The silence after those words was biting—like the air itself had teeth.
'Please buy it. I don't know how long I can hold myself..'
Chóng Fēi slowly met his father's eyes, searching for any drop of softness, acceptance, realization. He needed all of it—though it was a useless wish that had never turned into truth, even now.
His father's eyes were unreadable. Almost thoughtful. Conflicted—as if there must be more reasons for keeping Chóng Fēi alive here than just being an heir.
But he wasn't sure enough about what it could be.
"Really?" Chóng Féng echoed softly, an eyebrow raised. "Nothing else.. more after that guy just looked at me that way?"
Chóng Fēi swallowed hard again. Even the saliva felt like it had cracked needles inside it as it went down. He could tell his father wasn't buying the reason that easily. Possibly he didn't even like the fact that Lìngxiāo had spoken like he was challenging him.
Which he already was—since the time he returned from that temple.
"Why.. would I try to save him?" Chóng Fēi muttered. His voice was a little raspy, raw from holding back his emotions.
But mainly, he wouldn't have saved Lìngxiāo like that. He just wanted to see how far he could go with this case—which was always closed before anyone even properly opened it.
And that matter of Xiǎo Lìng... that could be another reason to look after this guy better.
"Exorcists have only.. fed rage the past few years.. and I have paid the price.. every fucking day.." Chóng Fēi continued. "You think I like exorcists trying uselessly here? Nope. I just haven't felt any danger from him yet. It's unexpected for him to come back alive.. but he's just doing his job. Your annoyance at him for no reason would only make you look suspicious. So let things be."
Chóng Féng stared at him for almost a full minute. His eyes unreadable—but a kind of cold spark said it already: you do sound logical. But I will still keep an eye on both of you.
He raised his chin lightly. "Alright then.." His hand finally released Chóng Fēi's hair.
Chóng Fēi exhaled, his fingers immediately going into the strands to soothe the pained place on his scalp.
'Thank God he heard it. Things would be fine soon—even if it looks twisted in a way I can't explain..'
But Chóng Féng didn't release him fully. Instead, his hand slid down—smooth, yet in a chillingly tender way—and tilted up his chin, like a father who needed proper attention from his child.
Their gazes met.
Chóng Fēi's eyes flickered in silent confusion. It wasn't everyday his father played tender like this. Every sudden tenderness was nothing but the starting of another darker level of punishment for crossing boundaries. But this one.. felt more like a warning. And a mistaken drop of actual tenderness.
'What else now..? He seems.. to buy the reasoning after my daily life complaint. He's suspiciously tender again..'
"What is it..? Let go of me." Chóng Fēi muttered as he tried to pull his face away. His cheeks faintly flushed from being treated by his father like he was still at the size of his knees—when he used to run around him, gripping the edge of his sleeve.
Chóng Féng shook his head slowly, his expression dry and a little unsatisfied. "Let me check.. what this body can show.. even if the mouth feels like lying.." He said calmly.
He never lost his grip on Chóng Fēi's chin. He just pressed his long thumb at the middle of his temple.
Chóng Fēi blinked rapidly—both in surprise and at the dull, throbbing pain where his finger pressed. It felt the same as the hair snakes forcing their way into his throat.
'Is he going to find out about the needles?'
"Wait.. You could do this too? Whatever it is.. j-just stop it. It hurts!" Chóng Fēi's voice cracked silently by the pain throbbing in his veins. His eyes shut tight, muscles locked—like blood was drying out at every corner of his body.
But his father didn't listen. A faint red hue glowed around his thumb, coming from the spot on Chóng Fēi's temple. After a few moments, he withdrew his thumb, leaving the spot empty. The red hue vanished.
Chóng Fēi slowly opened his eyes as the sudden, dangerous pain was gone—like nothing had happened. His gaze searched for his father's, searching with silent panic if his lie had been caught. He waited for an explanation.
"Strange.." Chóng Féng said thoughtfully, rubbing two fingers together like removing invisible dust. "I found no opposite dark energy of an exorcist which could possibly be used."
He stood up straight again, creating distance, his eyes elsewhere thoughtfully. "Unfortunately.. good for you, managing to save his face."
Chóng Fēi didn't understand what method he had used—this wasn't something that came only from a cultivation core. It needed to be taught while a core was present. And here—his father had just done it like any empty ritual without his core.
But he was relieved he hadn't been caught. Though it was strange not to be, since he was sure Lìngxiāo had used his identical energy as an exorcist.
Either way—all he could focus on now was that he was away from the problems his father might have been planning to put him into.
His exhale came out like he had been running through this whole clan for half an hour. As long as he remembered his composure was still bare, he quickly snapped back to his usual dry annoyance. His hand trembled faintly as he pushed back his hair, his heart slowly returning to normal.
"See? I wasn't lying." He rolled his eyes, his posture getting back to confident—a hand returning to his hip. "You only believe in those unknown.. hooker women more than your own only surviving youthful seed."
Chóng Féng's eyes snapped on him again. "What did you just say?"
Though his anger—it wasn't the dangerous kind like earlier. Not at least at that darker shade—but the one he was used to. This was the only thing that made the open air here feel breathable again.
But sensing another pull of his hair might be nearing, Chóng Fēi quickly moved to a safe distance, almost jumping away. "T-this time I'm in boundaries. I was just.. reminding you that she.. might be waiting for you. Ladies shouldn't be waiting too long for your warmth, you know."
Though his own father was shameless, a really faint flicker of blush bloomed at the upper side of his high cheekbones and below his adam's apple. His eyes still wide—that "What the fuck?" reaction in his father's angry way.
He pointed outside the door sharply. "Out!"
"Your welcome.." Chóng Fēi managed a faint smirk before slipping toward the grand door.
But before knocking to let the disciples know to open the doors, he turned at his father once more.
How could he forget about testing the theory whatever the real or fake Zì Hāo had given him? It was still a signal.
"Well.. have you also summoned me to talk about.. any kind of deal with any.. Xuè Gusu or.. demonic cultivators deal with our clan..?" Chóng Fēi said clearly, letting it land.
Perhaps a little too hard than he intended?
Because the air seemed to hold its breath again before it was released. Chóng Féng looked at him like he was seeing a Xuè Gusu cultivator standing behind him with a chain to bind him and cut his throat instead.