There, standing with his legs apart and his hands propped up at his waist, was the former Longjing Palace Master. Zhang Fengxi's father, Zhang Zhiyuan.
"Father," Zhang Fengxi gaped at the man who passed away when he was twenty years old. The man whose death instantly propelled him to the Longjing Palace Master position.
Zhang Fengxi ran toward his father with tears in his eyes. He wanted to hug his old man, but the latter gave him a ruthless smack across the cheek instead.
"You ruffian of a child! Where is your discipline? Your self-control??? When will you stop playing around in the human realm and commit to your studies?? What will Longjing Palace be once it falls into your incapable hands???"
Zhang Fengxi pressed a hand against his burning cheek, but he then knelt on the white marble floor and hugged his father's legs like a three-year-old.
"Father," he said before he started to cry earnestly.
It was his father. His father came back alive.
Zhang Zhiyuan, on the other hand, looked as if he was struck by lightning in the middle of the day.
"Feng... Fengxi. What have you done???"
Zhang Fengxi's father dragged him to his feet and looked at him as if he had just killed someone in the human realm.
Lady Song came by a while later with a basket of snacks. She was stunned to see the father and son engaging in a heated staring contest.
"Dear? Fengxi? What is going on?"
Zhang Zhiyuan's gaze drifted to his wife.
Zhang Fengxi broke free from his father and threw himself at his mother's waist.
"Mother!" he lamented. "Mother, Mother!!!"
Lady Song's jaw dropped open. The basket of snacks fell from her arm and sent its content flying to the floor.
"Fengxi!!!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "What have you done??"
Zhang Fengxi blinked in confusion.
"What have I done... what?"
Zhang Zhiyuan began to wail.
"I knew it!" he roared. "I should have locked you up the moment you differentiated into an alpha! Look at you now! Involved in an ungodly affair with a human being, for heaven's sake!"
Zhang Fengxi was baffled.
An ungodly affair, what?
Which human being?
Lady Song started to weep and dab at the corner of her eyes.
"My son... oh, oh, my son... did you take any precaution at least?"
Both parents looked at Zhang Fengxi. Zhang Zhiyuan's gaze was full of fright while Lady Song's was full of expectation.
Zhang Fengxi cleared his throat.
"What... What precaution?"
Her son's stupid question sent Lady Song into another wave of tears.
"Oh no," she cried out. "I am not prepared for this. No. What must we do with the bastards???"
Zhang Zhiyuan's face was as black as the pot bottom.
"There is no way out of this dilemma," he growled. "I shall consult the Heavenly Emperor."
"Father, wait!!!" Zhang Fengxi finally understood the cause of distress for both his parents. "I didn't sleep with anyone. I didn't sire any bastards!!!"
"Oh, thank heavens," Lady Song cried happy tears. "It is not yet too late to lock you up then."
"..."
A moment later, Zhang Fengxi was punished with house arrest. He was not allowed to leave the Longjing Palace for whatever reason.
If it were his younger self, Zhang Fengxi might have thrown tantrums and destroyed everything in his bedroom just to infuriate his parents further. The Zhang Fengxi who returned to the past was a lot calmer and more reasonable.
He used the time out to understand the circumstances of his revival.
He, Zhang Fengxi, died at twenty-four years old, but by heaven's grace, was revived in his eighteen-year-old body.
Six years ago, Zhang Fengxi was still a carefree youth without a single burden. His father was still alive. Everyone who lived within the protection of Longjing Palace led a happy and peaceful life. Zhang Zhiyuan was no doubt an epitome of a palace master.
Alas, Zhang Zhiyuan passed away two years from now. Zhang Fengxi's blood ran cold at that thought. There was still a little time until that time came.
Now that Zhang Fengxi had the chance to redo everything that happened to him after his eighteenth year of life, he was determined to fix his life.
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Author's note :
Time for this author to explain the omegaverse setting in this novel!
Everyone in the Heavenly Empire is born as either male or female. Starting from the age of sixteen years old, they differentiate into one of the three secondary genders: alpha, beta, or omega.
Alphas (15% of the total population) are the pillar of society. They enjoy superiority in matters of strength, wits, martial arts, and general prowess. Neither the male alphas nor the female alphas are able to become pregnant, but they can very well impregnate female betas and all omegas.
Betas (75% of the total population) are regular creatures whose abilities vary within a certain range, very few of them manage to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with alphas. The male betas can impregnate female betas and omegas, but the children will only be betas.
Omegas (10% of the total population) are exotic, rare flowers that complement alphas' existence. Their beauty is known to be extraordinary. Additionally, they emit special fragrances to drive the alphas crazy. Alphas and omegas are made for each other. Only a union between an alpha and an omega will result in either an alpha or omega.
Any other unions will deliver betas to 99%.