Chapter 47: Conversation

“Do you want to have a child of your own?”

Ji Feng asked the question suddenly as they entered the house. Because there had been no warning, Moore could not tell whether Ji Feng was joking or serious. The question was so unexpected that Moore froze, unable to respond. Once the meaning sank in, his mind was left in turmoil.

What did Ji Feng mean? His own child… Moore had never considered it. He had never thought about marriage, let alone fatherhood. Even if he did have children, he believed his personality was unsuited to being a father. He could never be a good one.

Yet, when he thought of Ji Feng—the one who had asked the question—and recalled the scene in the garden earlier, along with all the moments they had shared, Moore’s heart grew restless. A flood of tangled thoughts overwhelmed him, leaving him unable to calm down.

“Are you too tired?” Su Qi asked with concern, noticing Moore’s distraction. He had been absent-minded several times already, enough that even Kerry had sensed his uncle’s unease. “Would you like to go back to your room and rest for a while?”

After disappearing for more than a month and returning only through catastrophe, Moore had been taken straight to the Military and Administration Department. One ordeal after another had left him no chance to breathe. It was no wonder he was exhausted.

But faced with his sister-in-law’s concern, Moore only felt guilty. With his mind in chaos, he could not even meet her eyes.

He nodded vaguely, rose to his feet, and returned to his room. He needed time to calm down and think.

Meanwhile, Ji Feng sat in Marshal Wip’s study, holding a cup of tea that Marshal Wip had brewed for him. He took a few sips and looked across at Marshal Wip.

They had been summoned by Marshal Wip the moment they returned from the garden, but only Ji Feng had been called in. Clearly, Marshal Wip had something important to say. Ji Feng could see it in his expression, though he could not guess whether Marshal Wip would truly speak his mind.

Marshal Wip was full of doubts, many of which he could not voice. Yet there were matters he could not avoid.

“That bead—you shouldn’t have taken it out,” Marshal Wip said with a weary sigh.

Ji Feng’s reply was calm, almost indifferent. “Isn’t it more convincing this way?” His deep eyes fixed faintly on the man across from him.

Although Marshal Wip's words were calm, his eyes grew darker and more intense.

“But this will only cause more trouble,” he said.

“Oh? What kind of trouble?” Ji Feng asked, feigning confusion.

The corner of Marshal Wip’s mouth twitched. “You should know better than I do.” He did not believe Ji Feng could be so naïve; otherwise, his long period of keeping a low profile would have meant nothing.

Ji Feng raised his brows, then suddenly produced an imperial bead in his hand—identical to the one he had given Admiral Xu Yaohui earlier that day in full view of everyone.

The bead appeared out of thin air, right before Marshal Wip’s eyes. The sight made Marshal Wip’s whole body tense, a chill running down his back. Watching Ji Feng toy with the bead so casually filled him with unease.

At that moment, Marshal Wip could not suppress his doubts. Had he truly entrusted Moore to someone like this?

Ji Feng played with the Yufeng Bead lightly, as though mocking Marshal Wip’s earlier assumptions. It was as if he were saying that everything spoken during the day had been fabricated—claims of “finding” the bead were meaningless when he could summon it so easily. Marshal Wip did not know what Ji Feng intended, but instinctively he grew guarded. Then Ji Feng asked casually, “Does the marshal know about this?”

Though Ji Feng’s tone was light, his gaze was piercing, full of scrutiny. He was almost certain now that Marshal Wip knew something—but how much?

Ji Feng had merely taken the bead from his storage ring, yet Marshal Wip’s reaction betrayed more than surprise. Beneath it lay jealousy, proof that he was not ignorant of Ji Feng’s power.

What Ji Feng truly wanted to uncover, however, was the world’s knowledge of cultivation. How much did they know? Were there other cultivators like him hidden in this realm? Did this world even recognize their existence?

Marshal Wip could clearly read the intent in Ji Feng’s eyes, and his own gaze flickered as he replied, “I don’t know.” He had never seen anything like the bead, but he understood its significance. “However, this thing will certainly attract attention.”

Ji Feng grew thoughtful. 'Some people?'

“Does Moore know about this?” Marshal Wip finally asked. His son was, after all, the one he cared for most.

“What do you think, Marshal?” Ji Feng curled his lips into an ambiguous smile.

Marshal Wip’s stern face darkened further. He thought of Moore’s bright eyes and the unspoken understanding he shared with Ji Feng upon returning. The signs were enough to stir suspicions in his heart.

Reflecting on the changes in his son—especially his altered attitude toward Ji Feng after the Lungu Star incident—Marshal Wip felt conflicted. Yet he had no right to interfere.

“I only hope you will think of Moore before you act. After all, you are his husband.”

Marshal Wip spoke sincerely, even with a trace of pleading. Ji Feng was moved, if only slightly. Whatever role he played, his feelings for Moore were genuine, and Marshal Wip could see that.

Ji Feng answered with four simple words: “I have a sense of measure.”

After their conversation, Marshal Wip was summoned to the Star Master’s palace. When Ji Feng left the study, he did not see Moore. Su Qi told him that Moore had gone back to his room to rest.

Ji Feng immediately made his way there, now familiar with the path. Even the door recognized his presence. To his surprise, Moore was already asleep in bed.

Ji Feng knew how alert Moore usually was, but exhaustion had overtaken him—or perhaps he had grown accustomed to Ji Feng’s presence. Either way, Moore did not stir, nor did he sense anything, even as Ji Feng entered the room.

Ji Feng couldn’t help but smile, the corners of his lips curling with quiet happiness. Moore lay asleep on his side, half of his face buried in the pillow, his breathing steady and even. His long eyelashes rested against his eyelids, concealing eyes as bright as stars.

Ji Feng bent down slightly, studying Moore’s face with unusual seriousness. He thought to himself that the young man was unexpectedly pleasing to the eye.

Unable to resist, Ji Feng reached out and gently brushed aside the bangs that had fallen across Moore’s forehead. Moore stirred unconsciously in his sleep, rubbing his face against the pillow like a docile cat seeking comfort, before settling back into slumber.

That simple, unsuspecting gesture awakened something in Ji Feng’s heart—something that had lain dormant for centuries. No, it was more than awakening; it surged forth all at once, flooding him completely.

Once certain feelings are recognized, they cannot be controlled.

“Sleep well, and wait for me to come back,” Ji Feng whispered, his fingertips lightly running through Moore’s hair. His movements were gentler than ever, and his voice carried a deep, soothing warmth that lulled Moore into even deeper rest.

After leaving the room, Ji Feng asked Su Qi to tell Moore that he had gone ahead and would return to pick him up the next day.

So when Moore awoke, Ji Feng was nowhere to be seen. His eyes searched the room instinctively, though he was too embarrassed to ask. Su Qi, smiling knowingly, explained, “He left earlier, but asked me to tell you he’ll come to pick you up tomorrow.”

Moore blushed faintly, embarrassed by Su Qi’s teasing, though confusion lingered in his heart. 'What exactly was Ji Feng planning? And why would he need to pick me up?' It seemed absurd.

By then, Marshal Wip had already gone to the Star Palace. The two children were asleep—one at school, the other at home—leaving only Su Qi and Moore in the vast villa. With no one else around, Su Qi could not resist a bit of gossip.

“Moore, I can see you like children. When do you plan to have one of your own?”

It was not surprising that Su Qi asked. After all, Moore and Ji Feng had been married for half a year, and Ji Feng was already thirty. Every time he visited, he loved holding Little Kerry. It was obvious he wanted children. Moore was not young either, and by all reasoning, they should have already considered it.

Moore, however, grew embarrassed at the question. He did not know why, but it seemed as though the topic of children had surrounded him all day. Yet having a child was not something one person could decide alone. No—that was not even the real issue. The truth was that he and Ji Feng were bound only by an agreement. They were not truly a couple. How could children even be part of the picture when divorce was inevitable?

Su Qi grew puzzled at Moore’s silence. “What’s wrong? Not ready yet?”

“Yes,” Moore replied vaguely, unable to explain further.

Su Qi laughed knowingly, speaking with the air of someone experienced. “Actually, it was the same when I married your elder brother. Even though we married for love, marriage is still about two people, about family and responsibility. At first, I resisted the idea of children too.”

It was the first time Moore had heard anyone speak so openly about such matters, and he listened with curiosity.

Unexpectedly, Su Qi turned the conversation back to him. “I can see you’ve already given your heart to someone.”

“I haven’t—” Moore began quickly, but stopped himself. He remembered that his elder brother and sister-in-law did not know about his false marriage arrangement, and his denial sounded unnatural.

Su Qi only smiled. “Seriously, Moore, I’ve always wondered what kind of man would be worthy of you. You’ve rejected everyone coldly for so long. I was afraid you would end up alone.”

Moore lowered his head, saying nothing, while Su Qi continued, “Your elder brother has worried about this for years. He was especially concerned when you first married.”

“But now it seems our worries were unnecessary.”

“Ji Feng is an excellent man in every way—handsome, gentle, and perfectly suited to you. You should cherish him.”

Moore felt his face grow hot, unable to answer. His sister-in-law’s words embarrassed him, yet they also stirred something deeper. Especially when Su Qi added, “So, Moore, have a child sooner rather than later.”

“After all, children don’t just bring responsibility. They strengthen the sense of belonging to a family, deepen feelings, and draw two people closer together.”

'Is that so?' Moore thought, falling into quiet reflection. Confusion lingered, but alongside it came an unexpected thought—an unrealistic idea. 'What would it be like if Ji Feng and I had a child?'