Chapter 774 - Growth
Chapter 774 of "Red Heart Patrols the Sky" starts with: The efficacy of walking the deviant path always comes down to choices, not âcreating choices.âHe... Continue exploring!
The efficacy of walking the deviant path always comes down to choices, not âcreating choices.âHe couldnât use his Divine Skills to make someone choose what he himself would never choose.
Perhaps after the Divine Power Seed blossomed, the deviant path would exhibit superior performance.
But at least for now, it could only do so much.
Jiang Wang had misjudged Feng Ming, thinking he would want to take him on as a âsidekick.â But from beginning to end, Feng Ming was wholly indifferent, treating Jiang Wang merely as a chance encounter, someone to alleviate his boredom with.
He might chat with Jiang Wang, show him âa slice of life,â or walk arm in arm with him, but once this longevity banquet was over, he wouldnât so much as recognize Jiang Wang.
What Yu Songhai, what Creek Cloud Sword Sectâsuch insignificant characters, he would never take to heart.
The clever use of the deviant path left Jiang Wang with the illusion of controlling fate, but the choices made by Feng Ming doused him with a bucket of cold water.
Knowledge, knowledge, he lacked sufficient âself-knowledgeâ and precise âknowledge of others.â He didnât fully understand Feng Ming, thus his Divine Skill was frustrated.
Only now did he realize why Zhuang Chenggan, such a fearsome figure, also fell prey to the Bone Respecting God due to his absolute reliance on the Deviant Path Technique.
This Divine Skill was truly hard to let go of.
Having only used it a few times, he occasionally felt everything was under control.
Zhuang Chenggan, victorious in all his battles and deceiving both gods and ghosts, had even more reason to trust his Divine Skill implicitly.
Sudden defeat hit him squarely in the face.
Jiang Wang was neither angry with embarrassment nor wallowing in self-pity; at that moment, he simply felt fortunate.
Fortunate that he had discovered the limitations of the deviant path so early and in such an insignificant matter, recognizing the arrogant illusions it brought along.
Fate had not dealt him a harsher, more irreparable lesson.
With Zhuang Chenggan as a prior warning and Feng Ming as a recent awakening, he reminded himself to approach the use of the Deviant Path Technique with a more upright attitude.
âIndeed,â Jiang Wang said with a smile in agreement, âBrother Fengâs experiences are truly remarkable, stirring deep emotions within me.
Truly a person of the extraordinary, doing extraordinary deeds!â
He lowered his stance as well as his expectations.
His initial plan was merely to familiarize himself with Feng Ming that day, no need to rush for results.
Under Jiang Wangâs deliberate flattery, the two once again engaged in pleasant conversation.
The guests in the yard gradually began to leave, and at their table, only Jiang Wang and Feng Ming remained.
Feng Ming was waiting for his father, while Jiang Wang was eager to maintain this hard-won relationship; as they conversed, both grew anxious.
However, after waiting a while and still no sign of him, Feng Yue never appeared.
As time passed and most of the guests had left, Feng Ming finally could not sit still.
He stood up and intercepted a servant of the marquisâs residence: âCould you trouble yourself to inquire why my father has not come out yet?â
The servant shook his head, âI am merely a servant, I donât know who your father is, and I canât go inside.â
Feng Mingâs uneasy feeling intensified.
Somewhat impatiently, he moved through the feast and headed towards the inner room.
But a figure suddenly blocked his way.
The Manager Jiao from earlier, expressionless, looked at him: âWhat do you want?â
âUncle Jiao,â Feng Ming did not care about humiliation at this point, bowed respectfully and asked: âMy father was called into the inner room for a discussion, why hasnât he come out yet?â
âYour father?â Manager Jiao said in surprise: âWho called him to the inner room?â
âIt was this esteemed residenceâŚâ Feng Ming looked around, but where could he find the servant who previously led his father inside?
His teeth clenched so hard they almost shattered, but he still had to humble himself and said, âUncle, please stop joking with your nephew.
My only concern is for my fatherâŚâ
The manager Jiao had already regained his composure, examining him coldly, âWho do you think you are?
At my age, do you really think I need to joke with you?â
Feng Yue is in trouble!
The moment this thought arose, Feng Mingâs legs almost gave way.
He gritted his teeth, about to retort harshly, when Jiang Wang approached from behind and pressed his shoulder.
After all, he wasnât completely mindless.
He fell silent for a few moments, suppressing the surging emotions, and then turned around.
Jiang Wang followed him, and the two left the Viceroyâs mansion without obstruction.
Located on the outskirts of Tongyi County, the Viceroyâs mansion was followed by a well-maintained straight road that merged with the distant official road.
Lanterns were hung high in front of the Viceroyâs mansion.
Outside the mansion, under the bright moon and star-filled sky, sparse carriages slowly moved away on the straight road.
Once outside the mansion, Feng Ming could no longer contain himself and with a fierce punch, knocked down a large tree beside the road, âWhat kind of Viceroyâs mansion is this?
Is this a den of bandits?
After taking our gifts and compensations, they still detain our people!â
He was incredibly enraged and resentful, particularly because his long-relied-upon father was in trouble, which caused him to lose his composure, âItâs not as if we asked him to go to Chi Yun Mountain!
It was Jiao Xiong who insisted on going!
Whoâs to blame for the mishap!
Didnât Sister Chi Yue also encounter trouble?
Whom can we blame?â
Jiang Wang stood by his side and, after letting him vent for a while, finally said, âFor now, your father has only been detained, not yet in trouble.
Brother Feng, try to stay calm.â
The logic was simple, if Feng Yue was already in trouble, the Viceroyâs mansion would not have allowed Feng Ming to leave.
Feng Ming was filled with rage, âWhat is that old monkey up to!â
Jiao Wu was indeed small and monkey-like in stature, but probably no one dared to call him âold monkey.â At this moment, Feng Ming was truly out of line.
Jiang Wang silently adjusted his understanding of the feelings between Feng Yue and his son Feng Ming.
Then he asked aloud, âBrother Feng, do you think your Sect will step in on this matter?â
Feng Ming also knew that anger was futile.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he said, âThey will certainly step in since my father is a Sect Guardian and represents the face of the Green Cloud Pavilion.
But how much effort they will put forth is uncertain.
Some might even be glad to see my father in trouble!â
He didnât know why he was discussing this with Yu Songhai, whom he had just met today, but instinctively felt that, compared to the scheming individuals in his Sect, Yu Songhai, whom he had met by chance, might be more trustworthy.
After all, their unexpected encounter wasnât likely to be part of some long-standing scheme.
âThen you can only rely on yourself,â Jiang Wang said.
âBrother Yu, do you have any ideas?â Feng Mingâs emotion settled, and his mind cleared; he turned to Jiang Wang, âIf you can help my father escape trouble, I assure you itâs no problem to recommend you into the Green Cloud Pavilion.
A core identity, guaranteed!â
So you knew I wanted to enter the Green Cloud Pavilion!
I was hinting at it during the meal, and you were playing dumb the whole time!
Jiang Wang inwardly scoffed.
But he also understood that fools were rare these days.
Without showing his worth, why would the son of the Green Cloud Pavilionâs Sect Guardian vouch for him?
It wasnât enough to just flatter.
Being born into the status Feng Ming had, he didnât lack sycophantic hangers-on.
After pondering for a while, Jiang Wang spoke with the air of a sage, âFirst, we need to know why Mr.
Feng was detained.â
âWhy?â Feng Ming complied, truly perplexed, âIsnât it just to vent anger over Jiao Xiongâs death?â
âThat might be a reason, but it wonât be the cause for detaining him,â Jiang Wang shook his head, âLet me ask youâŚ
the Reef Kingdomâs spies appeared in Shunâan Prefecture, intending to collude with traitors to the state.
The Viceroy is certainly loyal to the Emperor, without a hint of disloyalty.
So, who are the Reef Kingdomâs spies trying to contact here?
In the entire Shunâan Prefecture, who is worthy of collusion with a foreign spy?
And who else is worth the effort for the Reef Kingdom?â
Past and future events were connected, but those involved often struggled to see the bigger picture.
Feng Ming was not stupid, and he turned deathly pale, âOur Green Cloud Pavilion!â