Fan began coughing.

"Father, your body..."

"It's fine. I'll recover after resting for a while."

"Then I... won't disturb Father anymore."

"Stay here and keep me company for a while. Ever since Dad left home, I've been thinking about you."

At those words... a delighted smile appeared on Tian Tian's face.

"Tian Tian missed Father too."

"Once you grow a little older, whenever Dad leaves home, I'll take you along."

"Even... to war?"

"Of course. Dad will let you carry the army banner. You'll stand on the war chariot beside me and watch while Dad commands the army in battle."

Just like... your real father once took me.

"Hehe. Brother Hu dreams every day about following Father on campaign. Next time, can Tian Tian bring Brother Hu too?"

"Of course. How could I refuse a request from my own son?"

If Liu Dahu went... the Sword Saint would naturally go too.

"Father, it's time for this child to practice calligraphy."

"Practice here."

"Yes, Father."

And so...

Tian Tian sat inside Zheng Fan's bedroom and began practicing his writing.

His copybook rested on the little tea table.

He sat on a tiny stool, back perfectly straight.

His writing was slow... but extremely neat.

The red stone sat on top of the copybook as a paperweight.

Just like before.

The Demon Child had always liked supervising Tian Tian's writing.

Even though she was currently asleep...

Tian Tian was already accustomed to having her there.

Marquis Zheng lay on his side on the bed and watched his adopted son practice.

He enjoyed the atmosphere enormously.

After watching for a long time... without realizing it... he fell asleep.

Tian Tian finished his writing.

Then turned around and saw that his godfather was asleep.

He gently rubbed his small wrist.

Picked up the red stone.

And tiptoed out of the bedroom.

After leaving, Tian Tian returned to his own room and placed the red stone among the snacks he had been saving.

Then... he put two teacups from his room into his pockets.

Took several snacks and tucked those in too.

Finally, he picked up the teapot from the table and left.

The fox and black cat followed close behind.

They were terrified their little lucky-doll young master might stumble or hurt himself.

Tian Tian walked behind the artificial hill and entered the hidden chamber.

He descended the stairs all the way to the bottom.

There... he saw the black coffin resting silently in its place.

Tian Tian set down the teapot.

Then took the little teacups and snacks from his pockets.

He poured the tea.

Set the cups properly.

Stacked three pieces of sachima.

Then sat down facing the coffin.

"Grandpa, Father came home today."

The coffin remained silent.

"Father met bad people on the road home."

The coffin remained silent.

"Father said my real father saved him."

The coffin remained silent.

"Father says my real father is really, really strong. He says there probably isn't anyone in this world who can beat him. Grandpa... have you ever fought my real father?"

In Tian Tian's understanding, the strongest person in the world ought to be his godfather Zheng Fan.

The second strongest... was the god-grandfather who had accompanied him almost every moment of his life.

Buzz!

The coffin trembled once.

He... had been beaten.

[End of Chapter 753]