Summing it up, two possibilities explain how demon assassins knew my whereabouts. First, some native high officials might resent me. Second, Meilina's two maids—there's a Chinese saying: "Those not of our kind must harbor different hearts." Can't rule it out.
Being an emperor is tough, suspecting everyone around you. I used to envy the role, but now I feel the mental strain. Don't believe me? Imagine everyone's out to get you, living on constant alert. Without trust, how do you make true friends? No wonder ancient emperors called themselves "the lonely one"—it makes sense now.
"Feitian, what're you thinking? You've been sitting forever," Meilina called. "Oh, Nana, you're awake. I'm wondering who leaked my identity. How else did the demon assassins know we'd leave the forest?" I said.
"Leaked your identity? What identity?"
"Don't you know your dear hubby's status? I'm the empire's pillar, the people's hope, the perfect dream lover of every woman—Makinno Feitian!" I said lightly, but my eyes locked on her, hoping yet dreading.
"You told me already," Meilina said flatly, showing no odd reaction. My heart lifted—betrayal by someone close would sting.
"Let's drop the sad talk. The demons might try again since their team hasn't reported back, confirming their failure," I said, gently helping her up.
"Miss, you're out!" Meilina's two maids appeared on the road. The electric tiger, Dopey, flinched at me but, seeing my grin, bounded over, licking my face with its long tongue, slobbering everywhere. While playing with Dopey, I casually glanced at the trio. Nothing suspicious. Was I wrong? Just an old bias?
Holding Meilina, I rode Dopey toward the inn the maids booked. Why walk when you can ride? Plus, it's exercise for my little tiger buddy (Dopey: "I demand animal protection!" Per the classics: "Request denied."). The maids had fun in town this month—folks didn't shy from Dopey, and kids petted him. Dopey, eyes closed, lapped it up, even licking kids, sparking giggles. Watching them, I missed my wives and kids, picturing my little ones hugging me, shouting.
"Feitian, what's wrong? We're here. People are staring," Meilina said shyly, slipping from my arms. Lost in thought, I hadn't noticed we'd reached the inn, still holding Nana on tiger-back. I chuckled to hide my embarrassment, lifted her down, and led her inside.
"Boss, send food to our room," a maid ordered crisply. "Right away, sir," the owner replied. The inn's decor echoed ancient Chinese Jiangsu-Zhejiang style—spacious, bright, a nice spot. Not like Earth's boxy concrete cages.
"Crowds make a place lively. Guess I'm not cut for solitude," I said. The maids' room faced the bustling street—open the window, and you saw thriving commerce.
"Of course, all thanks to your Emperor Feitian's wise rule. Without it, no prosperity. They say this Feitian guy's dashing, talented, and unmatched in martial arts," Meilina teased, smirking. My face heated.
My skin's thick, but you can't praise me that much. Talent's a burden, heh. "Slow down, Feitian," Meilina said gently, patting my back as I ate.
"Nana, some foods get old fast. In a bit, I might crave wild game again," I mumbled.
Her lips pouted. "So, you'll get bored of me too?" Women and their wild leaps—how do they connect that? Guys can't match that imagination. Experience says sweet talk douses their fire.
"Wife, how could you think that? Me, bored of my darling Nana?" I thumped my chest. "Nana, even if the heavens collapse, I'll be with you. Because I—love—you," I said, gazing deeply into her eyes.
Meilina blushed, head lowered, heart racing. "You're not lying, right?" Poor Nana, so easily swayed by this wolf's words. Rookie mistake—princess or peasant, love's blind.
"Lie to you? Never. Nana, how about tonight we…" I eyed her charming face, desire flaring. "What's that?" she asked, confused.
"You know, get cozy in bed," I said eagerly. "Drop dead, you wolf, always thinking that!" she snapped, face red. "Didn't you agree before? Why back out?" I said, deflated.
"When did I say that? Don't remember. You made it up. No touching till we're married," she huffed.
"Touched you plenty already," I muttered.
"Say that again!" Damn, this demon girl's ears are sharp—heard that whisper.
"Alright, don't be mad. Here's a kiss for you," I said. Seeing my reluctance, Meilina leaned in, pecking my cheek. What a maddening demon girl. Good thing she's not on Earth, or countless pure boys like me would suffer. (Per the classics jumps in: "Shameless! Pure boy? You've broken more hearts than I can count. I scorn you!" Feitian: "My body's not pure, but my soul's pristine. Ever heard inner beauty's the real deal?" Classics: "Fine, you win with your nonsense. I'm off to chat with girls.")
"Miss, bathwater's ready," maids Little Red and Little White announced, entering. Such tacky names—Feitian didn't know they were aliases the trio cooked up. He'd offered better names, but the maids refused, insisting their miss's picks were best, nearly making him spit blood.
In the bath, a stunning figure—so gorgeous even ghosts would swoon—lounged in the wide tub, arms stretched. "Miss, nothing happened in the forest, right?" Little Red asked, wiping Meilina's arm with a towel. "You brat, thinking dirty again. I'm pure, not like you imagine," Meilina teased, then lowered her voice. "Oh, why'd you send the Six Wolves to assassinate? We nearly blew our cover."
The maids knelt, terrified. "We didn't think it through. Please punish us, Princess," they said.
Meilina waved them off, sighing. "Forget it. We've startled the snake, making him suspect me. Luckily, the Six Wolves improvised, pretending to attack me, easing his doubts. Be careful—no moves without my okay, got it?"
"Thank you, Princess. Never again," they said quickly. Despite their bond, the maids knew Meilina's strict side—her leniency was rare.
"Alright, up. Forget this when we leave, no mental baggage, or he'll notice," Meilina said, pleased things were under control but uneasy about opposing Feitian. The maids, seeing her frown, quietly left.
"What's up? Your miss doesn't need you?" I asked curiously, spotting the maids. They hadn't expected me outside the bath. My voice startled them—had I overheard? The thought paled their faces like they were sick.
"Hey, what's wrong? You look awful. Sick or something?" I asked, concerned by their ghostly faces.
"Nothing! Why're you here? Spying on our miss bathing?" Little Red snapped.
"Sir, she'll be yours eventually—need to sneak peeks?" Little White piled on.
"Geez, I just got here. So what if I peeked? She's marrying me, and you two, heh—guess what's coming," I said, leering like a creep. "You perv!" they fumed, faces red.
"Little Red, what's the noise?" Meilina called, knowing I was teasing and worried the maids might slip. "Miss, there's—" "Nothing, just guarding my wife from peepers," I cut Little Red off.
"Pfft, only you'd dare peep in this inn," Meilina teased.
"Wife doesn't trust me? Fine, I'll wait in the room. Wash up nice," I said loudly. "What, saying I'm dirty? Come scrub me then," she shot back. "Nah, I might lose control and hurt my darling—regret'd kill me," I laughed.
"Smart move. I'm almost done. Little Red, come in," Meilina called. I bolted—better avoid trouble. One glimpse of her bathing, and I'd lose sleep again.
Bored, I strolled outside to check the people's living standards. An emperor can't just sit in a hall—reports aren't truth. Only what I see counts, a lesson from Chinese history. Though a small town near the Beast Forest, it wasn't quiet despite its distance from big cities. Tourism boomed, drawing merchants' investments. It felt like a thriving mini-city. Clean streets brimmed with goods from across the empire, even Earth imports. This is the society I want.
"Big brother, spare some coins? I haven't eaten," a grimy, disheveled girl of fifteen or sixteen said. Her look killed my mood. "Beggar" flashed in my mind, but it stung, like seeing a loved one suffer. My brain short-circuited. Beggars under my rule? On Earth, they're unavoidable, but on Flying Dragon Star, with my wealth and welfare systems, it's impossible. Cultivation focus means low material needs, and even jobless folks live well with benefits. Why's she begging?
"Little sister, why beg? Where's your family?" I asked, holding back anger. "Just me and my sister. Mom and Dad died in the demon invasion," she said, eyes red. Nice act. "You should be in school. Why this?" I asked, puzzled. Local officials wouldn't dare skim her living funds, and our free education covers everything—no hardship possible.
"I was in school, but…" Before she finished, a gang rushed from an alley. A burly, scarred man yanked her back, glaring at me. "Kid, what's your deal? Mind your business."
"Hah, I'm meddling—what you gonna do?" I said darkly. I'd thought too highly of humanity. Some don't seek life's meaning, just easy gains. Using kids to scam sympathy for cash? Despicable. I'd seen it on Earth and hated it most.
"Then next year's your death day, haha!" the fat thug laughed, his cronies joining in, as if victory was theirs.
"Not sure about my death day, but yours? Next year, guaranteed. Forcing innocent girls to beg breaks empire law—death penalty," I said coolly, locking eyes with the fatso, daring him to argue.
He flinched, bravado faltering. "I'm the law here. Even the emperor can't scare me," he blustered, but his fear was obvious. Imperial law's clear: "Forcing women into prostitution, rape, or illegal acts—death upon verification. Harming or exploiting youths for crime or profit—death upon verification." Strict laws, backed by a low-crime society free of Earth's worst motives, have strong public support and ruthless enforcement.
"Oh? Let's see if you're the law," I sneered.
"Kid, you wanna die? Get him, boys!" Damn fatso, calling others to fight first—what a coward.
With universal martial arts and magic training, everyone's skilled—it's about survival. But two years isn't enough for mastery, and inner energy takes time. These thugs, decent by normal standards, were ants to me. A burst of true qi trapped them in my aura, freezing them. Only now did they realize they'd met a master, and I'd played the fool to eat the tiger.
"Brother, let us go. Need anything, just name it," the fatso pleaded, reading the room. "No need. I've got no use for you," I said coldly. "Clear the way!" Town police arrived—someone had reported the scuffle. Justice still lived here, and the cops' response, under fifteen minutes, was solid.
"Sir, may I see your ID for the record?" the lead officer saluted, approaching. "Sure," I smiled, handing it over. He slotted it into an identity scanner—a palm-sized, nationwide-linked device. A red flash, and my details popped up on the screen.
Reader's Corner: Yo, readers, Feitian's out here crushing scum and sniffing out traitors! Think he's onto Meilina's maids, or is the real leak closer to home? And that beggar girl—victim or part of a bigger scheme? Drop your guesses in the comments, and let's see who's got the sharpest instincts!