Chapter 23: What could have been

Anissa had left the room after crying into his arms for the majority of the night, she hadn't cried since she was a little girl of course she would feel embarrassed.

Feng Zhiming was in the room shirtless as he looked at his back in the mirror. Despite being a prodigy in his realm the unrestrained force of a Spiritual Awakening cultivator had left him with some major bruises.

Of course, it wasn't an actual issue, he merely thought about it and the wounds healed instantly.

It may seem weird to mortals the idea of someone who was nearly one hundred years old crying and throwing a tantrum, but cultivators saw a century old individual as a teenager barely touching eighteen.

The speed at which cultivators matured was different from mortals, they spent years upon years locked up and cultivating, so naturally their ability to socialize and interact lessened and stunted their growth.

He donned his blue cultivator robes and walked out of his room to reveal Zhuge Yue standing right outside the door.

She nearly bumped into him as she had been leaning against the door, listening to see if Anissa was awake yet.

"Can I help you, little Yue?" Feng Zhiming smirked as he saw her try to maintain a nonchalant expression, he heard one of the maids refer to her this way yesterday so he adopted the nickname.

She raised her head up and looked away.

"I just happened to be passing by and wondered if big sister was awake."

Feng Zhiming nearly burst out in laughter, this little girl was actually worried about maintaining appearances.

"Well, I could take you to her, but I'm feeling hungry right now."

She grabbed his hand and started to drag him away from the room and into the dining hall.

She stood in the middle of the hall and yelled.

"Feed this man this instant."

The servants took her words very seriously, and feed him they did.

They filled the table meant for twenty separate cultivators with food and let Feng Zhiming feast.

Was this a waste of time? In others people's eyes maybe it was, but to Feng Zhiming his measure of success was if he, for one was not actively dying and secondly if he was enjoying the current moment.

He devoured that table of food quite easily and quickly.

Little Yue looked at him expectantly now that he was fed it was time for him to take her to meet her big sister.

"How can a meal be complete without tea?" Feng Zhiming was clearly planning to milk the situation for all it was worth.

Little Yue was slightly annoyed but she arranged for tea.

He slowly drank the tea.

"Maybe if I stare at him, he'll drink quicker." she thought as she continued to stare a hole into him.

Feng Zhiming however was shameless through and through and slowed down even more after noticing her tactic.

After a very long five minutes for her, he finally finished drinking the tea.

"Good tea, good tea." he exclaimed as he finished.

Little Yue's eyes lit up.

"Now its ti-"

She was cut off by Feng Zhiming.

"Time for a nap, how astute."

Little Yue's cheeks puffed up like steam buns and her eyes started to moisten.

"I'm joking, it's a joke!"

Feng Zhiming had to stop with the teasing, he didn't want her to complain to the Clan Leader.

"Come along." he said as he began to walk to one of the private lakes within the Zhuge Clan estate.

When they arrived at the lake, they saw her.

Anissa was practicing her Ocean Splitting sword forms while standing on the water, she was completely immersed. the sight was truly something to behold, the water moved in such sync with her sword that it felt like she could truly move like water.

"Wait for her to finish." Feng Zhiming took a seat at the lakeside and watched the elegant motions of her sword.

Little Yue's eyes were sparkling as she watched Anissa, she was completely enamoured.

They both sat there for around twenty minutes, as she finished with her sword forms, she sat on the water in a lotus position and began to pray.

Feng Zhiming heard her clearly.

"Praise to the Forgotten One and his infinite wisdom."

She did not know of Feng Zhiming's presence by the lake so it was clear she wasn't doing it as a show, at this point she truly cherished the Forgotten One.

Feng Zhiming whispered to little Yue who was still watching curiously.

little Yue heard what he said and responded in a confused tone.

"But I can't walk on water."

Feng Zhiming gave her a little push, she was about to scream but stopped when she found that she was standing on the surface of the lake without falling in.

"Naturally, If I say you can walk on water, you can walk on water."

Feng Zhiming had been reinforcing the surface she stood on with spiritual energy acting as a makeshift foot hold.

"Go on now."

Little Yue began to run towards Anissa, she had a big smile on her face as she had never experienced walking on water.

As Anissa finished praying she felt a small girl running towards her, since she had not called out to her, she assumed it was a game or something and played along.

As Zhuge Yue reached her she wrapped her small arms around her and yelled.

"Surprise big sister!"

Anissa smiled, she stood up and picked her up before hugging her as well.

"Little sister you're so stealthy, you managed to sneak up on me."

Feng Zhiming was satisfied with the result, this was the first time Anissa had actually referred to Zhuge Yue as little sister, it seemed as if she had gained some semblance of peace after last night.

"My dear master, are you ready to depart to Wildland city?" he yelled from the chair he had been sitting on.